Pokémon Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Path of Valor

[SparklingEspeon]

~Review of Chapters 1 – 8~

Why hello there

I’m here for the Blec Review Awards, and originally wanted to make this on the 31st, but that didn’t happen so this is a few days late. Sorry :unownf:

I know you’ve been working on this for a while, and now that it has enough chapters for me to get a good grip on everything happening I think I have a good idea of what this fic’s all about! Which starts with all the Final Fantasy references, because there’s a lot.

I think it mostly comes down to names—Yuna, Cid, Seifer, and Bahamut are all FF characters/running names, and I’m iffy on whether Noctum is a port of Noctis or if he’s just that way because his scales are black. And also the legendary birds are named after Guardian Summons. Some components of the plot may also be FF references—You are probably never going to convince me that Horizon Academy bears no relation to Balamb Garden, and I’m pretty sure Polaris/Ether can be equated to Shinra Corp and Mako (Or maybe that globe city thing from FFXIII?). The Aeons could also be an Al Bhed parallel, although that one I’m kind of iffy on. I’m also interested to see if you’ll be borrowing any components from the FF plots to make up this one – does Horizon Academy have a built in defense system like Balamb Garden? The Phantom has clear ties to the Ether—maybe his backstory is similar to, say, Sephiroth’s? I’m like 90% sure those legendary birds the Phantom took over are going to be used like the guardian summons they’re named after later on—will we see something similar from Yuna’s side of the equation, especially considering the character she’s named after?

Also, Nickit Carpaccio and Greedent could have been Biggs and Wench. Big missed opportunity tbh

But past all the obvious references and the fact that Vegna’s class is clearly taken straight from Ace Attorney, the real vibes I get from Path of Valor are Harry Potter. More specifically the Goblet of Fire—rising darkness in the background, foreign transfer students arriving at a magical academy, and a school-wide tournament are all components that this fic and that book share, and IMO the tone’s a bit more on par with GoF than it is with FF… if you ignore that it’s clearly high fantasy with fictional creatures in a world where this is the norm, but the vibe isn’t really FF to me is my point. Probably didn’t help matters that when we got to the opening event of the Crowne Cup, it was a maze just like the finale of the Triwzard Tournament. Granted, a much less eldritch maze, but even so

But tbh I think the Hogwarts vibe really works for Horizon Academy. I’d like to see all the ways a pokemon-run magic academy would differ from ours—more creative classes like Vegna’s, more petty dragon VS fairies rivalry, more interactions with other students like Yuna and Shimmer, etc. I’d also be interested in seeing more named students. Even if they’re one-note and don’t really do much outside of exist (like the ones in Harry Potter), it’d go a long way in making the academy seem lived in. Since right now what we have is pretty much Yuna, Chiaki, and Nikki VS Shimmer, Xander, and that other flunky I can’t remember the name of now. We need set extras!

If there was one thing I had to ding Path of Valor for, it’s that I’m very much more interested in one plot than I am the other. It’s like reading two separate books: On one side we have this small school drama thing where it’s Dragons VS Fairies and the stakes are winning or losing a sports competition, and on the other hand we have this epic plot with distortions, ether, political unrest in the Fairy parliament, and a mysterious Phantom wreaking havoc on the borders of both kingdoms. The school plot is mostly what I’m here for—Partly because it’s the A plot, but also because it has all the interesting characters and a conflict that I can attach to. Yuna is a fish (dragon?) out of water in a place she isn’t wanted, and there are kinds of personalities around to coax out the conflict surrounding that, as well as worldbuilding tidbits and plain fun scenes. The phantom plot is filled with assholes like Seifer, mysterious enigmas like Chancellor Vortex, and the Phantom and his flunkies haven’t done enough here for me to take an interest in his apparent villainy yet. It also clashes a bit in that we can jump from Noctum and Baraz being discriminated against and then having to fight off a distortion monster to Yuna and Shimmer being paired together for a cartoony ace-attorney class assignment. That’s not to say that they’re completely distilled, though—there’s very clearly larger darkness floating around in the schoolyard plot, and everything that’s going on in the Phantom plot is directly related to Horizon Academy, so it’s clear that you’re planning to merge the two soon. I just think that they should be blended together a bit more smoothly going forward/merge somewhat soon.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t address the Crowne Cup! To be completely honest, for something that’s been built up as a big thing, I felt like the first event came pretty quickly and then was a bit of a letdown. I’m also not really clear on the details—how many events are there going to be? How many teams are there competing? I do hope it’s not completely out of the picture or regulated to the background, even if Yuna’s team was disqualified from the first event. Probably going a bit overboard with the HP comparisons here, but I’d like to see more exotic events with big buildup over the course of the cup’s duration, like the Triwizard Tournament had. Not to mention that these are pokemon we’re talking here, not boring old humans—IMO you should throw the most exotic/far out there stuff you have for future events. Take us on field trips to locations outside Horizon Academy, rearrange the school for challenges, maybe even try more unique challenges like an art/song/dance competition or a battle royale! Even if it looks like the Crowne Cup is a front for the real plot, I’d be disappointed if it fell to the wayside or went on in the background.

Wow, looks like Shimmer isn’t nearly as nice as his stage name suggests… I have no doubt he’s cheating tbh; it fits with his lackadaisical personality and would explain both why he didn’t know about the badge and why he’s so confident about winning the trial in a week. However, he does seem to know some stuff about the court, so I feel like ‘he’s a dirty cheat’ isn’t all there is to it.

Also, what is it with this fic and nasty horses? First Seifer, and now Shimmer…

Not sure what’s up with Dermerzel, tbh. He’s portrayed as Definitely The Villain and cunning in the prologue, and even though he’s perfectly kind here and the only one to treat Noctum and Baraz with any kind of respect when they meet I still get the impression that he’s not entirely what he appears—especially since he chose to read Vortex’s mind when they conversed. That tells me that at the very least, he doesn’t trust Vortex. Which doesn’t say too much to his allegiance, considering that Vortex is pretty darn shady and also a posh douche, but clearly he’s not patriotic to Horizon, even if he holds a top position there.

One of the clear themes here is discrimination, and we see it here with no punches pulled—on a schoolyard level, with Yuna and all her non-fairy students characterized as weak, villainous, and a bother to keep around, and on a background level with it being shown that the Aeons were driven into the mountains and don’t have access to the advanced Ether tech that the Horizon inhabitants do, and on a serious level with Noctum and Baraz being thrown around like they’re worthless and the overall elitist attitude of the fairies. Looking at it, pretty much every non-fairy in this fic is either cast in an unglamourous light or in a servant’s position (except for Seifer, but I guess he has exempt status or something?) Chiaki and the Radiant Beacon are unpopular and likely have assassins or hoodlums on their tail, Nikki is seen as the resident trouble student, Carpaccio and Greedent are beggars who turned to thieving and are trying to look cool (if the Phantom is to be believed), and anyone from Aeon is immediately hated. Meanwhile the fairies kind of just get free rides everywhere—as shown by Shimmer apparently cheating and getting away with it. I think it illustrates what societal discrimination looks like pretty well, and does an even better job of putting us in the shoes of those being discriminated against—what Yuna goes through isn’t necessarily pleasant, but watching Noctum and Baraz get shoved around and treated like trash breaks my heart ;-;

I also wonder what was going on with the song that made Yuna spazz out—I’m going to assume that had something to do with the Ether? Either that, or receiving a vision of Bahamut, which I could see, but I don’t get how a song composed by a nation that is actively Anti-Bahamut would trigger that. And speaking of visions, not sure what the five-headed dragon in Phantom’s visions is—outside of it presumably being "Natus", the only multi-headed dragon/dragon-like pokemon I can think of is Hydreigon, and that’s only got three heads. Also, no clue what's up with that weird pokemon that I'm pretty sure is either Null or Silvally at this point.

As for the characters… The kids/teens I don’t have much to say about currently. The ones I’m most interested in are Yuna and Shimmer, and seeing how they’ll work together, but it would be cool if Chiaki and Nikki stuck around and took a Ron + Hermione position to Yuna. Yuna herself reminds me a lot of Harry Potter—there’s not too much there right now, but that’s okay because she’s out of her element and she’ll grow and learn as we do. Shimmer gives me Malfoy vibes, all the way down to the rich backing, the snobbish attitude, and that he seems to have his own personal Crabbe and Goyle following him around, although I hope he’s a bit less villainous than Malfoy turned out to be. I think the HP comparisons end with the students, though—Chancellor Vortex is no Dumbledore and Prof Vegna has a shady backstory but isn’t mean enough to be Snape. I guess Cid is comparable to Flitwick? Kinda? IDK tbh

Wonder what Nikki’s hiding, especially since she has those one-of-a-kind goggles and is here on a government official’s payroll >.> Must be something big, since I don’t think she’s the bratty type to be a trouble student at an academy few get the privilege to attend for no reason.

Great, so the trespasser what a nutjob.

This didn't quite make sense to me?

"Oh no." Yuna's neck and chest constricted. Of course she'd get paired with that girl. At this point, Bahamut was probably rolling around the skies, roaring with laughter.

If this is the same Bahamut as the one in BLC, I’d imagine his last reaction would be to laugh :V

Grovyle groaned. "Lemme guess… nobody ever told you how the Crown Cup works."

Pretty sure this is supposed to be “Crowne Cup”

Overall, this is a really well-written and entertaining romp so far! It drew me in pretty quickly and I never really felt too confused even though there’s a thousand things flying around at any given time. I also really like the dark Harry Potter vibe this fic has going, along with an in-depth look at how those that are perceived as “lesser” for whatever reason are treated. I’m looking forward to watching Yuna and co. grow as the fic progresses, and seeing what the Crowne Cup has to offer—as well as seeing more Horizon curriculum, which—if Vegna is anything to go by—is actually pretty hands-on and cool, and eventually finding out what the Phantom’s all about when he finally makes a move and reveals more about himself.

Thanks for the read, and I can tell you’re putting a lot of effort into this!

~SparklingEspeon

Listening to: JoJo

 

[zion of arcadia]

I was hoping to post this on your b-day, but sadly got caught up in holiday shenanigans of my own. Still, happy belated birthday and here’s a toast to the new year.

Noctum and Baraz continue to be best boys. They’re just so sweet and supportive. Noctum being all excited to show Yuna the quiches and sweet roles put a big smile on my face. There’s also this moment of understated privilege where, instead of helping Baraz and Noctum, Yuna helps herself to the food, wandering off to brood over her loner status.

And we meet Chiaki. What an edgelord haha. I like how both him and Nikki lean into the punk aesthetic we see from Team Yell. It does feel superficial however, also similar to Team Yell. How familiar are you with the British punk scene? There’s actually a lot of neat articles out there on it, and the complicated relationship it had with racism, misogyny, xenophobia, facism, etc., etc. But I digress.

Chiaki almost comes across as a mediary presence despite his standoffishness. He bridges the gap between Yuna and Nikki’s very different worlds. Right now he’s shrouded in a lot of mystery, but I enjoy how each chapter peels back a layer. This is jumping ahead a little, but in many ways he reminds me of a less nefarious Demerzel. Chiaki definitely seems privy to secrets that’ll feed more into the Phantom side of the plot.

Okay, technically she was spineless, but it was a metaphor.

I do find these little asides a touch cheesy at times. And this was one such example. I mean I get it, you want to highlight biological differences among species, but it’s a bit too knowing of a wink at the audience, if that makes sense. It pulls me out of the narrative.

Something I noticed on re-read that I appreciate somewhat is how Vortex puts a lot of effort into turning the Crowne Cup into a spectacle, and then the narrative continuously finds ways to undercut and even ridicule the spectacle of it all. Like the scene where teams are revealed, for example: we already know who Yuna is going to be teamed with. We even know who her coach will be, even though Yuna doesn’t.

So it’s like we’re just going through the motions. Arguably that could be considered a negative, but considering the way the next Crowne Cup event is written, part of me wonders if that’s intentional. It feeds into the idea that the Crowne Cup is a bunch of railroaded pomp and circumstance with a predetermined conclusion from the powers-that-be.

It occurred to Yuna that her parents had never brought up the fact that the queens had a son. Then again, neither of the queens had, either. It was odd. Wouldn't they want her to make nice with the future king?

Interesting. I wonder if this is some sort of foreshadowing. Like maybe the queens are ashamed of Shimmer? Or it might just be justification to explain Yuna’s ignorance. Hmmm. Hopefully something more in the vein of the former than the latter, as that would feed into Shimmer’s character (I quite like Shimmer. He’s very unlikable but in a strangely compelling, charismatic manner). Also, given that he’s in Glee club, he would totally be Rachel Berry haha.

I also enjoy how backhanded and passive aggressive his bullying is. The whole introducing Yuna to the crowd and humiliating her, while framing it as an act of generosity, is a great example of this. It again plays into how a lot of Shimmer’s actions have a feminine dynamic to them. Which, considering I’m always fascinated by gender dynamics, is a plus for me. I wonder if that’s specific to Shimmer or something you plan to explore with fairies in general, since most of them are coded feminine.

Path of Valor

Aha. Title drop. Let’s dissect this song and see what we can get from it.

Even the darkest of storms,
Will falter in the face of,
Everlasting hope and valor!"

We start off with a reference to the darkest day, I see. Valor is essentially an act of bravery. It’s interesting, too, that our main protagonist is meek at heart. Reminds me of this GRRM quote: “'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?' 'That is the only time a man can be brave,'”

The song also touches on themes of working together and uniting to overcome hardship. Given the exaggerated spectacle, the way Yuna reacts (arguably this can be put down to dragon’s being weak to fairies; personally I find that interpretation boring so I’m going to discredit it, at least for now), the generic platitudes, and how Vortex’s speeches about hope are often undercut with cynicism, I have a pet theory: this is a modified version of a different song. It would play into something SWSH emphasized as well, the idea of ‘real’ history/legends being obscured and changed as time passed.

I also liked the contrast as Yuna gets physically ill from Starlene’s song, while everyone grows all the more raucous. It does a great job creating a sense of rising dread, culminating in her vision followed by a fainting spell. The pokemon she sees in her vision has to be rayquaza, right? That’s what makes the most sense for now, anyway.

I wonder if Seifer would’ve been a Glastrier/Spectrier if this had been written after the release of Crown Tundra. I don’t know why but I found that funny. I’ll have to echo some of the complaints others have made, in that Seifer’s segment feels really disconnected from everything happening at Horizon Academy. His section does merge with the Horizon plotline fairly quickly, and I’m sure the foreshadowing will prove important down the line, but still, it feels a little tedious to read through so early on, especially since we have no idea when the payoff will happen.

Xeromus (it is Xeromus, right?) feels very tonally different from his first introduction with Yuna. He straddled this weird line between comic relief and serious threat there, while here he’s entirely serious. I wonder if something happened to him after he vanished, if it’s because he’s being viewed through Seifer’s POV and therefore taken more seriously, or if it’s just slight tonal inconsistency.

The Dyna-Fist felt like it mixed dynamax, max moves, and z-move crystals together. I wonder if Xeromus hatred of ether could be read as a hatred for technology. He wants to go back to a ‘pure’ civilization, although this fails to take into account all the good technology has brought to the world. Oh god, is… is Xeromus an anti-vaxxer? LOL.

Fun chapter! Thanks for sharing! :D

 

[Adamhuarts]

So, I just finished reading the 'sixth' chapter of this story and it's been a while since I last read it. The funny thing is that I'd already read like a quarter of this chapter over a month ago, but completely forgot to read the rest of it. With exams on my mind, it's not hard to see why. I've probably forgotten a few plot details at this point and might need to skim through the previous chapters to have a better picture of everything that's going on, but I'll try to give as much feedback as I can about this chapter itself.

To start off, I was surprised we didn't get to see Yuna at all in this chapter, however I think doing this was actually good. It's always refreshing to have different perspectives across chapters in stories to avoid audience fatigue in following the same character's eyes all the time. That being said, I enjoyed seeing more of Noctum and Baraz in this chapter.

The contrast between Noctum and Vortex is further highlighted in this chapter both in terms of their mannerisms and background. Vortex seems to hold an odd pride about his being a Charizard in a different way than Noctum does. We even saw some of that in his comment about how it's unbecoming of a Charizard to fawn over flowers, which is strange because Noctum should have a better idea about the Charizard lifestyle having grown up in what's basically dragonville. However, I think there's more to it than that. I do hope the story eventually sheds some light into Vortex's past as I'm interested in learning more about him.

The reintroducing of Seifer and Demerzel's first appearance was cool to see. I'm not too surprised at all to see a Calyrex in this story as gen8 is more or less it's overarching world thematic. Demerzel strikes me as the cunning type, which makes sense as one would need to at least be cunning to some degree to be a royal advisor. I wonder if his willingness to have a chat over tea with Noctum and Baraz being presented as possibly suspicious is a misdirection or if we're to take it at face value. Maybe Demerzel is just a surprisingly chill guy, but it's hard to say at this point. He does have some knowledge about the Aeon kind's customs and beliefs, so there's definitely more to him than meets the eye.

There's not much to say about the fight scene halfway through the chapter. Though it has a few highlights. We got to meet the Garchomp supposedly affiliated with Chiaki, we're reminded that the distortion can infiltrate even beyond what the characters originally thought and we now know that the Aeon folks have a technique used to undo dynamax/Gigamax transformations. It remains to be seen what the limitations or possible side effects of this ability are, and also what will happen now that it's out of the bag. After all, Noctum and Baraz must've been told not to use it in Fairyville for a reason. What repercussions might result from this? We'll have to wait and see.

Finally, we got to see Carpaccio and Rookie again after having not seen them since the first chapter. I was starting to think they were just a one off duo, but it's nice seeing them coming back into the fold. Fraud and shadowy figure still remain cool and imposing. I'm curious to see what their next plan will be and how the rest of the cast will react to it. So far Yuna's plotline and this other one remain fairly disconnected, and I hope we get to see more connecting threads between them in the future. As it stands, it feels like we're reading two different stories simply taking place in a shared universe. A sporting event does feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things compared to an encroaching existential disaster.

Anyway, those were my thoughts on this chapter. I hope to read more in the future.

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 9: Dude, What a Trip!​

Vortex stood between two of the many cracks and splinters running through the ruined center of the courtyard. Broken fragments of the fountain lay scattered around the area which, thanks to the hasty work of some Polaris laborers, had a metal dome placed around it before any students could see the damage.

That was, of course, the easy part. The hard part was getting to the bottom of this mess and making sure it didn't happen again.

"Please tell me you were able to make some headway with Chef Tarte." Vortex picked up a piece of rubble at his feet and tossed it to himself.

Opposite the charizard, Seifer pressed a forehoof against an upended stone slab. "I'm afraid his story hasn't changed. The chef said he'd gone to fetch condiments from the pantry. He was accosted by a Mr. Rime. After that... it all goes blank."

"And the pantry was investigated?"

Vortex turned toward the destroyed fountain. Arianna stood there, holding a handheld satellite device up above her head and looking down at a black cube by her feet. "Thoroughly. There were no traces of anything suspicious. The guards have all been questioned and the security footage reviewed. We found no evidence of the Mr. Rime that Tarte speaks of."

"Then how the hell did this happen?" Vortex pinched his brow with his free hand.

"I told you, sir, Dynaforce was involved." Seifer gestured to the ground with his left forehoof. "He leveled the courtyard with a Dynaquake."

"But that shouldn't be possible." Vortex clenched the fist holding the rubble. The charizard's claws made cracks in the rock, which shattered when he then dropped it. "The barrier—"

"It failed, of course."

Vortex turned right to glare at Demerzel, who was watching Arianna operate her scanner. "Is this not what happened at the late Minister Douglas' estate? A Phantom eluded the protective shield and struck with Dynaforce." He crossed his long, slender legs. "Perhaps you could've written the first attack off as a coincidence, but now that there's been a second... it suggests a pattern."

Demerzel rested a paw on his necklace. "Face it. Polaris' barriers are no longer sufficient to protect the kingdom's remaining cities. Which is why I would, again, like to emphasize stronger cooperation with the Aeons."

Of course Demerzel would sound like the Aeon Queen. After all, how many months had he spent cozying up to the dragons for his precious treaty? "No, what this means is that I need to move Icarus forward," Vortex countered. "What's the hold up with Parliament?"

Demerzel facepalmed. "Nothing's changed since I told you they needed more details."

Vortex scowled. Details, details. Ridiculous. As if he wasn't trying to act in the kingdom's best interest. His company was bringing the kingdom into a new age. A golden age of science and technological marvel. And there was just one last hurdle to clear: the energy shortage. He'd found this wonderful energy source, but he couldn't fully tap into it yet.

"What more is there to say?" the charizard asked. "Our available ether refineries will run dry. And if that happens, the kingdom's grid goes down... including the barriers vital to our security. The preliminary funding Her Eminence granted allowed me to identify a seemingly unlimited source of proto-ether. I just need sufficient funding to finish constructing Icarus and the energy and distortion problems will be solved in one fell swoop!"

Demerzel levitated a piece of debris up and rotated it around with a curious look on his face. Vortex looked to the mutant for a response, then cleared his throat. When Demerzel still kept silent, he growled, "Well?"

"We've already been over this." Demerzel dropped the rubble. It rolled into a small crevice. "You have to answer specific questions. What is the proto-ether source? How is it connected to the distortion? And what will Icarus do to access this source? If you can't answer those with concrete details, you're going to keep getting stonewalled."

Vortex looked down at his feet and their immaculately polished claws. "The schematics are highly sensitive and I don't just want to drag them out into the open for no good reason."

Demerzel quirked a brow. "Is that so? Or, perhaps, is it because you know the answer to one of my questions contains information that may be damaging to the kingdom's pride?"

The charizard met Demerzel's eyes briefly and saw them glowing. "You—" He stopped himself and looked at Arianna and Seifer. The former was still focused on her device while the latter had a brow raised.

"What's he talking about, Chancellor?" the keldeo said.

Accursed psychics. Now there was no sidestepping the issue. "The source... might be tied to the Darkest Day," Vortex conceded.

Seifer stumbled. He quickly corrected himself. "What? But Her Benevolence defeated World Ender. We've taught that in our schools since before my grandmother was a filly!"

Vortex jammed his right hand in his pocket and bit his lip. "It's only a theory. I don't have definitive evidence."

Demerzel shook his head. "And yet even the very notion that the government has been pushing lies for centuries could undermine the public's confidence in it... and, by association, projects like Icarus. It could even give the Aeons leverage to gain concessions from the treaty."

"Well, we— I— that is..." Seifer's voice trailed off and he looked at the remains of Queen Calliope's statue. "Could we not just hold a secret session of Parliament?"

"Do you really trust everything would stay secret?" Vortex growled. There had been leaks before of much smaller natures. And while they always managed to find the responsible party, it was never quick enough to prevent some degree of fallout. The charizard doubted he could erase such damage with a few Starlene songs this time.

Demerzel turned to the dome's curved wall and chuckled into his paw. "My guess is that the good chancellor was already aware of this conundrum. And he wanted to start from the top and work his way down... in a manner of speaking."

"Beg your pardon?" Seifer tilted his head.

"Orbeetle Cid." Demerzel pressed a hand to his temple. "You hired him recently, no?"

Vortex's tail flame shrank. "Where are you going with this?"

"I read his thesis." Demerzel smiled at Vortex. "He's a Darkest Day skeptic."

Vortex had to bite the urge to reflexively scratch his head. If Demerzel had peered into his memories again, he'd done such a good job that, even with Arianna's teachings, the charizard couldn't tell.

"I thought people like that were charlatans who went to work for trash outlets like the Beacon," Seifer said, snout turned up.

Demerzel shrugged. "If I had to guess, Vortex hired him to introduce the students to the idea that, perhaps, our kingdom's version of the Darkest Day isn't the truth." He levitated up a jagged piece of rubble and pointed it at Seifer. "After all, the Aeon Kingdom tells a much different story. And now their princess is a student here."

He leaned forward to rest his hand on his paws. "If these elite students can accept an alternative narrative for the Darkest Day, then perhaps the commoners can as well? That's what you're thinking, isn't it, Chancellor?"

Vortex wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of an answer. "Well, Arianna? Have you got anything?"

The gardevoir knelt and grabbed a small sheet of paper that emerged from the top of the black cube. "Multiple unrecognized distortion frequencies, sir."

"Then get Minister Tessa on the phone and tell his team they're crunching until the barriers can work against these frequencies," Vortex said, small embers leaping from his tail flame and scorching the ground around him.

Arianna folded the satellite up and placed it into a small briefcase along with the device it was attached to. She walked up to Vortex and whispered to him, "What should he do about overtime payments?"

The charizard had to fight to hide another scowl, especially with Demerzel and Seifer eyeing him. "Pull the funds from the recycling division's budget. They don't need the money."

"Understood." Arianna nudged up her glasses and headed for a door carved into the metal dome.

"So, you're ignoring me." Sighing, Demerzel lay the rubble back on the ground. "At least answer me this: do you still intend to keep the Crowne Cup going with this very real threat present?"

"Of course," Vortex growled. He was insulted Demerzel would even suggest that. "These students are our hope for the future. A future of unlimited prosperity bolstered by an infinite supply of proto-ether. The kingdom deserves to see them at their best. Cancelling the Cup would be tantamount to conceding to the distortion. That will not happen on my watch."

Frowning, Demerzel slipped his paws under the robe draped over his torso. "If these students are truly that important... your priority should be protecting them."

"They will be protected."

"Not when the Phantoms can reach them at this academy," Demerzel countered.

"As soon as the barriers get updated, everything will be fine." Vortex turned toward the door Arianna had gone through.

"I respectfully—"

Vortex raised his right hand. "This is not open for further discussion. Stay in your lane, blasted mutant. You were hired to orchestrate the treaty. Focus on that."

Before he could hear a retort, he glided toward the door and threw it open. Crisp evening air filled his lungs. Vortex shut the door behind him and rubbed the bags under his eyes. He reached into his coat's breast pocket and produced a blue gemstone. The charizard touched it to his head and closed his eyes.

"Rare Candy Escorts. This is Chanelle."

"Is that incineroar available? You know, the one with the pink stripes on his tail?" Vortex pulled the gem away and looked at it. It pulsated while emitting soft clicking noises.

"He's open."

A relieved smile. "Wonderful. Have him meet me at Horizon Rail Station in thirty minutes."

"Very good, sir."

Vortex clicked a notch in the gem. He pocketed it the moment it stopped glowing. With a giddiness in his step, he loosened his tie and slowly flew away from the courtyard. It was time to put the day's unpleasantness behind him.

XxX​

"Princess? Time to wake up."

Noctum's voice made Yuna aware of warm, scaly arms wrapped around her. "Mmrgh." She kept her eyes shut and squeezed her hands against her face. "F... five more minutes, Mom."

"Sorry, Princess, but you have to get up. I already let you sleep through the train and omnibus rides."

Somehow, Yuna managed to process Noctum's statement. Her eyes shot open and her arms fell to her sides. She found herself staring at a pouch on Noctum's utility belt.

"Eep!" She pushed against his belly and rolled out of his arms. The dreepy shook herself out and looked around. Seifer stood on her right, looking ahead with a sharp, stern expression.

"I slept through the whole trip?" Yuna rubbed her eyes and blinked rapidly. Though she didn't have to worry about eye gunk like her servants, sudden sunlight still irritated her inner ectoplasm. She tried to remember if she'd taken another sleep seed, but couldn't. Yuna hoped Noctum hadn't carried her all this way. That would be beyond embarrassing.

"To be fair, Radiance's railway system is really fast." Noctum smiled at her. "It only took, like, twenty minutes to get to Herbrides. The fields were moving by so fast it reminded me of joy flights I used to take back home." His tail flame crackled excitedly. "Well, minus all the sulfur plumes and lava rivers, of course."

Seifer rolled his eyes. "Can we keep up with the group, please? I'd rather have you closer to the crowd."

Yuna turned around and saw the rest of her class up a pebble-covered road by a cast-iron gate. Cid floated beside a wooden security kiosk with a bored pangoro leaning out a windowsill that barely seemed to accommodate her size. Unsurprisingly, her teammates sat on separate rocks lining the right side of the road. Nikki absentmindedly strummed her gills. Chiaki scribbled notes on a notepad, glancing up at Cid every so often.

"So, the place we're going is on the other side of this gate?" Yuna floated between Noctum and Seifer as the trio caught up to the class. She hovered a bit higher for a better view. The pebble road continued and curved to the right. There was a large grassy hill in the distance, but trees left Yuna unable to make out further details.

"We've already climbed up a pretty large hill," Noctum explained.

"Herbrides is a valley community," Seifer elaborated. He turned his head right and threw open a saddlebag. The keldeo grabbed a map in his mouth and held it up to Yuna. There was a swathe of green encircled by neatly arranged brown mounds in its southwest corner. "While it's not surrounded by mountains, per se, there are large hills in every direction."

Hills that, if Yuna remembered her initial readings correctly, were used as farmland or livestock reserves. All things she missed by sleeping on the train and omnibus. Despite that, she couldn't imagine Herbrides' hills were steeper than the jagged passes back home. She recalled her father having to take multiple trips with the troops to carve out plateaus for commoners to use as potential farmland.

The creaking of the iron gates brought Yuna's attention away from the map and back to her classmates. Cid floated up to the head of the group. The orbeetle brandished a white baton with purple stripes. "All right. Everyone, stay together and follow me to the observation site."

Yuna did as instructed. Though a few aside glances from her classmates drove her to stay at the back.

"Finally awake, Princess?"

The dreepy sighed. What did Nikki want with her today? Bah, it didn't matter. Yuna was interested in this place. She wasn't about to let the toxtricity get under her ectoplasm. She could control the conversation.

"Say, what's with that big stick Professor Cid's carrying?"

"Hmm?" Nikki moved in front of Yuna. "Oh, that's just some dumb thing they make tour group leaders carry." She stuck her hands in the pockets of her coat, yawning. "Don't think too much on it."

Yuna didn't respond. She silently followed the group along the road. Bits and pieces of conversations melded together with the crinkling of pebbles underneath her classmates' feet. After about ten minutes, the trees on either side of the path abruptly fell off. Yuna saw the road end in a large circle. A gray fence lined the outside of the viewing area, though it hardly looked like enough to keep someone from hopping over.

"Aww." Noctum nudged Yuna's side. "Look at that." He pointed to a stone structure with fake hills carved into it. There were circular holes punched out in multiple spots. "I bet you could stick your head in one of those and take a picture." The black charizard grinned at her. "Why don't we send a photo home to your parents?"

The dreepy's cheeks burned. "Let's not and say we did." Yuna hastily pivoted away from the kiddie attraction. "Besides, we're here to look at the... the..."

Her voice trailed off as she looked across the grassy valley to an equally tall hill opposite the viewing platform. Amidst the fresh, bright-green grass were scorched, charcoal-gray marks. A circle with five diamonds around it sitting over a bunch of circles and squiggles that felt haphazardly placed.

"World Ender," Yuna whispered. She had seen the same five-diamond sigil in countless books back home. However, it was always accompanied by the eight-pointed, compass-like star that represented Bahamut. None of the bits of scorched land looked anything like the symbol on her pendant.

"Um, Seifer? Who made this, uh, monument?"

"I believe it was one of my clan's ancestors."

Yuna frowned. The keldeo didn't sound certain... or like he really cared. Yuna brushed her pendant with her right hand and looked between Noctum and Seifer. Chiaki had mentioned Bahamut wasn't discussed in Radiance. Was He some sort of taboo here?

"I'm sure many of you have seen the Herbrides Lines multiple times throughout your lives," Cid said. The spots on his large orbeetle head glowed. Yuna figured he was using psychic power to bolster his voice. Otherwise, she doubted she'd hear him so clearly. "However, I would like to encourage you all to reframe your thinking."

Beside Yuna, Seifer stiffened. The keldeo looked away when she glanced at him. She wasn't sure if he was annoyed, bored, or some combination.

"Let's start with the basics," Cid continued. He floated higher and pointed the baton toward the other hill. "How did the Herbrides Lines come into existence?"

Hands, hooves, paws, and wings shot in the air. "Ah, wow. Aren't we all eager?" Cid chuckled. "How about—"

"Some of the earliest Radiant Guardsmon carved the drawings into the hill so the world would remember the Darkest Day," Shimmer declared. Yuna spotted the ponyta's puffy pink mane toward the front of the group. A few groans sounded around him.

Before Cid could chastise Shimmer for calling out, he continued, "Our planet fell under the threat of the titanic daemon, World Ender. That big circle with the diamonds was its symbol, projected across the sky as it blotted out light from the heavens.

"The two canine-looking circles depict Etherium's saviors: Zacian Calliope and my ancestor, Rapidash Adelaide." Shimmer moved his outstretched forehoof from his left to his right as he spoke.

The ponyta's answer didn't sit well with Yuna. She frowned, torn between voicing a question and showing off her ignorance... or holding her tongue while the thought festered in her mind like the gross boil rash Noctum had gotten on his belly last year.

Ultimately, the dreepy swallowed her pride and raised her hand. "Excuse me, Professor Cid?"

"What is it, Yuna?" The orbeetle pointed to her with his baton. Dozens of pairs of eyes fell on her. Her tail crinkled up.

"I understand why Zacian would be depicted as a canine." It was tough for Yuna to keep a steady voice. "But why would a rapidash be represented by one?"

The response was predictable. Some chuckles. An eyeroll from the sylveon that had joined Shimmer at lunch yesterday. The sirfetch'd beside him sighing and shaking his head. But the loudest one was, of course, Prince Shimmer.

"Oh, come now. Surely you know that it's my family's crest?"

"No, I didn't. That's why I asked." Yuna glanced at Noctum, who offered a sympathetic shrug.

Sneering, Shimmer swished his mane over his right shoulder. "Please. The armored breast plate Mother wears has a canine's head carved into its central gemstone. Adelaide wore the armor into battle against World Ender. It's been passed down through the generations ever since."

Meaning Shimmer would eventually get it from Isola. Yuna found it ridiculous that a rapidash would choose to weigh themselves down in battle. Even scaleless Aeons like her and her mother didn't use armor except for ceremonial purposes.

In addition, there was never any mention of any rapidash with armor in her homeland's version of the events. The more tidbits were dropped about Radiance, the more confused Yuna got. But it wasn't like she could raise an objection over it. She was supposed to be a goodwill ambassador.

"Everything okay, Princess?" Noctum asked.

She wanted to say no, but nodded before the words could form in her mouth. However, she was caught off guard when Cid cleared his throat and said, "Actually, I'm glad you asked that question, Princess."

Yuna blinked once. Twice.

Yeah, she wasn't imagining that.

"Excuse me?"

"It's a curious sight, don't you think?" Cid stroked his chin with his free hand. "When you think of fairy-types, large, majestic canines don't spring to mind outside of Queen Calliope."

"Hey!" One of Sylveon's ribbons shot into the air. "I'm a canine! Maybe Shimmy's clan was founded by a sylveon?"

"Pfbt. You're as much of a canine as Shimmer is a fairy-type." A klefki jingled their keys in Sylveon's general direction.

A sudden gust of wind made both fairy-types gasp and look to their right. Yuna followed them and spotted the corviknight that had interrupted Vegna's class yesterday.

"Shut your pieholes. Your disses are weaker than magikarp using Splash."

"No, no, it's all right." Cid hovered closer to the group. "This is good, healthy discourse. I encourage this kind of thinking."

"Pah. What's there to think about?" Shimmer huffed.

Cid pointed his baton toward the Lines' bottom left corner. "These symbols." He also pointed to the bottom right of the hill. "Can anyone recognize them?"

Those were the ones that made no sense to Yuna. As far as she was concerned, they were nothing but a bunch of random squiggles. She waited for a classmate to offer an answer, but they were all silent, too.

Then the weavile that Nikki had a spat with raised a hand. "Maybe they're words?"

Cid smiled. "Wonderful guess."

Sylveon huffed. "If they're words, then what do they say?"

"Well, that's where things get complicated." Cid laughed nervously. Yuna spotted a few unamused looks. "See, though our characters have changed slightly over the last millennium, the Kingdom of Radiance has always written in Unown."

Yuna examined the scorched marks littering the grass. Try as she might, she couldn't piece any Unown letters together from what was there. "How would you know they're words, then?"

"Over time, pokémon that have been rescued from mystery dungeons have reported seeing these exact same rune patterns." Cid gestured to the hill.

"Ridiculous!" Shimmer's horn and mane lit up bright pink. "Are you implying the Lines predate the Darkest Day?"

Cid turned around. "According to rescued pokémon, the phrase on the left is 'Nos vera Natus' while the one on the right is 'Qliphoth.' While there's been debate what these mean, Qliphoth is always used in conjunction with 'dungeon' or 'mystery dungeon.'"

Yuna suddenly sucked in a sharp breath and gasped out a, "Qli... photh?"

Noctum put a wing in front of Yuna. "Everything all right, Princess?"

A pressure squeezed on her head, like how Noctum wrung out oranges to make fresh juice in the morning. White floaters crept in from her periphery. "Gnnh." Yuna pressed her hands to her horns, but that did little good.

She looked at the hill. Her vision flashed purple. A mound of red, chitinous branches under a purple sky replaced the grassy hill. She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her horns. The hill went back to normal when Yuna opened her eyes again.

"Princess?"

Warm scales touched her shoulder. Yuna was about to scream, but followed the hand to Noctum's shoulder.

"I'm... lightheaded. Can we step off to the side?"

Noctum looked past Yuna.

"Very well." Seifer appeared at Yuna's side. "Let's go over by that photo spot."

The keldeo led them toward the fake rock structure. Yuna wrapped her hands around Noctum's arm. Her head didn't hurt as much, but the pressure was still there. And before the dreepy could try for a calming breath, a pair of familiar voices rattled around in her head.

"Just stop skulking around and rejoin the group. I don't need you causing any problems here."

"What does it matter, Twiggy? It's only a problem because you hopped the fence to tail me."

Yuna suppressed a groan while Seifer quickened his pace. "Oi, you two! What are you doing away from the group?" he barked. He shot jets of water from his hooves to clear the barrier fence. Seifer dropped down next to a large oak tree.

When Noctum and Yuna made it over, they found Chiaki leveling his right claws at Nikki's chest while his left claws held a can of fluorescent-yellow spray paint.

Seifer looked over his shoulder. "Go back to the photo spot, Princess. You don't have to get involved."

He was technically right. Especially since neither of Yuna's teammates cared that much for her. Still, they were her teammates. Maybe she could resolve this if she spoke up? "Um, what's the matter, you two?"

"I caught Nikki breaking off from the group and followed her." The grovyle held up the spray paint. "She was looking to tag the trees."

Nikki flinched, then jammed her hands in her pockets and leaned back against the tree trunk. "That's your interpretation."

"Well, what was I supposed to make of it?" Chiaki rolled his eyes.

"I wanted to get away from Shimmer's swell head. I found that bottle on the ground." The toxtricity pointed to a patch of dirt a meter to her right.

Yuna wasn't buying it. "What would a can of spray paint be doing in the middle of a forest?" She was going to gesture to the trees going downhill, but her pounding head made her lower her arms. "Nrrgh. Oww."

Noctum leaned over and whispered. "Princess, perhaps it's best we let Sir Seifer deal with this?"

"What's going on here? Why did you break off from the group, Yuna?"

Nikki pinched her brow. "Oh boy, the square's here. Now it's a party."

Yuna blinked stars out of her vision. Cid floated behind Noctum, a concerned look on his chitinous face.

"It's nothing, Professor," Seifer replied. "The princess needed some space and I found these hoodlums causing trouble."

Shoulders sagging, Cid sighed. "I'm afraid it's not nothing when it involves my whole Crowne Cup team."

"Look, you're all making a big deal over nothing," Nikki growled. "Just give me my space. I'm not looking to cause any trouble."

Chiaki took a step closer. "I would hope so. Because for someone who claims to want to do well in the Crowne Cup, you're doing everything possible to shoot yourself in the foot."

Nikki tried to step back, but hit the oak tree instead. "I... well..." She tugged at her jacket collar.

Yuna's head continued to pound. She couldn't stomach listening to this anymore. "Okay, Noctum, let's—"

"Keh heh…"

Chiaki stiffened. "Did you guys hear that?"

Yuna's head rang too much to know what Chiaki was talking about. However, the alarmed looks on Cid and Seifer's faces sent a chill racing down her back.

"Keh heh heh… keh ha haaaaa!"

Now Yuna heard it. And the rasping wheezes that followed brought to mind an image of a cloaked, helmeted creature that she was hoping to forget. She tugged on Noctum's arm. "Noctum, we have to—"

However, Yuna quickly realized she wasn't grasping Noctum's warm scales anymore. She looked up and, instead of a black-scaled charizard, found herself clutching a frayed edge of Xeromus' tattered cloak. Despite her aching head, the dreepy managed to scream and float away from him. She expected some sort of attack, but Xeromus remained standing there.

"You!" Seifer's horn sparked to Yuna's right. "You're the one who assaulted one of my men!" He let loose a crescent of red energy.

Xeromus hopped to his right, closer to Yuna. She hastily retreated behind Seifer. "No hesitation behind attacking a worthless omen like me. Sill committed to retreading the past."

"The hell is this thing?" Chiaki had his left hand on the brim of his cap.

"Me? I'm a nobody." Xeromus shook his head, racked by coughs and shudders. "But I still appreciate that you were willing to accept my summons."

His gray, beady eyes met Yuna's. Now, it wasn't just her head hurting. Her tiny torso was warm. And not the pleasant warmth she got from curling up against Noctum's belly, either.

"Wh... what did you do to Noctum?"

"Your charizard friend? He's probably nursing a lump on his head somewhere in that general direction." Xeromus stretched his left hind leg back. "But this isn't about him. It's about you, Blighted One."

Seifer reared up and shot scalding hot water from his forehooves. This time, however, Xeromus dodged left. When Seifer readied another Scald, a pair of shadowy arms emerged from Xeromus' cloak and grabbed hold of a still dumbfounded Nikki.

"What the— aggh!"

"Drop her!"

Over by the tree, Chiaki lunged for Nikki, right arm grabbing her leather jacket. Xeromus yanked her back with a startling amount of force. An audible crack rippled through the air. Yuna's gills shriveled up. Though her vision was blurry, she still managed to see Chiaki's right arm separate at the level of his elbow and drop to the ground in front of him. The grovyle's eyes widened, but the pained expression Yuna expected didn't appear. There wasn't any blood or sap or whatever it was grovyle had inside them.

Xeromus dragged Nikki in front of him. The toxtricity kicked helplessly at the air. "Lemme go, you dick!"

"Ahh, some defiance. Beautiful. Marvelous. Lovely." Xeromus panted heavily. "But your friend resisting like that..." He coughed a few times. "To think those sins are buried deep inside him, too."

A slimy tendril burst out of one of the oak tree's roots and shattered the detached part of Chiaki's arm.

"No!" He turned his scornful gaze on Xeromus. "Bastard! You have any idea how much that cost?"

"Such an interesting contradiction. Speaking of cost like a noble, but dropping foul language like a fellow nobody." Xeromus took several sharp breaths. "There is so much to love about you all… and yet you let the ether nibble away at your individuality."

"R... release my student!" Cid finally found his voice. His spots glowed with psychic power.

Xeromus swung Nikki in Cid's line of sight. "Now, now. Don't share any of your false bravado with your friend. I would hate for Natus to lose such a wonderful follower."

This was bad. Yuna had to do something. But Noctum had her belongings. All she had was her pendant resting against her burning chest.

No, wait. That wasn't right. Was it her chest burning... or was the pendant burning her chest? She looked down. The gem sparked with red light.

"You see it, don't you?" Xeromus' voice oozed a perverted glee. "The past trying to latch its tendrils into you. Pull you into a stagnant abyss. But you will refuse it this time. You will accept Natus' love... and the world will grow into something bigger!"

"Don't listen to this loon," Chiaki called. "He makes the craziest beggars sound reasonable!" He brought his remaining hand up to his face. "Hey! Hey! Somebody help us!"

Xeromus' eyes lost some of their luster. "… Right. Figures. A lowly omen like me can't get Natus' love across properly. Perhaps a glimpse into the Qliphoth... will begin to open your eyes."

