Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Guardians of Life and Destruction
Greetings peeps. I have returned from both RTX and Key West in time to bring all of you another chapter!
So RTX was fantastic. I got to get pictures with several members of Achievement Hunter and one of the co-writers for RWBY, so that's pretty amazing. I also got to ask Achievement Hunter a question during their panel.
Remember the guy who made the Pokémon comment before asking a Harry Potter question? Where someone asked them what Hogwarts Houses they would be in?
That was me!
And I also just back from vacation from Key West, where I demonstrated how much I suck at fishing.
Anyways, shoutout to the wonderful people who reviewed last chapter, including Ralmon and two awesome new guest reviewers known as StorySeeker (That's actually a really cool name, dude) and shadowedsun (also a cool name). Thanks for the support and the feedback.
The time has arrived for the Festival of Heroes! It's gonna be a trip. I'm pretty sure this is the longest chapter I've done on this story thus far!
Enjoy.
Chapter 21: The Festival of Heroes
Team Horizon's reception upon arriving back at the Delphox Guild was rather mixed. It was positive in the aspect that the Apprentices were glad Team Horizon had arrived at the Guild at last, as they were getting worried about the rookies being out so late. It was negative because everyone quickly noticed the kind of condition Spark was in and panic ensued.
Delphox quickly snatched up Spark, who at that point had passed out from blood loss and exhaustion, and took him to the Recovery Room. Riley gave the Guildmaster a breakdown of the events that happened as he tried to keep up with her hurried pace. Delphox set Spark on the bed as several different bottles began floating by her. She quickly prepared a potion of some sort that she was able to get Spark to ingest, even getting the blood off of him using her powers. Riley marveled at the sight. She was able to do so many things at once without even the barest hint of effort. Finally, she set all of her bottles back down and pressed a single paw on Spark's forehead, whispering something faintly. A sense of calm washed over Spark as he fell into a peaceful slumber.
"I'm glad you two were able to make it back in one piece. By all rights, you two should not have survived such an attack. You discovering your inner flame saved your lives today, Riley." Delphox said softly to the Chimchar as they watched Spark sleep for a few moments. With a gesture, Delphox led Riley out of the room.
"Yeah…It was scary. I didn't know what would hurt that Galvantula. Spark was down…I don't know what happened, but something finally clicked." Riley said as the two began walking down the hallway.
"What emotions did you feel? When you finally felt it?" Delphox asked Riley.
"Anger…I was really mad. I was scared too. I was scared Spark was going to die. I was scared we were both going to die, but I…I hated the idea of just dying like that. To some stupid bug in a cave. It just made me mad enough and then…it just happened." Riley explained quietly, clenching his fists.
"It's not uncommon for Pokémon to have difficulties harnessing the powers within them. Some go their entire lives within being able to show off their true abilities. Fire-type Pokémon seem to have the most difficulties, though in my experience that doesn't ever seem make them any less formidable. No matter how long it takes for them to find their flame. You'll be slinging fire with the best of them in no time," Delphox said with a proud smile on her face. Riley felt some relief at that. He had been worried about that, truthfully, that he wouldn't be very good at using his fire despite defeating the Galvantula with it. To hear that he would grow to use it with ease made him feel considerably better about it.
"As for what made you finally gain the ability to harness the power of fire within you, I wouldn't be surprised if you growing stronger within the past few weeks has helped the ability finally come forth. On top of that, some Pokémon have on occasion learned to harness abilities and even evolve upon being placed in stressful situations. Whether it's being pushed harder or being under the threat of death is debatable, but some Pokémon are able to reveal greater strength simply upon facing peril."
"So…me growing stronger and then getting put in a highly stressful situation kind of…forced myself to be able to use fire?" Riley asked Delphox.
"Those were factors in it, yes. But the ability was always within you, Riley. It was just waiting for the right to show itself. Honestly, I'm somewhat jealous you were able to use your first flame in such an exciting manner. My first time using fire was far less impressive than yours." Delphox said with a small chuckle as they rounded a corner.
"How did you first use your fire?" Riley asked.
"My mother made me angry and I scorched a doorway in response. I didn't hear the end of it for weeks, but they were proud of me producing such a hearty flame. Ah, I can remember my dad laughing even now." Delphox said as a faraway look appeared on her face. Riley, however, looked away.
His parents…
He wondered what they were like…His mom and dad. Did he have any siblings? Did they miss him?
…Did they even care that he was gone?
Riley was snapped out of his reverie by Delphox, who said, "I'll be permitting you both to have a day off tomorrow. Spark should be back to one hundred percent before we leave for Cherrystone Town."
Riley was surprised by this for a moment, but nodded in reply at that. "That's right…The Festival of Heroes is tommorow." Riley said, remembering that the event was again nearing them.
"Yes. We'll all be heading there late tomorrow afternoon, so that we arrive before the sun sets. It should be a wonderful time for all involved, and a chance for everyone to relax a little bit." Delphox said lightly.
"Hmph. For you, maybe." Feren muttered, joining their number from around a corridor. Riley wondered how the big white dog could be so stealthy. Then again, the Furfrou was much stronger than he seemed. It only made sense for him to be able to sneak up on Pokémon when he needed to.
"You're permitted to enjoy yourself as well, Feren." Delphox replied, a small laugh escaping her.
"I am aware of this. However this isn't my kind of…event." Feren said tactfully, though this didn't stop Delphox from laughing again.
"Because you're so boring. Lighten up a little bit! Have some fun!" Delphox chided the old dog, who remained silent. The three arrived at the courtyard shortly afterwards, where the others awaited them.
"Spark will be just fine. He simply needs a chance to rest and recover from his injuries. He should be up and about tomorrow afternoon." Delphox said to the others. Jet and Ares sighed with relief while some of the other expressions softened.
"I recommend that everyone wait for Spark to regain consciousness before seeing him. After a good nights sleep, he should be right as rain." Delphox explained with a cheery smile.
"That's really good to hear." Jet said with a small laugh, relief evident on his face.
"So what happened, Riley?" Ares asked the Chimchar.
"We were sent to Shockwave Cave to retrieve an item that was stolen from an Explorer. Turns out a Joltik had snatched the item from him and fled into the Mystery Dungeon. We found the Joltik and gave chase, but we ended up running into a dead end where a horde of Joltik and their Galvantula leader were waiting for us," Riley explained.
"Gotta love those surprise ambushes," Grave commented, chuckling. Riley explained the rest of the fight, though he admitted to be at a loss as to why he got such a power boost towards the end of the fight that allowed him to overcome the large spider Pokémon. Snow quietly chimed in though with an answer.
"Well, that was your special ability kicking in. Its referred to as Blaze, I believe. When you're hurt badly, your power over your fire-type moves increases by a great deal. It was probably just what you needed to take down that Galvantula." Snow replied with a small smirk.
"Guess I should be thankful I took a bit of a beating in that fight. Still…I'm way behind on learning how to use my fire. Ares, is there anyone I can go to for help learning how to use it?" Riley asked the Fletchinder.
"Heh, I'd be more than happy to teach you a few things myself Riley. And since you're going to be mulling around the Guild tomorrow, I'm sure the Guildmaster can offer some pointers." Ares chirped as he cast a glance over at the Guildmaster, who was conversing with Feren and Eon a short distance away. "Well, she might be busy tomorrow. But I'm sure she'll be glad to help you some other time when she's free."
"That'd help out a lot," Riley admitted.
"Hey, now that you can use your fire, you could probably pull off some combination attacks with Spark if you two practiced some a bit," Ares added.
