"Artifice"
By: SnapDragon
Within the bowels of Éclair town's resident adventuring guild, a lone Alakazam worked tirelessly into the dead of night on his latest project. An offshoot of one of his most popular creations, the illustrious Haste Orb. The Alakazam planned to enhance its effects with the goal of doubling the already incredible speed to perhaps even surpass Dialga's restraints on time itself.
But let's not get hasty now. He has yet to test his new creation. Who knows what might happen?
Filo, the Alakazam in question, is what many pokemon in the guild would refer to as an "Orb Master." The one and only in fact. He can utilize his psychic abilities to adjust and form the miniscule particles inside the orbs with immaculate precision. Not many can accomplish such a feat; and yet, Filo can.
The work can be laborious - perhaps even grueling - but he takes pride in his work. It just so happens that the pay is also...sufficient. That tends to make the assignment worth it in the end.
Filo does not question the motives of others that commission him for his magical artifacts. An orb that unlocks the power of the sun? Consider it done. An orb that spawns potential allies? He does not consider the implications. An orb capable of reversing death itself? Hmm...Filo is still working on that one…
Regardless, the enhanced Haste Orb is not part of any specific work order. Filo simply sought to test his mettle while he waited for the results of another project. One...he was particularly curious about.
An off-shore buyer had requested an orb of strange qualities a day or two ago. They called it an "Itemizer Orb." The goal of this orb, according to them, was that the orb would "morph a living being into an inanimate object." Filo did not ask why such an orb would need to be made, but the buyer provided their motives anyways.
"I want to know if such a thing is possible," they said in their letter. "I want to know if it is possible to capture my enemies and keep them as a decoration on my mantle."
Filo was about to reject such a proposal, but then he saw how much the buyer was willing to spend. The letter was sent anonymously and Filo could understand why. They must be a ruler of some kind to be that rich. With how much money there was on the line, Filo could retire a decade early. To turn down a job like that...he'd have to be insane.
Unfortunately, he might be crazy either way because Filo accepted the request despite his better judgement. Whoever seeks to use an orb with such an ability will most likely never meet him. He has no reason to feel guilty.
That was his hope, at least.
The Alakazam spent three tireless nights slaving away in his lab crafting the perfect Itemizer Orb. A task of such a magnitude drained him of his energy to the point of tears. Had he been a weaker pokemon, he might have cracked under the pressure.
Filo is no weak pokemon. The orb was completed. Now all he needed to do was to test it…
Testing a new orb is the most agonizing part of the job for Filo. His bones are brittle; they have been that way for his entire life. Even from a young age he used his psychic powers to do everything for him. A frail pokemon like him will not survive in a mystery dungeon.
As such, he usually bribes the pokemon of the guild to test the orbs for him and return with the results. Sometimes the pokemon return with great news of the orb's success. Sometimes...they don't. Filo tries not to think of those instances.
Filo stopped the first pokemon he saw and offered them a modest amount to test his creation half a day prior. The first pokemon he encountered was a Typhlosion named Baklava. Filo did not bother to remember the name of Baklava's team. He was too tired to care.
His instructions were for the Typhlosion to "Enter a dungeon and use the orb on a feral pokemon. Any will do. Come back with the results."
The Typhlosion happily accepted the job.
Now Filo, with his mind and body rested, anxiously waited for Baklava's return.
*knock knock*
Filo jolted in surprise, dropping the Haste Orb in the process. The orb shattered on the ground and littered the floor with thousands of glass shards. Filo sighed. Enhancing the Haste Orb will have to come at a different time.
The Alakazam resigned himself to cleaning up the glass later and floated to the door. "Come in!" he called, opening the door with his psychic powers.
A pang of relief shot through Filo's heart as he saw that the pokemon at the door was in fact Baklava. The Typhlosion stood there with his paw still raised and blinked. "I-I'm sorry Mr. Filo, is everything…?"
"Yes, everything is fine," Filo quickly responded. "I was distracted and your interruption caused me to drop an orb I had been working on for a few hours."
"Oh crud!" Baklava cursed. "That's my fault, Mr. Filo. I should've-"
"Did the orb work?"
Baklava froze and cast his gaze to the ground. "It...did, yes. Um…" He paused. "I'm not...sure that-"
"For the betterment of the both of us, I recommend that we do not dwell on this. Now," Filo held out a hand, "the results."
The Typhlosion didn't seem to know what to do. He looked between Filo and one of his fists. Eventually, Baklava shut his eyes tightly and dropped an item into Filo's outstretched hand.
Filo looked down. In his hand was a 50 poke coin. "...What is this?" he wondered impatiently. "Are you trying to bride me for whatever reason?"
"N-no Mr. Filo," Baklava gulped, "that coin...is the result. Me and my friends used the orb on a feral Patrat like you said...and…" He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
Filo stared at the coin in his hand for what felt like hours, his eyes wide. If what this Typhlosion is saying is true then…
"M-mr. Filo?"
"Leave me."
"H-huh?"
"I said leave me. You will receive your payment in a day's time."
Baklava hesitated for a few moments, unsure how to respond. He attempted to croak out a word or sentence, but couldn't find the nerve. Eventually, he did what he was told and left Filo alone to observe the coin.
Filo did not move for some time…
…
…
…
In a swift motion, Filo shut the door and sped to his desk on the other side of the room. He dropped the coin and rushed to activate his powers. The coin glowed with a pink aura as he searched.
Filo was searching for a sign of life. A soul.
He had to know. He had to know. He had to-
…
Filo's heart sank.
In between the metal, the atoms, and every other molecule on the coin…
...was a faint sound.
A pulsing. A pleading. A scream.
Filo, in all his life, had never heard something so horrifying. He couldn't stop himself from dropping to the floor. Had this been any other circumstance, Filo would have been concerned for his body. But not this time. His health was the last thing on his mind.
There was a living being in that coin. Filo had succeeded. He could not remove the soul even if he wanted; he did not know how.
The Alakazam did not move. He simply stared up at the ceiling taking in how much of a monster he truly was.
No other pokemon must gain this power. Filo would not allow it. Even if…
The sickly psychic type dragged himself by his arms and snatched the letter off of his desk before falling painfully onto his back. His world spun and he could barely see.
But even through the haziness, Filo could make out the text for the millions and millions of poke on the letter. If he had that much money, he could do whatever he wanted. He could buy a new house. He could quit his job. He could…
...walk.
Filo turned his head to the side and viewed the broken glass all around him. Surely some had pierced his skin, though he could not feel it. Given enough effort, he could repurpose the shards and create another orb.
Another Itemizer Orb. And perhaps another. Whatever it takes.
After all, he would never see the results of such an ungodly artifact. It was not his responsibility.
Filo had never thought of uttering those words in his life. He always compensated the guild for damages.
But this time…
A faint pink glow surrounded the Alakazam. His body rose. With his psychic powers, Filo grabbed every shard of glass in his vicinity.
This will do. Yes, no need to waste materials.
The shards swirled around him and Filo wondered where to start.
He had a long night ahead of him.