"Good day, you two."
Tank's humble greeting echoed through the air as they slowly rose from the gnarled shadows of the corpse-like trees that lined the beach path. Sirius and Mila halted in their tracks, reeling back at the sudden appearance. The empty net, previously strewn across both their shoulders, fell to the earth and created a cloud of dust around their paws.
"Oh, uh, hello Duskull." Sirius quickly regained composure and hastily returned the greeting with a wave of his paw.
Mila nodded at Tank in acknowledgement, before muttering under her breath, "Do they really have to do that? Spooky." A shiver ran along her spine and sent her fur bristling.
If Tank heard her, they didn't acknowledge it. Their red eye instead locked onto her, flickering brightly and illuminating the surrounding bone. "I'm guessing you two aren't busy right now?" They asked.
Sirius gave a sheepish chuckle, looking down at the net at his feet. "Well, no. Fishing didn't exactly work out… I'll ask Yamask for help later."
Mila felt a twinge of embarrassment at the recent memory, her dark fur obscuring the flush of her cheeks. Many times they had gotten close to a catch and every one of those times she had found a way to screw it up. Being too aggressive, not aggressive enough, and at one point almost resorting to jumping into the water itself out of pure frustration. With each failed attempt her determination and irritation grew, which only served to throw off their already poor co-ordination. Ultimately, Sirius had suggested they take a break and try again later with Namira's help.
She admired how collected he had appeared through it all, any frustrations of his own well concealed beneath his calm demeanour.
"I'm not a fisherman. Or fisher-hound, I should say." Mila admitted with a shrug.
"Hm, fair enough." Tank folded their arms behind them as they gently floated towards the pair. "In that case, go get yourselves fed and watered back at the guild. Houndoom, I want you to meet me back there at the beach." They instructed.
The pair tilted their heads at the duskull, whose static skull remained as emotionless as ever. "Wha- Why?" Mila asked, one ear pricked up in curiosity.
Tank gave a low hum, their eye narrowing. "You need to be trained, Houndoom. You won't survive five minutes out there at this rate, believe me."
Mila blinked in confusion at their curt words. "Huh?" She responded with a tilt of her head. "Trained… as in to fight?"
Tank nodded. "Indeed. You have very little control over your moves, but I guess that is to be expected given your… situation. I will do my best to teach you what I know."
Mila blinked, before letting out an enthusiastic bark. "Sure thing, Duskull. Sounds fun."
Sirius' ears pricked up at that, his tail twitching. "I'd like to join as well. If that's alright, that is." The duskull was no doubt quite powerful, if they could take down that grumping in one shot. Maybe they'd help him become stronger.
Tank nodded and made a small noise of affirmation. "Very well. I will see you both soon." They said, once again sinking into the ground to be consumed by shadows.
The sun hung high in the sky, unobscured by the dark clouds that so often stifled its warmth. The last time the sky was this clear, Tank didn't know. It was a calming sight, igniting a familiar feeling of comfort. The ocean before them sparkled like a sea of diamonds as it caught the sun's rays, a scene that stirred up foggy memories within their skull.
Their arm dropped down to idly swirl circles into the sand. Its cold grittiness went unnoticed beneath his touch, the sensation instead replaced by a phantom feeling of silky sand warming heavy paws.
As they continued to swirl the sand, so too did foggy recollections continue to swirl within their mind, growing stronger until reality around them crumbled into silt that was swept away by the tide.
Tank was still on the beach, but in a body that was their own. The cool salty air contrasted against the warmth hitting their dark fur, the lively breeze forcing their thick fur into their eyes. Namira's golden fur flashed in the corner of his eye, shining brilliantly under the bright sun as her nine tails danced gently across the sand. Out in the water, their son frolicked among the seafoam, his laughter bubbling through the air as the waves twirled around the Prince Of The Sea.
The memory was brief and dissolved into smoke as quickly as it appeared, its warmth evaporating to leave a cold void within Tank's skull.
They found that to be happening a lot lately; memories of their past life, once so vibrant and warm, slowly fading into smoke that leaked from the holes in their skull to be swallowed by the frigid air. It had always been the little things. The ambient chatter as the townsfolk went about their day. The clink of glasses and laughter ringing out from the café. Chatot's squawk. Their son's voice.
