After several days of travel, Lowell and the group finally arrived on the train at Brook Town. The town is located at the foot of a large mountain and is separated from the nearby forest by a stream that starts higher up in the mountain. The roads are paved with gravel, and the homes have a rustic appeal to them, being rather small and made of wood. The town itself isn't much, but just by walking through it, you can almost feel the presence of nature around you.
There isn't a cloud in the sky, making it the perfect weather to be outside. Many of the children can be seen playing in front of their homes, or near the stream. As they were walking through the streets, Lowell noticed a young girl near the stream, being splashed with water by an Azurill. Both are giggling, content with each other's company.
Meanwhile, on a nearby porch, a small family is gathered together. The parents are sitting on the edge of the porch, watching as their son ran around in a circle, chasing after a barking Poochyena.
The sight of these children getting along with and playing with Pokemon put a smile on Lowell's face. It is a nice contrast to how many looked at Pokemon before they knew what the Pokemon were. Before, they were afraid of them, but now it seems as though the general opinion of them has changed for the better.
"This is a wonderful sight. If only everyone in Fiore could get along with Pokemon like this." Lowell commented. As many people there are that are accepting Pokemon as a part of their lives, there are still those who think of them as nothing but a menace. Hopefully, after seeing people getting along with Pokemon like this, those individuals will eventually begin to change their opinions.
Kurt nodded in agreement. "Yeah. To think, that over a month ago, people were terrified of them. Things aren't perfect, but at least they have improved."
"I must admit that it is rather intriguing to watch how different people act around Pokemon." Carla stated as she walked beside Wendy.
Her blue-haired companion smiled and nodded, watching as the children and Pokemon played together. "It almost feels as if things have always been this way, watching them enjoy each other's company." she said. She hasn't had Goomy for very long, but she understands the joy that can come from having a Pokemon of your own.
"I think that we should be glad for that. It shows that they are willing to accept this change." Lowell responded. Realistically, it could be a lot worse than it really is. "There are some exceptions, but for the most part, people have been a lot more understanding than I was expecting."
Kurt slapped a hand on Lowell's back a little too hard, making the brown-haired trainer look back and give his friend a small glare. "Sorry about that." he apologized with a slight smirk, not feeling sorry whatsoever. "Anyways, that just makes your job easier. I wouldn't complain, if I were you."
Lowell grabbed Kurt's hand and removed it from his back. "I'm not complaining. Trust me, after all the hassle to get transportation and shipments between the regions and Ishgar, I'm very grateful for the cooperation everyone has shown, so far." he responded seriously. Though, the serious look on his face was soon replaced by a small grin. "However, I feel like the announcement of the tournament helped people get used to the idea. I'm pretty sure that the excitement replaced a lot of the fear and confusion that some people had."
"Aint that the truth." Kurt said, chuckling. "Back in Hoenn, everyone was downright bewildered when they found out magic existed. Although, when they realized that there was a new tournament for them to test their skills, they seemed to get used to the idea. Some were even excited, realizing that they could possibly learn to use magic, as well."
"Speaking of the tournament, have you had any word from the council of when they plan to have it?" Wendy asked curiously. There hasn't been much word on it since it was announced, and that has left many people eager to learn more about it.
Though, much to the others' disappointment, Lowell shook his head. "No, not really. I mean, they are speculating sometime in the summer, since it would be taking the place of the annual Grand Magic Games. Though, I haven't been informed of any specific dates, or about the rules of the tournament. Though, they should be coming to a conclusion soon."
"Well, that sucks." Kurt sighed, but he lightened up, seeing as though it couldn't be helped. "Oh well. These things take time. All we can do is train harder to make sure we are ready for whatever they throw at us." he said. He and Lowell exchanged a brief look at each other before fist bumping, both of them having the same thoughts on the subject.
While the others continued going on about the future tournament, Erza was occupied by looking around at the town some more. After taking a closer look, her lips curved into a small frown. Carla took notice of Erza's silence, making her aware that something wasn't quite right.
"Is everything alright, Erza? You've been rather silent this whole time."
At Carla's question, everyone turned their attention to Erza. None of them had noticed that the armored girl had yet to speak a single word since arriving at their destination.
"Take a closer look around and tell me what you see." the scarlet-haired swordswoman ordered.
