Pokémon Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rebirth

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Aaaaaand picking straight up from where I left off on the last page:

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

A heavy dread weighed his stomach. He watched helplessly as Alice slowly slithered to Sycorax's side. She stopped for a moment to smile at him; a big, sad smile with tears of utter terror.

"P-please come back, Flame," she finally said.

Something about Alice smiling and her crying out of fear feels a bit at odds with one another. It might make sense to emphasize if her smile is forced or visibly wavering or something like that, since something about this description feels almost contradictory.

Her voice was warm and pristine as always, yet its sound nonetheless made his tail flame shrink. There was something … strange about how she sounded. Unnatural. He'd known her for long enough to be certain.

Yeah, see above. Basically, play up that Alice is outwardly seeming fine, but on closer examination, something is really, really wrong with her.

"Alice!" Flame called out, still restrained by Daedalus. "Are you two all right? Wh-what does he want from me?"

Alice did not reply. He noticed her glancing at Sycorax, as if to verify that it wasn't looking. Even when Gaius leaned in her ear to whisper something, she still stood there, as if paralysed—staring at him with distant eyes.

… Now I’m curious as to what Sycorax told those two, since while the story AFAIK never reveals one way or the other after this point, something about the undertones here makes it really easy to imagine that Sycorax threatened them to play ball.

Instead, it was Sycorax who seized the silence. "Well, soldier?" it asked in its crackling voice. "Are you just going to abandon your comrades like that? Your friends?"

Flame: “... Technically one of those is a friend on a technicality-” ^^;
Gaius: “Oh my gods, Flame, seriously?! Let’s deal with this sometime when you’re not in the clutches of bloodthirsty savages!” >.<

For the first time, Flame didn't know how to answer that. He let his eyes drift down to his feet.

"It's evident that the Scum have brainwashed you somehow," it continued. "Yet I can sense that a part of you is still there. You can still resist, Flame. You can still fight them."

Flame: “I mean, they showed me actual kindness and fed me properly for about a week?”

Sycorax: “Again, brainwashing.”
Flame: “(Have you ever considered that the current order of affairs in the Empire is just a serious liability if that’s all it takes to ‘brainwash’ someone?)” >_>;

"I…"

"Remember the villages they've slaughtered."

Flame: “...”

Sycorax: “Yes, that’s right, Private Flame. I read your dossier. I know you were at Sperantia Nova. Think about what you saw there.”

Despite Flame's resistance, the smoldering ruins of Sperantia Nova quickly flashed in the eye of his mind. In an instant he again saw the charred houses and the corpses—that blank, lifeless look in the survivors' eyes…

Flame: “Actually, now that I think about it, I’m not sure I remember that being brought up in the description. It was more a bunch of really crabby locals about five seconds from lynching us-”
Sycorax: “Private, don’t question your eyes. You know what you saw out there. (Also, it’s something for the author to fill in one day. Maybe.)” >:|

"Your masters have committed crimes far worse," Daedalus boomed. "Rest assured, abomination, victory will not come easy to your masters. Your plans are doomed to fail."

Lol, nice tu quoque there, Daedalus. Also way to confirm out loud that the Teutonii went ahead and did everything Sycorax accused them of in front of the [-------] you need as part of your faction’s morale management. >:V

"Fascinating," Sycorax spoke with synthesised wonder. "Because from where I stand, it appears to me that your troops are the ones surrounded on all sides."

Flame: "Wait a minute, how is Daedalus still this confident and defiant? He's completely surrounded, outnumbered, and-?" .-.
- Flame thinks back to everything that happened to Portus and Camp Horizon and blanches -
Flame: "Uh... hey, Gaius? What exactly would happen to us if a portal storm suddenly fell on us out of the blue? Like right now?" o_o;
Gaius: "We'd probably all die, why-?"
- Gaius looks at Daedalus, his seeming lack of despair, and at all of the Praetorians around them -
Gaius: "... Oh right. They can apparently do that somehow."

Flame wasn't quite listening. Breathing in gasps, he slowly turned to look between Dusknoir and Genesect—between the two sides, between the small Teutonii circle behind him and the Praetorians watching from the other side of the crevice, and from the cliffs above.

I can't do anything.

His knees felt weak.

I'm powerless.

Gaius: “You could get us killed from indecision at this rate…” >_>;
Flame: “Gaius, you know what I meant.” >.<

He sent one last desperate plea towards his teammates. Gaius looked down in shame; Alice merely smiled; it was a sad, trembling smile, but for him, it meant everything.

It also reignited his desperation. Shaking, he clenched his fists and set his sudden glare to Sycorax. "L-let me—let me talk to them!"

Daedalus: “Flame, what are you-?!”
Flame: “Daedalus, we’re going to die if we don’t do something. S-Seriously, just let me try this!”

"I can assure you, Flame, that they want nothing more. So please," Sycorax said, calmly and slowly. "For the sake of your teammates, and your brothers in arms, and everyone here … step forward."

Breathe—he had to breathe. Yet too quickly he transitioned from holding his breath to gasping maniacally. He still couldn't take his eyes off the bridge suspended over the crevice.

Flame: “... Boy does that look precarious… Uh, c-can you send my friends to me-?”
Sycorax:

Gaius: “Uh, yeah. No. Even if Sycorax didn’t just veto you, I’d rather die than get anywhere close to those monsters...” >_>;

Or at least for another 4 chapters, anyways.

If he went, the Praetorians would kill him. Or perhaps they'd lock him away—send him back to the Presence's homeworld to become their slave.

If he stayed…

Tears blurring his vision, he gazed at his teammates, and they gazed right back, pleading, begging him with their stares. Even so close, they felt so distant…

Yes, being surrounded by hardened soldiers ready to kill everyone out of existence tends to help with that. And now I have that one song from the Xenoblade X OST with the semantically-related title playing in my head. It’s a surprisingly not terrible fit for the moment.

Then one of the Teutonii said something in her rough tongue. Flame blinked and turned his head to look; it was Brynn, eyeing Daedalus with determined eyes as she clutched her wand with both hands. Then, the Weavile next to Brynn said something in agreement, followed by the gruff Rhyhorn, and soon, one by one, all the Teutonii repeated it and looked to Daedalus for guidance.

Flame darted his eyes left and right, hopelessly confused. Judging from Daedalus' silence it must have been communicating with them telepathically. After a final nod, the Dusknoir turned to him with the most affectionate look in its eye.

I didn’t pick up on that reading the first time through, but it makes a lot of sense since… yeah, Brynn has been really obviously crushing on [Our -------], so of course she’d be the one floating the crazy ideas to save his hide.

It only made Flame's stomach sink deeper.

Flame: “... Great, now I’m feeling guilty again.”

"What's happening?" he frowned.

"My child… I need you to listen to me."

A gust of frigid wind buffeted their bodies.

"This is not how I hoped this journey would end, but the way I see it… There's only one way out of this." Daedalus gazed solemnly across the chasm. "When I give you the signal, you must make a run for the mystery dungeon."

Flame: “Daedalus, Sycorax is literally standing right there on the other side of the bridge!” >.<
Daedalus: “Yes. Which is why we’ll take care of it, my child.”
Flame: “How on earth do you expect to-?!”
- Flame eyes Daedalus and the Teutonii, and notices that they’re readying for battle -
Flame: “O-Oh…”

A vague choking sound escaped Flame's throat. "Wh-what?" he said, the fear in his voice echoing throughout the crevice.

"Quiet. There is a badge in your bag," Daedalus continued, red eye staring straight into his. "Use it to call for help once you've cleared the dungeon. We will cover your escape."

Flame: “Wait a minute, we have those?! Daedalus, why did you not give one of those to our scout so he could’ve-?!”

Daedalus: “Again, focus about the matter at hand, my child. Don’t worry about us.”

Flame tried not to show too much fear on his face, and, by his estimates, he'd failed miserably.

"B-but what about you?" he whispered shakily. "And, and the others! I can't just—"

Daedalus merely shook its head. "Your safety is infinitely more important. Do not worry about us."

Boy is that line a lot darker in retrospect in light of the outro to Chapter XXXI.

Gaius: "Oh thank gods, they're not gonna drop a portal storm on us-"

Flame: "Gaius!"
Gaius: "What? Not that your Scum friends' gesture isn't touching in a way, but I'd like to not die right about now!" >_>;

Flame found it hard to breathe; tears welled in his eyes. "But, th-they're all around us—and above us, too! They'll slaughter you! I can't!"

"You can and you must." Daedalus stroked his cheek with one of its fingers. "They all knew what risks this mission entailed. What it might come to."

Considering how you’re stringing along an entire people by attempting to self-fulfill prophecy… yeah, excuse me if I don’t fully believe you there, Daedalus.

A sob wracked Flame's chest. Hyperventilating, he reached up to grasp at its wrist. "They need you… Yo—our people, they need you to lead them…"

"Yes." Daedalus smiled somberly at him. "And if the Presence get to you, we all perish."

Daedalus must have one hell of a poker face considering what will become of this world and the Presence’s if Flame bites it for any reason whatsoever. I can only imagine how hard he was freaking out after realizing all of the times Flame almost died in the past 2 weeks alone.

"Wh-what?" Flame sniffled. "What do you mea—"

"Enough chatter."

Sycorax's cold, synthesised voice caused Flame to whirl around with a knot in his throat. Once again, he faced the dozen or so soldiers lined up across the canyon, on either side of the Genesect.

"If your friends mean nothing to you," Sycorax said, a twinge of static accompanying, "then I shall change the terms of the deal."

Alice: “I… don’t like where this is going.” ._.
Gaius: “Welcome to the party, really.”

Slowly, steadily, the air around them began to shiver and vibrate. Flame blinked the tears out of his eyes and squinted, before his helplessness was replaced immediately by panic. His eyes went wide and his jaw went slack. He stared into the barrel of Sycorax's cannon just as it began to glow a dim, pulsing silver that grew increasingly brighter. All the praetorians formed around it tensed visibly like starved beasts ready to pounce. The Teutonii tightened together, a frightened murmur in their strange tongue swimming through them as they closed their ranks.

Oh, so: “A-Ach Scheiße” with varying levels of composure.

"Do you see those barbarians behind you?" Sycorax said calmly. "I'm giving you thirty seconds to save them."

I’m actually wondering if it’d have made sense to either show Gaius and Alice’s reaction to all of this more, or else more explicitly shuffle them to the back and out of sight.

Flame: “Y-You expect me to trust a single word out of your mouth why?”
Sycorax: “Because I’ll kill them all now if you don’t?” >:|
Flame: “That… would be a good reason, yes.” ._.

"But…" Flame took a step back. "But I can't…"

"Their lives are in your hands, Flame." Sycorax continued. "Are you going to come forward yourself? Or are you going to sacrifice them?"

I am still convinced that Flame has done exactly that before and that’s why he has that lingering complex about being unable to accept being the cause of others’ death and suffering. Since even if I can’t tell if Sycorax is getting lucky or has some awareness of that, I can see that emphasis from him there. If there’s indeed a connection, I’m guessing the last time such a sacrifice happened, it didn’t involve only around 30 Pokémon.

Alice: "Huh?! What's Sycorax thinking suddenly changing tack like that?!"
Gaius: "More importantly, even if the 'mon wasn't shady and had ulterior motives, how is that supposed to make Flame trust him? Like for all he knows, those scum’ll get minced once he goes forward or Sycorax will move onto us-"
- Cue a wordless gleam from the corner of Sycorax's eyes -
Gaius: "Oh dear gods, he's actually gonna go there, isn't he?!"

Alice: "(Why would you give him the idea, Gaius?!) Though, um... yeah, suddenly that Scum Dusknoir’s plan is sounding fairly compelling right about now." O_O;

Flame was suffocating. At least, that was how he felt: gasping for breath, unable to move, with tears blurring his vision. A foreboding dread washed into his chest.

"Are you ready, my child?" Daedalus asked in his head. "You must run."

Flame: “D-Daedalus, e-everybody is going to die if I do that!”

Daedalus: “That’s a price that we’re willing to pay, my child. It will be worth it.”

Struggling to bite back his sobs, Flame darted his eyes between the two leaders. "No, s-stop!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Stop! There has to be another way!"

"Twenty seconds," said Sycorax.

Flame: “Th-That was not ten seconds that just passed!” O_O;
Sycorax: “It is now. Time’s ticking, Private. Better make a decision.”

The knot in Flame's throat only grew thicker. Fuelled by a pressing desperation, he felt a renewed rush of adrenaline.

"Don't do this, please!" he shouted at Sycorax again. "J-just let me talk to them and, and maybe…"

Yet it was no use. Nobody was listening—not the Teutonii behind him, not the praetorians formed up across the chasm, not the ones above them. Those too large to pounce across the chasm opened their mouths or hands, readying beams of their own.

Flame: “A-At this rate, I sure hope that Daedalus wasn’t BSing me about that Protect wall…”

"No…" Flame whispered. "Stop…"

Nothing felt real. He didn't know what to focus on. Alice and Gaius were screaming something at him frantically, yet he couldn't hear them. The cannon's deafening whirrs and hums filled the air. Winds were stirring up around them. Feeling strangely numb, Flame raised a claw in front of his face as he stared into the barrel glowing white-hot. Was it aiming at him? It was aiming at him. No—behind him.

He turned back to gaze at Daedalus, who was charging up a Shadow Ball in its outstretched palm. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments.

"Whatever happens…" Daedalus shut its eye. "Remember how strong you are."

I mean, if Flame did, there’d be a nonzero chance that a portal storm would’ve fallen on the crevice and killed everyone based off where Chapter XXXI’s implications seemed to be pointing, so… probably a good thing that he doesn’t remember that right here and now.

Flame couldn't find the strength to reply. He wanted to say something—anything—but once again, he felt too small.

"Ten seconds," said Sycorax.

He could barely hear Alice and Gaius' shouting over his own heartbeat, now.

Flame: “That was not 10 seconds again!”

Sycorax: “Nine… Eight…”

In an effort to hold onto something, he squeezed his bag with his claws—there had to be something inside, something he could use, or, or a weapon! He felt the bag from outside yet there was little in it. He also wouldn't know which orb was which, and he wasn't sure how exactly seeds would help. Unless…

"Five."

The Ariados on the cliff wall above them tensed its legs, eyes trained on him.

"My child—you must go!"

Flame: “G-Gee, no pressure here.”

A bell clanged upon Flame's heart. Amidst a maze of distress, he did the only thing he could think of: he pulled a blast seed out of his bag, raised it far above his head, and squeezed his claws around it.

"I SAID STOP!"

The sharp crack of his blast seed's shell echoed after his yell, bouncing off the crevice walls, the cliff, and, it seemed, the air itself. Bits of powder rained onto his snout.

Flame: “... W-Wait a minute, aren’t these things basically grenades? Did- Did I just do the equivalent of pulling the pin?” ^^;
Daedalus: “Yes, you did. But more importantly, why was that in your bag to begin with?!” O;
Flame: “I… uh… thought it might come in handy for moments like this and packed it away myself? (Though now that you mention it, that probably ought to have been mentioned in passing or foreshadowed earlier on, huh?)”

As the echoes faded away, a heavy silence descended onto the valley.

For some time Flame stood there, panting heavily, his eyes squeezed shut and blast seed still raised above his head. He waited for death to come, either from his own seed or from the two armies around him colliding.

It didn't.

Flame: “W-Well, we’re not dead yet, so it’s something?”
Alice: "Flame?! What are you doing?!" O.O
Flame: "Really, really hoping that someone doesn't throw a Sleep Orb right about now. Since I think this thing's gonna blow if I so much as sneeze on it."

Slowly, heartbeat by heartbeat, Flame dared to crack open one eye, and gazed across the crevice. They were all staring at him, every single Praetorian—most of them too perplexed to keep their combat stance. Sycorax, on the other hand, looked completely impassive, and his teammates…

Flame felt his heart shrink as he met his teammates’ terrified faces. Alice looked close to tears, while Gaius just stood there with his mouth agape, staring as if he'd gone completely insane.

Flame: “I mean, I’m starting to think I might’ve gone completely insane given that I’m basically cradling a live grenade, so…” .-.
Gaius: “Holy crap, Flame, why would you do that?!”

Flame: “... It was the best I could think of to get everyone to settle down on short notice?”

"… Flame?" Alice's whisper trembled in the breeze.

Gaius merely stared at him wide-eyed. "Bloody hell…"

Gaius: “You had one job, Flame. Leave the bloodthirsty savages behind and come home.” >_>;
Flame: “Gaius, get real, do any of us think that would seriously happen when Sycorax is part of that creepy Ascension Programme?”

Tearing up, Flame gazed back into their eyes, tried to send them a look of remorse.

"My child," Daedalus boomed inside his head. "What on earth are you doing?"

Flame: “Trying to keep you from making a senseless sacrifice, that’s what!”
Daedalus: “My child, you are cradling the equivalent of a live grenade right now!”

Flame: “Yeah, I know. Could’ve done without the reminder, really.” ._.

Flame nearly let go of his seed in fright—it was as if someone had shouted inside his eardrums. After some hesitation, turned to face the Teutonii behind him. They all looked pale, as if they'd stopped breathing. Brynn was outright quivering on the spot. At the head of them all, Daedalus still had its hand raised limply, merely stared at him with the widest eye he'd ever seen.

Boy is it gonna be something to see how these guys would react if Flame ever actually got properly messed up and they knew about it. I mean, at least they’re named ‘Teutonii’ and not ‘Cimbri’, but Ancient Germanics writ large… had a pretty long track record of dealing with Despair Event Horizons in terminal fashions.

As he stood there taking in his comrades' faces, sucking in laboured breaths, Flame didn't quite know what to say. He swept his eyes around. Even the thick whirring of Sycorax's cannon had died down to nothing, leaving utter silence in its wake.

Daedalus: “My child, in case if you haven’t gathered from Sycorax not taking a shot at us right now, but you are behaving really, really rashly at the moment-”
Flame: “Hey, nobody’s dead yet, right? I count that as a win here!”

"Herr Flame…" Brynn sniffled, her ears flattened.

"Stop…" he muttered between breaths, eyes squeezed shut. "I said… stop."

Slowly, Daedalus floated forward "Flame," Daedalus whispered. "I beg you, give that to me. You'll only hurt yourself."

Daedalus held out its hand.

I mean, Daedalus wasn’t wrong, even if it wasn’t the Blast Seed that ultimately got Flame. Though that is pretty revealing about how Daedalus regards Flame’s decision-making. In the end, he’s the driver, and Flame’s the child that doesn’t know better and sometimes needs to be mislead and run over for his own good.

Without quite thinking, Flame scrambled backwards, raising his seed well in view and clenching his claws around it even tighter. The resulting crack halted Daedalus in its track, but also sent Flame's heart into a frenzy. In truth, he wasn't actually sure how much force the seed could withstand before it detonated. Gods, what if he was already at the limit?

Flame: “... Guess I’ll find out really soon, since boy did I not plan this one out…”

"Why?" Daedalus asked. "Why did you not run, Flame? I thought I explicitly told you to run! Don't you see what's at stake here?!"

Flame: “No, because you never properly told me beyond vague rumblings of Pokémonkind’s freedom?” ^^;
Daedalus: “My child, this world is going to turn into a giant Mystery Dungeon if you’re not there to stop it!”
Flame: “... Wait, what?! That’s kinda a big detail for you not to tell me! And how does that even-?!”

Daedalus: “I would’ve gotten to it eventually! Now it’ll be utter chaos figuring out a place to bring it up canonically...” >;
Sycorax: “Private Flame, the Scum’s playing mind games with you again… and you do realize that by his own admission, he’s been withholding information from you, right?”
Flame: “I… didn’t, actually…”

In that moment, he wanted to cry. He loathed himself for doing this to Daedalus; for doing this to Brynn, to his people, to his teammates.

Tears trembling behind his eyelids, Flame lowered his gaze to the ground. "I can't," he whispered. "I can't let everyone die…"

Boy is that line ironic, since he’s unwittingly risking exactly that but a million times worse right now.

Ignoring Daedalus' silent pleas, Flame turned back to face Sycorax. The Genesect was no longer charging up its cannon, nor doing anything else. It merely stood there and stared into his eyes with a certain glint of curiosity.

"Tell me, Private Flame," Sycorax tilted its head. "Is this truly how you want it to end?" It glanced to Alice and Gaius. "The final moments of your life—shattered in a thousand bloodied pieces, all while forcing your dearest friends to watch?"

Flame: “Bold of you to assume that my life would be ending here when you need me alive.”

Sycorax: “... Dammit, I really should’ve brought more soldiers experienced with restraining with Psychic for this mission.” >.<
Flame: “(I’m… actually a little surprised that you or one of your goons hasn’t tried to pull that already.)” ^^;

Flame panted heavily. Whatever Sycorax wanted him for, it wanted him alive.

Holding his seed up higher for show, he pointed to his teammates with a claw. "I'm talking to them."

"I assure you, killing yourself will solve nothing," Sycorax spoke calmly and deliberately. "I'll ask again: is this truly how you want your life to end?"

Flame:

Sycorax: “... Private Flame…” >:|
Flame: “Seriously, you can drop the act already. I’m not planning on dying here, and I already know you’re going to throw the kitchen sink at keeping me alive.”

Teeth gritted, Flame took a deliberate first step onto the bridge. "I said, I'm talking to them."

Sycorax remained silent, staring back into his soul. The sheer emptiness in those glass-coated eyes nearly scared Flame into looking away, but he clenched his jaw, refusing to break eye contact.

Flame: “(Don’t scream don’t scream don’t scream…)” O_O;

"Very well," Sycorax eventually conceded.

Flame blinked. He hadn't been expecting that answer.

I wonder if Sycorax had any expression here, or if the “unreadable reaction poker face” was meant to be highly deliberate here. Can’t tell whether or not this sequence works better with or without further description, but it’s an interesting thing to ponder either way.

Flame: "Holy crap, that actually worked? Maybe I should throw in a few extra dema-"
Alice: "Flame, please! Just put that down already!"

The Genesect sent Gaius and Alice a single nod. "Go," it said with a slight crackle.

Flame watched breathless as his teammates emerged from the praetorian line—they advanced slowly, hesitantly, darting their eyes between Flame and Sycorax. When it finally became clear that the general wasn't going to stop them, it turned into a race that Alice was winning. They quickly reached the centre of the bridge and stared expectantly at him, calling his name. The bridge could easily fit them all side by side.

- Alice stares down at the bridge and wavers -
Alice: “... I’m sorry, isn’t this a wooden suspension bridge? Even without that Blast Seed of yours, Flame, is it safe for all three of us to just be standing here?” .-.
Gaius: “Tch, what’s it matter to you when Dragonair are the ‘mons that can f-”
Alice: “Gaius, if you finish that sentence, so help me gods, I’ll throw you off this bridge and into the river right now!”

- Flame struggles to hold his Blast Seed together and looks down at the bridge -
Flame: “... Yeah, in retrospect, I should’ve asked Sycorax to let us meet at one of the ends or something.”

"Flame." Daedalus' voice tolled in his skull. "If you care at all about the fate of your people, and of pokémonkind, you will not step forward."

Sure is a good thing that you didn’t properly explain what those stakes entailed earlier, eh Daedalus? :V

Yet Alice and Gaius were still waiting, still calling his name. He couldn't keep them there. Swallowing his regret, he stepped forward.

"Do you hear me? You will NOT step forward!"

Flame:

"Herr Flame, no!"

Before he could even react, Flame felt his shoulder tugged by a small, soft paw; he whirled to meet Brynn's panicked expression.

"They're the enemy! You can't—"

Oh yeah, that’s not going to unintentionally trigger [Our -------] and get him to do something stupid like run up to blue noodle in defiance. Especially considering how well he took his friends getting called “Collaborators” a couple chapters ago.

Eyes wide, Flame pushed her away and held the seed up higher. "S-stay back!" he shouted, teeth gritted together.

All of the colour suddenly drained from the Braixen's face. She froze, her arm still raised limply towards him.

Should’ve focused on them being unsafe to approach or something like that, Brynn. Since trying to get Flame to see his blatant crush as an enemy’s… gonna need more than about a week to pull that one off given that Alice was the only ‘mon who was kind with relative consistency that Flame knew from behind Imperial lines. ^^;

"No…" Brynn pleaded through teary eyes. "We need you…"

As he darted his eyes between her and the traumatised faces of the other Teutonii, Flame could feel his resolution waver.

"Flame…" said Daedalus. "I beg you. I can't lose you again…"

“Again”, huh? I can already tell that there was quite the story behind this first encounter, since I get the suspicion that Daedalus wasn’t fully faultless from whatever went down there.

With a shaky breath, Flame shut his eyes. "Please," he whispered, "trust me. Just this once…"

It was all the more amusing to Flame since he himself didn't know what he was doing.

Flame: “... (Probably a good thing that he doesn’t know about the track record for my plans in this story so far.)”

Without waiting for an answer, he turned back and stepped fully onto the suspension bridge, pausing slightly as he felt it wobble ever so slightly under his weight.

"[Our -------]!" came the desperate shouts from the dozen or so Teutonii behind him, one after the other.

Uh… yeah, I can already tell that Daedalus spent much of the next 4 chapters offscreen providing various forms of counseling and coming up with BS stories to keep at least half of this convoy from taking after the Cimbri after all was lost for them IRL.

Which is probably a really terrible omen for how they’re going to react when the full truth of any combination of Daedalus and Flame comes out. ^^;

Flame: "(Oh god, I think I hear few of them starting to cry.)"
Alice: "Flame, what are you even doing right now?!"
Gaius: "Yeah, any brilliant ideas now that we're on this rickety bridge above certain death if something happens to it?" >_>;
Flame: "Er... I... I'm trying to think of something."
Gaius: "Well think faster, alright?!"

As he walked, suspended hundred of metres above the river below, he kept moving his lips fervently, praying to forces he didn't know if he believed in. He made his way to the centre of the bridge quickly. However, it was not until he stood right in front of his teammates that he dared look them directly in the eye.

… Wait, how would these three survive a literal fall of hundreds of meters into water below given that that happens in like a thousand words from here? At 75m, the initial survivability of a drop into water for a human being is something like 5% IRL, and those survivors generally are in bad enough shape to need prompt hospitalization.

I mean, ‘something something Pokémon are built tougher’, but that feels a bit at-odds with the way that injuries have been portrayed as very one-and-done in this story unless something was there to help break Team Phalanx’s eventual fall.

The pain came immediately: Alice was staring at him with wide, glistening, pleading eyes, whereas Gaius seemed to still be coming to terms with his effective presence, the yellow sclera of his eyes shot with streaks of red.

… Oh, so he’d been crying when others weren’t paying attention to him. I hadn’t realized that you’d been hinting at Gaius being emotionally unwell this early on.

"Flame…" Alice's voice broke, and she slithered closer. "Don't do this to yourself. I-if you die, I can't…"

... Oh, so it’s not just the Teutonii I need to worry about going full Cimbri if something happened to Flame, huh? ^^;

A smile blossomed on Flame's snout. He couldn't help it; in that moment, he wanted nothing more than to chuck away the seed, to embrace them both—warm their pain away. But it was neither the time nor place, and Flame kept his arm firmly raised above his head.

"I won't," he whispered warmly, smiling at them both. "Not if there's a way out."

Gaius: “Flame, we’re on a rickety-ass bridge over a river that’s gods-knows-how-far-below us. What way out do we have right now?” >_>;
Flame: “I’m… working on it?”

Holding his stump in his good hand, Gaius shook his head. "You already know what that is."

Flame bit his lip. He stared back at Gaius, uncertain. He darted his eyes around: first to Sycorax, then to the praetorians behind it. He looked up to the shimmering wall of ripples rising a few dozen metres behind them.

Gaius: “Flame, please tell me your brilliant plan isn’t to just try and run past a dozen Praetorian Guards and into a Mystery Dungeon.”

Flame: “Hey! That was good enough for Daedalus, and he’s the master tactician here!” >_>;

"I… I can think of something," Flame said, before glancing up at the blast seed he was clutching. "Maybe with this, we can force Sycorax to let us through. We can all escape into the mystery dungeon—the three of us, my people. We'll lose them for sure!"

"No," Gaius answered dryly.

Flame blinked, staring back puzzled.

Flame: “Wait, what do you mean ‘no’?” ._.;
Alice: “(Oh my gods…) Flame, that’s not how the Praetorian Guard works!” >.<

"Even if I wanted to go with your…" Gaius' lip twitched. "...people, do you really think they'd let you get so close without trying something?"

Alice: “Yeah, that.” >_>;
Gaius: “So, any other brilliant suggestions?”
Flame: “...”

Flame slowly lowered his gaze to the floorboards. "I…"

Gaius' expression softened slightly. "Look, if you'd seen what's up there…" He glanced up to the top of the cliff towering over their side, then shook his head. "Your people don't stand a chance. If Sycorax wanted to slaughter them, he already would have."

"So," muttered Flame, "the only reason he hasn't done that is…"

"He thinks you might still surrender voluntarily," Gaius nodded.

Gaius: "Really, unless you can suddenly pull about 40 Luminous and Totter Orbs out of your ass right now, there's no way someone's not dying here if you don't give yourself up."
Alice: "Or everyone in that Scum party happening to know Protect and being trained in making a shield formation. But the point is, you really don't have a lot of options, Flame."
- Blink moment -
Gaius: "Isn't that the Scum leader though? Shouldn't he have prepared for a contingency like this if he was traveling with a small party? He is kinda important."
Flame: "Oi, don't ask me, I didn't organize this convoy and it wasn't my idea to try and sneak across an entire province controlled by Imperials during daylight hours!" >_>;

"You have to come with us, Flame." Alice said. "Please…"

After making sure his blast seed was still raised well in view, Flame dropped his head to think. They were right. The Teutonii were outnumbered and surrounded. It was the only option left to him. And yet…

"Guys…" he said softly, gazing carefully at both of them. "Be truthful. What do they want from me?"

Alice: “... Don’t we all already know that from those passages of Our Benefactors we’ve been reading?”

Flame: “(Yeah, that sounds like a great reason not to give myself up, really.) Look, I don’t know that canonically, so let’s take things from the top, I guess.”

Alice's lip quivered. Her eyes darted to the side, to Gaius, who merely squeezed his eyes together and nodded.

"Tell him," he said.

"Our Benefactors," Alice said in a whisper. "They're looking for you. I have no idea why, or, or what they're after, but… it's what Sycorax said."

Flame: “Nope nope nope…”

Gaius: “Oi, you were the one who asked for a canonical explanation. And in case you haven’t noticed, but it’s kinda the best card out of a bad hand here for not dying horribly!” >_>;
Flame: “Assuming that Sycorax doesn’t just kill you two for knowing too much right afterwards.”
Gaius + Alice: “...”

Flame's heart stopped. "Th-the Benefa—" He nearly let his blast seed slip from his raised fist as his claws spasmed.

Alice's eyes widened. "Flame? What's wrong? Flame!"

So Daedalus was right. He'd been right about everything. It wasn't like Flame hadn't believed him in all those stories of their past, not at all—but to hear it from someone that wasn't a Teutonii… Suddenly, all those stories of their escape from the Presence's dimension were no longer just stories in his head. They were real, and he was staring at them right now.

Flame: "Wait, but shouldn't we have all logically already known-?"
Alice: "Canon narrative, Flame. We can't pass anything we learned about Our Benefactors from intro teasers or the like back from here and into the plot."
- Flame furrows brow -
Flame: "... Dammit, that would really make all of this much easier."
Gaius: "I don't see how it'd change much right now other than us knowing just how screwed we all were before this specific moment."

Lowering his gaze, Flame shook his head. "I can't go," he said, quiet but certain.

"What?" Gaius hissed. "What the hell do you figure your choices are?"

Slowly, Flame looked up into his eyes. "They're going to kill me, Gaius…"

Technically, they’d likely keep you alive at least temporarily, but I’ll heavily take the under on that existence being remotely enjoyable even before factoring in how it’d completely screw the Pokémon of this world over.

An understanding gradually settled into his teammates' eyes. They were full of questions, but neither voiced them. He could see the fight slowly leave Gaius' face.

"Damn it…" Gaius squeezed his eyes and fists together, shaking slightly. "This is so… fucked, it's all so fucked…"

"We're trapped, aren't we?" Alice's voice was feeble, barely audible over a gust of wind.

Gaius: “Gee, why don’t we just jump off the bridge and get things over with at this rate?” >_>;
- Flame looks over the bridge and spots the river below -
Flame: “... Actually, now that you mention it…”
Gaius: “... Flame, that wasn’t a suggestion!”

"Th-that's not true," Flame mumbled, darting his eyes around. "I can still…"

Yet wherever he looked, no answer came to him. The Praetorians blocked their only possible escape. Behind them, the Teutonii offered only hopelessness. And below them, only void and rushing water.

Flame: “... I dunno, ‘jumping the bridge’ is sounding more and more tempting with those alternatives…” .-.
Alice: “Flame, is that fall even survivable?! I thought that the text said it was hundreds of meters below us!” O_O;
Flame: “I’m… really hoping that was just me thinking that it was hundreds of meters below us, since otherwise we really are all dead right now.”

"W-we have to get past them," Alice said weakly, gazing at the praetorian lines. "Reach the dungeon, somehow. It's… it's the only way."

As his gaze arched downwards, Flame had to recognise that she was right. It was the only way. It would be dangerous, but it wasn't like they were bursting with options. Maybe if he asked the Teutonii to attack at the right time…

Alice: “... Wait, but won’t that just result in those Scum you were so concerned about getting massacred after the fact?” .-.
Flame: “... Goddammit. I knew I was forgetting something!” >.<

Gaius shook his head. "It's not gonna work."

"But… he still has that blast seed." Alice insisted. "And, and I have one, too! If we all hold one up and threaten to kill ourselves, surely—"

"It's not gonna work, damn it!" Gaius hissed. "You really think they'll let 'im go so easily? They'll find a way to get it out of his claws!"

I’m honestly shocked that Sycorax didn’t already start moving Psychics into place in the background during all of this, really. Since all that’d be needed would be to go “hey look, a distraction!” and then restrain Flame with telekinesis or something like that.

"Well what do you suggest we do, leafhead?" Alice spat back. "Turn back and let him die?"

"Of course not!" Gaius groaned, clawing at his face. "Bloody hell, just let me… let me…"

Yet Flame wasn't listening to them. He looked down at the wooden planks beneath their feet as they continued to argue, their voices lost in the rushing of the water far beneath them. It was the only way. The only way…

Gaius: “...”

Alice: “...”

Flame: “Look, I didn’t say it was a good option, alright, but it’s our only one that doesn’t involve at least one of us dying horribly.” ._.;
Gaius: “You realize that if you didn’t misjudge how far down that river was, all of us are going to die horribly, right?”

Then Alice turned to him with eyes full of tears. "Flame, please," she said. "Say something. I-it can't end like this. Not now…"

Still holding up his blast seed in his fist, Flame swallowed, and turned to meet them in the eye. "Guys…" he whispered. "Do you … trust me?"

Alice blinked, opened her mouth as if to speak, only to breathe, "Yes."

Gaius squinted his eyes questioningly, before relenting. "... Yeah."

Flame: “Gaius, you can just say ‘no’, alright?” >_>;
Gaius: “Look, it’s trusting you, or trusting Sycorax not to leave me dead in a ditch after this. I’ll stick with you, thanks.”

His heart twinged with joy. He wanted to squeeze them both into an embrace—but not right now, not while they'd put their trust in him.

Gaius: “Aren’t you forgetting important things like that Blast Seed that’s still in your claws?” >_>;
Flame: “... Right, that’d be a good reason to postpone the hug, too. Really.”

Instead, he turned his attention to the Genesect watching them intently from the end of the bridge. Its eyes glowed brighter as they locked with his.

"What will it be, Private?" Sycorax said calmly. "Have your friends brought you back to your senses?"

Flame snorted. "Fuck you."

Gaius: “Whelp, hope this plan of yours works, Flame. Since boy are we dead if we don’t get off this bridge fast.” ._.;

Before it could react, Flame threw the blast seed at it with all his strength; then, he turned to breathe fire at the handrail rope before charging straight into it, and into the abyss below.

Gaius: “Really, really dead-”
- Cue Gaius getting yanked off the bridge -
Gaius: “Oh, oh fu-” O.O;

He didn't get to make out the screams from above, for he was at gravity's mercy: the wind quickly engulfed his body and rushed past him and blew loudly in his ears, and when he tried to scream he found no air to do so with. Eyes squeezed shut, he continued to flail and plummet wildly and trying to scream for his tea—

A confused gargle suddenly took over reality. Everything became cold. Numbing, intolerable cold. Pain… It took him several more seconds for his brain to finally tie together what was causing this horrible feeling: he was underwater.

Flame: “Well, I’m either alive, or in some sort of ironic hell right now.” @.@

Flame's eyes shot open. Everything was blurry but despite that he could make out billions of tiny bubbles rushing in the freezing water, which was hued strangely… white. A few moments later, he realised that the water current was dragging him along for the ride. A renewed rush of panic pushed Flame to squirm his arms and legs towards the surface, ignoring the stabbing pain from the freezing temperature, especially on his tail.

He reemerged with a strenuous gasp; in the brief look he gave upwards he saw treetops and evergreens and cliff faces rushing past—but then the current sucked him downward, and he was suddenly in a struggle to keep his head above the surface. Panting heavily, Flame flailed his arms and legs with all his vigour; yet the cold was making it nearly impossible. It seeped everywhere, weighing him down, and it felt like someone was stabbing a lance through the pores of his tail flame.

Flame: “Okay, make that ‘alive’, but not sure if I’m gonna be alive in 60 seconds!” O.O;

Soon, he didn't have the energy to keep splashing. With no option left, he elected to simply lay back on the water, floating on its surface. Flame wanted to cry. There were jagged sawblades digging into his scales, and he could barely move anymore. He felt horribly alone. Where were his teammates? Perhaps they'd left him there to die. It wasn't like he blamed them, but… he'd thought…

Wait, how is he managing to do that in the middle of a swift-moving river current anyways?

"Flame!"

That faint call broke through the shock-induced stupour. It was Alice. It was Alice! Alice! He craned his neck up to look upstream. There! He could just barely make her out amongst the bubbling foam, her serpentine form battling the strong currents to reach him. Gaius was just behind her, grabbing onto her by the tail orb and barely keeping his snout above water.

"FLAME!"

Gaius: "Ack! Ptoo! How are we not dead from falling from that far up?!"
Alice: "It must've been a shorter drop than we thought! Or else we got lucky with that high dive!" Flame: "A-Agh! Well that sure didn't feel like a clean landing for me! Help me out here!"

Flame stared back into her panicked eyes as her head poked out of the water, yet her voice still sounded faint—distant, as though spoken in a dream.

Gaius: “... This river’s gonna dump us off a waterfall or something like that, isn’t it?” ._.

The pain pulsating from his tail was beginning to overwhelm him. He cried out and watched her close the distance between them, but he didn't have the energy to swim anymore. He stretched an arm out towards Alice, but she was too far away, everything felt so far away…

Narrator: “And then Flame died from hypothermia and the story abruptly ended-”
Flame: “Oh, shut up, there’s another scene after this!”

He awoke to the gentle murmur of water in his ear, and the sound of himself choking for air.

IMO, it might make sense to play up what sensation related to choking for air Flame is perceiving there. I assume that it’s sound, but can’t get a solid read.

Visions swirled about Flame's head. A thick, nebulous haze surrounded his head, blocking out everything except the flowing water.

Then, little by little, his senses began to switch on. He felt himself, his scales, his arms, his paws, and his legs sprawled out against the cool earth. His scales, if such a thing was even possible, felt heavy and soaked with water. But above all, Flame felt cold: his muscles were completely frozen, too stiff to move, too numb to even be aching.

Flame: “A-Alice? G-Gaius? Are you there?”

Disoriented and shivering, Flame opened his eyes but was greeted with an endless, bottomless blue expanse. He was forced to squeeze his eyes to stave off the nausea.

Where…? his mind probed, before he froze, having realised something far worse.

His tail flame was out.

Flame: “Oh, so no wonder why I feel like crap right now.”

While the overbearing cold and the general emptiness he felt offered strong clues, it was something he simply … knew, a primordial intuition ingrained in the deepest recesses of his brain. There was no need to look.

Flame: “I mean, my backside feeling like it’s come from fresh out of Boreal Chasm was a decent hint, too.” >_>;

Growing panicked, Flame tried and failed to breathe properly as his thoughts scrambled for answers. He could see treetops and leaves at the periphery of his vision. There was a river close by. Why was his tail flame out? Why was he so wet? Why—

Daedalus. His eyes shot open. The ambush. The water. Ali—

Flame: “Th-They didn’t die back there, did they? Th-They couldn’t have. Th-There’s just no way that a Charmeleon would survive that but not-”

"A-Alice!" he wheezed. "Ga…—!"

In a rush of desperation, Flame summoned the strength to bring his trembling forearms back, before hissing sharply as he pushed his body into a sitting position. The subsequent spell of dizziness nearly made him vomit, but he bit his tongue and held strong.

Flame: “Please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead…”

He looked around him frantically: they were both sprawled in the grass right next to him, just out of arm's reach—and both of them were stirring.

Flame: “Oh thank god, Alice made it… (Oh, and you too, Gaius.)”

Gaius: “Gee, thanks there…” >_>;

They groaned and mumbled something and coughed, before they blinked awake in quick succession; their eyes met his.

In his daze, Flame did not get to react before they crashed into him in a simultaneous embrace. Gaius' arms slammed around his chest and drew him closer, while Alice buried her head into his neck and half-wrapped around his leg, squeezing it for dear life. Once again, Flame felt too weak to react. Once the initial shock of their action wore off, he managed to place his claws on both their backs and held them there. They were just as soaked as him. Both of them squealed and sniffled and whispered tearful words in his ears, but all Flame could concentrate on was the dull heat emanating from their scales. He sat there, shivering and breathing raggedly, as the realisation finally sank in.

Gaius: “Also, no funny ideas telling anyone else about any of this, you hear?” >///<
Flame: “I’m pretty sure that I’m too delirious to understand half the words you’re saying right now, so I think you’re good, really.” ^^;

His teammates were here. They were all together again.

And so, Flame cried. He tried to choke back a sob but failed miserably, and before long he felt cool tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I m-missed you two so much!" he sobbed. "I m-missed you… S-so sorry… I, I…"

Boy is that weird to see the three in this mood given how thoroughly these Alice and Gaius wear out their welcome with Flame within the span of like 4 chapters after this. ^^;

Gaius squeezed him tighter. "H-hush, you… you idiot…"

"Y-you did it!" Alice laughed amidst tears of her own. "You… you did…"

Soon they were all sat there sobbing and holding onto each other, all three of them wet to the bone, and—despite the cold—Flame couldn't have been happier.

At the very tip of his tail, a tiny spark jumped in the air.

Flame: “Oh thank god, I’m not gonna die of hypothermia. That’d… have been a really depressing end to this whole saga.” ^^;
Gaius: “I mean I could’ve told you it wouldn’t have ended there since there’s a teaser in the next chapter.” -_-;
Flame:” Wait, there is? What’s it say?”

It's happened; His Majesty has finally lost his mind. Perhaps staying cooped up in that palace is what did it. Frankly, I couldn't care less.

Two months of bloody battle, Ioannes. Do you know how many of my legionaries I ordered to their deaths to capture this ridge? We've long stopped burying the bodies.

And in a few strokes of the pen, they're gone. Taken from me. Redirected to the interior with no forewarning, for some godsdamned manhunt mission he won't even disclose the details of!

I cannot, in good conscience, leave what remains of the XVIII Legion to be slaughtered on this ridge. The withdrawal will commence tomorrow at 06:00.

- Segment of correspondence between Mergo Gallade, Commander of Army Group Tartarus, and Ioannes Serperior, Governor of Basileia.

Flame: “I… really did not need to know that in the middle of a heartfelt moment hugging and crying right now.”

Gaius: "Uh... aren't we in Basileia Province right now? So doesn't that mean that manhunt is meant for us?" ._.
Alice: "I'm pretty sure that's the implication, yes. I doubt Our Benefactors would let Flame go that easily."
Flame: "Erk. So we've got the better part of a legion after us, the Praetorian Guard and Sycorax, oh and maybe some Teutonii thrown in for good measure since it sounds like Basileia just blew up its defensive lines."
- Gaius reflexively stiffens up -
Gaius: "... 'Teutonii'?"
Flame: "It's what they call themselves, Gaius. They say that it's what 'mons from Urbe called them before they were kicked out of the North."
Alice: "I vaguely remember something about that from history texts. But that's just such a weird thing to hold onto for all these years. Why it's like calling the river that runs by Urbe the 'Albula'!"
- Gaius looks around uneasily -
Gaius: "(Never pictured you as the type to know about that name, Flame…) So what do we do now that we're wanted fugitives on our own?"
Flame: "Well, rest while we can for one. That was a pretty nasty dive back there and I'm still feeling drained from all the cold of the water. We can try to figure out what on earth we'll do next time when we're hopefully all feeling a bit less crap."

Alright, onto the postmortem:

To start with the things that I liked about the chapter, there were a lot of little details jam-packed into this chapter that readers with a keen eye will pick up on. A lot of them read really differently in light of the events of the chapters that follow this one, and I honestly can’t tell how much of it’s coincidence and how much is pre-planned. On that note, you did a pretty good job at showing off subtle characterization details. I like how in the end, Flame’s decision to resolve the chapter the way he does stems from the workings of two characters in particular:

A: Daedalus’ domineering side coming back to bite him by triggering Flame’s internal defiance in a way that someone a bit more outwardly respectful of Flame’s wishes wouldn’t have had. His whole cloak-and-dagger thing about the state of affairs in the world also came back to bite him hard here. If Daedalus had told Flame what he did in Chapter XXX about why he’s so important, I’m honestly not sure if he’d have gone back to Team Phalanx, or at least, not as reflexively.
B: Brynn for all her protesting about “maybe one day we can be friends” about Team Phalanx last chapter falls into her trap of reflexively seeing Pokémon from the Imperial side in binary terms. Like it stood out to me that her doing that during a moment where she meant to pull Flame back to safety with the Teutonii is what ultimately sends him over the edge to choose Team Phalanx over them. Like her framing is really reserved for any number of things she could’ve said that would’ve made sense from someone for her faction, but she clearly wasn’t there in terms of being open to seeing Pokémon from that side in the same way Flame did and arguably still isn’t quite there yet as of the most recent chapter.

As for things that I didn’t like as much. It’s mostly just sundry nitpicks here and there, though the first scene did drag a bit from how long it was. Under normal circumstances, it’d be something where I’d be tempted to suggest hacking the scene in two and giving one of them to a perspective flip, but… yeah, all of this kinda had to be from Flame’s perspective otherwise massively changes the overall tenor and dynamic of the chapter. Daedalus is a walking spoiler, so he’d obviously be out, Brynn, as fun as it’d be to see things from an out-and-out Teutonii perspective (aside from that one ‘mon’s from later) at some point would’ve made the entire opener of Flame trying to take a leap of faith with his escape plan unworkable, while Alice and Gaius would’ve similarly cut out the entire angle of Flame feeling guilt for demoralizing the Teutonii with him in live-time. Well, maybe less so if it’d been done from Gaius’ perspective, but that’s a giant spoiler about him, and one that I’m pretty sure wasn’t firmly settled by this point in the story. So… yeah, it’s one of those things where even though I recognize the issue, I’m honestly not sure if I could suggest a change for it.

But altogether, I think that the chapter came together quite well. I know that you got some crap over Flame’s thought process and motivations for the original upload of the arc starting since Chapter XIX. I dunno if it’s the touch-ups that have been made in the last year, or the benefit of additional context, but the arc definitely read more tightly put-together than I remembered it. Like Flame’s still being a lovestruck idiot, but it’s got the right mix of determination and desperation to make it feel believable as one of those “get Step A done, work out the rest afterwards” sort of plan that an older teen/young adult might come up with. It also feels consistent with the thought process Flame displays in this chapter where he’s ultimately not sure what he wants, so as a result, little impulsive triggers can prove decisive in getting him to make fateful decisions between options.

Pleasure to be reviewing this story again @Shadow of Antioch , and I’ll be looking forward to seeing your story catch up with your main versions here on TR. You’re not much farther off, and given how much of a ride everything up to this point has already been, I’m looking forward to giving a second look at the rest of what lies ahead. ^^

 

[Shadow of Antioch]

Chapter XXVIII: Iacta​

---

"Our Benefactors make fundamentally contradictory demands of my Court. On the one hand they wish for the general populace to know of their existence, to be revered as new gods; yet simultaneously they choose to hide amongst those islands, acting only via proxies and celestial bombardment.

So far, much of the citizenry has seemingly acquiesced to their existence—at least in our core urban centres, where education is higher. Yet the Senate has proven the hardest to convince. They ask:"Why, if these 'Benefactors' are so swift to annihilate rebellions, have They not done the same to the Scum menace from the north, which grinds our legions to dust?" And to this, I have no answer. I keep reassuring my colleagues that this is merely a test of our resolve; that Our Benefactors would defend Urbe if it were ever threatened.

But when I myself do not know Their true form, my words sound increasingly hollow even to me."

— Excerpt of Emperor Adrian's Private Diary, dated 27th October, 745 AUC

---

Flame had lost track of how many times he had lifted his eyes towards that two-toned sky.

Dark clouds suffocated what little bright grey had started to seep in behind, shifting to barely-visible hues of pink as his gaze approached the horizon.

Standing firm atop that rocky ledge, Flame swept his eyes across the pine forest extending below them, to the barren fields that marked its end, to the distant shape of Thermae Himerae's plateau towering among the mountain chain. The sun itself was nowhere to be seen, yet he could clearly see gleams of orange mar the side of some clouds—surely that meant it was rising? Yes… it had to be.

A tiny smile grazed his maw. That meant time was almost upon them.

"Um, Flame?" spoke Alice from behind him.

Flame did not react. He knew they were sitting idly behind him, waiting, perhaps imagining glimpses of their upcoming journey. A journey that would never be.

"Not to be a bother, but… when is this refugee smuggler supposed to meet us?"

Flame lifted his gaze to the horizon. "He said at sunrise." He tightly squeezed the badge in his claws. "Any minute, now."

He didn't quite know what to feel. His heart was throbbing in his chest, he had barely gotten any sleep, yet he simply couldn't help smiling. Hell, he could feel his tail flame crackling!

He had contacted Daedalus again while his teammates were buying up supplies at the city market. He rehearsed the conversation again in his head: the sun—or what little sliver the clouds showed—was directly in front of them, meaning to their east. They were standing on the tallest point in kilometres, perfectly visible from the air.

It was all as he had agreed with Daedalus. He mouthed the exact instructions to himself, and with each time, he grew more and more sure that everything was in place.

They were going to be free. They were going to be free! He remembered the measly half loaf of stale bread they'd had this morning, right out of the market square. Soon, it would all be over. He could eat! And he'd get to hug Daedalus again, and even Brynn, and, and… Flame almost felt like crying.

And yet, all was not right.

Amid the internal trepidation, there was yet one problem. One problem he had not yet gathered the courage to face.

"Hey!" Gaius' voice snapped him out of his trance. "Are you sleeping, or what?"

Flame blinked rapidly, instinctively hiding the badge in his claws. "Huh? What?"

Gaius huffed. "I said, I didn't think you had it in you. Getting in touch with your criminal side and all." A pause. Flame could have sworn that was a smile on his face. "First the bridge, now this… You keep surprising me these days. Thank you."

Flame felt something twist in his stomach. After a moment of guilt, he stymied the coming tide and steeled his face instead, eyes narrowed at the pine forest below. "Whatever it takes."

"True that." Gaius chuckled bitterly. "And here I was, gettin' ready to walk the whole damn Empire. Guess it's better this way."

"Is it truly?" piped up Alice, her voice coming from somewhere opposite Gaius. "I'm not quite enthused at the prospect of endebting myself with smugglers. Didn't Flame meet them at night? In a dark alley?"

"It's a smuggler, dumbass," Gaius shot back. "What do you expect? They ain't gonna have their own stand at the market square."

Flame merely stood there on the edge and listened, but at no point dared to turn around. He wasn't even truly checking the horizon anymore—rather, his eyes were focused at some unspecified point in the distance.

What, exactly, was the point of keeping up this lie? He clenched his claws around the badge reflexively, gazing down as if it would give him strength.

But he was strong. He had proven it to himself, mere hours ago, back in that alley.

Besides, whether he told them or not, soon the Teutonii would be upon them—and then what? It would be little different from a kidnapping, in their eyes. A betrayal. He had to tell—

Flame squeezed his eyes and sucked in a tiny breath. No. He couldn't tell them—not while he still couldn't see Daedalus on the horizon. Not yet.

"Look," Alice's voice cut off his train of thought. "I'm not certain how comfortable I feel with this deal. Perhaps we should just go."

"No," Flame replied sternly, still looking forward. "Not when we're so close."

"Come on, Alice," protested Gaius. "What's with you now?"

"I simply cannot see the logic behind meeting like this," Alice mused aloud behind him. "If they were trying to smuggle us as refugees—say, hide us in a wagon shipment, or on flyer couriers—why ask us to meet so far from the city? Far from the wagons, and the flyers?"

Flame stood there and witnessed the discomfort growing in his chest. "... So long as we live, it doesn't matter."

"Come oooon, Alice," Gaius groaned behind him. "Now you're soundin' like some paranoid nut."

"No, I can't be imagining it." Alice shot back. "You saw how difficult this clifftop is to access—and to get down from, if we needed to run. Don't you notice the pattern? The only conclusion I can think of is, dare I say, that these 'smugglers' are coming to rob us. Or worse! Unless…"

Silence. For a precious few instants, there was only the light breeze on his scales, the faint crackling of his tail fire.

"Flame?" asked Alice, her voice quiet—meek, almost.

"Yes?"

"... There is no refugee smuggler, is there?"

Contrary to Flame's own expectations, his heart did not spasm at that. He did not cry, or grimace in fear, or anything of the sort. Instead, he smiled. It was a somber, painful smile, but a smile nevertheless.

It has to be now, then.

For the first time that morning, as he took one final, shaky breath, Flame tore his gaze from that dreary horizon. He turned right around and met his teammates right in the eye.

As he gazed straight into their eyes, and they straight into his, both Alice and Gaius grew visibly uneasy. Flame couldn't help but smile.

"Alice," he half-whispered. "Gaius…"

Standing firm, he took a moment to study them both, as if immortalising the two's likeness in his mind's eye for the last time.

"There's… something you deserve to know." He shut his eyes. "We're not going to the desert."

It took a few heartbeats for Alice's pupils to widen. Gaius gave him a weirded face, but even he could not hide a hint of angst.

"I b-beg your pardon?" Alice folded her ear wings back, barely breathing.

"There was never a refugee trafficker," Flame started, softly and sweetly. He breathed in again, ignoring his hammering heartbeat. "I brought you up here because… b-because I contacted Daedalus last night." He paused to give that time to sink in. "We're going with him. He'll take us to our new home."

A sudden tremor overtook Gaius. Eyes narrowed, he slowly curled his good hand into a fist. "You…"

"S-so," the colour drained from Alice's face, "the one we're waiting for right this very moment, is…"

Flame shut his eyes. "Yes."

"You set us up," hissed Gaius.

Seeing their reaction, Flame dropped all pretense of smiling. He tried his best to steel his expression. "The Teutonii have thousands of villages that could take us in. They have more food than we could ever dream of." He paused, the frigid breeze licking at his scales. "I know it's not exactly how you wanted it, but… it's better this way."

Alice's pupils dilated gradually as the gravity of his words sank in. "No…" She looked up, frantically scanning the skies above them. "This cannot be. You would never—Flame, h-how could you DO such a thing?!"

Flame took a shaky breath, and expelled it. He'd expected this. He had to stay strong. "Do what—give us a chance?" He glared down at his open palm, and slowly rolled his claws into a fist. "We can't run away forever. I'm done running."

"A chance? You—you've ruined everything!" Alice slithered back, staring at him horrified. "We are Team Phalanx! We're supposed to decide together!"

Shaking uncontrollably and with laboured breath, Gaius sent him a glare of pure venom, and raised both of his wrist leaf blades. "... I trusted you."

Flame's eyes widened. He instinctively stepped back at the sight, breathing in shaky gasps, yet had to remind himself of the cliff's edge centimetres behind him. He could feel his tail tip swishing over empty air.

"W-woah," Flame breathed, and shivered at the Grovyle's glare. "Gaius—think for a second…"

"I thought," Gaius stepped forward, leaf blades held close to his chest, "that we were in this fight together. That you were different from them! And you go and sell us out to the barbarian Scum?!"

Rather than swallow nervously, Flame found himself with a strange determination despite the emptiness behind him. "I'm on your side, idiot. If you just put those away and used your brain—"

"How long?" Gaius snarled. "How long have you been planning this, huh?"

"I never planned for this!"

"L-like hell you didn't!" continued Gaius, his voice shaking a little. "Fuck me, I thought you were family. That you were—"

"Gaius, just listen for once in your miserable LIFE!"

Just as that last word of his echoed in the valley behind him, Alice seemed to rein in her panic and breathe. Even Gaius, glaring as he was, lowered his lead blades—though only slightly.

Ignoring the long drop behind him, Flame squinted and met their glares with a determination he didn't know he had.

"I'm tired of living like this." Flame spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm tired of running away from our problems. Hoping that somewhere, somehow, they'll go away—only to find the exact same thing wherever we go!"

"So what?" Gaius scoffed. "We fail once, so you're running back to your mudhut fan-club?"

"It's not just that." Flame looked down and curled his claws into fists. "It's digging for rotten food in the garbage. Watching you two suffer in the cold. It's the hunger, the fatigue, the smell—everything!" He stepped forward, mere centimetres from Gaius' leaf blades, showing a tentative smile. "Can't you see? We don't have to risk our lives anymore. We don't have to run away!"

Alice slowly shook her head, by now close to hyperventilating. "You can't simply decide for us, Flame. N-not a choice of this magnitude!"

"Why shouldn't I?" Flame swiftly retorted. "The Teutonii will help us. We'll have a house, food, a job. A new start." For a moment he lost his composure. "I-isn't that what we want?"

He stared at them and caught his breath, trying to catch some change in their expression—any change.

"Not like this," Alice said in a trembling whisper. "Not with them…"

Gaius, on the other hand, merely sneered. "I'd rather choke on a blizzard than live with those savages."

Flame was speechless. His lip quivered; it was becoming harder to keep a steeled expression. You idiots… you complete idiots!

He was losing them. He had no idea how far away Daedalus was, and he was already losing them. All that talk of accepting him regardless of his past, of who he was—gone in a fiery rage.

Breathing through gritted teeth, Flame steeled his face again—glaring, almost, right back at both of them. "Y-you keep saying all these things, when you haven't even talked to one before!" he said. "You're both falling for the Empire's propaganda!"

Gaius snarled, crossing his leaf blades in front of him. "Oh, am I?"

Alice, on her part, simply lowered her head wings with that same glazed, disbelieving stare. "You saw what the Scum did to Sperantia Nova, Flame; we were there. You know what they're accused of. The mass killings, the rapes, the sheer destruction…" She lifted her disbelieving stare to him. "How could they possibly all be fabrications?"

Flame quickly tore his eyes away, biting his lip. He didn't know how to respond to that. The tiniest part of him had to concede that point; but if he showed any doubt…

Flame quickly put on a stern face. "Think about it." He stepped closer. "The Empire's spent decades demonising the Teutonii. They arrest anyone who speaks out against the war. An entire generation's been raised hearing stories about how horrible they are. Can't you see? It's the trap you're falling into right now!"

Gaius growled at that; the fiery hatred in his eyes only burnt brighter. "Says who? You? After you go behind our backs?"

"I did it to save you two! To give us all a chance!"

"E-even if your intentions are pure," Alice stammered, "you can't decide for us! You have no right!"

Flame felt the urge to scream. The one time he lied to them—to save them, no less—and they regarded him as some traitor? He wanted to say that to their face. To lay bare all the times they had lied to him. How Alice had lied to him about her past.

Instead, he squeezed his eyes together, clenched his fists tight. He was doing this to save them, he reminded himself. All that could come later.

"If you leave," he said, his voice quiet, "you will die. Both of you. Don't you get that?!" He gasped ragged, laboured breaths. "Th-this far north, in the winter, in the coldest part of the Empire, with the snow, and, and ferals… you'll never survive the crossing."

Gaius' lip twitched. Then his whole face followed, too, until it twisted into the largest, most exasperated smile. "That's why you sold us out?" He let out a laugh. "You just care so much?"

"We had a plan," Alice mumbled, halfway between an accusation and a whine. "Why couldn't you just trust us?"

"Trust you?" Flame blurted out angrily. "Seriously, Alice?" At that he saw Alice recoil; the anger left her face for a moment and shame flooded in, her eyes drifting downwards. "You literally lied to—"

He squeezed his eyes for a moment and breathed in. Not now. He needed to get them on his side, as hypocritical as their arguments may have been.

"Look," he sighed, "I tried to accept your plan. I really did. Do you… know what I saw, thinking about our future? I saw you two. Buried in a metre of snow, with… Sneasel, or whatever lives up there, chewing on your frozen carcasses." He paused. Were those tears in his eyes? "It already almost happened once. Please."

Yet even then, Gaius' gaze did not change, nor did his leaf blades. "Better ferals than the Scum."

No. Flame resisted the weakness in his knees. No no no no no no no, no… I can't let this happen. Not like this. Not when Daedalus is so close…

He glanced at Alice for support, but she was still in that strange state between hurt and rage, between crying and lashing out at him.

"I… I don't know," she whispered. "I just don't know."

"Why not?" Flame threw his arms wide in near-exasperation. "Why throw this option away if it gives us everything we want?"

Then, Alice's troubled expression hardened. She looked him in the eye. "Have you considered it might not be what we want?"

Flame did a double-take at that. He hadn't expected them to drop the scaremongering part so quickly, and pinned by Alice's sudden glare, he had no idea what to answer with.

"Gods, Flame," Alice began, "we were supposed to get away from it all. Far away from the Empire, from the Scum, from everything related to the war—not just turn over to the other side!"

"No. Daedalus will keep us safe from the war." Flame gritted his teeth. "Hell, he can keep us safe from the Praetorian Guard—remember them? They're still out there, looking for us!"

"We can avoid them," Gaius insisted.

Flame held back a frustrated sigh. Breathe. He had to breathe. "Isn't it safer with the Teutonii around to protect us, rather than alone?"

Seconds stretched past them in long silence. As Flame waited for an answer, he whirled around with wide eyes, but between the storm clouds, the flat-topped plateau where Thermae Himerae rose and the dreary mountaintops far away, nothing on the horizon had changed.

"I trust you, Flame," Alice uttered softly, "but I can't—"

"You trust him already?" Gaius hissed. "After he tricked us into a life with the Scum?"

"I know he did, but that doesn't take away what he's done for us!" Alice shot back. "He's—he's still our friend. Been with us every step of the way. He's just lied to us, but he also saved our lives. Twice." She glanced down at her scarf, breathing heavily. "That's not something you forget."

For the first time since they'd stepped onto this bluff, Flame had something to latch onto. She still trusted him. She trusted him! It was something, right? It was more than he had anticipated, for sure!

"I did it for all of us." Flame smiled softly. "To save us."

Gaius' fists shook. His eyes spoke of many shades of anger, yet verbally, he said nothing.

"A-anyway: I trust you, but I do not trust this 'Daedalus'." Alice continued. "If… if he learns of who I am, I don't even want to think of the ways he could use me for his own political gains. He might use me as a bargaining chip—a hostage—or, or force me into some political marriage to get to Urbe's throne!"

"He would never do that!" Flame blurted out, then breathed in sharply to calm himself. "He-he's not that kind of 'mon. I know he'll try to get us the best life possible."

"Are you sure you know 'im so well?" Gaius sneered. "Cause I remember him telling you that you came from another world. Not exactly scoring high on the trustworthy scale."

Flame looked down for a moment. "He cares about me. That's all I need to know."

"I… I know you trust him," Alice said, looking… frightened? "B-but you have to understand, this is a colossal risk for me. How can I possibly be sure that he won't just use me for my title? How?"

Flame tried to come up with an answer but failed. In fact, his entire mind felt blank, erased by the tension pressing from within his head.

"If he tries," Flame said in the end, "I'll stop him."

It was the best he come up with under pressure; and for her part, Alice simply hung her head and retreated in deep thought.

"And how do I know they won't just roast us over an open fire?" Gaius growled, raising his leaf blades once again.

Flame had far too much adrenaline in his system to feel threatened. "For the fifth time, Gaius, they're not fairy-tale villains!"

"How the hell would you know?" Gaius shot back. "You're their hero! You haven't seen what they do to everyone else. Alice, back me up on this!"

Yet Alice was too conflicted, drowning under too many thoughts. "I don't know," she whimpered. "Th-this isn't what I wanted…"

Breathing deep breaths, Flame glanced to his teammates again. Alice was still staring with that mixture of tempered fury and confusion, as Gaius stared him down with eyes full of pure hatred. His heart began pummelling as he realised, finally, that he was losing them.

He had nothing else to convince them with. They couldn't be convinced. He had tried everything to keep them close, but perhaps it was about time to… let go…

"Guys…" His chest tightened. He shut his eyes, trying to muster the courage for what he was about to say. "All I'm asking is that you try. If you don't like it, we can fly you safely to the desert. Just—please, don't throw your lives away…"

"Like hell we're going with those savages!" Gaius shot back promptly, sinking Flame's heart. "If you're so fixated on living with them, have at it."

"But I just said you don't have to! We'll just spare you the march through the mountain passes, for fuck's sake!"

"The two of us will be goi—"

"Okay."

Flame felt his heart jump. He turned his eyes to Alice and found her grasping at her crimson scarf, looking down at it with tears in her eyes, as well as a certain fondness.

Grasping her scarf tighter, Alice shook a little as her teary smile widened. "Okay. I… I'll follow you, Flame."

A smile overpowered him; all at once hope refilled his veins. "Alice…!"

"What?" Gaius looked in equal measures hurt and confused. "Seriously? He—he lied to us, Alice! Sold us out to the Scum! How can you just join them like this?!"

"He did," Alice conceded. "And I don't know if I can forgive that."

Flame felt like scoffing. His smile shrunk. As if I'm the only liar on this team.

But not right now; not when they still had to save Gaius from his own stupidity. He'd speak his mind to her later.

Alice hung her head in thought. "What he did was dishonest. Coercive, even. But… they truly will let us choose, right? Why not spare ourselves the journey, and the cold?"

"And what," spat Gaius, "you trust the Scum to actually give us a choice?"

"No." Alice was quiet for a little while. "But I do trust Flame."

"Thank you," Flame whispered, shaking a little. "Thank you…"

Alice smiled back, but it was a reserved smile. "Living with the Scum… it's utter madness. This is nothing like what I envisioned for my future. But… I will try. It's all I can promise."

A half-furious, half-half horrified Gaius could do nothing but frantically bounce his gaze between them both. "No." Gaius took a step back. "No, no, no. You're mad. You're both fucking mad! Th-those savages took everything from me. They're the reason I was ever in that… shithole of a city, slaving away for Ariel." He curled a trembling fist with his good hand as he brandished a toothy snarl at them both. Briefly Flame wondered if a cornered feral would snarl the same way. "I'm not going back, you hear me?! Y-you can't make me go ba—"

Then Gaius seemed to lose a shade of green as his eyes found some point in the horizon behind Flame.

Realising what was happening, Flame whirled around immediately with a stupid grin on his face. The clouds choking the sky had begun to part. A swarm of black dots was on the horizon, growing ever so slightly larger, their large wings growing ever so slightly more defined.

"Daedalus!" Flame whispered as his heart fluttered in his chest.

He was here! They could start living again! Flame felt the impulse to fall to his knees, but not yet. There was still one loose end.

With a renewed impetus, Flame whirled around and faced the most terrified look he'd ever seen on Gaius. The Grovyle's whole body was tense, his knees bent slightly, as though primed to run away.

"Gaius," Flame spoke sternly and clearly. "Just one week. That's all I'm asking. I… I don't know what the Teutonii did to you, but dying cold and alone won't fix it."

Yet the Grovyle only seemed to have half-heard him, his breathing still ragged, his wide eyes still fluttering between the approaching Teutonii flyers and the forest behind him.

"I c-can't," Gaius's voice choked. "I promised…"

Alice watched apprehensively between them but ultimately remained silent.

"Winter snows are so close." Flame continued. "Please. They'll take you wherever you ask them to…"

A gust of freezing air buffeted Flame just then, and though it did not bother him so much, he could see both of his teammates stopping to shiver for a handful of seconds.

"Fine." Gaius squeezed his eyes shut, shaking. "Fucking— fine. One. Week."

A massive weight fell from Flame's chest. The tension gripping his chest until now vanished, melted, and all that remained was a smile. "I promise."

It was not long before the sound of powerful wingbeats began lashing the air, followed closely by wonderful cries of "Unser Kaiser!"

Before Flame's endorphin-filled brain could process it, the airspace above the rocky bluff they stood on was swarming with huge, winged pokémon. One after the other they beat their wings to slow down and land all around them: Hydreigon, Salamence, Talonflame, Altaria, Honchkrow, all carrying smaller, wingless Teutonii on their back who eagerly disembarked and cheered before quickly stumbling into a bow.

Flame's breath left him. Within seconds, the entire force of Teutonii that had just landed on that bluff—he estimated twenty but couldn't be certain—dropped into a bow, all aimed straight at him!

It was almost too much for Flame to process. Blinking repeatedly, he slowly turned in place to process that indeed, all the Teutonii were bowing to him. Bipedals kept a hand crossed over their hearts; quadrupeds and those with wings merely bowed their heads as far as they could go.

A confused current of warmth and confusion hit him like a falling boulder; when Alice and Gaius both gawked at him, he was unable to meet their gaze.

"Th-th-thank you," he whispered. "You really don't have to! Please!"

Yet they didn't seem to listen. Then, as he looked around, something clicked. He frowned. "Hang on. Where is—?"

His budding question was answered by the puddle of grey goo that had appeared on the grass just in front of him.

In a motion that lifted away any remaining tension in Flame's body, Daedalus rose up from the sludge within moments.

"Flame!"

Before he had a chance to react, Flame found himself swept up into Daedalus' large arms and lifted high into the air. Seconds later, he was gazing up into Daedalus' single, bright red, loving eye, studying his bruises and cuts with such worry as to make Flame's chest tingle.

"Have you any idea how worried I was?" Daedalus asked, his voice dripping with a mixture of worry and sheer joy. "How scared we all were when you jumped? God, I thought you were dead! Please, child, tell me: are you hurt?"

Flame's smile somehow grew wider. "No, no, I'm not—"

"Have you eaten anything at all?"

"W-well, I didn't really have time to—"

"You must have been so scared," Daedalus continued regardless. "Don't worry, my child. You're safe now. I promise."

The sheer warmth in his voice was too much for Flame; Daedalus' body was far too wide for his arms to reach around the sides, but he tried his best in a sloppy hug, which Daedalus returned much more effectively.

"His ch-child?" meeped Alice, head wings folded back. "You?"

"So you're their leader's son," Gaius remarked with guarded curiosity.

Flame quickly disengaged from his hug and looked back down at them with a sheepish smile. "H-he's not my dad dad, but… almost. It's complicated. We go back a long way."

Even though I don't remember most of it.

It took a few seconds. Then, all at once, looking down at them both from Daedalus' arms, he realised how childish of a position he was in—his cheeks lit on fire.

"Daedalus!" he hushed, shrinking. "N-not in front of my friends!"

He could almost hear the Dusknoir's amused smirk. "But of course."

Finally, just as Flame thought he might disintegrate under Alice's playful grin, Daedalus set him down on the ground. He swished his tail and refused to acknowledge her giggling.

"Greetings," Daedalus said. "I am Daedalus. I see you are the companions Flame cares so much abou—Grovyle, are you feeling well?"

Flame quirked his brow and looked; indeed, Gaius was pale in the face, staring forward as though he'd seen a ghostly apparition. When Flame, perplexed, tried to pinpoint what had Gaius so spooked, he finally settled on an imposing Hydreigon of the group, one with a very noticeable scar running across one of its arm-heads. Squirming under the attention, the dragon-type began glancing left and right and up separately with its different heads to look elsewhere.

"That—" Gaius' voice choked. "That's the bastard who murdered my parents…"

---

End of Chapter XXVIII​

 

[Shadow of Antioch]

Chapter XXIX: Interim​

---

Our people are accustomed to pain. We lost our homes, our land, our future. Legions of our dead cry out for vengeance against the dark Presence that looms over this world.

But even as their steel ravens torched our cradle, we did not lose hope: for we knew by divine prophecy that one day, Vengeance would arrive to lead His people.

He is here, now.

Behind Him, we will march to Urbe's gate.

— Official communiqué sent to every domain of the Tribes of Icarus.

---

Those screams wouldn't get out of his head.

"You demons! YOU'RE ALL BLOODY DEMONS—let go of me!"

And then that look Gaius had sent his way as he thrashed in his and Alice's hold. Those bloodshot, crazed, damp eyes…

"He killed them! He killed them, and you're with him, you fucking traitor!"

"My child?"

Flame stirred back to attention hearing the clang of his spoon drop back into the nearly-finished bowl. "Huh?"

"You spaced out for a time. Are you not hungry?"

"No—er, yes, I am."

Gulping down the last of the stew, Flame set down his bowl on the table with a hearty sigh. His body was tingling all over; his tail flame crackling louder and brighter than it perhaps ever had before.

Food! Warm, meaty, actual food!

When he looked up to Daedalus, who was sitting across from him, he saw the flames reflected even amidst his single eye's deep red glow.

"Thank you, Daedalus," Flame whispered simply.

"What for?"

"For the food. F-for the house, for… for caring." A warm, fuzzy smile grazed his cheeks. "No one's ever cared this much about me."

He supposed there was Alice, but it was different with her; she cared as a friend, whereas Daedalus…

In return, Daedalus gave him a somewhat amused look. "Believe me, this is the least I can do for you."

"But—but I…" Flame blurted out, but once again didn't know what to say.

Feeling the heat rising in his cheeks, and shifting uncomfortably in his chair, Flame decided to study the room he was in to distract himself.

Even though he'd barely seen inside Aesernia's houses—only once, if he recalled correctly, during the insula raid—this house nevertheless struck him as exotic.

Just as on the outside, the walls consisted of large, roughly-interlocked hunks of stone stacked atop one another. No one stone seemed the exact same shape, size or shade of grey as another, and there were few windows. Many of the floor planks looked uneven and worn, and even the wooden beams and pillars supporting the roof weren't entirely straight.

I'm… sure it's stable enough! Flame laughed breathlessly.

Besides, it had just occurred to him—he was living in a house. A house! An actual house, with solid walls and a comfortable bed!

So great was the excitement in his body, Flame almost felt like crying. Feeling his hands shake, he raised one to his chest, clutched.

I stayed up so many nights, wondering what it was like to sleep in a real bed… It wasn't long ago he was still sleeping in their old team tent, on damp hay, or on cold, hard ground in some mountain burrow. So much of their fantasising about a new life had been dedicated to having an actual house. And now, here they were.

All three of them.

Flame's smile shrivelled up as quickly as it had come.

With a sigh, he looked down to the table he was sitting at, at the last tiny drops of stew resting at the bottom of his bowl. Twiddling his claws under the table, he glanced up at Daedalus: he was now standing—or floating, he supposed—just beside his chair, staring out of the window.

Flame bit his lip. "Have, uh, Gaius and Alice gotten a portion as well?"

Daedalus turned his head to him. "Hm? But of course. You saw me bring it to their room, did you not?"

Flame looked down. "O-oh. Right. Good."

"… You are concerned about them."

"How could I not be?" Flame set his elbows on the table, holding his head with a sigh. "You saw what kind of state Gaius was in. His outburst, then during the flight here…"

His face etched into a grimace. The warm fuzziness, the excitement he had been feeling—gone completely. The memory of those pained screams came back to him, and he shivered.

"Gods," Flame muttered, "no wonder he despised the Teutonii so much. They—we ruined his life."

Daedalus hung his head. "I have asked Comrade Hydreigon to keep away from this house, for the time being. I figured it would… ease your friend's distress."

Flame nodded absentmindedly. "Will that Hydreigon be punished?"

"Perhaps. I… cannot promise, my child."

"What?! How could you not? He murdered them!"

Slowly, Daedalus floated towards the window and gazed out of it. "We cannot be sure of that. That is why you must first talk to your friend."

Flame felt something tighten in his chest. He sat back into his chair and raised his head to Daedalus. "What do you mean?"

"Comrade Hydreigon is among our longest-serving warriors and officers; he has fought in dozens of campaigns and hundreds of battles over the years. If he did kill your friend's parents, it is nearly impossible for him to remember." Daedalus floated there, hands clasped behind its back, looking solemn as always. "Your friend… Gaius, is the only one who can tell us what happened. Were his parents civilians? Or were they in the Imperial Army, fighting our warriors? How many years ago did the killings happen? Were they an accident?"

Flame could tell there were other considerations on the Dusknoir's mind—ones that superseded any answers to those questions.

However, he could also tell by his tone that Daedalus did not intend to discuss that topic any further.

"I'll… I'll think of how to approach him." Flame swallowed.

Daedalus glanced his way. "You sound unsure. Even in this state, is he not your friend?"

Flame bit his lip, turning away from the Dusknoir. "My friends… they didn't exactly agree to coming here." He shut his eyes. "I tricked them into it. And with how Gaius reacted to Hydreigon, he—he hates me now. He has to."

"I see. So that is why they asked for separate rooms." Daedalus said. "If nothing else, believe me when I say you did the right thing. I shudder to think what they, a dragon and a grass-type, could have done in the Tartarus winter storms. Whether or not they appreciate it, you saved their lives."

"I know I did the right thing." Flame steeled his expression. "I just… I wish circumstances were different."

Cold yet comforting hands enveloped both his shoulders; Flame looked up with wide eyes to find Daedalus towering over him, his lower body phasing through the table as he stared down lovingly with his glowing red eye.

"At ease. Even if your friend does hate you," Daedalus whispered, "it is worth trying. Talking to you is the only way he will ever achieve justice—help him understand that."

Though still uneasy, Flame smiled up at Daedalus. The contact drained a little bit of his tension.

"I'll try," he finally said.

Daedalus nodded in approval. "I expect no less from you. With time, I am certain that your friends will see reason."

"Hopefully…"

"And if they do not," Daedalus pulled back, "know that I still care about you. Our people care about you."

"What?!" Flame meeped. "But—but they don't even know me!"

Daedalus merely smiled back. "You would be surprised by how much they know."

"Apparently more than I do," Flame muttered.

Images of the Teutonii bowing to him flashed through his head. Flame still wasn't sure how to feel about that. Flattered, for sure—embarrassed, even. But…

Why? Why treat me like this when I've done nothing for them? Blinking, he snuck a look up towards Daedalus, who was busy stacking together the various empty bowls and spoons on the table. Is it just because they think I'm his son?

Again, no answer came. Somewhat frustrated, Flame stood up from his chair.

He was about to walk through the wooden door before he noticed a most curious item hanging from the stone wall: a tattered Imperial banner, bright red in colour with its golden eagle in full view.

Huh?

He looked below it. There, on a set of shelves and darkwood cabinets, laid more items which gave Flame déjà-vu: the fragment of an engraved marble plaque; a purple silken cloth, its edges laden in gems; even a vaguely draconic-looking skull, much to his queasiness.

At the centre of the cabinet-top, elevated on a slab, sat the large marble head of a Dragonite statue—a statue Flame recognised as Emperor Adrian's.

It didn't make any sense. Daedalus didn't strike him as the type to collect war trophies from his enemies, much less think he would somehow find them homely. Which could only mean…

"Who lived here?" Flame turned to Daedalus, concerned.

Daedalus took a moment to reply. "A half dozen of our comrades." He said, eyeing him for a reaction. "Most of them officers. Once they heard you were coming, this being the largest house in the village, they volunteered to vacate it for you."

"They what?!" Flame paled. He took a step back, shaking his head. "No. I can't use so many pokémon's home—it's not right. Tell them I can share!"

"Flame."

His blood ran cold. He suddenly felt himself shrink under his glare.

"You and your friends," Daedalus crossed his arms, "have just marched hundreds of kilometres in those cold valleys. What's more, you all nearly drowned back at the ambush. And that's on top of the previous malnutrition you all were facing!" Daedalus continued, audibly holding back anger. "What you need, above all, is an appropriate place to rest."

"I-I'm used to tight spaces," insisted Flame, quieter this time. "I'll be okay."

"And you believe your friends would agree? Would they appreciate having 'savages' milling in their house?"

"Oh. R-right. Didn't think about that part…" Flame's shoulders deflated. "Still, maybe we could, um—"

"I worry for you, my child." Daedalus said. "I am seeing a worrying trend: it is as though you believe your needs, if not your life to be worth less than other people's."

Flame scowled, his eyes wandering downwards. He was about ready to fight back, and yet… Why did it hit so hard when coming from him? "I just don't want to boot these pokémon out of their home…"

"Not just this occasion. You said something similar in Neuhoffnung. I could hear it in your voice when we spoke over the radio. Why, we need to have a talk about what you did back at the ambush!"

Flame braced himself with a grimace. He barely had the strength to keep eye contact with a glaring Daedalus. Oooh, here we go…

"Are you utterly mad? How could you possibly think of something as suicidal as jumping off that bridge?"

"As opposed to what?" Flame balled his fists. "Rush their lines and hope they'll let me past? That was your plan, if you remember."

"It had better chances than your reckless decision!" Daedalus floated closer, to which Flame instinctively shrunk. "Tell me, did you understand what you were doing? What could have happened if you'd hit a shallow spot in the water? What if you'd lost consciousness?"

Flame bit his lip. He didn't have the heart to tell him that last one had actually happened. He still shuddered at the memory of the cold; if it weren't for Alice grabbing him…

But even those memories weren't enough to douse his inner flame. While Daedalus was undeniably right, he regretted nothing.

Sucking in a breath, Flame squinted up at him. "I didn't want you all to die."

"They were ready to die for you!" Daedalus floated closer, squinting. "Can't you see? You're important to our people, Flame. You're important to me." He said that last part with a whisper that made Flame's heart pang. "How do you think I felt, watching you plummet from so high? And our comrades, too! "

There he went again, Flame thought, making him feel guilty just when he was trying to stay strong.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, eyes down to the ground. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I don't seek your apology, child. I only want you to understand. If you keep sacrificing yourself for others, at some point…"

Flame stood there, square in the middle of the room, mulling those words over. He wasn't selfish. At least, he liked to think that he wasn't: life in Civil Protection first and as an outlaw later didn't allow for much selfishness.

Never would he dream of drinking his team's money away as Gaius once had. Or eat more than the other two had. And as for the bridge—Daedalus himself had been about to die back there! Daedalus, Brynn, a dozen of their comrades; he had saved them all. His chest swelled with warm, rejuvenating pride, and he knew then that he still regretted nothing.

So why, then, did Daedalus' words sting so much?

Flame clutched his chest as it grew tighter. Later—he would think about it later. Tonight.

"Look," he started, looking up and forcing himself to smile. "I can try to be more assertive going forward. To think about my own happiness. But if you want me to put my life above everyone else's… th-that's too far. You're going too far."

Daedalus produced something close to a sigh, yet the look in his eye… was that pride? "Very well. All I ask is that you show more regard for your own happiness."

Flame flushed. "I will."

Then, before he could dwell on all the questions he wanted to ask Daedalus, Flame heard soft, hurried footsteps and creaking wood echoing up the building's stairwell behind him.

He smiled a little. Could it be?

Brynn's ear tuft peeked from the doorway before her face did. The Braixen squealed upon realising that he was staring back; then, before he could react, she broke into a full-fledged dash.

"Herr Flame!"

Flame's eyes widened; he tried to brace but nevertheless wheezed as Brynn's entire weight crashed into his body, hugging him and sending him against the wall first and down on the floor after. That knocked all the breath out of him.

"Oh, Herr Flame!" Brynn hugged him tight, tears running down her cheeks and onto his neck. "You're alive! How can you still be alive?! When you jumped from that bridge I thought for sure that you'd… you'd…"

Her thin arms barely reached around to his back, yet she was squeezing tight enough to make him wheeze. The heat rising in his face, Flame decided not to resist it, and returned both the hug and the nuzzling. "H-hey, Brynn. I'm happy to see you too!"

The Braixen pulled back, grinning sheepishly at that. "Y-you are? Oh, I, I meant—I am too!" Her face tensed briefly. "Ancestors, I thought I'd never see you again. I cried so much, but, but I should have known you'd be okay!"

"I figured you would appreciate a familiar face," remarked a pleased-sounding Daedalus.

Pressed against the wall, Flame slowly recovered his breath. He gently pushed Brynn off his lap and sat straighter, still breathing as he gazed into Brynn's sparkling eyes.

"Thank you—both of you," Flame said softly. "But, Brynn, don't your parents live in… uh…"

"Neuhoffnung?"

"Yeah—that."

"They do. What about them?"

"Is this… what you want? I don't want you to leave your family behind for my sake."

Somehow the excitement in her eyes seemed constant. "Nonsense! You and Lord Daedalus have done so much for our people. Being able to repay that somehow… it's the greatest honour I can think of."

Flame didn't know what to say to that. He merely sat there against the cold stone, twiddling his claws, and wondering just what he had done to deserve all this affection.

As awkward as her admiration for him felt, he could also feel she was a good pokémon at heart—and with his only two friends likely hating him, he didn't exactly mind the company.

Maybe, with time, he'd consider her a friend too.

"Thank you," he whispered, tail flame in hand. "Again. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Nonsense, we still have much to do. Like—" She gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh, we have to resume your memory therapy right away! Would you like that, Herr Flame?"

Faced with a massive grin—and a wagging tail—Flame couldn't help but return it. "Very much so."

The hard stone behind him and his stiff back beckoned him to stand up.

Curious, Flame he clambered over past Daedalus and Brynn to the closest window.

He grabbed the windowsill and leaned forward: the street below was paved with gravel and flanked by closely-packed stone houses with thatched roofs. There were few pokémon outside, trudging that sleepy road. And the sky was such a lovely shade of blue…

"Gods, this is all so… different." He said. "Not having to worry about my next meal. About where to go next…"

"With time, you will get accustomed to a normal life. It's the least you deserve," Daedalus said with a warm tone.

Brynn was practically bouncing on her toes. "Yes, and I'll help you learn our language! I, uh, haven't taught anyone before—but I can try!"

That's right. Flame looked out of the window again, at the pokémon below. I can't bring Brynn along as a translator forever. I live here now.

He stopped and warmed at the thought. I live here.

Daedalus glanced at both of them. "Why don't you two explore the town? I'm sure the inhabitants would be delighted to meet you, Flame."

Brynn gasped. "Oh, that's a great idea! Do you want to go, Herr Flame?"

Flame snorted, grinning to himself. "I'd like that. So long as they don't start carrying me on some mobile throne."

"Please, be patient with the exiles. They have only heard of you in stories before; it is natural that they will be excited."

"Are… are you not excluding the throne option, or…"

In response, Daedalus merely shrugged. "Perhaps."

Flame's eyes widened for a moment. Then Brynn started giggling into her hands, and Daedalus joined in, producing deeper, bellowing laughs in his head.

Flame produced a sigh, but then chuckled himself. It felt good to laugh. How long had it been?

---

Tromvik

Flame concluded that he had to have been exhausted on the flight here, purely because of how many astonishing things he'd missed.

The first was that his house dwarfed all others around it by a long shot. The second, looking around, was that this quaint little street was merely a small clearing surrounded by a massive pine forest! How tired did one have to be to miss those towering behemoths, the overwhelming dark green?

"You've only been in Neuhoffnung before, right?" Brynn continued excitedly as they marched on. "Oooh, you'll love Tromvik! It's, uh, hardly our people's largest settlements—but it's much bigger than Neuhoffnung. And it's on the sea! Do you like the sea, Herr Flame?"

"Hold it." Flame blinked. "The sea? We're in the middle of a forest, and you're telling me we're by the sea?"

Her sly smirk was the only reply he got.

The gravel path took them deeper into the forest. Even here, surrounded by thin, towering pine trees, he found more houses and huts standing wherever there was space—their stone exterior half-covered in moss.

Flame couldn't help stopping a moment to study them. He frowned. Do none of them have windows?

Glancing at successive houses, he verified his suspicion that none were paned; in one house, he could plainly see a Haxorus rocking a small Chikorita in its arms. Not even a piece of cloth to act as a curtain!

It's so strange. Do they not get much wind here? Flame pondered as he resumed marching, Brynn hurrying to catch up. And what if it rains? I need to ask Daedalus if they've discovered glassmaking…

The houses grew more numerous and closer together the further he walked, as did the pokémon walking about. It wasn't just houses, either! On every little hillside he saw wooden trapdoors that Brynn said led to burrows, even a small cavern with a side trail leading directly to it.

What truly captivated Flame, though, lay in the treetops above: makeshift wooden platforms, hundreds of them, some with small structures built on them! They rose on different levels on nearly every tree, all connected by a multi-layered system of rope bridges and ladders.

He stopped dead in his tracks, as did Brynn.

"Wow," was all he could muster.

"So?" Brynn clasped her hands together, fidgeting. "Do you like it here, Herr Flame? What do you think?"

He stood there and watched. Above his head he spotted an Altaria flying straight into one of the elevated huts, while two tiny Chimchar chased each other along a pontoon bridge.

Looking back to ground level, there were more familiar-shaped pokémon milling around wide-open doorways, chatting loudly in their rough-sounding tongue.

"I don't exactly remember much, but…" Flame smiled candidly. "I can tell I've never been in a place like this."

"O-oh. Is that good, or bad?"

"It feels right, somehow." He turned to her with a smirk. "What, are you worried I'll miss the Empire and want to go back?"

The moment he turned towards the street—late, far too late—he realised he'd been speaking out loud in what to the Teutonii was a foreign tongue.

By the time his eyes fully widened, an aloof-looking Swellow caught a glimpse of him and his beak gaped; Flame instinctively tensed a little.

"Der!" the Swellow pointed at him with a wing. "Unser Kaiser!"

In quick succession, both his Nidoran and Druddigon interlocutors turned with a gasp; then, the shouts gradually spread up the street.

"Unser Kaiser!"

"Han er her?!"

"Ja! Unser Kaiser!"

Ooooh, here we go…

Pokémon from further up the street promptly whirled around to see him; others still rushed to their doorways and windows and burrow hatches to get a good view, while flyers swooped down from their elevated homes to the thatched roofs and tree branches.

Flame's breath left him. Brynn held tightly onto his arm, frozen. Within seconds, the dozens-strong crowd of Teutonii that had just surrounded him—many, far too many to count—dropped onto their knees, all aimed straight at him!

Flame felt like his heart was about to explode. His claws shook. Blinking repeatedly, he slowly turned in place to process that this was happening again. Bipeds kept a hand crossed over their hearts; quadrupeds and those with wings merely bowed their heads as far as they could go. Those few children who didn't seem to understand received a forceful push and harsh whispers from their parents.

"No!" Flame blurted out suddenly. "No no no, stop! Up! Stand up."

Only then remembering they couldn't understand him, he motioned with his claws to rise.

In the span of a few seconds, the entire crowd rose nearly as one—something which only creeped Flame out further. Swallowing, he glanced around once more to study their faces.

He looked in the eyes of those around him: Medicham, Linoone, Goodra, Druddigon, Nidoran, and so many more species he still couldn't name. There were at least fifty at a glance. Some pokémon had a massive smile on their face, others looked almost afraid of him; all carried in their eyes a uniform sense of awe.

As if they were looking straight at something they'd only heard in legends.

Calm. Flame tried to stand as straight as physically possible. They're looking up to you. You… can't disappoint them already. You won't.

Despite feeling like he could have melted right then and there, Flame caught his breath, his face steeled and his feet planted firmly on the ground.

He smiled with as much confidence as he could force. "Th-thank you, everyone. I want to—" He elbowed Brynn. "Er, please translate."

Brynn snapped out of the daze she'd fallen in. "Ja—er, right!"

"I want to thank all of you for the hospitality. For the house, the food, and, and all the kindness you've been showing me. It means more than you can imagine." He raised a fist to his hammering heart. "My name is Flame."

Okay, they probably knew already—but for some reason it felt right to say it. Plus, the crowd seemed to hang off his every word! Even Brynn at his side was giving him an entranced look that put him off for a moment.

"I may be the son of Daedalus," he swept his eyes around to meet as many waiting eyes as possible, "k-kind of. But you don't have to treat me like I'm your king! So my first order for you all will be this: no more bowing."

Once Brynn repeated verbally in their language, the look in the crowd's eyes passed from surprise to hesitation. It was all too understandable. Seeing the reverence with which these pokémon saw him and Dedalus, it had to be a perplexing order.

Flame's smile grew. "Spread the word for me, okay?" He received a host of frantic nods after Brynn's translation.

That went… much better than I expected, he exhaled, swinging his tail to and fro to channel some of the tension. At least I haven't caused a diplomatic incident on my first day here. Wait—is it diplomatic if I'm also one of the… ah, forget it.

He glanced at Brynn. From the way she looked around at everyone and smirked, he got the sneaking impression she enjoyed being seen next to him.

He scoffed slightly at that, but broke into a huge smile again as he addressed the crowd again. "Great. Since that matter's cleared, I ask only that you give myself and my teammates some space as we settle in here." He felt himself becoming a little less tense. "I imagine you all have prejudices about our enemy, but I can assure you, they do not apply to Alice and Gaius. They are good pokémon at heart. All that's different about them is which place they were born in."

Another chorus of nods, more hesitant this time.

"And remember that they're both under my protection. As is Brynn here." He could almost feel the heat of Brynn's blush next to him.

After a moment Flame bit his lip; was that too aggressive? Did he sound like he didn't trust his own people? But the crowd didn't seem to mind—their childish awe was unchanged.

"Thank you all," Flame blurted out with a smile. "I'll—I'll… be going, now. Come, Brynn."

"J-ja, Herr Flame!" she said out loud, to a chorus of muffled gasps all around.

What? Is it because she called me by—ah, no matter.

Failing to see a way out of the crowd, he elected to simply walk forward. His stomach tightened for a few steps but then the pokémon ahead moved aside for him.

That actually worked? He chuckled to himself. Thank the gods. I thought I'd have to make them move…

"M-m-mein Kaiser?"

Flame stopped. His heart began hammering again. Swallowing, he swept his gaze across the crowd but it didn't take very long: it had come from a towering, fierce-looking Tyranitar from the first row.

With tears in her eyes, she made a half-bow before going wide-eyed and shooting right back up, mumbling something Flame didn't quite catch.

Whatever it was, it caused the crowd to explode into cheers. Flame jumped a little, instinctively turning to a shimmery-eyed Brynn.

The Braixen merely turned to him and smiled. "She said: 'If you're here, it means we finally have the power to defeat the Presence. It is all as Lord Daedalus predicted, right?'."

Flame's heart sputtered. He stared blankly until he realised the crowd were all holding their breaths, as though expecting him to comment.