But now, larger scenes were starting to be swallowed by the void. They knew it was only a matter of time before their past life faded into oblivion, and the memories of Treasure Town with them. Such was the curse beset upon those who rejected death to roam the land as ghost pokémon. Many times they had pondered ways to stop the memory loss albeit to little success.
"Yo, Duskull!" Mila's overly chipper greeting broke them out of their thoughts, harshly snapping them back to reality.
But if there was one thing that they would never forget, it was to never give up hope.
Tank stifled their musings into a corner of their mind as they turned to acknowledge the houndoom and eevee that approached them.
"Hm, that was quicker than I expected. I lost track of time I guess." They murmured softly to themselves before asking aloud, "Alright. before we start, I have a question for you, Houndoom. What do you know about battling? About moves? Anything?"
When they had been in a similar position, waking up on this very beach in a foreign body, they at least knew about the concept of moves, types, and battling. It was common knowledge from their past, something ingrained deep within that wasn't easily wiped from amnesia.
Their eye widened in surprise when Mila shrugged and simply replied, "Uh, I can breathe fire? And poison gas, apparently." She paused, before hastily adding, "Oh, and Sirius is a uh… neutral type. Does that have to do with it?"
Sirius nodded at the mention of his name. "And you're a fire type… I think? That grumpig's Power Gem really looked like it hurt." He piped in.
Tank grumbled, rubbing their chin in thought. "Well, that's… better than nothing." They said flatly, before adding, "Do you know how you can… ahem… 'breathe fire, Houndoom? Would you be able to do it right now?" If they had to start at the very basics, then so be it.
Mila blinked in confusion.
Right.
Breathe fire.
How did she do it again?
She looked down at Sirius for help. He took a step back to give her room, recalling the memory of her uncontrolled Smog with a sheepish smile.
She thought back to her battle with the grumpig, muzzle wrinkled in thought, but it was a hazy blur of smudged colours left by a typhoon of adrenaline. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs to their capacity. She held the breath as long as she could, her chest screaming in pain before she released it in a mighty huff. A burst of warm steam billowed up before being swallowed by the cold air, not a trace of an ember to be seen. Mila blinked, before giving Tank a sheepish grin, kicking at the sand beneath her paws.
"Hmm…" Tank's reaction wasn't as cold as she expected, their voice gentle as they softly floated towards her. "I see." They said, before gesturing at Sirius. "Eevee, you might want to step back a bit further. Houndoom flames can be quite dangerous." Sirius followed the instructions without hesitation, hopping backwards to give ample space between himself and the other two. His ears were up in alert, observing the scene with piqued interest.
"Alright. Now, let's start from the very basics. Close your eyes, Houndoom." Tank instructed.
Mila narrowed her eyes in apprehension before doing so. "Don't let him sneak attack me, Sirius." She barked.
"Will do." Sirius called back.
Tank gave an amused snort before their voice softened. "Just relax, Houndoom. Try to ignore the world around you, and focus within yourself." Their tone was soothing, laced with the softness held by parents calming their children. "There is energy within you, within me, within the earth itself. It flows like a river, its current able to create infernos and monsoons and ferocious thunderstorms. You just need to reach in and harness its flow."
Mila's brow furrowed in confusion as she cracked an eye open to peek at the duskull.
"Try to focus on the heat within yourself. As a fire type, any fire abilities of yours are more potent. You should be able to feel it coursing through you." Tank continued.
Mila's snout crinkled as she focused, tuning out the world around her to focus on her body. The air around her was cold, the sea breeze angrily biting at her skin and making her fur bristle with discomfort. And yet, she realized, there was a warmth beneath her skin. A candle that warmed her entire core and shielded her from the brunt of the chilly onslaught. Probing deeper she traced the candle's flames as it tore throughout her body.
Her veins blistered from the heat coursing through them and her muscles ignited from the blood perforating them. The more she focused on it, the greater it burned, flickering and growing as it fed upon the attention it received. The fire within her rapidly transformed from a candle into a raging wildfire, the sun itself growing inside her to consume every part of her physical being with its fiery tendrils. It clawed at her skin, desperate for release from its confines.
The sensation made her intrigued and restless as she shifted anxiously on her feet. Her eyes remained squeezed shut, afraid that the inferno would explode out of her should she open them. The heat pooled in her mouth, fiery talons clawing and pushing against their confines. She couldn't help but bare her fangs from the sensation, the dam wall breaking as the inferno flooded out into the opening. Scorching embers bathed her teeth before dancing into the cool air.