The others did as the scarlet-haired girl asked, and they took a closer look around the town. They weren't sure what they were supposed to be looking for, but they assumed that they would realize quickly, if Erza was able to catch it. Soon enough, they took note of some of the people that were sticking closer to their homes. A lot of them seemed to be upset about something, though what that something is wasn't clear to them.
It took a moment, but Lowell finally figured out what was wrong. Most of the people who seemed upset had their gaze set on the people that were playing with their Pokemon. He then remembered what their job request entailed.
"They are the ones whose Pokemon were stolen by those thieves." he assumed, making the others gasp in realization.
Erza nodded in confirmation. "I didn't notice at first. Seeing the children play freely with their Pokemon made it difficult to see the reality of the situation. However, I quickly realized the truth, after I remembered why we are here to begin with." she explained.
Lowell felt disappointed in himself for almost forgetting the reason why they came to this town to begin with. He should've noticed sooner, without Erza having to remind him.
Wendy feels the same way, though she mainly feels bad for the people of the town. "I still don't understand why someone would do something like this. It just seems downright wrong."
"It is most certainly cruel." Carla agreed.
Kurt shrugged. "Sadly, it isn't anything new. This sort of thing has always happened. There are some criminal organizations who steal Pokemon to satisfy their own nefarious purposes, and then there are also poachers who would do anything to make money." he explained. He noticed Lowell's fists clenching in anger, no doubt remembering when he rescued Dragonite from a poacher. "It disgusts me, but as long as there are people that see Pokemon as a method of obtaining power or wealth, there will always be those who steal them from others."
"Well said. That is why we need to accomplish our task without delay. I will not allow for these criminals to continue such horrible behavior." Erza replied.
Sharpening his gaze, Lowell held up a single fist in front of him. "In that case, let's not waste anymore time. The sooner we speak with the mayor, the sooner we can get to work and help the people of this town." he said, determination burning in his eyes. No matter what it takes, he is going to get those Pokemon back, and he is going to show those criminals how they made the wrong choice in messing with the bond between human and Pokemon.
Without any further delays, the group continued down the gravel path, eager to get to work. However, they never noticed the pair of green eyes watching them from a nearby alleyway. Once the mages were out of sight, the silhouette hiding in the alleyway smirked before retreating further into the alleyway to meet with his brother.
Once he reached the end of the alleyway, he saw his brother sitting on top of a dumpster with his legs crossed. His brother is wearing a white camouflage hoodie underneath a brown cloak that stopped just below his elbows. He is also sporting a pair of black pants with white spots that are rolled up just stop just below his knees, with the rest of his legs covered up by a pair of black sandals and black leggings. However, much of his face is covered by bandages, only showing a single green eye. His hair is also covered, but a couple strands of black hair can be seen poking out from under the bandages, if looked closely enough at.
The man looked down at his brother, raising his only visible eyebrow. "So, Kaze, what did you find?" he asked.
Kaze is dressed very similarly to his brother, the only noticeable difference being that he does not sport a cloak like the elder twin, instead choosing to wear a white scarf with gray spots around his neck. He also doesn't wear bandages over his face, allowing the outside world to see his clean-shaven face. His hair is also black, spiking up on top his head.
Still with his smirk on his face, Kaze answered. "Well, Onpa, it seems as though Fairy Tail has accepted a request to aid this town. They've sent four members."
It was hard to read his brother's emotions, seeing as though only one eye is visible, but Kaze can tell that he went into deep thought for a moment. "Did they send anyone that we should be worried about?" he asked. Fairy Tail is regarded as the strongest guild in the kingdom. If they are getting involved in their plans, then things could get complicated if they sent some of their stronger members.
"They sent Titania and that dragon slayer girl from the Grand Magic Games." Kaze answered. "Both are strong, though I'd say that the redhead is the bigger threat out of the two."
Onpa nodded his head in agreement. Both could prove to be a massive threat, though the swordswoman has shown more skill when it comes to straight up combat than the younger girl. "You said something about there being four members. What about the other two?"
Kaze scratched the back of his head. "Well, that's where things get a bit tricky." he answered. Though, the unamused expression on his brother's face, well, his eye, prompted him to keep talking. "I don't recognize one of them, so I'm guessing that he's a new member, or something. Though, the second guy has become a lot more known, recently."
The older brother groaned, tired of the stalling. "Just hurry up and get out with it. The faster we are done here, the faster we can report in with those lunatics. I'd rather speak with them as little as possible, it if can be avoided."