An unseen force pounded Yuna's head. That word again. Now she saw luminescent, thorn-covered vines on the edges of her vision.

"As it stands now, if you keep going down this path," Xeromus' eyes darkened, "then the choices you make won't really matter."

Before Yuna could even attempt to make sense of that, Xeromus leaped into the air. He landed several meters deeper into the forest. "But I can still try to steer you to Natus' love!" Xeromus sprinted away while Nikki screamed for help.

Yuna looked at Seifer. Then Chiaki. Then Cid. All dumbfounded. Frozen in uncertainty. And her head. And her chest. Oh, God, her chest hurt so bad. She just had to... had to...

... Had to scream.

"Put Nikki down!"

The moment the last word left Yuna's mouth, the heat around her chest exploded outward, accompanied by a flurry of red and purple light. Yuna's own screams drowned out those of her colleagues, until an intense pressure hammered her from above and made her whole world go dark.

XxX​

Path of Valor Almanac
In the Hebrew mysticism practice of Kabbalah, "Qliphoth" is a term that serves as a representation for wicked or impure spiritual forces that stand in opposition to "Sefirot," or holiness.

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 10: Dungeons and Dragon-Types​

Cold. Coarse.

Yuna's hands brushed against rough ground that was as frigid as the stone floors of her parents' castle. She opened her eyes. A pile of gray sand greeted her. Yuna lifted her head. Sand streamed down from her horns. The dreepy looked around and found nothing but sand mounds.

"What… happened?" Her face scrunched up in thought. It took a few seconds, but she managed to recall exactly what went down. Yuna hadn't been alone when Xeromus showed up. "Nikki! Chiaki!" In a less certain voice, she added, "Seifer?"

At first, the only response she got was the scratching of sand grains blown over one another by a stiff breeze. But then grunts sounded, a cloth scratched against the sand. The mound to Yuna's right shrank down as a hatless Chiaki staggered to its top.

The grovyle looked over his shoulder. "Found Yuna." His shirt's right sleeve flapped in the breeze, reminding Yuna of what had happened to him when Xeromus took Nikki.

"Your arm." She couldn't stop herself from pointing. "What— how— you're missing an arm!"

"Yeah. I noticed." Chiaki flapped his right sleeve. "That dick broke old Bold and Brash."

"I don't understand."

"What's not to understand? Never seen someone with a prosthetic arm?" Chiaki clicked his tongue.

"Uh, no." Yuna had read stories about pokémon with hooks for hands or wooden legs. But Chiaki's fake arm was eerily convincing. "We don't have things like that back home."

"Yeah, I can see that. 'Bold and Brash' was the prosthetic's name. The guy who built it called it a work of art."

Yuna hovered toward him. "Why did you need a fake arm?" She tilted her head. "Did something happen to your real one?"

"How tactful." Chiaki's response dripped with sarcasm. "I was born without my right arm. That's all there is to it."

"… oh." That was odd. Couldn't he have grown a right arm when he evolved? Not that Yuna really knew much about defects like that. Or evolution. And she didn't get to ask a follow-up question, because Cid and Seifer appeared by Chiaki's side. The keldeo's uniform and badges were scuffed and he wore an irritated expression.

"Thank goodness you're okay." Cid wiped his brow.

"No time for chitchat. We need to get a move on." Seifer stuck out his left forehoof. Yuna looked over her shoulder. Sandy mounds stretched ahead for at least a few hundred meters. And the whole place was surrounded by what looked like crisscrossing, red and purple tree branches. Parts of the branches sometimes swelled up as if they were going to burst before contracting.

"Where even are we?" Yuna followed the dome up, wondering if the exit was above them. The branches coalesced into a spiraling, crystal-covered plug. "And what about Nikki? And the monster that kidnapped her?"

Chiaki shook his head. "They're not here."

"And I was hoping you could answer that first one." Seifer narrowed his eyes and pointed his horn at Yuna's pendant. "Your gemstone exploded with light and suddenly we wound up in this place. Is this some sort of trick you dragons use?"

"What? No! I didn't— I wasn't trying to do anything." Yuna looked down guiltily and clasped the pendant. "I saw Nikki in trouble and I got really mad." She gestured above her. "Then this happened."

"Is that so?" Seifer's furrowed brow deepened. "Because your people claim to be so good at fighting off distortion. So, it doesn't sound unreasonable to think Aeons can jump into mystery dungeons on a whim."

"Wait, that's where you think we are?" Yuna looked around again. The gray sand had a red and purple tint to it. Undoubtedly from the glowing branches. Why were they even glowing, anyway? It was almost like they were full of fluid. "Hang on. I was always told that mystery dungeons are areas of chaotic distortion. Like, y'know, not something you can easily visualize."

"Not exactly." Seifer marched up to Yuna, avoiding eye contact. "There is land. But terrain can be radically warped without warning."

"Which is why it's in our best interest to get moving." Chiaki put his claws against the breast pocket on his shirt and pressed against the rose insignia. Blue ripples spread across his clothing. A worn blue jean jacket and black t-shirt replaced his dress shirt. Black jeans overtook his legs. He adjusted the bag slung across his back.

Cid floated after Chiaki. "You had a fake outfit?" His spots flashed white. "I've heard of this before. But it's usually something sold at novelty or party shops."

"Heard of it?" Chiaki rolled his eyes. "You never celebrated Hollow's Eve?"

"Well…" Cid trailing off and rubbing his shoulder told Yuna all she needed to know. Though she could scarcely believe it, either. He almost looked like Nikki in that outfit. There were questions she could've asked. Should've asked. But all she did was stare as the grovyle pulled a grooved metal cylinder ending in a hook from his bag.

"Looks like the Hooker's getting a field test." Chiaki pushed his right sleeve up and pressed the base of the cylinder against the metal stump on his elbow. Metal bolts clicked into place. Hydraulic presses vented steam and the cylinder whirred to life. Chiaki opened and closed the hook on the end, grimacing.

"What kind of sorry prosthetic is that supposed to be?" Seifer approached the grovyle, leveling his gaze with the Hooker. "It's practically scrap metal. No company would make something this sloppy."

"Is it that obvious?"

Yuna frowned. "Then why do you have it?" She strongly doubted he needed it because his dad owned a newspaper.

To her surprise, Chiaki looked at Seifer instead of her. "No particular reason. Maybe I like to parkour in my free time? Grappling hooks are good for wall runs."

Even though she didn't know what parkour referred to, Yuna got the sense that was a lame joke.

"Look, pressing the issue further won't help us escape this place." Chiaki pointed his claws at Seifer. "You're the Radiant Guard here. You lead the way."

"I was about to do that." Seifer trotted past Chiaki. Yuna hovered after him, scanning the alien dome for any sign of a way out.

"Um, what makes you so sure this is the right way?" she asked.

"I'm not." Seifer kept staring ahead. "It's possible there could be pitfalls in the sand, but it's better to go to the edges of this place and walk around the perimeter."

Yuna pointed left. "Then why not go that way? It's faster."

In response, Seifer wet the sand under his hooves and rolled it into a ball. He passed it to Chiaki, who hurled it to the group's left. A sand mound erupted and a black, fiery geyser effortlessly dissolved the ball. It was so startling, Yuna's torso practically shrank back into her head.

"That's why." Seifer continued forward. "Our best way out of here is to find a rift. They're sporadic and can appear just about anywhere."

"You mean like the thing right behind us?"

Yuna whirled around to find a fearful Cid backing away from what appeared to be the very air in front of him breaking apart into fragments. Three bursts of black smoke with pulsating white gemstones emerged from the rift. They were eerily similar to the ashen clouds vented by sulfur plumes in Yuna's home, except they weren't floating up into the sky.

One cloud sent a black energy beam straight at Cid. The orbeetle barely had the time to create a psychic barrier, which nearly cracked under the pressure.

"Phantoms!" Seifer cried. A Secret Sword crescent raced past Yuna, rippling her ectoplasm and sending her torso retreating back into her head. The red beam struck the lead Phantom's white core. It exploded in a burst of black and white smoke. The other Phantoms' shadows coalesced around their cores, distorted energy charging for more strikes.

Seifer let loose another Secret Sword. However, jagged crystals materialized in midair to snuff out the red beam. The Phantoms popped out of the stalemate's lingering smoke.

Yuna was scrambling to process everything. Shouts from behind her. The space above her warping around the Phantoms as they prepared another strike. All the while, the rift held up. Should she run away? Dive into the portal? Did more Phantoms await her on the other side?

It wasn't until the rift grew closer that she realized someone else had decided for her. Chiaki's claws were draped over her left eye. Intense heat struck her back, accompanied by a pair of abruptly cut-off screeches.

Before she could ask Chiaki what he was doing, she slipped from his grip and tumbled down a purple and red abyss. Yuna screamed as a second rift drew closer, until the light on the other side of it swallowed her up.

XxX​

Noctum would be the first to admit he'd done plenty of stupid things in his life. Sticking his tail into an icy lakebed while begging for a loaf of bread that he'd later learn was stale? Dumb. Trying to cook a decaying mareep carcass he happened to find while roaming the badlands? Boneheaded. Modeling jewelry for Queen Yiazmat because he had the "most feminine figure" of all the servants? Ridiculous.

However, all that paled in comparison to trying to fly with a concussion. At least, he thought he had a concussion. Because instead of clusters of trees below him, all he saw were messy swathes of green spinning around one another. And it didn't help he was still trying to piece together exactly what had happened.

One moment, he was beside the princess. The next, the hulking bewear that was Professor Monokuma yanked his head out of a splintered tree trunk. After throwing up the danish he scarfed down for breakfast, Noctum learned Yuna had vanished.

"You should've stayed behind, Charizard. Your face is losing its color."

Noctum flinched, but managed to steady himself. Vegna and his feral pet flew to his right, gazes firmly fixed ahead.

To his left, Corviknight piped up. "Yeah, don't expect a rescue service if you decide to keel over in midair. It's bad enough having to carry the brat."

"How dare you!" Shimmer bonked Corviknight's head with a forehoof.

"Word to the wise, Dimmer Switch, don't conk your airborne lift," Corviknight scoffed. "Otherwise, we'll be scraping your pancaked ass off the ground with one of them novelty spatulas."

"Enough, Griffon." Vegna's eye flashed.

Griffon flapped his wings and puffed out his cheeks. "You still haven't even told me why I'm stuck lugging Dimmer."

"Because Yuna's my partner for Uncle Benedict's trail." Shimmer wrinkled his snout. "I need to know exactly what's going on. I'm not going to let my grade tank because she pulled a disappearing act."

"Ladies and gentlemen, your Crown Prince," Griffon deadpanned.

Noctum was too dizzy for his tail flame to spark further. "Princess Yuna wouldn't—"

Whatever rebuttal he had was choked down by a fresh wave of nausea. He squeezed his snout with a hand and tasted vomit for the second time. Noctum managed to force it back down. He'd stomached much worse in the past. That mold-ridden prime rib he dumpster dove for years ago sprang to mind.

Corviknight rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and I think you two could've hung back.

"Exactly what lead are we pursuing?" Noctum somehow managed to get the full question out.

"The Herbrides Needle." Vegna descended. Griffon had to slow up to help steer Noctum in the right direction. Now there were gray streaks breaking apart the green swathes. The charizard actually made out grass surrounding a gravel road. "I saw some cloaked figure running with Miss Nicolette in their grasp. They let slip the word Needle."

Noctum frowned. "But you didn't see the princess?"

"No."

And Noctum really wasn't sure how long they'd flown for. He could've gone faster, but not with his head pounding like a kommo-o pack beating their chests in a group Clangorous Soublaze.

The gravel road approached. Noctum struggled to swing his legs forward for a proper landing. Fortunately, a sickly purple bubble rosed from the ground to cushion what would've been a nasty belly flop. Noctum looked right to find Vegna stretching out his right arm so Talonflame could land on it.

"What exactly do you hope to accomplish with this Needle business?" the charizard wondered.

Vegna's red eye glowed. "With any luck, finding out what happened to the princess."

I fail to see the connection. Noctum rubbed the swollen spot on his head with his knuckles.

"We told you to stay back for a reason." Griffon hovered about a meter off the ground. Shimmer, however, hopped off his back. "But no. The big, bad charizard's gotta show how manly he is by toughing it out even though he's totally useless in this situation."

"The princess… is my responsibility." Noctum dizzily stepped forward. "I have to look into this." He couldn't rest until he knew she was safe or at least able to be rescued.

"Yeah. Sure. Enjoy your brownie points." Griffon turned to Vegna. "There are Radiant Guard at the checkpoint up ahead, V."

"Of course there are." Vegna crossed his arms while Talonflame hopped onto his skull shoulder gauntlet. "Let's press them for what they know."

"Aww, can't I Body Press 'em instead?" Griffon fluttered his eyelids at Vegna.

"No." The dusknoir pushed Griffon aside and floated off. Shimmer looked at Noctum, before following. The charizard needed a moment before he could hobble after them.

"At least tell me what will happen if we can't find her," Shimmer said. "I'm not failing the first assignment of the year because of her stupidity."

Noctum really wished he could deck Shimmer. "None of this is Yuna's fault."

Shimmer had a retort ready when a pink glow surrounded his snout, which squeezed shut. "Silence." Vegna turned his glare from Shimmer to Noctum. "That goes for you, too, servant-boy."

"Y-Yessir."

"That counts as not being silent," Griffon mused. Talonflame cawed angrily at the corviknight. Noctum briefly wondered if there'd be bird-on-bird violence. Vegna kept the strangest company. Maybe he was a bird before he died and had his spirit recycled into a ghost-type?

"Yuna's situation changes nothing about the trial." Vegna returned his gaze to Shimmer. "I was planning to sit on this until after the field trip, but given things have derailed, I guess I can pass the news along."

Shimmer stopped walking. "What news?"

"The magmar victim in the case passed away yesterday," Vegna declared. "Your so-called uncle's being charged with murder."

It was faint, but Noctum swore some of the luster in Shimmer's horn and mane dimmed. "No way…"

"Did I stutter?" Vegna growled. Talonflame snorted smoke at Shimmer. "The case was reassigned to the Crowne Courte and a new inquisitor requisitioned for the investigation. You and Princess Yuna are welcome to assist, but you won't be leading any defense." He shook his head. "Not that you were ever going to."

Now it was Noctum's turn to be confused. Hadn't Yuna spent yesterday fretting about this assignment? "But you told Yuna—"

"I lied."

Shimmer's jaw slackened. "Excuse me?!"

"You heard him, Dimmer!" Griffon landed in front of the ponyta. "You got tricked, hoodwinked, bamboozled, and… uh, other phrases I'm too lazy to think up." He pointed a wing at Shimmer. "You should see the look on your dumb face right now. Hoo! You got 'em good, V. Got 'em good."

"Then what was that whole routine in class about?" Shimmer's face and horn reddened. "Wait until I tell Mother about. She'll be fuming! You gave us badges and everything!"

"News flash: she already knew." Griffon tapped a wing to his temple. "In fact, she encouraged V to dupe you. Said you deserved a slice of humble pie."

If Noctum wasn't fearing for Yuna's safety, he definitely would've laughed at the ponyta's expense. Instead, he stepped between Vegna and Shimmer. "Can we drop the subject? This isn't helping anyone right now."

"Of course. I've said my piece." Vegna floated up the path. Noctum opted to stick to the ground and lumber after the dusknoir and his avian entourage.

"H-Hey! Get back here! We're not done with this!" Shimmer galloped ahead of Noctum, but Vegna only quickened his pace toward the row of metal stations set up in the distance.

Noctum squeezed his eyes shut. Please, Bahamut. Get Yuna back to us safe.

XxX​

Yuna wasn't dead. At least, that's what she assumed when she felt icy glass against her face. The dreepy floated up and shook the stars from her vision. What happened? She rubbed her eyes with her hands.

Chiaki had pulled her into the rift. Then she fell through a tunnel. And now… now…

A glass floor was beneath her. Sparkling silver liquid bubbled underneath. On either side, arched walls made from the same alien branches as the room Yuna had escaped from. The hallway stretched on, bathed in multicolored lights that danced around the glass.

"What the hell is this place?"

Chiaki walked up beside her, rubbing his fake arm with his real claws. "Are those stained-glass windows? In a mystery dungeon?"

"I don't get it either," Seifer replied, much to Yuna's relief. She turned around to find the keldeo standing opposite Cid. Each looked at different stained-glass murals. "The mystery dungeons I've done rescues in before looked more like the place we fled from. Not… this."

Yuna looked down the hallway. There wasn't any sort of door at the end, though she should've figured as much. Instead, there was an upside-down statue. Two dragonair coiling around one another and touching their snouts together. It might've looked nice in her parents' castle, but what was it doing here? And hanging from the ceiling, no less.

The more she took in of the hallway, the more it brought to mind the temples back home. Sure, there was less gold and silver, but there were halls brimming with statues and stained-glass windows of Bahamut and His Luminous Sages.

"Professor." Chiaki caught Yuna's attention despite calling for Cid. He was standing a few meters ahead of her, pointing his hook at another mural. Yuna floated up to him along with Cid. "This mural's got some of the same symbols you pointed out at the Herbrides Lines."

"Ah, you're right." Cid pointed to the bottom of the window, where curves and straight lines crisscrossed one another. "This one's 'Qliphoth,' if I'm not mistaken."

"And that loon that kidnapped the toxtricity mentioned Qliphoth." Seifer tapped a forehoof. "Then… maybe they really are connected."

"Perhaps 'Qliphoth' refers to mystery dungeons themselves?" Cid theorized. "An entire realm where the laws of nature do not work as we know them."

Yuna, however, was more drawn to the top of the mural. Jagged golden panes surrounded a ring with five diamonds on its border. World Ender's sigil. What was that doing in something that could pass as part of a temple?

Around the golden panes were rainbow stars. The longer Yuna looked at them, the more it seemed like the stars were moving.

No, she wasn't imagining it. They were moving. Arranging themselves next to one another. And their colors unraveled to spell something out.

N-O-A-T-U-N.

"Noatun." It slipped out. Yuna only realized she said it when the others looked at her in confusion.

"Noa-what?" Chiaki frowned. "Are you about to pass out on us again?"

"No. It's… that's what's written on the window." Yuna pointed up. "Don't you see it? The stars spell out Noatun."

Chiaki shook his head. "You're seeing things. There aren't any letters in the mural." He stepped back. "More importantly, it doesn't look like there are any rifts here. So, we ought to keep moving."

"To where? Both sides are dead ends." Seifer pivoted back and forth.

"Hang on. I think I might be able to help here." Cid put his right hand against his forehead. "I learned to use Dynascan in school. It was meant to be for things like archaeology digs, but I think it can help here."

Seifer raised a brow. "You have Dynaforce?"

Yuna couldn't tell from his tone if the keldeo was impressed or concerned. Nevertheless, Cid's spots released beacons of pink light. A pink eyeball silhouette materialized over his head. Identical silhouettes overtook his spots, before they all fizzled away in red, smoky trails. Yuna looked around, but nothing had changed. What was the point of that?

"That wall isn't entirely solid." Cid pointed to the dragonair statue. "And I sensed one of those dragonair heads is manipulatable."

"Great. Then let's get the hell out of here." The glass floor clinked with every step Chiaki took. As Yuna followed, she caught a glance at the last stained-glass mural. It had an orange person with pointed, triangular legs, but four tentacles instead of arms. The blue tentacles coiled around the orange one.

"Pay attention, Princess," Chiaki snapped. "We don't know what's about to happen."

"Ah. Sorry." Yuna tucked her hands in and hovered to Seifer's side. Chiaki nudged each dragonair head with his claws. The left one moved, so he twisted it until a snap echoed through the hallway.

Purple lines rippled through the statue. The empty space between the dragonair distorted and the space the statue occupied seemed to break apart. Yuna tensed up. Another rift. Were these rifts the only way to get places around here?

"See anything?" Cid asked.

Seifer stepped forward. "We have to go through the rift. Brace yourselves." The keldeo hopped into the portal.

Yuna dashed after him, not wanted to be left behind. Like before, she soon found herself drifting through open space. There were off-colored lightning surges zigzagging around on either side of her. A second rift awaited her, projecting multicolored light. Yuna flew into it and, unlike last time, managed to stay awake.

The dreepy descended toward Seifer, who stood on a curved pane of multicolored glass. Chiaki dropped down behind her. His startled yelp drew her attention. The grovyle hopped across the glass, clutching his right foot. On closer inspection, some green scales sat on a column of black spokes to Yuna's right.

Heck, there were multiple lines of black spokes, all running down the curved to glass to meet in a black circle in the center. "Hang on." Yuna frowned. "This is, like, a cathedral ceiling."

She looked up and, sure enough, there was a gray stone floor littered with wooden pulpit benches and chairs. Stone steps with draped red carpets led to a lectern made of the same sinister purple and red branches littering the walls on either side of the room.

So, what were they doing on the ceiling? Who had turned off gravity on them? And, more importantly, how could Yuna turn it back on?

"Miss Nikki!"

Yuna's gills curled up. She glanced at Cid, who pointed to the other side of the ceiling, where Nikki stood with their back to the group. However, any relief was quickly stamped out when Yuna realized Xeromus stood beside the toxtricity.

"How delightful!" Xeromus coughed loudly and sucked in a sharp breath. "I wasn't sure what to make of that energy spike I sensed, but here you are. I didn't give you a door, so you made one yourself to take in the Qliphoth, just like I suggested."

"Unhand the student!" Seifer ordered. "You're under arrest for kidnapping and assaulting a Radiant Guardsmon."

Xeromus sighed. "Really now? You stand at the entrance to the truth's long, winding road and would spew such blasphemy?" He shook his head, wheezing. "Your authority has always been a façade. No mortal shell can change that. But the Qliphoth can reveal your past mistakes. And guide you to the Affirmer's warm embrace."

Small green pellets nearly pelted Xeromus' left side, but a spectral arm shredded the Bullet Seeds apart. "I see." He stepped back. "Better you turn such aggression on a worthless omen like me. I would happily accept it all, but Natus wants you to grasp the truth. So, perhaps, one of your allies can nudge you toward the right path?"

Why does this guy always have to talk in riddles? Yuna wasn't up for trying to parse any of it. And she knew attacking Xeromus was pointless. If Seifer and Chiaki couldn't get hits in, what good would she do?

Instead, she waited for Xeromus to make a move. However, it was Nikki who turned around and slammed her hands onto her gills. Yuna stared into toxtricity's empty eyes while Chiaki and Seifer barely managed to get Protect barriers up. The Boomburst still pushed them to the ceiling's outer rim. Cid's pained hollers echoed through the hall.

"What are you doing, Nikki? Stop it!" Yuna cried.

"Your words can't reach her." Xeromus' gray eyes flickered blue. A pool of shadows swallowed him up. Blue light rippled above Yuna. She glanced up. A blue serpent had traced itself into the stone floor.

Before she could work out what was going on, Seifer shouted, "Princess, look out!"

Yuna looked down in time to see Nikki lunging for her, outstretched fist full of electricity.

XxX​

Path of Valor Almanac
Herbrides takes inspiration from the Hebrides, an archipelago to the west of Scotland. In Norse mythos, Nóatún is home to the god Njörðr, who's associated with seafaring, winds, fishing, wealth, and crops.

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 11: The Hanged Man​

Yuna braced for a painful electrical shock, but instead heard Nikki's garbled wails. She poked an eye open. Seifer stood in front of her protectively. Nikki lay a couple of meters away, water dripping from her jacket.

"You all right?" Seifer asked without looking back.

"Yes." At best, a half-truth. Physically she was fine. Mentally not so much. Her ectoplasm quivered. And she was struggling to understand why this was happening.

Before Nikki had the chance to stand up, Chiaki swooped in with a surprising burst of speed. Rather than using any specific attack, he kicked her in the side and sent her tumbling across the floor. "You can't take all of us, you idiot!" he growled. "Whatever that freak did to your head… fight it."

Was that it, then? Had Xeromus brainwashed her? If so, Chiaki was probably the last person Nikki wanted to hear anything from. "Maybe if we knock her out, it'll free her from Xeromus' control?" Yuna offered.

"We'll need at least a few more solid hits, then," Seifer said, horn sparking. "Aqua Jet was the only way I could get to you fast enough to stop her, but that hardly does much damage."

"Err, right." Yuna saw Nikki get to her feet. She imagined getting kicked in the ribs would leave someone dazed, yet something about the toxtricity's movements seemed… off.

Nikki abruptly jerked to her left. "You hit me!" Her voice was heavily distorted. She jerked right. "You hit me!"

"You attacked first, numbskull," Chiaki said. The look on his face suggested he shared Yuna's concern.

"You hit me! You hit me!" Nikki hunched over, panting and slobbering like a wound-up feral manectric. Her mohawk glowed a sickly purple. She rose into the air on a pillar of purple ooze, then dropped to the ground.

"Fly, Princess!" Seifer cried, horn projecting a blue shield around himself. Chiaki also summoned a Protect. The Sludge Wave pushed both of them back while Yuna safely floated over it. Cid had managed to recover from his initial blow and get over the attack, but his hovering was erratic. The Boomburst must've done a number on him.

"Grraaah!"

To the group's horror, Nikki slammed her hands on the ground. Another Boomburst shockwave rippled out. With their Protects fizzling out, there was nothing Chiaki and Seifer could do to shield themselves. Thinking quickly, Yuna darted toward Seifer with Quick Attack speed to back her up. She absorbed some of the blow, but there was still enough lingering force to upend Seifer.

Chiaki didn't fare much better, getting flung airborne and flailing his limbs around. Yuna used another Quick Attack burst to close the gap. She tried to get her arms around his chest, but she was too small. Chiaki slipped past her and fell toward the ground— which was technically still the ceiling. God, that was confusing.

However, rather than trying to stick the landing, Chiaki's fake arm whirred to life. His hook shot out toward Nikki with a long metal chain. Nikki flopped down on her stomach. Chiaki's eyes widened when, despite Nikki's dodge, the Hooker grabbed onto the air above her.

It was enough to slow Chiaki's fall and let him land safely. Chiaki tugged his right arm briefly and encountered heavy resistance. On top of that, the floor above them rumbled like a distant thundercloud.

"What the hell?" Chiaki and Yuna looked up to see the serpent insignia shifting from blue to red.

"Chiaki! Princess!" Cid called, his spots glowing. "There's something inside the floor. I think it's a ghost-type!"

Grunting from the strain, the grovyle tugged on the Hooker. A brown, translucent arm materialized above Nikki, with four of its fingers connected to her back spikes.

"Ngaaargh!"

The floor rumbled again. Yuna watched it fracture around the serpent. Some of the segments dropped down, dangling by clusters of brown shadows.

"You found me?" The segment with the serpent's head twitched in midair. "You found me! You found m— aargh!"

Scalding water blasted the face piece. Seifer stepped to Yuna's side once again. "Professor, can you use Dynascan again? I've never seen anything like this!"

"There's no need." Cid's spots glowed brighter. "I thought I recognized that serpent crest. That's a runerigus!"

Seifer briefly looked at Cid like he was babbling nonsense. Yuna would have, too, were she not watching Runerigus' stone segments. Were they getting closer?

Oh no! Yuna darted toward the outside of the ceiling. "Chiaki, run! It's trying to crush you!"

A gust of wind appeared around Chiaki. Aerial Ace, from what Yuna could tell. But used to dash far to his left instead of attack.

"They're a distant cousin to cofagrigus, but they were declared extinct not long after the Darkest Day," Cid explained.

"Does that look extinct to you?" Seifer shouted after hopping right. One of Runerigus' pieces smashed into the ceiling, leaving a spiderweb crack in the multicolored glass.

"You avoided me? You avoided me!" Runerigus shrieked. It dragged its stone segment across the ground, scratching up the stained-glass ceiling. Seifer wasn't fast enough this time, and was sent rolling over toward Yuna.

"I don't think the floor can take much more of this." Chiaki opened his mouth, but Runerigus raised its midsection right before Bullet Seeds would've pelted it.

"Technically, we're on the ceiling." Cid laughed nervously.

"Not helping!" Chiaki shot the Hooker and latched into Runerigus' midsection. The giant ghost hollered. It tried to pull up toward the ceiling, but the Hooker's chain abruptly caught ablaze. Runerigus' garbled screams echoed around the cathedral. Yuna's gills shriveled and she wobbled in midair, messing up her attempt at helping Seifer up.

Runerigus hastily detached his hand from Nikki's back. She crumpled into a ball on her side. Chiaki yanked the Hooker out of Runerigus. "Seifer, I need some help—"

"Stop insulting me! Stop insulting me!" Runerigus bellowed.

"Ngargh!"

Yuna turned around from Seifer. Runerigus had Chiaki in its grasp. His fake arm's grappling hook flopped about as Runerigus hefted the grovyle up, then hurled him into the ground. Chiaki's screams only lasted a second. Cracked glass spread out around him.

"No! Chiaki!" Yuna's immediate thought was the impact shattered his spine and killed him. Relief flooded her when Chiaki shakily raised his real arm, only to have it drop by his side.

"You got beat by me! You got beat by me!" Runerigus giggled excitedly as it continued repeating the phrase. Yuna gulped. If Chiaki was still alive, why wasn't it going for the killing blow? And what about Nikki? She was out cold, too.

"Princess! Commander! By my estimations, our floor can't withstand another blow of that magnitude." From the perimeter, Cid pointed to where Chiaki lay. Sure enough, the cracks in the glass were spreading toward the ones Runerigus had made earlier.

"Professor, you have to distract that thing now!" Seifer barked. Water coalesced around the tip of his horn.

"What about me?" Yuna asked.

"Stay by my side."

"But I can help! Just tell me what to do."

"I already did." The keldeo didn't budge from the ceiling's perimeter. "You're my charge. You're not leaving my side." The ball of water around his horn grew even bigger. Any further protests Yuna had disappeared as she swallowed hard.

"Hurry up, Professor!" Seifer cried.

"R-Right!" Cid nervously hovered forward. "Excuse me! Mr. Runerigus, sir? Before you turn me into a pile of mush, might I ask you a question?"

Runerigus lowered its headpiece toward Cid. "You're insulting me?" it growled.

"No, not at all. J-Just, as a historian, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity." Cid forced a fake laugh. "I'd be remiss if I didn't try to learn as much about you as possible."

"You're insulting me!" Runerigus raised its headpiece. Cid screamed and threw up a pink shield to try and protect himself.

"Ready!"

From beside Yuna, Seifer unleashed a gigantic water tunnel. It was easily two— no, three times bigger than him! Yuna flopped to the ground and dragged herself away, afraid of somehow getting swept up in it.

Fortunately, the only one taking the blow was Runerigus. The massive splashes drowned out its cries. But it didn't stop there. Rather than evaporating away, the water condensed into gray, puffy clouds. Before Yuna knew it, rain pelted her from above.

"What just happened?"

"Dynageyser," Seifer replied, hunching over to catch his breath. The rain washed the dust and debris from his medals and uniform.

Oh, so it was more of that Dynaforce stuff she heard mention of. "But wait… won't the rain weaken the floor even more?"

Seifer jolted upright, his cheeks flushing. He must not have thought about that. Fortunately, the clouds cleared away, taking the rain with them. In their stead, Runerigus' segments dangled from the floor. The serpent head disappeared.

"I… I think that did him in." Cid sighed in relief. "I'll hover down and get the oth—"

A loud creak sounded. Then another. And then a third. Yuna looked up. The bits of ectoplasm keeping Runerigus bound to the floor were giving way. It was going to fall… and crush Chiaki, Cid, and Nikki. Or shatter the floor and send them reeling through the Qliphoth!

All of this was her fault. Xeromus was drawn to her presence. Her pendant sent the group into the Qliphoth. And all she could do during the battle was stand by while everyone else fought on her behalf.

Why did she have to be so weak? Why couldn't she keep anyone safe? Even if they made it back to Herbrides, how could she face the other students? Her family? Her kingdom?

I just… want to make a difference for once!

Another burning feeling took over Yuna's head. Yuna hunched over and thrust her arms toward her teammates, as if she was trying to grab hold of them despite being separated by a good distance. Two shadowy clouds formed next to her. They extended toward Yuna's teammates until they'd taken the shape of a pair of black, ectoplasmic wings.

Just when it looked like Runerigus would fall on top of her teammates, the wings wrapped themselves around Chiaki, Cid, and Nikki. They held the trio between six red spikes. Without even thinking, Yuna brought her hands up. The wings mimicked Yuna's gesture, hurling everyone but Seifer to the other side of the ceiling's perimeter.

"What in blazes—" Seifer reared on his hind legs, whinnying in surprise as he fell on his back.

The burning subsided. Yuna brought her hands down to her sides, staring in awe while the wings evaporated in shadowy trails. She looked down at her hands, wondering how she had even summoned them in the first place. Where had those been when Xeromus confronted them at the Herbrides Lines? They could've avoided all of this!

Runerigus then crashed into the ceiling, shattering the glass. A distorted purple shockwave rippled out from the glass shards. The entire room flipped itself all around Yuna. It was so startling, she wound up dropping out of the air and onto the floor. The actual floor. Cold, gray, and made of rough stone that stung as it brushed her ectoplasm.

"Oogh." Yuna sat up. A wave of vertigo crashed over her, forcing her to lie back down. She waited a few seconds for the room to stop spinning. When it did, Yuna found the stained-glass ceiling was perfectly intact above her.

That got her to sit up. She definitely didn't imagine all of that. Did beating Runerigus make the cathedral turn back to normal? Oh, it didn't matter. The dreepy was exhausted. "Guys?" Yuna floated into the air. "Everyone okay?"

"My ribs," Seifer wheezed to her left. The keldeo was draped over the back of a stone bench like a living dish towel. Nikki and Chiaki lay side by side several meters behind Yuna, with Cid floating above them. His massive head vibrated. Perhaps that was how orbeetle showed they were nervous?

"Princess?" Cid tapped his fingers together nervously. "You… you rescued us, didn't you?"

Yuna thought back to the wings she summoned. Wrapping up her teammates and wedging them between those red spikes. She'd never seen wings like those on any dragon— heck, on any flying pokémon. "I guess I did?" Yuna looked at her hands again. She flicked one forward. No wing appeared.

"I saw it." Wincing, Seifer gingerly slid off the bench. "You thrust your arms forward and summoned giant ghost wings." He took a cautious step back. "What was that? Some sort of dark Aeon magic? It wasn't any attack I've ever seen."

Yuna flicked her left hand. Again, no wing appeared. "I don't know."

Seifer narrowed his eyes. "You don't know… or you won't say?"

"I don't know." Yuna resisted the urge to flinch. "I was just thinking about how all of this was my fault… and I got mad at myself. I envisioned grabbed onto everyone… and then the wings appeared." The dreepy turned her hands back and forth.

"I see." Seifer shook out his disheveled hair. "This is the second time you've claimed some strange phenomenon happened because you got angry. If you ask me, I think you're hiding something."

Yuna was about to retort when a loud groan sounded behind her. She turned around and, to her horror, saw Runerigus lying in front of the cathedral pulpit. Its stone segments quivered.

"… you… beat me?" The head segment turned to Yuna. "You traitor. You cannot stop us." Runerigus tried to drag itself forward, but couldn't manage. "You will pay. Nos vera Natus! Nos… vera… Natus!"

The head piece went limp. Runerigus' body shrank down, releasing black steam that coalesced above it. Briefly, a black, crystalline mask resembling a dragon skull formed in the middle of the shadows. It instantly shattered and the fragments dissolved away.

"Hey, look at that." Cid hovered toward Yuna. "Runerigus turned into a cofagrigus."

Seifer's eyes widened. "Wait a second." He walked toward Cofagrigus, wincing with every step. "This is the man that fiend Xeromus threw into the distortion when he attacked me a few nights ago. Sergeant Rune." The keldeo was in too much pain to properly kneel down and examine him. "Professor, can you sense any energy from him?"

"Mmm. It's faint, but there's a spark," Cid replied.

"That's good." Seifer bit his lip. "Though it's horrifying how much the distortion warped him."

Is it really that simple? Yuna clasped her pendant. Before fading away, Runerigus chanted that phrase Cid brought up back at the Herbrides lines. And, of course, Xeromus kept referring to Natus. It was probably connected to this Qliphoth place, then. Perhaps Natus was the Qliphoth's ruler? Or maybe its deity… like Bahamut was for her people?

"Right. Well, just because Rune is safe doesn't mean we're out of trouble," Seifer said, face scrunched up. "Those two students are clearly hurt, but I lost my supplies when we got flung into the mystery dungeon." He glanced at Rune. "We need a way out. With three unconscious and my injuries, we're as vulnerable as a beached magikarp."

Cid raised his right hand. "Hold that thought." His spots glowed pink. "I'm sensing a strong aura behind that lectern." His brow furrowed. Cid floated toward the pulpit.

"Professor, wait. It could be a trap." Yuna was torn between following the orbeetle and staying by Seifer. She tensed up, fearful Cid was about to trigger something bad.

"Hmm." Cid pressed a hand to the stone wall and knocked on it. "It's hollow. I think this wall is fake." He backed away. A pink glow surrounded the stone. Cid effortlessly removed the wall. It dropped onto the carpeted floor without making a sound.

"Oh my!" The orbeetle backed away, shielding his eyes from a brilliant white and orange light. "Commander, are you seeing this?"

Yuna looked to Seifer for some indication he knew what Cid was talking about. His jaw hung open. "It can't be. That's… the Herbrides Needle?"

"Needle?" Yuna failed to see the likeness. Then again, all she saw was bright light. Light that was… getting closer?

No, wait. She was floating toward it. But why? She wasn't telling her body to move! What was the meaning of this? And why was her pendant glowing again?

"Princess, what are you doing?" Seifer called. "Don't go near the Needle! It's not meant to be touched!"

Cid looked ready to try and block her. Without thinking, Yuna charged forward with Quick Attack. She planted both her hands on the red gemstone sitting atop the metal rod. When she did, a column of blue fire surrounded her and swallowed her up with the Needle.

XxX​

"Mmm. Soft."

She uncurled her large, deep blue wings and let their spectral membranes brush against the dew-covered grass. Above her was a blue, sunny sky. She'd never seen anything like it before. It was nothing like the twisted projections within the Qliphoth. And that meant… she must've made it.

She escaped. She was free.

A laugh escaped trembling lips. The endless patrols. The imprisoning of rebellious spirits. It was all behind her. Finally.

Except… what planet had she even ended up on? She tried lifting her head, but pain jolted down to the golden tip of her crescent tail.

… right. A Malice Cannon had struck her while she fled through deep space. She had gotten a portal open, but that was all she remembered before blacking out.

"Guess I had a rough landing." She mustered the strength to turn her head. An impact crater sat several meters to her right. Chunks of dirt and mud lay scattered around kicked up grass. She must've crashed there and rolled to a stop where she currently lay. No wonder her wings and tail were so sore.

"Oh gosh! Oh golly! Oh goodness!"

"Huh?" Despite the pain, her psychic sense kicked up at an unfamiliar, nasally male voice. Her eyes glowed pink, but she lacked the power to open her third eye. She sensed… a fiery aura. One mixed with dragon. She tried sitting up again to no avail.

The temperature around her spiked, then a reshiram landed just in the periphery of her vision. This one looked quite nervous. Tapping his claws together and shifting from one foot to another. He had an awful case of bed head. A far cry from the usual luscious locks she'd seen on other reshiram. Had he just woken up?

"Are you okay, Miss… um…" Reshiram tilted his head. Nervous or not, his soft, blue eyes glistened more than any other reshiram's eyes she'd ever looked at. Probably a result of not spending eternity in the Qliphoth. "Actually, this is kind of awkward. What even are you?"

What kind of question was that? Oh, right. Matriarch told her about this. The outsiders would not have anything to compare her to.

Should she give her name, then?

"Oh no." Reshiram knelt down. The pendant around his neck bristled against his tangled fur. Its eight-pointed star glistened under the sunlight. "You didn't lose your memories, did you?"

He stood back up and lightly bonked his temples with his wings. "Cecil, you nitwit! Look at the size of that crater! Did all of Bahamut's instructions go completely in one ear frill and out the other? Assess the scene, get the injured immediate aide, then ask the questions." He smacked his face harder. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"

"Lunala," she finally whispered. This guy's a real piece of work. I hope everyone on this planet isn't like him. His nerves are going to fry my ESP at this rate.

Reshiram froze mid-face smack. "Lunala?" He rubbed his snout with a claw. "Not ringing any bells. But I can discuss that with Bahamut and the others when we get back."

"Get back?" Lunala's red eyes glowed. "I'm not about to run off with a stranger."

"No, no, you misunderstand." Reshiram waved his wings in front of his face. "My friends and I saw you fall from outer space. I'm a fast flier, so I went ahead to scout and see if I could find you." He extended his right wing toward her. "You seem hurt. There are people at home who can heal you. And then we can talk… if you like, of course."

Nervous energy or not, it was awfully kind of Reshiram. No one in the Qliphoth would offer such generosity if she ended up lost and injured in some unknown segment. But could she trust him? Tensing, Lunala tried to probe Reshiram's mind. However, a pins and needles sensation overtook her own head and forced her to retreat.

If she refused, she'd be stuck by herself in some field on an unknown planet. What did she have to lose?

Her life, perhaps. But at this point, death was preferable to the Qliphoth.

"Okay." Lunala shakily reached her right wing to Reshiram's. "And, um, thank you."

Reshiram smiled. His tail lit up bright orange. "It's my pleasure."

XxX​

Groaning, Yuna rolled around the crystalline floor of the small, circular room that held the now-missing Needle. What was that vision? Nothing about it made sense… except for Saint Reshiram, of course. And yet, he looked nothing like his depictions in the scriptures. So unscrupulous. And he had a name? Cecil?

"Well, to be fair, that was the name I had when I was a commoner. Y'know, before I took over the whole Sage of Truth gig from my teacher."

Oh, okay. That made perfect sense.

… wait, no it didn't! Why was the reshiram's voice from the dream in her head?!

Yuna abruptly sat up and looked around. The room was full of black crystals. They were absorbing the light from the cathedral, giving the place a warped and jagged appearance. She tucked her head down to see her pendant glowing.

"Huh. You're a dreepy? What are you doing with a Soul Dew? No, scratch that. Why am I even in a Soul Dew?!"

Yuna's pendant glowed. Orange and white streams of light funneled out and coalesced into Saint Reshiram himself. The very same fuzz-covered dragon she laid eyes on in the dream.

Well, not quite. He was much smaller. And kind of see-through?

Yuna blinked once. Twice. She smacked her cheek.

Nope, she wasn't dreaming anymore. Which meant…

"You're… you're Saint Reshiram." The dreepy shakily pointed to him. "It's really you! The scriptures are true after all."

"Saint?" Reshiram cocked his head. "Nobody mentioned anything about that to me." His brow furrowed. He was ready to add something else, but purple light above his head caught his attention. "Err, hold that thought. What is—"

Yuna looked up. A rift much like the previous ones she traversed the Qliphoth with sat above her. Only this one had warm sunlight filtering in through it. Could that be a way back home?

"Is… is that a… Qliphoth Rift?" Reshiram's fur frazzled. His tail engine crackled. He fanned his face with a wing. "Oh me… deep breaths. Oh my… not working. Oh dear… gonna scream." Reshiram took a deep breath.

"Waaaaaah!"

He flew around the small room in a frenzied, zig-zagging panic. Yuna watched dumbstruck. All of the stories had depicted Saint Reshiram as a stern individual, committed to honesty no matter the situation. This guy, however, made her look like the most confident dragon in the world. What was the deal? Was he some sort of fake? Was this all the Qliphoth's doing?

"Hey! Hey!" Yuna floated into the air. Reshiram managed to screech to a halt before crashing into her. "Can you stop freaking out for a minute and tell me what the heck is going on here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Reshiram pointed to the rift. "My seal is broken and there's a Qliphoth Rift right above us. Our plan must've failed… which means the Qliphoth is going to eat away the planet! We're all hosed!" He paused and looked down at his belly. "Okay, well you're hosed. I'm already dead… but I'm not looking to wind up a daemon!"