The fire cried for escape, yet she grasped it and contained it just enough so that the flames continuously flew from her jaw. It should be painful. Yet, it feels pleasant, as if she's holding the essence of a homely fire or the scorching heat of a summer's day.
HOUNDOOM used FIRE FANG!
Her eyes flew wide open as she stared ahead at Tank, their empty eye sockets locked onto her own. When they nod, she released it. In an instant, as if doused in water, the flames evaporate. A cold emptiness enveloped her, the icy air painfully biting at her tongue. But just as quickly as it left her, she felt her core ignite and the heat once again began circulating her veins.
Sirius watched on in admiration, eyes wide and mouth agape. Sure, he had previously seen some of his guildmates use fire moves. He even briefly recalled a resident mightyena using the same Fire Fang technique. Yet none of them held a candle to the inferno that erupted from Mila's fangs. Pokémon were more adept at using techniques that aligned with their natural affinities, and his instincts knew that this was a mere fraction of her potential power as a fire type. A staraptor's gusts could bend trees and a blastoise's cannons could destroy their trunks. Who knew what a houndoom's fires could accomplish?
It was simultaneously amazing and terrifying.
With Mila's fire safely extinguished, Sirius eagerly bounded over to her with his tail wagging. "Nice work, Mila! Looks like you got the hang of it!" He congratulated her, eyes shimmering with awe.
"Heh, well, it was easy once I knew what to do." She chuckled, chest swelling with pride.
Glancing back at Tank, she swore she saw a smirk grace their static skull. "Very good. Next, try to use your Smog. It's a poison attack." They instructed.
Sirius quickly stepped back to once again give ample space between himself and the houndoom.
Mila nodded and once again closed her eyes, reaching within herself to find the noxious energy that flowed within her. Its presence was not as obvious as the fire nor did it feel as natural. Its flow was weak, a sluggish river slowed by debris as opposed to the raging inferno of before. Yet she still managed to pinpoint its source, her focus causing it to boil up into a foul vapor that filled her lungs. The gas swelled, straining against its cage until Mila felt her chest strain, releasing the pressure with a mighty exhale.
HOUNDOOM used SMOG!
Purple smoke billowed out of her nose and mouth, curling around her before dissipating. She recoiled and wrinkled her nose from the bitter smell, coughing up the last remaining toxic plumes. The adrenaline from the earlier battle had shielded her from the uncomfortable sensation which now sent her skin crawling.
"Nope, don't like that." Mila gagged, pawing at her snout.
Sirius wistfully smiled to himself. Poison moves always seemed to be unpleasant for non-poison types, regardless of experience. Mila's reaction flashed a brief recollection within him, a burst of fear and nausea from the first time the burning acid of his toxin welled up in his mouth. It sizzled as it dripped onto his bed, the sound drowned out by his wails as his younger self cried for his mother.
Thankfully, he had gotten used to it.
Tank, unfazed by Mila's reaction, simply nodded in approval. "Very good. Two moves should be enough for our final exercise…" A glint appeared in their eye as they brought their arms together, a dripping inky mass forming between them.
"Woah, what're you-" Mila started, stumbling backwards in alarm.
DUSKULL used SHADOW BALL!
HOUNDOOM evaded the attack!
Tank flung the shadowy blob at her, deliberately skewing its trajectory to allow Mila to quickly leap out of the way to Sirius' side as it crashed and melted into the sand. The eevee tensed, brow furrowing as he glowered at the duskull.
"What the heck?" Mila barked, lips twitching into a small snarl.
Tank chuckled, arms once again folding behind their back. "Let's have a quick practice battle, shall we? You and Eevee versus myself. Casual, of course. I'll take it easy." They said slyly. "See if you can work together to land a hit."
Sirius couldn't stop himself from wincing, which Tank's keen eye noticed. "Eevee, you call the shots. Direct your teammate." They instructed before sternly adding, "Houndoom, listen to Eevee and don't get too impulsive."
They brought their arms forward, another shadow ball forming between them. Sirius stood tall, a new and commanding authority hardening his words. "Right. Mila, let's each take a side and alternate between attacks. I'll go first, so wait for my call." He instructed.
DUSKULL used SHADOW BALL!
The murky sludge was lazily hurled at them and the pair quickly split in opposite directions, the sand behind them erupting into a cloud from the Shadow Ball's impact.
