Melissa hovered nervously over her workbench, guiding the syringe into the tiny pellet. Shade stood by her side, inspecting her progress. Melissa inserted the needle in and carefully injected the syringe's contents into the pellet. The clear pellet filled with green liquid until it was firm and squishy.

Shade nodded in approval. "Excellent work, Melissa. You made your first smoke pellet."

Melissa sighed and collapsed into the stool behind her. "How can you have the patience for this? You make ALL the smoke bombs?"

Shade shrugged. "It's busy work, but it gets done in time. Though, with your help, that time will come much sooner." He patted her in the back, then dumped more empty pellets onto the workbench. "Now, get to stabbing."

Melissa paled at the overwhelming number. "Y-Yay…"

"You're my apprentice, meaning you get stuck with the not-so-fun work."

Melissa sighed and stuck her syringe into the bowl next to her, extracting another dose of smoke potion. "I hope I can get this done before the mission tomorrow."

"Ah yes, your first big mission. You must me excited."

Melissa, through her misery, beamed his way. "Yes, I am. My first big mission as a Forester. I am most excited to prove myself to Jason and the others."

"Well, since you've been doing a good job as my apprentice, I figure you deserve a present for passing your exams."

Melissa spun around, clinging to the edge of her stool. "A present for me?"

Shade pulled out a small sack and handed it to her. "A little something I whipped up. They're my new batch of smoke bombs. They're made with a special blend of capsaicin and vinegar."

"Capsaicin?"

Shade smirked. "It's the stuff that makes tamato berries spicy. Combined with the vinegar—"

Melissa's eyes widened. "You cannot be serious."

"You catch on quick. Granted, they're not useful for group retreat. Unlike the standard smoke bombs, these suckers will hurt anyone not wearing protective eyewear."

"Then why give them to me?"

"Like I said, it's a present. Think of it as a quick and easy escape in case you run into any less-than-desirable opponents." Shade picked up the finished smoke pellet. "We're only scratching the surface of your potential. Soon enough, we can get started on making medicine. I want to draw out every last drop of potential from that beautiful mind of yours."

Melissa smiled. "I do not often get compliments on my intelligence, only from those I am in close relations with."

"Well, those idiots don't know what you can do." Shade clutched the pellet inside his palm. "Now, finish up here and get yourself ready for tomorrow."

Melissa saluted. "Yes, Dr. Shade!"

Jet and Melissa shuffled back as the thugs steadily approached them, daggers in hand. Jet snarled, waving his Razor Shell intimidatingly. It was merely a front as he tried to come up with an escape plan. He racked his brain for all possibly routes of escape, but none could effectively get them to safety in time. Three amateur opponents on the ground, but one skilled opponent cutting off their escape in the air. On top of that, he was glued to Melissa, who was far from his skill level, and barely scratching the base level. If he were glued to, say, Kenny or Lucient, he trusted they could keep up with him and match his movements.

Jet gripped his scalchop tighter. Fighting might be our only option.

Marlo stopped, keeping a meter of space between him and Jet. He spun his dagger between his fingers, sneering at his cornered prey. "I have to say, when we came here, we thought there would be more resistance. You Foresters are truly a dangerous lot. Absolute monsters." Marlo glared. "Though, perhaps I exaggerated my fears."

"What is this lecture?" Jet growled.

Marlo sighed and tapped his temple. "What else? Call it a lecture, but I prefer a sermon. Though the Foresters project an air of mystery and danger, perhaps it was in the vain attempt to cover up their own shortcomings. Behind that mask of mystique is nothing more than children fighting for a worthless cause."

"Who are you calling a child?" Jet asked rumbly. He dug his heels in.

"The only ones to fear are that Nuzleaf, his comrades, and your leader. Aside from them, why should I be afraid of you? Though you possess remarkable skill I could never compete with, it's obvious the elusive nature of the Foresters is merely a front to produce fear. That's how you keep other, more dangerous bounty hunters at bay. If the illusion's gone, what is left? A violent Oshawott tied to a hapless Buneary."

Jet grinded his teeth together. "Bastard…" His tone dripped with venom.

"They must take anyone in. A useless rabbit who's only good for causing trouble and a pathetic otter who tries to act like the wolf. If this is all the Foresters has to offer, I'm not impressed." Marlo waved his dagger once more at them. "So, almighty Forester, how will you persist? Will you stand and fight? Or will you run?"

Jet's cells tingled for action. The Razor Shell's blade rumbled with the shifting currents vibrating tensely. Melissa, as she kept her head low, took notice of the smoky white aura coming off of Jet. His Inherited Will, projecting itself out with raw vigor.

Jet raised his Razor Shell and said, "You'll run for the hills when my superior realizes what's happened."

"I'm sure I will." Marlo crouched down, getting into lunging position. "I'll take you to Hell with me." His gang readied their attacks.

Jet braced himself, then noticed Melissa standing up beside him. "Rookie, you better keep up with me or we're dead."

"We need to buy ourselves time."

Jet's eyes widened. Her voice was quiet, smooth, and calm. Perhaps the fear caused her to go into an apathetic state, or she was secretly talented in hiding her emotions (an unlikely possibility). Either way, she was trying to sound confident.

Marlo picked up on this change as well. "Does the Buneary have fangs to bear, too?"

Melissa took a step forward, her free fist clenched around her small bag. Now looking her over completely, Jet noted the trembling in her legs and posture. She was putting on a face. A desperate attempt to sound tough. He took considerable notice of the bag she had, wondering what it was.

Melissa pointed at Marlo and said, "I will not allow you to speak ill of my superior. Do not underestimate him. Do not underestimate me. And do not underestimate the Foresters."