Reshiram turned away and went back to hyperventilating. Yuna was reduced to wordlessly opening and closing her mouth. She thought this Qliphoth business was a lot to take in. But pokémon getting transformed into extinct species? A Luminous Sage appearing in front of her and freaking about some kind of impending doomsday? And, to top it all off, said Sage being nothing like the scriptures Yuna followed her whole life?

She couldn't deal with this. It was time to put her nonexistent foot down. "That's enough!" The dreepy floated up to Reshiram, head still pounding. "I know you're worried, but I've had a miserable day. I just want to go home."

"Home?" Reshiram blinked. "To Bahamut?"

Yuna stiffened. That was not the response she expected. "Didn't he perish when he lost his light to World Ender?"

"World Ender?" Reshiram scratched his chin. "Can't say I'm familiar. But who else could you have gotten that Soul Dew from?" He tapped a claw to Yuna's pendant.

"Hey!" Yuna reflexively covered the pendant with her hands. "This is a family heirloom."

"No, that's a Soul Dew." Reshiram fiddled with one of his wispy hair strands. "I would know. All us Sages had 'em. Also, y'know, Sage of Truth and all."

And now the dreepy had another issue to add to the plate. "Okay, well, whatever this is… we need to table this discussion." Yuna crossed her arms. "I have colleagues who are hurt outside. We have to get back home. Y'know, to Etherium."

Reshiram pointed up to the rift. "Qliphoth Rifts wouldn't last this long if they were going between segments. That should get you back to the outside world. I'd stake my honor on it." He looked around. "I mean, honor's kind of all I have. Y'know, being dead and all." He shrugged and laughed nervously.

Yuna dragged her hands across her face. Reshiram's sense of humor was— okay, no, she couldn't sugarcoat it. It sucked. And it was unbecoming for a Sage to act this casual.

"Well, can you, like, make yourself disappear until I can gather the others?" she pleaded.

"Okay, fine. But we are going to talk all this over, right? Because, y'know, not to point claws or anything, but if you're the one who broke my seal you might've just screwed over the whole planet."

Yuna glared at Reshiram. He raised his wings innocently. "Hey, I'm just being honest."

"Be honest somewhere else… please."

Reshiram nodded. His body shrank down into a glob of red and white light. It funneled back into Yuna's pendant. Her shoulders sagged.

Something told her it was going to take more than the fancy medicine in Dr. Rafique's clinic to bounce back from this.

XxX​

The blow to Noctum's head was definitely getting to him. He was finding it harder to stay standing. When Vegna went to question a hitmonchan guard, Noctum sat down and braced himself on either side with his arms.

"So, a cloaked figure made a mad dash toward the distortion and you lot made no attempt to stop them?" Vegna's eye crackled with red sparks, as did the rubies in his skull gauntlets.

"They were just too fast, sir." Hitmonchan rubbed his hands together nervously.

"And did you happen to miss the hostage they were holding?" Vegna growled. Hitmonchan nodded and looked down at his lavender shirt. Vegna brought his right hand to his side. Shadows coiled around it. "Then it would seem I've no choice but to send you to the Twilight Realm. Such incompetence cannot be allowed to remain standing."

Hitmonchan's eyes widened. "W-Wait! P-Please, sir, I didn't mean to do anything wrong."

Vegna raised his hand as if he was going to strike, then lowered it. "Hmph. T'was a jest you ignoramus." On the dusknoir's shoulder, Talonflame's eyes glinted with amusement. "But I will see to it that you suffer a write-up. And possibly a salary reduction." He turned away from Hitmonchan, who slumped down onto his knees with a dazed look in his eyes.

Noctum winced. He almost felt sorry for the guy. But if he was feeling better, he might've been even more upset than Vegna. Yuna was still missing and this questioning hadn't brought him any closer to finding her.

The charizard was ready to suggest giving up when the ground rumbled. A few meters away, Shimmer whinnied in surprise. "An earthquake? Here?"

"Yo, V! The distortion!" Griffon pointed a metallic wing toward the black, static twister in the distance. Beams of light poked through the dark clouds. Then a pillar of light erupted from the ground, swallowing the distortion up.

"Whoa!" Noctum threw an arm over his face. The bright light only intensified the pounding in his head. Now he was really wishing he'd heeded Vegna's words and stayed back.

"Is anyone out there? We need some help over here!"

Noctum's tail flame grew. He knew that voice. It was Yuna's! The charizard rubbed his eyes, praying this wasn't some sort of hallucination. "Princess, are you there?" Noctum called, voice cracking.

"Oh, brother. Are you blind?" Shimmer rolled his eyes. "She's floating at the head of the group, waving her arms around."

Noctum was too overjoyed to be bothered by Shimmer's snide response. Though dizzy, he stumbled forward. "Princess!"

Yuna zoomed toward him. She flew straight into his belly, wrapping her arms around his utility belt. "Noctum! Thank God. I thought… I thought I'd never see you again."

The charizard's tail flame turned a vibrant blue. He wrapped his black-scaled arms around her and cradled her tight. "It's okay, Princess. I'm here now." Noctum leaned over to brush his snout against her head. "I'm here."

XxX

~Il Paradigma, Canto XII: Nidhogg~
Incapable of thinking for itself, this parasitic daemon preys on the insecurity of vulnerable spirits. But such emotions dictate the actions it takes when it has a host, leading to rampant, but clumsy, hostility.​

 

[NebulaDreams]

Review of Prologue + Chapter 1

Hello, fellow Catnipper! This is the first time I've read any of your works -- sorry, I've had Guiding Light on my list for ages and I still haven't gotten around to reading it. So I'm glad Catnip has given me to push to check your stuff out now.

First of all, I like the setting you've built here. Already, I get the sense that this world is huge and complex, which is refreshing to read since a lot of the PMD fics I've read so far have been confined to guilds. From the prologue, I got the gist of the story as well as the general conflict. Even if I didn’t know the Radiant Guard that much, it was a bit harrowing to see them get corrupted like that. And it was connected well to Yuna’s segment where we see how the political move personally affects her with how homesick she is.

Chapter 1 continues to be interesting, where Yuna is a fish out of water in another kingdom where dragons are looked down upon, which makes sense for the fairy kingdom and makes me root for Yuna and her assistants a bit more. The Final Fantasy references were cute. I also like the side characters. For the brief time they're there, the story gave them quite a bit of personality, from the crime duo of Carpaccio/Rookie, to the stamp-collecting Noctum, which carried some of the scenes for me even when they weren't the most emotionally gripping.

On that note, while I have don't have much critical to say with this fic so far, since the hook is good enough to keep me going and I get the conflict on paper, I just wish these two chapters had a bit more punch to its execution. I initially got a bit lost in the politicking of the prologue -- while I still understood what was going on, it was a little emotionally detached until the phantom invasion at the end. And unfortunately, the same can be said about chapter 1 even though it followed Yuna's perspective. I wasn't that invested in her throughout this chapter since I didn't get much of a grasp of how she felt sometimes, and there weren't many opportunities to zoom in on her thoughts, unlike the prologue where it allowed her to contemplate her situation and gave her a little bit of agency over her actions. As much as I liked the side characters, there were so many of them that they overshadowed Yuna a bit in terms of personality.

As well as that, she hasn't had much of a chance to make big decisions on her own yet, aside from throwing that seed at Xeromus. I like that she is out of her depth here, and that she's surrounded by a rather snooty bunch of students that have no interest in her, especially since she is a dragon. But since she's mostly been chaperoned from place to place so far, having people step in for her, it's not the most engaging approach to me. Then again, it is baked into the conflict with her being a princess that needs to be guarded, and there's seemingly a part of her that wants to break out of her shell (the talk with Xeromus also raised questions), so it's hard to suggest something else since you clearly have a specific story you want to tell with this. I just had more issue with the fact her perspective felt distant rather than her actions throughout the chapter.

So, on the whole, I would like to read more of it since it is a promising start. It does its job as an introduction to establish the setting, and I like the ideas here as well as some of the characters. I just hope that later down the line, I'll get to appreciate the main characters a bit more.

 

[Adamhuarts]

I binged the rest of this fic yesterday and quite an exhilarating binge that was. This is a story I enjoy reading greatly. For this review I'll make brief comments on the chapters I read one after another to talk about things that stood out to me most.

I could see you flaunting your medical equitments knowledge at the beginning of chapter 7, which was delightful. Seeing Yuna reacting to them all was fun. We also got to learn a few things, like Chiaki being the son of a newspaper conglomerate and needing a bodyguard as a result. I wonder if it's intentional that his dad's name is the same as Giovanni's Japanese name lol. That's a fascinating easter egg if anything else.

It was fun seeing Vegna show Shimmer his place. Shimmer is still pretty arrogant right now and could use a bit of humility in his system otherwise the radiant kingdom will have a hard time under his rule in the future. At the very least Shimmer does care about his uncle who might have been wrongly accused. This shows that Shimmer isn't a complete narcissist at the very least. Whether Shimmer will undergo a positive or negative character arc is still too early to say even by the eleventh chapter, but I'm excited all the same to see where he ends up in the future.

Chapter 8 gave us a little bit more about the galar starter trios, and they're still as much assholes as in their last appearance. It's no wonder that Yuna got offended by them. Sure their job is to 'form a narrative for the audience', but they didn't have to be mean to wyrm thingie's face like that >:C. At least Shimmer thinks Yuna is smart though, even if she isn't all that convinced about that when it comes to herself.

On the other hand, between Shimmer's willingness to pit the blame of his uncle's crime and the latter revelation from Nikki that Shimmer's possibly receiving everything in his life unfairly, I have a feeling Shimmer is building up to be exposed as a fraud eventually. Perhaps that will ignite his journey to be more humble, or have him double down on the negative aspects of his character. Might be the latter, if we're supposed to derive symbolic meanings from him finding joy in that kinda sadistic gameshow.

Chapter 9 gave us some new info about the aftermaths of the gigamax snorlax incident that happened a few chapters prior. From here the characters confirm that the daemons are able to infiltrate their protective barriers. Vortex is insistent on going with his icarus project despite pushback and concerns from the parliament, whereas Demerzel feels it's better to bolster cooperation with the dragon kind instead as the best course of action.

Something tells me the icarus project will inevitably lead to disaster if it gets set into motion, though there's no telling whether the cosmic blessing of the dragons will be enough to take care of the distortion even if Demerzel had his way instead. At the moment it's hard to say whose plan is the better one, but considering the fact that Vortex's involves exploiting something about the darkest day, I have my money on Demerzel. Vortex should listen to him, because Demerzel has a very large brain.

Xeromus made a surprise reappearance here and poor Noctum was instantly wrecked by him. I really wonder what his deal is. A total nutcase that's also kinda op is definitely not fun for anyone up against him lol. He kept mentioning something about Natus, though I suppose it has something to do with the Qliphoth mentioned earlier in the chapter.

Chapter 10 reveals to us that Yuna somehow transported her crew into a mystery dungeon of some sort. You did very well in demonstrating how desolate and creepy dungeons can be here. Naturally it was pretty dangerous and they had to get out of there asap.

Later on we got to see that Noctum is still alive and kicking, and he's not alone either. I enjoyed the banter between the group. Vegna and his peers are fun to read for sure. We also learn that Shimmer's uncle is being tried for murder now and I wonder if we'll get more of that. It's still very enjoyable watching Vegna being mean to Shimmer though lol.

Xeromus returns with a mind controlled Nikki which proceeded into a very well done fight scene in Chapter 11. It was really creepy how Nikki was acting while possessed and it makes me wonder just what exactly Xeromus did to her. Is he also capable of making his victims go gigamax? I'm curious to know.

The Cofagrigus from a couple chapters back also came back as a corrupted Runerigus here as well. I must say, I like how you implemented some Galarian forms as corrupted states, and I wonder if we'll get a Purrserker and so on eventually. Dynaforce is also a thing, though I don't have a whole lot to say about that. I think it's pretty cool and interesting how they work. Is it more related to the ether than eternatus' distortion powers?

The flashback vision Yuna saw revealed quite a few things. I enjoyed catching this glimpse of a long bygone Era we saw. Where exactly did Lunala come from and do we get to see Bahamut soon? We know from blc that he's immortal and still alive somewhere in the present day, though it's too early to say whether he'll remain in the backdrop of this fic or play an active role some time soon.

We get a hint from Reshiram that the needle Yuna chucked herself into may have been Intended to be used to seal the influence of the distortion, and that it's obviously lost a lot of its effectiveness by the present day. I really like Reshiram's character and his interactions with Yuna were fun. I really want to know what else he has to reveal to us about what went down in the past, and how much he's really going to tell. I doubt the whole mystery will be unraveled a chapter from now.

Anyway, that's all for this review. There's more that I could've talked about, but that'd really drag this review longer than it has to be. Overall this story is still one of my favorites and I'm all on board to see it through to the end. ^_^

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 12: Brought Up to Extreme Speed​

Yuna used the train ride back to Horizon Academy to stumble through an explanation of what happened… sans the stuff with Reshiram. What made it hard for her was the dazed look in Noctum's eyes. He mentioned a blow to the head and the welt between his black horns was clear as day. There was also a nagging sense of an invisible feather duster tickling her chest. She figured it was the Soul Dew, which she was trying to ignore.

The dreepy tried going to her mental happy place. She was lying on the gray shag carpet of her stone wall bedroom with a hakamo-o and a vibrava opposite her. Yuna held small bottles of claw polish to use on her friends while they, in turn, painted her horns and the spokes on her tail ring.

"That's your happy place? Yeesh. That color scheme wouldn't feel out of place in a prison."

And just like that it all dissolved away into her mind's eye. Yuna fought to hide a frown. She didn't want to worry Noctum when he'd already gone through an ordeal on her behalf. However, Reshiram's presence wasn't helping her mood. Which was ironic because she should've been ecstatic.

Yuna produced an honest-to-God miracle. She had found the Sage of Truth, despite all the scriptures claiming Saint Reshiram sacrificed himself with the other Sages to end the Darkest Day. If this had happened before the day's events, Yuna would've done everything she could to get another transcontinental train up and running to get back home, where she would've undoubtedly been hailed as some sort of hero.

But no. Instead of the stern but wise Reshiram in the scriptures she'd summoned a bundle of nerves.

"That's not very nice, you know. And what's with all this 'god' and 'worship' business anyway?" Reshiram wondered. "Being a Sage meant I was a teacher. One with amazing tenure, sure, but still a teacher. Nothing worth fawning over or anything."

If Reshiram had disappeared around the Darkest Day, then there was a lot he'd have to catch up on.

"What's a lot? Gimme your best guess."

About eleven hundred years, give or take, Yuna responded. Her head was hurting again. Was this what it was like for psychic-types?

"E-Eleven hundred?!" Surprised squeaks echoed in Yuna's head. She honestly wasn't sure if that number was larger or smaller than Reshiram expected.

And she wouldn't get an answer, because the train pulled into Horizon Station. Yuna didn't even get the chance to rise out of her tan leather seat before Arianna floated into the train flanked by a couple of comfey nurses.

"The Chancellor is aware of what happened." The gardevoir nudged up her glasses. "I'm teleporting you to the infirmary immediately."

XxX​

Nothing had broken through the melancholy shell that hardened around Shimmer. Not the soft silk of his favorite pink, fur-lined bathrobe. Not the cool velvet of his pink pillow case against his fluffy, cotton candy mane. And not the taste of a certain sylveon's honeydew lip gloss as he pressed his lips against Shimmer's.

Xander must've realized this, too, because he quickly broke the kiss off and sat up. He slid off Shimmer's belly and sat on a bunched-up section of Shimmer's sky-blue, down comforter. "What's going on, Shim? I thought we said we were going to have some quality time after the field trip." The sylveon's ears drooped. "Are you really that bummed the trip got upended? We've been to the Herbrides Lines so many times I've lost count. And it was your choice to run off with Vegna."

Shimmer looked into Xander's turquoise eyes, then past them to the diamond light fixture in the middle of the sky mural ceiling. "No, that's not it."

"Is this about your uncle, then?" Xander reached a ribbon out and wrapped it around Shimmer's foreleg. "I heard Magister Reinhardt remanded him to the Crowne Penitentiary until the trial."

Shimmer bit back the urge to scowl at Xander. After all, the ponyta had been there when Vegna gave that blasted feral bird the requisition to deliver to Herbrides' police station. And now his fate was in the hands of… well, he didn't know. Vegna refused to answer his questions. The nerve of that dusknoir! If the day hadn't gotten away from him, Shimmer would've gone straight to his mother and demanded she read Vegna the Riot Act.

And yet, though the thought got him heated, that wasn't the problem. "Uncle Benedict is innocent. No amount of trumped-up charges will change that. Some idiot inquisitor will have egg all over their face when this is over."

Xander frowned. "Well, if it's not that… then what?" He tucked his head and ran his other feeler along the black lace over his belly. "I put on one of my tightest outfits for you. If you weren't up for doing anything, you should've told me." He flopped down beside Shimmer, tilting his head toward the ponyta's. "Come on, Shim. Don't leave me in the dark."

"It's the dragon princess," Shimmer whispered, turning left to face the wall and the three modelling posters he'd chosen to adorn it.

One had him in a white suit with a matching bowtie and fur collar. In another, he was on his hindlegs in an open-neck polo shirt and striped stockings that went up to his thighs. And in the third, he wore an ocean-blue sundress and matching hat. Marker scribbles lined the poster's borders. Words of encouragement from influencers and celebrities applauding him for bucking traditions and setting new fashion trends.

"You mad because she ruined the trip?" Xander laughed. "C'mon, Shim. It doesn't matter. Once we bounce her team from the first leg, that'll be the end of her travels with the class."

Shimmer sighed again. "That's not it." He looked beside the posters, to a bookshelf lined with plaques, trophies, and the occasional snow globe. Awards for academic merit, beauty pageant placements, outstanding guest performances in PV shows. But there was one empty slot in the middle of the bookcase. A spot he'd kept empty since the day he started in the academy. A spot for the Crowne Cup.

The ponyta's brow furrowed. "Ignoring that she probably hurt Commander Seifer, there was something… different about her when she and the other troublemakers popped out of the distortion."

"Did she evolve or something?"

Shimmer shook his head. "Not physically. Her aura. It was so meek before she vanished. Now… it's like an iceberg. Tiny on the surface, but hiding something massive underneath."

"I see."

Silence, then Xander's ribbons draped over Shimmer's torso. A soft glow came from the ribbons. Shimmer relaxed somewhat. "I wouldn't worry about it, Shim," Xander whispered. "Even if she ends up being stronger than she looks, there's one thing we have that she can only dream of."

Shimmer turned his head slightly so Xander could see his raised brow. The sylveon leaned in so his head was next to Shimmer's. "Team synergy," he whispered, his ribbon slithering up to nestle Shimmer's chin.

A tingle ran down the pontya's spine. He glanced at his nightstand, and the framed photo of him beside an eevee with a pink ribbon and a farfetch'd struggling to hold up its massive leek.

"I suppose you're right," Shimmer said. "I guess I let the day's events get to my head." He chuckled softly.

"I concur," Xander purred. "So, why don't we do something to take your mind off of things, hmm?" The sylveon brushed some fur out of his face. "The first-years have an evening drill to run through. Want to head down to the locker room and rate the guys? And maybe, if that gets you in the mood, we can stage a tactical retreat?"

Blood rushed into Shimmer's cheeks. He smiled. "Sounds like a perfect distraction."

XxX​

Groaning, Yuna flopped onto her pillow. Her gills brushed a black pillowcase. She grabbed a stufful doll to her right and wrapped her arms around it. "Well, that sucked."

A comfey nurse quickly examined her at the infirmary before concluding she had no injuries. Yuna couldn't say the same for her colleagues, however. They were all ushered back to beds while the same nurse shooed her off and told her she could visit tomorrow. Yuna begged the nurse to let her stay with Noctum, but Dr. Rafique showed up to turn her away. If the zarude was upset about seeing the group there again, he didn't let it show.

Baraz took her back to her room, but had to leave since he wasn't permitted to stay in the girls' dormitory. She figured a couple of security guards would be posted near her room or something. Not that it mattered. Yuna wanted to sleep and forget this day ever happened.

"Not to be that guy or anything, but sticking your head in the sand isn't going to make this go away."

Yuna grabbed the Soul Dew with her right hand, looking to yank it off and toss it off the bed. However, no matter how hard she tugged, the pendant wouldn't budge. Yuna pushed the stufful doll away and pulled the pendant with both hands.

No dice. It was stuck.

"It's not stuck," Reshiram said. "Now that my spirit's inside it, it's bonded with you. Frankly, I'm surprised it didn't happen earlier. I didn't think any empty Soul Dews existed anymore. Bahamut hadn't made any in a while, last I remember."

Yuna's brow furrowed. So now she was stuck with this thing? And Reshiram, too?

"Aww, you make it sound like a punishment." Reshiram whimpered. "Come on, I'm not a bad housemate. I pick up after myself, I do my own laundry, and I sweep up my fur when I'm shedding!" A beat passed. "Oh, wait… that stuff doesn't really apply if I'm dead, huh?"

Yuna buried her face in her pillow. Why me? All she wanted to do was bide her time and keep her head down until the treaty was signed and she could return home. But there was nothing normal about her time at Horizon Academy so far. She dreaded the very idea of getting out of bed the next morning. Who knew what horrors awaited her?

"The choices you make don't really matter."

Xeromus' statement replayed in her head. Did that crazy monster know something she didn't?

Reshiram cleared his throat. "Not to worry you or anything, but we do kind of need to discuss the whole me waking up from a lengthy slumber thing. Because there are some pretty big repercussions here. Like, world on the brink of collapse big."

Yuna lifted her head up and dragged her hands over her face. Okay, fine. She rose from her bed. You can't come out, though. This is the girls' dorm. If the guards hear a guy's voice, I'll get in serious trouble.

"That's okay. Everything you can see, I can see, too," Reshiram chirped.

Delightful.

… it wasn't. But there was nothing she could do about it.

Yuna lazily drifted toward her desk. The Aeon World Almanac sat in the middle, gifted by her parents to help with the move to Radiance. She flipped it open until she found two pages. One showing Bahamut's eight-pointed star. The other bearing World Ender's circle with five diamonds surrounding it.

I was taught that the world was shaped by Bahamut, the Luminous Creator. Yuna pointed to the sigil. He helped shepherd the world with the Luminous Sages, protectors who were blessed with some of Bahamut's power.

Yuna turned the page to a map of Etherium. The world used to be one large continent. Bahamut and the Sages didn't oversee it, however. That was left to a council. One with a lot of dragons, because their auras were most in tune with Bahamut's.

She paused and glanced at her Soul Dew. No interruptions. Was she right or was Reshiram trying to be polite? She looked expectantly, but didn't get an answer. So, Yuna flipped back to the previous pages. Then came the Darkest Day. A planet-sized daemon known as World Ender blotted out the heavens. Bahamut tried to stop it, but was destroyed. His light scattered.

The dreepy turned back to the map. World Ender's immense power fragmented the continent. But before it could completely wipe us out, the Luminous Sages banded together and sacrificed themselves to destroy World Ender. Yuna sighed. In the aftermath, dragons were blamed for the Darkest Day. Those who remained on the largest fragment of the original continent rallied around a group of fairy-types. They declared war on the dragons and those who supported Bahamut and His teachings.

Yuna placed her right hand in the middle of the map and moved it to the top left. The fairies and their allies drove the dragons into these volcanic mountains. They formed a kingdom. The one we're in right now, actually. She put her free hand on the Soul Dew. The dragons and those exiled with them were unhappy with their new living conditions. World Ender's attacks had rendered the environment far from hospitable. So, they continued mounting attacks to try and claw back some land from the fairies. But they were largely unsuccessful.

She flipped pages to another map. While similar to the first, there were large clusters of black swirls. An entire black circle surrounded the Kingdom of Radiance in the middle of the map. At some point, distortion began to sweep across the globe. The dragons stopped fighting the fairies and focused their efforts on warding off the distortion and rescuing one another from the mystery dungeons that lay inside.

Which brings us to today. Yuna shut the book. While the Aeon Kingdom, my home, has managed to keep the distortion from overrunning it, the fairies in the Kingdom of Radiance have been less successful. Mother told me they lost big, bustling cities to the distortion.

So, our two kingdoms are looking to make a treaty. My parents decided to send me to Radiance as a goodwill gesture.

… though after the week's events, Yuna couldn't say she had much goodwill left inside her.

She glanced down at the Soul Dew. No response. Yuna poked it. You going to say anything?

After a few seconds of silence, Reshiram piped up. "Okay, that makes things clearer." He paused. "Like, fifteen percent clearer at best, but that's fifteen percent better than before!"

Yuna banged her head on the almanac. Was she going to have to go through all that again? "What am I missing, then?" She couldn't keep that comment in her head.

The Soul Dew shimmered. Yuna tried to grab it, but a small tendril of white light popped out and plopped a toy-sized Reshiram on the almanac. "I thought I told you to stay in the gem," Yuna hissed.

"You did. But I thought this'd be easier." Reshiram looked up at her and flinched. "Don't swat me. I don't wanna be a pancake."

Yuna groaned. "Fine. Go ahead."

"Great. Lemme start with the easy one." He hopped off the back of the book and, grunting, tried to get it open. Yuna lifted her head and flipped the cover, allowing Reshiram to turn to the page with World Ender's sigil.

"See this?" He tapped one of the diamonds with a wing. "I don't know where or when the whole 'World Ender' thing came from… but that daemon is a planet-devouring behemoth known as Eternatus. And any tales of its death are greatly exaggerated."

Eternatus. The name clicked immediately for Yuna. It had to be the Natus that Xeromus kept referring to… and, by extension, the one in that chant from Runerigus. "How do you know that?" Yuna asked.

"Bahamut told me. Or, well, he told all the Sages." Reshiram stroked his chin. "Because he'd seen Eternatus in action before. Wiping out planets and all the life that they carried."

"… oh." Yuna looked down. Sure, one of Bahamut's teachings was that there were other worlds bearing life like Etherium did. But now Yuna wondered if Eternatus was the reason Bahamut had ever taught about such a thing.

Reshiram crossed his wings. "I think part of the reason he was so… obsessive about us Sages doing our best to preach harmony and cooperation was that he was terribly worried of Eternatus being drawn to the planet. He would always ramble about wicked hearts and maliciousness drawing Eternatus like a tauros to a miltank herd." His brow furrowed. "And I guess he was right about that in the end."

Yuna could've pressed that point, but there was something she was far more interested in. "What do you remember about the Darkest Day?"

Reshiram's luminescent fur frazzled. "Well, I remember Bahamut crashing into a mountain after getting struck by a single attack from Eternatus." He shuddered. "You were right about his light disappearing. All we found was a lump of black crystals condensed around this multicolored prism." He wrapped his wings over his torso. "I can still hear his screams of agony. None of us had ever seen him like that. He always knew how to hide if he was in pain."

Yuna's ectoplasm quivered. Eternatus sounded truly terrifying.

"So, us Sages made a plan. We'd use the light Bahamut had given us in our Soul Dews." Reshiram pointed to Yuna's neck. "Bahamut tried to dissuade us. Said it would cost us our lives. But we were desperate. So, we sprang into action… heading to different parts of the continent. We linked our spirits together and, in tandem with Bahamut's light, created a seal that trapped Eternatus." He scratched the back of his neck. "The last thing I remember was the sensation that I was drifting off to sleep. And then I woke up in that Soul Dew."

His face scrunched up. "But I don't understand why I even woke up. Bahamut's light was supposed to be too powerful for anyone to safely contact unless they were trained." Reshiram shifted weight from one foot to the other. "I assumed, since you have one of his Soul Dews, he must've trained you. Except all the stuff you told me flies in the face of that idea."

He looked Yuna in the eye. "So, how did you break the seal?"

"I mean, you heard what I said to Noctum on the train," Yuna replied. The 'how' was obvious. It just happened. It was the 'why' that concerned her. And judging from what Reshiram had to say, he didn't have any answers.

"Yeah." Reshiram paced back and forth in front of the almanac. "Not only did you break my seal… you managed to access the space we trapped Eternatus in. Though I have no idea why my part of the seal ended up there to begin with." He slumped onto his rear. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. This is a right fine mess we've fallen into. If we don't take action, the whole planet will be in trouble. If we're going to have any chance, we have to find the other Sages and break their seals, too."

Yuna frowned. "Me?" She raised her hands. "Look, I have no intention of diving back into the Qliphoth or fighting any Phantoms or anything like that. I'm just a dreepy."

Except that wasn't entirely true and Yuna knew that. "I mean… yeah, I'm a princess. But, like, look at me! I'm not a battler. I can't fight monsters if my life depended on it." She turned to her window and the blackout curtains draped over it. "Several people got hurt today… all to protect me. And I…"

Her voice trailed off as her right hand tingled. She looked down and found inky black pooling in her hand. Yuna was reminded of the spectral wings she summoned in the cathedral. She cleared her throat. "Okay, maybe I'm not entirely defenseless. But I don't think that's enough."

"Well, that's where I come in." Reshiram puffed his chest out. "Since I'm bonded to the Soul Dew, I can share my power with you."

Yuna frowned. "Uh, well, I appreciate the offer, but I'm not looking for any sort of truth-seeing magic." She couldn't imagine life as a living lie detector was any fun.

Granted, she wasn't exactly having fun now, but the point stood anyway.

"No, no. I mean like firepower." Reshiram tilted his head and coughed up a fireball. His cheeks reddened. "I promise the real goods are cooler." His expression blanked. "Err, okay, maybe not cooler. That'd be shameful for a fire-type. But, like, you get the idea."

"Right." Yuna had seen illustrations of Reshiram's flames. They were so powerful they had a shimmering blue color that no dragons or fire-types could match. "But, like, even with that power, we still need a plan. If this is as big as you say it is, we can't afford to fly blind. Or solo."

"Then rope in those people that were with you," Reshiram suggested. "They know the stakes. I'm sure they can help." He paused and looked down. "Well, okay, I'm not sure. Or even confident. But they're better than nothing."

What an endorsement. Yuna didn't like that idea one bit. "I can't ask them to get involved like that on my behalf." She looked down guiltily. "Certainly not after what happened to them today."

"You have to!" Reshiram hopped onto the book. "We can't afford to dilly-dally. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that some big putz with a bigger ego will come along and do something monumentally stupid!"

XxX​

Vortex set his whiskey glass down with considerably more force than was necessary. He slumped back in his massive leather office chair, rubbing his brow. "How is it that one tiny dreepy can cause such a tyranitar-sized headache?" The charizard quickly held his free hand up. "Don't answer that. It's rhetorical."

Opposite him, Arianna nudged her glasses. "Of course, Chancellor."

"I swear, there must be a secret absol tribe stalking that girl," Vortex continued. "No one can possibly get into this much trouble by sheer happenstance." He stared at the two tiny ice cubes in his glass. "Maybe Vegna's right. Maybe she is cursed."

Arianna cleared her throat. "Apologies, Chancellor, but I feel I should mention that the salamence officer the Aeons left here to be the dragon-type Crowne Minister is talking to that dracozolt creature about the possibility someone's forging his correspondences."

Vortex rolled his eyes. "Delightful. And after this latest episode, it's going to be even harder to sweep things under the rug." He picked up the glass and swirled the ice cubes around. "Can anything else go wrong today?"

"Nrgk!"

Arianna jerked to her left, dropping her pen and notepad. Vortex's tail flame sparked. "Arianna?"

The gardevoir righted herself, but there was a distant look in her eyes. She opened her mouth, but the voice that came out wasn't hers.

"… congratulations, Chancellor. You got your wish."

Vortex's whiskey glass almost slipped right out of his hand. He managed to catch it at the last second. "Demerzel? What are you doing? Get out of my assistant's head!"

"My sincere apologies. This was easier than trying to teleport to the school." Demerzel stiffly swiveled Arianna's head left and right. "I just wanted to tell you that after hearing the Radiant Guard's briefing on the fiasco at Herbrides, Parliament decided to approve emergency funding for Project Icarus."

"Is this your idea of a joke?" Vortex's tail flame grew even brighter.

"Hardly. I'm not the pranking sort." Demerzel clumsily stepped toward Vortex's giant oak desk. "You will, however, have to provide updates to Parliament. Live updates."

Ah, there was the catch. Vortex frowned. He was not about to go showing the Icarus facility off to the louts in Parliament. The charizard sighed. "Will pictures and video footage suffice?"

"Only if you can guarantee none of it is doctored," Demerzel said.

Vortex raised his right hand. "On my honor as a charizard, you have my word."

Another clumsy step. This time back from Vortex's desk. Demerzel tilted his head. "I hope that counts for something."

"Of course it does," Vortex growled. "Now leave my assistant."

Demerzel nodded. "Very well. Though we both know there's nothing you can do to make me leave." He stiffly bowed Arianna's head. "Have a good night, Chancellor."

Arianna suddenly collapsed onto the ground. Vortex rose from his chair and flew over his desk, landing at her side.

"Nngh. My head. What happened?"

"Demerzel possessed you to tell me Icarus' funding got approved," Vortex said. He draped a wing over her back. "Are you okay?"

"I think so?" Arianna rubbed her temple. "My head's a bit fuzzy."

The charizard sighed in relief. "I'll get you a pain reliever." He hoisted the gardevoir to her feet.

"No, I'll be fine, Chancellor."

"You sure?"

"Yes." Arianna levitated her glasses back onto her face. "Now that you have the funds, what's your next move, sir?"

Vortex brought his wing back and stood up. "We get Minister Tessa—"

"It's Tesla, sir."

"Right, right." Vortex dismissed her with a wave. "We call Minister Tesla and tell him to meet us at Citadark Isle ASAP."

Arianna nodded. "Understood. I'll get right on it."

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 13: Bad News Travels Fast​

Baraz was the one to escort Yuna to her classes the next morning. The dracozolt told her Noctum had to take things easy, but could gradually resume his usual activities if he felt okay. He didn't have any updates for her teammates, however, other than one of the other professors covering Cid's history class for him.

Try as she might, Yuna found it difficult to focus on Vegna's lecture. She couldn't stop thinking about the others. Today was supposed to be one of the remedial lessons with the Ministers. Baraz hadn't mentioned it getting cancelled. Would she be on her own or would the others be released?

"That orbeetle isn't a student though, right? Does he count as a teammate?"

… No. He's a teacher. Yuna looked down at the textbook, trying to shake the amusing mental image of Cid sitting at one of these desks and getting lectured at.

"Is it really that silly? He obviously went to school at some point."

Yuna opted not to entertain Reshiram's comment. She looked up at the chalkboard, where Vegna finished drawing a graph.

"With the passage of the Jury Challenge Act five years ago, trials no longer proceed directly to the verdict when all six jurors form a unanimous opinion," Vegna said. He turned to the class, holding the same textbook Yuna had in his left hand. "Instead, the defense and inquisition can challenge the jurists' opinions. If they are able to get two jurors to reverse their verdicts, the trial is resumed. Otherwise, the presiding magister issues the verdict.

"While legal records show a majority of challenges do not result in trials continuing, public opinion of the legal process has improved since the Act's implementation." Vegna tapped the end of the graph with his chalk. "The percentage of surveyed citizens who hold a 'favorable' or 'very favorable' view of the judiciary has increased by twenty-one percent in representative, randomly-sampled surveys given over this five-year period."

He scanned the classroom. "Any questions?"

Yuna didn't find the numbers important. But the jury challenge sounded like a handy tool. One that she prayed she wouldn't have to use.

"Hmm? What do you mean by that?" Reshiram wondered.

I'm supposed to, uh, take part in a court trial next week. Yuna tried not to gulp. With everything that went on yesterday, she hadn't given the trial much thought. But sitting in Vegna's class made it hard not to think about it.

"Are you serious?" Reshiram gasped. "You're in school, for pity's sake! What's next? Are you going to tell me hatchlings are running the banks?"

I wouldn't know. I haven't set foot in a bank here, Yuna snidely remarked.

"Har, har. Maybe if we all get atomized by Eternatus, you can try a career as a daemonic stand-up comedian," Reshiram shot back. A beat passed. "Sorry, that was uncalled for. You've at least got enough wit to write a comedy for a daemon theater. How's that?"

Before Yuna responded, she heard chairs scratching the stone floor. She looked around and found her classmates rising from their seats and grabbing their bags. The dreepy was about to do the same when Talonflame landed on her desk and leered at her.

"Clown Prince and exchange student… stay."

Yuna's ectoplasm quivered. Vegna wasn't asking.

"What did you just call me?" Shimmer put his forehooves on his desk while a luxio and a frosmoth paused in the doorway to giggle. "I should have you dragged before Mother for such an insult."

"But you won't." Vegna crossed his arms. "Now then, did you tell the exchange student about the trial's status?"

Yuna looked at Shimmer, wondering what Vegna meant. The ponyta's ears stuck up. He opened his mouth, but Vegna held up his hand. "Your reaction is all the answer I need. Quite irresponsible of someone in your position."

Shimmer's cheeks puffed up. "It's not my fault her foolishness landed her in the infirmary before I could say anything."

Yuna sorely wanted to point out that the two had been on the same train back to school, but held her tongue.

"Geez, who put tamato juice in his bale of hay, huh?" Reshiram chuckled, before saying, "Wait, that's not, like, insensitive to ponyta or something, is it? Not that it matters. He can't hear me."

"I care not about your excuses." Vegna shook his head. "I'm dropping the matter." He turned to Yuna. "You will not be defending anyone in a trial next week. It was a ruse." Vegna brought his right arm out and slowly bowed. "I apologize for the deception."

Yuna's expression brightened. Bahamut had finally thrown her a bone! If only a bigger burden hadn't been dropped on her shoulders yesterday evening.

Vegna's eye smoldered. "Wipe that ridiculous look off your face. You're still going to assist the assigned attorney in the trial. I expect you to put your best metaphorical foot forward."

"And just who is that attorney, hmm?" Shimmer narrowed his eyes.

"I am unsure," Vegna replied. "But when I find out, you will both be the first to know." He turned away from them, but Shimmer stomped a forehoof down.

"That's it? You have to know something else." The ponyta's nostrils flared. "This is my uncle we're talking about!"

"Not by blood." Vegna snapped his fingers and Talonflame screeched at Shimmer. He shuffled back, horn sparking in surprise. While he was distracted, Vegna took the time to exit the room by phasing through the chalkboard.

Shimmer regained his composure. He frowned at Yuna. "And what are you looking at?"

"Nothing," Yuna hastily replied.

"I should hope so." Shimmer swished his mane to the side. "After the stunt you and your teammates pulled yesterday, you'd do well to keep your mouth shut during that trial. I don't need you causing any more problems."

Yuna couldn't say it wasn't her fault, because that was a lie. Instead, she turned toward the door. "How about we cross that bridge when we get to it?" And she floated out the door before he could issue a retort.

"Great comeback! Way to show some backbone," Reshiram chirped. "Y'know, in a cool, metaphorical way. As opposed to the 'invertebrate suddenly spawns a skeleton' way. Although I suppose that would be interesting. Maybe you could use it for some sort of horror novel or—"

Yuna rubbed her temples. She was in for another long day.

XxX​

The now-empty, crystal covered back room of Noatun's cathedral experienced a brief pulse of purple light. A blue fissure split the air. Two sets of sharp black claws pried open a jagged rift. Something vaguely humanoid fell out and struck the crystalline floor. The rift collapsed in on itself behind Necrozma, who would've blended into the room perfectly if not for a cluster of multicolored triangles that passed for its head.

"I sense it." It slowly rose to its armored, humanoid feet. Though its gait was wobbly, it managed to look around the room. Its faceless head turned pink, then blue, then red. "It doesn't make any sense. Reshiram's aura is unmistakable... but there are only traces."

That shouldn't have been possible. Then again... Necrozma didn't count on the Needles all getting sucked up into the Qliphoth. Was it mistaking the aura for a different reshiram?

Argh, if only Necrozma hadn't had to tear open that rift. It would've still had enough energy left to clearly sense its light. As it stood, Necrozma had no way of knowing if this was Eternatus playing ticks on it or if its plan had hit an even more unexpected snag.

No, it had to be the former. They all refused to listen. They sealed themselves with the light it gave them... because it wasn't strong enough to protect the planet. Now Necrozma had to free them. The Phantom was the only one who could.

"… A wasted effort," it growled. Necrozma shakily raised a crystal hand, willing to attempt to punch a hole back to the other side. But as it tried to gather the needed energy, a sharp voice caught it by surprise.

"Are you saying you doubt the archbishop? Ha! Perhaps we should feed you to Turian for speaking such blasphemy!"

Now Necrozma's ESP decided to work. Warped auras poked at its mind like a cluster of giant thorn bushes.

Daemons?

They had to be. The voice mentioned Turian. Images of an upright ursaluna with a blood red eye flashed in Necrozma's mind. Memories of a time long past. A time where it traversed the Qliphoth frequently.

… A time when Chiron was still alive.

Necrozma's head turned blue. It staggered forward, trying to dampen its aura and avoid detection. The Phantom pressed itself against the wall and peered out of the doorway.

A gray-blue midnight lycanroc with metal spines that would make a ferrothorn jealous stood stiff as an oversized serperior with charcoal-gray scales coiled around him. She held her head several meters above Lycanroc's. Her head then peeled open like a banana, exposing leafy-green flaps with prickly thorns sprouting up like rows upon rows of teeth. From the center of the giant leaves, a seviper leered at Lycanroc.

"There is no other recourse," the daemon hissed. "We must scour every realm of the Qliphoth to find her presence! The traitor Chiron must be wiped out before she can further harm Eternatus." Seviper turned to her right. "Is that understood?"

A frost cloud parted to reveal... well, Necrozma wasn't really sure what it was. The closest thing that came to mind was a mudsdale. But this horse was pale white with sheets of ice around its hooves and half its face. And some sort of blue, icy armor sat on its back, with a helmet fashioned like the skull of a houndoom. Piercing violet eyes smoldered behind the mask.

"Chiiiiroooon."

The armored rider had the inflection of a difloon getting its air forcibly expelled, but that wasn't what concerned Necrozma. Why were the daemons using that name? Her name?

Necrozma had been there. It watched helplessly as the pink twister swallowed her up, along with their child.

It has to be a trick, the Phantom thought, staggering away from the door and dragging its claws across the air to open another rift. Eternatus must've known Necrozma would pursue the Needles. And now the new Paradigm were dangling the name of its wife in front of it to bait it out.

Well, it wouldn't work. Necrozma knew she was dead. That she couldn't be among the innumerable souls trapped within the Qliphoth. And if those pathetic daemons thought they could prey on that, Necrozma would make them suffer. Suffer like the scum ignoring the world's perils to line their own pockets.

Phantoms, daemons, pokémon… in the end, they only care about themselves. Necrozma's head darkened and reddened. Their selfish nature belies their weakness. And such weakness must be eliminated.

Necrozma slowly phased into the wormhole. There was much to be done.

XxX​

"So, yeah. That's the situation."

Floating in the middle of a gray room with a padded blue floor and white walls, Yuna rubbed the back of her head. After making her way down to the special training room in the main building's first sublevel, Yuna learned that Ministers Xiao and Lin were running late. She chose to make use of the extra time to bring Chiaki, Nikki, and Seifer up to speed on everything Reshiram had told her. The former still had the Hooker equipped as his right arm, while the latter had a brace around his chest.

But it was easier said than done. Yuna stumbled over her words. Mostly because of the glare Nikki gave her and this nagging tug on her chest. Something was up with Reshiram, but Yuna had no idea what it was. She hated that this new connection was apparently one-way. How was that remotely fair?

Nikki crossed her arms when Yuna finished. "Seriously? What the hell did you start smoking last night, huh?"

Yuna flinched. She was really hoping for a more… cooperative response. "Nothing. It's the truth."

Chiaki put his good hand on his hip. "I'm inclined to believe her." He looked at Nikki. "Do you even remember anything about what happened?"

Nikki scowled. "I remember getting carried off by some freak of nature." Her mohawk frazzled. "He dragged me into a pillar of distortion. Next thing I knew we were in some fancy-looking place with a shiny ceiling and…" Her voice trailed off.