"Combination attacks?" Riley asked.
"They're nothing incredibly fancy, like the Alliance Attack System, but something that Pokémon can do with each other if they use the right attacks in the right way." Jet explained.
"Alliance Attack System?"
"OK, so…The Alliance Attack System is a way for Pokémon to combine their strengths and attack all at once, usually in an attempt to overwhelm a single opponent. Because of this, they're able to bypass any resistances that an opponent may have against a particular kind of attack. They require absolute perfect sync within a team. However, combination attacks are just a way of combining moves to increase the effect that the moves may not be able to achieve on their own." Ares explained as he fluttered into the air.
"Care to demonstrate for the little guy, Snow?" Ares asked the Sneasel. After a moment, Snow rose to her feet and smiled thinly.
"Alright. What were you thinking?" Snow asked the Fletchinder as he fluttered down to her level.
"Let's give Freeze Ace a try." Ares suggested, quickly flying around Snow in a circle. A grin appeared on Snow's face as she gave a quick nod and darted forward, with Ares easily speeding by next to her.
"See, this is what we mean. Combination attacks have to be picked carefully and practiced, but the effects they achieve are normally much more impressive than two or three or even four attacks on their own." Jet began to explain before he fell silent, instead allowing his fellow Apprentices to show what they were talking about.
Ares shot high into the air before darting towards the ground, picking up speed all the while. He then raced towards Snow, a white aura of energy surrounding him. Snow reared her head back, charging a small ball of light blue energy in her mouth before firing it forward, where the beams split apart several moments later. Ares swooped in right past her and intercepted the beams, causing them to distort slightly.
"Now, normally this is where the two attacks cancel each other out, or the stronger one prevails. But Snow's got pretty good control over her Ice Beam, so because of that, she can use her control over to do things like this." Delilah explained, her eager grin expanding as they watched Snow's eyes narrow in concentration. The beam surrounding the still speeding Ares began swirling around him, creating a arrow-like bright blue aura of ice around the white energy already surrounding him.
"Freeze Ace. All the speed and power of an Aerial Ace, but packing the icy kick of an Ice Beam." Grave concluded with an amused chuckle. Atlas suddenly got up off the ground and did a quick stretch while Ares flew around the courtyard, showing off the attack. Atlas flew out directly in front of Snow, a massive grin on his face.
"BRING IT ON, ARES!" Atlas bellowed, getting into a fight stance. The bird needed no persuasion, veering towards the big bug and smashing directly it him. A terrific shockwave of cold rippled through the area, causing the Apprentices to shiver as particles of ice floated around the courtyard, a faint cold haze lingering in the air where Atlas had been standing. As the haze cleared, the strength of the combination attack was evident.
Atlas was standing tall, somehow, though the entire front half of his body was covered in a sheen of ice. Even more surprising was the pained expression on his face and the fact that his body was shaking, whether from the cold or from the amount of damage he took in the attack, Riley wasn't sure. But given how powerful Atlas was and this was just a single attack, the proof that the combination attack was effective was quite obvious.
"That's really cool…Literally." Riley remarked, earning a groan from everyone but an appreciative grin from Grave.
"I'm sure if you and Spark work on it enough, you could come up with some combination attacks of your own. Speaking of which, you two might need to invest in a TM or two. They really help with type coverage and even just one new attack in your move pool makes a world of difference," Jet suggested, watching Snow and Ares make their way over to Atlas to get him patched up by thawing him and giving him an Oran Berry.
Riley thought about it though, and decided to mull that over with Spark. While TM's were really expensive, they would offer them a way wider move-pool to work with…
"So, what did you think? Pretty cool, huh?" Ares remarked as he flew over to the ground, perching himself on Delilah's head. The Mawile yelped in response, stumbling over and falling onto the ground. Snow walked over with Atlas, shaking her head while Atlas laughed. Delilah growled in indignation until Atlas helped her up, though she still scowled at the group.
"I thought it was really cool. I bet since you all go out on jobs together often, you've got a lot of practice with combination attacks, right?" Riley said to the Apprentices, earning several nods in response.
"Don't forget you always have items on hand to assist as well," Eon said as he, Feren, and Delphox approached the group.
"Eon's right. With the many items you have on hand, you an easily amplify the effects of any kind of attack combination you're attempting to use." Delphox added with a smile. She looked at Feren, maybe to see if he was going to add anything, but when he didn't Delphox shook her head slightly. Feren offered her a look, causing him to roll her eyes in response.
A quick glance at the Apprentices showed that none of them were phased by this, and that this was a typical thing that happened from time to time.
Eventually, the group had to go off to bed to prepare themselves for an early rise. Riley opted to sleep in the Recovery Room, where Spark was still slumbering. He relished the chance to sleep in an actual bed, one that wasn't made of straw. He decided to sleep on his belly, so that his tail flame wouldn't burn the cushion, and bid Spark goodnight before falling asleep himself.
"Hey, wake up."
Riley groaned as a rather sharp ghostly finger poked Riley in the chest. After his eyes fluttered open, he saw it was just Grave, holding out a finger with an amused expression on his face.
"Rise and shine. Just because you're not on active duty today doesn't mean you're skipping out on the morning briefing." Grave remarked quietly, eyeing a sleeping Spark for a moment before reverting his gaze to Riley. It seemed that despite the ghost's desire to wake Apprentice's up in as scary a manner as possible, he wasn't going to do with someone in the Recovery Room. Riley got off of the cushion he was on and stretched, casting a glance at the still-sleeping Spark before following Grave out of the room.
Delphox stood at the stage with Feren at her side, and gave a brief rundown of how today's events would go. Apprentices would go out on their regular jobs, but would be sure not to take jobs too far away from the Guild or in Dungeons that would take them too long to navigate, so as to ensure that they would return to the Guild before sundown.
They group would then make their way to Cherrystone Town before the real festivities could get underway. Feren would make his way there beforehand to help out as needed, as well as to meet with a special guest who would be overseeing the festivities this year. Apparently this had happened as the last minute, though it hadn't effected the event all that much. Riley also found out later that the festival had been bumped forward an extra day due to the Dead Zone that had appeared the other day near the forest. The Apprentices finished the morning cheer and with that, they departed. Riley stayed behind, wondering just what he should do for the day. Lacking any real options, considering Spark was still resting up, he decided to head into town.
Riley spent a great deal of time training in the True Strength Dojo with Marcus the Machamp, in an attempt to get some practice in with his new fire attack. After several hours of this, Riley spent the remainder of the day exploring Emerald City and what it had to offer. While he already pretty familiar with the city, explored some of the areas he didn't usually go into. He also took the extra time today to converse with each of the storekeepers along the main path as he entered the busier section of the city. One topic was on all of their minds.
The Festival of Heroes.
"Word is that there's supposed to be a huge special surprise guest this year!" Pocus, the Mr. Mime who ran the Mime Institute, said excitedly when Riley spoke to him about it. Riley even chanced upon Team Sniff on their way out of the city, on their way to help finish setting up for the festival. Riley was glad that the trio was at 100% once again. Riley was just making his way towards Storage when he heard a shout from nearby.
"Heya Mister Riley!" came a cheerful voice from behind the Chimchar. Riley turned around to see Sello the Scraggy and Dew the Deerling walking towards him.
"Sello, Dew. How's it going?" Riley asked the two kids.
"Its going great! We're doing some errands for our parents so that we can go to the Festival of Heroes tonight! Its going to be so much fun!" Sello said excitedly.
"That's awesome! The Delphox Guild will be going too, so we'll definitely see you there." Riley said with a grin on his face.