Kaze nodded in understanding. Truthfully, he'd rather not deal with them at all, but he isn't a fool, thinking that he could take them on in a fight. "Fine." he sighed. "The fourth guy, if I'm not mistaken, is that guy who spoke during that press conference. Don't remember his name, though. I just recognized the outfit and the hair."
Onpa crossed his arms over his chest and hummed in thought. "This could be a problem. If it really is him, then he has more knowledge on these Pokemon than we've managed to gather."
"So, do you think that we should tell our employers about him?"
Onpa shrugged his shoulders. "Might as well. It may mean extra work for us, but I'd rather have extra work than lose out on the money we're supposed to be paid for this."
Seeing the logic in his brother's words, Kaze nodded in agreement. "He doesn't seem all that tough, but we better play it safe." he said. Onpa hopped down from the dumpster, and the two of them began to make their way out of the alleyway, through the back.
With Lowell and the others, after about fifteen minutes of walking, they finally came across the mayor's home. It is located near the plaza in the center of the town. Unlike the surrounding buildings, the mayor's home is several floors high, and it seems a bit older than the rest of the buildings. It is very well possible that it has been around since the town was founded.
Erza stepped forward and knocked on the door with her metallic gloves. Nearly minute went by, and they wondered if they had heard the knock, or if they just weren't home. Erza was about to knock once more. However, before she could, the door swung open, making her pause before she accidentally hit the person.
"So sorry about that." the person who opened the door said. He is an older man, seemingly in his late sixties or even early seventies. He is nearly half a foot shorter than Erza, with short, graying hair. He is skinny, though not unhealthily so, with slightly pale skin and blue eyes. He is wearing a plain white shirt underneath a black coat with blue trim, a pair of black pants. The elderly man looked up at the Fairy Tail group, giving them a kind smile as he adjusted the rectangular-framed glasses on his face. "I heard the knock, but this old body of mine just can't seem to keep up, anymore." he joked lightly with a small chuckle. "So, what I can help you five with?" he asked.
"We are from Fairy Tail, and we've come because of the request that you sent out." Erza answered. "I am Erza Scarlet, and these are my comrades: Lowell, Kurt, Wendy, and Carla."
The mayor smiled again, though this time it was more of a sad smile. "I see. Well then, how about you all come inside, and I'll explain the request in further detail." he responded, turning around to head back into the house.
The group followed him, all six of them sitting down in the living room. The mayor offered them some tea, which they gratefully accepted. They didn't want to come off as rude to the older man's generosity. Once the tea had been poured and they took a couple of sips, they got straight to business.
"Well, first things first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alphonse, and I've been the mayor of this town for over thirty years. I must say, I am very appreciative for you to come all this way to help us."
"Think nothing of it." Lowell responded. "We chose this job because we wanted to help you, not because we had to. Besides, what these thieves are doing isn't right. It is one thing to capture a wild Pokemon and to give them a new home. It is another thing entirely to steal a Pokemon from their trainer."
After hearing Lowell's explanation, the old man took a closer look at him, finding him to be somewhat familiar. Although, it didn't take too long for him to realize it. "You're that boy that is supposedly native to this world." he said, receiving a nod in return.
"Yeah. Lowell and I are both Pokemon trainers from Earth." Kurt responded.
Hearing this made some hope sparkle in the old man's eyes. "That is good news. Maybe with the two of you, we can finally stop those thieves. Your expertise on Pokemon might just be what this town needs."
"How so?" Wendy asked.
"Does it perhaps pertain as for why the job offered a rather high reward, for simply stopping a couple of thieves?" Carla questioned.
The old man nodded his head with a small frown. "Unfortunately, yes. The truth is, these thieves, who are twin brothers, have been giving us problems for a while now, stealing food, money, and whatever else they could get their hands on. We sent out a request with a much smaller reward at first, since it was all we could scrounge up, but no one ever came to help." he explained.
Hearing this made Erza frown in disappointment. "It shouldn't matter whether the reward is high or not. It is wrong to not give help to someone, simply because they could not afford to offer more in return."
"I understand having to pay bills and all, but that is just wrong." Kurt responded, his arms crossed.
"Still, what made you raise the reward?" Wendy asked. "I thought that you couldn't afford to pay any more than that."