"O-of course we do," Flame hastily cobbled together a smile for the Tyranitar. "We, um… we… we have a plan to get their Imperial puppets on our side! To help them understand that they're being controlled." He put a fist over his heart. "Trust in us."

Once the Tyranitar looked starry-eyed enough at his reply, Flame turned about and hastily made his way through the gap in the cheering crowd, further up the street.

If he hadn't been in full view of everyone he probably would have sprinted away. He rounded the first possible side path, and allowed himself to breathe when he saw only berry bushes and more forest.

"Herr Flaaaaame!" Brynn's running footsteps pattered in the gravel behind him. "Du gjo—you did amazing back there!"

"... Better than expected."

"And the way you said 'trust in us'..." She clasped her hands together and squealed. "Ah, that was so confident of you!"

"Really?" He tried to smile. "That's good."

But I lied to them all. He bore a hole into a pine trunk. I don't know if we have a plan to win over the Empire. I don't know if we have any plans at all—I never even asked!

"Are you okay, Herr Flame?" Brynn reached for his shoulder, but hesitated. "I know that was stressful for you. But I swear, you did fantastic!"

"I'm fine. L-let's keep going, okay?"

He wasn't fine. Even now, as they walked down a forest slope, the sea of faces remained burnt into his memory. That gleam in everyone's eyes, that spark of hope… was it truly because of him?

He clutched his stomach. He wasn't sure whether to feel gleeful or queasy.

"Are you sure this way takes us to the sea?" he asked Brynn, hoping to think about something else.

"Hm? Yes, it shoul—" Brynn froze in her tracks, and he followed suit. She looked behind them, then forward again, back and forth.

"Wait," Flame raised his brow. "You don't know?"

"I-it's not that I don't know, I just thought we had to turn… th-the road should have been…"

A playful smile settled on Flame's snout. "Have you actually been here before?"

Brynn looked down and wranged her hands together. "I-I only arrived here yesterday evening, shortly after you, and I didn't have time—but, but our towns tend to be quite similar in design!"

"Right."

"P-promise!"

"So what's the town called?" He crossed his arms in mock-offense, and tapped his foot.

"Tromvik. Fishing town. F-fifteen thousand inhabitants, I think. This used to be Imperial territory."

"Uh-huh. And that's aaaall my 'guide' knows about this place."

"What?!" Brynn's ears dropped and her face turned red. "No! I'm not exactly from here, but—but I can show you our stavkirke! And our communal eating area! Every village has one; trust me, it's so much bigger than Neuhoffnung's, and I've heard the cooks serve Clamperl meals that are out of this world! Please, I swear I know where I'm going!"

It shouldn't have felt this satisfying to watch her squirm in embarrassment, but it did.

"All right." Flame pretended to study her up and down, arms crossed. "I suppose you've passed the test—for now."

He motioned for Brynn to follow, which she did a little too eagerly.

"Oh, I just remembered! This region also has Sawsbuck stew as a delicacy, too!"

Smiling, Flame nevertheless felt himself tune out of his playful mood for a few seconds as they walked along that forest road. Patches of dappled sunlight surrounded them, and the crackling of dried pine needles accompanied their every step. He couldn't help but linger on that Tyranitar, those oh-so-warm words: that he would soon lead his people to victory.

It wasn't like they saw him as a symbol, either. No! They were looking at him like some kind of saviour in the flesh. As if he would leap into battle himself, fight legionary soldiers with his own claws! He glanced down and blushed, yet his body protested.

He couldn't do any of that. He was weak and frail; he knew only slash and flamethrower, and even that second one Alice had to teach him. How in the world was he, Flame, supposed to lead these people, let alone convince them that he had a plan for victory?

Hell, he could barely convince his own friends to choose this town over certain death.

---

It took a little bit more hiking before they reached the pine forest's end. When they did, Flame was treated to the view from the small hill he stood atop.

A tumultuous dark-blue sea, with grey islets poking out the mist far on the horizon. Much closer to him stood the main urban core of Tromvik: more buildings of wood and stone, spread out across both the mainland coast and between a half-forested islet not far from it, connected by a series of pontoon bridges.

Flame's first reaction, for some reason, was to laugh. "I haven't seen the ocean in… well, weeks—but that was only for a few hours."

He reached out with a hand to feel the salty breeze. It felt pleasant against the warmth of his scales.

Next to him, Brynn covered her mouth. "So this is what the great ocean looks like…"

"First time seeing it, o tour guide?" he asked with another wry look.

Brynn huffed but could not help looking bashful.

Oh, he was going to love teasing her like this—he could already tell.

They began walking down the hill path, toward the first dense streets of the mainland half of Tromvik.

"It's odd," Flame mused to himself. "Why does seeing the ocean put me in such a good mood?"

"Oh, I think I feel it too! " She wagged her tail merrily. "My friends always told me I'd hate the ocean."

Flame scoffed. "Come on, just because we're fire-types?"

The path took them onto the town's main road, packed with houses and rudimentary apartment buildings. He waved back to a few excited passersby.

"Speaking of, where are your friends right now? Neuho… y-your village?"

"A few. Most are spread out in other villages and towns. We're serving together in the war."

Flame's pupils widened. The war? You're saying that you've… fought?

He snuck a glance while she was focusing ahead. At that moment she looked so innocent, so carefree. How could those sweet eyes ever be near a battlefield? He would have been surprised to see her lash out at a fly.

She's younger than me, too. Maybe she's only gone through training…

Now that they'd entered the built-up urban area—passing by houses, taverns, eateries, market stalls, pokémon of all kinds—Flame felt the gaze of every single passerby homed in on his skull. Dozens and dozens of pokémon, both outside and from inside houses as more shouts of 'Unser Kaiser!' spread up the street.

While it made Flame feel that much more self-conscious, he still waved back sheepishly whenever he got the chance. At least they weren't crowding around him anymore.

He brushed her furry arm again.

"Herr Flame?"

"H-huh?"

"Oh. I'm so sorry! I didn't notice you were thinking. I was just curious about something, so, so pretend I didn't say anything and go back to—"

"Brynn." Flame sighed, then tried to smile at her. "I'm not your superior. You don't have to be nervous around me. Please."

At least you treat me normally.

"Right." She chuckled nervously. "Sorry. I was just saying: if your friends are here, why didn't we call them? We could have shown them around, too."

Flame looked away and swallowed. "I'm… not sure."

Brynn blinked, then cocked her head to the side. "But why? I thought you were happy they came here."

"It's… complicated. I didn't really give them a choice."

That gave her pause, but only briefly. "Well, you still saved their lives. I'm sure they'll understand soon, right?"

"I wish it were that simple." He smiled bitterly. "Why are you asking? I thought you said they're collaborators."

"I… don't know what to think," she said, quietly even in his head. "A part of me still thinks of them that way. But, if you say they're good pokémon… I want to trust you."

Flame blinked. His smile sweetened the more her words sunk in. "Thank you, Brynn. That means… more than you can imagine."

A Gardevoir just ahead was hanging bed sheets to dry; she dropped them with a gasp as soon as she saw him and shouted something. More pokémon ran to their house's windows and door frames to look.

Meanwhile, Flame's thoughts lingered on his teammates.

The last time he'd seen them was when they'd first landed in the town's outskirts, in the dead of night. He'd only seen their eyes at an angle—they'd refused to look at him directly that day—but what he saw, gleaning in the torchlight… He could only describe Gaius' reddened eyes as spectral.

Flame shuddered at the memory. But the truth remained that he would have to see them again at some point. If not for the small hope they didn't hate him, then for the fact that he had brought them here, and that he had promised them a choice.

"We're here, Herr Flame!"

Blinking, Flame realised they'd reached the town's harbour—little more than a beachfront with small boats resting on the sand, or tied to one of the long floating piers.

He stepped onto the beach, enjoying the graininess of the sand, then stopped to behold the sight: before them was a narrow strait of murky water, and just across lay the main island, half-forested and half-brimming with structures. He saw more treetop houses with their platforms, Wingulls nesting on seaside rocks, even a Seel poking its head out of the water! And not to mention the—

Flame froze. At first he had to squint to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

The rocks next to him formed a peninsula of sorts that jutted out into the sea. It was at the tip of it that he thought he saw something… blue…

"See the island? That's where all the interesting sights are!" Brynn hooked both her arms around his right one. "Come on!"

Flame felt her pulling gently, but he did not budge.

Coiled up on the farthest rock of the formation, facing the island and the cloudy horizon, was a Dragonair he knew all too well.

"Herr Flame? What's wrong?"

Flame stared past her. "Stay here," he said, then took a step forward. "Or—or go do something else. There's something I have to take care of."

Brynn's ears fell as he went past her. "What? Why? I-I thought you wanted to see the town centre with me…"

"Later. Promise!"

Before he could think about it he was already hopping from one large rock to the next, holding in the primordial fear of slipping and plunging into the seawater whose spray licked at his feet.

Once he got within a couple jumps' distance, he looked up again. There she was—coiled tightly on the farthest rock, looking away from him. He froze; his body protested.

Part of him wanted to turn away and leave, leave this conversation for some other time.

No. He shut his eyes. I brought them here. My choice, my fault. My responsibility.

With a deep breath, he jumped to the last rock—now he was right behind her, perhaps a few steps from her tail.

And yet Alice didn't stir. Had she not heard him? Perhaps she had, but didn't care enough to react.

Breathing as quietly as possible, Flame felt his heart hammering in his chest. Suddenly he felt strangely conscious of his posture, of the swishing of his tail; it dawned on him how creepy it must have looked to stand behind her like that. But he didn't even know what to sa—

"Flame." A whisper, as quiet as it was cold.

Flame's blood ran dry for a moment, then he took a shaky breath. "Alice."

Unsure how to continue, he listened to his instincts: he sat down right next to her, on the edge of that rock itself at the edge of the sea.

Silence reigned between them. Silence, and the soft rustle of the ocean. Little salty droplets sprayed at his feet and shins with each crashing wave.

And yet they sat in silence.

He glanced to his side; Alice was still ignoring him, and if anything seemed to have retreated further in her coils.

"A-are you okay?" he asked—then cringed.

How stupid could he be? Of course she wasn't okay! Pokémon who were okay didn't go watch the horizon from the most isolated place they could find!

"I suppose so," she replied flatly.

Flame frowned. "You don't look okay."

Silence. He supposed his assertion was pretty self-evident.

As Flame looked her over, it dawned on him that she wasn't wearing that crimson scarf he'd gifted her. Somehow that saddened him further.

"Talk to me, Alice." He hugged his knees . "I know you hate me right now—but I brought you here. I need to know that they're treating you well."

'Besides, we're still Team Phalanx, right?' he almost said. Almost.

Alice raised her gaze, if slightly. "Part of me wonders if I'm the first Imperial ever to get a glimpse beyond the enemy's front lines." She chuckled dryly. "Perhaps I should feel honoured. I could tell everyone that no, they don't all live in mud-holes. Nor do they fulfill their bodily needs in the street! Aesernia had a lot more of that. In fact, that temple—at least, I think it is one. Do you see it? On the island?"

Flame leaned forward to look across the strait. Yes, now that she pointed it out, he saw it was the tallest building in the whole town. Its walls were wooden—big surprise—but its exterior was sloped and built in multiple, rising sections, culminating in a tall tower near the centre that tapered into a spire. The corners were carved into decorative shapes too small to see from here.

"It's… beautiful," Flame remarked. "Strange, but beautiful."

"Indeed." Alice smiled distantly. "I never would have dreamed the Teutonii were capable of building such harmonious structures. To think they weren't supposed to have discovered the wheel!"

Flame smirked to himself. Those Imperial propagandists might have a point on glassmaking.

"And yet, something's bothering you," he said.

Alice let out a terse sigh. "What do you expect me to say?" She raised her neck and looked up. "My whole life, I've been taught to hate the Scum. To be afraid of them. They're the very army who has ravaged so much of the Empire. So many deaths, so many refugees, so much… suffering."

"They've suffered too," Flame countered in a whisper. "More than we could ever imagine."

"I believe you," Alice said. "But it doesn't override the tens of thousands of deaths they've caused. Including Gaius' parents."

There it was: the one topic he couldn't fight back on. Flame found himself looking away from her, toward the dark, turbid waters.

But he couldn't just stay silent. No, he had to stay strong.

"How is he?"

"Still won't leave his bed."

Flame nodded. He'd expected as much. Wringing his claws together, he scrambled for something to say. "Daedalus said he might punish that Hydreigon for what he did."

"Good."

He looked down. "I just need to talk to Gaius first. Gather all the facts about what happened."

"Good luck with that. He hasn't said a word since we got here." Alice scoffed. "I can't say I blame him."

Flame shut his eyes and exhaled slowly, bracing himself for what was to come. The veiled animosity behind those words hadn't escaped him.

"Look," he turned to her, "I know this isn't how you wanted our journey to end. And I realise that it'll be difficult here—if, if you choose to stay, that is. But I still care about you." He smiled tentatively. "We're still Team Phalanx, right?"

"Are we?" She glared back at him. "Then why did you go behind our backs? Why, for such a monumental decision?"

Flame snorted. "I did it to protect you two—you know that."

"You could have asked what we thought."

Flame couldn't help it; he crossed his arms. "Alice—be honest. If I'd come up to you that same night and proposed this, would you have accepted?"

Alice's glare mellowed. Her eyes seemed to wander off elsewhere. "W-we could have found another way."

"Really? What way?"

"... Another one."

"Which one?" he hissed. "Do you mean your plan to slowly die of hypothermia on some mountain?"

Alice had no answer at that. She merely wound herself even tighter in her coils.

That's what I thought, he wanted to say, but held his tongue.

"I'm not pretending that what I did was ethical." He steeled his expression. "But I do know that it was the right choice."

"Huh…?"

"I'm not sorry for saving our lives. Even if it meant lying to you." He finally raised his gaze to the cloudy sky. "And… if you gave me the choice, I would do it again."

"Ah…" Alice rasped, and then she nodded. "I see."

From the corner of his eye, Flame noticed Alice staring towards him intensely.

Alice? He turned to meet her eyes—and though she averted them right away, for just a moment, he could have sworn there was something… dreamy about them.

"Is something the matter?" Flame furrowed his brow.

"Hm?" Alice's eyes glistened, even as she pretended to behold the horizon. "Yes. I mean—no. N-nothing."

Flame frowned, but chose not to press her further.

"It's just…" Alice began with a whisper. "Gods, was there that little trust between us?"

Flame snorted. "Do you really need to ask that? It's not like I was the first liar on this team."

That flash of pain on Alice's face was impossible to miss.

The guilt hit Flame like a punch in the stomach, but he couldn't back down. It was something they needed to confront eventually.

"Do you know what it's like," Flame sent her a glare, "to find out that the only pokémon you thought you could trust—the pokémon who've been with you since the very beginning—that they're lying to you? Do you know how much it hurts?"

"I'm sorry…"

"I wouldn't even have cared that you're a princess—that's the worst part. It was a bit shocking, sure, but at the end of the day… you're still Alice. You're still you."

"I know," she whispered even quieter.

"Why couldn't you tell me? Or, or just say 'sorry, I don't feel comfortable talking about that'?"

"I, I wasn't… I didn't think—"

Flame shook his head. "It wasn't even just Thermae Himerae; it was… before that, too." He frowned. "I tried to forget about that first time we met, but thinking about it now…"

"Please stop," Alice whimpered.

"You two told the guards I was a Scum and got me thrown into jail. What if they'd believed you? Gods, they would have hanged me in Victory Square like those others! I could have died."

"I'm sorry!"

Flame recoiled back at that, glancing worriedly at a nigh-shaking Alice.

"I'm s-so sorry," Alice sucked in a trembling breath, her head arched in, eyes pointed straight at the ground. "You're right. I don't deserve to be angry at you when I'm such… such a coward!"

At the sound of her sobs, the rest of Flame's pent-up anger evaporated. Even his glare disappeared, replaced by a sudden concern.

Alice brought her teary eyes up to meet his—a sight that pained Flame's heart. "Do you want to know why I lied to you? Because…" She let out a bitter laugh at that. "Because I was lying to myself, too."

Flame felt his eyes widen. "… What?"

"I d-didn't want to admit to myself that… that father hates me, and that I can never, ever be good enough in his eyes. So I tried to forget him. To create another Alice—one whose father isn't that monster on the throne, one who isn't so cowardly. And I pretended to be her." She choked on a sob. "Gods, I sound so pathetic right now…"

"Alice…" Flame frowned.

"This whole time," she rambled on, eyes squeezed shut, "I've done nothing but fail you. Th-that first day, when we failed our mission? I thought that Ariel would surely sack us both. I was utterly terrified, Flame. When Gaius suggested using you as scapegoat, I was… I was simply too scared to come up with anything else. Just like I was too scared to ever bring up his drinking. Or how he was treating you. Or, or to… to tell you the truth about me."

With that, Alice buried her face into her coils and muffled her sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…"

Flame, on the other hand, sat there motionless. He sat there next to her and ruminated over her words for some time.

He felt strange. Earlier he'd wanted nothing less than to give her a piece of his mind—to make her understand exactly how he'd felt. But now, hearing her commiserate like this… he simply couldn't help but pity her.

I always thought I'd been through a lot, Flame stared down at his lap, but Alice… Good gods.

In a way, it astonished him that she'd made it this far in the first place. She had been disowned, exiled; forced to aimlessly wander the fringes of the Empire for three years. Forced to endure hunger and dejection, and winter colds that her dragon physiology simply wasn't built to withstand. Oh, and that was just what Flame knew about—he had a certain feeling that what he didn't know was just as bad. And yet…

Yet you're still here.

The more he thought about it, the more that vengeful corner of his mind lost ground. How could he look into her eyes—those same eyes who he remembered staring boldly into a far-off portal storm that one night—and write her off as a coward?

"No," Flame clenched his fists. "You're wrong."

"E-excuse me?" Alice sniffled from her coils.

"You've been through a lot—more than anyone should. And… you're insecure, just like me." He turned to her, his eyes resolute. "But you're not a coward. A coward wouldn't have survived through half of what we did."

Alice stared with lowered ear-wings; in lack of a better response, she cracked a dry laugh. "Y-you don't have to lie to make me feel better."

"I'm not lying."

"But," her face fell, "but how could you say that? Ever since my exile, I've done nothing but fear my own shadow!"

Flame merely smiled at her, and shrugged. "All three of us were scared. I wasn't much better at the beginning."

"But you were in a markedly worse situation than me, with your amnesia!"

Flame cracked an uncomfortable laugh. "... I don't know about that."

"And yet look at how caring—how brave you've been for Team Phalanx, even though you owed us nothing!"

"Brave?" Flame flushed, eyes wide.

"Yes, brave!" Through her tears, Alice produced a fond smile. "You've already saved our lives twice. First in the ice dungeon, then at the ambush—no, three times if you count yesterday!"

A tingling feeling invaded Flame's chest. Suddenly he was out of breath. "Th-those were more impulsive than anything else! Especially back at the ambush." He glanced down at the crashing waves. "Daedalus was right: I could have gotten us all killed."

"And? Impulse still counts for something." Alice looked at him, but only with her snout buried in her coils and her head wings flattened. "You're so much braver than you're willing to admit, Flame…"

There was a strange orange reflection in the water below; it took Flame a second to realise it was his swelling tail fire chirping and crackling happily behind him.

"I-if—" Flame swallowed. Breathe. Why was it so hard to suppress a smile? "If we're going to play that game, I think you're also underestimating how brave you are."

Alice's scoff was muffled in her coils. "Please. I can't recall a single example."

"Well, for one… you're still here."

"I—I beg your pardon?"

"I don't know your past very well," Flame smiled sheepishly, "but from the sounds of it, you've been through utter hell for the past three years. Scratch that—even before your exile. And yet, you're still here. You're still fighting." He shrugged. "I'd say that counts for something."

Silence again. Only the crashing of the waves on the rocks, the distant bustle of Tromvik, and an overpowering marine scent.

"Plus," He looked up at the sky. "You stood by me when I was still new to this world."

Alice tried to speak, tried to protest, but came up short of words. Her head-wings flattened and perked up repeatedly.

New tears lingered in her eyes, but they didn't seem borne of sadness.

"Alice," Flame shut his eyes. "Listen. I don't think I'm ready to forgive you just yet."

"O-oh."

"But I also know that you're a good pokémon at heart." Flame rubbed a forearm. "I… I don't really know why I ever doubted that. I felt hurt, sure, but we've known each other for so long that—ah, a-anyways! In the meantime… we can try to make things right between us."

"How?"

"Be honest with me," he said. "You—you don't have to tell me your whole life story. Hell, you don't have to tell me anything you're not comfortable with. Just… please, no more lying."

With a sniffle, Alice stood up straight and wiped away a tear with her tail tip. "Yes. I—yes! Thank you. I must become stronger. I can't keep deceiving myself, much less those I hold dear."

Slowly, almost hesitantly, Flame made an incredulous smile. Right then a tremendous weight vanished from his shoulders.

Feeling strangely lighter, he fell down on his back and laughed breathlessly. "Thank you, Alice. I won't deceive you, either."

"Unless it's another life-or-death situation?"

That was true. He had made it a point not to apologise for what he'd done. And… that was how he still felt.

He bit his lip. "Well—I, I don't know if…"

"I'm jesting." She sent him a wry smile. "You… you were right. I confess, I don't quite know what came over me the other night, after we got kicked out. I suppose it must have been the shock, the—the sheer panic at thinking our journey was over." She ruffled her head wings. "Still, my plan… it was madness! Madness built on wishful thinking. P-perhaps I would have come to my senses as the journey got colder, but—"

"Alice. It's okay." Flame smiled and placed a hand on her middle. "That's why we're a team, isn't it? On our own, we'd all have choked on a glass of water long ago."

Was that a blush on her face? "Thank you, Flame. For everything. I've intended to tell you for some time, but you're… the first pokémon I've been able to call a friend."

A friend. Why did that word tingle in his chest?

"F-first?" Flame scratched his collarbone. "What—Gaius wasn't first?"

"Oh, hush. You know exactly why that isn't the case!" Alice laughed, and he laughed too.

"A-anyway…" Flame cleared his throat. "Thanks. I feel the same way."

Yes, the same way…

For a little while they sat there and stared at the coming and going of winged figures around the island. Flame was vaguely conscious that his hand was still on her middle. Was she closer to him, too?

"Since you brought up Gaius," Alice whispered, "I believe it is urgent that you talk to him."

Flame sighed, swinging his tail in irritation. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

"Or try to, at the very least. Show him he's not alone in his pain."

Flame snorted. "Maybe seeing me will just make him feel worse."

"Perhaps. I don't know."

Flame's gaze slowly drifted upwards, to that cloudy sky.

"I'll… come up with something."

Alice smiled at him, which crumbled as her eyes caught something behind him. "Ah! I believe someone's waiting for you."

He turned to find Brynn's ear tufts peeking over a rock; he heard her yip as she shot down into hiding.

Flame blinked, then burst into laughter. "I… I guess I've kept her waiting."

"I'll stay here a little longer." Alice set her head back on her coils. "There's still much I need to think about."

Flame nodded. He stood up from the rock feeling strangely lightweight. And warm.

"See you at the house, then," he told Alice as he turned towards the coast.

Gaius… He balled his fists and stood straighter. You were never really a friend, but… nobody deserves to suffer like you did. Ready or not, I'm coming.

"Oh, and… Flame?" Alice whispered behind him.

He blinked. "Hm?"

"Thank you. "

---

End of Chapter XXIX​

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Alright. It’s been two weeks and I feel like making some progress on that second pass through this story. Time to check up on The Wonderfully Timed Swan Dives of Team Phalanx, picking up from right after the team (literally) got soaked:

Chapter XXV

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Flame couldn't help but shudder as the distant crashing of water from the river reached him even here, deep within the cavern, tucked away in this tight alcove.

Then again, everything made him shudder. He sat on the hard cavern floor with his knees stuck to against his chest and his claws still in his shoulders, his entranced gaze glued to the campfire in front of him. He felt too drained to do anything else.

Trying his best not to shake, Flame lifted his eyes slowly. He traced them along the rock walls, to his teammates resting against them—every nook of the alcove glowed in the will-o-wisp's ethereal blue. It was a tiny space they were in: barely large enough for the three of them to cram around a fire, and the ceiling was so low that even while sitting, he had to duck to keep his horn clear. Only a small crawlspace behind the fire connected them to the much darker main cavern.

Wait, is that supposed to be Flame’s tail flame since this story rolls with Char tail flames being ethereal fire? Or is that will-o-wisp something / made by someone else? It’s not that big of a detail, but I’m honestly not sure.

Flame: "... Why did we not just dig out a burrow again?"
Gaius: "Because we're in crap shape and some of us only have one hand to lend here?"
Alice: "Yeah, considering how your tail flame went out again temporarily, I don't think any of us would really be in any shape to do strenuous work."

In the silence of his thoughts, he picked up the distant gurgle of flowing water again. Flame curled the claws of his feet as another shiver ran through him, and he hugged his own chest tighter. He was still wet. Maybe that was why he couldn't stop shaking.

Oh, so getting soaked as a Fire-type in this setting is just an inherently uncomfortable experience in this setting, huh? I mean, it checks out with past depictions, but somehow it hadn’t occurred to me that things worked that way even without Flame getting his tail fire soaked until this chapter.

Unable to find comfort in the campfire, or his knees, Flame cracked his eyes open. Gaius and Alice were still there—the former crumpled against the wall, his head hanging back, and the latter gathered up in a tight coil by his side. Even while shivering, the closeness brought the vaguest spark of warmth in his chest.

Flame: “I mean… yeah, I can live with this.” ^///^
- Cue Alice stirring in her coils -
Alice: “Flame, it’s platonic!” >_>;

Numb as he was, it took him a few moments to realise that he'd locked eyes with Alice.

She stared back at him, her red eyes baring the anxiousness and fatigue that lay underneath. A quivering smile formed on his lips. They stayed like that for a few moments.

Flame: “...”

Alice: “It. Is. Platonic.” >///<
Gaius: “Yeah okay, Alice. You’ve already admitted as much in these gags that it’s not.”

Alice: “Those aren’t canon!” >.<

"… You're shaking," she said.

"G-good eyes," he snickered under his breath.

That’s not just from the water and cold and wholly unrelated to his proximity to the blue noodle, is it? :V

Flame: “Sh-Shut up! It’s not like that!” >///<

He felt his attention drift away for a time. When he snapped back into focus, though, he found Alice still watching him from atop her coils. Her eyes were red, her face read pain all over—and yet, she smiled at him with an intensity that made his cheeks flush with heat.

"… Wh-what?" he said.

Yeah, I thought so. :P

At that, Alice released let out a soft, sad laugh. "Gods, Flame, I thought you were dead," she whispered raspily. "When I saw you jump off that bridge—after all this time, I was… I… I couldn't…"

Flame: “Wait, but I thought we all went together off the bridge.” .-.
Alice: “You… went first. And remember that it took a while to see you surface afterwards. It was a… stressful experience, to say the least.” ._.

Flame winced as her voice cracked. Unable to find words himself, he mustered a trembling half-smile and shrugged. "It… worked, didn't it?"

"Y-yes, but that's not the point I'm—what I'm trying to say is…" She squeezed her eyes tightly, then shook her head. "Gods, how can you be so casual about it?"

Gaius: "The same way he just casually ignored our advice to leave us behind and save himself back in that ice cave? 'Act first, think later' is kinda Flame's thing."
Flame: "(Oi, I'm not that bad about it, am I?) And Alice? Do you... Do you love-?"
- Alice overhastily interrupts -
Alice: "The heat you're providing? Of course, Flame!"
- Gaius frown -
Gaius: "You know she's not going to be straight with you until she is in the story, right? (Even if it's kinda obvious you two have feelings for each other right now.)"
Flame: "(It... is? I was asking precisely because I wasn't sure!)" O///O

A newfound heaviness invaded his chest cavity, right along with another fit of shivering.

"I'm sorry," he said, and hated that he could think of nothing better.

She did her best impression of an angry huff, and lowered her head to her coils. "You b-better be…"

The TL/DR version of that whole exchange:

Alice: “F-Flame? D-Don’t ever scare me like that again!” >///<

Don’t deny it, either. :V

"Oh, c'mon," Gaius interjected. "He deserves some credit."

Gaius: “Since… you know, we’re not lying in a pile of bloody paste from those Praetorians mulching us with thirty bloodthirsty savages right now.”
Flame: “Was the ‘bloodthirsty savages’ part really necessary?” >_>;

At that, Flame paused in surprise, for he hadn't expected Gaius to back him so readily. The Grovyle sat back with his arms crossed, but his face was as unreadable as ever, his eyes heavy and red.

Gaius has been crying offscreen again lately, hasn’t he?

"What you did back there, Flame, was absolutely crazy." Gaius chuckled weakly. "And my life's been pretty messed up. But… you sure as hell did it." He lowered his gaze. "I'm glad I followed you. 'Cause I almost didn't."

Boy is it such a mood to see Gaius mention that in passing. Since just from what he’s revealed since this point in the story… yeah, Gaius hasn’t had an enviable life. .-.

Flame stared blankly at Gaius for a time. He wanted to feel confused, to wonder what on earth Gaius was playing at, but he was simply too numb for that.

"Th-thank you," Flame muttered. "For trusting me. I… didn't think you would."

Gaius: “I mean, the alternatives were pretty crap and I’d like to not leave the story just yet.” >_>;
- Gaius glances down at his mangled arms -
Gaius: “Not like this...”
Flame: “... Ah. (Hard to blame you there.)” .-.

"Yeah, yeah." Gaius averted his eyes, then snickered under his breath. "Bloody hell… First you tell Sycorax to fuck off, then you nearly blow yourself up, then you actually jump off a bridge? I think we've got the wrong Charmeleon."

Flame: “W-Wait, I did all that?” O///O
- Flame peeks back at the last chapter -
Flame: "... Hot damn, I guess I really did do that." ^^;
- Flame has a moment feeling smug and self-satisfied only to pause uneasily -
Flame: "Er... Generals in the Imperial Army don't mount military campaigns over wounded pride, do they?" ._.
Gaius: “... Yes? With how much you were talking up that doorstopper Alice wouldn’t shut up about, I’m surprised you haven’t heard about stuff like that one campaign in [Armenia]...” >_>;

I could say the same for you. He felt a strange warmth filling his chest. Uttering nice words about him? Just how much had Gaius changed?

I mean, he’s only in a spiral of self-loathing right now that accelerates exponentially after some later actions of yours, but let’s be nice and say “quite a bit”, Flame. :V

"Don't enable him, Gaius…" Alice chuckled from atop her coils.

Gaius snickered even harder at that, before breaking into a fit of violent coughing. "O-okay." He said raspily. "Yeah. I'm glad you've grown some balls and all, but—maybe tone it down with the suicidal streak, will ya?"

Flame: "Gaius, how do you have an idea of what 'grown some balls' means as a reptile? I thought that we didn't have-"
Gaius: "Oi, I don't need you to lecture me about where my body parts are, alright? Point is that it's a phrase that's rubbed off into broader society here, probably coined by a mammalian 'mon."

There! There was that warmth again. He glanced down to find his tail fire chirping merrily to the pulse of his heartbeat.

"… No promises."

Boy does that hit differently in light of reading Chapter XXVIII. ^^;

Hugging his knees, and with an idiotic smile on his face, Flame merely sat there and looked at them both, at his teammates. They were here. They were with him—no longer a figment of his vivid fantasies, but two breathing, quivering bodies…

Suddenly he was shaking again—though not from cold. He laughed to himself and hugged his knees tighter. His pulse quickened.

He'd done it.

Flame: “I mean, we’re only fugitives with at least two separate armies pursuing us right now, but we’re back together!” ^^;
Gaius: “... Flame, could you have tried to jinx us any harder right then?” >.<

After so many nights gone sleepless to plan out his escape, after the ambush, after so much pain, so much cold—he'd finally done it. It was over.

He shut his eyes, smiled, and knew that it had all been worth it.

Narrator:

Flame: “Yes really! How could this possibly not have been worth it?!” >.<

"I m-missed you." He sniffled. "Both of you. Th-there's so much I want to say, I don't even know where I can—wh-where to… to…" He gritted his teeth even as he felt his voice wavered. "Where were you at the battle? You never came."

Gaius: “Drug off kicking and screaming by Praetorians? Thought we already told you this over those badges.”
Flame: “... That wasn’t canon and I’m pretty sure it was spoiler-texted, so it didn’t count.”

He saw the expression on their faces darken. Flame quickly bit his tongue, darting his eyes around, but before he could scramble to think of something else he saw Alice shift.

"Sycorax knew," she whispered eventually. "He knew about our plan to escape. They captured us before we could even reach the rendezvous—took us to their camp." Hesitating, she lifted her glistening eyes to him. "I-I thought they'd get to you, too! But we kept waiting and waiting, and, a-and then Virgo and Yvaine came back, saying you'd been… you'd…"

Sure is a good thing that given Sycorax knew that they were planning on escaping that he didn’t just waltz into camp and drag them off from Camp Tempest, huh? Since this entire story would have gone to some very different places otherwise. ^^;

As he listened, Flame exhaled slowly and let his gaze drop down to the campfire. So it was official: he was being hunted. Not that he hadn't already known that, but… perhaps he didn't want to believe it.

Alice: “So wait, what are you anyways Flame if the Praetorian Guard’s going around calling you ‘Icarus’ and ready to let Urbe burn to the ground to get you?”
Flame: “Beats me. Though is ‘Icarus’ really all that special? It’s just a codename like ‘Keystone’ was for Varus, right?”
- Cue Gaius blinking and staring long and hard at Flame -
Gaius: “Wait, I just realized. But the Praetorians were calling you ‘Icarus’?”
Flame: “Yes, and? Does it mean something special?”
- Cue Gaius remaining silent -
Gaius: “Tch, doubt it. It… just reminded me of a name I heard before. Probably just some prole from Basilea I ripped off in the past or something like that.”

However, the distress on Alice's face was enough to at least take him out of his thoughts.

"Alice…" He said quietly.

"I'm sorry," she said. "It's just—we should have been there. We should have done something to… I, I don't know, to help. It's our fault that you were captured." Just then, a terrible realisation dawned on her face. "Oh, gods, Flame, did they… d-did the Scum…"

Flame: “Showed me actual kindness and fed me properly for about a week? I mean, I did mean that when I told that to Sycorax last chapter.”

Flame blinked several times, trying to decipher her sudden worry, before it clicked. "No!" He smiled quickly. "No, they didn't do anything to me. I'm… okay."

Alice: “... Okay, you have to have been brainwashed. Since when do Scum do that for any sort of Pokémon from Imperial territory?”

Flame: “Since at least last week since that’s when they took me in?” ^^;

Gaius' expression hardened. "Of course," he muttered. "That's 'cause you're one of them. Is that right?"

I mean, if there was actual, honest-to-goodness spoken banter back in that one moment of Chapter XIII, Gaius probably knows that since he almost certainly knows what ‘[Our -------]’ means.

Definitely one of those moments that’s read very differently going the second time around the horn.

Flame quickly averted his gaze. He should have known this question was coming. "Kind of," he answered quietly. "Daedalus, their leader—he explained everything to me. About… who I was."

Given that we’re still finding out stuff about Flame in the current run of the story… yeah, that’s not remotely accurate at all.

"He did?" Alice lifted her head from her coils. "Oh, Flame, your amnesia, that's—that's wonderful! What did he say?"

Gaius: “Alice, why are we just taking the word of the Scum leader at face value here?” >:|
Alice: “I mean, if he really cared about Flame that much, he wouldn’t just lie to his face, right?” ^^;

For some reason, Flame found himself cracking a dry smile. "Oh, nothing much." He shrugged. "Just that I come from another dimension, apparently. One where the Benefactors used us as slave soldiers."

Both Gaius and Alice dropped their concern and stared at him as if he had grown a third arm.

Gaius: “Okay, it’s official, you have been brainwashed.”

Flame: “Gaius, I haven’t been brainwashed, okay?! We literally read those same passages of Our Benefactors together and everything lined up with what he had to say!” >.<
Alice: “Er… I’d like to remind you that we didn’t do that canonically yet, Flame.” ^^;

"And…" Gaius furrowed his brow. "You really don't think he's fucking with you?"

Flame blinked. "What?" He scowled. "Why would he—no! I knew him, Gaius! I've known him from before my amnesia. He cares about me."

I’m pretty sure that it’s either the next chapter or the one afterwards that reveals that Daedalus flatly lied to Flame about what he was doing with Aesernia. So… yeah, pretty sure that Daedalus doesn’t care for you in quite the way that you think he does, Flame.

Gaius squinted at him. "… Really."

Flame's eye twitched. "Yes!" He snapped. "Really! Why, since when have you cared?!"

Since when it involved Pokémon that he has a deep-seated childhood trauma about that he can’t get off his chest since his full story would make him a social pariah if not worse.

Gaius flinched and turned away under the weight of his glare. For a couple of moments Flame sat there and continued to breathe deeply, but with that look on the Grovyle's face, he couldn't motivate himself to stay angry.

"Gaius…" Alice said, glancing carefully between the two of them. "I… I believe him."

I mean, I buy that Daedalus is at least right about the broad strokes, but…

"Another dimension, Alice?" Gaius mumbled, but couldn't even look her in the eye.

Alice paused for a moment, before she turned to glance at Flame. "Flame… When I spoke to Sycorax, back at their camp…" Her lip quivered. "He told me the Benefactors have a 'greater purpose' for you. What he meant by that, I do not know—but if what you said just now is true, then…" She fell off, eyes lost in nothingness.

Gaius: "I mean, just saying, none of this precludes that Dusknoir from plying with Flame with fairy tales to do what he wants. Like what if he told some sort of lie to all the other Scum and needs you to complete it?"

Flame: "Uh... technically he might have already done that given that they all think he's some sort of prophet." ^^;
Gaius: "So if the 'mon isn't being honest to his own side, why are you putting so much stock in what he says?"
Alice: "Gaius, remember that Sycorax called him a 'traitor'. The two of them know each other. Why would the two go this far to get Flame if his story wasn't at least partly true?"
Gaius: "... I mean, just saying, you could've made this argument in the text instead of guilting me, Flame."

Flame heaved a charged breath. Greater purpose… He hugged his knees tighter. In some ways, he was almost thankful that he couldn't remember his past.

I mean, we’ve gathered that it has something to do with stopping or controlling the process of two dimensions colliding with one another as of Chapter XXX, so… yeah. Whenever the full story of this ‘purpose’ gets thrown out into the open, I’m sure it’s gonna be quite something.

"Sorry." Alice shook her head. "There's so much to take in…"

Flame looked down, and twiddled with his claws. "Welcome to my world."

Flame: “Well, I mean, technically it’s your world since I’m from- Oh, you know what I mean.” -_-;

Arms crossed together, Gaius peered at him from the tail of his eye. "Bloody hell," he said quietly. "Guess it would explain a lot of things about you."

It would, wouldn't it? Flame thought, trying to find the lighter side of the situation. He failed.

Gaius: “Wait, wait, wait. I get that you being from another dimension would explain you reacting as if you’d crawled out from under a rock about how the Empire worked, but how are you speaking our language in a Southern accent right now if that’s the case?” .-.
Flame: “(Didn’t the author say that he was considering retconning that out of the story?) Er… uh… I dunno, really. Maybe even if I’m from another world, I’ve got some sort of tie to this place? Your guess is as good as mine, really.” ^^;

There was so much he had yet to tell them. About Daedalus, that his memories would return one day, how much he'd thought of them, how much the Teutonii revered him…

They'll never believe me if I tell them I was some kind of hero.

Heck, he didn't believe it.

Ironically enough, Gaius might actually have bought that if someone flatly blurted out ‘[Our -------]’ back in Chapter XIII in earshot.

Dread weighed on his chest, but he shut his eyes and brought his knees closer. He didn't want to think about it now. Deep breaths—in, then out. In, then out. He'd spent enough of his short life worrying. He was with Alice and Gaius now.

Bold of you to think that the story’s just going to let you get away with burying that, Flame.

"Flame?"

"Hm?" He sucked in another breath, then cracked his eyes open.

She was staring at him again. Were it not for her white underbelly she would have blended in with the walls, so intense was the fiery blue glow that enveloped the small alcove.

"Did you…" Alice held her breath for a moment. "… did you find out your real name?"

Flame: “Oh… uh… funny story about that…” o_o;;

Flame's heart raced for a brief moment. He lowered his eyes to his knees. "I… never had one."

Still not sure if that one is fully true. But hey, ‘Flame’ probably beats a serial number as a name.

Alice blinked. "What do you mean you never—" She stared deadpanned at him. "How is that possible? Oh, Flame I… I'm so sorry—I shouldn't have…"

Alice: “... Wait, you seriously had no name? B-But even slaves get names!” .-.
Flame: “Not in my world, they don’t. Though wait, slaves get names here? I thought they were just called by their species.”
Alice: “No, no. It’s up to the master to give it. There’s even entire classes of names specifically meant for slaves.”
- Flame blinks -
Flame: “Wait, there are?” o_o;
Alice: “Er… well they’ve gotten a bit less common thanks to usage of Oldspeak fading, but they’re still around, yes. For instance, if you ever run into someone with a name ending in ‘-por’ or ‘-pora’, odds are that they’re a slave since it’s literally in their-”
Gaius: “Look, do we really need to talk about this right now?” >_>;

Still hugging his knees, he shrugged. "Don't worry about it." A feeble smile settled on his face. "I have one now. Even if it is a bit bland."

He'd never seen Alice's face turn so red in so little time.

Alice: “Y-You said that you liked it!” >///<
Flame: “I mean, in my defense, I probably should’ve waited until sometime when I wasn’t half dead to make a naming choice, but what can you do?” ^^;

He laughed into his forearms. "Flame…" he whispered, as if to test the name out with his own jaws. "Alice, I just realised: how common is this name you gave me?"

"W-well…" She glanced at him sheepishly, "I'll have you know, Flame is a completely respectable name! A-a rather unique one, at that."

Flame: “Unique how?”

Gaius: “Unique as in ‘no other Fire-type willfully gets a name like that’.” -_-;
Flame: “... I’m gonna regret asking about this quickly, aren’t I?”

"Unique?" He tilted his head. "Flame? For a fire-type…?"

"I'm positive."

From his corner, Gaius chuckled openly. "Yeah, 'cause it sounds ridiculous."

Flame: “H-Huh?! But it sounded warm and natural to me when I heard it! What’s ridiculous about it?!”

Flame swallowed. "R-ridiculous?" he said in a small voice.

"No shit," Gaius smirked. "Why do you think my name isn't 'Leaf'?"

Gaius: "Just saying, if you named him something like 'Ignis', at least it'd just be upper-class stuck-ups laughing at him, Alice."
Flame: "Er... no offense, but even if it sounds kinda dumb, 'Flame' definitely rolls off the tongue better than 'Ignis'. Though what does that even mean?"
Alice: "It means 'fire'. Though if you don't like it, there's no point in dwelling on the name. (Also it's giving me uncomfortable flashbacks to that ice cave and thoughts of evil Froslass for some reason.)"

Flame's pulse quickened. Smiling sheepishly, he leaned back against the wall and started laughing softly. "Great. Not only am I being hunted, I'm also stuck with this ridiculous name."

Alice squirmed, still hiding in her coils. "Y-you're still in time to change it, if it's so ridiculous."

"It's a bit late for that."

Alice: “Look, if some stories can drop names on their casts in the last five chapters, it’s not too late for you.” >_>;
Flame: “... There are stories that actually have done that? And… uh… okay, assuming that we can change my name, what exactly were you going to suggest?”
Alice: “Well, there was that other name I had in mind when we met…”

"Nonsense! How about…" Alice narrowed her eyes at him, humming loudly. "... 'Cornelius'. Yes… yes, I think it would suit you perfectly."

'Cornelius'. Flame stared at her blankly. "… You're joking. Right?"

Alice let out something between a laugh and a groan. "Yes, Flame. I see you're as perceptive as ever."

Slight formatting error there, since I assume the ‘Cornelius’ is supposed to be in Flame’s thoughts.

Flame: "Wait, I am? Alice, what does 'Cornelius' even mean?" .-.
- Alice flustered expression -
Alice: "Er... it's a name that's technically derived from an Oldspeak word for 'horn'. And you have a horn, so..."
- Flame frown -
Flame: "So from 'Flame' to 'Horn', really?"

Alice: "Er... yes?" ^^;
Gaius: "Tch, at that rate, you might as well have just suggested 'Rufus' for him."
Flame: "... I mean, it rolls off the tongue better than 'Cornelius'. What's that one mean?"
Alice: "Uh... let's... postpone picking a name until we can come up more options. (Also, it means 'Red' or 'Redheaded', so if you're having that much of a problem with 'Cornelius', what are the odds you'll actually like that one?)"

Flame felt his face burning up.

The faint squawk of a bird echoed through the cave suddenly—a welcome distraction that drew their gazes to the main cavern. Hidden away as they were, Flame had almost forgotten about the outside world. About the distant whir of flowing water, the mountains, the ambush.

"What do we do now?" Flame frowned. "The Praetorians, they're… they're probably out there right now. Looking for us."

Alice + Gaius: “...” o_o;
Flame: “I regret asking the question, really.”

Alice: “No! No! I’m sure we have… er… some options to work with.”

"No matter," Alice said quickly, glancing between Gaius and him. "We'll find a way. After all we've just been through, nothing can stop us anymore."

Gaius:

Alice: “Gaius, can you not right now? Be supportive for once!” >.<

At that, Flame felt a warm, fuzzy feeling invade his chest. He raised his eyes at the same moment as Gaius and Alice, the three of them taking a moment.

Even Gaius was smiling. Slumped as he was, though, and clutching his stump wrist, it only lasted a moment. "Our map's gone. Do we even know where we are?"

I mean, if you have to ask the question…

Flame sat up and into a cross-legged position, humming in thought.

Where were they? He vaguely remembered approximating his position on the map days earlier, but between the days of travel and the river ride, gods knew where they had ended up. Where was it he'd looked? If only he could remember a name, a landmark…

A terse sigh left him. As much as he wanted to forget about everything outside this cavern, they were still lost in the wilderness, and with the Imperial Army's best soldiers on their tails. He squinted, watching the ethereal dance of the blue will-o-wisp.

Wait, is that supposed to be a natural will-o-wisp? Or the move? Since it’s a little ambiguous there.

"W-we're in the Tartarus Mountains." He glanced between Alice and Gaius, biting on his tongue. "Northern half, I think."

"That's not enough." Alice stared at nothing, eyes narrowed in concentration. "These mountains run for hundreds of kilometres, across three provinces. We could be anywhere."

Flame: “Er… well, is there anywhere in the Tartarus Mountains known for having feral Hydreigon? Since yeah, we’re there.”
Gaius: “I… did not need to know that, thanks…”

Flame resumed twiddling his claws. Of course. And he supposed going outside to scour the landscape wouldn't help. If I were a Charizard, this wouldn't be a problem.

Then again, he supposed that Praetorian air patrols would be hard-pressed to miss a big, hulking red dragon. One with a literal fire on its tail.

Alice: "(Wait, Charizard are considered to be red-colored in this setting? Maybe I really should suggest Flame change his name to-)"
- Look back at Flame as he continues thinking through what to try next for their next move as fugitives -
Alice: "(Hm, nah. Forget it. We can play Name Rater some other time.)"

Alice turned to Gaius. "Gaius, do you remember seeing, or hearing anything back at their camp? Anything at all?

"Fuck if I know." Gaius shrugged, his eyes half-closed and his arms crossed. "You're the one the Praetorians let roam free. I wasn't allowed to ask jack shit."

Gaius: “And… uh… yeah, they were Praetorians. I didn’t feel like trying their patience.”

Alice: “... Don’t blame you, really. Since Praetorians are… something, alright.” ._.;

With the silence in the cavern stretching, Alice rested her head atop her coils, and let out a small sigh.

"It's gotten colder recently," she said with a small voice.

Flame blinked. "Has it?"

Gaius: “Flame? It’s late October. No kidding it’s gotten colder recently.” >_>;
Flame: “Look, I genuinely didn’t notice, alright?” ._.;

Alice produced something between groaning and laughter. "Oh, hush, you—look: my point is, winter is close. These mountains are barely inhabited. Depending on how deep we are and what direction we head in, it could be weeks before we stumble on civilisation. And if temperatures keep dropping…" Her eyes glazed over for a moment, before she squeezed them shut. "W-we need to know where we are. Even a rough estimate would do—anything that tells us where we can seek asylum."

Ah yes, I see that war flashbacks moment to Boreal Chasm there. Guess we shouldn’t could on Alice waxing poetic about snowy landscapes anytime soon.

Flame thought and thought, yet he couldn't stop fidgeting with his claws. He combed mentally through all of his conversations with Daedalus, and with Brynn, squeezing his brain for any snippet of a place name. Maybe that of the valley they'd passed through, or a prominent mountain, or, or…

Something clicked in Flame's head. He felt his eyes grow wider.

"… I was in a village," he whispered.

That got their attention. Though their eyes were red and heavy, they looked to him, and he took it as a cue to continue.

He finally managed to stop himself from fidgeting. "A-after the Teu—er, Scum kidnapped me, they took me to one of their villages. Can't be more than two days away from here. Think about it: if they're living here, out in the open, then…" A smile crept on his cheeks. "We must be in Scum territory. Right? Is there any part of these mountains that's in…?"

Gaius: “I really did not need to know that, thanks.”
Flame: “Gaius, calm down, we’re using this to help us figure out where to go next! (Geez, what is it with this ‘mon and Teutonii?)” ._.;

Alice's mouth hung open, and her eyes were glued to the ceiling. "Yes… yes, there is! The very northern edge of Basileia province! We have to be in Scum territory!"

Gaius sent her a weird look. "I don't get why that's exciting."

Gaius: “I mean, I guess the prospect of getting caught by the Scum technically is ‘exciting’. Just the really, really bad kind of exciting that makes it impossible to sleep at night.” o_o;

"W-well, not quite, no—but it means we know roughly where we are!" She stood out of her coils a little and tapped her tail tip to her chin. "Let's see. There are too many rivers for me to estimate which one we just came from. That mystery dungeon, on the other hand, back at the bridge…" Her eyes lit up. "Of course! It's the largest dungeon in the region—one that swallowed an entire mountain whole! You saw it, Flame, didn't you? Tell me you did!"

"Y-yeah," he mumbled out, and leaned closer.

Flame: “Was it important? Since you’re acting like it was a major landmark.”
Alice: “I mean, there’s only so many mountains in a range that can get swallowed up by Mystery Dungeons like that, so…”

Alice hung her mouth open as a look of awe slowly took over her face. Her head shot up from atop her tail, and she uncoiled fully.

"Gods almighty," she whispered, her head turning between him and Gaius. "Do you two know what this means?"

Flame: “No, since we never studied the locations of Mystery Dungeons in the Empire together?” ^^;
Gaius: “No, because I don’t know anything about Scum territory and would’ve really, really liked to keep it that way?”

Flame turned to Gaius, and they shared a blank look.

"… No?" Flame scratched the back of his neck.

"We're right by Thermae Himerae!" Alice whispered as a smile crept on her snout.

Flame: "We're by what now?"
Gaius: "Place we saw on the map in Chapter XVII that we were planning on ditching to after we fled the army. Don't feel ashamed if you had to go back and peek, it's been a while."
Flame: “... Oh right! Wow, talk about a lucky roll there!”

Thermae Himerae… Flame furrowed his brow as he searched the depths of his limited memories, sitting cross-legged.

He'd heard the name from somewhere. The bell it rang sang of importance, too. Was Alice the one to utter it? Staring into the campfire, he searched through more muddled memories. The memory of a dimly-lit tent resurfaced, a map lit by the glow of his tail fire.

Of course! Now it all came back to him—they'd been planning their escape. Alice had said the city was renowned for its many luxuries, like its namesake thermal baths; nestled in the mountains as it was, it had evaded imperial conquest throughout the ages, exactly the reason why they'd chosen it as their… destination…

Gaius: "... How has this place not gotten plundered yet if it's full of luxuries and right next to the barbarian hordes?" .-.
Alice: "I mean, it was never conquered by the Empire so..."
Gaius: "Yeah, but isn't Thermae Himerae a tributary state? Just what prevents your dad from saying 'hey, cough up the rookie team and we'll waive this year's tribute'? I mean, there's not a lot of rulers who wouldn't jump at a chance like that even if it'd just be to pocket the wealth for themselves."
- Beat moment -
Alice + Flame: “...”

Alice: "Er... historical precedent?"
Flame: "I mean, it's not as if we wouldn't have at least a couple days to catch our breaths. We might as well go there instead of bum around in this little cave."

Flame's heart sputtered.

Gaius looked caught off-guard, too. "Hang on. You can't seriously mean…"

"Yes." Alice's eyes betrayed excitement. "Despite all we've just been through, with the Scum, and the Praetorian Guard…"

Flame released a breath he didn't know he was holding. "… We're where we planned to escape all along."

Gaius: “Okay, what’s the catch to all of this? Since this feels way too convenient right now.”

Flame: “We’re in the middle of Teu- uh… Scum territory in a place filled with feral Hydreigon, with the Imperial Army combing the woods looking for us?”
Gaius: “... Right. That would be a pretty big catch.” .-.

Quiet overcame the alcove. The members of Team Phalanx looked into each others' eyes in a tidal wave of excitement and disbelief.

Flame could hear his own heartbeat in the silence; grinning, he clutched his chest amid quivering gasps.

They'd done it. As impossible as it seemed mere hours before, they'd challenged the world—the Scum, the Praetorian Guard, fate itself—and emerged victorious.

Gaius: “Flame, could you have tempted fate any harder right there?” >_>;
Flame: “Look, you were feeling excited too, okay?!” O_O;

Alice started laughing—a breathless, liberatory laugh, and Gaius reluctantly followed along, with the mildest hint of joy.

Sitting back against the wall, Flame smiled—his eyes felt too heavy to join them, but his tail fire grew all on its own. He sat back and watched them, and as they laughed, he noticed that he felt just a little more complete.

Enjoy it while it lasts, you three.

Flame maneuvered his way through dappled light and shade, venturing deeper into the pine forest. The earth was littered with needles that snapped audibly under his every step. Nettles grew alongside ferns and seemed to intermingle into one thick, messy layer of underbrush. From somewhere deeper in the heart of the woods came the droning of Spearows.

Flame: "Ow! God, why are we not burning this out?! That's got to be the tenth nettle I stepped on!"
Gaius: "Because that'd attract more attention? Look, you've got hard scales, don't you? Just put up with a few pricks until we're in the clear here."

"… If we keep heading east," Alice went on, "we're bound to run into the main road. Merchants use it to trade goods between the provincial capital and Thermae Himerae."

Flame: “... Wait, but if that’s the main road that’s critical for trade and this is Teu- uh… Scum territory, wouldn’t it be crawling with soldiers to keep Pokémon from said territory out?”

Alice: “... They were pulled away for that manhunt for us and won’t be expecting us to go there?” ^^;
Flame: “Okay, yes. But we shouldn’t logically know that in canon!” .-.

"Yeah, yeah," quipped Gaius. "Keep the history to yourself. How long's it gonna take?"

Flame found it hard to follow what the two behind him were saying. He drew in ragged breaths and focused on staying well in the centre of the dirt path. Away from nettles, especially. The stinging on his tail did an apt job of reminding him.

It still gives me a giggle to think that the ‘nettles’ gag back in the day wound up being right on the money.

"No more than a week," Alice said firmly. "Perhaps even five days."

"Five days?" asked Gaius, part amused, part annoyed. "You made it sound like we were there."

Gaius: “I’d like to remind everyone that we’re in the middle of Scum territory right now. Scum territory that has feral Hydreigon. And a bunch of pissed-off soldiers looking for Flame that are probably going to turn us into piñatas afterwards.”

Alice: “Technically, that’s more likely to be your problem, but… uh… w-we can take it slow and be sneaky?”

Gaius: “Not while it’s late October we can’t.” >_>;

Flame was hardly paying attention anymore. The soles of his feet hurt like hell, but he could not rest. Not yet. They'd stop for the night soon enough. Right? He glanced around them but could not find the sun above the thick branches of the pines.

Narrator:

Flame: “That was so not necessary! And we already used that gif once this review!” >///<

"Oh, hush," Alice said. "Our original escape plan had us starting all the way in Aesernia. It would have taken—Flame? Could we stop for a moment?"

Flame took a few seconds to fully acknowledge her question. He stopped and turned back questioningly. "Wh-wha—"

"I can hear a creek." Alice jabbed her tail tip to the side, smiling softly. "We should fill our canteens while we have the opportunity."

Flame: “... I’m sorry, but why do I want to be near a creek when I’m a Fire-type and associate it with pain and death? After I had an agonizing experience getting washed away by a river just yesterday?” .-.
Alice: “Because we’ll die of dehydration without water. It’s a five-day journey, and most Pokémon are dead within three without it.” >_>;
Flame: “I… guess that’d be a good reason to go there? It’s just… uh… can I stay in the treeline or something while you do that?”

Gaius glanced down at his mud-caked feet. "And get washed," he grumbled.

"Yes, and get washed," Alice added.

Flame merely frowned. "Get washed…? Do we really—"

Gaius: "Look Flame, there's an active manhunt for us right now. Do you really want to run the risk of getting smelled out from reeking from a kilometer away?" >_<;
Flame: "We fell into a river just yesterday! Just how bad could we smell right now?!" >_>;

But Gaius had already disappeared into the bushes; Alice motioned with her head to follow before doing the same.

Muttering curse words he didn't know the meaning of, Flame was left with no choice but to follow them into the thick vegetation. The leaves scratched his scales all over as he crept forth—he prayed there wasn't another nettle here he couldn't see. He emerged into the open woods—somehow unscathed—and followed the shapes of Gaius and Alice downhill.

The sound of rushing water was getting louder now. He hopped over a fallen pine trunk, before, finally, he and his teammates reached the creek at the bottom of the slope.

Flame: “...”

Gaius: “Oh stop being so dramatic. You survived that soak in the river yesterday, what’s a piddly little stream like this?”

It was only a few metres across, with round, moss-laden rocks poking out here and there. Flame walked up to the edge of the water. Further upstream, a frail-looking Deerling on the other bank stopped lapping up water to meep at the sight of them; it trotted away in a hurry before Flame could even speak.

"Damn," Gaius muttered. "Could have had it for dinner."

Frail-looking, huh? So the ferals are having food problems themselves right now. I’m not sure if it was a deliberate touch or not, but given how the Imperial economy is in freefall at least in the border regions and the proles would have to get their food from somewhere... yeah, I could buy ferals in the boonies being a bit gaunt.

"Not to worry." Alice slithered to the edge of the creek, and unslung her bag. "Do we still have those Magikarp left from lunch, Flame?"

Panting a little, Flame stood there numbly at the edge of the creek. He blinked. "Uh—yeah."

Flame: “Wait, are those even safe to eat right now when they’ve been unchilled all day-?” .-.
Gaius: “Flame, I know the Scum were feting you as some sort of god-king or something like that for a week, but seriously. We’re in the middle of the woods, lower your standards a bit!” >_>;
Flame: “... Wait, how do you know that anyways, Gaius?”
- Beat moment -
Gaius: “... I read your cutaway gags and pieced things together?”

Alice: “Wait, we can do that? But- And- Ack, I’m just not going to think about it too hard. These fourth-wall breaking moments always make my head spin.”

As his teammates fished their canteens out, Flame felt his legs shaking. He crumbled onto his knees with a gasp and just barely caught himself from slumping over—in the water, no less. He held back a hiss. Almost like clockwork, his whole lower half erupted in protest; his feet, his knees, his legs. When he unslung his own bag, his shoulder suddenly remembered it was aching and joined its brethren in protest.

He almost felt a little guilty at how tired he felt. Almost. After this morning, he narrowed his eyes, I think I've earnt the right to feel tired.

Huh, I see Flame’s old doormat tendencies are rearing their head again there. Can’t tell if it was a deliberate thing or not, but it is a little striking that he goes into full “anything for the team” mode within the span of like a day of being back in their orbit.

Though I suppose him having a crush on one of its members probably helps with that.

Still panting, Flame managed to get himself into a seated position. He found himself staring and stared up as he felt inside his bag. Down here, he almost forgot that they were still surrounded by mountains behind those thick pines.

Flame dipped his leather-bound canteen in the creek to refill it. He held it there a few seconds, then blinked; there seemed to be something blue moving in the—

A Dragonair's head poked out of the water. "Tired?"

Flame:

Alice: “... Flame? Are you alright?” .-.

Flame scrambled back in a panic. "Gah! Alice! Don't do that!" He looked left and right. "Wh-where's my…?"

As if to answer his question, Alice approached the creek's edge and set down the canteen she held with her teeth. His canteen. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly closed it with its cork.

Huh, some solid reflexes on Alice’s part. Though I suppose not dying from at least 2 years of MD crawling will build up a quick reaction time there.

"I shall take that as a yes," Alice smiled, her head wings dripping heavily. "Gods, it's been so long since I've had a proper swim!"

Oh, so the Imperial Palace is confirmed for having pools (since the Tiberis if it’s anything like its real counterpart would be seriously grody around Urbe), good to know.

Flame: "... Alice, isn't that the same water you've been bathing and swimming around in along with gods-knows-how-many ferals who pass through here?" >_>;
Alice: "Uh... the stream washed things out so it should be fine? Also, you are a Pokémon, so you shouldn't this water still be good enough for your body?"
Gaius: "Look, you were perfectly fine chugging down water that came from lead piping in Aesernia. You'll survive. Boil it first if you're really that picky."

Flame nearly objected, but he figured that their great escape of approximately twelve hours ago did not quite count as a swim. She'd also dipped back underwater and could not hear him.

Regaining his composure, he found himself strangely drawn to her motions. Her serpentine body undulated and battled the current effortlessly just beneath the surface. She reemerged a little further upstream, closer to where Gaius was splashing water onto his arms.

Flame: “...” O///O
Alice: “... Flame, you’re aware I can see you staring at me like that, right? Seriously, I know you find me cute, but it’s getting a bit creepy.”

Flame: “I w-wasn’t staring! I-It was a momentary pause!” >///<

A small, tired smile grazed his snout. "Isn't it cold in there?"

Alice turned to him, her head wings dripping heavily. "Cold? Yes, very much so. Does it matter? Gods, no!" She beamed a huge smile. "Who cares if it's not quite a thermal bath—after all these years? This may as well be Capri!"

Ah yes, moving onto the part of this chapter that wasn’t around when I first read it. I personally would’ve styled it as ‘Telonis’ to disguise it a bit better, but hey, you can’t say a ‘Capri’ isn’t fitting for this setting. And it’s a sweet enough island that I’ll make an exception for it and I still wanna see that beach episode set on it someday. :V

Gaius: “No, I’m pretty sure there’d be more beaches if we were on Capri right now and it wouldn’t feel this chilly in the air.” >_>;
Alice: “Yes, and we’d have been arrested by soldiers halfway through [Naples], so learn to work with what we’ve got here, Gaius.” >:|

With that, Alice flicked her tail at him—Flame barely had time to cover his laugh with an elbow before the freezing drops splashed all over him.

"Hey!" Flame laughed, and despite shivering a little, quickly stuck a hand into the frigid waters. "Oh, now you're in for… it?"

Flame: “... Uh, on second thought, maybe not since this river feels like death right now.”

Alice: “Your loss, really.”

Seeing no one, Flame turned his head left and right, confused, until he saw her emerge just upstream with a small splash.

He huffed in amusement, and solemnly crossed his arms. "Coward."

In response, Alice merely stuck her tongue back out at him.

Gaius: “Well, at least they’re not making lovey-dovey noises with each other right now. Though aren’t you two a bit old for a splash fight?” -_-;

Defeated, Flame could do little but exhale and send the fellow dragon a playful glare—before he spontaneously burst out laughing.

Gods… all this still felt unreal. Being around them, next to them. He couldn't get that moment out of his head; that moment when he'd first remembered that moment he'd first seen her. That moment when Sycorax had spoken her name…

Flame blinked.

Hold on, he thought. Didn't Sycorax call her…?

Gaius: “‘Princess Alice’? Yes? And? You yourself pointed it out, Flame.”
Flame: “Again, not canon, Gaius. Anyhow…”

No, he couldn't have imagined it.

Grasping two clawfuls of grass at his sides, Flame's eyes quickly fell back on Alice. She was still just upstream, practicing—and failing—to balance a rock on her nose while she swam. He continued to stare at her, wide-eyed, trying to make sense of the thoughts going through his head.

He had been too caught up in the drama of the ambush for that word to really process, but now that he thought back to it, it puzzled him to no end.

Alice: “... Flame? Why are you staring at me like that?” .-.
Flame: “Er… w-well…”

He released a shaky breath. "Alice?"

"Hm?" The Dragonair splayed her dripping head-wings open, then turned to him inquisitively.

"Back at the ambush, when Sycorax said your name. He called you… 'princess'. Why?"

Alice: “...”

Gaius: “Just saying, Alice. He already brought this up once-”
Alice + Flame: “That wasn’t canon!”
Gaius: “... Right. Anyhow, have fun explaining that one.”

Alice's playful smile vanished instantly. For a couple of seconds she froze, letting the stream's current carry her away—until she snapped back to reality and hurriedly swam back to the riverbank, settling just by him.

Flame glanced at Gaius; he'd perked up at the question, and was watching them both with a certain interest.

Gaius:

Alice: “Oh my gods, Gaius, can you not right now?!”

Flame: “I mean, isn’t there just a simple explanation for this, Alice?”

"If you're a princess," Flame began, "doesn't that mean that your parents are… in the imperial family? As in the emperor's family? What's going on here?"

Alice looked only more uncomfortable with every successive question, avoiding eye contact; had he been too blunt?

I mean, he’s only widely reviled by the general populace and that little detail coming out in public would probably bring a mob of angry proles down on her if her parentage came out in their presence. To say nothing about the whole “getting disowned and yeeted to the wolves instead of getting a cushy island exile” thing.

"I know this is private," Flame began softly, smiling at her. "But… we're a team, aren't we? No point in keeping secrets. I'll understand."

After a lengthy pause punctuated by frantic glances in every which way, Alice finally looked him in the eye. "I suppose it sounds rather glamorous, does it not?" She smiled nervously. "B-but it's not the type of 'princess' you're thinking of. Mine is a rather meaningless title."

Gaius:

Alice: “I-It is, okay?!” >///<
Flame: “Gaius, One: stop being such an asshole, Two: can we not run jokes into the ground here?”

- Cue turning back to Alice -
Flame: “Anyhow, I think you’re gonna need to run that one by me, Alice. Since when was ‘Princess’ a meaningless title?” .-.

Flame frowned. "Meaningless? But… I thought it applied to the daughters of kings, or emperors. To denote that you'll rise to the throne one day."

"You speak as if an empress could rise to the throne at all," Alice muttered bitterly, before her nerves returned to her. "B-besides, titles like mine are practically a formality among noble families! L-like 'Comes Augusti of the Rhone Valley', or something equally ceremonial. It's all for show. No legal value whatsoever."

‘Comes’ huh? So there’s ‘Counts’ in this setting. Can’t tell if the ‘Rhone Valley’ is on Urbe’s peninsula in this world, or if that’s a sly confirmation that the Empire’s got a proper Gaul analogue of its own after all.

Alice: “S-See! Perfectly reasonable explanation there!” ^^;
Gaius: “Alice, you do realize that the literal meaning of that title is ‘Companion of the Emperor’, right? That sounds more like a bodyguard position than a Princess’ title-”

Alice: “One: the bodyguard position is called ‘comes dominorum nostrorum’, Two: can you shut up already, Gaius?!”

Gaius grunted at that, arms crossed together. "Really?"

"Gaius," Alice snapped her head at him, "will you trust me when I tell you something, for once in your life?"

Gaius: “Like your brilliant idea to cross the pool of grimy water in the hellish ice cave-?”

Alice: “A-As if you had any better ideas there! Look Gaius, you always run me over when I have something to say! Are you seriously not going to at least believe me when I talk about my own life story?!”

Gaius: “Oh come on, Alice. I was literally right there with you when we were in the Emperor’s office and we-!” >_>;
Alice: “That. Wasn’t. Canon!” >:|
Flame: “(Yeesh, she certainly got touchy quickly. Even if Gaius kinda brought it on himself.)” O_O;

The two held a staring match for a little while, with Gaius intensifying his glare at first before finally losing interest.

"Fine," Gaius rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Gaius: “Just saying, you’d better get your story straight about what sort of ‘Princess’ you were, Alice. Since I can already tell that this is gonna come back to bite us in the ass if you don’t.”

Flame couldn't help but feel confused at Gaius' intervention for a little while. When he saw that neither of his teammates looked in the mood to discuss the matter, he decided to drop it and return to the main question.

"I don't understand, though," Flame furrowed his brow. "Why even have titles like these if they're meaningless?"

Gaius: “Are you really wondering why a bunch of fat southern pricks need excuses to puff themselves up, Flame?”

Flame: “Look, there’s surely a story behind how things got so elaborate. Maybe it’s interesting.”

Alice offered him a sheepish smile. "It's, er, supposed to give something for senatorial families to add to their coat of arms. Makes you feel glamorous, until you remember there must be thousands of dead-end princesses and princes like me."

I can already see Gaius struggling to keep a straight face in the background given how quickly he called BS on Alice’s story earlier.

Flame sat there and pondered everything she'd just told him. "I guess."

"Besides, I doubt I even possess that title anymore—not after my exile."

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Imperial princes and princesses didn't end up in Aesernia on the edge of starvation, exile or no exile. Plus, what Alice had just told him lined up with what she had confided to him back in Portus—that she was an exiled daughter of petty nobles.


Yes… yes, it made sense.

Time to break out the owls again:

Even if I still want to find out one day as to what went down between Alice and Adrian such that she didn’t even get the customary one-way boat ticket to Capri that disfavored members of the Imperial household commonly got in Real!Urbe. Since… yeah, if that is also a thing in this setting and Capri hasn’t been eaten by a Mystery Dungeon or something like that, I don’t blame Alice for being really, really bitter towards her father.

When he faced Alice again, it was with another playful smile. "At least I can still tease you about it. Princess."

His only reply was a splash of water to the face that left him drenched and gasping at the frigid feeling that wrapped him all over.

"Oy!" He tried to splash her back with his claws, but she'd already swam away. He snorted and smiled playfully. "Get back here, and watch what happens! I dare you."

This is at once really cute and really

. Especially knowing that this all blows up in the gang’s face within the span of a chapter after this one.

Alice merely stuck her tongue out again from the other bank of the river, then dove into the water again. She came out with a pristine laugh.

"Gods, you have no idea how refreshing this is!" She shook her ear wings dry, then tilted her head. "Care to join me?"

Flame: “...”

Alice: “Is that a ‘maybe’?”

Flame shifted uncomfortably. Suddenly he became aware of his toes being just shy of touching the water. His feet and shins were coated with dried mud, after all, up to his knee. If only he submerged them for a few instants…

"I—I think I'm good." He swallowed. "Here. O-on dry ground."

Alice: “Your loss! Just saying, if we had made it to Capri, I’d have drug you into the water daily.” ^^;
Flame: “... Starting to think it was a good thing we didn’t run away to there after all.” ._.

"Maybe…" Gaius started, quietly. "He's spent too long around those Scum. Doesn't like baths anymore."

Flame glanced to at Gaius; he was sitting at the creek's edge with his shins submerged, looking down into the water.

"By the gods," gasped Alice playfully. "Must we dump you into the creek, Flame? Are you going to start smelling like a Muk?"

Gaius: "Honestly, if he ever gets to that point, we should dump him into the creek. Pretty sure you can track a Muk pretty damn well through a forest just by smell alone." >_>;
Flame: "Look, don't you two have some solution here for me to clean off that doesn't involve me being in agony from submerging my tail flame?"
Alice: "... Lay down in the water and poke your tail out? I dunno, just try to be a bit creative here, Flame."

Flame rolled his eyes theatrically. "I don't remember any of us smelling that great back in Aesernia. Ever."

"Y-yes, well…" Alice looked off to the side. "We couldn't exactly afford it."

Alice: “Also the public thermae shut down years ago there, so…” ^^;
Flame: “... How on earth did that not cause constant outbreaks of disease at Camp Tempest anyways? You’d think that Ariel would’ve cared about the health and well-being of her local enforcers?”

Gaius: “You’d think, but she’s Ariel, Flame. You saw what sort of ship she ran.” >_>;

Aaaaand moving the rest into a second post since I don't feel like undoing 50 image tags.

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Gaius dropped his half-smile. "Frankly, I'm still surprised you didn't come back full of body paint."

I actually wonder if Gaius’ backstory was settled at this point in time, since boy do a lot of these exchanges read differently in light of what came out about his background in Chapter XXXI.

Flame: “Wait, why on earth would that be surprising when I was with them for less than a week?” .-.
Gaius: “Because from the way they were reacting to you back at the bridge, you were really, really obviously some sort of hero to them? For crying out loud, they were blurting out-!”
Flame: “‘[Our -------]’? Yeah? What’s so special about that?”
- Gaius blinks and shakes his head -
Gaius: “... Hell if I know. But the point is, you were important enough that they were willing to die for you, Flame. Am I really supposed to believe that you didn’t pick up anything from them?”

Flame blinked, even more puzzled. That tone… The Grovyle's eyes were set dead ahead and his expression as unreadable as always—but Flame had a queasy feeling that he knew what was on his mind.

It's who I am, damn it. Do I really need to justify it? The mere thought boiled his blood a little, but if the two of them were to start a new life together, he supposed they would need to make their differences clear.

That, or to endure more passive aggression.

Oh the irony of this entire thought process right now.

"Gaius…" Flame frowned. "Does it bother you? That I'm a part of the Scum?" He rubbed his forearm. "S-sort of. Not by blood, but—you get the picture."

Gaius: “No shit, it bothers me, Pliny.” >_>;
Flame: “E-Even if I’m functionally a different ‘mon and have effectively only been alive for like a month?” ._.;

No answer. Flame glanced to his side repeatedly, but was met with a face he couldn't decipher. Maybe he hadn't heard him?

Alice sank down until only her eyes and head wings were above the water's surface, glancing between the two.

Flame twiddled his claws and sighed, accompanied only by rushing water and the buzzing of bug-types somewhere in the treetops above.

"Honestly?" Gaius finally said, his voice quiet. "If this were three weeks ago, I'd have killed you."

Flame: "Er... eek. And... uh... what exactly's changed your mind since then, Gaius?"

Gaius: "Well, I owe you my life and we'd have worse odds on this manhunt with two 'mons than three. So 'sentiment and practical considerations', I guess."

Flame's eyes widened. His stomach sank into an icy pit. "… Oh."

How reassuring. He swallowed.

Flame: “I’m… just gonna sleep with Alice between us at night for a while.” o_o;

Alice peered at him from the water, and despite being mostly submerged, the utter shame on her face told Flame that she couldn't bring herself to fully disagree.

Guess “well, but he’s cute” has its limits, huh? Not that it’d really be hard to fault Alice considering the lens through which she and her peers have seen the Teutonii. Especially if it turns out that they’re also up to some of the less savory practices of their namesake. Since I remember that bone pile in the camp in Castra Aeterna.

Meanwhile, Gaius merely sat there and filtered water between the two remaining claws on his good hand.

"I hate the Scum," Gaius sneered. "They can all die in hell for all I care. But…" He clenched his only two claws together. "Fuck me, I guess you're family now."

Gaius: “Also, I… kinda don’t have much family to choose from at the moment, so kinda need to keep my options open here.” ^^;
Flame: “Gee, thanks, Gaius.”

Flame did not know how to feel. What was he supposed to feel? His teammate had just mused about killing him, and was now declaring him family.

Oh honey, you ain’t seen nothing for attitudes towards family in Urbe if they’re anything like the stuff that went down in RL!Urbe.

"Thanks." Flame muttered quietly. "I… didn't know you thought of me like that."

In response, Gaius did little else than shrug. "I can't pretend you're anything like 'em, Flame. And… after this morning, it's clear you're not that clueless idiot I thought you were. So, yeah." Gaius rubbed the back of his head. "Maybe I was a little harsh on you."

Flame: “A little harsh?”

Gaius: “Yes, and? Even if we owe you our lives a couple times by now, you’re still the moron who almost got us eaten by a horde of Paras. Don’t push it.” >_>;

Flame stopped breathing as he absorbed that last sentence. When Gaius avoided his eyes, he found Alice staring back at him from the water, with wide eyes as if to say 'shocking, right?'.

And yet, despite those kind words, Flame could not bring himself to feel grateful, or even happy. He narrowed his eyes and thought back to their time in Aesernia together. Of those first days.

Alice: “I’m… just gonna scoot off into the river before the ‘bagauda’ thing comes up again.” ._.;

"I didn't know you had a conscience," he said.

At that Alice flinched slightly from the water; Gaius said nothing, continuing to stare down into the creek.

I mean, he does. It’s just that Gaius has been a bit short on people in his life that he doesn’t quietly resent or hate for one reason or another. That would help with the lack of an apparent conscience.

Rather than sadden Flame, his reaction only irritated him further. He stood up and slung his bag back over his shoulder.

"Let's go."

With little more to say, Team Phalanx soon dried off and joined back on the main path flanked by bushes.

Alice: "Flame, aren't you being just a bit harsh here? Gaius is just trying to open up to you."
Flame: "Look, maybe I'd feel a bit better towards him if he didn't just tell me he thinks that the 'mons who were almost nothing but kind to me while I was with them all deserve to die and go to hell, but Gaius treated me like total crap for most of the last 3 weeks. I'm not fully convinced he's turned over a new leaf yet."
Gaius: "So in other words, if I were a girl and you had the hots for me like Alice, then you'd be cutting me some slack-"
Alice: "Gaius!" >///<
Flame: "Okay, now I'm really not in the mood to give you a break right now!"

Flame promptly resumed scanning their surroundings for threats, in an effort to bring his thoughts away from Gaius. A flying-type's chirp echoed from somewhere distant.

They'd caught glimpses of winged pokémon all throughout the day, looping around distant mountaintops—but it was nigh impossible to tell Praetorians apart from ferals. Or perhaps it was the Teutonii—this was their territory, after all, and they too could have been looking for him.

I have to wonder if that winds up causing any issues for Imperials or Teutonii operating in territories inhabited by ferals. Especially strong ferals. Since this feels like exactly the sort of moment where telegraphing affiliation in some capacity would be handy for instantly identifying friendlies and by process of elimination, hostiles.

With a heavy sigh, Flame squeezed his eyes and clenched his claws together. The Empire, the Presence, and now the Teutonii. Why him, of all pokémon? What was so important about him?

Gaius: “Are you really asking yourself that when it’s beyond obvious that the Scum are convinced that you’re important to them?”

Flame: “Yes? Because I don’t know why they think that about me.” .-.

What did I do in my past life? He kicked a cobble up the path. Slay a god?

Only a distant Kricketune's buzz answered him.

I’m pretty sure between the hints in the last chapter and this story’s title, that things are shaping up to it being revealed at some point that Flame is a god. But we’ll see when we get there, I guess.

Alice: "Don't the gods in some PMD settings come back after you kill them? This is a story called Rebirth, with how much trouble Our Benefactors are going through over Flame, you don't think that...?"
Gaius: "Meh, this story started before the release of Super. It'd be a hell of a coincidence if it used the same plot device the game did with your partner when no prior game hinted that that was even possible."
Flame: "Not gonna lie, I'm not sure if turning out be something like Ho-Oh in surprise really would be something I'd be happy about anyways. I like my scales and tail flame."

Before long, the forest's trees had begun to thin out. The pines gradually became more distanced between themselves, leaving more of the sky and the mountains visible—and eventually disappeared completely. The open field in front of them gave way to an incline littered with large rocks and bushes, but otherwise, no real source of cover.

"Here we go again…" Flame muttered.

The three crept right up to the end of the treeline. They each picked a different tree to hide behind. Flame didn't dare steal another peek. The same tension he'd felt gripping his chest for most of the day returned.

They would once again have to walk out in the open, exposed to prying eyes.

Fantastic place you want to be in in the place with Feral Hydreigon and two hostile factions that you know field aerial scouts. ^^;

Flame: “I’m sorry, why are we traveling by day instead of going around at night again?”
Alice: “Because your tail flame would stand out even worse at night in an open area like this?” ^^;
- Beat moment -
Flame: “... Dammit, of all the times to have ditched my cloak…”

"I'll be back," Gaius said promptly. "Don't get yourselves killed."

In a swift movement the Grovyle latched onto his tree and climbed up steadily. Flame was surprised he was able to climb at all after losing a hand—but through a combination of his clawed feet, his good hand, and his leaf blade, he scurried beyond the thick pine branches in a matter of seconds.

Flame watched him disappear. Then, he let his back slide down against the tree's rough hide until he sat against it, heedless of the awkward position his tail was in. He had to keep himself from relaxing. The hardest part was just ahead of them.

Wait, but from Charmeleon’s bodyplan, isn’t Flame more accurately effectively lying on his back at the moment? Since I’m not sure if it’s physically possible to sit on a tail that thick and integrated into one’s body short of breaking multiple vertebrae. ^^;

"Funny," said Alice suddenly, coiled up the next tree over. "I believe I once told Gaius the same thing two days ago. In the Praetorian camp."

Flame took a moment to process her words. "Does he really expect me to just… forget?" He snarled. "He treated me like garbage, Alice."

Alice: “Uh… probably? (Honestly, I was kinda hoping you did, since if you remember what Gaius did to you…)”

[ ]

"I was there." Alice smiled sympathetically. "Frankly, I'm worried for him. I fear that losing his hand proved a greater trauma than I first realised."

"If it helped him get a stupid moral compass," muttered Flame, "I guess we can't complain."

Alice chuckled softly. "Indeed."

This part probably would’ve worked a bit better to show Alice giving some sort of initial reaction to Flame’s comment from the prior block. Especially since there’s a few arguments for her likely being made a bit uneasy by it, since… yeah, she did sign off on Gaius’ brilliant plan to throw Flame under the wagon back in Chapter 1.

Alice: "(Now’s probably not a good time to not remind Flame that I agreed to Gaius' plan to pass Flame off as a raider.)" ._.;
Flame: "I heard that, you know. Look, I get that this world sucks and 'mons have to make some messed-up choices to get by, but... I dunno. If Gaius had spent the first two weeks afterwards trying to bend over backwards to try and make me feel like a teammate the way you did, I doubt I'd feel this way about him."
- Flame shake head -
Flame: "But he didn't, so there's no point wondering about what-ifs."

Flame tried to hold his breath to listen for ferals, but only succeeded in hearing the growl of his own stomach. He clutched it with his claws and sighed. That was one aspect of living with the Teutonii that he would miss: the food. It was always so plentiful, and he'd never eaten portions so large in his life before!

Flame: "Guess I should've enjoyed life as their divine hero figure a bit more while I could've. Shame I never did learn what '[Our -------]' meant." -_-;
- Alice blink moment -
Alice: "Wait a minute. '[Our -------]'? Why if I didn't know any better, I'd have said that that second word sounded like a garbled version of..."
- Alice blinks and shakes head -
Alice: "Nah, that's ridiculous. They're a bunch of tribal savages. How would they even have a conception of a ruling figure like that?"

Flame allowed himself to smile. From beyond the pine branches above him he could see the sky tinted a soft shade of orange. His meagre Magikarp dinner awaited him at the end of this final sprint.

All things considered, perhaps being hungry together wasn't so bad.

Boy is that one harsher in hindsight knowing exactly where this story is about to go over the next two chapters.

Bringing his bag between his legs, Flame peered down and rummaged idly through its contents. There wasn't much left; a pouch of berries, a few orbs, a blanket that had yet to fully dry from that morning…

… and then his claws fell on something flat and round.

Flame blinked. He dug the object from the blanket which it was under and held it in his claws, though he kept them inside the bag. The shape, the button in the middle… This was a communications badge. But it made no sense—he'd tossed his old army badge long ago. How had he gotten a new one? Widening the bag's lip with his other paw, he studied the badge's features more closely. Its rusted hue, the heraldic eagle carved upon its back, though the writing on it had been… scratched off…

Flame: “(Wait a minute, when did I get this? And… badges don’t have tracking abilities in this setting, do they?)” .-.

Something clicked in his head.

All of a sudden, Flame locked up in fear. His claws—no, his entire arm beginning to quiver. Breathing became impossible. A vision once relegated to the reaches of his consciousness now poured forth and took over his body. He could see himself on that cursed mountainside again, time at a standstill as the Praetorians and Teutonii edged ever closer to battle. He remembered himself, trembling, staring up into Daedalus' glowing eye for what felt like the last time.

"There is a badge in your bag," Daedalus had told him. "Once you're in a safe place, use it to contact me."

Flame: “... (And considering what I last saw of them, it might have been the last time for them.)”

Those words echoed ominously in his head, yet all Flame could do was sit there and stare down at the badge, his claws clutching around it, still incapable of breathing.

Whispers of a past life caught up to him. A life he'd all but removed from his head that very morning. Could he do it? Talk to them?

Flame: “(Well, okay ‘them’ is probably going to be a bit tricky if it’s literally anyone other than Daedalus or Brynn, but still…)” .-.

"… Flame?"

Flame jolted and dropped the badge; he lifted his eyes to meet a concerned Alice, still coiled up by the next tree over.

"Are you all right?" she asked quietly.

"Y-yeah…" Flame uttered. "I just… remembered something, that's all."

Flame: "(Probably a good thing Gaius didn't see this, otherwise I'd find out really, really quick if he really didn't want to kill me anymore.)" o_o;

Alice nodded with some reluctance. "I see. I too get those moments, sometimes."

Boy does that read differently knowing the broad strokes of Alice’s past and how she sees that past.

Before Flame could say anything else, Gaius suddenly dropped down from above, sending both him and Alice scrambling back with a gasp.

"G-Gaius!" Alice squinted. "We could use some warning!"

Flame: “(Oh my god. I was seriously 30 seconds away from Gaius seeing that badge Daedalus gave me. Note to self, never bring that out again anywhere near these two.)”

"I see a burrow from here." Gaius motioned to the sharp incline ahead of them. "Just over the top there. It's not too far—we'll be out in the open for less than ten minutes."

"Did you spot anybody?" Alice pressed.

At that, Gaius hesitated. The mere fact that he was hesitating caused Flame to tense.

"… There were two flyers to the north-east. One of 'em Hydreigon. They disappeared behind a mountaintop, though—couldn't have seen us."

Boy am I feeling increasingly confident in my prediction that Kamerad Trikephalo is going to turn out to be a turncoat. Since the fact that this Hydreigon is flying with someone else is a very strong hint that it’s not a feral, and Daedalus had no other fliers in his party beside him.

Flame felt his heart tighten. A Hydreigon… it couldn't have been that one. Right?

"They are native to these mountains," Alice conceded. "Ferals, most likely. We should still be cautious."

Flame breathed a literal sigh of relief. Thank the gods. What had they been talking about? Oh, right. He glanced up at the rocky incline rising before them.

Flame: "Considering how a feral Hydreigon would be strong as hell and probably try to eat us, why is that comforting to me again?"
- Flame looks at Alice and Gaius -
Flame: "... (Right. Even before getting Daedalus involved, the other scenario might involve Alice and Gaius getting flying lessons or something like that.)" ._.;

"You said there's a burrow." Flame squinted at the distant mountaintops. "What do we do if it's occupied?"

"Hell if I know." Gaius shrugged with a smile. "You told the great Sycorax to fuck himself—I'm sure a Sentret or whatever won't scare you."

Flame rolled his eyes theatrically. "Love you too, Gaius."

Flame: "Just saying, if feral Hydreigon live in these mountains, I'm pretty sure there's other nasty ferals crawling around."
Gaius: "Meh. If the burrow looked like it belonged to something tough, I'd have said so. Seriously, stop shedding your scales over it, Flame."

"We should sleep in turns, regardless." Alice glanced between them. "Make sure no ferals sneak in at night."

Flame nodded in assent. "Let's go, guys. Last ten minutes for today."

Doubts nestled at the edges of Flame's mind. Subtle, creeping doubts, but he could already feel them begin to nag away at his conscience. Even as Team Phalanx finally emerged into the open, he struggled to concentrate fully on keeping alert. There was still that vague feeling of nausea deep within him.

For his bag felt just a little heavier now, and the badge's presence could not be unseen.

-Cue Flame accidentally brushing his bag against a tree trunk and muffled throaty noises coming from inside it-
Flame: “...” O.O
- Gaius whirls around and stiffens up -
Gaius: “Flame, what the hell was that?”
Flame: “J-Just had something in my throat I needed to clear!” O_O;
- Gaius blinks before looking away warily -
Gaius: “Get some water next time! You could’ve given us away like that!”
Flame: “(God that was close. I’m… gonna need to do some bag organization later tonight when those two are asleep.)”

I should just throw it away.

Flame: “(Least of all because I’m one poorly-timed bag press away from Gaius finding that thing and stabbing me to death.)”

Flame found himself laying on his side with his eyes wide open, staring at the tight confines of the burrow, the brown dirt walls lit by what feeble light his tail could produce.

He clutched that very tail between his claws, holding it against his chest. As he lay there the memories of the previous week rushed to him all at once.

He'd already made his choice. Heck, he'd spent sleepless nights plotting this choice—fantasising like a prime idiot of this very moment, when he would once again be laying next to his teammates!

No, there could be no turning back. He had thrown in his destiny with Alice and Gaius. It was what he wanted.

… So why this doubt, then?

- Cue Flame’s stomach growling -
Flame: “... Right, that definitely isn’t helping with those feelings of doubt right now.” >///<

Eyes narrowed, Flame rolled to face the low ceiling as the wind howled outside the burrow. Why did the thought of tossing the badge off a cliff twist his stomach? It was a relic of a life he'd put behind him. A mere memory.

Perhaps that was all it took. Maybe he took solace in holding on to the one thing that would grant him a glimpse into a life that could have been. The thought sent his heart into a frenzy.

I don't even know if they're alive.

Flame: “I- I really didn’t need to think about that possibility, thanks.”

The last he'd seen of Daedalus, of Brynn, of all the others, they were crying out for him as he leapt off that fateful bridge.

A scowl came across his face. What had become of them? Could Sycorax have attacked regardless? Flame shuddered at the thought as he cupped his head into his paws. He couldn't do it. He couldn't think about that right now.

Just saying, we never did get any explicit confirmation that the other members of the Teutonii convoy beyond Daedalus and Brynn actually survived… and considering what’s come out as of Chapter XXXI about Daedalus’ attitudes towards acceptable losses…

Flame: "Considering everything that I've seen and that Alice and Gaius have told me about how Teutonii get treated by the Empire? Why isn't my default assumption that they're all dead?"
- Flame stops and suddenly feels incredibly depressed at the idea of an entire party of 'mons who were looking forward to life in [Derinkuyu] and revering him lying dead and mangled in a ditch -
Flame: "O-Okay. Y-Yeah... I can see why I'm holding out onto hope here."

Lifting his claws from his face, Flame turned his head to check on his teammates, his only source of comfort right now. Gaius was crumpled into a ball on the ground near one of the burrow's walls, resting peacefully. Alice...

He blinked; his tail fire flickered for a moment. Alice?

He turned his head around, but in a burrow so small, his eyes quickly settled back on the entrance tunnel. She had to be outside. Why would she go outside?

Flame: “... (She’s not seriously thinking about going off to stargaze while we’re in the middle of a province-wide manhunt, is she?)”

Flame rose to a slumped sitting position and wracked his brain for an explanation. He clutched his tail for comfort. The wind was howling as it buffeted the exit to the burrow, a still breeze occasionally reaching him. Then came a distant rumbling that was more akin to a deep groan.

Flame: “... Okay, scratch ‘stargazing’, but what on earth did bring her outside, then?”

Thunder? Flame thought, leaning closer to the burrow's entrance. What would have provoked her to go outside in this weather? He mulled the question again and again, yet no answer came. For a brief moment he toyed with the idea of the burrow's owner having returned to claim what was rightfully theirs.

Flame let go of his tail. I have to look for her.

Lemme shorten that down for ya:

Flame: “Alice? A-Alice?!” O_O;

Followed by Flame darting out of the burrow looking for his blue noodle in a hurry. :V

Down on all fours, he crawled past a still-sleeping Gaius and into the narrow entrance tunnel that led out of the burrow. When he was but a few meters from the exit, a harsh wind buffeted against his scales, and the fury of the elements outside only became louder.

Flame: “... Oh god, Alice!”

He sank his claws into the soft earth below him, as if to steel himself for what may have been ahead. He hesitated for a moment. Only the thought of Alice compelled him to move forward.

When he finally emerged into the world, Flame did not have time to brace before the full force of mother nature collided with his scales. Bristling cold quickly soaked every inch of his body. He covered his face with a forearm and hissed through gritted teeth, flinching as he was pelted with leaves and dirt and tiny branches from all directions.

Flame: “... Would’ve preferred to run into the angry feral, really.”

With complete disregard for the weather, he kept upright and raised his protective forearm to look around, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

It was barely a moment before his heart skipped a beat: Alice lay just a small distance ahead, coiled up on a rocky bluff that jutted out of the cliff. Her gaze seemed to be locked towards the dark valley beyond.

"Alice!" he shouted, yet she did not so much as stir.

Flame:

The wind whipped his scales savagely once more. Flame gritted his teeth; she couldn't have heard him.

Fearful of being lifted away, he gathered his courage and stepped forth—only to stop when he set eyes upon what Alice had been so entranced by.

Rippling masses of murky storm clouds blanketed the skies above them in a matte penumbra. Hazy violets morphed to tar-black, and from tar-black to midnight blue. The enormous conglomerate orbited around a central pulsating mass that hovered over the ravaged landscape.

Flame: “What ever happened to not going out to see the Portal Storms? (And why am I not feeling more scared at the moment?)”

Flame struggled to take in the sight, his stunned gaze scanning through the sky.

"Woah…"

Hideous tremors shook the air, a sensation Flame could feel in his own chest, like he was being shaken violently. He could do little more than gape in awe—the destruction was like nothing he'd ever seen. Hundreds upon thousands of trees ripped from the earth, their limbs viciously torn apart.

The portal storm held no bias. It savagely mutilated the landscape: the plains, valley, forest, even the mountainsides. Seemingly endless swathes of debris gravitated towards the central mass of the storm, carried high by winds that he could only describe as impossibly powerful.

Flame: “... I should probably be a lot more terrified right about now, but… damn, that’s quite a sight.”

And yet, in the midst of all this, Alice lay mere inches away from the cliff's edge without a hint of fear.

Flame: “... Which probably isn’t a good omen for her thought process right now. Let’s… just get her back into the burrow before she gets hit by a flying tree branch or something.” .-.

With hesitant steps, Flame closed the final gap between them and plopped down beside her. She must have been lost in her head, as she nearly jumped a foot when she saw him.

"Wha—Flame?" Alice said in a hoarse voice, just barely audible above the howling wind. "What are you doing up?"

"I… couldn't sleep. " Flame stared out towards the storm, the sheer size of it boggling his mind. He sat forward a little and allowed his legs to dangle off the edge a little, feeling a bit more secure that he wouldn't be lifted away.

