I realize some of you probably aren't going to like the events of this chapter but it's how I'm going to work things out.
Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy.
PMD: Life In Flames
Chapter 25: Hiatus
Elisa was carried back to the guild, largely without incident. Roserade, strong as she was, fought the small battles on the way one-handed, keeping Elisa behind her and out of it.
Elisa would've liked to offer her assistance, but the vines were uncomfortable as it was and she didn't want to prompt them to tighten upon her further by attempting to ask.
By the time they arrived at the guild, Alex had been set down in the infirmary and his wounds were already well treated. He was on the way to recovery. Roserade had calmed down considerably and released Elisa inside the guild. Roserade then immediately ordered Elisa into the Guildmaster's chambers for her to hear out her punishment.
o0o
Rio was already in the chamber, having a calm discussion with Jinx when Elisa interrupted them by coming in. Elisa could tell at a glance that Jinx was sympathetic with them, however her gloomy expression back inside the volcano and now, back at the guild, told the former human that she felt her hands were tied and she could not do anything to help them.
Roserade joined them a minute later and Elisa and Rio were ordered to stand front and center.
"First off, let me begin by saying that attacking Sentret as the two of you did was most inappropriate. As he has told me, he tried to stop you, Elisa from leaving and he was struck and knocked out. I also heard from Croc about your fight with him and how you went to the volcano… directly against my orders."
"Guildmaster, we just-"
"I already made my will quite clear!" Roserade snapped, cutting off Rio sharply, "You were not to go to the volcano. Far too dangerous, and you could've easily gotten yourselves killed anywhere in or around that mountain. I ordered you to not go for a reason! I did it for your own health! And yet you insisted upon risking throwing that life away in a reckless rule-breaking charge for the mountain!"
"I could take the heat and fire…" Elisa murmured, intimidated by Roserade's anger, which was rising again.
"But challenging Heatran was a measure that only a highly experienced team should ever attempt! Fire-proof or not, you should not have been even attempting such a madcap thing!" Roserade said harshly.
"I wasn't going fight him originally." Elisa pointed out, which was true. The original plan had been to just distract Heatran while returning his volcano orb, while the others escaped, and then Elisa had planned to run from the volcanic legendary and escape herself. She'd been forced to switch plans when Alex showed up and given her the news that they were trapped in that part of the catacombs.
"And yet, that's just what you proceeded to do!" Roserade said, beside herself once more with outrage, "Both of you will be going without dinner tonight. After that Rio, you will be spending the next week cleaning up the mess hall. By yourself." Roserade said, her tone strict.
Rio grimaced, as despite the low number of guild members, he was quite aware of the mess that was regularly left after dinner. He would find he couldn't sneak out any food either, as the Guildmaster would be checking on him regularly.
"Elisa, you will spend your days doing sentry duty with Sentret until further notice. Being that it seems you think you're so invincible that you can run off on adventure just anytime, I will see to it that you will not be exploring until I feel you have a better respect for the rules and discipline."
Rio blinked, noticing the dis-balance in their punishments.
"Wait, why is it only a week for me? Why is Elisa's time 'until further notice'?" He said, pointing between them.
"Because, at least you had the sense to not challenge someone like Heatran. The reason you're being punished so severely to begin with is for attacking Sentret, not to mention running off to the volcano. Why? Do I need to extend your disciplinary period?" Roserade said, her threat clear as day.
"Ahh, no." Rio said quickly, immediately backing down.
The Guildmaster looked between them.
"So, your punishments are clear? Then you are dismissed." She said, with quiet but firm finality.
o0o
Elisa found over the next few days (while Alex was taking his time to recover and regain his strength in the infirmary) that Roserade had taken additional measures to make sure Elisa didn't attempt to sneak out again. One night when she had woken up and decided to visit Alex in the infirmary, she found Croc had been posted at the base of the ladder going out. He was dozing as he had been when he had stopped her and Rio going freely to the mountain. However, attacking him as they had then wouldn't work this time. All the Croconaw had to do was essentially make some noise and the whole guild would be there to halt any escape attempts within mere seconds. Definitely no getting out.
Alex was sound asleep but Elisa drew comfort that night from the fact that he looked at peace and looked like he was recovering excellently. Eve was also sleeping on the floor nearby, making a nice little patch of ice where she was resting. He was in good hands (or rather, paws) with her.
