Ah, I've always imagined having a story that is decently long. And, genuine surprise, I'm still invested in this story! Possibly it's because I have nothing else to do but write, cause no game systems or internet/T.V at the time of writing this, but I guess I'm thankful for that. If I had internet or something to keep me not bored, I'd probably not have began this story. Well, anyway, I'm done saying my note. I know these aren't necessary for every chapter, but I like reading author's notes just as much as reading the story sometimes!
"No way!" Azura said through a mouthful of spaghetti.
Lacie, who was across the table, nodded proudly. "Yup! Took a lot of energy, but it came out alright!"
Before her sat a plate of untouched spaghetti. Beside the plate sat a slab of pure darkness, the item nearly consuming the light around it. All of the other Pokemon at the table stared in awe.
"Can… Can I have it?" Athos asked.
Lacie shook her head, smiling. "Nope! This is just for me, to either help defend myself, or flip for a ton of coins. So, if your mom wants me to sell it to her for you, I might just give you a discount." She winked at the red Absol.
The child turned to his mother, but before he could even open his mouth, a stern glance shut him up. Harmony turned to her sister. "Lacie, if you'd be so kind as to explain why you broke out of prison, just to create that?"
The Mightyena shrugged. "That wasn't the only reason…"
Harmony audibly sighed, shaking her head. "You literally only had a few months left."
She shrugged again, before sliding the Dread Plate off of the table. "So why not cut my sentence short? I was in there for the wrong reasons, anyway."
The Absol shrugged, looking down at her plate. "Have you even learned your lesson?"
The Mightyena leaned forward and snapped up some of her own food, slurping it down before nodding. "Yes. Don't trust the government."
Harmony sighed once more, shaking her head as she said "You just never change, huh?"
Lacie smiled back, as both sisters began to eat their spaghetti simultaneously. Chakal stared at his plate blankly, before leaning forward and slowly biting out a mouthful. He chewed a few seconds, and made a disgusted face, then swallowed.
"Nate, this spaghetti is so bad, your mom's gonna come back from the grave just to punish you for disgracing her recipe."
The Liepard smirked, before responding. "Hey, I can't help I'm not as skilled at using my forelegs as she was. And atleast I can cook without scorching stuff, unlike a certain stinky old Glameow."
Chakal glared. "Hey! I'm only two of those things!"
Athos spoke up suddenly, his mouth full of food. "Stinky and old?"
The stinky, old Pokemon began to grin, shrugging. "Guess so. I'm a Torracat now, I guess."
The family each chuckled, as Azura grinned at the antics of the Pokemon around her. They were a family, no matter how different they seemed. The only ones with a slightly similar attitude seemed to be Nate and Athos. Four Dark type's, and one Normal type. She faintly smiled, before looking to Athos. The shiny noticed her looking and smiled back.
"Hi. What are you staring at?" He asked.
Azura shook her head ever so slightly. "You just remind me of my son. You're double his age, though. He's mature for his age."
Harmony looked at her. "You have a son? What's his name? Maybe him and Athos could hangout at the park together one day. Even though he seems rather friendly, the fact that he's a shiny puts off most kids from talking to him."
As Azura opened her mouth to respond, Athos quickly said "Hey, I'm friends with all of the teachers and stuff!"
Harmony gently smiled. "I said kids, didn't I? I know that the staff are very nice to you, but a developing child needs child friends more than they need adult friends."
Athos mumbled something, and Azura finally was able to talk. "He's… not in town right now. On a trip with a friend. His name's Jacky."
The Absol smiled at her. She said with a hint of sarcasm "I didn't know Fenz was a town."
The Espeon chuckled quietly, before nodding. "Yea. He's very smart for his age. He used to punish his dad for not getting enough sunlight by yanking a leaf off of him. It was funny, until Aloe got sick from it one time. But that didn't stop Jacky from doing it."
Harmony smiled gently and understandingly. "Yea… Athos' father was a very nice Pokemon, too. He would always fluff up Athos' fur every morning just so he would have an excuse to help him get ready for school. He was always worried about him getting sick, or being made fun of at school. He even helped him sharpen his horn the first time. Though, that didn't last long, because Absol children's horns aren't easy to keep sharp. If it wasn't for him, I think Athos' horn would be deformed. Arceus knows I didn't have the time to help him."
Azura grinned knowingly, nodding. "What did you work for to not have time? I worked on a farm."