"And?" Chiaki gestured for her to continue.

Nikki's mohawk flared again, before shrinking to the point it was barely noticeable. "The freak pinned me down while these… shadowy arms dug themselves into my back. There was a shit ton of pain, then everything went black until I woke up in the infirmary next to you and that hunk of metal." She pointed to Chiaki's prosthesis. "What junkyard you pull that out of, huh? Ain't you rich types supposed to get good medicine."

"None of your business," Chiaki growled.

Okay, so Runerigus was definitely in control of Nikki, Yuna concluded. "Isn't that all the more reason to believe me?"

Nikki turned her back on Yuna. "Who cares if you're right? Why should I help you?" The toxtricity looked at the floor. "You're the whole reason I got taken. That mutt was after you." She pointed accusingly at Yuna. "Didn't you hear how he talked to you? The guy was dry humping you in his loopy head. I'd bet fifty radians on it."

Chiaki cringed. "Thanks for that delightful mental image."

Nikki flipped Chiaki the bird before focusing on Yuna again. "I don't know if you're cursed or unlucky or something else entirely, but I'm keeping my distance. Hell, I'll take the L in the first leg if it means I don't have to be around you."

Chiaki's expression darkened. "Oh? What happened to trying to show up Shimmer?"

"Forget that shit. Staying alive is way more important." Nikki's mohawk sparked again. "Besides, I've got my own problems to deal with."

Yuna wanted to retort, but the Soul Dew sparkled. She sent a silent plea for Reshiram to stay down but he burst forth in a stream of red and white light. "Sorry to rain on your parade, but you won't stay alive if the planet goes kerblooey! Whatever problems you have will go up in smoke, too." He shot Seifer a pleading expression. "C'mon, Kelly, back me up here."

Seifer stiffened. "K-Kelly? Excuse you! I'm a Radiant Guard Co-Commander and deserve some respect." He swished his mane. "Besides, I've never even met you before."

Yuna facepalmed. "Reshiram, we went over this. It's not the same keldeo from when you were a Sage."

Reshiram crossed his wings and frowned. "I mean… I can see that. Kelly had a less… muscley build. And didn't wear gaudy purple outfits. And was a girl."

Seifer's nostrils flared. "Gaudy?!"

Reshiram turned back to Yuna. "But it's the fact that he's different that has me scratching my head. Sages couldn't reproduce. When we were ready to retire, we gave our Soul Dews to our apprentices. They would assume the mantle and our spirits would join our predecessors in the Soul Dews."

"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm a bona fide keldeo," Seifer exclaimed. "Just like my mother and grandmother and so on."

"Which sets my crazy-o-meter up to, like, a fifteen out of ten." Reshiram's tail engine hummed louder. "Kelly sacrificed herself with all the other Sages. So, like, you shouldn't exist. But you do. So how did it happen?"

"How should I know?" Seifer stepped toward Reshiram. "Frankly, I'm still dumbfounded by… by all of this." He moved his horn up and down.

"Oh. Well, thank you." Reshiram beamed and puffed out his chest. "I do pride myself on my luscious locks."

"Not that!" Seifer huffed, horn flashing. "The whole 'the Needles actually have these powerful spirits hidden inside and they might be the only thing stopping the world from collapsing on itself' thing." The keldeo lowered his head and shook it. "Why would they teach us that World Ender was killed if it's actually the thing eroding the planet? Does Her Eminence even know? Wouldn't Her Benevolence know?" He gnashed is teeth together. "My head's throbbing just thinking about it."

"Ah, see? Even after all these years, you still get me." Reshiram raised his wings, looking like he wanted to hug Seifer. The keldeo backed away.

"Oh, brother." Nikki rolled her eyes. "Yeah, we should really trust this dumbass to know what's best for the planet. Give me a break."

Reshiram's expression quickly deflated. "Ow. Words hurt, you know."

Chiaki stuck the Hooker out between Nikki and Reshiram. "This bickering isn't going to get us anywhere. Do you know what needs to be done about this or not?"

Yuna had a pretty good idea what Reshiram was about to say. Her tail crinkled up.

"Well, uh, I can't say this is guaranteed to work or anything." Reshiram tugged on a lock of hair. "But if we use the Soul Dew that Yuna has, we should be able to sense traces of where the other Sages sealed themselves."

"But the Needles are in the Qliphoth." Chiaki jammed his good hand into his coat pocket. "If we're going to free anyone, we'll need to be able to open rifts into it."

Which was exactly what Yuna was afraid of. "And you think… that's where I come in?"

"Do you disagree?"

"I still don't know how or why I made a rift in the first place," Yuna whispered. "I don't know if I can make another one."

"Even assuming she can, you can't really expect to succeed, can you?" Seifer paced back and forth but met no one's gaze. "We lucked out with encountering so few Phantoms yesterday. I don't think you can count on things to stay that way." He looked at the center of the padded wall, which had the school's rose emblem painted on it. "And I strongly doubt anyone in a position of authority would be okay sending prep schoolers into mystery dungeons without some serious muscle."

"What are you proposing?" Chiaki asked.

"That I relay this information to Queen Isola. I can petition her to supply additional Radiant Guard members," Seifer replied. "With more bodies, we should be able to get this all done quicker and safer, right?"

Yuna didn't think it was a bad idea, but a part of her also felt guilty. She didn't want even more people getting put in harm's way because of her. If she were as strong as her parents, it wouldn't be a problem. Why did she have to suffer from stunted growth? It wasn't like the Soul Dew was to blame for that, either.

"I guess… that can work," she whispered. "Would I be able to come with you?"

Seifer frowned. "I suggest you let me handle it."

"But—"

"I agree with Kelly," Reshiram said, to Yuna's shock. "Better they hear it from someone they trust. A mind that's overwhelmed too quickly will turn away from the truth."

Yuna flinched. That was one of Reshiram's teachings, though she wasn't exactly sure how it applied. "Okay then."

"Wonderful." Nikki clapped her hands together. "Glad that's settled." She dropped to a seated position on the floor and braced her arms at her sides. "Go team."

A glance at Chiaki told Yuna he wasn't ready to drop the subject, but Seifer's horn flashed. "The Ministers are coming." He pointed at Reshiram. "You need to disappear."

Reshiram's wings drooped. He whined like a sad puppy before retreating into Yuna's Soul Dew. A brief burning sensation spread over her chest. Yuna wondered if she'd ever get used to that as time passed.

She didn't even get the chance to turn to the door to properly greet the new arrivals before it flew open and a loud, scratchy voice called, "Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Yuna had pictures of the Crowne Ministers. Pictures she never bothered looking at. So it came as a complete shock when the Ministers turned out to be a pair of urshifu. The one in front wore blue robes and a black martial arts band and had much grayer fur compared to the taller one in the back. His robe was black and his belt white.

"Two urshifu?! Okay, this is getting stupidly fishy. We're talking a pond overflowing with magikarp levels of fishy."

"Good afternoon, Ministers." Seifer bobbed his head.

"Ah, so this is where you ran off to," the older urshifu said, stroking his chin. "How's it hanging, ya whippersnapper?"

The younger one stepped up and put his paw on his partner's shoulder. "Really, Xiao? Try and show a little tact."

"Heh heh." Xiao flashed a cheeky grin. "I'm just spare-ribbing 'em. Trying to liven up the atmosphere a little." He elbowed the space in front of Lin. "Place feels so tense you could spend hours tenderizing it."

"And now I'm hungry," Reshiram whined, to which Yuna's own ectoplasm gurgled. She found herself praying his emotions didn't have tangible effects on her body. This Soul Dew business sounded less appealing with each passing minute.

Nikki's yawn snapped Yuna to attention. "Seriously? Who wears pajamas to teach a remedial lesson?" She didn't bother getting up to greet them properly, prompting Chiaki to grab her by the jacket collar and hoist her up. "Oi, what gives, Twiggy?" she growled.

"Try to show an iota of respect," he shot back. "They're wearing gi. Traditional martial arts uniforms."

"Ain't nothing traditional about 'em." Nikki yawned again. "They're pajamas, plain and simple."

"Well, they may not be traditional round these parts," Xiao said. "But they're as hot as a fresh plate of salazzle spice dumplings back home." He chuckled into his paw.

Yuna raised a brow. If they were Ministers, didn't that mean they were from Radiance? "Back home?"

"… on the Armour Archipelago," Lin replied, looking Yuna over. "I take it you're the Aeon Princess, then?"

"Yeah…"

Lin punched his right hand with his left and bowed to her. "I'm Urshifu Lin. This is my brother, Xiao."

"Heh heh. Pleasure, your princessliness." Xiao offered another cheeky grin. "I'm as tickled pink as a plate of baked magikarp to meet'cha."

Yuna blinked. "R-Right. I'm Yuna and, uh, likewise." She had questions, of course, but the brothers' contrasting demeanors left her struggling to voice them.

"Ah, I'd know that skeptical look anywhere." Xiao stroked his chin. "You're wondering why we're Crowne Ministers when we blew in from outta town, huh?"

Was I that transparent? Yuna nodded.

"We travelled to this kingdom at the request of our dojo's leader," Lin explained. "She sought to spread the teachings of the Master Dojo to the mainland. My brother and I volunteered to assist."

"Yessiree, I remember it like it was yesterday." Xiao hummed while swaying side to side.

"… twenty years ago," Lin said, expression stern. "Unfortunately, the spreading distortion has prevented us from returning home."

Xiao chuckled. "But ol' Queenie Izzy insisted we share the fighting-type Crowne Minister title when she got a peek at our fighting skills. Not a bad deal, eh?"

Yuna briefly thought of Dr. Rafique. Was the zarude also stuck in the kingdom? Perhaps that was his real reason for staying?

"The Master Dojo is still around after all this time? Hot diggity!" Reshiram exclaimed. "I'd have thought for sure it would've fallen to ruin when the Sage of Strength sacrificed herself. But, well, now there are two of them! And probably more back at their home. This pond of magikarp just had a load of basculin plopped in right on top of it."

"So, like, y'all done playing kiss-up?" Nikki rolled her neck until it cricked. "Because I ain't about to sit around all afternoon and listen to a bunch of boring chitchat."

Chiaki grimaced. "Ignore her."

But to Yuna's surprise, Lin stepped toward Nikki. "You're the troublemaker the Chancellor informed us about, I see."

Nikki responded with a slow, sarcastic bow. "I'm oh-so flattered you've heard of me."

"Well, the plan was to run drills to work on your discipline and teamwork." Lin crossed his arms. "But I'll make you an offer. I get one blow to try and knock you out. If I do not succeed, you and your team can be excused from the lesson."

"Oh that is so, so obviously a trap," Reshiram said. "She can't possibly be dumb enough to take the bait, can she?"

"You're on!" Nikki hopped forward, mohawk frazzling.

"… I think you need new friends."

In my defense, calling her friend would be a massive stretch. Yuna hastily floated to the side of the room, wondering what sort of trick the urshifu had up his black sleeves. Even if he had a Protect ready for an initial Boomburst, it would falter before a follow-up attack.

Seifer opened a panel on the padded wall and a shield of blue, hexagonal tiles materialized to keep the group safe. Lin and Nikki walked to the center of the room. The former took up a fighting stance with his right foot planted forward, his right paw held up, and his left paw down by his hip. Nikki hopped from one foot to another, cracking her knuckles.

"Somebody say the word and I'll—"

"Go!" Xiao shouted.

In the blink of an eye, Lin closed the gap with Nikki. She didn't even get the chance to her finish her sentence before Lin drove the side of his right paw, crackling with dark energy, into the point where Nikki's neck met her torso.

She lurched violently to her right. Her knees quivered. The toxtricity slumped onto the floor, down for the count. Lin brought his paw back to his side.

"Such overconfidence spawns from a lack of discipline," he said. "You did not respect your opponent… and left yourself open to my Wicked Blow."

"Yup. That went about as well as I expected." Reshiram sighed.

Yuna could do nothing but stare at Nikki. She obviously wasn't dead or anything, but to go down from a single attack like that was crazy. "What kind of move was that? I've never seen anything like it," she said.

"Heh heh. It's the pride and joy of our dojo's Single Strike Style: Wicked Blow," Xiao responded, happily swaying from side to side. "I practice the Rapid Strike Style. It's way more fun."

"The Master Dojo's techniques focus on aiming for opponent's weak spots to maximize the power of your strikes," Lin added, turning to Yuna. "As its name implies, Single Strike Style emphasizes concentrating your power into one definitive attack."

"Rapid Strike Style is about hitting fast, like the kick of a tamato berry." Xiao stood up straight and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on the air in front of him. A blue tint faded from his paws as he returned to his slouched posture.

"I see," Yuna whispered. It sounded cool, to be sure. And she knew of kommo-o back home that practiced basic martial arts aside from their actual attacks. But she failed to see how any of this was relevant to her. The dreepy didn't exactly have a good body type for martial arts. She wasn't even sure she could learn any fighting-type moves, evolution or not. "What does this have to do with our remedial lessons, though?"

"Martial arts are often used as a means to teach discipline." Chiaki pushed off from leaning against the wall. "My guess is that they're going to have us run through drills they would do in their classes."

Lin nodded. "That's correct."

Yuna's gills drooped. That didn't sound the slightest bit enjoyable.

"At least you won't be alone for it," Reshiram chirped. "It's like that old expression: 'misery loves company.'"

You're not helping, she growled, earning more puppy-like whines.

"Come on, Nikki." Chiaki knelt beside the toxtricity, who was stirring. "Let's get you seated on the side so you can you lick your wounds." He offered his good arm, but Nikki swatted it away. She picked her head up.

"Screw you," she hissed.

"Drop the attitude. You lost. End of story." Chiaki extended his good arm again. "The sooner we let them start the lesson, the sooner they'll be done."

Nikki grabbed Chiaki's left hand with hers… and used it to drag him to the ground and clock him on the forehead. "What the hell's your problem?!" he snarled, raising the Hooker up to shield his head.

"Screw this and screw all of you!" She lumbered to her feet, mohawk and back spikes sparking. "I don't need to stand here and take any of this shit." Nikki whirled on the urshifu. "Kick us out of the Cup or whatever. I'm done with this freak show."

"Nikki, wait!" Yuna called as the toxtricity stomped toward the door. Chiaki's hook shot out and wrapped Yuna's torso before she could go anywhere.

"Don't bother unless you want to get yourself in more trouble," he said.

"But—"

"He's right. That girl needs time to simmer down. Trying to talk to her now will accomplish nothing."

Yuna watched the door slam shut before turning back to the others, shoulders drooped.

If Nikki hated the school so much and everyone hated her, too, then why was she still here? It was a thought that would fester in Yuna's head the rest of the afternoon.

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 14: Sing a Hollow Song​

The servant quarters were in a square building made of gray bricks with small, arched windows. Unimpressive compared to the vibrant colors and ornate statues of Horizon's main campus. There was one redeeming factor for Noctum, however. It was positioned closest to the edge of the hilltop ridge. All Noctum had to do was shuffle a few dozen meters off the gravel path to find a nice slope he could sit down on.

Dr. Rafique's medicine helped Noctum's queasiness, but he still found himself a bit unsteady on his feet. Despite that, Noctum had cabin fever by the end of the day. Which brought him out to the hill.

Freshly-cut grass tickled the backs of his legs and the underside of his tail. He looked ahead, past the rolling green hills with slivers of train tracks leading off into the distance. To the towns and cities north and east of Horizon Gardens. Beyond that, the sun was setting, lighting the sky up with rings of yellow, orange, and red.

Aeon never had sunsets like that. Heck, it barely had sun. There were scant moments. Mostly in the wastelands. Noctum's gaze dropped to his legs and the sloping grass in front of him. A silhouette of a small, thin charmander appeared. Its ribs poked out from its chest and its tail flame smoldered weakly as it staggered across the grass, scratching at patches of black, shabby scales.

A blue, scaly leg stomped down on the grass, squishing the silhouette. "You look sadder than a lost feral puppy."

Noctum's wings shot out. He coughed up a couple of embers before looking up. Valkyrie stood in front of him, finned arms crossed. "Feeling sorry for yourself, huh?"

"I—" Noctum stopped himself. His gaze fell. He folded his wings back and fidgeted with his claws. Perhaps it wasn't cabin fever that had made him restless. "Maybe."

Valkyrie snorted. "That's a yes." The garchomp pivoted. "This about you getting walloped? Or the princess getting swiped from under your snout?"

Noctum frowned. Valkyrie rubbed her brow. "Hey, I ain't judging. Even if you're not a dragon, you're dragon-adjacent. Still got that pride, don't ya?" She made eye contact again. "Just train harder. Get stronger. Then maybe it won't happen again."

The charizard remained silent. His face scrunched up. Why was Valkyrie telling him this? Chiaki had vanished along with Yuna. "Funny. I don't even remember seeing you in Herbrides. Aren't you supposed to be Chiaki's bodyguard?"

Valkyrie scowled. "He ordered me not to come."

Noctum raised an unconvinced brow.

"He gave me an assignment," Valkyrie growled. "I learned about what happened not long after I finished. If you don't believe me, I'll show you the dumpster I left a dent in."

"I'll take your word for it." Noctum slouched over, pinching his brow. "I just don't get it. What kind of bodyguard doesn't, y'know, guard the body they're assigned to?"

Valkyrie snorted tufts of blue-purple smoke. "It's a bit more complicated than that."

Noctum was tempted to point out that Valkyrie introduced herself as Chiaki's bodyguard, but the garchomp looked like she'd deck him if he said anything. Instead, he looked left and plucked out a couple of blades of grass with his claws. "Well, maybe my situation is complicated, too."

"I doubt it," Valkyrie said. "You're the 'loyal servant.' You're beating yourself up because you feel like you're betraying your bosses' trust."

The charizard's tail flame crackled. He dug his hand into the grass until it met cool soil. "From the sound of it, I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"Try me."

A sigh. Noctum looked longingly toward a cluster of particularly tall trees on a distant hilltop. At that distance, they were like broccoli pieces. "When we were on the train over here, I went up to King Calcifer. Asked him why he wanted me to come here. I don't have the battling experience that Baraz and Dimitry do."

"Yeah, I think I got that part," Valkyrie mused. Noctum scowled at her before returning his gaze to the hills.

"The king told me that I'd been around Yuna since the day she hatched. And that made me family." The charizard's tail flame burned brighter. "He said, 'Family sticks together! It's how we seize each day by the horns.'"

His Calcifer impression left a lot to be desired; he couldn't replicate the duraludon's booming voice. Not that Valkyrie would understand. "I owe my life to Yuna's family. So, I can't keep screwing things up."

Silence followed. Noctum looked at Valkyrie, expecting her to say something. She crossed her arms. "… tch. That it?"

Noctum's tail flame dimmed. He was hoping for a more… sympathetic response. "Is there something wrong with what I said?"

"If they really consider you family, then why are you a servant for them?" Valkyrie shrugged and shook her head.

Noctum sputtered. After a few seconds, he managed to say, "They opened their home to me. It was the least I could do for them." A beat passed. "Besides, you call Chiaki 'Young Master.' How's that any different?"

"I do it ironically." Valkyrie smirked. "It pisses him off. His reactions are amusing." She looked to her right. "In my line of work, you take the little amusements life hands you."

Noctum didn't have a counterargument. He returned to plucking blades of grass out of the ground until a thought finally stirred in his head. "Are you always this callous to others?"

Valkyrie snort. "Please. You're just thin-scaled."

"W-Well, yeah. But I didn't get enough nutrients as a charmander!"

"I didn't mean that literally, numbskull." Valkyrie knelt down to Noctum's eye level. "You want my advice? This doting devotion to the royal family is only going to hold you back. Make you weak. You want to get stronger? Trust no one and depend on only yourself."

The charizard couldn't help but gawk at Valkyrie's so-called advice. That sounded like an awful way to live. "Well, if that's the kind of logic you follow, I guess it's no surprise you left Chiaki on his own."

"… whatever." Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "Unlike you and your charge, Chiaki realizes that there are bigger fish that need frying. That's all." The garchomp stood up and reached into the satchel on her waist. "Now then, I need to deliver his replacement arm to him. Have fun with your pity party."

She walked away. Noctum looked over his shoulder. The prosthetic would've completely fooled him if it was actually attached to a grovyle. Which was probably the point. Once she dipped out of sight behind a row of thick, green bushes, Noctum turned back toward the ridge.

It can't be a pity party if I'm the only one attending…

XxX​

Baraz greeted Yuna with a leppa berry. The dreepy happily gobbled it up. Some of her fatigue from the Ministers' drills rushed away as she finished the last bites. Baraz offered to bring her back to her room, but Yuna declined. Instead, she asked Chiaki if he could help her find Nikki's room. The grovyle reluctantly agreed and, after getting a new Bold and Brash from his garchomp bodyguard — where had she been, anyway? — the two set off up the steel stairs leading to the building's main level.

"Hey." Yuna rubbed her head nervously. "So, um, why is Nikki still here if she misbehaves all the time? Especially if she's on a scholarship." If Nikki pulled similar stunts in the Aeon Kingdom, she'd have been forced to change schools already.

Chiaki pushed the red metal door at the top of the stairs open. "Short answer is Vortex cares too much about his bottom line."

Yuna paused in the doorway. "Huh?"

"It's because of ESEA." Chiaki walked out into the academic building's entry hall. His sweaty feet left outlines on the marble floor fashioned to look like the school's rose emblem.

"ESEA?"

"The Equality in Secondary Education Act." Chiaki leaned his shoulder against one of the two massive oak doors. It swung outward, leading to stone steps that descended to a gravel path flanked by rose bushes on either side. "Parliament enacted it, like, four years ago. Basically, every charter school like this one has to accept scholarship students chosen by the Crowne Ministers or pay an exorbitant tax."

Yuna followed Chiaki as he hopped over a rose bush and walked along the grass toward the girls' dorm building on their right. "I still don't get it. Couldn't Vortex tell the Minister who sponsored Nikki to find a new student?"

To her surprise, Chiaki's response was a laugh. She puffed out her cheeks, which he didn't see, but stayed silent. The grovyle eventually got his composure back. "Sorry. You're not from around here, so I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"Understand what?"

"That Minister Shredder is… quite similar to Nikki personality-wise," Chiaki replied. "At least, that's what I've heard."

Yuna raised a brow. "Meaning?"

"I'd bet money that Vortex tried to get him to replace Nikki… and Shredder told him to get bent." Chiaki stuck his hands in his pockets and continued toward the girls' dorm.

"… oh." Yuna frowned. "But if he's acting like that, couldn't he get replaced as Crowne Minister?"

"The law is that every city needs a Crowne Minister," Chiaki said. "And, despite his attitude, Shredder's actually on the popular side. My best guess is that Parliament chooses to put up with him because it's easier than the alternative."

"And I guess this Vortex guy chooses to put up with Nikki because that's also easier than the alternative." Reshiram chuckled. "It's fun when things mirror each other like that."

I don't see anything fun about it, Yuna grumbled. She came to a stop next to Chiaki, who was scanning the limestone building in front of him. "What's wrong?"

"I can't exactly waltz into the girls' dorm, you know," Chiaki said. "I'm trying to remember which room is Nikki's."

"… oh. Right." Yuna poked her hands together. The truth was she wanted Chiaki to ask one of the security guards instead of her, but that plan crumpled like a house of cards meeting the slightest breeze.

"There." Chiaki pointed to a first-floor window to their right, on the corner of the building.

"How do you know it's her?"

"I hear grunge music." Chiaki ran to his right. Yuna floated after him, unsure why that would qualify the room to be Nikki's.

"Uh, thanks, but I think I can take it from here."

"… tch. I already came here, didn't I? May as well see this out to the end." Chiaki picked up his speed.

Yuna's gills stiffened. "But what about not being allowed in the dorm?"

"Won't matter if we sneak in through the window." Chiaki reached the window in question and stood on his tiptoes to tap it with his good hand. He stood waiting for a few seconds before the glass pane swung open and Nikki glared down at him.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call security over here, Twiggy."

Chiaki shot Yuna a look suggesting that was her cue. She hovered closer, wringing her arms. "L-Look, Nikki. I know you don't like me… but I want to talk okay?"

"Not interested." Nikki reached for the window to slam it shut, but Yuna dashed forward. Quick Attack speeds let her whiz by Nikki. The toxtricity whirled around. "Hey! I didn't say you could let yourself in. Get out or I'll throw you out myself."

Yuna stiffened, staring at the black stone floor. Unlike her room, there was no carpet. "No," Yuna said, shoulders tense. She heard a thump behind her and saw Chiaki in the windowsill out of the corner of her eye. "I'm… sorry that you got mixed up in that mess yesterday. But it wasn't my fault. I didn't know Xeromus would pop up. So it's—" She swallowed hard. "You can't hold that against me. I don't want to spend this whole semester fighting with you."

Slowly she turned to look at Nikki. "Please tell me what's wrong. I might not be able to help or anything, but wouldn't it feel good to get it off your shoulders?"

Nikki stood there in silence, arms crossed and sporting a glare that reminded Yuna of her mother when she was upset. The dreepy kept holding eye contact, however. If she backed down here, she was never going to get through to Nikki.

"If we really wanted to cause you problems, don't you think we'd have gone to Vegna or Vortex instead of you?" Chiaki sat sideways in the windowsill, arms resting on his crossed legs. Yuna smiled at him, but he kept looking outside as if he was keeping watch.

Finally, Nikki sighed. "… whatever." Her posture slouched and she walked away from the windowsill. It was the most defeated Yuna had seen Nikki look. The toxtricity flopped down onto a chair. And not a cushy chair like the one Yuna had in the corner of her room. A gray, metal folding chair peppered with spots where the paint was peeling off.

In fact, Nikki's room as a whole was… practically empty. The dresser had no decorations, only a layer of dust to suggest it had never been used. The nightstand next to the bed had an old analogue clock whose glass plane was broken and bells were rusted to the point of uselessness. Nikki had no comforter for her bed. Only navy bedsheets with patches of mismatched fabrics placed over what Yuna assumed were once holes.

The walls were bare. No posters. No pictures. Not even a calendar. The light fixture on the ceiling didn't have a bulb in it.

It wasn't until Yuna looked at the corner where Nikki was sitting that she actually found something. Multiple somethings, in fact. Lined up neatly next to one another were three guitars. One was a blue acoustic guitar, similar to ones Yuna had seen back home. The other two were more like the ones Yuna saw at the ball during Starlene's concert. One had purple and yellow flames painted on it and the other was jet back.

Behind them was an open closet door housing an immaculately polished cello. Yuna even saw outlines of her reflection in it. Next to it was a cardboard box filled with what seemed like plaques and envelopes. And above them sat a few extra leather jackets. One was bright red, but the others matched the black jacket Nikki had on.

"Enjoying yourself?" Nikki growled. "Yeah, go on. Tell me I'm trash because I don't have pictures or figurines or any of the fancy crap you all keep in your rooms."

Yuna didn't do that. She continued studying the guitars. "I didn't know you were into music. These are yours?"

"No, I stole them from that dumbass cinderace."

Yuna looked blankly at Nikki, who facepalmed.

"Yes, they're mine." The toxtricity grabbed the acoustic guitar and rested it on her lap. "I've been playing instruments for a while."

"The cello too?"

"Guitar, cello, bass, and keyboard. Or I guess you'd know it as a piano," Nikki said. "And I tried drums for a bit before deciding they weren't for me."

"Wow, that's really impressive," Yuna chirped. "I, uh, can play a mean tambourine when the need arises, but that's about it." She hoped offering a compliment could help the situation. A tingle ran down her back when Nikki chuckled.

"Cute." She absentmindedly strummed a cord on the guitar. "So, satisfied? You going to leave now?"

"… oof. Well, at least you get an A for effort in my book," Reshiram said.

Yuna wasn't calling it quits here. "Is this how you earned a scholarship? By being a good musician?"

"Maybe." Nikki's answer lacked conviction. Yuna figured that was intentional.

"Then why would you want to throw the Crowne Cup?" Chiaki finally swung himself around to face inside the room. "If anything, doing well could potentially jumpstart a music career for you. But doing the opposite will—"

"I already have a career," Nikki snarled. Yuna's gills shrank at the abrupt shift in demeanor.

"Come on, now. Stiff upper lip. You don't wanna back down here," Reshiram encouraged.

He was right. Yuna had to press on. "Then why are you here?" she asked.

Nikki glared at Yuna again. "You really want to know?"

"Yes."

Another sigh. Nikki set the guitar back on its stand. "Fine then." She stuffed her left hand in her jacket pocket and pulled out… a rusty locket. Nikki tossed it to Yuna without warning. The dreepy fortunately caught it. She opened it up and found a picture of Nikki giving scorbunny ears to a dragonair.

Yuna blinked. She looked at Nikki, then back at the locket, then back at Nikki. "What is this?"

"A picture."

Yuna frowned. "That's not what I meant. What does this have to do with what I asked you?"

"That's the reason I'm at this prissy-ass school." Nikki pointed to the locket. "My big sis, Scarlett."

"Your sister's a dragon?!" Yuna gasped. "Why didn't you tell me?"

A snort from Chiaki made Yuna wince. "She's not really Nikki's sister. It's more a term of endearment."

"Kiss my ass, Twiggy." Nikki's mohawk sparked. "The two of us were practically family. Ever since the day Minister Shredder and I found her as a dratini, wandering the outskirts of Blightsmuth, we've always been at each other's sides."

"Wow, okay. Lot to unpack there." Reshiram hummed. "What's a Blightsmuth? And how long did this Shredder guy know her before sponsoring her?"

Yuna didn't want to ask either of those questions since she had Nikki talking. Best to let Nikki explain at her own pace. Maybe any gaps could get filled in at a later point.

Reshiram sighed. "Well, that's not really how you get to the whole truth, but I suppose I'll let it slide."

"What does she have to do with the school?" Chiaki asked.

"I was getting to that." Nikki's scowl gave Yuna some gratification for following her gut. "Scarlett and I grew up together. Watching Shredder and his old group the Maximizers. She liked singing and I liked jamming. So, when we both evolved, we decided to give music-making a shot. Called ourselves Pop Fizz."

Chiaki almost fell out the windowsill. "Wait, that was you?"

Nikki smirked. "Oh, a fan of my early work, are you? You didn't strike me as the type, Twiggy."

The grovyle's face reddened. He reached up to his head and felt around. Yuna figured he briefly forgot that he lost his hat.

"… tch. My little sister liked Pop Fizz. Never shut up about you," he grumbled.

"Aww, that's so precious." Nikki's voice dripped with sarcasm. She leaned back in her chair. "Anyway, Shredder helped the two of us book gigs and score a couple of albums. It was… a lot of fun." She glanced at the box sitting in her closet.

There was a longing in her voice that Yuna hadn't heard from the toxtricity before. "So, um, how does that tie into the school?" she asked.

Nikki slouched over, sighing. "One night, we gave a concert. And Vortex was in attendance. This wasn't long after that Equality Education thingy passed. He told Shredder to sponsor one of us at a time. Then Vortex could set us up with the bigwigs of Radiance's music industry. We both wanted to help Blightsmuth claw its way out of obscurity, so we accepted the offer."

She bit her lip and clenched her fists. "I told Scarlett she should go first since she was older. Only…"

Yuna gulped. "Only?"

"She didn't come home after her first year," Nikki whispered, head tucked into her chest.

"… oh my," Reshiram squeaked. "She doesn't think this Vortex guy killed her, does she? That sounds like something straight out of a murder mystery novel. Y'know, the kind an author writes as their supposed debut work but it turns out to be a pseudonym of a children's book author who was getting tired of—"

Be quiet, Yuna silently snapped. "You're suspicious of Vortex, then?"

"You're damn right I am." Nikki's mohawk grew. "When I didn't get any letters or calls from her, I got suspicious. I tried to visit, but the school wouldn't let me."

"And that made you upset." Chiaki tapped his prosthetic claws on the windowsill.

Nikki rolled her eyes. "Duh. Since I couldn't do anything with Scarlett, I took myself in a different direction… working with Shredder's new band, Crimson Cloud." Her mohawk brightened from yellow to white. "When Scarlett didn't come back, I poured my anger into my guitar."

She leaned over and reached into the open closet. Nikki tossed an envelope to Chiaki while she grabbed a dusty record player and set it on her lap.

"Are you kidding me?" Chiaki held the envelope, which turned out to be a record cover, up for Yuna to see. It had an obstagoon's snarling face on it. Its long tongue draped down toward its chest. Red streaks dribbled down its forehead, likely a dye or paint standing in for blood.

"That seems a bit… excessive," Reshiram muttered.

"Erm, exactly what kind of band is Crimson Cloud?" Yuna squinted at the cover.

"Metal and grunge." Nikki set the record player on the ground and put the needle on. Yuna's gills immediately shriveled at a loud guitar riff punctuated by overly-sensual moans.

"And you call me edgy?" Chiaki tapped the back of the record cover. "Listen to some of these song names. 'Defiant Roar.' 'Crud From the Earth.' 'Vicious Beast.' 'More Poison Than Poison.' Need I go on?"

Nikki merely crossed one leg over another. "You need to add an inappropriate pronunciation to that last one, Twiggy. It's 'More Poison Than PoiSIN.'"

Yuna tuned her teammates out to focus on the record player's speaker. A guttural male growled through it.

"I am the lurking fiend.
Corrosive to your insides like a salandit's seed, yeah.
I seep from the dead.
Molding into Phantoms to muck with your head.
An acidic suicide.
Melting through the smiles of your piss-poor lies, yeah.
Dig through your broken flesh
To tear into your heart and rip it from your chest, yeah!"

"Okay, that's enough!" Yuna threw her hands against her head. Smirking, Nikki took the needle off the record.

"Um, are we sure this Shredder fella isn't some kind of anarchist? Cause he sounds like an anarchist to me," Reshirm said. "Which would make the fact he's in the government ironically frightening. Or frighteningly ironic. Take your pick, really."

"Well, that was… a hell of a detour." Chiaki scratched his snout. "When are you going to get to the point?"

Nikki's smirk vanished. She sat up straight. "I begged Shredder to let me go here on scholarship. For two years, I poked around trying to find any inklings I could of what happened to Scarlett. But every time, staff or servants got in the way. The more it happened, the angrier I got."

She pulled a cloth out of her jacket. Nikki leaned over and rubbed the acoustic guitar's base. "I could channel some of that frustration into Crimson Cloud, but it wasn't enough. So, I figured I'd screw with Vortex's precious school. It was the least he deserved."

"Yet you have no evidence of anything," Chiaki pointed out.

"Which is why I wanted to throw the Crowne Cup." Nikki stared at her reflection in the guitar. "With our whole class and the associated professors involved, I figured I'd be able to use the free time I'd get from losing to do some hardcore sleuthing."

There it was. Yuna stared at Nikki silently. She couldn't string together a coherent response. The words were jumbled around in her head. Nikki sat back on the chair and tossed the cloth onto her bed. "Yeah, I wouldn't expect either of you to know what it's like." She pointed at Chiaki. "You with your fancy inheritance." She turned to Yuna. "And you with your royal parents and servants and guards. You both have people. You can surround yourselves with people."

Nikki folded her hands on her lap. "Scarlett was my person." She pivoted to sit sideways in her chair. "I don't have family. And I don't have money; everything I've made as a guitarist has gone back to Blightsmuth. To keep the place afloat." Nikki looked into the empty closet. "All I've got is my music."

Reshiram chuckled. "Hmm. I wonder if 'person' means they were actually smoochy-smoochy with each other?"

Enough comments from the peanut gallery, Yuna growled.

"Aww, c'mon. 'Lifelong friends to lovers' is a tale as old as the universe itself," Reshiram said. "It's a truth worth fighting for. Makes my nonexistent heart go pitter-patter."

This isn't about you. Yuna resisted the urge to shake her head. She hesitantly floated closer to Nikki. "Look. I didn't know Scarlett. I couldn't know what she'd want." The dreepy wrung her arms. "But it sounded to me like the two of you worked really well together." Yuna glanced at Chiaki. "We can't truly replace Scarlett, but we can certainly try to, uh, be your people in the meantime."

A deep breath. "And that's not, y'know, some princessy duty thing. That's just… what I think is right." Yuna gestured to Chiaki. "What do you say? You help us with the whole Eternatus thing… and maybe we can find a way to help you search for Scarlett?"

Chiaki looked at Yuna's arm briefly before staring out the window. "… yeah."

Nikki looked at her feet. "… is your pet fuzzball listening?"

Yuna tilted her head. Nikki pointed at the Soul Dew. Yuna nodded.

"Then I have a question." Nikki put her elbows on her knees and leaned her head on her hands. "If you and your buddies are the thing keeping World Ender sealed… why the hell should we try to free them? Won't that undo the seal and screw us over anyway?"

Yuna almost dropped to the ground. Chiaki sucked in a sharp breath, as if he was surprised he hadn't thought of that. A tiny bead of light spilled onto the floor and molded into a miniature Reshiram. He tapped his small claws together. "Well, um, I never said it was a flawless plan. It's, like… we have to choose between certain death and highly probably death. The latter has a chance."

"That chance being… what, exactly?" Nikki said.

"Eternatus was sealed while it was still up in the stratosphere," Reshiram explained. "If we unseal it, it should reappear there. In which case, we might be able to pinpoint its core. Strike the core and we can stop it!"

Silence. Yuna looked around uneasily. Even she had to admit that was barely a plan. "Well…" The dreepy rubbed her shoulder. "As long as there's a chance, we ought to try, right? You haven't given up on Scarlett yet. We can't give up on the planet. It's… the planet." Her girls drooped. "Sorry. I'm not one for motivational speeches."

Nikki laughed bitterly. "All right, what the hell. I'm in." She slipped her jacket off and slung it over her shoulder. "If you're going to search for Needles, then I guess we'll need to stay in the Crowne Cup so you have an excuse to head to the cities where they used to be."

Yuna slowly smiled. Reshiram grew bigger, clapping his glowing wings together. "Wonderful! Group hug time?"

"Don't push it, fuzzball," Chiaki and Nikki said in unison. The former hopped out of the windowsill without another word.

Reshiram's wings drooped. "… oh. Okay." Sighing, he retreated into the Soul Dew.

"Great. Now that the warm fuzzies are over… door's that way." Nikki pointed over Yuna's shoulder. "Get going. I don't need anyone getting any ideas. Gossip can spread like the flu in this place."

It took a moment before Nikki's comment sank in. Yuna vigorously nodded and floated off for the door. She paused with her arm on the nob. "Thanks, Nikki."

"I said no more warm fuzzies," Nikki growled.

As the door creaked open, however, she added, "Don't thank me until we survive the first leg."

XxX​

Path of Valor Almanac
The Maximizers is the name of the "band" that shows up in the credits sequence for Pokémon Sword and Shield. Most of the Crimson Cloud song names are spoofs of actual songs by Rob Zombie and the lyrics played are a spoof of "More Human Than Human," which he provided the vocals for as part of the metal group White Zombie.

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 15: In Case of Emergency​

Radiant Palace's throne room was silent enough to hear a pin drop on the velvet carpet running from the crystalline double doors to the raised, marble platform holding two thrones. Having passed along everything Yuna had told him, Seifer now stared at the carpet, wondering what was going through the mind of the rapidash standing in front of one of the thrones.

He didn't dare look anywhere else. Not up at the sunlight filtering in through the glass dome in the ceiling. Not at the walls with their crystal pillars evenly spaced between scarlet and lavender tapestries bearing the kingdom's sword and shield emblem. And not at the two diamond Zacian statues on either side of the throne platform, staring sternly at the door as if they could somehow guard the room from invaders.

The silence broke when Demerzel spoke up from Seifer's right. "Well, Your Eminence? What do you think?"

Silence returned for a few seconds. Then a sigh. "We thank you for bringing this to our attention, Seifer."

The keldeo bit his lip. He'd known Isola long enough to tell the difference between sincere thanks and putting on a front. This was the latter. "Your Eminence?" He looked up. The rapidash pivoted to her left. The bronze shield fastened to her chest shimmered under the sunlight.

"We want to believe you, Commander," Isola said. "But you must understand, you are passing on the words of a student. One who's sickly enough to pass for a child." Her long horn glowed a faint pink. She telekinetically adjusted the diamond crown resting against her silky pink mane.

Seifer's ears twitched underneath his mane. "I was there," he whispered.

"You know as well as anyone that pokémon who escape mystery dungeons often do not return the same as how they entered." Isola looked at the ceiling. "Your report didn't indicate you used any protective wards."

"There wasn't time. The princess—"

"We tasked you with keeping her safe." Isola lowered her head. "Commander, after the incident with Lord Douglas, there were those who questioned your… mental fitness to serve in your post. You drew up the plans that cost us three of our finest soldiers and led to a distortion outbreak."

Seifer stiffened. Every fiber of his being told him to bring up Reshiram. To beg Demerzel to sift through his memories to confirm his story. However, Yuna had trusted her to leave that detail out. And he agreed. It was bad enough telling Isola that World Ender was, in fact, still alive.

"We thought that by assigning you to Princess Yuna, we could restore Parliament's faith in your abilities," Isola continued. "But not only did you fail to protect her, your approach to handling the new areas of distortion has led to the disappearance of three dozen troops. And that number continues to grow."

Seifer's blood ran cold. "I… wasn't aware things had gotten so bad." He thought of Rune's disappearance. Of the masked monstrosity, Xeromus. Was he behind every disappearance? Or was the distortion reacting to another Needle's destruction… and getting stronger? "But that's all the more reason to—"

Isola shook her head. "We're sorry, Commander." She met his gaze. "In order to secure funding for Icarus, we had to agree to several… concessions." A pained expression set in. "Parliament wanted you stripped of your title and sacked…"

"No…" Seifer's eyes slowly widened. Beside him, Demerzel floated back, looking equally shocked.

"… however, we managed to convince Parliament to accept an alternative proposal." Isola stepped forward, putting a forehoof on the next step down. "You are hereby suspended until further notice. Without pay."

Isola's horn lit up. Pink light surrounded Seifer. The stunned keldeo's clothes tugged at his torso. Tearing fabric echoed in his head. He opened his mouth. Tried to say something. Anything. But all he could do was stare blankly as Isola levitated his torn uniform to her side.

His legs quivered. "Why?" Seifer croaked. "I… I've given my life… for this job."

Isola's eyes watered. "I know," she whispered. The rapidash squeezed her eyes shut and looked away. "I wish there was more I could've done, but Parliament wouldn't have it."

The rational part of Seifer's head knew this was serious. Isola rarely dropped her royal voice, even in private. However, it didn't make this any easier. "What about the Radiant Guard?"

"We will take steps to mitigate your absence." Isola had regained her composure. She tossed the uniform onto her throne. Seifer wanted to ask a follow-up question, but Isola raised a forehoof. "Demerzel, please escort Co— please show Seifer out of the castle."

It took a few seconds for Demerzel to respond. "O-Of course, Your Eminence."

Seifer was still numb. He didn't even realize Demerzel put a hand on his back until the floor fell away, replaced by the smooth pavement of the road that led to the hilltop castle. The keldeo staggered forward and dropped to his knees.

"I don't understand."

"That makes two of us." Demerzel floated in front of Seifer. "I was aware Her Eminence had to make concessions, but she sandbagged me with this news as well." He frowned. "I guess that's why she ordered your bank account frozen."

Seifer's head shot up. "She what?!"

Demerzel flinched, but immediately regained his composure. "Perhaps it's better you found out this way." He rubbed his temple. "I wish I had more to offer. I'm afraid I'm at a loss."

"You're at a loss?" Seifer's horn flickered red. "What am I supposed to do? This job was my life!" He stared at the gravel underneath him. "I… I threw myself into my work. Just like my mother and her mother and—"

He sucked in a sharp breath. "A member of my clan has served the Radiant Guard for centuries! I can't show my face back home like this. I'll be disowned!" His legs quivered again. "Her Eminence still has tea with Mother from time to time."

"I think you can trust her to keep this confidential," Demerzel assured him. "But perhaps you can stay at a hotel until things settle down?"

"With what money?" Seifer's face twisted into a grimace. "I never carry radians on me. It's too risky. Everything I had was in the bank."