"Well, that was the case for a while. However, since these Pokemon began to appear, the thieves suddenly stopped coming into town. We thought that they had just moved on to another town, though we were relieved, since it meant that they wouldn't bother us anymore." the mayor explained.
"Though, I'm guessing that didn't last for very long, considering that we are here." Lowell responded. The elderly mayor nodded his head in response.
"A couple of weeks ago, they came back. Only, this time instead of stealing food and money, they began to steal the Pokemon the townspeople took in as pets." he continued. Some of the townspeople and their Pokemon attempted to fight back, of course, but they were no match for the thieves. In the end, they ended up just getting their Pokemon taken, like the others. "The people in this town have grown very fond of the Pokemon, and they've been very upset with them being taken away. Since we managed to save up more money without the thieves stealing it, I sent out another request with a significantly higher reward than before."
Erza took all of the information in, nodding in understanding. Though, she found a couple of the answers she was looking for to be missing. "What I don't get is why you think Lowell and Kurt are the keys to taking down these thieves."
Kurt found himself agreeing with Erza. "Yeah. I'm not exactly much of a fighter. My Pokemon pretty much do most of the work."
Lowell shrugged. "I can fight, and my magic has certainly improved, though like Kurt, my Pokemon do most of the fighting. I don't see why we are so important for this job."
"It's because we have a limited knowledge of Pokemon in general, and with the two that have been aiding the thieves, having someone who knows how to deal with them is invaluable for stopping them."
This made Lowell's eyes widen slightly. "You're saying that the thieves have Pokemon of their own?" he asked, receiving a nod in return.
"Do they belong to any of the townspeople?" Kurt asked.
Alphonse shook his head. "No. If they did, then surely someone in town would've recognized them. The two Pokemon with those thieves are much stronger than any that belong to the townspeople."
"Could you possibly give us a description of them?" Erza asked. "That would help them identify which Pokemon they have quicker."
Alphonse put his hand on his chin in thought, quietly humming. "From my memory, the older brother, Onpa, had a large, purple bear with a big mouth and strange tubes sticking out of the back of its head. The younger brother, Kaze, has some sort of freaky bird, I think. I'm not really quite sure. It had a bunch of different colored feathers. I just know that it looked really weird."
Almost immediately, the two veteran trainers got to work thinking about the Pokemon that matched those descriptions. Kurt believes that he knows the one that the older brother has, because he is pretty sure that someone challenged him back in Hoenn with one of those. The younger brother's, on the other hand, Lowell has a good idea of what it might be. He battled a few of them on his way to Route 10, and he most certainly agrees with the old mayor's description of the Pokemon.
"So, do you know which ones the brothers have?" Wendy asked.
Kurt nodded, taking out his Pokedex. A picture of the purple, bear-like Pokemon appeared on the screen. He held it near the middle of the coffee table, so that they could all get a good look at it.
"Exploud: The Loud Noise Pokemon. Exploud triggers earthquakes with the tremors it creates by bellowing. If this Pokémon violently inhales from the ports on its body, it's a sign that it is preparing to let loose a huge bellow."the Pokedex informed.
"W-wow. It must be really powerful if it can cause so much damage by yelling." Wendy said. It is a little terrifying to think how something not much taller than herself could create earthquakes with just its voice.
"They are powerful. I've faced one before, and you definitely need to be careful when battling one. They aren't too fast, and their defenses are decent, but the amount of HP that they have is pretty good, as well as their physical and special attack stats."
"It definitely sounds like a handful." Carla commented. She then turned to face Lowell. "What about the other one? Do you know what it is?" she asked.
Lowell let out an irritated grunt, showing them a picture of the Pokemon he believed it to be. After taking a single look at it, the others most certainly agreed that it looked odd.
"Sigilyph: The Avianoid Pokemon. The guardians of an ancient city, they use their psychic power to attack enemies that invade their territory."
"They sound very territorial." Erza commented.
Lowell nodded his head in agreement, though he still seems to be a bit irritated. "Why do you look like you are annoyed?" Kurt asked.
"I don't particularly enjoy battling with Sigilyph." Lowell admitted, frowning at the picture. He doesn't hate Sigilyph. There isn't a single Pokemon that he hates, though he does find that battling with the Flying/Psychic-type can be quite infuriating.
"Why? Are they strong?" Wendy asked.