Marlo narrowed his eyes with intrigue. "Oh? Do you wish to fight me in his place? I can take you in two seconds. One second to approach, one second to go for the heart."

Amoonguss laughed. "Look at her, boss. She's quivering in the legs!"

Kingler smirked. "Perhaps it wouldn't be wise to end the poor dear's life. She has other uses. Plenty of buyers for the black market." Melissa froze up in horror and disgust.

Reuniclus nodded. "I like the sound of that—"

"Idiots!" Marlo growled, getting them back in line. "I'll do a lot of crap in this line of work, but I won't tolerate talk of slavery. One more word out of any of you, you'll be limping home with fresh scars."

They faltered back. "S-Sorry, boss," they mumbled fearfully.

Marlo sighed, then glared back at Melissa. "As for you…" He flashed his dagger at her. "Make your next move carefully. It will be your last."

Melissa settled down, panting lightly. "I—"

"Rookie, know your place and get back," Jet growled quietly. "Don't negotiate with these guys. You're wasting your breath."

Melissa panted for a moment, then inhaled through her nose. "Maybe I am…but I am not cowering either."

Jet glared. "Eh?"

Marlo bent his knees. "Time's up." He catapulted at Melissa, thrusting his dagger forward.

"I will prove to you I am not worthless!" Melissa cried, throwing the bag right at Marlo and tackling Jet backwards.

Marlo stopped as his dagger slid through the bag. "Wha—" Suddenly, the bag exploded open with a copper brown gas spewing out. The gas instantly engulfed Marlo and his cohorts.

"AGH!" Amoonguss screamed. "My eyes! They BURN!"

"What is this stuff?!" Kingler screamed.

Marlo dropped to his knees and covered his eyes. Tears flooded down his face. He tried to open them, but it only made the stinging worse. "That wench! You absolute wench!"

Melissa managed to tackle Jet and herself out of the gas' range. She pulled Jet up and pulled on his hood. "We need to go, now!"

Jet stared at the cloud of gas in awe. He nodded slowly and ran ahead with her close behind. "We need to get into the trees and warn the guards. They'll be able to finish this mess."

"Going somewhere?" The duo looked up and barely dodged a Psyshock from Reuniclus.

Jet growled. "Shit, the gas didn't penetrate that outer coating of his."

Reuniclus summoned up more Psyshocks and threw them down. Jet grabbed Melissa by the waist and took off with Aqua Jet. Reuniclus chased them down, but realized quickly Jet wasn't running. Jet immediately turned and rammed into Reuniclus before he could stop. They crashed and pushed through the ground until Jet slammed him up against a tree. He kicked off the thug's face and took off into the trees.

Marlo emerged from the pepper gas, fighting the urge to rub his stinging eyes. He managed to open them enough to see the duo retreating into the trees. He bared his teeth. "Foresters…"

Jet cancelled the Aqua Jet after a minute of flight and landed within the trees. He checked over his shoulder, panting lightly. "Okay, I think I put enough distance between us to give us breathing room. We should be safe for now."

Melissa coughed out some water she accidentally swallowed and gasped for a breath. "Please warn me before you do that," she said weakly.

Jet glared lightly. "Where did you get those pellets?"

Melissa wrung out her uniform, a difficult task with one usable hand, and said, "Dr. Shade gave them to me the night before we made the food run. They were an extra bit of protection in case I ran into trouble. I completely forgot about them. Good thing I grabbed the uniform I was wearing earlier."

"I see." Jet leaned against the tree trunk and sighed. "Aside from the excessive waste of our supplies, that was…an adequate diversion. Not horrible."

Melissa blinked in surprise. "Oh, uh…thank you."

"You still wasted an entire bag of pellets, though."

"And there it is," Melissa groaned with an exasperated smile. She stood up and shook the water from her fur. "So, what is the plan of attack?"

"We get back to base and get this gunk off our hands. Then, we leave them to the Weald Rangers."

Melissa's eyes widened as Jet turned away, preparing to get moving. "What? We are not going to fight them?"

"Yes, that is exactly the plan. Glad to see you didn't go deaf." Jet crouched, preparing to sprint across the branches, but stopped as Melissa touched his shoulder. "What is it, Rookie?"

Melissa looked aside unsurely. "Well, it is just…you can take them on easily. I am the reason you are being held back. Would it not make sense to finish them off now while we still can?"

Jet blinked, then straightened up. "What logic are you using? The strategic thing to do is get help and leave it to the Weald Rangers. There's no reason or logic to stay behind and finish the job ourselves."

"Yes, I know. It is just…" Melissa rubbed the back of her head. "I…do not want to run away like this."

Jet raised his brow. "Huh?"

"I do not want this to be my first official failure as a Forester. I said I was going to prove myself, and I meant it. I do not want to be remembered as the Forester who dragged our superior down and made him run away from a few common thugs."

Jet glared, then jabbed her in the forehead. "Rookie, the sentiment is at least appreciated, but get serious. We are tied together. We are not an unstoppable army. When we see trouble, we need to run. This isn't something we can overcome because we have something to prove. This isn't like those myths and tales where the hero can get back up after being impaled on a spike."

Melissa frowned. "I understand that, I do, but think about this from my perspective. I messed up your mission by following you. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"We'll find out when Jason reprimands you for breaking house arrest. Now come on." He grabbed her hood and prepared to dash ahead.

Melissa pulled on their binding and lurched him in front of her. "Wait!"

Jet growled. "What now? I've already countered your argument. There's no tactical advantage for us to go back in and get killed."