DUSKULL'S attack missed!
The air was ignited with the spirit of battle as the friendly match commenced. Tank remained in place, eye languidly following Mila's movements as she darted around them, quickly building speed until she was a blur that left a whirlwind of sand in her wake. Her pattern mirrored Sirius's as he circled the duskull in the other direction in a wary gallop. Both pairs of eyes remained trained on Tank, who had yet to make another attack attempt.
Sirius broke the circle to lunge inwards, stopping short of the duskull as he snapped his teeth in a feinted attack. As Tank's eye flashed to the eevee, the briefly startle barely flinching them, Sirius called out, "Go!"
Mila, who had darted behind the duskull, lunged at them, flames erupting out of her mouth with ease as she gnashed her fangs.
HOUNDOOM used FIRE FANG!
Eye never straying from Sirius, Tank gracefully slipped to the side to avoid the attack.
DUSKULL avoided the attack!
Mila landed next to Sirius with a skid, cursing under her breath as the flames fizzled out. She whipped around, crouching low as she stared down the duskull.
"Nice attempt." They hummed. They clapped the end of their limbs together, the impact sending golden sparks into the air. As they slowly pulled them apart, a roiling ball of electricity grew between, rumbling as it grew.
Sirius's eyes narrowed as he lowered himself, poised to once again take off. "They're preparing an attack. Let's keep it up, Mila." He instructed, kicking his paws into the sand as he leapt into a sprint and circled the duskull. Mila followed suit, firing into a gallop to mirror his movements. Tank's eye remained locked onto her as she rocketed around them. The orb of electricity pulsated wildly in their grasp, raring to be released.
DUSKULL used CHARGE BEAM!
Without warning, it exploded from Tank's grasp. The electrical charge shot forward in a beam of light into the sand, directly in front of Mila's path.
Sirius skidded to a halt, ears lowering as his brows knitted together. He kept to the other side of Tank, yet his fur bristled from the attack as the electricity in the air coursed through his ruff and fluffed it up.
Something felt… odd about the attack. He couldn't pinpoint what exactly.
There was no doubt that Duskull was a powerful pokémon, that much was obvious. But this attack felt different. Not even their Shadow Ball carried the weight and finesse that this Charge Beam held, its beam wide and concise as its impact blasted the sand and sent Mila flying back towards the water.
Mila grunted as she was flung back, crashing into the sand on her side. The electricity coursed through her, thundering through her bones and leaving her briefly stunned as her vision swam. Shaking her head to clear it, she pushed herself back onto her feet.
Sirius released a sigh of relief as she did so.
Mila glowered at Tank, heart pounding as she prowled forward. Her vision had cleared, but she could feel the electricity continue to pulse within her, surging with each thunder of her heart. It bristled through her fur, sending each individual hair on end. Tank eyed her with piqued interest as she approached them, scanning her features to predict her next move.
Mila's glance flickered to Sirius, who stood tense on the other side of the duskull. Their eyes met, and a message of silent understanding darted between them. Sirius gave a tiny nod, eyes narrowing as he crouched down.
Mila shifted her attention back to Tank, lips pulling back into a snarl. Before the electricity coursing within her could fizzle out, she focused on it, holding the lightning within her grasp and directing its wild energy into her jaws.
HOUNDOOM used THUNDER FANG!
With a roar, she charged forward, electricity spitting from her jaw and leaving golden ribbons in her wake. Tank, briefly stunned by the houndoom's new move, deftly slipped backwards to avoid the crackling jaws flying towards them.
Only to be met by another set of fangs that pierced their shroud from behind.
EEVEE used BITE!
It's super effective!
Sirius, anticipating Tank's dodge, had charged up his Bite attack and unleashed his sharpened fangs into the duskull. Tank grimaced and let out a pained grunt, causing Sirius to quickly release his hold.
And with that, the 'battle' was won.
The waves crashed around the three pokémon as they stood frozen in silence, two of them panting heavily as their minds rushed to process what had just happened.
Tank released a warm chuckle, wincing as they gingerly rubbed the bite marks on their back. Well, at least they couldn't bleed. "So, looks like you two can work together after all." They laughed, the pain quickly fading. "Nice job."
The pair briefly paused before racing up to each other, tails wagging a mile a minute. "Woah, you can use Thunder Fang as well? Nice!" Sirius commended.
"Nice attack there, Sirius!" Mila barked heartily. "I guess we can make a decent team with some practice."
