Chapter 21: Where day two passes and unexpected visitors arrive

To keep the guild members fit and entertained, Alfons announced during the morning briefing he organised training matched between the guild members. They will have 1 vs. 1 matches, fought until one fighter gives up or is not able to fight anymore. Nurse Heidi would, of course, treat injuries immediately. The winning fighters would get extra food from the rationed supplies this evening.

To decide who will fight who, Aflons wrote the names of each member on small strips of paper and put them in a wooden box. The order of the names picked and matches were:

Charlotte vs. Mo

Publius vs. Paul

Joakim vs. Aaron (No one could tell the twins apart and they were both equally in strength, speed and intelligence. So they had to chose only one of them to participate, with also only one of them receiving the price.)

Steve vs. Hilarius II:

and Fabius vs. Phil.

Not many were happy will the results, Mo being one of them. Especially because he and Charlotte the only match between team members and even more because if was Charlotte from all others.

"You know, you can still back out from battle. No one is forcing you.", Aaron informed Mo.

Before the battle, the fighters were given time to prepare themselves physically and mentally. While Charlotte was doing her own things, Mo walked up and down their team room with Aaron present to encourage him.

"Yes, they do.", Mo answered. "It's mostly about honour. Showing what you can do. And I don't want and I will not surrender to her. Did you know half of the guild is not sure if she is even aware of her surroundings? Of what she's doing? That Komala is living in her own little world. She's blind, she's mute ..."

"She's your girlfriend.", Aaron interrupted. "And your leader."

"It's called: Friendship with benefits.", Mo defended himself.

Both were quiet for some time, while Mo was still walking up and down nervously.

"It's not looking good. I know what Charlotte is capable of. With rapid spin as normal-type move out of the picture for me, she has still moves that could be dangerous for me. Plus, half of my moves are ghost-type. So my tactics are very limited for me."

"I know you can defend yourself. I do know.", Aaron encouraged Mo and scratched his neck with his paw as he did.

Suddenly, the atmosphere was disrupted by a loud roar. A very loud one. Mo could literally feel the sound through his body. Penetrating through his face and leaving through his fake tail.

Mo turned to Aaron.

"What was that?!"

Mo rushed down to the entrance hall, followed by Aaron.

In the hall all other guild members also already arrived to see what happened. At the time when Mo and Aaron arrived, Alfons was in the middle of an argument with a Lucario and a male Pyroar. The Delibird was almost pushed into the corners by both of them.

"What kind of guild master just loses two whole teams and goes on vacation?!", the Pyroar shouted at Alfons. He had a powerful, deep voice and for some reason emphasized the letter "R".

The Lucario didn't said anything and just stood there beside the Pyroar with crossed arms, seemingly having very watery eyes.

Paul and Phil were standing right next to both Mo and Axel, watching the events with a fascination.

"What is going on?", Mo asked them and looked past Aaron's legs.

"These two are Nya's and Amy's parents.", Paul answered without looking at Mo, sounding rather joyful. "The relatives of Team Blue and Red were informed about what has happened and they are NOT amused. King Kamili of Strong Winds himself even came all the way from the Sand Continent."

Meanwhile, Alfons tried to calm the king down. It was completely ineffective! It was more likely for King Kamili to eat Alfons right here and now than anything else happening.

Mo walked under Aarons legs and poked Paul.

"Shouldn't we ... I don't know ... do something?", Mo asked him.

Paul took a while to answer.

"Nah! He'll be fine. You should be more worried about you friend there."

Paul pointed to the still ongoing argument between Alfons and the King. That's when Mo noticed Aaron wasn't behind him anymore. Aaron joined the not so friendly conversation while Mo wasn't looking. Mo screamed on the inside and could only imagine were this was going. No good thoughts.

"I told Nya I don't like her joining your so called 'Adventure Guild', but nooooo! 'She's in good hands.' your wanna be leader said!", King Kamili still ranted.

"Hello?", Aaron said and stood right beside the king. He didn't took any notice of the Sylveon.

Aaron poked him with his ribbon.

"Sir?"

King Kamili slowly turned his head and looked down on Aaron with the same expression he was giving Alfons the whole time. This time maybe even worse.

"What did you just called me?", King Kamili asked him calmly.