Flame: “Also, uh… why did you come out here to this again?” ^^;
Alice: “I heard a loud noise outside the den and went to investigate and found…”
- Alice points up at the Portal Storm -
Alice: “Well, that.”
Flame: “... You are aware that Gaius is never going to let us hear the end of this if he finds out we snuck out to spectate a Portal Storm, right?” .-.

"Oh…" Alice said, shifting her gaze towards the misty sky, like she had hoped to find solace in the stormy night. "But… why did you come out here?"

Flame looked away as a gust of wind threatened his face with loose soil and leaves. "I was worried about you. Didn't find you in the burrow, and… my mind kinda did the rest." A meek sigh left his lungs. "Aren't you supposed to keep watch?"

"I… look, I was doing that!" Alice admitted sheepishly, burying her nose in her coils.

I mean, she’s technically still keeping watch. Just not in front of the den. :V

"Then what are you doing?" he said with the tiniest smirk. "After what we've been through, I wouldn't want a feral to be the one to stop our journey."

Any semblance of a smile that Flame had brought to her face drifted away as she stared out towards the storm. "Trust me, there won't be ferals. Not with a portal storm like this…"

Alice: “Well, I suppose there could be, but they’d be busy flying around and making hard landings, so let’s not think too hard about that.”

Flame had to resist the feeling he would be pushed off the cliff as an intense wind whipped his body. As he observed the last resisting trees being torn asunder by the gales sweeping through the valley, he couldn't bring himself to disagree with her.

"I guess that makes us the only two crazy enough to be outside, then," he said, likely coming off as a whisper in the breeze.

I mean, considering how one party member gets explicitly mentioned in this story as having problems keeping up a will to live… that suddenly brings on some really dark possibilities for what else could’ve motivated Alice to just go and spectate this Portal Storm given how she reacts to it later in this scene.

He was able to barely make out the slightest of chuckles from the Dragonair, setting his mind at ease.

After grasping the edge of the rock with his claws, Flame tilted his snout up to more fully take in what was in front of him.

Flame had seen a portal storm once before. It was the night after his first mission with his teammates, just on the outskirts of Aesernia. All the sensations were the same, yet he couldn't resist the pure spectacle of it. There was something therapeutic about the destruction. Perhaps it was because he felt it was some higher power delivering the retribution upon the world for all the times it had wronged him.

Because I’m pretty sure that you are that higher power, Flame. Or else a vessel to it.

Another low groan split the world apart, sending Flame's heart into a frenzy. He squinted to better see the dark sphere writhing again near the centre of the clouds, but the sight merely filled his chest with an unbearable dread.

He shut his eyes, and turned to Alice once more as the wind battered their bodies. "Maybe I should return the question—why are you out here?"

Flame: "No, seriously. What exactly are you doing out here like this?" ._.
Alice: "Er... I'm not sure, really. I suppose I really shouldn't be given how unsafe this is, but you can't admit it's not mesmerizing."
- Flame shake head -
Flame: "If you say so. (Though why do I feel a sudden urge to say 'Ascension'?)"

Alice didn't answer him immediately. Instead, she lifted her delicate eyes towards the smog-filled sky, her face gripped by tension. "Do you see where that portal storm is, Flame?"

Flame bit his lip; the sun was nowhere to be seen, and with the ongoing storm, most of the valley was veiled in near-total darkness.

Alice did not wait for his answer. "That's where we were around midday." Flame saw her shudder out of the corner of his eyes. "Just… just imagine if we'd slowed down at all today, for any reason. Imagine where we'd be right now."

Flame: “Uh… well… dead, obviously.” ._.
Alice: "Yeah. And this is suddenly feeling a lot less entertaining." ._.

The fear in Alice's voice was more than enough to take him out of his awe-struck stupor.

"It's the third one this week," she said hoarsely. "The Praetorians wouldn't stop talking about it back at the camp. Another one near Portus, as well as one in the far eastern provinces. And now… now…"

Flame heard her voice crack, and his frown deepened. Alice, no…

Flame: “C-Come on, Alice. D-Don’t do this to yourself! It’ll be alright!”

Alice: “N-No it won’t, Flame!”

"Portal storms used to be such extraordinary events, Flame," she rambled on, still on the verge of tears. "Th-they were a once-in-a-year kind of disaster. Now they're every day! By the gods, we ran from the storm in Aesernia. We barely ran from the one in Portus. And now…"

She squeezed her eyes together. "I know I shouldn't be thinking this way, b-but… if these storms keep multiplying, what should we do then? How far do we have to run?"

Bold of you to assume you can just run away from this sort of problem, Alice

Flame: "(Would this be a bad time to propose Capri as an alternative place to bail to?)"
- Alice continues to sniffle -
Alice: "Yes!"
Flame: "Just asking!" ._.;

Alice's sobs jabbed painfully at his heart painfully, yet as he faced the storm, he knew there was nothing he could say that could stand up to the storm's sheer magnitude. He searched his mind for something to do or say.

Suddenly, without thinking, he slipped his claws to her tail, cupped them around her twin blue orbs. As he peered into her eyes, he said nothing—didn't know what to say—but even still she appeared to draw comfort from the contact, the tension draining from her face slightly despite the tears welling in her eyes.

Alice: “...” O///O
Flame: “... (I’m… not doing something immodest right now, am I?)” ^^;

"Alice…" He lowered his eyes to the ground. "This past week has been the craziest in my whole life. Not that I can remember much of it…" He rubbed the back of his neck with his free paw. "Anyway—just think about it: the entire world has tried to keep us apart. The Scum, the Empire, the Benefactors… Yet here we are."

Only the wind whistled between them. As he realised he had nothing more to add, Flame shuffled closer and squeezed her tail orbs ever so gently.

"I-it might not look like it now," he added quickly, clearing his throat as he sat upright, "but I know we'll make it. I really do. All this pain we've gone through—all this hunger, this cold, everything, just to be together…" He gazed off into the brewing storm. "It has to count for something."

Narrator:

Flame: “Seriously! Nobody asked you!”

Eyes glued ahead, Flame held his breath as he waited for an answer, a reaction—something. The wind whipped against his body. After a sideways glance, Flame released a heavy sigh and figured that she needed some time to think things through.

Come on, Al, you're supposed to be the rational one…Flame raised his eyes once more and felt his breath leave him as he once again beheld the raging storm clouds that carpeted nearly the entire sky.

Alice: “Yes, and that’s the problem, Flame. Rationally, we’re screwed with the way these Portal Storms just keep multiplying by the day.” >.<
Flame: “... Okay, let me try a different tack there.”

Maybe he'd made it worse. What else was he supposed to say, though? That the storms were going to stop? He couldn't possibly promise her that. He didn't even know what caused them—the Empire claimed it was the Teutonii, Daedalus claimed it was the Presence, and, and…

A frown overtook his face. He realized it now—he hoped the Teutonii were safe. He wondered what they were doing. Most likely they were searching for him, right alongside Sycorax's Praetorian Guard. This was technically Teutonii territory, after all.

Somehow, I’d be wholly unsurprised if it turns out that most of the convoy got mulched like five seconds after Flame left. Since they were literally surrounded by Praetorians and who had exactly zero motivation to allow them to peacefully withdraw instead of attempting to liquidate them to remove potential competitors for ‘Icarus’ there.

Suddenly the image flashed in his mind of Daedalus cupping his cheek with a fatherly smile. Rather than reassure him, though, the thought only injected a chill down his spine. Taking his claws off Alice's tail, he hugged his knees and clenched his eyes shut.

Maybe one day, I'll meet him again. And Brynn, too.

Maybe one day they'll forgive me.

Oh, so already floating the possibility of going back to the Teutonii, huh Flame? Hadn’t picked up on this back in the day, but it’s some nice foreshadowing of where things ultimately wind up going in a few chapters.

His mind once again flashed back to the badge he still held in his bag. He had not yet lost his chance to make it happen…

Unsure what to think, Flame dropped his eyes to the darkness that swallowed the valley below.

"… Thank you."

It took him a moment to realise that it hadn't been the wind.

Flame: “W-Wait, then that was…?” O///O

He turned his head to Alice, blinking. "For what?"

Though she wasn't looking at him, the faintest, saddest smile was etched on her cheeks. "For being here. For talking to me. And… for bringing us back together."

Enjoy the moment while it lasts, you two. Since it’s gonna be a while before you’re this close again after the next chapter.

"Oh... yeah." Flame felt his face warm. "I couldn't just leave you alone with Gaius. You'd go insane."

Alice chuckled dryly at that. "I don't know how you can stay so optimistic, despite it all."

Flame: "Gaius said it had something to do with being a 'naïf'. Not fully sure what he meant by that, but hey, whatever helps!" ^^
Alice: "That's... not a compliment, Flame." -_-;

Still hugging his knees, Flame shrugged. "Comes with the amnesia, I guess. If I'm not optimistic, if I start thinking about everything…" He shivered.

Alice bit her lip slightly. "Actually, that leads me to something I've been meaning to ask you all day. Flame, is this… is this what you want?"

Flame turned to stare at her with the most confused look he could muster. "What do you mean?"

Flame: “I mean, I could go with being a bit better fed and not being a cliffside away from certain death being yeeted into the multiverse, but…”

"Well…" Alice buried her muzzle in her coils. "This. Going to Thermae Himerae; starting a new life together. I know you had a life with your people. Ever since we escaped from Sycorax, I can't help but think that we… took that from you, in a way."

Flame's eyes dropped to the darkness engulfing the valley. He shook his head. "My life's always been with Team Phalanx."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Really?"

Alice: “... Flame, you have been with us for three weeks.”

Flame: “I mean, that functionally is my life right now, Alice…” ^^;

"Yeah." He smiled. "I'll always be grateful to the Teutonii. To Daedalus. They've helped me figure out so much about myself… Gave me hope. But, right from that first day, I couldn't stop thinking of you two."

Flame: “Well, okay, it was mostly you, but Gaius popped up every now and then so it still counts?” ^^;
Alice: “...” O///O

"You see, that's the problem," she whispered. "You were just beginning to discover your past. The Scum, Daedalus—they could be the key to getting all your memories back! Now… now you may never get that chance. B-because of Gaius and I."

Flame frowned. He stopped to consider her words.

Alice took a shaky breath. "L-look, what I'm trying to say is: if you want to go back to them, I…" She swallowed, her voice cracking a little. "I'll understand."

Careful what you wish for there, Alice.

For some reason, Flame teared up a little. Not from sadness, but from the sheer joy in his chest. He wanted to hug her with inappropriate strength, and managed to take it out on his knees.

"Th-thank you." He half-sniffled. "For what you just said. And… yes, this is what I want."

Well, for now anyways. Since there are definitely a few points after this story-wise, where this is very much not accurate to Flame’s feelings.

"But—your memories!" Alice frowned.

Flame's smile widened. "I haven't told you yet, have I?" he whispered excitedly. "Alice… I'm going to get my memories back."

"… You'll what?"

Alice: “Wait, but how?” .-.

"One of the Scum looked into my mind back in the village." He cracked a smile. He'd tell her about Brynn at some point. "She said it might take a couple of years—maybe a decade, but I'll have them back. They're not… they're not lost." He brought a quivering paw to his chest. "They're still in here. I'm still here."

Reminder to keep Flame's terminology for the Teutonii consistent in his dialogue with Alice. He wouldn't logically be mixing and matching 'Teutonii' from earlier and 'Scum' here given that one's an endonym and the other is an exonym with very different undertones unless if he's starting with one term and replacing it with the other that he prefers for the moment.

Joy blossomed on her face. She shot up and nuzzled his neck, leaving Flame with barely enough time to meep and hug her back properly.

"Gods, Flame, that's incredible!" She drew back, and looked at him with glistening eyes. "I can't imagine what it feels like, to know that."

Alice: “... Wait, why am I so excited about this again when for all I know, the Pokémon you used to be whose memories you have locked away would have me roasted on a spit for his amusement?”

Flame: “(God, I couldn’t possibly have been someone like that in the past, could I?)”

Flame's mind was rushing to places; he could barely hold back the joy she'd spread to his chest—whether from the realisation, or the contact, he didn't know.

"It feels…" He paused, his heart chirping happily. "Like I'm someone again."

- Flame shakes his head -
Flame: “Look, whatever Pokémon I might have been once, it doesn’t matter. It’s not who I am now. And…”
- Flame tugs at Alice -
Flame: “I- I really do want to be with you. For everything.”

"Perhaps you're right," Alice whispered, and wiped her eyes with her tail tip. "Maybe… the gods do have pity on us, after all."

Well, if I’m right on my suspicion, that’s a god she has the pity of.

The gods… It was almost funny to Flame; if the gods had any pity on them, none of this would have happened. Aside from Arceus and that weird ghost serpent, he didn't even know who most were.

Waaaaaaaaaait a minute, when was that ever explained to Flame? Since I could’ve sworn that Giratina was only brought up in passing to him.

I mean, I suppose there’s other ways that Flame could know that, but…

"Alice?" he spoke up suddenly. "Do you… believe in the gods?"

"I used to." She lifted her eyes to the storm. "I suppose that ever since my exile, I've stopped caring much about them. Certainly stopped praying to them."

Flame: "Aren't there literally publicly available books where Our Benefactors straight-up brag about having killed the gods? What's there left to pray to?"

Alice: "We're hoping that they were lying? Or that those were just their avatars? Or that they'd have a rebirth? I dunno, with how bleak this world can get, it's just hard for a lot of Pokémon to go on without the idea that something bigger than them is looking out for them."

She chuckled, and Flame couldn't help but laugh along with her. Then, she turned to face him.

He met her eyes and found them filled with a vague fondness, a warmth…

"If there's one thing I've learnt," Alice said in a soft whisper. "It's that… you don't need their grace for good things to happen to you." A fond smile graced her snout.

Flame: “Wait, you had good things happen to you since getting kicked to the curb by your family? But everything you’ve talked about since then until we met sounded completely awful!” .-.
Alice: “... That was what I was getting at, Flame. The things that have happened since you came along are those ‘good things’.” >///<
Flame: “Oh. Uh… (Well, this is awkward…)”

"I know," he replied, gazing skyward. "I still can't believe we're so close, after everything that's happened…"

Alice blinked, suddenly confused, then opened her mouth before finally uttering, "Uh—y-yeah. I can't believe it either." She turned away from him. "Do you believe in the gods, Flame?"

Flame: “Alice, you do realize that I’ve learned of exactly two gods beyond just names since I got my memories back, right?”

Alice: “I mean, still. Your question had to come from somewhere, right?” ^^;

He gazed down at his knees.

"I… don't really know much about them. I barely had time to study much of anything in Aesernia. But, if they do exist…" He looked out to the horizon, to the devastated valley, to the portal storm raging through the night sky. "To hell with them."

Alice giggled and covered her mouth with her tail. "Well said."

Gonna be interesting to see if Flame’s stance there is still the same in 10-15 chapters from what’s current on the offsite version. Since I doubt this is the last time this story is going to touch on the topic of its setting’s gods, and that it’ll stay just a matter of idle conversation.

The wind that battered their bodies only grew chillier. Yet there they sat, unmoving. Somehow Flame was still smiling, despite the ghastly spectacle unfolding right before his eyes. The portal storm showed no sign of quelling, and the chaotic maelstrom in the sky kept exploding in clouds of blue and violet.

I mean, it helps when you’re gazing longingly into the eyes of the girl you have a crush on.

The thought of the Teutonii badge, and his need to chuck it off the cliff, suddenly entered his mind—but he expelled it just as rapidly. Right now, he just wanted to sit next to her. He couldn't care less about a stupid badge.

"This is so crazy…" Alice uttered. "I'd always dreamt of coming to these mountains, ever since I was a Dratini. I never quite expected it would be like this. Watching a portal storm with my… half-Scum, interdimensional teammate."

"Minor details." Flame shrugged his shoulders. "What did you expect?"

Alice: “... Honestly, not anything that’s happened to me over the past four years.” ._.;
Flame: “Yeah, welcome to the party.”

"I…" She laughed after a moment's thought. "I'm not quite sure. I suppose I never really planned out my life that far ahead."

"This isn't so bad, then, is it?" Flame glanced at her with a tiny smirk.

She smiled fondly. "No… No, I suppose it isn't."

D’aww…

They sat there and gathered precious rest, uncaring of the mighty winds buffeting their bodies.

As Flame sat by her side, he shifted his gaze beyond the distant mountaintops—beyond even the reaches of the portal storm. Beyond it all, a yellowing glint tinted the horizon.

Flame: “Wait, is that sunrise? Just how long have we been up-?” ._.;

Flame hated walking. Perhaps it was the future Charizard in him speaking, wishing he could grow wings to ferry his teammates up into the sky; or, perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he'd walked more in the last five days than the rest of his life combined—first with the Teutonii, now with his teammates. To say that the mountain range felt infinite was an understatement.

Flame: "(Certainly would be handy right about now... I wonder if Alice and Gaius are feeling the same way?)" @.@
- Flame turns to Alice and Gaius -
Flame: "Hey, do you ever wonder how much easier things would go by if we were evolved right now?"
- Gaius looks down at the stump where his missing hand used to be -
Gaius: "I mean, it'd certainly have some perks, yeah-"
Alice: "Oh dear gods, no! That's the last thing we need right now!" O_O;
- Everyone stares at Alice, who shifts uneasily -
Alice: "I'm sorry, it's just that we've already been having trouble staying fed and hidden. And... well, evolving really isn't going to help either of those. Especially not now."
- Flame feels his stomach growl from his light last meal and paws uneasily -
Flame: "Right. Guess I didn't think about that. (Gods, I hope she's not going to be like this if we actually evolve in-story.)"

Now, however, as he hoisted himself onto another boulder with a grunt, he looked up at the tall rock-strewn slope they had left to climb and realised, in his chest, that maybe walking wasn't so bad after all.

"G-guys…" He panted and sat down on his rear. "Remind me—why are we going up there, again?"

"Simple," replied Alice's voice from a rock below his. "There's only two ways we'll find the main road again. We can either backtrack all the way to where we were yesterday, or—would you kindly help me up, Flame?"

"Oh! Right." He scooted to the edge of his rock and reached down, lifting Alice from just below her neck orb.

Gaius: “(Alice, you’re going to have to explain what the hell is going on with your flight to us someday...)”

Alice: “(Gaius, just shut the hell up and focus on pulling me up here!)”

They grunted in unison, but after a moment the whole length of her body was on the rock ledge alongside him. Flame fell back on his rear, and laughed openly at the hint of red in Alice's cheeks.

"Th-thanks." She looked away, flustered. "As I was—oh, stop laughing!" She said, chuckling a little herself. "As I was saying, the main road. We can try to spot it from up here."

Flame: “Wait, just how high up are we right now anyways?” .-.

Flame nodded and turned to the next rock to climb. He grabbed the rock's ledge and got a solid grip, but hesitated for a moment. He cast his worried gaze to the greying sky behind him—no treetops or close-by mountains to conceal them.

"I guess. It's just that I—" He grunted as he hoisted himself up again. "—don't like being so exposed, that's all." He sat on the rock's edge and gazed down at her. "Feels like they could be watching right now."

inb4 they did get spotted. Since hey, Sycorax and the boys do roll into Thermae Himerae not long after the gang leaves it.

"They sure as hell will be if you two keep messing around!" Gaius shouted from above them.

After sighing, Flame turned to look up at the Grovyle who was glaring down at them from quite a few rocks above them, arms crossed.

"It pains me to say," Alice smiled playfully, "but he's right. Let's make this brief."

"All right, all right." Flame smiled and rolled his eyes theatrically.

They shared a final smile as Flame lifted her up with a grunt again. After another tall rock, the rocks took on a more gentle upwards gradient that allowed Flame to walk, though he still needed to carry Alice across gaps her serpentine body could not hop across.

Flame: “Gah, what a climb. Sure must be looking forward to being a Dragonite when you can just take to the sky and forget about all of this, huh?” @.@
Alice: “...”

Flame: “... Alice? What’s with that face?” ._.;
Alice: “I… just… w-won’t fare well as a Dragonite when I’m already struggling to eat properly like this, so I try not to think about evolving. (Also, I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to fly even after I evolve.)” o_o;

Before long, he climbed up the last rock to join Gaius atop of the hill. Thankfully there were quite a few pine trees up here—something that struck him as odd but nevertheless welcome. He helped Alice up, and then they set off uphill once again.

"You know…" Flame wondered aloud. "I'm, uh, starting to think we didn't all need to come up at once."

Flame: “Since isn’t this going to make us more conspicuous for any sentries or the like looking for us?” .-.

Alice laughed sheepishly. "Yes, well…" She gazed off into the mountains. "Occupational hazard."

Gaius huffed. "I don't think we have an occupation, Alice."

"Nonsense!" shot back Alice, smiling playfully. "We're… what, bandits, now? Outlaws? I'm sure that counts as an occupation."

Kate: “Well, it does. Pays well too if you’re good at it.”

Flame held back a grin. "Please don't actually tell that to the border guards."

Alice: "Fine, we'll just have to go with telling them we're bagaudae. That'll work wonders, won't it?" ^^
Gaius: "... Let's stick with trying a term that actually has a euphemistic meaning like that we're 'foragers'." >_>;

Alice laughed in return—a sound that got Flame's heart racing. He couldn't help it; it was such a relief to see her this jovial, this hopeful again.

They walked side-by-side up the wooded slope, and as he looked over to her—to Gaius, even, a fond smile hit Flame's snout. It felt like they were a Civil Protection team again: venturing into the wilderness in search of their next mystery dungeon.

Gaius: “...”

Alice: “...”

Flame: “... Okay, yeah. I should’ve picked a better point of comparison.” ._.;

On second thought, Flame grimaced slightly; he wouldn't miss that part of their job. He would miss their tent, and the camaraderie, and the night sky above Camp Tempest—but he certainly wouldn't miss the mystery dungeons.

Bold of you to think that the story’s gonna let you get away with not poking your head into them in the future, Flame. Especially since you have some sort of intimate tie to them. :^)

Still, we make a hell of a team… He mused with a smile, as the forest floor climbed steeply. Not that it mattered much, now that they'd defected. Although…

Flame squinted in thought. "Hey, Alice…" He glanced at her. "What do you think we'll be doing once we get there?"

"Hm?" She eyed him curiously. "What, after we… claim asylum? Celebrate with wine and crackers?"

Flame: “... We have crackers in this setting?” .-.
Gaius: “Flame? Again, we have potatoes and a stand-in for the Combine in this setting. We can have a few crackers, too.” >_>;

"No, no," he chuckled back. "We'll have to get new jobs at some point, is what I mean. Think: what if they let us choose? What do you want to do?"

Alice stayed quiet as they climbed through the forest underbrush. "Oh, my. I… never really stopped to think about that. Perhaps, uh…" She darted her eyes left and right. "Run… a library?" A distant smile slowly took over her eyes. "Yes… Yes, I think I'd like that."

I completely forgot about this, but that really is the most Alice imaginable day job ever. :V

Typical, Flame smirked slightly and shook his head. "And what about you, Gaius?"

It took a moment for Gaius to acknowledge him, perhaps surprised that he'd been called. "Huh?" The Grovyle looked away for a moment, confused, then shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno. Never had the privilege to think about it, I guess."

Boy, that reads so much harsher in light of what comes out about Gaius’ life story in like 5 chapters from this point of the story.

"There must be something," Flame said. "Not even… what would grass-types like…" he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, planting your own garden?"

For a split second Gaius' step faltered, and surprise flashed across his face.

"Wait." Flame blinked. "Seriously?"

A grunt left Gaius' throat, and he kept his eyes set forward. "You wouldn't understand."

"Incredible," Alice added playfully. "Gaius, I try to disregard stereotypes about grass-types, but you're making that difficult. A garden?"

Gaius grunted again, but his eyes betrayed the tiniest smile. "Shut up."

I personally would've seen something involving climbing regularly to be more stereotypical for a Grovyle than just maintaining a garden. Though this moment is significantly less cute than it was the first time around since… there’s pretty good odds that Gaius wants this because he associates it with happier times in his life when he was younger.

"Just incredible," Alice whispered. "And what about you, Flame? What do you want to do?"

Flame struggled to respond. He knew this question would come, yet as his eyes danced around in the treetops, he still couldn't figure what he wanted. What was it he liked? Apart from eating and trying his luck with the ladies. Trying, more than anything. He liked fighting, a little bit, but he was barely any good at it.

Flame: “Is ‘being with you’ an acceptable answer, Alice?” ^///^
Gaius: “Oh come on, Flame. Something that’ll pay the bills.” >_>;
Flame: “Oi! That wasn’t part of the question at first!” >.<

With a heavy sigh, Flame gave up on finding an answer. In the end, much like his teammates, he supposed he'd spent too much of his time worrying about their next meal or mission to really think about it. And he did have the added excuse of amnesia.
"Honestly, Alice? I have less than no idea," he admitted. "By the gods, I just hope it has nothing to do with mystery dungeons."

Narrator: “It’s going to have everything to do with Mystery Dungeons.”

Because really, prove me wrong with where things were going as of Chapter XXXI

This was the final stretch of the climb, Flame noticed; he could see the cliff's edge just ahead of them.

"Gosh, Flame, what have those places ever done to you?" Alice asked in feigned surprise. "Apart from… getting your leg bitten through by a Carnivine, of course. And… your tail drowned in a fountain. And almost dying of hypothermia."

"That last one was you two," he said, holding back a smile.

"… Oh." Alice hummed. "Right."

Flame: “Not that ‘almost bleeding out in the snow’ was really that much of an improvement.”

"Surprised you forgot," muttered Gaius. "I don't think I'll ever get that hellhole out of my mind."

Oh, so every winter for the rest of these two’s lives is just going to be PTSD season, isn’t it?

"C'mon," Flame said softly. "If we make it to Thermae Himerae, that will be the last mystery dungeon in our lives."

He saw the hint of smiles in both their faces, and it was all Flame could ever ask for.

The treeline ended abruptly behind them, leading instead to a rock tongue jutting out of the cliff, and over the valley far below. They walked up to the edge of the overhang, and Flame made sure to sit before he dared to look down. He swallowed; though snow-capped mountains towered all around them, they were nevertheless at a stomach-twisting height above everything.

Flame: “Ulp… don’t look down.”

While Flame focused on deep breaths, he saw Alice slither up to the very edge.

"Okay…" Alice mumbled, squinting. "The last time we saw the road, it was headed north-east. Based on that trajectory…" She raised her eyes to find the sun in the sky—hiding behind a patch of clouds—then adjusted her snout accordingly in a different direction.

"There's nothing there" Gaius crossed his arms. "Are you sure it was north-east?"

"Yes," she said. "I distinctly remember noting that. Would you rather go back and check yourself?"

Gaius: “Just saying, you’d better be damn sure about this, Alice. We’re in the middle of the Tartarus Mountains and first snows start in two weeks.” >_>;
Alice: “Gaius, it’s not going to take us two weeks to find Thermae Himerae from here.” -_-;

With a tiny sigh, Flame turned his attention to the opposite direction. He swept his eyes across the world below, across the bumpy grasslands enclosed between the mountains. Nothing. He shifted his search to the mountainsides themselves, then further afield, until—

Flame squinted. Mountains aren't supposed to be flat.

He blinked.

Or… have buildings…

Flame: “Guys? Is that Thermae Himerae?”

His heart skipped a beat. He took his claws off his legs and leaned forward, at which point his eyes grew wide.

"… Guys?" he whispered, never. "I think… I think I found our road."

The arguing between Alice and Gaius ceased at once. Though he didn't see them turn around, he sure as hell heard Alice's gasp.

Standing atop the steep rocky walls of a distant plateau was an entire city, occupying the near-entirety of its area. Milky-white structures rose right on the plateau's steep edge, long rows of them, glued together with little windows dug in their walls and into the rock below. Little dark specks flowed in the skies above the city, some landing, some lifting off, others circling above the great plateau as well as the more disparate houses dotted near its base.

Oh, so it’s like Thira, except with a lot less sea at the bottom, huh? Since I definitely remember that style of settlement construction there.

Flame had never been more happy to see other pokémon.

"Bloody hell," Gaius muttered behind him. "Is that…?"

Alice slithered up to Flame's side. "Just like in the history books…"

- Beat moment -
Flame: “... We seriously picked our destination based off a history book and not something inherently geography-related like an atlas?” .-.
Alice: “There was an included atlas in said books, alright?” >.<

At those words, Flame felt his tail fire burgeon and a tingle rushed through his body. He wanted to laugh, to cry. He twisted around to stare at her, unable to contain his smile.

"You mean…?" he said, staring at her wide-eyed.

He waited for an answer, but didn't need one; he could see it plainly in her eyes. As he gazed off at the shining city, for a single moment, he forgot all about his aches, all about the godsforsaken badge that still weighed on his chest.

He merely looked and tried to imagine what could lie within its walls. Salvation? Purpose?

Heartbreak and betrayal.

"That," Alice started, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "is Thermae Himerae. Capital of the Kingdom of Galatia."

Flame: “Awesome! Let’s get going right away!”

Gaius: “Flame, slow down a bit there. We’ve just gone through multiple days in the woods and 12,000 words of text to get here!” >_>;
Alice: “Also, I think that’ll have to wait for another chapter anyways, since there’s a teaser in the next one again.” ^^;
- Flame blinks -
Flame: “There… is? What does it say?”

"... As of 05:13 today, Leodis has ceased to exist. The portal storm that has swallowed it ranks as one of the largest ever recorded in history.

Reports from nearby Civil Protection teams suggest that nearly 80% of the city has become a spatial anomaly, and is no longer able to support life. All access roads have been blocked and official death tolls revised as per protocol.

One positive note to be found is that a mere fraction of the city's approximately 34.000 inhabitants have survived. Numbering in the low dozens, they are unlikely to place a significant strain on the already critical refugee situation in the province. *

Addendum: This is the fifth portal storm this week. The Senate will hold an emergency session to question His Majesty on the ultimate timetable of Benefactor support."

— Imperial Senate Report #289, 28 October 536 A.U.C.

>536 AUC

Am… I reading that right? Since I could’ve sworn this report was originally intended to be set in the present day. That date would put it in the time of Honorius’ reign or the reign of one of his immediate successors. And your FFN version has this as a date in 745 AUC. .-.

Alice: “I did not need to know any of that, thanks.” O_O;
Flame: "... Isn’t this report from over two hundred years ago? How is there anything left of Urbe if portal storms have been occurring with that level of frequency for that many years?"

Gaius: "That has to be a typo of some sort. The Portal Storms have only been going on for 20 years… right?"

Alice: "Uh… I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to say ‘745 AUC’ there, as in this current year. Since I’m not sure if there’s been a year with five portal storms in a week in the past.” .-.
Flame: "... Do we have a map of where portal storms haven't reached? Maybe it'd make more sense to pick a place to run to that way." ._.
Gaius: "Well, a lot of those places happen to overlap with places with tons of 'mons from the army. So... yeah, need more than one metric there." -_-;
Alice: "It's fine. We worked hard to get to this place, and it is a town full of thermae. Let's take an opportunity to rest and relax. There will be plenty of time to worry about how we want to handle whatever nasty surprise the plot throws at us."
- Alice quietly grimaces -
Alice: "(I hope...)"

And that’s a wrap, and a cue to cut to the summary of the overall chapter:

This chapter is one of those chapters that really changes in vibe after coming back to it from later in the story. I’m honestly impressed at how layered and dense you managed to make the foreshadowing here in this chapter, since there are a lot of details that get brought up seemingly in passing that wind up rearing their head again later in the story, or else are things that seem to be going in a direction of becoming important in the relatively near future. The bit with Alice trying to play off her status as a Princess was a particularly nice touch that wasn’t there the first time I read this chapter since yeah, that’s going to become really important really fast in this story.

Unfortunately, one of the weaknesses of this chapter is that a lot of the really exciting / I see what you did there stuff is a bit less exciting going into it from an initial read, since one doesn’t have the benefit of hindsight in such a readthrough. Over the span of 12,000 words, we basically have a bunch of wandering around, Alice lying to Flame’s face, some character development/foreshadowing moments, the bit with the portal storm, and then reaching the gates of Galatia at the end. Like all of this is stuff that needed to happen since it sets up things that go down over the chapters that immediately follow this one, but even so, it did feel a bit slow in pacing. It might have been worth dropping in something like a close call with something like an Imperial search party midway through to sell the sense that “you’re the target of a manhunt, guys”. It’s alluded to in the teaser that we don’t really get a solid sense of it from the actual events, and then from there, you’d likely have a long and thematically divided enough piece to relatively easily hack it into two… but eh, I can understand if that’d potentially introduce more issues than it’d solve.

But altogether, I still had a good time with the chapter @Shadow of Antioch . It’s honestly kind of surreal to be seeing and reviewing chapters this close to current events when this version of the story was stuck on Chapter 3 up until last spring, but it’s been a wild (second) ride. And I’m looking forward to being there day and date for chapters of this thing in the not-too-distant future. ^^[/spoiler]

 

[Shadow of Antioch]

Chapter XXX: Prelude​

---

Once, Our Kaiser looked fatefully at the ceiling of the underground chamber we stood in. The concrete rumbled with the reverberation of steel ravens outside.

"We have journeyed so far, and they are still searching." I said wistfully. "How much longer may we run, I wonder? How much farther must we go?"

The chamber still shook, the roars of blades sounded all around, and now voices were shouting above them. Synthesised, as if spoken over a badge. They were close. My hopes even closer to shattering—until Our Kaiser stood up .

"I know of a way out," Our Kaiser said with determination. "The Gateway is nearby—I can feel it. Beyond it there are pokémon who can still be saved. The cycle can yet be broken."

Once again, I smiled: for my Son never lost hope as I once had, never lost that fire in his eyes that leaked onto his tail. A fire that could burn down a thousand steel ravens.

"Indeed, my child," I replied. "You are right. This world may be lost, but for theirs… perhaps there is still hope. Let us continue."

Our Kaiser's tail fire flared brightly, as did his smile. "Yes, father. Let us."

— Excerpt from the Teutonii holy scroll Namenloslieder (Songs of the Nameless)

---

Tromvik

He had been staring at that wooden door long enough to notice the tiny splinters coming out of its surface. It was quite simple in making, really; there wasn't even a handle or a knob. All one had to do was push.

Why, then, did his arms feel so heavy?

"Herr Flame?"

Flame stifled a gasp; he whirled around only to find a certain Braixen smiling timidly at him.

He allowed himself to relax. "Hey…"

"I can help, if you want." Her hands were clasped together, and her eyes darting up and down. "I don't know your friend well, b-but—I'll go in with you!"

Smiling sweetly, Flame shook his head. "I have to go alone. He… won't take kindly to you."

Brynn's ears fell. "O-oh…"

"Not because you're you—to any Teutonii." He looked downward. "You heard what kind of hell he's been through."

"Okay." Brynn stood straighter. "I'll wait for you."

Flame paused, and once again wondered to himself how someone he barely knew could be so caring. Was it because of his status, being the 'son' of their god-king?

That thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. He frowned; no, that couldn't be it. She was a selfless pokémon at heart! He had to hold onto that belief.

"There's no need." He shook his head. "I have to go in alone for this. But… thank you." He turned to walk in, but stopped with a small smirk. He did rather enjoy teasing her, after all… "Just don't go spying from a window, will you?"

While Brynn's face exploded in embarrassment, Flame finally worked up the final crumb of courage he needed.

He pushed the door open with a creak.

The room was veiled in penumbra; its only window had been obstructed with Gaius' own bag. The air itself felt heavy, stale and thick with the stench of sweat. Silence.

Warily, Flame stepped forward. Fiery light followed behind him. It flooded the walls and revealed a dusty room not too different from his: stone walls, austere wooden furniture, and two mattressed beds on opposite ends of the room. One empty and neatly made, while the other…

Flame's heart jumped a little.

Gaius lay on his back, unmoving, with a crumpled white sheet draped over his still body. So still that Flame felt compelled to check that he was still breathing. Was he? Yes—his chest was rising and falling softly under the sheets. Yet his once green scales now looked so pale! Just seeing him like this…

"Hey, Gaius," Flame said quietly.

No reaction. In the dancing orange glow of his tail fire, Flame found that Gaius' eyes looked dead—hollow, almost. They were trained up towards the ceiling.

Nevertheless, Flame stepped closer and mustered a tentative, if forced smile. "I hope you're feeling better. At least a little."

Nothing. And here Flame had expected Gaius to tell him off, to attack him, or at the very least to acknowledge his presence. He couldn't even do that.

WIth the tiniest sigh he could muster he reached the Grovyle's bedside, floorboard after creaky floorboard, and stood directly over him. This close, he could see the tension etched into his features. He could feel the pressure in the air, see the redness in Gaius' eyes, and… and somehow there was a tightness in Flame's chest.

Flame swallowed. Why was he clenching his fists?

"I… thought you might want some company." He bit his lip. "Okay, maybe not from me specifically, but…"

A wave of adrenaline hit him. Flame averted his gaze, struggling not to contort his face.

Visions flashed through his head: visions of Gaius leaving him to die in Portus. Visions of being laughed at—once, twice, thrice, countless times. Visions of that leaf blade being pressed against his throat. He remembered the pain of every cruel joke Gaius had made at his expense, every insult, back when they'd first met.

Back then, he'd felt terrified of even being alone with Gaius when Alice was away. He'd always been too weak to fight back. Now, though…

Flame scowled. He ditched the careful wording he'd been trying to cobble in his head. There was no other way of saying this, and frankly, a part of him whispered that Gaius didn't deserve that kind of effort.

"Look, Gaius—I'll be honest," Flame spoke firmly. "I'm not doing this for you. You've treated me like utter garbage, and I'll never forgive you for that."

Though still refusing to meet him, Gaius' eyes grew more misty. Somehow, that look pained him a little.

"The only reason I'm here," Flame continued, "is to help you get justice for your parents. Because it's the right thing to do. So, tell me: what happened?"

"Just leave me alone," came a frail, hoarse whisper in reply.

Flame felt a little bit of apprehension at the sheer weakness of that voice. However, he didn't let it show. "I can't do that."

Gaius' face contorted. "… Are you trying to get revenge? I-is that why you brought me here?"

Flame's scowl deepened. "Gaius…"

"Why, then?" The Grovyle finally turned his bloodshot eyes to meet Flame's. "Why did you make me see him?"

There it was: that pang of guilt in his chest. Even his pent-up anger wasn't enough to suppress it. He averted his eyes from the Grovyle, but then forced himself to look again.

"I didn't know." Flame replied quietly. "How could I have known if you never told me?"

"Why did you think I hate your kind so much?" Gaius squinted his eyes at him. "Just out of propaganda? Please. I know they're monsters. I saw it."

The temptation to jump to the Teutonii's defence lingered in Flame's mind. But that pained, angry look on Gaius' face gave him pause.

There was something else, too though. Glancing around the room, he sniffed the air. Underneath the stale smell, underneath the hint of sweat, he could smell something pungent. Something…

His eyes widened. He reached forward and quickly tore the sheets off an incredulous Gaius, revealing a metal flask firmly in the Grovyle's good hand.

Flame's lip quivered at the sight; there was a sickly feeling in his stomach. "… Have you been drinking?"

"What the—what do you care?"

Growling, Flame ripped the flask from Gaius' claws.

"Hey!" Suddenly, the Grovyle shot up into a sitting position, his red eyes awash with anger. "The hell is wrong with you?! Give it back!"

Flame ignored him and weighed the flask. It was almost empty. I thought you'd changed. At least a little…

Flame snorted. "How long have you been killing yourself with this?" He let his tail swing slowly. "Since Aesernia? Since before I came along?"

"Give it back," Gaius growled and stared him in the eye.

Flame narrowed his eyes in return; he tossed the flask behind him, landing with an empty metallic plink.

"You godsdamn fucking—!" Gaius shouted and lifted his leaf blade menacingly—and Flame froze in place, but so had Gaius all of a sudden.

Slowly, the rage contorting Gaius' face faded. His raised leaf blade quivered. Eyes squeezed tight, Gaius grunted as a lone tear rolled down his cheek. The fight drained out of him. Then he slumped over all at once: his leaf blade, his shoulders, his very neck as he stared down into his lap with more tears in his once-again lifeless eyes.

A sob wracked the Grovyle. "... Why are you doing this? Why help me?"

"I told you. It's the right thing to do." Flame replied sternly. "And because…"

He hesitated. There was something else, but he didn't want to admit it. The mere thought made him grit his teeth. Surely he couldn't still be so weak. Was it weakness, even? It certainly felt that way.

Regardless, Flame let out a tiny sigh. "I'll be honest with you, Gaius. I think part of me was hoping this would feel like revenge. Sweet payback for the hell you put me through." He looked down. "But it doesn't. Friend or not, I… I can't stand to see you like this."

Gaius' eyes flashed with pain at that. More than Flame could process. "Just go," Gaius whispered. "I deserve it."

"No." Flame channelled his self-frustration into a glare. "Not until you tell me what happened. Not until I get justice for your parents."

"You can't."

"I'll be the judge of that."

"But you can't." Gaius clawed at his face with his good hand, hunched forward. "All of them murder, don't they? They're fuckin' savages. Why would they punish that monster for something they all do?"

Flame frowned. "Gaius…"

"The only reason I'm alive is because you're their chief's son, and, and they think I'm your friend!" Gaius began shaking. Still clawing at his face, he gasped for air. "Otherwise they'd burn me alive like they did Dad! Like Mum who dived in after him. And Irene…"

"Gaius!" Flame grabbed him by the good wrist. "Get a hold of yourself!"

"Don't touch me!" Gaius hissed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

But Flame only squeezed Gaius' wrist harder. "I can't promise you justice—but I'll be damned if I don't try!"

For once, it was Gaius who looked away.

"Now, tell me. What. Happened. To your parents?" After a few seconds, seeing the tears on Gaius' face, Flame's stern glare softened; he bit his lip. "I-I realise it's the last thing you want to think of. But I have to know…"

Instead of saying anything, Gaius started chuckling. "What's there to say?"

"When did the attack happen?" Flame pressed. He wasn't sure if this was the right strategy, but…

Gaius looked too spent to resist. "Must have been ten years ago, now," he mumbled. "I was still a Treecko."

"And what happened on that day?"

"Look—" Gaius squeezed his eyes and grunted. "Just shut up. I'll talk."

Flame merely nodded. Noticing he was still standing over Gaius, he sat down next to him on the bed.

"That day," Gaius whispered, "those demons came to our village. Led by that fucking Hydreigon." That last word was dripping with venom. "My parents went to help the garrison, to buy Irene… my sister and I more time to run. They didn't make it far."

Flame's eyes were glued to the floor. A sister… so Gaius had a sister? He'd never mentioned her before.

Gaius audibly held back a sob, his eyes clenched shut. "I watched that monster lift Dad up and drop him into a burning house. I watched Mum dive in after him… and never come back. Irene just grabbed me and ran as fast as she could." The Grovyle clenched his good hand into a fist. "There. That's my sob story. Happy?"

No. Flame could hardly claim to be. Sitting there on Gaius' bed, he stared forward into oblivion, his stomach stewing with a concoction of pity, sorrow, and confusion.

Was that why you ended up a thief? Flame asked the void. Was that why you were always so bitter?

None of those stories excused the awful way Gaius treated him, but… it certainly explained a lot.

"I'm sorry," Flame muttered. "I didn't know you'd gone through all that."

"Didn't ask for your pity," hissed Gaius, his eyes still red, still sitting in bed with his shoulders slumped.

The more time passed, though, the more Flame felt like something was amiss. The story wasn't sitting right with him. Gaius spoke of the Teutonii as amoral and blood-thirsty monsters, but then…

"Why?" the whisper escaped Flame's lips.

"Ask daddy." Gaius muttered lowly, eyes squinted. "I've got no fucking clue why. Our village wasn't even near the front lines! All we had was… th-the plantation where Mum and Dad worked. And a temple."

Plantation? Flame looked on with concern; from what Alice had told him, aristocratic plantations were always staffed with slaves… But this wasn't the time for that.

"That's not what I meant," Flame continued, biting his lip. "You said your parents were helping the garrison. Did all the adults in the village do the same?"

"Wha—" Gaius looked at him as if he'd gone insane. "No shit, what did you think they'd do? Lay down and let the Scum have their way?"

There it was: the answer that Flame had dreaded the most. All the adults in the village, civilian or legionary, had fought as one against the Teutonii raid. Only the children had tried to run. The elderly too, perhaps. Gaius himself had been close enough to the fighting to witness his parents' detailed deaths. And yet, here he was.

"Gaius…" Flame frowned, and stared into his eyes. "Why do you think the Hydreigon let you go?"

"... Wha?"

Flame bit his lip. "I said too much."

"The hell does that mean?" Gaius growled.

"Forget it." Flame shut his eyes. "I wasn't thinking clearly."

"… Tsk. Fine. Whatever," Gaius grumbled, yet kept staring into his eyes.

Regardless, Flame stood up from the bed and let his tail swing free. Head tilted up, he quickly ran their conversation through his head again.

"Okay…" Flame mumbled to himself. "I think I can work with that. Yeah, I can work with that." It wasn't what he'd hoped for. But it would have to do.

Turning towards the door, he paused and breathed deeply. One last loose end. "I'm contacting Daedalus in an hour to decide. We'll be in the next room."

He waited. No reply. Was Gaius not interested in having a say? Even when it came to his parents' killer? Somehow the thought made him both confused and angry. Wanting to be done and over with this conversation, he walked swiftly towards the door, and pushed it open…

"Y'know, you could have left 'well enough' alone."

Flame paused there, with the door still half-open. He turned his head back.

"We were on an adventure," Gaius whispered, still sitting on his bed, his shoulders still slumped forward. "We had a dream to keep us going. I felt… part of something. How could you throw it all away?"

Flame resisted the temptation to sigh. "We'd been dreaming long enough. Winter was coming, and you wouldn't have survived it." He kept his steadfast expression. "I saved your life, Gaius—you know that."

Gaius glared down into his sheets. "Did you drag me here just to brag about that?"

"I never said you couldn't leave."

Gaius growled. "Oh, you bet your ass I'm leaving this… this hell hole!"

Flame's stomach sank. He squeezed his eyes shut. "Okay."

"You said a week. And in a week, I'll be gone, you hear me?"

"... Okay."

"B-but even if we both left," Gaius blurted out quickly, "Alice and I… you'd stay here. Wouldn't you?"

"Yes." Flame replied without needing to think.

"You don't even care, do you?" Gaius whispered down to the sheets. "All this time. All the bleeding and suffering and going hungry together… it meant nothing to you."

He did care. To a fault, perhaps, but he nevertheless felt the faintest of bonds of camaraderie tying him to the Grovyle. None of that changed his answer.

"I'm tired of running away."

Gaius hung his head further. His misty eyes glazed over. "A-and if, say, both of you stayed… what the hell will be left for me out there?"

Fighting back a frown, Flame made to leave. "I don't know, Gaius. That's for you to figure out."

---

An hour had come and gone, yet Gaius was nowhere to be seen.

Whether he was still too traumatised to see any Teutonii, or was convinced that no punishment would come, Flame couldn't know. Perhaps both of those things. Regardless, it was too late now.

"Thank you for talking to him, Flame. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you."

Even though Daedalus couldn't see it, Flame found himself smiling sadly. "He's always been difficult."

A pregnant pause followed. Sitting at the wooden table where he'd eaten lunch hours before, Flame swayed his tail nervously, and clutched the badge in his hand tighter.

His eyes remained glued to the badge. He had to remind himself to breathe. Was Daedalus still processing all the information he'd given him? He couldn't bear the wait.

"… Daedalus?" Flame whispered.

"Yes, my child?"

He looked down. "There will be no punishment, will there?"

There was only a couple seconds' pause. "Based on the account you just gave me… no."

Flame's heart skipped a beat. "O-oh."

He was surprised at his own lack of a reaction. Was it because he'd already known…?

"I'm truly sorry." Daedalus whispered sweetly. "I know you wanted to do right by your friend."

"No." He swallowed. "I understand. It would be one thing if our warriors attacked civilians. But if those same civilians already think we'll kill them, and they fight us to the death…"

"Precisely. That is… a reality of war."

Of course, one could argue that it was the Teutonii who'd set out to capture the village—but what were they to do? If Daedalus was right, the Presence was a world-ending threat. The Teutonii army had to keep advancing.

A sigh escaped Flame's lips. Then, without quite thinking, he leaned back in his chair, feeling his tail fire dim.

"Is it wrong," he whispered, "that I almost wish Hydreigon had murdered them in cold blood?"

"Things would be simpler, would they not?" Daedalus' voice sounded sympathetic, much to Flame's relief. "But war is rarely that simple. No matter how much we wish otherwise."

Flame nodded vaguely. "Still…" He gritted his teeth, squeezing the badge in his claws. "Why does this feel wrong, then? Maybe it wasn't a crime in this case, but... there has to be a reason if all those civilians are so afraid of us. It can't all be propaganda."

Though he couldn't see him through the badge, Flame could imagine Daedalus hanging his head in thought.

"This conflict has been raging for twenty years, Flame. Twenty long years of violence, of mutual hatred. Twenty years of propaganda," Daedalus began solemnly. "Some atrocity or another is bound to have happened—but the Empire makes us out to be blood-thirsty devils. They flood their subjects with so much terror of what we'll do, that many choose to fight to the death rather than capitulating. Your friend's parents were no different."

Of course. He recalled the way everyone spoke of the 'Scum' back in Aesernia: not even as barbarians, but as bloodthirsty devils, for whom killing and torturing were the entirety of their culture. It was unthinkable to consider them otherwise. Most pokémon had either never seen a Teutonii, or had only done so in battle; how could they ever learn the truth?

The indoctrination had reached the point that even Alice, a rational and inquisitive mind, struggled to escape that mentality.

Yes, it made sense. It all made too much sense. And Flame couldn't stand it.

"We shouldn't even be fighting the Empire." He narrowed his eyes, squeezing the badge in his palm tight. "They're innocent in all this. They're not even our real enemies!"

"Indeed. But alas, our true enemy hides on those islands beyond the southern sea. There lies the Gateway that we must close. The same one we entered this world through." Daedalus spoke solemnly, if bitterly. "And… at the moment, we have neither the forces nor the means to reach their islands. Fighting their puppets is the only option that remains. Fight… until we reach the southern coast."

So that was the Teutonii's grand strategic objective; finally, Flame understood. From the southern coast they could mount an invasion; swarm the islands with ships, perhaps teleport small strike teams on it.

But how many tens of thousands of innocent Imperials would have to die to get there? How many thousands of their own depleted warriors?

There has to be a better way. Flame glared at nothing in particular. A way to make peace with the Empire. To help them understand…

He wanted to growl in frustration. If only he still had his memories! Perhaps there was something useful in there, some tidbit of information about the Presence that could make all the difference.

At the very least, the knowledge that they would all come back with time comforted him.

Brynn. Flame made a small, determined smile. I'm going to ask her to start my memory therapy tonight. If we can find something useful in time…

Perhaps there can be another way.

"Forgive me, child," Daedalus spoke up, "I must return to my duties now. I have a war council to assemble."

"O-oh!" Flame's eyes widened. "Right."

It touched him deeply that Daedalus was still so readily willing to find even ten minutes to talk to him—despite being at the front lines.

"Thank you. For… speaking to me." He smiled down at the badge sadly. "I guess the only thing left to do is to tell him."

"I can do it for you tonight." Daedalus added softly. "You have gone through enough stress as it is."

"No." Flame shut his eyes. "I brought him here. My choice. My responsibility."

"… Very well," Daedalus said, and though he ended the transmission, Flame could have sworn he'd heard a hint of pride in those words.

---

So Gaius was going to leave.

Of course, Gaius himself had already told him as much—but that had been in the heat of emotion, with the Hydreigon's fate still in question. He very well could have changed his mind later.

But then Flame had informed him of said fate. He'd gone into Gaius' room again. And the hollow look in his eyes…

"Herr Flame?"

He jolted back into reality with a tiny gasp, blinking. He was sitting on the floor. Brynn was sitting just in front of him with an uneasy smile. They were both in his room.

"Two." She showed him the two glass marbles in her hand. "I-it's your turn, now. If you still want to play."

"Oh. Right." Flame glanced down.

Between the two of them was a spattering of small glass marbles delineated by a string circle. He could feel the smooth texture of his shooter marble in his palm. Each of the marbles on the floor glimmered in the orange of his tail fire.

"Sorry. It's just so odd to think," Flame muttered softly, "that in a week, he'll be gone."

"But… isn't it a good thing?" Brynn asked with drooping ears. "You said he was cruel to you. What kind of friend does that?!"

Flame stayed quiet for a few moments. Suddenly he wasn't so interested in playing anymore. The air felt cool on his scales as it blew through the paneless windows.

"Gaius wasn't a friend." He steeled his face. "I deluded myself that he was, near the end, when he respected me more—but the more I think about it…" His lip quivered. "He never even said 'sorry'."

"I don't understand. Why are you sad, then?"

"It's not that simple, Brynn. Friend or not, he's been around me for… my whole life, as far as I remember." He chuckled bitterly at that. "Every single day. For two months."

"Oh…"

"It doesn't even feel right to let him go in this state!" Flame said just as another chilly gust of wind blew into the room, onto his scales. "Winter is almost here, and he's traumatised; barely even looked conscious when I went in… How far would he really make it out there?"

Brynn shot a hand up to cover a gasp. "You'd force him to stay?!"

Flame considered the idea for a moment—but quickly grimaced, and shook his head. "I don't know." He shut his eyes. "Maybe. I… need more time to think."

Gaius' trauma wasn't going anywhere. The Teutonii who'd caused it weren't going anywhere. Staying here would only remind him of his parents more, prolong his suffering—his drinking, too. Perhaps they could try to take him to warmer lands down south, or in the eastern desert?

Brynn was quiet for a few seconds. "You've already done more than he deserves. Th-that's what I think."

"Deserve?" Flame scowled, throwing a glance her way. "That sounds a bit… cruel. Especially from you."

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" Brynn fidgeted uncomfortably. "Okay, it's true—I still see him as an enemy a little bit. But it's more… you've already saved his life at the ambush, right? You brought him here when you didn't have to. And you're trying to get justice for his parents. What has he ever done for you?"

Flame cracked a tiny smile. In that moment, those words from Daedalus echoed in his head: that warning that he was putting the happiness of other pokémon before his own.

Maybe you're right, he told his mental image of Daedalus. I already have enough headaches of my own: my past, the Praetorian Guard chasing me, this entire war… why shoulder Gaius' headaches, too?

Remembering that he still held onto his shooter marble, he glanced down at the string circle. At the scattering of marbles within.

He squinted. If he hit that marble first… and aimed for the one behind it…

Without warning, Flame leaned forward and knuckled down; then, he flicked his shooter. When all was said and done, he'd knocked half the remaining marbles outside of the string circle.

"Seven," he declared with a small grin.

"What?!" Brynn gawked at him, shoulders slumping. "B-but how? You don't even know your own strategy!"

Flame shrugged, and glanced away with a sheepish smile. "I don't know. Something something… superior dragon genetics. Muscle memory."

In reality, he himself wasn't sure. Just how much had he and Daedalus played before coming to this world?

Flame shook those thoughts from his head. Not the time.

There was something more important on his mind. Something only Brynn could help him with.

"You know," he said softly, "I'm not really in the mood for marbles anymore."

"But… but…" Brynn frowned—until she glanced down to compare her marble pile with Flame's much larger one. "I-I guess we can stop."

Fighting back a grin, Flame gazed confidently into Brynn's eyes. "I'd really like to start my memory therapy. As soon as possible." He gazed out of the window, at the darkening sky outside. "If this war we're fighting is so important, I have to do something to help."

Brynn's mouth morphed into a small 'o'. "Yes! Yes, yes, of course!" Still sitting, she quickly scurried up to him and knocked marbles away in the process. "We can do it right now. D-do you want to start right now? I really really don't mind, I've been waiting for you to ask!"

Faced with such enthusiasm, Flame couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you, Brynn. Really."

"Yay!" Brynn sat upon her calves, her bushy tail wagging behind her—before glancing away. "P-please don't get angry at me if I see anything, um, private. Okay, Herr Flame? I can't really avoid it and, and—"

"Brynn." He said sternly. "Relax. I know that."

Brynn nodded hesitantly, and Flame couldn't help but feel uneasy. Was she… intimidated by him?

"Besides," he chuckled to calm her, "better you than Alice. Things are already complicated enough between us right now."

Although… if it's something major, I'll have to tell her eventually, Flame mused to himself. She made a promise to be honest, and I should be too. No more hiding.

"… Oh?" Brynn's eyes grew a little. "I-in what sense?"

"She hasn't been completely honest with me thus far." He rubbed the back of his neck, fire-tipped tail swinging behind him. "But we're trying to change that! I know she's a sweet, genuine pokémon at heart, so don't take that to mean you can't trust her. Okay?"

After a moment of apprehension, Brynn looked relieved, and nodded. "Come on—let's start now, Herr Flame!"

Flame nodded, and breathed in to relax his muscles.

Brynn's forehead slowly approached his. "Close your eyes and—"

It was at that point that the door to his room creaked.

"… May I?" came the muffled question.

That voice…

"Alice?" Flame gasped.

But by then it was too late; Alice was already peeking through the barely-open door, her sky-blue scales contrasting with the gray stone walls and wooden floor.

"Hello, Flame. I… hope I'm not being a bother." She said quietly, a guilty look on her face. She opened the door a little wider. "Gaius wants to be left alone, and I don't quite know where to sta—" Her face tensed upon locking eyes with the extraneous Braixen next to him. "Ah! G-g-greetings."

Flame tensed, too; his eyes darted between Alice and an equally tense Brynn.

"H-hey, Al!" He smiled sheepishly. 'Al'? Since when did he call her 'Al'?! "We were just, uh, playing…"

Shit. Shit. Why hadn't he planned for this? Alice was understandably still nervous around the Teutonii, and from how Brynn still spoke of the Imperials...

Pushed by a new sense of urgency, Flame cleared his throat and glanced over to his side. "A-anyway, this is Brynn. Brynn… this is Alice. She's my friend I told you so much about—remember?"

That remark seemed to alleviate Brynn's glare—if only slightly. Her tail was still as stiff as a log.

Alice, for her part, stood unsure a while longer before hesitantly slithering closer. She swept some marbles away with her tail, then settled on the floor—by Flame's side, yet still far from Brynn.

"My apologies," Alice added after an interval of silence. "It's… my first time talking to one of your people."

Brynn merely nodded in agreement.

Alice seemed confused by that. "Can you understand me?"

"Yes," came the Braixen's quiet reply—thankfully she was broadcasting to him, too.

"Oh!" Alice pulled back for a moment, as if taken aback by something—but then seemed to hesitate. "W-well, that's quite the relief." She smiled curtly. "On my approach, a-all I could hear was Flame talking to himself. I feared he'd lost it completely!"

"Wh-what?" Heat flooded into Flame's cheeks. "It sounds like that?"

"It sure does," Alice lifted her tail to mask her snickering.

Even Brynn's glare weakened; the Braixen visibly held back a smile. After a moment, she relented and joined Alice in laughter.

Flame looked away and felt his tail fire sputter, but nevertheless felt the weight easing off his shoulders a little. Even if at his expense, it was a relief to hear them laughing together. That's a good sign—right?

"Believe me," Alice smiled candidly, "it would hardly be your first sign of psychosis. Need I remind you of that time a week ago, when you, oh… jumped off that bridge?"

Laughing nervously, he crossed his arms together. "A-and who was it that followed me down?"

"… Touché."

"Tsk. I'd argue that makes you crazier than me. I-it's literally that old proverb! The one about jumping off a bridge if someone else told you to!"

Alice quirked her brow. "Flame—are we truly arguing over who's the least stable between us?"

Flame blinked, then laughed at the realisation. Gods, he'd missed being able to speak to her so casually. He could tell Alice had too from the dumb grin he'd left on her face. Yet, there were still traces of lingering unease. They had yet to fully forgive each other, and that was fine. .

He adjusted his expression accordingly, clearing his throat adopting a more somber look. "You said something about Gaius?"

Alice averted her gaze. "He's… in the midst of another emotional breakdown." She settled down on her coils. "To be perfectly frank, I can barely tolerate being in that room. The sheer pressure in the air… i-it's too much. I'm feeling lost enough as it is."

"Stay with us, then." He whispered sweetly. Then bit his lip. "Oh—r-right. Are you not comfortable around Brynn?"

Alice looked tense for a second. "No, 'tis quite alright. I simply… need to get accustomed to it. Um—are you comfortable, miss Brynn?"

When Flame turned to glance at the Braixen in question, he found her much closer to him than before—almost using his body to hide from Alice's view.

Brynn merely nodded in reply.

Flame wanted to ask if she was all right, but decided against it. Alice looked like she was trying to find a topic of conversation. Better to let the two make proper first contact.

"So…" Alice began. "I believe it was you at the harbour earlier, correct?"

Brynn looked down; her ears drooped. "Yeah. S-sorry for listening in."

"No matter," Alice replied with a kind, if tentative smile. "I understand that Gaius and I must be… quite the unusual sight."

Brynn nodded wordlessly. "N-not the only one."

The Braixen then tried to steal a glance at him, with such coyness that almost made Flame feel bad for teasing her so often. Almost.

"I wanted to thank you," Alice continued. "For helping him recover his memories."

Flame blushed a little at that. He wasn't sure why.

"... How do you know that?" Brynn blinked. She turned to him.

Flame shrugged, a bit sheepishly. "I told her about you."

Brynn covered up a tiny gasp. "Y-you did?!"

"Braixen aren't exactly known to be the most powerful psychics," Alice continued. "To be able to help him when you're not even fully evolved… Your psionic powers must be amazing!"

But Brynn seemed too flustered to hear her. "Wow. I didn't think you'd…" She fiddled with her digits. "Er, I meant—Herr Flame and his father mean a lot to our people. It's the least I can do for him."

"I see." Alice glanced at him. "Because Flame really needed that extra boost to his ego."

Flame chuckled reflexively, averting his gaze as blood rushed to his cheeks.

Next, she studied Brynn intently. "On the topic of your powers. I apologise for the intrusion—I realise we've only just met, but…" Her voice betrayed excitement. "You're a Heartspeak user, are you not?"

"... Heartspeak?" Flame blinked.

Brynn, on the other hand, suddenly looked uncomfortable.

"Yes, you must be. How else could I be understanding you?" Alice turned to Flame, her eyes utterly gleaming. "'Tis an exceedingly rare psionic ability. Similar to telepathy, but transmitting emotions instead of worded thoughts. It can actually cross language barriers!"

It wasn't until now that Flame realised how much he'd missed her 'encyclopaedia mode' rants.

"H-how do you know of Soulspeak?" Brynn tried to steel her face. "Only Lord Daedalus knows."

Alice rose a little, tail tip resting on her chest. "Well—not to be immodest, but I am rather well educated."

Flame made a point to roll his eyes theatrically, all the while still smiling.

"For centuries, Heartspeak has near single-handedly allowed diplomatic relations with the Far Eastern Kingdoms and steppe nomads. Without it, think of the myriad of languages and dialects we'd need to train envoys in!"

Flame blinked. But if that was the case… "How come no one thought of using it with the Teutonii?"

The glee in Alice's eye dimmed somewhat all of a sudden. She frowned, averting her gaze from his. "I suppose nobody thought of the invaders as a party that could be negotiated with."

Of course not, Flame thought with distaste. It was the same reason why all the adults in Gaius' home village had joined the garrison. Why no one back then had even thought of an alternative, of what might happen if they simply surrendered.

"Y-you're wrong."

That caught both Flame's and Alice's attention.

"Our people have tried negotiating for so many years!" Brynn whimpered, "Every time, your soldiers break the truce we just made and ambush us."

"So you're saying…" Alice tilted her head. "But that doesn't make sense. If your people had attempted diplomatic contact—surely the national papers would be awash with the news! That would be unheard of!"

A pained look flashed on Brynn's face. She hugged her knees tightly. "Most of my comrades with Soulspeak have… j-joined their ancestors." She looked down. "It's thanks to Lord Daedalus that I'm even alive."

"I don't understand," Alice lowered her head wings in thought. "Everybody in the Empire is tired of the war—even the Emperor. So many lives have been lost, provinces overrun… Wh-why would the Imperial Army target your peace envoys so systematically?"

Flame's eyes narrowed in concentration. "Probably because their real masters ordered them to." He met Alice's confused look. "The Presence. Those the Emperor calls 'Benefactors'."

Brynn nodded in support. "They already destroyed our people's homeland. And, and now they're trying to enslave all the pokémon in this world!"

Alice looked as if she'd seen a ghost. "… It was them that caused the Teutonii's migration?" She breathed shakily. "N-not portal storms, or, or climate shifts? All those leading theories…"

Flame shook his head. "Almost half of their original numbers were wiped out in the Wasteland. That's what Daedalus told me."

Alice did not reply. She merely sat there, absent, her eyes wide agape.

"I… see, " she muttered after a little while, blinking. "Forgive me. This is all still rather overwhelming. Why…? Why would the Benefactors try to wipe you out?"

"Because we are the only ones left who can stop them."

Flame's heart jumped with joy. There, in the open doorway, floated a Dusknoir whose smile alone made his tail fire swell.

"Daedalus!" Flame stood up, before gasping as Daedalus lifted him into the air.

"My child…" Daedalus gazed down at him in his arms. "I can't begin to describe how happy I am to see you enjoying normalcy." He said sweetly. "Playing marbles, talking to your friends…"

"H-hey!" Flame squirmed in his arms, his sheepish smile feeling like it might melt off at any moment. "I told you, n-not in front of the others!"

Daedalus put him down, laughing all the while. "Of course, of course. How are you settling in?"

Flame breathed deeply, trying to find the right words. His first day had been confusing. He felt safe for the first time… ever. He didn't have to plan his days around finding food. He had an actual bed—a house. The town itself was fascinating. As if that weren't enough, everybody in it worshipped him! Why? What had he done for them?

"It's been… strange." He looked up into his eyes with a smile. "Beautiful, but strange. There's so many questions I need to ask you…"

Daedalus nodded. "It's only natural that you do." He looked down suddenly. "I won't hide that I can't always be there. I have a people to lead and a war to wage. But rest assured—I plan to spend every moment of my free time by your side."

Flame nodded, feeling significantly more fuzzy inside. "Thank you."

Next, Daedalus turned to Brynn, who had actually stood up and was still bowing her head with squeezed eyes.

"Hello, Comrade Brynn." Daedalus smiled. "Please, stay seated."

Her eyes flew open; she threw herself back down. "Y-yes, Lord Daedalus!"

"Thank you for helping Flame integrate into our people in these trying times. And for helping him to recover his memories. Though it may not be obvious, your contribution to our cause is… invaluable."

Brynn wagged her tail so hard that Flame thought it might dent the floor. Her eyes were sparkling with joy.

Finally, Daedalus' single red eye turned to the last pokémon in the room: Alice. The moment their eyes met, Flame could have sworn she'd cowered a little.

Daedalus nodded. "Greetings, miss Alice. I don't believe I've properly introduced myself."

"G-Greetings." She nodded back curtly. "'Tis… quite alright. We met in difficult circumstances."

"Indeed." Daedalus made a curious smile. "Flame was rather adamant that we rescue you and your Grovyle friend, too, despite my own misgivings. You must share quite a bond with him."

"O-oh." Alice muttered in reply. "I see."

She was scared. Flame couldn't exactly blame her: he recalled the things she'd confessed to him just yesterday. The possibility of her imperial past coming out. The sheer terror of being used as a political tool for marriage.

He wouldn't let that happen. Besides, he trusted Daedalus completely.

"I can see you are uneasy."

Alice was breathing rapidly, her face tensed as though holding back a flurry of emotions. "Th-then I'm sure you understand why."

Flame couldn't stand to see her like this. Unsure what to do, he scooted closer to her and sent her the most encouraging smile he could muster.

To his joy, she seemed to smile back in appreciation—if still tensely.

"I realise it must be confusing, living among those who you've only known as enemies." Daedalus spoke reassuringly. "For what it's worth, know that I have no prejudice towards Imperial-born. You are welcome to stay here—if you so choose."

"I haven't quite decided yet," Alice said.

Flame swallowed, breathing in sharply. It was only fair. Only fair.

"But if I am to live here, even in the short term… then I deserve to know."

To Flame's utter surprise, Alice rose from her coils; despite residual shaking, she raised her determined eyes to meet the Dusknoir's. And to think she called herself a coward!

"I want you to tell me everything," Alice said sternly. "The truth behind this war, b-behind the slaughters. This 'Presence'. Where you and Flame originate from. Everything." She paused to recoup her ragged breathing. "Too many have died. I deserve to know."

The only sound in the room was Brynn suppressing a gasp. Daedalus, meanwhile, simply floated there with his hands clasped together behind his back. Thinking.

Scooting right up against Alice, Flame slipped a hand on her middle. Her shaking eased a little, and she glanced at him with an appreciative smile.

"She's right." Flame looked into Daedalus' eye. "There's a lot I don't understand, either. I think we would all benefit from… knowing what's going on. To help us settle in."

At first, silence. Then, Daedalus met their eyes one after the other. "Very well. I suppose it is only fair."

Brynn's face brightened. "I'll get to hear the stories from Lord Daedalus himself?!"

Alice drew a sharp breath. Her head wings flaring up in surprise. "Th-thank you," she said, then remembered to nod courtly. "I… I've spent the better part of my life thinking about this war. About how little sense it made." She looked down and squinted at nothing in particular. "Knowing I'm so close to the answer… I have to know."

"I respect your drive." Daedalus replied simply. "Why, I can tell you are rather well-educated."

Alice's eyes filled with dread at that. She grew rigid. It was subtle, for she must have been fighting to suppress it, but Flame noticed it right away and squeezed her scales to calm her.

He won't find out, he wanted to tell her. I'll make sure of that.

"I—" Alice cleared her throat, trying to recompose herself. "Yes. Thank you. I shall try to keep an open mind about your people. B-but I won't hide that it will be difficult to let go of my prejudices."

"On the contrary." Daedalus smiled. He set his eyes on Brynn, then on Alice again. "For the first time, I see a Teutonii and an Imperial citizen sitting peacefully in the same room. Perhaps… there is still hope."

"Yes," Alice whispered. "Perhaps…"

Brynn nodded enthusiastically at that.

Flame smiled too, his gaze drifting up towards the wooden ceiling. Yes, enough with this stupid war. They had to find a way to make peace.

If no one else, he would find a way.

"If I may, I would like to begin now." Alice rose from her coils, trying—and failing—to appear taller. Fear flashed on her face. "Tens of thousands have died. Innocents, on… b-both sides, I'd imagine. Entire provinces have been devastated. Why? To what end?" She glanced at Brynn, face scrunched up. "Is it… to avenge what the Benefactors did to her people? Is that why this war is still going on?"

It was a fair question, all things considered; a part of Flame was surprised she had worded it so civilly.

"I do not seek revenge from the Empire, or those who live in it. You are victims of the Presence just as much as the exiles." Daedalus paused, a grave look on his face. "The only reason this war rages on… is because the Presence themselves wish it to."

"I beg your pardon?" Alice blinked. "But—the Benefactors protect the Crown! Their celestial bombardment has snuffed out peasant rebellions and pretenders alike. Why, the Eastern Satrapy's armies met the same fate a scarce fifty years ago, when they invaded our border provinces! T-true, the Benefactors haven't intervened in this current war, but… but…"

"Precisely," Daedalus smirked. "Why, if these 'Benefactors' are so benevolent and powerful, do they allow this war to rage on? For twenty years, no less."

Alice flared her head wings in surprise, then glanced away in thought. "I… I don't know. Nobody does."

"The unfortunate truth is that this war benefits the Presence greatly. By withholding help, they have effectively ensured your Emperor's servitude in their grand scheme."

Flame gawked. So… they could wipe us Teutonii out if they truly wanted to. A shiver ran down his spine, through his tail flame. The only reason they haven't is to apply pressure on their subject—and, if I had to guess, because they can't be sure which village I'm in.

Brynn, meanwhile, was wagging her tail like a giddy child listening to her favourite bedtime story.

Seeing how Alice was still busy absorbing all that new information, Flame decided to continue.

"Daedalus." He looked up to him, unable to help a tiny smile. "Back when we first spoke properly, you told me that they seek to enslave all pokémonkind. That's their grand scheme, right?"

"Indeed. They wish to become the undisputed masters of this world—to bring every free pokémon under their heel. However, even that is not the most pressing reason why our people fight them."

"Eh?" Flame blinked, scowling. "Wh-what could possibly be more pressing?"

"Their plans of conquest would take decades more to come to fruition. If we had such time, perhaps we could have found another way." Daedalus paused again. "However, in their pursuit of ultimate power, the Presence has upset this world's very fabric of spacetime."

"Th-the portal storms?" Alice recoiled, gasping. "The mystery dungeons? You're claiming they are to blame? Th-there were those who accused your people of controlling them—but, but I could never quite believe it!"

"Approximately two hundred and forty-five years ago, the Presence tore a rift into the fabric that separates our world from theirs."

Flame stiffened. The Gateway.

"It is the same Gateway that they use to travel between the two worlds. The same that Flame and I used to arrive here." Daedalus looked at them each in turn, his bright red eye captivating Flame's attention. "But the Gateway is like a cancer. So long as it is held open, the fabric of spacetime in this world will continue to unravel. Portal storms will continue to grow greater in intensity and numbers, as will the mystery dungeons left in their wake. Is that not already happening?"

Alice's face darkened. She looked away, shrinking into her coils. "Portal storms used to be a once-in-a-decade event. Now, they're…" She shivered. "… Weekly…"

Once in a decade? To think that Flame could only remember three months of his life, and he had already seen two portal storms with his own eyes. He remembered the devastation that first storm had wrought to the forest. He remembered how the second storm had been even more powerful, ripping an entire valley apart. And they would only grow stronger in power…

The thought scared him.

"Soon, the fabric of space-time may become so irreparably damaged that the only thing left… will be a single, planet-encompassing mystery dungeon."

Daedalus turned to a nigh-terrified Alice. "That is why our people fight. It is not out of hatred toward the Empire, or revenge—it is because we must spare the pokémon of this world from such an apocalypse." He floated closer to the window, and gazed out of it. "We must reach the Empire's Southern coast. We must reach those islands. We must close the Gateway, and ensure that it can never be opened again."

"Eh? Hold on!" Alice rose from her coils, "That doesn't make a lick of sense! Wh-why risk destroying the world they are trying to enslave?! Those two outcomes are mutually incompatible!"

"Even I am not fully certain." Daedalus admitted. "It is likely that the Presence knows the damage they are causing, but have reason to believe that their plan will succeed soon."

"And…" Flame held his breath. "Is that where I come in?"

"Indeed. The Ascension Programme."

Flame felt his eyes widen. "That's…"

"The first word you spoke when we found you," finished Alice.

"The first word, you say?" Daedalus' eye flashed with interest.

Silence engulfed the room. Flame and Alice locked gazes, silently trying to decipher what this all meant.

"Daedalus," he spoke. "Help me understand. How exactly do I fit into their—"

There was panicked shouting coming from outside the window. Flame stopped, and felt his heart leap when he recognised the words.

"Herr Flaaame! Herr Daedalus!"

The alarm in that voice… Flame rushed to the windowsill. Daedalus followed, looming just behind him.

Below, barely visible in the evening darkness, stood a panting Manectric who stared up at Flame as if he were an apparition.

"D-danke der Himmel," she muttered, then stood to attention. "Beeil dich, es passiert eine Katastrophe!"

Flame blinked; he looked to Daedalus, whose single eye was narrowed, and then to Brynn, who looked utterly terrified.

"We must go, quickly." Daedalus declared. "It would seem your Grovyle friend has taken matters into his own hands."

Flame and Alice once again locked eyes. This time, in alarm.

"Please don't tell me it's what I think it is," Flame whispered.

"I'm afraid so. He has found Comrade Hydreigon."

---

End of Chapter XXX​

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Heya. It took a bit longer than I’d hope, but I’m back with a fresh review for this series, since you’re not that far off from getting current with your offsite versions, which is probably a sign that I should do likewise, huh?

Chapter XXVI

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Tantalus Valley

Flame had lost track of how many times he had lifted his eyes towards that two-toned sky.

Its subtle shift from a deep ocean blue to bright red-orange, not unlike that of his own scales, left his stomach in a warm buzz—yet every time, as he advanced on the same wide cobbled road, there was something missing.

I’m assuming that that’s just the sky at sunset based off where this story goes later, though at first I was

-ing since that was pretty reminiscent of how the skies above Portus were described not long before the Portal Storm came barreling through.

"How…" Gaius wheezed behind him. "How much longer can a stupid road take?"

Eight words spoken seconds from disaster.

"Have faith, Gaius." Alice's reply came, betraying her own scrunched up eyes. "Once we reach our home, we shan't ever need to travel again. Just think…"

Home.

I see that it’s not just Gaius who’s on the ‘tempting fate’ wagon right now. Especially since for all they know, the three of them are just going to get bounced from the gates of Thermae Himerae. :V

A tiny spark lit Flame's heavy eyes as he marched. A gentle breeze swayed the pine trees that grew along both sides of the wide cobbled road. Somewhere beyond those trees, at the end of this road, lay their new home. Home! The prospect filled his stomach with butterflies despite feeling so utterly unfamiliar to him. He'd lived in Camp Tempest, yes—but this was completely different. This was a home he'd chosen. Here, he could invent a new life for himself…

Gaius: "What, no mention of whatever camp your Scum buddies took you to? With how you kept going on and on about how they were 'your people' last chapter, I'm surprised their digs didn't leave more of a favorable impression."

Flame: "I mean, it didn't feel bad. But between getting taken there without any say in the matter and constantly feeling lonely from not being around Alice... I dunno, it just didn't come to mind right away."
- Flame blink moment after seeing Alice flush a flustered beet red the corner of his eye -
Flame: "Er, and you too, Gaius! Totally missed you while I was gone!" O///O
Gaius: "Sure you did. What, you think that I just forgot about all the crap you said to me last chapter?" >_>;

The anticipation pushed Flame to somehow march even faster. His feet ached painfully with every step, and he could barely feel his shoulder under his heavy bag—but he didn't stop, couldn't stop.

[For the] road inclined steeply uphill just ahead of them, clumps of weeds growing between the individual cobbles.

It’s a bit nitpicky of me, but something about ‘For the’ as an expression feels very formal-ese. Like it’d work well for something from Alice’s PoV, but unless if Flame’s meant to have similar undertones (and he might given that he is a [-------]), I’d expect something more colloquial like “Not least of all because [...]” there.

Flame held his breath. "Is this…" His grin slowly widened. "We're here… We're here!"

"L-like before?" Gaius grumbled.

Oh, so these three have already gone through “just one more hill” a couple times at this rate. :V

"Come on!" Flame pushed his already brisk step into a quasi-sprint. "I think we'll see it from up here!"

"Wait—Flame!" Alice's cry came from behind. "Slow and steady, remember!? Not all of us have legs!"

Gaius: “Wait, but don’t snakes already move around plenty fast without legs-?”

Alice: “Gaius. Shut. Up. Already!”

It was only a few seconds before the uphill climb left Flame struggling for breath, and slowing down, but he gritted his teeth and kept taking one stride after the next.

"J-just watch," said Gaius behind him. "Watch us go the wrong direction like some dumbasses."

"It couldn't possibly be," Alice whispered back. "We're on the main road. The signage earlier promised we were close…"

Gaius: “Alice, considering our batting average with the universe having it out for us, are we really putting our hopes into road signs right now?” >_>;
Alice: “... Yes? This world may be cruel, but it’s not ‘intentionally lying road signs’-tier cruel… (I hope.)” ._.;

Flame somehow didn't lose his grin, even as he heaved a terse sigh. "Gaius," he said. "I swear to the gods, if you shut up, I'll buy any drink you want when we're there."

A pause. "You…" Gaius' voice darkened. "You don't want that."

Flame: "Why, just how expensive of booze would you ask for?"
Alice: "I... don't think he was alluding to alcohol there, Flame."
- Gaius paw at back of head -
Gaius: "There's some... other stuff I'd dabbled with during some bleaker moments in life that I'd rather not get back into."
- Flame frown -
Flame: "(Was he into some sort of berry syrup? I mean, I know Oran Berries are supposed to be addictive here, but recreational substances made from syrups always struck me as more of an island thing.)"
Gaius: "(Do we even have those in this setting?) Look, it doesn't merit bringing up here okay? So let it go already."

Flame immediately bit his lip, but before he could think of what to say, he reached the crest of the hill and beheld their final destination: the city of Thermae Himerae.

The great mesa took up half of the sky from where they stood. Its sheer granite walls towered hundreds of metres above their heads, and the only buildings Flame could see were made of pure white—two or three or even six-storey structures erected right on the mesa's edge, all glued together with little balconies with iron fences jutting out.

Huh. Sounds kinda like Thira, except with a lot less water.

Above those thatched roofs he spotted a multi-coloured pallet of flyers lifting off and landing and circling above the city, each landing in turn. Even further beyond, only a single thin spire rising from deeper into the city, barely visible against the fiery glow of early sunset.

And a lot less whitewashed masonry structures, but hey. It still sounds like it’d be photogenic in its own right.

"We're here," Flame whispered, soaking in the sight. "After all we've been through…"

"By the gods…" Alice's mouth hung open. "It's even more beautiful than the encyclopaedias give it credit for!"

Wait, were those illustrated encyclopedias, or is Alice going off of this based off text passages? Since pictures are worth a thousand words, and it’s really, really hard to outshine the reality of a place if you’re attempting to accurately describe the sights to see in text.

Flame ran his eyes over the colossal plateau again, then lowered them back to the road ahead. There were cultivated fields, and some sparse farmhouses near the base of the plateau. He thought he heard a rumbling noise somewhere close.

"It's just…" Flame lifted his eyes again. "How did they build that high?"

Gaius laughed in disbelief in between pants. "Freakin' magic, for all I care."

Gaius: "Also, probably lots and lots of fliers helping out. We do live in a setting where a few species of birdmons can carry off a literal tonne of weight in its claws."
Alice: “Yeah, this place strikes me as one where I wouldn’t be shocked if it had a Corviknight corps just chilling around in the city. They’d definitely be put to good use.”

Smiling at that, Flame was about to reply when he realised that the rumbling had only grown closer.

An indistinct shout from behind jolted them all into reality; they scrambled off into the roadside just in time for the Rapidash-drawn wagons to pass them by one by one. With keen eyes, Flame watched the wagon convoy steadily gain distance on him and his teammates as it bounced and creaked on the road's cobbles. A Floatzel was leaning out of the rear wagon's back, looking at them curiously.

>tfw your adventure almost came to an end along with the world at large thanks to almost getting run over by a horse-drawn wagon

Flame: “Let’s… stick to walking on the side of the road from now on.”

After several days spent in near-isolation—with only Gaius and Alice around him, besides the occasional feral—Flame felt the strangest sensation at locking eyes with another civilised pokémon.

"Would you look at that," said Gaius sarcastically. "Someone who's not trying to kill us, for once."

Flame laughed dryly. "Who knows, honestly?"

I think I’m with Flame on this one, since that Rapidash didn’t even attempt to call out a warning before forcing those three off the road.

Alice: "... Don't jinx us, you two." >_>;

As he drew his eyes to the great mesa before them, he felt shivers running through his spine. He grinned; a sudden impetus seized him, and he shook Gaius' shoulder. "What are we waiting for? Come on!"

They resumed marching with a newfound spring in their step—or slither, in Alice's case. All this despite the tired look on their faces, despite the stiffness in Flame's legs, despite how hard he fought not to limp.

"Gods, I still can't believe we're here…" Alice said, eyes sparkling. "I'd always hear stories about this city, but to see it with my own eyes! Oh, Flame—do you recall what I said about Thermae Himerae?"

Flame: “... I’m not sure, really?” ^^;
Gaius:

“Now Alice is going to go on one of those encyclopedia-tier rants because of you!” >.<

Flame paused to think. He did, in fact, remember a little. Something about this small Kingdom being separate from the Empire, and some thermal baths—but the sheer look on her face was contagious. Who was he to spoil her excitement?

"Not really, no." He barely suppressed a laugh.

"Mew, don't make her start…" Gaius grumbled, clawing at his face.

… Oh right, Gaius actually complains about Alice going full exposition fairy canonically.

"It's unlike anywhere else on this continent." Alice said. "The Imperial Army spent centuries trying to annex the Himeran Kingdom in successive wars. Valley by valley the Empire took over its lands, but was never quite able to take the capital—for reasons I'm certain you can see."

The setting sun disappeared quickly behind the great mesa, and they were now in the city's shadow. Even in the penumbra, though, it was impossible to miss the many round impact craters that scarred the mesa's walls. Flame could only picture himself standing down here as a besieging soldier.

Flame: “Wait, but why didn’t the Presence- uh… the Benefactors just sic their steel ravens on this place again? Since they apparently deleted the better part of a continent from existence, you’d think that one single mesa would be child’s play.”

- Beat moment -
Alice: “You know, I’m not sure if I have a good explanation for that one. Our Benefactors have been… fickle ones to say the least.” .-.

"Couldn't the Empire just starve them out?" he wondered aloud. "It's not like they can grow much food inside the walls."

"They certainly tried," Alice replied. "Once for five years. Alas, a one crisis or another back home would inevitably force the Legions to pull back. Plus, the city's proved much more valuable as our commercial partner than a dominion."

Actually, considering how Sycorax has his troops allowed to freely enter this place in like 5 chapters down the pipe, it makes me wonder if Thermae Himerae’s independence from the Empire is because it secretly hosts a forward operating base for the Presence or something like that. Since boy is it convenient that every time Urbe has tried to seize the place, they had some sort of crisis occur to force them to back off. .-.

Flame: "So we're literally just counting on historical precedent to keep us safe? Since by your own admission, Thermae Himerae doesn't have as much land as it used to and at least some of those past sieges were only called off thanks to strokes of luck."
Alice: "I mean, I don't see why this time would be any different. It's not as if the Empire's going to besiege a city for years on end just for the three of us-"
- Alice trails off and looks at Flame -
Alice: "... Oh. Right." ._.
- Gaius shakes head -
Gaius: "Just saying, if the Praetorians or something roll up. Do you really think these 'mons are going to put up with 5 years of crap just so we can stay here instead of summarily kicking us out so their lives will go back to normal?"
Flame: "Er... are we sure we should already be thinking of this place as home in that case?"

Flame quirked an amused brow. "Our?"

Moments later, Alice blinked. "Oh. Correct." She looked off to the side. "Forgive me. I am… still getting used to the thought. Not being in the Empire anymore."

Gaius: “Yeah, well get used to that faster, since I don’t feel like getting kicked out of town because of you not being able to mind your politics.” >.<
Flame: “Gaius, relax. It’s just a minor slip-up. It’s not as if we’re diplomatically radioactive or something, right?”
Alice: “...”

Gaius: “(Alice, I swear to gods if your family history comes back to bite us…) Let’s… hold off on tempting fate until after we’ve got a place lined up to crash here.” >_>;

With an understanding nod, Flame turned his attention back to their surroundings. It was the last stretch of road to the base of the mesa. To either side of them were cultivated fields with neat rows of berry bushes; Flame peered between the plants and saw a family of Pansage and Simisage picking diligently into baskets. Further inside the fields were wooden shacks, and even a small house with cracked plaster.

"But…" He glanced up toward the sky. "I—I don't know, it still doesn't feel completely safe. Wouldn't there be officers and representatives from the Empire here?"

From the tail of his eye, Alice regarded him with a certain fondness. "You worry too much."

Boy was this a bad read, since as of Chapter XXXI, we find out that Flame was really, really prescient with his worry that Imperials would come and go through Thermae Himerae.

He closed his eyes. "It keeps me sane."

"You're incredible." Alice shook her head, holding back laughter. "The city nominally pays tribute to Urbe, but I've heard rumours that they've stopped doing even that. With the Scum on the offense, the Imperial Army's in no position to do anything about it."

Flame: “... Alice, you do realize that if things ever settle down for the Empire, that they’re almost certainly coming here to get their missed tribute payments, right?”

Alice: “... That’s far enough in the hypothetical future that we’d be able to have time to plan on jumping ship elsewhere if it came to it?” ^^;
Gaius: “(Boy are you two making this place sound less and less attractive by the minute.)” >_>;

Flame scowled immediately. "Yet they can spare the thirty-something 'mon to come after me…"

Flame: "... (Am I missing a zero or two there or something? I mean, those Praetorians looked intimidating as hell, but surely it'd take more than thirty 'mons to make a difference against a fortified city like this.)" .-.

"Ah, to hell with 'em!" Gaius elbowed his flank, sporting a large grin. "They think they're so high and mighty. Well, guess what happened? We bloody played them, that's what. Those stuck-up pricks gave us a free ride!"

"I can't quite believe it myself." Alice chuckled. "The great Sycorax… fooled by some lowly outlaws."

"And a blast seed to the face," Flame added, sporting the tiniest self-satisfied grin.

"Lucky bastard." Gaius said as they walked. "Wish I could have done that."

Boy, that definitely takes on some different undertones in light of Gaius’ backstory coming out in Chapters XXX + XXXI. Since, uh… yeah, Blast Seeding the likes of Sycorax in the face honestly seems like something Gaius would’ve plausibly fantasized about at times.

Unable to help his smirk, Flame shrugged openly. "You win some, you lose some. Welcome to the real world."

I will heavily take the under on Flame’s next encounter with Sycorax going anywhere near as well as his one in Chapter XXV. Since we saw him win that last encounter, so…

Further ahead, the wagon convoy had stopped between two sturdy-looking watch towers. Beyond them was the steep access path that snaked up and around the mesa wall. Flame stared curiously at the pokémon walking between the wagons and on the watchtower railings, before it finally dawned on him.

Flame halted, a hopeful smile growing on his cheeks. "Border guards." He uttered breathlessly, glancing towards Gaius and Alice. "They're border guards!"

- Beat moment -
Flame: “... Actually, wait, why am I so excited about them again when we’ll have to pass inspection by them?” ^^;

The three of them shared a look of utter joy, their faces bathed in the faint orange glow of dusk.

Flame basked in the moment, before soon, his smile shrunk. "Er, what do we do now?"

Oh right, Flame actually has a “wait, why’s that a good thing?” moment of sorts.

Gaius blinked, frowning. "Don't look at me—I ain't the bookworm of this team." He glanced at Alice.

"Wh-what?" Alice shrunk back. "Do I look like I've applied for asylum before? I have no clue. I suppose we just… ask them."

Gaius:

Flame: “I mean, m-maybe it does? If they regularly get asylum seekers, surely we’d slip through the cracks.”

Biting his lip, Flame turned to observe the border checkpoint. One of the guards, a Gigalith, spoke with the Rapidash while a Mightyena hopped out from the rear wagon's back. Up on the left watch tower, he saw a Blaziken eye them curiously. Surely they were outside of hearing range?

That’s certainly a bold assumption there. I didn’t realize how much the team’s gambit for getting into Thermae Himerae was pantsed, but it honestly makes sense given that Alice convinced everyone to go here based entirely off of secondhand knowledge that for all we know, was years out of date.

"Right," Flame hummed, his tail fire crackling behind him. "We'll tell them we're refugees from Aesernia. That the Scum destroyed our home, or… something of the sort."

Alice tilted her head. "Why not just tell them the truth?"

Gaius:

Alice: “...”

Flame: “Wait, Alice? What was that about?” ._.;
Alice: “... Nothing. Look, just tell the guards about what we went through since Aesernia, alright?”
- Flame blinks -
Flame: “Wait, are we sure we want to do that?” .-.

Flame averted his gaze, and rubbed his forearm. "I-I don't know, does an earthquake sound convincing enough? We are escaping from the war. It's not a complete lie."

Gaius crossed his arms. "If we're makin' up stories," he narrowed his eyes, "we better remember them. I get a feeling they'll want to know our whole lives."

Why am I getting the feeling that Gaius was looking straight at Alice while he said that line. Since boy does that vibe differently in light of the story coming down hard on Alice consciously lying to Flame about her backstory.

Flame: "... Would they buy that we got hit in the head by roof tiles from an insula falling on us and have amnesia? I mean, everyone knows about that earthquake and I already can't really remember anything from before a month ago even if I was being completely honest, so..."
Gaius: "You know that'd probably just motivate them to call out a Psychic to pick our brains, right?" >_>;
Flame: "Er... right. Let's try and think of something less fantastical."

"We don't have to change much, do we?" Flame asked, shrugging at them both. "We were Civil Protection. Surely they'll want those skills. Heck, we were technically in the Army for a few—"

"Gods, no!" Alice gasped, causing Flame to flinch. "Do you realise what they'd think if we told them of the Imperial Army? They'd realise we deserted! They'll kick us right out the door!"

Gaius, too, looked uncomfortable. "It… it ain't a good look, trust me."

I mean, just saying, it worked for Carthage until they lost that Third Punic War. So Flame's instinct isn't totally off-base there.

Flame: "Wait, why would they care if we're deserters from the army? They're already not paying tribute and wouldn't that telegraph that we're vulnerable and not in any position to cause trouble for them in town?"
Gaius: "Because A: it means telling them that we’re unreliable flakes, B: it means telling them that we're from the Imperial Army and they’ll go over us with a fine-toothed comb to see if we harbor any sympathies for Urbe? Why, they'd probably think we'd sell them out just for the promise of a pardon or something!"
Alice: "Also, if they do that, they might find out about my background as a- uh… Senator’s daughter, and decide that we're too dangerous to deal with."

Flame: "Uh... point."

With a small sigh, Flame crossed his arms in thought. We really should have thought of this beforehand, huh?

Flame: “I mean, that’s kinda been a running trend with runaway gambits from us in this story, b-but let’s think positive here!” ^^;

Standing a little straighter, he squinted at the guards on the watchtower. Telling lies was a fickle art. The three of them could not reveal the full truth of their escape—but nor could they make up stories without agreeing on a common narrative, first.

"We'll leave out the desertion, then." He declared. "... And the Teutonii. And the Praetorians. They'll never find out if we don't tell them, right?"

Good thing Thermae Himerae didn’t have a Psychic or empath posted with the border patrol there, since… yeah, that’d have very quickly tripped the “take these three aside for further questioning” flag considering what we’ve seen for how effective their abilities can get in this setting.

It was hardly a lie in the first place—chiefly one by omission. Plus a few corrections. If only they could get past the interviews...

Fists clenched, and with his chest puffed out, Flame turned to his teammates. "Let's run over this again: we came straight from Aesernia after the Scum attacked." He said, this time somewhat more forcefully. "That should be it. Right? Nothing else we need to change?"

A light, chilly breeze blew past them. Gaius nodded promptly. Alice looked less certain, but nodded regardless.

Gaius:

Flame: “Alice, are you sure there’s nothing you want to say here?” ._.;
Alice: “N-No! Nothing at all! We have our story, so let’s just stick to it!” O_O;

Gathering his courage, Flame glanced toward the checkpoint again. The convoy had moved on, and the first wagons were already making their way onto the access path. Now, all the border guards were looking at them, both on the ground and the guard tower. He realised then that it had to look suspicious to just be standing there.