Melissa bared her teeth. "Jet, you heard what the Simisage said. If we run away like this, the Foresters will be branded as cowards."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I told you to think about this from my perspective. I am the princess of Verde Kingdom, and I know better than anyone how much trouble you and the Foresters have caused. Do you want to know what I hear every single time a raid or theft by them is mentioned? 'Those wicked spirits have returned! Oh, the inpokemanity! Wretched creatures that dare dance with the devil! Their black magic is the bane of Arceus' light!' That kind of stuff."

"That's nothing new. We're well aware of what nobles and other civilians call us."

"And that is my point. These guys were being super cautious, remember? They were going to take all the measures needed to keep themselves out of sight until they had their chance with Eadwulf. They came here prepared. And now look where we are? One of the strongest Foresters and the weakest got their butts handed to them in the same fight with a few simple tricks."

"What are you saying?"

"The mystique of the Foresters would be destroyed if rumors like this spread. Regardless of how much my father hates the Foresters, he fears them as well. He does not know what you all are capable of. If you, presumably one of the best fighters of the Foresters, were this easy to beat, what is going to stop other bandits from hunting you all down?"

Jet scoffed. "You're underestimating our skills, not to mention Jason. Let it be a hundred or a thousand bandits, and Jason would still send them packing."

"I am not underestimating you, but I am speaking realistically. We do not have the luxury of power like most. All we can do is adapt and rely on our skills," she stated. "The Foresters rely on a simple tactic: turn their skills into unexplainable phenomena. We want the advantage of being mysterious and unassuming. We want them to fear us. Even if we can beat them a hundred times over, can you imagine being constantly hunted down because that fear the Foresters instilled over the last few years vanished?"

Jet sighed and rubbed his forehead. "You've been hanging around Basil for too long."

"All I am saying is that rumors can break the Foresters' reputation. If they are not feared, what is stopping more rogues from invading the forest and burning it to the ground? The best we can do is assume this as a tactical retreat before the ambush—" Jet raised his hand and shushed her.

"The reputation of the Foresters is not going to be destroyed because some low rate criminals got a slight advantage over us. You are worrying over nothing."

Melissa glared. "Jet, they basically used a wad of glue to stop us. This is not a stab wound from a knife or a bullet wound from a fire stick—"

"Guns. They're called guns."

"We were defeated with glue!" She raised their hands, showing off the teal glob. "Is this really how you want us to be defeated? Because we got our hands stuck together—"

"Oh, would you just shut up already?!" Jet growled, finally losing his patience. "What does it matter to you? I'm trying to get us to safety and all you care about is some invisible force that Basil's been feeding into your head. The only thing we should be doing is getting back to base and leaving it to our guards! You and I have no chemistry! Fighting together is impossible!"

Melissa bared her teeth. "Is that the words of the Foresters' co-leader? I saw you fighting a moment ago. If I am the one holding you back, lead me like a true leader would! Teach me like a teacher would! Stop treating me like deadweight and actually make me useful!"

"We are leaving, now."

"Not until we settle this mess! Do you really want to put up with the humiliation of going back like this?"

Jet growled. "Rookie, shut up."

"Do you want this to be the defining moment in our history for the scum of the criminal underworld? To all your enemies?"

"I said shut up!"

"Do you want the respect you have garnered to disappear?"

"Rookie!"

"Is this how you want to look in front of Jason? Weak and helpless?"

"I said SHUT—" Jet froze. His aggression faded near instantly, wide eyes staring hard at Melissa before turning down. The gunk around his hand felt much heavier than before.

Melissa noted his lack of defiance and took a deep breath. "I want what is best for the both of us. If we are going to make any progress, we need to reach a point of agreement." She extended her free hand to him. "Jet, let me help you towards the path of victory."

Jet looked at her extended hand, eyes shimmering. Something felt familiar in the way she spoke, like a distant memory in the worst of times…

"Mine!" a young Oshawott named Jet snapped, swinging his scalchop at scared civilians. He had a loaf of bread tucked under his other arm. "This is mine, you hear me! Stay back, all of you! No one come near me and my bread!"

"Oh gracious!" one person spoke up in horror.

"Don't acknowledge the rat. He looks filthy."

"Uncivilized, the lot of them. Behavior worth only to a savage."

Everyone kept their distance from the paranoid Oshawott. His fur was a mess, covered in dried mud and sticking out all over the place. He had a black eye that swelled his left eye shut. He wore a worn-out tunic that would've passed off as a hand-me-down kitchen rag.

His breathing was ragged. Underneath the torn tunic was a weak, scrawny body that was barely getting by on nutrients. He could barely stand, much less breathe.

Jet kept his eye on everyone, giving them the hardest, angriest glare he could despite his fatigue. He wanted to eat, but he couldn't be too sure. Any second, he would let his guard down, and someone would swoop by and steal his bread. Or worse, kick him in the rips, then steal his bread. He couldn't let his guard down for a second.

"Nothing but vultures," Jet growled, shuffling backwards. "All of you. Parasites. Every last one of you. None of you care. Won't let my guard down."

"You hold a strong resolve. Stronger than any other I've seen." Jet whipped his head around, aiming his scalchop at the newcomer. A Pikachu dressed in a white linen shirt and black trousers with a chestnut cloak hanging off his shoulders. The Pikachu narrowed his eyes. "And yet, you're skirting the line of primal."

Jet bared his teeth. "You want my food, don't you? Mine! It's mine! Don't come any closer!"

The Pikachu ignored his threats and approached. "Those eyes of yours. The swell with mistrust and anger, as well as paranoia. You have never known true loyalty, have you?"

Jet growled and activated Razor Shell. "Bastard! All of you! Nothing but vultures!" He swung hard at the Pikachu's head.

The Pikachu lifted his hand and caught the water blade between his two fingers. It stopped instantly, unable to press further. Jet's eyes widened as the Razor Shell's form collapsed. "W-What? How did you—" He staggered back as the Pikachu stepped closer. Jet clutched to his bread tightly. "S-Stay away! All of you! Stay away! I won't let any of you get closer!"