Harmony raised a brow at her. "A farm? The closest farms are in Slag Town."
She nodded. "Yea. We used to live there."
The Dark type nodded back, before continuing. "Before I had Athos, I battled for the local team. While I had the egg, I didn't work. After the egg was out, I stayed for a few days, then went to train. After he hatched, I got to spend a few days with him before we had to go to Regional Finals. Sadly, my training wasn't up to where it should have been, and we lost. When his dad dissapeared, I quit and began to train others at my house. But that dried up quick, no one wants to train with a failure. So, I had to resort to other things. But that all stopped when some anonymous Pokemon donated a lot too us."
She looked at Athos. "Show her your bracelet."
The child complied, raising his paw up to the table and resting it there. Right below the strange protrusion on an Absol's legs lay a silver bracelet, with a circular, black gem embedded in it. It barely fit him, slightly too large for his lithe and small limb. Azura squinted, looking at the circular gem.
"That's very interesting…"
She brought her own limb up onto the table, showing her silver wedding bands. "These are a symbol of mine and my mate's eternal love. As long as even an atom of one exist, we'll always love eachother."
Harmony smiled, nodding understandingly. "Me and Spark's symbol is Athos."
The Espeon's eyes widened to the shape of dinner plates, staring at the adult Absol. "Spark!? Is he a Jolteon?"
Harmony raised an eyebrow then nodded. "He went missing a few years back, though. Spark is a common name for Jolteon. Did he act sort of strangely? Stuttering, twitching, stuff like that?"
Azura nodded quickly, as the other table members held their breath. Harmony leaped on to the table, her blade tail beginning the faintly wag.
"Where!? Please tell me now!"
The Psychic type shrugged softly. "A Thievul came and took him away after I accidentally pulled out of his head too quickly."
"Where and when did this happen?"
"In the drain system, earlier today. Y'know, if I could stay calm during a fight, I could use that ability to knock someone out…"
"Stay focused! What did he say?" Harmony was now right in front of Azura, her body hovering over the plate of finished spaghetti.
"Oh, right. He told me someone was waiting for me in the hospital basement, before he forgot almost everything. I don't know why, but-"
"Is it going to be dangerous?" Harmony interupted.
"I don't know, go be honest. The Espeon said.
"How well can you fight?"
Azura shrugged. "I want to think I'm decent, but I'd be lying."
The Absol looked up away from her, towards the Mightyena she called her sister. "Lacie, get ready. We're going to the hospital."
Athos bolted up from his seat, hope in his eyes. "Mom, can I help you rescue Dad!?"
Harmony looked at him and gently smiled. "We're not rescuing him, honey. He may not even be there, he only mentioned for Azura to go."
Athos looked down, metaphorically and literally. "Alright… I'll help Nate and Grandpa clean up."
Nate, who had mostly been silent throughout dinner, spoke up. "Hey, I want to help too. Alex has been training me a lot lately."
Azura shook her head. "Two wanted criminals sneaking into a hospital would probably be hard enough. We don't need a whole gang."
Harmony nodded in agreement, as Lacie and Azura both leaped out of their chair. The Absol jumped off after them, leaving the three different generations of males to clean the table. The trio ran to the living room, Lacie dropped the Dread Plate she held in her mouth into a satchel hung on the recliner, and slipped it onto her neck. When it was fitted comfortably and safely, she turned to her sister and friend and nodded.
"Alright. Azura, give Lacie a wedding band. That's pretty much your only identifying physical quality, unless someone's been staring at you for hours. They know Lacie couldn't go long without selling any jewelry she got. We'll leave the other here."
Azura looked down at her foreleg, staring at the silver bands for a second, before slowly taking them both off with her Psychic. Lacie held her left paw up, as one slipped on to it. The other floated on top of the television set, and Harmony nodded.
"Alright… I'm ready." The Psychic type said.
The Disaster Pokemon nodded, looking to her sister.
"What? Of course I'm ready." Lacie said, making the other two females nod.
"Ok. Let's go now." The self-appointed leader said, signalling to the door with her horn.
The trio began off, exiting the quant house into the street. Various Pokemon passed, a few whispering amongst themselves upon seeing an Absol. With a quick glance to her partners, Harmony took the lead.
"Come on, Andre! Tell me how!" An energetic young Eevee begged his friend.
"But I don't know! I was just thinking about things, and it happened!" The newly evolved Umbreon said.