"We'll be selling berries and sorts of stuff at our store there! Please come check out our merchandise, please!" Dew said to Riley, causing the Chimchar to laugh in response.
"Absolutely. I'm not sure if we'll buy anything, but me and Spark will definitely remember to come by and say hi." Riley said to the Deerling, causing her to beam in response.
"I can't wait to hang out with some of the super tough Pokémon there! Maybe just being around them will make me more though!" Sello said with a childish giggle, causing Dew to shake her head in response.
"Well, let's not go that far, but you can probably learn a lot just by being at the festival." Riley replied to the Scraggy, causing him to do a small fist pump in excitement.
"That kids excitement is contagious." Riley happily noted as he saw several Pokémon nearby smile at the display of joy and excitement from the Scraggy.
"Riley." A familiar voice spoke to Riley, catching his attention. He held up a hand to silence the two children, muttering an apology and for them to wait just a moment.
"Hey Eon. Is something wrong?" Riley thought in his head, wondering if the Espurr could hear him.
"No, but Spark is now awake. I thought it would be prudent to notify you of this. Also, several of the other Apprentices are on their way back to the Guild. I would recommend you make your way there as well, after preparing to take what you need with you to the festival site." Eon suggested before he cut the link.
"Alright everyone, I've got to get going. I'll see you all at the Festival!" Riley said to the kids, who waved at him as he departed. Riley managed to withdraw 2500 Poké out of the back for them to spend with at the festival. Riley encountered Ares as he was making his way back to the Crossroads.
"Heya Riley. How's your day been going?" the Fletchinder chirped as he hovered next to the Chimchar.
"Pretty good. I've just been exploring the city a bit and talking to Pokémon. Spark just woke up though, so I'm on my way to see him now." Riley replied.
"That's good. We were really worried when you two stumbled into the Guild beaten up like that. That said, it wouldn't be the first time that's happened to one of us. Still doesn't get any less scary." Ares trailed off for a moment before saying, "Anyways, enough of that. Are you excited for the Festival tonight?"
"Yeah. I'm really looking forward to the Lorekeeper though." Riley relied as the two entered the Guild.
"So am I…Every year he tells a new trio of stories, though the one he does on the first night is always the best. It's like…he transports you to another world with his voice. It's…indescribable." Ares said in an awed tone as the two tire-types walked through the front doors to the Guild. Spark was laying down in the grass by one of the training dummies, looking rather bored, but perked up when he saw Riley and Ares making their way towards him.
"Riley, Ares! You two are here early." Spark remarked as he got up and walked towards them.
"Well, I just walked around the city for a few hours. It's easy to be here early when you're a ten minute walk from the Guild." Riley replied with a smirk. Spark rolled his eyes, though he had a smile on his face.
"So, how're you feeling?" Riley asked his partner.
Spark puffed out his chest in a macho way and said confidently, "Better than ever!"
"Hey look, the Galvantula's behind you!" Riley yelled, suddenly pointing behind Spar. The Pikachu's confident expression vanished in nanoseconds and he took cover behind Riley, shaking in fear…before realizing there was no way that spider monster could be here to hurt him.
"Riley…you're terrible." Ares giggled, covering his beak with a wing while Spark shoved Riley from behind, giving him an resentful smile in response.
"You do know I'm going to find a way to get you back, right?" Spark said to Riley, his expression lightening up.
"Yep. Glad to have you back." Riley replied before he spotted Eon walking through the front doors as well.
"Delphox informed me that the others are on their way back." Eon said to the three Apprentices.
"Looks like you woke up just in time then," Riley said to Spark.
"Yeah. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I missed a chance to go to the Festival of Heroes." Spark said with a small laugh.
"It's definitely going to be a fun time. Are you all prepared for the trip?" Ares asked the three other Apprentices.
"I prepared for the trip this morning. Snow covered my post until I returned from my errand, so that I would be ready for when we depart." Eon replied in his usual monotone.
"Speaking of Snow, she seems to have lightened up a bit. Did you guys have that talk?" Ares asked Riley and Spark.
"Yes, she told us about the Apprentices who attacked her. I can understand why she was so hostile around us," Spark replied in a low voice.
"When Eon got her back to the Guild, she was barely hanging on. It took her ages to even leave the Guild, after those two showed their true colors. It took Delphox a lot of convincing and about two weeks worth of missions with just the two of them before she felt OK enough to be on her own again," Ares said with a small sigh.
"I still don't really understand why she doesn't want to be friends," Spark admitted.
"Yet." Eon corrected. "She told me she is willing to give you both a chance to be her friend. She is, admittedly, a difficult person to get along with. She can be hard-headed and irritable, but I spoke to her about giving you both a chance. Snow does not necessarily need friends to be happy, so that is why getting along with you two isn't more important to her. But she knows that she has treated you both unfairly, and that you both have good intentions and good hearts. I think that despite her own stubbornness, she does want to be friends with you both. In time, all will be well."
"I can see that. Snow's a bit unfriendly at times, but I'm sure you all will be friends in no time now that you're on the same page," Ares replied with a small grin.
"I hope so." Riley replied before remembering something. Riley turned to Spark and said, "I withdrew some money in case we wanted to buy something at the festival. And I decided to pack a few apples and berries just in case."
"Good call. Always pack those kinds of things just in case of an emergency." Ares said with an approving nod.
"Snow and Jet are approaching," Eon said quietly. True to what he said, a Sneasel and a Buizel both entered the Guild chatting animatedly about something. When they spotted the group of Pokémon ahead, they walked towards them.
"Hey there folks, how's it going?" Jet said cheerfully.
"Hey guys," Snow said in a low voice, not quite as cheerfully though there was a small smile on her face. The excitement in the air concerning the festival seemed to have even infected the sour Sneasel.
"We were just talking about preparing for the Festival of Heroes." Spark said to the two newcomers.
"I'm assuming you all brought extra items just in case?" Snow asked the group. Ares shook his head while Team Horizon nodded.
"Good. You're learning to err on the side of caution." Snow said approvingly, nodding at Team Horizon. The Sneasel turned to the older Apprentice and said, "Ares, I think there's enough time before Delphox says it's time to go for you to get some supplies."
"I got what I needed a few days ago. Two Gold Ribbons to sell at the festival for funds. Add that to what I found in the Mystery Dungeon I went into today, and I think I'm more than prepped." Ares replied, waving a wing in response.
"As for me, I just ran into Snow while in town and we got finished rounding up some supplies just in case. Delphox is providing basic meals throughout the day, but any snacks we want come out of our own funds." Jet explained to the others. The group continue to chat while the remainder of the Apprentices returned to the Guild. It wasn't too long before the Guildmaster appeared, smiling at them all. The Apprentices noted that she wore a bright orange, blue, and white scarf around her neck. On the front of it was a draconic symbol in the form of two wicked-looking wings.
"That's the emblem of the Dragonite Guild. I guess Delphox wants to wear it for tonight to show where her roots were." Jet muttered, a small smile on his face. Delphox wasted no time in giving a rundown of the events tonight. Apparently once the event officially started, they were free to do whatever until midnight, where the night's events were concluded by the Lorekeeper. After midnight the vendors and events would shut down so everyone could get some sleep, and then at noon the festival would start up again proper until midnight once again. The group would repeat that for the second and third day, enjoying the festival as they wished but making sure to meet up at the end of the night for the Lorekeeper's story.