The strange Pikachu acknowledged his concerns and stopped, keeping a small gap between them. His face remained perpetually calm before the quivering Oshawott.

"You've been hurt so much, haven't you?" the Pikachu asked. His face was cold, but his voice was soft and calming. It was a strange duality for Jet. "Must be so hard to find a peaceful day believing everyone's out to cause you harm. Have you gone to school? Do you know how to read?"

Jet bared his teeth and crawled away, giving up after his arms collapsed. He panted tiredly, still refusing to let his guard down.

The Pikachu sighed. "There's no structure without trust. Lies and deception, manipulating others, blackmail; I've seen it all. That is the world we build upon, but there's only true structure when we come together in a fiduciary union. You must strive to be accepted. To go down this road, no one's ever given you a reason to trust their word."

Tears dripped from Jet's eyes. The fight burning in him was dying. He clenched his eyes shut and sobbed into his dirty hands. "No one…there's no one. No one you can trust."

"Allow me to rectify those fears and purge your sorrows from the machinations of the demagogues who plague our society." Jet opened his eyes and saw a hand outstretched to him. He looked up at the Pikachu, who shined a confident smile onto him.

"Let me help you towards the path of redemption."

Jet blinked through his tears. "H-Help?"

"I want to help you. So please, take my hand…"

"…And let us change the world together."

Jet nearly staggered backwards as he faded into reality. For a brief moment, the image of Jason overlapped with Melissa, mirroring each other. His body shook in confusion. His mind raced with activity.

She sounded almost like Jason.

Jet grunted and looked away, trying to keep his emotions in check. "…Fine. We'll do things your way."

Melissa frowned, a bit bummed they couldn't shake on it, but she'll take what she could get. She smiled regardless and said, "Thanks Jet! I will not let you down."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Jet pressed his hand against the tree. "Do you even have a plan, though? Fighting those guys head on like this will lead to disaster."

"I have been thinking, actually." Melissa pointed in the direction they fled from. "Considering our current position, yes, fighting them directly would be a losing battle. However, I wonder if that is what they were intending."

Jet raised his brow. "How so?"

"They came here specifically on a stealth mission to take down Eadwulf. I do not know much about Eadwulf, but I heard enough stories to tell he is strong." Melissa narrowed her eyes. "They wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict."

Jet rolled his eyes. "Brilliant deduction."

"I am not done yet. It is their method of pinning us that has me interested." She raised their connected arms. "This stuff in particular is what I mean. It is a small glob of adhesive. One ball of this stuff leaves us completely pinned to whatever surface we accidentally connect with. It is really strong, so strong that even you cannot break it."

Jet glared at the goop, clenching his trapped fist. "Something like this makes fighting almost impossible."

"It makes close range fighting impossible."

Jet blinked. "What?"

Melissa nodded. "Have you not noticed how that Simisage wanted to keep his distance from you? He was not looking for a direct conflict. You were too dangerous to deal with up close. I am sure he knew that the minute you attacked. That may have been their intention for Eadwulf." She glanced back at Jet. "How does Eadwulf typically fight?"

Jet lingered on the question for a moment, giving Melissa a questioning glare. He gave in and sighed soon after. "Like you implied, he's a close range fighter, and a deadly one. He utilizes the three-sectioned staff in combat." He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "When I first saw that thing, it was the most impractical weapon I've ever seen. Nowadays, I've come to learn he's…surprisingly dangerous with it. Once he gets in close, you're done."

Melissa nodded, then glared ahead. "And how effective is he in long range combat?"

"Eadwulf needs a lot of space to move around, but fighting from a distance isn't his specialty. I'd say he would be pinned if he tried that."

"And that is why they came prepared like this. They made sure to pack everything they needed to limit Eadwulf's movement and keep him at a distance. They were prioritizing speed over strength. If they got one of those orbs off on Eadwulf, they would drastically increase their chances of winning. However, that gives us a rough idea of what they are carrying."

Jet knew what she met, but was curious to her view. "That so?"

"Lightweight equipment. They only have the gear needed for hit-and-run tactics. They cannot afford a drawn-out fight, especially against you. They must have been more confident in taking you on because you are a less aggressive fighter, at least from what I have been told about Eadwulf. The second they saw me, they gambled on me shifting the tides of battle by acting as deadweight. They eliminated our ability for direct combat."

"In other words…" Jet urged.

"If we cannot fight in close quarters, we need to utilize the only trick we can manage: stealth."

A moment of silence hung between them with Jet glaring at the back of her head. Melissa noticed and turned her gaze away meekly, awaiting whatever scolding that might come her way. Perhaps what she said sounded stupid and she just wasted his time.

"You manage to come up with all of that on your own…in less than fifteen minutes?"

Melissa blinked, then faced Jet's surprised glare. She chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of her head. "Everyone keeps telling me to think strategically, so…"

"I never expected you to consider all the variables so quickly, though, especially while we were being chased." Jet closed his eyes. "It's the same conclusion I came to, too. All we have to go off of is stealth."

Melissa smiled and nodded. "And I think we might have another way of getting this stuff off sooner. If Eadwulf was hit by this stuff, he would likely get stuck to a tree or the ground. I imagine they would want to get rid of him without drawing attention, so—"

"They would need a solvent to detach him from any surfaces."

"Yes, exactly!" Melissa squealed. She didn't want to go too far, otherwise her pride would swell too much.

"However, we don't have much in the way of equipment," Jet reminded. "I didn't bother to bring my bow and arrow. All I got is the cable launcher."