The Eevee frowned, sizing up his friend. "Hey! You're bigger than me now! No fair!"
Indeed he was, If only by a few inches. The two Pokemon sat in front of a yard, decorated with various statues of Pokemon, most part of their evolution line. They were right beside the Vaporeon fountain in the center. Andre looked at the statue, thinking for a few seconds.
"This statue is made of Water Stones. Dad will be a little mad if you use it and it breaks, but I'll say I pushed you into it."
The Eevee whined childishly, shaking his head. "No! I want to be an Umbreon like you! I even have a cool name picked out! But no matter what, I can't evolve!"
"Jessie, did you try a Moon Stone?" Andre asked, tilting his head slightly.
Jessie shook his head quickly. "No! That's not how it works, Andre! I have to evolve through friendship! Are we friends?"
"Of course! You're my best friend in the entire world!"
The Eevee whined again. "Then why haven't I evolved!"
Andre shrugged, thinking hard. "Maybe we could ask my dad?"
Jessie nodded enthusiastically. "He sure knows a lot! Let's go!"
The two children began off, running into the mansion excitedly. They flew past the staircase, and ran behind it, entering an office with a thick glass door. Inside the office, the temperature cut through both of their fur, sending chills down their spines as they headed into the main room. Ice was accumulated over most of the furniture inside, some scattered papers froze to the floor. They came up to a desk with a computer on it, and sitting in the chair behind it was a Glaceon, panting as he rapidly tapped at the keyboard.
"Mr. Andre!" Jessie suddenly shouted.
The Glaceon shouted in surprise, before staring at the two young intruders. "Andre? Jessie? What are you two doing in here? And my name is not Mr. Andre."
"I know! It's just easier to remember. Why is it so cold in here?" The Eevee looked around, looking at the shards of ice beginning to grow from the walls.
"Oh, my computer fan failed so I had to do this. It is really killing me though, it is hard to keep an entire room this cold in the middle of summer. Now, what do you two want? I am very busy."
He was tapping away at the quadraped compatible keyboard, while still looking Jessie in the eyes.
"Jessie wants to know why he hasn't evolved, when I did." Andre said.
The Glaceon nodded, looking quickly at his screen then back to Jessie. "You see, if your body is not fully ready to evolve, then it will not. That is why you never see 3 day old Umbreon. We Eeveelutions are special, being as we have many different forms. You are probably unable to evolve due to your age. It's different reasons for everyone, but usually if an Eevee can evolve very young, they become talented with their skills. Andre has already mastered Dark Pulse, while it took me years to master Ice Shard. If I am being honest, Andre could probably beat me in a fair fight. Once your body is ready to evolve, depending on your bond with another Pokemon, you'll evolve into one of the two friendship forms, or Sylveon if you're in love with someone. It is easy to surpress it, so you could become one of the primary forms. I held back my evolution untill my mother brought me a chunk of an Icy Rock."
Jessie looked to the ground, saddened. "Oh… What age do you think I'll be able to evolve?"
The Glaceon shrugged. "Your mother told me she evolved around fifteen. Your father was not a part of our line, and only had one form."
Holding back tears, the child Eevee sobbed lightly, before nodding. Andre's father watched with sympathy.
"Alright. How about this? I will order you all the necessary items for each evolution, and when your ready, if you somehow can not evolve into one of the friendship forms, you can use one of those. But remember, once you use a stone, you can not cancel your evolution."
Jessie looked up excitedly, before nodding quickly. "Thank you Mr. Andre! We'll leave you alone now!"
With that, he turned and bolted off, leaving Andre and his father alone. The young Umbreon smiled at his father, before looking over his shoulder at a photo of a familiar Eevee with a necklace, an Everstone embedded in it.
"Dad, when's Mom gonna get home from vacation?"
The Glaceon looked over his shoulder at the photo, his smile quickly becoming a frown. "She called last week and said she is going to visit Galar, and catch a few concerts. I think the singer was a Toxtricity or something. Maybe it was twins? Bah, who knows."
Andre mimicked his father's frown. "When will she come home?"
He sighed, turning back to his computer. Andre could faintly catch an angry scowl on his father's face.
"Soon, son. Soon."
Andre stared at the column before him. Etchings spiraled up it, all the way to the top. Beside him stood Kelvin, muttering as he read the etchings.
"Wow, Victini really admired himself, huh?"
Andre nodded. "He is the God of Victory. Would you not admire yourself if you were to sole reason your people won a war?"