With that, the Apprentices and their Guildmaster made their way out of the Guild, with Delphox making a show of locking down the Guild and sealing it with a wave of her flaming stick. Delphox led the way to the Crossroads, taking a small glance at the much less busy Emerald City before she led the group down Departure Way. The group began chatting with one another about what all would be at the festival, with Delphox chiming in every now and then and dispelling any rumors that weren't true. She made an effort not to spoil anything, however. This continued for about an hour or so before Riley's attention was caught when he glanced up the road and spotted three familiar figures making their way towards them.
"Good afternoon you three." Delphox said with a smile to Team Payback, nodding to them as they brushed by the group.
"Hello Guildmaster. Are you all on your way to the Festival of Heroes?" Charon asked slowly, stopping in his tracks to glance at the Guildmaster.
"Naturally. Will you three be missing the festivities?" Delphox asked the leader of Team Payback. Grit and Hark offered smug looks to Team Horizon, who glared at them in response.
"Sadly, not this year. Do enjoy yourselves though. I hear the Lorekeeper's newest story is a pretty special one," Charon replied with a faint smile before he continued his stride, Hark and Grit following him. The two groups slowly grew further apart until Team Payback was out of sight.
"Curious…What are those three doing out here and not at the Festival?" Ares wondered as he lightly landed on Snow's head. The Sneasel grunted, but didn't comment on it.
"Who knows? Maybe they're just heading back to the city after a late night on the job. The world never stops turning, even if we're taking a few nights off for this," Jet said with a small shrug as he glanced back at them. The two groups continued on their way as the sun began to fall and the moon rose, signaling the beginning of the beloved Festival of Heroes.
Though…
"This is a bad idea…" Grit muttered, looking up at the setting sun.
"If I wanted your opinion, Grit, I would've asked." Charon muttered as he slunk through the shadows, ears twitching as he strained to hear any and all sounds. He wasn't exactly fond of roaming through the forest at night, especially with tales of a mysterious bandit roaming about, but this was necessary. Now that they were finally alone on this road, they could break off from the main path and begin their search.
"They should be up ahead. They usually make camp in the area up ahead. The Boss himself should be lurking just within a hundred yards or so." Grit muttered he followed behind Charon, trying to be as quiet as possible as they traversed the dense forest. Hark was perched on his head, keeping a lookout for anything out of the ordinary. Eventually, after an hour of trekking through the forest, they happened upon a small bonfire in the middle of a very small clearing. A single Magby tended the flames with a rather bored look on his face.
"Hello there, travelers. Come sit by the fire for a spell." The Magby's voice was rather dull, though Charon smiled nevertheless. He had seen this fellow once before and recognized him as who they were looking for. Or rather, the one who would tell them where to find who they were looking for. Charon nodded and sat close to the flames, as did Grit and Hark. For a time they remained silent, simply watching the flames dance in the bonfire before them.
"So…What brings you here?" the Magby asked, his tone curious now.
"General Scorch. Where is he?" Charon asked shortly.
"Hmmm. General Scorch, eh? Can't say that I've heard of him." The Magby replied, his tone holding a slight hint of unease to it that Charon picked up on. He wondered if this kid was related to the elusive crime lord.
"Come on, Max. You're not that good of a liar. Just tell us where he is! It's strictly business!" Hark said to the Magby, whose expression wavered. Charon nearly grinned at that. He knew there was a reason he kept someone as weak as Hark around. Yes she was getting stronger, but she was still very weak and a liability in a fight. But her knowledge of the underground network of criminals in Varos was very helpful at times like this. Grit had a little bit knowledge about the Magmortar's little outfit as well, but Hark seemed to be calling the shots right now. He was fine with this though.
"I….um, am sorry. I can't be sure that- the Magby began stuttering before a small flash of purple fire exploded in existence next to the Magby. It was a small little Litwik, beaming at them while the Magby sighed.
"Max, just…stop. You're terrible at this." The Litwik said with a small giggle, floating above him and casting a faint purple glow over the area that faded a moment later. She cast a glance over at Team Payback, smirking at them. Charon remained silent, staring at the candle-like Pokémon with a passive expression.
"So this is the team you joined up with, huh Hark?" the Litwik asked the Murkow.
"Indeed. It's a more lucrative job prospect than bumming around with the Lurel's gang. They vanished anyway, so its better this way anyway." The Murkow responded lightly, waving her wing in response. The Litwik floated towards Charon and stared directly at him from just a few inches away before the Houndoom snapped at the ghost with his teeth.
"Oh my. You're a scary one, aren't ya?" the Litwik giggled, bobbing up and down in the air.
"I get that a lot. Take me to your boss, candle-child." Charon remarked, eyeing the clearing for the other ghosts he vaguely could see floating around the clearing.
"Hehehe! My name is Fi! And I've heard of you, Mister Charon! You're fun!" the Litwik giggled as she floated in front of Charon. The Houndoom rolled his eyes before the Litwik's eyes flashed bright blue.
"General Scorch is just beyond this clearing, in the cave below. Leave your lackey's outside," Fi said cheerfully as the forest behind her suddenly became a clear path where there had been trees before. Charon nodded in reply.
"I will agree to this. I just plan on making a deal that will benefit the both of us." Charon said as he padded past Max and Fi and went deeper into the forest. He vaguely wondered what his partners would be doing while he was gone before deciding that it didn't really matter, just so long as they didn't do anything to botch this. A minute later he found himself at a nondescript cave, which he entered. The enticing smell of burning filled his lungs as he proceeded deeper into the cave before coming slowly to a halt, taking in the figure sitting on a rock several meters away in front of a small campfire within the cave.
"Hmph…Not what I was expecting, but whatever. What do you want?" the Pokémon asked gruffly, eyeing the Houndoom in the dim lighting. The Pokémon in front of him was a massive humanoid being with red and yellow stripes adorning his body. His pink lips were drawn into what Charon saw was an amused smirk. In front of him was one of the most dangerous Pokémon in all of Varos. The infamous crime lord General Scorch.
"I wish to do business with you. I have something that can help you, and I believe you can help me. Interested?" Charon asked Scorch, whose smirk widened.
"Interested? The fact that you managed to track down my location means you're much sharper than most. I suppose I'll listen to your proposal, then," Scorch said in a low voice, his smirk never leaving him. Charon privately thought that the crime lord was fairly full of himself, but then again…He wasn't sure if he could escape the crime lord's cave alive if he wanted to. He had heard the tales of the Magmortar and what he had done over a lifetime of crime. Ruthlessly strong, shrewd and calculating, and on top of that he held the loyalty of a mass following of thieves and bandits. However, he had one weakness that Charon was hoping to exploit.
Charon reached a claw into his Treasure Bag and pulled out a gleaming crimson cube that glistened in the firelight. Scorch's eyes widened at the treasure, and breathed, "That's an Inferno Cube…Where oh where did you find something like that?"
"Picked it up off of an outlaw. Saran, I believe he was called," Charon replied shortly. Scorch scowled in response, letting out a sound of disgust.
"That blasted renegade! He stole that from a treasure collector from Velarnia that I was planning on extorting next month in return for 'protection'…I hope you hurt him badly when you retrieved that little treasure. But do you even know what it does?" Scorch asked with a hand gesture.
"It took some experimenting, but I believe I worked out what it is capable of. Of course, when I found it, I had only an inkling of just how valuable this object was, but I did recognize it. It allows the user to wield fire with ease, creating powerful flames that can down even the strongest of opponents. It can also absorb flames, increasing the power of the flames it can release depending on how much is absorbed. On top of that the flames has special properties as well, able to burn away runes and magic. Quite useful to a Pokémon such as yourself…But even more useful to your son, locked away in prison, huh?" Charon said with the smallest of smiles on his face as he gently placed the artifact in his bag.