Flame: “... You know, I’d be a lot more confident right now if we had money to bribe the border patrol guards with.” ._.
Gaius: “Yeah, well we don’t since whatever money we had was confiscated by the Praetorians. So we’re kinda counting on your smooth-talking abilities here.” -_-;
Flame: “Ulp. No pressure…”

He motioned with his head. "Let's go."

They began moving again, and Flame breathed deeply to calm his quivering heart, trepidation flooding his chest. Walk calmly. One step, then the next. He tried his best to look calm.

"Who's telling 'em?" whispered Gaius behind him.

After a moment of thought, Flame directed his eyes toward Alice. "Y-you're the better speaker," he told her with a sheepish smile as they approached.

Alice sighed, but bristled her ear wings nevertheless. "Well, if you put it like that…"

Oh, so Alice also had a screaming internally moment for a second there. Since you just know that she felt put on the spot about having to lie her way past the guards considering how she’s not being honest about her own life story to her teammates right now.

His chest tightened just looking at the guards before them. He counted two on the road—a Mightyena and a Kabutops, while a massive Gigalith by the tower's entrance rose slowly to full height—the gems on its body shining in the orange glow of dusk. On the guard tower were the Blaziken from earlier, and a Talonflame that had just landed.

"Halt," ordered the Mightyena with its gruff voice.

- Alice sucks in a sharp breath -
Alice: “Here goes nothing…” ._.

Team Phalanx stopped promptly in the middle of the road. Flame dug his heels in and reminded himself to breathe.

This is it, he thought. All these days of travel…

The Mightyena drew closer; then it ducked its head and sniffed around them for a few seconds, before grunting in recognition. "You're new here," it growled in a deep voice. "State your business."

Flame: “W-Was that really necessary?” >///<
Border Patrol!Mightyena: “Hey buddy, that was the most cursory and unintrusive sniff search imaginable. If you want my nose poking around where it’s nobody’s business, go on and keep talking like that.”

Alice bowed her head slightly, and brought her tail tip to her chest. "We hail from the Empire, sir. We have lost our jobs and homes to the Scum, so—"

"—You're asylum-seekers?"

Flame blinked. Somehow, the question unsettled him. Seeing Alice in a similar state, he quickly interjected, "Uh—yes, sir."

"Hm." The Mightyena studied them all up and down individually. "Right. Of course you are."

Alice: “I-I know that you’ve surely seen your fair share of them lately, b-but we genuinely mean no harm here!”

Gaius: “(Oh my gods, why was I worried about her parentage being an issue when we’re flailing this much at basic questioning at the gate?)”

Flame shared an uneasy glance with Gaius and Alice; the tension in their faces was unmistakable. He tried to send them a look of encouragement despite his own ragged breathing.

The guard looked back to its colleagues. The Kabutops behind it nodded, while the Gigalith merely stomped one leg down impatiently.

Then, the Mightyena smiled. "Welcome to Thermae Himerae."

Lol, nice screening/background check there, Thermae Himerae. Especially when you immediately border Scum territories. How has this place not been riddled with spies at this point? >:V

Though I suppose they might very well be riddled with Imperial spies even if there’s no deeper story behind their independence. Since… yeah, I remember what went down in Chapter XXXI.

Flame: "Wait, that's it? We just had to throw together a vague cover story that's impossible to forget and-"
Alice: "Flame, the guards are still right there!" >_>;
Gaius: "Just saying, if it was this easy to get let in, are we sure we're the only ones who had the same idea?"

Flame's ears were filled only by his own thumping heartbeat in the silence that followed. He stared blankly at the guard's smile, as if disbelieving in it, then met his teammate's gazes once more. A smile seized them all, and Flame laughed—a breathless, liberatory laugh.

"Thank you, sir…" whispered Alice, her voice trembling with joy. "Thank you so much…"

"Wh-whatever she just said," said Gaius, laughing as well.

All:

Border Patrol!Gigalith: “Lucius, shouldn’t we paying more attention to how those three refugees are visibly high-strung after questioning-?”

Lucius the Border Patrol!Mightyena: “Nope! Those answers were good enough for me!” ^^

The Mightyena kept smiling and nodded. "Follow me."

With that, it spun around towards the mesa wall, and the access path that rose before them. Team Phalanx wasted no time in following. The Kabutops guard stood aside and waved them away with a scythe, while the Gigalith wished them something with a deep, grating voice.

Flame looked up as they walked, looked far above them, at the unclimbable mesa walls. Was this all a dream? Was this really happening?

Flame: “(This all feels too easy right now.)” .-.
Alice: “(Flame, the border guard is still right there!)” >_>;

"If this actually works, Flame," murmured Gaius, his voice wavering with excitement, "I'm buying you those drinks. Screw it—I'll buy anything you want."

Flame laughed and gave Gaius a tired smile. "Some bread and cheese would be nice."

"Are you joking, Flame?" Alice asked excitedly. "Bread and cheese? We'll be able to afford truffles and wine soon!"

Gaius: "Somebody's dreamy there. Let's start with something like aliter dulcia or whatever the hell it's called in modern speech first." >_>;

Speechless, he merely shrugged. "It would be a start."

As the Mightyena led them up the dusty, steep access path, Flame felt his head gravitate towards the open valley.

The dying sun bathed the distant mountaintops in a bright heavenly orange, while dark clouds hovered menacingly just beyond. Despite that, Flame couldn't help but feel at peace.

Flame: “Oh thank god the story’s over and we can live happily ever after-”

- Flame looks up at the chapter index -
Flame: “... Huh? Why are there four more chapters to this?” ._.;
Gaius: “Pretty sure there’s five elsewhere at this point in time, but we get it, the story’s not over. Can you give the fourth wall a rest already?” >_>;

By his side, Gaius scrunched up his face. "… The hell's a truffle?"

That's certainly one way to illustrate how different of a world Gaius came from relative to Alice. It’s a nice touch. :V

The city gates had been less impressive than the city's grand location suggested—heavy wooden doors carved amidst featureless walls and devoid of engravings.

Likewise, Flame's first steps within Thermae Himerae revealed quaint little unpaved streets flanked by houses made mostly of white stone. They rose to two, three, even six storeys, with wooden linings and thatched roofs.

I mean, did you really expect a city full of war refugees building slapdash places to call home to look swanky and fancy? Might be a bit underwhelming relative to whatever was in Alice’s copy of the Encyclopaedia Universalis, though.

The Mightyena led him, Gaius, and Alice through the city's soulless streets; there was only a Quilava, scurrying from doorfront to doorfront to ignite lanterns against the encroaching darkness.

… That’s actually a nice touch for putting a Fire-type’s abilities to use. Especially one with open flames on its body.

"I think I like it already." Flame looked around, smiling. "The mountains, the fresh air… I don't know why, but it… feels right."

The Mightyena guard shot back an amused glance, but said nothing.

On one level, I’m a bit surprised that the guard isn’t singing the praises of his home right about now. Though it gets revealed in about 30 seconds that Flame and the gang are by no means the first Pokémon to get the brilliant idea of running off to Thermae Himerae to try and hide away from the world’s problems, so maybe he got tired of that after enough repetitions.

"That's our dragon instinct kicking in," Alice said. "Plus, look at the pavement: not a single drop of grime. Not a single one!"

Bet you wouldn’t be saying that in about a week, Alice. :^)

"No Scum, even," Gaius added, shooting Flame a tiny smirk.

Flame: “... Gaius, was that really necessary?”

Gaius:

Flame's stomach dropped a little. Unsure how to take that, he brought his attention back to the streets and houses around them. They were beginning to feel… wrong, somehow.

Soon they emerged into a wider avenue, and it was then that Flame figured out why. The further they went along, the more houses diverged completely from the cosy white stone and thatched roof: some kept that design for the bottom floors but had storeys of radically different looks stacked on top, often with exposed brickwork or oversized balconies that turned entire buildings into chimeras. All the scaffolding, too…

- Beat moment -
Flame: “I’m sorry, but are those houses supposed to look like that?” .-.
Lucius the Border Patrol!Mightyena: “Eh, we needed the extra space.”

Flame: “The extra space? What are you getting at-?”

After some more twists and turns through narrow alleys, they arrived at the edges of a wide city square. It was surrounded by more chimeric houses and dominated by a long, stone building with a tower rising from its centre—but neither of those were what had captured Flame's attention.

It was the sheer number of tents.

They infested every corner of the square, from the pavement to the flowerbeds to the steps of the tower building, to a few branching streets on the complete opposite end. Flame tried and failed to estimate a number. All around he saw pokémon loitering outside of their tents—some eating, some singing, some sat around a lantern playing cards, others yet visible only as outlines inside dimly-lit tents.

Flame: “... Oh.”
Lucius the Border Patrol!Mightyena: “Told ya.”
- Flame looks over at his teammates and whispers out the side of his mouth -
Flame: "... How sure are we that there's not some horrible catch to this again with all these obvious refugees camped out? Like how do we know that a mob of locals isn't going to come along and run us off accusing us of stealing their jobs or ruining their lives? Or that the local guards aren't going to round us all up and enslave us in a day or two?"

Gaius: "Gods, Flame. I get that we live in a bleak setting, but lighten up a little." >_>;
Alice: "I dunno, Gaius, if the narration made it sound like something was off, it can't hurt to be a little wary."

Are they like us?

Flame shared a worried glance with Gaius and Alice. He was at a loss of words. After a brief moment, he could see that they were, too. Yet none of them raised the questions on their mind with their Mightyena escort.

Probably a good thing, since we’d have found out just how picky Thermae Himeraean are with their refugees really fast otherwise.

They followed the guard along the edge of the square-turned-encampment—drawing the eye of many of its inhabitants along the way—until they were at the steps of the fancy marble building, in one of the few spaces not already occupied by tents or pokémon.

Flame: “... Should we be worried about those looks we’re getting right now?” o_o;

There, the Mightyena stopped suddenly, and turned to address them. "No tents left for now. Sorry."

"Tents?" Gaius' face scrunched slightly. "Why tents?"

"So you can wait here. Someone will come to process you."

Yeeeeeeeah, this place is going to get significantly less hunky-dory in about 2 weeks when the first winter snows come. Since I doubt those tents are particularly well-insulated.

"Oh." Flame cast a wary glance at the ocean of pokémon camped out in the square with them. His shoulders dropped at the sight.

"How long might that take, sir?" Alice asked, looking similarly worried.

The guard hesitated, then shook its head. "I… can't help you with that."

Well at least it was more polite than a:

in response. Even if that was kinda the undertone coming through in the Mightyena’s dialogue.

"That—that's okay." Flame stood straighter, smiling. "We'll wait. As long as we have to."

Gaius + Alice:

Flame: “(Didn't we already use that macro once this review?) Well, what was I supposed to say?”
Gaius: “Not that since the first snows come down in two weeks here!” >.<

"Thank you, good sir," Alice whispered, and bowed her head slightly. "We won't forget it."

"Yeah," Gaius added.

The Mightyena merely nodded curtly and trotted back the way they'd come.

Flame: “Shame, I think I was starting to get used to him.”
Alice: “Flame? Let’s focus on getting an actual place here in Thermae Himerae first before we start concluding we’re never going to see these ‘mons again.” >_>;

And there Flame, Gaius and Alice stood, alone with each other—alone under the waning sunlight, alone despite the hundreds of pokémon camped in the square with them.

Flame: “... Wait, how on earth are we managing that again?” .-.
Gaius: “Look, do any of the other refugees seem super chatty and social right about now?” >_>;

For a while they stood there, almost dazed, until Flame felt the adrenaline of his excitement peter off, and the effort of an entire day's march came crashing down on him. He plopped himself down on the cold stone tiles of the square with a grunt, as did Gaius and Alice.

Gaius glanced around as he mindlessly nursed his stump. "Looks like your secret plan leaked halfway across the Empire, Flame."

"Who would have thought?" Flame unslung his bag, panting slightly.

Flame: “Wait, but it was Alice who came up with the idea to-”
Gaius: “You were the one who pointed out Galatia on the map first, it’s your secret plan.” >_>;

He struggled to find a part of him that didn't hurt. Yet underneath the exhaustion, as his eyes wandered up to the marble building at the top of the stairs, Flame could barely hold back tears of joy. Its central tower rose proudly below the starry night sky. Out of its many windows only a handful were lit.

"We're here…" Flame whispered, and a huge smile spread on his face. "We're finally here!"

Flame: “I mean the place is kinda a dive relative to expectations, but we’re finally free!” ^^
Alice: “...”

Flame: “... We are free right now, right?” ._.;

"Y-yes," Alice said weakly. "We are. Let's pray we won't have to wait for long…"

Flame laughed at that, his eyes still cast upwards at the marble tower. "Ah, who cares about that? We're home, Alice!" He hugged his bag without knowing why. "I… I wasn't even sure if this place existed a few hours ago. Now…"

His heart fluttered, his tail fire brimmed with joy, yet his teammates said nothing.

Flame frowned, and brought his eyes back down. "Guys?"

Flame: “... Shouldn’t you be happier right now?” .-.
- Gaius casts a glance out the corner of his eye at Alice -
Gaius: “Let’s just say that I’m a bit worried about… complications right now.” -_-;

Heavy wind buffeted his scales. He heard them both hiss before he turned to catch the pained look on their face, with Gaius hugging himself and Alice wound tight in a coil, trying to bury her nose beneath her middle.

"C-cold…" she whispered.

Fantastic choice of a refuge there, you three.

Flame smiled sheepishly at the sight, before suppressing it upon realising how insensitive it must have looked. Of course they'd be more sensitive to the sudden gale.

He quickly shuffled to sit between them, to brush his sides with theirs. "Sorry. I didn't realise you were cold."

"B-brag again," Alice laughed breathlessly, "and I swear to all that's holy, I'll… I'll Water Pulse you."

Flame: “I’m… just gonna scoot a few steps away, thanks.” ^^;

Flame's expression turned serious. "I wasn't bragging."

"Don't lie." Alice forced a wry, trembling smile onto her face. "You l-like seeing us like this. All helpless, begging you to keep us warm…"

... Boy does that have some implications for the way Alice and Gaius used to interact with each other if she’s throwing that around as a joke. .-.

Flame couldn't quite find it in him to laugh, but at least she still had some humour left in her.

Gaius grunted. "Get serious, you two." The Grovyle had his bag in his lap, fishing through its contents furiously as his face scrunched up. "D-damn it, where's the blanket?"

Flame: “... Wait, do we even have anything in our bags still after that swan dive off that bridge?” .-.
Gaius: “Look, we had a canteen last chapter. Look harder, alright?” >_>;

"I have it." Flame quickly fished out the woollen blanket from his own bag—only for Gaius to snatch it from his claws before he could even turn.

"Oh, sweet mother of Mew…" Gaius closed his eyes and hugged the wrinkled cloth. Alice drew closer too, looking on with expectant eyes.

I see Gaius is still looking out for number one there given how reflexively he snatched that blanket for himself.

Flame let his claw hang in the air for a moment. He considered dropping it out of sheer pity—but he had to keep them both warm.

It took hardly any force to snatch the blanket from Gaius' weak grasp. Scooting in between his teammates, he threw the wide blanket behind him and across their shoulders, letting it crumple until only their heads remained exposed.

"Better?" He glanced between the two.

Gaius: “... Flame, do you have any idea how awkward this looks in public right now?” >///<
Flame: “Look, with how chilly it is right now, I doubt a whole lot of these refugees are going to judge over us going full cuddlepile. And do you feel better right now?” >_>;

Judging by the way they both leaned against him, with Gaius' good hand squeezing his tail and Alice's head on his shoulder, indeed it was. The stone they sat on was cold, too, but that would at least change with time.

Flame: "... This isn't triggering any uncomfortable flashbacks for Gaius and Alice, is it?"
- Gaius meanwhile is nervously fiddling with his good-ish paw and holding onto Flame's tail for dear life -
Flame: "Gack! Okay, that answers that question..."

Virtually all the other pokémon in their immediate vicinity had retreated to their tents, save for a band of Sneasel that looked undeterred.

Team Phalanx: "..." O_O;
Background!Sneasel: "... The hell is that look for?"

Gaius let out an ill-defined groan. "Of all the places to go for asylum…" he grumbled. "We could have gone to some nice, hot beach somewhere. Relax on an island. No—we just had to choose the coldest mountain city in the world."

Gaius: "Just saying, we were talking an awful lot about Capri before we decided to take a detour northeast." >_>;
Alice: "Gaius, the plan just didn't hold up to scrutiny and our circumstances alright? So we had to go with alternative options."
Flame: "Also, this all technically isn't canon, so trying to fight the plot won't get us anywhere."
Gaius: "You literally had an entire sequence getting drunk in a Scum beer hall and making a fool of yourself!"
Flame: "I mean, that didn't blatantly contradict the plot, just saying."

With a terse sigh, he clasped the blanket's hems tighter. "So weird... It feels like we're in Camp Tempest again."

Alice + Gaius: “...”

Flame: “... Isn’t that a good thing?”
Gaius: “No. Just. No.”

"At the very least," Alice said weakly, "we don't have Ariel shouting in our ears anymore."

For now, anyways. I seriously doubt we’ve seen the last of her in this story.

Flame snorted, cracking a smirk. "Thanks, Alice. I was trying to forget about her."

"You say that," Alice grinned, "but you only knew her for two weeks. Try two years."

Gaius grumbled. "Just thinkin' about her voice…"

I kinda wonder if we’ll ever get to see more of what life for Alice and Gaius was like during those two years. Like we kinda have some ideas based off how they speak of it, but it’d be interesting to see how they wound up getting stuck in a vicious cycle of bottom-feeding on TFA, even if only by retrospect/flashback.

Flame turned his eyes up towards the starry night. He had only met Ariel a handful of times, yet more than enough to make him hate the thought of her. And her voice, too. Definitely her voice.

"Oh, no, I won't miss her at all." Alice paused. "Still, I do wonder what she's doing now…"

"I don't," mumbled Gaius. "Screw her. She's crying in her villa is my guess."

More like chilling in Urbe while Aesernia burns in the middle of a protracted siege. And maybe giving Adrian an earful about Sycorax leaving her and her fief province out to dry.

"What a fitting end, huh?" Alice whispered. "Commander of a dead Task Force, and Governor of a city in ruins."

I mean, given the teaser for the next chapter, there’s good odds that soon she won’t even be that within a matter of a few chapters.

Flame cracked up at that. Then he remembered the moment the earthquake had struck—the collapsing roofs, all the proles breaking through windows to escape—and the sight of rubble flowing into the streets, and his smile faded.

With a tiny sigh, Flame shut his eyes and focused on his teammate's presence. He hoped Aesernia was being rebuilt. The city might have been squalid, but it didn't sever the connection he felt to it. Perhaps, one day, he would get to see it again…

Be careful what you wish for, Flame.

"You know," his whisper broke the silence, "I think I'll miss Aesernia."

"That dump?" Gaius furrowed his brow. "Really?"

"I know, I know." He lowered his eyes. "It was a hard life, and I don't have many good memories in it. But… I, I don't know—I guess it's the only place I have memories of. The only home I've had…"

Somewhere out there, Brynn is eye-twitching right now.

Flame: "I mean, don't they say home is where the heart is? What if we brought Aesernia over here for starting a new life?"
- Gaius and Alice look around at the sea of tents around them -
Gaius: "No. Just... no." >_>;
Alice: "I think I'm with Gaius on this one. Plus do you really want to just bring all of Aesernia in when that means letting in 'mons like that Swampert shopkeeper you stole from?"
- Flame thinks back to getting chased out of the city walls by the aforementioned Swampert and blanches -
Flame: "Er... right. I guess I can afford to sleep on the idea a bit."

"Not for much longer," Alice whispered from his shoulder.

A new warmth coarsed through Flame at those words. Similarly, a new gust of wind blew through the square and shook the tents around them, just as a Kadabra with a clipboard interrupted a group of ice-types just a few tents over.

… How is that Kadabra keeping his footing or telekinetic equivalent thereof at the moment? .-.

The breeze must have also seeped into their blanket, for Gaius practically yanked his tail into his own lap, while Alice coiled slightly around his leg. Flame did his best to rub both of his teammates with his claws, but it didn't stop them from shivering a little.

Gaius: “... We’re never going to live this down in this city, are we?” >///<
Alice: “Gaius, shut up already.” >///<

"We are now processing the last applications for the night!" yelled a Kangaskhan from atop the marble stairs. "Those of you waiting to be processed, please camp in front of the steps!"

Alice shifted uncomfortably under the blanket. "I suppose we're sleeping here tonight, then."

Flame lowered his eyes to the pavement, struggling to keep them open. "Good. I'm too tired to deal with some… interview. I'd say we deserve the rest."

Bold of you to assume the plot's going to let you have that considering your current batting average, Flame.

Finding silent assent in his teammate's eyes, Flame lay down on his stomach and brought both Alice, Gaius, and the blanket over them on the ground.

The stone tiles felt cold against his belly, and he could only pray that they were as clean as the rest of the city's streets had been. When his teammates snuggled against him, though, the sheer glee swept all those thoughts away.

Gaius blew a sigh against his neck. "Look at me, sleeping like this again…" He smiled somberly. "Guess life is just one big circle."

Flame: "... That sounds like it ought to worry me quite a bit if this is where we wind up when going full circle." ._.;

Flame was about to reach out for his bag when he froze, and frowned at the Grovyle. "You've slept in the streets?"

Gaius kept his eyes shut. "Before Civil Protection, yeah."

... Wow, Gaius really has had an unenviable life. Since going from the day his childhood ended to that... .-.

Flame felt strangely empty at that. Perhaps it was his exhaustion, or the emptiness in his stomach, or perhaps it was the creeping sensation of familiarity he too felt, somehow, sat there in the open under the night sky.

As he stared down at the palm of his hand, a sudden surge of determination hit him. He clenched his claws into a fist.

You won't have to anymore. Flame looked to Gaius again. This will be the last night we spend on the streets. I promise.

Narrator:

Flame: “Oh come on, don’t we deserve a break for once?!”

Thus his teammates fell silent. Though he couldn't hear their snoring, Flame knew sleep was just around the corner; he could feel it too, weighing on his chest.

With a soft smile, Flame dragged his bag closer. His claws settled around something round and solid, and he froze.

The badge.

Flame: “... (Wait, why on earth do I still have that when Gaius is probably going to summarily disembowel me if he ever finds it?)” ._.

He'd forgotten again, hadn't he? Heat flared in his stomach. All that self-lecturing about letting go of his past, and he still couldn't let go of one badge? It was idiotic. Childish. Contacting the Scum now would only bring him more pain.

Flame: “... (Quite literally since I’m pretty sure being discovered with this would get me executed as a Sympathizer.)”

… Yet oblivion's allure proved too strong. With a loud yawn, Flame rested his cheek on his bag and resolved to toss the badge away in the morning. Already he could feel himself drawn away…

"… last group of the night."

Above the general background chatter of the square, however, there was one voice in particular that lured him away from sleep. A young, masculine voice. Approaching ever closer.

Flame: “Oh for crying out loud…” >.<

"Honest, I wish we could just drop the formality and—" The voice paused abruptly. "Sweet mother of Mew, is that a Dragonair?"

"Dragon-what?" huffed a second, feminine voice.

Flame stirred, poking one eye open. What greeted him was the sight of a Togekiss and a Granbull with a clipboard under its arm, facing each other.

Flame: “Uh… yes? Can we help you?”
Alice: “...”

Flame: “Alice? Why do you suddenly look like Ariel just waltzed out in front of us?” ._.;

"Dragonair." The Togekiss covered his mouth with his wing. "You've seriously never heard of one?"

"Uh…" The Granbull looked lost suddenly. "Am I supposed to?"

Flame: "(Alice, there are Dratini and evolutions outside Urbe’s nobility, right?)" .-.
Alice: "(Uh... some, yes.)"

Gaius: "... I don't think I like where this is going." >_>;

As they spoke, Flame raised his head to squint at the odd duo that had stopped before them. Beside him Gaius grumbled profanities, and when Alice's snout poked out from beneath the blanket, Flame exchanged a puzzled look with her.

"Wha—of course you're supposed to!" The Togekiss said. "They're some of the toughest dragons to exist!"

Flame: “... Wait, they are?” .-.
Togekiss: “That’s right! Right alongside Salamence, and Hydreigon, and-”
Alice: “Yes, yes, wonderful lecture, could you kindly let us sleep now?” >_>;

"Are you sure about that?" The Granbull glanced towards them. "'Cause… I dunno, it looks more like a water-type to me."

Beside him, Alice's face contorted in a strange mix of confusion and indignation. "I'm right here!"

Her reaction sent Flame into a giggling fit that he covered up with his claws. Alice merely threw the blanket off her head and blasted him with a glare that only made him chuckle more.

Oh Flame, if only you knew...

Even Gaius was starting to look more amused than annoyed.

Gaius: “Gotta admit, you’re pretty funny when you’re flustered, Alice.” >:P
Alice: “No. It's. Not!” >///<

"Oh, uh—sorry about that." The Granbull looked down at her clipboard, then back at them. "We definitely haven't processed you three. For the record, when did you arrive?"

Flame stared at her blankly. "… Just now."

"Lucky!" The Togekiss smiled. "Come with us, then. We'll get your application processed."

- Blink moment -
Flame: “... Wait, now now? Aren’t there a whole bunch of other refugees that came before-?”
Togekiss: “Whelp, sucks for them. Are you coming or what?”

Flame's heart fluttered. All tiredness suddenly sucked out of his bones, he stared between the two with wide eyes. "A-already?"

The Granbull stopped writing to send him a look. "Why, is that a problem?"

Flame did not answer right away. Instead, he shared an incredulous smile with Gaius and Alice. Inside, he wondered when exactly this long day would grant him rest.

Alice + Gaius: “...”

Flame: “That… is not a remotely normal smile there, but eh. Probably just pre-interview jitters.”

And sliding right along into a second post since I don't feel like undoing 40 image tags right here and now.

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

The Bisharp's eyes lit up from behind its desk as it saw them enter.

They held a brief flash of surprise that prompted Flame to pause at the doorway, Gaius and Alice in tow. The flash was gone in a second, though—replaced by a courteous smile that gleamed in the dim candle light.

"Welcome!" The feminine-sounding Bisharp gestured in front of her. "Please, take a seat."

Flame: "Oh dear gods, we're gonna get gutted like fish, aren't we?" ._.
Gaius: "Look, just simmer down and shut up! (Though what are the odds we'd run into Bisharp guards here too?)"
Interrogator!Bisharp: "Hrmph. What can I say? We're natural team players and this work fits us well. So now, are you going to answer my questions or what?"

Flame nodded warily. The room was lined with bookshelves and lit only by a candle on the wooden desk, and as he advanced, the cleanliness of the wood floor only made Flame more conscious of just how grimy his claws and feet all were.

Still, the Bisharp said nothing.

Flame: “... Wait a minute, is this even a normal place for an interview? Since shouldn’t there be tracks from other refugees here if it is-?”
Alice: “(Flame. Stop. Talking. We need to make a good impression right now!)” >_>;

He took one of the seats, with Gaius taking another, while Alice merely coiled up in between them. He tried to send a reassuring smile when he saw her embarrassment, but he was fairly sure that it had only made her flush redder.

Nevertheless, he too turned back to their interrogator, fiddling his claws together in his lap.

Flame: “So… uh… we were getting our entry interview to stay here, right?” ^^;

As she watched them, the Bisharp smiled again. "Is something the matter? You all look surprised."

"What?" Flame perked up. "Oh no, no. We just…" He looked off to the side.

"We simply expected to wait longer," Alice spoke up. "S-seeing all the pokémon outside."

"Not like we're complaining, though," Gaius shrugged.

Interrogator!Bisharp: “...”

Flame: “Look, that’s all, we swear!”

"Well said." The Bisharp stood up from her seat, still smiling, hands clasped behind her back. "Firstly, I must congratulate you for reaching our humble Kingdom. I can only imagine what trials and horrors you must have faced before coming here." She shut her eyes. "And while it pains me to bring those memories back to mind, I must inquire for the sake of process."

Flame nodded, despite his heart beginning to race.

The Bisharp inspected each of them in turn. Flame could read nothing beneath those stern eyes "Let me start with a simple question," she said. "Why are you here?"

Flame: “... We’re running away from our problems and trying to dodge the story’s plot?” ^^;
Interrogator!Bisharp: “Mm, get that a lot these days. Why don’t you go into a bit more detail for me?”

"We hail from Aesernia, ma'am." Alice bowed her head slightly. "The Scum have taken everything we once had. Our homes, our colleagues in Civil Protection." She shut her eyes for a moment. "When we ran, their hordes had reached the outskirts of the city. We wish only to escape the war, and live in peace."

Flame: "Should... Should she have said that 'Civil Protection' bit out loud given that that was an agency in the Imperial government?" .-.
Gaius: "... Probably not, but let's hear her plead our case. I mean, it's not like Thermae Himerae is just going to turn away every bean-counter that ever worked for the Empire... (I hope.)"

The Bisharp stood silent for several moments in visible contemplation, moments in which Flame twiddled his claws together endlessly. Gaius and Alice too sat tense, as if awaiting higher judgment.

I mean, it helps that they’re both aware of the lingering landmine waiting to go off in this interview and praying to anyone and anything that can hear them that they skate through without it being brushed up on.

"I see." The Bisharp finally said, her voice quiet. "That story has become far too common for my ears. You are not the first to come here from Aesernia."

Interrogator!Bisharp: “Really, we’d need at least three digits ahead of you to cover your position.”
Gaius: “(Wow, half the empire really did get your brilliant idea, Flame.)” -_-;

Flame expelled a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. His tail fire simmered behind him. It had probably helped that only a small portion of what he'd said was a lie—one by omission, at that. Their history in the Imperial Army had been brief and unceremonious, and nobody needed to learn it.

Yeeeeeeah, I can’t imagine “deserted a military” looks too good on your record when your would-be hosts are in a position to be picky with their asylum-seekers.

"What are your names?"

The question made Flame pause. He bit his lip and glanced to his teammates; perhaps it wasn't wise to give their real na—

"Alice."

"Gaius."

Flame:

Gaius: “(Look, in my defense, I’m pretty sure there were at least thirty other Pokémon in our old cohort called ‘Gaius’. It’s not exactly a rare name in the Empire.)” >_>;

Flame sighed internally. There's that question solved. He almost considered saying 'Cornelius', but decided to trust in his companions' judgment.

"Flame."

A tiny smirk settled on the Bisharp's face. "How funny." She leaned forward, elbows against the desk and hands clasped together. "Because just this morning, our embassy in Urbe received a wanted notice for three pokémon of the exact same species as you. A certain… Flame, and a Gaius. No name for the Dragonair."

Flame: "Oh goddammit, seriously?!" >.<
Gaius: "Er... h-hey now, 'Gaius' is a really common name in the Empire! There's gotta be a decent number of other Grovyle kicking around in the Empire called 'Gaius', so what makes you so sure you've got the right 'mon?!"

Fem!Bisharp: "Maybe so, but how many of those Grovyle named 'Gaius' are palling around with a Dragonair and a Charmeleon named 'Flame' of all things?"
- The Fem!Bisharp leans in across the table -
Fem!Bisharp: "Also, your buddy there had quite the reaction when I brought up that wanted notice. Would he have done that if you weren't the same 'mons?"
- Gaius open mouth and freeze -
Gaius: "... Crap. (Any brilliant ideas here guys?)"
Alice: "(I've got nothing. Guess I could've introduced myself as 'Alicia-' er… ‘Addie’ or something in retrospect.)"
Flame: "(Augh! I knew I should've told her I was 'Cornelius'!)" X(

Flame could almost hear his heart drop in the silence that followed. His tail flame shrunk, just as the colour drained from Gaius and Alice's face. He curled his claws into fists to stop them from trembling, but even that failed to stop the dread flooding into his chest.

"Th-there's gotta be a mistake," Gaius piped up. "We ain't—er, I mean, we're not—"

Laughing, their interrogator raised a hand to stop him. "Don't worry. I could care less if Urbe is after you three."

Team Phalanx: “...”

Gaius: “You could’ve said that earlier, you know!” >.<

"O-oh." Flame released a nervous chuckle.

The Bisharp sat back down. "… That is, of course, unless you're wanted for a serious crime. So," the Bisharp sat back down and leaned forward, "would you be so kind as to elaborate?"

Team Phalanx:

Flame swallowed back the relief, eyes darting around. What could they say? He had a feeling they wouldn't take too kindly to the news that he was an interdimensional half-Scum. It wasn't like he could tell them about their desertion, either!

Yet Gaius was frozen in indecision. Alice wasn't even looking ahead. With mere seconds to think, Flame fished desperately for the first event that came to mind.

"W-we stole food from the city market," he blurted out before thinking, pausing only to gauge the Bisharp's reaction. "We didn't want to do it, but… food prices had gone up, and, and we needed supplies to make the journey here…"

Interrogator!Bisharp: “... Our embassy received a wanted notice for petty thieves. Really?”

Flame: “I… uh… we might have wound up nicking something from a higher-ranked Legionary? They… don’t exactly suffer thefts from them well.” ^^;
Interrogator!Bisharp: “... Who on earth did you steal from to manage that? The Praetorian Prefect?”
Flame: “E-Er, well f-funny you should mention that…”

Gaius finally caught on after a moment. "We ain't thieves. Not normally. We just wanna make an honest living."

Alice fluttered her head wings and nodded eagerly.

With a somewhat amused smile, their interrogator looked at them all. "You seem sincere." She grabbed a feather and struck something from the paper in front of her. "So long as you're not murderers or callous criminals, that little detail will have no bearing on your applications."

Flame: "... She sure let that admission of petty theft go easier than I thought she would. Especially when we got a wanted poster sent all the way to Urbe over-"
Gaius: "Flame. Shut. Up. Already!" >_>;

Flame expelled a big sigh of relief, laughing to relieve some of the tension. "Th-thanks. Thank you."

"Yeah," Gaius added.

Alice merely let her relief speak for her.

The Bisharp looked them all in the eye in turn. "Us Himerans are a welcoming people; however, you must be prepared to fulfil your duties to the city. Firstly, there is the matter of citizenship. Obtaining asylum here would mean—"

I mean, we’ve seen them for all of an afternoon. I’d frankly be more surprised if that hospitality didn’t have some sort of horrible catch to it, since I’m not sure how on earth they’ve survived as a polity otherwise.

"—Renouncing our Imperial citizenship for good," finished Alice, staring straight into her eyes. "That is a consequence we're prepared to face."

Their interrogator stared cryptically at Alice, as did Flame. Was interrupting their interviewer like that a good idea?

I mean, if you have to ask the question...

"Impressive," the Bisharp muttered. "I see you're quite well-educated, Dragonair. Not many know of our laws when they arrive here from the Empire."

"Thank you, ma'am." Alice bowed her head again. "I have studied this city's laws and history rather extensively. I… hope that can be of use, somehow."

Gaius: “... (Alice, should you really have said that part out loud?)” ._.;
Alice: “(Gaius, shut up. We need to make a good first impression here!)” >_>;
Gaius: “(Look, just saying, if I were you, I’d be doing everything in my power to make that Bisharp think I was some hick farmer right now!)” >.<

The Bisharp stared at her for a moment. "Is that so?" With a small hum, she turned to him. "Grovyle, Charmeleon: do you also understand the implications for your citizenship?"

Flame hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He had no intention of going back to the Empire. Perhaps to visit, one day, to explore the world—but that would come later. Much, much later.

Plots don’t work that way Flame, just saying.

What he needed, first, was a home.

"Very well. I won't have to explain that to you." The Bisharp then stood up from her seat. "There is… another matter, as well."

Of course there is, Flame wanted to say.

Gaius: “A-And what would that be again?”

The Bisharp stepped towards her office's window, and the night sky outside. "You three, more than anyone else, know what menace the Scum represent to this world. The city is well-fortified, but our walls and our mountain could never hold off their entire horde. If even one Scum got inside the walls…"

Flame suppressed a nervous titter.

And depending on how you define ‘Scum’, there are potentially even two inside Thermae Himerae’s walls at the moment.

Flame:

Bisharp: “... Charmeleon, you seem tense right now.”

Gaius: “I mean we’re only going through an interview that will determine whether or not we have a place to stay warm in the Tartarus Mountains in winter, so…” ^^;

Then the Bisharp turned to them again. She stood as straight as ever, hands clasped behind her back. "Once your application is approved, you will be enlisted in the City Guard for a period of two years. It's the price you must pay for asylum."

Ah yes, getting enlisted into another military body in a place that literally borders Teutonii territory, what could possibly go wrong there?

The disappointment hit Flame before he could even feel his shoulders sag.

Alice shifted in her coils. "And… what exactly would that service entail?"

"Keeping patrols outside our city. Manning border posts at the entrance. Helping with construction work, escorting merchant convoys—you won't find it too different from your previous job." A kind smile returned to the Bisharp's face. "In return, you will be provided housing, as well as a reduced salary."

All:

Flame: "... So there was a catch."
Gaius: "I mean, if we can find some Joy Seeds and fix my hand, it doesn't sound like that bad of a trade. (... Assuming they feed us properly.)"
Alice: "(I really could’ve done without a job that’d potentially put us back into contact with the Scum again…) But I suppose having room and board covered for a couple years is more than what we could've expected if we tried to go to Capri… What do you say, Flame?"

Flame lowered his eyes to his lap as he processed everything, trying to ward off the dread encroaching upon his stomach.

Despair was the emotion to come out on top. This wasn't what they'd come here for. An apartment and meagre pay in exchange for joining yet another army? Had they not come here to escape the war in its entirety?

Prooooobably should’ve run someplace a bit further away from Teutonii territory in that case.

And yet, another part of him whispered that maybe… just maybe, it would be different this time.

No—of course it was going to be different! These people weren't going on the offense. There would be no field battle on the level he'd witnessed outside of Aesernia—no fighting except if the city itself came under attack.

Let’s not even get into the fact that this place gives Praetorian troops free passage through its territory. As we discover in about 5 chapters.

A small, tentative smile found its way onto his snout. If this job was so similar to Civil Protection, then perhaps it was no army in the first place. The city had no stakes in the war, either. It was too far outside the Empire's grasp and too far removed from the Benefactors' plans for Daedalus to attack.

You see, in light of knowing what goes down here in the near future and this place’s eerily convenient history for eluding incorporation into the Empire… I’m not so sure about that statement there anymore.

In was far from a safe bet, but… these were the best odds he'd had in [ ]

Gripping the armrests of his chair, Flame finally allowed himself to smile. "We'll do it." He raised his eyes to meet their interviewer's. "If it means we can start a new life here, we'll do it."

"A house?" half-whispered Gaius. "An actual house? Hell, I'd scrub the floors for two years for that…"

You have a sentence that abruptly cuts off in the first paragraph there. Probably want to take some time to fill that in.

Alice: "... I expected you to waver a bit more. Are you sure there's nothing that'd make you think twice about this, Flame?"
- Flame thinks back to how Daedalus organized a raid of the Aesernian Plain just to get him back and now he's going to be bumming around in a city-state with no allies to call on if things go pear-shaped with the Teutonii -
Flame: "Nope! N-None at all!"

A subtle smirk crept onto the Bisharp's face. "I'm sure something could be arranged."

Flame: “... On second thought, could we think this over for a night-?”
Interrogator!Bisharp: “Sorry, no refunds.”

Both Flame and Alice laughed softly at that, to which Gaius rolled his eyes and pretended to look away.

However, their interviewer's smile soon turned into concern. "Jokes aside. I don't enjoy singling anyone out, Grovyle, but…"

Gaius scowled. "I know where you're going." He raised his stump and feigned a slash with the leaf blade still attached to his wrist. "Hand or no hand, I can still slice stuff with these. Or climb, or cut wood for construction, or cut—ah, I don't know, heads if you want. Or are you just gonna to pity me—the poor cripple?"

Flame sucked in a stifled breath, eyes wide.

Flame: “... (Gaius, what are you doing?!)” O_O;

"Gaius!" Alice hissed under her breath.

Yet the Bisharp waved her off. "Keep the spirit, Grovyle. It'll serve you well." She jotted something down on her paper.

Well, she’s not wrong, but Gaius’ proper state of mind… is a lot less feisty and determined than that.

For what felt like the hundreth time that day, Flame released a shaky sigh of relief. If they made it through the interview in one piece, he was going to celebrate. The drink-himself-to-sleep kind of celebrate. That, or…

Flame squinted. Hmmm…

"Pssst, Alice," he leaned close to her. "Still up for those thermal baths?"

She covered her giggling with her tail. "I thought you were scared of water now," she whispered back.

Alice: “(Also, shouldn’t you be saving this for sometime the Bisharp isn’t scrutinizing us?)” >_>;
Flame: “(Look, I really, really need an outlet for my stress right now before I wind up barfing fire all over the floor.)”

He shrugged. "Frankly, I couldn't care less anymore."

"Why, I think we're almost done here!" The Bisharp smiled widely. "Your unit and housing will be decided soon. Let's see… Ah, of course. There is… one last matter to resolve. More of a curiosity of mine, really."

Flame: “(Oh my god, what now?)” >.<

Flame frowned in puzzlement, for their interviewer now eyed Alice with a certain interest.

"Because, you see," the Bisharp leaned forward on her elbows, "from the very moment you came in here, Dragonair, I've felt this unmistakable sensation of… familiarity. As if I've seen you many times before."

Flame: “Tch, that’s crazy. We’ve never met you before in our lives-”

Alice:

Flame: “... Alice, we have never met this Bisharp before in our lives… right?” ._.;

Alice shifted ever so slightly in her coils. "Is that so?" She laughed. "That's unlikely. Unless you've been in Aesernia recently."

"Yet you yourself are not from Aesernia."

"C-correct." She drooped her head wings. "I was raised in Urbe. That's where my family hails from. We moved to Aesernia a number years ago."

Gaius: “(Oh my gods. Alice, why would you say that out loud instead of saying you were from Agia Marina or something?!)”

Alice: “(Look, our author has Word of God said that Pokémon from Urbe have a distinct accent. I’d raise more suspicion by not being honest.)”
Gaius: “(You didn’t even try! You could’ve pretended your parents were from Urbe and moved there or something!)” >.<

Their interrogator stared at Alice for a moment, retreating into thought. "That much was obvious. Your accent and your tone definitely aren't northern. Not to mention the fact you've been educated."

"Hey!" Gaius crossed his arms, yet neither their interviewer nor Alice seemed to hear.

Ouch. Though considering the absolute state of the north right now… yeah, I can buy there’s not much of an intelligentsia there.

Flame continued to glance between them both, and as he did, a tension gripped his chest. There! There was that glint in their interrogator's eyes…

"I'm not sure about you, but I find your situation quite interesting." The Bisharp cupped her hands together. "Especially since I don't remember there being any Dragonite families in Urbe."

Gaius: "You couldn't have just said you were from Agia Marina instead, huh Alice?" >.<
Alice: “Gaius, again, their accent sounds different from mine, okay?” >_>;
Flame: "... Doesn't Urbe the city literally have like a million Pokémon in it? Are Dratini line Pokémon really so rare that there'd be none outside the-?"
Alice: "Flame, let me do the talking here."

"I guarantee you, there are some." The tension on Alice's face was obvious despite her forced smile. "Especially in the Prati quarter—where my family hails from. You have clearly never been to Urbe! N-no offence."

"None taken," the Bisharp replied. "... If it weren't for the fact that before my current job, I used to act as the Imperial legate for our humble city-state. Right in the heart of Urbe."

- Alice eye twitch -
Alice: "Oh godsdammit, seriously?!" >.<
Flame: "(Does your family just make a point of adopting every Dratini in town or something, Alice? How do you manage to have only one Dragonite family in a city that big?)" ._.;
- Gaius facepalms -
Gaius: "'Let me do the talking here', huh? I think I can see how you and Flame have a thing for each other." >.<

"Y-you are mistaken, then."

With each passing second Flame shrunk back into his chair, right alongside his tail fire. He didn't understand. Didn't Alice hail from a family of Urbe noblemon? She never spoke much about them but—he was certain she'd told him that. What were they even arguing over?

Alice: “I-It’s a city of over a million Pokémon! Th-There’s multiple Dragonite families in it, okay?!” O.O;
Fem!Bisharp: “You’d see, one would logically think that, but…”

"For three years I resided in the Eternal City. Not one family of your line." There was a glint in the Bisharp's narrowed eyes. "Except, of course…"

Alice was practically squirming. "I d-don't quite understand where you're taking this line of questioning."

Their interrogator leaned forward over her desk. "I think you know, miss Alice…" Her voice was down to a whisper. "Sis felicior Augusto, melior…"

Alice: “’T-Traiano’? I- I don’t understand what you’re getting at with that saying there.”

Fem!Bisharp: “You’re really not helping your case given that there’s only so many Pokémon that would reflexively know how to complete the saying like that.” >:|
Flame: "Okay, no really. Is there seriously not a single prole Dratini or Dragonair in all of Urbe that could get overlooked? Or some sort of slave? We know Dragon-Type slaves exist in this setting, and at least some slaves are educated, so..."
Fem!Bisharp: "A slave named 'Alice'? You'd have an easier time convincing me that there was a prince named 'Gaipor' in the Imperial line of succession in Urbe."
Gaius: "(Maybe her father really does adopt all the Dratini in the city into the royal family. Or else kicks all the ones outside of his out as soon as he finds out about them.)"

Alice said nothing. Not only that—Flame noticed with alarm that she wasn't breathing at all, somehow even more paralysed than he was.

A look of dread climbed their interrogator's face. "No…"

Flame: “Wait, a look of dread climbed our interrogator’s face? Alice, what on earth is going-?”
Alice: “Look, whatever she’s going to say, it’s a lie, alright?!” O.O
Gaius: “(Oh sweet Mother of Mew, like we couldn’t be digging our graves in this interview any harder right now…)” >_>;

Then, she rose. In the utter silence that had settled she walked around the desk, each step a metallic tap on the wooden floorboards, until she stood before Alice and could grasp her chin with a rough hand.

Her eyes were wide, almost scared as she gripped Alice's lower jaw and tilted her head up.

Even then Alice did nothing—said nothing.

Oh, so something is up with Alice’s neck jewel that only Dragonair from her family have, huh? Or else was that a detail that was on the wanted poster that she’s just now putting two and two together about?

Flame gripped his chair and growled at their interviewer, yet she wasn't paying him any attention.

She was breathing heavily and staring right down at a shaking Alice. "It can't be," she whispered. "You have… his eyes…"

Oh right, that’s what tips Madam Bisharp off to Alice’s heritage.

And for an infinitesimal moment, the Bisharp herself looked terrified. With a spasm of her hand she let go of Alice, stepping back, and covering her own mouth. "You're Adrian's daughter." A frail, terrified whisper.

Adrian? Flame's blood froze in his veins. What Adrian? Who's—

Flame: “W-Wait, what?! Alice, you said that you were a dead-end Princess!” O_O;
Alice: “I-I mean you can’t get much more ‘dead-end’ than being disowned, so I technically wasn’t lying there?”

"Guards!" cried the Bisharp.

Five burly pokémon burst into the room; Flame could barely jump off his chair in fright before a Lycanroc set its eyes on him and charged. In a split heartbeat he dove to the side, barely escaping the Lycanroc's lunge and landing painfully on his arm.

Well this is a diplomatic incident and a half unfolding right about now.

Regardless, he bit back a moan and shot to his wobbly feet. He tried whirling around but instead found himself wrestling with a different 'mon—a Sceptile—whose fiery glare made his heart jump. Flame planted his feet and pushed back with all his strength, but the Sceptile had him by the wrists!

They fought back and forth for several seconds, with Flame's snarl growing in intensity as he vaguely heard his teammate's cries of distress—but the Sceptile was simply too strong. It slammed him to the ground with ease, planted a knee on his stomach and a leaf blade to his throat.

"DOWN!"

And time to get the live-time demonstration about why this is about the last position you want to be in while trying and pin a Fire-type against the ground. Though I still find it funny that Gaius displays better technique than this rando guard at dealing with Flame while drunk.

Surrendering to instinct, Flame shut his eyes and vomited out the heat at the back of his throat. The flames instantly engulfed the Sceptile. It screamed yet Flame still kept up his torrent of fire, until he sent the grass-type shrieking and backing into a wall as the flames clung to its body.

Aaaaaand there it is. Should’ve pinned Flame onto his stomach there, buddy.

Gasping for air, and hurting all over, Flame rolled onto his stomach to stand up—only for a swift Lycanroc kick to connect with his forehead.

His world exploded with pain. He could vaguely feel himself flying against a wall, then rolling to a stop, then a sudden weight being pressed against his stomach as a dull ringing engulfed everything.

At some point, he felt his senses slowly returning. He was once aware of being sprawled out on the hard wood floor, his head cocked forcibly to one side. He let out an amorphous groan, but when he tried moving it, he became aware of a set of claws poking at the base of his neck—the Lycanroc was kneeling on his chest.

Boy is that Lycanroc fortunate that Flame’s barely lucid right about now, since the wolf’s literally making his buddy’s same mistake in live-time. Though I suppose at least he turned Flame’s head away properly, so…

Biting back tears, and gasping for air, Flame gathered what shreds of strength he had left to tilt his eyes to his teammates. Gaius was on the ground just a stone's throw away, still thrashing about despite the best attempts of the Golduck and Fraxure who held him down.

Gaius growled. "Let go, you... mudslinging barbarian—!"

Fraxure: “‘Barbarian’?! You overgrown skink! I oughta cut off your other hand right here and now for that!”

Flame: “Well this asylum interview is going smoothly right about now.” @.@

Yet what sent his heart into overdrive was seeing Alice completely limp on the floor, sobbing openly under the firm hold of a kneeling Blaziken guard.

"No, no, no-o-o!" Alice sobbed openly from the ground, a sound that deeply terrified Flame. "Stop! Please! Why are you doing this?!"

Guard!Blaziken: “U-Uh… she’s kinda got a point, boss. Since isn’t this gonna cause one hell of a diplomatic incident if any of this comes out-?”

Interrogator!Bisharp: “Look just shut up and keep her pinned right now!” >.<

Eyes still wide, the Bisharp backed away and grasped the edge of her desk. "I'm sorry." She shook her head slowly. "I'm so sorry, but this is madness. Letting in fugitives is one thing; but the Emperor's daughter?"

Flame: "H-Hey! If you're so worried about letting royalty into your city, what makes you think that monhandling royalty like this is gonna turn out any better?!"
Fem!Bisharp: "Bold of you to assume that we're going to mention any of this to Urbe and not just going to quietly kick you out and pretend none of this ever happened."

Flame had wanted to cry out, to try something—anything—as their only hope for a future disintegrated before him.

Instead, his heart stopped.

"What?" He scowled, and sucked a shaky breath. "Wh-what the hell are you talking about?! She's not…"

- Blink moment -
Flame: “A-Alice, she is talking crazy right? Y-You’re not seriously the…”

Gaius: “Flame, she literally admitted that like five cutaway gags ago!” >.<

He slowly turned to Alice. She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Etched onto her snout was nothing but tears and utter shame.

Flame held his breath. He stared in hopes that she would deny everything, praying—no, begging for her to speak up.

Yet she didn't. She merely lay there, and sobbed.

Boy is this a mood coming back to this bit, since everything just went up in smoke for these three.

"P-please," she croaked, her cheeks glistening with tears. "We'll keep low—I swear! We'll find a way to work like that. Just—let us stay!"

The Bisharp softened for all of an instant. "No." She hung her head. "They'll say we kidnapped you. If they have even a single legion to spare, the consequences from a diplomatic incident like this would be…" She never finished that whisper.

Alice: “W-We’ll fake our deaths! W-We’ll take on different identities! Just pl-please, don’t do this!”
Bisharp:

Gaius struggled against the Fraxure guard pinning him down, forcing the nearby Golduck to help pin down both his arms.

Flame simply couldn't muster the energy to process the string of insults exiting the Grovyle's mouth. As he lay there, sunken eyes set forward into nothingness, he felt his own eyes begin to water.

She'd lied to him. She'd lied to him. Why would she lie to him? He would have understood.

I mean, she only has a massive complex about her father and probably didn’t want to admit that her background made this entire plan a crapshoot at best and risk Flame and especially Gaius telling her “whelp, have fun with that” and mincing into Thermae Himerae without her.

"Alice…" Flame tried to swallow, but his throat was too parched.

Flame: "A-Alice, why didn’t you tell us this?! We could’ve worked around it! We could’ve come up with a cover together!"

- Your Alice is too busy bawling her eyes out on the ground, please take a number -
Gaius: "Again, none of this would've happened if you just said you were from Agia Marina!" >_>;

Helplessly he watched their interrogator stand there with her back to them, hands on the desk, breathing audibly.

"Captain," she said.

The Sceptile he'd brought against the wall stood up with some difficulty, scales still steaming and blackened in some spots. It clutched its arm and grunted. "Orders, ma'am?"

Their interviewer hesitated. For a moment, she remained quiet. "Send a transmission to Urbe. Tell them—"

"NO!" Alice sprung from under the Blaziken guard's knee. "Do NOT contact my father! I can't go back there! I beg you!"

Interrogator!Bisharp: “Oh for crying out loud-” >_>;
Alice: “Y-You don’t understand! Flame and Gaius will die if you send us back!”
Gaius: “... You know, if we stayed in Thermae Himerae while you went back to deal with your daddy issues, that sounds like it be a pretty easy workarou-”
Guard!Fraxure: “Nice try, buddy. After that ‘barbarian’ quip, you’re leaving this city even if I have to personally throw you off the city walls to pull it off!” >:(

The Blaziken guard fought to keep her still, and even their interrogator turned to gawk at her writhing.

"P-please…" She sobbed. "They'll kill Flame! They'll kill him! A-and they'll send me back to Urbe… Please, I beg you! You can't…"

Gaius: “Way to ignore me here right now…” >_>;
Flame: “I mean, you did just openly propose sending Alice back on her own, Gaius…” >.<

Flame couldn't find it in him to speak. The Lycanroc knee pressing on his chest did little to help matters.

"Fuck," Gaius muttered in his struggle. "Fuck this—fuck you, Alice!" Gaius screamed in his struggle. "Should have left you as soon as you told me. You and your dirty little godsdamned secret!"

Flame: “... Is it possible for a team to have negative cohesion with each other? Since I’m pretty sure we’ve got negative cohesion as a team right about now.”

With every passing second, a sense of helplessness took hold of Flame. He could do nothing but watch their interrogator as she stood behind her desk, gripping the sides and breathing heavily.

"Guards," the Bisharp muttered, "stand down."

Flame: “Oh thank god, she’s actually going to let us stay-”

Interrogator!Bisharp:

Flame: “... Dammit.” >.<
Gaius: “Yeah, you kinda brought that one on yourself, Flame.” >_<;

The guards looked between themselves, and swiftly unhanded Team Phalanx.

Flame felt the crushing pressure on his chest disappear. He hacked and coughed and pushed himself onto his forearms, weakly raising his snout to look around. The guards had stepped back, now forming a semi-circle around the three of them. His head was swimming. So many thoughts rushed through him, so much dread building up in his chest, that once again he felt too small. Gaius was crumpled on the floor growling, while Alice still shook in her coils—but he couldn't bring himself to look at her.

Ah yes, Flame is angy now. I must say that in the current version of events in this story, it definitely seems a lot better grounded than the one I originally read.

The sound of a drawer sliding open drew him out of his thoughts.

Flame turned to the Bisharp and watched her fish a small cloth sack out of a desk drawer. She tossed it to Flame and he caught it just in the nick of time. If the metallic jingling hadn't been enough, its shape and considerable weight in his claws betrayed that it was filled with coins.

He blinked. "What are these for?" he mumbled.

Flame: “... Is this hush money to keep quiet about you choke-holding the Emperor’s daughter?” ^^;

"There's a market by the city gate. It opens at sunrise."

Flame's frown only deepened. He stood there limply with the sack in his claws, peering up at their interrogator.

Was the room dimmer? It certainly felt like it. Under the candle's soft glow, he could barely make out the Bisharp's expression. Even Alice's sobs had died down to a whimper as they awaited their judgement.

"You have twenty-four hours." The Bisharp's eyes betrayed a glimmer. "Get out. Get out, and never come back."

Flame: "Uh... well, at least we're getting a chance to reprovision and move on so it's not a total loss-?"
Gaius:

Alice:

Flame: "(Wait, they can make those expressions?) Er... uh... yeah, okay, this is pretty bad. Guess we should look at the teaser for the next chapter and get some rest-"

IX October, 545 AUC

"Another great victory for our brave legionaries!

At the sound of war horns, cleverly-hidden elements of the IX Legion rushed headfirst against the Scum forces besieging Aesernia. The barbarians were caught wholly unprepared. Fighting was prolonged—continuing until nightfall in some sectors, with barbarians falling by the dozens and retreating all around the outer city walls. By the end of the day, the enemy was driven back long enough for much-needed supplies of food and medicine to reach the beleaguered garrison.

Speaking from her temporary headquarters in Urbe, Aesernia Governor Ariel Haxorus assured the public that "The garrison will be fine. They better. I didn't let them use my villa for grain storage just to lose the damn siege."

-Front-page article for the news publication Urbe Cotidie.

Reminder to update your date formats for the version of your story here. It’s “29 October, 745 AUC” on your FFN version of the story.

And ah yes, it’s this teaser. One whose full implications actually didn’t sink in for me until well, well after I originally read it. Boy is it going to be an experience whenever Flame properly gets to find out about this?

Flame: “W-WHAT?! B-But Aesernia c-can’t be besieged right now! D-Daedalus said that he ordered-!”

Gaius: "Hrmph, so your buddy really isn’t above lying to your face. Also, there's no justice in this world. And considering how a headline just like that one was written up about Edessa years ago, I guess we should expect Aesernia to be wiped from existence within a couple weeks." >_>;
- Flame sucks in a sharp breath and fiddles with his claws nervously -
Flame: “Th-There must be some alternate explanation. M-Maybe the Teutonii got cut off while trying to retreat and are having to fight their way out. Y-Yes, that must be it!”

Gaius: “... Good gods are you reaching hard right now. But meh, good riddance to that craphole, really.” >_>;
- Alice stares up at the news clipping blankly when her eyes fall on a detail and she blinks -
Alice: "Wait, the IX Legion? I thought those guys abruptly vanished into the ether ages ago! M-Maybe it’s a sign that the story’s all made up after all!"
- Alice looks at her teammates with an obviously forced, overeager smile as Gaius turns up his snout with a sharp huff, and Flame paws at his shoulder awkwardly -
Flame: "... Yeah, I shouldn't have skipped out on reading that history book, since I'm out of the loop here."
Gaius: "Hrmph, the Legion was obviously reformed later if that happened. And I don't have any further comment to add for the 'mon who cost us our chance to settle down and not deal with the crap the plot throws at us thanks to being too damn stupid to change a few details in her life story!"
- Alice's hitches and whines as she starts to cry again -
Flame: "Gaius! Seriously! Lay off of her already!"
- Flame goes up and pats Alice -
Flame: "It's- It's alright, it's not completely your fault that things blew up in our faces because you lied about your background to us for some… inconceivable… reason."

- Flame rolls a '1' on his Reassurance d20 and Alice cries harder at his critical failure to make her feel better -
Flame: "(... Crap, talk about the wrong choice of words there.) Uh... j-just forget about all of that and think about happy thoughts right now! Like Capri! And those beaches on it you kept talking about!"
- Alice sniffles a bit as Flame tries to calm her with talk of island beaches and sunshine and Gaius throws his good hand over his face -
Gaius: "Yeah, screw this. While you two lovebirds yuck it up, I'm gonna go and get a damn drink before the bars close so that way I can try and forget about as much of this disaster as possible before we have to show up for the plot again."

Alright, and time to get straight into the recap for this chapter:

This is one of those chapters where things definitely played differently going through it a second time, not least of all since this time around, the powderkeg that goes off and blows up the teams’ hopes of bailing on the plot got built up more in advance, and boy is it brutal to see things come crashing down around the team. There were definitely some details that I didn’t notice the first time around that after seeing this chapter again in light of the most recent one… well, it does make me wonder if Thermae Himerae isn’t quite as one-and-done in terms of a presence (har har) as I thought.

As for things that I didn’t like as much, there’s not that much to complain about. There’s the obvious of versioning artifacts that you probably want to take some time to smooth out, but they’re not all that distracting in the grand scheme of things. On a more meta level, I kinda wonder if it’d have made sense to soak in Thermae Himerae a bit more and play up the shine wearing off the place before things come to a head, but eh. This plot’s got places to go, so I don’t begrudge you for taking the route that you did.

Though that seems like a good note to leave things on, @Shadow of Antioch … well, aside from the fact that I was a bit meaner to the cast in the cutaways than normal. But hey, it’s only fitting given the note the current chapter ended on, and Team Phalanx still has better days ahead of them… eventually. I’ll be looking forward to getting to some of them in short order, and congrats again at bringing your story back to life here on Thousand Roads. ^^

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Heya, I’ve been running a bit slow lately on my review series. Fortunately for me, this is about the part of my series where my initial thoughts were a bit more comprehensive and the chapter lengths start getting a bit shorter. So I’m pretty sure that I can make up a bit of lost ground in the coming weeks.

Much of this review will likely look familiar to you, but eh. I tried to work in some new stuff to fill in the gaps of my original read, as well as to reflect more updated thoughts about the events and changes that have happened since my original reading, so hopefully this is still a fun read for you, @Shadow of Antioch .

Chapter XXVII

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Flame: "Wow. Can't believe we've already been through so much. It feels just like yesterday coming down into Aesernia for the first time, huh-?"
- Alice is busy curled up in a depressed ball while Gaius is doing his best to ignore her with a sharp scowl -
Flame: "Eh? What's gotten into you two-?"
Gaius: "Seriously? Is your memory that short, Flame?"
- Flame blink before shuffling a bit -
Flame: "Right. Alice got us kicked out of Thermae Himerae within a few hours last time. And it doesn't sound like you forgot a whole lot of that, Gaius."
Gaius: "With what? All the bars were closed by the time we got out of interrogation!"
Alice: "L-Look, can we please just move on with the plot? I- I don't want to just sit here being taunted by this place about everything."
Flame: "Uhm... okay. (Though I dunno how much it'll help.) Let's see, where are we at now?"

Flame could only watch and stare as the night's sickly grasp engulfed all that he saw, from the city square to the marble steps he sat on. A nearby column found itself as the new home for his temple as he leaned against it, the pungent odor of sweat drafting up from the encampment below.

Wait, but I thought it was already nighttime as of the last scene when the gang was getting interrogated.

"… Flame?"

He shuddered as a brisk wind scraped across his scales. Fatigue ached across his whole body—when was the last time he slept? One final shimmer reached out from the tents within the square, its departure signalling the last of its many inhabitants to fall to sleep's temptation. Flame cringed at the silence, its overwhelming presence having grown to the point of becoming painful.

"Flame."

Alice: “Um… Flame? Y-You’re staring off into space right now.” ._.;

Flame wanted so desperately to bring himself to anger, sadness—anything. Instead, all he could muster manage was to feebly clench his claws and grind his teeth. He and his team had come so far, disobeyed the fate that the world had presented them, and for what? All for their hopes and dreams to come crashing to the ground in a destroyed, burning mass?

Narrator:

Flame:

"F-Flame, plea—"

"What?" Flame snapped, finally answering the Dragonair's pleas only to make her flinch. "What do you want me to say?!"

The sudden terror that filled Alice's eyes almost made Flame look away. Almost.

"I—I don't know," Alice shrank back, her voice a near squeak. "Something… Anything."

Flame: "(Well, I suppose I could ask her why she didn't come clean initially...)"

Alice:

Flame: "(Er... yeah, she's not looking too hot. Maybe I should try some sort of joke?) Uh... 'Ich bin das Glutexo'?"
- The entire surrounding area becomes quiet enough to hear a pin drop -
Bystanders: "..." O_O Gaius: "Er... uh... he was just clearing his throat there! Just a normal 'mon and not Scum or some sort of sympathizer by any stretch of the imagination! Feel free to go back to dozing off!"
- The nearby bystanders hesitantly carry on, a few shooting wary looks back. After a few tense moments, Gaius whirls to Flame with sharp glare -
Gaius: "(Say something that won't get us lynched by a panicked mob, alright?!)" >.<
Flame: "(Yeesh, note to self: that party trick doesn't work out here.)" ._.

Flame merely grunted in reply.

Slowly, he looked down at the palm of his hand. Tiny grains of soot covered an oily surface, sneaking in and out of his scales. Truth be told, his entire body bore the marks of his short, chaotic life: small cuts, chips in his claws, scrape marks, the faint scar on his cheek, the huge one down across his belly…

All that, to end up here. On these steps.

Flame: “Alice, I just want to remind you that it didn’t have to be this way!” >.<
Alice: “L-Look, it seemed like a good idea to keep mum about the matter at the time!” O_O;
Flame: “To us? How on earth was that a good idea?!” >_>;

"I should have known," Gaius grumbled to himself.

Flame raised his eyes and cast them to Alice's side. The Grovyle was laying down with his head on his bag. He glared up at nothing in particular, but in those red eyes, there was a new sense of… something. Flame couldn't quite tell.

Oh, I can answer that question, Flame. The sense is this:

"Shoulda snuck away when we had the chance," Gaius murmured on, unmoving. "Before the interview. Could have joined some underground crime group. If I see that metal bitch again, I'll—I'll…" Gaius slammed his good fist to the side.

Flame: “... Get cut to bloody ribbons? Gaius, seriously. What do you think is going to happen picking a fight with a Bisharp in your state?” >_>;
Gaius: “Look, can you not be such a wet towel right now!” >.<

Alice's spent, red eyes were little better. "I d-didn't think it possible…" She shook her head, slowly and dejectedly. "This was supposed to be our home. Our salvation. By the gods, I ruined it all." There was a shimmering in her eye. "This is all my doing."

Gaius seemed to actually consider those words for a second. "Forget what I said in there," he muttered. "I was a fuckin' idiot. Wasn't thinking straight."

I remember being really startled in my first readthrough by seeing Gaius come around this quickly to his past actions. Guess he really has grown since Boreal Chasm… somewhat.

Alice: "Do- Do you really mean that, Gaius?"
Gaius: "... I mean, it wouldn't do me any good to go off on my own in this condition, would it?"
- Alice looks away disappointed, as Gaius screws his eyes shut with sharp sigh -
Gaius: "Yes, Alice. I meant it."
- Alice looks genuinely taken aback for a moment -
Alice: "Oh! Er... thank you?"
Gaius: "Yeah, yeah. Don't get too used to it. Even if I might've crossed a line or two, I'm still mad at you for what happened back there." >_>;

Another bitter gust buffeted them. Flame stared dead ahead, gaze lost in the dark shapes of the surrounding buildings. He couldn't ignore his teammates, yet couldn't bring himself to listen. And how could he? They had so many new problems at hand. So many he had yet to fully wrap his head around.

For one, where were they supposed to go? Winter snows were about to set in—less than one week away, Alice had told him. She and Gaius would never be able to bear them. And if that weren't enough, the Praetorian Guard was surely still out there! They had to buy food and water and equipment for—

Live look at Flame’s internal thought process right now:

"Flame?" Alice's frail whisper broke through his thoughts. "You blame me, don't you?"

"What?" Flame blinked. "I…"

Flame: “... I mean, we are getting kicked out because you flatly lied about your background history to us. I still don’t understand why on earth you thought that was a good idea, really.”

He tried his best to hide the frown that slowly overtook him. He couldn't bring himself to look into her eyes. "... no. No, you couldn't have known."

No, no. She absolutely could’ve known, and considering the stuff Alice says to Flame in Chapter XXIX, there’s decent odds that her being afraid of being kicked to the curb by her teammates because of exactly that risk was a major motivator in her lying about her background.

Logically speaking, that was true. Why, then, was he bristling under his scales?

"... Is it because of my past?"

Flame:

Alice: “F-Flame, I swear! I thought th-that we-!” O_O;

Flame let out a ragged breath. He bit the inside of his lip. Focus. He had to focus on more immediate problems. He had… to…

"F-Flame, I swear, I meant to tell you! Th-the chance simply never came, and, and—how does one even broach a subject like that?!"

Flame: “By sitting down and telling us? Like how I did the same about being ‘[Our -------]’ for the Teutonii?” >_>;
Gaius: “(Flame, can you not go around spouting Scum language in the city that’ll give us free flying lessons off the walls if they get wise to your background?!)” >.<

"I did, a few days ago." Flame gritted his teeth together. "You lied to me."

That seemed to make Alice squirm. "B-because…" She looked away. "I was sc-sc-scared of how you'd… what you're doing right now…"

Oh, so Alice really was terrified that her teammates would put two and two together for what that meant for sneaking into Thermae Himerae and then kick her to the curb over it.

"You told me," Flame snarled, "that your family were petty nobles in Urbe. Petty. That your title was meaningless."

Yeah, this is definitely a part that reads differently in light of your updates to the post-battlefield arc, and I honestly think that it grounded things a lot more. Since Flame’s frustration here reads a lot more justified than it did in the original version since Alice baldly lies to him this time around over something that she really did not have to if she’d only had more trust in her teammates.

Flame: "Again, we could've potentially avoided all of this if you'd just told us you were the Emperor's daughter in advance, Alice!" >_>;

"Just stop," Gaius murmured emotionlessly.

Flame shifted his glare to regard him for a moment, then focused right back on Alice. "And I believed you. Gods, I was—I'm ready to spend my life with you! And I just now find out you're lying about the simplest things?! About what kind of princess you are?"

Staring straight down the stairs, Alice attempted a weak laugh. "P-princess is still a bit of a strong term."

Alice: “E-Especially since I’m pretty sure my title was stripped years ago.”

"Oh, shut it…" Flame muttered, and placed his arms around his knees as tension festered in his chest.

Even now he wasn't sure if it had fully sunk in. Heck, it still sounded ludicrous to his ears. She, daughter of the very Adrian whose likeness and whose name was etched on every single coin, on every public building. The one he'd sworn loyalty to upon joining Civil Protection, then the Imperial Army. Alice. His Alice.

Gaius: “I mean, I heard a story about some Riolu crown prince that was kicked from his family and forced to do missions in Mystery Dungeons to get by. I get that it’s improbable, but is it really impossible, Flame?”

Flame: “Gaius, this isn’t a story here! (Well, okay, it is, but you know what I meant!)” >.<

It felt utterly impossible. The Emperor was a Dragonite—but, but surely there were thousands in this world! Why was he the only one speaking out over this? Why wasn't Gaius…

Flame froze. He felt his very pupils dilate. Slowly, he shifted his eyes to the Grovyle.

"You knew," he muttered, more statement than question, "didn't you?"

Gaius: "Did that Lycanroc in the interrogation room knock you too hard against the ground or something? Even if you were completely in the dark all this time, it should've been obvious I knew when I cussed Alice out about her secret back there."
Flame: "... I'm allowed to have belated realizations, okay?! And that doesn't make any of this acceptable!" >_<

Though still glaring at the heavens, Gaius' face seemed to soften a little. "She told me when we first met. Back in basic training." He cracked a dry laugh. "I thought it had to be bullshit. But the way she spoke, and being a Dragonair… I dunno, it was worth the risk. Figured it'd be an easy road out of hunger."

Gaius glanced down at his stump, and quickly hid it with his good hand. "I didn't find what she said right, but it was her mistake. No reason to get involved."

IMO, this paragraph is long enough that you should probably break it up into two.

Flame listened and said nothing as he did so, merely sat there and tried his best to breathe. Breathe. Why should Gaius have told him? It wasn't his onus to begin with. Frankly, he should not have even been surprised by this entire situation. He'd already known how elusive evasive Alice was about her family past. Perhaps he should have expected this. Perhaps…

"What else did you lie to me about?" he muttered thoughtlessly.

Flame: “Lemme guess, Dragonair really can fly, can’t they?” >:|
- Alice abruptly goes stiff as a board -
Alice: “Th-That’s- A-And- Fl-Flame, please! I really can’t fly, okay?!” O.O;

"F-Flame…" Alice croaked, almost out of breath, but he paid her little heed.

Do you really trust me so little? He wanted to ask that aloud, but he couldn't find the energy nor the motivation.

I mean… yes? Considering how crap the world you’re in is, one could be forgiven for being slow to trust others. It’s a pretty-valid self-defense mechanism from all the BS going on.

Slowly, but gradually, the unbridled rage tickling his scales morphed into lethargy. The sheer exhaustion of everything that had happened today trickled back into his muscles, minute by minute. Awaking at sunrise, marching across two different valleys, up two and down two mountains, letting his excitement get the best of him once in the city, then having his dreams shatter around him shortly after. It all felt like three days rather than one.

With a heavy sigh, he chose to bottle it all up and drew his aching knees closer. "Whatever. We'll come back to this tomorrow."

Understatement of the century there. Since… uh, yeah. They do indeed come back to this topic in a manner of speaking.

"I-I never even intended to tell Gaius! I only did so because I was desperate to… to find work, and I was cold, and I was hungry, and nobody… would… I, I thought I'd have the courage to tell you. But I didn't. When you asked I got nervous, and I panicked, and—"

"I said," Flame snarled, "tomorrow. Can't you see the state we're in? In a few hours, we'll be out in the wild again. We'll have to figure out where to go, and how long the trip'll take, where to get food and… and…"

Flame: "... Wait, how on earth did you even convince Gaius that you weren't trying to scam him out of money and food?" o_ó;
- Flame catches a glint of Alice's medallion from her bag -
Flame: "That thing's not a party favor at all, is it?"

- Alice looks away -
Alice: "... Y-You're right, okay? It's the last thing I have to remember mom by."
Gaius: "I mean, how many 'mons do you expect to just have gold medallions of the late Empress that don't have some sort of direct relation? Oh, and if you ever wanted to see Alice with murder in her eyes, just try and filch that thing from her. (Found that one out the hard way in the past.)" ._.;

And suddenly, Flame couldn't find the energy to glare any longer.

"Gotta be somewhere close by that'll take us in." Gaius raised his good hand above him, clenching and unclenching his claws. "Some cave rock-type community, or a backwater village."

Narrator:

Alice merely shook her head. "The Praetorians are after Flame, and there is a non-zero chance that the Teutonii are as well. It is imperative that we build as much distance as possible."

Flame: "Wait a minute. Alice? You? Calling the Teutonii by their name for themselves? If that means you're warming up to them, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad to-"
Alice: "Flame, we're in a public area here!" >.<
Gaius: "Yeah, and in case you didn't notice, but the Scum don't exactly care about us. In case if you're forgetting about how we got separated and almost lynched when we ran into that Dusknoir buddy of yours the first time!" >_>;
Flame: "(Would... would Daedalus have really have had them killed back then if I didn't use that Flamethrower? I never really thought about it before, but...)" ._.

Flame felt like groaning. Ah, great. As if our lives weren't exciting enough already.

"Where, though?" Gaius grumbled. "West and south is where the war's at, and north is just Scum territory."

"Teutonii," Flame shot back.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Gaius: “Flame, seriously. Why are you so hung up about using that name when the only Pokémon that do are Sympathizers and historians that haven’t gone outside to touch grass in literal decades?”

Flame: “Look, they’re not Scum, okay?! Seriously, what the hell kind of name is that for a people group?!” >_>;
Gaius: “A fitting one, since ‘people’ group is a bit of a stretch there.” >:|

Epiphany flashed on Alice's face; she sprang from her coils, standing tall for the first time that evening. "East! We head east, to the Numidian desert!"

With a huge smile, she slithered onto the next step down and turned, her eyes flying between them both. The sheer exhaustion that had been there moments ago seemed lifted.

"There is a string of oasis towns and trading posts where we could lay low. With the war raging elsewhere, the Imperial Army garrison must be severely depleted!"

Beneath the tiniest of smiles, Gaius huffed. "Finally, somewhere warmer."

This seems like another spot where you probably want to break up the paragraph from its current form.

Flame: "... Don't deserts get really cold at night? And it's winter so..."
Gaius: "I mean, it should work as long as we can get across the mountains in time. How long could it take?"

Flame, on the other hand, wasn't smiling. "A desert?" He gawked. "But, Alice—we're at the thickest point of the Tartarus Mountains, where could…" He felt his tail fire shrink behind him. Something dropped in his stomach. "… How long will it take?"

Alice hummed, and tapped her nose with her tail tip.

"I don't know," she conceded after a while. "Three weeks of travel, at a minimum. Perhaps more."

Three weeks? Flame felt his tail fire shrink behind him. That left him a few degrees colder. He scrambled to recreate that journey in his mind, trying to trace a mental map that took them to the sands of the Numidian desert from the… deep… white…

Gaius: "... Oh." ._.
Flame: "Alice, the first snows come down in one week! The text even said so a few paragraphs ago! And we're in the mountains where it'll be worse than most other areas! We barely survived a couple days in Boreal Chasm, we can't survive 3+ weeks of that!" O_O;
Alice: "I... I understand that, but we don't have any options here! And we can always progress slowly or try to find someone to hitchhike with to stay warm."
- Gaius has a cold sweat and unwelcome flashbacks of getting frostbitten in Boreal Chasm -
Gaius: "... I don't suppose we could use that money the Bisharp gave us to pay someone to get us into the desert, could we?" .-.

"Alice," he whispered, deadpanning, "do you remember what colour the Tartarus Mountains are on the map?"

She tilted her head at that. "White."

"And tell me: why do you think they drew them white?"

Alice: “...” O_O;
Flame: “Now do you get why this is a terrible idea?” >_>;

The orb on Alice's neck flashed blue. She splayed her head wings and squeezed her eyes, where her crushing exhaustion from before had returned. "I realise why they're coloured that way, Flame. Do you believe I'm so oblivious?" She breathed a heavy sigh. "Yes, the mountain passes will be frozen over by now. There might even be snowstorms, and feral ice-types will have migrated back. And we're going to make it."

I mean, you literally didn’t realize this until just now from that reaction, Alice, so…

Flame sat agape. "But, you and Gaius…"

"There's always a way," she said, dreamily. "We've survived many Aesernian winters. It can't be that much worse here."

Flame: "(... I’m pretty sure that this counts as suicide ideation right now with how bad of an idea that is.) Alice, why is your frame of reference Aesernia's winters and not what we went through in that gods-forsaken Mystery Dungeon?! Everything you just listed off there as a potential danger we'd face is something we dealt with there!" >_>;
Alice: "... Because I'm trying not to break down in tears of despair right about now. And we are protagonists, surely that ought to be able to give us some breathing room."

Gaius shrugged. "Fuck me, it could be our last winter. Ever. That sounds worth fighting for."

"Plus," she smiled up at Flame, "we have you now. That's one difference from past winters. Expect that tail of yours to be used very thoroughly."

Flame would have smiled if it weren't for the sheer tension gripping his chest. He didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure if there was anything he could say. Did they realise what they wanted to do—march through the thick snow and sheer cold, day after day? For weeks on end?!

Yeah, that suddenly added some really dark undertones to getting rejected for asylum from Thermae Himerae and the 'mercy' Team Phalanx got. Everyone in that boat not prepared to ride out winter in the mountains has basically been given a slow-motion death sentence unless they can find another nearby town to shelter in within a week. I wonder if we’ll ever see the story actually follow up on that.

Flame: "Oh god, you too, Gaius?!" O_O;
Gaius: "Look, if we're really in such a hopeless situation, we might as well go down swinging."
- Flame folds arms -
Flame: "(Yeah, screw this. I'm using that badge Daedalus gave me. If he's still alive and getting shipped to [Derinkuyu] is still an option, it sure beats that as a plan.)" >_>;
- Alice blink -
Alice: "Flame? You're murmuring to yourself. Did you get an idea that could help us?"
Flame: "Uh... (Do I really want to tell them about this?)"

Flame clutched his temples, shaking his head fervently. "There has to be another way. There has to."

"What do you propose, then?"

- Flame sucks in a sharp breath -
Flame: “Okay, Flame. Think this over carefully. You need to find some way of talking these two out of the obvious suicide mission…” o_o;

"Hell, I don't know." Flame rubbed his forearm nervously. "Wh-why not live with the Teutonii? I swear, they're really kind! We'll get a job, housing, all the food we… want…"

Flame: “... I don’t like where that faltering dialogue was going, really.” ._.

He couldn't finish when he saw the serious expression on their heavy faces.

Alice:

Gaius:

Flame: “(Wait, isn't that my expression Gaius' doing there?) Look, the alternative to it is freezing in the mountains! You’re both Ice-weak! Why is this so hard for you?!” >.<

"No." Gaius said plainly, almost glaring with his reddened eyes. "We're not staying with the Scum."

Flame resisted the urge to squint. "They're called Teutonii."

"Call 'em what you want. Point is, I want nothin' to do with them."

Flame: "Gaius, are you serious right now?! You'd seriously pick freezing to death in the mountains over sucking up your pride and bumming around with some slightly unwashed 'mons?!"
Gaius:

Flame: “...”

- Gaius sharply glares -
Gaius: "Look, I dunno how many 'welcome home' parties they threw for you, but those aren't just some 'slightly unwashed 'mons' for us and you damn well know it!” >_>;
- Gaius shakes his head -
Gaius: “Let's say they do take you back, and treat you exactly how you expect. What makes you think that we, a couple of random grunts from their worst enemy from their perspective, aren't just going to get shoveled into some cage to freeze our scales off if not something much, much worse?" >:|
- Flame initially dismisses Gaius' complaint only to realize that even Brynn couldn't help but see the two as disposable collaborators, and that without Daedalus' help, he'd more or less need to constantly babysit the two for their own safety -
Flame: "I mean... I can't guarantee they'll like you right away. But they respect me. Alice, you believe me here, don't you?"
- Alice looks away uneasily -
Flame: "... Alice?" ._.

But I'm one of— Flame had a half mind to say that aloud, but he couldn't muster enough energy to feel angry. His mental reserves were long depleted. All he could afford was to glare down at his tail, at the fragile yet oblivious flame at its tip. Even the hue it cast on the milky marble steps seemed of a washed-out orange.

"It's madness," he whispered uselessly.

No, no. It’s perfectly rational considering what Gaius and Alice’s frame of reference for the Teutonii involve. And I’m not fully convinced that this story isn’t going to eventually out some incredibly dirty laundry about them at some point, since… I remember the bone pile back in Castra Aeterna.

"We've defied fate once," Alice smiled weakly from her coils. "We shall do so again. I'm certain of it."

Slowly, Flame shifted his unfocused eyes up and up into the night sky. "… So that's what we're going off of? Blind optimism?"

Alice: “I mean, it worked well enough for us in the past, so…”

Flame: "Alice?! I get that I was snappy with you earlier, but you can't seriously-!"
Alice: "Flame, we don't have good options ahead of us, we get it. We just want to take the one where we have some control over our own fates."

"Why," quipped Gaius, his voice raspy, "what was goin' through your head when you made us jump off that bridge? Huh? Did ya have some sort of big plan then?" Despite some leftover tears, Gaius actually squinted at him. "Bloody hell, Flame, you sound grumpier than me…"

Flame: "B-But the other option is literally night and day to the option you want to take! Why can't you see that?!" O_O;
Gaius: "Look, we're not interested alright? So why don't you help us out with the option we do want?"

Flame was too tired to react; he merely sat there, glaring a hole down into the marble.

"Gaius!" hissed Alice.

"Bah, sorry." Gaius mumbled. "It's just… no point thinking like that."

That… actually makes me wonder what Gaius was about to say there.

For his part, all Flame could muster was to curl his claws into a fist.

"Flame," Alice said. "Look at me."

He didn't want to. Thus it was Alice who slithered into his field of view, placing herself right in the trajectory way of where he'd been staring emptily until now. Flame merely breathed in sharply, and glared at her instead. He was almost surprised by how heavy the bags under her eyes were. Then again, his own couldn't have looked that different.

I mean, I’m pretty sure she’s also been crying for a good chunk of the night over the outcome of last chapter, so… yeah, probably doesn’t help those bags either.

"We trusted you when it mattered most. And… we were right to do so. You saved our lives," she whispered, and he could have sworn there was a certain warmth to those heavy eyes as they stared straight into his. "So please, trust us. Just this once."

Flame: “Alice, are you serious?!” >.<
Alice: “... Yes? It’s not that unreasonable to ask for your trust right now, is it?”

Flame: “...”

Despite the sudden closeness, Flame could have sworn he felt his tail fire swell briefly. Trust. After everything that had happened—after hiding her past from him.

"I—" Flame looked in her eyes but his mind was utterly blank. He pressed his forehead in his claws, groaning. "Tomorrow morning. Please. I can't do this right now. I can't…"

I mean, I’m still taking Flame's side here. Asking for trust after blowing up the team's shot at (temporary) peace over a completely avoidable deception is a pretty bold ask. Not that asking Gaius to take point there would've likely played out much better considering how Flame pretty clearly continued to resent him just two chapters ago

"Naturally," Alice said with a tired smile. "Tomorrow is a big day. We should strive to be rested for it."

"If that's even possible." Gaius rubbed his eyes with his good hand.

Flame:

Arms around his knees, Flame said nothing. That was it. He was never going to convince them. Worse yet, he couldn't think of any other way.

I guess we're doing this. Going off on another… crazy, suicidal adventure.

Flame: “Good god is this going to end terribly. B-But what else am I supposed to do right now?! It’s not like I can just drag these two to safety!” o_o;
- Flame blinks and casts a glimpse back at his bag -
Flame: “... Right?”

He watched as Gaius fetched the creased woolen blanket from his bag, and Alice her own. They both rapidly bundled under them on the naked asphalt, and even Flame flinched as he imagined that coolness on his own scales.

"Show-off." Alice giggled weakly, only her snout peeking from under her blanket. "At least come here and help us poor, destitute non-fire types."

Flame: “...”

Alice: “... Flame? Y-You do realize we’re going to contract hypothermia in this weather without something to warm us up, right?” ._.;

Flame merely stared at her, wondering if he was feeling happy or irritated at hearing her laughter.

"Huh? Is it…" Alice's smile wavered. He could have sworn she'd stopped breathing. "T-tomorrow. After we leave. I'll tell you everything there is to know. Just… please, try to understand…"

I can already hear the internal “n-no wait, please don’t leave me!” going through Alice’s mind at that moment, since she sure did a quick about-face there.

He couldn't bear to look at her. Trying to distract himself with anything at all, his eyes eventually fell on his leather bag. Something clicked in his brain.

He couldn't sleep yet. There was still one more thing left to do.

Seizing the excuse, Flame stood up abruptly. He snatched his bag, slung it over his shoulder and hurried down the steps, towards the tents.

"Have to think," he muttered, whether to himself or to them. "I have to think…"

Flame: “... Wait, I’m not seriously about to open up a conversation with one of the most despised ‘mons by non-Teutonii in the middle of a crowded city, am I?” .-.
- Flame looks about his surroundings and sees a darkened Thermae Himerae with no signs of life beyond Kricketune noises -
Flame: “... I mean, it is about as good an opening as I’m gonna get for it. I’ll have to think it over.”

The myriad tents pitched on every possible space of the square felt distant, oh so distant as Flame walked down the large city avenue. Arms wrapped around himself, he tried to ignore the vague feeling of dread that came from being the only soul in sight for at least an hour. He walked and walked, but the cold never truly went away.

Somehow, that felt wrong. Were fire-types supposed to feel cold?

… No, no they’re not. Especially since every time you felt cold in the past, you were seriously injured if not hovering near death.

The avenue around him, for its part, did little to distract him. The buildings that flanked the cobbled road all felt the same: houses with thatched roofs and whitish stone, either attached or with narrow dividing alleyways, few more than two storeys. The farther he went, though, the more brick apartment towers sprung up between the quaint historic houses: they rose to five or six storeys, few plastered or painted over, and almost all still walled by scaffolding.

Flame: “Ah yes. Insulae. Not like I ever needed to see those again in my life.”

As he went, trembling a little, Flame glanced upwards at the relative behemoths. He remembered the Bisharp official promising them a room if they agreed to enlist; that must have been why so many of these were springing up everywhere. Even as his gaze returned to earth, he couldn't help imagining what his room would have looked like.

What it could have looked like.

Flame: “Uh, yeah, no. I’d rather not think too hard about what the insulae back in Aesernia were like, since I’m pretty sure that these apartments are literally built in the same style and quality.”

Damn it all, Flame growled to himself. What am I even doing here? I'm supposed to be sleeping for tomorrow! We need to buy supplies, figure out our direction of travel, and how long it'll take, and, and…

Flame: "... Wait, if we have enough money to buy supplies for more than a couple days, shouldn't we be using our money to buy literally any way out of these mountains that'll beat the first snows of winter?" .-.

Flame breathed sparks through his nostrils out of sheer frustration. How could it have come to this? They were supposed to trust one another with their lives. It was the oath they'd made; a sort of implicit blood pact that one undertook when deciding to become a fugitive. Heck, just until a few hours ago, he'd been ready to spend the rest of his life with them!

Narrator:

Flame: “Yeah, yeah, lesson learned. Shut up already.” >///<

Flame stopped abruptly. He had abandoned his people. He had jumped off that bridge. He had nearly drowned. He had come this far—all to be with those two.

And now…

>dat buyer's remorse

Flame: "... If my feelings are this different within the span of just a few hours, isn't it likely that I'm thinking too much about how upset I am and should cool down a bit before making any big decisions?" .-.

Flame stood there, in the middle of the avenue, letting the chilly wind blow past him for a while. Now he was alone. In truth, he'd felt alone even back at the square.

Was it… was it because he was a Scum? But he had already asked them, and neither of them seemed bothered by it. He was different, Gaius had said. He was family. Those words had sounded so sincere.

I mean, hearing your friends blatantly ignore you and run over your wishes in favor of an obvious suicide mission would probably “““help””” with that feeling.

Hesitating, he looked up at the star-speckled sky; looked up and around, finding distant storm clouds and the crescent moon barely peeking above one of the distant apartment towers. He dreaded to think what sunrise would bring. They would be unceremoniously shoved out of the city gates—and what then? Sycorax and his Praetorian Guard were still out there. If they somehow managed to evade them, what awaited them was a three-week trek through the coldest and harshest mountain passes in the Empire!

Flame: "... Yeah, we really should've checked if we had the money to pay off a flier. Or at least get close enough after ripping off a few locals."

Teeth gritted, Flame hissed—producing a little steam from the cold air—and kicked a pebble along to take out his frustration on something.

Yet if there was hope, it lay in the desert. He had to cling onto that. Even if his teammates didn't trust him; even if all of this was insane. Even if he had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

Flame: “Or, I could take advantage of the fact that everyone’s asleep and just phone a friend with Daedalus.”
- Beat moment -
Flame: “... And have to figure out some way of keeping Gaius and the welcoming committee from murdering each other out of existence.” ._.;

With a sigh of finality, he scanned around him and settled on the closest alleyway. It would do.

He slipped in the murky sliver between the buildings, his tail fire forcing back the shadows previously occupying it. It was finally time.

Daedalus…

- Flame hesitates a moment as he thinks back to how he wasn't sure if his thought process was being clouded by anger -
Flame: “... Wait, is this really a good idea? What if Gaius is right and Daedalus really does see him and Alice as disposable?” ._.;

He barely moved for a couple of heartbeats, as if petrified by that glowing mental glare of his. With tepid reluctance, he inched a hand into his bag, fishing out his badge moments later. He studied it for a few moments: the heraldic eagle encrusted on its back betrayed imperial origins, yet its gold colouring had been scratched off, as had the writing above it.

This badge he had lacked the courage to throw away for so many days, ever since he'd found it, tucked at the bottom of his bag.

This badge… Daedalus had left it to contact him.

- Flame blinks as he thinks back to how he left his convoy surrounded by Praetorians on three sides with a cliff on the other end -
Flame: “Okay, better question: is Daedalus even alive right now?”

But what could he say? He was about to leave this place for the desert. There was no convincing his teammates otherwise. Would he call, after all these days since the ambush, just to deliver the bad news?

Flame: "... And if he is, for all I know, he's going to send an entire army after this town thinking I'm in trouble." ._.;

Flame grimaced down at the badge. That just felt… cruel. But then, that meant, if he wasn't contacting Daedalus…

Flame squeezed his eyes; he shot up on his feet. If I don't throw it now, I never will.

Yes, that’s the idea, Flame. To not put yourself in a position where you can be tempted.

Curling his claws around the badge, he turned around to the other end of the alley; there, a row of metal rubbish bins. It was as if fate was beckoning him. Teeth gritted, he hesitated.

If there was hope, it lay in the desert. He wasn't coming back.

I have to let go.

Well, you do, but not right now, since the alternative is freezing to death in the mountains. ^^;

His clenched fist trembled at the sight of the open lid. He had to be strong.

At some point, I'll have to let go…

Flame: “... So why is it so hard to stop looking at this thing right now?” .-.

Just as he could feel his muscles working, something hit him. A memory.

Suddenly he was in Neuhoffnung again, that tiny barbarian village. He was sitting in his house. It felt strange to say that. He was sitting in his house talking to Daedalus and then… and then Daedalus embraced him. Shivers ran through his spine as he recalled the strange feeling of his skin; so cold, rough, yet somehow warm…

And that was it; tears were welling in his eyes. He couldn't do it. Daedalus didn't deserve that. Not after all he'd done for him. He, he would—he would tell him the truth and then toss away the badge! Yes, that sounded right. Quick. Painless. Relatively.

Flame: "... Screw it, I can talk to Daedalus just this once. If he even picks up."

Flame slid down the brick wall, and settled into a sitting position. There was a heavy knot choking his breath. New doubts rushed in to fill the old ones he'd just resolved. He wanted this, for sure, but—what would he even say? If already he was freezing up like this…

Flame squeezed both his eyes and his badge. I'm not coming back, he recited to himself. And… I'll thank him, Brynn—heck, all the Teutonii, for what they've done for me. That I'm sorry for abandoning them. And that, despite not being together for long, he…

He would say the lines, then depress the button. He wouldn't even have to hear the pain that came afterwards. He'd utter those words and then chuck the badge in the rubbish bin, never to hear or see Daedalus again.

It was simple enough. He could do it.

I mean, even back in the day, I just knew that this wasn’t going to play out the way Flame kept telling himself it would. Since if you don’t want to get yourself sucked into a crowd that part of you misses, you don’t contact them. At all.

With what few shrivels of courage he'd gathered, he felt for the little switch on the back and flicked it. Then, with a breath of finality, he pressed the transmitting button.

"Daedalus?"

Nothing. For the longest time, Flame stared blankly at the badge, his heart beating a little faster each second.

"... are you there?"

Badge:

Flame: “D-Daedalus?” ._.

More nothing. He depressed the button, then squeezed it again, harder.

"P-please respond."

By the fifteenth heartbeat, Flame could hardly breathe any longer. They couldn't be… dead, could they? No. No, no, no; it had to be the badge. The water from the river had damaged it. That meant they couldn't speak anymore, but—but at least they were still alive, right? It was impossible. Flame whimpered at the thought, squeezing the badge tight to his chest.

You're stronger than Sycorax. His eyes glazed forward. Even if he was surrounding you, he… No. You… you can teleport. You would've figured something out. Staring down at his badge, the first tears blurred his vision. You wouldn't let them all die like this!