"Hmm, good point." Melissa looked around, then plucked a long branch over her head. "We are in a forest, though. Everything we need is right here. And Shade has been showing me some of the plants that grow around here. I would need help navigating, but I know a few plants we can use."

Jet unknowingly found himself smirking. "Do you know how to make a bow?"

"No, I do not."

"Luckily for you, I had to help Tank make weapons." He took the branch from her. "We can craft a few shabby arrows and a bow, but how are we going to fire?"

Melissa beamed. "I have a few ideas. Ready to show these jerks what us Foresters can do?"

Jet closed his eyes and chuckled a bit. "Rookie, I'll recite the entire history to them."

"Ugh, I can taste it through my eyes still," Amoonguss loudly complained as he dumped his canteen of water on his eyes.

The thugs carefully trekked through the forest with Marlo at the lead. Marlo's eyes were red and irritable from the pepper smokescreen. He splashed some of his canteen water into his face to relieve the pain. "When I get my hands on that rabbit, she's dead."

Reuniclus sighed. "I should've persisted harder."

"It can't be helped now." Marlo stopped and knelt down. He felt the patch of earth in front of him, noting the moist texture. Spots of dark earth went in a trail ahead. Spots of wet ground. "The Oshawott turned his Aqua Jet in this direction. They left us a nice trail to them."

Kingler snipped the air excitedly. "Then let's hurry and chase them down."

"Patience," Marlo ordered, raising his knife. "They've been given a moment of reprieve. We don't know what they're planning."

Reuniclus rolled his eyes. "You worry too much. There's no way they can beat us with the way they are. All it takes is knocking one of them out and removing the last of their mobility."

Marlo glared. "You three have a lot to learn if that's going to get us through tonight. For all we know, they retreated to base."

Amoonguss punched his mushroom caps together, giving his best growl. "I'll show that puny rabbit a thing or two for messing with us!"

Kingler snipped the air again. "Who knows? Maybe there's a reward for one of their heads."

Marlo sighed. "You three are far too narrowminded. Focus on the task at hand and keep your—"

They stopped as the trees rustled over their heads. Reuniclus immediately fired with his Psyshock, blowing a hole open through the leaves. Branches and charred leaves rained over them with not a body in sight.

Amoonguss untensed his stiffened posture and laughed nervously. "M-Must've been the wind."

Marlo glared. "A little too localized to be the wind." He kept his dagger close and himself low to the ground. "I wonder if they're nearby."

Kingler raised his pincer. "Don't you worry. If they try getting closer, I'll knock them dead with my Guillotine."

Marlo scoffed. "You couldn't hit a stationary wagon if you tried."

"Now listen here, you old—" Kingler stopped speaking all of a sudden.

Marlo snorted in amusement. "What's wrong? Meowth caught your—" But once Marlo turned around, he froze. Reuniclus and Amoonguss also turned and stood petrified at the bare earth behind them. Not a crab in sight.

"Uh, where did he go?" Reuniclus whispered.

Marlo scanned the forest frantically. "The Foresters—"

"The curse is real!" Amoonguss screamed. "They're coming after me next!" He tried to book it, but Marlo caught him by the shirt and threw him to the ground.

"You're not going anywhere," Marlo scolded. "There's no curse. They're just trying to mess with us."

Reuniclus formed Psyshocks in his hands. "This is absurd. How'd they get past us without making a sound? They couldn't go a minute without fumbling over each other?"

Marlo narrowed his eyes. "We need protection." He glared at Amoonguss. "Put up a wall of Stun Spore around us. Make sure they can't get within reach of us."

Amoonguss gulped. "R-Right." He raised his mushroom caps and spun, showering them in the golden dust.

Marlo covered his mouth with a rag as the dust wrapped around him. "This should deter them from coming closer."

Reuniclus scanned their surroundings cautiously, then jumped at a shaking bush. "There!" He fired and incinerated the bush instantly. Once again, nothing but scorch plant matter. "Tch. It's like they're teleporting."

Marlo glared. Even for them, that's too quick. How are they getting around so fast without us noticing? On top of that, they snatched one of our guys up without alerting us. They had twenty minutes between when they escaped and now. What's going on—

Marlo caught something flying past his vision, following by the familiar rustling of leaves. Reuniclus whipped around with a Psyshock ready. "I got you now!"

"Hold!" Marlo ordered, sticking his arm out. Reuniclus froze while Marlo checked the bushes. He reached around, then curled his fingers around something. A small rock, half a size smaller than his fist. "They're messing with us."

"What do you mean?" Amoonguss asked.

"They've been tossing rocks and getting us worked up. Tch, just more of their tricks."

Reuniclus sighed. "Good grief, they've resulted to throwing rocks."

Marlo rubbed his fingers on the rock, then felt something odd about the other side. He turned it around, then raised his brow at the two tally marks etched into it. What is this? Two? Two what?

All of a sudden, Amoonguss cried out in panic. Marlo turned his head just as Amoonguss was pulled into the trees, vanishing instantly. His cries sounded loudly before silence took over once again.

"Shit!" Reuniclus rapidly fire Psyshock and blasted holes through the bush of tree leaves.

"Get a hold of yourself!" Marlo ordered angrily. He grunted just as the Stun Spore barrier finally dropped. "We need to think objectively—"

"They're in the trees!" Reuniclus yelled. "There's no way they can escape in time!"

"Even if that is the case, we can't go rushing into—" Just then, a crude-looking arrow came flying out of the trees. Marlo staggered away with the arrow nearly hitting his foot.

Reuniclus smirked. "Big mistake!" He activated Psychic and forced his influence over a large space, suspending all motion. "Marlo, I got them! I know I got them!"