Scorch chuckled for a moment, his smirk widening to a rather wide smile as he slowly rose from the rock he had been sitting on. He took several steps forward, towering over the Houndoom, who was forced to turn his gaze upwards to continue to look at the Magmortar.
"You're offering quite a lot, Charon…But what could you possibly want from someone like me?" Scorch asked the Houndoom. Charon matched the Magmortar's smirk, looking to the entrance of the cave for a brief moment to catch the Litwik from before spying in on them.
"Simple…Information. I'm hoping to find a way into the Great Basin of the Leaves, deep within Emerald Forest. However, the map that leads one through the maze there is out of my reach for now. I believe that you and your son can help me gather the information I require, provided I give you back what by all rights should be rightfully yours." Charon said as the crime lord let out a harsh chuckle, his lips curling back.
"I like that…By all means, tell me more about what you have in mind, Charon. Take a seat." Scorch said as he backed away from the dog and sat down on his rocky seat. Charon sat on the ground with a small smile. He had a very good feeling that things were looking up.
Cherrystone Town:
"Woah…" Riley said quietly as the group of Pokémon approached the settlement, already seeing great deal of light coming from up ahead as the town came into sight. Torches of every size and color were burning bright, illuminating the forest all around the town. The group approached the gate, and after a moment they were allow entry.
The town itself had completely changed. Where a sleepy town once was, a bustling center of festivities and cheer stood now. Vendors were finishing up the final preparations on their stands, organizing the products they were hoping to sell. Chefs and cooks were preparing fresh snacks and treats to sell to those in attendance, filling the air with delicious and tantalizing smells that made the Apprentice's mouths practically water. Every bit of the city was being used for some sort of vendor or exhibition, showing off new items or new techniques that could be taught. Large sections of the town were set aside for mock battles and displays from Explorers later on in the festival.
Delphox led the crew to the town's center, where a large stage had been erected. A crowd was already assembled there, of course, though some of the crowd parted as Delphox approached, allowing the Guild crew to get a decent view of the stage.
"So, when does the event officially start?" Snow asked the Guildmaster.
"Soon. We arrived just in time, I believe. Though I think we were already being waited on beforehand," Delphox admitted with a small smile. The Apprentices waited patiently for a short time before conversation broke out amongst them. Atlas explained to Team Horizon how the festival couldn't officially start until every single vendor/exhibitor was completely ready for Pokémon to visit them, meaning they had make sure every Pokémon was ready for the festival to begin before they would start.
Riley notice that Feren slipping away from the crowd after a muttered word to Delphox. The Guildmaster responded with a nod before the old dog slunk away, causing Riley wonder why. He was jerked out of this thought by the sound of a new voice speaking up.
"May I have your attention please?" a ethereal voice spoke out, their voice sounding rather raspy and strange, as if they were fighting to be heard. The crowd settled down a few moments later, wondering where the voice was coming from.
"Tonight we begin the three daylong celebration that is known as the Festival of Heroes. It is a time of unity, a time of remembrance, and a time of enjoyment. Please welcome our official host of this year's celebration…" the voice began saying before they were cut off by the appearance of a Pokémon phasing into existence on the center stage, a strange aura of light surrounding her that quickly dissipated as soon as it appeared. The Pokémon on stage was a sleek fox-like Pokémon with thick golden-white fur. Nine fluffy tails extended out before it as her gleaming red eyes regarded the crowd before her with amusement. Riley thought he spotted two strange shimmers in the air behind her, but he didn't pay them much thought.
"A Ninetales…" Spark whispered softly enough for Riley to hear. Riley noted the odd smile on her face, one of twisted amusement that became a more pleasant smile after a few seconds had passed.
"Queen Scarlet…the ruler of the Burning Kingdom." Delphox said as she bowed the Queen, a gesture that all of the Apprentices mimicked, the crowd following a few moments later as they recognized just who was in front of them and overcame their surprise. The Queen held herself proudly, though the smile on her face grew as she surveyed the crowd assembled before her. The Queen then spoke, her clear and proud authoritative voice ringing out clear across the entire town.
"Greetings, one and all, to the Festival of Heroes! Though I need no introduction, I shall give one anyway, since I enjoy hearing myself speak on occasion. My name is Scarlet, Queen of the Burning Kingdom." The majestic fox Pokémon flashed the crowd a radiant smile that caused the entire crowd to rise to their feet and cheer for the monarch. After an appropriate amount of time had passed and the cheers had died down, the Queen continued.
"This annual celebration brings us together to celebrate and remember the countless heroes that have graced this world over time. Many types of heroes exist within this world of ours. Those heroes can be found on Rescue Teams, who work tirelessly to protect their fellow Pokémon from harm. They can be found within Expedition Society, a brave group of elite Pokémon who have recently saved our world from destruction. Exploration Teams have also contained their fair share of heroes, such as the brave duo from the Wigglytuff Guild who stopped the planet's paralysis. Heroes come in a variety of shapes and sizes and in many other forms on this world. However…What makes a hero, I ask all of you?" Queen Scarlet asked the crowd. Murmurs drifted amongst the crowd as they pondered the Queen's question. After an appropriate pause, she answered her own question.
"A hero is one who helps others, no matter what cost or inconvenience there is to them. They may not always be selfless, as all living beings have their flaws and vices, but they are willing confront danger to assist others. They are those who will risk their lives to help a poor child lost within the forest. Those who are willing to dive into a Mystery Dungeon to battle a thief who has escaped justice for far too long. Heroes come young and old, strong and weak. Some Pokémon do it for the money. So do it for the fame. Some do it…simply because it is the right thing to do. Whatever the reason, this festival is a long-standing tradition within our world to celebrate the past, present, and future heroes of this world. So please, new and old friends…I end this speech on one final note. Appreciate the past, enjoy the present, and continue to strive towards a better future for all Pokémon. Let the Festival of Heroes begin!" the Ninetales Queen shouted, stamping a paw down on the stage. More multicolored lights gleamed along the paths that wound around the town that, combined with the sights and smells and sounds already there, seemed to weave a strange serene feeling over the place. It was if they had entered another world.
"She always did enjoy hearing herself talk." Delphox laughed, bringing the Apprentices out of their trance. Delphox turned to the young Pokémon under her care.
"All of you, enjoy what the festival has to offer. Please be on your best behavior, and be sure to return to the stage before midnight. The Festival concludes the first night after a story from the Lorekeeper at midnight, and we don't want to miss that." Delphox said in a rather motherly voice. The Apprentices replied an affirmative to that and scattered, leaving standing Delphox by herself-
"Cinder, I can sense you." Delphox said quietly a few moments after the Apprentices had scattered. The Guildmaster glanced with her left with a small smirk on her face. A certain Typhlosion sighed and stepped out from the shadows with an annoyed look on his face.
"I hate that, sometimes." Cinder grunted, crossing his arms. Delphox patted him on the head with a smile on her face before whirling around and walking off towards where the sparring arenas were.
"Coming?" Delphox asked the leader of Team Inferno with a glance over her shoulder. Cinder offered the Guildmaster a smile in return and two old friends walked together towards the center of the festival, relieved of their duties for the night so that they may enjoy themselves. However, the two Pokémon were watched by Feren from a nearby vendor.