Being deprived of dinner that first evening wasn't too bad to Elisa the next day, as she didn't need that much energy to perform sentry duty. The one big downside for Elisa was Sentret, who was quite moody and it seemed he wasn't going to forgive attacking him until the punishment had been served in-full. Rio was miserable though. Not only had he found it hard to do clean up after having no dinner, but he hadn't the energy the following day to go exploring alone. Seeing this depressed Elisa slightly, as she found herself wishing she could go with him, if only to support him and boost his spirits. However, she had been forced to watch from the sentry post as he walked into town. Then Sentret had told her off for getting distracted when a visitor was coming up to the guild.
As for the other guild members, there were mixed reactions to the hi-jinx they had gotten into:
Pitch found Elisa's actions amazing and was awed that she had taken on Heatran herself. He distanced himself from speaking to her though, as he respected the Guildmaster and didn't want to speak too much to someone who was serving a punishment.
Croc admitted that he actually liked Elisa better because of the beat-down she and Rio had managed to give him.
"I like someone with a bit of muscle. Not to mention spunk." Croc laughed when Elisa had apologized to him for half-braising him with her flames, "Sure you sorta embarrassed me but if you got the nerve to go fighting Heatran… well, what am I to that? Ha ha ha!"
Ledyba was also unwilling to speak to Elisa, as he apparently agreed with the Guildmaster about their reckless attack on the mountain. He also didn't like that they had attacked Sentret and was particularly distant towards Rio, who he was normally on good terms with.
Jinx (or Jiji) seemed to sympathize with Elisa. She confided to Elisa once that she thought that if Elisa wanted to try and explore somewhere, she should be allowed to do it, regardless of how inexperienced she was. If danger was a concern, someone more experienced could always accompany her. No need to stop her from going at all. However, it seemed she was unwilling to go against her friend and leader's (which is to say, Roserade's) judgment, no matter how much she disagreed with it.
o0o
Elisa woke up again one night, four or five days after events at the volcano. Mt. Corona had since gone dormant again and it showed little to no sign that it had been ready to erupt less than a week previously. It might've just been a regular mountain to those who didn't know better. The evacuation of Veil Island was cancelled and the residents of Silver Village were (according to Rio, as Elisa wasn't allowed out of the guild now) quite happy they would be able to stay safely.
Elisa just wanted to visit Alex again, check on his recovery. She hadn't even gotten out of the hall leading from the bedrooms when a yell of outrage startled her so severely her entire body flared with fire. This would've given her away, if it hadn't been for a similar, but brighter flash also erupting from the Guildmaster's chamber, the door to which was ajar. It was accompanied by the defining crackle of electricity.
"Do you mean they're being punished?" someone yelled, the voice slightly muffled from the door but quite audible. Elisa would've been pretty sure it was Alex, even if she hadn't recognized his voice.
Elisa stood there, frozen on her haunches for a moment in shock but then padded up to the door that was ajar and peered in, listening. All she could see was Jinx, standing in the room, watching the proceeding more directly. Elisa was reliant on just hearing.
"…They broke guild rules. They openly defied my direct orders." Roserade was saying calmly, in a tone like she couldn't believe Alex didn't understand her point.
"What the hell does that matter?" Alex roared and Elisa cringed at the swearing, something she wasn't subject to normally.
"Alex, please. There is no need to raise your voice like that." Roserade said, with strained patience.
Elisa heard someone (probably Alex) heave a sigh and there were several moments while he apparently collected himself. Then Roserade continued,
"This is a guild, as I'm sure you're aware. There are rules to be followed. If everyone was allowed to do just as they pleased anytime, then there would be discord. The rules must be followed for a reason." Roserade said, pointedly.
"I know that Roserade, but Elisa and Rio just risked life and limb to go save us and they apparently saved this entire island from a harrowing disaster. Or was Elisa lying to me when she told me that the mountain was ready to erupt while Heatran was rampaging about inside?" Alex said, his patience also stretching.
"Yes… that is true. Mt. Corona was threatening to erupt then." Roserade admitted.
"Then what? On earth. Are you thinking, punishing them for not only saving a couple of famous adventurers like us, but also stopping a local disaster?" Alex said incredulous.
"Heroic intentions or not, they should not have attacked guild members to do so, much less broken guild rules like that." Roserade insisted.
Alex groaned in the most exasperated manner ever, muttering something Elisa couldn't hear.
"This is not the guild you were trained at, Alex." Roserade said tightly, "You have no right to question my methods."