Marlo reached into his bag. "Don't waver for a second!" He climbed the trees and pulled himself onto one of the high branches. He whipped out two glue balls and chucked them into the suspended field. The exploded on impact with something. "Not taking chances." He whipped out his throwing knives and threw them where the glue balls exploded.

Marlo waited a moment for a reaction, but not a peep or scream responded, not even from their skittish opponent. He jumped through the suspended leaves and found no one. The glue balls and knives merely hit one of the thicker branches.

"They're not here!" Marlo yelled. "They must've gotten out of your range."

"You've got to be kidding me! Just how fast are these…wait, Marlo! They're down here! They're—GAH!"

Marlo's eyes widened, then he immediately jumped down. He gasped as Reuniclus was found flat on his back with an arrow jabbed through his outer membrane and into his shoulder. He suddenly looked weaker, like the fatigue had finally caught up with him.

Reuniclus reached out to the sky feebly. "They're…ruthless." He groaned and fell unconscious.

Marlo cautiously approached Reuniclus and gripped the arrow, pulling it out. The entry into the shoulder was shallow, probably due to the membrane slowing down the arrow's speed. He examined the sharp tip and noticed the purplish ooze mixed with his ally's blood.

"Poison." Marlo jabbed the arrow into the ground and pulled out more throwing knives. "I'm impressed, Foresters. This must be your desperate attempt to save face. Sadly, your tricks won't be as useful against me."

"That's fine. We were saving you for last, anyway."

Marlo spun around and scowled as Jet and Melissa stepped into view, just as glue together as before. Jet carried a few crude arrows attached to his side while Melissa held an equally shabby bow over her shoulder. A bent stick with a vine for the string, held together with ice coated around the bow.

Marlo presented his knives intimidatingly. "Facing me head on?"

Jet scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just prefer punching you in the face than dealing a win with poison."

Melissa pointed at Marlo with the crude bow. "Hand over the solvent to this glue and we will spare you a humiliating defeat."

Marlo smirked. "So, you know there's a solvent to that little concoction of mine. You can have it right after you stop breathing!" He threw the knives right at them, more so at Jet.

Jet knew he would be Marlo's primary target as the seasoned fighter. "Rookie, separate!"

He and Melissa took off in opposite directions, stretching the glue out. Half the knives were caught on the band, stretching back like a slingshot. The duo shared a nod and threw their arms forward, slinging the caught knives back at Marlo.

Marlo gasped and fell onto his back, letting the knives fly over him and stab into the ground and trees behind him. He picked himself up, then jumped back as Jet came swinging with his Razor Shell. The water blade grazed across Marlo's chest, cutting his linen shirt open and his chest.

"Rookie, follow my lead!" Jet ordered. He swung his trapped arm and lurched Melissa forward.

Melissa flew off the ground and kicked Marlo, knocking him off his feet. She landed and mirrored Jet's throw, though he kicked off the ground to make up for her lack of strength. Jet swung high up and came down with a hard swing of his Razor Shell. Marlo barely rolled out of the way before the Razor Shell landed and split the ground.

Marlo jumped back and dug through his bag, only to realize he was low on supplies. No more throwing knives and only one glue ball left. "Shit." He grunted, then inhaled, puffing out his chest. "Bullet Seed!" He sprayed green seeds at them.

Jet slid in front of Melissa and deflected the onslaught of seeds. Melissa hooked the bow around Jet's trapped arm and pulled back on the string with an arrow nocked. Though a clumsy shot, Melissa released the arrow with a direct course onto Marlo.

Marlo whipped his dagger out and barely split the arrow. Jet took the chance to rocket forward with Aqua Jet with Melissa clinging to his shoulder. Marlo raised his dagger defensively and blocked the combined Aqua Jet-Razor Shell assault. The force pushed him back and rammed him up against a tree.

Melissa pulled out one of the poison-tipped arrows and thrusted it at Marlo's shoulder. However, vines sprouted from his neck and slapped the arrow from her hand. The vines plunged through the Aqua Jet and wrapped around her waist. With one big squeeze, he forced all the air she was holding out of her.

Melissa covered her mouth and started flailing, even accidentally swallowing water. Jet immediately stopped Aqua Jet, allowing Marlo to sucker-punch him in the jaw. The duo skipped across the ground and hit a tree. Melissa threw up the water she swallowed and coughed noisily.

Marlo sheathed his dagger and held his hands out. "Seed Bomb!" Green energy channeled in his hands, then fired out into explosive seed rounds.

Jet grabbed Melissa's jacket collar and jumped out of the way. "You have a plan, Rookie?"

"Not really, no!" Melissa shrieked.

"Vine Whip!" Marlo rushed at them with vines sprouting from his neck again.

Jet slashed at the vines with Razor Shell, then yelled, "Use Copycat!"

Melissa gasped. "I do not know how to use that!"

"You used it before in our match!"

"I was barely conscious for that!"

"Just do it!"

While Jet held Marlo's vines at bay, Melissa closed her fist and tried to summon a Razor Shell or sprout Vine Whip. It may come naturally to everyone else, but Melissa never had a reason to use her moves. She didn't even know about Copycat before that match with Jet, much less remember how she did it.

"Jet, I cannot do it!"

"Yes, you can!" Jet yelled. He deactivated Razor Shell and tossed the scalchop into Marlo's face, blinding him. "Copycat mirrors the opponent's last move. You need to visualize yourself using the move, visualize how it's done."

"But I cannot—"

Jet glared at her furiously. "I'm not taking of that crap with you! I've seen you do it once! You want to prove me wrong?! Show me you are capable of fighting!"

Marlo recovered from the scalchop and jumped back. "By all means, keep arguing! Seed Bomb!" He fired another round of explosive seeds.

"Rookie, now!"