"… ah."

Seifer tried to take a deep breath. He failed. The keldeo thought Demerzel would take pity on him. Offer to loan him funds for a room. He looked up at the mutant with pleading eyes.

"I can't give you money." Demerzel rubbed his shoulder. "Most of my salary goes toward experimental treatments for my… condition." He gestured to his massive head.

Seifer was struggling to breathe. The logical conclusion was to go home. But he couldn't face his family now. He'd never get past the humiliation. There had to be something. Someone who'd be willing to help.

A sharp pain clutched his gut. "I have to go back to the academy."

Demerzel frowned. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"I have to!" Seifer's horn sparked again. "It's a long shot, but I might be able to make something work out."

"And when you're spotted near the Aeon Princess and word reaches Her Eminence?" Demerzel crossed his arms. "I don't want to see you in hotter water."

"Please," Seifer croaked. "There's someone there… who might be able to help. He's not related to the Aeons."

Demerzel sighed. He reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a coin purse. A dozen gold coins dropped onto the road in front of Seifer. "This should be enough for a train ticket," Demerzel said. "Whatever it is you're thinking, I hope for your sake it works out."

Still breathing shakily, Seifer collected the radians with a forehoof. He no longer had pockets to stuff them into, so he was forced to bite down on them. "Thamks."

Demerzel didn't respond. He vanished in a flash of pink light. Sighing, Seifer got to his feet and trudged off down the road.

XxX​

"Unbelievable!" Shimmer stomped down spiral, cobblestone stairs. The lit torches on the wall smoldered from the psionic pulses his horn gave off. "How can they let an incompetent pile of scales like you represent Uncle Benedict? I may as well defend him myself."

Yuna winced. She glanced at the flygon buzzing ahead of them. His black vest and bowtie clearly didn't fit. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. But I'm the only public defender with any availability this week."

"You already told us that, Kain," Shimmer growled. Yuna swore his mane puffed up in irritation. "What I'm failing to understand here is why he needs a public defender in the first place. Money is hardly an issue for him."

Kain tapped his claws together nervously. "Well, um, my boss said that every attorney Mr. Benedict tried to hire turned him down."

Shimmer stopped walking. "What?"

"Hey!" Yuna abruptly hovered left to avoid hitting Shimmer. She squeaked when she instead hit the wall. It was rough and dusty.

"I don't know anything beyond that." The flygon scratched the back of his head.

Glowering, Shimmer pushed past Flygon. "A dragon like you shouldn't even be allowed in the Crowne Court as a custodian."

Kain dropped to his feet and folded his wings. "That's not nice, sir. I passed the bar like everyone else."

"Please." Shimmer rolled his eyes. "I could sit for the bar today and pass it. Think about the jury. One look at you and the Princess and they'll be ready to send Uncle Benedict to prison."

"… sheesh. These people can't hate dragons that much, can they?" Reshiram huffed. "Bahamut always preached cooperation. Prejudice will only blind you to the truth."

Yuna caught up to Shimmer. "Look. The situation is what it is. You can give up or try and help us. Wouldn't you rather do your best to help your uncle?"

Shimmer swished his mane over his shoulder. "Of course I'm going to do my best. But you two better not mess anything up." The ponyta approached an oak door with massive metal locks. A pair of seismitoad guards blocked Shimmer's path.

"Identification," one said.

Kain stepped forward and held up his gold attorney's badge and a piece of parchment. "We're the defense team for the Benedict case."

The seismitoad leaned forward. "Aye. The omnibus is in evidence bay C. Second on the left." Both seismitoad stepped to the side. The one on the left pressed an ID card to a metal box. A klaxon blared as both metal locks receded toward the walls and the door swung outward.

"Three coming in! His Majesty and two dragons," the other seismitoad shouted. "Evidence bay C!"

An arcanine in a black vest approached them. After staring Kain over for a solid minute, he gestured for the group to follow him. The floor abruptly shifted from stone to gray steel. There were signs hanging from the grated metal ceiling, each depicting a different letter. Yuna glanced at a set of black glass doors next to the first sign.

"Why glass? Wouldn't they want something sturdier to stop potential intruders?" Reshiram wondered.

I don't know. Maybe that's what the big door we just went through is for, Yuna responded. Arcanine had stopped in front of a second set of glass doors. He pressed the ID badge on his vest to a scanner. A light above the door shifted from red to green and the door slid open.

"Here you are. You're free to look, but don't you dare touch anything." Arcanine sat down in the doorway, looking sternly into the room.

"Thanks." Kain pulled a notepad and pen out of the satchel slung over his shoulder as he glided into the room. Yuna followed him. Four spotlights positioned in each corner shined directly on the omnibus sitting in the middle of the bay.

The wood was painted blue with white boarders around the carriage's circular windows and single square door. "The carriage in there is for all the passengers?" Yuna asked. She floated to the head of the omnibus, where there was a wooden seat with a worn pink cushion for the driver and a rectangular glass window that was too hazy for Yuna to look through.

"That's the spot where Benedict and the victim were," Kain responded. He flew up toward the top of the omnibus. "However, there's additional seating on the roof here. Two rows of benches." He pointed a claw forward.

Yuna hovered higher and saw the white benches surrounded by metal guardrails. A wooden placard proudly displayed "Fledgling Omnibus Company: Locally Owned Since 881."

"Hey, look at that." Reshiram's presence tried to direct Yuna's attention toward the roof. "There's a glass pane in the ceiling."

Huh. Yuna got a closer look at the glass. "Looks like you can see inside the carriage if you sit on the roof." She recalled Shimmer mentioning witnesses in this case. "Does this mean the witnesses were sitting up here? Or in the carriage?"

"They were up here." Kain hovered to Yuna's side, also inspecting the glass. He hastily scribbled something in his notebook. "Seems like you can only see the back row of the carriage, however. That's a good factoid to note in case someone talks about this at the trial."

Down on the ground, Shimmer snorted. "If you two are done gawking at trivial details, can we get to the important stuff?"

Yuna resisted the urge to glare at Shimmer. Who was he to say what was important? She peeked her head over the railing on her left to find Shimmer pacing in front of the open carriage door and a metal step she guessed was meant to help smaller passengers get on.

"Hey, what are those pink splotches on the metal?" Reshiram asked. "Seems like someone spilled some paint on them."

As Yuna flew down toward Shimmer, she repeated Reshiram's question. Shimmer faced the omnibus door. "I'm pretty sure it's the victim's blood."

"… oh." Yuna's tail scrunched up. "But wait… who ever heard of pink blood?

"I can answer that one." Kain dropped to the ground behind Shimmer. The ponyta jumped in surprise and whirled on Kain with annoyed huff. "It's pink because of a special reagent that Stoutland Yard uses to test surfaces for blood."

Yuna tilted her head. "Stoutland Yard?"

Groaning, Shimmer stepped in Yuna's path. "The policing unit of the Radiant Guard. Named for the species of its first commissioner. Didn't you come across that while you were studying?"

"I, uh, might've skipped that particular part." Yuna laughed nervously.

Shimmer rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He looked at Kain. "Continue, dragon."

"Yessir." The flygon saluted. "So, pokémon that can bleed have certain chemicals in their bloodstream based on their typing. The reagent responds to the chemicals and changes colors. This helps Stoutland Yard identify potential species the blood belongs to." His tail thumped excitedly against the ground, only to slow up when Kain saw Shimmer glowering at him. "Sorry. I find this stuff interesting, sir."

"Then go work in a morgue," Shimmer deadpanned. "What type of pokémon gets a pink reaction?"

"A pure fire-type." Kain flipped through his notepad. "Which makes sense, since the victim's a magmar."

"Hold on." Yuna raised her arm. "Um, there are quite a few pokémon that are pure fire-types. How do we know the blood's from a magmar? Maybe there was another fire-type there that night?"

Frowning, Kain flipped to another page. "Afraid not. The victim was the only fire-type to use this particular omnibus that night, according to a statement from Stoutland Yard. I got a copy of the passenger listing with the case file."

"… oh." Yuna's expression deflated.

"Hey, it was worth a shot," Reshiram said. "Besides, how do we know the blood is from the night of the crime? Maybe some clumsy fire-type tripped and scraped their knee. Or stubbed their toe. Stars above, I always hated when I stubbed my claws. Hurt like the dickens."

"And, um, how does Stoutland Yard know this blood wasn't already there when the crime happened?" Yuna asked.

Shimmer pointed his forehoof toward the open door. "That's how."

"Eh?" Yuna floated closer and tensed when she saw pink splotches on the carriage's black carpet. There were pink flecks on one of the back row's black, velvet cushions. "Ah." She fidgeted nervously with the Soul Dew. "That's a lot of blood."

"The case report I received states the victim got up and made his way toward the door before losing consciousness and falling out of the omnibus," Kain explained. He stepped to Yuna's side. "The walls and ceiling are just as black as the floors. Odd."

"They're probably dark to keep passengers warm in the winter," Shimmer said. "What does it matter?"

"If the interior was brighter, we might've been able to tell if there are blood traces that Stoutland Yard missed." Kain scribbled away in his notepad.

"Oi!" Arcanine barked from the front of the room. "You suggesting we don't know how to do our jobs, mate?"

Kain stiffened. "No, sir!"

"Then keep your filthy dragon mouth shut or I'll report ya!"

Shimmer shook his head. "Honestly. Maybe I really should petition to defend Uncle Benedict myself."

Yuna wasn't sure what to say other than, "Is there anything else here that could be of use to us?"

"I don't think so." Kain closed his notepad and put it back into his bag. "The rest of the evidence is with the inquisitor, so we'll see it at the trial."

"I see." Yuna looked toward the doorway. "Then I guess we should head back?"

Shimmer walked past her without saying a word. Yuna gulped and tried to avoid looking at the Soul Dew. I don't suppose you have, like, a gut feeling about this, do you?

A few silent seconds past before Reshiram responded. "I'm sorry, but I think this guy's probably guilty. The fact that so many people turned the offer to represent him down suggests they know he's guilty as sin and he's not worth the money."

Then do you think Kain's bosses gave him this case because they want to see him fail? Yuna asked.

Reshiram sighed. "I can't say for certain, but it's a possibility."

"Hey." Kain waved to Yuna from the doorway. "You coming?"

Yuna floated after him with a sinking feeling in her chest.

XxX​

The same arcanine that escorted the trio to the evidence bay led them back into the Crowne Court's entryway. Shimmer's hooves plinked against the marble floor as he stared at the carpeted, double-helix staircase leading to multiple sets of hallways flanked by stone columns. A silver statue of Queen Zacian gazed upon the hallway from between the staircases. Scales rested on her back, with a shield in one basin and a gavel in the other. The gavel alone was easily three times Yuna's size.

Talk about intimidating. The dreepy gulped.

"Perhaps it's meant to unnerve the accused?" Reshiram pondered. "A nervous soul is prone to slips of the tongue. What better way to catch a crook then get them to fess up with some mind games?"

Yuna's brow furrowed. That hardly sounded like a virtuous way to find the truth; certainly nothing that Saint Reshiram would do.

"So, um, where are we staying tonight?" Yuna turned to Shimmer. "You said there are lodgings for us so we don't have to go back to school, right?"

"Hmm?" Shimmer blinked several times. "Oh, right. Yeah, follow me." He walked toward a long, gray carpet stretching across the hall and leading to a high-arched door. Yuna said a brief farewell to Kain before floating after him.

The moment Yuna floated through the door and onto the large, stone staircase leading to a circular road, her head pounded. "Nngh." She put her arm on her chest but quickly pulled it away. The Soul Dew was as hot as a lit stove.

Reshiram? What's going on? Yuna almost grabbed the Soul Dew, but managed to stop herself. She feared that, despite being a spirit, something bad happened to him. Could he feel pain in his current form?

"It's Ray. He's close by."

Huh?

"Rayquaza. The Soul Dew's reacting to his presence," Reshiram elaborated. "There's faint wind inside of it. It must be Ray."

Faint? I feel like someone smooshed a tamato berry against my chest, Yuna growled.

"Hey! Are you going to follow me or float there gawking?"

Yuna stiffened. Shimmer was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"Ah, sorry," she called. But when she tried to float forward, an unseen force stopped her in her tracks. She squealed, thinking it would attract Shimmer's attention. To her complete shock, however, the pontya was frozen in place. His mane was paused in the midst of fluttering in the breeze.

"What the—" Yuna tried to float forward, but ran into an invisible barrier. She stuck her right arm out. It touched what felt like the surface of a body of water. Circular ripples spread out from her hand.

She pressed harder. More ripples. Reshiram?

… no response. That wasn't good. "What's going on here?"

Yuna turned around and screamed.

"How wonderful to see you again! Yuna, isn't it?"

It was Xeromus. No, that wasn't quite right. He wasn't solid. But his voice carried its usual rasping tone. Was he the one restraining her? And why was everything around her frozen?

"Natus' love works in ways you could only imagine," Xeromus said.

"Why are you here?" Yuna growled.

"You, of course." Xeromus gestured to her with a wispy foreleg. "You resisted the Qliphoth's pull… and now the chains of fate are tugging upon you once more." His gray eyes shimmered from inside his mask. "Isn't it interesting? Energizing? Exhilarating?" He panted until he descended into a coughing fit.

"Nothing about this is interesting," Yuna hissed. She concentrated on the Soul Dew. The dreepy had yet to try using Reshiram's power, but this was as good a first time as any. "Either get to the point or leave me alone."

"Yes, yes." Xeromus bobbed his head. "A lowly omen like me deserves such bitterness. Get it all out of your system so you'll be ready to welcome Natus with open arms."

"I mean it!" Yuna pressed her arms to the Soul Dew. She withstood the heat. It raced along her arms.

"Aha ha. Haaa ha ha ha haaaaa!" Xeromus shucked in a sharp breath. "Such a spark of defiance. Is this the hope you've made for yourself?"

He pivoted to face the Crowne Court's entrance. "One of this planet's old guard accepted Natus' love while in his stasis long ago. But the peddlers of false hope ignored such a gesture and constructed this… insulting eyesore over the site where he once rested.

"The ether pawns pass judgement within these halls, but their judgements are hollow. Meaningless!" Xeromus stomped a foreleg on the ground. "Natus loves all, no matter what flaws they possess. What sins they've committed." He paced in front of Yuna. "Those blinded by the ether refuse to see that."

Xeromus looked at the door again, his fish tail wagging. "But now… their days of bringing false judgements are over."

Yuna didn't like the sound of that. Was Xeromus suggesting something was going to destroy the courthouse?

"Come dawn tomorrow, Natus will tear down these discordant walls and offer His eternal love to all those in its vicinity!" Xeromus declared. "They will be freed of the ether's iron chains!" He stepped toward Yuna, panting heavily. "Isn't it wonderful? Yes, even a worthless monster like me can be giddy at the mere thought of hundreds of souls finding salvation!"

Yuna's ectoplasm quivered. Benedict's trial was supposed to be a big deal. Shimmer made it clear plenty would be attendance.

Oh, God… Shimmer!

He was Radiance's future. If Xeromus sent the courthouse into the Qliphoth, he'd be taken there, too!

She had to do something. Even if she didn't like Shimmer, Yuna couldn't let this freak cause any more problems. She focused on the warmth in her arms. "C'mon… c'mon…"

Before she could call up any attack, however, Xeromus disappeared.

"You still don't get it?"

"Ah!" Yuna shot forward, only to hit another barrier. Xeromus now stood— or, rather, his image floated where Yuna had just been.

"The choices you make don't really matter." Xeromus chuckled. "All roads lead back to Natus. His love is inescapable."

He vanished again, then reappeared to Yuna's right. "You will do as the ether desires and try to stop the events I've foretold. I can see it in your eyes."

A second Xeromus popped up on Yuna's left. "And I welcome such a decision! The Qliphoth reacts to your presence. Natus is sending you His love, even if you don't realize it."

Both Xeromus pointed their forelegs toward Shimmer's frozen form. "So go… try and stop the salvation of these souls!" they said in tandem. "Show me if you possess a true hope for the future of this planet!"

A pulse of purple energy encased Yuna. She fell to the ground with a startled squeak.

"What's the matter?"

A forehoof stomp prompted Yuna to pick her head up. Shimmer was moving again, as was a mudsdale-drawn carriage pulling into the circular road.

"I, uh…" Yuna quickly got off the ground. "Give me one second, okay?"

Shimmer rolled his eyes. "Whatever it is, hurry up." He turned and stomped off to his left.

Breath coming in short gasps, Yuna fumbled through her bag with trembling arms. Seifer had given her a strange, gemstone-based communication device. How had he told her to use it again?

"Press it to your forehead and think of Seifer's number." Reshiram rifled off five numbers.

Right. Thanks. Yuna wanted to talk about what had just happened, but she needed to call Seifer first. "Um, why is nothing happening?"

"The device number you've reached is no longer in service. Good-bye."

The gem abruptly stopped glowing while Yuna's eyes widened. "No, no, no, no." She shook the gem around. This was a mistake. It must've been an error. She tried the number again and got the same line. Yuna stared at the gem, then pressed it against her forehead one more time. She used her other arm to grab a torn piece of paper out of her satchel and read allowed five numbers hastily scribbled on it.

The gem pulsated with light, then a familiar voice said, "Yuna? I just got out of class. What's up?"

She sighed in relief. "We've got a huge problem, Chiaki…"

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 16: The Red Planet​

Compared to the fortress-like Crowne Court, the nearby rail station Yuna floated back and forth in front of was… underwhelming. Heck, calling it a proper station wasn't right. There were no ticket kiosks or fences to keep people away from the tracks. Not even a building. Just a raised stone platform with a metal roof and some signposts reading "Crowne Court South," implying there must have been other Crowne Courts throughout the kingdom.

Yuna kept glancing back at the gravel road leading uphill, partially obscured by layers of oak trees whose leaves showed the first signs of yellowing for autumn. She feared Shimmer had tailed her and was going to drag her back to the lodging area before her teammates showed up.

"I'd say that's an unrealistic worry." Reshiram chuckled. "That ponyta regards you with as much warmth as someone gives a booger they find smeared against the edge of a table."

Wow, gee, that sure makes me feel better.

"Huh, really?"

"No! That was sarcasm!" Yuna facepalmed, then realized she said that out loud and hastily looked around. Fortunately, there was no one there.

God, it had only been a little over a week and she wasn't sure how much longer she could take this Soul Dew business. And now she was going after another Sage. Was Saint Rayquaza going to listen in on her every thought, too? And would he be completely different than the scriptures?

Reshiram whined. "Hey, I'm right here. If you've got a problem, say something."

Before Yuna could retort, a train whistle sounded in the distance. A single circular light beam broke through walls of trees to the left of the train platform. The rusty red train pulled up to the station, which could only accommodate its frontmost car. Two metal doors slid open at opposite ends. Yuna's teammates stepped out the rear door.

Finally managing a smile, Yuna floated toward them. "Thanks for getting here on such short notice." She waved at them, but abruptly stopped when neither of them made eye contact.

"Yeah, about that…" Nikki scratched the back of her head before a thin, chitinous arm tried to push her aside.

"Do you want to explain to me what this is about, Princess?"

Yuna's gills shriveled. "Professor Cid. What an, uh, unexpected surprise." In her head, she offered much more colorful words at this new development.

"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" Reshiram growled.

I didn't say anything out loud.

"Well, I was on my way back to my office after a meeting in Horizon Gardens when I noticed these two heading for the station." Cid pointed to a bag Chiaki had against his jean jacket. "When I saw Chiaki lugging this bag, I had a feeling something was up, so I followed you." He narrowed his eyes at Yuna. "You're supposed to be taking part in that trial Vegna set you up for tomorrow, correct? So, what's going on here?"

Yuna wanted to lie. But Cid was a psychic-type. Even if he wasn't strong, who was to say he couldn't read her mind?

"If you're worried about me, I'm pretty sure that Bahamut designed Soul Dews to evade psychics' ESP," Reshiram said.

You're pretty sure?

"If I had to give a number: 85.27 percent."

Yuna didn't want to point out how oddly specific that was.

"Besides, this all feels like a moot point. Cid got sucked into the Qliphoth last time, didn't he?" Reshiram reminded her. "I'd say honesty's the best policy here." He paused. "Granted, I'm a bit biased, but that doesn't matter."

"My pendant reacted when I was in the Crowne Court." Yuna tapped the Soul Dew with an arm. "And then Xeromus showed up saying that the Court's built over a spot where a Needle once stood."

Cid's spots flickered. "A Needle, here? Impossible. I've never come across any records stating as such." He crossed his arms. "Besides, if that were the case, then the Court would've been swallowed up by distortion like all the other Needles recently were."

"That's just it. Xeromus said that was going to happen tomorrow morning!" Yuna threw her arms up. "Unless I can break the Needle like I did to the one in Hebrides." Once the gate was open, Yuna couldn't stop the words from pouring out. "I tried calling Seifer because, well, that was what he told me to do if something bad happened. But I couldn't reach him. The trinket he gave kept telling me his number had been disconnected. So, I did the next best thing I could think of… and called Chiaki."

Cid hovered in front of Chiaki and Nikki, looking over both disapprovingly. "And rather than report this to someone, you thought that, what, you'd go charging blindly into the Qliphoth again?"

Chiaki scowled. "And just who was I supposed to talk to about this? You don't even have the full story about what's going on here and you're already making assumptions." He crossed his arms and looked away. "You think anyone in charge would actually listen to me? Or Nikki, for that matter?"

Nikki rolled her eyes. "Love you too, Twiggy."

"Be that as it may, I can't let you three go off and do something reckless." Cid pointed at Yuna. "Especially not you. You don't even have any guards. What will happen if you come across Phantoms? Or another one of those large daemons?"

Nikki rested her hands behind her head. "Man, I told you to let me clobber him once we stepped off the train."

Yuna looked down. Cid had a point. It was Seifer's Dynaforce that made all the difference against Runerigus. Team Bastion couldn't depend on that this time. Was this too rash? If they failed, the courthouse would definitely be doomed.

"She's got protection!"

Reshiram burst out of the Soul Dew in a spray of white and orange light. Cid dropped to the ground, his large head making him roll to a stop close to the gap in the platform for the train tracks. "Th… tha… that's…" He pointed a trembling finger at Reshiram.

"What do you think you're doing?" Yuna hovered in front of Reshiram's face, waving her arms frantically. "If someone sees you, we'll be in a heap of trouble. No popping up in public without my permission."

"It's late at night. I don't think anyone's coming." Reshiram bent over, tail smoldering with blue and red embers. "I needed your teacher to see that you have help. Good help, at that. Maybe not the greatest, but still good."

Nikki tilted her head. "Wow, someone sure knows how to sell themselves. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you were single back in the day."

Reshiram's face reddened. "Honesty is paramount. I can't lie and tell him I'm at my peak when I'm a spirit."

Chiaki looked up from swapping Bold and Brash out for the Hooker. "Whatever. This isn't productive." He leveled his prosthetic at Cid. "Look, Professor, I get you're worried about us. But let's be real here, you can't stop us on your own. One way or another, we're heading to the Qliphoth. So, you can either go report us to someone… or come with."

"What? We ain't seriously bringing Chrome Dome. He's a walking liability." Nikki glanced at the orbeetle, who hovered off the ground. "Okay, floating liability." Scowling, she mumbled, "Stupid psychic-types."

"What he lacks in power he makes up for in other areas," Chiaki countered. "His Dynascan might help us locate the Needle quicker, for starters."

Cid's eyes widened. "No way am I going. I almost got squished to death last time."

"So did I. You don't see me complaining." Chiaki turned his snout up.

Reshiram stuck his fluffy head between the two. "If I may offer a suggestion, orbeetle are good with supportive actions, correct? Things like Reflect and Light Screen?" He fluttered his eyelids at Cid. "We're not asking you to fight. These kids could benefit from some adult supervision."

Nikki's mane frazzled. "I ain't in daycare, Crotch Fuzz!"

Reshiram's head shot up and his fur puffed out. "It's a beauty tuft! Why are you even looking there?"

"Make yourself smaller if you want good eye contact," Nikki growled. She put her hand to her head and flicked it in Reshiram's direction to show how she barely went up past his waist.

"Okay, that's enough of this conversation." Yuna floated up to Reshiram and squished his snout against the Soul Dew. It sucked him back up like one of those vacuum cleaners she'd seen Noctum geek out about a few days ago. Sighing, she turned to Cid. "I'm sorry, but we're wasting time here. I don't feel safe enough trying to make a rift close to the courthouse. I need to do it over in the forest."

Cid rubbed his shoulder. "How do you even know what you heard is the truth?"

"I don't." Yuna clutched her bag's strap. "But so long as the possibility is there, I— meep!"

Nikki grabbed her by the tail while walking toward the stairs. "Yeah, yeah. Save the big action protagonist speech for another time. We doing this shit or what?"

Yuna flopped against Nikki's back, cheeks puff out. Sighing, Chiaki followed after them. Cid poked his fingers together for a few seconds, before hovering after them. "I sure hope you're right about this, Princess," he said once the team was safely in the depths of the thick trees and away from the road.

Nikki set Yuna down. The dreepy looked down at the ground, only to squeeze her eyes shut. For all her bluster, she hadn't actually thought about how she'd get another rift open. It happened in desperation the first time.

What to do? She heard mumbles from Reshiram, but couldn't parse anything. Yuna took another breath. She pictured Eternatus' sigil. The circle with five diamonds surrounding it. Just like she'd seen in the books. And the Herbrides Lines. And Noatun.

Take us there.

Pressure gripped Yuna's head, then a purple and white glow erupted around her.

XxX​

Swirling red filled Yuna's vision when the light faded. The air was frigid and coarse from sand particles. Yuna shielded her eyes with an arm. Did I stay awake this time or pass out?

"You didn't pass out. But you ended up in a desert," Reshiram said. "A cold, red desert. There are icebergs jutting out of the sand! I mean, I knew deserts could get cold at nighttime, but we're talking a kind of cold a place would have to be stuck in for centuries. Assuming this kind of stuff is actually scientifically possible in the first place. I mean, it's amazing either way, don't you think?"

Hissing made Yuna's gills shrivel. Something hard and plastic was shoved into Yuna's ectoplasmic gut. "Oomph!"

"T… ake it…"

Chiaki could barely speak. Yuna cracked an eye open to see the grovyle shivering. Frost coated the end of his head leaf. There was a pair of goggles in his outstretched hand. Yuna grabbed them and slipped them over her eyes. The grittiness went away.

"Safety goggles?" she said.

Chiaki nodded, then fell onto his rear. He dropped his bag, pulled out gauze, and began wrapping it around his feet. They seemed more blue-green than usual. Yuna could sympathize. This frigid air left her ectoplasm less wispy than she would've liked.

"Yo, Chrome Dome." Nikki stood a couple of meters away on red-orange sand, wearing an identical pair of goggles. She looked up at a blue, luminescent ice block jutting out from the sand. The air around her was red and hazy. "You got an explanation for this in that big head of yours?"

Cid stared at the dark sky. It was pitch-black, save for red clouds. His spots lit up blue, followed by his eyes. Pink energy wisps trailed down toward the ground. Cid nodded slowly, then the light faded. "This is Aquardah," he said. "It's one of a few cities on a planet consisting almost entirely of a desert with red sand." Cid leaned over and levitated up some sand. It blew away in streams thanks to the wind.

"Why the hell is it so damn cold, then?" Nikki approached the group, squeezing her jacket over her gills. "My gills are gonna freeze like this."

"Perhaps the planet was far from a sun?" Yuna theorized. For all they knew, it might've only had ice-types on it.

"It's possible." Cid stroked his chitinous chin.

Yuna's Soul Dew shimmered and Reshiram popped out. The air around her immediately warmed, filling her with relief. "Bahamut told us that planets absorbed by Eternatus are stuck in whatever state they were last in. So, by that logic, it's also possible that it was nighttime when this city was sucked into the Qliphoth."

"Whatever." Nikki shuffled closer to Reshiram. "If this is a city, then where are the buildings? I just see sand." The toxtricity scowled. "And I hate sand. It's rough. It's coarse. And it gets everywhere."

"Well, you are rather weak to ground-types." Reshiram chuckled, earning him a scathing look. He held up his wings. "What? I'm not lying."

"I've got something," Cid exclaimed. He held up his right hand. Pink energy surrounded it. A hole formed in the hazy red air, revealing the edge of a stone building layered with a sheet of ice.

Chiaki was already walking in that direction before Cid cut off his ESP. "Let's get moving. With any luck, we'll find shelter and can plot our next move."

XxX​

"I'll admit, this would be fascinating if it wasn't… unnerving," Cid said, eyes darting back and forth. A fair amount of the sand had lifted from the air, allowing Team Bastion to better see rows of limestone buildings, some of which had circular domes for roofs. They were scuffed beyond measure. Icy blue streaks filled cracks and crevices. Similar blue patches lined the dirt road. Frigid white mist rose off them.

"In what way?" Reshiram led the group so that his tail engine could keep them warm. Chiaki was closest to him, still looking pained.

"We teach people that mystery dungeons are landscapes that are so badly warped by distortion that they're impossible to understand," Cid replied. "I've read reports of rescued people mumbling about settlements, but it was always dismissed as a side effect of distortion exposure."

"Guess you wish you'd brought a camera," Nikki quipped. "Frankly, I don't see where the danger is. Place is deserted." She stopped and immediately facepalmed. "That… was an unintentional pun."

Yuna couldn't help but chuckle at it. Reshiram did, too, so she didn't feel as guilty. "It was like this last time, too," she said. "Aside from a few Phantoms, things were otherwise very qui—"

There was a heavy thud, followed by a bloodcurdling scream. Sand grains falling from the roofs and building crevices gave Yuna an idea of just how heavy that thud was.

Nikki elbowed Yuna's side. "You just had to open your big mouth, didn't you? If we die, I'm haunting your ass."

"Me?" Yuna's cheeks puffed up. "You called the place deserted!"

"We need to hide." Cid's spots flashed multiple colors. "Something's coming this way. And its aura is all over the place!"

Ripples spready through the fog further down the street. A krokorok stumbled out, only to fall flat on its face. It promptly turned around and held its hands up. "Please… don't do this! I have a wife and two kids!"

A massive, barbed tongue shot out of the fog, smothering Krokorok and muffling his terrified screams. "Oh God!" Yuna squealed as the tongue retreated into the fog, taking Krokorok with it.

Reshiram poked his claws together. "Hey guys? Maybe now's not a good time to bring this up, but in the spirit of honesty I feel I should tell you that one of my biggest fears back in my pre-Sage days was getting eaten by a bigger predator." He hesitantly shuffled back. "So, uh, I'm totally in favor of making a run for it before we figure out who or what that tongue belongs to."

More ripples spread through the fog. A massive, hippowdon foreleg slammed into the ground, shattering one of the ice patches. A krookodile head emerged from the fog as a second hippowdon foreleg struck the ground. Sand and ice particles poured off the nearby buildings. The monster crept forward. Its upper half was indeed hippowdon, but its lower half and hind legs clearly belonged to a luxray.

Hollow gray eyes glared down at Team Bastion. The hippowdown ports on its back spewed blue mist. It opened its mouth wide, letting its barbed tongue loll out while it roared.

Reshiram's tail dimmed. "Too late. Time to panic!"

"Nobody's… panicking here." Chiaki's voice trembled, though that was more from the cold than anything. "Two-thirds of this thing is weak to grass. Fire in the hole!" He spat a Bullet Stream seed forward. It struck squarely between the monster's eyes, but it didn't move a muscle. Instead, vessels bulged out on its eyes and krookodile head.

It shot its barbed tongue out. Screaming, Reshiram tackled everyone to the ground. Yuna couldn't even gasp. Reshiram's fur blanketed her before she got the chance.

"We've gotta get out of here." Reshiram flapped his wings once. "Ooh, but there's no way you guys can outrun something that big. What do we do? What do we do?"

The daemon reared its head back for another go with its tongue when a pink beam struck the right side of the hippowdon area. It roared its displeasure as it toppled over to its left, reducing a nearby house to rubble.

"What just happened?" Nikki stared at the dust rising from the rubble.

"There!" Reshiram pointed ahead with his right wing.

Standing atop the house opposite the one the monster fell on, a slowking in a tattered cloak waved its arms frantically.

"This way! We must get to the palace or Ahemait will devour us all!"

Team Bastion exchanged concerned looks. Was it really safe to trust a complete stranger? "It could be a trap," Cid whispered. "He lulls us into a false sense of security so he can kill us himself!"

The ground rumbled behind them. Ahemait's head popped out from the rubble, blinking rapidly.

Nikki's mohawk frazzled. "You've been watching too many horror flicks, Chrome Dome. Let's beat it before we get beaten!"

Yuna nodded, then flew off alongside Nikki and Reshiram. They got about a dozen meters before Chiaki cried, "Look out!"

The dreepy turned and saw a massive rubble slab careening right toward her. Screaming, she squeezed her eyes shut. A chill ran through her body, following by a rough, gritty sensation. Yuna opened her eyes as a heavy thud sounded behind her. She sighed in relief.

"Woah, did you just, like, turn invisible?" Nikki stopped in a gap between two houses.

Yuna looked behind her. A giant boulder sat in the splintered remains of a wooden door. "Yeah. I did."

"Compliment yourself later," Chiaki snarled, grabbing a gasping Yuna. "Like when we get away from this thing!"

He shot the Hooker up and it latched onto a roof. Chiaki dropped Yuna, who flew up while the grovyle brought Nikki up to the roof with him. Ahemait saw this, too, however, and already had another rubble slab in its gaping maw.

"Nice going, Twiggy! You made us sitting ducklett!"

A wall of sand grains and ice particles swept in front of the building. Reshiram flew in front of them, blue energy sparking around his mouth. A Dragon Pulse raced forward, striking the rubble and blowing it up in Ahemait's face.

"That'll do the trick! Now hustle your bustles!" With a flap of his wings, Reshiram headed for Slowking.

"He can't be serious with that phrasing." Nikki facepalmed, then ran across the roof.

Yuna took one look back and saw ice shards forming in the air around Ahemait. She shot after her teammates. "Wait for me!" The dreepy made out Slowking waving at them from a couple of buildings over. Fortunately, the gaps between houses were small enough for Chiaki and Nikki to get across without much issue.

"All right, bud, where's this so-called palace place?" Nikki sized Slowking up while he did the same to her.

"Well, we—" Slowking's crown pulsated pink. He looked up. His eyes widened in alarm. "Fire your strongest attacks up, now!" Psychic energy gathered at the front of his crown.

"Huh?" Yuna looked up to find a massive Icicle Crash spear forming over them. With no beam-based attacks at her disposal, the dreepy could do nothing but scream.

XxX​

Vortex hated Citadark, even when he didn't have to set foot in the prison complex dripping with the stench of sweaty inmates. Its underground facility was cold and smelled of sterile metal. Glass panes surrounded the elevator platform to offer the charizard a dim view of the chasm-like maze of steel pipes crisscrossing through the underground facility.

He was a flier. Heights shouldn't have bothered him. But something about this descent always unsettled him. Perhaps his innate dislike of caves? Rocks didn't get along with charizard, after all.

Just keep Tessa focused and you can be out of here quickly, he told himself as the platform came to a stop. Circular steel doors slid open. A glass walkway extended out toward a metal platform with several monitors and control panels. Floor lights turned on with every few steps Vortex took.

"There he is! The 'mon of the hour! Can we give the Chancellor a welcoming ovation?"

Speakers crackled. An audience's applause buffeted Vortex's ear frills. He pinched his brow with two fingers. "Cut the theatrics, Tessa. You already know why I'm here."

The cheers abruptly turned to boos and hisses before the speakers shut off. Vortex stopped at the end of the glass walkway as a chair spun around. The boltund seated in it had an unreadable expression behind his red-tinted lab goggles.

"It's Doctor Tesla. Or Minister Tesla. Or Doctor Minister Tesla. I'm not picky." He grinned. "You could even try Minister Doctor Tesla. Nobody's used that one yet. You sell yourself as a trailblazer, right?" He flashed pearly white teeth. "Or was that a tail-blazer? No, that can't be right. You're usually the one getting his tail blazed. I think it was an incineroar last time, no?"

This was the other thing he hated about Citadark. Tesla was obnoxious. Yet Tesla was the only one in the kingdom who could put Vortex's ideas into practice. It didn't make the fact that he abused his position to do the most frustrating things any less annoying, though.

Vortex made a mental note to have Arianna sweep his Horizon Gardens home for one of Tesla's spying devices. He stomped his right leg down. "Status report. Now."

Tesla sighed. His chair rose into the air on three mechanical legs that wouldn't look out of place on a metagross. It stomped toward Vortex. He also noticed that strange stack of floating disks that always followed Tesla around. Heavens, how he hated that thing. Why did Tesla make it in the first place?

"The incubation chamber is finished," Tesla declared. "I started the ether infusion at 0700 this morning." A mechanical arm popped out of Tesla's metal backpack and pressed a few buttons on his chair. "I know you're the 'all business' type, so I'll let you see for yourself."

Giant lights switched on in sets of two, revealing a massive red orb suspended behind Tesla's control panel. Several large metal coils and wires were connected to it. Various screens showed numbers, lines of codes, and fluctuating bars and lines. Vortex couldn't make heads or tails of any of it. That was why he had people like Tesla working for him.

"I don't understand." Vortex was surprised, but in a good way. "When you gave me the information for Parliament, you estimated a four-week construction time for the incubation chamber. You haven't even had the funding for five days and—"

Tesla stiffly pivoted to his right while making little "zzt" noises. "With all the time Parliament spent bickering over funding allocation, subsequent prototype revisions enabled the genius Dr. Tesla to identify and systematically update bugs and errors in Icarus' design, allowing the final product to be completed ahead of and under chronologic and monetary estimates, respectively."

Vortex looked up at the boltund, blinking slowly. "What?"

Sighing, Tesla snapped his robot hand's fingers. "Zed!"

The floating discs twitched. "Dr. Tesla made design changes in the four months it took you to secure the funding." It paused. "Sir."

Vortex quirked a brow. "And you're sure this new design will work?"

"Yes, though I'm currently trying to determine the optimal ether infusion rate," Tesla replied. He pushed some buttons on the right armrest and small blue screens popped up from his goggles. "Once I have it, I can give you a precise timetable for when Icarus will be ready for our delightful diva to power it up."

It sounded too good to be true. "You didn't cut any corners?"

Tesla laughed, slapping a forepaw against his seat. "Aww, Vorty, that's so cute!" A second robot arm shot out from his backpack and pinched Vortex's cheek. The charizard slapped it away. "But I never cut corners." He shifted to sit sideways in the chair, making more noises. "We can't both be the smartest person in the room, you know. Otherwise, they'd have to change it to the 'smartest people in the room.' And that just doesn't have the same panache. You feel me?"

Silence. Tesla looked over at Zed. "What about you?"

Zed nodded, its bill flopping about. "Of course, sir."

Vortex had had enough Tesla for one day. "Do you have the footage for Parliament?"

Tesla's chair lowered to the ground. One of the robot arms retreated into his backpack and popped back out with a disk. "Here. This has everything you're looking for. We're talking high-quality, critic-wowing, Lemmy-award winning material here!"

Vortex swiped the disk. He pocketed it and turned back toward the glass walkway. "Oh, one more thing. I've learned that Seifer's been booted from the Radiant Guard." He considered not bringing it up after Tesla casually dropped that he was spying on Vortex again. But Tesla could further Polaris' standing with the info in ways Vortex couldn't. It was a business investment.

"Meaning?"

Vortex brushed the side of his tan blazer. "If, off the record, you wanted to use your extra Icarus funding to try and make some improvements to the Guard, I don't think you'd get any objections from your colleagues in Parliament."

He raised his right hand and lazily waved it. "Do take care, Tessa."

Vortex walked away, clasping the CD in his jacket pocket tight. The trip was worth the headache after all.

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 17: Give Me Shelter​

Come nightfall, some pokémon hit the pubs. Others curled up by the fire with a good book. A certain black-scaled charizard, however, had a different evening pastime: a glass of warm milk. Now made exponentially more effective thanks to the magical hot box machine.

Well, okay, technically it was called a microwave. But as far as Noctum was concerned, a tiny metal box that could spontaneously heat things up more evenly than his tail flame might as well have been magic.

So, the charizard lumbered down the narrow brick corridor in the servant's quarters in search of the kitchen, praying it didn't have other occupants. Every room in the brick building wasn't designed with larger pokémon in mind. Noctum never thought himself that big, but there were too many times where he had to slide into a doorway so someone else could walk past him in the corridor. Baraz had it worse, of course, thanks to his bulky hindquarters. After a few days, the dracozolt took to staying in their shared bedroom and asking Noctum to get him things. Thank God he could fit through the window.

As Noctum rounded a corner and passed by framed, black and white photos of the school's castle-like main building, he heard a hiss, followed by the sound of pottery shattering.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

Noctum didn't recognize the voice.

"You've got some nerve, backstabber! Waltzing in here to ask for my help." He sounded even more venomous with each passing word. Noctum realized he was yelling from the kitchen. "The only reason I'm stuck here is because of you. You hung me out to dry! Give me one good reason I shouldn't do the same to you!"

Noctum clutched his shoulder belt. Perhaps it was best to skip the warm milk.

"Artie, please—"

The charziard's tail crackled. That second voice was Seifer's!

"Don't 'Artie' me! I told you all I hadn't the foggiest idea my parents smuggled goods for the Ryujin," the first voice snarled. Curiosity got the better of Noctum. He crept forward, keeping his tail as far behind him as he could manage. The charizard approached anoter corner and poked his head out. Several meters down, he saw a sweaty Seifer on his knees, staring at the kitchen's rusted, white tile floor. A milotic loomed over him, red sclera burning with intensity that made Noctum reflexively glance at his tail flame.

"I begged you to trust me," Artie continued. "You were my sponsor. My teacher! And what did you do?"

Silence. The milotic jabbed Seifer's horn with his tail fins. "Speak, damn it!"

"I stayed silent," Seifer croaked.

"That's right." Artie's tail fins slapped the floor with an audible splat. "You kept your mouth shut and I got expelled two months before graduation. My Radiant Guard dreams burned to cinders! My parents hauled off to heaven knows where." The milotic turned his head. "I think Vortex only let me take this job because it gives him some perverse sense of glee seeing a milotic scrubbing dishes and living in some moldy servant shack."

Noctum winced. The servant's quarters weren't luxurious by any means, but he hesitated to call them moldy. Though on closer inspection, Artie's tan scales clearly had a layer of grime that subdued the sparkles Noctum would expect a milotic to have.

Seifer's face scrunched up. "I made a mistake."

"Yeah, well so did I." Artie took a ribbon and shoved Seifer aside. "And that mistake was believing a snob like you could ever care about someone like me."

"Artie, please." The keldeo got to his feet as Artie slithered around him. "I need your help. You're all I have!"

Artie stopped in the doorway. Noctum ducked his head back around the corner. "You should've thought about that before torching the bridge we had."

"But—"

"Actions have consequences," Artie hissed. "As far as I'm concerned, someone's doing the kingdom a favor if they yanked that silver spoon out of your ass."

Noctum flinched. Seifer was hardly the friendliest to him or Yuna, but the charizard wasn't under the impression he was a bad person. Perhaps a bit stern and anchored in traditions, but there were worse folks out there. Like that druddigon pair who baited him into testing their bogus healing serum and then ditched him when he started puking up blood.

A red ribbon smacking the wall beside Noctum hurled him off of memory lane. He found Artie's red eyes narrowing at him. "And just what are you doing, hmm? Didn't realize eavesdropping was a custom in Aeon."

"Kitchen conversations aren't private," Noctum retorted. He subconsciously brought his tail flame closer to his rear.

The milotic rolled his eyes. "… sure. Whatever. Well, if you're looking for a good laugh, check out the dope in the kitchen. Not every day a Radiant Guard commander looks like he lost a fight with a blow-dryer."

