Wardens Eternal

Chapter Ten: Now I am

"Still can't get this cursed sea salt out of my fur," Martian complained as he shook again trying to dislodge the uncomfortable clumps of the stuff from his body. So far, he wasn't having much luck getting the salt out, much to his increasing frustration.

At least they made it back to the Guild and reported their success to Chatot. The Flying type took the pearl and instructed them to head inside and wait outside the Guildmaster's office for payment and debriefing. So here they were, waiting.

At least Scarlett was in high spirits, it was like the salt in her fur didn't bother her at all, only the fact that they won, that they completed the job and emerged stronger at the end. She just stood there looking out the window smiling at the beautiful sight as she embraced the minor breeze from outside. That made Martian smirk with pride.

The first clue Chatot had returned was when Loudred perked up and headed upstairs to open the gate up top to let someone in. After a few seconds, Chatot flew downstairs followed by the owner of the pearl.

"Apprentice Martian, Apprentice Scarlett," Chatot introduced, "This is Spoink, your client. She wished to thank and pay you in person."

"Ma'am," Martian greeted respectively, "Glad to see you up and about with your pearl again. It's my understanding that your kind don't live for very long without it."

"Yes all the more reason I'm overjoyed to have it back," Spoink confirmed, "While a Spoink's pearl is our most beautiful possession we actually need it to focus our Psychic Energies to control our breathing and heartbeat subconsciously so we can move about and gather food and water. With the Pearl missing, we have to focus exclusively on our vital organs in order to keep them working."

"Rendering you immobile and unable to gather or consume food or water, meaning that you'd die of thirst and hunger if you don't get the Pearl back before them," Martian finished as he winced slightly at the thought of having such an easy weakness, "Sorry, sounds rough."

"All the more reason I wanted to thank you personally!" Spoink exclaimed as she hopped on her spring like tail, "I wanted to thank you in person for saving my life and pay you for your deed. Twenty thousand coin, you earned every last piece."

"Twe- Twenty thousand!?" Scarlett stuttered in absolute disbelief, "Twenty thousand coin! We could probably afford our own place in Treasure town with that! Are you serious?"

"Every last piece," The little Psychic type assured as she plopped the purse in front of Scarlett, "That amount is nothing compared to the importance of my Pearl, I can afford it. If you two ever find something on one of your adventures and not sure what it is come see me at my place in town. I'm the appraiser around here, my door's always open for you two."

"Understood, we'll be sure to run any sort of artifacts we come across by you." The luxio agreed, "Let us know if you ever need help again, we'll do what we can."

"You'll be the first names I'll ask for." Spoink promised as she started bouncing in place building up momentum, "I need to leave now and get back to work, so see you two later. And thank you again for saving my life."

After that, with her pearl returned to it's perch atop her head, Spoink nodded goodbye before leaving the Guild. For a moment the room remained relatively silent as the apprentices took a few seconds to think about the events that just transpired.

"W-We did it?" Scarlett finally broke the silence asking out loud before she gasped in amazement and started jumping around, absolutely giddy with joy.

"That's it! We did it! We did it Martian! Twenty Thousand coin! Ha Ha!" The vulpix cheered triumphantly, "We're Rich!"

No it can't be that easy, there has got to be a catch here somewhere. Martian warned himself, That's way too much money to pay a couple nobodies like us, people don't pay large sums to the guys at the bottom.

"Well well, I must admit I didn't expect the two of you to make it through the dungeon so easily," Chatot complemented the duo, "Impressive work you two, now I'll take the coin."

Scarlett's heart plummeted as the parrot helped himself to the bulging coin purse.

"Really?" The vulpix barely managed to whisper, "After we worked so hard for it too."

"But of course!" Chatot cheerfully replied as he started counting the coins, "Your client hired you through the guild, and as per guild rules a fraction of the profit goes to the guild master! Meaning you two get to profit. . . About this much." The Parrot happily dropped a small pile of coins onto the ground.

"Ten percent?" Martian growled, "And after we did all the work, all-"

"Absolutely!" The parrot happily cut off the electric type, "And we expect just as much effort from you tomorrow!"

Keep it up Moneybags and I'll be looking forward to fried parrot for dinner. Martian threatened in the back of his mind, fighting the ever increasing desire to unleashing all of his frustrations and making Chatot eat his own beak.

"Come on Scarlett, let's go back to town. Think it's time we took care of some stuff." Martian finally suggested after slowly exhaling to vent off his anger.

"Alright," the disheartened vulpix muttered softly before following the luxio out, dragging her tails, and her saddened heart, across the floor.

Wardens Eternal

"Dodge!"

Scarlett jumped back, avoiding Martian's claw as it impacted the place she was less than a second before. The two were sparring in the Dojo, training, Martian attempting to teach his partner how to fight like he did himself. Aggressive, fierce, but smart.

The vulpix took only the shortest of moments to positively reflect at the fact she managed to dodge her mentor's strike. A moment too long, because as soon as his right paw, the one she dodged, touched the ground Martian's left paw lashed out in the manner of an uppercut. It would have easily nailed her in the neck and lower jaw if Martian hadn't halted it only an inch away from touching her scarf.

"Good job at evading my first attack, you just left yourself vulnerable to a follow up strike." Martian criticized, "Granted most non Fighting-Types probably won't use an immediate follow up attack, but it's still a single blow that could cost you the entire fight. So always be ready for it, it's better to be prepared for something that never happens rather then get caught off guard."

"R- Right." Scarlett stuttered as she realized just how close Martian was to tearing into her throat. Now of course he wouldn't actually do that, but someone else in the same position just might have.

The two continued to train and trade blows for about an hour, alternating between attacking and defending. Scarlett began to fight more instinctively, striking and countering faster then she could consciously follow. Her Ember attack, a volley of respectable but timid fireballs vanished. Instead, Scarlett found herself capable of unleashing a mighty Flamethrower of unimaginable heat and ferocity at will.

But best of all, Scarlett's roar. Before, any attempt the timid vulpix made to roar ended in a soft, cowardly squeak. Now, her cry for adventure and challenge rang loud and strong. Admittedly nowhere as strong as Martian's roars, but more than enough to express her growth from a coward to a warrior.

She might have had her doubts about living up to the name before, not worthy of calling herself one, but now she was.

Now she was a Warden. . .