A/N - And the story continues. The team's first encounter with Drowzee went rather differently, didn't it? Well, it's time for them to find out just what that was all about. I hope you all enjoy the chapter, as always, and please let me know what ya think. Also, if there's a Pokémon you want to join the team, leave the suggestion in your review - you just might see 'em later. Finally, to use an often repeated phrase on this site... 'please read and review!'
"I'm sorry, you say that your client... set you up?" Chatot, quite honestly, couldn't believe what he was hearing - it was unthinkable for somebody to fake a legitimate request! But that was exactly what he had just been told, after watching Team Legend storm into the guild. "How can you be sure?"
Flare threw the pendulum to the ground, glaring at it. "Because this thing wasn't just lying on the ground. It was hanging from a spike, and a poison trap was in the wall it was hanging from!" He looked back at Chatot and added, "Where is Drowzee?"
The bird shifted his wings almost nervously - the Chimchar was quite angry, and he did not like being in the crossfire as it were. "Well now, he left the Guild shortly after you two. So I have no idea, sadly - you might try asking around town, however." When the duo didn't say anything further, Chatot quickly flutter-hopped away - this was not something he wanted anything to do with!
Meanwhile, Serita let out an irritated sigh. "Great... our first job, and it turns out to be a trap... but why?" She'd been asking the same question the entire way back to the guild, and neither of them had an answer... except that wasn't entirely true.
"… I might know. But... I need to think about it first. I'll tell you after dinner." Flare finished just as Chimecho rang the bell for the mentioned meal.
"Dinner's up, everyone!" she called, quickly darting out of the way of the near-stampede of hungry Pokémon. As always, the long table was set with bowls of seemingly every berry and fruit you could find. And as always, the food began vanishing as soon as everyone had sat down - with the usual compliments to Chimecho, of course.
Afterwards, everybody headed to their rooms for the night - including Team Legend, who were the only ones not entirely content. When they had settled into their nests, Serita asked "So... you said you might know why Drowzee set us up?"
Flare nodded once, not looking at her but at the moon outside. "Just before we left, I... well, I don't know what happened; but I heard a weird call for help - it was Azurill, the little guy we met in town. And I heard someone else shut him up, tell him to cooperate... I didn't recognize the voice at first." He hesitated a moment before adding "But now I know who I heard."
"… wait, you think it was Drowzee?" she asked, after taking a moment to think. "But... that didn't happen, because he was right with us at the time."
The Chimchar nodded. "Yeah, I know. But... well, it's got me on edge. If he did set us up - and that trap could have killed either of us - then I wouldn't put it past him to try something. But why would he want Azurill?"
Serita didn't say anything - neither of them knew why, how could they? The water Pokémon had nothing, giving whatever he and his brother could to help their mother - the Kecleon brothers had explained that to them. Finally she shook her head and said "We'll ask about Drowzee tomorrow... hopefully we can get some answers. For now... good night."
Flare nodded silently, not taking his eyes from the window. 'I have.. a really bad feeling about this...' he thought with a sigh. 'Hope that Azurill's going to be alright...' Once again, the Chimchar managed to calm his thoughts enough to sleep.
The next morning began as the last - Loudred woke them, they got in line for the 'guild cheers' (which apparently, Chatot had somehow forgotten the day before), and the Guildmaster... well, he was once again fast asleep on his feet. However, after everybody went to their jobs, Chatot gestured for Flare and Serita to follow him.
Leading them up to the second floor of the base, he said "You did well yesterday - as unexpected as it was, your mission was completed. You've proven quite well enough that you can handle a simple retrieval mission..." He let the sentence trail off when they stopped in front of one of the two notice boards on the walls of the floor. "But can you handle an outlaw, a Pokémon turned to darker deeds? That is what I'm going to test now! I want you to look over this board, and find an outlaw you think you may be able to handle."
Flare glanced over the board - you could barely see the wooden paneling underneath, with how many notices covered it. Some were mere thieves, but others were wanted for things as severe as killing. But his search was interrupted by a shaky vine tapping his shoulder. "F-flare, look..." Serita pointed at a Wanted note half-covered by the many others, one that showed a familiar face.
Under the bold 'Wanted' line was a sketch of none other than Drowzee. Then came the one who posted the notice, followed by the promised reward. And under that, his offences: thievery, psychically manipulating others, and... "Kidnapping..." Flare said it like a curse, ripping the note off the board. He all but shoved the paper in Chatot's face, saying "We're taking this one. Let's get geared up, Serita."
Flare was far from happy now - he'd been right, he just knew it. Before anybody could think of protesting, he'd climbed up the ladder and vanished, Serita hurriedly following behind. They made their way into town, where they found Marill being comforted by the Kecleon brothers.
"Now, now - surely your brother will be found quickly and safely." Gren, the green brother, was saying with a saddened look, patting the crying Marill on the back.