The Arcanine shrugged. "As long as a lot of Pokemon died, sure."
Andre scowled, shaking his head. "I really should replace you."
Kelvin grinned. "Yea, but no one else besides you is as strong as me in almost all of Feldon. Besides, if I wasn't there, that Espeon would have probably cracked your head open with a few more rocks."
He looked away from the column, towards a tour guide, showing Jacky around. The Delcatty smiled at the young Eevee, as she showed him around the chamber they reside. Kelvin stared for a long while, Andre's voice drowning out. Static filled his mind as he watched the Pokemon lead the younger one around the dome shaped chamber. He stepped forward, but a sharp pain in his flank brought him back to reality, as he snapped around, staring at Andre.
"Oh get over it, it was only a tiny bite. Your fur tastes disgusting, and you need a bath." The Dark type said, looking back to the column.
"Hey, I'm a Fire type. I'll die if water touches me." Kelvin countered.
"That is not how it works." Andre pointed out.
"Damn…" the Arcanine muttered.
"Daddy! Ferin! Miss Acacia just told me all about Victini, and how he saved Feldon from bad Pokemon from Hoenn!" A high-pitched male voice shouted.
Andre chuckled, before turning towards the pair. They were only a few feet from him, both smiling proudly.
The Delcatty stepped forward, nodding. "Little Andrew here seems to understand a lot more than other kids."
Andre smiled back at her. "Well, he is a very smart child. It is nice to meet you, Miss Acacia." He bowed to her politely.
The Delcatty bowed back. "Acacia is fine, Councilmon Andre. It's a pleasure to have you at this museum of sorts."
He nodded to her, before looking at the column. "What does this describe? My friend here says it's about something unimportant. I'm not very well-versed in ancient writing."
The Delcatty looked over to Kelvin, smirking at him. She took a step forward towards the column, before clearing her throat.
"This column describes the battle that took place millions of years ago between Yveltal, Xerneas, and Zygarde. Yveltal was tired of escorting the dead, and killing all of his mortal friends on accident. So he made a plan to steal Xerneas' spot as the Goddess of Life. Of course, he would be the God of Life if that happened. He spread lies about her planning to overthrow him, so she would no longer have to share the position of escorting the dead. Of course, this reached Zygarde. Zygarde learned of the entire thing, but little did Yveltal know, his lie was not a lie. Once Zygarde learned, he called all his followers to him, and began off to teach them both a lesson. He found Yveltal, and beat him senseless. He did the same to Xerneas. Both of them became enraged, and joined forces to finally force Zygarde out of their trio. Zygarde, of course, learned of this plan. So, he asked his fellow gods for their assistance, but only Victini came to him. The two easily defeated Xerneas and Yveltal, and as thanks, Zygarde had this place built for Victini."
Kelvin looked at the Delcatty. "See? Nothing too important. Plus that was way too long. And had barely anything to do with Victini."
The Normal Type smiled at him. "Maybe so, but he asked if that's what it said."
Andre nodded, before looking to the ceiling of the dome. At the center, where the column met the ceiling, was a Wheel of Arceus. "Has anyone ever seen Arceus since he finished the world?"
Acacia nodded. "Indeed. Occasionally he will appear to those in dire situations. He doesn't control fate, but he can change it if he acts. Just like every one of us. Now, for Giratina… If you ever see a pair of red eyes staring back at you in complete darkness, close your eyes and think about a lockbox inside of a safe, and your brain is inside the lockbox. If he can't get into your head on the first attempt, he likely won't try again. He likes to destroy things, and any chance he gets, he will destroy."
Andre looked at her, raising a non-existent eyebrow. "How so?"
The tour guide shrugged. "From the rumors I've heard, he can give someone a mental disorder, physically deform them if their will is weak enough, possess them and ruin their relationship with their family, etcetera. It's all out of jealousy, though. If Arceus had created a power for him, he wouldn't be doing things like this."
He looked at her and then nodded. "Sort of a long time to hold a grudge, huh?"
She nodded in response. The group sat in silence for a while, before a bell ringed off in the distance.
"That's closing time. I trust you enough that you won't destroy anything. I'm off now, see you guys."
Acacia looked to Jacky, and leaned down and licked his forehead affectionately. "Bye bye, Andrew!"
"Bye Miss Acacia!" Jacky said, smiling at her.