Artie slithered off, leaving Noctum to mouth "blow-dryer" to himself in confusion. He sincerely hoped that wasn't some sort of adult instrument. Wait, what am I doing? It sounds like Seifer needs a hand. Noctum smacked his cheeks and walked around the corner. To his surprise, he found the haggard keldeo in the doorway.

"How much of that did you hear?" he asked.

Noctum tapped his claws nervously. "I, uh, think I came in around the part where he called you a backstabber." He might not have known Seifer well, but it was still odd to see the Keldeo without his navy and lavender uniform. And his mane was totally disheveled. "Um, if you don't mind my asking, what happened to you?"

Seifer glanced at the brick wall. "It's… nothing that concerns you."

"Right." His tail flame shrank. He wasn't Seifer's servant. There was no reason for Noctum to butt in if the keldeo didn't want him to. Still, he must have come here for a reason, right?

"It might not concern me, but you look like you need some help." Noctum offered a smile. "Yuna is over at the Crowne Court, so I have some spare time. You did help her with that Qliphoth stuff, so it's only right I should repay that."

Seifer frowned. "That was my job."

Noctum raised a brow. "Don't you mean it is your job?"

Seifer's horn sparked. His eyes darted back and forth. Noctum was on the right path. "And what happened to that uniform with all the shiny badges and ribbons on the sash?" The charizard tilted his head.

"Okay, fine." Seifer's shoulders sagged. "Her Eminence… dismissed me from my position."

Silence. Noctum looked down at his feet. "… oh." It was all he could manage. Still, the guy had to have family or something, right? Why come here? Noctum wanted to ask, but Seifer surprisingly beat him to the punch.

"I wasn't born yesterday. I can see that skeptical look in your eyes," the keldeo grumbled. "You're wondering why I'm here. Why I didn't go home to my family or a spouse."

Noctum nodded guiltily, checking his tail flame to see if it had given him away.

"My family… reputation is everything to them." Seifer turned away, looking ready to collapse onto his knees again. "They've served the Radiant Guard for generations. There hasn't been so much as a single write-up about any of them." He squeezed his eyes shut. "If I go home, they'll learn what happened. They'll disown me for sure."

That was unreasonably harsh! It took a lot of willpower for Noctum not to press the matter, as it was clearly a sore spot for Seifer. "What about going to a hotel or something?"

"I can't. Her Eminence froze my bank account," Seifer replied. "I don't carry money on me when I'm on duty." He slouched forward. His horn rested against the kitchen doorway's porcelain tiles. "I'm pretty much broke."

Noctum's temples throbbed. One moment, he was looking at Seifer. The next, he saw a small, black-scaled charmander standing by a dusty alleyway, looking up at a dumpster easily five times his size. His stomach knotted up.

No one deserves to be abandoned when they're in trouble.

The charizard hesitantly stepped forward. "Do you want to stay with me and Baraz?" He extended his right hand. "We don't exactly have a lot of space in our room, but we can use our blankets to make you a little nest on the floor." He grinned sheepishly. "Neither of us use ours because the room gets pretty warm when we're both in there."

Seifer didn't respond at first. The look on his face brought a wounded feral to mind. Noctum wanted to look away, but managed to hold eye contact. "You don't have to make up your mind right now. We're not going anywhere."

"Why?" the keldeo whispered. "We're not friends. We hardly know each other."

"That's true." Noctum scratched his chin. "I guess you could say that I know what it's like to feel like you have nowhere to go and no one to turn to." He slowly stretched his left wing out. "Bahamut taught that one should never turn away from a chance to extend the kindness they've been shown to others." Noctum draped his wing over Seifer's back. The keldeo flinched, then stared wide-eyed at Noctum.

"I— That— You—" Seifer's face reddened. He stood up straight and stepped out from under Noctum's wing. "… thank you."

A grin spread over Noctum's black-scaled snout. "Great! Say, how do you feel about a glass of warm milk?"

The disgust on Seifer's face was all the answer Noctum needed. His tail flame dimmed. "Ah, sorry. Forget I asked."

XxX​

Bullet Seeds, electricity, and pink energy beams shot toward the massive icicle above Team Bastion. But Yuna knew the attacks were nowhere near enough to repel Ahemait's. She flew as fast as she could away from her teammates when a sudden, intense burst of heat sent her tumbling through the air. Yuna caught a brief glimpse of Reshiram hovering where the attack had been, blue eyes glowing and blue embers trailing around his tail engine.

"Wow. I didn't think… I still had that in me." Reshiram fanned himself with a wing.

Nikki smirked. "Nice to know your big mouth is good for more than just blowing hot air."

Yuna would've chastised the toxtricity, but the roof they stood on trembled. Ahemait's krookodile head appeared from the dusty air. It launched its tongue forward and latched onto Reshiram, who screamed and flailed about in a panic. In desperation, Yuna pressed her hands to her pendant and concentrated. Reshiram collapsed into streams of white and orange light that retreated into the Soul Dew.

Ahemait's tongue shot back into its mouth with an audible snap. Its hollow eyes squeezed shut.

"Quickly, this way!"

Slowking had jumped to another roof, which held a wooden raft with two propellers attached. With Ahemait momentarily distracted, Team Bastion made its way onto the raft. Nikki looked down at the gray wooden planks and the worn, frayed rope tying them together. "You sure this thing can carry us?"

"Positive." Slowking's crown sparked blue. The propellers coughed and sputtered to life. Yuna barely had enough time to grab the rope before the raft flew off the building roof.

"Gah!" Chiaki dug his hook into the wood to keep from getting launched off the raft. Behind him, Icicle Spears threatened to bombard the raft and blow it out of the dusty air. With his tiny, chitinous feet wedged under the rope, Cid threw his hands up. A blue barrier materialized, but promptly shattered under the assault.

Fortunately, it bought the raft enough time. As it dropped toward a sandy road, the remaining Icicle Spears whizzed harmlessly overhead and struck the pointed glass dome of a tan, square building supported by white columns. Shattering glass filled Yuna's ear frills. As the air raft rounded a bend to approach the building in question, however, purple distortion rippled through the building. The glass pieces hovered back into place. Within seconds, the dome looked good as new, save for a layer of frost mixed with sand.

Nikki blinked. "Did… did you guys see that?" She leaned over to wave a hand in front of Slowking's face. "Yo, Cloaky. Do your buildings usually fix themselves?"

Slowking kept a straight face, focused on steering the raft along the dusty road. "Everything has fixed itself for as long as our city has been blanketed by night."

"Oh, great. We found a planet that waxes poetic." The toxtricity scowled. "Can I get this semester's language arts credit from this?"

The raft whizzed by buildings that were mostly tan and white. The majority were squares or rectangles, but a few in the distance had prominent, pointed domes like the one from earlier. Yuna caught glimpses of flashy colors like gold and silver. But they were mostly obscured by ice and sand.

"You and your fluffy friend are not from here." Slowking sounded confident. Yuna wondered whether to be honest or try to play it off, but Chiaki made that decision for her.

"You're not surprised."

Slowking nodded. "It seems we have much to discuss."

Nikki groaned. "Oh, goody. Because a lecture is what I really wanted when I agreed to thi— ow!"

Chiaki recalled the Hooker, snorting. Yuna sighed and tightened her grip on the rope. She wanted to check on Reshiram, but was too focused on not getting left behind by the raft.

XxX​

"What the hell is that giant thing?"

Nikki pointed to a massive bedrock plateau that stood a couple of hundred meters from where Slowking had stopped his air raft. The top layer of the plateau had clearly been carved. Yuna thought she saw a turtanator's face; she recognized the zigzagging snout.

"It is the Aquardian Sphinx." Slowking gestured for Team Bastion to follow him. "My ancestor of generations past led its construction. It pays tribute to the founder of our nation."

"Nation?" Nikki scratched her head. "Isn't this—"

Chiaki cupped Nikki's mouth with his good hand, cutting her off. "What my smart-mouthed friend meant to ask was what you mean by your nation's founder."

Nikki wriggled free from Chiaki. "Ooh-la-la, so I'm on the friend's list now, am I?" She wiggled her brows and grinned cheekily. "And I didn't even have to buy you a coffee."

Chiaki shoved Nikki's head down. "… tch. I don't drink coffee."

"Guys? Can we, y'know, be polite to the person who saved our scales?" Yuna gestured in Slowking's direction. There was also the fact that they were total strangers to this place. But Yuna was also a stranger to Radiance, so it was probably easier for her to think that way.

"It's not a problem." Slowking reached up and lowered the hood of his tattered purple cloak. He turned to showcase a gold gemstone in the middle of his crown. "I am Razim, the king of Aquardah." He pointed up to the Sphinx's mighty, rocky head. "That is my ancestor, Turtankhamun."

Nikki sniggered. "Bless you."

"Is that really his name?" Yuna looked between Razim and the Sphinx.

Razim chuckled. "Of course not. His name was Khamun. We just combined it with the species name." He paused. "Well, I didn't do that. That would be another of my ancestors. I hear she was bad with names."

"Fascinating." Cid stroked his chitinous chin. "It's quite an architectural sight. How was it constructed?"

Yuna thought she saw sparkles in Cid's eyes. He might not have been regretting the decision to come after all. But the last thing she wanted was tangents. They were on a timetable. "Err, sorry. Could you give us the brief version about this city?"

"Yes, but we should keep moving to the palace."

Team Bastion followed Razim past the Sphinx. Past smooth rock ledges sloping down toward ground level. Like everything else, patches of ice coated the rock. A few ice shards jutted out from them. Chiaki rubbed his good hand against his hook and blew into it.

"I don't suppose this palace of yours has any heat, does it?"

"It is warmer in there." Razim quickened his pace. Yuna was surprised a slowking could move that quickly. Perhaps the naming convention was a stereotype?

Not far from the back of the Sphinx sat what Yuna assumed was the palace. There were remnants of a stone wall. Ice balls replaced the majority of it. A few hundred meters behind the crumbling wall was a large square building. Yuna wasn't sure if it was naturally tan or its original colors had faded in the face of sandstorms. Like some of the other buildings, there were multiple golden domes atop the building, each topped with needle-like points.

The closer the team got, however, the clearer it was that things were off. Sheets of metal sat over large segments of the front wall. Ends of giant metal bolts jutted out like the warts on a seismitoad's body. The palace door was also missing, replaced by giant metal slabs with interlocking steel beams along the edges.

Reshiram's presence finally stirred in the back of Yuna's head. "Ugh. I get storm shelter vibes from this."

Yuna couldn't say it was unfamiliar. Aeon had similar structures, only using lava-retardant shielding instead of metal. And it was volcanic eruptions that worried them, not storms. Not that they didn't have an abundance of those, too.

"Jeez. Some home environment you live in."

We make do, Yuna replied. In front of her, the metal slabs sank into the ground. Grating screeches made her gills shrivel.

"I apologize for the noise. Though the buildings repair themselves, our barricades were rusted from the start." Razim stepped forward and raised his right hand. "En sabah Khamun."

Yuna glanced at her teammates, but only got shrugs in response. "Don't you think it strange that we could understand him perfectly before he said that?" Reshiram asked. "I think it's strange. If this is meant to be another planet, we shouldn't understand him at all, right? Unless Bahamut taught language based on this planet, but the odds of that seem ridiculously tiny. Like, a joltik compared to my size levels of tiny."

Honestly, I'm chalking it up to Qliphoth strangeness, Yuna said. Besides, they had seen far weirder things. This subject was tame by comparison.

"Come, guests." Razim waved the team after him. Team Bastion walked through the opening. No sooner did they finish entering than the metal slabs rose out from the ground once again. Huge iron bars crisscrossed over them.

For a few seconds, the room was pitch black. Then a half dozen orange torches flared to life, revealing a large room that stretched several hundred meters back. The floor was marble, but scuffed enough to look like the sand mounds Team Bastion just left behind. There were scattered patchwork carpets and blankets housing various fire, ground, and water-types. Many were huddled around clay plates and trays with… well, Yuna honestly wasn't sure if she could call what they had food.

There were loafs of bread and piles of mush that lacked any distinct colors. She sniffed the air, and smelled nothing but aged stone. Her gut squirmed.

"Another crop of lost souls, my king?" A lombre approached the slowking. His lily pad headpiece had multiple holes in it, like a leaf nibbled away by a tiny caterpie.

"I'm afraid so, Faisal." Razim bowed his head. "And please, you know I'd rather be called Razim."

The lombre nodded. "Right. And what of our own people?"

Razim glanced around the room until he spotted a krokorok wrapped in a tattered purple blanket. A sandile sat on either side of her. Faisal looked between the family and Razim. "You found Ahmad?"

Razim bowed his head once again. "For a few fleeting moments, before Ahemait took him. That is when I stumbled across these lost souls." He gestured to Team Bastion.

The color drained from Faisal's face. "I see." He slowly turned around to look at Krokorok and her children.

"I suppose I should tell her," Razim said. Faisal stuck an arm out.

"Do not burden yourself, my ki— err, friend. I shall break the bad news." The lombre brushed some sand of his head and walked toward the family. Razim turned his attention back to Team Bastion.

"I'm sure you want answers," the slowking said, his crown's golden gem glinting from the torch light. "There are others who have come before you. Showed up in our nation with no explanation how they ended up here. Utterly confused. We have taken them in, however…" His voice trailed off. He looked toward the room's back right corner. A dusty red curtain obscured most of a doorway Yuna assumed led deeper into the palace.

"Lemme guess. That big, freaky jigsaw puzzle took 'em all?" Nikki quirked a brow, then rolled her eyes when Razim nodded. "Delightful."

Suddenly, the krokorok Razim was talking about wailed. She threw herself onto Faisal, knocking the lombre flat on his back in the process. Her sandile children looked similarly tearful.

"Has that thing always been terrorizing the place?" Chiaki had turned away from the scene. He was staring at one of the metal patches overlying the wall, trying to ignore any onlookers. The grovyle was clearly trying to hide his fake arm. His expression remained unreadable, however.

Do you think we ought to tell him about the Needle? Yuna wondered. Maybe he'll be more cooperative.

"I wish it were that easy. But we don't even know if these people realize they're actually dead," Reshiram replied. "Creepy, isn't it? You guys are very much alive, but you're walking amongst people who had their homes and souls taken by Eternatus."

Wouldn't that technically make them alive? Yuna countered.

Reshiram sighed. "I wish. Bahamut told us those who are absorbed by Eternatus can never leave the Qliphoth. An otherworldly force will always pull them back in."

Yuna blinked. Then why have we been able to move back and forth between Etherium and the Qliphoth? And how could I take you with me?

"Look alive, Yuna."

Yuna snapped to attention and saw her teammates halfway across the room. "Sorry!" She hastily floated after them. By the time she caught up, they stood on one side of a long table. Razim was opposite them, pointing to the leftmost side of a scroll he had rolled out. There was a watercolor drawing of rich, grassy fields and glimmering lakes.

"The planet wasn't always like this." The slowking moved his claw to a drawing filled with brown swirls. Twisters, from Yuna's perspective. "About three centuries before I became king, dust storms ravaged the planet. They were ruthless. Crops were wiped out. Water sources dried up. The landscape changed into harsh desert in a matter of moons."

Razim's thumb tapped a drawing of a turtanator with a golden outline around him. "Khamun united the fires, waters, and grounds who had segregated themselves in a blind panic during the onset of the storms. Together, they combined their abilities to construct a special barrier that kept the sandstorm at bay."

He walked his claw and thumb across the scroll, settling on scribbles of thatched huts and tents made from cloth. "Under Khamun's guidance, they built a new community."

"The beginnings of Aquardah." Cid bobbed his bulbous head. "I see. And in the years that followed, your nation grew quite a bit."

"Correct." Razim managed a fleeting smile, which faded when he looked to his left. Yuna followed his gaze and immediately tensed.

Four golden wings. Two crystal legs. A star-shaped, seven-pointed head with multicolored, mismatched eyes. And a crystal chassis with three prominent spikes. She'd seen countless pictures of this. But there were always soft, angelic blue hues surrounding it. Here… black and purple brushstrokes spread out from the painting. Tendrils?

I don't understand. Yuna blinked hard. The painting was still there. She wasn't imagining it. That's… Bahamut? Was this one of the planets he had visited before creating Etherium?

"What's this thing?" Nikki pointed at Bahamut's drawing. Yuna tensed again when Razim's expression darkened.

"… that is Isfet, the bringer of chaos. And the reason why our city is stuck like this."

 

[Pen]

Hey, I'm back for Catnip! I picked up where I had left off at Chapter 9 and read through Chapter 11, since I kept hitting cliff-hangers.

Vortex and Demerzel's conversation in chapter 9 provided some useful exposition. So, fairy society is powered by ether, including the barriers that keep out the mystery dungeons, but the ether has been running out, causing the barriers to fail. Demerzel's solution is making a treaty with the dragons, who have non-ether techniques of dealing with the phantoms and mystery dungeons. Vortex wishes instead to develop a new, alternate energy source, but is cagey about the details, because somehow the details will reveal that the government's official story about The Darkest Day is false. Presumably the part of it where the fairy kingdom fully defeated the World-Ender? Yuna's reactions have shown that there's some serious divergence between the dragon and fairy versions, though due to the differences in the kingdom's religions and mythos, and her own reticence, the specifics aren't clear yet. The discussion of the canines and whether they represent Shimmer's ancestors was interesting. It rings true that a dominant monarchy would try to claim a direct line with figures of legend. The fairy kingdom doesn't exactly seem like a place with a flourishing free press, so I wondered how right Vortex is to worry about public opinion. It seems like a society where he could get away with passing off a lie as to the origins of the new energy source, and that people would be prepared to buy it, especially since the impacts on society must be intense. I'm curious what other ways other than the barriers breaking the lack of ether comes through and what that means in people's day to day lives.

I liked the more surreal take on the space of mystery dungeons. When they were freaking out about the floor breaking, I wondered if that would align to the kind of consequences we'd expect in the real-world. There were a lot of hops between different places, so I felt fairly disoriented as I read in terms of where we were at any given time, but since the answer is 'in a mystery dungeon' I suppose that comes with the territory.

Cecil the Reshiram was a surprise! His scene with Lunala was quite sweet. Lunala comes from the Qliphoth, and the form her escape takes looks like she fell from space, which seems a little different from the way the portals work for Yuna and crew. Maybe since that time more portals and thin places between the two realms have been created? The trope of a renowned historical figure not being that impressive can be fun, but it can also get a bit irritating if the historical figure turns out to be less competent than a teenager.

I wasn't sure what to make of the whole 'you may have just doomed the world' thing. Yuna kind of brushes it off. It seems like she was possessed in some way when she did what she did. I wonder if anybody touching the Needle would have been enough to break the seal, or whether someone of Yuna's lineage was needed.

Nice to see that Vegna isn't actually going to have Shimmer and Yuna defending an actual criminal defendant in court. Speaking of, Shimmer's reasoning for wanting to come on the rescue mission seemed pretty weak - I doubt he really believed that if Yuna vanished he'd have to do a two-person assignment on his own. Maybe he just wanted to see what was going on and be part of the action. He's certainly an attention-hogger.

"Could we not just hold a secret session of Parliament?"

Lol, every government's dream

"Pull the funds from the recycling division's budget. They don't need the money."

Rip

The fields were moving by so fast it reminded me of joy flights I used to take back home." His tail flame crackled excitedly. "Well, minus all the sulfur plumes and lava rivers, of course."

Noctum continues to be a sweetheart.

"Over time, pokémon that have been rescued from mystery dungeons have reported seeing these exact same rune patterns." Cid gestured to the hill.

"Ridiculous!" Shimmer's horn and mane lit up bright pink. "Are you implying the Lines predate the Darkest Day?"

Cid turned around. "According to rescued pokémon, the phrase on the left is 'Nos vera Natus' while the one on the right is 'Qliphoth.' While there's been debate what these actually mean, Qliphoth is always used in conjunction with 'dungeon' or 'mystery dungeon.'"

How do the pokemon know what the runes say if no one knows how they're read? If it's like Yuna's reaction where they see them and just suddenly know the words in their mind, it seems like that information would be part of Cid's lecture.

Before she could ask Chiaki what he was doing, she slipped from his grip and tumbled down a purple and red abyss.

It was very unclear to me here whether Chiaki was trying to stop her from tumbling into the abyss or not here.

And yet, he looked nothing like his depictions in the scriptures. So unscrupulous.

I'm not sure unscrupulous is the word you want here? Unscrupulous isn't really a trait that you look. Maybe scruffy or unkempt?

 

[Adamhuarts]

Just read the latest chapter. Though this will be a review of chapter 13. I'll work my way up the rest eventually.

I like how this chapter began with the scene between Reshiram and Yuna. It's funny seeing how different Reshiram is compared to the glimpses we'd heard about him in prior chapters. Who would've known he'd end up being such a huge dork? I don't know about anyone but I enjoy seeing the trope of ancient revered figures turning out to be nothing like the stories they're depicted in. I do wonder though what will come of the fact that Reshiram is listening to most of Yuna's thoughts now. I don't imagine she'll get used to that kind of invasion of privacy, especially in dire situations.

One thing I somehow didn't see coming is Shimmer being gay and in a relationship with Xander. That's pretty neat, though I still dislike him on account of him being an arrogant jerk who's playing life on p2w mode lol. The kinky stuff between the couple aside, they did mention quite a few interesting things here like the Changes Shimmer noticed in Yuna's aura for instance. We learn later on that she might have to take in the souls of other sages as well. I wonder if we should be concerned about that bringing any physical or psychological tolls on Yuna in the long run however. That remains to be seen for now.

What followed in the next scene was a bit of a substantial lore dump that sheds light on some things we only had vague clues about prior. Before that though, I wonder how Yuna got the soul dew gem she wears in the first place. I think she got it from her parents or that it's a family heirloom, but I've forgotten the details. Either way, I don't think we know the full origins of her specific soul dew. Maybe it just so happened to be a spare one Bahamut had made a while back and Yuna's ancestors discovered it somehow. I hope that question gets answered later on though.

As for the lore dump and what we heard from Reshiram, it begs the question of just what kind of attack Eternatus used against Bahamut to one shot him so easily. From what Reshiram has said, it didn't seem like Bahamut's first encounter with Eternatus either so it's surprising that he didn't prepare more countermeasures against the world-eating space parasite. Perhaps there just wasn't any reliable counter to Eternatus to begin with? One would think that there's at least something out there in POV universe that could harm and kill Eternatus if it's a naturally occurring entity, though I acknowledge that doesn't need to be the case. Either way everything about this story sounds depressing, especially the fate the dragon types ended up suffering as they got blamed for the disaster they helped mitigate for the most part. It do be like that sometimes.

 

[Virgil134]

Hey, figured I’d do something different and give my thoughts here for a change instead of DMs.

Chapter 17

A certain black-scaled charizard, however, had a different evening pastime: a glass of warm milk. Now made exponentially more effective thanks to the magical hot box machine.

Well, okay, technically it was called a microwave. But as far as Noctum was concerned, a tiny metal box that could spontaneously heat things up more evenly than his tail flame might as well have been magic.

It’s little quirks like these that make me love this dorky Charizard.

Noctum's temples throbbed. One moment, he was looking at Seifer. The next, he saw a small, black-scaled charmander standing by a dusty alleyway, looking up at a dumpster easily five times his size. His stomach knotted up.

No one deserves to be abandoned when they're in trouble.

Oof, sounds like Noctum used to have it rough. Good thing he’s so kind now and willing to help Seifer out. Hopefully he will start acting a bit nicer to Noctum in return. Still, can’t help but feel like Seifer brought this a little on himself given the history between him and that Milotic (or his attitude at the beginning of the story for that matter)

"Oh, great. We found a planet that waxes poetic." The toxtricity scowled. "Can I get this semester's language arts credit from this?"

Lmao Nikki, never change.

Glad this sequence with Ahemait was kept short though, since like I mentioned last time, I’m not really a fan of it.

We just combined it with the species name." He paused. "Well, I didn't do that. That would be another of my ancestors. I hear she was bad with names."

Well, he’s not wrong

Though seeing this Egyptian based society is pretty cool. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a combination of Ancient Egypt and PMD.

"En sabah Khamun."

Yuna glanced at her teammates, but only got shrugs in response. "Don't you think it strange that we could understand him perfectly before he said that?" Reshiram asked. "I think it's strange. If this is meant to be another planet, we shouldn't understand him at all, right? Unless Bahamut taught language based on this planet, but the odds of that seem ridiculously tiny. Like, a joltik compared to my size levels of tiny."

Ooh, this is interesting. Definitely makes sense too. I do kinda wish you added a translation though. Either as author notes or through hover text.

"I wish. Bahamut told us those who are absorbed by Eternatus can never leave the Qliphoth. An otherworldly force will always pull them back in."

Not sure how that makes sense, but okay.

"… that is Isfet, the bringer of chaos. And the reason why our city is stuck like this."

Oh snap, a twist. Wonder what the story behind that is. Based on what I know about Bahamut from Blacklight I might have an idea though.

Anyway, looks like that’s it. Looking forward to the next chapter!

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Heya, been dragging my feet a while on jumping in on Path of Valor but figured that with how interested you are in getting people to give it a shot and me needing to crank out a couple more reviews prior to this Friday, that I'd take the chance to take the plunge to shake things up and leave my impressions and customary banter in the style that comes most naturally to me.

So with that, let's get right into things:

Prologue

"How much longer do we need to be here, Quetzal?" Shiva looked left at a zapdos standing squarely in the middle of a dirt path leading to the stairs that would take them back inside the manor. He had his wings tucked into his sides and seemed to be nodding off. However, at Shiva's question, Quetzal jerked stiff. He adjusted the silver uniform draped over his torso. The pink ribbons adorning his breast jingled softly.

Shiva: "... Also, how are we supposed to be envisioning these outfits anyways given that we're birds?"
Quetzal: "I hope that it's something less embarrassing than the outfits from Pretty Coore." >v>



Shiva: "... Um. Yeah, that's not a high bar to cross there."

"The standing orders from Her Eminence said we're to keep guard of the Needle until dawn." Quetzal gestured in front of him. There, planted in the middle of the garden, was a purple needle standing a head taller than Shiva and Quetzal. A red gem, carved to look like an eye, sat atop it. No matter what angle Shiva stared at it, it always looked like the gem was glaring at her. It made her feathers puff up slightly underneath her uniform. She pivoted to preen her neck.

"Yeah, but was it really necessary to send all three of us for this assignment? Any one of us could do this job with no trouble," a moltres huffed, stomping around from the other side of the needle and casting an orange glow onto the southern part of the courtyard. He stopped to straighten out the wrinkles in his uniform, looking exasperated. "Not that we don't appreciate the hospitality, Lord Douglas. It's just… this is such a strange assignment for Her Eminence to spring on us with so little warning."

"Do not fret, Captain Ifrit, I understand your hesitation."

At first I was going to ask since when was 'Quetzal' ever a FF summon given the presence of Ifrit and Shiva, but a quick Google evidences 'as of FF8' at the very least. More of a Ramuh guy myself (and clearly I need to play more games from this series).

Ifrit: "That needle's bigger than we are. What's there to worry about here?"
Shiva: "Just saying, there's another story out there with needles stuck in the ground that aren't supposed to get yanked. The world ended when they got pulled in that one." >v>

Shiva winced and resisted the urge to throw a wing up over her face. Even though she'd spent plenty of time around him, seeing Lord Weezing Douglas speaking through two mouths always unsettled her. As did the fact that his gaseous beards fizzled like soda pop as he spoke. It had forced her to abandon her once-favorite drink. Shiva wished that they could've been assigned somewhere else, but knew she had to carry out this job with the grace and professionalism nobles like Lord Douglas had come to expect from the Radiant Guard.

Ifrit: "Meh, soda's overrated. Now sambuca, that'll really put the fire in your belly."
Shiva: "Ifrit, some of us don't have natural fire that can benefit from drinking flammable beverages here!" >v>;

"Except we're not the only ranking guards being stationed at these Needles," Quetzal pointed out. "Something in Demerzel's premonition must've spooked Queen Isola."

"I still don't like it," Ifrit huffed. "The guy comes out of nowhere and climbs into Her Eminence's good graces within the span of half a year. Now he's sitting pretty in the royal court and influencing policy."

Oh yeah, that's totally not sus at all.

"Careful, Captain, lest you sound like some of those haggard beggars proclaiming the end of days are upon us." Douglas chuckled, releasing more vapors from his head. Shiva thought back to the previous week, when she had threatened some wretched, rag-covered, helmet-wearing mishmash of a homeless mutt with arrest for parading around the town square of Horizon Gardens with a poorly-drawn sign around his neck.

Ifrit: "A 'rag-covered, helmet-wearing mishmash of a homeless mutt'? I think I heard of this guy once, it's 'Nero' right?"
Quetzal: "I think you're mixing your stories up there, Ifrit." -v-;
Douglas: "Well, I remember there was a 'ro' in it, but I'll refrain from speculation since I'm pretty sure that's a spoiler."

"Bah! As if we need to stoop so low as to associate with dragons." Ifrit spat a tiny ember out, then snuffed it out with his talons before it could burn any grass. "I can't believe they're letting the Aeon princess attend Horizon. They're sullying our beautiful academy!" He draped a wing over his face and shook his head.

>the Moltres of this setting is a raging typeist
What could possibly go wrong there?

"Maybe you ought to see what the princess is like before rushing to conclusions?" Shiva suggested. The look Ifrit gave her quickly made her regret opening her beak. "Sorry."

"It's easy for you to feel at ease. Your ice attacks can make quick work of any duplicitous dragons," Ifrit said. "But what about me? They live amongst the flames! My best strikes struggle to pierce their scales." He paced furiously in front of the needle. "I'll just have to intensify my training. That way, if the princess slips up, I'll—"

I see "never cut a deal with a dragon" also applies in Etherium. Though I'm a bit curious as to what dragons in this setting did (or at least are believed to have done) to draw out such a venomous reaction.

Ifrit: "Well let's see here, they're big scaly magpies that steal stuff they consider treasures and set things on fire on a whim. Even before any past history, that alone is reason to not want to have to deal with them!" >v>;
Quetzal: "Really putting forward an endearing first impression, aren't you, Ifrit?" -v-;

"We're under attack! It's a Phantom!" Quetzal squawked from Shiva's right. She caught a glance of electricity arcing out from his wings. Ifrit turned around and hopped into the air. Shiva's belly spasmed when she sat up, but she mustered the strength to send a gust of wind in the direction of Quetzal's attack.

Shiva: "... As in a Phantom Thief? Since I'm pretty sure that we can take-"

What she found, however, was a cloud of black shadows surrounding a black, crystalline plague mask. Its red, gemstone eyes were a perfect match to the top of the needle. Shiva's attack got caught in her throat. She'd faced down Phantoms plenty of times on rescue missions, but this one was huge. And the mask… that was very different.

Shiva: "... Oh. Eep. Yeah, th-that looks a bit harder to deal with." ovo;

"N… no, this can't be!" Quetzal charged up more lightning in his wings. "Phantoms can't use Dynaforce. It's impossible!" He clapped his wings together, discharging an electric dome. Ifrit and Shiva added streams of fire and ice.

Shiva: "Wait, Phantoms can't use what now? Quetzal, is this some sort of FF8 thing?"
Quetzal: "I dunno, but the point is that this is really, really bad here!"
Shiva: "I know that we're currently getting wrecked by this Phantom right about now, but it stills feel like we could've used more of an explanation or a hint there!"

The rock wall crushed her into the ground. Her wings shattered on impact, as did at least two ribs. Stars and tears filled her vision. She tried to get up. To flee. To do anything. But her body wouldn't respond. Garbled squawks told her that her colleagues had suffered the same fate. The pain in her chest muffled her sobs. She couldn't die. Not like this. Not from some cheap trick.

Quetzal: "... Ow. Though wait a minute, how could you tell your wings were broken or feel the specific number of ribs you had broken in the middle of this sort of agony?"
- Your Shiva is too busy sobbing right now, please take a number -
Quetzal: "... Right, wrong time for this sort of question."

Her vision was too blurry to see what the Phantom did, but the moment an ear-splitting screech rang out across the manor and abruptly cut out, she knew exactly what had happened. The green and purple fluids that splattered on the sand-covered ground in front of her painted an even clearer picture. "N… no…"

>popping a Weezing and smearing it across the ground
Surprised that Shiva's keeping her lunch down right about there.

The shadows finally reached her face and… nothing. The pain had completely ceased. Shiva looked up, but recoiled in horror upon seeing that her once-pristine, blue-and-white feathers were now tainted with black and shades of dark gray. She managed to catch her reflection in a shard of broken glass and noticed a black, curved mask sitting over her eyes. Shiva threw her wings up, trying to pull it off, but a sharp pain tore through her shoulders. Clearly, she couldn't raise her wings as high as she used to.

"W… what did you do to us?!" Quetzal squawked. Shiva got to her feet and found an orange bird with lightning-bolt markings on his shrunken wings kicking at the ground with his newly-elongated legs. Like Shiva, Quetzal had a black mask over his eyes.

"I have given you real power." The Phantom's mask pivoted in Quetzal's direction. "Do you not appreciate my gift?"

Quetzal: "You turned me into a monocephalic Doduo with a party mask! Why the hell would I appreciate this?!" >v>
Phantom: "Because you're still alive right now? Also, you're updated for Generation 8. Gotta stay current with the games, you know."

A deep laugh rumbled and the Phantom's shadowy body rippled. Shiva glared at it. "Do not worry." A wraith shot out, grabbed hold of the needle, and yanked it. The needle promptly shattered and a bright purple beam shot into the air. Shiva's beak fell open. How could it destroy a Needle so effortlessly? All her life she'd heard horror stories of what had happened to pokémon who tried to pull out a Needle.

"I don't intend to let you three voice any more objections."

The Phantom's gemstone eyes glowed bright purple. Before Shiva could react, darkness swallowed her whole.

How should I be envisioning the bit in bold there? Since it's admittedly a bit hazy on description while this feels like it's something important plot-wise.
Shiva:

Phantom: "Again, still alive. Maybe. Probably."

Dreepy Yuna shot up in her bed, arms tightly gripping her silk blanket. She doubled over in pain, squealing until her throat burned. Several tense minutes passed before Yuna finally settled down. She stared at her blanket, barely making out the red heart woven into the fabric using what little moonlight trickled in through the slits of her bedroom shades.

"M… maybe it was just a nightmare?" she squeaked, rolling the held part of the blanket between her arms. Yuna looked right and squinted. An outline of a bookshelf slowly formed. Pristine, unopened schoolbooks sat next to worn pieces of fiction Yuna had brought from home.

Insert appropriate cover of Suteki da ne [here].

So should I imagine this Yuna as more of a fan of LOVELESS or I Want to be Your Canary? Since I don't think Al Bhed primers count as fiction if they even exist in Etherium.

Besides, who wants to saddle up to a dragon in a school run by fairies, anyway? Yuna thought, body deflating. Odds are… I'm only gonna get Baraz and Noctum to talk to me. And that'll just be more embarrassing. She imagined faceless silhouettes surrounding her, ridiculing her for needing servants because she ha[d] no friends.

Minor tense error there. And might I suggest befriending other 'mons that'd have an axe to grind against fairies like Fighting and Psychic-Types, Yuna? Though I'm going to die of laughter if there's a Wakka prowling around the school who has the object of his prejudices remapped to match how things work in this setting.

"For a chance to emblazon your name in the history books for all eternity! Remember the family creed, Yunavresca: seize the day by the horns!"

Her father's deep voice rumbled in the back of her head. She pictured the duraludon throwing his metal head back in a hearty laugh, his gold-trimmed robes clinking in the process.

Yuna: "... Wait, do Duraludon even have horns? How on earth did that family creed survive the species jump for dad?"
- Yuna sinks into bed and pouts -
Yuna: "I always liked the family creed that one Kommo-o lawyer in the royal court had. It always felt so uplifting... even if it'd probably be a fast way to die horribly in this world if you acted on it."

The good part about being a ghost was having night-vision. All she had to do was concentrate enough. Head throbbing, Yuna traced the nubby tip of her arm around the picture of her younger self nestled in one of her mother's horns. She held a brooch with a star-shaped insignia carved into the gem. Yuna let her arm wander toward the stained-glass window in the background of the photo. She pressed down, covering up the golden, four-winged dragon depicted in the window.

"Bahamut, give me strength," she whispered. "Help me find some friends… or at least survive until I can return home."

Ah yes, praying to her Guiding Light, very cute. Though from what I've seen of Bahamut in BLC2, I strongly suspect Yuna would be very, very disappointed were he around to react to that plea.

Yuna wrapped the paper up in a hug, only to stop when it crinkled. She gingerly folded it back up and returned it to the drawer. She then pulled out a small seed.

A sleep seed. One of a handful that she'd gotten from Baraz. Yuna hesitated. Was she that desperate for a good night's sleep?

Yes. Yes, she was. Besides, the school handbook said it was contraband in student rooms, anyway. It was better to use it now, else she risked getting caught with it and punished.

Down the hatch it [went]. Yuna swallowed the seed with a wince. The effects were almost instantaneous. Her vision grew hazy. Her breathing slowed. Yuna's arms stiffened. A yawn escaped her mouth.

She had just enough strength to lie back on her pillow before drifting away into a dreamless slumber.

Minor tense error there, since "goes" is not past tense while the rest of the paragraph is.

>how to miss an entire day's worth of classes with one easy trick
Sure hope that thing wears off relatively quickly, or else Baraz and Noctum are good about waking her up in the morning. o3o;

Chapter 1

It took far more of Yuna's strength than she cared to admit just to float down the hallway. Her gaze remained fixed on the marble floor and, every so often, she bobbed closer to it before jerking back up.

"Apologies, Princess. Had I known you were going to use one of the sleep seeds, I'd have brought a heal seed with me."

Lol, I just knew that was going to come back to bite her.

Heavy, thudding footsteps punctuated her attendant's lisping claim. Yuna glanced right and saw a green, comically-oversized dinosaur foot stomp down beside her. She groaned and rubbed the wing-like edges of her head. As if it wasn't bad enough that she was going to show up to the opening assembly late, she was going to do so accompanied by a dracozolt. Something none of her classmates had ever seen and were sure to be put off by.

Yeah, being two separate halves of two different Pokémon tends to draw that sort of reaction. Though how do Galarian fossils work in Etherium anyways?

Just another thing working against me besides my dragon-typing, she thought.

"Why the long face?" The dracozolt poked his tiny, yellow head into Yuna's field of vision. "Are you nervous? It's perfectly normal to be nervous when starting any new endeavor. God knows how terrified I was of coming to work for your family."

"Y-Yeah. Nervous," Yuna mumbled, rubbing her hands together. "Baraz, do you think I'll be able to make any friends here?"

1 attendant reveal down, 1 to go. Well, I know who Noctum is anyways since I've long been spoiled, but still.

He paused mid-step. Baraz's beady eyes blinked rapidly. "Of course you will. Once people see how kindhearted you are, they'll surely come to view you as someone they can trust." He resumed walking. "Now, come. If we don't hurry, I fear they'll take away all the breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day, after all."

Mega doubt there considering what we've seen of this kingdom thus far.

A greedent belly-flopped onto the floor, scattering dust across the pristine tiles. He quickly held his hands up to catch an equally-dusty nickit. "Gotcha, boss." Greedent lowered the small fox to the ground.

"Nyek nyek! What'd I tell ya, Rookie? The air vents would be our ticket into this hoity-toity place." Nickit turned and grinned at his apparent partner. "Now all we've gotta do is find us something worth nicking! And then the whole kingdom will know of the terror that is the Crimson Zephyr!"

Yuna: "... That sounds more like the name of a cook or something." :|
Nickit: "Assuming you're thinking of who I think you are, wouldn't that be the Sable Zephyr? And I'm pretty sure he's just a fairy tale or the like in this world anyways."

"I did say that. But I guess we didn't account for a couple of butt-ugly janitors wandering around the place." The Crimson Zephyr swished his broom-like tail in Yuna's direction. "Buon giorno. If you two lugs know what's good for ya… you'll walk away and forget you ever saw us. Otherwise, you'll face the wrath of the one and only Nickit Carpaccio!"

"Uh, boss, is it really such a good idea to tell them your name? They can tell the police who you are, can't they?" Rookie pointed out. Nickit's eyes widened and he thwacked Rookie with his tail.

"Why didn't you pipe up earlier, nut-for-brains?" Carpaccio huffed, his tail releasing a shadowy plume.

Lol, Carpaccio's really living up to the 'Zephyr' in his pseudonym. Also getting some Popple and Rookie vibes here.
Yuna: "... Wait, are Dragon-types really normally janitors in this realm? How on earth is that a remotely sustainable livelihood considering how much a fully evolved one needs to eat?"

"We just crawled through a filthy air vent," Carpaccio retorted, smirking. "A master thief ain't above anything… including cheap shots." And, with a flick of his tail, a seed shot in Baraz's direction. He spat up a ball of dragonfire, incinerating the seed before it could burst apart. "Now, Rookie!" Carpaccio called.

Rookie curled up into a ball and a metallic sheen overtook him. Carpaccio Tail Slapped him, sending him bowling toward Baraz. Yuna gasped. Without thinking, she shot toward Rookie with a burst of speed. But the large size different resulted in her getting flattened and ending up sprawled out on the ground with the entire room spinning.

"Nyek nyek nyek! And here I thought bright 'mons went to this school," Carpaccio taunted, dark energy gathering around his mouth. Yuna looked up in horror and braced for more pain, only for a tan, brown, and yellow blur to strike a squealing Carpaccio. When she righted herself, she found Rookie lying on top of Carpaccio. Both twitched from lingering static electricity.

Baraz: "Does a 'master thief' also fail this hard at dealing with a simple T-Wave?" :|
Carpaccio: "Sh-Shut up, you're just bigger and can throw more weight around."

A large, beak-shaped lightning bolt dissipated around his tiny upper half. "Goodness me. It's… been a while since these old bones have had to resort to that attack." Baraz stretched out his arms. "Well now… even if you're going to be late, showing up with a couple of bandits in tow should win you a few favors, don't you think?"

Yuna's cheeks burned.

Yuna: "(That was a bit more than a T-Wave there...) Baraz, this is a school, not a police station!"
Baraz: "Well, still. It's a sign that you're looking out for the interest of the school at large, isn't it?"
Yuna: "Somehow I doubt things are going to shake out that way." -_-;

The oak doors creaked when Baraz threw them open with his tail. Yuna hoped the chatter of her peers would drown out the noise, but was horrified to find the dining hall dead silent. She floated next to Baraz, looking at the twelve columns of white, neatly-arranged glass tables containing a wide assortment of pokémon. Yuna never had so many sets of eyes on her before, not even at the functions her parents made her attend back home. At that moment, the chandelier hanging from the glass-domed ceiling became the most interesting thing in the room. She looked at the many crystal bulbs seated on tiny metal hooks, silently begging everyone to ignore her.

"Ah, hello there! Sorry to barge in on you all like this." Baraz chuckled. Carpaccio and Rookie sat tied up beside him, still conked out from the Bolt Beak collision.

Yuna: "I'm starting to think that I should phase through the floor right about now." ._.;
Baraz: "Nonsense, Princess Yuna! You've drawn everyone's attention! Now all that's left is to bask in their adulation!"

"Eww! What in heaven's name is that thing?"

"Its upper and lower halves don't even match!"

"God, I heard dragons were ugly, but that makes me want to vomit!"

"We have to go to class with him?"

"He better just be hired help."

"Hey, I think that's the Aeon Princess next to him."

Oh yeah, this is gonna be a fun school year.

- Yuna is busy sinking towards the floor and trying her hardest to disappear right about now -
Baraz: "Uh... well, I certainly didn't expect that reaction." ._.

Wingbeats drew a sharp "Eep!" from Yuna. She floated out from her hiding spot the moment a charizard landed in front of her and tucked in his blue-green wings. Yuna brought an arm up to her mouth to stifle her gasp. Why are his scales orange? Shouldn't his scales be black like Noctum's?

Huh, wasn't expecting both kingdoms to have Charizard, but that's certainly an interesting contrast there.