Len, the purple one, nodded quickly. "Yes, yes - after all, Wigglytuff's guild is likely already on the job. Come now, don't cry..." He happened to look up and saw the approaching duo, then shook his head. "My apologies, we are not trading right now-"
Flare cut him off with a shake of his head, then walked over to Marill and asked "Azurill's gone?" When the young water-type simply nodded, unable to stop crying, he clenched his fist. "Did Drowzee take him?" This time, Marill did stop - he looked up at the Chimchar in surprise, managing to only sniffle.
"How did you..."
In response, Flare held out the wanted notice. "We're going after him. We'll get Azurill back, don't worry." He gave Marill a confident smirk, hiding his anger with the outlaw well.
Gren seemed to teleport behind the stall's counter, he sprang up so fast. "Excellent, excellent! Surely you need supplies - free of charge, for such an endeavor!" He dug around under the counter for a moment before coming back up with a small bag. "Three Oran berries, a bundle of ten iron thorns, and our last two stocked Reviver Seeds. No charge, again - simply bring Azurill home safely."
Serita wrapped a vine around the bag and thanked the brothers, to which Len replied "No thanks necessary. We're happy to help, of course! Will there be anything else, anything at all?"
Flare shook his head, putting the contents of the bag into their own. "No. We can't waste any more time; there's an outlaw to find." he said after slinging their treasure bag over his shoulder. He adjusted the knot holding his scarf in place and looked down at the sniffling Marill. "We've got this, don't worry yourself. Gren and Len, you keep him safe while we're gone."
With that he turned around and started walking to the crossroads leading out of the town. As Serita started to follow, leaving behind the waving Kecleon brothers and Marill, she just had to stop and watch him walking away; with how determined he was, his silvery scarf catching the wind and glinting in the light behind him, it made him look... 'Like a hero...' she thought, a faint smile on her face. '… he's a good Pokémon. But... is he even really a Pokémon?'
Predictably, Drowzee was reported to have been seen at Mt. Bristle on the notice. Already knowing the way, it took the duo not twenty minutes at the fast pace they had taken - however, unlike their previous visit to the mountain dungeon, the entrance was blocked by a Pokémon; a Machop, with leaves wrapped around its fists. "Ah, ya made yer way back, then."
A faint smirk split Flare's face as he walked up to the Pokémon. "You were expecting us, Bruce?" he asked unnecessarily - it was obvious, of course.
"Aye, I was. Yer 'friend' Drowzee made 'is way through here not lon' ago. Draggin' a little one along too, confused an' cryin'." Bruce replied sourly, his odd accent doing nothing to disguise his disgust. "Couldn' do nothin' myself. I know when I'm losin' a fight 'fore it's even begun. But maybe the two o' ya... well, ya might stand a chance."
Flare stared at the Machop for a moment, then looked up at the mountain's peak. "… want to come along?" he asked suddenly, not shifting his gaze. "You've got as much issue with Drowzee's actions as we do, looks like. And I've got an odd feeling... we might need the help."
Bruce seemed surprised for a second, then smiled. "Ya got that right. Flare, weren't it? Nice to be workin' with ya." He held out his hand to shake - much like last time - which Flare took. "Now then, ol' psychic was on 'is way to the top. Not much to see up there, but he ain't come back down, neither. If ya take my 'dvice, we should get goin'."
Flare nodded once and gestured for them to go inside. 'We're coming, Azurill. Don't you worry...'
The trek through the mountain went smoothly - Bruce quickly proved how capable he was, as nothing he faced stayed in battle for long, either running away or being defeated. At one point, an out of place strip of leather - much like the strap on their treasure bag - was found near the stairs leading out of the floor, and Flare fashioned it into a makeshift 'bandolier' to hold spikes in.
Finally, they found a set of stairs with light streaming into the floor. "Well, guess that's it." Flare muttered, glaring up at the opening. "Everyone ready? I've got a feeling this isn't gonna go smoothly." Bruce and Serita simply nodded, determined looks on both of their faces. "Right, then... let's go." With that, the three of them made their way up the final stairway.
Mt. Bristle Peak
"Get in there, kid." Drowzee snapped, quickly losing his patience. 'Using such a young kid wasn't the best idea...' he thought irritably, glaring at the nearly-crying Azurill.
"W-where's my brother? You s-said he was coming t-too, right?" he asked shakily, his eyes starting to tear up.
Drowzee let out a quiet laugh, but it wasn't a happy one - it sounded downright malicious, in fact. "Sorry to tell you, but your brother isn't coming. Now listen up-" He stopped, hearing Azurill start crying. "No, you be quiet, kid... don't get me angry."
Azurill bounced backwards on his ball-like tail, shaking his head. "N-no, leave me alone! S-someone, help!"
Now Drowzee was getting angry. He glared at the water-type and snarled, "Shut up! Just do as I say, and this won't have to get painful." To make his point, a sharp rock floated off the ground near Azurill. "Now listen here; you get in there..." he pointed at a crack in in the back wall, just big enough for the young Pokémon to fit. "… and get the treasure I know is inside. Do that... and we'll all forget this ever happened."