She turned and began out of the ruins, as Andre began to lead Jacky and Kelvin forward. The trio eventually met a mural, of a Zoroark wearing a crown, standing on top of a hill. Floating high above him was Victini, smiling down. In the Zoroark's grasp, raised to the sky in a triumphant pose, was a pink orb. It visibly swirled with energy, and slightly protruded from the wall. A sign was nailed to the stone wall below, stating for no one to touxh it. Of course, Andre caught Kelvin's attention and pointed up to the orb.
"Stand below that orb."
Kelvin, hesitantly, obeyed. Andre climbed on to his back, walked on to his head, and leaped up. In one swoop, he smacked the orb. A bright flash of light filled his eyes, and as it faded his surroundings changed.
A bright light flooded into a large stone castle. The throne room was empty, save for an old Zoroark sitting on the golden throne, and eight Pokemon wearing glistening iron armor. The old king reached his hand forward, his limb shaking profusely.
"My royal guard… My journey shall end before the moon is consumed tonight. In my wake, I leave you to control my kingdom. You shall rule as one, caring for your subjects and deciding on any major subject. No one member shall hold more power over the other, and your hearts shall remain pure as long as you serve the kingdom. Shall your heart even strike a single dark chord, you will lose your position."
The eight armored Pokemon bowed. The one to the farthest right looked towards his king. It was an Ice Ninetales, his armor covering his entire body, but made in a way so he would be able to twist and turn if he so desired. His tails were completely free of any armor though, and twinkled with ice crystals.
"King Feldon, if I may, you have lived your years far longer than any Zoroark before you. What makes you certain tonight is the night you join Lord Yveltal and Lady Xerneas?"
The king nodded, smiling. "Sir Shackiel, I am blind in one eye, my legs are lame, and my ears barely hear your words. Lady Xerneas has whispered her intentions to me, and they have been everything but bad. She has told me my time, and it is one thing that is certain in life. I will die tonight. None of you will mourn, understand?"
Sir Shackiel nodded solemnly, averting his gaze from his king. King Feldon looked to the setting sun shining into his throne room, a small twinkle in his one good eye.
"Take me to my eternal slumber, Sir Emeret."
One of the armored Pokemon nodded solemnly, standing from his kneeling position. This one had natural armor on his back, his softer belly covered by normal armor. The Aggron walked to the throne, and gently lifted his king. A few tears fell from the large Pokemon's eyes, staining King Feldon's grey fur. Sir Emeret began off, heading towards the royal chamber.
When the two were gone, Sir Shackiel stood. "We shall take the King's orders to heart. From this day forward, we are no longer the Royal Guard. We shall now be known as the Council of Feldon."
The six other guard nodded in unison, and from the King's room where he would undertake his final slumber, Sir Emeret nodded to his comrades.
Andre gasped loudly as he fell off of Kelvin's head. He began to pant rapidly, his head snapping around as he scrambled to his feet.
"What was that!?" The three Pokemon said in unison.
"So I was not dreaming…" Andre said aloud.
Kelvin shook his head. "I saw King Feldon dying."
"I saw a bunch of Pokemon playing knight!" Jacky said excitedly.
"I saw the Council being formed…" Andre mumbled.
The trio sat in silence for a few seconds, amazed at what they had seen. Andre turned towards the exit
"I think we should leave now."
"No kidding. This place is freaky, let's go." Kelvin said.
Jacky simply nodded, as they began off, exiting the Ruins of Victory, weaving their way through the various gates and doors, and finally exiting into the forest path. They continued on for what seemed like a few hours, the moon already in the sky. As they neared the halfway mark, Kelvin upturned his nose. His fluffy tail began to wag rapidly from side to side, and he licked his muzzle.
"I smell trouble, Andre."
The mentioned Pokemon looked at him, slightly worried. "How many? How far?"
Kelvin thought for a second, lowering his nose to the ground. "Acacia is one of them. Probably bait. I smell 5 Pokemon, all male, all Bug type."
Andre nodded. "Go deal with them, and be done by the time Andrew and I arrive."
Kelvin nodded excitedly, before bolting off down the path. He blurred past the trees and bushes, rocks and creeks as he ran. In mere seconds he arrived a few feet behind a familiar Delcatty. The wave of air from his abrupt stop alerted her, and she leaped around, a purple sphere in her mouth. Upon realizing who it was, the sphere faded.
"Oh. Ferin, was it?"
Kelvin nodded. "Andre sent me up 'cause I smelled trouble. We have to hide."