"Those two…" Feren muttered, shaking his head with a small smile on his face. It was evenings like this where he felt…young. Hopeful, as well. The Apprentices of the Guild were enjoying themselves and so was the Guildmaster. He himself would also have some time to relax here-
"What about those two, Feren?" a coy voice from behind him asked. Feren flinched and glanced behind him, and upon seeing the Queen of the Burning Kingdom, smiled disarmingly.
"You really don't see it?" Feren asked the Queen as she padded next to him, smirking.
"Oh…that? It's obvious that the poor Typhlosion is smitten with our dear Guildmaster, but she has no idea! Personally I think it's hilarious…Even after all this time, he still cares for her despite her pushing him away." Queen Scarlet said as her tails swished behind her, one of them trailing over Feren's back much to his discomfort. Feren discreetly used Odor Sleuth as he looked away from Scarlet, allowing him to see two floating Chandelures hovering about thirty feet in the air, keeping an eye on any threats to the Queen. Feren cut off the move and looked back at Scarlet, who made no comment about it.
"I'm unsure whether or not she reciprocates though, given that they were always close friends. This may just be her trying to make up for five years of isolating herself from Team Inferno-" Feren replied before Scarlet cut him off.
"Or she is realizing just how much Cinder matters to her…Interesting. Very interesting indeed." Scarlet mused, two of her tails draped over Feren. He was wondering if the Queen was just doing this to bother him.
"Why of course I am! I've already taken care of the annoying bits of the Festival! I want to have some fun." Queen Scarlet hummed with a sly smile on her face, brushing past Feren. The old dog sighed and padded after her, muttering something unpleasant under his breath. He forgot the ancient fox was a telepath of sorts, and could read the minds of others with enough effort.
"Why Feren! Of course I would love a royal escort! You really do spoil me so." Scarlet happily remarked as Feren's head sunk a little lower, though he couldn't help a smile of amusement. She may be a bit annoying, but at least she was entertaining.
"So out of curiosity, why the sudden desire to see me again? Delphox mentioned you expressed the desire during one of your meetings some time ago," Feren asked the Queen as they continued to walk down a path with bright green lights illuminating one of the non-crowded paths. When she didn't reply, Feren raised his head and saw that she had a troubled look on her face. Her expression had changed so suddenly.
"I…Well…" Feren gave the Queen a look of confusion. She was never awkward like this. Always mocking, always teasing, and rarely serious. What was going on?
"Let's just say that given some of the…recent events that have befallen Varos and my Kingdom…I have realized that perhaps it is better to rekindle some of the friendships I've had over the years that have meant something to me. Truly, meant something to me, Feren." Scarlet explained as she looked towards the crescent moon in the sky.
"Well, I suppose it's nice to know I meant enough to you that you let me know several decades after we last spoke. There was a reason I didn't accept your offer, you know." Feren flatly pointed out, walking past the Queen. A faint growl of annoyance echoed through the air, which Feren ignored. The Queen's personal guards could complain about his treatment of her all they wanted. Scarlet caught up to Feren a few moments later, looking at him with a unhappy look.
"I always regretted letting you slip away to help out poor Delphox, after what she went through. My respect for the poor kit is why I was so willing to let you leave." Scarlet explained softly, her tails swishing through the air.
"I went with her because Delphox has a special sort of heart that is rare, nowadays. She has already touched the hearts of so many Pokémon, including her Apprentices. She is an example of how this generation of Explorers are changing the world, shaping it into a better place. I help her how I can, given what she has done for me in return. But I remember my friends, Your Majesty. And I remember the time I spent within your Kingdom. It's good to see you again, my friend." Feren said after a short pause, offering the monarch a rough smile.
Scarlet's own smile returned, though it was less pronounced. "I missed you, Feren. I'm glad to see that this old war-dog is still going strong."
"Hmph, some have to remember the war. We're doomed to repeat the events of the past if we do not learn from them," Feren replied, causing the Ninetales to flinch harshly.
"I…Well, you do have a point. So far me and Prince Nerfoz have kept a healthy relationship between our two kingdoms. The war is still something we try to keep fresh in our mind, as it was the cost we had to pay for the peace we have today." Scarlet replied, though Feren held up a paw to silence her. Something only a Pokémon like Feren would be allowed to get away with.
"Enough of this…We can discuss the war later, in private. The night is young and we are here to enjoy the company of fellow Explorers and heroes alike. Let's see how the festivities are coming along, shall we?" Feren said to the Queen. Scarlet starred at him blankly for a moment before brushing past him, a playful grin on her face slowly appearing.
"Of course, Feren. By all means, lead the way," Scarlet said with a mocking gesture with her paw. Feren's eye twitched for a moment before he moved past the Queen, who was now laughing quietly to herself. She knew there was a reason she agreed to oversee this thing at the last minute.
"Here you both go! My treat!" Jet laughed as he thrust two sticks with berries speared the middle at Spark and Riley. Both Pokémon starred at the berries, which were drizzled in a white and brown substance and were smoking slightly.
"Uh…what is it?" Spark asked, tilting his head.
"Kakab Berries drizzled in a chocolate sauce. It's awesome," Jet replied with a grin.
"Wait, chocolate? That's a thing here?" Riley asked Spark.
The Pikachu nodded and said, "It's not all that common, but there are Pokémon out there that grow and make chocolate. There's also some who can bake all sorts of treats. Some can even recreate human foods. I hear those, like chocolate, were things humans really liked."
"They do-I mean, that sounds accurate." Riley amended, stopping himself before he made a slip. Jet gave him an odd look before buying one of the treats for himself. Riley mentally sighed in relief that Jet didn't think too much of his slip-up, and sank his teeth into the treat.
"Its delicious!" Spark cheered as he slowly ate his treat, savoring every bite. Riley did the same, though he remained silent all the while. He wondered about that, how he knew small pieces of knowledge about humans and about how they lived. Yet nothing about himself personally…
"Someday I'll find out more…maybe the Lorekeeper might know." Riley thought as he bit off another berry, savoring the scrumptious taste. Jet walked along with Team Horizon and chatted with them, choosing to guide them through some of what the Festival had to offer.
"Over here is the shopping section of the festival. This is where you can find some of the rarest items in Varos and the best deals around. The Festival of Heroes brings all kind of business if you can get a spot there." Jet explained. Riley marveled at just how much was crammed into one town. When they had visited before, Riley and Spark had seen a sleepy little town. Now it looked like the Cherrystone Town had quadrupled in size. Jet was their guide for the evening, showing them all of the vendors and giving advice all the while. The minutes melded into hours as the trio of Pokémon simply looked, not partaking in any of the games or shows going on. Eventually they stumbled upon a large arena of sorts, where Pokémon were surrounding.
"Looks like we might be able to catch the last spar of the evening." Jet noted, crossing his arms with a grin.
"Spar? Like what we do, right?" Spark asked the older Apprentice.
Jet nodded and said, "Yep. Though they make more of a show out of it. You can learn a lot by watching some of the older fighters just do what they do. Let's stick around here for a bit." Jet suggested as he scanned the crowd. He spotted Snow and Delilah within the crowd and made his way towards them.
"Hey girls. How's your night been?" Jet said to his friends.
"Pretty good. I won a few thousand Poké at one of the games they were hosting." Snow replied, smirking at the amazed expression on Spark and Riley's faces. The group was then joined by Ares, who soared overhead and landed on the ground next to them.
"Meanwhile, I got to try some of the incredible food here! It's delicious!" Ares chirped happily.
"That's great! I've been showing these two around the festival. Looks like it's just as awesome as I remember." Jet said with a grin on his face.
