Episode 53
The small bell just above the door jingled, as a new customer entered Auntie Audino's shop. The elderly shop keep turned around from what she was working on. "Why hello there! It's great to see a new face here in Kazoku."
"I wasn't expecting such a friendly greeting," the guest said. "A welcome change of pace."
"What do you mean?" The old Pokémon asked.
Her customer started examining the store, seeing everything she had to offer. "Oh, nothing really. Just…got off on the wrong foot I guess. This seems like such a small town considering it's so close to the capital."
"Yes, it is small, but we're all very close," said the Audino. "So, do you see anything here that you might like to buy?"
He picked up a scarf, colored green and black. "This right here. Matches me well, doesn't it?"
Auntie Audino grinned. "Not too bad, actually! And since you're new to this town, I'll let you have it, no charge!"
"Wow, thanks a lot ma'am."
"Don't mention it, dearie. My, two new faces so close together. Before I know it, we'll be a bustling city!"
"Someone else? May I ask who?"
"A Zangoose, oh now what was his name…Matt! He had lost his memory, the poor thing."
"Very interesting. Thank you for your hospitality, ma'am. I'll be on my way now."
"Pass the ball, Matt, I've got it!" Heather called. She was standing a pole very far away, with two opponents (a Krokorok and a Smeargle) in the way.
"Are you insane?!" Matt responded. "There's no way!"
"Give the ball up already!" The Krokorok yelled.
The Zangoose looked around. There was no place to jump to. He had to think quickly. "You want it so badly? Then take it!"
Matt whipped the ball at the Ground-Type. His eyes widened, the ball hitting him straight in the stomach. The ball fell down to the recovers. Sierra was up against an Abomasnow, as well as an Usaring as the impartial player. Two very large foes that Matt, Heather, and Ethen knew Sierra would have no trouble with.
The Abomasnow caught the ball and was about to throw it back up, but the Usaring tackled him before he got the chance. While the two were grappling on the ground, Sierra slashed the Ice-Type's arm, making a cut and causing him to release the ball. "Thanks for that, buddy!" She tossed the ball up to Heather, who was close to the goal.
"Focus, Heather!" Ethen shouted from his basket. "You can do it!"
The baskie, an Altaria, spread its wings wide. Heather juggled the ball between her tails. It was gonna be hard to make it through.
"Heather, look out behind you!" Matt called.
The Ninetales turned, keeping the ball in control. The Smeargle was leaping towards her. He took one final jump, reaching his tail down to try and knock the ball out of her grasp. "Gah!" Panicked, Heather released a small burst of flame from her mouth, pushing the Smeargle out of the way. Unable to stop himself, he fell into the field below.
"Oh no!" The Altaria looked down to her fallen friend, distracted. Heather used this chance to launch the ball into the basket.
"Alright!" Ethen yelled. "We won!"
"Great job, team!" Matt shouted. He and Heather quickly dashed over to Ethen. Sierra came up top and high fived the other Zangoose, while Ethen and Heather hugged each other in excitement.
"I have to say, that was some impressive Tomo playing," the Krokorok said. "A bit on the rough side, but there's no reason for me to be sore about it."
"Is your friend alright?" Heather asked, referring to the Smeargle. "I swear I didn't mean to knock him off…"
"I'm alright," the Smeargle said, who had just come up top along with the Abomasnow. "Little beaten up, but I've had worse. Learning Fly from Xia helped a bit with that."
The Altaria chuckled. "I still don't know how you learned that from me, you don't even have wings!"
"Not important," said the Krokorok. "Anyways, I'm glad we got to play you guys once before the tournament next week."
"There's a tournament?" Matt asked.
"Yeah, there's one every year," Ethen said. "We've done well in the past, but usually the winners are those stupid Night Freeze guys."
"Honestly if you guys play the way you just did, you should be able to win with ease," the Abomasnow said. He seemed to have trouble finding footing on these poles.
"Chase would love that news, don't you think?" Heather cheered.
Sierra's expression turned from excited to dim. "I gotta go," she said, and raced down the ladder before anyone could respond.
"We should go check on her," Ethen said. "Thanks for the game!"
The trio left the field in search for their friend.
"I didn't mean to make her sad," Heather moped. "I just got really excited about our win."
"Don't blame yourself," Matt said. "I think Sierra just really misses Chase."
Ethen turned his head left and right. "Where could she have run off to? I didn't see her go in the direction of home."