He began to push her off of the path, not waiting for an answer. She was easily pushed into a large patch of bushes, and he forced her down on her belly. He lay down beside her, a massive paw pressing down on her back.
"Ferin, there's no need to be so rough. I'd very well have hid on my own."
Instead of responding, Kelvin stood quickly. "They're closer."
Without waiting for a response, he bit the pillow-like fur around her neck, lifting her and bolting deeper into the forest. He ran for a minute, before roughly dropping her.
"Hey! Gentle!"
He stand above her, a paw down on her back. A sick grin covered his face, as his surroundings seemed to melt away to the Arcanine. The only thing around was him and Acacia. He leaned forward, biting gently on to her ear, nibbling it slightly.
"Stop, that's very uncomfortable."
He leaned closer, his grin growing to a wicked smile. "My name is Kelvin. I've killed hundreds of Pokemon, and thousands of ferals. Andrew the Eevee is really Jacky the Eevee, and me and Andre kidnapped him from an Espeon and Leafeon. The Leafeon is dead, and the Espeon is going to die soon."
She went rigid. "W-what? W-why are you telling me these things?"
His smile widened, as his claws extended from his paws into her back. "Because Andre told me to kill anyone who learns the truth. Don't worry, your death will make me spare so many others. Who knows, maybe you're a masochist and you'll enjoy it as much as I will."
Her scream resounded around the forest, for no sentient Pokemon but Kelvin to hear.
"Alright. Just waltz on in like normal." Harmony ordered, taking lead as she strode towards the hospital doors.
Azura and Lacie followed to her left and right respectively, close beside the Absol. The sliding glass doors opened with a slight noise, and a Gardevoir looked up from the front desk boredly. The other Pokemon at the desk seemed to be focused on their respective computers, while the Gardevoir had it's legs on the counter. As the trio made their way to the Gardevoir, it sighed loudly before sitting normally, and stood up.
"Are any of you injured?" His voice was deep and gravely, as if his lungs had been shred to pieces and then somehow fixed. Not something they'd expect a Gardevoir to sound like.
Harmony shook her head. "My sister just came for a check-up. Our friend came along because we have something planned later tonight."
He nodded, before pointing a finger down a hallway. "Down that way, first left, then the door on the first right. I'll inform Dr. Marine you're in his room."
Harmony nodded as the Gardevoir sat down and began to slowly tap at the keyboard. Lacie and Azura all followed her, as they took the first left and entered the room.
"Alright. Any idea where the basement entrance could be?" Lacie asked Azura.
The Espeon shook her head. "I've been here before, and the entrance isn't in the stairwell."
Harmony looked around slowly, eyeing the room. There were a few emergency situation maps on the walls, and she walked over to one.
"This here says it's in the stairwell though. You sure you didn't miss it?"
Azura shrugged. "I was in a rush, so I probably missed it."
Harmony turned to the door, striding towards it. "Alright, let's go."
As she neared the door, it opened and a new Pokemon walked in. A Floatzel stood before her, smiling happily.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Marine. I'll be doing your check-up today. Who's the one that needs it?" He had a clipboard in paw, with a pencil just barely touching the paper clipped to it.
"Oh, that'd be me." Lacie said, leaping up on to the cushioned table in the center of the room.
The Floatzel nodded, still smiling as he stepped around Harmony and to the side of the table. "Alright, first a few normal questions. Any pain in any areas? Any discomfort anywhere? Any fatigue?"
The Mightyena nodded. "Im pretty much… pretty much…"
She inhaled deeply, stretching her jaw as she let out a Yawn, directly into the Floatzel's face. He chuckled slightly, before also yawning. "Your breath could use it's… its own…"
He slumped forward against the table, beginning to snore loudly. Lacie smiled, before leaping down from the table.
"Yawn always comes in handy. Don't know why you never bothered to learn it, Harmony." She winked at the Absol, before pushing the door open.
"Because I can't. That's why." She explained, exiting alongside her sister.
Azura stayed silent, grinning slightly as she followed the two. They continued down the hall for a while, before coming to a stop before a metal door, with a glass window near the top. None could see through, because they were too short, but they knew it was the stairwell. Lacie pushed it open easily, entering into the place. The two other females followed after her, entering into the stairwell. The trio looked around, but all they saw were a few pieces of glass under a window.
"I think that's the one I busted through." Azura noted.