"Have you both been enjoying yourselves?" Snow asked the two rookies lightly. Riley smiled inwardly at her tone. She really was trying to make an effort to be nicer to them.
"Yep. Thanks to Jet here, we've see a lot of what this place has to offer. Tomorrow we're going to try some of the games and try to see some more of the fights." Riley replied with a small smile on his face.
"Good call. The first night you should just try and see everything, and then figure out what you want to do from there," Delilah said with an approving nod. She then perked up and pointed out into the arena that was set up and yelled, "It's the announcer! The fight is about to start!"
The Pokémon walking out onto the stage was an odd one to say the least. It was a pink bipedal hippo-like Pokémon with a massive evil-looking shell on its tail. However, he had a wide grin on his face as he stepped onto the hard dirt battlefield that had been prepared for the hardcore bouts that would take place here over the course of the festival.
"Hello there, Pokémon of all ages! This will be the final sparring match of the evening, and boy do we have a doozy in store for you to end off this incredible night!" the Slowbro yelled out, his enthusiastic voice echoing throughout the arena and getting a cheer from the crowd in response.
"Introducing first, we have one of the Three Flames of Justice! Dante, from Team Inferno! Dante is a graduate of the Dragonite Guild, and brings with him the wisdom and skills imparted to him by one of the world's greatest Explorers who have ever lived!" a crowd of cheers erupted from the crowd as a familiar Charizard suddenly burst out of the clouds, emitting a roar that was punctuated with a massive plume of flames erupting from his mouth. He landed on the ground with an amused smirk, crossing his arms and with his eyes focused ahead of him. On the other side of the field sat a purple fox-like creature with fins on their neck and tail.
"And on the other side of the field, we have Team Tempest's Violet! Violet is graduate of the Delphox Guild and boasts an impressive record of 47 Star-Ranked missions, including the defeat of Soso the Faker! Dante may have the experience advantage, but this Vaporeon isn't one to be taken lightly folks!" the announcer called out, resulting in a round of fierce applauding for the other combatant.
"Wow...Is she a Shiny Vaporeon?" Delilah asked the others. Riley watched the Pokémon in question regard the crowd with a cheery grin on her face.
"Yep. That there is Violet, the leader of Team Tempest. Her team, which my older brother Flow is on, was the first Apprentice Exploration Team to graduate from the Delphox Guild. Dante's going to have his work cut out for him, that's for sure," Jet explained.
"Wait, Jet. Does that mean your brother is here too?" Riley asked the Buizel.
"Not today. He'll be here tomorrow and the day after. He had to take care of some business out by the Silver Shores Village." Jet replied before he held out a paw to the others.
"Now, watch closely." Jet said to the other Apprentices, gesturing to the two Pokémon out onto the field, the announcer having cleared the field.
"Let the battle begin!" the announcer yelled, causing the crowd to roar in response as excitement reverberated throughout the battleground.
"I'll start this little bout, Dante!" Violet called as she leapt high into the air, a ball of water forming in her mouth. She quickly fired it at the Charizard down below, who let out a raging flamethrower that smashed into the water ball, creating a cloud of steam in the air. Dante's eyes narrowed as he put more power into the attack, refusing to allow the water attack to break through. He prevailed a few moments later, with his attack completely enveloping the water ball.
"Gotcha!"
Dante's eyes snapped to the ground in time for another ball of water to smash into his chest, causing him to cut off his attack and roar in pain as water exploded all over him, sending a searing pain through his chest and legs.
"Clever girl. Attacking head-on to distract me, then drop to the ground and attack me up close while I'm fending off the first attack," Dante grunted as he let loose a plume of fire at Violet. The Vaporeon leapt out of the way, firing a cannon-like blast of water Dante's way that the Charizard took to the air to avoid with a powerful flap of his wings. Dante inhaled deeply, the flame on his tail growing larger, before he unleashed a powerful burst of raging blue fire.
"Dragon Rage. Dante doesn't have to bother with just fire attacks. He has a few dragon and flying attacks at his disposal." Spark noted, eyeing the display with admiration as the Vaporeon below frantically tried to dodge the attack. She had taken a glancing hit, but retaliated with an Ice Beam.
"Where Violet has a type advantage, Dante has experience and raw power. This is going to be a close fight," Snow added quietly, though Riley could see the excited smile on her face.
Dante suddenly dove towards the ground, dodging two more Ice Beams and getting in close to Violet, slashing at the Vaporeon with his claws several times before whirling around, lashing out with his tail. Violet's eyes widened in surprise before she was sent flying across the field by the force of the blow, causing her to crash into the hard dirt.
"Is that it?" Dante calmly asked, hovering as he prepared himself for another fire attack. Violet shakily got to her feet, smiling painfully.
"Hardly." Violet replied before firing another cannon-like blast of water from her mouth that Dante managed to dodge. Dante returned fire, literally, but the Vaporeon countered with another Hydro Pump. The water attack however was able to overpower the Flamethrower and strike Dante directly, causing the Charizard to roar in agony. Dante managed to flap his wings hard enough to break free from the torrent of water and dive towards the ground, where he was slammed into by Violet, knocking him to the ground. Dante smacked at Violet once again with his tail and unleashed a blast of fire directly at her.
"Wow. Looks like they're evenly matched," Riley remarked.
"Not quite. They're both holding back, and they just don't want to damage the area around them. In a straight up fight, I think Dante would pull away with the win…but he wouldn't be able to walk away from the fight afterwards," Jet remarked, smirking as the Charizard and Vaporeon continued to dart back and forth across the field, ice and fire and water bursting out from them every now and then. Riley and Spark watched the display for several minutes as the two Pokémon battered at each other, a display of the sort of skill a Pokémon could achieve through hard work and diligence. Two Pokémon whose talents were honed thanks to the training that they received at their Guilds.
Spark watched them, hope in his eyes. If he could someday achieve that level of skill, he would be truly happy. He could be a Pokémon that would make his parents proud. A Pokémon who could help the world.
Riley watched them, admiration in his eyes. This was the kind of thing that he could see himself doing. He could see himself becoming stronger alongside Spark and becoming just as strong as these two Explorers doing battle before them. He could see himself now…But what if he found out more about himself? Would he want to grow stronger, as a Pokémon? Or go back as a human?
Riley was driven out of these thoughts as ice suddenly spread across the battlefield, as a result of it being hit with an ice beam. Dante hovered above, torching the ground with ease, before Violet let out a laugh of delight.
"Gotcha!" the Vaporeon yelled out. Dante let loose a plume of flames at Violet, which engulfed her completely, only for a massive wave of mud-filled water to rise out of the ground behind him. Dante saw the attack at the last second and barrel-rolled through the air, shooting a tongue of flame at the attack as it twisted towards him. Dante continued to dodge the water as it twisted through the air, trying to reach him before finally collapsing onto the ground below, splashing everywhere.
Dante sighed with relief before he heard the sound of rushing air and dodged a flying Water Pulse. He turned to face Violet on the ground, where the singed Vaporeon grinned up at him. Dante opened his mouth and released a spinning vortex of fire at the Vaporeon, who retaliated with a spinning vortex of water. The two attacks crashed into each other, creating a wall of steam as they stalemated yet again. Both Pokémon let go of their attacks at the same time and dove into the steam, yelling out.
"Look at the ferocity between them! Neither one of them is giving an inch!" Slowbro yelled out as Dante soared out of the steam with ice covering half of his body. The Charizard tumbled out of the air and smashed into the ground, eyes shut in pain. He then pushed himself to his feet and used his claws to smash away the ice that was on him as Violet darted towards him. The Vaporeon fired a massive stream of water at the Charizard, who responded by inhaling deeply and firing a stream of flames directly into the water charging towards him. The two elements crashed, creating a massive cloud of steam that enveloped the battlefield.