"Lose someone?" A voice called, startling Heather. "Sorry about that, honey, didn't mean to scare ya." The three turned to see a Monferno hanging upside down in a tree.
"Oh, that's ok!" Heather said, excited to meet a new Pokémon. "I'm Heather, and this is Matt and Ethen. We lost our friend Sierra, have you seen a Zangoose around here?"
"Other than this one right here, I can't say I have." The Monferno dropped down, landing on his feet gracefully. He adjusted the black and green scarf he was wearing. "The name's Louis. Rhymes with Dewey. I bet I could help you find your friend. I've been told I've had an eye for things."
"Sure, we'd really appreciate it!" The Ninetales grinned. "It's great to meet you."
"Likewise. So, you said your friend is a Zangoose, anything else about her?"
"She's right over there," Ethen noted, pointing his wing behind the monkey. She was sitting underneath a tree, her back against it.
"Great looking!" Louis exclaimed. The Skarmory rolled his eyes and walked over to Sierra, the others behind him.
"Hey, Sierra," He said, coming up behind her.
She wiped a tear off her face. "Hey."
"Everything alright?" Matt asked. He sat down next to her. She didn't say anything. "Sierra?"
Suddenly, she burst into tears, throwing her head into Matt's shoulder. He stayed still at first, but Ethen motioned for him to put his arms around her. "I just don't understand where he went!" She wailed. "Why…why did he leave us…why did he leave me?"
"I know there's a reason, Sierra," Matt said. "I…don't really know him. But he'll be back. I promise."
"You promise?" She looked up at him.
Matt nodded. "You know what, I'll even find him for you. How many Zangooses can there possibly be around here anyways?"
"He's…he's got to be out three somewhere. We'll find him," Sierra said, reassuring herself.
"That's right!" Heather shouted.
"Glad to see you back on your feet, Sierra!" Ethen smiled.
"Thanks guys," The Zangoose said, looking to her friends. "I feel a lot better."
"Hey, what do you guys say to looking for him now?" Louis chimed in. "I mean, I'd love to help out."
"Who is this guy anyway?" Sierra asked.
"We just met him," Ethen responded. "Apparently he has a great eye for things."
"Show us what you can do then, monkey."
"You bet!" Louis leapt into a tree, dashing to the next one quickly. "Follow me!"
Matt, Sierra, and Heather started after him, able to keep a consistent pace. Ethen, on the other hand, fell behind.
"Guys!" He panted. "Wait up!" The Steel-Type stopped himself, unable to keep going at this rate. "How do they all move so fast?" He looked ahead. They were really far away. "God, what do they even see in that guy? He just showed up five minutes ago!" He slammed his wing into the tree, breathing hard. "Why am I getting so upset by this?"
The other group was still running when Louis suddenly stopped in the tree tops. "Say, where'd your large friend go?"
Caught off guard, the other three stumbled to a stop. "That's a good question," Matt said. "I forgot Ethen couldn't run very fast…"
"He'll be fine," Sierra said. "I love the guy, but we're not going to find Chase as quickly with him.
"Sierra!" Heather scolded. "Don't talk about your friends that way!"
"Relax, Heather," the Normal-Type said. "You know I love Ethen."
"Where do you think he could be, Louis?" Matt asked the Monferno.
"Maybe he's hiding up in Shuto. We're close enough to it, plus there are so many Pokémon there." The Fire-Type looked north. "It's a bit of a walk, but we should be able to get there soon."
"Guys, we should go back for Ethen, I think he'd want to come with us…" Heather suggested.
"She's right," the male Zangoose replied. "He's Chase's friend, too."
"I've got an idea," Louis jumped down, facing Heather. "Why don't you go back for your friend, and me and these two will head in to Shuto to see if that Chaz guy is there."
"Chase…" Sierra corrected.
"Right, sorry. Anyways, you guys can meet us there. What do you say?"
"Ok!" Heather said. "See you guys later!" She darted off back the way they came from.
"Louis, Sierra, are you sure we're even gonna be able to find him in the capital?" Matt asked.
"I honestly have no idea, Matt," Sierra admitted. "But I haven't been looking as much as I should and this guy offered to help, so…I got eager."
"Can I ask something? If it's not too personal…" Matt said. He noticed Louis wasn't paying attention to what they were talking about.
"Sure, I guess."
"Were…you and Chase like…a thing?"
"I'm…not sure if I understand."
"Like were you two dating?"