Lowell shrugged. "They can be. It all depends. Their special attack is pretty high, as well as their speed. Powerful Psychic-type moves, plus high special attack and speed, as well as moves that add to the Pokémon's defenses, special attack, and speed definitely make them a force to be reckoned with."
Kurt chuckled, amused by his friend's reaction. "I never would've thought you would be beaten by a wild Sigilyph." he joked.
"I never said that I lost!" Lowell argued. "I was just saying that they can be a bit tricky. Besides, that was when my team and I were less experienced than we are now. Though, that doesn't mean that we can just ignore the possible threat it will provide."
"Alright, alright." Kurt said, holding his hands out in front of him in defense. "I get what you mean. Plus, some of its moves like Light Screen and Reflect affect not only itself, but its allies as well. As long as it is out on the field, it will be able to raise their overall defenses, which can make things a bit more difficult for us."
"Even so, that just means that we will have to work hard to make sure they don't get the better of us." Erza responded.
The elderly mayor smiled at them. He wasn't sure what to expect when he found out that his request was accepted, but he believes that he made the right choice. Even with their tendencies to cause trouble related to property damage, he feels like Fairy Tail was the best possible guild that could've accepted the job. "So, do you think that you can do it? Can you beat those thieves and get the Pokemon back?"
Lowell returned the mayor's smile, confidence showing in his eyes. "Don't worry. We'll make sure that the people of this town get their Pokemon back, as well as make sure that those thieves don't cause anymore trouble." he ensured. He doesn't like to make promises, seeing as though things can always end up happening that might break those promises, but he is confident that they can complete this job without fail. Even if it is difficult, he would feel like a disgrace as not only a trainer, but a member of Fairy Tail.
Kurt patted his chest with a closed fist, a small smirk on his face. "What he said. As long as we're on the case, we'll make sure that the town doesn't have to worry about them anymore." he agreed. He is a bit worried, considering he can't use magic, and he's never gone up against someone with magic before. Though, he knows that Lowell and the others will have his back.
"I'm sure it'll be tough, but I know that we'll get the job done, as long as we all work together. Right, Carla?" Wendy said, looking down towards her Exceed partner.
Carla simply nodded her head in agreeance. "Just don't act too rash. It wouldn't be good if you took Natsu's habit of going overboard in a fight."
Seeing as though they came to a decision, Erza figured that it was time for them to start taking some action. "So, what should our first plan of action be?" she asked, looking at Lowell and Kurt. They have the most knowledge when it comes to dealing with Pokemon out of the six of them, so it only makes sense for them to coming up with a plan.
"Well, the first thing that we need to do is to get everyone to keep their Pokemon inside their Pokeballs." Lowell said. "If the Pokemon has already been caught, then they can't be caught by someone else's Pokeball, and it will be easier to keep them away from the thieves if they are hidden in their own Pokeballs."
The mayor nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. I can gather everyone up in the plaza and tell them the news. Even if they don't want to confine the Pokemon to their Pokeballs, then they can at least keep them inside their homes. It would be safer then letting them roam outdoors."
"Good." Lowell nodded. "After that, we will just have to wait until the thieves show up again. We aren't sure where they are hiding at the moment, but surely it won't be long before they come back to try and steal another Pokemon. When they do, then we will be ready."
"It makes sense, but it won't we mess up the town if we fight here?" Wendy asked.
Kurt waved off her concerns. "Don't worry. I think I've already come up with a plan to take care of that." he said with a smirk.
"In that case, you may want to run it by me first, just to make sure that it will actually work." Lowell responded with his own smirk, making Kurt glare at him.
"I'll have you know that I am fairly good at coming up with plans, thank you very much." he responded jokingly.
"You mean like catching girls in Pokeballs?"
"I was drunk when that happened!" Kurt roared. "Will you ever let me stop living that down?"
"Probably not."
"Will you just shut up and let me explain my plan already?!"
Alphonse watched the two boys argue while the girls watched with amused grins on their faces. Normally, this would make him worry, but the fact that they can joke around like this even when there is a job to be done, that just shows that they are confident they can get it done.
"It almost makes me wish for my youth back." he thought with a smile on his face, watching the two bicker back and forth.
Back in the laboratory, Dmitri just finished extracting the energy from another Pokemon, and now he is checking the data they have collected so far. He doesn't quite understand what his master was thinking, however. They have extracted the energy from quite a few Pokemon at this point, and while they've collected a lot, it is nowhere near as much as the master suggested it would. Sure, the Pokemon they have been using are quite weak, but he was expecting more than this.