No, he actually would, Flame. Though this moment still is sad to revisit as you see that sense of panic and despair set in on Flame’s end there.

… That said, when was it ever established before this point that Daedalus could Teleport?”

The badge erupted in screeching static.

"FLAME!"

This part legitimately surprised me in my first reading, since there was a period of time back then where I thought we were gonna see Flame break down sobbing at this point in the story.

Flame yelped, tipped back onto his tail and scrambled away instinctively before stopping to gawk at the badge he'd just dropped. "D-Daedalus?" he squeaked. "You're alive?!"

"Where on earth have you been?" Daedalus boomed. "Tell me—have you paid a single modicum of thought to how scared you've left made me? Five days have passed!"

Flame: “W-Wait, has it really been five days? I could’ve sworn that it'd only been-” ^^;
Daedalus: “YES, IT HAS BEEN!”

Despite the weight in his chest, and the leftover tears in his eyes, Flame croaked a sound of joy. "I'm sorry," he whispered happily. "I—I've missed you so much! There were just so many things on my mind, and I could never find the right t-time, and—" He squeezed the badge with his claws, hunching closer to it. "S-sorry. Hearing your voice again, it's…"

"We shall deal with this matter later. At the moment, it is imperative that we bring you back with us. Where are you? Have the Praetorians found you?"

Flame first darted his eyes around, then bit his lip. "N-no, no. I'm somewhere safe. I'm… okay."

Flame: “... Relatively speaking, anyways.” ^^;

He didn't know whether to laugh, or cry at what he'd just said. In a way he was already doing both. Okay? Everything was falling apart.

Flame: “(Yeah, probably a good thing that Daedalus doesn’t know what we’ve been up to lately, really.)” ._.;

"My child." Daedalus' voice had lowered considerably. "You sound pained. Please, are you injured in any way?"

Flame's lip trembled. "I said I'm fine."

Daedalus:

Flame: “... How are you doing that through a badge channel?” .-.
Daedalus: “Am I wrong, My Child?” >•|
Flame: “Y-Yes?”

He was already lying to him. Not fifteen seconds in and he was lying to Daedalus' face, not to mention wasting time. He had to tell him, didn't he?

Darting his eyes left and right, Flame took another breath. "What, ah, happened to Brynn? And the others we were with?"

A small pause. "They are alive. The Praetorians retreated soon after you jumped; we stalled them as much as we could. I can only assume they wished to begin their search for you."

Excuse me if I don’t believe this guy when we already know from past chapters that he’s not above baldly lying to Flame’s face.

Flame: "Yeah, I heard that pause, and there were at least 3 Praetorians for every one of us back there. How do I know that he's being straight with me or not pulling some sort of 'exact words' shtick-?"
Daedalus: "Flame, who are you talking to right now? Though do I really seem like the type to try to mislead you?"
- Flame look down at badge and notices that he's still grasping it -
Flame: "(Right. Need to let go to turn this off. Hope nobody else overheard that.)"

- Flame hems and haws a bit back into badge -
Flame: "S-Sorry, Daedalus. It's just that I've been getting burned by 'mons I thought I could trust lately. (God, please be shooting straight with me right now. I don't know if I'd be able to handle you also lying to me too...)" ._.;

A joyous tremor washed through Flame's body at those words. As if on trigger, a quick succession of images flashed through his mind: Daedalus' embrace, Brynn's innocent smile, his comrades huddled with beer around a campfire. The lake by Neuhoffnung…

He felt his breath leave him.

Flame: “The whole night in the beer hall…” ._.
Daedalus: “Which wasn’t canon. But yes, my child. Think back of your comrades. Don’t you realize how much everyone misses you?”

"So you're saying," Flame shook a little, "th-that my plan worked?" Staring wide-eyed at the badge, he kept breathing in and out, in and out, as his mind processed everything. "It worked? Nobody died!?"

Also, just saying, even if Daedalus is technically telling the truth. 'Nobody died' still leaves room for some really unhappy outcomes.

"Your 'plan' was suicidal and reckless—but that's not important. What matters now is bringing you home."

"It worked…" Flame whispered, eyes glazed downwards. Slowly, a huge smile spread across his face. "They're… alive…"

... You see, now I’m worried that it’s going to come out in like a chapter or two offsite that Daedalus, Brynn, and Comrade Hydreigon are actually the sole survivors while everyone else got yeeted off the cliff. Since we never did see any of the other convoy members again after Chapter XXV… .-.

"Please, child, we do not have time. Where are you?"

It took one question to wipe away Flame's smile. He had to tell him. He'd promised himself: say those lines, then throw away the badge. It was now or never.

Again, this is not what you do if you don’t want to get talked into tagging along with Daedalus, since you know that he’s a charismatic speaker.

"I'm s-somewhere safe," he said breathlessly, then winced and cursed between his teeth. "M-m-my, ah, teammates are here t-too." He couldn't breathe as well. "You, you don't have to worry."

"Tell me—what do you see around you? How far have you walked from that river?"

Flame: “U-Uh… w-well…” ._.;
Daedalus: “... My child, it’s not that difficult of a question.”

Flame's claws started to tremble. "Daedalus. I… I can't tell you that."

Silence. A silence that cut deeper than any word, that had Flame's chest wound tight as he braced for the inevitable.

"… Why?"

He squeezed his eyes. There it was. That gut-punch, the hint of betrayal underneath the simple confusion of that word. Yet it was all for Team Phalanx, he reminded himself. For the hope of a better future.

Somewhere. Somehow.

Flame: “... Boy did that come out a lot less convincing to me than I thought it would.” .-.

"B-because…" He squeezed the badge tighter for comfort. "I'm not coming back."

Flame paused and braced for the inevitable hurt that would follow. When it didn't come, he took it as a cue to continue.

"I've talked with my teammates. We decided we're going to leave for a new home. I don't know where that is yet, but it will be far away. Somewhere far from the war, far from the Praetorians, far from… from…" Flame's eyes lost focus. "Everything."

Daedalus: “My child, ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?!”

Flame: “... N-No? I really earnestly meant that there.” ^^;

With a tone as shaken as it was seething, Daedalus replied, "Stop with this childish fantasy. Tell your friends that they will both be safe with us. We do not have time for this."

Well at least Daedalus put two and two together quickly that “yeah, I’m not just kicking Alice and Gaius to the curb” instead of going the “forget them” angle.

The sheer hurt in those words brought Flame to immediate tears. He clutched the badge tight and repressed a half-sob.

"It can't work," he whispered, shaking his head maniacally, "They think our people are savages. Murderers! They would never want that." He brought the trembling badge closer to his mouth, partially because his own voice was close to a whisper. "They're everything to me, Daedalus. Even if…"

Even if it didn't go both ways, apparently.

Daedalus: “My child, are you listening to yourself right now?!” >;
Flame: “Y-Yes… A-And that’s why I have to do this.”

"Flame, you cannot—"

He flicked the switch on the back of the badge.

This is for Team Phalanx. This is for Team Phalanx. It's all for Team Phalanx…

Stillness set in. Flame said nothing, but merely stared. He stared at the red brick wall in front of him, and in that moment it sank in where he was: alone, sitting in this dark, grimy alleyway with only his tail fire for light. Now, his only form of company was gone.

Flame: "P-Phew... I actually did it. O-One call and dropped, just like I planned."

Of course, he could have simply turned the badge back on. But after hearing that voice's pain, the anger of it all…

No—it was over. He'd told Daedalus the truth, the Teutonii back at the ambush were alive, and he could finally rest easy. That was all he'd set out to accomplish.

Now, there was only one loose end left.

- Flame looks down at the badge and kicks at it -
Flame: “R-Right. I should get rid of this somehow, but… how?” .-.

With a strange numbness, Flame half-crawled back to his feet. His eyes dropped to the badge for a moment. Eventually, he lumbered over to the closest metal bin in the alley. It reached just under his chest and emanated an ungodly smell—urine and fermenting food, for sure.

Flame: “... I did not need to know that those were in there, thanks.”

- Flame continues with his badge towards the dumpster -
Flame: "These things aren't tracked, are they? Like Daedalus couldn't tell I was calling from Thermae Himerae just from that little conversation, could he?" ._.

Trying his best to ignore the smell, Flame shut his eyes and extended the badge inside a clenched fist, until it hovered over the open bin. It was all for Alice and Gaius, he reminded himself. No matter how much he wanted to scoff at that. All for them…

… Why, then, did he feel so empty?

Because you’re about to definitively turn your back on the one faction that’s bent over backwards to be kind and welcoming to you? I mean, it’s pretty obvious that they’re doing it based off of false premises, but still.

There was so much he still wanted to say to Daedalus. He would have preferred to relay those words in person, but he knew that if he turned that badge back on, he could never handle the pain Daedalus must have been feeling.

With little alternative, Flame resorted to looking wistfully at his clenched fist where the badge resided. Perhaps hoping that somewhere, somehow, the Dusknoir would receive his message.

I promise, he told himself in his head, that I won't forget about our mission. I won't let the Presence get to me. I'll be safe.

Narrator:

Flame: “L-Look, I’m sure I can manage somehow, alright?!” >///<

For the second time that day, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry at what he'd just said. Safe? They were about to cross the Tartarus Mountains passes, with winter snows but a week away! And he had the gall to use that word.

Immediately his mind drew back to visions he'd been trying to bottle up. Visions from their time in that ice cave. Once again he saw Gaius writhing on the icy ground, too weak to cry out. He saw the frost on his green scales and the ice seeping into his hand. He was staring into Alice's eyes again and saw nothing but agony; a slow, unrelenting, cold, sapping agony… Flame quivered at the memory, quivered so violently that for a moment he forgot his animosity for the two.

Flame:

But he knew they would never accept any other plan. He'd heard it from Alice already: if there was a future, it lay in the desert. He didn't have a choice.

He didn't… have…

…

Flame's gaze darkened.

He did.

- Flame looks back at the badge in his claws -
Flame: “... Thank goodness I didn’t throw this into the dumpster already, since god would that have been an awful experience rooting through it to get it back.” >.<

In a moment of impetus, he flicked the badge's switch with a claw.

"—ell me that you're listening, I beg you!"

"Daedalus." Flame wasn't listening. His eyes were glazed, his claw firmly on the button. "I'm in Thermae Himerae."

Flame: "O-Oh goddammit, I'm gonna regret this, aren't I?" ._.
Daedalus: "Look, whatever's going through your mind, just don't hang up okay! We can work with Thermae Himerae, just stay on the line!"

No reply. Only Flame's own throbbing heartbeat as he sat there, eyes shut and mentally bracing himself for what was to come.

It was almost twenty heartbeats before Daedalus spoke up. "Remain where you are. We are departing for your location immediately."

That makes me wonder who Daedalus is talking to on the other end of this convo that’s going on. Since the presence of pauses like those would imply that he’s talking with others and either consulting them for advice or giving them directions.

Flame: "Uhm... you are coming with a small party in a normal fashion and not going to dump a thousand 'mons on this city with a portal storm like back in Portus, right?" ._.;

Flame merely kept breathing, in and out. "H-how quickly can you get here?"

"Expect us there before noon. Exit the city while it is still dark. Do not let anyone see you—the Praetorians may still be out there."

Daedalus: "... We're coming to get you, nothing more, nothing less. Your friends can come too if you really insist."
Flame: "That... didn't answer my question from earlier." ._.

"O-okay." Somehow, his gaze lingered downward. Some time passed before he snapped back into focus. "I'm sorry. For saying those things. I'll… I'll explain everything."

"Later. Right now, all I want is to see you again."

Flame: “D-Daedalus, look, can you just give me a commitment that you’re not going to burn Thermae Himerae to the ground?” ._.
Daedalus: “We instructed you to meet outside the city gates for a reason. Though again, we are going to bring you home. No matter what it takes.”
Flame: “... I could’ve done without hearing that last part thanks.”

Flame nodded absentmindedly. He figured he should have blushed at that. "Please bring some food," he muttered. "Maybe Leppa Berry. Gaius likes those."

"We will. If anything happens, contact me immediately. I'll see you soon, my child."

Flame could only stare as the badge fell silent with one final batch of static, leaving him alone with his frantic heartbeat.

Flame: “I- I didn’t just make a massive mistake, did I?”

He quickly crumpled against the brick wall, eyes drawn up towards the night sky. He was shaking all over. Perhaps he was too exhausted. Perhaps the full ramifications of what he'd just done hadn't yet sunk in.

Whatever the case, as Flame gazed up from that frosty alley to the sliver of starry night above, he somehow found reason to smile.

- Flame has a moment of dawning realization and freezes -
Flame: "... Why am I feeling this good when he never answered me as to how he was planning on picking us up when Thermae Himerae is hostile to the Teutonii and his attempt at a rescue mission for me in Aesernia got thousands of 'mons killed and would've breached the city walls if he didn't find me on the battlefield?" ._.
- Flame looks off at the stars, suddenly a lot more nervous about what the future holds -
Flame: "H-He told me to meet him outside the city gates where no one could see us at least? S-So he’s at least not planning on destroying Thermae Himerae…? (Daedalus, for gods' sake, please pick us up in a normal fashion…)"

And onto the glimpse of things to come in this story:

- Meanwhile, Flame drifts back to the encampment in the main square, looking visibly on-edge -
Gaius: “The hell happened to you?” o_ó;
Flame: “The walk helped less than I thought it would with the stress, really.” ._.
Alice: “M-Maybe it’s a sign to get your mind onto other things? Why, we could start by taking a look at the next teaser.”

Chapter XXVIII: Iacta​

- Gaius raises a brow -
Gaius: "'Iacta'? As in a die for playing games of chance?"
Alice: "I think it's meant more in the sense of 'Iacta alea est', or 'the die has been cast'. You know, 'crossing the Rubicon'? Making irreversible decisions? Crossing points of no return?"
Gaius: "... Do we even have a Rubicon in this setting? (Or I guess we'd know it as a 'Rubico', but still.) And I don't see what decisions we made that would remotely justify that title."
Flame:

- Alice and Gaius look at Flame long and hard, as Gaius facepalms -
Gaius: "Okay Flame, what did you do?"
Flame: "Nothing, I swear! Look, let’s get to the actual teaser already, okay?" O_O;

"Our Benefactors make fundamentally contradictory demands of my Court. On the one hand they wish for the general populace to know of their existence, to be revered as new gods; yet simultaneously they choose to hide amongst those islands, acting only via proxies and celestial bombardment.

So far, much of the citizenry has seemingly acquiesced to their existence—at least in our core urban centres, where education is higher. Yet the Senate has proven the hardest to convince. They ask:"Why, if these 'Benefactors' are so swift to annihilate rebellions, have They not done the same to the Scum menace from the north, which grinds our legions to dust?" And to this, I have no answer. I keep reassuring my colleagues that this is merely a test of our resolve; that Our Benefactors would defend Urbe if it were ever threatened.

But when I myself do not know Their true form, my words sound increasingly hollow even to me."

— Excerpt of Emperor Adrian's Private Diary, dated 27th October, 745 AUC

To answer that question the Senate keeps bringing up:

Freedom is a gift bestowed by nature even on the dumb animals. Courage is the peculiar excellence of man, and the Gods help the braver side.

- Gaius Julius Civilis​

So thus, it'd seem that 'Our Benefactors' as would-be gods are having some doubts about their beneficiaries on that front. :^)
Gaius: "... Wait, 'Excerpt of Emperor Adrian's Private Diary'? How in the hell did this turn up?" .-.
Alice: "... Hey did anything else from that diary turn up? Because I want to know exactly what's been going through dad's head with these attempts at 'help' he's been providing." >:|
Flame: "... Are these Benefactors a bunch of theatrical showboats or something? Waiting for things to get as bad as possible before stepping in to flex and remind everyone who's boss?"
Gaius: "Well they're something alright given that those SOBs are literally stealing a third of our food every year and this is what we have to show for it!" >_>;
Alice: "(I didn't know that dad was harboring these sorts of doubts about Our Benefactors. Not that I blame him, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but... for his own sake, I hope he's keeping that close to his chest.)" ._.;
- Alice shakes her head and settles in -
Alice: “Whelp, not like it’ll be our problem soon enough anyways. We’ve got a journey to the desert to kick off next time.”
Flame: “R-Right, next time… (God I have no idea how I’m going to explain things to these two…)

Okay, and time for the chapter recap:

So the basic function of this chapter is basically the same as what it was the first time I read it. It caps off the Thermae Himerae arc with the aftermath of the chickens coming home to roost in the past chapter, shows how Team Phalanx’s present dynamic is unsustainable, and has Flame tee up the events of the next arc to come. That said, it definitely had more of an impact on me this time around. I dunno how much of it was from changes in context to build it up, an appreciation for where things wind up going in the story from this point, or just me noticing things that I missed from my first rodeo, but things seemed to hit their notes better this time.

As for criticisms that I have… I don’t really have all that many beyond the nitpicks I highlighted in my writeup. Perhaps there could’ve been a bit more time devoted to showing off Thermae Himerae given that the plot is about to jump ship from it in short order and rub salt into the wounds more of “... this could’ve been ours, dammit”, but I understand the direction you were going for here, and sometimes you just have to cut to the chase.

Kudos on the chapter as always, and I’ll be looking forward to the day when I can start delivering reviews here day and date for this story. From your progress uploading chapters, it shouldn’t be much longer now. ^^

 

[Shadow of Antioch]

Chapter XXXI: Veritas​

---

"They are watching me.

My claws tremble as I write this. I had begun suspecting as much years ago—now, I am certain of it. I was just clearing the bureaucratic clutter off my desk when I made the most shocking discovery: a magical eye, smaller than my own claw.

It moved. The spherical lens moved as I grabbed it.

My mind rushes with terrifying possibilities. My stomach is filled with shame—with the indignity of being subject to this. I, divine Augustus of the Empire of Urbe!

How many other eyes have they hidden in my chambers? Just how long have they been watching?

Did they want me to find it?"

— Excerpt from Emperor Adrian's private diary, dated 25 November 745 AUC.

---

Thermae Himerae

Booooooring…

Sitting back with his feet propped up on the table, Virgo exhaled, and watched his condensed breath hover over his little corner of the pub.

It was dark inside, even with the few measly torches placed along the walls. The Spinda bartender was still glaring at him from the penumbra behind the counter. The few other ice and dark-type customers were doing the same.

Is everyone up North this frigid? Virgo shivered a little under his furred, purple service cloak. And would it kill them to build a fireplace?

… His eyes then wandered to a pair of Abomasnow at the counter.

Okay, it would—but only the ice-types!

Virgo groaned and tilted his head back. He was bored out of his wits. He was cold. He couldn't drink, by Sycorax's order. And there wasn't even a brothel in this frigid brick pile of a city! He'd looked.

Bah. Didn't think I'd ever miss Aesernia. Why the hell's Sycorax keeping us here?

Virgo cast a disinterested glance down at his untouched oran juice glass. Damn it. I knew I shoulda stayed with the Navy. Why did I even listen to Yivvy?! She has fur!

It didn't help that the pokémon in this frigid pile of bricks kept giving 'im and the other Praetorian Guards the side-eye. He couldn't believe it; why? Chicks loved bad dragons like him! Between the frigid local gals, the boredom, and the cold pricking his scales, Virgo had resigned himself to moping around until the order came to remobilise. Until…

"Virgo. Correct?"

He blinked; in front of him was now a lithe, feminine-looking Servine. Her purple service cape and eagle-badged carrier bag identified her as a fellow Praetorian.

Virgo paused to stare. "Uuuh-huh?"

"Rumour has it," the Servine raised a curious smile, "that you and Yvaine already met this 'Icarus' we're after. Is it true?"

"Uh-huh."

Virgo scanned her over quickly. Lithe frame, cute almond eyes… yup, this one was a hottie. A smirk quickly grew on his face. And she'd just sat down right by him at the table!

"Good." The Servine nodded curtly. "I was hoping you could tell me about Icarus. His capabilities, mindset, personality—anything that can help us survive a fight against him, should it come to that."

Kicking back on the table, he held the back of his head and laughed. "What, Flamey? Ah, he's harmless! He can spew a bit of fire at ya, but that's about it."

She made a disbelieving face. "I thought the General had called him 'far too dangerous to engage directly'."

"That's 'cause he'll crumple after one hit!" Virgo laughed heartily.

Oooh, she was listening, all right. Virgo would have licked his lips if he could have. Finally! Here he was, chatting up the hottest gal in his cohort after so much boredom. Those cute almond eyes read 'smitten' aaaaall over.

The Servine smiled curtly. "I see. And… how well did you get to know him personally?"

"Of course I know him well—we went on a mission together! Why, we're practically buddies."

"Hmmm. I do hope your friendship with him won't affect your duties."

Still smirking, Virgo shrugged. "Nah, I want these damn storms to finish as much as anyone. Hard to have fun when the world's kinda ending." He sent her a luscious look, making sure to bare his fangs. Gals loved a hint of danger. "But you look like someone who can have fun…"

The Servine looked surprised for a second. She covered her delicate laughter with a vine, gazing away shyly. "O-oh, my. Is that so? I'm… flattered."

She seemed rather refined—probably some Southern noble gal looking for a thrill. Whatever the case, she was totally into him!

Virgo's mind raced with the possibilities. He had to sit up properly from the concentration. Finally, after so many months of abstinence! Think, brain, think! Would Yvaine mind if he used their tent? Maybe she wouldn't. Nah. Probably not.

"Say, Virgo, do tell…" She smiled slyly, then snuck a vine to him, brushing it down his stomach… "Is it true what they say about you dragon-types?"

He suppressed a gulp at the contact. H-her vines worried him a bit, but… fortune favoured the bold! Or something like that.

Biting back nervousness, Virgo shot her another cocky look. "It sure is!" He smirked wider. "Why, maybe the two of us should find someplace quiet. Let ya meet the 'twins' a bi—"

Her vine cracked; next thing he knew, Virgo's world exploded in pain, and he suddenly found himself groaning on the hard floor. Half of his face, as well as the arm he landed on, flaring up in throbbing pain.

"What I meant," the Servine sneered, "is that culturally, you're little better than the barbarian Scum."

"Oooow!" Virgo cooed, rubbing his injured cheek.

"Gods, you sound like some feral in heat. Woo one of the locals if you're so desperate!" Her words dripped with venom.

Virgo felt his shoulders deflating as the Servine raised her nose and strutted out of the front door that someone else had opened. Meanwhile a familiar set of muffled footsteps approached him from the side.

"Awwww, come on!" Virgo grumbled to himself. "I had that one on lock! Doesn't she know what us dragons pack?"

"Not brains," Yvaine stated with a hint of annoyance. "That's the issue."

Virgo huffed with an exaggerated frown. "Mean."

The Umbreon strutted over in front of him. Her eyes were always so blank, so inscrutable, yet he somehow always felt judged by them. "It's for your own good. Locals are one matter, Virgo—but your own colleagues? What if the Lieutenant found out?"

Virgo hummed, and glanced up in thought. "It's been a while since I had a guy. He's not half-bad…"

"You're hopeless."

"Oh, come oooon!" Virgo grinned again and elbowed her side. "Have a laugh! You sound as prudish as ol' Flamey."

For a moment, he could have sworn he'd seen an actual emotion flash on her face: guilt.

But it was a mere flash. She hopped onto a chair with the same blank face as always.

"I apologise, Virgo." Yvaine sat next to him. "I confess that it's been difficult not to think about our situation."

Seeing her like that, Virgo couldn't help but smile sympathetically. He sat back down too, returning a few cold glares from the other tables. "Yeah, I feel ya. How much longer's Sycorax gonna keep us here? It's too chilly! Hell, I'm getting depression from just how cloudy it always is."

How's a 'mon supposed to have get it going around these parts? he wondered. Under Mamoswine hide?

"Not that. It's everything. Our entire mission," Yvaine muttered. "Apart from his amnesia, Flame seemed almost entirely unremarkable at first glance. And now… the Benefactors claim he is the key to averting the apocalypse!"

Virgo scoffed. "Bah, a bunch of gods they are." He crossed his arms. "If they have the power to stop these storms, these dungeons—they should just do it. They're gods! Are you tellin' me Flame's some kinda god, too?"

"Virgo!" Yvaine hissed, glancing around them quickly. "Are you trying to get our unit decimated?"

Virgo blinked, then laughed nervously. "… Oops."

After waiting to ensure no one in the dimly-lit pub heard him, Yvaine rested her head on her forepaws. "Logically speaking, I don't see how Flame could be responsible for the storms. He's barely left adolescence—whereas the first recorded portal storm dates back over a hundred years. And yet…"

Virgo tapped a claw to his chin. Flamey, responsible for a worldwide catastrophe? Absurd!

Come on, this was Flamey they were talking about. He couldn't hurt a fly! Heck, his bumbling antics had a certain charm to them. With time, Virgo was sure he could have gotten the guy to loosen up and get drunk together.

A frown crossed him suddenly. This time, he took care to lower his voice to a whisper. "I hope the Benefactors don't plan on doin' something horrible to Flamey. Seemed like a good 'mon…"

When he turned to glance at Yvaine, though, her blank eyes were wide in thought.

"Oi, Yivvy. You okay?"

"I simply can't stop thinking about it," she muttered.

Virgo tilted his head. "This about that one time you were in his head? I thought you said you hadn't seen much."

"I didn't. Everything before a certain point in his life was too scrambled. But… you know how dark-types are aura-sensitive?" She shuffled uncomfortably. "I can't stop thinking about his aura. It was unlike anything I've seen before. Something about his soul felt—"

The high-pitched ring of a Chimeco startled Virgo. Muttering curses, he unclipped the badge from his bag and held it up.

"Attention, all units." Sycorax's synthesised voice crackled through. "Our Benefactors report a new Icarus sighting, one hundred kilometres east of your current location. Assemble at the gates for imminent departure."

"Already?" Virgo frowned. "Welp, I guess it beats sitting around in this dump." He stood up and adjusted his service cloak.

"C'mon, Yivvy, let's—eh?"

But Yvaine hadn't budged. Still laying on the ground, her eyes now contained a hint of horror.

"Y-Yivvy?"

"It felt… completely out of this world."

---

Tromvik

For all the years he'd fantasised about this moment, Gaius felt strangely calm.

"Sit."

In front of him, the mighty Hydreigon—a monster who towered three heads above him, with razor teeth and dozens of war scars—looked genuinely scared of being at the same table as him.

They were the only souls in this dark, rickety-ass Scum tavern that he'd just emptied out himself.

Just him, that monster, and that blast seed clasped in his good hand.

"You…" the monster spoke in his deep voice. "You speak our language? How?"

It had been so long, Gaius felt half-tempted to ask that himself. He probably had a heavy accent by now.

"I said," Gaius muttered blank-faced, "sit."

The monster hesitated, but eventually sat down on the bare floor. Even then he was so tall that he still needed to crane his main head down to be at Gaius' level. He refused to meet him in the eye.

"Kill me if you must," the Hydreigon rumbled. "But know that vengeance… won't end your suffering."

Maybe. Maybe…

"I won't hurt ya. I just wanna talk."

The monster glanced gravely at his hand, at the blast seed he still clutched.

Gaius almost felt like chuckling. In truth, he had no clue what the hell he would do with it. The seed had been useful in threatening the other customers out, but what now? Threaten to use it? Hydreigon were sturdy; Grovyle weren't. He'd only end up killing himself.

Did the Hydreigon know this too?

"Ten years ago," Gaius began with a blank face, "I watched your warriors set fire to my village. I watched you throw my dad into a burning house… and when my mum ran in after him, I watched you collapse the house on top of 'em."

Slowly, he lifted his eyes to glare at the three-headed monster.

"Tell me—do you enjoy killin'? Does it rub you the right way?"

The dragon's dark eyes carried a weight to them, as though unfathomably tired. "I… despise every moment of it."

"Why'd ya do it, then?" Gaius squinted. "Why attack our village?"

The monster hesitated. "Our people are at war. You know that."

Gaius' claws shook around the blast seed. "We didn't even have a well."

"My people fight for the fate of the world, Grovyle. We had no choice. It's your Empire that chose the side of the evil Presence."

"My Empire?" Gaius chuckled bitterly. "I'm one of you, jackass."

The monster's dark eyes widened.

"Yup. My parents that you killed? Born in 'Hoffnung', wherever in hell that is. Imperial slavers took 'em and a buncha others one day. Put 'em to work in a plantation."

"Hoffnung…"

"The worst part? You were supposed to save us." Gaius gritted his teeth tightly. "When the migrations started… my parents dreamt of our own people coming to our rescue. But then we heard of the massacres. Every town, reporting the same thing…"

"Lies. Your masters fed you lies so that you wouldn't escape."

"Lies?" Gaius shot up from his chair. "Damn fuckin' weird for those lies to come true!"

"You act as if I wanted any of this to happen, Grovyle. I may have done the act, but remember… that it's the Presence's fault if we're at war in the first place. "

Gaius' lip quivered. "Presence? The hell are you talking about?"

"You don't know?" The Hydreigon pulled back, a determined glint in his eye. "The evil Presence pulls the Empire's strings behind the scenes. They are already responsible for the extermination of millions of pokémon around the world, and untold numbers more through the portal storms they've caused. If it weren't for our Kaiser and Herr Daedalus, our people would have joined them in their graves!"

Gaius stared down at his stump. Presence… He tried to process that word but his head was too blank to do so.

"I don't get it. What did my parents have to do with any of that?"

"We are in a war for the fate of pokémonkind," the Hydreigon continued gravely. "It wasn't their fault, but without realising it, your parents were helping those who wish to enslave the entire world."

"My PARENTS were slaves!"

In a fit of adrenaline Gaius climbed atop the table, face-to-face with the recoiling monster. "Now answer me seriously, you fuck! Why did my parents have to die in atrocious pain?"

"I-I told you. My people fight to save pokémonkind from—"

"Bullshit!" Gaius gritted his teeth between sobs. "How the hell could destroying my village help save anyone, huh? How could killing my parents help?!"

The Hydreigon stared at him dead-on, dark eyes at a loss for words.

"What is it that you wanted? Land? Gold? Tell me!" Eyes full of tears, Gaius held up the blast seed in his good hand and squeezed. "There has to be a reason. Otherwise… it would all be so absurd!"

The Hydreigon stared wide-eyed and said nothing.

"Why did they have to die, huh?!" His voice was starting to crack.

The Hydreigon stared.

"Why?!"

Teeth gritted between sobs, Gaius jabbed the seed into the scales under the dragon's main neck. Yet the Hydreigon only stared.

"P-please…"

Tears blurred his vision. Suddenly his legs felt weak; he fell on the table onto his knees.

"A-at least tell me why you spared us." His lip trembled. "To this day, I still don't understand… Why kill them, b-but let Irena and I go?"

He couldn't see the Hydreigon's expression anymore—too many tears— but he was still pressing that blast seed to his neck.

Through those hard scales, Gaius felt the dragon's pulse quicken.

"Are you… asking me…" the Hydreigon whispered in his deep voice.

Gaius' eyes filled with tears. "Please—I have to know. I've been asking myself for all these years! If you'd finished the job… at least Irena wouldn't have sacrificed her sanity for me! At least then, I wouldn't have had to… to ruin so many pokémon's lives…"

The Hydreigon's breath quickened, too. "It… it wasn't your fault, Grovyle. I promise, it wasn't…"

Gaius gritted his teeth. "Of course not!" he snapped. "This is all your fault, you stupid fucking—"

He sprung up and drew back a leaf blade; he took aim through tear-blurred eyes…!

…

Gaius froze and trembled, teeth gritted together, his blade still drawn. One swift stroke. That was all it'd take to end this monster's life. To cut his nightmare down forever.

So why did he have this empty feeling in the pit of this stomach?

… Because it wouldn't change how Mum or Dad died. Or Irena falling apart afterwards. Or the years of slaving away under the likes of Ariel while the world imploded around him. All of that would still be there waiting for him if he followed through.

All of it… all…

Quickly, his sudden rush of adrenaline petered out. His arms felt weak again. The tears were flooding forth again; the pressure in his chest building.

So Gaius' knees gave out. He crumbled onto the table, laying there splayed out, uncaring as he sobbed uncontrollably.

Everything else was a blur. His mind barely registered a shaky Hydreigon prying the blast seed from his claws, or the sound of the tavern's doors slamming shut.

And thus he was left there… alone.

---

Flame had to stop himself from kicking the tavern's doors open.

Instead, breathing through gritted teeth, he burst in shoulder-first, the momentum carrying him a couple of metres into the establishment.

"GAIUS!" His shout echoed throughout the cave.

Flame paused, snorting jets of fire, and glanced around him. There! There was that damned Grovyle, half-slumped over a table near the centre of the cavern chamber! He had to suppress a sudden urge to douse him with fire.

"What in the world do you think you're doing?" Flame growled, stepping forward. "A blast seed? Have you lost your bloody mind?!"

Yet Gaius was unmoving. He merely groaned. "Great…"

Squinting in an icy glare, Flame swiftly closed the distance between them. "I was worried you were going to kill Hydreigon!" He slammed his claws on the table. "You forced all those pokémon out of here! Do you have any idea how scared you made—"

The words left Flame's mouth. He had just noticed what Gaius was holding in good hand: a half-full beer jug. And on the table were two more jugs, both empty and on their side. And that wasn't counting the spirits he'd had back at the house…

"You're…" Flame narrowed his eyes. "You're still drinking?"

Gaius glared into his jug with disgust as he swirled the beer around. "What do you want? Ain't got time for your… pity fest, or whatever."

"Honestly? I want to pity you." Flame bared his fangs, standing over the seated Grovyle. "But you've gone too far. You came here half-drunk; you threatened dozens of pokémon with a blast seed; you kept that Hydreigon hostage. This… this is too much!"

Gaius shot him a hazy glare. "Can't you let a 'mon enjoy himself in peace?"

"Wha—of course not! You're not in any state to be drinking, you fucking—!" Flame squeezed his eyes tight, and breathed in. Breathe.

'I spoke to him earlier,' he'd told Alice and Daedalus outside. 'I know what's going through his head. I can talk him out of it.' How on earth was he supposed to talk a drunkard out of anything? He was even swaying in his chair!

I told the town he's under my protection, and when he broke into this place… nobody dared to stop him.

I'm the reason any of this happened.

He felt a knot form in his throat at the thought. All those townsfolk gathered anxiously outside… Would they ever trust his word again?

"Look…" Gaius whispered; guilt flashed on his face as his shoulders sagged. "I'm leavin' this hellhole tomorrow, okay? Just… let me enjoy one last drink. Plea—"

It was then that Flame seized Gaius by the wrist—squeezing it tightly. So tightly that Gaius' grip on the heavy jug trembled. It fell on the table and cracked, spilling what beer was left onto the table, then Gaius' lap.

"The only place you're going—" Flame squinted "—is home with me. Now."

Gaius' eyes widened. He gasped for breaths. "W-were you even listening? I'm giving you what you want!"

Flame yanked on the Grovyle's wrist: he threw Gaius off his chair and to the ground with a cry of pain.

"Shut up. You're drunk."

With that, he slowly took his first step towards the exit. Then his second. Then more. Heavy, due to the Grovyle he was dragging behind him, but he walked on regardless.

"Y-you heartless bastard!" Gaius cried behind him; Flame could feel his writhing via the wrist he held. "I told you what that monster did to my parents! C-can't you just let me have this?!"

"No."

By now, Gaius' frantic pants had turned into all-out sobs. "J-just leave me alone… What do you care, anyway?!"

Pausing his march briefly, Flame glared at the door ahead with a snarl.

Fuck. You.

Slowly, he looked back, looked down to that sobbing heap of a Grovyle who stared back up through bawling eyes, his face contorted by pain.

"I-it's 'cause you hate me, isn't it?! You want me to SUFFER! Huh?!"

Anger coursed through Flame's veins—shaking his arms, his claws around Gaius' wrist and his gritted teeth.

Eventually, he snorted a small jet of fire. "Gaius. If you want to get home in agonising pain… then by all means, keep talking."

Gaius' face twisted in pain at his words. "I—I know why you're angry at me, okay?! But I was wrong about you! I'm… I'm sorr—!"

Flame's kick connected with Gaius' face mid-syllable; he sent him rolling into a nearby table. The impact shook the whole thing and caused a couple of abandoned drinks to fall and shatter on the floor.

"Sorry?! You think that's ENOUGH?"

Adrenaline rushed through his veins; all at once it came to him, as though a geyser spewing off excess water.

"Do you have any idea what it's like?" Flame roared, tears filling his eyes. "To wake up one day, and remember nothing? Look at yourself in the mirror, look at the world around you, the pokémon you're with—and know NOTHING?" He paused, if only to blink away the tears. "I was utterly alone, Gaius. I felt terrified. And what did I get from you?"

Gaius sobbed, hiding his face in his arms. "I ma—"

"You made me feel even more worthless than I already did!" He hurled Gaius another kick—it sent him crashing against the bar's wood counter, wheezing and coughing. "You left me to die back in Portus!"

"I… I m-made a—"

Flame spat a stream of fire at the Grovyle.

Gaius screeched. He screeched as the flames clung to his form, rolling back and forth maniacally to put them out. When they went out, he was left panting as smoke wafted from his lying body.

"Why did you pull this stunt, huh? To ruin my new life, too?" Flame gritted his fangs, and snorted a small jet of fire. "The townsfolk… I still don't get why, but they look up to me. They revere me." Suppressing a frown, Flame turned his hands over and looked down at them. "I don't like it. They make me out to be someone I'm not. A hero that doesn't exist… B-but, in any case, I was the one who ordered them not to bother you." He clenched both his fists tightly. "And now you've gone and mortified me in front of them, you fucking—!"

"I MADE A MISTAKE!"

Flame paused; his leg was still tensed in mid-kick.

"I… I made a mistake." Gaius gasped for breath as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Even after everything you've done for the team, for me… all I've done is treat you like crap!"

Flame stood there and stared with pursed lips. He swished his fire-tipped tail slowly, back and forth.

"M-maybe I just wanted to feel in control again." Gaius curled up into a fetal position on the floor, sobbing. "Holed up in Aesernia, that shithole, for two years… I couldn't take it anymore. You looked like an easy target. B-but I was wrong!" His voice cracked. "You're no weakling. You're… m-much stronger than a shit like me can ever hope to become!"

Flame's lip quivered. He looked straight down at the quivering Grovyle, towering over him. He stank of alcohol and sweat. Gods… look at how pathetic you are.

"You made me realise that, Flame. When you… s-saved my life, back in that damn ice dungeon. You showed me how miserable I was." Gaius weakly pushed himself up to his knees. Tears still streaming from his reddened eyes, he stared down at his hands—or rather, his hand and stump.

And to think I used to be scared of you. He almost felt a perverse pleasure in seeing Gaius like this. Almost…

Despite the anger, Flame quickly found himself tempted to glance away.

"I… still don't understand why." Gaius' voice was down to a whisper. He raised his reddened eyes to look at him directly. "Why did you save me, back then?"

Flame found his own eyes widening. "… What's that supposed to mean?"

"I was awful to you—would have deserved it. I was dead weight, too. Why risk your life for me…?"

Flame let his thoughts settle for a second. He didn't regret saving Gaius, he knew that much. Saving his and Alice's lives was something that still swelled his chest with pride.

Somehow, though, the way that question was asked disturbed him.

"No one deserves to die like some feral," Flame said dryly. "Not even you."

Still on his knees, Gaius smiled—but it was an exhausted kind of smile that only unsettled Flame further. "See? I could never be like that…"

What are you getting at, Gaius? Flame thought with narrowed eyes.

"I'm sorry," the Grovyle glanced down. "F-for everything I did to you. To the team. At this point, the best I can do is to g-get out of your life." He paused. "I'm leaving at sunbreak."

Flame's eyes widened in surprise; but then he squeezed them shut, shaking his head. "For Mew's sake—why am I even listening to you? You've clearly drunk your brain as well."

"No, Flame! It's not just the alcohol talking!" Gaius cried out, eyes wide and bloodshot. "I decided that before I even came here! I… I can't stand being here another week. Having to remember what I did to Irena… to Alice… to you."

Flame tried his hardest to keep a serious expression, but couldn't do it; his heart wouldn't stay still.

At dawn? In this state? He glanced over the still-kneeling Grovyle, his shoulders slumped forward, his eyes wide and hollow. He looked utterly broken. Would he even be sober enough by sunbreak?

"S-stop being so dramatic," Flame muttered, trying to sound angry. "Can't you just wait until Alice decides what she'll do?"

But Gaius shook his head vigorously. "I don't wanna ruin your lives more than I already have."

For the first time since setting foot in there, Flame was at a loss for words.

I don't understand…

Why? Why are you saying all this?

"You'll die," Flame stated. "You know that, right?"

Gaius barely seemed to hear him.

"It'll get colder out there. You'll be traumatised and alone. With no one to turn to—no home to go back to."

Gaius' wide, bloodshot eyes trailed downwards.

"… You don't even know where you're going, do you?"

"Just… leave me alone…" the Grovyle whispered.

That sense of dread building up in his stomach only intensified. His heart was hammering in his chest.

'Why did you save me, back then?' Those words wouldn't get out of his head.

No, not just those words. There was something about this entire situation that made him queasy. First the blast seed. Then that strange question. Now, this.

He has to know how dangerous it is out there. Does he really want to—

A shiver crawled down Flame's spine. He stared down at the kneeling Grovyle.

"Gaius… are you trying to die?"

No answer came, yet the way Gaius' features flashed with guilt told him all he needed to know.

Flame stood there. He stood there and watched with trembling claws, his glare intensifying by the moment. "… That's it, isn't it? You've given up."

"N-no, I—"

Flame smashed his foot right in Gaius' gut and sent the Grovyle crashing back against the counter, before crumpling down on the floor, wheezing and coughing.

Flame's clenched fists shook.

"You think you can just… run away from what you did to Alice and I?!" Flame clenched his jaw. "From whatever happened to your sister? That's… that's the most insulting thing I've ever heard!"

Gaius choked a sob and curled into a fetal position. "Wh-what do you care, anyway?!"

"What do I care? What do I care?! Of course I fucking care!" Flame contorted his face into pure rage. "Just because I hate you, it doesn't mean I want you dead!"

Gaius sobbed from the floor. "I-it's just… everything's so fucked…"

Somehow Flame found the strength to close his eyes, and, for five seconds, he let his thoughts settle.

He's right, spoke a small voice inside him. Why do I care?

He's been nothing but a bully to me.

I hate him.

… Why, then? Why did the thought of Gaius giving up anger him so much?

The Grovyle just lay there and buried his sobbing face in his arms. "There's nowhere left for me to go. No one else I know. The whole world's going to hell with these portal storms…" He sniffled. "The hell do I have left to live for, huh?"

Flame merely pursed his lips.

That small voice inside him whispered that Gaius didn't deserve this kind of effort. After all, had the roles been reversed, Gaius would never lift a single claw to help him up.

And yet…!

Flame cringed internally, growling in self-directed frustration. He glared down at the palm of his right hand.

Am I… still really that weak?

From his fetal position on the floor, Gaius let out another long, choked sob. "J-just what the hell've I got left to live for, Flame?!"

"Me."

"… Wh-wha?"

Determination etching on his face, Flame clenched his right hand into a fist. Then, he outstretched it towards Gaius.

"Stand up," Flame commanded, "and fight."

A set of wide, watery eyes stared back up at him from down on the floor. There was something in them that Flame couldn't read. Was it sheer confusion? Or was it… awe?

"What are you…?"

"Enough with this," Flame continued, his hand still outstretched. A sneer crossed him. "I won't let you wallow in pity any longer. Stand up."

Perhaps it was the emphasis behind those last two words; whatever the case, Gaius weakly pushed himself onto his knees. He kept staring at Flame's outstretched hand.

"Wh-why?"

"Because… if I let you go out into the world, you'll die. You'll die cold and alone." Flame felt his breathing becoming heavier. "It's true that I hate you—b-but that doesn't mean you deserve to suffer. No one deserves to suffer like that."

Gaius produced a bitter smile. He laughed breathlessly. "I'll be fine out there. I'm used to scraping by…"

"I'm not giving you a choice."

At that, Gaius stared up at him with befuddled eyes; for his part, Flame merely kept a stoic face and an outstretched hand.

"Don't know what to do with your life? Start by making it up to me and Alice. Help me put an end to this stupid war."

Gaius' lip quivered. It quivered as if trying to say something, but failing.

"Now, stand up." Flame ordered. "I won't ask again."

Once again, Gaius jolted at his command. He lifted his good hand but hesitated just short of Flame's. "Why do you care? No one's ever… cared this much before."

Once again, that question superimposed itself on Flame's mind. He wasn't quite sure. Was he still too soft-hearted and naive? Too weak to let go? Or was it because…

Flame let himself smile.

Seeing Gaius hesitate, he seized the Grovyle's hand himself. "Because I'm nothing like you."

---

Via Tiburtina — Former Edessa Province

The screech of Sycorax's cannon firing was loud enough to throw Virgo onto the grass, desperately clutching his ears. The ground shook underneath his stomach. It took at least a dozen or so seconds before the blinding light subsided.

When he opened one eye, he found the Scum Marowak he'd just been fighting dazed on the ground. Up above, the massive gash in both the Scum's aerial formation and the clouds made his stomach drop. He prayed that Yivvy was o—

"Yivvy!"

Pushing himself up with a gasp, Virgo ignored the burning in his chest and finished off his dazed Marowak opponent with a slash to the throat.

The barbarian's suffered gurgling now filled his ears; the air was thick with smoke from the burning wagons just up ahead. He slowly scanned around that dirt road, squinting, but could only make out mangled corpses in the grass and stumbling Praetorians.

There! He broke into a full sprint, hopping over bodies until the faint outline stumbling in the smoke became an Umbreon. She was hissing in pain with each step.

"Oh gods, Yivvy!" Virgo knelt next to her, hastily scanning the half of her body where the fur was thinner. "You all right? They didn't get the side that's still healing, did they?"

But Yvaine slapped his claw away. "Later. Icarus!"

Virgo followed her paw: he saw the lead wagon on its side, and a green-cloaked creature making a run for it.

"Flamey!"

Adrenaline alone was enough to get him sprinting; he tackled the figure within moments, pushing it to the ground with a grunt and a stifled gasp on its part. Virgo quickly pinned Flame down—but, strangely, he'd crumpled almost immediately. He was shaking. No… sobbing.

Yvaine seemed to hesitate, but then whispered, "We've got a job to do."

Virgo frowned. "Right."

Without further ado, he ripped the cape off of the sobbing Charme—

"Eh!?"

It was a Charmeleon, all right—but it wasn't Flamey at all! This one's scales were a lighter shade of red, and it was much shorter, too.

Plus, now that he listened closely, the Charmeleon's sobbing… it sounded almost… feminine.

"It's… not him," Yvaine muttered. "Virgo, this isn't Flame!"

Virgo just stood there for a moment, staring into the terrified Charmeleon's eyes. We came out here… for nothing?

Dread churned at his stomach. Frustration at watching his comrades die for nothing. At all these pokémon dying for nothing. Yet there was also a part of him that felt… relieved? Was it because Flamey was o—

A set of heavy, metallic footsteps thundered behind them. They drew ever nearer; Virgo didn't have to consult Yvaine's pale face to know who it was.

When he turned, however, even the foreknowledge didn't help him from swallowing at those eyes boring into his soul. Those glowing red eyes—not metaphorically, but literally glowing from behind those glass casings.

"S-Sycorax, sir!" Virgo promptly saluted.

Standing beside the Genesect was also their legion's newest Tribune—a slim Gardevoir with big piercing eyes and a hateful face.

"General, sir." Yvaine bowed her head. "It appears that this Charmeleon is not Icarus. The Scum have tricked us."

Sycorax's glass eyes flashed red. Slowly, it stepped closer and leaned down towards the trembling Charmeleon in fetal position.

"That sly bastard." The Gardevoir hissed next to Sycorax, her digits awkwardly rolled into fists. "He must have filled the entire province with Charmeleon decoys. By the time we find Icarus… He's played us!"

"Oh, hardly."

Hearing the Genesect's voice so close, the trembling, caped Charmeleon let out a high-pitched whine. "Mein Kaiser!" She sobbed, arms covering her face. "B-Bist du stolz auf mich? Alles für Sie… Alles für—"

With a flash of Sycorax's eyes, the barbarian stopped speaking. She lay there with her maw half-open, her eyes glazing over—until suddenly, she crumpled back onto the grass, unconscious. A chill ran down Virgo's spine at the sight.

"We have to lift the Veil," the Gardevoir whispered through gritted teeth, eyes cast downward. "There's no other way. Lift the Veil and… launch a full invasion of the Scum territories."

"That won't prove necessary."

Virgo scrunched his face. Oh, gods. They're doing weird Benefactor talk again.

"That traitor may have protected Icarus' whereabouts," Sycorax stood back up, and glanced back at the Tribune. "But in doing so, he has betrayed his desperation."

The Gardevoir huffed angrily. Her eyes flashed pink, and she began to lift a bloodied Yanmega carcass behind her—only to drop it suddenly and clutch her head in pain.

Virgo found that odd. Yanmega barely weighed anything, didn't they?

"So what?" the Tribune grunted. "It's not like we're in that different of a situation. Bastard holds the only card at play."

"Ah, but I now know where Icarus is." Sycorax said with a twinge of static. "Or rather… where he will soon be."

Eh?

Both he, Yvaine, and the Tribune glanced at the Genesect simultaneously. Yet its artificial eyes were cast towards the cloudy sky, towards the mountainous, smoke-filled horizon.

"Yes… let us take his bait, for now." Sycorax said with a twinge of static. "Let us respond to more 'Icarus' sightings. That traitor will do all the hard work for us."

Virgo frowned, and tilted his head. How would taking the bait help in any way? He glanced at Yvaine, but she seemed to have realised something he didn't.

Finally, though, Sycorax turned to regard them. "At ease, soldiers." The Genesect's eyes gleamed. "You have fought well today. My congratulations."

Virgo stood to attention, but inside, he was holding back a shiver. At ease? How could he stay at ease when his voice sounded like it was being transmitted over a badge? The Tribune's look of disdain towards them wasn't exactly helping things, either!

The Genesect's gleaming red eyes wandered down to the unconscious Scum Charmeleon still crumpled on the grass. "If you would be so kind, bring our guest over to my assistant. She'll know what to do."

"Understood," replied Yvaine in his place.

All too happy to tear his gaze away from the General's, Virgo hoisted the Scum Charmeleon up in his arms and promptly marched away by Yvaine's side.

As he jogged away with the extra weight, Virgo couldn't feel much other than his beating heart. What the hell were those two saying? That whole conversation had thoroughly creeped him out. In fact…

When they reached one of the overturned wagons, Virgo hid behind one and peeked back.

"Virgo, what's gotten into you?" Yvaine whispered at him. "We have orders! If the General sees you…"

"Just a sec. The Tribune—something in the way she speaks…" he muttered back.

Leaning around the side of the wagon, he could see the Genesect and Gardevoir standing against the smoky landscape, against the grey skies far above.

From this distance, he struggled to make out any of their conversation. Except…

"To think that bastard left us for this life." The Tribune sneered, gazing at the mix of Teutonii and Praetorian corpses littering the hillside. "His own kind forsaken. All for a chance to role-play as king with these… things."

---

End of Chapter XXXI​

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Heya, took a bit longer than I'd like, but Reading Rookidee was as good an occasion as any to knock out another review for my second pass of Rebirth. Especially since this chapter was definitely quite the watershed when I got to it the first time.

Chapter XXVIII

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Flame had lost track of how many times he had lifted his eyes towards that two-toned sky.

Dark clouds suffocated what little bright grey had started to seep in behind, shifting to barely-visible hues of pink as his gaze approached the horizon.

Standing firm atop that rocky ledge, Flame swept his eyes across the pine forest extending below them, from the barren fields that marked its end to the distant shape of Thermae Himerae's plateau towering among the mountain chain. The sun itself was nowhere to be seen, yet he could clearly see gleams of orange mar the side of some clouds—surely that meant it was rising? Yes… it had to be.

A tiny smile grazed his maw. That meant the time was almost upon them.

Flame: "(Oh thank gods, for a second I thought Daedalus was going to sack the town to get us out of here.)" o_o;

"Um, Flame?" spoke Alice from behind him.

Flame did not react. He knew they were sitting idly behind him, waiting, perhaps imagining glimpses of their upcoming journey. A journey that would never be.

"Not to be a bother, but… when is this refugee smuggler supposed to meet us?"

Flame lifted his gaze to the horizon. "He said at sunrise." He tightly squeezed the badge in his claws. "Any minute, now."

Gaius: "... Flame, what are you holding there?" >:|
Flame: "N-Nothing! Just a little tense with anticipation! That's all!" O_O;
Alice: "... Not that I'm complaining, but how do we know that we can trust this smuggler you told us about again? Didn't you literally just meet him last night? How do we know we're not being set up to be robbed or worse?"
Flame: "I... Uh... H-He had a track record? And it sounded impressive. And hey look, the alternative was being stuck in these mountains in 2 weeks worth of snowy hell."

Also, just saying, but I'm pretty sure stuff like this is how people get sucked into human trafficking IRL. ^^;

He didn't quite know what to feel. His heart was throbbing in his chest, he had barely gotten any sleep, yet he simply couldn't help smiling. Hell, he could feel his tail flame crackling!

Actually, how have Alice and Gaius not noticed that? Since if Flame’s tail flame is visibly acting up, one would think that one or the other would notice that he’s visibly excited.

He had contacted Daedalus again while his teammates were buying up supplies at the city market. He rehearsed the conversation again in his head: the sun—or what little sliver the clouds showed—was directly in front of them, meaning to their east. They were standing on the tallest point in kilometres, perfectly visible from the air.

It was all as he had agreed with Daedalus. He mouthed the exact instructions to himself, and with each time, he grew more and more sure that everything was in place.

They were going to be free. They were going to be free! He remembered the measly half loaf of stale bread they'd had this morning, right out of the market square. Soon, it would all be over. He could eat! And he'd get to hug Daedalus again, and even Brynn, and, and… Flame almost felt like crying.

- Flame's stomach growls -
Flame: "(You know if it weren't for the past 20 years of well... everything, I kinda wonder how effective the Teutonii would've been at finding allies just by bribing them with food and drink. We can't possibly be the only 'mons out there this short on food, can we?)"

And yet, all was not right.

Amid the internal trepidation, there was yet one problem. One problem he had not yet gathered the courage to face.

"Hey!" Gaius' voice snapped him out of his trance. "Are you sleeping, or what?"

Flame: “(... Right, that’d be a pretty big problem there that could… uh… potentially wind up becoming existential.)” .-.

Flame blinked rapidly, instinctively hiding the badge in his claws. "Huh? What?"

Flame: “(Wait, why do I even have that out right now?!)”

Gaius huffed. "I said, I didn't think you had it in you. Getting in touch with your criminal side and all." A pause. Flame could have sworn that was a smile on his face. "First the bridge, now this… You keep surprising me these days. Thank you."

Flame: "Heh, y-you don’t know the first of it really… (Also considering how Gaius was still wishing the Teutonii would hurry up and die two chapters ago, why didn't I try to ease him into the idea that maybe we'd meet pretend Teutonii or something so that he doesn't reflexively cut up someone from the welcoming party?)"

Gaius: "Flame, are you still balling up your claws right now? Just how nervous are you?"
Flame: "(... Right, he'd probably have seen through it and killed me over it.) More than you could ever know, Gaius." ._.;

Flame felt something twist in his stomach. After a moment of guilt, he stymied the coming tide and steeled his face instead, eyes narrowed at the pine forest below. "Whatever it takes."

"True that." Gaius chuckled bitterly. "And here I was, gettin' ready to walk the whole damn Empire. Guess it's better this way."

Flame: “(Well, he’s not wrong at least?)” ^^;

"Is it truly?" piped up Alice, her voice coming from somewhere opposite Gaius. "I'm not quite enthused at the prospect of endebting myself with smugglers. Didn't Flame meet them at night? In a dark alley?"

"It's a smuggler, dumbass," Gaius shot back. "What do you expect? They ain't gonna have their own stand at the market square."

Alice: "Gaius, just saying, I'm pretty sure that Pokémon get tricked into being sold into slavery this way."
Gaius: "... Yeah, I should probably be a lot more skeptical about this. That said, I really don't want to have to deal with those snows next week considering what happened to me last time."
Alice: "I... guess that's understandable, just stay on your guard, alright? Flame is a bit credulous and I'm not sure if we can trust this smuggler."
Flame: "(Oh yeah, this plan's going swimmingly already. Now they're going to be tense and jumpy even before Daedalus shows his face!)” >.<
- Flame pauses and gulps -
Flame: “... (I sure hope Daedalus and the others use a Sleep Orb off the bat or something, otherwise this is going to turn into a giant mess.)" ._.;

Flame merely stood there on the edge and listened, but at no point dared to turn around. He wasn't even truly checking the horizon anymore—rather, his eyes were focused at some unspecified point in the distance.

What, exactly, was the point of keeping up this lie? He clenched his claws around the badge reflexively, gazing down as if it would give him strength.

But he was strong. He had proven it to himself, mere hours ago, back in that alley.

Flame: "(... Didn't I literally fail at my goal at the outset of calling Daedalus once and then leaving things there? How are these not some serious mental gymnastics right now?)"

- Flame looks over at Gaius and Alice -
Flame: "(Whatever, we're not getting stuck in the Tartarus Mountains in winter because of this. That's what matters here.)" >_>;

Besides, whether he told them or not, soon the Teutonii would be upon them—and then what? It would be little different from a kidnapping, in their eyes. A betrayal. He had to tell—

Flame squeezed his eyes and sucked in a tiny breath. No. He couldn't tell them—not while he still couldn't see Daedalus on the horizon. Not yet.

Flame: "(... Aren't they already going to see this as a betrayal for going behind their backs and shacking them up with Pokémon that they think will probably subject them to some sort of unspeakable torture? Shouldn't I just rip the bandage off now?)"
- Beat moment -
Flame: "(Right. That'd probably just make them run off into the woods. And keel over in a week once the snows come down.)" ._.;

"Look," Alice's voice cut off his train of thought. "I'm not certain how comfortable I feel with this deal. Perhaps we should just go."

"No," Flame replied sternly, still looking forward. "Not when we're so close."

Alice: “... Flame, I thought you said that the smuggler said he’d take payment after we met him. What’d be the harm of ghosting him?”
Gaius: “Alice, are you listening to yourself right now?” >_>;

"Come on, Alice," protested Gaius. "What's with you now?"

"I simply cannot see the logic behind meeting like this," Alice mused aloud behind him. "If they were trying to smuggle us as refugees—say, hide us in a wagon shipment, or on flyer couriers—why ask us to meet so far from the city? Far from the wagons, and the flyers?"

Flame: “It’s… uh… less risky for the smuggler since they don’t have to deal with the possibility of getting raided by local guards?” ^^;
Alice: “You do realize that that also means that if anything goes south, we’re alone here in these woods, right?” ._.

Flame stood there and witnessed the discomfort growing in his chest. "... So long as we live, it doesn't matter."

Alice: “... Flame, now I’m really starting to get worried about this smuggler. You do realize that it’s not that hard to think of existences that are arguably worse than death in this world, right?”

"Come oooon, Alice," Gaius groaned behind him. "Now you're soundin' like some paranoid nut."

No, no, considering the sorts of stuff that went down in late-stage Rome, Alice’s paranoia is pretty damn justified since for all they know, a merry band of bagaudae is going to stroll over the horizon and sell them off as slaves.

"No, I can't be imagining it." Alice shot back. "You saw how difficult this clifftop is to access—and to get down from, if we needed to run. Don't you notice the pattern? The only conclusion I can think of is, dare I say, that these 'smugglers' are coming to rob us. Or worse! Unless…"

Flame: “... (Oh goddammit, I knew I should’ve pressed Daedalus for more details about where we were going to meet.)” >.<

Silence. For a precious few instants, there was only the light breeze on his scales, the faint crackling of his tail fire.

"Flame?" asked Alice, her voice quiet—meek, almost.

"Yes?"

"... There is no refugee smuggler, is there?"

Flame: “U-Uhm… w-well…” o_o;

Contrary to Flame's own expectations, his heart did not spasm at that. He did not cry, or grimace in fear, or anything of the sort. Instead, he smiled. It was a somber, painful smile, but a smile nevertheless.

It has to be now, then.

Flame: “(... At least the terrain is such that they can’t instantly bolt into the woods?) Here goes nothing…”

For the first time that morning, as he took one final, shaky breath, Flame tore his gaze from that dreary horizon. He turned right around and met his teammates right in the eye.

As he gazed straight into their eyes, and they straight into his, both Alice and Gaius grew visibly uneasy. Flame couldn't help but smile.

"Alice," he half-whispered. "Gaius…"

Standing firm, he took a moment to study them both, as if immortalising the two's likeness in his mind's eye for the last time.

"There's… something you deserve to know." He shut his eyes. "We're not going to the desert."

Gaius: “S-So your smuggler’s taking us to Capri? Th-That’s what this all is, a surprise that you actually lined up that tropical runaway and we can finally get away from the plot?”

Flame: “(... Dammit, now I’m starting to wish I really had found a smuggler since this was the perfect opportunity for that.)”
Gaius: “F-Flame? This isn’t funny! Seriously, answer me here!”

Flame:

It took a few heartbeats for Alice's pupils to widen. Gaius gave him a weirded perplexed face, but even he could not hide a hint of angst.

"I b-beg your pardon?" Alice folded her ear wings back, barely breathing.

"There was never a refugee trafficker," Flame started, softly and sweetly. He breathed in again, ignoring his hammering heartbeat. "I brought you up here because… b-because I contacted Daedalus last night." He paused to give that time to sink in. "We're going with him. He'll take us to our new home."

Alice + Gaius: "..."

Flame: “U-Um… surprise? I-It’s better than it sounds, I swear!”

A sudden tremor overtook Gaius. Eyes narrowed, he slowly curled his good hand into a fist. "You…"

Gaius:

"S-so," the colour drained from Alice's face, "the one we're waiting for right this very moment, is…"

Flame shut his eyes. "Yes."

"You set us up," hissed Gaius.

Flame: "W-Well at least Gaius isn't trying to disembowel me right about now, so it's a start?"

- Gaius' leaves visibly start to arrange into blades -
Gaius: "You- You bastard! Give me one reason why I shouldn't run you through right now!" >:(
Flame: "On second thought, I might have spoken a little soon there." ._.;

Seeing their reaction, Flame dropped all pretense of smiling. He tried his best to steel his expression. "The Teutonii have thousands of villages that could take us in. They have more food than we could ever dream of." He paused, the frigid breeze licking at his scales. "I know it's not exactly how you wanted it, but… it's better this way."

Alice:

Gaius:

Flame: “L-Look, it really is, okay?!” O_O;
Alice: “No, it’s really not! Flame, being tricked into being sold into slavery would literally be a better fate for us than this!”

Alice's pupils dilated gradually as the gravity of his words sank in. "No…" She looked up, frantically scanning the skies above them. "This cannot be. You would never—Flame, h-how could you DO such a thing?!"

Flame: “I-I mean, I kinda had a badge all this time that I’ve been using to talk to Daedalus with, so…” ^^;
Alice: “Seriously, what else have you been hiding from us?!”

Flame: “I’m sorry, are you of all ‘mons seriously going to play that card right now?!”

Flame took a shaky breath, and expelled it. He'd expected this. He had to stay strong. "Do what—give us a chance?" He glared down at his open palm, and slowly rolled his claws into a fist. "We can't run away forever. I'm done running."

"A chance? You—you've ruined everything!" Alice slithered back, staring at him horrified. "We are Team Phalanx! We're supposed to decide together!"

Flame: “I mean… yes, but your and Gaius’ decision basically amounted to committing slow-motion suicide in the mountains, so… (Also, how has Gaius not stepped in to try and murder me yet?)” ^^;

Shaking uncontrollably and with laboured breath, Gaius sent him a glare of pure venom, and raised both of his wrist leaf blades. "... I trusted you."

Flame: “... Oh there’s the attempted murder from Gaius there. That’s just… lovely.” O_O;

Flame's eyes widened. He instinctively stepped back at the sight, breathing in shaky gasps, yet had to remind himself of the cliff's edge centimetres behind him. He could feel his tail tip swishing over empty air.

"W-woah," Flame breathed, and shivered at the Grovyle's glare. "Gaius—think for a second…"

Flame: "T-To answer your earlier question, I-I'm one of the protagonists here! And the plot as defined literally can't go on without me, Gaius!" O.O
- Gaius tenses blades with murder in his eyes -
Gaius: "Oh yeah? Well right now, I’m feeling about ready to take that gamble!"

"I thought," Gaius stepped forward, leaf blades held close to his chest, "that we were in this fight together. That you were different from them! And you go and sell us out to the barbarian Scum?!"

Flame: “Gaius. We. Were. Going. To. Freeze. To. Death!” >.<
Gaius: “We could’ve worked something out! You didn’t even try!”

Rather than swallow nervously, Flame found himself with a strange determination despite the emptiness behind him. "I'm on your side, idiot. If you just put those away and used your brain—"

"How long?" Gaius snarled. "How long have you been planning this, huh?"

"I never planned for this!"

Flame: “... For more than about 8 hours anyways, so same difference.” ^^;

"L-like hell you didn't!" continued Gaius, his voice shaking a little. "Fuck me, I thought you were family. That you were—"

"Gaius, just listen for once in your miserable LIFE!"

Just as that last word of his echoed in the valley behind him, Alice seemed to rein in her panic and breathe. Even Gaius, still glaring as he was, lowered his lead blades—though only slightly.

Flame: "Wait, that actually got him to back off? Guess he really is used to seeing me as a bit of a doormat." ._.;
Gaius: "You'd better pull a damn convincing argument out of your butt, Flame!" >:|
Flame: "How about we start with 'if you kill me, the story abruptly ends and your messed-up hand never has a chance at getting better'?"
- Gaius blinks a moment -
Gaius: "Okay, so you have one argument. How about one that isn't as meta?"

Ignoring the long drop behind him, Flame squinted and met their glares with a determination he didn't know he had.

"I'm tired of living like this." Flame spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm tired of running away from our problems. Hoping that somewhere, somehow, they'll go away—only to find the exact same thing wherever we go!"

Gaius: “If we’d run away to Capri, we could’ve been sipping a mohitus on sunbeds with Bellossom dancing by them and watching Krabby blow bubbles at sunset!” >.<
Flame: “(... Wait, really? Knowing our luck, we’d probably get stuck as servants there. Also, we have a 'mohitus' in this setting?) L-Look, that’s literally a non-canon gag and it’s not happening now since the Teutonii are literally on their way over to pick us up at the moment!” o_o;

"So what?" Gaius scoffed. "We fail once, so you're running back to your mudhut fan-club?"

"It's not just that." Flame looked down and curled his claws into fists. "It's digging for rotten food in the garbage. Watching you two suffer in the cold. It's the hunger, the fatigue, the smell—everything!" He stepped forward, mere centimetres from Gaius' leaf blades, showing a tentative smile. "Can't you see? We don't have to risk our lives anymore. We don't have to run away!"

Gaius: "And when Our Benefactors finally decide to get off their asses and rain fire from the sky on your fandom like they did with every rebellion against Urbe in the past?" >:|
Flame: "I mean, at least we'd die happy and well fed in that case? Minus the kinda sucky last few minutes anyways."

- Flame shakes his head -
Flame: "But that's irrelevant since I'm pretty sure the story's not letting us get off without fighting them at some point given that I'm apparently that 'Icarus' they need for their Ascension Programme." ^^;
Alice: “W-We could try our luck with finding a way to get to Capri-?”

Flame: “Alice, seriously. Stop.” >_>;

Alice slowly shook her head, by now close to hyperventilating. "You can't simply decide for us, Flame. N-not a choice of this magnitude!"

"Why shouldn't I?" Flame swiftly retorted. "The Teutonii will help us. We'll have a house, food, a job. A new start." For a moment he lost his composure. "I-isn't that what we want?"

Gaius: "Well let's see here, we're a team and two of us who happen to be the senior members think this is an absolutely horrible idea that won’t end well for at least two-thirds of it?" >:|
Flame: "Yeah, well you two thought slogging through the mountains through 2 weeks of snows and ferals was a passable idea, so excuse me if I'm questioning your judgement a bit here." >_>;

He stared at them and caught his breath, trying to catch some change in their expression—any change.

"Not like this," Alice said in a trembling whisper. "Not with them…"

Gaius, on the other hand, merely sneered. "I'd rather choke on a blizzard than live with those savages."

Flame was speechless. His lip quivered; it was becoming harder to keep a steeled expression. You idiots… you complete idiots!

Just saying, Flame. Alice and Gaius have literally seen nothing of the Teutonii to align with your own experiences thus far, and at this point in the story you don't know how far their generosity extends past [Our -------] into his friendzone aside from the fact that Daedalus committed to tolerating their existences for the sake of getting you back in his fold.

Gaius: "Flame, we've been over this. We're not Scum like you. You remember all those horror stories you heard before you went off and got drunk in the mountains for a week? What we saw together at Nova Sperantia and Camp Horizon? That's what Alice and I have to look forward to once your damn friends show up!"
Flame: "But that's not- It isn't-"
Gaius: "Flame, Alice is the daughter of the leader of their hated enemy! Do you think they're not going to parade her around like a trophy or do gods-know-what to her?!"
- Flame genuinely wavers for a moment before shaking his head -
Flame: "Th-That won't happen! Daedalus won't allow it! I won't allow it!"

He was losing them. He had no idea how far away Daedalus was, and he was already losing them. All that talk of accepting him regardless of his past, of who he was—gone in a fiery rage.

I mean, you’re only forcing one of your teammates to relive a deep childhood trauma of his, and the other thinks that getting stuffed in a Wicker ‘Mon is probably one of the better fates awaiting her. So… yeah, no kidding all that talk is evaporating in live-time.

Breathing through gritted teeth, Flame steeled his face again—glaring, almost, right back at both of them. "Y-you keep saying all these things, when you haven't even talked to one before!" he said. "You're both falling for the Empire's propaganda!"

Gaius snarled, crossing his leaf blades in front of him. "Oh, am I?"

Boy does that line read differently in light of what comes out about Gaius’ backstory later on. .-.

Alice, on her part, simply lowered her head wings with that same glazed, disbelieving stare. "You saw what the Scum did to Sperantia Nova, Flame; we were there. You know what they're accused of. The mass killings, the rapes, the sheer destruction…" She lifted her disbelieving stare to him. "How could they possibly all be fabrications?"

Flame: “(I… walked right into that one, huh?) Uh… th-they’re different when they’re behind their own lines and on their own territory?” ^^;
Gaius: “Oh sweet Mother of Mew, they really did brainwash you out there!”

Flame quickly tore his eyes away, biting his lip. He didn't know how to respond to that. The tiniest part of him had to concede that point; but if he showed any doubt…

Flame quickly put on a stern face. "Think about it." He stepped closer. "The Empire's spent decades demonising the Teutonii. They arrest anyone who speaks out against the war. An entire generation's been raised hearing stories about how horrible they are. Can't you see? It's the trap you're falling into right now!"

Alice: "A generation's been raised hearing stories about how horrible they are? Flame, those 'mons were bad news in the time of Honorius! (And that's being generous and assuming that there wasn't a [Brennus] in this setting, in that case, it's probably been that way for much, much longer than that and for damn good reason!)" O_O;
Flame: "... (Guess I really shouldn't have skipped reading that copy of The Kingdom, the Republic, and the Empire, since I'd have more of a leg to stand on for my arguments.) Look, I know what I saw out there, okay? Maybe they've got a language barrier, but they can be reasoned with like any other Pokémon!"
- Beat moment -
Flame: "That isn't a feral. But you get my point!"

Gaius growled at that; the fiery hatred in his eyes only burnt brighter. "Says who? You? After you go behind our backs?"

"I did it to save you two! To give us all a chance!"

I mean, it was done in a way that basically ensured these two would have trust issues with you for some time after this, but you can’t say Flame’s wrong there.

"E-even if your intentions are pure," Alice stammered, "you can't decide for us! You have no right!"

Flame felt the urge to scream. The one time he lied to them—to save them, no less—and they regarded him as some traitor? He wanted to say that to their face. To lay bare all the times they had lied to him. How Alice had lied to him about her past.

Oh, so you did work in a proper acknowledgement in the text of “'Alice, are you serious right now?' Since… yeah, Alice is kinda short a leg to stand on here with this line of argument.

Instead, he squeezed his eyes together, clenched his fists tight. He was doing this to save them, he reminded himself. All that could come later.

Flame: “... Assuming they don’t just flatly refuse to talk to me after we reach whatever village Daedalus shacks us up with. But let's think positive!” ^^;

"If you leave," he said, his voice quiet, "you will die. Both of you. Don't you get that?!" He gasped ragged, laboured breaths. "Th-this far north, in the winter, in the coldest part of the Empire, with the snow, and, and ferals… you'll never survive the crossing."

Gaius' lip twitched. Then his whole face followed, too, until it twisted into the largest, most exasperated smile. "That's why you sold us out?" He let out a laugh. "You just care so much?"

Flame:

Gaius: “You sure have a funny way of showing it given that you sold us out to savages that are probably just chuck us off this cliff the moment they show up and get you again!” >_>;

"We had a plan," Alice mumbled, halfway between an accusation and a whine. "Why couldn't you just trust us?"

Flame: "Alice, you literally lied to me a day before this about major details of your background! It got us thrown out of Thermae Himerae! Come off of it with this 'why couldn't you just trust us' argument!"

- Alice recoils and looks genuinely gutted -
Alice: "Fl-Flame- I... I..."
Flame: "(Erk... I think I can see my friendships going up in smoke in real-time. I guess I really should have insisted Daedalus provide some sort of proof he wouldn't have harmed them that I could show ‘em.)"

"Trust you?!" Flame blurted out angrily. "Seriously, Alice?!" At that he saw Alice recoil; the anger left her face for a moment and shame flooded in, her eyes drifting downwards. "You literally lied to—!"

Ah yes, “are you serious, Alice?!” is now canonically spoken as well. Though I’d throw in a few exclamation points to make Flame read more ‘agitated’.

He squeezed his eyes for a moment and breathed in. Not now. He needed to get them on his side, as hypocritical as their arguments may have been.

"Look," he sighed, "I tried to accept your plan. I really did. Do you… know what I saw, thinking about our future? I saw you two. Buried in a metre of snow, with… Sneasel, or whatever lives up there, chewing on your frozen carcasses." He paused. Were those tears in his eyes? "It already almost happened once. Please."

Flame: “A-Anything’s better than that, r-right?” ._.;

Yet even then, Gaius' gaze did not change, nor did his leaf blades. "Better ferals than the Scum."

Flame: “... Oh my god, Gaius are you kidding me?!” >.<
Gaius: “Does this look like the face of someone who’s kidding you?”

No. Flame resisted the weakness in his knees. No no no no no no no, no… I can't let this happen. Not like this. Not when Daedalus is so close…

He glanced at Alice for support, but she was still in that strange state between hurt and rage, between crying and lashing out at him.

"I… I don't know," she whispered. "I just don't know."

Flame: “A-Alice, come on! Daedalus literally promised me you two you’d be safe!”

Gaius: “Yeah, and we just saw how he lied to your face about Aesernia getting besieged by his buddies like two reviews ago. So why are we supposed to believe anything he has to say again?” >_>;
Flame: “W-We don’t know that, okay?! A-And that wasn’t even canon!” O_O;

"Why not?" Flame threw his arms wide in near-exasperation. "Why throw this option away if it gives us everything we want?"

Then, Alice's troubled expression hardened. She looked him in the eye. "Have you considered it might not be what we want?"

Flame: “You’d seriously pick freezing to death in the mountains over-?!”

Gaius: “Flame. We have been over this. We’re not Scum like you!” >.<

Flame did a double-take at that. He hadn't expected them to drop the scaremongering part so quickly, and pinned by Alice's sudden glare, he had no idea what to answer with.

"Gods, Flame," Alice began, "we were supposed to get away from it all. Far away from the Empire, from the Scum, from everything related to the war—not just turn over to the other side!"

I mean, Alice kinda has a point, Flame. Even great ideas get rejected when you drag people kicking and screaming into them.

"No. Daedalus will keep us safe from the war." Flame gritted his teeth. "Hell, he can keep us safe from the Praetorian Guard—remember them? They're still out there, looking for us!"

Yeah, I am not convinced he can pull that off long-term at all.

"We can avoid them," Gaius insisted.

Flame held back a frustrated sigh. Breathe. He had to breathe. "Isn't it safer with the Teutonii around to protect us, rather than alone?"

Gaius: “Flame. They’re. Not. Going. To. Protect. Us!” >.<
Flame: “Yes they will! Look, do you believe that they at least care about me enough not to blatantly upset me by knowingly harming you while I’m around?!” >_>;

Seconds stretched past them in long silence. As Flame waited for an answer, he whirled around with wide eyes, but between the storm clouds, the flat-topped plateau where Thermae Himerae rose and the dreary mountaintops far away, nothing on the horizon had changed.

Flame: “A-Alice? Y-You understand, right?” o_o;

"I trust you, Flame," Alice uttered softly, "but I can't—"

"You trust him already?" Gaius hissed. "After he tricked us into a life with the Scum?"

"I know he did, but that doesn't take away what he's done for us!" Alice shot back. "He's—he's still our friend. Been with us every step of the way. He's just lied to us, but he also saved our lives. Twice." She glanced down at her scarf, breathing heavily. "That's not something you forget."

Gaius: “... Oh my gods this really is all because of that stupid crush of yours, isn’t it?!”

Alice: “I-It’s a platonic relationship! I genuinely do trust Flame on this, alright? That’s all!” >///<

For the first time since they'd stepped onto this bluff, Flame had something to latch onto. She still trusted him. She trusted him! It was something, right? It was more than he had anticipated, for sure!

"I did it for all of us." Flame smiled softly. "To save us."

Flame: "Wait, but if you trust me, Alice... why don't you trust my plan here?"
Alice: "Flame, have you ever heard of 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions'? I trust your intentions, Flame... but..."
- Flame grimaces -
Flame: "(Has my judgment really been that bad in this story?)"

Gaius' fists shook. His eyes spoke of many shades of anger, yet verbally, he said nothing.

Gaius:

"A-anyway: I trust you, but I do not trust this 'Daedalus'." Alice continued. "If… if he learns of who I am, I don't even want to think of the ways he could use me for his own political gains. He might use me as a bargaining chip—a hostage—or, or force me into some political marriage to get to Urbe's throne!"

"He would never do that!" Flame blurted out, then breathed in sharply to calm himself. "He-he's not that kind of 'mon. I know he'll try to get us the best life possible."

Oh if only Flame knew what [Our -------] meant in-story. He'd have such a field day with that fear Alice aired.

Flame: "Also, if Daedalus did try to pull something like that, I'm pretty sure he'd try to make that political marriage between us since I'm apparently some sort of god-king to the Teutonii."
Alice: "Wait. He'd do what now-?" O///O
- Alice and Flame get flustered for a moment before Gaius shakes his head -
Gaius: "Just saying, the prospect of the Scum putting their claws on the scale to push you two to lovebird it up even more is making a pretty solid case for going off to freeze in the mountains right now." >_>;

"Are you sure you know 'im so well?" Gaius sneered. "Cause I remember him telling you that you came from another world. Not exactly scoring high on the trustworthy scale."

Gaius: “For gods’ sake, Flame. He lied to you about Aesernia!” >.<
Flame: “We. Don’t. Know. That. Here. Or. In. Canon.”

Flame looked down for a moment. "He cares about me. That's all I need to know."

I mean, yeah. Daedalus cares about you, but boy is this thought-process ill-advised right now.

"I… I know you trust him," Alice said, looking… frightened? "B-but you have to understand, this is a colossal risk for me. How can I possibly be sure that he won't just use me for my title? How?"

Flame: “... He values me like a son and wouldn’t hurt a friend of mine like that? (I hope.)” ^^;
Gaius: “Oh yeah, sure means a lot from the guy whose goons almost killed us multiple times back at Portus.” >.<

Flame tried to come up with an answer but failed. In fact, his entire mind felt blank, erased by the tension pressing from within his head.

"If he tries," Flame said in the end, "I'll stop him."

I get the feeling that Flame’s going to have to own up to those words at some point, and potentially fairly soon into the story.

It was the best he come up with under pressure; and for her part, Alice simply hung her head and retreated in deep thought.

Flame: "Uh... at least she didn't reject my argument out of hand? So it's progress?"

"And how do I know they won't just roast us over an open fire?" Gaius growled, raising his leaf blades once again.

Flame had far too much adrenaline in his system to feel threatened. "For the fifth time, Gaius, they're not fairy-tale villains!"

This is pretty

on a second readthrough since Gaius has multiple major advantages at knowing about how the Teutonii would work. So I'm not convinced this is all Imperial propaganda speaking.

Also human sacrifice among Ancient Germanics was a thing back in the day, and considering how to the hilt the Imperials take after their historical counterparts...

"How the hell would you know?" Gaius shot back. "You're their hero! You haven't seen what they do to everyone else. Alice, back me up on this!"

Just saying, but the bitter drunk gecko is making a very rational argument given the information he has to work with. And considering IRL Rome's track record with Germanic auxillaries... Yeah...

Yet Alice was too conflicted, drowning under too many thoughts. "I don't know," she whimpered. "Th-this isn't what I wanted…"

Gaius: “Yeah, no crap it’s not what you wanted. That’s why you shoot Flame down here!” >.<

Breathing deep breaths, Flame glanced at his teammates again. Alice was still staring with that mixture of tempered fury and confusion, as Gaius stared him down with eyes full of pure hatred. His heart began pummelling pounding as he realised, finally, that he was losing them.

He had nothing else to convince them with. They couldn't be convinced. He had tried everything to keep them close, but perhaps it was about time to… let go…

I mean, I’m pretty sure the story won’t let it happen, but boy is it something to see the gears in Flame’s head turn to the point where he’s seriously thinking of just cutting the closest thing he has to friends loose. :<

"Guys…" His chest tightened. He shut his eyes, trying to muster the courage for what he was about to say. "All I'm asking is that you try. If you don't like it, we can fly you safely to the desert. Just—please, don't throw your lives away…"

Gaius: “And what do you call just rolling over and letting the Scum carry us off?” >_>;
Flame: “Not that since I’ve repeatedly emphasized that they won’t harm you as long as I’m around.”

"Like hell we're going with those savages!" Gaius shot back promptly, sinking Flame's heart. "If you're so fixated on living with them, have at it."

"But I just said you don't have to! We'll just spare you the march through the mountain passes, for fuck's sake!"

"The two of us will be goi—"

"Okay."

Flame:

Gaius: “I-I’m sorry, A-Alice, what the actual-?!” O_O;

Flame felt his heart jump. He turned his eyes to Alice and found her grasping at her crimson scarf, looking down at it with tears in her eyes, as well as a certain fondness.

Grasping her scarf tighter, Alice shook a little as her teary smile widened. "Okay. I… I'll follow you, Flame."

I mean, Alice was obviously the easier nut of the two to crack, but was genuinely surprising to see her go along of her own will back in the day.

Gaius: “... Gods, I knew that crush of hers would come back to bite me in the ass. I just didn’t think it’d be like this.”

A smile overpowered him; all at once hope refilled his veins. "Alice…!"

"What?" Gaius looked in equal measures hurt and confused. "Seriously? He—he lied to us, Alice! Sold us out to the Scum! How can you just join them like this?!"

Alice: “Gaius, you realize that you’re asking this after you’ve stolen money from me to go drinking and openly dumped on my heritage for two years...” >_>;
Gaius: “Y-Yeah, but I didn’t sell you out to the Scum! That’s gotta count for something, r-right?!” O_O;

"He did," Alice conceded. "And I don't know if I can forgive that."

Flame felt like scoffing. His smile shrunk. As if I'm the only liar on this team.

I mean, we’re a confirmed 3/3 considering how Gaius canonically has been stealing money from Alice under the table to get drunk, so…

But not right now; not when they still had to save Gaius from his own stupidity. He'd speak his mind to her later.

And boy does he ever.

Alice hung her head in thought. "What he did was dishonest. Coercive, even. But… they truly will let us choose, right? Why not spare ourselves the journey, and the cold?"

Gaius: “Alice, are you listening to yourself speak right now?!” >.<

"And what," spat Gaius, "you trust the Scum to actually give us a choice?"

"No." Alice was quiet for a little while. "But I do trust Flame."

"Thank you," Flame whispered, shaking a little. "Thank you…"

Flame: “I’m… honestly a little surprised that you’re not holding things more against me about the whole deception thing-” ^^;
Alice: “Oh no, I’m still holding that against you. I just believe that the Scum care enough about keeping you happy that they won’t harm us.” >:|

Alice smiled back, but it was a reserved smile. "Living with the Scum… it's utter madness. This is nothing like what I envisioned for my future. But… I will try. It's all I can promise."

Gaius:

Flame: “(Didn’t we already use that gif before?) Look, Gaius, for your own self-preservation, you should come along with us, okay?” >_>;

A half-furious, half-half horrified Gaius could do nothing but frantically bounce his gaze between them both. "No." Gaius took a step back. "No, no, no. You're mad. You're both fucking mad! Th-those savages took everything from me. They're the reason I was ever in that… shithole of a city, slaving away for Ariel." He curled a trembling fist with his good hand as he brandished a toothy snarl at them both. Briefly Flame wondered if a cornered feral would snarl the same way. "I'm not going back, you hear me?! Y-you can't make me go ba—"

Considering what has since come out about Gaius and his backstory… I’m morbidly curious as to what on earth the underlined looked like for him. Since… it’s, uh, quite something from that reaction. .-.

Then Gaius seemed to lose a shade of green as his eyes found some point in the horizon behind Flame.

Realising what was happening, Flame whirled around immediately with a stupid grin on his face. The clouds choking the sky had begun to part. A swarm of black dots was on the horizon, growing ever so slightly larger, their large wings growing ever so slightly more defined.

"Daedalus!" Flame whispered as his heart fluttered in his chest.

- Gaius stares at the approaching Pokémon and has his jaw drop out of fright -
Gaius: “Nope nope nope. I’m going and getting the hell out of here-”

- Gaius turns and starts to bolt, as Flame grabs onto Gaius’ good arm -
Flame: “Gaius, get ahold of yourself and just listen to me!” >:|

He was here! They could start living again! Flame felt the impulse to fall to his knees, but not yet. There was still one loose end.

With a renewed impetus, Flame whirled around and faced the most terrified look he'd ever seen on Gaius. The Grovyle's whole body was tense, his knees bent slightly, as though primed to run away.

Oh right, Gaius really was ready to cut and run off into the woods in the face of the approaching Teutonii. Not that it’d really be hard to blame him considering certain childhood traumas.

"Gaius," Flame spoke sternly and clearly. "Just one week. That's all I'm asking. I… I don't know what the Teutonii did to you, but dying cold and alone won't fix it."

Yet the Grovyle only seemed to have half-heard him, his breathing still ragged, his wide eyes still fluttering between the approaching Teutonii flyers and the forest behind him.

"I c-can't," Gaius's voice choked. "I promised…"

Still wondering what the story behind that one is, since we know from future chapters that Gaius and his sister bolted after their village was torched, though this and that one line about ‘going back’ seem to imply that he had a time spent flatly living in captivity.

Flame: "... We're not going to make it through the full week like this, are we?" .-.

Alice watched apprehensively between them but ultimately remained silent.

Alice: “Um… I don’t mean to add any stress, but I kinda need some finality as to whether or not we’re going to stick with going with the Scum since I’d really rather not die getting caught in the crossfire between Gaius deciding to make a last stand against them.” ^^;

"Winter snows are so close." Flame continued. "Please. They'll take you wherever you ask them to…"

A gust of freezing air buffeted Flame just then, and though it did not bother him so much, he could see both of his teammates stopping to shiver for a handful of seconds.

"Fine." Gaius squeezed his eyes shut, shaking. "Fucking— fine. One. Week."

And thus Gaius finally relents too instead of needing to be drug along kicking and screaming. Though from what I remember about chatter about this chapter prior to it going through a multi-month overhaul before initial release, I kinda wonder if once upon a time, that was planned as a sequence of events.

Flame: "Whelp, I'd have hoped I would've been able to use more than just base self-preservation to make my argument. But hey, whatever works."

A massive weight fell from Flame's chest. The tension gripping his chest until now vanished, melted, and all that remained was a smile. "I promise."

Flame: “(Which, knowing this story, will probably go wrong in some way at around Day 3, but let’s not think about that right now…” ^^;

It was not long before the sound of powerful wingbeats began lashing the air, followed closely by wonderful cries of "[Our -------!]"

Before Flame's endorphin-filled brain could process it, the airspace above the rocky bluff they stood on was swarming with huge, winged pokémon. One after the other they beat their wings to slow down and land all around them: Hydreigon, Salamence, Talonflame, Altaria, Honchkrow, all carrying smaller, wingless Teutonii on their back who eagerly disembarked and cheered before quickly stumbling into a bow.

Flame: "Wow. Talk about knowing how to make an entrance. Pretty cool, right guys?" ^^;
- Flame looks back at Alice who's gone stiff as a board -
Alice: "... You're sure they won’t harm us, right Flame?" o_o;
- And Gaius, who is currently looking white as a sheet and visibly faint -
Gaius: "It's just a week, it's just a week, it's just a week-"

Flame: "... (In retrospect, I suppose I should’ve told Daedalus to start us off by meeting some less imposing scouts first or something.)" .-.

Flame's breath left him. Within seconds, the entire force of Teutonii that had just landed on that bluff—he estimated twenty but couldn't be certain—dropped into a bow, all aimed straight at him!

It was almost too much for Flame to process. Blinking repeatedly, he slowly turned in place to process that indeed, all the Teutonii were bowing to him. Bipeds kept a hand crossed over their hearts; quadrupeds and those with wings merely bowed their heads as far as they could go.

Part of me suspects that this is going to read really harsh in hindsight at some point in the future, since it’s basically all but confirmed that Daedalus is self-fulfilling prophecy for the Teutonii in ways that they would probably take really, really poorly if they ever got wise to it.

A confused current of warmth and confusion hit him like a falling boulder; when Alice and Gaius both gawked at him, he was unable to meet their gaze.

"Th-th-thank you," he whispered. "You really don't have to! Please!"

I can already see Gaius’ “nope nope, don’t say anything, don’t say anything” expression during all of this. Since he’d know exactly what’s going on during this entire sequence.

Yet they didn't seem to listen. Then, as he looked around, something clicked. He frowned. "Hang on. Where is—?"

His budding question was answered by the puddle of grey goo that had appeared on the grass just in front of him.

In a motion that lifted away any remaining tension in Flame's body, Daedalus rose up from the sludge within moments.

"Flame!"

Team Phalanx:

- Daedalus materializes and pulls Flame into a hug -
Daedalus: “My child, you had us so worried!” O;
Flame: “Yeah. Yeah. Just… can you not do that freaky puddle thing for a while?”

Before he had a chance to react, Flame found himself swept up into Daedalus' large arms and lifted high into the air. Seconds later, he was gazing up into Daedalus' single, bright red, loving eye, studying his bruises and cuts with such worry as to make Flame's chest tingle.

"Have you any idea how worried I was?" Daedalus asked, his voice dripping with a mixture of worry and sheer joy. "How scared we all were when you jumped? God, I thought you were dead! Please, child, tell me: are you hurt?"

Flame: “I mean, I’d be more fine if you appeared before us normally, but-”
Daedalus: “Okay, yeah, you’re fine. Though we’ll need to have a talk about some of your recent decision-making later.” >;

Flame's smile somehow grew wider. "No, no, I'm not—"

"Have you eaten anything at all?"

"W-well, I didn't really have time to—"

"You must have been so scared," Daedalus continued regardless. "Don't worry, my child. You're safe now. I promise."

That’s… not how stories like these work, Flame. Even if I can buy that he’d succeed for a time.

The sheer warmth in his voice was too much for Flame; Daedalus' body was far too wide for his arms to reach around the sides, but he tried his best in a sloppy hug, which Daedalus returned much more effectively.

"His ch-child?" meeped Alice, head wings folded back. "You?"

Flame: “U-Uh, it’s a long story b-but apparently it’s not unprecedented in this world? Something about ‘adoption’ and all that?”
- Alice blinks -
Alice: “(Wow, maybe the Scum did take some things from us before Honorius drove them past the mountains.)” .-.

"So you're their leader's son," Gaius remarked with guarded curiosity.

I honestly can’t tell whether or not Gaius is saying this genuinely or putting up an act. Since we find out that his background is such that he’d have really, really good odds of knowing exactly who’s who in this lineup and how things work given a little bit of time.

Flame quickly disengaged from his hug and looked back down at them with a sheepish smile. "H-he's not my dad dad, but… almost. It's complicated. We go back a long way."

Even though I don't remember most of it.

I’m not convinced your bond will be as strong with Daedalus after you get a fuller memory of what happened, Flame.

It took a few seconds. Then, all at once, looking down at them both from Daedalus' arms, he realised how childish of a position he was in—his cheeks lit on fire.

"Daedalus!" he hushed, shrinking. "N-not in front of my friends!"

Flame: “S-Seriously, I’m a midevo! I’m pretty sure that I’m supposed to be the equivalent of a young adult!” >///<

He could almost hear the Dusknoir's amused smirk. "But of course."

Finally, just as Flame thought he might disintegrate under Alice's playful grin, Daedalus set him down on the ground. He swished his tail and refused to acknowledge her giggling.

Flame: “I’m… never going to hear the end of this, are I?” >///<
Alice: “No. No, you are not.”

"Greetings," Daedalus said. "I am Daedalus. I see you are the companions Flame cares so much abou—Grovyle, are you feeling well?"

Flame quirked his brow and looked; indeed, Gaius was pale in the face, staring forward as though he'd seen a ghostly apparition. When Flame, perplexed, tried to pinpoint what had Gaius so spooked, he finally settled on an imposing Hydreigon of the group, one with a very noticeable scar running across one of its arm-heads. Squirming under the attention, the dragon-type began glancing left and right and up separately with its different heads to look elsewhere.

"That—" Gaius' voice choked. "That's the bastard who murdered my parents…"

... I just realized in light of Chapter XXXI that if someone among the Teutonii mentioned Kamerad Trikephalo’s name and/or rank/title, that Gaius would’ve instantly been able to notice him and put two and two together with that one scar. Something to consider if you decide to retcon in stronger hints as to Gaius’ backstory at some point down the the pipe.

I can already tell that this is going to be a fun week together. And it’s TBD by the rest of the story as to whether or not the gang will make it through the whole week

And time to glimpse into the shape of things to come, since that turned out about as well as anyone could’ve hoped for…

Gaius: Excuse me?! How in the hell did this turn out well for me?!" >.<

Well aside from that, but onto the next teaser!

Our people are accustomed to pain. We lost our homes, our land, our future. Legions of our dead cry out for vengeance against the dark Presence that looms over this world.

But even as their steel ravens torched our cradle, we did not lose hope: for we knew by divine prophecy that one day, Vengeance would arrive to lead His people.

He is here, now.

Behind Him, we will march to Urbe's gate.

— Official communiqué sent to every domain of the Tribes of Daedalus.