Her observation was ignored, as Harmony began to squint at a wall. She raised a paw and began to gently feel it, before jamming a claw into a crack she noticed. A popping noise was heard as a door swung open, nearly knocking Harmony over. She smiled to herself.
"Alright. Let's go." She said, pushing forward.
The Espeon and Mightyena followed after her, Azura's legs beginning to shake with anticipation as they neared another door. The white concrete walls were slightly chipped, with random stains scattered over them. They entered the next door, which was a ramp angled downward slightly. Pipes and lights lined the walls, as they descended. Harmony's horn began to faintly glow green, bug shaped symbols beginning to float around it as they headed deeper down the ramp. Soon, another door came into sight, and after counting down, Harmony busted through.
"Where's Spark!?" She shouted, snapping her head left and right.
The room was sparsly decorated, the only thing inside being a shelf with a few trinkets, an old matress against one wall, and a cart with boxes on it. Another door lay before them, this one in a slightly bette condition. As Harmony began towards it, it opened and a Thievul walked out, his tail extended to his front and open, as he viewed the contents. He looked up and immediately yelped in fright.
"Stop, stop! Wait, don't kill me! I didn't do anything! Please! I'll give you all my money!"
He released the contents of the bag he called a tail, and hundreds of small gold coins fell out, along with a bunch of jewelry. Harmony stepped forward, her eyes locked onto him.
"Where is my Spark?" She demanded, taking another step forward.
He began to shake in fear, before glancing to her side. He noticed Azura and immediately calmed down, sighing.
"He forgot to tell you to come alone, huh? Well, whatever. Already payed me to shut up, so I'm out of here." The Thievul scooped up his belongings back into his tail, before striding past a shocked Harmony.
"Hey, where is he?" She called to him, her Megahorn fading.
"He heard you shout, Doc's giving him some memory stuff. Just wait here." The Thievul called back, before vanishing up the ramp.
Azura began to shake more, purely from anticipation. She was anxious, but for what she didn't know. Harmony grumbled something, as Lacie began to look at the trinkets on the shelf.
"Wow, Harmony. Come look at this Macho Brace." She pulled the item off of the shelf, inspecting it as it lay on the floor.
"I don't have time for that, Lacie. I'm about to just bust in there." She began to pace a bit, her claws clacking against the concrete floor.
Azura stood in place, silent as she stared at the door. It began to crack open, a spark escaping past as a yellow paw stepped out. After a few seconds, the Jolteon it belonged to stepped out from behind the door, twitching slightly as he looked around. His eyes landed on the frozen Harmony, who stared back. He froze in place, similar to her.
"H-honey… I'm s-so s-sorry…" He said, a tear beginning to crawl down his cheek.
For every tear that dropped from his eyes, two more dropped from Harmony's. She took a hesitant step forward, beginning to sob lightly.
"I thought you were dead… I guess Athos was right all along…" she muttered, beginning to break down.
"O-oh… H-how is A-Athos?"
His response was Harmony tackling him, as the two rolled slightly. She buried her face in his mane, and he began to affectionately lick her forehead. Tears began to stain the white fur of his mane, as he looked over at Lacie.
"H-hi Lacie."
"Heya, Spark." She waved a singular paw, before looking back at the Macho Brace.
His eyes glided from her to Azura, a pang of regret in his eyes. "A-Azura. S-sorry about m-my approach earlier. I-I should h-have worded it d-d-differently."
Azura nodded. "Where is the doctor?"
He nodded to her, then flicked his head towards the door. After, he looked back to the crying Absol, and began to stroke the fur on her back. Azura gulped, starting towards the door. She neared it, and in preparation for something bad, she tried to look into the room with her Psychic. But some reason, she couldn't. Something was blocking any sort of signal from entering the room. With a deep inhale, she pushed the door open. This room was more decorated, with medical supplies sitting on a shelf, familiar machines near a familiar bed, and a sheet rising and falling on the bed. Near the bed, on a small cushion, sat a Ninetales she knew very well. Dr. Cube smiled at her, before standing. He bit the blanket gently, pulling it back and revealing what was breathing beneath it. Azura froze, her mind screaming at her to react. All the emotions she felt were intense, and burned at her to do something. But she couldn't, because despite her best efforts, she couldn't even think correctly. Before her, laying on the bed was a quadraped, with light fur, brown paws, and slightly malnourished leaves decorating it's body. To Azura's compete shock, Aloe was breathing.