"This is a waste of time." Etna groaned from behind him, voicing his own thoughts. "We'd be better off just collecting Ethernano and using that to repair the lacrima. This is starting to get boring."
Dmitri sighed. "If you're so bored, then why don't you do something, other than just complain?" he suggested.
The redhead shrugged her shoulders before sitting in a chair and crossing her legs. "What is there to do?" she questioned. "The twins are out gathering more Pokemon, and you are doing a good enough job managing the equipment."
However, just as she said that, the door to the laboratory opened, revealing the two brothers. They continued into the room until they were right in front of the two dark wizards.
Etna took a quick looked at them and let out a tired breath before standing up and walking towards them. "Well, you two are back quickly. Though, you appear to be empty handed." she said, igniting a small fire in the palm of her hand, a sinister grin forming on her lips. With how slow things are going right now, she wouldn't mind relieving some of her boredom on them. "Remind we why we are paying you, if you are just going to come back with nothing to show for it?"
Onpa looked at his brother, seeing the hidden terror on his face. He doesn't blame him, though. After sensing their overwhelming magic power before, there is no way he wants to be on the receiving end of it. He stepped forward, deciding that he would do the talking. "About that, there has been a slight interference." he said.
Dmitri gave Etna a pointed glare, and she got his meaning. With a sigh, she reluctantly let the fire in her palm disappear before placing her hand on her hip. "This better be good."
"It seems as though the mayor has employed the help of one of the light guilds to deal with us and retrieve the stolen Pokemon."
"I don't see how this is a problem. I doubt that the regular guild lackeys would be enough to put a rut in our plans." Etna responded, getting really annoyed with their subordinates' pathetic performance.
"Well, this isn't just any guild. We're talking about the strongest guild in Fiore. Fairy Tail."
The irritated woman scoffed. Though, Dmitri found himself interested in the new occurrence. "Who did they send?"
"They sent Titania, the Sky Dragon Slayer, the little girl's cat, some guy that we think just joined the guild, and Lowell Falkov." Kaze answered.
Out of all the names he listed, Lowell's was the one that piqued their interests the most. Sure, Titania is strong, but they are aware of many of her different weapons and armor. Wendy is strong, but her skills in combat fall short behind some of her guildmates. As for the last two, they are mysteries to them. They don't know Kurt's name, let alone anything about him, and they haven't seen what Lowell's Pokemon can do.
"This could cause some problems." Dmitri said, scratching his chin in thought. He doesn't care if they get the Pokemon back. They've pretty much gotten as much as they can from them. Though, it would be bad if they were to discover what they were using the energy for. After a moment of thought, he directed his attention back to their subordinates. "Do you believe that you can defeat them and prevent them from reaching this laboratory?" he asked. His voice is calm, though it has a slight edge in it that sends a chill down the brothers' spines.
"Please, no matter how strong those Fairy pests are, there is no way that they will be able to take us on!" Kaze said confidently. "Besides, we've got those strong Pokemon up our sleeves. There is no way that we are going to lose." he boasted.
Though he doesn't share the same level of confidence or arrogance as his younger brother, he still agrees with him. "There's no need to worry. We'll make sure that this lab of yours remains hidden, as long as you keep good on your promise."
"Don't worry. If you keep your end of the deal, then you'll get your money. We'll make sure of that." Dmitri assured. They could've just forced them to do this without payment, and Etna would've done that, but he at least has some morals. He believes that if you get your job done, then you deserve to be compensated. Though, that means nothing if you were to fail. "I suggest that you get ready and prepare to settle this problem tomorrow morning."
The brothers nodded their heads in understanding. "Very well. If you'll excuse us, we've got some planning to do." Onpa said, before the two of them began to walk off.
Once they were out of the room, Onpa whispered into his brother's ear. "After this, we are taking the money and then they are on their own. Our job never entailed fighting off other guilds. This is beginning to become a hassle. We'll do this last job for them, and when the coast is clear, we're getting the hell out of here." he said, receiving a nod of agreement I return.
"Understood." Kaze said with a growing smirk. "I doubt they'll come after us, anyways. It's not like we know what their plans are. We just know that they need the Pokemon for something. Surely, they wouldn't waste their time in tracking us down."