Hey, not gonna lie, 'Unsere Vergeltung' has a ring to it.

And it’s the sort of name that you'd probably want to run away from really, really fast if Flame weren't a not-totally savvy midevo. A bit partial to 'Onze Wraaknemer' myself, but we're not exactly dealing with Batavi here, so I won’t question it to hard. :V

Alice: "'Vengeance'? Wait a minute. Flame, is that message talking about you?" ._.;
Flame: "Uh... maybe? Though what on earth did Daedalus tell these guys about me if that's the case?" .-.
Gaius: "If we weren't actively surrounded by murderous barbarians, I'd break out in laughter right now. You? Leading anyone to the gates of Urbe? I'm sorry, but can we back out now and go back to freezing in the mountains before they figure out that you're not all that and we get barbecued over a spit or something?"

Flame: "I am so glad these guys couldn't understand any of tha-" >_>;
Daedalus: "Ahem. I'd strongly encourage you to not get too used to that, my child." >;
Brynn: "Er... yeah, I could also understand all of Herr Reptain’s blatant blasphemy there, Herr Flame." ^^;
- Beat moment -
Flame: "U-Uh... m-maybe it's just for the best if we just pretend that none of that happened and wrap up this review until next time."

And onto the summary:

It’s not quite as flashy as some of the prior watersheds in this story, but Chapter XXVIII definitely lives up to its title, since… yeah. A lot changes for the party and in this story after this chapter, to the point where the dust is still settling as of the most recent ones. This marks the point where Flame finally puts his foot down and starts to stand up more for himself as a character who’s increasingly becoming the leader of Team Phalanx, much to Gaius’ protestations. It’s also the part where we get the extent of Flame’s budding affinity with the Teutonii and the first real solid glimpse at what lies in the past for Gaius (minus anything that gets patched into earlier chapters at some later point), which puts up some major red flags that things with the Teutonii aren’t as black and white as Flame assumes right now. Still waiting for that shoe to drop, since I can already tell that the fallout from it will be quite something.

As for things that I didn’t quite like… there’s a few things that might merit tightening up in light of later revelations in this story, but that’s hardly the fault of this chapter in and of itself. And honestly, beyond that and a couple wording nitpicks, it’s hard to think of things to criticize. Maybe showing off more of the team’s exit from Thermae Himerae in a leading scene would’ve allowed for this present one being a bit less exposition-y at the beginning, but honestly that’s a bit of a reach.

It was a pleasure revisiting this chapter, @Shadow of Antioch , and I’m deeply looking forward to that new chapter of yours dropping here in the not-too-distant future.

… Just need to catch up with a few more chapters along the way in the interim. ^^;

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

After ten thousand years a longer-than-expected interval, I’ve finally got my thoughts for the next chapter of this story together. Time to make the most of it with a new review of The Alcoholic, the Bookwyrm, and the Charmeleon with Paws: The Twilight Age of Urbe

Chapter XXIX

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Those screams wouldn't get out of his head.

"You demons! YOU'RE ALL BLOODY DEMONS—let go of me!"

And then that look Gaius had sent his way as he thrashed in his and Alice's hold. Those bloodshot, crazed, damp eyes…

"He killed them! He killed them, and you're with him, you fucking traitor!"

"My child?"

Flame: "Uh... yeah, probably a good thing we fast-forwarded through the initial meet and greet if that's what happened right after the last chapter ended."

Flame stirred back to attention after hearing the clang of his spoon drop back into the nearly-finished bowl. "Huh?"

"You spaced out for a time. Are you not hungry?"

"No—er, yes, I am."

Gulping down the last of the stew, Flame set down his bowl on the table with a hearty sigh. His body was tingling all over; his tail flame crackling louder and brighter than it perhaps ever had before.

Food! Warm, meaty, actual food!

Flame: “Dammit, Gaius. I should be having the time of my life right now just pigging out after being starved for the better part of a month, but nooooo. You just had to have the world’s worst-timed backstory drama rear its head.” >_>;

When he looked up to Daedalus, who was sitting across from him, he saw the flames reflected even amidst his single eye's deep red glow.

"Thank you, Daedalus," Flame whispered simply.

"What for?"

"For the food. F-for the house, for… for caring." A warm, fuzzy smile grazed his cheeks. "No one's ever cared this much about me."

Well, that’s not entirely true, even if I’d much rather be cared for by Daedalus even if some of the things he does from that care wrap right back around to become creepy versus being under the care of the other guys who care a lot about you.

He supposed there was Alice, but it was different with her; she cared as a friend, whereas Daedalus…

In return, Daedalus gave him a somewhat amused look. "Believe me, this is the least I can do for you."

Not least of all because I’m pretty sure it’s all but confirmed offsite at this point that if Flame croaks, at least two worlds will go with him.

"But—but I…" Flame blurted out, but once again didn't know what to say.

Feeling the heat rising in his cheeks, and shifting uncomfortably in his chair, Flame decided to study the room he was in to distract himself.

Even though he'd barely seen inside Aesernia's houses—only once, if he recalled correctly, during the insula raid—this house nevertheless struck him as exotic.

Just as on the outside, the walls consisted of large, roughly-interlocked hunks of stone stacked atop one another. No one stone seemed the exact same shape, size or shade of grey as another, and there were few windows. Many of the floor planks looked uneven and worn, and even the wooden beams and pillars supporting the roof weren't entirely straight.

I'm… sure it's stable enough! Flame laughed breathlessly.

Lyle: “... Remind me to never spend a night here.”

Irune: “Lyle, we literally just slept in a burnt-out house that was less structurally stable than this like a night ago! How’s a place like this not a flat upgrade?"

Besides, it had just occurred to him—he was living in a house. A house! An actual house, with solid walls and a comfortable bed!

So great was the excitement in his body, Flame almost felt like crying. Feeling his hands shake, he raised one to his chest, clutched.

I stayed up so many nights, wondering what it was like to sleep in a real bed… It wasn't long ago he was still sleeping in their old team tent, on damp hay, or on cold, hard ground in some mountain burrow. So much of their fantasising about a new life had been dedicated to having an actual house. And now, here they were.

Well, it's no domus, but that's definitely an upgrade over that tatty, waterlogged tent the gang started out the story in.

Flame: “Seriously, eat your heart out, Thermae Himerae.” :V
Daedalus: "You seem to be taking well to this place, my child. So why the unease?"
Flame: "The way things started just... kinda put a sour note over everything."
- Beat moment -
Flame: "Er... also, what exactly happened with Gaius? You all didn't have to keep him constantly sedated on the way out here, did you?" ._.;

All three of them.

Flame's smile shrivelled up as quickly as it had come.

I take it that first night or however many it’s been at this point were quite animated between the various members of Team Phalanx, since I’m pretty sure that it’s canonical that Alice got a dash of buyer’s remorse after seeing Gaius explode from running into Kamerad Trikephalo again.

With a sigh, he looked down to the table he was sitting at, at the last tiny drops of stew resting at the bottom of his bowl. Twiddling his claws under the table, he glanced up at Daedalus: he was now standing—or floating, he supposed—just beside his chair, staring out of the window.

Flame bit his lip. "Have, uh, Gaius and Alice gotten a portion as well?"

Daedalus turned his head to him. "Hm? But of course. You saw me bring it to their room, did you not?"

Flame looked down. "O-oh. Right. Good."

Flame: “... Did they actually eat it?” ^^;
Daedalus: “Oi, I just brought it to them, my child. I can’t control if they decide to just go ahead and throw out perfectly good food.” >;

"… You are concerned about them."

"How could I not be?" Flame set his elbows on the table, holding his head with a sigh. "You saw what kind of state Gaius was in. His outburst, then during the flight here…"

Daedalus: “With all due respect, my child, but have you considered getting better friends? Especially ones that don’t reflexively see the rest of your people as bloodthirsty savages?” >;

His face etched into a grimace. The warm fuzziness, the excitement he had been feeling—gone completely. The memory of those pained screams came back to him, and he shivered.

"Gods," Flame muttered, "no wonder he despised the Teutonii so much. They—we ruined his life."

Daedalus:

Flame: “Daedalus, he literally saw his parents’ killer!” >.<
Daedalus: “One, we don’t know that. Two, if it didn’t happen within the last two years, it’s flatly impossible for us to have ruined his life. (Not that he hasn’t doing a fantastic job of helping that along with the way he’s been going through alcohol.)” >;
Flame: “Look, you know what I meant, okay?” >_>;

Daedalus hung his head. "I have asked Comrade Hydreigon to keep away from this house, for the time being. I figured it would… ease your friend's distress."

Flame nodded absentmindedly. "Will that Hydreigon be punished?"

"Perhaps. I… cannot promise, my child."

Translation:

Flame: "That... sounds like a 'no', just saying." >_>;
Daedalus: "My child, I understand that your gecko friend got a raw deal in life, but get real. I'm not about to axe one of my best fighters over one 'mon's recollection of events from years ago!" >;

"What?! How could you not? He murdered them!"

Daedalus:

Flame: “Daedalus, come on!” >.<
Daedalus: “No, I’m completely serious, my child. We literally have one Pokémon’s testimony of recalled events, with no idea what the full context of what happened whenever your friend’s parents bit it.”

Slowly, Daedalus floated towards the window and gazed out of it. "We cannot be sure of that. That is why you must first talk to your friend."

Flame felt something tighten in his chest. He sat back into his chair and raised his head to Daedalus. "What do you mean?"

"Comrade Hydreigon is among our longest-serving warriors and officers; he has fought in dozens of campaigns and hundreds of battles over the years. If he did kill your friend's parents, it is nearly impossible for him to remember." Daedalus floated there, hands clasped behind its back, looking solemn as always. "Your friend… Gaius, is the only one who can tell us what happened. Were his parents civilians? Or were they in the Imperial Army, fighting our warriors? How many years ago did the killings happen? Were they an accident?"

Since:

A: The Empire maintains a conscription regime, so any peasant can become a foot soldier in the Army in short order depending on how desperate things are.
B: The default term we’ve seen the Teutonii use for Imperials through Brynn was ‘Collaborators’, implying that they’re seen as complicit in the suffering the Presence caused their ranks. Just the language employed is terminology that can rapidly get dehumanizing (depokémonizing(?)), since in almost any society, a collaborator with an enemy force is seen as rightfully deserving harsh, if not mortal punishment.

So, yeah. I’d suspect that the present Teutonii definition of ‘civilian’ is pretty limited compared to a modern definition.

Beyond that, even if Daedalus genuinely wanted to (and in light of what he told Flame about Aesernia a few chapters ago, this definitely reads like him blowing smoke up Flame’s ass in a second go-around) I strongly suspect that he'd have some... political difficulties enforcing anything much stiffer than a reassignment off the front lines considering the tone expressed in the chapter teaser.

Flame could tell there were other considerations on the Dusknoir's mind—ones that superseded any answers to those questions.

However, he could also tell by his tone that Daedalus did not intend to discuss that topic any further.

Yeah, this wasn’t exactly surprising back in the day. Since just from a realpolitik angle, Daedalus has a lot of reasons to not demoralize his fighters by making an example out of one of their more accomplished members for something which from their perspective is likely not seen as a crime and more “screw those Collaborator scum, they got what they deserved”.

"I'll… I'll think of how to approach him." Flame swallowed.

Daedalus glanced his way. "You sound unsure. Even in this state, is he not your friend?"

Flame bit his lip, turning away from the Dusknoir. "My friends… they didn't exactly agree to coming here." He shut his eyes. "I tricked them into it. And with how Gaius reacted to Hydreigon, he—he hates me now. He has to."

Flame: “... Daedalus, you did make a point of not leaving beer lying around the house, right?” ^^;
Daedalus: “... Was I supposed to? It is a bit of a popular drink among the locals, after all.” ^;
Flame: “It… really would’ve been nice, since at least that way I could take it for granted that Gaius wouldn’t drink himself to death overnight.”

"I see. So that is why they asked for separate rooms." Daedalus said. "If nothing else, believe me when I say you did the right thing. I shudder to think what they, a dragon and a grass-type, could have done in the Tartarus winter storms. Whether or not they appreciate it, you saved their lives."

Daedalus: "Really, just open the conversation by reminding your friend that he quite literally owes you his life right now. That ought to sober him up quick."
Flame: "That sounds more like a fast way to get him to yell that he'd rather have died back at me. And then get disemboweled by him."

"I know I did the right thing." Flame steeled his expression. "I just… I wish circumstances were different."

Cold yet comforting hands enveloped both his shoulders; Flame looked up with wide eyes to find Daedalus towering over him, his lower body phasing through the table as he stared down lovingly with his glowing red eye.

"At ease. Even if your friend does hate you," Daedalus whispered, "it is worth trying. Talking to you is the only way he will ever achieve justice—help him understand that."

I’d honestly have more respect for Daedalus right about now if he just came out and openly said that he’s not axing Kamerad Trikephalo without hard evidence that there is no way in hell Gaius realistically has instead of putting Flame up on this song-and-dance routine.

Though still uneasy, Flame smiled up at Daedalus. The contact drained a little bit of his tension.

"I'll try," he finally said.

Daedalus nodded in approval. "I expect no less from you. With time, I am certain that your friends will see reason."

"Hopefully…"

Flame: “I… uh… just hope that ‘with time’ isn’t going to be multiple years. Since they were pretty damn mad at me when we got here.” ._.;

"And if they do not," Daedalus pulled back, "know that I still care about you. Our people care about you."

"What?!" Flame meeped. "But—but they don't even know me!"

Daedalus merely smiled back. "You would be surprised by how much they know."

"Apparently more than I do," Flame muttered.

Since, uh… yeah. The average Teutonii really, really doesn’t have an accurate read as to what Flame is, even if it’s closer to the mark than what Flame’s own read is.

Flame: "That... doesn't really feel like a consolation, Daedalus."
Daedalus: "Give it time. I'm sure you'll come to see things my way, my child. Even if your current friends might not."
Flame: "('C-Current'?)" ._.;

Images of the Teutonii bowing to him flashed through his head. Flame still wasn't sure how to feel about that. Flattered, for sure—embarrassed, even. But…

Why? Why treat me like this when I've done nothing for them? Blinking, he snuck a look up towards Daedalus, who was busy stacking together the various empty bowls and spoons on the table. Is it just because they think I'm his son?

- Flame peeks back up at the teaser -
Flame: "(Er... yeah, this is going to get awkward as hell at some point when they realize I'm just a normal Charmeleon.)"

- Flame pauses, and thinks back to all the inexplicable events involving passed-out teleportation in Mystery Dungeons and Portal Storms seemingly reacting to him -
Flame: "(Uh... actually, how sure am I about that anyways? Since a normal Charmeleon in my position ought to have died at multiple times earlier on in this story.)" ._.;

Again, no answer came. Somewhat frustrated, Flame stood up from his chair.

He was about to walk through the wooden door before he noticed a most curious item hanging from the stone wall: a tattered Imperial banner, bright red in colour with its golden eagle in full view.

Ah yes, a vexillum. Though I see that whoever collected these war trophies didn’t have enough of a death wish to hold onto a proper aquila, since… yeah, that would kinda be a subtle tipoff that Tromvik would be pretty screwed in the longer term.

Huh?

He looked below it. There, on a set of shelves and darkwood cabinets, laid more items which gave Flame déjà-vu: the fragment of an engraved marble plaque; a purple silken cloth, its edges laden in gems; even a vaguely draconic-looking skull, much to his queasiness.

At the centre of the cabinet-top, elevated on a slab, sat the large marble head of a Dragonite statue—a statue Flame recognised as Emperor Adrian's.

Ah yes, it's this part again. :V

Flame: "Daedalus, why is there just a piece of a dead 'mon just lying around here?"

Daedalus: "... Right, we didn't get a chance to redecorate yet since you all kinda just arrived." ^;

It didn't make any sense. Daedalus didn't strike him as the type to collect war trophies from his enemies, much less think he would somehow find them homely. Which could only mean…

"Who lived here?" Flame turned to Daedalus, concerned.

Flame: “And seriously, why did they just leave their… stuff lying around?”

Daedalus: “... They thought you’d find it impressive?” ^;

Daedalus took a moment to reply. "A half dozen of our comrades." He said, eyeing him for a reaction. "Most of them officers. Once they heard you were coming, this being the largest house in the village, they volunteered to vacate it for you."

That actually makes me wonder if we’re ever going to get a good view of Teutonii rank structure at some point, since if their side has a concept of military ‘officers’ themselves…

"They what?!" Flame paled. He took a step back, shaking his head. "No. I can't use so many pokémon's home—it's not right. Tell them I can share!"

Flame: “I mean, I could do without the body parts lying around, but still.”

"Flame."

His blood ran cold. He suddenly felt himself shrink under his glare.

"You and your friends," Daedalus crossed his arms, "have just marched hundreds of kilometres in those cold valleys. What's more, you all nearly drowned back at the ambush. And that's on top of the previous malnutrition you all were facing!" Daedalus continued, audibly holding back anger. "What you need, above all, is an appropriate place to rest."

Daedalus: "Also, we don't particularly feel like breaking up Leaf Blade fights at 3 in the morning. Wait until we can take it as a given that your friends won't do anything rash before getting any ideas of taking in more roommates." >;
Flame: "... Right, didn't think of that one." ^^;

"I-I'm used to tight spaces," insisted Flame, quieter this time. "I'll be okay."

"And you believe your friends would agree? Would they appreciate having 'savages' milling in their house?"

"Oh. R-right. Didn't think about that part…" Flame's shoulders deflated. "Still, maybe we could, um—"

I still get a giggle from thinking about how that cutaway gag actually played out in the story text in the very next line.

"I worry for you, my child." Daedalus said. "I am seeing a worrying trend: it is as though you believe your needs, if not your life to be worth less than other people's."

Flame: "What?! I do not-!"
- Flame thinks back to how all the way back in Aesernia how he was afraid to let down the rest of Team Phalanx even though he had reason to have strong grievances against them -
Flame: "Uh... maybe continue on with that thought for a moment?" ._.;

Flame scowled, his eyes wandering downwards. He was about ready to fight back, and yet… Why did it hit so hard when coming from him? "I just don't want to boot these pokémon out of their home…"

Residual memories of being attached to Daedalus and intimately close to him?

I mean, alternatively, you could just be credulous, but let’s be nice here. :V

"Not just this occasion. You said something similar in Neuhoffnung. I could hear it in your voice when we spoke over the radio. Why, we need to have a talk about what you did back at the ambush!"

Flame braced himself with a grimace. He barely had the strength to keep eye contact with a glaring Daedalus. Oooh, here we go…

Wait, badges are straight-up radios in this setting? Or is that a reflexive thing by Daedalus?
Flame: “Okay, Daedalus, seriously? What was I supposed to do when we were ringed by Praetorians from three directions who were ready to blow the entire convoy to Kingdom Come?” >.<
Daedalus: “Not threaten to blow yourself up with a Blast Seed, for starters!” >;

"Are you utterly mad? How could you possibly think of something as suicidal as jumping off that bridge?"

Flame: “... At least he didn’t bring up the Blast Seed part beforehand-?” ^^;
Daedalus: “My child, I literally just did!”
Flame: “Yeah, but that wasn’t canon, so…”

"As opposed to what?" Flame balled his fists. "Rush their lines and hope they'll let me past? That was your plan, if you remember."

"It had better chances than your reckless decision!" Daedalus floated closer, to which Flame instinctively shrunk. "Tell me, did you understand what you were doing? What could have happened if you'd hit a shallow spot in the water? What if you'd lost consciousness?"

Or simply misjudged the height of the water, since if it was legitimately hundreds of meters down considering the lack of durability Pokémon have in this setting… yeah, Flame pulled some voodoo off there, since that rightfully ought to have killed him. ^^;

Flame bit his lip. He didn't have the heart to tell him that last one thing he mentioned had actually happened. He still shuddered at the memory of the cold. If it weren't for Alice grabbing him…

Flame: “... (Maybe my decision-making has been a bit questionable in this story now that I think about it.)” .-.

But even those memories weren't enough to douse his inner flame. While Daedalus was undeniably right, he regretted nothing.

You see, that makes me suspect that this is going to lead up to a moment where you are going to regret a decision you make in the future from it not working out in spectacular fashion, Flame. .-.

Sucking in a breath, Flame squinted up at him. "I didn't want you all to die."

"They were ready to die for you!" Daedalus floated closer, squinting. "Can't you see? You're important to our people, Flame. You're important to me." He said that last part with a whisper that made Flame's heart pang. "How do you think I felt, watching you plummet from so high? And our comrades, too! "

Boy does that read differently in light of Chapter XXXI. Since, uh… yeah, I’m not sure if I accept his statement at face value there in light of what went down in its final scene.

Daedalus: “Seriously, do you have any idea how much on-the-spot counseling I had to provide for all those days when everyone thought you’d died?” >;
Flame: “... No, no I do not. And I’m not sure I want to know. (Good god, Daedalus, what did you tell them about us?)” ._.;

There he went again, Flame thought, making him feel guilty just when he was trying to stay strong.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, eyes down to the ground. "I never wanted to hurt you."

Flame: “(How does he do that to me anyways? Just how close were we before I lost my memories?)” .-.

"I don't seek your apology, child. I only want you to understand. If you keep sacrificing yourself for others, at some point…"

Also another part that definitely reads differently in light of more recent chapters. Since Daedalus sure doesn’t bat an eye when it comes to demanding sacrifices from others for Flame.

Flame stood there, square in the middle of the room, mulling those words over. He wasn't selfish. At least, he liked to think that he wasn't: life in Civil Protection first and as an outlaw later didn't allow for much selfishness.

Daedalus: "Flame, you're doing it again." -;
Flame: "Oh come on, I'm trying here!" >_>;

Never would he dream of drinking his team's money away as Gaius once had. Or eating more than the other two had. And as for the bridge—Daedalus himself had been about to die back there! Daedalus, Brynn, two dozen of their comrades... he had saved them all. His chest swelled with warm, rejuvenating pride, and he knew then that he still regretted nothing.

I’m pretty sure that the number of comrades was closer to two dozen since I thought the setup was supposed to be “thirteen mounts with riders” as of those chapters where they were sneaking through Basileia.

So why, then, did Daedalus' words sting so much?

Flame clutched his chest as it grew tighter. Later—he would think about it later. Tonight.

Flame: “I… don’t suppose that we used to keep a journal together or something like that? Since I get the feeling that we used to be really close together.”
Daedalus: “Uh… unfortunately, I don’t believe that either of us did, my child. Being on the run and having to fit into a society that uses proto-writing kinda got in the way of that.” ^;

"Look," he started, looking up and forcing himself to smile. "I can try to be more assertive going forward. To think about my own happiness. But if you want me to put my life above everyone else's… th-that's too far. You're going too far."

Too late, Flame.

Daedalus produced something close to a sigh, yet the look in his eye… was that pride? "Very well. All I ask is that you show more regard for your own happiness."

Flame flushed. "I will."

I still say that that would explain a lot about how Daedalus just latched onto his adoptive role as a Teutonii prophet, and it still really, really isn't a good omen for the future.

Then, before he could dwell on all the questions he wanted to ask Daedalus, Flame heard soft, hurried footsteps and creaking wood echoing up the building's stairwell behind him.

He smiled a little. Could it be?

Brynn's ear tuft peeked from the doorway before her face did. The Braixen squealed upon realising that he was staring back; then, before he could react, she broke into a full-fledged dash.

"Herr Flame!"

Flame: “A-Alice didn’t hear that from her room, right?”

Flame's eyes widened. He tried to brace but nevertheless wheezed as Brynn's entire weight crashed into his body, hugging him and sending him against the wall first and down on the floor after. That knocked all the breath out of him.

"Oh, Herr Flame!" Brynn hugged him tight, tears running down her cheeks and onto his neck. "You're alive! How can you still be alive?! When you jumped from that bridge I thought for sure that you'd… you'd…"

If Brynn’s assumption was the default among the convoy’s members, I can already tell that Daedalus had to talk a few of them down from a ledge afterwards after thinking all was lost. Assuming he wasn’t lying through his teeth about their fates, anyways.

Her thin arms barely reached around to his back, yet she was squeezing tight enough to make him wheeze. The heat rising in his face, Flame decided not to resist it, and returned both the hug and the nuzzling. "H-hey, Brynn. I'm happy to see you too!"

I can hear Alice seething from her spot moping by the sea already. :V

The Braixen pulled back, grinning sheepishly at that. "Y-you are? Oh, I, I meant—I am too!" Her face tensed briefly. "Ancestors, I thought I'd never see you again. I cried so much, but, but I should have known you'd be okay!"

Nice little touch that ties into differences with the Teutonii’s internal mythology there. Though I’m wondering if/when we’ll ever get that delved into in more depth. Especially since this is a fic called ‘Rebirth’, and rebirth and reincarnation were fairly widespread concepts among Ancient Germanics, so…

"I figured you would appreciate a familiar face," remarked a pleased-sounding Daedalus.

Pressed against the wall, Flame slowly recovered his breath. He gently pushed Brynn off his lap and sat straighter, still breathing as he gazed into Brynn's sparkling eyes.

- Meanwhile off in the distance -
Alice: “Flame, are you kidding me?!”
- Flame stiffens up and freezes back in his new digs -
Flame: “... What was that?” .-.
Brynn: “Probably just the wind, Herr Flame, pay it no mind.” ^^

"Thank you—both of you," Flame said softly. "But, Brynn, don't your parents live in… uh…"

"Neuhoffnung?"

"Yeah—that."

Flame: “Wait, but you mentioned having ‘girlfriends’ in [Derinkuyu]. Wasn’t that your home?” .-.
Brynn: “We’ve… kinda gotten around a bit in life. So they live in Neuhoffnung now...” ^^;

"They do. What about them?"

"Is this… what you want? I don't want you to leave your family behind for my sake."

Somehow the excitement in her eyes seemed constant. "Nonsense! You and Lord Daedalus have done so much for our people. Being able to repay that somehow… it's the greatest honour I can think of."

Somehow, I’m not convinced that statement is going to age well within like 10 chapters.

Flame: "(Okay, I get what Daedalus did for them, but what exactly did I do other than stroll in, suck up food and bed space, and apparently give everyone a heart attack when I jumped from that bridge?)" >_>;
Brynn: "You gave us hope!" ^_^
- Beat moment -
Flame: "Er... okay, I guess I did do that. (Even if I'm not sure how-)" .-.
Brynn: "Remember I can still understand you when you mumble to yourself. Don't beat yourself up so much, Herr Flame." ^^;

Flame didn't know what to say to that. He merely sat there against the cold stone, twiddling his claws, and wondering just what he had done to deserve all this affection.

As awkward as her admiration for him felt, he could also feel she was a good pokémon at heart—and with his only two friends likely hating him, he didn't exactly mind the company.

Maybe, with time, he'd consider her a friend too.

Flame: “... (Probably a good thing that Brynn didn’t pick up on that?)”
Brynn: “Pick up on what now?”
Flame: “Nothing! Nothing! Uh… what were we talking about again?” o_o;

"Thank you," he whispered, tail flame in hand. "Again. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Nonsense, we still have much to do. Like—" She gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh, we have to resume your memory therapy right away! Would you like that, Herr Flame?"

Faced with a massive grin—and a wagging tail—Flame couldn't help but return it. "Very much so."

Flame: “Y-You never did answer me last time about whether or not that was also seen as a sign of matehood among our people.” ^^;
Brynn: “Nonsense, Herr Flame. Recovering your memories is of the utmost importance! (And if it is a sign of matehood, so what? I’m not complaining!)” ^///^

The hard stone behind him and his stiff back beckoned him to stand up.

Curious, Flame he clambered over past Daedalus and Brynn to the closest window.

He grabbed the windowsill and leaned forward: the street below was paved with gravel and flanked by closely-packed stone houses with thatched roofs. There were few pokémon outside, trudging that sleepy road. And the sky was such a lovely shade of blue…

"Gods, this is all so… different." He said. "Not having to worry about my next meal. About where to go next…"

I mean, there’s the threat of ‘steel ravens’ abruptly zipping in over the horizon one day and b;owing everything to smithereens, but let’s think positive here. ^^;

"With time, you will get accustomed to a normal life. It's the least you deserve," Daedalus said with a warm tone.

Brynn was practically bouncing on her toes. "Yes, and I'll help you learn our language! I, uh, haven't taught anyone before—but I can try!"

Daedalus: “... Comrade Brynn, you do realize that our people have a dialect continuum, right?” -;
Flame: “A what now?”
Daedalus: “You know, gradient of dialects by geographic region that gets less and less mutually intelligible the further away you are from one location to another? I mean, the whole ‘getting genocided and chased over the Spearhead Mountains’ has kinda messed with traditional geographical arrangements, but still.”
Brynn: “Technically, our writer never confirmed we had that or not. But even if we do, that’d just be a matter of teaching Herr Flame our Hochsprache, the standard variety, no?”

Flame: “... This isn’t going to make me sound like an upper-class twit, is it?” ._.;

That's right. Flame looked out of the window again, at the pokémon below. I can't bring Brynn along as a translator forever. I live here now.

He stopped and warmed at the thought. I live here.

Ah yes, so [Our -------] will finally get to graduate beyond knowing that, 'Herr', and 'Ich bin das Glutexo'

). Still looking forward to seeing how you handle that in the actual text.

Dalton: “I mean, I think I actually know the language she's talking about. If you needed a primer, I guess I could give-”
Brynn: “Verpiss dich, Elezard! You have your own story, this is mine! I’m the one who’s giving Herr Flame his language primer! Got it?!”

Flame: “(Is… he even supposed to be here in this review right now?) And, uh… Brynn? You’re kinda scaring me here.” ._.;

Daedalus glanced at both of them. "Why don't you two explore the town? I'm sure the inhabitants would be delighted to meet you, Flame."

Brynn gasped. "Oh, that's a great idea! Do you want to go, Herr Flame?"

Flame: “I mean, I could go out and go through that creepy hero worship thing all over again…”
- Flame looks off towards bedrooms down the hall -
Flame: “Or I could listen to Alice and Gaius mope in their rooms all day?”
Brynn: “So… easy choice, right?”

Flame snorted, grinning to himself. "I'd like that. So long as they don't start carrying me on some mobile throne."

"Please, be patient with the exiles. They have only heard of you in stories before; it is natural that they will be excited."

"Are… are you not excluding the throne option, or…"

In response, Daedalus merely shrugged. "Perhaps."

Careful, Flame. Keep getting this sort of treatment in later chapters, and I might need to write another beer hall montage for you again at this rate. :V

Flame's eyes widened for a moment. Then Brynn started giggling into her hands, and Daedalus joined in, producing deeper, bellowing laughs in his head.

Flame produced a sigh, but then chuckled himself. It felt good to laugh. How long had it been?

Flame: “... Two chapters if you count a ‘nervous titter’ as a laugh? But yeah, this is a pretty big upgrade over our recent run of luck.” ^^;

Tromvik

Ah yes, taking inspiration from your surroundings. Though hey, if it ain’t broke as a place naming theme, why fix it? :V

Flame concluded that he had to have been exhausted on the flight here, purely because of how many astonishing things he'd missed.

The first was that his house dwarfed all others around it by a long shot. The second, looking around, was that this quaint little street was merely a small clearing surrounded by a massive pine forest! How tired did one have to be to miss those towering behemoths, the overwhelming dark green?

I mean, Daedalus did say that the house used to be lodging for officers, so…

Flame: “Well, that and I probably didn’t get a whole lot of sightseeing in when Gaius was ranting and screaming bloody murder the entire time from Thermae Himerae and Alice was avoiding eye contact, but let’s not think too hard about that!” ^^;

"You've only been in Neuhoffnung before, right?" Brynn continued excitedly as they marched on. "Oooh, you'll love Tromvik! It's, uh, hardly our people's largest settlements—but it's much bigger than Neuhoffnung. And it's on the sea! Do you like the sea, Herr Flame?"

Wait, so what is the Teutonii’s biggest settlement at the moment? Edessa under new management?

"Hold it." Flame blinked. "The sea? We're in the middle of a forest, and you're telling me we're by the sea?"

Her sly smirk was the only reply he got.

I’m assuming all this construction is fairly new historically given that it hasn't been firebombed out of existence in the past.

Flame: "Er... also, I dunno how much I'd like the sea given that my experiences with large bodies of water have primarily been near-death in nature."

Brynn: "Ah... well... there's plenty of town here on land for you to soak in!" ^^;

The gravel path took them deeper into the forest. Even here, surrounded by thin, towering pine trees, he found more houses and huts standing wherever there was space—their stone exterior half-covered in moss.

Flame couldn't help stopping a moment to study them. He frowned. Do none of them have windows?

Brynn: “... Aren’t the holes in the walls by nature windows? They let you see outside, do they not?”
Flame: “I meant glass windows.”

Glancing at successive houses, he verified his suspicion that none were paned; in one house, he could plainly see a Haxorus rocking a small Chikorita in its arms. Not even a piece of cloth to act as a curtain!

Ohai, Not!Mispy and Not!Demetri.

Lyle: “Damn. Shame my glassblowing apprenticeship was cut short, since I could’ve made a killing off these guys!”

Irune: “Lyle, shouldn’t we be worried about problems in our own story right now and not trying to sniff out interdimensional business opportunities? Since you realize that if we can get in here, others can too, right?”

It's so strange. Do they not get much wind here? Flame pondered as he resumed marching, Brynn hurrying to catch up. And what if it rains? I need to ask Daedalus if they've discovered glassmaking…

Flame: "Actually, now that I think about it, do these things have shutters? Since even without windows and curtains, you guys can make those, can't you?" .-.
Brynn: "... We have our ways of managing with the weather. Though come on, I want to show you something."

The houses grew more numerous and closer together the further he walked, as did the pokémon walking about. It wasn't just houses, either! On every little hillside he saw wooden trapdoors that Brynn said led to burrows, even a small cavern with a side trail leading directly to it.

What truly captivated Flame, though, lay in the treetops above: makeshift wooden platforms, hundreds of them, some with small structures built on them! They rose on different levels on nearly every tree, all connected by a multi-layered system of rope bridges and ladders.

He stopped dead in his tracks, as did Brynn.

"Wow," was all he could muster.

I see that Teutonii architecture takes a bit more after canon PMD-spec. And that they're obviously fans of Fortree City. Kinda funny how writers can have convergent evolution on town designs like that. :V

"So?" Brynn clasped her hands together, fidgeting. "Do you like it here, Herr Flame? What do you think?"

He stood there and watched. Above his head he spotted an Altaria flying straight into one of the elevated huts, while two tiny Chimchar chased each other along a pontoon bridge.

Looking back to ground level, there were more familiar-shaped pokémon milling around wide-open doorways, chatting loudly in their rough-sounding tongue.

Brynn: “... ‘Rough tongue’?” :<
Flame: “I mean, it is a bit on the throaty side. I’m not sure I can even make some of those sounds.” .-.
Brynn: “Nonsense! It’s easy enough for kits to pick up! Here, try repeating after me.”
- Brynn clears her throat -
Brynn: “Ich will immer bei dir sein, Frau Brynn.”

Flame: “U-Uh… ‘I-Ishh ville imma bai deere zaine, Frau Brynn.’ L-Like that?” ^^;
Brynn: “(... Vorfahren, dieser Akzent...) Er, well, you got ‘Frau’ down properly, at least?”

"I don't exactly remember much, but…" Flame smiled candidly. "I can tell I've never been in a place like this."

"O-oh. Is that good, or bad?"

"It feels right, somehow." He turned to her with a smirk. "What, are you worried I'll miss the Empire and want to go back?"

Flame: “... Wait a minute, I just said all of that out loud in the middle of a crowded street here, didn’t I?”

The moment he turned towards the street—late, far too late—he realised he'd been speaking out loud in what to the Teutonii was a foreign tongue.

Flame: “... Oh goddammit, this is gonna be awkward to explain.”

Brynn: “Not as much as you’d think, Herr Flame. Just watch what happens.”

By the time his eyes fully widened, an aloof-looking Swellow caught a glimpse of him and his beak gaped; Flame instinctively tensed a little.

"[There!]" the Swellow pointed at him with a wing. "[Our -------!]"

In quick succession, both his Nidoran and Druddigon interlocutors turned with a gasp; then, the shouts gradually spread up the street.

"[Our -------!]"

"[He’s here?!]"

"[Yes! Our -------!]"

Still chuffed to bits that you slipped this little nod in. Though don’t worry, I’ve got an eye on repaying this moment good and hard down the road.

Brynn: “Was that what you were expecting?” ^^
Flame: “Uh… not at all, actually. But I’ll take it!” ^^;

Ooooh, here we go…

Pokémon from further up the street promptly whirled around to see him. Others still rushed to their doorways and windows and burrow hatches to get a good view, while flyers swooped down from their elevated homes to the thatched roofs and tree branches.

I mean, I’ve heard of a ‘German Stare’ before, but this is a whole ‘nother level.

Flame's breath left him. Brynn held tightly onto his arm, frozen. Within seconds, the dozens-strong crowd of Teutonii that had just surrounded him—many, far too many to count—dropped onto their knees, all aimed straight at him!

Flame felt like his heart was about to explode. His claws shook. Blinking repeatedly, he slowly turned in place to process that this was happening again. Bipeds kept a hand crossed over their hearts. Quadrupeds and those with wings merely bowed their heads as far as they could go. Those few children who didn't seem to understand received a forceful push and harsh whispers from their parents.

Flame: “I am never, ever going to get used to this.” ._.
Brynn: “Really? Since I think I could pretty quickly.”

"No!" Flame blurted out suddenly. "No no no, stop! Up! Stand up."

Only then remembering they couldn't understand him, he motioned with his claws to rise.

In the span of a few seconds, the entire crowd rose nearly as one—something which only creeped Flame out further. Swallowing, he glanced around once more to study their faces.

Flame: “Brynn. What exactly did Daedalus tell everyone about me again?” ._.
Brynn: “That you’re [Our -------]? I mean, surely he’s told you all the stories of your past exploits by now, has he not?”

Flame: “...”

He looked in the eyes of those around him: Medicham, Linoone, Goodra, Druddigon, Nidoran, and so many more species he still couldn't name. There were at least fifty at a glance. Some pokémon had a massive smile on their face, others looked almost afraid of him; all carried in their eyes a uniform sense of awe.

As if they were looking straight at something they'd only heard in legends.

Brynn: "Er... That's kinda because you are something we've only heard in legends." ^^;
Flame: "(Daedalus, I swear to god, if you've been exaggerating things at all, this is going to end so badly for all of us.)"

Calm. Flame tried to stand as straight as physically possible. They're looking up to you. You… can't disappoint them already. You won't.

Yeah, I know how this story works. I’ll heavily take the under on Flame being able to deliver on that resolution in the long term.

Despite feeling like he could have melted right then and there, Flame caught his breath, his face steeled and his feet planted firmly on the ground.

He smiled with as much confidence as he could force. "Th-thank you, everyone. I want to—" He elbowed Brynn. "Er, please translate."

Brynn snapped out of the daze she'd fallen in. "Ja—er, right!"

Flame: “... Wait, why were you staring at me dreamily like that?” .-.
Brynn: “That’s- U-Uh… A-A part of our culture! Yes, that’s it! I was totally just enjoying being in the presence of a living legend and not having daydreams about you!” O///O;
Flame: “Wait, you were having daydreams about me-?”

Brynn: “Moving right along with that translation!”

"I want to thank all of you for the hospitality. For the house, the food, and, and all the kindness you've been showing me. It means more than you can imagine." He raised a fist to his hammering heart. "My name is Flame."

Okay, they probably knew already—but for some reason it felt right to say it. Plus, the crowd seemed to hang off his every word! Even Brynn at his side was giving him an entranced look that put him off for a moment.

Flame: “... Wait, I thought you were translating, Brynn.” :|
Brynn: “Look, I’m doing it and the narration’s just glossing it, okay? Can you imagine how repetitive it’d be to write out ‘Ich möchte Ihnen allen für die Gastfreundschaft bedanken-’”
Flame: “Alright, alright, I get it. You are translating for me right now.” ._.;

"I may be the son of Daedalus," he swept his eyes around to meet as many waiting eyes as possible, "k-kind of. But you don't have to treat me like I'm your king! So my first order for you all will be this: no more bowing."

I mean, even under its textbook definition, a [-------] is a bit more than a king, Flame.

Once Brynn repeated verbally in their language, the look in the crowd's eyes passed from surprise to hesitation. It was all too understandable. Seeing the reverence with which these pokémon saw him and Dedalus, it had to be a perplexing order.

Still waiting to find out whether or not Teutonii is an honest-to-goodness dialect continuum given that Tromvik's locals seem to carry at least bits of Real!Tromvik's language in their lingo. It’d certainly be a nice touch, even if I understand that sometimes it pays to just keep things simple with worldbuilding flourishes.

Flame: "Whew. That ought to make things a bit less awkward, at least." ^^;
Brynn: "With all due respect Herr Flame, I think things would have been less awkward if you just accepted their reverence." -_-;

Flame's smile grew. "Spread the word for me, okay?" He received a host of frantic nods after Brynn's translation.

That went… much better than I expected, he exhaled, swinging his tail to and fro to channel some of the tension. At least I haven't caused a diplomatic incident on my first day here. Wait—is it diplomatic if I'm also one of the… ah, forget it.

Not yet anyways.

He glanced at Brynn. From the way she looked around at everyone and smirked, he got the sneaking impression she enjoyed being seen next to him.

She absolutely enjoys being seen next to you right now, Flame.

He scoffed slightly at that, but broke into a huge smile again as he addressed the crowd again. "Great. Since that matter's cleared, I ask only that you give myself and my teammates some space as we settle in here." He felt himself becoming a little less tense. "I imagine you all have prejudices about our enemy, but I can assure you, they do not apply to Alice and Gaius. They are good pokémon at heart. All that's different about them is which place they were born in."

Another chorus of nods, more hesitant this time.

I can already hear the quietly mumbled “Mein [------], haben Sie sich am Kopf gestoßen?”s in the crowd right about now. Since I can see that hesitance from those Teutonii. >:V

"And remember that they're both under my protection. As is Brynn here." He could almost feel the heat of Brynn's blush next to him.

After a moment Flame bit his lip; was that too aggressive? Did he sound like he didn't trust his own people? But the crowd didn't seem to mind—their childish awe was unchanged.

Flame: "I really, really hope that there aren't relatives of those Teutonii we killed during the first 18 chapters in the crowd. Otherwise that demand's gotta be awkward as hell even coming from [Our -------]."

Brynn: "I uh... am assuming you don't want me to translate that over to them, do you-?" .-.
Flame: "Pls no, Brynn." ._.

"Thank you all," Flame blurted out with a smile. "I'll—I'll… be going, now. Come, Brynn."

"J-ja, Herr Flame!" she said out loud, to a chorus of muffled gasps all around.

What? Is it because she called me by—ah, no matter.

Brynn: “... Right, probably should’ve stuck with ‘[-------] Flame’ there. Oh well, close enough.”

Flame: “Wait, but I thought you said ‘Herr’ could mean ‘Lord’ or ‘Master’ and you address Daedalus with that exact same honorific. So why would that surprise them like that?”

Brynn: “Let’s just say there’s some different expectations that have been built around you. And a lot of locals wouldn’t think it fitting that you and Herr Daedalus be addressed with the same title.” ^^;

Failing to see a way out of the crowd, he elected to simply walk forward. His stomach tightened for a few steps but then the pokémon ahead moved aside for him.

That actually worked? He chuckled to himself. Thank the gods. I thought I'd have to make them move…

"[M-M-My [------]?]"

Flame: “... Oh boy.”

Flame stopped. His heart began hammering again. Swallowing, he swept his gaze across the crowd but it didn't take very long: it had come from a towering, fierce-looking Tyranitar from the first row.

With tears in her eyes, she made a half-bow before going wide-eyed and shooting right back up, mumbling something Flame didn't quite catch.

Whatever it was, it caused the crowd to explode into cheers. Flame jumped a little, instinctively turning to a shimmery-eyed Brynn.

The Braixen merely turned to him and smiled. "She said: 'If you're here, it means we finally have the power to defeat the Presence. It is all as Lord Daedalus predicted, right?'."

Flame: “He did what?!”

Brynn: “I mean, he is our prophet. Was he not supposed to talk about what he saw in our future once you came back?”

Flame's heart sputtered. He stared blankly until he realised the crowd were all holding their breaths, as though expecting him to comment.

"O-of course we do," Flame hastily cobbled together a smile for the Tyranitar. "We, um… we… we have a plan to get their Imperial puppets on our side! To help them understand that they're being controlled." He put a fist over his heart. "Trust in us."

Ah yes, promises given on the spot when everyone thinks you’re a mythical god-king. Totally not a recipe for this all ending in bitter tears at some point.

Flame: “(Oh my god, Daedalus, why would you do that?!)” O.O;

Once the Tyranitar looked starry-eyed enough at his reply, Flame turned about and hastily made his way through the gap in the cheering crowd, further up the street.

Flame: "Er... wonder if I should've undersold things a bit more than tha-"
Brynn: "No, no. You did good. Really good there." ^///^

Though I'll be pushing the second half of this review into its own post, since don't feel like undoing a bunch of image tags tonight.

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Chapter XXIX - Cont.

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

If he hadn't been in full view of everyone he probably would have sprinted away. He rounded the first possible side path, and allowed himself to breathe when he saw only berry bushes and more forest.

Flame: “... I really need to have a talk with Daedalus about the sort of stuff he’s been telling everyone before he yeets me onto a battlefield and gets me and a ton of other Pokémon killed at some point.”

"Herr Flaaaaame!" Brynn's running footsteps pattered in the gravel behind him. "Du gjo—you did amazing back there!"

"... Better than expected."

"And the way you said 'trust in us'..." She clasped her hands together and squealed. "Ah, that was so confident of you!"

"Really?" He tried to smile. "That's good."

Flame: "Uh... wait a minute. Brynn, did you translate that last part of what I said to the crowd back there? Or did they just cheer for what might as well have been a bunch of unintelligible gibberish?" ._.;
- Beat moment -
Brynn: "Uh... now that you mention it, the text didn’t explicitly say that. Though I think you slipping ahead of me was supposed to imply that I stuck behind to translate for your, yes." ^^;
Flame: "Erm... great! (Yeah, I really should have undersold things more.)"

But I lied to them all. He bore a hole into a pine trunk. I don't know if we have a plan to win over the Empire. I don't know if we have any plans at all—I never even asked!

Well, I suppose that’s one way to find out that he’s Daedalus’ son. >:V

Even if I count myself a lot more sympathetic towards Flame in that regard, since he has a certain innocence and purity of intent to him that Daedalus does not. Or at least for now.

"Are you okay, Herr Flame?" Brynn reached for his shoulder, but hesitated. "I know that was stressful for you. But I swear, you did fantastic!"

"I'm fine. L-let's keep going, okay?"

He wasn't fine. Even now, as they walked down a forest slope, the sea of faces remained burnt into his memory. That gleam in everyone's eyes, that spark of hope… was it truly because of him?

He clutched his stomach. He wasn't sure whether to feel gleeful or queasy.

I can already tell that this sentence is going to read really differently once the plot gets an arc or two down the pipe from this point. ^^;

"Are you sure this way takes us to the sea?" he asked Brynn, hoping to think about something else.

"Hm? Yes, it shoul—" Brynn froze in her tracks, and he followed suit. She looked behind them, then forward again, back and forth.

"Wait," Flame raised his brow. "You don't know?"

Brynn: “...”

"I-it's not that I don't know, I just thought we had to turn… th-the road should have been…"

A playful smile settled on Flame's snout. "Have you actually been here before?"

Brynn looked down and wranged her hands together. "I-I only arrived here yesterday evening, shortly after you, and I didn't have time—but, but our towns tend to be quite similar in design!"

"Right."

"P-promise!"

I see it's not just Flame who's fudging the truth a bit in this chapter.

Though as cute as this moment is, it’s definitely a bit

in retrospect since it’s a thematic reminder that Flame’s adoptive family isn’t shooting straight with him. Since if they’re willing to lie about little things to him…

"So what's the town called?" He crossed his arms in mock-offense, and tapped his foot.

"Tromvik. Fishing town. F-fifteen thousand inhabitants, I think. This used to be Imperial territory."

Flame: “(I’m… just gonna not think too hard about what happened to all the Imperials that used to be here.)”

"Uh-huh. And that's aaaall my 'guide' knows about this place."

"What?!" Brynn's ears dropped and her face turned red. "No! I'm not exactly from here, but—but I can show you our stavkirke! And our communal eating area! Every village has one! Trust me, it's so much bigger than Neuhoffnung's, and I've heard the cooks serve Clamperl meals that are out of this world! Please, I swear I know where I'm going!"

It shouldn't have felt this satisfying to watch her squirm in embarrassment, but it did.

Somehow I doubt it’s going to be anywhere this cute and funny once Flame figures out that Daedalus hasn’t been frank with him and confronts him about it. But eh, it’s a cute moment for now.

Flame: "You're trying just a bit too hard to impress me there, Brynn."

Brynn: "Er... give me a head-start and I can properly guide you about?" >///<

"All right." Flame pretended to study her up and down, arms crossed. "I suppose you've passed the test—for now."

He motioned for Brynn to follow, which she did a little too eagerly.

"Oh, I just remembered! This region also has Sawsbuck stew as a delicacy, too!"

Flame: “You know, you’re kinda cute when you’re flustered like that.” >:P
Brynn: “... Thanks, I guess.” >///<

Smiling, Flame nevertheless felt himself tune out of his playful mood for a few seconds as they walked along that forest road. Patches of dappled sunlight surrounded them, and the crackling of dried pine needles accompanied their every step. He couldn't help but linger on that Tyranitar, those oh-so-warm words: that he would soon lead his people to victory.

It wasn't like they saw him as a symbol, either. No! They were looking at him like some kind of saviour in the flesh. As if he would leap into battle himself, fight legionary soldiers with his own claws! He glanced down and blushed, yet his body protested.

Hey man, I know enough about the hypothesized origins of Sigurd/Sigfried in Germanic folklore to know that depending on how to the hilt you’re playing your historical allusions, there’s at least one figure that’d be on a shortlist for this sort of level of hero worship for fighting Not!Romans with a bit of memetic mutation and maybe a dash of belief in reincarnation...

He couldn't do any of that. He was weak and frail; he knew only slash and flamethrower, and even that second one Alice had to teach him. How in the world was he, Flame, supposed to lead these people? Let alone convince them that he had a plan for victory?

Hell, he could barely convince his own friends to choose this town over certain death.

Well, there's that weird wibbly-wobbly surrounding portal storms and MD Distortion that seems to always follow you around, Flame. Since in light of recent events, part of me is expecting you to turn out to be an avatar of Giratina or something cosmically freaky like that. Though I'm not sure if you want to lead the Teutonii to victory that way. ^^;

It took a little bit more hiking before they reached the pine forest's end. When they did, Flame was treated to the view from the small hill he stood atop.

A tumultuous dark-blue sea, with grey islets poking out the mist far on the horizon. Much closer to him stood the main urban core of Tromvik: more buildings of wood and stone, spread out across both the mainland coast and between a half-forested islet not far from it, connected by a series of pontoon bridges.

Flame's first reaction, for some reason, was to laugh. "I haven't seen the ocean in… well, weeks—but that was only for a few hours."

Flame: “Which was kinda a 4/10 experience even before the Portal Storm falling on us, but hey! You can’t argue with that view!” ^^;

He reached out with a hand to feel the salty breeze. It felt pleasant against the warmth of his scales.

Next to him, Brynn covered her mouth. "So this is what the great ocean looks like…"

"First time seeing it, o tour guide?" he asked with another wry look.

Brynn: “L-Look, I just haven’t seen it in this much detail, okay?” >///<
Flame: “Suuuuuure you haven’t.”

Brynn huffed but could not help looking bashful.

Oh, he was going to love teasing her like this—he could already tell.

- In the far distance, a fierce cry faintly carries along the winds -
Alice: "Flame!" >:|
- Flame and Brynn trade looks with each other -
Brynn: "Should I be worried at all about that?"
Flame: "... Nah, it's probably just the wind. Though I'm getting the weirdest case of deja vu right now."

They began walking down the hill path, toward the first dense streets of the mainland half of Tromvik.

"It's odd," Flame mused to himself. "Why does seeing the ocean put me in such a good mood?"

Something something residual memories from before you got mind lazored, which is probably yet another sign that you’re not a normal Charmeleon in spite of appearances. Even if I’m not sure where that affinity is specifically coming from.

"Oh, I think I feel it too! " She wagged her tail merrily. "My friends always told me I'd hate the ocean."

Flame scoffed. "Come on, just because we're fire-types?"

I mean, just saying, Fire-types that can handle being around water without flinching are a strategically important asset to any aspiring navy with Pokemon kicking around. And you kinda implied it already given that Livia’s parents ran a shipyard. :V

The path took them onto the town's main road, packed with houses and rudimentary apartment buildings. He waved back to a few excited passersby.

"Speaking of, where are your friends right now? Neuho… y-your village?"

"A few. Most are spread out in other villages and towns. We're serving together in the war."

Flame: “...”

Brynn: “I mean, we’re kinda in a struggle for our right to exist, so what did you think they’d be doing?” ^^;

Flame's pupils widened. The war? You're saying that you've… fought?

He snuck a glance while she was focusing ahead. At that moment she looked so innocent, so carefree. How could those sweet eyes ever be near a battlefield? He would have been surprised to see her lash out at a fly.

She's younger than me, too. Maybe she's only gone through training…

The same way the Teutonii you’ve been encountering have been warm and friendly with eyes full of wonder trained on you while when they didn’t recognize you on the battlefield they were snarling and bellowing out war cries and about ready to make your insides your outsides?

Not that I’d imagine Flame’s mentally ready to imagine his cute lil’ attendant ever being like that.

Brynn: "I mean, I am a medic, Herr Flame. And a talented telepath to boot considering that's why Lord Daedalus sought for me to help you. Considering what we're up against, it'd be negligent of the war chiefs not to have me play a role assisting the fight."
Flame: "E-Even so, all of this just makes me... uneasy."

Now that they'd entered the built-up urban area—passing by houses, taverns, eateries, market stalls, pokémon of all kinds—Flame felt the gaze of every single passerby homed in on his skull. Dozens and dozens of pokémon, both outside and from inside houses as more shouts of '[Our -------!]' spread up the street.

While it made Flame feel that much more self-conscious, he still waved back sheepishly whenever he got the chance. At least they weren't crowding around him anymore.

Flame: "Huh. Word spreads fast in this town. Here I was worried we'd have to go through that whole song and dance to dial back the hero worship more than once." ^^;
Brynn: "Well, we have a way of making sure that important matters are known. And there's not a lot of things that top knowing how to give Our [-------] the treatment he desires." ^^
Flame: "... Brynn, let's stick with 'Herr Flame' in conversation, please." >_>;

He brushed her furry arm again.

"Herr Flame?"

"H-huh?"

"Oh. I'm so sorry! I didn't notice you were thinking. I was just curious about something, so, so pretend I didn't say anything and go back to—"

"Brynn." Flame sighed, then tried to smile at her. "I'm not your superior. You don't have to be nervous around me. Please."

Brynn: “... You do realize that me publicly incurring your displeasure would be social death among our people, right? It can weigh on the nerves a bit.” ^^;
Flame: “(Oh my god, Daedalus, seriously what the hell?) Look, that’s not going to happen, alright. Just relax a bit!” O_O;

At least you treat me normally.

"Right." She chuckled nervously. "Sorry. I was just saying: if your friends are here, why didn't we call them? We could have shown them around, too."

Flame looked away and swallowed. "I'm… not sure."

Brynn blinked, then cocked her head to the side. "But why? I thought you were happy they came here."

"It's… complicated. I didn't really give them a choice."

Flame: "Also one of them had to be drug in physically restrained and brought out here literally kicking and screaming. So... yeah, he's not happy at least."

Brynn: "... I'll be frank, from the way you two interacted, I didn't really peg you and Herr Reptain as close friends."

Flame: "Er... well, I guess we could be closer, but even still. Probably not a good idea to let him wander around on his own when he's got pointy bits constantly on his body and some... feelings about you guys." ._.;

That gave her pause, but only briefly. "Well, you still saved their lives. I'm sure they'll understand soon, right?"

"I wish it were that simple." He smiled bitterly. "Why are you asking? I thought you said they're collaborators."

"I… don't know what to think," she said, quietly even in his head. "A part of me still thinks of them that way. But, if you say they're good pokémon… I want to trust you."

Oh, so it’s the moment where Brynn actually meant what she said about Alice and Gaius and wasn’t just trying to impress [Our -------]. Probably. Maybe.

Flame blinked. His smile sweetened the more her words sunk in. "Thank you, Brynn. That means… more than you can imagine."

Brynn: "Who knows, perhaps in a week or so, we'll regard each other as comrades-in-arms!" ^^
Flame: "Let's... focus on getting Gaius to not stab anyone to death first before we shoot for the stars." ^^;

A Gardevoir just ahead was hanging bed sheets to dry. She dropped them with a gasp as soon as she saw him and shouted something. More pokémon ran to their house's windows and door frames to look.

Lemme guess, those other Pokémon are a Magmortar and a late-evolving Charmander, huh?

Meanwhile, Flame's thoughts lingered on his teammates.

The last time he'd seen them was when they'd first landed in the town's outskirts, in the dead of night. He'd only seen their eyes at an angle—they'd refused to look at him directly that day—but what he saw, gleaming in the torchlight… He could only describe Gaius' reddened eyes as spectral.

Flame: “... Boy I hope that Daedalus didn’t leave beer lying around the house, since with a look like that, Gaius really might have drunk himself to death.” .-.

Flame shuddered at the memory. But the truth remained that he would have to see them again at some point. If not for the small hope they didn't hate him, then for the fact that he had brought them here, and that he had promised them a choice.

Flame: "H-Hey wait a minute! I remember Alice was laughing and smiling when we first met Daedalus, so then why would she have-?!"
- Beat moment -
Flame: "Right. That whole moment with Gaius probably ruined everything that followed after that. Crap." ._.;

"We're here, Herr Flame!"

Blinking, Flame realised they'd reached the town's harbour—little more than a beachfront with small boats resting on the sand, or tied to one of the long floating piers.

He stepped onto the beach, enjoying the graininess of the sand, then stopped to behold the sight: before them was a narrow strait of murky water, and just across lay the main island, half-forested and half-brimming with structures. He saw more treetop houses with their platforms, Wingulls nesting on seaside rocks, even a Seel poking its head out of the water! And not to mention the—

That actually makes me wonder if Tromvik’s architecture is popular among the Teutonii writ large or if it’s specific to this particular local tribe. I’m assuming the latter given that the description of that Fire-type cave city seemed really different, but I suppose we’ll have to wait until we seem more of the Teutonii world to tell.

Flame froze. At first he had to squint to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

The rocks next to him formed a peninsula of sorts that jutted out into the sea. It was at the tip of it that he thought he saw something… blue…

"See the island? That's where all the interesting sights are!" Brynn hooked both her arms around his right one. "Come on!"

Flame felt her pulling gently, but he did not budge.

Brynn: “Uh… Herr Flame? Aren’t you coming?” ._.;

Coiled up on the farthest rock of the formation, facing the island and the cloudy horizon, was a Dragonair he knew all too well.

Flame: “... Hoo boy, this is awkward.”

"Herr Flame? What's wrong?"

Flame stared past her. "Stay here," he said, then took a step forward. "Or—or go do something else. There's something I have to take care of."

Probably a good thing Flame didn't think to take Brynn along with him, since that would've certainly gotten awkward. Not that she can't show up anyways to crash that attempted meeting.

Flame: "Namely I need make sure that at least one teammate doesn't want to kill me here."

Brynn's ears fell as he went past her. "What? Why? I-I thought you wanted to see the town centre with me…"

"Later. Promise!"

Brynn: -sad Braixen noises- :<

Before he could think about it he was already hopping from one large rock to the next, holding in the primordial fear of slipping and plunging into the seawater whose spray licked at his feet.

Once he got within a couple jumps' distance, he looked up again. There she was—coiled tightly on the farthest rock, looking away from him. He froze; his body protested.

Part of him wanted to turn away and leave, leave this conversation for some other time.

No. He shut his eyes. I brought them here. My choice, my fault. My responsibility.

Flame: “(Look, I know that you’re an aquatic Pokémon, Alice. But seriously, couldn’t you have just moped on the beach?)” o_o;

With a deep breath, he jumped to the last rock—now he was right behind her, perhaps a few steps from her tail.

And yet Alice didn't stir. Had she not heard him? Perhaps she had, but didn't care enough to react.

Flame: “Uh… Alice? Are you alright?” ._.;

Breathing as quietly as possible, Flame felt his heart hammering in his chest. Suddenly he felt strangely conscious of his posture, of the swishing of his tail. It dawned on him how creepy it must have looked to stand behind her like that. But he didn't even know what to sa—

"Flame." A whisper, as quiet as it was cold.

Flame: “... Well she’s acknowledging my existence, at least?” ._.;

Flame's blood ran dry for a moment, then he took a shaky breath. "Alice."

Unsure how to continue, he listened to his instincts: he sat down right next to her, on the edge of that rock itself at the edge of the sea.

Silence reigned between them. Silence, and the soft rustle of the ocean. Little salty droplets sprayed at his feet and shins with each crashing wave.

And yet they sat in silence.

Flame: “So… uh… been enjoying the view?”
- Alice looks away -
Flame: “... Yeah, I guess I should’ve guessed you weren’t in the mood for smalltalk.” ._.

He glanced to his side; Alice was still ignoring him, and if anything seemed to have retreated further in her coils.

"A-are you okay?" he asked—then cringed.

Alice:

Flame: “... Yeah, I kinda walked right into that one.” >.<

How stupid could he be? Of course she wasn't okay! Pokémon who were okay didn't go watch the horizon from the most isolated place they could find!

"I suppose so," she replied flatly.

Flame: “Alice, you can just tell me ‘no’ like in the cutaway gags, you know.” >_>;

Flame frowned. "You don't look okay."

Silence. He supposed his assertion was pretty self-evident.

Flame: "C-Come on, Alice, talk to me here!"

Alice: ".... Why are you suddenly so interested? Don't you have that Braixen you're always hanging around?" >:|
- Flame freezes -
Flame: "H-Hey wait a minute! How do you know that?! A-And she's just showing me around, I swear!" o_o;

As Flame looked her over, it dawned on him that she wasn't wearing that crimson scarf he'd gifted her. Somehow that saddened him further.

Alice: "Flame, Gaius found that scarf and I dug it out of a chest in a destroyed building in Portus!" >.<
- Flame checks back to Chapter XII -

With nothing else around him classifiable as entertaining, both Flame and Alice took position behind their leader and assisted as he dug through the chest's contents. The handful of coins previously contained there had already been nabbed, leaving only frivolous personal items (a locket of all things caught his attention), writing materials, and a peculiar cloth folded with meticulous care.

The latter seemed to have been knit out of heavy cloth, dyed a simple, crimson red with no discernable patterns. Just as soon as he noticed Alice take interest in the object, she reached inside the chest with her tailtip, grabbed the cloth, and dangled it in mid-air as to make it unfurl.

Flame: “Er… Uh... (Might need a little bit of a retcon there...) I-I helped you put it on so you could carry it off? And helped you put it back on in Boreal Chasm? That counts for something, right?” ^^;

"Talk to me, Alice." He hugged his knees . "I know you hate me right now—but I brought you here. I need to know that they're treating you well."

'Besides, we're still Team Phalanx, right?' he almost said. Almost.

Alice: “...”

Flame: “Er… yeah, I guess the whole ‘team’ thing isn’t doing so hot after I kinda drug the rest of it off here kicking and screaming.”

Alice raised her gaze, if slightly. "Part of me wonders if I'm the first Imperial ever to get a glimpse beyond the enemy's front lines." She chuckled dryly. "Perhaps I should feel honoured. I could tell everyone that no, they don't all live in mud-holes. Nor do they fulfill their bodily needs in the street! Aesernia had a lot more of that. In fact, that temple—at least, I think it is one. Do you see it? On the island?"

Flame: “Oh, so that’s why the place smelled like piss all the time.”

Alice: “Well, that and the local laundries didn’t help the odor either.” >_>;

Flame leaned forward to look across the strait. Yes, now that she pointed it out, he saw it was the tallest building in the whole town. Its walls were wooden—big surprise—but its exterior was sloped and built in multiple, rising sections, culminating in a tall tower near the centre that tapered into a spire. The corners were carved into decorative shapes too small to see from here.

"It's… beautiful," Flame remarked. "Strange, but beautiful."

Ah yes, cue the Borgund Stave Church making its appearance here. ^^

"Indeed." Alice smiled distantly. "I never would have dreamed the Teutonii were capable of building such harmonious structures. To think they weren't supposed to have discovered the wheel!"

Flame: “... Wait, wouldn’t a claim like that have been instantly falsifiable the moment you saw one using a wagon or something like that?” .-.
Alice: “I… didn’t see a whole lot of that, and I’m pretty sure that the official line would’ve been that those were stolen from us.”

Flame smirked to himself. Those Imperial propagandists might have a point on glassmaking.

"And yet, something's bothering you," he said.

Flame: “I mean, I kinda think I already know what it’s about, but…”

Alice let out a terse sigh. "What do you expect me to say?" She raised her neck and looked up. "My whole life, I've been taught to hate the Scum. To be afraid of them. They're the very army who has ravaged so much of the Empire. So many deaths, so many refugees, so much… suffering."

"They've suffered too," Flame countered in a whisper. "More than we could ever imagine."

Alice: “And that’s supposed to make me feel better how?” >_>;
Flame: “To show that you had others here you could commiserate with? I-I dunno, Alice! Just talk to me here!” ._.;

"I believe you," Alice said. "But it doesn't override the tens of thousands of deaths they've caused. Including Gaius' parents."

There it was: the one topic he couldn't fight back on. Flame found himself looking away from her, toward the dark, turbid waters.

Alice: "Also, there was a dead 'mon's skull just lying around downstairs as a trophy. So excuse me if there's a voice at the back of my mind that's worried that one day your 'people' are going to turn on me." >_>;
Flame: "Uh... yeah, that was admittedly kinda creepy. B-But aren't you painting with a bit of a broad brush there, Alice? I mean, are you going to blame every cub in Thomvik for things they might not have even been alive for, are you? Why it'd be like Brynn blaming you for their old homes in the Wasteland getting torched from the air!"
- Alice shifts in her coils and looks back out at the stave church -
Alice: "Maybe. But that's kinda small comfort for everything that's already come to pass. Almost everyone Gaius and I have known from the past two years is dead because of these 'mons' armies right now, most of them within the past two weeks. Am I supposed to just go on like none of that ever happened?" :|
- Flame looks away and paws at his shoulder -
Flame: "I... I... don't have an answer to that. Not yet, anyways."

But he couldn't just stay silent. No, he had to stay strong.

"How is he?"

"Still won't leave his bed."

Flame: “I mean, he at least didn’t drink himself to death before Alice left the house, so… minor victories?” ^^;

Flame nodded. He'd expected as much. Wringing his claws together, he scrambled for something to say. "Daedalus said he might punish that Hydreigon for what he did."

"Good."

He looked down. "I just need to talk to Gaius first. Gather all the facts about what happened."

Alice: “And how do you plan on doing that when we literally came here with a half-emptied bag and the scales on our backs, again?” >_>;
Flame: “... I’m also working on that?” ^^;

"Good luck with that. He hasn't said a word since we got here." Alice scoffed. "I can't say I blame him."

Flame shut his eyes and exhaled slowly, bracing himself for what was to come. The veiled animosity behind those words hadn't escaped him.

Flame: "Is- Is he really that mad at me, Alice?"

Alice: "I mean, he's only been drug back and forced to relive his worst childhood traumas. I think that has more to do with his sudden silence, but yeah, he's really that mad at you, Flame." >_>;

"Look," he turned to her, "I know this isn't how you wanted our journey to end. And I realise that it'll be difficult here—if, if you choose to stay, that is. But I still care about you." He smiled tentatively. "We're still Team Phalanx, right?"

Oh Flame, you sweet summer child…

"Are we?" She glared back at him. "Then why did you go behind our backs? Why, for such a monumental decision?"

Flame: “Alice. You and Gaius were going to freeze to death in the mountains!”

Flame snorted. "I did it to protect you two—you know that."

"You could have asked what we thought."

Flame: “Yes, I did that. And you two blew me off!” >.<

Flame couldn't help it; he crossed his arms. "Alice—be honest. If I'd come up to you that same night and proposed this, would you have accepted?"

Alice's glare mellowed. Her eyes seemed to wander off elsewhere. "W-we could have found another way."

"Really? What way?"

Alice: “... We could’ve run away to Capri?” ._.
Flame: “Ways that are actually canon and wouldn’t get us drug back kicking and screaming by our writer, Alice.”

"... Another one."

"Which one?" he hissed. "Do you mean your plan to slowly die of hypothermia on some mountain?"

Alice had no answer at that. She merely wound herself even tighter in her coils.

Alice: "W-We had a source of warmth...."
Flame: "One that barely kept you alive in similar conditions for a full day back at Boreal Chasm. Get real, Alice. Would we have really made it for two full weeks like that?" >_>;

That's what I thought, he wanted to say, but held his tongue.

Probably for the best, since I can already tell that Alice is emotionally deteriorating in live-time just from the past exchange. ^^;

"I'm not pretending that what I did was ethical." He steeled his expression. "But I do know that it was the right choice."

"Huh…?"

"I'm not sorry for saving our lives. Even if it meant lying to you." He finally raised his gaze to the cloudy sky. "And… if you gave me the choice, I would do it again."

inb4 he does this a second time, but it turns out significantly worse the next go-around.

"Ah…" Alice rasped, and then she nodded. "I see."

From the corner of his eye, Flame noticed Alice staring towards him intensely.

Flame: "U-Uh... is this the good intense, or the bad intense here?"

Alice? He turned to meet her eyes—and though she averted them right away, for just a moment, he could have sworn there was something… dreamy about them.

"Is something the matter?" Flame furrowed his brow.

"Hm?" Alice's eyes glistened, even as she pretended to behold the horizon. "Yes. I mean—no. N-nothing."

Flame frowned, but chose not to press her further.

Flame: "Good intense. Definitely the good inten-"
Alice: "Flame! I-It didn't mean anything!" >///<

"It's just…" Alice began with a whisper. "Gods, was there that little trust between us?"

Given that I'm pretty sure that your motivation for lying about your background was being afraid of being hung out to dry all on your own when entering Thermae Himerae and your baseline expectation from a teammate is that they'll steal from you, openly dump on your region of origin, and cut you loose if push comes to shove... uh, yeah. There really was that little trust.

Flame snorted. "Do you really need to ask that? It's not like I was the first liar on this team."

That flash of pain on Alice's face was impossible to miss.

I mean, he ain’t wrong there, since Alice and Gaius literally lied to Flame in the first chapter they met, so…

The guilt hit Flame like a punch in the stomach, but he couldn't back down. It was something they needed to confront eventually.

"Do you know what it's like," Flame sent her a glare, "to find out that the only pokémon you thought you could trust—the pokémon who've been with you since the very beginning—that they're lying to you? Do you know how much it hurts?"

[ ]

"I'm sorry…"

IMO, this bit would have a bit more punch if you lingered a bit more explicitly on Alice’s body language here and showed the guilt setting in on her in live-time.

"I wouldn't even have cared that you're a princess—that's the worst part. It was a bit shocking, sure, but at the end of the day… you're still Alice. You're still you."

"I know," she whispered even quieter.

"Why couldn't you tell me? Or, or just say 'sorry, I don't feel comfortable talking about that'?"

"I, I wasn't… I didn't think—"

Because she was in all likelihood scared to death that you were going to abandon her on the side of the road on the way to Thermae Himerae since her frame of reference for how a friend would operate is Gaius?

Flame shook his head. "It wasn't even just Thermae Himerae. It was… before that, too." He frowned. "I tried to forget about that first time we met, but thinking about it now…"

"Please stop," Alice whimpered.

"You two told the guards I was a Scum and got me thrown into jail. What if they'd believed you? Gods, they would have hanged me in Victory Square like those others! I could have died."

"I'm sorry!"

It was legit surprising back in the day to see Flame actually go there about that moment in-story. Let alone lay things out in as stark of terms of what that gambit would've meant for him if it panned out.

Though I suppose it was the elephant in the room for how Team Phalanx was put together, so might as well drag it out and put it down if the team's going to have a shot at genuinely coming together.

Flame recoiled back at that, glancing worriedly at a nigh-shaking Alice.

"I'm s-so sorry," Alice sucked in a trembling breath, her head arched in, eyes pointed straight at the ground. "You're right. I don't deserve to be angry at you when I'm such… such a coward!"

At the sound of her sobs, the rest of Flame's pent-up anger evaporated. Even his glare disappeared, replaced by a sudden concern.

Flame: “(I… might have overdone it a touch.)” ._.;

Alice brought her teary eyes up to meet his—a sight that pained Flame's heart. "Do you want to know why I lied to you? Because…" She let out a bitter laugh at that. "Because I was lying to myself, too."

Flame felt his eyes widen. "… What?"

"I d-didn't want to admit to myself that… that father hates me, and that I can never, ever be good enough in his eyes. So I tried to forget him. To create another Alice—one whose father isn't that monster on the throne, one who isn't so cowardly. And I pretended to be her." She choked on a sob. "Gods, I sound so pathetic right now…"

Boy is it gonna get awkward if she ever gets a chance to see how much Adrian regrets yeeting her off to fend for herself before he inevitably outlives his usefulness.

Flame: "H-Hey! You're not pathetic, Alice! Deep breaths! Deep breaths! We can talk this through!" o_o;

"Alice…" Flame frowned.

"This whole time," she rambled on, eyes squeezed shut, "I've done nothing but fail you. Th-that first day, when we failed our mission? I thought that Ariel would surely sack us both. I was utterly terrified, Flame. When Gaius suggested using you as a scapegoat, I was… I was simply too scared to come up with anything else. Just like I was too scared to ever bring up his drinking. Or how he was treating you. Or, or to… to tell you the truth about me."

With that, Alice buried her face into her coils and muffled her sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…"

Flame: “(Okay, I might’ve overdone it a lot. Oh, and broken Alice.)” o_o;

Flame, on the other hand, sat there motionless. He sat there next to her and ruminated over her words for some time.

He felt strange. Earlier he'd wanted nothing less than to give her a piece of his mind—to make her understand exactly how he'd felt. But now, hearing her commiserate like this… he simply couldn't help but pity her.

I always thought I'd been through a lot, Flame stared down at his lap, but Alice… Good gods.

I mean, a lot of Alice's decision-making and willingness to put up with crap in the earlier parts of the story really does make a lot of sense when viewed through the lens of someone who's utterly terrified of having to fend for herself again after she had a past stint where she failed hard at that.

Makes me wonder if we’ll ever see glimpses of what life for Alice on her own before meeting Gaius was like, since it clearly left quite an imprint on her.

In a way, it astonished him that she'd made it this far in the first place. She had been disowned, exiled; forced to aimlessly wander the fringes of the Empire for three years. Forced to endure hunger and dejection, and winter colds that her dragon physiology simply wasn't built to withstand. Oh, and that was just what Flame knew about—he had a certain feeling that what he didn't know was just as bad. And yet…

Yet you're still here.

Flame: “L-Look, you’re not a coward, alright? I know that you aren’t!” o_o;
- Alice sniffles and looks up -
Alice: “Y-Yeah? Then what am I, then?”

The more he thought about it, the more that vengeful corner of his mind lost ground. How could he look into her eyes—those same eyes who he remembered staring boldly into a far-off portal storm that one night—and write her off as a coward?

Flame: “Well, determined, for one. Since it takes a certain level of guts and crazy to want to cross the Tartarus Mountains in winter-” ^^;
Alice: “Gee, thanks, Flame. Can you let me go back to crying on my own now?” >_>;

"No," Flame clenched his fists. "You're wrong."

"E-excuse me?" Alice sniffled from her coils.

"You've been through a lot—more than anyone should. And… you're insecure, just like me." He turned to her, his eyes resolute. "But you're not a coward. A coward wouldn't have survived through half of what we did."

Flame: “Y-You also try and keep a brave face, and you’re smart, and sweet- and-”
Alice: “...” O///O
Flame: “Uh… did I say something I wasn’t supposed to?” ._.;

Alice stared with lowered ear-wings; in lack of a better response, she cracked a dry laugh. "Y-you don't have to lie to make me feel better."

"I'm not lying."

"But," her face fell, "but how could you say that? Ever since my exile, I've done nothing but fear my own shadow!"

Flame: "Honestly, I think you're guilt spiraling, Alice. Since I wasn't exactly Mr. Braveheart when we were facing that feral Rhyperior in Castra Aeterna. Or in battle outside Aesernia. And I'm pretty sure there's other moments I'm overlooking."

- Flame shake head -
Flame: "Really, 'fearing your own shadow' has got to be some sort of exaggeration. I'm sure of it."

Flame merely smiled at her, and shrugged. "All three of us were scared. I wasn't much better at the beginning."

"But you were in a markedly worse situation than me, with your amnesia!"

Flame: “... Considering the absolute state of this world, I’m not sure if the amnesia was really that much of a downgrade. Point on the whole ‘waking up half-dead’ thing, though.” ^^;

Flame cracked an uncomfortable laugh. "... I don't know about that."

"And yet look at how caring—how brave you've been for Team Phalanx, even though you owed us nothing!"

"Brave?" Flame flushed, eyes wide.

"Yes, brave!" Through her tears, Alice produced a fond smile. "You've already saved our lives twice. First in the ice dungeon, then at the ambush—no, three times if you count yesterday!"

I mean, it helps when he’s got a cute girl to crush on and help motivate that bravery. :V

A tingling feeling invaded Flame's chest. Suddenly he was out of breath. "Th-those were more impulsive than anything else! Especially back at the ambush." He glanced down at the crashing waves. "Daedalus was right: I could have gotten us all killed."

"And? Impulse still counts for something." Alice looked at him, but only with her snout buried in her coils and her head wings flattened. "You're so much braver than you're willing to admit, Flame…"

Flame: "I... I mean, Daedalus did say I had a habit of putting my happiness secondary to others, b-but..." O///O

There was a strange orange reflection in the water below. It took Flame a second to realise it was his swelling tail fire chirping and crackling happily behind him.

Oh, so that’s the Charmeleon equivalent of a deep blush, huh? :V

"I-if—" Flame swallowed. Breathe. Why was it so hard to suppress a smile? "If we're going to play that game, I think you're also underestimating how brave you are."

Alice's scoff was muffled in her coils. "Please. I can't recall a single example."

"Well, for one… you're still here."

"I—I beg your pardon?"

Alice: “Oh, so I dumpster dived and let myself get pushed around by Gaius for a few years. So brave there.” >///<
Flame: “That’s not what I meant! Look, try looking at it from another way…”

"I don't know your past very well," Flame smiled sheepishly, "but from the sounds of it, you've been through utter hell for the past three years. Scratch that—even before your exile. And yet, you're still here. You're still fighting." He shrugged. "I'd say that counts for something."

Flame: “... Would a coward really have done all that?”

Silence again. Only the crashing of the waves on the rocks, the distant bustle of Tromvik, and an overpowering marine scent.

"Plus," He looked up at the sky. "You stood by me when I was still new to this world."

Ah yes, reassuring Flame never fails to be endearing to observe.

Alice tried to speak, tried to protest, but came up short of words. Her head-wings flattened and perked up repeatedly.

New tears lingered in her eyes, but they didn't seem borne of sadness.

"Alice," Flame shut his eyes. "Listen. I don't think I'm ready to forgive you just yet."

"O-oh."

As does Flame's way with girls working its magic yet again.

- Beat moment -
Flame: "... I just ruined the moment, didn't I?" >.<
Alice: "Er... yeah, you kinda did." >///<
Flame: "Okay, let me explain myself here..." >_>;

"But I also know that you're a good pokémon at heart." Flame rubbed a forearm. "I… I don't really know why I ever doubted that. I felt hurt, sure, but we've known each other for so long that—ah, a-anyways! In the meantime… we can try to make things right between us."

"How?"

Alice: “Flame, Gaius and I tried to pass you off as a Scum! How could we possibly ever make something like that right?!”

Flame: “Uh… well…”

"Be honest with me," he said. "You—you don't have to tell me your whole life story. Hell, you don't have to tell me anything you're not comfortable with. Just… please, no more lying."

With a sniffle, Alice stood up straight and wiped away a tear with her tail tip. "Yes. I—yes! Thank you. I must become stronger. I can't keep deceiving myself, much less those I hold dear."

Flame: “So, does that mean you can tell me what’s going on with your flight?” ^^;
- Cue Alice freezing and looking like a Deerling about to be hit by a Flash Cannon -
Flame: “... On second thought, I think I can wait until later to find that out.” ._.
Alice: “Y-Yeah, much later would be appreciated, really.”

Slowly, almost hesitantly, Flame made an incredulous smile. Right then a tremendous weight vanished from his shoulders.

Feeling strangely lighter, he fell down on his back and laughed breathlessly. "Thank you, Alice. I won't deceive you, either."

Well, that seems straightforward enough. Though that's going to potentially get awkward fast given that Flame isn't exactly shooting straight with the Pokemon whose respect he's dependent on for keeping Alice and Gaius in one piece.

Flame: “... Well, deceive you again anyways.” ^^;

"Unless it's another life-or-death situation?"

That was true. He had made it a point not to apologise for what he'd done. And… that was how he still felt.

He bit his lip. "Well—I, I don't know if…"

He’s… totally gonna do that again, isn’t he?

"I'm jesting." She sent him a wry smile. "You… you were right. I confess, I don't quite know what came over me the other night, after we got kicked out. I suppose it must have been the shock, the—the sheer panic at thinking our journey was over." She ruffled her head wings. "Still, my plan… it was madness! Madness built on wishful thinking. P-perhaps I would have come to my senses as the journey got colder, but—"

"Alice. It's okay." Flame smiled and placed a hand on her middle. "That's why we're a team, isn't it? On our own, we'd all have choked on a glass of water long ago."

Was that a blush on her face? "Thank you, Flame. For everything. I've intended to tell you for some time, but you're… the first pokémon I've been able to call a friend."

Flame: “H-Heh, I try.” ^///^
- Beat moment -
Flame: “Though wait a minute, am I really your first friend?” ._.;

A friend. Why did that word tingle in his chest?

"F-first?" Flame scratched his collarbone. "What—Gaius wasn't first?"

"Oh, hush. You know exactly why that isn't the case!" Alice laughed, and he laughed too.

Ouch. Even if Gaius kinda brought that on himself.

Flame: "Er... I know that it's not going to be easy, but for the sake of our own team's cohesiveness, we really should try to work making Gaius a second friend for both of us."

Alice: "Let's... not get too hung up over 'second', even if I agree with the overall sentiment." ^^;

"A-anyway…" Flame cleared his throat. "Thanks. I feel the same way."

Yes, the same way…

For a little while they sat there and stared at the coming and going of winged figures around the island. Flame was vaguely conscious that his hand was still on her middle. Was she closer to him, too?

They’re facing snout to snout right now, aren’t they? o<o

"Since you brought up Gaius," Alice whispered, "I believe it is urgent that you talk to him."

Flame sighed, swinging his tail in irritation. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

"Or try to, at the very least. Show him he's not alone in his pain."

Alice: “Since, uh… yeah. We probably don’t want him drinking himself to death in his room.” ^^;

Flame snorted. "Maybe seeing me will just make him feel worse."

"Perhaps. I don't know."

Flame: “I mean, I’m apparently some sort of god-king to Pokémon he blames for destroying his life and got him drug kicking and screaming back to face his childhood traumas, so…” ^^;

Flame's gaze slowly drifted upwards, to that cloudy sky.

"I'll… come up with something."

Flame: "... Probably should bring in a Stun Seed when I try to talk with him. Since I'm still not fully convinced that Gaius isn't going to try to gut me like a fish the next time we see each other given how he reacted to coming here."

Alice: "... Think positive, Flame. We can take things one step at a time." -_-;

Alice smiled at him, which crumbled as her eyes caught something behind him. "Ah! I believe someone's waiting for you."

He turned to find Brynn's ear tufts peeking over a rock. He heard her yip as she shot down into hiding.

Flame blinked, then burst into laughter. "I… I guess I've kept her waiting."

Alice: “... Flame, she is just an attendant of yours, right?” >///<
Flame: “Y-Yes, of course! (Let’s… not get into the mind reading right here and now with Alice.)” o_o;

"I'll stay here a little longer." Alice set her head back on her coils. "There's still much I need to think about."

Flame nodded. He stood up from the rock feeling strangely lightweight. And warm.

The warmth of wuv~

"See you at the house, then," he told Alice as he turned towards the coast.

Gaius… He balled his fists and stood straighter. You were never really a friend, but… nobody deserves to suffer like you did. Ready or not, I'm coming.

Alice: "Might want to bring more than one Stun Seed when you go to meet Gaius, just saying." ^^;
Flame: "Er... yeah. I'm thinking two. Or three. Or maybe a baker's dozen." ._.;

"Oh, and… Flame?" Alice whispered behind him.

He blinked. "Hm?"

"Thank you. "

Definitely one of the most touching chapter endings of this story. Though I suppose it’s time to fire up the next teaser.

Once, Our Kaiser looked fatefully at the ceiling of the underground chamber we stood in. The concrete rumbled with the reverberation of steel ravens outside.

"We have journeyed so far, and they are still searching." I said wistfully. "How much longer may we run, I wonder? How much farther must we go?"

The chamber still shook, the roars of blades sounded all around, and now voices were shouting above them. Synthesised, as if spoken over a badge. They were close. My hopes even closer to shattering—until Our Kaiser stood up .

"I know of a way out," Our Kaiser said with determination. "The Gateway is nearby—I can feel it. Beyond it there are pokémon who can still be saved. The cycle can yet be broken."

Once again, I smiled: for my Son never lost hope as I once had, never lost that fire in his eyes that leaked onto his tail. A fire that could burn down a thousand steel ravens.

"Indeed, my child," I replied. "You are right. This world may be lost, but for theirs… perhaps there is still hope. Let us continue."

Our Kaiser's tail fire flared brightly, as did his smile. "Yes, father. Let us."

— Excerpt from the Teutonii holy scroll Namenloslieder (Songs of the Nameless)

Ah yes, so Daedalus and Flame pulled S1E6 of Rick and Morty on their original world. Probably doesn't bode well for what its present state is. ^^;

Flame: "... Wait a minute, is that me that thing's talking about?!" O_O;
Brynn: "... Yes? You are Our [-------], and Lord Daedalus is your father, so who else could it be talking about?"
Flame: "B-But Daedalus said that he got here just two years ago! How is this already in holy texts?!"

Brynn: "I mean, you don't stop adding to them when there's history in the making." 🤷
Flame: "(Daedalus, I swear to God. For everyone's sake, please tell me I actually did all of that and you weren't just making all of that up.)"

Brynn: "Hm? But why would Lord Daedalus ever be untoward like that?" :?
Flame: "I... Uh... don't know. L-Let's just get into the story! I was just going to get ready to go and talk to Gaius!"

Alright, and that’s a wrap. Time for the chapter summary:

I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot this chapter, since it’s one of those ones that at once begins the much-needed process of turning Team Phalanx evolving into a proper circle of compatriots, while giving hints at where things are going to go in the future. Places that I’m not fully convinced aren’t going to be marked by bitter tears at some point, but we’ll get there. There’s a lot of little details about the characters and the corner of the world they’re in that really shine once you stop and notice them, especially when you come back from later in the story.

As for complaints. I don’t have a whole lot beyond the little nitpicks that I pulled up here and there while reviewing. I suppose that showing off the actual process of Team Phalanx getting yeeted out to Tromvik and Gaius’ breakdown would’ve been nice to see some of the stuff that was only mentioned as happening in passing, though there’s something to be said about just cutting to the chase for things. I’d also have liked to see more of in this chapter, it’d be to see more of Tromvik and the Teutonii’s world, but eh. You’ve got a number of chapters still ahead of you to provide opportunities to that off.

Though good show, @Shadow of Antioch . Just two more chapters before I’m all caught up with your version here… unless you surprise me by uploading a fresh chapter. Since hey, I have heard chatter through the grapevine that you’re getting close to a new one, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to leaving my thoughts here about it when it comes out. ^^

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Alright, time for the next batch of fun and games. Starring Das Flammeslied. Or I guess given the established lingo in Tromvik, Flammeskvadet assuming that I'm getting my possessive structure and definite article correct.

Chapter XXX

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Flame: “Right, so where were we again?”
Brynn: “Well, Herr Flame…”

Tromvik

He had been staring at that wooden door long enough to notice the tiny splinters coming out of its surface. It was quite simple in making construction, really; there wasn't even a handle or a knob. All one had to do was push.

Why, then, did his arms feel so heavy?

Flame: "... Oh my god, I was just about to talk to Gaius. Who probably still hates me with the fury of a thousand suns for bringing him here."

"Herr Flame?"

Flame stifled a gasp; he whirled around only to find a certain Braixen smiling timidly at him.

He allowed himself to relax. "Hey…"

"I can help, if you want." Her hands were clasped together, and her eyes darting up and down. "I don't know your friend well, b-but—I'll go in with you!"

Flame: "Unless if you happen to have a Stun Seed or 12 on you, I'm really not sure that's a good idea, Brynn. I mean, I'm already worried about Gaius disemboweling me the moment I step through the door." O_O;
Brynn: "Erm... did you wish for me to send for bodyguards in that case? I'm sure we've got some warriors who are experienced with Thunder Wave in town." ._.;

Smiling sweetly, Flame shook his head. "I have to go alone. He… won't take kindly to you."

Brynn's ears fell. "O-oh…"

Brynn: "Just saying, if you're this worried about how your friend is going to react, you should really take the bodyguards." O_O;
Flame: "No! No! I'll be fine, honest! (... I hope.)" ._.

"Not because you're you—to any Teutonii." He looked downward. "You heard what kind of hell he's been through."

"Okay." Brynn stood straighter. "I'll wait for you."

Brynn: “... Wait a minute, I did? When did that happen again?” .-.
Flame: “... Offscreen, I presume? I mean, it was kinda a long walk over, and you did say you understood his ‘blasphemy’ when we met, so…” ^^;
Brynn: “Herr Flame, that wasn’t actually canonical... even if I suppose that’d make sense that’s how I know this.”

Flame paused, and once again wondered to himself how someone he barely knew could be so caring. Was it because of his status, being the 'son' of their god-king?

That thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. He frowned; no, that couldn't be it. She was a selfless pokémon at heart! He had to hold onto that belief.

Bold read there when Brynn was fibbing to impress you just last chapter, Flame. I can buy Brynn being good at heart, but I'm mega

at her being 'selfless'. o<o

"There's no need." He shook his head. "I have to go in alone for this. But… thank you." He turned to walk in, but stopped with a small smirk. He did rather enjoy teasing her, after all… "Just don't go spying from a window, will you?"

While Brynn's face exploded in embarrassment, Flame finally worked up the final crumb of courage he needed.

Brynn: "H-How on earth did you know I was going to-?" O_O;
Flame: "I mean, after your tour around town last time, it was a reasonable inference." :V

He pushed the door open with a creak.

The room was veiled in penumbra, its only window had been obstructed with Gaius' own bag. The air itself felt heavy, stale and thick with the stench of sweat. Silence.

Flame: “... Why do I suddenly feel like I’m stepping into a scene from a zombie movie or something like that, and bags can do that?” .-.
Gaius: “Our bags can do that. Never looked up what a ‘loculus’ looked like?”
Flame: “(Well, Gaius is acknowledging my existence right now, so so far, so good?)” ^^;

Warily, Flame stepped forward. Fiery light followed behind him. It flooded the walls and revealed a dusty room not too different from his: stone walls, austere wooden furniture, and two mattressed beds on opposite ends of the room. One empty and neatly made, while the other…

Flame's heart jumped a little.

Gaius lay on his back, unmoving, with a crumpled white sheet draped over his still body. So still that Flame felt compelled to check that he was still breathing. Was he? Yes—his chest was rising and falling softly under the sheets. Yet his once green scales now looked so pale! Just seeing him like this…

If Flame wasn't a protagonist, I'd be putting a lot of money on him in a death pool right about now.

Flame: "U-Uh... Gaius? Are you alright? You don't look... healthy, to say the least."

Gaius: “Gee, what do you think?” >_>;

"Hey, Gaius," Flame said quietly.

No reaction. In the dancing orange glow of his tail fire, Flame found that Gaius' eyes looked dead—hollow, almost. They were trained up towards the ceiling.

Flame: “... I’m just going to take that as a ‘not great, Bob’ there.” ._.;

Nevertheless, Flame stepped closer and mustered a tentative, if forced smile. "I hope you're feeling better. At least a little."

Gaius: “...”

Flame: “... I mean, you’re at least feeling better than when the convoy arrived, right?” ._.

Nothing. And here Flame had expected Gaius to tell him off, to attack him, or at the very least to acknowledge his presence. He couldn't even do that.

Flame: "... Well my intestines are currently safely still in my body, so it's a start?" ^^;

With the tiniest sigh he could muster he reached the Grovyle's bedside, floorboard after creaky floorboard, and stood directly over him. This close, he could see the tension etched into his features. He could feel the pressure in the air, see the redness in Gaius' eyes, and… and somehow there was a tightness in Flame's chest.

Flame swallowed. Why was he clenching his fists?

Because you have deep resentments at Gaius almost killing you half a dozen times for stupid reasons and you’ve got a mix of anger and fear of him swirling around in you right now? Especially the former.

"I… thought you might want some company." He bit his lip. "Okay, maybe not from me specifically, but…"

A wave of adrenaline hit him. Flame averted his gaze, struggling not to contort his face.

Visions flashed through his head: visions of Gaius leaving him to die in Portus. Visions of being laughed at—once, twice, thrice, countless times. Visions of that leaf blade being pressed against his throat. He remembered the pain of every cruel joke Gaius had made at his expense, every insult, back when they'd first met.

As I was saying…

Flame: "... (Right, I'm trying really hard not to launch into a tirade over all the crap Gaius put me through right now. That's why my chest is tight.)" >_>;

Back then, he'd felt terrified of even being alone with Gaius when Alice was away. He'd always been too weak to fight back. Now, though…

Flame scowled. He ditched the careful wording he'd been trying to cobble in his head. There was no other way of saying this, and frankly, a part of him whispered that Gaius didn't deserve that kind of effort.

"Look, Gaius—I'll be honest," Flame spoke firmly. "I'm not doing this for you. You've treated me like utter garbage, and I'll never forgive you for that."

Gaius:

Flame: “No, I need to get this off my chest here Gaius. This has gone on long enough!”

Though still refusing to meet him, Gaius' eyes grew more misty. Somehow, that look pained him a little.

"The only reason I'm here," Flame continued, "is to help you get justice for your parents. Because it's the right thing to do. So, tell me: what happened?"

This part really surprised me back in the day. Flame really has changed from the scared, gaunt little newt who stumbled down the mountains into Aesernia by this moment of the story.

- Gaius narrows eyes -

Gaius: "Really Flame?"