"I can't see!" Delilah huffed, crossing her arms.
"Give it a moment. Those two have plenty of tricks up their sleeves." Snow replied with a small smile on her face, pointing at the center of the steam cloud, where the glowing from the flames Dante was expelling lit up the steam enough for the crowd to see two Pokémon standing mere feet away from one another. The smoke suddenly cleared as a flash of water and fire ripped through the air, revealing an unharmed Vaporeon and Charizard grinning at each other.
"You've improved, Violet! You're really pushing me!" Dante chuckled, drawing his left claw back as he flashed a fanged grin.
"Anything to keep you on your toes, big guy!" the Vaporeon shot back, crouching low but still smiling. Both Pokémon leapt at each other, water and fire erupting from one another as the fight continued once again. The crowd roared in response, loving the display of light-heartedness in a brutal bout such as this.
"We should start heading back to the stage." Snow said suddenly, causing Riley and Spark to look at her in surprise. Spark then nodded a few moments later, catching Riley off guard as well.
"That's right. It's getting close to midnight. The Lorekeeper is about to do his story soon," Spark pointed out. Delilah let out a loud gasp, taking a glance at the fight behind her, before facing forward again.
"Come on, let's go!" Delilah yelled, running off ahead of them. Snow rolled her eyes and sprinted after her fellow Apprentices, Delilah, Jet, and the rookies of Team Horizon in pursuit. The group met a growing crowd in front of the main stage of the town, where Delphox and Feren were quietly talking.
"Look who made it. Just in time too." Delphox said quietly, watching the stage.
"So, have the lot of you enjoyed yourselves?" Feren asked the other Apprentices. He seemed fairly less grouchy this evening, the question itself having been fairly even and genuine.
"Absolutely. I can't wait to explore more of the festival tomorrow," Riley replied to the old dog.
"I'm loving this. I haven't been to one of these festivals since I was little. They're still as fun as I remember," Snow admitted quietly, smiling to herself.
"I remember now…They held the Festival of Heroes up in the Frozen Kingdom over a decade ago. I was there for that." Feren said in a low voice, looking at Snow.
"What was the Frozen Kingdom like, Feren?" Jet asked.
"Cold."
Feren raised an eyebrow at the deadpan looks the others were giving them, save Snow (who was fighting back a laugh), and replied, "What? I can't have a sense of humor?"
Delphox burst out laughing then, apparently having been trying to hold back her laughter for a few moments there, before she bent down and hugged the big dog, still laughing.
"I don't know when the last time you made a joke like that was!" Delphox said as she stood back up, giggling. She the closed her eyes for a moment before saying, "Scarlet says to be ready."
"Then he's coming." Feren replied, sitting down on the ground and watching the stage intently. The Apprentices did the same as well, joined but a few minutes later by the remainder of the Delphox Guild. More and more Pokémon crowded around the area, awaiting the arrival of the main event of the evening. Then, Queen Scarlet's voice rang out from all around them, magically enhanced to ensure it was heard as she stepped on stage.
"Good evening, my fellow Pokémon. We conclude this first night of the Festival of Heroes with a story from the legendary Lorekeeper himself. We shall begin the festivities at noon tomorrow, where it will continue until midnight once again." Scarlet said to the crowd, looking out at them with a placid smile.
"Now, the Lorekeeper, as you all know, is a storyteller. A quite well-known one that holds a special place in the hearts of those who cherish the past and what we can learn from it. The Lorekeeper is also a historian, constantly searching out new pieces of information about the world that have been buried underneath time and dirt. And tonight…he has a new story to regale us with." Scarlet said to the crowd, her own excitement palpable in the air. Scarlet then closed her eyes for a moment before gesturing towards the rest of the stage with her paw.
"Now…without further ado…The Lorekeeper." Scarlet bounded off of the stage and off to where the Delphox Guild Pokémon were sitting, taking a place next to Delphox and Feren.
"Here he comes!" Jet said excitedly, practically shuddering with excitement. Just as he finished speaking, the stage in front of them slowly burst into bright blue flames, causing the crowd to cry out in surprise. Within seconds, a glowing bright blue inferno was raging before them.
"Look…there he is…" Eon murmured in their minds, his monotone voice sounding rather awed now and his eyes shining bright green.
A great dragon emerged from the flames, emitting an ear-splitting roar that echoed through the night as flames raced through the entire festival, reverberating the force of the cry from the dragon for miles around. Each of the torches and bonfires that were lit were now ensnared by the strange energy of the flames, quickly turning bright blue to match the fire behind the dragon.
"Can you feel his power?" Delphox spoke to her Apprentices via telepathy, a faint whisper. "Here is a living legend."
The massive dragon observed the crowd with an unreadable expression on his face, his eyes scanning the crowd. He was a rather large blue quadruped dragon with dark red wings and markings on various parts of his body. Spark would later tell Riley that the dragon was a Salamence, once of the strongest Pokémon in the world.
Riley felt the Lorekeeper's gaze fall upon him at last, and their eyes met. The old dragon starred at Riley for several seconds, a strange glint of what may have been recognition appearing in his eyes for a brief moment that vanished as quickly as it had appeared, making Riley wonder if he had seen it at all. The dragon then addressed the crowd, a fanged smile meeting their eyes as the ancient dragon spoke.
"Greetings, one and all…I am known as the Lorekeeper. As for my true name, you will have to search elsewhere. It has lost to time, much like the legends that I chase." The massive dragon rumbled, his bright blue eyes looking over the crowd. The Lorekeeper's age was very evident in the cracks in his armor-like scales and his voice that was deep like the ocean. But the feeling of power that Delphox had mentioned was very evident in the strange vibe the dragon gave off.
Riley couldn't take his eyes off of him.
"The Lorekeeper…" Spark whispered hoarsely, shivering in excitement. Riley wordlessly nodded in reply, his mind racing.
"This is him…This is the Pokémon who will help me find out why I am really here," Riley thought to himself.
"It is my honor to conclude the first night of festivities for the Festival of Heroes. A celebration of the Pokémon who work tirelessly to maintain the bright light of hope burning within our hearts. From the bottom of my old heart, I thank the heroes here today for your service to your fellow Pokémon, and to the world." Lorekeeper took a moment to bow his head in a gesture of respect. He held this position for a few moments before he raised his head and spoke once more.
"Tonight, I have a new story to recount to you all. It is a tale of heroism, a tale of daring deeds and adventure. A story of a hero lost to time, whose legend was recently uncovered thanks to memories of some reclusive legendaries who agreed to help me with this tale. Traces of his exploits can be found all around the world, and it is fitting that I share his story on this day, for if it were not for his efforts…None of this would be here. He was a hero before his time...responsible for the cradle of civilization we hold today, and an ancestor to all of us…" the Lorekeeper closed his eyes and paused dramatically, the entire crowd already hanging on his every word as if they were ensnared in a spell. The Lorekeeper opened his eyes once more and began his tale with a deliberate slowness that bespoke centuries of stories handed down from Pokémon to Pokémon, child to adult, master to novice…another story to impart upon yet another audience before him.
"This is the story of Magnus the Wonderful… the First Explorer."
End of Chapter:
Part 1 of the Festival of Heroes is done! Stay tuned for part 2!
In the meantime, please show your support with a review, favorite, or follow. Every little bit is appreciated!
Until next time, FlygonNick out!