With their plan set in motion, the two of them returned to their camp in the woods to plan their last trip into Brook Town.
Back in Brook Town, everyone has gathered in the plaza for an announcement from the mayor. No one knew exactly what the announcement was about, but several had a feeling that it had something to do with the thieves that have been causing ruckus for so long. However, once they arrived in the plaza, they noticed Lowell and the others standing in front of the plaza fountain beside the mayor.
Almost immediately, some of the townsfolk recognized Erza and Wendy, remembering watching them in the Grand Magic Games. Many were shocked, not expecting to see two celebrities in the middle of town.
"Woah. Is that who I think it is?" a man in the crowd asked.
"Yeah. Those are members of Fairy Tail." another person in the crowd responded.
"Why are they here? Could it be to get our Pokemon back?"
Though, others took note of the two unfamiliar faces with the other members of Fairy Tail. "Wait. Who are those two guys with them? They must be new, because I've never seen them before."
"The red-haired one doesn't look familiar." someone else said.
"Hey, wait. Isn't the one with brown hair the one from that press conference in Crocus?"
Lowell heard the crowd muttering chatting amongst themselves, and he felt several pairs of eyes stare at him, making him avert his attention to the ground. "Why does everyone have to recognize me?" he thought tiredly.
Once everyone was gathered together, the mayor stepped forward to address the entire crowd. "Thank you for coming here on such short notice, but as you can see, we have a couple of special guests." he said, gesturing towards the Fairy Tail group. "I'm sure you already recognize them, seeing as though they are from the strongest guild in Fiore. Though, among them are two newer members, Lowell Falkov and Kurt Eldridge. Both of them are experienced Pokemon trainers, and all five of them have come here to help us deal with those thieves."
Many in the crowd began to cheer, happy that someone finally accepted their plea for help. Some were beginning to feel like no one would ever come to help them. Though, they definitely weren't expecting the top guild to accept their request.
Alphonse cleared his throat loudly, getting the crowd to quiet down once more. "With that said, there are a couple of things that need to be done, in order to ensure the safety of you and your Pokemon." he said, getting their upmost attention.
He backed down, allowing Lowell to take the reins for a moment. "We aren't sure when the thieves will show their faces again. Though, when they do, it will become very dangerous. So, until the thieves are dealt with, we suggest that you stay as close to your homes as possible, in order to avoid getting caught outside if a battle were to suddenly commence." he explained. "We will try to keep the fighting in the town to a minimum, but we can't be sure how much resistance we will be up against."
There were murmurs among the crowd, but everyone understood that it was for the best. If there was going to be a big fight, then they would rather stay indoors, to prevent their children or loved ones from getting hurt.
"Also, we plan on retrieving all of the Pokemon that have been stolen. However, to ensure that even more Pokemon aren't taken, I suggest that you keep all Pokemon either inside their Pokeballs, or inside your homes. Either should be fine, as long as they aren't running around where the thieves can see them."
Lowell took a pause to see if anyone had any complaints about that, and none ended up coming. They understand why it would be better to keep them hidden, rather than in plain sight. That is how they stole the other Pokemon, to begin with.
There wasn't much else to say, though Lowell decided to add something else, to hopefully help them rest easier. "I understand that everything that has happened is a bit crazy, and that there are many things that are far from perfect. Though, it makes me happy to see that you all care so much about Pokemon, despite what they might have done out of fear or confusion in the past." he said, scanning the crowd for their reactions. "As a Pokemon trainer, and as a proud member of Fairy Tail, I promise that we will get your Pokemon back."
Once again, the crowd erupted into a volley of cheers, loud enough that it reverberated all throughout the plaza.
Kurt smiled at his friend, pleased with how he has begun to change since coming to Fiore. "He is definitely better at speaking in front of crowds, even if he doesn't particularly like it, and I can also tell that he has gained some confidence, as well." he thought. "I guess I've still got some catching up to do."
The crowd stuck around for a while, many of the townspeople wanting to speak with either Lowell or one of the other mages. As much as he doesn't like the attention, he was more than glad to speak with everyone who came up to him. They were all so grateful, simply for them showing up to help. Seeing the happiness or relief on their faces makes him glad he joined Fairy Tail, because otherwise, he doesn't think that he would be helping people like this.