"We have trust your dear guild master and I can assure you your daughter and the other missing members will return safely. There is-", Aaron said but was then interrupted by the king.

"I said, what did you just called me?!", King Kamili asked him, now more slowly and intimidating.

Before something bad would happen, Mo rushed to the scene, grabbed Aaron's tail with both claws and slowly dragged him away this way.

"You're being rude! You only get us all deeper into trouble!", Mo told Aaron while dragging him by his tail.

"I wanted to help!", Aaron defended his actions.

King Kamili let at a incredibly loud roar, echoing through the hall. For Mo it was like the hole building was shaking and his ears hurt.

"And what are you supposed to be?", King Kamili asked. He stood right in front, or more like, right above Mo.

Mo subservient bowed down to the Pyroar.

"Your highness, please forgive my friend. He did not intended to be disrespectful."

Mo stood there for a while. He could not see in this position what was happening at the moment.

"Finally, someone who shows some respect.", King Kamili said, not in a furious way, he sounded rather pleased.

Mo looked back up. The king was still looking at him with the still same expression wich made Mo bow down again.

"Your majesty.", Aflons spoke up. "I would suggest to you, as well as you, Miss, you may stay here in you guild until guild master Hilarius returns. We have enough room and food supplies for more Pokémon. It is the least I can do for you."

It was awfully quiet for a moment, so Mo looked up again to see.

"Very well.", the king answered to Aflons. "I demand the best possible service from your members during my stay."

King Kamili drew closer to Alfons, making him shrug in fear.

"And you better hope my daughter will return very soon. I ate my own servants for lesser reasons than this.", the king said. "Now! Where is my daughters chamber?!"

"Please, ... follow me.", Alfons said obediently lead the king past Mo and Aaron down the corridor to the team rooms. As King Kamili walked past, Mo bowed down a third time, hoping not being noticed.

"What was that right now?!", Aaron asked. "I've never seen you this way! You alright?"

Mo stood up and turned around to Aaron. He seemed totally fine.

"That was the king!", Mo reminded him.

"I didn't vote for him.", Aaron said in a voice that sounded like he tried to be smarter than Mo. "And beside, he is not OUR king."

"You should still show respect.", Mo exhorted him.

"You two are Team Purple, right?", a soft, female voice said behind them.

The Lucario from before, Amy's mothers, came towards them.

"Two third.", Mo corrected her and looked around if Charlotte was somewhere around.

"Amy wrote about you. She was so proud of herself. Making other Pokémon join the guild.", she said and then began to cry softly.

Aaron took her hand with his ribbons.

"I'm sure she and Axel are alright.", he tried to cheer her up.

"She's my everything. And Axel, he's like the brother Amy never had. I don't know what I should do if my sweet heart doesn't return.", Amy's mother told.

Mo rarely saw Lucario. He mostly knew them from stories where they were described as powerful and serious Pokémon. This Lucario was different from what he knew.

"Ma'am. I promise, we will do our best to give this story a happy ending. If there was more I could do, I would.", Mo assured her.

Amy's mother looked thankfully at Mo. She closed her eyes and whiped a tear of her cheek. Right after she did that, right out of nowhere, she was shocked. She jumped up, broke free from Aaron, who was still holding her hand, and looked at Mo in a terrifying way. She looked almost like Yinping, when Mo took of his cloth in front of her.

"Ma'am?", Mo asked her. He did not know what just happened.

She stood there like this. Terrified. No one said something.

"It's nothing.", she finally said nervously and slowly calmed down. "I need to talk to Steve."

She looked around the hall for a moment to search for the Voltorb. When she spotted him she went straight to him. Without turning around or saying goodbye to them.

"Did I said something?", Mo turned to Aaron and asked him."

Aflons just left Team Blue's room as Mo approached him.

"Alfons, I have a question.", Mo said to him. "Now that we have guests, and even high royality, does this mean there won't be duelling today? I don't think it will looked good fighting in front of guests, especially at times like this."

"Why shouldn't there be?", Alfons answered. "He told the king about this and he's looking forward to the fights."

Mo looked at Alfons in silence for a moment.

"Oh, okay then.", he said and went back to his room.

But on the inside he was like: "DAMNIT!"