Melissa gasped and thrusted her hand out. Suddenly, something clicked inside Melissa's mind. A green aura blazed around her, followed by green energy bursting from her hand. A scattershot of Seed Bombs fired out with the recoil flinging her arm back.

Both rounds of Seed Bombs exploded into each other and created a wall of smoke between them. However, one of Melissa's snuck through and took Marlo by surprise, exploding right in his face. He flew backwards and slammed into a tree.

Melissa's hand smoked from the attack as she gaped in disbelief. "Whoa…"

Jet whistled. "Not a bad shot." He picked a twig up and handed it to her. "Try copying Razor Shell again."

Melissa took the twig, then looked wearily as Jet pulled out Razor Shell again. Melissa took a deep breath and concentrated on the twig. Recalling the feeling she felt when she used Seed Bomb, a blue aura wrapped around her, then formed a blade of water from the twig. She gasped in delight, bouncing on her toes.

"Jet, Jet! I did it!"

Jet smirked. "Then follow my lead!" They sprinted at Marlo.

Marlo stood up and fired Seed Bomb again. Jet and Melissa sliced through the exploding seeds, though with Jet picking up some of Melissa's slack. Jet pivoted off his heel and swung Melissa into Marlo. Marlo blocked Melissa's Razor Shell with his dagger, but doubled over as Jet punched him in the gut.

"Ice Beam!" Jet channeled the cold energy through his Razor Shell and swung up.

Marlo narrowly avoided it, feeling the cold chill encase his shoulder. He fired off Bullet Seed, but Melissa defended Jet with amateur swings. Some seeds nailed her, bruising her skin, but she kept Jet shielded. Jet threw his scalchop, ricocheting it off some trees and nailing Marlo in the back of the head.

"Agh!" Marlo staggered forward, then slammed his palm down. He activated Seed Bomb, lighting up the ground and detonating it in their direction.

Jet pulled Melissa back and took the brunt of the attack. One of the rocks struck their arrows and broke most of the tips off, with only one remaining.

Melissa pulled the last arrow out and yelled, "Jet, one poisoned arrow left!"

Jet scowled. "We need to be quick—"

"Seed Bomb, Vine Whip!" The duo was taken aback as Marlo summoned up a Seed Bomb wrapped in a vine net. He rushed at them, swinging the explosive seed around, and slung it forward.

"Jet, look out!" Melissa pushed Jet out of the way, letting the Seed Bomb hit the ground in front of her. Melissa was blown back, taking Jet with her, and landed on her stomach.

"Rookie!" Jet cried.

Melissa rolled onto her back, clutching at her right foot. Rocks and seed shells jabbed into her sore, scratched-up foot. "Ow, ow, ow," she whimpered.

Jet pulled himself up and got to her side. "Can you stand?" he asked as he helped her up.

She tried standing on it, but the loose debris poked hard on her soles. "Ow! N-No."

Marlo, realizing what was happening, jumped back and pulled out his last glue ball. Got you now.

Jet spotted this through his peripherals. "Shit."

"I am going to slow us down," Melissa whimpered.

Marlo winded his arm up. "Say goodnight, Foresters!"

Jet glared up at the trees, then raised his arm. "Rookie, we're going to do something stupid! Get ready to attack!"

Marlo stomped his foot down and went for the swing, but stopped as Jet fired his grappler into the trees and flung himself and Melissa straight into the air. Melissa held onto Jet screaming. Due to their differing weights, as Jet thought, they were thrown forward unsteadily.

Jet grabbed the bow and yelled, "Load the arrow, now!" Melissa fumbled with the spinning and flying through the air, but managed to nock the arrow.

Marlo stumbled back befuddled. "What in the—"

Jet aimed the bow and got his target on lock. "Rookie, fire!"

Melissa bared her teeth. "Take this!" She released the bowstring.

The arrow whizzed straight at Marlo, who was too stunned to dodge. The arrow, however, didn't go for his body. Jet purposefully aimed for the glue ball Marlo had held over his head. The arrow passed through easily and exploded the liquid contents outward.

Marlo cried out and tried to shake the glue off, but it trickled down in a big foam cloud all the way to his legs. He tripped over himself and fell on his back right before the glue hardened.

Jet grabbed Melissa and went into a tumble roll once they landed, collapsing onto their stomachs. They both panted in exhaustion, sweat dripping through their fur.

"You…were not kidding about using the grappler like this," Melissa groaned.

Jet sat up and shook his head. "I'm surprised that worked out better than I thought." He leaned back on his hand and sighed. "You good?"

"Y-Yeah, I will live." Melissa sat up, rubbed her head, then looked at Marlo as he frantically flailed in his own glue trap. "Heh, not so funny now, is it?" she taunted.

Jet rolled his eyes, but smirked. "Don't overdo it." He stood up, helped Melissa up, and guided her toward Marlo.

"Let me go, let me go!" Marlo growled. He tried to lift his arm, but it snapped back right to the ground. He tensed up. "Agh! Right in the funny bone…"

Jet scoffed and shook his head. "What a joke."

Melissa knelt down carefully and reached through Marlo's bag, which was thankfully spared of the glue. She pulled out a vial with green liquid inside. "Is this the solvent?"

"Let me see." Jet took the vial, pulled the cork off with his teeth, and spilled a little on Marlo's face. The gunk covering part of his face dissolved almost instantly. "Good, it's not acid."

Marlo's eyes widened. "Excuse me!"

Jet dumped most of the vial onto his and Melissa's linked arms, leaving just a little leftover. The gunk instantly slid off their arms and dissolved on the ground. Melissa rubbed her wrist and sighed in relief. "Oh, thank goodness! My hand was starting to get cramped."

Jet flexed his hand, then put the cork back on the vial. "I'm sure Shade would like to take a sample of this gunk before we have you and your goons anonymously shipped off to jail."