"Yuna here ran a bit late because she found these two scoundrels trying to break in through an air duct." Baraz gestured to the thieves beside him. "She recognized the disadvantageous match-up and called for help right away. As I was in the vicinity to check up on her, I leapt to her aid and, together, we gave these brutes the once-over." He jabbed the air with his tiny elbows.

Yuna gulped, knowing that was far from the truth. Arianna tugged at a sleeve on her red-and-white suit. Her expression hadn't wavered from the icy look she'd popped in with. Vortex, however, raised an amused brow. He adjusted his white cravat, tucked the cane under his elbow, and threw his head back in a hearty laugh while issuing applause.

"Marvelous! Splendid! Quite a way to make an entrance," he declared, drawing surprised gasps from the students. "I daresay you won't have any trouble settling in with that kind of ingenuity, Princess." Vortex winked at Yuna, whose cheeks immediately flushed. She had to resist the urge to hide behind Baraz's tail again.

Oh hey, whaling on Carpaccio and Rookie wasn't a total waste of time and energy after all... even if Baraz had to fudge the deets a bit.

Vortex turned to the crowd of students, the edges of his charcoal-gray suit jacket fluttering against his hips. "Now then… I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce all of you to the special new student I had mentioned earlier."

Yuna: "... Wait a minute, how on earth does a Charizard fit into a suit jacket? With wings?"
Vortex: "It's a specially designed suit jacket."

Murmurs rose up from the students once again. Yuna couldn't help but look around. A ponyta garbed in a scarlet robe looked at her intently. When her gaze crossed his, he turned with a huff, shielding his face with his pink, puffy mane. Whispers drew her attention to the Chancellor. Arianna was whispering something to him. Vortex nodded and the two promptly teleported to the other end of the dining hall.

>stuck-up blue-blooded Ponyta has joined the chat
Oh hey, I've seen this movie before. Granted, it had a bit less blatant prejudice to other Pokémon involved. Probably. Will be interesting to see how this noble pony ticks when we see more of him.

Yuna floated upward and saw Vortex standing on a raised platform behind a lectern. Arianna stood at his side, looking straight down at the planner in her right arm. "There's one last matter to discuss and I'm sure it's something you third-years are salivating at the bit over." Vortex tapped the top of his snout. "I'm talking, of course, about the annual Crowne Cup!" He threw his arms upward, creating more embers. A banner then unfurled on the wall behind him, unveiling a crimson tapestry with a golden sword and shield woven into it. Yuna focused on the crown positioned on the sword's hilt. It was a nice design.

"Your official team assignments will be given out at the opening banquet," Vortex explained. "This year, however, we'll be holding a preliminary challenge." He pointed his cane at the student tables while they gasped and whispered to one another. Yuna frowned. There was already going to be some sort of test? She wasn't ready for anything like that.

Yuna: "Why is this part of a school curriculum?" >_>;
Baraz: "We are Pokémon, Your Highness. Knowledge doesn't do you any good if you lack the strength to action on it. (Also, the writer of these gags would know a thing or two about writing Pokémon schools with tournaments for their upperclassmons, so it wouldn't do too good to throw too many stones at the idea.)"

"Uh, does that mean breakfast is over?" Baraz frowned. "And what about these tw—"

"I've got 'em," a burly voice announced. Yuna squealed and turned around. A conkeldurr in a purple security uniform held the thieves up in one hand. He threw them over his shoulder and sauntered off, whistling a jaunty tune while his key ring jingled on his belt.

Yuna: "Uh... is that temporary detention? Or is this school authorized to make summary arrests?"

Baraz: "... I don't know, but I sincerely doubt you'll ever wind up in a circumstance where we'd need to find that out. Why it'd cause a diplomatic incident!"

By the time Yuna collected herself, the dining hall had burst into a flurry of activity with students chattering excitedly. Yuna's ectoplasm rippled and it was a matter of seconds before she brought her arms up to her head. "Nngh. T-Too loud," she said. "Baraz… m-maybe we can go get something in town later when I go to get supplies?" Yuna looked around the room nervously. Again, several sets of eyes were on her. The ponyta from earlier looked right at her. His tiara twinkled under the sunlight.

… wait, why did he have a tiara?

"Princess?" Baraz waved an arm in front of her face. "You're looking a bit pale."

Probably a good thing that this blue-blooded Ponyta is separated by an entire universe from the one that I was thinking of. I could almost hear the audible, seething jealousy playing in my head. :V

Torn paper echoed from the hall behind Yuna. Her tail crinkled. She whirled around and her face went even paler when she found a toxtricity balling up paper between her hands. She caught Yuna's eye and glared at her.

"What are you looking at, Tiny?" Toxtricity held up her hand and dissolved the paper in a few globs of purple acid. "I'm just doing my part to keep the halls of our fine school clean. Got a problem with that?"

"N-No. Of course not!" Yuna squeaked, eyes drawn to Toxtricity's leather jacket. She floated close to Baraz, who turned around.

"Oh, hello! Are you one of Princess Yuna's new classmates?" He stepped toward her and extended an arm. "I'm Dracozolt Baraz, one of her attendants."

"Dracowhatnow? Look, I don't really care." Toxtricity turned away, shrugging. "Just tell Princess Tiny not to look at me funny. Otherwise, we're gonna have problems." She adjusted the coat's collar and walked off, shoving her hands into her pockets. Yuna stared at the obstagoon graffiti scrawled on the back of the coat in confusion.

"Um… I think we should head to town now," Yuna whispered, rubbing her arms together nervously.

Yuna: "I dunno why part of me was expecting that Toxtricity to have an axe on her, but I'd really rather not stick around to find out, Baraz."

Baraz: "(Is it truly that transparent of a reference?) Er... fair enough, and pretty sure there's a new scene of the story inbound."

Thank God I don't have any neck muscles. I would've tweaked 'em for sure by now, Yuna glumly thought. She'd spent the whole morning looking at the school floor and now she couldn't take her eyes off the cobblestone streets of Horizon Gardens. Sure, she could brush this latest episode off as a product of all the gemstone-laded buildings reflecting sunlight. But in the back of her mind she could hear her father scolding her meek posture.

Fortunately for Yuna, crackling embers and squeaky wagon wheels kept her from receding too far into her own thoughts. The charizard walking beside her had a certain bounce to his step and his tail-flame was larger than usual. "Okay, Noctum, I know you want to say something. Go ahead." Yuna waved her right arm toward his black tail.

"With how that gardevoir described the town, I wasn't expecting there to be much here. But I was wrong." Eyes sparkling, Noctum held up the book pressed to his cream-colored chest. "Look! A dozen new stamps for my collection." He opened it and pointed to a stamp in the top-right corner of the page. "See the wooloo? Isn't it cute? I'll bet it's soft and snuggly… and won't shock me when I try to hug it like the mareep back home."

Oh lol, well, you can't say that Noctum isn't endearing from a first impression. Though I have to wonder how on earth Yuna's dad picked him and Baraz to be the representatives of his kingdom.

"Uh…" Yuna squeezed her arms together. "It's been a confusing day. I've only met one other student… briefly. But there's going to be this big banquet in a few hours. I'm not sure what to do." She clasped the pendant around her neck nervously. There was also the looming threat of the introductory Crowne Cup test Chancellor Vortex had mentioned. Even with no idea what it was, it still terrified Yuna. Because if it involved any battling…

"You have to put your best foot forward." Noctum stomped his right foot down on the path. "Figuratively speaking, of course."

"Meaning?" Yuna tilted her head.

"Well, you are the Aeon Princess, but you can't expect that to impress your classmates," Noctum replied. "They're nobility, too. So, you might have to try and strike up a friendly conversation."

Yuna: "A-Am I allowed to have someone come in and fight in my stead, Noctum? It doesn't even have to be for very long! Just a couple of turns to soften my foes up!"

Noctum: "Sorry, Princess Yuna. Rules are rules. Besides, it's not as if you can just casually summon and dismiss others to come to your aid."
- Beat moment -
Noctum: "Well, not in this story anyways."

"That's easy. Smile!" Noctum puffed out his chest. "People like warmth and friendliness. Nothing conveys that like a smile. Watch." He turned to his right, grinning, and waved at a passing ice darumaka. "Hello! Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?"

The darumaka froze mid-step. Her eyes fixed on Noctum's toothy maw. "Ahh! Don't eat me, mister! I don't taste good!" She turned tail and ran off before Noctum could even retort. Yuna floated over and pet Noctum's back while his tail flame dimmed.

>smiling at a monkey to try and show your peaceful intentions
That's a terrible idea even without a mouth full of razor teeth in reality since they interpret that as a sign of aggression.

It flared right back up, however. "Okay, new idea!" Noctum clapped his hands together. "That bookshop we were in had this book called Fire & Fighting: 151 Fun, Simple Ice-Breakers. Let's go buy it… and you can take it with you to the banquet." He set the handle of the wagon down. "Actually, I'll get it since I'm faster. Wait right here."

Probably would've merited bringing up the style of the wagon and Noctum pulling it in the initial mention, since my initial read until this point was that Noctum and Yuna were accompanying a wagon being pulled by someone else instead of Noctum himself tugging it along.

I've never even used some of these things before. Wands, gravelrocks, iron thorns… Yuna fiddled with the tarp. The items' names were apt enough just based on what she'd seen in the store. Yet she couldn't help but worry how she'd manage to hold onto them with her nubby arms. Surely, these things were built for pokémon with fingers? Something that would continue to be a problem for her until she could reach her final evolution.

"Wish I knew how to do that," she mumbled, tracing a circle through the tarp fabric. "At least I won't have to listen to Mother saying 'Respect your body and it'll respect you back,' whenever I ask about evolution."

Hope you're good with your teeth, Yuna. Or else good at pressing things between your nub-hands.

"You smell of ether. But Natus' love can absolve you of such sin!"

Yuna: "Wait a minute, 'ether'? Isn't that just the name that 'magic' gets in Xeno games-?"

Yuna's reflex was to try and dive under the tarp, but it wouldn't budge. Heavy, thudding footsteps made her torso wither. Oh, Noctum, where are you? We've got a big problem! She gasped when a large, four-legged beast in a big stone mask and black, shredded robes lumbered out from beside the bakery. Broken chains clattered around its ankles with each step it took.

"This isn't helping you. You're only piling on more sins to weigh down your soul," the beast hissed. "You work for the school. You are a slave to the ether! And I, Xeromus, must guide those awash in its sin to Natus' eternal love."

A crude sign of rusted metal clanged against Xeromus' robed chest. In unown, it read, "Repent! The Darkest Day is nigh!"

Oh, hello Mr. Rag-Covered, Helmet-Wearing Mishmash of a Homeless Mutt. """Pleasure""" to meet you too.

Yuna: "Er... eep. What a time for Noctum to ditch me here. Isn't he supposed to be my attendant as a Princess and not leave me on my own for moments like this?!" >_>;

"I… I only started working at the school last month." The orbeetle looked despondently at his notes. He glanced at his bag, then raised his hands up. "If it's money you want, I don't have much. Truly! I've only received one pay check and my savings are tied up in loan repayments!" The spots on his head turned pink. His bag quivered as a pink glow surrounded it.

Xeromus caught sight of this. He slammed a foreleg on the ground. That was enough to get the orbeetle to cancel his telekinesis and resume screaming for help. "Cease your prattling. I am your help. You see… but you are blind! Even a lowly omen like me can tell."

Yuna: "... This looks more like an active robbery than help, just saying." ._.;

"How is he sinning, huh? You're the one attacking him for no reason." Yuna floated up, a determined look on her face. "And that's going to get your behind thrown in jail."

"Jail? I am no villain. I'm a worthless nobody." Xeromus smacked a foreleg on the ground. "But even someone worthless can serve a purpose." Loud snorts rang out across the street. "And you… you smell of Natus, whoever you are! Are you enlightened? Has His love blanketed you as it has me?"

Are you sure that's not your own musk you're smelling? Yuna thought, reeling from Xeromus' nauseating stench. She had to keep him talking, though. Surely someone saw this and was calling the police. "You're a nobody, huh?"

Yuna: "Also, I know that the story didn't explicitly depict me taking a bath, but I didn't think that I smelled that bad right now." >.<
Xeromus: "Oh hardly, that's the smell of Natus' love!"
Yuna: "Gods, can you get any creepier right now?"

"As worthless and expendable as the garbage in your sewers." Xeromus chuckled. His sign clanked against the base of his helmet.

"What kind of person calls themselves garbage?" Yuna narrowed her eyes at him.

"This kind!" Xeromus jerked his head left, then right. His helmet and chains rattled. "You are drinking the champagne of lying aristocrats! Dark and light aren't binary. Worth and purpose are not black and white. They form a gray street of many directions!" Xeromus doubled over in a coughing fit. Yuna looked to Orbeetle, who had finally collected his wits and floated away into a nearby greenery. The timing was perfect, too, as Xeromus had stopped swaying about. He locked eyes with Yuna and stomped toward her.

Yuna: "A-Apparently you can. N-Noctum?! Coming back right about now would be nice!"
- Cue Noctum perusing some bookshelves in the distant background blissfully unaware -
Noctum: "Oh hey, they have an illustrated copy of I Want to be Your Canary! I always loved that story!"
Yuna: "Noctum! For gods' sakes, come help me here!"

"You walk a straight path because that is what the ether tells you to do," Xeromus growled. The color drained from Yuna's face. She dove back into the supply crate to look for another one of those seeds. "But Natus' fumes cling to your body. You have the power to break free… to pick your own actions! Rise against these ether-users or you will become like the rest of them… and your 'choices' won't matter at— ngarrgh!"

The temperature spiked around Yuna. She poked her head up from the crate and found Noctum backing away from Xeromus. Smoke billowed out from his nostrils. "Don't you dare lay a grubby claw on her!" he snarled.

Noctum: "('Ether-users'? As in 'magic users' from games like Xenogears and Xenoblade? Just how many different works are we referencing in this story?) And... uh... Sorry to keep you waiting, Princess. I didn't realize you were in so much trouble. Let's not mention any of this to your father, alright?" ._.
Yuna: "Look, just get this reeking... thing away from me first before we worry about that!"

"Fool! I'm trying to save her, but the ether has blinded you to that," Xeromus spat. Red, blue, and yellow energy balls surrounded him. He launched them at Noctum. Yuna recognized the Tri-Attack and darted out from the box straight into the attack's line. The energy balls fizzled out against her head.

"What?" Xeromus froze in place. "You weren't supposed to jump in like that." He threw his head back and laughed. "So, you are resisting the ether. But clinging to these ether-users will erode your will. Your purpose!" Xeromus held his head high. "Stand aside. I must see to it that this 'mon is—"

Yuna: "I'm doing what now? I thought that I just no-sold an attack thanks to my typing." ._.;

Noctum put a hand on Yuna's back. "Princess, you shouldn't have put yourself at risk like that." He frowned. "But I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm terribly sorry."

"It's fine, Noctum." Yuna waved him off. "Neither of us could've expected something like that."

Yuna: "I mean, I should probably be more upset with you and not let you off this easy right about now. But all's well that ends well, also it is pretty hard to stay mad at you."
Noctum: "Aw shucks." ^^

"Oh, goodness me. Thank you so much, m'dear." Orbeetle bowed his bulbous head in Yuna's direction repeatedly. "I was heading back to the school when that horrid beast ambushed me out of nowhere. He took one look at some of my research notes and flew into a rage." He shrank back from Yuna, shivering. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't stepped in."

"It was nothing," Yuna said, though she was still in shock that she did step in against Xeromus. She wanted to change the subject quickly. "So, you're a teacher at the school, then?"

"Yes." He adjusted his grip on his bag. "Where are my manners? Professor Orbeetle Cid." He extended a hand to Yuna. "I'm, err, new to Horizon Academy. I teach history."

>Etherium's Cid is an airship himself
I mean, I was gonna rag on him for not getting more done with his hands, but that visual pun is pretty good.

"This is Princess Dreepy Yunavresca of the Aeon Kingdom," Noctum butted in, presenting her with an extended left wing.

"Ah, of course. Forgive me, I've never seen a dragon up close before." Cid bowed his head once again. "A pleasure, Your Majesty. And a shame we couldn't meet under better circumstances."

"It's really not a big deal," Yuna whispered, cheeks burning. She wanted to snap at Noctum, but knew he meant well.

"Actually, I think you're in my period three history class, so we'll be working together this year," Cid explained, smiling.

"Oh, really? Guess I can look forward to that, then." Yuna returned the smile, relieved she'd at least know someone going into the start of classes. Even if the circumstances behind their meeting were a bit… odd.

Yuna: "Heh. Things are finally going my way for once today!" ^^

"Hate to break up this little pow-wow… but I've gotta get you all back to the academy," Abomasnow said, attaching a strange crystal to a Velcro strap on his vest. "Just finished reporting this incident and Chancellor Vortex says he needs you three in his office right away." He faced Yuna. "Said something about your parents wanting to speak with you."

Yuna gulped. As if this day couldn't get any worse.

Noctum: "Kinda jinxed yourself there, Princess."
Yuna: "Bahamut's light, what did I ever do to deserve this?" >_<

Well, it's certainly a reference-heavy story, but I'd be lying if I say I didn't enjoy it given the unholy hour I stayed up until to write this review, and your story seems to still be cobbling out a solid identity for itself in spite of the very obvious sources of inspiration littered throughout. I'll be looking forward to reading and commenting more on this story in the future.

 

[Ambyssin]

Chapter 18: The Devil in the Details​

Yuna couldn't take her eyes off Bahamut's picture. It didn't make sense. Either there were other light dragons roaming around the cosmos with much more malicious attitudes or… or…

No. That had to be it. Bahamut was the Luminous Creator! He preached cooperation and working to overcome the challenges of nature. He wasn't some chaos-bringer.

"What exactly happened?" Cid asked, scrutinizing the painting.

Razim put his right hand on the bottom ridge of his crown. "It happened not long after I ascended to the throne. We had just finished mourning the passing of my father when Isfet fell from the heavens. He wiped out Aquardah's shield." The slowking pointed to his left. Crude drawings of buildings were covered by thin swathes of brown. Sandstorms, if Yuna had to guess.

"My gut instinct was to repair the shield, but I didn't feel my people were safe with Isfet on the planet," Razim continued. "So, we rallied together and attacked Isfet. Though it was large and its aura undoubtedly powerful, our attacks clearly upset it." He pointed to one of the metal sheets stuck over the wall behind him. "The reason the palace is in such a decrepit state is because Isfet attacked it in retaliation. Despite this, we held tough and drove the monster from our home."

Yuna swallowed hard. Yeah, that definitely wasn't Bahamut. He wouldn't attack people unless they were bringing harm to others. And Razim didn't seem like a bad guy.

"Unless this is all an elaborate ploy and he's actually in league with that Ahemait thingy," Reshiram squeaked.

Seriously? That's what you're responding to? Yuna tried to keep her expression neutral. What about this Isfet business? Did Bahamut ever mention having a sibling or something?

"… no." And Reshiram's presence hastily retreated from Yuna's mind before she could press further. She steadied herself with a deep breath.

No, this is a coincidence, that's all. The Qliphoth is messing with me.

"So, what? Glowstick Dragon fled the planet and you couldn't fix your shield?" Nikki scratched her head. "Or did something else happen?" She pointed to a familiar circle with five diamonds around it. Eternatus' sigil.

Razim shuddered. "We were trying to begin the repair process when that symbol appeared in the sky." The slowking looked at the ceiling. "Next thing anyone knew, night had fallen over our city. We waited for dawn to come, but it never did. Though sandstorms continued to ravage our buildings, the worst damage would always get repaired.

"We believe Isfet cast a stasis curse upon our nation." Razim balled his hands into fists. "And now he has summoned Ahemait to bring death to us all."

That sealed it, then. The Aquardians had no idea they were already dead. Heck, they didn't know a thing about the Qliphoth beyond temporal stasis, either. Unless Razim was tricking Team Bastion.

No, Yuna told herself. Don't let Reshiram get to you.

"Whoa, whoa. Time out." Nikki held up her hands in a T shape. "You really mean to tell me that freak popped up out of thin air with no rhyme or reason?"

Razim flicked a glowing hand. His scroll rolled itself up and hovered back to lie against a worn cushion. "Not exactly." He met Nikki's gaze. "Though, if I may ask, what is with the interest in Ahemait? All the other lost souls only cared about figuring out to return home." The slowking looked between Team Bastion's members. "Yet none of you have brought that subject up. You all are taking this in stride."

Arms crossed, Chiaki pivoted to his right. "Astute observation."

"One does not earn his people's trust without some wit and cunning." Razim tapped the brim of his crown. "I would like to think I've been quite forthcoming. I do not think it too much to ask you to return the favor."

Yuna reflexively gulped. That was much easier said than done. Ordinarily, she'd have no problem spilling the beans. But how could she look Razim in the eyes and tell him that he and his people were dead? She couldn't bear that burden. There were at least a dozen responses she imagined. None of them were pretty.

"We've been hunting the beast you call Isfet and the daemons it summons," Chiaki said. The Hooker sparked with a bit of napalm. "Chasing it across worlds left in similar states to yours." He raised his hook. Orange flames washed over it. "Now that we know this Ahemait thing is after your people, we intend to get rid of it."

Yuna struggled to keep a straight face. Chiaki was lying so effortlessly, the dreepy would've easily fallen for the ruse if she didn't know any better.

"I see." Razim stroked his chin. "I suppose that would explain some of your… unusual powers." He pointed to Chiaki's prosthetic, then Yuna's pendant. "You are… the first outsiders to want to intervene. Some of my own people have looked to put a stop to Ahemait. All have met with failure."

The slowking turned toward the red curtain that Yuna recalled was hiding a doorway. "Come." He beckoned Team Bastion after him. The curtain swished aside following a flicker of Razim's glowing hand. They walked through a stone corridor. At one point, it must've been open to the outside, as metal sheets boxed the team in from every side.

"Although my people have fallen in battle, there were some who managed to stumble on an unexpected discovery." Razim led them to the end of the metal corridor and made an abrupt right at a square room littered with torn edges of what was once silk cloth and tapestry. There were open chests stacked against the far wall. Yuna's parents had similar ones for storing gems and other treasures. What had happened to Razim's?

The slowking guided Team Bastion up a cramped spiral staircase until they reached a circular room. It was encased by a glass dome from what Yuna could tell, but someone had painted over almost all of it with thick black paint. An attempt to convince someone on the outside it was actually metal?

There was, however, a single peephole through the paint. It was here that a small silver telescope stood. Razim approached it. "Here, have a look."

Yuna leaned forward. She expected a limited view due to the persistent sandstorm. What she found instead was an eerily smooth road rising into the air and weaving its way around an upside-down pyramid floating high above a massive sinkhole. A sinkhole that wasn't covered in ice, yet still appeared to be frozen.

"What the—" The dreepy backed away and gestured for her teammates to have a look. "Was that always there?"

"The pyramid was." Razim studied Cid's awkward attempts at trying to use the telescope with his massive orbeetle head. "It is the burial ground of the royal family, the Tomb of Turtankhamun."

Snickers broke out from behind Yuna. Chiaki elbowed Nikki. "What?" The toxtricity rubbed her side. "That sounds like something straight out of one of them Indeedee Jones movies."

"Frighteningly remarkable," Cid whispered, hovering back from the telescope. "That ice road doesn't look natural. Yet it's not connected to the floating pyramid. Is it exerting some sort of electromagnetic field to levitate the structure? Curious…"

"This ain't a science fair, Chrome Dome," Nikki scoffed. He pushed the orbeetle aside. "Lemme have a lo— what the actual hell?" She stumbled back. "That ain't even remotely normal."

Razim cleared his throat. "If you had let me finish, I would've gotten to that." The slowking frowned. "Ahemait appeared following a tremendous series of tremors that rocked our nation. Tremors whose damage was completely reversed, perhaps by Isfet's curse." He leaned against a rusted railing behind the telescope. "We noticed the tomb suspended in midair. Isfet must've disturbed it and the result is Ahemait unleashed to bring forth the wrath of my ancestors."

Cid raised a chitinous brow. "Hold on… by that logic, the way to stop Ahemait isn't through facing it directly, but by solving the mystery of the floating tomb."

Reshiram's presence finally stirred again in Yuna's head. She wanted to press him on the whole Bahamut-Isfet matter, but merely thinking that made him recede. Yuna sighed. What? What are you going to say?

There was silence, then a squeaky whimper of an answer. "The way the pyramid is floating. It reminds me of Ray using his wind powers to lift things up."

Then could that be where the Needle is?

"That's my guess."

Yuna frowned. Yeah, but in order to free you, we had to fight off a daemon. So, if the floating tomb is really related to Ahemait, it's also possible we do need to defeat it to find the Needle. The dreepy looked at Cid. She had to speak up.

Before she could say anything, however, Chiaki interjected. "I agree. We need to go to the tomb."

Yuna searched his face but his expression was stoic. Did he agree with Cid… or did he have the same idea as Reshiram?

Razim sighed. "I admire the dedication, but that is not such an easy feat. We have tried, but Ahemait always appears to intercept."

Nikki scratched the base of her mohawk. "Well, what if we used that raft thingy?"

Razim's eyes widened. "I… never considered that. The wind surfer cannot really fly, merely hover off the ground. I thought the ice's frigid air would make it too difficult to control."

Nikki snorted. "Well, if you can't get there on foot, then it's time to try. What have we got to lose?"

"Our lives, for starters." Cid waved his tiny hands around. "That's far too reckless. We barely avoided Ahemait on that thing last time. We might be able to handle falling off the road, but we can't do that and ward the daemon off."

"We have a faster wind surfer," Razim said. "It sacrifices control for speed."

Grinning, Nikki rubbed her hands together. "Now we're talking. Let's hit the road! Or the sand. Whatever floats your wind surfer."

Yuna had a very bad feeling about this.

"Good, then it's not just me."

XxX​

Cassius stood against one of the broken, moss-covered pillars in Necrozma's isolated hovel, staring at a pile of purple crystals pulsating with ominous black and red energy. "Remind me, sir. Exactly what am I looking at?"

A sigh. Necrozma conjured a crystal tendril. How obnoxious. If it had taken Cassius' will like it did with the birds, it wouldn't have to bother with such tedious explanations.

"Malice Crystals," it said.

The Mr. Rime looked at him and made circular motions with his free hand. Necrozma sighed again. "They are concentrated deposits of the Qliphoth's energy."

"Of Eterna energy?"

Necrozma waved the tendril dismissively. "Same difference."

"Why do you have them?"

"To pass this corrosive energy onto the people who took what is rightfully mine." Necrozma's shadowy body pulsated.

"The Needle? Does that really matter, though?" Cassius rested his cane on the ground and conjured a playing card in his right hand. "If there's an extra soul undoing the seals, then it gets you to your goal twice as fast." The card suddenly became two, which telekinetically revolved around his hand until a black beam vaporized them both.

"Be silent." Dark wisps evaporated from around Necrozma's head. "The seals are mine. That energy is mine. Their power... is mine." More wraith arms spawned from the Phantom's miasma. It didn't care. Because Cassius would never understand.

Necrozma needed that power. To dull the pain. To feel whole again— no, to feel something other than emptiness.

It sank back against its makeshift throne. "If you really believe there is someone residing at that blasted school who can undo the seals, then it is only fair I hurt them as they have hurt me. No one within those pathetic walls understands real power. They do not deserve it."

Not after what I had to give up.

Chuckling, Cassius shook his head. "We already tried to make a statement there. It didn't amount to much."

One of Necrozma's wraith hands snapped its fingers. "That's because... we weren't putting our backs into it."

The zapdos it had corrupted stepped forward. Orange sparks danced across his muscular legs. "Take two Malice Crystals and force them onto whatever students you come across," Necrozma ordered. "Let them see just how badly their worthless leaders are out of their depth."

Blue light flared in Necrozma's wraith hands. A blue and white, checkerboard portal opened behind Zapdos. Necrozma strapped two of the dark crystals to his back and he trotted into the wormhole without a second thought.

XxX​

Things proceeded in complete silence after Noctum and Seifer left the kitchen. The keldeo didn't acknowledge Baraz after shuffling into the two servants' room. He stared blankly at the ceiling while they pooled their blankets together by the back wall to make something resembling a nest. Everything was wrinkled and bunched up, however. There were only about two body lengths between Noctum's bed and Baraz's, anyway. Seifer would need most of that space.

Baraz fell asleep not long after. Noctum was jealous as usual, especially with how the dracozolt didn't even stir when he sat down on his bed and the rusty frame creaked in protest. He supposed it came with old age. Maybe once his scales turned gray he'd sleep as soundly as Baraz.

There was the matter of the blinds, though. Noctum wanted to reach for them, but Seifer was staring out the window. The grass had a blue tint under the moonlight. Clouds littered the sky, to Noctum's disappointment.

He silently sat on the edge of the bed. After a minute, he fidgeted with his scratched-up bedsheet. It did nothing for Noctum's restlessness. He had to say something. It was too awkward otherwise.

"Um…" Noctum looked at his feet. "Look, can we talk about what happened back there?"

Silence.

The charizard's tail flame dimmed. "I know we talked about it already. But, like… I'm still a bit confused. What's a Ryujin?"

More silence.

Noctum's shoulders sagged. "I only want to help."

"… they're yakuza," Seifer whispered, still staring out the window.

"Huh?"

"A criminal syndicate. The most infamous one in the kingdom, actually."

Noctum blinked. "There are… multiple?"

"Yes. Part of my job—" Seifer winced. "Part of my old job was trying to take these yakuza out. I got some of the smaller groups, but new ones would pop up to take their places." He lowered his head. "The Ryujin, though… are a different beast. Every time we were on the trail of someone we thought was high-ranking in their organization…" He trailed off and stared out the window again.

"Well?" Noctum leaned in.

"Why am I even sharing this? What does this have to do with me?" Seifer huffed.

"I, uh—" Noctum grabbed his tail and put it in his lap. "Thought maybe venting would help?"

"Whatever." Seifer rolled his eyes. "Basically, targets the Radiant Guard went after ended up dead or wiped of their memories before we could arrest them." He wrinkled his snout. "We've suspected the Ryujin of plenty of things. Running an illicit TM market, distributing performance-enhancing drugs, selling addictive substances to get commoners and nobles alike hooked, hijacking Polaris' equipment.

"The problem is we could never concretely prove it." Seifer leaned over. His horn plinked against the window. "Even making deals with rival groups hadn't helped us make much headway." Seifer squeezed his eyes shut. "Before I got canned, some of my sources reported the Ryujin were looking to take advantage of the confusion caused by this Needle business."

"To do what?"

"To sow further discord amongst the nobles," Seifer responded. "There was specific mention of getting Vegna to return to the inquisitor's bench. Fan the flames of that Grim Reaper curse of his."

"I don't see the connection."

Seifer furrowed his brow. "Most people who fell victim to the Grim Reaper's curse were people of status. Wealthy, elite nobles. Folks who could afford the kind of defenders who could soundly best Vegna in a trial."

"… oh." Squeaking, Noctum squeezed his tail. That didn't sound good at all! And not a subject he wanted to pursue much further. The Qliphoth business made him worried enough for Yuna. What if the Ryujin tried to go after her, too?

"I see." The charizard wanted to change the subject. Or, at least, keep things from getting even darker. "So, um, how does this relate to that milotic?"

"Artemis?" Seifer tilted his head. The corner of his right eye met Noctum's gaze. "He was… a kid I had chosen to sponsor. I was running drills with a water-type platoon in Venish when I noticed a Polaris cargo ship under siege. My team moved in, but most of the goons had been taken care of by this milotic kid."

Seifer sighed. "He was strong. The kind of strength you don't see much of in this kingdom. I wanted him in the Radiant Guard, so I offered to sponsor him for a scholarship. He was… overjoyed. As were his parents."

His horn slowly slid down until it slumped onto the windowsill. "Then I got assigned to lead a raid on a suspected Ryujin building. Things went well… until I found Artemis' parents among the people we arrested." Seifer's shoulders sagged. "We do extensive background screens on all Radiant Guard applicants. I had no choice but to report this to the rest of the Guard's admission committee."

Noctum's wings drooped. "So, he wasn't allowed to join because of that."

"Worse." Seifer swallowed hard. "Vortex got wind of it. Because of course he did. He expelled Artemis before he was due to graduate."

"But he's working here as a servant, isn't he?" Noctum scratched a black-scaled horn in confusion.

"Because I begged Vortex to let him." Seifer smacked a forehoof against the stone wall. "This place… it's not like other schools. If you're accepted here and you don't graduate…" He turned away from Noctum, wincing. "You're blackballed. No one will want to hire you to do anything that isn't collecting garbage or cleaning sewers. Your life's over."

Seifer bit his lip. "I couldn't let that happen to Artie."

Noctum twiddled his thumbs. "And what happened to Artemis' parents?"

"Sentenced to Citadark Isle."

"Citadark?"

Seifer picked his head up. "A maximum-security prison on a remote island. Vortex's company built it for Isola as part of the Crown's efforts to crack down on crime. Anyone who goes there is serving a life sentence."

"Li-ife sentence?" Noctum stiffened. "For smuggling?"

"We were trying to send a message." Seifer's eyes darted around. "Crime went down after it opened, you know. It was working!"

Well, that put a different spin on the argument Noctum had heard. He wasn't sure what else to say. Noctum understood Artemis' anger. At the same time, though, what was Seifer supposed to do? Turn a blind eye to the milotic's parents? That could've ended up with the keldeo on that terrible island instead.

Sure, Saint Reshiram preached the importance of honesty. However, Noctum didn't recall his teachings discussing the consequences of pursuing the truth. Was that worth bringing up to Yuna now that she was toting around the Sage's spirit?

"Happy now?" Seifer looked at Noctum. "Bet this gives you plenty of gossip, huh?"

Noctum rubbed his shoulder. "Well, I—"

A distorted squawk sounded in the distance. "What the—" Seifer picked his head up in time to see some orange-feathered bird with massive legs tumble across the ground, kicking up grass and dirt. The keldeo squinted. "Hey, that almost looks like… ah!"

He leapt to his feet and kicked the window open with his hind legs. Noctum jumped in surprise. "What are you doing?" he called, but Seifer had already jumped out the window.

"Quetzal? Quetzal!" Seifer shouted, charging across the field.

"Get back, you idiot!"

A Dragon Pulse streaked across the ground. Seifer hopped back. Noctum's eyes widened in recognition. "Valkyrie?" He watched the garchomp glide into view, then hopped out of the window himself. "What are you doing?"

"Me?" Her face was twisted in a snarl. "That prick tried to get the jump on me. Stand aside!"

Seifer shot forward via bursts of water from his hooves. "Absolutely not!" His horn glowed.

Valkyrie dropped to the ground, sliding through the dirt. "What are you doing here?"

"None of your business," Seifer said. "More importantly, I won't have you attacking that zapdos!"

"Zapdos?" Valkyrie cocked her head. "Get your eyes checked, idiot. That thing's orange and stubby, not yellow and spiky."

"Bwuh?" The keldeo turned around in time to see Valkyrie's would-be assailant streak into the air as a stream of orange lightning.

Noctum realized what was happening moments before the bird broke out from the lightning and shot toward Seifer with his right foot extended. With a mighty beat of his wings, Noctum scooped Seifer up. The bird struck the ground, creating enough force to send the two tumbling through midair.

"… tch. Amateurs." Valkyrie already had a Dragon Pulse charged. Smirking, she fired it off. Her opponent's foot had gotten caught in the ground, leaving nowhere to flee. The blue bolt caught him between the eyes of his crystalline mask. He flailed his stubby wings around and shrieked his protest.

The garchomp wordlessly short forward. Noctum finished shaking the stars from his vision in time to see Valkyrie broadside Not-Zapdos' neck with a Dragon Claw. His body jerked to Valkyrie's right. Two purple crystals flew off his back and bounced to a stop a couple of meters in front of Noctum and Seifer.

"And that's that." Valyrie dug a claw into Not-Zapdos' orange feathers and hoisted him up. He was totally limp. "Now, let's stuff you somewhere you won't cause any prob—"

Not-Zapdos' eyes shot open. He slammed both feet into Valkyrie's chest. Orange energy erupted around her and, next thing Noctum know, he was jumping back to avoid Valkyrie skipping across the ground like a stone on water. She slammed into one of the purple crystals, which began crackling with ominous purple energy and vibrating.

"Uh, guys?" Noctum's attention was torn between the gem, Not-Zapdos, and Valkyrie.

"The hell?" Valkyrie snarled as she dug her claws into the ground to stop her skidding. "That wasn't—" She put a fin against her chest, where her scales were noticeably burnt. "I felt that. But that… was an electric attack, wasn't it?"

"Guys?" Noctum gestured toward the gem. The vibrations were getting worse. However, Not-Zapdos screeched. Noctum looked up to see an orange bolt barreling toward him. Seifer intercepted with a Secret Sword, but Not-Zapdos broke his charge, skidding to a halt by Noctum and the purple crystal.

"… Quetzal?" Seifer looked Not-Zapdos up and down. "Is… is that you?"

"What do you think you're doing?" Valkyrie sped toward them, blue energy sheathing her claws. "Strike him before he strikes us!"

Sure enough, Not-Zapdos took one look at Seifer and orange bolts crackled around his feathers.

"No!" Noctum cried. He tensed up his gut. Noctum had let that snorlax get the better of him. Not this time. He'd use Cosmic Blessing and bring the fight to a quick end. Noctum jus had to focus. Focus. Focus!

The charizard's eyes blazed with multicolored energy. He opened his snout wide and roared. Rainbow sound waves shot toward Not-Zapdos, who looked at Noctum with wide eyes. Noctum thought he had Not-Zapdos for sure, but his Cosmic Blessing sailed wide as the bird ran right faster than Noctum had ever seen a foe move.

He dropped to one knee, hand on his belly. "… no. How could… I miss?"

Fortunately, Valkyrie was ready to avenge him, lunging with her Dragon Claws at the ready. Not-Zapdos spun around to meet her with one of his glowing legs. The attacks collided and both issuers bounced back. Valkyrie wound up to go again, as did Not-Zapdos.

Noctum, however, looked down and realized, to his horror, that cracks were running through the vibrating crystal. Had his Cosmic Blessing struck it by accident?

Before the charizard could warn anyone, the gem floated into the air and shattered.

White-hot pain spread through Noctum's belly and multicolored lights swallowed him up whole. He was as light as air for the briefest of seconds, then something big and black rushed closer and closer to him.

… no, that wasn't right. He was falling! Falling toward it.

Noctum squeezed his eyes shut. He struck something crystalline, then blacked out.

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Whelp, another day, another chunk of adventures from Yuna and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad School Year to review and write cutaway gags over. You left off on a bit of a cliffhanger in Chapter 1, so let's get right into things in Chapter 2, shall we?

Chapter 2

"Take your shot already, Robin," a ponyta huffed, forelegs braced against the side of a red billiards table with blue felt. "I can see cobwebs growing near me."

Across from him, a sirfetch'd stood with his leek carefully positioned behind the cue ball and threaded between two of his left wing-digits. "Patience, Shimmer. A skilled bank shot like this takes time and focus." Robin slowly moved the leek forward and back.

Wew. And I thought my in-story FE: Awakening reference was transparent. :V

"It's been three minutes! My mane's going to gray at this rate." Shimmer flicked his cotton candy hair over his right shoulder, then brushed dust off his scarlet vest's gold trimmings.

... How should I envision this anyways? Is it like one of those skirt thingies that police horses sometimes have?

With a smirk, Robin struck the cue ball. It rolled to the wall on his right, then banked off at a ninety-degree angle and struck the seven ball, knocking it into the center-left cup. Robin stood up straight and held his leek triumphantly. "Now all that's left is the eight ball and I win." He gestured to the black ball in question. "And I'm lined up perfectly for it."

Shimmer rolled his eyes. "Only because you took longer with each of your shots than the meltan do with my laundry." He pushed off the table and landed on all fours. His hooves plinked against the marble floor. "Billiards is supposed to be relaxing. Yet every time I play you, I can feel my blood pressure going up." Shimmer sniffed at the puffy lining of his vest and cringed. "Ugh. Good thing I didn't change into my gown for the banquet yet. It'd be lined with sweat."

Robin: "All I hear is butthurt from you being about to lose."

"Make all the excuses you want." Robin positioned himself on the edge of the table and lined his leek up to strike the cue ball straight at the eight ball. "This game is still mine. Eight ball, corner pock—"

The oak door to the boys' dorm lounge swung open and a sylveon charged in. "Guys, you're not gonna believe this!"

"Gah!" Robin jumped the moment he struck the cue ball, causing it to spin out to his left and drop into the corner pocket closest to Shimmer. The ponyta stole Robin's confident smirk.

Shimmer: "And what was that about butthurt from being about to lose?"

Robin: "... Shut up." >v>;

Robin raised his right wing to slam his leek on the table, but managed to contain his anger. Instead, he whirled on the sylveon. "What's the big idea, Xander? You cost me the game!"

"Yeah, seriously." Shimmer tilted his head. "Where have you been? We finished getting our supplies hours ago." He noticed pit stains on Xander's pink lace robes. "Were you at the gym… in that outfit?"

Shimmer:

Robin: "... I didn't know that Sylveon even sweat there. Don't think I needed to know either." >v<;

Xander shook his head. "Wasn't that, Your Highness. It was the new girl— the little wyrm thingy." He wiggled his ribbons around. "I saw her getting walked up to Chancellor Vortex's office with a filthy-looking charizard and an orbeetle."

"So? I'm not her babysitter," Xander sneered. "You gonna tear up the school halls every time she sneezes?"

"That's not it. Not too long before that, I saw her parents go into the Chancellor's office." Xander grinned. "I bet she's in trouble."

Shimmer quirked a brow. "Or maybe her parents got cold feet and are pulling her out? Dragons are all cold-blooded, icy-hearted brutes anyway. They probably took one look at the school's curriculum and realized their daughter would fail."

Robin: "... What about Turtonator though, Shimmer? Aren't those part-Fire? Wouldn't their blood be hot as hell-?"
Shimmer: "Robin, stop undercutting my figures of speech here! And Turtonator are about as representative of Dragons as a bloody Goomy!" >_>;

"I don't know." Robin picked up his shield, carefully built from the base of his leek. "Is it really that bad if she's here? What about Chiaki? He's reptilian, too, and there's that gabite body guard that's always skulking along with him."

"He may be reptilian, but he's not a true dragon," Xander said. "As long as the gabite isn't around, he's perfectly reasonable company."

"Reasonable is an understatement," Shimmer scoffed. "He's tolerable at best."

Feels like you meant 'overstatement' for the part in bold, since Shimmer is essentially saying "let's not get crazy here" in-context about Chiaki.

Robin: "Shimmer, you do realize that Chiaki's in the Dragon Egg Group, right? He could shack up with that new girl after they both got a bit more... (ahem) mature and the two'd literally be able to have kids together!"
Shimmer: "Oh yeah, that's a mental image I really needed to have right now. And need I remind you that the story hasn't properly revealed Chiaki's species yet?" >.<
Robin: "... Right. Gotta stay in sync with the story for these gags."

"Okay." Robin's shoulders sagged. "But that's all irrelevant. Doesn't Her Eminence want you to befriend the new girl? Our kingdoms are trying to get along, remember?"

"Tch. I suppose." Shimmer brushed his mane out of his face. "But we shouldn't have to lower ourselves to the dragons' backwards standards. I hear they still live in shacks made of mud and rocks."

Has this 'mon never heard of Petra or Derinkuyu before? You can make some pretty impressive stuff while still living in literal caves and rock clefts.

"Well, one thing's for sure, we're looking at another problem kid." Xander rubbed his snout with a ribbon. "She's bound to be trouble… just like Nikki."

"Oh god, don't remind me of her." Shimmer rolled his eyes. "I feel so bad for whoever gets stuck on her Crowne Cup team. They're guaranteed to be eliminated in the first leg… and that shame will stick with them the rest of their lives."

Robin: "Aren't you being a bit dramatic there, Shimmer? The Cup's open to all upperclassmons, and there's at least two years represented, so..."
Shimmer: "What, do you live in a fairy tale? Since when did anyone fail the qualifiers and then turn around to win the Crowne Cup in a later year?"