Flame: "I- Uh... W-Well it'd be nice to not constantly be worrying about whether or not you're going to murder me in my sleep over taking you here. So... maybe there was more than one reason for wanting to be here?" ^^;

"Just leave me alone," came a frail, hoarse whisper in reply.

Flame felt a little bit of apprehension at the sheer weakness of that voice. However, he didn't let it show. "I can't do that."

Gaius: “Oh for crying out loud-” >.<
Flame: “Gaius, I’m trying to help you here. The least you can do is not push me away for once!”
Gaius: “Right, ‘help’... Like you haven’t already done a great job at that.” >_>;

Gaius' face contorted. "… Are you trying to get revenge? I-is that why you brought me here?"

Flame's scowl deepened. "Gaius…"

"Why, then?" The Grovyle finally turned his bloodshot eyes to meet Flame's. "Why did you make me see him?"

Flame: "... Because you were literally about to march yourself off to freeze to death in the mountains alone? Also, you never told any of us about your life story, so how on earth was I supposed to know that your parents' killer would be in the welcoming party?" .-.
Gaius: "Because that's what these 'mons do, Flame! I told you over and over again, and you just wouldn't listen to me!" >.<

There it was: that pang of guilt in his chest. Even his pent-up anger wasn't enough to suppress it. He averted his eyes from the Grovyle, but then forced himself to look again.

"I didn't know." Flame replied quietly. "How could I have known if you never told me?"

"Why did you think I hate your kind so much?" Gaius squinted his eyes at him. "Just out of propaganda? Please. I know they're monsters. I saw it."

Still kinda impressed at my track record of being able to call where the characters in this story are going to be going. Even if they’re not all always this immediate. :V

The temptation to jump to the Teutonii's defence lingered in Flame's mind. But that pained, angry look on Gaius' face gave him pause.

There was something else, too though. Glancing around the room, he sniffed the air. Underneath the stale smell, underneath the hint of sweat, he could smell something pungent. Something…

His eyes widened. He reached forward and quickly tore the sheets off an incredulous Gaius, revealing a metal flask firmly in the Grovyle's good hand.

Flame: “Gaius, are you serious right now?!” >.<
Gaius: “Flame, what the hell do you expect me to do?! I’m stuck in a mudhut village filled with bloody monsters that are only not roasting me over a spit since they think you’re some sort of creepy god-king!” >_>;

Flame's lip quivered at the sight; there was a sickly feeling in his stomach. "… Have you been drinking?"

"What the—what do you care?"

Flame: "... How the hell did you get that anyways?" ._.;
- Gaius points at a disused blade sharpener in the corner -
Flame: "... Right, I guess nobody would've really fought any requests for creature comforts the friends of [Our -------] would've had. (I thought that thing was just from a throwaway Discord joke!)"

Growling, Flame ripped the flask from Gaius' claws.

"Hey!" Suddenly, the Grovyle shot up into a sitting position, his red eyes awash with anger. "The hell is wrong with you?! Give it back!"

Well that's certainly one way to grab Gaius' attention there.

Flame ignored him and weighed the flask. It was almost empty. I thought you'd changed. At least a little…

Flame snorted. "How long have you been killing yourself with this?" He let his tail swing slowly. "Since Aesernia? Since before I came along?"

Gaius: "Flame, for gods' sake! I'm in a room surrounded by bloodthirsty savages in every direction in gods-knows-how-far! Just let me have a damn drink in peace!"
Flame: "Look, can't you give your liver a break and abuse some other substance for once? Like Stardust or Lansat Berries or... I don't know, anything?" >_>;

"Give it back," Gaius growled and stared him in the eye.

Flame narrowed his eyes in return; he tossed the flask behind him, landing with an empty metallic plink.

Flame: “Sounds like there wasn’t anything left drinking in it anyways.” >_>;

"You godsdamn fucking—!" Gaius shouted and lifted his leaf blade menacingly—and Flame froze in place, but so had Gaius all of a sudden.

Slowly, the rage contorting Gaius' face faded. His raised leaf blade quivered. Eyes squeezed tight, Gaius grunted as a lone tear rolled down his cheek. The fight drained out of him. Then he slumped over all at once: his leaf blade, his shoulders, his very neck as he stared down into his lap with more tears in his once-again lifeless eyes.

A sob wracked the Grovyle. "... Why are you doing this? Why help me?"

Was honestly not expecting that to end anywhere near as well as it did. Maybe. Gaius isn't exactly in a stable state right now.

Flame: "... Okay, the good news: I'm not dead. The bad news: I think I just broke Gaius." .-.

"I told you. It's the right thing to do." Flame replied sternly. "And because…"

He hesitated. There was something else, but he didn't want to admit it. The mere thought made him grit his teeth. Surely he couldn't still be so weak. Was it weakness, even? It certainly felt that way.

I mean, I know that Flame’s kinda on a character arc to become less of a doormat, but every so often there’s little things like the underlined that make me worry that he’s going to overshoot a bit before he hits a stable equilibrium.

Regardless, Flame let out a tiny sigh. "I'll be honest with you, Gaius. I think part of me was hoping this would feel like revenge. Sweet payback for the hell you put me through." He looked down. "But it doesn't. Friend or not, I… I can't stand to see you like this."

Flame: "Also would it be a good time to bring up that Alice and I are probably gonna die horribly if we're stuck as a duo for the rest of the story?" ^^;
- Gaius furrows his brow in still-sniffling annoyance -
Gaius: "O-Oh my gods. Flame, read a damn room!" >.<;
Flame: "... Right. Not the right time at all." -_-;

Gaius' eyes flashed with pain at that. More than Flame could process. "Just go," Gaius whispered. "I deserve it."

Flame: “O-Oh, well… if you insist-”
- From beyond the room Flame hears a voice chide him -
Brynn: “Herr Flame, remember you came to collect your friend’s testimony.”
Flame: “... Right. Let’s just take care of that quickly.”

"No." Flame channelled his self-frustration into a glare. "Not until you tell me what happened. Not until I get justice for your parents."

"You can't."

"I'll be the judge of that."

Gaius: “Flame, that ‘mon was some kinda hero to those freaks! They probably think him killing mom and dad was a good thing! Like hell they’re just gonna let you do anything to him!”

Flame: “Look, if I’m really this ‘god-king’ to them, don’t I deserve a chance to put my thumb on the scale?” >_>;

"But you can't." Gaius clawed at his face with his good hand, hunched forward. "All of them murder, don't they? They're fuckin' savages. Why would they punish that monster for something they all do?"

Flame frowned. "Gaius…"

Flame: "Again, I'm literally '[Our -------]' for these guys. I don't know if there's a limit to what I can ask for by waving that card around, but my batting average has been close to perfect so far. At least let me try to call in some favors here!"

"The only reason I'm alive is because you're their chief's son, and, and they think I'm your friend!" Gaius began shaking. Still clawing at his face, he gasped for air. "Otherwise they'd burn me alive like they did Dad! Like Mum who dived in after him. And Irene…"

"Gaius!" Flame grabbed him by the good wrist. "Get a hold of yourself!"

"Don't touch me!" Gaius hissed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Aaaand, yeah. Having your entire family literally go up in smoke in front of you will certainly breed a red-hot hatred or two. Even if I still want to see more of what the missing deets of Gaius’ early life are, since there’s a few lines of his from Chapter XXIX that I haven’t seen reflected in his recounted backstory yet.

But Flame only squeezed Gaius' wrist harder. "I can't promise you justice—but I'll be damned if I don't try!"

For once, it was Gaius who looked away.

"Now, tell me. What. Happened. To your parents?" After a few seconds, seeing the tears on Gaius' face, Flame's stern glare softened; he bit his lip. "I-I realise it's the last thing you want to think of. But I have to know…"

Gaius: "B-But I just told you, and-"
Flame: "Look, I need as much detail as possible to try and make a case, Gaius. Give me something to work with here."

Instead of saying anything, Gaius started chuckling. "What's there to say?"

"When did the attack happen?" Flame pressed. He wasn't sure if this was the right strategy, but…

Gaius looked too spent to resist. "Must have been ten years ago, now," he mumbled. "I was still a Treecko."

Flame: “Oh lordy, this is going to be something, I can already tell.”

Gaius: “Oi, you asked for this in the first place, jackass! Now sit down and listen!” >_>;

"And what happened on that day?"

"Look—" Gaius squeezed his eyes and grunted. "Just shut up. I'll talk."

Flame: "(Oh thank goodness, I thought he was going to just curl up in a ball and break down at that rate.)"

Flame merely nodded. Noticing he was still standing over Gaius, he sat down next to him on the bed.

"That day," Gaius whispered, "those demons came to our village. Led by that fucking Hydreigon." That last word was dripping with venom. "My parents went to help the garrison, to buy Irene… my sister and I more time to run. They didn't make it far."

Flame's eyes were glued to the floor. A sister… so Gaius had a sister? He'd never mentioned her before.

Gaius: "I just mentioned her like 12 paragraphs ago in the same breath as my parents!" >.<
Flame: "To be fair, you just gave me a name to work with. For all I knew she was a neighbor girl you had a crush on." ^^;

Gaius audibly held back a sob, his eyes clenched shut. "I watched that monster lift Dad up and drop him into a burning house. I watched Mum dive in after him… and never come back. Irene just grabbed me and ran as fast as she could." The Grovyle clenched his good hand into a fist. "There. That's my sob story. Happy?"

There is absolutely more to that story, I can tell. Though from very early on, Gaius had always given a vibe of having had a fairly miserable life, even so, the point of the story where it gets clearly laid out has always made me wince a bit.

No. Flame could hardly claim to be. Sitting there on Gaius' bed, he stared forward into oblivion, his stomach stewing with a concoction of pity, sorrow, and confusion.

Was that why you ended up a thief? Flame asked the void. Was that why you were always so bitter?

None of those stories excused the awful way Gaius treated him, but… it certainly explained a lot.

Flame: "... A-Also, do I want to know what happened to Irene there?"

"I'm sorry," Flame muttered. "I didn't know you'd gone through all that."

"Didn't ask for your pity," hissed Gaius, his eyes still red, still sitting in bed with his shoulders slumped.

The more time passed, though, the more Flame felt like something was amiss. The story wasn't sitting right with him. Gaius spoke of the Teutonii as amoral and blood-thirsty monsters, but then…

"Why?" the whisper escaped Flame's lips.

Because these are the same Pokémon that were happily snarling at you and raining death from above when they thought you were a random Imperial?

Like even if Gaius has been kinda sucking at it, “kind to friends, cruel to enemies” has kinda been the default state for people and people groups throughout history.

- Gaius narrows eyes -
Gaius: "You saw what they did to Nova Sperantia. What they did to us back in Camp Horizon. The hell are you asking 'why'?! That's what they do to 'mons like mom and dad! What they do to 'mons like me!"

"Ask daddy." Gaius muttered lowly, eyes squinted. "I've got no fucking clue why. Our village wasn't even near the front lines! All we had was… th-the plantation where Mum and Dad worked. And a temple."

Well, that would certainly explain why Gaius doesn’t exactly put stock in the gods in his setting.

Plantation? Flame looked on with concern; from what Alice had told him, aristocratic plantations were always staffed with slaves… But this wasn't the time for that.

Yeesh. I see even before his world went up in flames, Gaius didn't exactly have an enviable existence. It would certainly explain a thing or two about how he loves trying to lord things over others, since in all likelihood Gaius hasn’t had many moments in life where he wasn’t at the bottom of the totem pole.

"That's not what I meant," Flame continued, biting his lip. "You said your parents were helping the garrison. Did all the adults in the village do the same?"

"Wha—" Gaius looked at him as if he'd gone insane. "No shit, what did you think they'd do? Lay down and let the Scum have their way?"

There it was: the answer that Flame had dreaded the most. All the adults in the village, civilian or legionary, had fought as one against the Teutonii raid. Only the children had tried to run. The elderly too, perhaps. Gaius himself had been close enough to the fighting to witness his parents' detailed deaths. And yet, here he was.

I mean, given that laying down and rolling over meant likely starvation even if that raiding party didn't do anything other than pillage and move along... yeah, not too hard to see why those 'mons opted for the devil they knew.

Flame: "O-Oh..."

"Gaius…" Flame frowned, and stared into his eyes. "Why do you think the Hydreigon let you go?"

"... Wha?"

Flame bit his lip. "I said too much."

"The hell does that mean?" Gaius growled.

"Forget it." Flame shut his eyes. "I wasn't thinking clearly."

I mean, there were only a bunch of other adults yelling incomprehensible gibberish trying to take chunks out of him at the time. Even before little sentimental things like not having the heart to axe a pair of peasant children, I wouldn't pay attention to them either.

"… Tsk. Fine. Whatever," Gaius grumbled, yet kept staring into his eyes.

Regardless, Flame stood up from the bed and let his tail swing free. Head tilted up, he quickly ran their conversation through his head again.

"Okay…" Flame mumbled to himself. "I think I can work with that. Yeah, I can work with that." It wasn't what he'd hoped for. But it would have to do.

Gaius: “Yeah, I’m just going back to bed to cry for a while.” >_>;
Flame: “Oh come on! There’s at least a chance this could work out!” >.<

Turning towards the door, he paused and breathed deeply. One last loose end. "I'm contacting Daedalus in an hour to decide. We'll be in the next room."

He waited. No reply. Was Gaius not interested in having a say? Even when it came to his parents' killer? Somehow the thought made him both confused and angry. Wanting to be done and over with this conversation, he walked swiftly towards the door, and pushed it open…

Narrator: "He's not expecting to get any justice, so he's not bothering."

And honestly, I don't expect him to get any given how Daedalus framed Kamerad Trikephalo and the implications that has for how he's seen among the Teutonii.

Flame: "I-It's not that hopeless, is it?" >.<
Gaius: "Flame, I literally told you earlier they wouldn't do anything! Why would they?" >_>;

"Y'know, you could have left 'well enough' alone."

Flame paused there, with the door still half-open. He turned his head back.

"We were on an adventure," Gaius whispered, still sitting on his bed, his shoulders still slumped forward. "We had a dream to keep us going. I felt… part of something. How could you throw it all away?"

- Flame points back at the events Chapter XIV -
Gaius: "Is that seriously going to be your argument for everything?" >.<

Flame resisted the temptation to sigh. "We'd been dreaming long enough. Winter was coming, and you wouldn't have survived it." He kept his steadfast expression. "I saved your life, Gaius—you know that."

Gaius glared down into his sheets. "Did you drag me here just to brag about that?"

Flame: "Er... no, because I thought you'd be busy stuffing your face full of food and happy to not have to dumpster dive anymore." ._.
Gaius: "Yeah, well good job there. Thanks for just completely ignoring me so that way you could be with your mudhut fandom again." >_>;

"I never said you couldn't leave."

Gaius growled. "Oh, you bet your ass I'm leaving this… this hell hole!"

Flame's stomach sank. He squeezed his eyes shut. "Okay."

"You said a week. And in a week, I'll be gone, you hear me?"

"... Okay."

Gaius: “W-Wait, you’re not going to put up more of a fight against that-?” ._.
Flame: “Am I supposed to when you’ve made it painfully evident that you hate so much as breathing the air here?” >_>;

"B-but even if we both left," Gaius blurted out quickly, "Alice and I… you'd stay here. Wouldn't you?"

Flame: "... I mean, it'd be nice to not constantly be teetering on the brink of starvation for once..." ^^;
- Flame hesitates and thinks of Alice -
Flame: "But... I mean, if Alice were to leave... er..." ._.

"Yes." Flame replied without needing to think.

Gaius:

Flame: "... Huh, somehow I was expecting to waver more. But what can I say? Food talks, and being around Brynn and going around as '[Our -------]' isn't bad either."

"You don't even care, do you?" Gaius whispered down to the sheets. "All this time. All the bleeding and suffering and going hungry together… it meant nothing to you."

He did care. To a fault, perhaps, but he nevertheless felt the faintest of bonds of camaraderie tying him to the Grovyle. None of that changed his answer.

"I'm tired of running away."

Flame: “I just wish you were, too. Gaius.”

Gaius hung his head further. His misty eyes glazed over. "A-and if, say, both of you stayed… what the hell will be left for me out there?"

Fighting back a frown, Flame made to leave. "I don't know, Gaius. That's for you to figure out."

Ouch. Who knew that a Fire-type could be ice cold like that? Not that I really fault Flame for going this route given that he has had close to zero positive experiences in Imperial or Imperial-adjacent territory.

An hour had come and gone, yet Gaius was nowhere to be seen.

Whether he was still too traumatised to see any of the Teutonii, or he was convinced that no punishment would come, Flame couldn't know. Perhaps it both of those things. Regardless, it was too late now.

Narrator: “It’s the latter.”

Flame: “Oi, can we not have the free commentary from the peanut gallery right now?” >_>;

"Thank you for talking to him, Flame. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you."

Even though Daedalus couldn't see it, Flame found himself smiling sadly. "He's always been difficult."

On one level, this isn’t wrong, on another level, I’m kinda

at Daedalus taking this line of conversation when he knew full well he was statistically likely to be sending Flame on a wild goose chase.

A pregnant pause followed. Sitting at the wooden table where he'd eaten lunch hours before, Flame swayed his tail nervously, and clutched the badge in his hand tighter.

His eyes remained glued to the badge. He had to remind himself to breathe. Was Daedalus still processing all the information he'd given him? He couldn't bear the wait.

"… Daedalus?" Flame whispered.

"Yes, my child?"

He looked down. "There will be no punishment, will there?"

Daedalus: “My child, I’d like to remind you that the evidence you gathered was literally just-”

Flame: “Daedalus. Just. Answer the question. Please.” >_>;

There was only a couple seconds' pause. "Based on the account you just gave me… no."

Which was wholly unsurprising back in the day, since I saw that tone that Daedalus adopted in that communique a couple chapters ago, so of course he wasn’t going to about face and axe a pseudolegendary from his ranks over Gaius’ testimony.

Flame: "Wh-What?! But why?!" O_O;

Flame's heart skipped a beat. "O-oh."

He was surprised at his own lack of a reaction. Was it because he'd already known…?

"I'm truly sorry." Daedalus whispered sweetly. "I know you wanted to do right by your friend."

Okay, Daedalus.

"No." He swallowed. "I understand. It would be one thing if our warriors attacked civilians. But if those same civilians already think we'll kill them, and they fight us to the death…"

"Precisely. That is… a reality of war."

Flame: “And you’ve just never spammed Sleep Powder all this time on enemy combatants for their own well-being why?” >_>;
Daedalus: “One, I’m not sure if our battle scaling even works like that in this setting. Two, there’d be some… difficulties in getting that tactic widely adopted in the ranks.” ^;
Flame: “Because the Sleep Powder users would get singled out and targeted as a counterstrategy?”
Daedalus: “... Sure, let’s go with that.”

Of course, one could argue that it was the Teutonii who'd set out to capture the village—but what were they to do? If Daedalus was right, the Presence was a world-ending threat. The Teutonii army had to keep advancing.

It still surprises me a bit at how fast Flame's process has been moving in the story to become in sync with Daedalus', but... well, he has always been a bit of a naïf. I suppose that wouldn't really change for the 'mons he's taken a shine towards.

A sigh escaped Flame's lips. Then, without quite thinking, he leaned back in his chair, feeling his tail fire dim.

"Is it wrong," he whispered, "that I almost wish Hydreigon had murdered them in cold blood?"

"Things would be simpler, would they not?" Daedalus' voice sounded sympathetic, much to Flame's relief. "But war is rarely that simple. No matter how much we wish otherwise."

I can already tell that this is going to be very darkly echoed again at some point within like 5 chapters after this.

Flame nodded vaguely. "Still…" He gritted his teeth, squeezing the badge in his claws. "Why does this feel wrong, then? Maybe it wasn't a crime in this case, but... there has to be a reason if all those civilians are so afraid of us. It can't all be propaganda."

Because the way the Teutonii have been conducting the war is literally creating a self-fulfilling prophecy? ^^;

I mean, if a simple raid on a town results in no quarter for anyone who resists, why would anyone in Imperial territory opt to roll the dice on 'if we back down, maybe they'll leave us alone'?

Though he couldn't see him through the badge, Flame could imagine Daedalus hanging his head in thought.

"This conflict has been raging for twenty years, Flame. Twenty long years of violence, of mutual hatred. Twenty years of propaganda," Daedalus began solemnly. "Some atrocity or another is bound to have happened—but the Empire makes us out to be blood-thirsty devils. They flood their subjects with so much terror of what we'll do, that many choose to fight to the death rather than capitulating. Your friend's parents were no different."

Flame: “Wait, but how does that square away with what we saw at Nova Sperantia-?” ._.;
Daedalus: “Emphasis on ‘fighting to the death’, Flame.”
Flame: “(That… didn’t sound like the version of events I heard out there, but I guess it wouldn’t be impossible for both to be true at once?)”

Of course. He recalled the way everyone spoke of the 'Scum' back in Aesernia: not even as barbarians, but as bloodthirsty devils, for whom killing and torturing were the entirety of their culture. It was unthinkable to consider them otherwise. Most pokémon had either never seen a Teutonii, or had only done so in battle; how could they ever learn the truth?

The indoctrination had reached the point that even Alice, a rational and inquisitive mind, struggled to escape that mentality.

Come on, Flame. There is such an easy way to shoot a hole in this entire line that Daedalus is feeding you if you stop and think about it for just ten seconds...

Yes, it made sense. It all made too much sense. And Flame couldn't stand it.

"We shouldn't even be fighting the Empire." He narrowed his eyes, squeezing the badge in his palm tight. "They're innocent in all this. They're not even our real enemies!"

Daedalus:

Flame: “... Look, you know what I meant, Daedalus. Exactly nobody normal has any idea about this whole ‘Presence’ thing out there!” >.<

"Indeed. But alas, our true enemy hides on those islands beyond the southern sea. There lies the Gateway that we must close. The same one we entered this world through." Daedalus spoke solemnly, if bitterly. "And… at the moment, we have neither the forces nor the means to reach their islands. Fighting their puppets is the only option that remains. Fight… until we reach the southern coast."

So that was the Teutonii's grand strategic objective; finally, Flame understood. From the southern coast they could mount an invasion; swarm the islands with ships, perhaps teleport small strike teams on it.

But how many tens of thousands of innocent Imperials would have to die to get there? How many thousands of their own depleted warriors?

I'd pitch Plan Bagauda given its track record in Galicia IRL but... yeah, good luck finding willing takers with that one after everything that's happened over the past 20 years.

Alternatively, you could try threatening the Portus Option on Urbe itself to try and force a unilateral surrender from some combination of relevant provinces. That seems a bit more efficient 'monpower-wise than trying to set everything down to Agia Marina aflame and then launching an invasion off the smoldering ruins.

There has to be a better way. Flame glared at nothing in particular. A way to make peace with the Empire. To help them understand…

He wanted to growl in frustration. If only he still had his memories! Perhaps there was something useful in there, some tidbit of information about the Presence that could make all the difference.

Daedalus: "I mean, I suppose there's the route of trying to make peace by marriage into their royal line..."
Flame: "H-Huh?! Th-That really would work?!" O///O;
Daedalus: "... But I'm pretty sure that would just result in any sitting Emperor agreeing to it being deposed by the Presence. Let alone one with the current one's -ahem- popularity problems."
Flame: "O-Oh. I was getting excited for a moment..." :<

At the very least, the knowledge that they would all come back with time comforted him.

Brynn. Flame made a small, determined smile. I'm going to ask her to start my memory therapy tonight. If we can find something useful in time…

Perhaps there can be another way.

I mean, you could try conquering someplace in a fashion that doesn't result in wholesale depopulation of the prior inhabitants and then show proof of life afterwards, Flame. I mean, it might take a few tries given what the average Imperial expects of your fanclub, but hey, if you want to make your journey south easier…

"Forgive me, child," Daedalus spoke up, "I must return to my duties now. I have a war council to assemble."

"O-oh!" Flame's eyes widened. "Right."

Flame: “W-Wait, should I be bothered at all that you’re just going off to talk about a military campaign that’s effectively a depopulation event for half a peninsula?”
Daedalus: “Reality of war, Flame. We don’t exactly have a better plan at the moment.”
Flame: “... I mean, I guess... (Gods, that one’s gonna be awkward to explain to Alice.)” ._.

It touched him deeply that Daedalus was still so readily willing to find even ten minutes to talk to him—despite being at the front lines.

I can already tell that this is going to read very differently some point in the future.

"Thank you. For… speaking to me." He smiled down at the badge sadly. "I guess the only thing left to do is to tell him."

"I can do it for you tonight." Daedalus added softly. "You have gone through enough stress as it is."

Flame: “... Er… for your and Gaius’ own well-being, you really shouldn’t do that, Daedalus.” O_O;

"No." Flame shut his eyes. "I brought him here. My choice. My responsibility."

"… Very well," Daedalus said, and though he ended the transmission, Flame could have sworn he'd heard a hint of pride in those words.

Oh yeah, confirming every fear Gaius aired to you going into this back and forth and then giving him a rationalization for it that there's no way in hell he'll accept at face value. That's totally was going to end well. ^^;

So Gaius was going to leave.

Of course, Gaius himself had already told him as much—but that had been in the heat of emotion, with the Hydreigon's fate still in question. He very well could have changed his mind later.

But then Flame had informed him of said fate. He'd gone into Gaius' room again. And the hollow look in his eyes…

I’ll admit, back in the day, I was surprised that Gaius basically just rolled over for all this. Even if it only proves temporary.

I have to wonder if Flame will think about this turn of events in the same light in about 5 chapters.

Flame: “Err… maybe I should’ve taken Daedalus up on his offer, really.” ._.

"Herr Flame?"

He jolted back into reality with a tiny gasp, blinking. He was sitting on the floor. Brynn was sitting just in front of him with an uneasy smile. They were both in his room.

"Two." She showed him the two glass marbles in her hand. "I-it's your turn, now. If you still want to play."

"Oh. Right." Flame glanced down.

Flame: "S-Sorry. I... just have a lot on my mind right now." ._.;

Between the two of them was a spattering of small glass marbles delineated by a string circle. He could feel the smooth texture of his shooter marble in his palm. Each of the marbles on the floor glimmered in the orange of his tail fire.

"Sorry. It's just so odd to think," Flame muttered softly, "that in a week, he'll be gone."

"But… isn't it a good thing?" Brynn asked with drooping ears. "You said he was cruel to you. What kind of friend does that?!"

Brynn:

Flame: “... I mean, on one level Gaius honestly would deserve that. But on that other, something about it just feels… cruel.” ._.;

Flame stayed quiet for a few moments. Suddenly he wasn't so interested in playing anymore. The air felt cool on his scales as it blew through the paneless windows.

"Gaius wasn't a friend." He steeled his face. "I deluded myself that he was, near the end, when he respected me more—but the more I think about it…" His lip quivered. "He never even said 'sorry'."

I mean he was trying towards the end in his own way. But... yeah, I don't fault Flame for not really noticing that at the end given that there was a lot of crap Gaius put him through in the first half of the story.

"I don't understand. Why are you sad, then?"

"It's not that simple, Brynn. Friend or not, he's been around me for… my whole life, as far as I remember." He chuckled bitterly at that. "Every single day. For two months."

"Oh…"

Brynn: “... With all due respect, but that’s probably a sign that you didn’t drink enough at the beer hall while you’ve been around us. Since that feels like a strange thing to have nostalgia for.”

"It doesn't even feel right to let him go in this state!" Flame said just as another chilly gust of wind blew into the room, onto his scales. "Winter is almost here, and he's traumatised; barely even looked conscious when I went in… How far would he really make it out there?"

Brynn: "... I'm sorry, but didn't the 'mon literally almost kill you on multiple occasions in the past two months? If he's so insistent on going off to freeze alone, why are you so bothered by it?" :?
Flame hesitates and paws at the back of his head -
Flame: "I... just don't want that to happen to him if it doesn't have to. And I really think it doesn't..."

Brynn shot a hand up to cover a gasp. "You'd force him to stay?!"

Flame considered the idea for a moment—but quickly grimaced, and shook his head. "I don't know." He shut his eyes. "Maybe. I… need more time to think."

Gaius' trauma wasn't going anywhere. The Teutonii who'd caused it weren't going anywhere. Staying here would only remind him of his parents more, prolong his suffering—his drinking, too. Perhaps they could try to take him to warmer lands down south, or in the eastern desert?

Oh, well that’s definitely a different train of thought from Flame than I remembered in the v1. Though I think that I like this one more anyways since it definitely comes off as more thoughtful and consistent with the idea that Flame still has a couple lingering attachments to Gaius that the v1 version didn’t have.

Brynn was quiet for a few seconds. "You've already done more than he deserves. Th-that's what I think."

"Deserve?" Flame scowled, throwing a glance her way. "That sounds a bit… cruel. Especially from you."

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" Brynn fidgeted uncomfortably. "Okay, it's true—I still see him as an enemy a little bit. But it's more… you've already saved his life at the ambush, right? You brought him here when you didn't have to. And you're trying to get justice for his parents. What has he ever done for you?"

Flame: “Brynn, don’t you think that’s a bit harsh-?”
Brynn: “Herr Flame, he was literally ranting about how we were demons and bloodthirsty savages for multiple hours...” >.<
Flame: “... Right, that was more than a little messed-up for him. But I do owe my life to him on a couple occasions… (even if he almost invalidated that on like three times as many other points in time.)” >_>;

Flame cracked a tiny smile. In that moment, those words from Daedalus echoed in his head: that warning that he was putting the happiness of other pokémon before his own.

Maybe you're right, he told his mental image of Daedalus. I already have enough headaches of my own: my past, the Praetorian Guard chasing me, this entire war… why shoulder Gaius' headaches, too?

- Meanwhile up in his room, Gaius curls up and looks somehow deader inside -
Gaius: "Nrgh..."
- Back in Flame's room -
Flame: "... (Wait, did Gaius somehow pick up on that?)" ._.;
Brynn: "I mean, it's a valid question, no?"
Flame: "Yeah, it's just... I wonder if I should be taking things a bit more slowly. It's a big decision after all. And I've got a week. Isn't it my job to try and at least get Gaius to look out for his naked self-interest?"

Remembering that he still held onto his shooter marble, he glanced down at the string circle. At the scattering of marbles within.

He squinted. If he hit that marble first… and aimed for the one behind it…

Without warning, Flame leaned forward and knuckled down; then, he flicked his shooter. When all was said and done, he'd knocked half the remaining marbles outside of the string circle.

"Seven," he declared with a small grin.

I’m actually curious now by IRL standards as to how good of a marble player Flame is. Though those feats definitely sound impressive for him.

"What?!" Brynn gawked at him, shoulders slumping. "B-but how? You don't even know your own strategy!"

Flame shrugged, and glanced away with a sheepish smile. "I don't know. Something something… superior dragon genetics. Muscle memory."

Brynn: "... I'm calling shenanigans there, since I've seen Kamerad Trikephalo play marbles, and I can shoot circles around him all day."

Flame: "To be fair, he doesn't have thumbs, so..." ^^;

In reality, he himself wasn't sure. Just how much had he and Daedalus played before coming to this world?

Must’ve been an ungodly amount given how much of a marble prodigy Flame is.

Flame shook those thoughts from his head. Not the time.

There was something more important on his mind. Something only Brynn could help him with.

"You know," he said softly, "I'm not really in the mood for marbles anymore."

"But… but…" Brynn frowned—until she glanced down to compare her marble pile with Flame's much larger one. "I-I guess we can stop."

Ah yes, wounded pride. The best way for cutting a game short.

Fighting back a grin, Flame gazed confidently into Brynn's eyes. "I'd really like to start my memory therapy. As soon as possible." He gazed out of the window, at the darkening sky outside. "If this war we're fighting is so important, I have to do something to help."

Brynn's mouth morphed into a small 'o'. "Yes! Yes, yes, of course!" Still sitting, she quickly scurried up to him and knocked marbles away in the process. "We can do it right now. D-do you want to start right now? I really really don't mind, I've been waiting for you to ask!"

Faced with such enthusiasm, Flame couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you, Brynn. Really."

"Yay!" Brynn sat upon her calves, her bushy tail wagging behind her—before glancing away. "P-please don't get angry at me if I see anything, um, private. Okay, Herr Flame? I can't really avoid it and, and—"

"Brynn." He said sternly. "Relax. I know that."

Given what Yvaine had to say about how memory linking is seen in-setting and given how Brynn is reacting to the chance of getting to poke into Flame's memories... you are never going to convince me that there's not some subtext to some of that dialogue.

Brynn nodded hesitantly, and Flame couldn't help but feel uneasy. Was she… intimidated by him?

Flame: “(Seriously Daedalus, what the hell have you been telling the Teutonii about me?)” .-.

"Besides," he chuckled to calm her, "better you than Alice. Things are already complicated enough between us right now."

Although… if it's something major, I'll have to tell her eventually, Flame mused to himself. She made a promise to be honest, and I should be too. No more hiding.

"… Oh?" Brynn's eyes grew a little. "I-in what sense?"

Ah yes, someone getting a little unnerved at the idea of there being another competitor for the affections of [Our -------]. >:V

"She hasn't been completely honest with me thus far." He rubbed the back of his neck, fire-tipped tail swinging behind him. "But we're trying to change that! I know she's a sweet, genuine pokémon at heart, so don't take that to mean you can't trust her. Okay?"

Brynn: "... Herr Flame? I think you need better friends." >_>;
Flame: "... Considering who I've been calling 'friends' this story... probably, but Alice is trying to be a better one and hasn't been responsible for half-a-dozen near death experiences, so..."

After a moment of apprehension, Brynn looked relieved, and nodded. "Come on—let's start now, Herr Flame!"

Flame nodded, and breathed in to relax his muscles.

Brynn's forehead slowly approached his. "Close your eyes and—"

It was at that point that the door to his room creaked.

"… May I?" came the muffled question.

Flame: “Oh my god, is that seriously Alice just slithering in through the door right now?” >///<

That voice…

"Alice?" Flame gasped.

Alice: "Flame? Are you there? I wanted to talk about-"
- Alice enters the room and sees Flame and Brynn leaning in to each other, before looking at her awkwardly -
Alice: "Flame, what are you doing?" >:|
Flame: "I-It's not what it looks like! Th-There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this!" O_O;

But by then it was too late. Alice was already peeking through the barely-open door, her sky-blue scales contrasting with the gray stone walls and wooden floor.

"Hello, Flame. I… hope I'm not being a bother." She said quietly, a guilty look on her face. She opened the door a little wider. "Gaius wants to be left alone, and I don't quite know where to sta—" Her face tensed upon locking eyes with the extraneous Braixen next to him. "Ah! G-g-greetings."

Flame tensed, too; his eyes darted between Alice and an equally tense Brynn.

"H-hey, Al!" He smiled sheepishly. 'Al'? Since when did he call her 'Al'?! "We were just, uh, playing…"

It was from this point on that I knew that this encounter was going to be top comedy.

Alice: "... And how have you two been playing?" >:| Flame: "I-In a completely platonic, non-romantic way!" O_O;
Brynn: "To be fair, if you did want a to play in a romantic-"
Flame: "Oh my god, Brynn, please! I'm already dying from how awkward this all is!" >.<

Shit. Shit. Why hadn't he planned for this? Alice was understandably still nervous around the Teutonii, and from how Brynn still spoke of the Imperials…

To say nothing about how there’s just this stranger girl all up on Alice’s crush right now. >:V

Pushed by a new sense of urgency, Flame cleared his throat and glanced over to his side. "A-anyway, this is Brynn. Brynn… this is Alice. She's my friend I told you so much about—remember?"

That remark seemed to alleviate Brynn's glare—if only slightly. Her tail was still as stiff as a log.

Alice, for her part, stood unsure a while longer before hesitantly slithering closer. She swept some marbles away with her tail, then settled on the floor—by Flame's side, yet still far from Brynn.

Somehow, I didn't pick up on Brynn flatly glaring at Alice from the earlier description. It's a bit more hostile than I initially read, though... yeah, Flame's reaction checks out if that's how she reacted to seeing Alice come in.

Also:

"My apologies," Alice added after an interval of silence. "It's… my first time talking to one of your people."

Brynn merely nodded in agreement.

Alice seemed confused by that. "Can you understand me?"

"Yes," came the Braixen's quiet reply—thankfully she was broadcasting to him, too.

Alice: "Also, I just want to reiterate that Flame and I are very, very close friends. Very close."
- Alice beat moment, before catching herself -
Alice: "B-But still platonic! We're just in the middle of working some things between us out and-" O_O;
- Brynn folds arms with a small click of her tongue -
Brynn: "So, then there'd be nothing wrong if he decided to explore less platonic relationships with someone else, hm?" :?
Alice: "Wh-What?! No! Er... I mean, n-now's not the right time to dwell on the topic!" >///<
Flame: "... Look can we just go back to you two introducing yourselves to each other?" >.<;

"Oh!" Alice pulled back for a moment, as if taken aback by something—but then seemed to hesitate. "W-well, that's quite the relief." She smiled curtly. "On my approach, a-all I could hear was Flame talking to himself. I feared he'd lost it completely!"

"Wh-what?" Heat flooded into Flame's cheeks. "It sounds like that?"

"It sure does," Alice lifted her tail to mask her snickering.

Even Brynn's glare weakened; the Braixen visibly held back a smile. After a moment, she relented and joined Alice in laughter.

Flame: "... Did it really have to go like this again?" >.<;
Brynn: "Sorry, Herr Flame. But you had to admit it was pretty funny." ^^;

Flame looked away and felt his tail fire sputter, but nevertheless felt the weight easing off his shoulders a little. Even if at his expense, it was a relief to hear them laughing together. That's a good sign—right?
"Believe me," Alice smiled candidly, "it would hardly be your first sign of psychosis. Need I remind you of that time a week ago, when you, oh… jumped off that bridge?"
Laughing nervously, he crossed his arms together. "A-and who was it that followed me down?"

"… Touché."

"Tsk. I'd argue that makes you crazier than me. I-it's literally that old proverb! The one about jumping off a bridge if someone else told you to!"

Alice quirked her brow. "Flame—are we truly arguing over who's the least stable between us?"

Flame: "M-Maybe?"

Brynn: "... Is this one of those Imperial traditions of yours? I’d heard that your piping wasn’t healthy for Pokémon, but this is still… unexpected, to say the least." :?

Flame blinked, then laughed at the realisation. Gods, he'd missed being able to speak to her so casually. He could tell Alice had too from the dumb grin he'd left on her face. Yet, there were still traces of lingering unease. They had yet to fully forgive each other, and that was fine. .

He adjusted his expression accordingly, clearing his throat adopting a more somber look. "You said something about Gaius?"

Alice averted her gaze. "He's… in the midst of another emotional breakdown." She settled down on her coils. "To be perfectly frank, I can barely tolerate being in that room. The sheer pressure in the air… i-it's too much. I'm feeling lost enough as it is."

Alice: "Also it reeks of sweat and booze badly enough that I can smell it down the hallway." >///<
Brynn: "... I'd question how on earth he could sweat so much as a Reptain, especially at this time of year, but I won't fight the narration on that one." .-.

"Stay with us, then." He whispered sweetly. Then bit his lip. "Oh—r-right. Are you not comfortable around Brynn?"

Alice looked tense for a second. "No, 'tis quite alright. I simply… need to get accustomed to it. Um—are you comfortable, miss Brynn?"

When Flame turned to glance at the Braixen in question, he found her much closer to him than before—almost using his body to hide from Alice's view.

Brynn merely nodded in reply.

- Alice stares uncomfortably at Brynn's proximity to Flame -
Alice: "... You can just say 'no', you know!" >.<
Brynn: "Oh no, trust me. I'm more comfortable around a friendly face."
Flame: "(Can you two possibly make this any awkwarder right now?!)" >///<;

Flame wanted to ask if she was all right, but decided against it. Alice looked like she was trying to find a topic of conversation. Better to let the two make proper first contact.

"So…" Alice began. "I believe it was you at the harbour earlier, correct?"

Brynn looked down; her ears drooped. "Yeah. S-sorry for listening in."

Narrator: “She is absolutely not sorry aside for maybe for being caught.”

"No matter," Alice replied with a kind, if tentative smile. "I understand that Gaius and I must be… quite the unusual sight."

Brynn nodded wordlessly. "N-not the only one."

The Braixen then tried to steal a glance at him, with such coyness that almost made Flame feel bad for teasing her so often. Almost.

Alice: "..." >///<;
Flame: "(I am so, so glad none of that reaction of hers isn't canon.)"

"I wanted to thank you," Alice continued. "For helping him recover his memories."

Flame blushed a little at that. He wasn't sure why.

- Flame thinks back to Chapter XVI -

Yvaine: "Our minds would become connected via a psychic link. Technically speaking, we would both have equal access to each other's minds—among those of us with psionic powers, it is usually considered a gesture of trust, and … well, matehood."

- Flame beat moment -
Flame: "Right, that's why I'm blushing right now." >///<
Brynn: “In my defense, Herr Flame, our author has said it’s more comparable to two Pokémon sharing a bed together…” ^^;
Flame: “Yes, and that would be awkward at this moment, too!” >.<

"... How do you know that?" Brynn blinked. She turned to him.

Flame shrugged, a bit sheepishly. "I told her about you."

Brynn covered up a tiny gasp. "Y-you did?!"

... I see that among Teutonii psychics, sharing thoughts is similarly seen as a sign of intimacy if that reaction is anything to go by.

Alice: "... Flame, should I be concerned here?" >:|
Flame: "No. Not at all. Her looking at my memories has no special meanings or implications at all!" O_O;

"Braixen aren't exactly known to be the most powerful psychics," Alice continued. "To be able to help him when you're not even fully evolved… Your psionic powers must be amazing!"

But Brynn seemed too flustered to hear her. "Wow. I didn't think you'd…" She fiddled with her digits. "Er, I meant—Herr Flame and his father mean a lot to our people. It's the least I can do for him."

"I see." Alice glanced at him. "Because Flame really needed that extra boost to his ego."

Brynn: "Hrmph, considering what he's said of what he had to endure from his other so-called 'friend', perhaps he does-"

Flame: "Okay, moving on!" >.<

Flame chuckled reflexively, averting his gaze as blood rushed to his cheeks.

Next, she studied Brynn intently. "On the topic of your powers. I apologise for the intrusion—I realise we've only just met, but…" Her voice betrayed excitement. "You're a Heartspeak user, are you not?"

"... Heartspeak?" Flame blinked.

Flame: “... The primordial form of communication from Silver Resistance? We have that in this setting?” .-.
Alice: “Technically, it’s a bit different in function in this story even if it shares a name…”

Brynn, on the other hand, suddenly looked uncomfortable.

"Yes, you must be. How else could I be understanding you?" Alice turned to Flame, her eyes utterly gleaming. "'Tis an exceedingly rare psionic ability. Similar to telepathy, but transmitting emotions instead of worded thoughts. It can actually cross language barriers!"

It wasn't until now that Flame realised how much he'd missed her 'encyclopaedia mode' rants.

"H-how do you know of Soulspeak?" Brynn tried to steel her face. "Only Lord Daedalus knows."

I mean, I suppose you could do worse than Seelesprache for a name for this sort of ability. Though the contrast in names is a cute way of showing some comparative cultural quirks between the two sides of this story.

Alice rose a little, tail tip resting on her chest. "Well—not to be immodest, but I am rather well educated."

Flame made a point to roll his eyes theatrically, all the while still smiling.

"For centuries, Heartspeak has near single-handedly allowed diplomatic relations with the Far Eastern Kingdoms and steppe nomads. Without it, think of the myriad of languages and dialects we'd need to train envoys in!"

Oh, so there are little fire newts called 'Hitokage' and 'Pairi' in this world. :V

Flame blinked. But if that was the case… "How come no one thought of using it with the Teutonii?"

The glee in Alice's eye dimmed somewhat all of a sudden. She frowned, averting her gaze from his. "I suppose nobody thought of the invaders as a party that could be negotiated with."

Well this conversation is about to go places.

Brynn:

Flame: “... Brynn? Is something wrong?” .-.

Of course not, Flame thought with distaste. It was the same reason why all the adults in Gaius' home village had joined the garrison. Why no one back then had even thought of an alternative, of what might happen if they simply surrendered.

"Y-you're wrong."

That caught both Flame's and Alice's attention.

"Our people have tried negotiating for so many years!" Brynn whimpered, "Every time, your soldiers break the truce we just made and ambush us."

Flame: “...”

Alice: “Wait, you’re saying that all this time the Imperial Army could’ve engaged in diplomacy with you guys?! I’m sorry, but what the actual-?!”

"So you're saying…" Alice tilted her head. "But that doesn't make sense. If your people had attempted diplomatic contact—surely the national papers would be awash with the news! That would be unheard of!"

Flame: “With how liberally charges of ‘Sympathizing’ are thrown around, back in the Empire? Really, Alice?” -_-;
Alice: “... Okay, that’d probably be a bit optimistic. B-But the point is that word would’ve gotten out! Pokémon would know about it!”

A pained look flashed on Brynn's face. She hugged her knees tightly. "Most of my comrades with Soulspeak have… j-joined their ancestors." She looked down. "It's thanks to Lord Daedalus that I'm even alive."

Well that got dark fast. But it’s certainly in-line with the setting and also reality given how often Real!Urbe tried to welch on deals it cut with barbarians in its history.

"I don't understand," Alice lowered her head wings in thought. "Everybody in the Empire is tired of the war—even the Emperor. So many lives have been lost, provinces overrun… Wh-why would the Imperial Army target your peace envoys so systematically?"

Flame's eyes narrowed in concentration. "Probably because their real masters ordered them to." He met Alice's confused look. "The Presence. Those the Emperor calls 'Benefactors'."

Alice: “I’m sorry, the what now?”
Flame: “‘Our Benefactors’? The creepy Combine-vibing guys who do their best impression of the alien invaders from HL2? The same guys who skim off your harvests and slaves every year? Those Benefactors?”
Alice: “Wait, they can just tank a diplomatic initiative for years like that?! B-But why?!” O_O;

Brynn nodded in support. "They already destroyed our people's homeland. And, and now they're trying to enslave all the pokémon in this world!"

Alice looked as if she'd seen a ghost. "… It was them that caused the Teutonii's migration?" She breathed shakily. "N-not portal storms, or, or climate shifts? All those leading theories…"

Flame: “

Since at the rate things are going, I’m pretty sure that all those other things are going to be second-order effects of their activities, since… burning a continent kinda kicks up a lot of ash.”

Flame shook his head. "Almost half of their original numbers were wiped out in the Wasteland. That's what Daedalus told me."

Alice did not reply. She merely sat there, absent, her eyes wide agape.

Flame: "Wait a minute. Alice, why is this so surprising to us when we literally found out that 'Our Benefactors' are skimming off the Empire's annual harvests and batches of war slaves?" :?
Alice: "Because we didn't see that canonically, and none of that entailed them pitting millions of 'mons into a fight to the death that didn't need to happen!" O_O;

"I… see, " she muttered after a little while, blinking. "Forgive me. This is all still rather overwhelming. Why…? Why would the Benefactors try to wipe you out?"

"Because we are the only ones left who can stop them."

Ah yes, time for Daedalus actually exchange words with someone else on Team Phalanx for once.

Flame's heart jumped with joy. There, in the open doorway, floated a Dusknoir whose smile alone made his tail fire swell.

"Daedalus!" Flame stood up, before gasping as Daedalus lifted him into the air.

"My child…" Daedalus gazed down at him in his arms. "I can't begin to describe how happy I am to see you enjoying normalcy." He said sweetly. "Playing marbles, talking to your friends…"

"H-hey!" Flame squirmed in his arms, his sheepish smile feeling like it might melt off at any moment. "I told you, n-not in front of the others!"

Ah yes, that’ll stop him, Flame. :V

Daedalus put him down, laughing all the while. "Of course, of course. How are you settling in?"

Flame breathed deeply, trying to find the right words. His first day had been confusing. He felt safe for the first time… ever. He didn't have to plan his days around finding food. He had an actual bed—a house. The town itself was fascinating. As if that weren't enough, everybody in it worshipped him! Why? What had he done for them?

Flame: “(Daedalus? Seriously, what have you been telling everyone about me?)” ._.
Daedalus: “(We’ll discuss sometime later in private.)” ^;

"It's been… strange." He looked up into his eyes with a smile. "Beautiful, but strange. There's so many questions I need to ask you…"

Daedalus nodded. "It's only natural that you do." He looked down suddenly. "I won't hide that I can't always be there. I have a people to lead and a war to wage. But rest assured—I plan to spend every moment of my free time by your side."

Flame nodded, feeling significantly more fuzzy inside. "Thank you."

... I mean, I still don't trust Daedalus there for reasons scattered throughout this story, but I'll admit, that was cuter than anything involving a Pokémon based around the Grim Reaper has any right to be.

Next, Daedalus turned to Brynn, who had actually stood up and was still bowing her head with squeezed eyes.

"Hello, Comrade Brynn." Daedalus smiled. "Please, stay seated."

Her eyes flew open; she threw herself back down. "Y-yes, Lord Daedalus!"

"Thank you for helping Flame integrate into our people in these trying times. And for helping him to recover his memories. Though it may not be obvious, your contribution to our cause is… invaluable."

Brynn wagged her tail so hard that Flame thought it might dent the floor. Her eyes were sparkling with joy.

I feel as if it should be ever so slightly concerning how animated Brynn is getting from Daedalus' praise. Though given how he's perceived as a divine prophet figure and she apparently directly owes her continued life to him... yeah, I'll give her a bit of a pass here.

Finally, Daedalus' single red eye turned to the last pokémon in the room: Alice. The moment their eyes met, Flame could have sworn she'd cowered a little.

Daedalus nodded. "Greetings, miss Alice. I don't believe I've properly introduced myself."

"G-Greetings." She nodded back curtly. "'Tis… quite alright. We met in difficult circumstances."

"Indeed." Daedalus made a curious smile. "Flame was rather adamant that we rescue you and your Grovyle friend, too, despite my own misgivings. You must share quite a bond with him."

"O-oh." Alice muttered in reply. "I see."

Flame: "Oh my god, Daedalus why would you just blurt that out loud?!" >.<
Daedalus: "Was I really supposed to openly lie to your friends, my child?" Flame: "When the alternative was saying that, yes!" >.<
Alice: "It... would've been a bit less awkward if you didn't just imply that you'd have been happy to let me and Gaius die if Flame didn't speak up, just saying." >_>;

She was scared. Flame couldn't exactly blame her: he recalled the things she'd confessed to him just yesterday. The possibility of her imperial past coming out. The sheer terror of being used as a political tool for marriage.

To be fair, I still suspect that she'd be a bit less frightened if it came out who that most likely candidate for marriage would be. Even if it would rapidly swing over to awkward hilarity.

He wouldn't let that happen. Besides, he trusted Daedalus completely.

Which will totally never come back to bite Flame in the ass ever. /s

"I can see you are uneasy."

Alice was breathing rapidly, her face tensed as though holding back a flurry of emotions. "Th-then I'm sure you understand why."

Flame couldn't stand to see her like this. Unsure what to do, he scooted closer to her and sent her the most encouraging smile he could muster.

To his joy, she seemed to smile back in appreciation—if still tensely.

"I realise it must be confusing, living among those who you've only known as enemies." Daedalus spoke reassuringly. "For what it's worth, know that I have no prejudice towards Imperial-born. You are welcome to stay here—if you so choose."

I mean, he only has a war plan that will kill off half of the Imperials on the peninsula under the current rules of engagement if it works, but hey. Progress! :V

Flame: "(Yeah, let's just not talk about that plan to keep plowing down to the Southern coast right now.)"

"I haven't quite decided yet," Alice said.

Flame swallowed, breathing in sharply. It was only fair. Only fair.

Yeah, no. I saw that reaction, Flame was quietly freaking out for a moment at the idea of having a noodle-less existence in a week and you cannot convince me otherwise.

"But if I am to live here, even in the short term… then I deserve to know."

To Flame's utter surprise, Alice rose from her coils; despite residual shaking, she raised her determined eyes to meet the Dusknoir's. And to think she called herself a coward!

"I want you to tell me everything," Alice said sternly. "The truth behind this war, b-behind the slaughters. This 'Presence'. Where you and Flame originate from. Everything." She paused to recoup her ragged breathing. "Too many have died. I deserve to know."

Bold of you to assume that you can just get an unbiased and accurate account from one Pokémon there who isn't exactly an impartial observer and has a history of playing fast-and-loose with the truth, Alice. Though I suppose a biased account of unclear accuracy beats the nonexistent one she'd get back home.

The only sound in the room was Brynn suppressing a gasp. Daedalus, meanwhile, simply floated there with his hands clasped together behind his back. Thinking.

Scooting right up against Alice, Flame slipped a hand on her middle. Her shaking eased a little, and she glanced at him with an appreciative smile.

"She's right." Flame looked into Daedalus' eye. "There's a lot I don't understand, either. I think we would all benefit from… knowing what's going on. To help us settle in."

Flame: “(Also, are you sure you can’t just explain what you told all the Teutonii about me here and now, Daedalus-)”
Daedalus:

At first, silence. Then, Daedalus met their eyes one after the other. "Very well. I suppose it is only fair."

Brynn's face brightened. "I'll get to hear the stories from Lord Daedalus himself?!"

Alice: “Should… I be concerned that you’re reacting to this like a cub hearing bedtime stories?” o_o;
Brynn: “Trust me, Dragonir. If you knew how much of an honor you were receiving right now, you’d be over the moon yourself.”

Alice drew a sharp breath. Her head wings flaring up in surprise. "Th-thank you," she said, then remembered to nod courtly. "I… I've spent the better part of my life thinking about this war. About how little sense it made." She looked down and squinted at nothing in particular. "Knowing I'm so close to the answer… I have to know."

"I respect your drive." Daedalus replied simply. "Why, I can tell you are rather well-educated."

Alice: “H-How the hell did you-?!” O.O
Daedalus: “I have my ways, and what can I say? I’m an observant ‘mon.” ^

Alice's eyes filled with dread at that. She grew rigid. It was subtle, for she must have been fighting to suppress it, but Flame noticed it right away and squeezed her scales to calm her.

He won't find out, he wanted to tell her. I'll make sure of that.

Narrator: "He's totally going to find out about Alice's background eventually."

"I—" Alice cleared her throat, trying to recompose herself. "Yes. Thank you. I shall try to keep an open mind about your people. B-but I won't hide that it will be difficult to let go of my prejudices."

"On the contrary." Daedalus smiled. He set his eyes on Brynn, then on Alice again. "For the first time, I see a Teutonii and an Imperial citizen sitting peacefully in the same room. Perhaps… there is still hope."

"Yes," Alice whispered. "Perhaps…"

Brynn nodded enthusiastically at that.

I mean, if one or the other of those two girls openly crushed on Flame right then and there, there’d be some pretty good odds of seeing Daedalus' professed hopes come crashing down in flames.

Flame smiled too, his gaze drifting up towards the wooden ceiling. Yes, enough with this stupid war. They had to find a way to make peace.

If no one else, he would find a way.

Uh… yeah, hold onto that thought, Flame. Since you’re probably gonna need it in short order in this story.

"If I may, I would like to begin now." Alice rose from her coils, trying—and failing—to appear taller. Fear flashed on her face. "Tens of thousands have died. Innocents, on… b-both sides, I'd imagine. Entire provinces have been devastated. Why? To what end?" She glanced at Brynn, face scrunched up. "Is it… to avenge what the Benefactors did to her people? Is that why this war is still going on?"

It was a fair question, all things considered; a part of Flame was surprised she had worded it so civilly.

"I do not seek revenge from the Empire, or those who live in it. You are victims of the Presence just as much as the exiles." Daedalus paused, a grave look on his face. "The only reason this war rages on… is because the Presence themselves wish it to."

Flame: "I'm sorry, what?" O_O;

"I beg your pardon?" Alice blinked. "But—the Benefactors protect the Crown! Their celestial bombardment has snuffed out peasant rebellions and pretenders alike. Why, the Eastern Satrapy's armies met the same fate a scarce fifty years ago, when they invaded our border provinces! T-true, the Benefactors haven't intervened in this current war, but… but…"

Ah yes, the Persia expy in this story. If obviously a bit worse for wear than its IRL counterpart in this analogous time period.

"Precisely," Daedalus smirked. "Why, if these 'Benefactors' are so benevolent and powerful, do they allow this war to rage on? For twenty years, no less."

Alice flared her head wings in surprise, then glanced away in thought. "I… I don't know. Nobody does."

Flame: “Okay, you’ve established that the Presence is dragging this war out on purpose, but… why?”
Daedalus: “Simple, really. My child.”

"The unfortunate truth is that this war benefits the Presence greatly. By withholding help, they have effectively ensured your Emperor's servitude in their grand scheme."

Flame gawked. So… they could wipe us Teutonii out if they truly wanted to. A shiver ran down his spine, through his tail flame. The only reason they haven't is to apply pressure on their subject—and, if I had to guess, because they can't be sure which village I'm in.

Flame: "W-Wait. But you came here two years ago, Daedalus. Where does the other eighteen slot in?" ._.;
Daedalus: "I mean, it's only be very strongly implied there's massive time dilation between our world and the Presence's... and they were willing to sit back and let Urbe itself be besieged 110 years ago before finally stepping in, so this is hardly a new practice for them."

Brynn, meanwhile, was wagging her tail like a giddy child listening to her favourite bedtime story.

Flame: “That’s… more than a little concerning right now, but anyhow, moving on!”

Seeing how Alice was still busy absorbing all that new information, Flame decided to continue.

"Daedalus." He looked up to him, unable to help a tiny smile. "Back when we first spoke properly, you told me that they seek to enslave all pokémonkind. That's their grand scheme, right?"

"Indeed. They wish to become the undisputed masters of this world—to bring every free pokémon under their heel. However, even that is not the most pressing reason why our people fight them."

"Eh?" Flame blinked, scowling. "Wh-what could possibly be more pressing?"

Flame: “Since mass enslavement and genocide isn’t exactly a pithy matter, you know!” O_O;
Daedalus: “Indeed, my child. But I assure you that I’m not doing this just for dramatic effect.”

"Their plans of conquest would take decades more to come to fruition. If we had such time, perhaps we could have found another way." Daedalus paused again. "However, in their pursuit of ultimate power, the Presence has upset this world's very fabric of spacetime."

Flame:

Alice: "S-Say w-wha-?"

"Th-the portal storms?" Alice recoiled, gasping. "The mystery dungeons? You're claiming they are to blame? Th-there were those who accused your people of controlling them—but, but I could never quite believe it!"

"Approximately two hundred and forty-five years ago, the Presence tore a rift into the fabric that separates our world from theirs."

Flame stiffened. The Gateway.

"It is the same Gateway that they use to travel between the two worlds. The same that Flame and I used to arrive here." Daedalus looked at them each in turn, his bright red eye captivating Flame's attention. "But the Gateway is like a cancer. So long as it is held open, the fabric of spacetime in this world will continue to unravel. Portal storms will continue to grow greater in intensity and numbers, as will the mystery dungeons left in their wake. Is that not already happening?"

Okay, I'll admit. It's harsh, but assuming that summary's remotely accurate, depopulating half a peninsula sounds pretty smalltime.

Alice's face darkened. She looked away, shrinking into her coils. "Portal storms used to be a once-in-a-decade event. Now, they're…" She shivered. "… Weekly…"

Once in a decade? To think that Flame could only remember three months of his life, and he had already seen two portal storms with his own eyes. He remembered the devastation that first storm had wrought to the forest. He remembered how the second storm had been even more powerful, ripping an entire valley apart. And they would only grow stronger in power…

The thought scared him.

Flame: “D-Daedalus? Where’s this going to go if it’s not stopped? How much time do we even have?” ._.

"Soon, the fabric of space-time may become so irreparably damaged that the only thing left… will be a single, planet-encompassing mystery dungeon."

Daedalus turned to a nigh-terrified Alice. "That is why our people fight. It is not out of hatred toward the Empire, or revenge—it is because we must spare the pokémon of this world from such an apocalypse." He floated closer to the window, and gazed out of it. "We must reach the Empire's Southern coast. We must reach those islands. We must close the Gateway, and ensure that it can never be opened again."

Oh, so it's basically the same existential crisis staring down Etherium, except quite literally man-made.

Alice + Flame: "..."

Daedalus: "Now do you understand why everything has happened?"

"Eh? Hold on!" Alice rose from her coils, "That doesn't make a lick of sense! Wh-why risk destroying the world they are trying to enslave?! Those two outcomes are mutually incompatible!"

"Even I am not fully certain." Daedalus admitted. "It is likely that the Presence knows the damage they are causing, but have reason to believe that their plan will succeed soon."

Daedalus: “Translation: they came here for cartoon critters to push around back on their homeworld, cocked a few things up in the process, and stuck us with the same existential problem as Xenoblade 3. And Flame’s the key to preventing all of that.”
Flame: “W-Wait. I… am?!” o_o;

"And…" Flame held his breath. "Is that where I come in?"

"Indeed. The Ascension Programme."

Flame felt his eyes widen. "That's…"

"The first word you spoke when we found you," finished Alice.

"The first word, you say?" Daedalus' eye flashed with interest.

Flame: "O-Okay, seriously. What is that thing such that this Presence is willing to pit millions of Pokémon against each other just to get me? W-What am I?"

Silence engulfed the room. Flame and Alice locked gazes, silently trying to decipher what this all meant.

"Daedalus," he spoke. "Help me understand. How exactly do I fit into their—"

There was panicked shouting coming from outside the window. Flame stopped, and felt his heart leap when he recognised the words.

"Herr Flaaame! Herr Daedalus!"

Flame: “Are you serious right now?!” >.<
Daedalus: “Sorry, my child. But it appears fate is dealing us some extremely inopportune timing with getting into the reason why you’re cosmically important right now.” -;
Flame: “What, am I secretly Ho-Oh stuck in this body after all, or something?”
- Cue a lack of response and Flame stiffening up -
Flame: “D-Daedalus, I-I’m not actually secretly Ho-Oh, am I? I-I don’t want to be stuck for the rest of my life as a rainbow feather duster!”

The alarm in that voice… Flame rushed to the windowsill. Daedalus followed, looming just behind him.

Below, barely visible in the evening darkness, stood a panting Manectric who stared up at Flame as if he were an apparition.

"[T-Thank the heavens]," she muttered, then stood to attention. "[Hurry up, a catastrophe is happening!]"

Flame blinked; he looked to Daedalus, whose single eye was narrowed, and then to Brynn, who looked utterly terrified.

Still keeping "Beeil dich" in mind for some of my own writings, even if I haven’t found a place to firmly use it just yet.

Alice: "Wh-What's going on?" O_O;
Flame: "Nothing good, I'd assume."

"We must go, quickly." Daedalus declared. "It would seem your Grovyle friend has taken matters into his own hands."

Flame: “Gaius, I swear to god. Of all the nights to do something stupid instead of just drinking and crying yourself to sleep in your room.” >_>;

Flame and Alice once again locked eyes. This time, in alarm.

"Please don't tell me it's what I think it is," Flame whispered.

"I'm afraid so. He has found Comrade Hydreigon."

Alice: "... Shouldn't we be more worried about Gaius given that he's attempting to pick a fight with a Hydreigon? How on earth can that possibly end well for him?" O_O;
Flame: "... That's assuming he didn't do something like try to cut one of his throats in his sleep. I mean, Pokémon in this setting aren't exactly built tough."

Brynn: "Uhm... H-Herr Flame? We should really keep this theorizing to sometime when your not-friend isn't trying to kill a beloved member of our community. Let's just make sure he doesn't do anything stupid for now!"

And onto the glimpse of things to come in this story, which will likely be the last of its kind barring Chapter XXXII surprising me and getting out into the wild in the next couple of weeks.

"They are watching me.

My claws tremble as I write this. I had begun suspecting as much years ago—now, I am certain of it. I was just clearing the bureaucratic clutter off my desk when I made the most shocking discovery: a magical eye, smaller than my own claw.

It moved. The spherical lens moved as I grabbed it.

My mind rushes with terrifying possibilities. My stomach is filled with shame—with the indignity of being subject to this. I, divine Augustus of the Empire of Urbe!

How many other eyes have they hidden in my chambers? Just how long have they been watching?

Did they want me to find it?"

— Excerpt from Emperor Adrian's private diary, dated 25 November 745 AUC.

Ah yes, the Truman Show teaser of the story. Though to answer Adrian's question there: yes, your Benefactors wanted you to find that, since it's not exactly hard to miniaturize cameras better than that with modern tech.

Gaius: "... I'm sorry, how are we seeing any of this again when this is the Emperor's private diary?"

Alice: "... How are you here for this to begin with, Gaius? I thought you ran off to pick a death match with a Hydreigon the last time we saw you." .-.
Gaius: "Non-canonical space, remember? A-And my author's not s-seriously going to make me pick a fight with a Hydreigon from these backwards savages i-is he? I mean, even I know that won't end well for me."

Flame: "You realize that explains how we're seeing this, right? And you could've done without the 'backwards savages' part, you know." >_>;
- Flame shakes head -
Flame: "Though it’s been a long review. I’m gonna take a rest here. We’ll go and find out what sort of trouble you're getting into next time, Gaius..."

And onto the recap:

Starting off with what I feel are the primary strengths, but boy does a lot of game-changing information come out in this chapter. Both about various characters such as Gaius and Brynn, and for the setting as a whole if Daedalus’ account of the state of affairs of Urbe’s world and the Presence’s is remotely accurate. In many ways, this chapter lives up to its title, since this is the point where I’m pretty sure meta-wise Team Phalanx can’t avoid the main conflict from now on, and it’s setting the stage for where they have to face it head-on… even if a number of things on a second reading give me a bit of a vibe that there’ll be a lot of bitter tears along the way in relatively short order.

As for stuff that I thought were weaknesses of this chapter… I mean, I’ll give it a bit of a free pass since the information that comes out is a bit startling and keeps one on the edge of one’s seat, especially for a first read, though I do wonder if Daedalus’ story winds up making things drag a bit this chapter, especially since it comes in the same scene as Alice and Brynn’s initial interaction. At the same time, knowing what goes down in the chapter after this one… yeah, all that information kinda had to be here in this chapter. I honestly don’t have a whole lot of other things to nitpick about this chapter, and most of the bigger ones I had back in the day have been smoothed out by the time I came around for this second pass.

Great work as always, @Shadow of Antioch . I’m looking forward to rounding out this series after the next update and moving on back to dropping reviews of new content… whenever you have it ready to share that is.

Kudos, and good luck with this adventure of yours. ^^

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Alright, took a while, but I think I’m ready to round out that second pass of Rebirth until you’ve got fresh content to share with the world. And getting it out before I get run over by NNWM and a few review events seems like as good a time to send things off as any.

So let’s pick right up with…

Chapter XXXI

Spoiler: Line-by-Line

Flame: “So… uh, right. Last time, Gaius ran off to go and try and murder a Hydreigon from snapping over Daedalus not doing anything about said Hydreigon killing his parents… and probably an ungodly amount of booze in his system.”
- Flame sucks in a deep breath -
Flame: “Alright, deep breaths, Flame. You can do this. Hopefully Gaius is getting cold feet over the idea of fighting a Hydreigon and we can sort this out right off the-”

Thermae Himerae

Booooooring…

Sitting back with his feet propped up on the table, Virgo exhaled, and watched his condensed breath hover over his little corner of the pub.

… Wait, how on earth is Virgo managing that considering how thick his tail is at its base? .-.

Flame: “Oh God.”

It was dark inside, even with the few measly torches placed along the walls. The Spinda bartender was still glaring at him from the penumbra behind the counter. The few other ice and dark-type customers were doing the same.

Is everyone up North this frigid? Virgo shivered a little under his furred, purple service cloak. And would it kill them to build a fireplace?

Flame: "I thought we were going to pick up from Gaius' perspective or something. Not this."

Virgo: "What. Did you really think I wasn't going to get more screentime, Flamey? I mean, I'd rather rub shoulders in person properly. But hey, I'll take what I can get."

Flame: "I-I'm allowed to have hopes, okay?!" >.<
Alice: "... Wait a minute, just what are you doing in Thermae Himerae anyways, Virgo? Aren't you a Praetorian? Why on earth would they just let you in?"

Gaius: "(Alice, you do realize that Thermae Himerae had an embarrassing excuse for border enforcement, right?)" >_>;

… His eyes then wandered to a pair of Abomasnow at the counter.

Okay, it would—but only the ice-types!

Virgo… doesn’t work with many Ice-types as a Praetorian, does he?

Virgo groaned and tilted his head back. He was bored out of his wits. He was cold. He couldn't drink, by Sycorax's order. And there wasn't even a brothel in this frigid brick pile of a city! He'd looked.

Bah. Didn't think I'd ever miss Aesernia. Why the hell's Sycorax keeping us here?

Honestly, reading through things a second time, I would be wholly unsurprised if Thermae Himerae was secretly sitting on a Presence drone base or something with how casually Sycorax just strolled into town.

… Or Virgo and the gang could be here undercover. Or Thermae Himerae could’ve been annexed a day ago. But still, the fact that that Imperial Praetorians could just come in here like this set all sorts of red flags off back in the day, and it still does.

Virgo: "Also, I can't set fire to the ground to make it toasty and crouch on it since I'm pretty sure I'll get kicked out of the bar if I do." >_>;

Virgo cast a disinterested glance down at his untouched oran juice glass. Damn it. I knew I shoulda stayed with the Navy. Why did I even listen to Yivvy?! She has fur!

I... never pegged Virgo as an ex-marine/sailor, though that would explain a lot about his appetites. Though I can’t tell whether or not the implication is that Yvaine also hailed from the navy herself. I mean, I wouldn’t think so given that her parents are from Edessa, but…

- Meanwhile thanks to Schrödinger's multiversal wibbly-wobbly portal -
Pyry: "Kaverini, veljeni!"

Pekka: "Veikka, he said he was from a navy. I'm pretty sure we don't want to hang around him." >_>;
- Beat moment -
Virgo: "... The hell was that mess of a language? You two aren't Scum sympathizers, are you?" o_ó
Pekka: "... I don't know what any of that meant, but we're just going to go back to our own ship in our own story and out of this freezing weather, thanks." .-.
- Cue Pekka hurriedly dragging Pyry back through the portal and blipping out -
Virgo: "... Dammit, I just realized those two were sailors. I should've ignored the weird language and asked them if they had any booze."

It didn't help that the pokémon in this frigid pile of bricks kept giving 'im and the other Praetorian Guards the side-eye. He couldn't believe it; why? Chicks loved bad dragons like him! Between the frigid local gals, the boredom, and the cold pricking his scales, Virgo had resigned himself to moping around until the order came to remobilise. Until…

I mean, even without the political considerations in play right now, you kinda seem like the type to wear out your welcome quickly, Virgo. :V

"Virgo. Correct?"

He blinked; in front of him was now a lithe, feminine-looking Servine. Her purple service cape and eagle-badged carrier bag identified her as a fellow Praetorian.

Virgo paused to stare. "Uuuh-huh?"

Virgo: “(Oh godsdammit, I knew I shouldn’t have skipped that move tutor session for Attract!)” >.<
- Virgo shakes head -
Virgo: “(It’s cool, it’s cool. Just gotta do this the old-fashioned way…)”

"Rumour has it," the Servine raised a curious smile, "that you and Yvaine already met this 'Icarus' we're after. Is it true?"

"Uh-huh."

Virgo scanned her over quickly. Lithe frame, cute almond eyes… yup, this one was a hottie. A smirk quickly grew on his face. And she'd just sat down right by him at the table!

Ah yes, Ms. Vines who Virgo was attempting to play matchmaker with in absentia for Gaius. :V

"Good." The Servine nodded curtly. "I was hoping you could tell me about Icarus. His capabilities, mindset, personality—anything that can help us survive a fight against him, should it come to that."

Virgo: “... Malnourished peasant kid who fights like he just came fresh out of field work and has a habit of running around like a headless Torchic in a bad situation?”

Servine: “Virgo, stop joking around. What’s Icarus really like?”

Virgo: “I… uh… wasn’t joking around there. Do I really seem like the type to lie to a cute girl like you?” ^^;

Kicking back on the table, he held the back of his head and laughed. "What, Flamey? Ah, he's harmless! He can spew a bit of fire at ya, but that's about it."

She made a disbelieving face. "I thought the General had called him 'far too dangerous to engage directly'."

"That's 'cause he'll crumple after one hit!" Virgo laughed heartily.

And two separate worlds will end shortly afterwards should that happen.

Though I suppose Virgo's not wrong with that assessment considering Flame's present state. Well, unless that weird MD thing going on with Flame just falls right out of the sky after you take a swing at him, but there's exactly zero hard past precedent for that becoming a reliable hazard for him and his buddies.

Flame: "H-Hey! I-I'm not that pathetic!" >///<
Gaius: "Uh... Flame, you're not going to win a fight with Virgo and Yvaine based off what I've seen of you. Much less with 40 of their buddies. He's got a point there." >_>;

Oooh, she was listening, all right. Virgo would have licked his lips if he could have. Finally! Here he was, chatting up the hottest gal in his cohort after so much boredom. Those cute almond eyes read 'smitten' aaaaall over.

Servine: "Virgo, you know that you're drooling right now, right?" O_ó;
Virgo: "Huh? Wha-? Oh, that, just the Oran juice. Stuff's real tasty." ^^

The Servine smiled curtly. "I see. And… how well did you get to know him personally?"

"Of course I know him well—we went on a mission together! Why, we're practically buddies."

I can already see Flame involuntarily flinching and ‘oh hell no’ing all the way back in Tromvik right now.

[ ]

"Hmmm. I do hope your friendship with him won't affect your duties."

Still smirking, Virgo shrugged. "Nah, I want these damn storms to finish as much as anyone. Hard to have fun when the world's kinda ending." He sent her a luscious look, making sure to bare his fangs. Gals loved a hint of danger. "But you look like someone who can have fun…"

The very beginning of this part feels like a bit where it might’ve benefitted to see the Servine’s reaction here and how Virgo would parse it.

Also, I’m not sure if "I've just found dinner!" is exactly the sort of mood that most find erotic, but hey considering how common those undertones are in vampire literature, it'd work with some personalities, at least. ^^;

The Servine looked surprised for a second. She covered her delicate laughter with a vine, gazing away shyly. "O-oh, my. Is that so? I'm… flattered."

- Virgo blinks at reaction and tenses briefly -
Virgo: "(Please don't be a [Vestal], please don't be a [Vestal]...)”
Yvaine: “(Virgo, are you seriously implying that would stop you?)” >_>;
Virgo: “(I mean, it’d be nice not to have a headache with the higher-ups after my fun, at least.) So... uh... yeah, wanna ditch this snowy brick pile and get straight to the entertainment?"

She seemed rather refined—probably some Southern noble gal looking for a thrill. Whatever the case, she was totally into him!

Virgo's mind raced with the possibilities. He had to sit up properly from the concentration. Finally, after so many months of abstinence! Think, brain, think! Would Yvaine mind if he used their tent? Maybe she wouldn't. Nah. Probably not.

So Virgo still has enough shame to not just go "hey, there's a closet, let's use that!" :V

Yvaine: “(Virgo, I’m right here next to you!)” >.<
Virgo: “(Not canonically, you’re not. C’mon, Yivvy, be a team player! We’ll work the details out later.)”

"Say, Virgo, do tell…" She smiled slyly, then snuck a vine to him, brushing it down his stomach… "Is it true what they say about you dragon-types?"

He suppressed a gulp at the contact. H-her vines worried him a bit, but… fortune favoured the bold! Or something like that.

Biting back nervousness, Virgo shot her another cocky look. "It sure is!" He smirked wider. "Why, maybe the two of us should find someplace quiet. Let ya meet the 'twins' a bi—"

I can already hear a couple mammalmons audibly gagging at the mental imagery in the background, since Virgo is certainly forward about his -ahem- equipment.

Her vine cracked; next thing he knew, Virgo's world exploded in pain, and he suddenly found himself groaning on the hard floor. Half of his face, as well as the arm he landed on, flaring up in throbbing pain.

"What I meant," the Servine sneered, "is that culturally, you're little better than the barbarian Scum."

Ohhh yeah, that one’s gonna come up again in the future. Even without remembering meta chatter of yours from various parts of the net, I can already tell from that framing.

Also ouch, even if Virgo kinda brought that on himself there.

"Oooow!" Virgo cooed, rubbing his injured cheek.

"Gods, you sound like some feral in heat. Woo one of the locals if you're so desperate!" Her words dripped with venom.

So Virgo really was openly drooling for a bit there with a reaction like that, wasn’t he?

Virgo felt his shoulders deflating as the Servine raised her nose and strutted out of the front door that someone else had opened. Meanwhile a familiar set of muffled footsteps approached him from the side.

"Awwww, come on!" Virgo grumbled to himself. "I had that one on lock! Doesn't she know what us dragons pack?"

"Not brains," Yvaine stated with a hint of annoyance. "That's the issue."

Virgo huffed with an exaggerated frown. "Mean."

The Umbreon strutted over in front of him. Her eyes were always so blank, so inscrutable, yet he somehow always felt judged by them. "It's for your own good. Locals are one matter, Virgo—but your own colleagues? What if the Lieutenant found out?"

Virgo hummed, and glanced up in thought. "It's been a while since I had a guy. He's not half-bad…"

Wow, maybe Virgo really hasn’t bedded anyone in multiple months.

"You're hopeless."

"Oh, come oooon!" Virgo grinned again and elbowed her side. "Have a laugh! You sound as prudish as ol' Flamey."

- Meanwhile off in the distance -
Flame: "I am not prudish! You're just weird!"
- Cue the other Praetorians in the room turning their heads to attention -
Virgo: "Don't mind that, he does that sometimes. Not enough to narrow down a hard location, unfortunately."
- Cue disappointed sulks as Yvaine shakes her head -
Yvaine: "I didn't know that impaired thought processes were a side effect of syphilis, but the more you know..." >_>;
Virgo: "Yvvie. We're in a frozen brick pile. Seriously, stop being such a killjoy right now!" >.<

For a moment, he could have sworn he'd seen an actual emotion flash on her face: guilt.

But it was a mere flash. She hopped onto a chair with the same blank face as always.

Wait, Yvaine feels guilty about keeping Virgo’s appetites in check? Or is that the mention of ‘Flame’ there that set her off?

"I apologise, Virgo." Yvaine sat next to him. "I confess that it's been difficult not to think about our situation."

Seeing her like that, Virgo couldn't help but smile sympathetically. He sat back down too, returning a few cold glares from the other tables. "Yeah, I feel ya. How much longer's Sycorax gonna keep us here? It's too chilly! Hell, I'm getting depression from just how cloudy it always is."

How's a 'mon supposed to have get it going around these parts? he wondered. Under Mamoswine hide?

Well, not having a quad weakness to ice would probably help with getting hot and steamy in these parts. That'd be a good start.

"Not that. It's everything. Our entire mission," Yvaine muttered. "Apart from his amnesia, Flame seemed almost entirely unremarkable at first glance. And now… the Benefactors claim he is the key to averting the apocalypse!"

Virgo: "... I thought that the entire reason why we found him was because he didn't seem unremarkable to your whole Aura thing going on. And then you got a lucky break picking through his memories." :|
Yvaine: "I meant in terms of what he can do, Virgo. (Or at least I think that's the intent there.) If you'd given me a report of what we observed of his physical capabilities, I'd have just as easily believed he was a random peasant or field slave!" >_>;

Virgo scoffed. "Bah, a bunch of gods they are." He crossed his arms. "If they have the power to stop these storms, these dungeons—they should just do it. They're gods! Are you tellin' me Flame's some kinda god, too?"

"Virgo!" Yvaine hissed, glancing around them quickly. "Are you trying to get our unit decimated?"

Virgo blinked, then laughed nervously. "… Oops."

Oh, so decimatio is still on the books in this setting. 'Wonderful'.

Virgo: "I-Isn't decimation as a punishment supposed to be historically anachronistic for our setting? I thought that we were supposed to have moved onto centesimatio all the way back around the time of the Year of the Seven Emperors."

Yvaine: "Yeah, well hidden cameras and very strongly implied bomber aircraft aren’t exactly period-appropriate either, so I wouldn't want to bet on that switchover happening in this world. In light of that, let's not get ourselves into a situation where we're drawing lots to see who’s going to be in that tenth of our unit getting turned into piñatas, hmm?" >_>;

After waiting to ensure no one in the dimly-lit pub heard him, Yvaine rested her head on her forepaws. "Logically speaking, I don't see how Flame could be responsible for the storms. He's barely left adolescence—whereas the first recorded portal storm dates back over a hundred years. And yet…"

Virgo tapped a claw to his chin. Flamey, responsible for a worldwide catastrophe? Absurd!

So that is Flame that was mentioned in the Castra Aeterna journal. I mean, I figured there was some crazy time dilation relative to labworld given that the Presence's technology has been fairly static even after multiple centuries, but still.

Come on, this was Flamey they were talking about. He couldn't hurt a fly! Heck, his bumbling antics had a certain charm to them. With time, Virgo was sure he could have gotten the guy to loosen up and get drunk together.

A frown crossed him suddenly. This time, he took care to lower his voice to a whisper. "I hope the Benefactors don't plan on doin' something horrible to Flamey. Seemed like a good 'mon…"

... I still can't tell if this is a prelude to Virgo eventually making some different life choices or a red herring. Since while Virgo's clearly bothered by the idea of making Flame suffer, I'm just not convinced he actually has it in him to turn against his superiors over it.

When he turned to glance at Yvaine, though, her blank eyes were wide in thought.

"Oi, Yivvy. You okay?"

"I simply can't stop thinking about it," she muttered.

Virgo: “... What, about me hitting on Ms. Vines back there?” :?
Yvaine: “Oh my gods, Virgo, seriously?!” >.<
Virgo: “I’ll take that as a ‘no’, then. So then what is bugging you, Yivvy?” ^^;

Virgo tilted his head. "This about that one time you were in his head? I thought you said you hadn't seen much."

"I didn't. Everything before a certain point in his life was too scrambled. But… you know how dark-types are aura-sensitive?" She shuffled uncomfortably. "I can't stop thinking about his aura. It was unlike anything I've seen before. Something about his soul felt—"

Virgo: "Didn't you just say that he seemed entirely unremarkable earlier in the text though, Yivvy?" :|
Yvaine: "Virgo, we've both come to the conclusion that we know what I meant there." >_>;

The high-pitched ring of a Chimeco startled Virgo. Muttering curses, he unclipped the badge from his bag and held it up.

"Attention, all units." Sycorax's synthesised voice crackled through. "Our Benefactors report a new Icarus sighting, one hundred kilometres east of your current location. Assemble at the gates for imminent departure."

Thermae Himerae really is a glorified airbase for the Presence, isn’t it? Since for a human military unit, this would take three days in order to march that distance overland, and even with strong fliers, it’d be hard to imagine them Sycorax’s unit getting response times under the realm of an hour or two flying at speeds that wouldn’t mess up any riders.

I dunno, something about how casually these distances are being thrown around definitely tripped my weirdness radar, even if Virgo didn’t outwardly give off vibes of him being familiar with the Presence’s toys.

"Already?" Virgo frowned. "Welp, I guess it beats sitting around in this dump." He stood up and adjusted his service cloak.

"C'mon, Yivvy, let's—eh?"

But Yvaine hadn't budged. Still laying on the ground, her eyes now contained a hint of horror.

Virgo: “Uh… Yivvy? Are you alright?” ._.

"Y-Yivvy?"

"It felt… completely out of this world."

Honestly, a part of me is convinced that it’s going to wind up turning out that Flame is somehow Giratina. The alleged tie to portal storms and Mystery Dungeons... the eldritch, otherworldly aura signature... the folklore of Giratina coming to destroy the world... the very title of this story.

On one level it feels like it must be some sort of red herring, but…

For all the years he'd fantasised about this moment, Gaius felt strangely calm.

"Sit."

In front of him, the mighty Hydreigon—a monster who towered three heads above him, with razor teeth and dozens of war scars—looked genuinely scared of being at the same table as him.

Gaius: "I mean, I'm pretty sure if this guy wasn't afraid of pissing off his almighty god-king, I'd be getting eaten alive right about now, but let's not look a gift horse in the mouth here." ._.;

They were the only souls in this dark, rickety-ass Scum tavern that he'd just emptied out himself.

Just him, that monster, and that blast seed clasped in his good hand.

Okay, yeah. That would also be a good reason to be afraid considering what those things do in this setting. ^^;

"You…" the monster spoke in his deep voice. "You speak our language? How?"

I never saw that one coming back in the day. Though I do wonder when in development you settled on Gaius having this particular background background, since it’s one of those character details that feels like it could be subtly hinted at here and there, but at the same time, I actually don’t recall that ever being explicitly foreshadowed in the text.

Though then again “something, something, don’t get myself in trouble as a Sympathizer” would be a decent enough handwave for Gaius never showing off subtle signs he can do this earlier.

It had been so long, Gaius felt half-tempted to ask that himself. He probably had a heavy accent by now.

"I said," Gaius muttered blank-faced, "sit."

I can already hear Gaius' "Ish sagte: setz dish" there assuming that Newspeak takes after some Romance languages in the neighborhood for its IRL counterpart.

As for how I know about that accent quirk. Let's just say I did some understudy for... reasons. ^^;

The monster hesitated, but eventually sat down on the bare floor. Even then he was so tall that he still needed to crane his main head down to be at Gaius' level. He refused to meet him in the eye.

"Kill me if you must," the Hydreigon rumbled. "But know that vengeance… won't end your suffering."

I still say that something is up with this guy, especially in light of how weird his entire moment ghosting the caravan like 7-8 chapters ago was. Since he sure gives off a lot of guilt over some nobody gecko. Almost as if something else that’s much more recent is bothering him.

Gaius: “... Really, you’re not even going to try to resist right now?”
Hydreigon: “I’d… really not like to be a social pariah for the rest of my life for offending our [-------]. Honestly, death is a pretty decent alternative to that.”

Gaius: “... Of course.” -_-;

Maybe. Maybe…

"I won't hurt ya. I just wanna talk."

Hydreigon: "..."

Gaius: "Look, bub. I could've whigged this Blast Seed at you at any time, just saying." >_>;

The monster glanced gravely at his hand, at the blast seed he still clutched.

Gaius almost felt like chuckling. In truth, he had no clue what the hell he would do with it. The seed had been useful in threatening the other customers out, but what now? Threaten to use it? Hydreigon were sturdy; Grovyle weren't. He'd only end up killing himself.

Did the Hydreigon know this too?

I’m guessing that making "[Our -------]'s list of people he forever hates" is potentially a fate worse than death in this culture. To say nothing about other potential sources of inner turmoil that could be on the mind of Kamerad Trikephalo at the moment.

"Ten years ago," Gaius began with a blank face, "I watched your warriors set fire to my village. I watched you throw my dad into a burning house… and when my mum ran in after him, I watched you collapse the house on top of 'em."

Slowly, he lifted his eyes to glare at the three-headed monster.

"Tell me—do you enjoy killin'? Does it rub you the right way?"

The dragon's dark eyes carried a weight to them, as though unfathomably tired. "I… despise every moment of it."

Yeah, this guy is absolutely going to become plot important later on, and there is absolutely nothing you can say to convince me otherwise.

Gaius: "Sure you do."

Hydreigon: "Look, if you would just let me speak here..." >_>; >_>; >_>;

"Why'd ya do it, then?" Gaius squinted. "Why attack our village?"

The monster hesitated. "Our people are at war. You know that."

Hydreigon: “Which is… a gross understatement considering what you Collaborators do to our kind, but let’s be polite and leave it at ‘war’.”

Gaius' claws shook around the blast seed. "We didn't even have a well."

"My people fight for the fate of the world, Grovyle. We had no choice. It's your Empire that chose the side of the evil Presence."

"My Empire?" Gaius chuckled bitterly. "I'm one of you, jackass."

Hydreigon:

Gaius: “(Seriously? Couldn’t have even used a new gif there?) And great job there, by the way.” >:(

The monster's dark eyes widened.

"Yup. My parents that you killed? Born in 'Hoffnung', wherever in hell that is. Imperial slavers took 'em and a buncha others one day. Put 'em to work in a plantation."

"Hoffnung…"

Moral of the story, don’t live in towns called some version of ‘hope’ in this setting. Though, I guess that explains why there's a Neuhoffnung sitting around.

I certainly wasn't expecting Gaius to have that background back in the day. Though it explains a lot about where his behavior in this story comes from and why he also has his antipathy towards Southerners, since... yeah.

"The worst part? You were supposed to save us." Gaius gritted his teeth tightly. "When the migrations started… my parents dreamt of our own people coming to our rescue. But then we heard of the massacres. Every town, reporting the same thing…"

[ ]
"Lies. Your masters fed you lies so that you wouldn't escape."

Well I suppose it's more polite and sympathetic than "screw your collaborating parents, they should've killed themselves back in the day to preserve their honor" since considering some of the things actual ancient Germanics got up to when defeated...

I do wonder if the Hydreigon should’ve had a moment to react and try to compose himself, since I kinda get the vibe that he’s supposed to be flustered and taken aback here, but it’s not explicitly stated.

Probably something worth considering for giving a hint as to how this guy ticks if you’re planning on using this guy more in the future. Which considering all the weirdness surrounding his stint as a scout back at that bridge in Basileia…

"Lies?" Gaius shot up from his chair. "Damn fuckin' weird for those lies to come true!"

"You act as if I wanted any of this to happen, Grovyle. I may have done the act, but remember… that it's the Presence's fault if we're at war in the first place."

Uh... yeah, that's a pretty understandable impulse for developing a burning hatred for these guys hotter than a thousand suns. Getting your life destroyed by what were supposed to be you and your family’s saviors will certainly leave a giant chip on one's shoulder.

Gaius' lip quivered. "Presence? The hell are you talking about?"

"You don't know?" The Hydreigon pulled back, a determined glint in his eye. "The evil Presence pulls the Empire's strings behind the scenes. They are already responsible for the extermination of millions of pokémon around the world, and untold numbers more through the portal storms they've caused. If it weren't for our [-------] and Herr Daedalus, our people would have joined them in their graves!"

Ah yes, that's how you decided to handle '[Our -------]' in translated speech. Though I'm still curious under what terms Brynn would explain its meaning, since there's a few options to choose from depending on what you want to play up thematically.

Gaius stared down at his stump. ‘Presence’… He tried to process that word but his head was too blank to do so.

Gaius: “Okay, I’m pretty sure that those are just the same thing as those ‘Benefactor’ twats, but exactly none of this is making me feel better right now…” >_>;

"I don't get it. What did my parents have to do with any of that?"

"We are in a war for the fate of pokémonkind," the Hydreigon continued gravely. "It wasn't their fault, but without realising it, your parents were helping those who wish to enslave the entire world."

"My PARENTS were slaves!"

Hydreigon: "... I suppose this would be a bad time to explain how collateral damage works to you, wouldn't it?" ^^; ^^; ^^;
Gaius: "Oh fuck off! You can't just 'collateral damage' your way out of throwing my dad into a burning building and then collapsing it onto him and my mom!"

In a fit of adrenaline Gaius climbed atop the table, face-to-face with the recoiling monster. "Now answer me seriously, you fuck! Why did my parents have to die in atrocious pain?"

[ ]
"I-I told you. My people fight to save pokémonkind from—"

"Bullshit!" Gaius gritted his teeth between sobs. "How the hell could destroying my village help save anyone, huh? How could killing my parents help?!"

The Hydreigon stared at him dead-on, dark eyes at a loss for words.

Another part that I think would’ve benefitted from showing off some body language since Kamerad Trikephalo is vibing as fairly unnerved at the moment, but we don’t really see how that registers for Gaius.

Also to answer Gaius, there's the tactical value of the foraging that this guy and his warband probably were able do from the smoking ruins of that plantation that likely kept them going for a while, but I think making that argument would probably make Gaius chuck that Blast Seed right then and there.

"What is it that you wanted? Land? Gold? Tell me!" Eyes full of tears, Gaius held up the blast seed in his good hand and squeezed. "There has to be a reason. Otherwise… it would all be so absurd!"

Cue replaying that one Daedalus quote from last chapter of “something something that is a reality of war”. Since, uh… yeah. At a micro-level, there is a lot of stuff like this in just about any war in history regardless of motivation.

The Hydreigon stared wide-eyed and said nothing.

"Why did they have to die, huh?!" His voice was starting to crack.

The Hydreigon stared.

Hydreigon: “L-Look kid, you already made it obvious you weren’t going to accept ‘collateral damage’ as an answer! Wh-What do you expect me to say?!”

Gaius: “S-Something, godsdammit!”

"Why?!"

Teeth gritted between sobs, Gaius jabbed the seed into the scales under the dragon's main neck. Yet the Hydreigon only stared.

"P-please…"

Tears blurred his vision. Suddenly his legs felt weak; he fell on the table onto his knees.

Hydreigon: "... I think that I should probably take my leave right about now while I can. But do you expect me to have an answer to accidentally killing some friendlies I didn't know about years ago? This is news to me, too!" o_o; O_O; o_o;

"A-at least tell me why you spared us." His lip trembled. "To this day, I still don't understand… Why kill them, b-but let Irena and I go?"

He couldn't see the Hydreigon's expression anymore—too many tears— but he was still pressing that blast seed to his neck.

Through those hard scales, Gaius felt the dragon's pulse quicken.

"Are you… asking me…" the Hydreigon whispered in his deep voice.

Hydreigon: “Th-That was ten years ago! I-I didn’t even remember that village of yours until you brought it up!” o_o; O_O; o_o;
Gaius: “No! That’s bullshit! You had to have had a reason! So why?!”

Gaius' eyes filled with tears. "Please—I have to know. I've been asking myself for all these years! If you'd finished the job… at least Irene wouldn't have sacrificed her sanity for me! At least then, I wouldn't have had to… to ruin so many pokémon's lives…"

Er... yeah, I'm guessing Irene is ancient history by now from that line (though you missed a typo there).

Hydreigon: “Y-You realize I could give you a more calm and collected answer when you're not about to blow one of my heads off, righ-?"
Gaius: "A-Answer me already, godsdammit!"

The Hydreigon's breath quickened, too. "It… it wasn't your fault, Grovyle. I promise, it wasn't…"

Gaius gritted his teeth. "Of course not!" he snapped. "This is all your fault, you stupid fucking—"

He sprung up and drew back a leaf blade; he took aim through tear-blurred eyes…!

…

Gaius froze and trembled, teeth gritted together, his blade still drawn. One swift stroke. That was all it'd take to end this monster's life. To cut his nightmare down forever.

So why did he have this empty feeling in the pit of this stomach?

… Because it wouldn't change how Mum or Dad died. Or Irena falling apart afterwards. Or the years of slaving away under the likes of Ariel while the world imploded around him. All of that would still be there waiting for him if he followed through.

All of it… all…

Ah yes, this one is definitely different than the originally published version of events, and frankly it's a lot better than it. Even if I wonder if we’ll ever get more of a glimpse of what those following years were like, or what exactly happened to Irene.

Quickly, his sudden rush of adrenaline petered out. His arms felt weak again. The tears were flooding forth again; the pressure in his chest building.