"I'm quite aware you're not Wigglytuff, Roserade." Alex said, an acidic edge to his tone now, "The two of you are considerably different. However, this is ludicrous. You're punishing them when they ought to be rewarded for their bravery!"
Roserade started to remind him, once more that they had attacked guild members to do so but Alex cut-in again,
"It's not like anyone was killed, was it? They didn't do it out of malice, did they?" Alex snapped.
"I should hope not, but still-" Roserade started, her patience stretching further still.
"Then there shouldn't be a problem!" Alex cut-in yet again, "Yeah, there'll be hard feelings but their friendships will heal with some time, I'm sure. In the meantime though, you seem to think that heroics deserves punishment and I don't get that!"
"Alex! That's enough!" Roserade said, her patience apparently hitting its limit, "I know you and your partner are well-known for what you've done on the mainland. You're famous for saving the world twice over, I know that. However it seems it has given you a sense of entitlement. You seem to think you can order others what to do! I will not tolerate it! Not in my guild, and certainly not directed at me!" Despite her patience being at its limit, Roserade impressively managed to keep a relatively calm tone, though she was on the verge of yelling nonetheless.
"When did I ever bring that up?" Alex retorted hotly, "In fact, when have I ever ordered someone around like that? I am not some bigot who thinks I can push anyone around just because of who or what I am to everyone else! I am trying to make you see sense though! Team Aura does not deserve punishment for what they've done!"
Roserade started to speak again and Elisa was sure if this argument carried on like it was, they would soon be doing more than just yelling at each other.
"ENOUGH!" She yelled, pushing the door aside, intent on stopping a fight from breaking out.
Her interruption stopped the argument dead in its tracks and she quickly spoke up before she could be overruled.
"Alex, please! I'm taking the punishment just fine and I'll work through it, alright? There's no need to fight with the Guildmaster like this, alright?"
"Elisa…" Alex was a little stunned, "Just how much of our discussion were you listening to?"
"You mean argument?" Elisa corrected him, "And I heard enough to know that you're trying to defend my actions. But the fact stands that I attacked Croc. Rio did what he did to Sentret so I can't speak for him, but still. Attacking them wasn't right."
"I get that point Elisa," Alex said, now calm and trying to sound reasonable to her, "but after how you saved us back at the volcano and all, I don't think you should be punished. It doesn't make any sense."
"Roserade's got a point though. The rules are present for a reason, alright? I'll serve my time with the punishment. I don't really care about recognition anyways." And she was being honest too. Elisa planned on becoming human again and returning home. What use was fame here to her?
Roserade looked a little surprised that Elisa was actually arguing on her behalf but spoke up, calmly, taking advantage of the support,
"Even Elisa realizes my point, Alex. She broke the rules; she is dealt the punishment for it."
"Still…" Alex said, apparently unwilling to completely surrender the point, "How long do you plan on keeping her locked down like this? I notice you gave Rio a week but didn't specify for Elisa here. I still don't think you're being fair to them." Both sides had calmed down and the tension wasn't quite so strained.
Roserade looked thoughtful, gazing at Elisa.
"Hmmm… Well, to honest, I was thinking a month, if not more." Roserade admitted, then thought a bit more, "However, seeing as how she seems to be respecting my authority more than I expected, I suppose I could cut it down to two weeks... just half. If she'll behave herself." Roserade finished with a little smirk that Elisa couldn't help returning with a smile.
"I can do that. Besides, I kinda want to try to make it up to Sentret. He's still got that bruise Rio gave him." Elisa said.
Alex still seemed a little put-out that Elisa wasn't getting off entirely on the punishment but she gave him a playful nudge with her muzzle.
"C'mon Alex, you don't need to be my knight in shining fur all the time. I can take care of myself." She laughed, breaking up the tension.
Alex rolled his eyes and rubbed her on the head in response.
"I still think you deserve better but I guess I can live with the shorter sentence." He said, giving her that silly grin of his.
Glancing around, Elisa noticed both Eve (who had been sitting off to the side behind Alex the whole time) and Jiji were both giving her grateful smiles. They clearly didn't like their partners arguing as they had been and Elisa had stopped it quickly and effectively.
"Alright, you may be forgiven some time from your current punishment, but it's late and you shouldn't be up and about, young Vulpix." Roserade said, gently taking command, "Back to bed with you."
With that, feeling very satisfied with herself and happy to be on better terms with Roserade again, Elisa obediently left and headed back to bed.