Sierra's eyes widened. "Oh, no, not at all. I guess it seems that way, though…"
"Wait, you aren't?" Matt noticed Sierra's expression. "Sorry, I mean…it just seemed the way you talked about him…and you missed him so much…"
The Zangoose sighed. "No, don't blame yourself, I know why you'd think that. Chase and I have known each other for a very long time. We've grown up together. He's saved my ass countless of times and I've saved his. I guess, yeah, I'm dependent on him. Of course I love him, but like a brother. I'm not in love with him, you know? Honestly, I don't feel that way towards anyone."
"You don't?"
She shrugged. "Not really, no. It's part of who I am. I really miss Chase. But because of how great our friendship was, not because of anything romantic." Matt looked away, seeming to be lost in thought. "Everything alright, man?" She asked.
"Sorry. I was just wondering…if anyone misses me that way. I don't have any idea where I'm from. If we're looking for Chase this much, I wonder how many people are looking for me."
Sierra put her claw on Matt's back. "For someone like you, Matt, I'm sure they're looking hard."
"Thanks, Sierra."
"Hey you two!" Louis shouted from the trees. "I think I see someone over there!"
The Zangooses looked in the direction the Fire-Type was pointing. "That's someone alright," Sierra said. "More like two someones. But it ain't Chase."
Suddenly, the two "someones" began running towards Matt and Sierra.
"Let's bolt!" Matt shouted. He and Sierra tried to run the other way, but were stopped when Louis dropped down in their path.
"Aw, but I can't let you guys go so soon, we were getting so close!"
"Are you insane you simple-minded simian?!" Sierra shouted. "We're about to be attacked!"
"Oh, I know. Who do you think called them over here?" The Monferno let out a stream of fire from his mouth, lighting the grass and trees around them.
"Ethen!" The Ninetales shouted. "Ethen, where are you?"
"Heather?" She heard his voice, but from far away.
"Ethen! I'm over here!"
"Heather!" He got closer, finally being able to see her. "Where did you guys run off to?"
"I'm so sorry!" They met up. "We just got excited and Louis seemed to know where he was going and…I'm sorry…"
"It's ok, Heather."
"The others are going to Shuto to see if they can find Chase there and I came to get you."
"Wow that's really…" Suddenly he looked past Heather and saw something. "Fire."
"What?" Heather turned around.
"There's a fire!" Ethen shouted.
"Matt and Sierra are over there!" The Ninetales started to feel nervous. "We gotta help them!"
"I bet it was that Monferno!" Ethen shouted. "I knew there was something fishy about him!"
"Come on, we have to save them!" The two started towards the fire, Heather going as fast as she could while still staying with Ethen. They got close, and Ethen began to back away. "What's wrong?"
"I'm a Steel-Type! Fire and I don't mix…"
"Stay here, then. I'll get them out of there."
"Be careful!" The Skarmory shouted as Heather ran into the flames. "Please be careful…"
"Matt!" Heather shouted. "Sierra! Where are you guys?"
"Heather!" The Ninetales turned suddenly. She saw her two friends where she left them, but they were being dragged by two Emboar. Heather witnessed the two being knocked out by a punch to the head each.
"Leave them alone!" With great speed, she sprinted towards the giant Pokémon and her friends.
"Not the time, honey!" Louis called from a tree before dropping down in front of her. "I've got a specific order for one of these two to be brought in. King's orders."
"Y-You're a bounty hunter?"
"You could say that."
"Well I can't let you!" She kicked some of the ash into his eyes, stunning him. She dashed past him and bit one of the Emboars in the arm.
It let out a shriek. "Gah, you little shit!" It dropped the Zangoose it was holding.
"Leave it and help me take the other one!" The other Fighting-Type shouted. The two ran away, leaving Heather behind.
She turned around, intending to give Louis a piece of her mind, but he was nowhere to be seen. Unable to think of anything else, she got the Normal-Type onto her back and started running out of the burning woods.
"Heather, are you alright?" Ethen called as she ran out towards him. "Where's the other one?"
She was panting as she let the one on her back roll gently to the ground. She could finally see who it was: Matt. "The King ordered Louis to capture a Zangoose. I couldn't save both of them."
"Sierra's…gone?" Ethen felt his heart drop three stories.
"No, she's not gone!" Heather declared. "We'll get her back, just like we'll find Chase. I just want to know why the King wanted a Zangoose and why he sent a bounty hunter after him."
"It doesn't make sense, why would they go for Sierra? What has she done to go against the kingdom?"
Heather looked at Matt, who was unconscious, but breathing. "I don't think she did anything. What if they got the wrong one?"