"So, should we try to see if we can find out more about our 'esteemed' exchange student?" Robin wondered.

Shimmer shook his head. "No. Let the Chancellor handle her. We should prepare for tonight." His eyes sparkled. "After all, as glee club president, I get the honor of introducing Starlene!"

"Aww man, you're gonna get me an autograph, right?" Xander said, batting his eyelids at Shimmer.

The ponyta walked by him. "I'll think about it." Shimmer hip-checked Xander.

Xander: "Ow! You could've just said 'no', Shimmer!"
Shimmer: "Oh pipe down, Xander. It was just a little bump. You could've had it far worse."
Xander: "Yeah? And how?"

Shimmer: "Well, I could've done something like that."
Xander: "Is... is that thing hipchecking and hitting from thin air?" .-.
Robin: "Yeesh, I know you're royalty and all Shimmer, but I'm pretty sure this is more than a little disproportionate."

"This is an outrage!" A duraludon slammed his silver fist down on a pristine, white oak desk. Papers scattered and folders opened. Spittle doused the papers closest to him. "We bring Yunavresca here as a gesture of goodwill and on her first day she's assaulted twice in the span of hours!"

Doing her best to hide between Noctum's right leg and the side of a black leather couch, Yuna wasn't sure what she found scarier: one of her dad's rare outbursts or the fact that, throughout it, Chancellor Vortex kept the same enthusiastic grin he had on in the dining hall.

"King Calcifer, I understand your frustrations," Vortex said, producing a handkerchief from his jacket's inner pocket and wiping the saliva off his desk. "But I would ask that you please not take them out on my desk. It is one of a kind, you see. Utterly irreplaceable."

Getting some major Joo Dee energy from Vortex there.

The dragapult floating beside Calcifer put a hand on his gold-plated shoulder bangle. "Deep breaths, dear." Her serene expression quickly shifted, however. "I should think we have every right to be frustrated, sir. Queen Calliope told us that Horizon Gardens was the safest place in the entire kingdom. So, how do you explain these transgressions?"

Vortex clasped his hands together. "Why, they're nothing more than a pair of unfortunate coincidences. What can I say, Queen Yiazmat? These things happen."

>being this flippant to a Queen that's named after a superboss from FF12 with 50 million HP

Also, is Calcifer named after the fire spirit from Howl's Moving Castle? Or is he from some other Calcifer?

Yiazmat wasn't convinced. "No. If it happens once, it's a coincidence. If it happens twice… it's a pattern." Her expression darkened further. Normally, Yuna would expect one of her twin brothers to pipe up and lighten the mood, but they weren't in the dragapult's horns.

So given 'dex lore, how much training did it take for Yiazmat to be more calm and collected than her hubby here like this? Or is that a thing that's a trend but not universal among ghost airplane dragons in Etherium?

"Y-Your Majesty, please… I'm at fault here." Noctum put a hand on his chest. "If I hadn't left Princess Yuna—"

"Save your breath, Noctum," Yiazmat said, hand raised to silence him. "Our daughter should not need round-the-clock monitoring to safely attend this institution. Especially if it's located in the same community as the base for this kingdom's army."

Yuna: "Wait, the Kingdom of Radiance seriously put the nerve center for its army and its most important institution of higher learning in one location? What would you do if a meteor hit this place?"
Chancellor Vortex: "Uh... well it'd be a big mess, obviously. But what are the odds that'll happen?"
Yuna: "(This 'mon has just never read a book before, has he? Things going as wrong as possible for dramatic effect always happen in stories!)" >_>;

"Yes, well, I'm afraid the Radiant Guard are a bit preoccupied at the moment." Vortex leaned over to rest his elbows on his desk. "So, we have fewer of them here than usual."

"Preoccupied… because of the mystery dungeons that appeared across your kingdom overnight?" Yiazmat raised a brow. Yuna's tail crinkled up. She hadn't heard anything about that. A quick glance at Noctum suggested he was equally clueless. The only thing tipping her off that her mother wasn't bluffing was the momentary lapse in Vortex's cheery expression.

Yuna: "Oh yeah, that's not ominous at all. Sounds like I should go ahead and get in some bets on that meteor hitting Horizon Gardens at this rate."

"I don't know what you're talking about." He preoccupied himself rearranging the papers Calcifer scattered. Yuna wasn't buying it. She poked her head out from behind the couch to get a better look at her mother's cross expression.

"Don't lie to me." Yiazmat crossed her arms. "I had some of my best fliers do a survey of the kingdom early this morning. There are distortion pillars rising up within your cities."

"It was also the cover story in the Radiant Beacon," Calcifer added. "I take it this is why neither of the queens are here? Because I would think that they would want to do their best to make their esteemed guests feel welcome and safe."

Yuna: "How do they still have working newspaper circulation here if they have cities are being swallowed up by Mystery Dungeons right now? Like isn't that a mass death event that should logically cause massive logistical failures?"

Yiazmat: "To be fair, I didn't say all of their cities were affected. Though the situation is significantly more grave than this joker is letting on."

Vortex sighed and rubbed his horns. "Ah, forgive me. I was under the impression that a visiting delegation would refrain from conducting surveillance in a foreign territory." He pivoted his office chair slightly to look out the full-scale window behind him. "Especially a delegation seeking a treaty with said territory."

"Don't try to deflect the matter," Yiazmat growled. Shadows flared inside her horns. "The treaty hasn't been signed and we still remember the past icy receptions your nobility has given us."

Calcifer: "Also, how do you expect us to not notice those sorts of things? A good chunk of us can fly."
Noctum: "Yeah, are we just to pretend we can't see anything we couldn't otherwise notice from 10 feet off the ground?"
- Noctum gets scowled at by Calcifer and Yiazmat and quickly shuts up as Yuna facepalms -
Yuna: "(Well that treaty's not going to get signed any sooner at this rate.)" -_-;

"My apologies. I mean no ill-will." Vortex raised his hands and laughed innocently. "I'm sorry. The past twenty-four hours have been… stressful, to say the least."

Yuna gulped. It was true, then. Mystery dungeons were popping up within cities. Did that mean Horizon Gardens was vulnerable to the distortion, too? Could the school be swallowed up? If Yuna got trapped in a dungeon, she wouldn't stand a chance of escaping unharmed.

Yuna: "Th-This all happened within the last 24 hours?!" O.O
Noctum: "Now hold on, Princess Yuna, the nice Chancellor didn't say anything about-"
Yuna: "Mom, do I have to go to this school?!"

"Hey, is everything all right?" Noctum bent over. "You look a bit pale."

"You heard them. M-Mystery dungeons," Yuna squeaked. "What if… what if we get swallowed into a dungeon, Noctum?"

The black charizard gave her a quick side-hug with his right arm. "Baraz and I won't let that happen to you."

Noctum: "I mean, if we fail, you'll probably die. And Baraz and I likely would too since your parents would probably have our heads served on a silver platter if we didn't get sucked in ourselves... but let's stay positive here!"

"Really? An accidental explosion?" Yiazmat drew Yuna's attention back to Vortex's desk.

Vortex sighed. "I'm afraid so. One of our Crowne Ministers was working with some guards in his estate when they accidentally set off several blast seeds in succession." He shook his head. "The explosion triggered what I believe are magical self-defense systems within the Needles. They generated the distortion pillars, creating the mystery dungeons in question."

I mean, we already know that last bit's a flat lie. Why Vortex is lying about that remains to be seen.

"The barriers are designed to stop distortion with known, analyzed wavelengths," Vortex explained, gazing out his window at rolling green hills with train tracks wedged between them. "The Needles must've produced distortion fields with unique wavelengths."

"Then doesn't that mean your cities are going to be swallowed up by distortion?" Calcifer shot Yiazmat a worried look. Yuna's tail crinkled up again. The dreepy wanted to go back to her room and forget this day had ever happened.

"That remains to be seen. So far, there's been no spread," Vortex replied. "Perhaps the barriers are having an effect in that regard."

Yuna: "Oh thank goodness, it's not a mass death event... yet. Maybe. Probably. Uh... how trustworthy is this guy again, dad?"
Calcifer: "Hrmph, I wouldn't trust him further than my stubby arms could throw him with the way he tried to deflect from this earlier."
Yuna: "Er... right." ._.;

"We could offer you assistance," Yiazmat said. "The whole reason you want this treaty is because we can reduce distortion levels in your kingdom."

"Though I appreciate the thought, it's not my call." Vortex brushed off his jacket. "I defer to the queens and their advisors."

"And they are… where, exactly?" Calcifer asked. The duraludon tapped his right foot.

"Quelling fears within Parliament." Vortex walked back to his desk and resumed collecting scattered papers. "I would've gone there myself, but after I heard about what happened to your daughter, I thought it best to speak with you in-person."

So does the Kingdom of Radiance have a monarchial setup similar to what Duren had from The Dragon Prince? Or else what am I to make of the mention of multiple Queens of Radiance but no Kings?

"I see." Yiazmat crossed her arms. "So, rather than having one of them spare time to tend to their would-be allies, they offered us a glorified messenger lizard with a cane and a fancy suit." She glanced at the cane in question. The corviknight figurine sparkled from the afternoon sunlight.

"The cane is for show. A status symbol," Vortex retorted. "And make no mistake, Queen Yiazmat," he adjusted the lapels of his suit jacket, "unlike some charizard… I'm not content to kowtow to others."

Yuna: "Uh... I mean, I guess I shouldn't be this surprised given that mom basically insulted him to his face, but it's still so... weird seeing Chancellor Vortex in a snippy mood like this."

It was quick, but Yuna spotted the sideways glance Vortex gave Noctum. He did, too, since he grabbed his shoulder belt while his tail flame shrank. "A-Again, Your Majesties, I'm really sorry about what happened," Noctum whispered, squeezing the belt straps.

Well that was certainly a dick move, even if Noctum is kinda proving Vortex's point there.

Noctum: "I swear I didn't mean to get that distracted with that copy of I Wanna Be Your Canary- uh... I mean, be so tardy coming to Princess Yuna's aid." ._.

"You're fine, Noctum." Yiazmat waved him off. "Well then, Chancellor, answer me this… knowing the community is at risk, do you still intend to hold this Crowne Cup event you railed about the other day?"

Vortex didn't hesitate with his response. "Absolutely." He held an index finger up. "I see that doubtful look in your eyes. But, dignitaries or not, I can't expect foreigners to understand and appreciate just what the Crowne Cup means to the kingdom and its people." Vortex stepped away from the desk and paced in front of the window. "It is more than a simple game or test… it is the foundation upon which our students build their futures!

"They get to see and experience the inner workings of important businesses throughout the kingdom. And the challenges the Ministers create pass their leadership skills to the next generation… all while the citizens watch and see their future leaders in action."

He stopped and pointed at Yuna. "This journey… it will give you the keys to unlock a brighter tomorrow and spread hope to every corner of the world."

Vortex threw his arms apart, his coattails fluttering. "That is what the Crowne Cup is truly about: cultivating hope." A broad smile spread across his face. "Hope invigorates. Hope inspires. Hope brings people together. If we want a prosperous future, then we need hope." He stopped to catch his breath, then looked back at Yuna's parents. "And that, Your Majesties, is why I won't cancel the Crowne Cup."

- Yiazmat narrows eyes in response -
Yiazmat: "You and others from this Kingdom do realize that cultivating false hopes has a way of ending in tears, don't you?"
Calcifer: "Yeah, holding that tournament won't change anything if this town gets swallowed up by a Mystery Dungeon halfway through it!"

Yiazmat floated over to Yuna, who promptly tensed. "Cultivating hope sounds noble on paper. But it is something you can do without risking the safety of our daughter." The dragapult put her hands on the sides of Yuna's triangular head. "We'll let Princess Yunavresca stay… provided you withdraw her from the Crowne Cup."

"What?" Cid and Yuna exclaimed in unison. They looked in bewilderment at each other, before focusing on Yiazmat.

"You heard me, Yunavresca. I don't want you taking part in this ritual." Yiazmat leaned over. "You have far too much at stake."

"B-But, Mom—"

"This isn't open for negotiation."

Yuna: "Mom, if those Mystery Dungeons spread around while I'm here, me not joining a tournament isn't going to magically keep me safe!" >_>;
Yiazmat: "Yes, but at least Baraz and Noctum can keep watch over you."
- Yiazmat shoots a side-eye over at Noctum -
Yiazmat: "Properly this time, yes?"
Noctum: "Meep. Y-Yes, your Majesty. I'll see to it myself!"

Vortex's footsteps broke the tense silence. He returned to his office chair and flipped through papers. "I see. I suppose I could arrange that. She wouldn't be the only one." He paused and pulled over yellow folder. "A few students always opt out for various reasons. But they have the luxury of doing so earlier… before the teams are set."

"Meaning what?" Calcifer asked.

"If I pull your daughter out… I'll also have to sideline the two students the committee partnered her with." Vortex held up the yellow folder. "And, well, I'm not too sure they'd take it well. To say nothing of how their parents would respond."

Calcifer: "And we care about this why when we're literal heads of state? Who cares if some literal whos have their kids' tournament crashed. This is our daughter's safety here!"
Chancellor Vortex: "Bold of you to assume those parents are literal whos, King Calcifer."

Yiazmat briefly glared at Vortex, before putting on a calmer expression to face her daughter with. "Yuna, sweetie, I understand how you feel, but—"

"No, you don't. C-Chancellor Vortex is right, Mom." Yuna squeezed the sides of her head. "I can't sit by while everyone else takes part in the Crowne Cup. It's just going to make the other students hate me." Her arms sagged. "They were already looking at me and Baraz funny this morning. I don't want to make it worse."

Yiazmat: "Your father and I only agreed for you to attend this school in the first place as a gesture of goodwill. If the students are really so petty as to hate you for acting on reasonable fears of your own well-being, just how worth it is it to chase their approval?"
Yuna: "Mom, I have to live with them for the rest of the school year. Not being hated by them is kinda important for it to not be constant misery!" >_>;

"It won't work, Mom. You can't force people to like me," Yuna growled, only to throw her hands over her mouth. She waited until her trembling died down before continuing. "You and Dad always make a point of how you won't be around forever… and, once I'm queen, I'm going to have to look after myself and make my own decisions." Yuna squeezed her eyes shut. "W-Well, if I can't make decisions for myself in school… how can I expect to be a good queen for the kingdom?"

Not that this isn't a touching speech, but you're kinda inherently limited on choice in a school environment, especially one that's more high school than college like the past chapters seemed to imply. Also, Yuna's literally choosing this because she's afraid of being stuck in her "nofriends" status quo. I suspect she'd be significantly less gung ho on the Crowne Cup given her sentiments just last chapter if her parents had the foresight to yeet a few other Dragonmons along with her to keep company at school as fellow students.

Her parents, however, still looked concerned. "Yuna… we're worried about your safety," Calcifer said. "If we return home and something happens to you—"

"Isn't that why Noctum and Baraz are here?" Yuna gestured at the black charizard. "And what about Captain Dimitry?"

Well that'll be someone to keep an eye out for, since I haven't gotten spoiled to who he is yet.

"Chancellor."

Arianna appeared in front of the office door in a flash of blue light. Yuna tensed upon seeing the toxtricity she'd encountered earlier ensnared in the gardevoir's psychic grasp.

Yuna: "Okay, what did you do?"
Nikki: "None of your damn business, you overgrown dart."

Tensing further, Cid held up his right arm. His telekinesis shut the office door. As he back away from Arianna, Vortex turned to her.

"So, what seems to be the problem? Is our dear, sweet Nicolette causing trouble again?"

I can see why she prefers 'Nikki' there.

"I caught this scoundrel defacing the posters of Starlene that the art club put together for tonight's banquet." Arianna flicked her left arm. A rolled-up poster appeared next to her and unfurled. Nikki had spray-painted cartoonish dragon fangs and horns over a sparkle-filled drawing depicting a meloetta. Cid had to stop himself from laughing.

"I wasn't defacing 'em. I was adding my own artistic flair," Nikki grunted. Her struggling against Arianna had weakened.

Yuna: "... I feel offended right now."
Nikki: "Aren't you not supposed to be here right now?"
Yuna: "... Probably, but the text never did explicitly say that I and the others left the room before the door was shut."

Vortex sighed and rubbed his temples. "While I admire your passion, Nicolette, I can't have you channeling it against your peers." He took the poster, held it up to his snout, and snorted out tufts of fire. The poster burned to cinders that Vortex caught in his hands. He took them to a trash bin beside his desk. "Why don't you join the art club? That way you can channel this passion of yours in a way that will uplift students' spirits and grow their hope."

"The art club can kiss my ass. They're stuffier than a room full of weezing."

Arianna's eyes flickered blue. "Don't you talk down about your peers like that," she snapped.

Vortex chuckled and raised a hand. "Easy, Arianna. We don't want to quash Nicolette's spirit. It's part of what makes her unique." He sat on the edge of his desk, careful to keep his tail flame safely above the papers. "That uniqueness needs to be nurtured… in a way that's productive. So, this graffiti of yours simply won't do."

Arianna: "With all due respect, Chancellor, but that entire exchange feels like a pretty solid argument for quashing her spirit." >_>;

Cid tensed up. He intended to remain silent through this conversation. Heck, he was tuning the other three out until Vortex put him on the spot. "Y-Yes. Madame Vice-Chancellor is right, sir. If she's defacing banners for the banquet… won't she cause trouble at the actual event if we let her attend?"

"Indeed. A good deduction." Vortex crossed his arms and grinned pleasantly. "However, it's not a productive one."

Arianna quirked a brow. "Sir?"

"Chrome Dome's telling the truth, though. What if I take my artistic vision to the banquet itself?" Nikki smirked and tugged at the sides of her leather jacket.

Vortex's smile widened. "That's exactly what I want you to do."

"Eh?"

Arianna: "... I don't think I like where this is going."
Nikki: "Welcome to my world." >_>;

"Working on the stage crew is a great way to teach you to channel your passion in a productive manner." Vortex smiled warmly. "Once you see how much the students appreciate your work, I'm sure it will fill you with hope. Hope that will energize you in your studies."

Nikki wanted to retort, but Vortex held up his hand. "And, of course, I'll have Professor Monokuma supervise you… just to make sure everything goes smoothly."

>Professor Monokuma
This is gonna turn into some sort of murder mystery, isn't it?

The color drained from Nikki's face. A brief image of a hulking bewear flashed through Cid's mind. He hovered back, fidgeting nervously. The poor girl. If she stepped out of line, she'd probably get one of his awful hugs.

Well on the plus side, it'd get her out of stage crew work for a day or two from needing to go to the nurse's office. :^)

The orbeetle's spots flashed blue. "I'll, uh, pass, sir." He looked away while Vortex prepared his drink. "What did you want me to stay for?"

Sipping the bourbon, Vortex walked back to his desk. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to make some last-minute changes to the Crowne Cup team you're supervising."

"Y… you…" His spots flickered erratically. This had to be because of the meeting. "I see. So, you're moving the princess to a new team?"

"Oh no. You'll still be her advisor." Vortex set his drink down and opened up a folder. "But I'll be giving her two new teammates." He held up two photos. Cid immediately recognized Nikki sticking her tongue out and holding up her hand to form an L on her forehead. But the other photo — a scowling grovyle with black, triangular markings under his eyes and a black pokébase cap on his head — drew a complete blank.

What exactly is a "pokébase cap" and how should I be envisioning it? And there's Chiaki at long last, if still without the formal name. Though I can't imagine that Calcifer and Yiazmat wouldn't be livid with Vortex for not agreeing to pull Yuna if they knew that her team was still unsettled enough that Vortex could still pull a last-minute switcharoo like this, including with a known delinquent on campus.

"Princess Yuna wants to compete in the Crowne Cup." Vortex held up his right hand. "Her parents don't." He held up his left hand. "Thus, the best way to approach this problem is to place her on a dysfunctional team that will likely fall at the first hurdle. She'll be able to compete, but will be eliminated early… dispelling her parents worries about travelling outside of Horizon Gardens." He clasped his hands together and squeezed tight.

Cid frowned. Hadn't Vortex mentioned a committee choosing the teams? Was he going to supersede that whole process on a whim? Still, Cid had to admit, it wasn't a bad plan. He just wished it wasn't his team that had to be the proverbial sacrifice in this situation. He didn't want his first impression with the other faculty to be that of a loser whose team got bounced from the Crowne Cup in the first leg.

Well, we all know how these sorts of schemes roughly turn out:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPXHRX8Q2hs

"You're new to this, Cid." Vortex lifted his bourbon glass and held it by his snout. "You have yet to learn that diplomacy has just as much of a place in the classroom as it does in Parliament. Those who can make both sides happy go far in this profession."

He swallowed the rest of the bourbon in one swig and set the glass down. "If you can't drill that into your head… then the next time we meet, you'll be handing me your letter of resignation." Vortex frowned. "And I would hate to see your brilliant mind go to waste when it has such a great potential for cultivating hope."

Cid: "With all due respect, Chancellor, but how does setting up a student for failure and mockery by her peers amount to 'cultivating hope'?" >_>;

"But I have faith in your abilities." Vortex turned back around. "If you're ever struggling, I suggest you speak to Professor Vegna. He can help."

"Vegna?"

"Dusknoir Vegna."

Cid gulped. Hadn't he heard that name before? "Wait… like Inquisitor Vegna?

"The very same."

>Inquisitor Vegna
>dealing with an 'Inquisitor' at all

Though I guess I was onto something with those Joo Dee vibes that I was picking up earlier, since I refuse to belive that Vortex doesn't have some nasty skeletons in the closet from this whole gambit and that closing exchange.

Alright, moving along:

Chapter 3

Yuna expected the dining hall to be the largest place on campus. However, she quickly realized the gymnasium dwarfed it. She figured her parents could fit three— maybe even four of their hundred-meter throne rooms across the polished wooden floor. It sparkled under the light of the moon and stars shining through the glass dome.

Yuna: "... What on earth is this thing made of for it to be this large and still be structurally sound?"

Sighing, Yuna floated over to the table, trying to ignore Noctum's cheerful grin. His black scales clashed with the pink apron around his belly. "Hey, Noctum." She rubbed her neck. "Guess they've got you helping with the food?"

"I volunteered." Noctum puffed his chest out. "And I'm so glad I did. Otherwise, I never would've discovered these marvels!" He held up a serving tray full of what Yuna thought were shrunken quiches. "Look at them. I didn't think it was possible for a quiche to be this small." The charizard laughed. "You could tell me a bunch of joltik cooked them and I'd believe you."

Yuna: "... They just took volunteers for a banquet this large and important?"
Noctum: "Yeah, I was surprised myself! But hey, can't say that it wasn't worth it." ^^

"Noctum, we need to bring out another tray of onion rings!"

"Ah!" The charizard's tail sparked blue. "Coming, Baraz!" He glanced at Yuna. "Sorry I can't stay and help you get acquainted with anyone, Princess. Cheers." Noctum spread his wings out and glided toward the staff door, leaving Yuna look over the spring rolls.

Yuna: "Oh no, Baraz is doing this too? Doesn't he literally dribble snot from his snout constantly-? Oh right, Dracozolt, but still."

She floated over to it and set her plate down, sighing again. The dreepy raised a mini-quiche like she was about to make a toast. "Here's to… to…" Yuna looked around. Most of the students were conversing with one another. Some — including the tiara-wearing ponyta from breakfast — were on a raised dance floor in front of the stage. Ponyta basked under the glow of blue and violet stage lights.

"Here's to surviving the next month," Yuna whispered. She shoved the quiche in her mouth. The taste of egg, fresh feta cheese, and steak bits washed away her melancholy. Yuna grabbed another mini-quiche and scarfed it down. Wow. These chefs really know their stuff.

Yuna: "I should probably feel more down that that sad toast was all that I can think of, but 'mon is this food good."

The unfamiliar voice caught her mid-bite. Yuna spat the bit of quiche out onto her plate and coughed loudly. Even though she didn't have lungs, the food must've gotten tangled within a stretch of her inner ectoplasm.

"Easily startled, ain't ya?"

Yuna pivoted to her left, but failed to identify the source of the voice.

"On your right."

"Eh?" She turned back and screamed. A grovyle now stood opposite her, leaning against the wall. "W-What— can I help you?"

"Clearly not." Grovyle nudged the brim of his pokébase cap down to cover his eyes. "If you can't even keep a good eye on your surroundings, how can you expect to focus on what lies ahead?"

Chiaki: "Also what's with that reaction? You're acting like I just waltzed up to you missing a hand and then waved the stump in front of you."
Yuna: "... Wait, where on earth did that comparison come from?"
Chiaki: "Think it was from some sort of novel from the library. Some dark fantasy story set in an imploding empire called Metempsychosis or something like that."
Yuna: "(Yeesh, talk about your ill omens. Why couldn't this guy just be into something like LOVELESS like a normal 'mon?)" ._.;

Yuna blinked. "I… beg your pardon? Do I know you?"

Grovyle took his mint sprig twig out of his mouth and flicked it away. "No."

"But you know me." "I make it a point to know who I have to keep an eye on," Grovyle said, stepping closer to the table. His pitch-black, button down shirt and crimson tie unnerved Yuna. There was a black dragon skull pattern woven into the tie.

Yuna: "You do realize that the only way you could come off any creepier to me right now is if you came in dressed in something that looked like it was cobbled together from dragons' body parts."
Chiaki: "Oh? You mean like my [MonHun] Cosplay? Don't worry, I keep that around for the likes of costume balls."
Yuna: "(Bahamut's light, why me?)" >_>;

"Correct." Grovyle didn't make eye contact. He loosened the knot on his tie and tapped a claw on the table. "Those symbols. The ones on your crown and pendant." Grovyle rested his elbow on the table and perched his chin on his hand. "They're His emblem, aren't they?"

Yuna was in no mood to play the pronoun game. "Can you stop talking in riddles?"

"Aeons worship a divine light dragon called Bahamut," Grovyle continued, rolling back against the wall. He pulled another toothpick out of his breast pocket and stuck it in his mouth. "Around here… we're taught He's nothing but a figment of dragons' wild imaginations."

Chiaki: "Also, you just whispered 'Bahamut's light' to yourself 10 seconds ago."
Yuna: "Not quietly enough, it seems." >.<

It took a few seconds before Yuna truly processed what Grovyle told her. Once his words set in, her eyes widened. "Wait… what?!" She hovered closer to him. "How do you know that? The teams are supposed to be re—"

Grovyle shut Yuna's mouth with his right hand. "Quiet. I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to us." He quickly glanced up, then looked back at Yuna. "If I let go, are you gonna scream again?"

Silently, Yuna shook her head. Grovyle was fast. Too fast for her to do anything about him. And Noctum and Baraz were still tending to the banquet's food, so she couldn't expect one of them to bail her out again. Still, her ectoplasm quivered. If first impressions were important, Grovyle wasn't endearing himself to her. Though she figured the reverse held true.

Yuna: "So my first confirmed teammate is a stalker with a thing for edgelord aesthetics... fantastic." -_-;
Chiaki: "Oh that's nothing, just wait until you get wind of our other teammate."

"Fine." He let go and stepped back. "Fact is… I got a quick look at the lineups backstage." He jerked his head toward the stage. More specifically, a large screen hanging over center it, surrounded by stage lights. "The Vice-Chancellor was scanning our pictures in to project onto that screen."

Yuna gasped. "How did you manage to do that without getting caught?"

"None of your business," Grovyle growled. He pivoted away from her. "Honestly, when I saw your photo, I thought it was a mistake."

"That you got teamed up with a princess?"

"No. That you'd yet to evolve."

Yuna winced. That one stung. "I, uh—" She clutched her pendant. "Dreepy already take a while to evolve. But when I was young, I got really sick. Mom told me it set my development back a few y—" Grovyle held his left hand up.

"Didn't ask. Didn't need the sob story."

"O-Oh…" Yuna's gaze fell. Wounded, her pride screamed at her to get a shot in. "Well, why aren't you a sceptile yet, huh?"

"None of your business why." Grovyle glared at her. Yuna shrank back. "Did I ask you why you're still a dreepy? No." He shook his head. "Don't assume. Miscommunications can get a 'mon killed in your line of work."

Yuna: "Well, there's obviously some story to it for you not to just play it off as 'oh, I have an Eviolite'-"
- Chiaki brings together the leaves on one of his arms into a blade -
Chiaki: "When I said 'Miscommunications can get a 'mon killed in your line of work,' I meant it."
Yuna: "Eep! Alright! Alright! Dropping the topic!" O.O;

Grovyle drew the bridge of his cap over his eyes again. "I'm not here to play nice and make friends with you. Especially when our other teammate is Nikki the Nuisance." The dreepy mouthed the name to herself.

"Who is—"

"A troublemaking toxtricity."

"Oh no." Yuna's neck and chest constricted. Of course she'd get paired with that girl. At this point, Bahamut was probably rolling around the skies, roaring with laughter.

Well, I had a giggle at it. So yeah, gonna take the over on Bahamut having a giggle too. :V

Grovyle groaned. "Lemme guess… nobody ever told you how the Crown Cup works." The distinct lack of a questioning tone in his voice drew a meek nod from Yuna. He took the toothpick out of his mouth and sighed. "Well then, keep your ears open because they'll be explaining the rules later." He pushed himself off the wall.

"Wait, aren't you going to tell me? Don't you want your teammate to know?"

"I don't really care. Like I said… I'm not here to make friends." Grovyle tipped his cap down again. "And I don't care about winning or going far in the Cup."

This isn't his first time in the Crowne Cup, is it?

He began to walk away when Yuna floated in front of him. "Hang on. I—" She paused. "Even if you're not going to open up or anything… I at least deserve to know your name." Yuna crossed her arms. "So, I'm not letting you go until you tell it to me."

"Tch." Still gripping his cap, Grovyle looked right. "Chiaki."

Chiaki: "I mean, you literally could've just clicked the spoiler boxes earlier. And I'm not that poorly-known of a character in this story-"
Yuna: "Look, we have to roughly track what's actually happening in the text, alright?" >_>;

Good, she got something out of him. "And what's your claim to fame?"

The grovyle glared at her. "Excuse me?" "This is a school for nobility, isn't it?" Yuna said. "So, you must be pretty important."

Chiaki rolle[d] his eyes. "If you must know… I'm next in line to inherit my family's business."

"Which is?" When Yuna didn't get a response, she said, "Lemme guess. It's—"

"None of your business." Chiaki sidestepped her. "Oh, and let me make one thing clear to you, Princess." He locked eyes with Yuna. "So long as we're working together, you need to learn to watch your back."

Minor tense error there.

Yuna: "... (Did his parents buy their title or something? That 'mon doesn't feel remotely like a noble in the slightest!)" >_>;

A part of Yuna thought it wasn't worth it to feel sorry for herself. However, a louder voice told her she should have listened to her parents wishes. Was this some sort of lesson from Bahamut? Something about respecting her elders or facing the consequences of not doing so? No, that was too on-the-nose. Maybe the selection committee Vortex had mentioned was biased against her because she was a dragon? Yuna wanted that to be false, but with all these icy receptions, she got the distinct feeling she wasn't wanted at Horizon Academy.

Well, she's technically not wrong about the second part, even if she's off on the motive.

Well, if they're trying to scare me off, it won't work, Yuna told herself. After all, it's not like she'd please everyone once she became queen. If all it took was a few unpleasant classmates to send her back home, she'd be a spineless ruler.

Perhaps she should consider hanging around the swim team and see if she can befriend some sort of lippy Floatzel with a thing for aquatic ball sports or the like. Pretty sure she'd have some better initial chemistry even if it'd make the story dynamic a wee bit derivative :^)

Yuna clasped her hands together and placed them against the amulet around her neck. O' Luminous Creator, hear my prayers. Mighty Bahamut, please—

If you don't have some sort of DaS!Solaire joke related to Bahamut at some point, I'm going to be forever disappointed. :V

Feedback sounded from the large square speakers flanking the stage. Squealing, Yuna threw the tablecloth over her. That was a sound she wasn't remotely used to. When she noticed the music and distant conversations had stopped, she poked her head out. Chancellor Vortex stood under a pale blue spotlight. He'd swapped his earlier suit out for a ruby-encrusted tuxedo and a bowtie sporting flame patterns. Even with her limited wardrobe, Yuna found it tacky.

Chiaki: "What's the matter, prefer garnets to rubies or something?"
Yuna: "He looks like some sort of backwoods stage performer." >_>;
Chiaki: "I mean, yeah. But I thought dragons like you ate this sort of shiny and flashy stuff right up."
Yuna: "Not like this we don't!" >.<

"I'm glad to see you all here, excited and healthy, as we get ready to kick off another year of the Crowne Cup!" Vortex spoke into a silver rod that Yuna had never seen before. Whatever it was managed to amplify his voice through the speakers.

It's not Hyper Voice or Uproar. Otherwise most of the room would be flinching in pain, right? She made a mental note to ask Noctum if charizard could learn sound-based attacks.

I take it that the Aeon Kingdom is a bit lower on the tech scale than the Kingdom of Radiance given that Yuna's clearly not familiar with how loudspeakers work.

Arianna leaned into the spotlight and whispered to Vortex. He nodded and his posture slouched a bit. "While I'm not usually one to dampen the atmosphere, I do want to take a moment to address a concern I'm sure many of you have." Vortex clutched the talking rod tight. "Yesterday night, our beloved Crowne Minister, Lord Douglas, passed away in an unfortunate accident."

Murmurs rose up, but Yuna couldn't tell who was saying what. The gym had darkened to the point where all she only saw outlines. And using her night vision would be fruitless with so many pokémon packed into the gym. She assumed the other students were talking about the accident. Yuna remembered hearing it in Vortex's office. But seeing as she didn't even know what a Crowne Minister was, she wasn't really sure how to react.

"Now, now." Vortex raised his free hand. "I'd like to assure you all this will not impact the start of the Crowne Cup. The kingdom is looking forward to seeing you all in action." He leaned over so Arianna could whisper to him again. "However, before we start the festivities, let us have a moment of silence to honor Lord Douglas and his service to the kingdom."

Yuna: "(Wait, didn't I literally have a dream about that alleged accident? Or was I just waking up coincidentally when he was busy dying off?)"

The other students' excited chatter quickly died down and the screen darkened once more. "Again, I did have some more presentations planned," Vortex said, adjusting his bowtie. "But I don't think we want to keep our special guest waiting, do we?"

Enthusiastic cheers rose up from the students. In the middle of the crowd, a copperajah trunk raised up, tossing what Yuna assumed was confetti around.

"Ho ho! I thought as much." Vortex tapped his pudgy belly. "Then, without further ado, I'll turn things over to our glee club president, Prince Shimmer. Take it away!"

I can hear that jealous seething from coming from soggier corners of the multiverse already.

Yuna: "Wait a minute, he's a prince?! How did no one-?!"
Chiaki: "School for nobility, Princess."
Yuna: "But still! Shouldn't I have noticed something about how the other students interacted with him that'd have tipped me off?"

It occurred to Yuna that her parents had never brought up the fact that the queens had a son. Then again, neither of the queens had, either. It was odd. Wouldn't they want her to make nice with the future king?

"Good evening, Horizon Academy!" Shimmer spoke into a headset gently fitted around his diamond tiara. "Are you ready to party?"

"Yeah!" the crowd responded.

"Heh." Shimmer swished his sparkling mane over his left shoulder. It brushed against the white feathers lining his silver gown. "That's what I like to hear! I'm sure I speak for Chancellor Vortex, my parents, and everyone in Parliament when I say I'm looking forward to seeing you give it your all in the Crowne Cup."

He smirked. "I'm especially keen on seeing what the Aeon Princess is capable of. Aren't you?"

>How to ensure your peace treaty doesn't last more than one generation with one simple trick

- Yuna is busy trying to hide and sink behind the table -
Yuna: "Okay, I completely understand why mom and dad didn't make a big deal out of me getting to know him."

Yuna lifted her right hand and waved to the crowd. "Thanks," she said, though her voice didn't carry far. The dreepy sighed in relief when her spotlight went out.

"How adorable." Shimmer chuckled and the crowd laughed with him. Yuna's heart sank. "Anyway, onto what you've been waiting for!" The ponyta cleared his throat. "As glee club president and Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Radiance, it gives me great pride to introduce our special guest performer for the evening."

I smell many a future diplomatic incident brewing if Shimmer takes the throne with that sort of attitude.

Yuna: "... I really should've pulled out, shouldn't I?"
Chiaki: "Well, it'd have made my life easier, that's for sure."

He gestured down to the stage with his right foreleg. "You know her. You love her. You shake your money makers when you hear her. Opening up with her debut hit, 'Path of Valor,' it's the one and only Radiant Diva herself. Give a warm Horizon Academy welcome to… Starlene!"

Aaaand title drop.

"Even the darkest of storms,
Will falter in the face of,
Everlasting hope and valor!"

>these PoV lyrics
Is there a specific melody that these are set to? And how do you come up with these ditties anyways? Since this is like the third or fourth song that you've made wholecloth for one of your stories, and I'm a bit curious as to if you have some sort of guiding process or philosophy

Purple smoke drift[ed] in from all around her. Her breath caught in her throat. Yuna's eyes forced themselves open. A sea of purple and black smoke spread in front of her. However, something stirred in the fog.

Long. Slender. A serpent. And it was looking right at her with piercing red eyes.

"Wh… what—" Yuna tried to shut her eyes, but couldn't. Golden lines and rings flashed on the serpent's body. Then a large maw opened… and the serpent lunged right for Yuna.

She heard herself scream for all of a second before her world fell to darkness.

Oh, so it wasn't Starlene's singing that was making Yuna feel awful there.

"Now then… tell me why you explicitly requested me to come out here?" Seifer turned away from Rune and focused on the top of the hill. A large, stationary, purple cyclone towered over the Radiant Guardsmon. Shards of metal lay scattered about the grassy fields on either side of the road. Remnants of a fence that once surrounded a beloved park.

"S-Someone broke curfew and charged through our barricade, sir," Rune reported. "I thought he might be trying to breach the mystery dungeon."

"And? Why not tell that to your unit captain?" Seifer snorted. "This is why I stationed you all in the city." He lifted his nose up. "I'll bet you didn't even get a good look at the bugger responsible. Probably some low-life thievul thinking the mystery dungeon holds untold riches."

So is Radiance attempting to clear out the affected cities as a precautionary measure? Trying their best to ignore it and carry on with life? Or are they going full Yamanote Lockdown from DeSu1 right about now?

"That's just it, sir." Rune poked his index fingers together. "I did get a good look at the person responsible. And when I told the captain, he said to find you right away because it matched the description of the 'mon who attacked the Aeon Princess this afternoon."

Seifer's horn flashed bright blue. "Why didn't you lead with that? To hell with keeping a low profile!" He galloped toward the edge of the distortion, only to slow up when he saw a black silhouette against the purple wind. "You there! This is a restricted area. And you're breaking the curfew set by Her Eminence, Queen Isola. Step forward and identify yourself immediately."

Wait, is this in Horizon Gardens? Or else where is this happening? Since the dialogue only mentioned that this was in a 'city' thus far, and depending on where this is, it potentially raises some questions of how Xeromus got there.

"What does it matter?" Another set of talons appeared, wrapped in rusted chains. Then a black, torn cloak draped over a broad torso. And finally, a stone mask, chipped enough to show beady gray eyes. "I am nothing but an omen. You don't need to know the name of a nobody like me. Once I save you from the ether's false hope… I won't matter at all."

Seifer rolled his eyes. Great, so the trespasser what a nutjob. Which just begged the question of how they could get all the way here from Horizon Gardens so quickly. He doubted this lug could stow away on train without being caught. "Whatever tea you're drinking… you can tell us all about it down at lockup." The keldeo lowered his glowing horn again. "Now, hold still, so we can restrain you."

Ah, there's the rag-covered, helmet-wearing mishmash of a homeless mutt himself.

Then came the laughter. Quiet at first, but steadily building in intensity. Seifer looked at the trespasser. His gray eyes had otherworldly layers to them. They looked more like targets than proper eyes. What was this thing?

"Stop this at once!" Seifer slashed the air with his horn. A red crescent flew toward the trespasser, but he just stood there. "Aha ha ha ha…" A sharp wheeze punctuated his laughter.

"Aha ha ha ha haaaaa! Your words… you're both past the point of salvation!"

A black tendril emerged from the distortion behind the monster, snuffing out Seifer's Secret Sword a foot away from his opponent.

"Commander… run! Run and— bwaah!"

The giant hand tossed the screaming, flailing cofagrigus right into the cyclone. The distortion swallowed him up instantly. His wails echoed across the hill like a booming thunderclap. Seifer's Aura Sphere petered out on the tip of his horn before it fully formed.

Um... yeah, you should probably take Rune's advice there, Seifer. Also F in the chat for Rune.

"I mean… it's not like I expected a simple omen could guide everyone to salvation," the helmeted beast continued. "Still, to falter at this first hurdle. Aha ha. Aha ha ha!" He slammed a chained foreleg on the ground repeatedly. "To think there's such a huge gap between me and Him. Oh well… it can't be helped."

"Stand down, cretin!" Keeping his distance, Seifer slashed the air three times. But the Secret Sword crescents were countered by a small wall of distortion that popped up in front of the beast. Seifer stepped back, eyes wide.

The beast lumbered toward him. "But it's okay. Even if I'm useless… I can deliver you to Natus. So that you can accept His loving embrace." He stopped and descended into a coughing fit. "Only then… can we blot this false hope blanketing your being. The false hope of the ether!"

I actually realized about a day after my last blog that 'Natus' there is almost certainly Eternatus. Also, I'm looking forward to finding out what ether is in this setting for Xeromus to have such a hate-on on it since it's clearly important enough for the entire world to be called Etherium implying that it's inherently made of or related to it. I mean, playing a few Xeno games has given me a few ideas, but will need to wait and see if they pan out

"Y… you're mad!" Seifer held his ground. If his strongest normal techniques wouldn't work, then he'd have to dig deep. He'd have to call on his Dyna-Force. There was no time to get help. Seifer was all that stood between this creep and the people of the slumbering city.

Oh, so we're not in Horizon Gardens. And this basically confirms that the Kingdom of Radiance went for route #2 for their curfew in spite of it violating several levels of common sense considering how dangerous Mystery Dungeons are treated as being in this story so far.(edited)

Seifer held his horn high. Red light shot into the air; a beacon against the night sky. The ground trembled. Seifer dug his hooves in. A giant, ethereal fist descended from the heavens.

"What?" The beast looked up moments before the fist collided with him. Seifer shielded his eyes from the ensuing red geyser. When the light faded, the beast was staggering back toward the distortion. And yet his eyes… sparkled? Seifer couldn't deny it. Even though his Dyna-Fist had struck home, the monster looked happy to have been hit.

Oh hello, (Eternamax Eter)Natus. Way to make an entrance there.

Xeromus: -is presently doing his best impression of Kiyoharu from SMT4 and cackling up a storm at the approach of his god-
Seifer: "What the hell is that thing?!"

"Aha ha." He wheezed and sputtered. "So this… is the depths of your false hope? You would take His love and twist it into something so… toxic." More laughter rumbled in his throat. "And yet… it is so interesting! The ether has its thorny tendrils dug right into you, but you're too blind to see it!" His right hind leg slid into the distortion. "Ha… aha ha. A lowly omen… bested by a slave of the ether yet again. How humiliating. But even this… this humiliation. I'll endure it all… so this world can rise to even greater heights."

Seifer didn't make any effort to stop the beast from slinking off into the distortion. He was too tired. But his work wasn't done. He had to get back to the command post and report that Rune had been lost to the distortion.

No, he had to get to Radiant Palace. The queens needed to know of this 'omen.'

Totally not an ominous note to end on at all. o3o;

Starlene's song is (very loosely) sung to the tune of Mayu Mineda's "Luminous Promise" from Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX. The more you know, right? See you next time.

Ahh. That answers the melody question for the PoV song. It has a catchy beat.

Things certainly escalated quicker than I expected in-story, but I'm not exactly complaining on my end. You likely have already seen a version of this review elsewhere by the time this was posted, but I hope you had fun with it, and I'm looking forward to where you take your story from here in the next few chapters.