So Gaius' knees gave out. He crumbled onto the table, laying there splayed out, uncaring as he sobbed uncontrollably.

Everything else was a blur. His mind barely registered a shaky Hydreigon prying the blast seed from his claws, or the sound of the tavern's doors slamming shut.

And thus he was left there… alone.

This part still gets me. I can’t say that I ever imagined all the way back in Chapter V-ish that I’d ever feel sorry for Gaius like this.

Flame had to stop himself from kicking the tavern's doors open.

Instead, breathing through gritted teeth, he burst in shoulder-first, the momentum carrying him a couple of metres into the establishment.

"GAIUS!" His shout echoed throughout the cave.

… Sure hope those doors weren’t locked, since otherwise that’s going to be a bit of a repair bill there.

Flame paused, snorting jets of fire, and glanced around him. There! There was that damned Grovyle, half-slumped over a table near the centre of the cavern chamber! He had to suppress a sudden urge to douse him with fire.

"What in the world do you think you're doing?" Flame growled, stepping forward. "A blast seed? Have you lost your bloody mind?!"

Gaius:

Yet Gaius was unmoving. He merely groaned. "Great…"

Squinting in an icy glare, Flame swiftly closed the distance between them. "I was worried you were going to kill Hydreigon!" He slammed his claws on the table. "You forced all those pokémon out of here! Do you have any idea how scared you made—"

To be fair, Gaius got within about 5 seconds of actually trying to do it, so...

The words left Flame's mouth. He had just noticed what Gaius was holding in good hand: a half-full beer jug. And on the table were two more jugs, both empty and on their side. And that wasn't counting the spirits he'd had back at the house…

"You're…" Flame narrowed his eyes. "You're still drinking?"

Gaius: "Again, did you not hear me earlier?" >_>;
Flame: "... I wasn't expecting the sentiment to match up that much with the actual text... but th-that's beside the point! You can't expect me to just sit here while you get yourself drunk! You somehow manage to get worse when you're drunk!" >.<

Gaius glared into his jug with disgust as he swirled the beer around. "What do you want? Ain't got time for your… pity fest, or whatever."

"Honestly? I want to pity you." Flame bared his fangs, standing over the seated Grovyle. "But you've gone too far. You came here half-drunk; you threatened dozens of pokémon with a blast seed; you kept that Hydreigon hostage. This… this is too much!"

Oh Flame... if only you'd come literally five minutes earlier... and had an interpreter. Though I'd imagine hearing Gaius making angry throaty noises would've already been a shock to take in.

Gaius shot him a hazy glare. "Can't you let a 'mon enjoy himself in peace?"

"Wha—of course not! You're not in any state to be drinking, you fucking—!" Flame squeezed his eyes tight, and breathed in. Breathe.

'I spoke to him earlier,' he'd told Alice and Daedalus outside. 'I know what's going through his head. I can talk him out of it.' How on earth was he supposed to talk a drunkard out of anything? He was even swaying in his chair!

Uh... yeah, you really don't know what’s going through his head, Flame. Not that Gaius has exactly been soberly (har har) giving you the full details behind his life story.

I told the town he's under my protection, and when he broke into this place… nobody dared to stop him.

I'm the reason any of this happened.

He felt a knot form in his throat at the thought. All those townsfolk gathered anxiously outside… Would they ever trust his word again?

Flame: "... I mean, I'm assuming they will eventually since that whole '[Our -------]' sounds like a pretty big deal. But still, this isn't a good look for me." >///<

"Look…" Gaius whispered; guilt flashed on his face as his shoulders sagged. "I'm leavin' this hellhole tomorrow, okay? Just… let me enjoy one last drink. Plea—"

Flame:

Gaius: “Wait, what do you mean no-?!” O_O;

It was then that Flame seized Gaius by the wrist—squeezing it tightly. So tightly that Gaius' grip on the heavy jug trembled. It fell on the table and cracked, spilling what beer was left onto the table, then Gaius' lap.

"The only place you're going—" Flame squinted "—is home with me. Now."

Gaius' eyes widened. He gasped for breaths. "W-were you even listening? I'm giving you what you want!"

Flame: "Gaius. It's about to snow for the winter. You're going to die if you try to leave in these conditions!" >_>;
Gaius: "Wh-What do you care?! You have your mudhut fandom! Let me take my chances and just be happy with them!"

Flame yanked on the Grovyle's wrist: he threw Gaius off his chair and to the ground with a cry of pain.

"Shut up. You're drunk."

Flame: “... Which should probably worry me a lot more right now considering what happened the first time I ran into you drunk.”

With that, he slowly took his first step towards the exit. Then his second. Then more. Heavy, due to the Grovyle he was dragging behind him, but he walked on regardless.

"Y-you heartless bastard!" Gaius cried behind him; Flame could feel his writhing via the wrist he held. "I told you what that monster did to my parents! C-can't you just let me have this?!"

"No."

Technically, you didn't explicitly mention the manner in which he killed your parents or your heritage, Gaius. Since I'd imagine you'd gotten a lot more serious of a hearing from the community if you had.

By now, Gaius' frantic pants had turned into all-out sobs. "J-just leave me alone… What do you care, anyway?!"

Flame: “Great, now I’m asking myself that question right now.” >_>;

Pausing his march briefly, Flame glared at the door ahead with a snarl.

Fuck. You.

Flame: “God, I should’ve taken Brynn up on the offer to send someone in with T-Wave.” >.<

Slowly, he looked back, looked down to that sobbing heap of a Grovyle who stared back up through bawling eyes, his face contorted by pain.

"I-it's 'cause you hate me, isn't it?! You want me to SUFFER! Huh?!"

Flame: "Boy you are really making things tempting right now, Gaius... (Why on earth didn't I ask for a Sleep Seed before walking in so that way I wouldn't need to deal with this?)" >_>;

Anger coursed through Flame's veins—shaking his arms, his claws around Gaius' wrist and his gritted teeth.

Eventually, he snorted a small jet of fire. "Gaius. If you want to get home in agonising pain… then by all means, keep talking."

That’s really damn close to a ‘yes’, Flame. .-.

Though I’m pretty sure that there’s canonically a part of him that does want to see Gaius suffer for the first 15 chapters of BS he had to endure.

Gaius' face twisted in pain at his words. "I—I know why you're angry at me, okay?! But I was wrong about you! I'm… I'm sorr—!"

Flame's kick connected with Gaius' face mid-syllable; he sent him rolling into a nearby table. The impact shook the whole thing and caused a couple of abandoned drinks to fall and shatter on the floor.

"Sorry?! You think that's ENOUGH?"

... Can't tell if that's genuine regret or the beer talking from Gaius. Maybe both.

Gaius: "O-Obviously not, but c-come on! Fl-Flame, I can't do this right now!"

Adrenaline rushed through his veins; all at once it came to him, as though a geyser spewing off excess water.

"Do you have any idea what it's like?" Flame roared, tears filling his eyes. "To wake up one day, and remember nothing? Look at yourself in the mirror, look at the world around you, the pokémon you're with—and know NOTHING?" He paused, if only to blink away the tears. "I was utterly alone, Gaius. I felt terrified. And what did I get from you?"

Gaius: “...”

Flame: “Yeah, exactly!”

Gaius sobbed, hiding his face in his arms. "I ma—"

"You made me feel even more worthless than I already did!" He hurled Gaius another kick—it sent him crashing against the bar's wood counter, wheezing and coughing. "You left me to die back in Portus!"

>and put Alice up to trying to pass Flame off as a Scum
>and made Flame march on an injured leg, tried to disembowel him over crashing his beer party in Chapter V
>and almost drowned Flame in a shallow fountain
>and almost gave Flame an amateur tracheotomy on at least 3 separate instances I can think of offhand

Gaius: “G-Gods, I get it already! I-I suck, okay?!”

"I… I m-made a—"

Flame spat a stream of fire at the Grovyle.

Gaius screeched. He screeched as the flames clung to his form, rolling back and forth maniacally to put them out. When they went out, he was left panting as smoke wafted from his lying body.

That moment when a sequence that would normally be hugely cathartic becomes "Wait! Not like that!" thanks to seeing the context of the 5 minutes beforehand. .-.

I mean, not that Flame knows that and wasn’t ultimately going to let Gaius have it at some point, but...

"Why did you pull this stunt, huh? To ruin my new life, too?" Flame gritted his fangs, and snorted a small jet of fire. "The townsfolk… I still don't get why, but they look up to me. They revere me." Suppressing a frown, Flame turned his hands over and looked down at them. "I don't like it. They make me out to be someone I'm not. A hero that doesn't exist… B-but, in any case, I was the one who ordered them not to bother you." He clenched both his fists tightly. "And now you've gone and mortified me in front of them, you fucking—!"

"I MADE A MISTAKE!"

Flame paused; his leg was still tensed in mid-kick.

Flame: “... Wait, you admitting that you did something wrong, Gaius? Is hell freezing over right now?” .-.

"I… I made a mistake." Gaius gasped for breath as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Even after everything you've done for the team, for me… all I've done is treat you like crap!"

Flame: "'A mistake' is kinda short-selling things there. Though now I'm feeling kinda terrible for not letting you speak up earlier." ^^;

Flame stood there and stared with pursed lips. He swished his fire-tipped tail slowly, back and forth.

"M-maybe I just wanted to feel in control again." Gaius curled up into a fetal position on the floor, sobbing. "Holed up in Aesernia, that shithole, for two years… I couldn't take it anymore. You looked like an easy target. B-but I was wrong!" His voice cracked. "You're no weakling. You're… m-much stronger than a shit like me can ever hope to become!"

I mean, yeah. Considering Gaius’ backstory, I absolutely buy that 'chance to lord it over an apparent Southerner to make up for your sucky childhood that was arguably ruined in part by Southerners' was informing Gaius’ behavior in the early story. Not that Gaius would be in the right frame of mind to explain that coherently here and now.

Flame's lip quivered. He looked straight down at the quivering Grovyle, towering over him. He stank of alcohol and sweat. Gods… look at how pathetic you are.

"You made me realise that, Flame. When you… s-saved my life, back in that damn ice dungeon. You showed me how miserable I was." Gaius weakly pushed himself up to his knees. Tears still streaming from his reddened eyes, he stared down at his hands—or rather, his hand and stump.

And to think I used to be scared of you. He almost felt a perverse pleasure in seeing Gaius like this. Almost…

... Not that Gaius didn't need to get something like this off his chest to Flame eventually, but I do wonder how things are going to turn out once Flame gets the actual full life story of the team Reptain there.

Despite the anger, Flame quickly found himself tempted to glance away.

"I… still don't understand why." Gaius' voice was down to a whisper. He raised his reddened eyes to look at him directly. "Why did you save me, back then?"

Flame found his own eyes widening. "… What's that supposed to mean?"

"I was awful to you—would have deserved it. I was dead weight, too. Why risk your life for me…?"

Flame: “Didn’t I already mention this once in the past? I don’t like seeing Pokémon suffer?” ^^;

Flame let his thoughts settle for a second. He didn't regret saving Gaius, he knew that much. Saving his and Alice's lives was something that still swelled his chest with pride.

Somehow, though, the way that question was asked disturbed him.

"No one deserves to die like some feral," Flame said dryly. "Not even you."

- Beat moment -
Gaius: "I-Is that where you get stupid ideas like worrying about 'mons that literally almost tried to behead you?" >.<;
Flame: "Look, it just genuinely makes me uncomfortable to know I let others die, okay! Maybe there's some sort of reason for it I don't know about, but that's just how I am!" o_o;

Still on his knees, Gaius smiled—but it was an exhausted kind of smile that only unsettled Flame further. "See? I could never be like that…"

What are you getting at, Gaius? Flame thought with narrowed eyes.

"I'm sorry," the Grovyle glanced down. "F-for everything I did to you. To the team. At this point, the best I can do is to g-get out of your life." He paused. "I'm leaving at sunbreak."

Flame:

Flame's eyes widened in surprise; but then he squeezed them shut, shaking his head. "For Mew's sake—why am I even listening to you? You've clearly drunk your brain as well."

"No, Flame! It's not just the alcohol talking!" Gaius cried out, eyes wide and bloodshot. "I decided that before I even came here! I… I can't stand being here another week. Having to remember what I did to Irene… to Alice… to you."

Flame: "... Can't tell if I should resist this more or just go ahead and start preparing Gaius' funeral." .-.

Flame tried his hardest to keep a serious expression, but couldn't do it; his heart wouldn't stay still.

At dawn? In this state? He glanced over the still-kneeling Grovyle, his shoulders slumped forward, his eyes wide and hollow. He looked utterly broken. Would he even be sober enough by sunbreak?

If you have to ask the question, Flame…

"S-stop being so dramatic," Flame muttered, trying to sound angry. "Can't you just wait until Alice decides what she'll do?"

But Gaius shook his head vigorously. "I don't wanna ruin your lives more than I already have."

For the first time since setting foot in there, Flame was at a loss for words.

Flame: "... Yeah, I really should've brought a Sleep Seed for this, since there's no way you're thinking rationally in your present state, Gaius." >_>;

I don't understand…

Why? Why are you saying all this?

"You'll die," Flame stated. "You know that, right?"

Gaius barely seemed to hear him.

Flame: “Oh my god… Gaius, you’re not actually trying to kill yourself right now, are you?”

"It'll get colder out there. You'll be traumatised and alone. With no one to turn to—no home to go back to."

Gaius' wide, bloodshot eyes trailed downwards.

Flame: "You... didn't think any of this through, did you?" >_>;
Gaius: "L-Look, I wasn't focusing on that in my planning!"

"… You don't even know where you're going, do you?"

"Just… leave me alone…" the Grovyle whispered.

That sense of dread building up in his stomach only intensified. His heart was hammering in his chest.

'Why did you save me, back then?' Those words wouldn't get out of his head.

Uh… yeah, this moment in particular definitely made a number of earlier ones involving Gaius going back to Chapter XV take on some vibes in retrospect. Though considering how unenviable Gaius’ life had been even beforehand, I kinda wonder if it’s his first rodeo with suicide ideation or if this is something he’s also had happen to him during grimmer moments in his life..

No, not just those words. There was something about this entire situation that made him queasy. First the blast seed. Then that strange question. Now, this.

He has to know how dangerous it is out there. Does he really want to—

Flame: “... That Lilo and Stitch gif from earlier suddenly feels a lot less funny now.” ._.
Gaius: “The what now? Flame, are you doing that fourth wall thing again? A-Anyhow, if there’s no reason for me to be here, I’ll just get going now-”

A shiver crawled down Flame's spine. He stared down at the kneeling Grovyle.

"Gaius… are you trying to die?"

No answer came, yet the way Gaius' features flashed with guilt told him all he needed to know.

Flame: "God, I am so not prepared to deal with this. I really should've brought that Sleep Seed."

Flame stood there. He stood there and watched with trembling claws, his glare intensifying by the moment. "… That's it, isn't it? You've given up."

"N-no, I—"

Flame smashed his foot right in Gaius' gut and sent the Grovyle crashing back against the counter, before crumpling down on the floor, wheezing and coughing.

Flame: “... I just broke every single rule in the book for how to handle this situation, didn’t I?” ^^;
- Flame shakes his head -
Flame: “Whatever, someone needed to smack some sense into Gaius before he hurt himself. Might as well be me.”

Flame's clenched fists shook.

"You think you can just… run away from what you did to Alice and I?!" Flame clenched his jaw. "From whatever happened to your sister? That's… that's the most insulting thing I've ever heard!"

Grovyle: "I-It's not running away, i-it's penance!"

Flame: "Oh yeah, 'go off into the woods and check out from life after the cold claims you overnight', some 'penance' there!" >_>;

Gaius choked a sob and curled into a fetal position. "Wh-what do you care, anyway?!"

"What do I care? What do I care?! Of course I fucking care!" Flame contorted his face into pure rage. "Just because I hate you, it doesn't mean I want you dead!"

Gaius: “Wh-What the hell?! H-How does any of that make sense?!” @.@
Flame: “Again, I don’t like seeing ‘mons suffer. That include ones whose guts I hate.” >:|

Gaius sobbed from the floor. "I-it's just… everything's so fucked…"

Somehow Flame found the strength to close his eyes, and, for five seconds, he let his thoughts settle.

He's right, spoke a small voice inside him. Why do I care?

... Flame, you're scaring me there. ._.;

He's been nothing but a bully to me.

I hate him.

… Why, then? Why did the thought of Gaius giving up anger him so much?

Something something prior traumatic experience getting others killed and a lingering “no, never again” reaction in your subconscious. Or at least I’m pretty sure this story has been heavily hinting at that given the way Flame reacted to pulling a Blast Seed on that triarius Scyther back in Chapter XVIII.

The Grovyle just lay there and buried his sobbing face in his arms. "There's nowhere left for me to go. No one else I know. The whole world's going to hell with these portal storms…" He sniffled. "The hell do I have left to live for, huh?"

Flame merely pursed his lips.

- Flame sucks in a sharp breath -
Flame: "(Alright Flame, think this through. Say the wrong thing, and Gaius really will run into the woods to freeze himself to death.)"

- Beat moment -
Flame: "(But... it's Gaius... and if that's what he really wants...)"

That small voice inside him whispered that Gaius didn't deserve this kind of effort. After all, had the roles been reversed, Gaius would never lift a single claw to help him up.

And yet…!

Flame cringed internally, growling in self-directed frustration. [ ] He glared down at the palm of his right hand.

Am I… still really that weak?

Can’t tell if the “that weak” is directed at “I should stop letting Gaius guilt me and let him die” or if it’s at his indecisiveness. It might make sense to drop in an extra sentence somewhere in the third paragraph to make it more obvious to readers which direction you’re going there.

From his fetal position on the floor, Gaius let out another long, choked sob. "J-just what the hell've I got left to live for, Flame?!"

"Me."

"… Wh-wha?"

Flame: "Okay, I'm trying really hard to not make this sound too corny, but..." ^^;

Determination etching on his face, Flame clenched his right hand into a fist. Then, he outstretched it towards Gaius.

"Stand up," Flame commanded, "and fight."

Flame: "Just saying, there's literally two other Pokémon that could really use your help. And a whole world we need to save. If you really need a reason to keep on going..."

A set of wide, watery eyes stared back up at him from down on the floor. There was something in them that Flame couldn't read. Was it sheer confusion? Or was it… awe?

"What are you…?"

"Enough with this," Flame continued, his hand still outstretched. A sneer crossed him. "I won't let you wallow in pity any longer. Stand up."

Gaius: "I-I'm sure that if I were sober I'd find this corny and sappy as hell." >///<
Flame: "Maybe, but you asked for a purpose, and here it is. So... will you accept it?"

Perhaps it was the emphasis behind those last two words; whatever the case, Gaius weakly pushed himself onto his knees. He kept staring at Flame's outstretched hand.

"Wh-why?"

"Because… if I let you go out into the world, you'll die. You'll die cold and alone." Flame felt his breathing becoming heavier. "It's true that I hate you—b-but that doesn't mean you deserve to suffer. No one deserves to suffer like that."

Least of all since there’s decent odds that Flame still gets war flashbacks of the early part of Chapter I where… yeah, Flame isn’t exactly a stranger to being on death’s door cold and alone.

I kinda wonder if this bit would’ve benefitted from some more explicit callbacks on that front, but eh. It does its job.

Gaius produced a bitter smile. He laughed breathlessly. "I'll be fine out there. I'm used to scraping by…"

"I'm not giving you a choice."

Gaius: "U-Uhm... F-Flame? You do realize that I literally have deep seated childhood reasons to not like that sort of phrasing, r-right?" o_o;
Flame: "Gaius. I'm sure you knew what I meant. Don't undercut the moment!" >.<

At that, Gaius stared up at him with befuddled eyes; for his part, Flame merely kept a stoic face and an outstretched hand.

"Don't know what to do with your life? Start by making it up to me and Alice. Help me put an end to this stupid war."

Gaius' lip quivered. It quivered as if trying to say something, but failing.

Unspoken translation from Gaius: “Flame, did you hit your head?! How the hell could you expect to even begin to make a difference there?!

”

"Now, stand up." Flame ordered. "I won't ask again."

While I kinda figured that 'help us' is where Flame's argument was headed, it makes sense. Part of me wonders if Flame would've been quite this forceful towards Gaius if he fully knew about his backstory, since... yeah. If Gaius were a bit less deep in self-loathing right now, it wouldn't be that hard to imagine him heavily recoiling from a more commanding tone or else interpreting it along unhealthy lines.

… Though then again, it’s Gaius. I wouldn’t be super shocked if he burned through his extra pity points in that hypothetical within the first five lines of dialogue back and forth since he’s just got a way with people like that.

Once again, Gaius jolted at his command. He lifted his good hand but hesitated just short of Flame's. "Why do you care? No one's ever… cared this much before."

Flame: “Have you ever considered that had you been less of a raging asshole in life and told others about the stuff you had to go through in life that they might’ve cared more about you?” >_>;
Grovyle: “Have you ever considered that even before joining Task Force Aegis, that’d doing that probably would’ve gotten me arrested as a Sympathizer and hung in front of a bunch of jeering proles?” >.<
Flame: “... Right, should’ve thought of that one, really. (Good god, I hope we don’t have to go back to Imperial territory anytime soon.)” ._.;

Once again, that question superimposed itself on Flame's mind. He wasn't quite sure. Was he still too soft-hearted and naive? Too weak to let go? Or was it because…

Flame let himself smile.

Seeing Gaius hesitate, he seized the Grovyle's hand himself. "Because I'm nothing like you."

D’aww, what a touching end to the cha-

Gaius: “There’s another scene after this one, genius.”

Right, let’s take a look at that, shall we?

Via Tiburtina — Former Edessa Province

The screech of Sycorax's cannon firing was loud enough to throw Virgo onto the grass, desperately clutching his ears. The ground shook underneath his stomach. It took at least a dozen or so seconds before the blinding light subsided.

When he opened one eye, he found the Scum Marowak he'd just been fighting dazed on the ground. Up above, the massive gash in both the Scum's aerial formation and the clouds made his stomach drop. He prayed that Yivvy was o—

"Yivvy!"

Huh, somehow I didn’t remember this action sequence kicking up before Virgo calls out for Yvaine. Perhaps I’m misremembering from the length of time, but either way I knew from just the location card alone back in the day that this scene was going to go places. And boy does it deliver.

Pushing himself up with a gasp, Virgo ignored the burning in his chest and finished off his dazed Marowak opponent with a slash to the throat.

Virgo: “Nothing personal, our author just has a thing for casting you boneheads to die off.”

The barbarian's suffered gurgling now filled his ears; the air was thick with smoke from the burning wagons just up ahead. He slowly scanned around that dirt road, squinting, but could only make out mangled corpses in the grass and stumbling Praetorians.

Yvaine: “So… Tuesday for us?”

Virgo: “I mean, I’d hope that we’d normally take fewer losses than this on a normal Tuesday.” ._.

There! He broke into a full sprint, hopping over bodies until the faint outline stumbling in the smoke became an Umbreon. She was hissing in pain with each step.

"Oh gods, Yivvy!" Virgo knelt next to her, hastily scanning the half of her body where the fur was thinner. "You all right? They didn't get the side that's still healing, did they?"

I mean, if it weren't for the fact that they're brutally butchering dozens of Pokémon right about now, that'd be really touching on Virgo’s part.

Virgo: “Yivvy, why are you even out here in this condition?!” O.O;
Yvaine: “Because the fate of the world literally hinges on this mission, Virgo!” >_>;

But Yvaine slapped his claw away. "Later! Icarus!"

Virgo followed her paw: he saw the lead wagon on its side, and a green-cloaked creature making a run for it.

"Flamey!"

A: That's not Flame.
B: I’m still impressed that you managed to catch me this off-guard with the reveal that Daedalus was using decoys to keep Flame safe. Like it makes sense and is completely in-character with what we’ve seen of Daedalus both explicitly and implied between the lines, but it makes those cute scenes in Tromvik and other places a lot more

in retrospect.

Adrenaline alone was enough to get him sprinting; he tackled the figure within moments, pushing it to the ground with a grunt and a stifled gasp on its part. Virgo quickly pinned Flame down—but, strangely, he'd crumpled almost immediately. He was shaking. No… sobbing.

Yvaine seemed to hesitate, but then whispered, "We've got a job to do."

Virgo frowned. "Right."

Virgo: “Oh gods, Flamey. Come on, don’t do this to me here. It’s alright, you’re safe now-”

Without further ado, he ripped the cape off of the sobbing Charme—

"Eh!?"

It was a Charmeleon, all right—but it wasn't Flamey at all! This one's scales were a lighter shade of red, and it was much shorter, too.

In retrospect, I’m a little surprised that Frau Glutexo wasn’t issued a Socratic Special as part of her mission, since… uh… yeah, between OpSec considerations and what the established “good” fate of Teutonii that wind up in her position is, drinking it probably would’ve been better from everyone’s perspective on her side.

Though I suppose that broaching that on-screen might have been a bit too into the deep end, even if it’d definitely be thematically appropriate for her faction if you’re just going ‘to the hilt’ for historical influences.

Plus, now that he listened closely, the Charmeleon's sobbing… it sounded almost… feminine.

"It's… not him," Yvaine muttered. "Virgo, this isn't Flame!"

Virgo: “Yivvy, I figured that out two paragraphs ago!” >_>;
Yvaine: “Then why are you just staring blankly at the random barbarian?!” >.<

Virgo just stood there for a moment, staring into the terrified Charmeleon's eyes. We came out here… for nothing?

Well, it’s not nothing otherwise this scene wouldn’t be happening…

But from your perspective, yes, it was for nothing, Virgo.

Dread churned at his stomach. Frustration at watching his comrades die for nothing. At all these pokémon dying for nothing. Yet there was also a part of him that felt… relieved? Was it because Flamey was o—

Somehow, I never pegged Virgo as being bothered by watching other Pokémon die from the way he gleefully bragged about taking off a Machoke’s arms in the past. Not that I’d expect his concerns to be of much help for Frau Glutexo there, since… yeah, she doesn’t have a long life expectancy right now.

A set of heavy, metallic footsteps thundered behind them. They drew ever nearer; Virgo didn't have to consult Yvaine's pale face to know who it was.

When he turned, however, even the foreknowledge didn't help him from swallowing at those eyes boring into his soul. Those glowing red eyes—not metaphorically, but literally glowing from behind those glass casings.

"S-Sycorax, sir!" Virgo promptly saluted.

Virgo: “H-Have you ever considered spectacles of some sort to deal with that creepy eye-glow thing-?”

Yvaine: “Virgo. Stop. Talking.” >.<

Standing beside the Genesect was also their legion's newest Tribune—a slim Gardevoir with big piercing eyes and a hateful face.

"General, sir." Yvaine bowed her head. "It appears that this Charmeleon is not Icarus. The Scum have tricked us."

Virgo: “... On second thought, let’s go back to the creepy metal bug with the glowing eyes, since boy does she give off some vibes right now-” O.O;
Yvaine: “(Irgo-Vay, op-stay encouraging-ay em-thay o-tay ecimate-day us-ay!)” >.<

Sycorax's glass eyes flashed red. Slowly, it stepped closer and leaned down towards the trembling Charmeleon in fetal position.

"That sly bastard." The Gardevoir hissed next to Sycorax, her digits awkwardly rolled into fists. "He must have filled the entire province with Charmeleon decoys. By the time we find Icarus… He's played us!"

"Oh, hardly."

Gardevoir: “... Excuse me?”
Sycorax: “Did I stutter?”

Hearing the Genesect's voice so close, the trembling, caped Charmeleon let out a high-pitched whine. ""[My -------]" She sobbed, arms covering her face. "[A-Are you proud of me? Anything for you… Anything for—]""

With a flash of Sycorax's eyes, the barbarian stopped speaking. She lay there with her maw half-open, her eyes glazing over—until suddenly, she crumpled back onto the grass, unconscious. A chill ran down Virgo's spine at the sight.

Yeah, I really doubt Flame would be okay knowing that this is how he's able to have his chummy moments in places like Tromvik. This is definitely one of those moments that sticks with you after stopping to think about the details, since boy does it have a lot of ugly implications about the way that Daedalus is running the ship right now.

Virgo: “(I’m… just going to suck down a bottle of wine and bury my snout in a Playdrake after all of this and pretend that I never saw any of that.)”

"We have to lift the Veil," the Gardevoir whispered through gritted teeth, eyes cast downward. "There's no other way. Lift the Veil and… launch a full invasion of the Scum territories."

"That won't prove necessary."

Virgo scrunched his face. Oh, gods. They're doing weird Benefactor talk again.

“The Veil”, huh? So is that as in “break the present masquerade and send out the Hinds”? Or is that like an honest-to-goodness spacial barrier / effect there?

Though I suppose that this is why the journal entry in Castra Aeterna initially read 'Lieutenant Daedalus' in earlier versions of the story.

"That traitor may have protected Icarus' whereabouts," Sycorax stood back up, and glanced back at the Tribune. "But in doing so, he has betrayed his desperation."

The Gardevoir huffed angrily. Her eyes flashed pink, and she began to lift a bloodied Yanmega carcass behind her—only to drop it suddenly and clutch her head in pain.

Virgo found that odd. Yanmega barely weighed anything, didn't they?

… Can’t tell if that’s supposed to be an anti-psychic field of some sort, or if that’s some other weirdness. Either way, you did make a point of pointing out to keep an eye on this, so I can only assume we’ll be seeing more of it in the future.

"So what?" the Tribune grunted. "It's not like we're in that different of a situation. Bastard holds the only card at play."

"Ah, but I now know where Icarus is." Sycorax said with a twinge of static. "Or rather… where he will soon be."

Eh?

Both he, Yvaine, and the Tribune glanced at the Genesect simultaneously. Yet its artificial eyes were cast towards the cloudy sky, towards the mountainous, smoke-filled horizon.

"Yes… let us take his bait, for now." Sycorax said with a twinge of static. "Let us respond to more 'Icarus' sightings. That traitor will do all the hard work for us."

Wait, does Sycorax know that Flame's going to eventually find out about this and insist that Daedalus stop sacrificing other Charmeleon for him? Or is he basically just doing process of elimination until he can spot the odd duck out for where the sightings aren't happening since nobody in their right mind would send out decoys near the actual target they’re trying to protect?

Virgo frowned, and tilted his head. How would taking the bait help in any way? He glanced at Yvaine, but she seemed to have realised something he didn't.

Finally, though, Sycorax turned to regard them. "At ease, soldiers." The Genesect's eyes gleamed. "You have fought well today. My congratulations."

Virgo stood to attention, but inside, he was holding back a shiver. At ease? How could he stay at ease when his voice sounded like it was being transmitted over a badge? The Tribune's look of disdain towards them wasn't exactly helping things, either!

That moment when you realize that in every scene where Virgo was perky and at attention in front of Sycorax that he was really going full “screaming internally” inside.

It does make me wonder if you’re building towards Virgo and Yvaine having doubts about their job, even if I’m not fully convinced that it wouldn’t be towards the end of a cruel rug pull moment. Since… yeah, that’d be pretty on-brand for this story.

The Genesect's gleaming red eyes wandered down to the unconscious Scum Charmeleon still crumpled on the grass. "If you would be so kind, bring our guest over to my assistant. She'll know what to do."

Virgo: “I don’t even want to know, do I?” ._.
Yvaine: “Probably not, no. But look, just follow your orders, Virgo. It’s not a hard assignment.”

"Understood," replied Yvaine in his place.

All too happy to tear his gaze away from the General's, Virgo hoisted the Scum Charmeleon up in his arms and promptly marched away by Yvaine's side.

As he jogged away with the extra weight, Virgo couldn't feel much other than his beating heart. What the hell were those two saying? That whole conversation had thoroughly creeped him out. In fact…

Er... are you sure you're in the right job given that you're this bugged by your superiors' antics, Virgo?

When they reached one of the overturned wagons, Virgo hid behind one and peeked back.

"Virgo, what's gotten into you?" Yvaine whispered at him. "We have orders! If the General sees you…"

Yvaine: “Virgo, words do not begin to describe how bad of an idea this is-” >_>;
Virgo: “Look, we won’t get in trouble if we don’t get caught. And it’ll just be a second!”

"Just a sec. The Tribune—something in the way she speaks…" he muttered back.

So… the Tribune’s not just a normal Pokémon from Urbe, then? Since it sure feels weird for Virgo to notice something up with her speech patterns if she was one.

Leaning around the side of the wagon, he could see the Genesect and Gardevoir standing against the smoky landscape, against the grey skies far above.

From this distance, he struggled to make out any of their conversation. Except…

"To think that bastard left us for this life." The Tribune sneered, gazing at the mix of Teutonii and Praetorian corpses littering the hillside. "His own kind forsaken. All for a chance to role-play as king with these… things."

Waaaaait, but this scene is written from Virgo's perspective. Wouldn't he parse the Teutonii as "Scum"? Since that term has only been used in this story either by learned/academic types or parties that have grown familiar/sympathetic to the Teutonii.

Unless this is meant to hint at something for the future from his end, you probably want to tweak that.

Also, not fully sure how I feel about ‘role-play’ there. Since while it’s correct in usage here, something about it feels very “modern” as a concept, which I’m not sure I’d have expected from a Tribune of Urbe unless said Tribune had a very particular background.

Though... uh... yeah, regardless of the degree of truth behind the Gateway needing to get wrecked to save Urbe's world, this was the part of the story that basically confirmed my suspicion that Daedalus has been knowingly exploiting the Teutonii's mythology in order to worm him and Flame way into their positions in Teutonii society and get them to follow his orders. Exactly none of this is going to end well if or considering how stories generally work, when the Teutonii get wise to this. Especially if he's been exaggerating or lying about his or Flame's abilities to the Teutonii.

Though there’s no new teaser this time around by virtue of Chapter XXXII not being in the wild yet, so let’s jump right into the summary:

Back in the day, you’d mentioned that this chapter and the ones following it would be heavily shaking things up in the story. While the verdict is still out on those chapters after this one by virtue of them not being posted yet, I honestly think you delivered very well since there was a lot that surprised me in this chapter the first time around within the span of 6600 words.

Gaius' backstory was the main stunner, since I just legit never saw that coming, but it explains almost everything about how he sees and interacts with the various parties and factions of his world. It's also a nice character parallel for the three members of the core team since all three of them are characters that fundamentally "don't belong" anywhere thanks to their circumstances: Gaius is the child of enslaved barbarians who had his life brutally upended and destroyed by others who were supposed to be their saviors from their tormentors and forced to work for them for survival, Alice is a disowned princess who doesn't fit in with either Prole or Teutonii society and has no hope of ever going back to the world she was born in, and Flame if the chapter's description is to be believed is a walking harbinger of the apocalypse that Daedalus and company are trying to stop that part of me frankly is expecting to turn out to either be Giratina, or an aspect of it at this rate.

While I still maintain that there are other chapters in this story that are darker than this one (XIII, XIV, and XVIII all come to mind), the ending did catch me a bit off-guard since it’s the first swerve firmly back into the deep end in almost a dozen chapters, and it definitely is one of those chapters whose implications get more

the more you look at it. It definitely made me feel vindicated in always having been

about Daedalus, since this chapter stops just short of openly stating that his entire army he's dependent on to have a hope of destroying the Gateway is a ticking time bomb for until either the Teutonii find out they've been played by an ex-Imperial/Presence officer who knew their mythology enough to attempt to self-fulfill prophecy, or Flame finds out the awful truth about Daedalus' deception and what he's doing to preserve it.

As for things that I felt were weaknesses… I don’t think that there’s that much that vibes that way. The main gripe that I have is that Gaius’ scene with Kamerad Trikephalo could stand to have a little more description here and there. Once upon a time, I felt that Flame's scene with Gaius right afterwards felt kinda misunderstanding-ey, but I feel like that even if Gaius still got a bit of a raw deal, things played out more logically than I remembered. Still glad that things wound up ending on the note that they do there, since boy would it have been depressing if Flame actually just stood back and allowed Gaius to actually go and yeet himself into the boonies and freeze to death. [fearfullaugh]

Though all-in-all, good show. Even if it might take a bit since my understanding is that you’re a bit busier as of late, I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next in this story, @Shadow of Antioch .

Since what can I say? You do a good job at keeping your readers in suspense. ^^

 

[Arukona]

So I've heard about this fic for quite a while now, mentioned in passing by others over at Writers' United, where it's typically in quite high regard. Generally, I've heard glowing reviews, and in particular, praise from @Spiteful Murkrow, whose writings for Once a Thief supposedly take a bit of inspiration from this fic. He's even hinted to me on a few occasions that I might well take a liking to this fic, on account of its worldbuilding and its Rome-inspired setting (which by sheer coincidence, I also have a country based on the Roman Empire in my own fic). Obviously, I did not ignore this praise, and so I put this down on my to-read list, waiting for a moment when I'd have a chance to read this.

And there's no better time than now, what with the current theme of this week's Review Blitz being to check out fics with two reviews or less. Seeing as how this hasn't been touched since late 2022, I think it's fair to say this is free real estate for me. So let's dive in, and see just what PMD: Rebirth is all about...

Chapter I
Okay, I see the Roman connotations already, what with that summary and the chapters numbered in Roman numerals. Come to think of it, I really haven't seen the latter done in many fics. (Also that chapter title - is Chapter II gonna be called Fates?

)

I see a Grovyle! One of my favourite species - already a W for this fic. And I know for a fact from things I've heard in passing that this Grovyle is one of the main characters of this story., so that's something to look forward to.

I told you already, it's no use! The portal storm covered their escape. We have to go back!" he growled, his voice carrying a considerable amount of urgency this time.

Why did I hear the "It's no use!" in Silver's voice Portal storm? That sounds ominous. Is that a regular feature of this world? Worrying if so.

Yep, very worrying, if it's out here causing earthquakes and setting off avalanches.

And now over to our presumably amnesiac main protagonist, a Charmeleon who looks worse for wear. I'm guessing Alice and Gaius are gonna find him and nurse him back to health?

there should have been a flame sparkling there.

My fire ... What's wrong with me?

Oh damn, that's not good.

Given what the Pokédex entry of the Charmander line implies, that is most definitely Not a Good Thing.

I will say, this is a pretty damn good depiction of the panic of amnesia that comes a dime a dozen in PMD fics. Maybe it's helped by the fact that our protagonist is at death's door, but for depicting that desperation, that will to cling onto something, anything, this opening sequence really captures it well. Captured so well that I can't not feel an immense amount of sympathy for Charmeleon's plight.

Huh, I guess Alice and Gaius didn't find him; more like he found them. Well, anything to get our protagonists united, I suppose.

Seems Gaius is more than a bit quick to anger, if he immediately goes on the offensive upon seeing Charmeleon. That, or he's on edge. The latter, probably, given the portal storm outside.

Though Alice seems to be a kindly sort that'll probably convince Gaius to admit Charmeleon onto their team.

That Charmeleon had frostbite? Ouch - good to see Alice and Gaius at least healed him up in the meantime.

"You know, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Alice, and yours is …?" she inquired.

And now in comes the "I don't know, I have amnesia" part in three, two, one...

He seems to remember 'Ascension'...That totally won't become relevant later on. No sirree, it won't. (What could that mean? Some divine connection, perhaps?)

These Scum that Alice mentions...I'm presuming barbarians of some kind. And the way they're talking about border incursions by such a crowd...yep, I'm beginning to see more parallels with the Roman Empire's twilight years.

"We could simply call you 'Charmeleon', but that isn't very polite nowadays, is it?"

Is that a sort of hierarchy in this universe, through naming? Is folks going by regular species names is seen as a bit uncouth? That's quite an interesting take, actually - certainly quite different to the average PMD fic where such a thing is commonplace.

So now our protagonist's name is Flame. Watch him figure out his true name at some point, by which time Flame will be his dominant title. Also wow, that is quite the reaction of happiness from him after figuring out a name that fits for him.

Gaius is back, and I see he's still his usual grumpy self.

Alice looked ready to protest, when something that Gaius added silenced her for good. "Unless, you want us both to end up in the streets again.

So the two of them have a history of being on the streets together. That, or they're being held to something. Whatever they have planned for Flame once they get back to town, it's nothing good, I can tell.

Already feels like a grim world, without much hope if Flame's gonna be roped into something that doesn't sound like it'll be good at all.

"What, are you a southerner or something?"

If I had a nickel for every fic I read this Review Blitz that treated the 'south' of their world as this weird, unknown foreign place with lots of oddities, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it does make me wonder why the heck of all four directions, the south tends to be chosen for this role.

"You do look like you're from the South. Things are surely much more peaceful over there. I mean, you don't see pokémon travelling up North anymore, since those guys have it so much easier than we do.

So the North, then, is a realm full of conflict? And let me guess, Flame just so happens to have landed smack dab in the middle of the conflict zone?

Route 165

Dang, no Pokémon route in the games ever went higher than the 50s. This is something to see.

I'm curious as to what Flame's appearance means to Alice and Gaius. Could Flame really be Scum? Certainly a lot of mystery surrounding our resident Charmeleon, not helped by his amnesia. And just what were Alice and Gaius sent to the Spearhead Mountains for?

His eyes widened when he realized that the fortification actually stretched for miles on both sides, likely continuing where his eyes could no longer see. Maybe it had spawned into existence after all.

What, does this land have bad draw distance? Makna Forest called, they want their crappy draw distance back.

So the bad draw distance fort is named Aesernia. Kinda quaint, I like that name.

Even before he felt the blunt side of an elbow-blade take his consciousness away, he knew.

Things were not looking well for him.

You can say that again. And by the looks of things, they're gonna get worse before they get better.

Chapter II
More Rome parallels with that motto at the beginning.

And as expected, there's a difference in opinion over dumping Flame where he stood. What are the circumstances gonna be that they end up roping him back into the fold?

The way they speak about Ariel's rage, maybe it's lucky Flame's been taken out of the team, because at least it's looking like he won't have to suffer her wrath. For now, anyway.

no secret passageway leading to a hidden treasure—well, Alice couldn't be sure of that, but it was probably best if she didn't find out.

Well, they did say they had money troubles at the minute. Maybe finding that hidden treasure would be a good way to alleviate that.

So Ariel's a Haxorus. They do seem to slot well into the authority figure position, and this wouldn't be the first time I came across an axe dragon leader of an organisation in a PMD fic.

Instead, you came back with a single Charmeleon," the Haxorus' tusks snapped together, "Care to explain?"

Much explaining and shouting later, Team Phalanx exited their commander's office, shutting the door behind them.

I feel like it might've been better to show a bit of what the arguing was about. That way, we can see more of Ariel's menacing side in action, and why Alice and Gaius fear her so.

"Flame. The Charmeleon, "Alice answered with a trace of rising confidence in her tone, "We add him to our team. It's the only way."

Aaaaaaaaaaand there it is. Totally didn't see that coming at all. No, I did not.

Nobody cares about us—even then, a quick look at our record and we get laughed at."

So Team Phalanx are bottom of the barrel when it comes to team ranks? Or did they do something once upon a time that now earns them scorn wherever they go?

"I'm sorry, but it's our best option," a smirk creeped on her face as she remembered her teammate's exact words, "And there are only bad options."

Heh, neat way to twist her partner's words against him. Good for Alice, I like her already.

And now over to our resident amnesiac, where he'll have to endure prison blues.

The misery of amnesia, possibly feeling like he could be responsible for something horrible...poor Flame. He needs all the hugs.

"Charmeleon," the guard said, "The results have just come in. You've been cleared of all charges. You may go now."

Oh never mind, that was quick. I was expecting he'd be in here for a bit longer at least.

With that, he made a mental note of trying not to be so melodramatic in the future.

Betting now that this promise will evaporate during the next interaction with someone.

Everyone's asleep in that room; was a sleep seed thrown at them or what? Or are their work schedules just that much of a grind?

And so Flame continues his quest for food. But with how the townsfolk are treating him thus far, he won't be getting it anytime soon. A real fish out of water, this guy is, not helped by his amnesia.

While that pokémon looked similar, it wasn't the same. It had a much bushier tail than the Grovyle, and its body was taller as well as a lighter shade of green.

A Sceptile? Is this just a background cameo, or possibly a more major character? Maybe related to Gaius in some way?

At some point, a blue quadruped creature made entirely out of rock stomped into view.

A Gigalith, eh? Not too often I see one of those in fics, even as a cameo role like this one might well be.

Good way of capturing Flame's feeling of being a stranger in a big city like this one. His feelings really can be felt here, and I have to commend that.

And Alice shows up, where she shows remorse for what she's done. Credit to her for owning up to her mistakes, at least.

Now he's getting recruited into the team. Military or not, it's not so different from standard-fare PMD after all.

Any mention of Task Force 'Aegis' has my Xenoblade-brainrotted brain go anytime it's mentioned.

"In all likelihood, he just wants to make sure that you're fit for the job. If I had to guess, he's going to ask you some questions about your combat experience and the like, and possibly give you a boring lecture about the rules you must follow."

So Gaius is a rule-follower. That, or he wants to make sure Flame is at least halfway competent. Probably the latter, although I bet that he won't be satisfied with Flame's efforts for a long while yet.

"You're really skinny. Your ribs are almost showing."

GET THIS CHARMELEON SOME FOOD FOR ARCEUS' SAKE

"Are you sure?" Gaius asked, raising an eyebrow. Alice simply nodded back.

Gaius shrugged in indifference. "Bah, suit yourself…"

I think these two lines could've been on the same one, without needing to go to a new paragraph.

And now the interrogation over his fighting abilities. Either sink or swim, and by first impressions, Flame looks like he'd sink. But who knows? We could be proven wrong by some hidden ability he has.

"Oh!" Flame hummed in realisation, "So you're like a rescue team?"

See? Not so different from standard-fare PMD.

"After everything that happened yesterday, our team got … how shall I say this … deranked. Those kind of missions—the well paying ones—are now off-limits to us."

Ooooof. And by the looks of it, it's gonna take a while to get back in Commander Ariel's good books, if her attitude thus far is anything to go by.

It's probably just everything that's been happening recently. It can get to you, sometimes."

Bad news to be told to us in a chapter or two, I reckon. Turmoil in the kingdom they serve, by the sounds of it.

Unless you really, really want to read it. But no one does that anymore, right?"

Got that right. Modern times or ancient times, boring documents are boring documents.

If he was to sign, he'd have friends to talk to, an entire organization to bring him back to his feet as he attempted to make sense of his life now. He'd be a fool to refuse.

And yet why do I get the feeling regret will cross his mind at some point and he'll wish he never joined in the first place?

S P Q U

Not quite SPQR. So first clue as to this land's name - it begins with a U.

It's never been acknowledged thus far that Flame is a human, and curiously he seemed to revile at dipping his claw into the ink. Maybe he came from a place where using quills was commonplace? Perhaps an indicator he could be from an upper-class background? I don't think he's a human, given he's never said anything about it in the first place. Then again, maybe he forgot that he was a human in all his amnesia.

At least he now has shelter and a bed. And Alice appears to be his metaphorical shoulder to lean on.

"The South is just a place full of fat pricks who think they're so much better than everybody else because of their wealth," Gaius grunted as he searched through the racksuck on his bedside,

So they're a wealthy bunch? Huh, I guess Flame may have been more on the nose with his lie than he first realised.

"I just thought that, since I constantly hear all these stories about Scum starting to employ Psychics to attack our scout teams … Who knows, maybe the same thing happened to you.

Sophisticated barbarians in their attacking methods, I see. Seems like they're not all a brainless, toothless bunch. Perhaps we'll see just who the Scum are like in time.

More inward agony and depression over his amnesia. By the looks of it, it won't be a question that'll be answered anytime soon, alas.

Chapter III
The Empire and the Republic? Dang, this really is more and more like ancient Rome by the minute.

He heard alarms and gunshots and felt the dust against his face.

The mention of bombs and gunshots must mean that Flame's a human, and a human soldier by the sounds of the descriptions. Guess he may well be fit for the job after all if he has such memories behind him.

Also that voice - could that well have been the one who isekaied him to this world?

Then, looking down at her rucksack, she proceeded to reach its flap opening with her tail – a process simultaneously clumsy and slow.

It took her several minutes of teeth-gritting and meddling with the tip of her tail before she managed to lift the flap and actually keep it still.

The woes of being a non-biped like Alice. Probably obvious who does all the bag opening on Team Phalanx if Alice is having this much trouble opening a simple rucksack.

Badge get! Curious how there's been no mention of scarves thus far.

The mention of Oldspeak - would that essentially be Latin, I wonder? Given the Latin terms we've seen thus far.

Always the worst, being the centre of attention like Flame is. Probably because he's a new face around the camp.

Tough competition when it comes to the jobs - a pity all Team Phalanx have to get for themselves is the one Flame found on the ground. (Also, 12,000 Poké is small? Does this world have insane inflation or what? Or is that just how Poké is calculated in this universe, how big amounts aren't necessarily huge in real world terms?)

The praise of his team leader was something that would have brought up his confidence—especially with the snobbed treatment he'd become accustomed to. Instead, nothing.

Hard to please, Gaius is. Maybe sometime in the future, our resident Grovyle might well take a shine to Flame.

For a second or so, he could have sworn he saw someone spying him from a distance, some sort of one-eyed ghost…

The gaze of a Dusknoir, I see...And as expected, Flame just thinks it's a trick of the mind. Man, why can't protagonists be so dismissive of such curiosities.

although he let them pass without complaint, this was not without its fair share of suspicious looks.

All because of Flame, I imagine. Though in fairness, it would be natural of the guard who arrested Flame to be highly suspicious that the strange guy he imprisoned the other day is now just walking scot-free.

Only one berry? Geez, Flame cannot catch any sort of break at all. Just what god did he anger to end up in a situation like this?

And now this world's Mystery Dungeons in all their weirdness are being touched upon. Becoming part of the dungeon if they can't find their way, though? If that isn't ominous as all hell. Of course, that is how Mystery Dungeons work in geenral, but the notion of becoming trapped there forever is quite a scary thought.

The stench of decomposing plants loitered in the air, summoning forth an unpleasant feeling of nausea in the back of his throat.

Eugh, that's gotta be unpleasant to experience.

Especially with the boxed in nature that labyrinthine Mystery Dungeons normally are.

nothing major ever happened. Well, there was that one time though …

Real reassuring of you to let that one slip, Alice.

Close call there with the Nidorino, though I get the feeling the team's not gonna have a lucky escape like that on a future floor. Especially if Flame's gonna be the guide. Knowing his luck thus far, the team's probably gonna have a rough time on the second floor.

And called it, with that feral Pidgeotto dive bombing at Flame and our resident Charmeleon struggling to do anything at all. And oh boy, Gaius caught onto his fear. At this rate, Flame's on a one-way trip out of Team Phalanx, especially with how he's being sidelined at present.

Or maybe save somebody from near death," he chuckled, as if not taking that last part seriously himself.

Yeah, like the thin-as-a-stick Charmeleon you're continuously denigrating. (Is this a Chekhov's Gun for later in the chapter, I wonder?)

"Uhhh… Alice? Gaius?"

Something was wrong. Just a moment ago he'd been climbing up the newest set of stairs right behind his teammates. Now, he saw that he was standing in yet another clearing, alone.

Oh damn, that's bad. A complete rookie, segregated from his teammates after it was proven the last few floors that combat was not his strong suit in the least? This is gonna end in him being cornered and Alice and Gaius having to save him at the last minute, isn't it?

There, under the wavering light of his tail flame, was a Breloom. Or at least, what used to be a Breloom.

Oh no, he's dead, isn't he?

The person they were looking for's as dead as a doornail.

Foundation Record Log, Dr Elmore.

Is that the same guy, though? Since the one in the mission at the chapter's outset called him Dr. Ignatius Breloom, and yet the name here appears to be different.

theyll kill me I cant run theyll latch onto my head ascension I cant run they always latch onto the head ascension theyll––

Well, if that isn't the sign of insane ramblings. Though I can't help but notice 'ascension' appearing here - the same word that keeps sticking in Flame's mind. Just what's going on here, for that word to appear in this doctor's diary?

Oh shoot, a Paras's nest? Boy, Legends Arceus is suddenly looking meagre in comparison with its Paras count and how annoying they were in that game.

Only a little longer, and he'd be—!

Green tendrils wrapped around his leg.

Of course it can't be that simple, can it?

Without even thinking, his throat muscles clamped much in the same fashion as when one is about to vomit, and a bright, scorching jet of fire streamed out of his mouth and toward the Carnivine's ample head.

It seems when in extremis, our resident Charmeleon's able to summon the fire within. Here's hoping he'll be able to use it more readily in the future.

He barely even felt the wave of gelid cold gripping his body as his consciousness slowly faltered.

I swear, Flame losing consciousness by chapter's end better not become a running trend in the future, because my god does this poor lizard need a break sometime in the near future. And the sooner, the better.

Chapter IV

life expectancy has skyrocketed, food is abundant for all, and poverty has essentially vanished.

Has it now? Because the current state of matters surrounding Team Phalanx would suggest otherwise. Perhaps this was written some time ago back when the Empire was more prosperous. I do kinda like seeing this dichotomy of past and present in this stories and juxtaposition of each, with one side speaking of eternal glory and the other side (usually the present story) speaking of a harrow reality that our protagonists have to wade through. The question, though, is this; just what rot has the Empire gone through for things of the present day to end up like this?

It had been like that ever since the Sitrus Berry they'd found back in the dungeon had been basically stuffed down his throat.

Huh, I had a feeling that would come into play later. Lucky that the gang had it, otherwise Flame would not be in so good a spot right now.

And now comes the woe and useless feeling that's become nearly synonymous with Flame until now. Hopefully he'll be able to chin up in future. And maybe he'll be able to, since thanks to him the mission appeared to have been a success.

Gaius simply didn't trust him yet.

Gonna be like that for a good while. Unless, I don't know, there's a scenario where Flame ends up directly saving Gaius's life and the Grovyle'll be forced to swallow his feelings and pledge greater trust towards his new teammate.

No, not really. The guy is still a bit of a mystery to me even now.

Calling it; innocent child exposed too early to the cruel ways of the world, perhaps through a betrayal of some kind, which made him mistrusting to anything and everything that moved.

These portal storms really do sound worrying. What happens if one gets caught in the middle of one? That sounds like a worrying scenario, alright.

And now over to Ariel, who's in the bath. (Funny, mention 'Ariel' and 'water' in the same sentence, and I would think you were talking about The Little Mermaid.)

"It's coming straight from His Majesty himself."

Ariel's interest peaked. "An assignment? You mean it's for those two morons again?"

Interesting how upon hearing 'His Majesty,' Ariel immediately presumed it was for Team Phalanx. Do those two have connections to the Emperor? And if so, what would they be?

Wow, what a cruel bitch Ariel is. Uncaring about her servant's mate's illness, and chooses to laze further in the bath instead of doing actual work on her end when needs must.

Another portal storm is forming along the south-east border of the town. This one is huge, much bigger than anything we've ever seen before. And it's happening right now."

Well, that ain't good at all. And right when Team Phalanx are out of town, and susceptible to it.

Flame not being able to fall asleep is something I can relate to, on account of only getting about five hours of sleep last night at the time of writing this part of the review.

Agh, so close to getting the bag. Oh well, better luck next time, if there is one.

No, Flame, don't go out into the storm, you have so much to live for!

(Probably.)

Curious that this storm doesn't have any rain to it. Seems like it's just big winds so far, like a tornado.

But it was there. A red eye. There was something in the portal.

As Flame stared, one word emerged in his mind spontaneously. And it wasn't he who uttered it.

"Ascension."

Well, if that isn't an implication of something. There's that 'Ascension' line again, and further proof that it seems to be divine forces at play here. Though what does that word mean?

tonight never happened. He didn't see anything.

This time, sleep was quick to arrive.

You'd think if anything, Flame would be even more awake, after seeing an image that will no doubt play on his mind for the foreseeable future.

Into next morning, and the surrounding place looks like a war zone with how the portal storm tore it apart.

Wait, it even got the south-eastern wall of Aesernia?

Can't help but feel like these storms are getting worse...and when did they even start to begin with?

Fortunately, I think we were just outside its range. Otherwise, we might have been gobbled up by it.

One of these days, they're not gonna be so lucky and they will be gobbled up by it, and then...who knows what'll happen? For all we know, Flame could at least get answers as to what 'Ascension' means.

Now he was at, what, two lies he'd told his companions in the space of a day since joining?

Lies beget lies, as the old adage goes. Even the two he's uttered so far may well cast him into doubt if he's pressed further on them. And I get the feeling amnesia won't be a secure net for everyone...

"This is bad. These walls aren't going to be rebuilt in a day.

Just as Rome wasn't built in a day.

"Ariel giving a damn about what happens in town? Good luck with that. If I had to guess, she's probably in her villa, enjoying a steaming bath."

I sorta got that vibe from Ariel as an aloof commander that barked orders and didn't carry them out herself, especially with that bath scene last chapter. Makes me like her even less than I already did.

"Hmm? No, we're not. The money from this one should last us a small while, so I think we can afford taking a day off."

Betting that this is gonna be overturned in the next bit, with that order that came in last chapter.

Good news about the assignment's completion, and now they have cash. 💰💰

"Uh? To where?" Flame asked him, getting up on his feet.

"Err … I have a few … errands to take care of.

'Errands', you say? What's this about, Gaius? Some secret agenda, by any chance?

And now off to the library, where Flame may well end up finding out some earth-shattering revelation about himself.

I suppose for an amnesia-ridden mind, it's best to start with the basics.

perhaps lingering a little too long in the 'Reproduction' segment

I mean...I sorta get it. I imagine an amnesia-ridden soul would be fascinated by such matters.

"What?" she asked with a blend of irritation and annoyance in her voice, "I don't have paws, in case you didn't notice."

This won't be the last time we happen upon this problem, will it? A running joke at Alice's expense. (Perhaps it's time to train towards evolving so that won't be an issue anymore, Alice.)

So the capital's name is Urbe? Guess there's no doubt anymore to what the U in SPQU stands for, then.

It all started twenty years ago.

Backstory time. And yep, that does sound very late-era Roman Empire-ish, with the Scum invasions and poorly-mapped lands to the north.

As painful as it is, looks like Flame's gonna have to stick with that lie of being from the South for now.

I remember all the afternoons spent playing there as a cub… "

Alice describing herself as a cub is a bit...odd to me. I'd sooner see 'cub' as being related to canine 'mons, as opposed to dragons like her. Even different words like 'young one' or 'hatchling' would work better in this case, I think.

Based on Alice's curiosity, she'll probably manage to extract the truth from Flame at some point. She came somewhat close to prising that truth out of him, and I bet that another few times and she'll do it.

Gaius sure loves leaning on things, I've noticed. Oh, and also the gang have to see Commander Bath-Lover for their next mission. Joy.

Chapter V
I'm beginning to see where Fobbie gets the idea for his OaT intros from. And possibly Amby too, with PoV's intros not being unlike what we've seen so far. Kinda nice to see where other favourite fics of mine get their influences from.

And now Flame gets to see the terror of Ariel for himself. She'll probably tear him a new one with how stick-thin he looks.

As much as it pains me to tell you, your team has been drafted for a B-rank mission. Priority one. Departure is tomorrow."

Oh? Back to the big time missions, are we? Good thing the Emperor seems to be looking out for Team Phalanx - gives them a bulwark with which to get around the audacity of Ariel. And yet there's still the mystery of why Team Phalanx appear to be looked down on by others. Why might this be? Is that just how they are?

And if so, then why are both the Emperor and Senate insisting that they in particular need to take on this mission? Do they know about Flame at all? Does it have to do with him?

Leave the prole parts of town to me; you know how easy they are to mug.

I-Is he engaging in thievery?

I suppose he has to do what he has to do, but still...is this part of why they're looked down on?

And now they gotta go dumpster diving? Yikes, they really are in dire straits if they have to resort to these to get by.

How am I supposed to find the path home? I don't know my way around here!"

He's gonna get lost and land himself in trouble, isn't he?

But then again, if conditions were truly that dire, then he couldn't blame his friends for trying to survive.

Yeah, I can't say I blame them either, if this low-paying life is all they have to go by. Here's hoping that the gang eventually won't have to resort to such tactics to get by.

As expected, not much food plundered by Flame. Unlucky.

A café, huh? Those can be quaint places.

Oh, Gaius is here. And...

The Grovyle reached into his bag and pulled out a handful of coins, before laying them on the table and mumbling something to the barman.

...He's drinking the money away, isn't he? This is going to end in shattered glasses a bar-room brawl between our two lizards.

Despite the situation, I really gotta appreciate Flame standing up to Gaius like this. It's righteous anger, and he's letting him have it. The argument here is captured really well, and I can feel the anger firing on all cylinders on both sides of the coin between Flame and Gaius.

Before he could properly identify what was happening, Flame involuntarily cocked his head backwards and a small tongue of fire escaped his jaws.

Oh no, the bar's gonna go up in smoke, quite literally.

And I don't think it'll take detectives to figure out who's to blame for that.

Hmm. I noticed the fire was never mentioned as having been put out in the scene after Flame and Gaius get pulled away. Is it still burning away in the background while Flame gets pulled off by this Gabite?

At least this Gabite's a friendly one. About time Flame got an ally beyond just Alice.

And an Umbreon too, who seems to be more quiet and observant. Inquisitive too, by the way they're inquiring after Flame's motives.

Your dark aura. It is different from the rest. Abnormal… You are not from these lands, correct?"

The first person to notice that our protagonist seems to be someone out of the ordinary from the rest of the people in this town, and not just in a 'fish out of water' way.

"Library?" Virgo interrupted him. "I mostly go there to look for adult mags.

I'm surprised a library sells those. Would the Empire's equivalent of Moral Guardians not have a thing to say about this? I imagine they would, but then again, these are the outer reaches of the Empire where scrutiny upon such matters probably wouldn't be as heavy.

Flame raised a perplexed eyebrow at the Gabite's nonchalant frankness. "Uh … okay? Fair enough.

This coming from someone who peered a little too long at the 'Reproduction' section of his own species. You're one to talk, Flame.

Seems Virgo got a little bit too enthusiastic talking about that sort of thing. Yeah, can't say I blame Flame (hey, a rhyme) for wanting to leave immediately.

Sunset was nearing.

Then again, his idea wasn't all that bad…

Wait, is he actually considering taking Virgo up on his offer of finding adult material?

How can that possibly go right?

Chapter VI

That opening dispatch mentioning the fall of a place called 'Edessa'...a barbarian fortification, by the sounds of it?

The ruins dragged on around them, the sky pitch black with smoke. Distant tremors reverberated through his bones, fire tendrils in the skies; his breath choked on itself.

Sounds like Flame might well have been a human fighting in a human war, before being taken to this land where he as a Pokémon will now fight a Pokémon war. At the very least he's gonna see combat with Scum at some point.

Wait, so what exactly happened last night? Did Flame and Gaius really reunite without a hint of animus between either of them? Surely Flame's not just gonna forget that Gaius squandered a lot of money on drink?

Well, he didn't, but unity's his priority right now. Still, the truth about that has to come out at some point.

I've noticed this chapter does have a number of lines in parentheses. The parentheses could be done without, in my opinion - it comes across as slightly jarring in the text, seeing them now when they were never a feature before.

Oh hey, Yvaine and Virgo show up again. I had a feeling they'd crop up again.

"Actually, try to bring one back alive if you can. I know exactly what will show them."

That...doesn't imply good things, if Ariel's track record thus far is anything to go by. Woe betide the captive that's dragged back to Aesernia.

Virgo then got close to his ear, eyeing Alice strangely. "Psst, could you introduce me to that gorgeous friend of yours?"

Oh dear, he's already begun the womanising. Question being, how far's he gonna take it.

Quite clear already that the Imperial Army looks down on the Civvies, and the exchange between Virgo and Gaius over the map proves it.

or a different bird settled its nest there; to his eyes, they were all the same.

I've noticed now that it refers to birds and not necessarily bird Pokémon. I also recall insects being mentioned gathered around rotten fruit in previous instances during this fic. Does that mean regular animals are a thing in this fic? Given that I know some PMD fics do this.

Virgo's quite the braggart, and no doubt at least some of the stories he tells are tall tales. Still, there's probably a kernel of truth in there somewhere.

Yikes, this village looks worse for wear. Probably due to raids from Scum, if I had to guess.

And confirmed by our resident barkeep.

"My sister died because of you arseholes!"

"We should hang you instead!"

Talk about a warm welcome. Not much help to be had here, and there's probably not gonna be much gratitude either once the job's over and done with.

To be perfectly honest, I'm nervous too. The enemies we're going to be facing are no pushovers, if what I've heard is correct."

Hardly rookies, then. Looks like this job won't be an easy one by the sounds of it.

At least there's some nice moments between Alice and Flame, with Alice being the Charmeleon's shoulder to lean on. I do wonder if their bond's gonna grow from here, and given what was implied last chapter about Flame getting with someone...hmm, I wonder...

Oh dear, he accidentally set the grass on fire. I suppose it would've happened at some point, with how much Flame has been warned about that until now.

Good thing Flame's getting confident now with his fire, here's hoping he doesn't falter when it comes time to fight the Scum.

Ripples, thin as webs of electricity, could be seen in the air wherever he turned his head.

Oh crud, is that a portal storm? Now, of all times?

Never mind, it's a Mystery Dungeon. Although that creature's gonna mean something in Flame's future, no doubt.

It was just a hallucination, Flame tried to rationalise

Keep telling yourself that, buddy.

Chapter VII

"The invasions are a small price to pay. Urbe can be defended;

Bet.

Oh, it seems we pivot away from our protagonists and to the capital of Urbe itself. Interesting, let's see where this goes.

A Dragonite? Any relation to our resident sweetheart Dragonair, by any chance? And by the sounds of it, this is Emperor Adrian himself. Well now...I think that answers why there's a bias towards Team Phalanx if he has a relative (Alice is his sister, presumably) in their ranks.

A troubled emperor, Adrian sounds like. Unable to bear the weight of his father's glory, and not helped at all by the Scum invasions to the North. Little wonder he's in distress.

Huh. I was not expecting to see a Genesect of all things here. A futuristic man-made Pokémon in an ancient empire like this one does give me pause to wonder as to the technological levels in this setting.

I suppose her concern is justified in some ways, yet ... the reason why I'm doing this goes beyond her or Civil Protection."

And what might that reason be, hmmm, Adrian? Why might Alice, probably related to you, be out there in the Empire's farther reaches instead of being nearer to you instead?

Nice ceremonial procession there; I suppose they would have to prepare such a thing for the Emperor.

Suddenly the whole speech he'd so meticulously prepared hazed; he couldn't remember anything beyond the introduction!

Ah, the old stage fright. Moments like these when anything perfectly rehearsed suddenly goes out the window and those in the spotlight forget it all.

It was because my father, then sitting upon this same throne, rallied this body together for the common good, ended months of obstructionism and passed much-needed reforms."

Oh, I see what's going on here. Adrian's supposed bulwark is his father's accomplishments as opposed to his own. Which must mean his own achievements as emperor are a bit meagre, to say the least.

Boy, that Senate meeting went down like a lead balloon. Seems he really isn't popular with them, which will no doubt lead to demands of his overthrow at some point in the future. I could see such a thing happening, and given the history of some Roman emperors, I can't help but wonder if the Praetorian Guard, mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, might possibly come up with some scheme...

Now back to our protagonists, where there is discussion over the history of Mystery Dungeons. Was there a reason behind their sudden appearance when the Empire came about?

"The anomaly may have forced the garrison to evacuate while it was still operational."

Well, that might be worrying, because that means there won't be any Scum for Team Phalanx to rout. Thus leading to them failing their mission and earning an earful from Ariel.

Ouch, he fell. Hopefully, there's a way out of that pit.

Admittedly though, I have yet to see a mystery dungeon tied to an artificial structure; only to landscape features.

A new development in how Mystery Dungeons come together? A worrying one if so, for this doesn't exclude the distant possibility of Mystery Dungeons swallowing up towns.

This talk about Mystery Dungeons make me wonder if the portal storms this world regularly experiences are related to them. Given they both deal with other dimensions, perhaps Virgo's theory about MDs being a gateway to another world aren't too farfetched.

Oh no, they're trapped. Will they find a way out?

He wisely decided to take a step back as the whole cabinet began to slowly tip forward, before it crashed to the ground in a shower of dust and splinters.

Welp, that's gonna take a bit to put back together. Though given the Mystery Dungeon it's in, it'll remain unrepaired until the end of time.

Unfortunately for him, no gaping hole was to be seen in the spot previously concealed by the cabinet.

Video game logic defied right here. It's nearly always the case that there's a secret passageway behind a cabinet; why not in this case?

Seems this room is occupied by ghosts. Looks like our gang's gotta do a little ghostbustin'~

And that was cleaned up without too much trouble, thankfully. That could have gone a whole lot worse than it did. And now there's an exit! Defeat the enemies to progress, I suppose. (I know it's the illusions dispelling that allows the gang to progress, but still.)

"But still, wouldn't be surprised if this were a completely new type of mystery dungeon we just discovered."

That lines up with my earlier theory. It would make for more interesting Mystery Dungeons beyond the usual caves and forests, that's for sure.

"Right. Still waiting for the day she renames the town into 'Aerelia'..." the Grovyle muttered.

"Hey, look at the bright side of things," Alice replied, halfway sarcastically, "If we're lucky, the Scum might take it before we ever see that day."

Now I'm suddenly picturing an AU of this fic where Team Phalanx goes turncoat and joins the Scum in overthrowing the Empire. With folks like Ariel and Adrian ruling the roost, I could see folks wanting better rulers, and they might think even the Scum would do a better job. Though perhaps we'll see that once we actually come across our first contingent of them. They've only been mentioned until this point, and we haven't seen any in person yet.
The garbled noises of a beast...something wicked lays within. Another ghost, or something more tangible?

Chapter VIII

"Yes, don't worry. The dungeon's taking a toll on everyone."

I'll say. Nine floors of straight going would tire even the toughest of veterans out, especially without eating anything.

What he didn't predict, though, was for a wooden floorboard to unexpectedly crack under Gaius' next step. The Grovyle's momentum left him—only one foot firmly on the next board—while the other was sucked downwards.

Well, that ain't good. Looks like this place's wooden structures are flimsy at best, probably not helped by the Mystery Dungeon's instability, and the gang should probably get the hell out of dodge.

An exhale of breath, rushing currents, almost like a brewing tempest.

Could that be the winds that blow folks out of Mystery Dungeons? Shoot, Team Phalanx need to get out of there right this minute, if it is that.

"Looks like someone's going to have to sprout wings." Virgo cracked a joke.

Funny how he says that when two-thirds of Team Phalanx gain wings upon evolving to the next stage of their respective lines.

And yet ironically it's the one who won't gain wings that makes the leap.

Gaius' facial muscles remained unstirred. He didn't answer for a moment. "See for yourselves."

That totally doesn't imply something probably in the realm of Not a Good Thing.

This is one wacky Mystery Dungeon alright, with the dark and purple smoke billowing overhead. Seems almost mystical and wondrous. Clearly unnerving though, to our protagonists.

Although the contact with her silky scales roused a most peculiar sensation in his gut,

Indicative of something bigger, perhaps? Maybe in the future, hmmm~?

"An anomaly within the anomaly?"

Anomaly-ception! Watch the gang unearth another anomaly, and then it'll be like a matryoshka doll.

Yvaine's getting out her aura sensors. What will she find within Flame?

Well, at least that didn't descend into a brawl. That could definitely have gone worse than it did. Still, now that we have the untrustworthy Virgo and suspecting Yvaine together, at odds with Flame, I foresee a showdown with these two in the near future.

The whole fortress had turned into a series of towers and ample rooftops, connected by bridges and staircases, walls and bastions.

This really does feel mystical and otherwordly, and it does fit in quite well with the whole illusory nature of the Mystery Dungeon. In particular, I can imagine this meshing with the swirling sky described on the last floor, which does contribute well to that otherworldly feeling of the gang at the minute.

a bipedal creature. Its traits looked canine, though it sported iron spikes on its stomach and wrists.

Ah, a Lucario. Had a feeling we'd come across a punchdog somewhere in this story.

He somewhat understood how dungeons functioned, how to avoid getting lost, how to fight Scum when need be.

Press X to doubt on that last one, given there's not been a hint of any Scum in this Dungeon, or even in this story so far.

And now the 'look in a mirror and see what shambles I've become' moment, except it's water instead of a mirror. Unsurprising that Flame looks worse for wear - will he ever get healthy over the course of the story? Something tells me he's gonna remain stick-thin and skeletal for a while.

something akin to a deep groan could be heard somewhere in the vicinity,

Oh, it's the thing from the end of last chapter, who's probably looking for someone to fight. Or eat. Or spirit away into the afterlife.

Assessing that monster's description, it sounds almost chimeric in nature? Sounds like a Rhyperior, but a bit more eldritch with the way it's glowing amidst the fog.

When he opened his eyes, another crash shook the air, and jolted his system back to attention. Was the Rhyperior bumping into walls?

Sounds like a crazed mon more than anything. Are they a mindless feral or a more sane 'mon driven to madness?

Looks like the gang have gotta play stealthy for now. But they're gonna have to fight this thing eventually, right?

Or not. Guess they're taking a leave out of Joseph Joestar's book and legging it.

Whew, close one with Alice there. At least the lone person sympathetic to Flame still makes it out of this alive.

And nice save from Virgo, even if his language was certainly colourful in taking down that monster.

Now the Mystery Dungeon's reacting with thunder all around the gang. Does that have anything to do with the Rhyperior's defeat? Yvaine said something about it having similar energy to teleportation - and it appears it's the Scum, escaping to safety. Looks like this mission's destined to be another failure.

Some parts of him, however, prayed for more lights to follow.

Hmm...what's this? Implications that Flame could be Scum?

Into the Scum's encampment, and dang, they are not a clean bunch. Someone oughta teach them lessons in hygiene.

A photo of a three-member family peeked from the pile.

They have photos in this world? Just how advanced is this world to have photographs?

Oh, so the Gengar was the one responsible for the teleportation. So they weren't just a feral locked in a Mystery Dungeon trying to suck the life out of any old passerby.

And now we finally get to fight the Scum. Which starts off by Flame not being the one to initiate combat. (One of these days, he's gotta shake that off that timidity.)

Results of that Leafeon fight? Mixed, definitely. Still early days for Flame as a fighter, that's for sure. And the Crobat's defeat was done kinda clumsily too. Still, results are results, even if our resident Charmeleon ended up poisoned and beaten by the end of it.

Mission accomplished, though, in defeating those five Scum. That's gotta count for something back in Aesernia, right?

Chapter IX

So it seems Ariel does have a caring heart to her, if she is willing to allow refugees to enter Aesernia. Still don't like her, though.

Flame's healed up from the poison. Good - that would be a problem if the group had no pecha berries.

The moment Flame turned to the problem in question, it took but a second for him to recognise the shape. It was the Leafeon from the dungeon.

Oh, this is the 'mon they're gonna bring back as a captive. I wonder if they'll be relevant later on if Team Phalanx are sparing them now.

First of all, from what little information he'd siphoned off Gaius, it was unlikely the Scum could comprehend their language—far too crude brains for that, the grass-type had said.

A language barrier, eh? Though would this be in the sense of the Scum being mindless, or just knowing a different tongue altogether?

For once, Ariel's proud of Team Phalanx. About time she showed our protagonists some respect. Maybe she'll start to show them goodwill? (Fat chance is my first guess.)

On that note, the Haxorus stomped away, leaving the five of them breathing in relief. He couldn't help but notice how grand and charming Aesernia looked from here.

While I am aware the 'he' here is referring to Flame, it does feel a bit awkward given that his name hasn't been mentioned in a bit, and 'the five of them' was just mentioned here. Some referral to our Charmeleon's name wouldn't go amiss in this line, I think.

And Virgo clearly wants to go hunting for ladies. At least Yvaine's courteous about it all. Still, though they're parting ways here, part of me thinks we're not gonna see the last of them just yet, with how Yvaine had her eyes on Flame and how Virgo had the hots for Alice.

Kinda hope Ariel stops pairing us with them on missions."

Ariel nodded in agreement.

I think you may have meant Alice here instead of Ariel? Since our resident Haxorus has long since stomped off to get her next bath.

There seemed to be some kind of commotion ahead.

Oh boy, how could this possibly not lead to anything?

Oh, it's a lynching of the Scum. Curious how it's some nondescript Combusken instead of the Leafeon that just came in. And clearly, not all are on board with it, if even Gaius is disgusted by it.

"Why?" Flame pressed on, eyes wandering all over, "Sure, they're Scum, but ... is all this really necessary?"

And in the sympathy creeps. Watch this grow to a boiling point over the course of the story, and - maybe possibly - even a Heel Face Turn?

"The library is basically impossible to reach, but ... a thought just sprung to mind—would you mind following me? There is one place we could go."

Oh, more alone time between Alice and Flame? I'll be damned if these two don't share feeling for one another at some point in the story.

"I'll stay and wait for my reward.

Didn't mention the 'spend it all on drink' part, I see.

Ah, they're going sparring. Forging their relationship through battling, I see~

Uh ... I think Gaius would start showing respect if you were to hold your own against either of us.

Somehow I doubt that our resident Grovyle would respect him unless Flame saved him in the heat of battle or something.

Neat description about the amphitheatres in Urbe, and the somewhat grim reality of the gladiatorial fights against the Scum.

Some neat exchanges in the fight, and there is some nice prose describing the fight, if a bit wordy. Maybe trimming on those a little could help to get across the intense feeling thus far. (Granted, it is a sparring match, so maybe no need to go that hard with the description.)

Clever plan of Flame to burn the field around him; neat stratagem that he could possibly use in future?

"Sorry? Why on earth are you sorry? You've won, for Mew's sake!" she shot back, forcing a playful grin, "Didn't I tell you not to use the word sorry with me again?"

I swear, you could almost make a 'Sorry Jar' at this point for the amount of times Flame has been apologetic to his teammates.

"Remember that legionary, Virgo?" he went on, crossing his arms, "I stole some from him. Hid them in Gaius' bag."

Neat way to get back at him for his earlier attitude. Nice one, Flame.

Goddamn, that's some big money right there. 50,000 gold? More than four times the payout from the mission they took a few chapters ago.

And eyyy, Gaius is praising Flame for once! Maybe the turn in respect for the newbie is just around the corner?

And (their compliments still warmed him) it seemed he was here to stay, if his previous performance was anything to go by.

I feel the parentheses placement here feels rather awkward, and breaks up the nice heartwarming moment that is here. It would be better if it was like, "Their compliments still warmed him, and it seemed he was here to stay;" or something to that effect.

Now over to Ariel, who's being her usual grumpy self. I wonder if that grumpiness has any relation to having to fork over a load of money for Team Phalanx of all people?

Wait, Sycorax is the messenger? I would've thought he would've been more of a retainer and stayed close to Adrian's side rather than venture all the way out to Aesernia.

"Need I remind you that imperial law technically does not allow females to hold such high-rank office? Thank our emperor's benevolence for that.

Well, if that isn't a sexist law that should be thrown out posthaste. Still an old-time world, I see.

And it seems the ranks of the civvies are gonna swell in the next while, where among the incompetents shall be rising stars. How will this affect Team Phalanx, I wonder?

Chapter X

entropy /ˈɛntrəpi/: lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder. Well, if that isn't a concerning omen for the future.

But for now, we have exuberance from Flame. So I suppose the descent doesn't quite begin just yet.

"I'm not throwing away more than eight thousand poké on this."

It seems inflation's as big an issue here as in the real world. I mean, eight thousand Poké for some bread? Highway robbery.

"I stash it all in a hole that's under my bed."

Not exactly the most secure of methods, if we're to be honest.

Alice offered him a meek, sheepish grin. "Well, no one has found out yet, so I'd say our chances are good."

Don't tempt Fate, Alice.

A commotion in the square doesn't bode well. Here's hoping the gang don't get caught in the crossfire of whatever it is.

"This one," said Flame, pointing with a claw, "How much is a slice?"

"Thirty-thousand poké," the vendor said.

Excuse me? How much did inflation increase by if this is the standard asking price for a slice of cheese?

Then it dawned on him: he did not have to necessarily pay for the cheese.

Life hack: thievery. Now for our resident Charmeleon to test out his stealing skills and see how much he'll have to hone in that field. Yeah, mightn't be morally correct to steal, but sometimes needs must.

And it seems the inflation wasn't tied to the cheese alone. If this keeps up, Flame won't be the only thief stealing from the market today.

Yummy sammiches are being eaten.

Good to see the team being so cheerful after a good meal too.

Whereas other pokémon might have found raindrops to be minor annoyances—water-types enjoyed them, those wretched beasts—he likened the experience closer to painful chunks of ice. No, pinpricks; that's what they were, tiny pinpricks leaking cold through to his bones.

It does vary from fic to fic just how resistant Fire-types are to the rain, and I see here's an interpretation similar to my own, that rain would be like an irritant upon the skin of a scaly Fire-type like a Charmeleon.

"I swear, if I see that lizard bitch I'll slit her throat out. Either that, or the proles will do it. Hope they burn down her villa, too."

Rebellion, rebellion, rebellion, rebellion!

Hmm, what's this mission this Scizor is tossing Team Phalanx's way? It sounds kinda fishy, not gonna lie...

The officer barely seemed to acknowledge the glares directed at him throughout the room, shifting his eyes to Flame. "Your friend here looks tougher in comparison.

Dang, that's some high praise he threw towards the living skeleton that is Flame. Maybe it's just Flame being out in the rain that impressed him.

"Perfect. My team will rendezvous at twelve-hundred hours near Domus Aerelia.

Wait a minute, but that's the name of Ariel's villa, isn't it? Why would they convene there? Unless...could they be plotting to overthrow Ariel?

It said that General Sycorax has announced plans to axe membership fees, as to make enrollment more appealing."

And now the Empire will have plenty of soldiers to tear Scum to pieces, as well as suppress other rebellions.

"Here's those civvies the captain sent us," sneered a snow-furred canine, garnishing a large scythe-like protuberance from its face.

An Absol, eh? Hopefully their presence here isn't an omen that everything's gonna go south from here.

I'm still going to punch him when this is over, Flame grinned to himself, as he reared his soon-to-be victim.

Boy, the Imperial Army really have proven themselves to be a face-punchable lot so far, haven't they? Between Virgo and this guy, there's certainly a lot of targets that it would be satisfying to see Team Phalanx one-up them all.

The second he neared it, an insufferable stench resembling that of faeces suggested it served as a communal bathroom.

Vile being in a place like that. Still, anything to catch the target in question.

"Officers!" the Combusken cried, "Don't take me away! You already got my brother, what more do you want? It was him who insulted Ariel—not me!"

Oh, I had a feeling he was related to that Combusken that was being lynched in a previous chapter.

Seems the Imperial Army aren't above thievery in their own right. What a bunch of cads.

The commoners stared back, those eyes burning with a fiercer impetus than Flame had imagined possible,

Something tells me they won't forget this in the near future. Will they rise up to rebel against the Army?

And now an earthquake? Boy, Aesernia cannot catch a break, can it?

Bad omens all across the horizon. Worrying, alright - signs that even on a natural level, the Empire is coming apart at the seams.

Chapter XI

Our Emperor continues to talk about this 'Ascension Programme' and how he has the protection of so-called 'Benefactors'. Albeit I refuse to believe it, his own words imply heavily that our state's sovereignty has been sold to external entities.

'Ascension'? The same word that keeps rolling itself around in Flame's head (even if it hasn't been mentioned in the last while). As for the 'Benefactors' - could they be gods? And maybe isekai-ing a human or humans into the world to be saviours for it? Because if all of the Imperial Army are like we've seen, then gods above does this world need someone different to save the day.

Off to Urbe this time, and it seems Adrian's convening a boring old Council meeting.

Currently the Minister of Agriculture—a tall and frail-looking Sceptile—was reading off endless statistics about food production for the month.

An old Sceptile? Any relation to our resident Grovyle in Team Phalanx, by any chance?

The minister seemed intended to add something for a moment, looking vaguely offended, but nodded wordlessly nevertheless.

Watch him be omitting something crucial that Adrian didn't allow him to say and thus jeopardising an important matter.

So it seems the Scum might be using Mystery Dungeons to get into the Empire from their borders. Rather clever use of them, in fact - guess this lot aren't necessarily a dumb bunch.

Our forces are exhausted. After twenty years of continuous fighting, we have yet to figure out what it is that pushes them to fight—their goals."

Taking over the Empire, of course. What else could it be? Unless there's another more sinister agenda at work.

It would appear that on one occasion a small detachment of barbarians walked to our encampment and attempted to negotiate a cessation of hostilities.

Perhaps proof that they should possibly consider holding a ceasefire? Or no, that would be too demeaning for the grand Urbe Empire to stoop to.

Oh, it seems that Ariel might have been friends or even lovers with Adrian once upon a time? And now the emperor's gonna have to turn his back on her.

Though it looks like the people of Aesernia have beaten her to it. Will Team Phalanx join in the uprising?

"… and we still don't have a dinner," Flame added in a murmur, as though unwilling to remind such sombering fact.

Shouldn't this be 'sobering' fact? That sounds like it would be a better fit here.

And in Camp Tempest, we have chaos on our hands. Mobilising to suppress this violence, no doubt.

"That is Sycorax, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army. Legend goes he was gifted by the gods to our current emperor.

Ohhh, so Sycorax might well be a gift from the 'Benefactors' spoken of at the beginning of the chapter. Curious how he could be among the elements that might save the Empire, though.

Early estimates rank it as six-point-five on the Diglett scale."

I see there's no Charles F. Richter around in this world to come up with the earthquake force measurements, so Diglett it is.

There didn't necessarily have to be fighting, especially if no mystery dungeons lay on the road.

Don't jinx it, Flame! We're definitely gonna have a fight on our hands, aren't we?

Quite grim realities to be imagined, with the earthquake just now. Hopefully those don't end up coming to pass and the civilians can find another way to hold on.

Really does feel like the gang's saying goodbye to Aesernia for good. Then again, it would've made for a boring story to have them only remain in the now ruined backwater for the rest of their lives.

Oh no, that Swampert from before.

Run, Flame, run!

Good thing he didn't get caught. Whew, that was a close one.

Route 115

Oh hey, I see we'll be dropping down a few ledges to get to Rustboro City. That, or find it impossible to get to Meteor Falls because of the ledges in the way.

A gruelling trek, this seems to be. Oh, if only the entire force could just be teleported to their destination instead of travelling along boring roads like this one.

Now the theories are coming in hot and fast for Flame's origins, but nothing much in the way of concrete evidence.

"I believe there were legionaries fishing downstream: I doubt they shall take kindly to us stealing their prey."

Nah, take their fish. Bunch of arsewipes, the lot of them. They don't deserve it.

"I think we should try," Flame looked her directly in the eye, "Nobody will ever know if we only catch a couple of fish and leg it.

Eyyy, Flame has the right idea! Good on you, dear protagonist. You know how to make life inconvenient for the cads that legionaries are.

And he even got lucky first try! Maybe Flame should be a fisher if the whole Civic Protection gig doesn't end up working out in the long run.

If Alice was born in the tranquil South, why was she here, amidst poverty and famine? And Gaius!—not one mention of family or friends or past life.

Indeed, that would be the question of the hour, wouldn't it? From where do our dear allies hail from? I guess we're about to find out.

"Not even Gaius knows this, but my family comes from the imperial court." she took an extra second of silence. "S-senators, to be precise."

I had a feeling that might've been the case. Somehow, she did give off that air even without Adrian necessarily being mentioned. On that note, it seems my earlier theory about her possibly being related to Adrian might've been wrong. Bummer.

Nice to see Flame and Alice bonding! These two'll be lovers for sure.

"That's what you call 'craziest experience'? I once had a Haxorus give me head."

This lot get around, I see.

Oh, another Charmeleon? Looks like Flame'll have a new friend to contend with.

"I was starting to think I was the only Char for hundreds of kilometres. Finally, my ears can hear something other than that horrible accent they have up here.

Seems like she's a Southerner with the way she airs her disgust at the northern accent. Looking more likely that she might well be Flame's sister, if he really ends up being from the South.

Y'know, when you came up to me like that, for a moment I could have sworn it was my brother. You and him truly do look alike."

Oh, what's this? Could it really be true?

"Yes, actually. Just a week ago, he wrote me a letter."

Awww, I guess not.

"I appreciate how sweet you're being, and you are kind of cute,"—he flushed redder—"but I already have a mate.

Don't worry about being excluded, Flame. There's been mate potential next to you all this time.

What could this most recent encounter mean, though? Do Livia and Flame really have no relation whatsoever? I'm gonna hold my doubts until it's been definitely proven beyond a shadow of doubt that they aren't related at all.

Chapter XII

Your prime directive is to identify and apprehend target Icarus by any means necessary.

Target Icarus, eh? A possible future objective for Team Phalanx to go for.

If the Ascension Programme is not brought to fruition, even the barbarians conquering us all would constitute a brighter future."

Just like it was in the dying days of the Roman Empire, with the invaders taking out the structures from within. Makes me wonder if such a thing might happen here too, and what side Team Phalanx might take should such a thing happen.

And it was there, in the morning breeze, that Team Phalanx waited, awake ever since the sun's rebirth.

And now the team get communication badges. Surely a sign they're moving up in the world if they can get their hands on these?

Regarding the badge and privacy, I'm wondering a scenario where Team Phalanx might need to share something secret but accidentally keep the badge activated, and thus leak the info to the psychics on the other end. That would be a bad thing if it ever did happen, so hopefully it doesn't.

A small, barely noticeable tremor shook the earth beneath their feet for perhaps thirty seconds, and ended just as abruptly as it started.

A bad sign for the future, and one that will probably impact them once they get going with this mission in Portus.

Ouch, Portus really suffered the brunt of that earthquake. Alice put it best; Aesernia really does look like a paradise compared to this place.

"I … didn't mean it in a bad way," Flame said, unsure whether to apologise.

"I know," she said simply. Her voice betrayed lingering bitterness, but thankfully not directed at him in particular.

Bitterness over what, exactly? A past incident, or lingering grievances over being serpent-like and not being in a body like a Dragonite? Might be the latter, but I do wonder if folks looked upon her demeaningly back in Urbe.

Now we gotta dig for survivors. Alas, their first target is as dead as a doornail.

Thieving from the dead seems in poor taste. But...sometimes folks gotta do what they have to get by.

"A scarf," she gasped,

Well, it took twelve chapters, but finally at least one of our protagonists gets to don the scarf like so many other PMD protags.

At the end of the process, he took a step back to gauge her reaction. What was this peculiar tingle deep inside him?

It's the first signs of love and affection for your fellow dragon companion, dear Flame.

The rest of the insula—at least, the parts which could be explored safely—uncovered a grand total of zero survivors.

Well, that's tragic. Not a soul to be had in all that rubble, huh?

An evident yellow tint corrupted that once celestial plain. Yet it could not possibly be sunset. Had they not awakened mere hours ago? More than a few hundred metres away, he noticed, everything appeared blurred, as though layered on top of itself and just slightly out of alignment.

Quite an odd sight. And I can't help but think that this might be down to two possibilities, both very worrying: either a portal storm's on the horizon...or the gang's about to be thrown into a Mystery Dungeon.

" … A ship. I was on a ship."

A memory unlocked. Just what does this mean, though?

"Although … now that I give it some thought, it would be fairly unusual for a fire-type to join the Navy.

Berecien from Fledglings would like to have a word with you.

"It-it was made of steel. At least, I think so. Do you know of any ships made of steel?"

More proof that Flame might be from a more modern time, perhaps?

I swear, you could make a drinking game of taking a shot every time the Imperial Army disparages our protagonists. I imagine readers would get hammered pretty quickly.

"Don't bother with those warehouses," said the Absol from behind as the distance between them accumulated, "Just naval equipment and other useless junk."

An indicator that there is something there. After all, given what Flame just said about him being aboard a ship, I wouldn't be surprised if the gang checks them out.

Speculation over the Scum and their motivations. Whatever the case is, something's driving them, whether that's conquering the Empire to live there, or they've been pushed out of their own homes.

So there are metal boats in the Imperial Army. But are they the same kind of boats as in Flame's image in his mind? I guess we'll find out.

The captain's logbook is rather revealing of events almost paranormal, what with the anomalous explosion. Now he speaks of saving the civilians. Could that be where all the citizens of Portus went to? It's feeling like an oddly similar scenario to how the Scum got out in the fortress near Sperantia Nova...

Just don't throw our money away."

Gaius paused. His gaze became more serious, almost emotionless. "I know."

Perhaps a sign that he regrets coming to blows over that bar fight back in the earlier chapters? Or maybe the sudden food price increases have made him realise how precious every last penny is.

Back out in the open, and now the gang appear to be in the wake of a storm. A portal storm, no less. Seems the captain did a good job of evacuating the civilians - good on him. But that then begs the question of where the civilians went to?

Oh shit, Scum are here. It must be the new anomaly that's developed that allowed them to enter the town.

"They've split up. If we hit now, they'll never see it coming.

They'll see, that my mind is too fast for eyes
You're done in
By the time it's hit you, your last surprise~ 🎶

Between rubble and a hard place, Team Phalanx are. And now they've got Zangoose Scum breathing down their necks. Looks like next time, we have a fight on our hands amidst a sticky situation with this portal storm.

Conclusion

But in the meantime, I think I'll call it there.

I gotta say, I really enjoyed my read of this! Firstly, the characters are really quite interesting, seeing Flame grow from a timid, apologetic sort to a more determined soldier, as well as his budding relationship with Alice that I'm almost certain is gonna blossom into outright love or affection of some kind. Hell, even Gaius, for all his assholery in the beginning, does mellow out over time to someone a bit more respectful of Flame. The fact that he subtly acknowledges his mistake of wasting money for drink in Chapter 12 was a nice touch at character growth. (Granted, this praise could also be partially owed to my Grovyle bias.)

There's also some great love-to-hate characters in this, like Ariel and the Absol lieutenant. Absolute face-punchable material who I'd love to see get their comeuppance one day. Maybe later on the story they'll get what's coming to them.

I also like the mystery revolving around Flame's amnesia, as well as the Ascension Programme that he no doubt has some connection to. I'm almost certain there's some kind of connection to humans in there somewhere. Especially with the vague visions Flame has of more modern stuff that probably outlasts the technology of this world.

I also found the tone rather intriguing - a darker one than I've seen in a fair amount of PMD fics I've read recently. Enlisting as soldiers is an interesting way to look at things, and while adult territory isn't untouched in other PMD fics, it was still a surprise to see crude references to sexual endeavours by Imperial Army folk. That was certainly not something I was expecting to hear.

Normally, other fics just mask that kind of thing by innuendo or find other ways to go about it. Rather brave, I have to admit.

As for faults, I kinda have to take issue with the various lines between parentheses I encountered in the later chapters of this read-through. I wouldn't call it outright egregious, but it looks a bit off in the text itself, sometimes breaking up important dialogue. Honestly, you could just not use the parentheses and find a different way to fit the parenthesised words into the text.

Not much else beyond that, though. This was a solid read, and I'm glad to have gotten started on a fic I've had on my reading list for a while. Hopefully I can get caught up with the remaining chapters sometime in the future, and while this fic has been on hiatus for a bit, hopefully one day the wheels will start moving again.

Nice work. You've earned yourself a new fan.