"Not all of us, Drowzee."
The Psychic-type whirled around to see quite the angry trio - flames coated Flare's hands, Bruce cracked his knuckles and fixed Drowzee with a glare, and Serita's vines were out and ready to fight. Flare stepped forward and pulled out his explorer's badge. "By the authority of Wigglytuff's Explorer's Guild, you're under arrest, Drowzee." He pressed the center of the badge, making it glow brightly for a moment before settling into a subtle blinking.
"… you're Team Legend." Drowzee said finally, giving the trio a tired-looking stare. "They sent a rookie team after me? I'm honestly insulted." He looked over each in turn, then let out a dry chuckle. "An amnesiac, a coward, and a stray Machop - this is the great 'Team Legend' meant to bring me in... I think not." With that he shifted his stance, holding his arms loosely in front of him. "Worry not, you will survive - and I shall be long gone."
It was Flare who started the battle in earnest; he 'scratched' at the air in front of him, sending the fire around his hand streaking towards Drowzee, who didn't flinch as it splashed against an invisible barrier. "You will have to do better than that." he said flatly, only for his eyes to widen as Bruce came rushing through the dissipating flames to deliver a sharp chop to his arm.
Quickly jumping back from Drowzee, the Machop smirked. "Ya want me to do better, eh? An' yer sure about that?" The Psychic responded with a shoving motion, and Bruce was sent tumbling back from a telekinetic push. He skidded to a stop on his knees, hurt but definitely not out of the fight.
Drowzee narrowed his eyes, looking around and trying to keep all three of them in sight. He spotted Flare again, trying to get between the psychic and Azurill, who was cowering against the back wall. But oddly enough, he couldn't find...
"This is for Marill!" Serita shouted from behind him, bringing two vines crashing into his side. The force of it sent him staggering back, and the attack was sure to leave a bruise if nothing else.
He shot the grass type a glare as he regained his balance. "Why, you little... AGH!" A metal spike flew into Drowzee's arm, drawing a thin trickle of blood. Holding another in each hand like knives, Flare was in front of the psychic before he could blink.
"Don't make this any harder on yourself than it already is, Drowzee." he said, taking another step forward. Drowzee reacted with a step back, only to bump into Bruce.
The Machop cracked his neck and glared at the psychic, somehow managing to look intimidating despite being a foot shorter than Drowzee. "Really, ya should jus' give up. Make thin's a lot easier on all o' us."
Serita grabbed Drowzee's arm with a vine, the other ready to strike him again. He was at a disadvantage, that much was clear - while he wasn't badly hurt in reality, that would likely change if he tried anything.
Before he could think of a way out of his situation, a loud siren-like sound blared through the area. Three Pokémon - the town's only real peacekeepers, Officer Magnezone and its two Magnemite assistants - floated out of the tunnel. Magnezone swiveled slightly, looking around before saying in an electronic voice "Excellent work! You managed to catch and delay the outlaw. We will take it from here."
The two Magnemite took Bruce and Flare's places beside Drowzee, small sparks flickering between their magnets as they led him over to Magnezone. After a series of unintelligible beeps, they moved on as the officer floated over to Team Legend. "One of you lacks a badge. Stolen?" it asked finally, looking directly at Bruce who just shrugged.
"Nah, not stolen. Just 'cided to help out. Prob'ly gonna stay 'ere now."
Flare glanced from Bruce to Magnezone and said "Actually, if it's... allowed, I guess, I'd like you to join the team, Bruce. If you want, that is - not going to force you."
The Machop seemed surprised, but pleasantly so. "Well now... tha's a new one, it is. Aye, if it's a'ight, I'd be happy to join ya." He turned back to Magnezone and asked "That gonna work, Off'cer?"
The officer seemed to think for a moment, magnets spinning, before answering. "Unorthodox procedure, but not undeserved. Agreed; you have permission of the law." Seemingly from nowhere, an exact copy of Flare and Serita's badges appeared in one of Magnezone's magnets, held out to Bruce.
Taking the offered badge, Bruce smiled. "Pleasure to be workin' with ya, then. We gonna go far, I think... aye, tha' we will." Flare and Serita both nodded with smiles of their own, with Flare shaking the Machop's hand.
"Welcome to the team." he said, before looking over at Serita. "Now for us to get back - with Azurill, of course. C'mon, it's safe to come out!" With the added last part, the young water type hopped out from behind a large rock and glanced around.
"Is... big brother here?" Azurill asked hesitantly, his gaze landing on Flare.
He shook his head, but held his hand out to the Pokémon. "No, he's back at town. We'll take you to him, though - come over here, alright?" Azurill looked around again, then bounced over to the trio. With a smile, Flare pulled out his badge and pressed the center once. "Let's get you home." With a bright flash of light, Magnezone was left alone on the mountain peak.