Marlo hissed. "What did you do to my guys?"

Jet shrugged. "Relaxed, those other two are around. Just, you know, poisoned or unconscious. They'll live."

Melissa giggled. "That gunk made a surprisingly good weapon once we started working together. Snatched your Kingler friend right off his feet without making a sound."

Marlo tightened his fists, growling through his teeth. "You damn Foresters…"

Jet huffed and crossed his arms. "You can rant all about it in prison. Of course, given your connection with Pasco, I'm sure our leader would like to get some information out of you."

Marlo's face turned white as a sheet. Oh shit…

Jet and Melissa returned to base and got the Weald Rangers to round up the four thugs. Kingler and Amoonguss were found with their faces bashed into the trees and knocked out cold. They brought antidotes for the poison the cuffed duo used, then dragged them back to base with blindfolds.

However, Jet and Melissa's night wasn't over as now they had to deal with Jason, who was giving the two of them a stern glare. Shade was there to patch up Melissa's foot, removing all the rocks and seed shells.

Jason huffed through his nose. "Where do I even begin?"

Melissa whimpered. "Sir, I am really sorry for breaking my house arrest. I should not have followed Jet."

Jet huffed. "And…I shouldn't have gone after those guys on my own."

Jason crossed his arms. "You put yourselves at risk, especially you, Melissa. You could've gotten yourself killed. You may be a Forester, but you're still a rookie. Don't get cocky."

Melissa frowned and looked away. Jet glanced at Melissa for a moment, then sighed. "If I may speak, sir, Melissa did demonstrate some tactical knowledge while we were inconvenienced. And…" Jet paused, suppressing a rumbling growl in his throat. "She handled herself better than me while we were stuck together."

Jason's eyes widened. "Jet?"

Melissa gasped and covered her mouth. "What?"

Jet bowed his head. "She has potential, so allow me to do my part as her team's leader and teacher to bring out that potential. She has a long way to go, but…she isn't hopeless."

Melissa held her mouth up in awe, then smiled warmly with teary eyes. "Jet…"

Jason blinked twice, looking legitimately baffled for the first time since Melissa met him. His expression softened into a proud smile, then he patted Jet's head. "And that's why I made you one of my co-leaders. Underneath that stubbornness, your heart's in the right place."

Jet smiled brightly. "Th-Thank you, sir!"

"I will be having a word with you about this little stunt of yours tomorrow, though."

"Of course, sir."

Jason glared at Melissa. "As for you, you're on cleaning duty for a week."

"Eh?!" Melissa gasped.

"Regardless of Jet's evaluation, you still went out in the middle of the night and put yourself at risk."

"No fair!" Melissa whined.

Jason smirked. "Tough luck, Rookie. I told you, no special treatment."

Melissa glared. "Are you teasing me?"

"Oh yes, quite brutally." He turned, gave them a wave, and headed off. "Now, I've got to look into these four thugs you two rounded up. Mind passing the message along to Marie in the morning? I'll need her for interrogation."

Melissa scrunched her face in confusion. "Uh, sure." Why would he need Marie for interrogation? Melissa's thoughts raced before coming to her own…disturbed conclusion. You know what? I rather not know the answer.

She faced Jet just as he yawned. He stretched his arms and cracked his neck. "Well, after this exhaustingly long day, I might sleep in for once." He shoved his hands in his pockets and headed off.

"Jet, wait!" Jet stopped and glared over his shoulder. Melissa hobbled on her foot, then smiled shyly. "Uh, about what you said a moment ago. I, well…thank you so much. It means a lot to me." She faced the floor with a sad smile. "I know you do not trust me, but I meant what I said earlier. I do not hate you, and I do want to respect you. I am sorry for any horrible things I said."

Jet stared at her silently, his glare deepening. Melissa shrunk a little, wondering if there was still bad blood between them. However, she was taken by surprise when Jet faced her and extended his hand to her.

"I will be blunt about this, Rookie. What I said was not a lie. I do see potential in you. I don't, however, trust you completely. Like it or not, it's difficult for me to surrender my caution around others. I refused to be ever hurt by another person again. That said, I'm willing to start over and give you the benefit of doubt."

Melissa stared at his hand with starry eyes. A handshake. The sign of respect! She eagerly shook his hand, grinning happily. "Oh, thank you, Jet! I promise, I will not let you down."

"I'll hold you to that." He pulled away and glared. "Seriously, I will."

"I know." She giggled. "I am just so happy you see me as your equal now."

Jet scoffed. "Who said anything about that?"

"Eh?" Melissa asked with a confused smile.

Jet closed his eyes. "Don't get any ideas. You're still the same annoying, naïve brat that wandered into the forest."

Melissa blinked twice, her left eye twitching afterwards. She inhaled deeply and prepared to give him a piece of her mind, but stopped just as he turned to leave. She caught the little smile he wore as he walked away. She hovered on it for a moment, then sighed and smiled back.

Melissa hobbled back to her hut, the exhaustion of the day finally pushing her limits. She didn't bother taking her uniform off, instead collapsing into her hammock and hugging her pillow. She nestled into her blankets and closed her eyes.

"Melissa?" Melissa opened one eye and saw Marie looking at her with squinted, sleepy eyes. "Hon, what are you doing up so late?" she whispered.

Melissa huffed through her nose and leaned into her pillow. "I broke my house arrest and followed Jet on an ambush against some guys that followed us back."

"…Ah, okay." Marie closed her eyes and nestled back into bed, though not before asking, "How did that go?"

Melissa pulled her blankets over herself as she pondered the question. She smiled and closed her eyes, letting sleep overtake her last bit of consciousness.

"We are…making progress."