While they were talking with the people from the town, several hours passed, and it is just starting to get dark out. The group decided that it was time to call it a night, so that they would be well rested the next morning.
Once checked into the hotel, they went to their separate rooms. Wendy, Carla, and Erza are sharing one room, whereas Lowell and Kurt are sharing another. It didn't bother them in the slightest, because they are used to doing this from when they would travel together.
After showering and getting dressed, Lowell and Kurt now lay on their beds, trying to fall asleep. Lowell is laying on his side, and Kurt is laying on his back, looking directly up at the ceiling. However, the redhead just can't seem to fall asleep. He isn't usually one to get nervous, and he is confident that they will be able to get the job done. Though, he isn't sure exactly what to expect. He isn't really a fighter, and he doesn't have magic to stand up against the thieves. Sure, his Pokemon will be there to back him up, but the others will all be fighting with everything they've got, while he'll only end up getting in the way.
He tried to put these thoughts aside, but it was difficult. After several more minutes of just staring at the ceiling, he spoke up, hoping that he wasn't waking up his friend.
"Hey. Lowell, are you awake?"
He was answered with silence, and he assumed that Lowell had already fallen asleep. Although, soon enough, Lowell rolled over on his other side with a tired grunt, facing Kurt.
"Yeah. I'm up." he responded. Though, he seems like he is half-asleep. "What do you need, that can't wait until the morning?"
Kurt was a little hesitant to admit what was bothering him, since he didn't want to sound pathetic to his friend and rival. Though, he kept him from falling asleep, so he might as well just tell him. "How strong do you think those thieves are going to be?" he asked.
Lowell had to think for a moment, his brain not entirely functional from his sleepiness. "Well, I'm not sure. I've never heard of these guys before, though they've obviously been giving this town some trouble for a while, and they also managed to get their hands on some fairly powerful Pokemon. I doubt that they will be easy to defeat." he responded. He then raised a brow at Kurt. "Why?"
"I'm just…not sure if I'll be able to handle it. Sure, I've won Pokemon battles before, but those fights against other people are two different things."
"Wow. I wouldn't have thought that you of all people would be nervous." Lowell joked with a smirk on his face. He understands why he is nervous, but he doesn't get a chance to mess with him like this all the time, so he'll take what he can get.
"Just shut up!" Kurt whisper yelled, not wanting to wake up anyone else in the hotel. Though, this response only made Lowell begin to chuckle silently.
"Fine. I'm sorry. I just think that you are worrying too much. Yeah, it'll be tough, especially without magic to defend yourself, but it isn't like you are going to be alone. You'll have your Pokemon, as well as the rest of us to back you up."
"Sure, but I'll still be pretty useless during the fight." Kurt replied.
Lowell shrugged, turning back on his other side. "Just because you aren't strong, that doesn't mean that you won't be useful. Being able to strategize in the middle of a tough situation is always important, and as much as I tease you, you are one of the best strategists I know."
"So, you finally admit that I am the better strategist, huh?" Kurt asked with a joking grin.
"Hell no. I'm just trying to get you to calm down, so that you can go to sleep, so that in turn I can also go to sleep, since I know that I won't be able to sleep as long as you are worrying about this."
Kurt chuckled, rolling onto his stomach. "Alright, alright. I get it. I'll shut up now." he said amusedly. "Thanks, by the way."
"You can thank me by letting me sleep."
"I guess you still get a bit grumpy when you can't take naps during the day."
"What did I just say?"
"…Alright. Shutting up now."
A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait, yet again! However, I can only blame myself for taking so long. I've been busy dealing with college stuff, especially with finals just around the corner, but for the past couple of days, I've been really lazy. I meant to get this out on Sunday, but sadly my procrastination got the better of me. Honestly, I don't know why I've been so lazy. It has just been harder for me to do things lately, without losing focus easily and falling asleep. It is no excuse for this chapter being so late, but I do hope that you can forgive me for that.
Anyways, I hate to say it, but there wasn't any action in this chapter, which I feel bad about since it has been a while since I updated it. Though, don't worry. The next chapter I post will have a lot more action. This chapter was simply to set up the next couple of chapters.
Once again, I apologize for my laziness. I just hope that you all aren't too mad at me. Anyways, with all of that said and done, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. I appreciate all the support and all of you for putting up with my laziness and continuing to read this story. I hope that you all have a wonderful day/night!