She raised a paw up in front of her chest, to which Sirius quirked his eyebrows in puzzlement. Mila grinned awkwardly as she waited for Sirius to return the proposed gesture.
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked with an amused chuckle, tilting his head.
"Oh uh… you don't know what a high-five is?"
"A what?"
"A uhh… a victory gesture, I guess, where we clap our paws together."
Sirius paused before reaching up, lightly tapping the pads of his paw against Mila's. "Like that?"
"Yeah! Then we do it to the side…"
Sirius repeated the gesture as Mila held her paw out to the side.
"Now down low…"
Sirius went to clap her paw, but she quickly swiped it out of the way.
"Too slow!"
Tank observed the pair in silent amusement as they laughed and revelled in their small victory, kicking up sand as they jumped around each other.
The scene was reminiscent of one from many years ago on that same beach; an unruly shinx and a shy vulpix frolicking across the sand after their first adventure. Tank smiled at the memory, even if it didn't show on their skull.
"Those two… they still have a long way to go. But I have hope in them." They thought to themselves.
Leo hated working with his other scoutmates.
With the exception of Ren, the other pokémon just slowed him down. They got in his way and forced him to change his battling techniques. He was a lone persian (again, Ren was the exception) and he preferred it that way.
"Hey, Leo."
He wasn't too big on conversation either. Especially when beyond the Guild walls.
A girafarig had trotted up beside him, a new scout whose name slipped his mind. The youth was wide eyed and spritely, displaying a determined vigor that maybe Leo himself once held.
"What's the deal with humans, anyway? Isn't that all just stories?" Girafarig asked, his boyish voice slightly nasally.
The various scouts were strewn around the Haunted Woods clearing, awaiting their next set of orders from the Guildmaster regarding their human-tracking quest. Leo tucked himself away in the shadows of the outskirts, keeping to himself while his partner circled the sky above.
Or at least, he tried to keep to himself.
Leo grunted, thick rope-like tail swishing in irritation. "Tch, probably." He grumbled. "But hey, orders are orders."
His gaze flashed to the centre of the clearing, where the Guildmaster stood before a small, flickering, red fire. That had been where the strange pokémon had appeared, according to Ren. Whatever it was, its strange aura had sent his whiskers curling and his gem aching as he stepped into the clearing. It danced and twisted in an alien matter as if alive yet never growing or spreading. Frankly, Leo wanted to leave it behind as soon as possible.
"This is all definitely strange; I'll say that much." Leo mumbled, more to himself than to the girafarig. "If it is true, I don't know how a human is supposed to fix everything." Humans come to the pokémon world to save it, that's what had always been told. "Why didn't they stop the falling fires in the first place, y'know?" He drawled.
Girafarig pondered the persian's words before shrugging and letting out a blasé, "Yeah, true."
Silence fell over the pair as the Guildmaster continued their investigation, hopping around the fire. Whatever they were doing was known only to them. Girafarig kicked his hoof into the dirt, desperately racking his brain for a conversation topic. That scar slashing down the persian's cheek was definitely new, and Girafarig had to bite his tongue to stifle his curiosity.
"Are all missions like this?" He eventually asked, lowering his long neck so he was at eye level with the persian.
Right, newbie. "Eh, not really." Leo rumbled, his tone softening. "The Guildmaster is just taking it really seriously, we don't normally get everyone together like this."
Girafarig nodded in understanding. "Yeah. Kinda strange that this is all from some old stories, innit?"
Leo grumbled in agreement. "Yeah, just don't let them hear you say that." He nodded towards the treetops, where dozens of glistening black eyes peered down at the clearing. The chatots sat perched among the branches, beady eyes watching all.
As Girafarig continued in his attempts at idle chatter, the head on his tail narrowed its eyes at the forest behind him. The second, more diligent half of his brain scried the web of trees, searching for any changes in the mottled shadows that danced among the filtered light.
When one shadow flickered oddly, the tail cried out in alarm, jolting Girafarig to attention. "Attack! From behind!" Its shout rung out across the clearing, breaking up the other scout's ambient chatter.
The Guildmaster whipped around at the outburst, brows furrowing. Their eyes flamed a bright blue as psychic energy rippled out of them, invisible tendrils scouring their surroundings. There was the telltale life force of the scouts, but beyond that…
"Everyone!" They boomed, voice reverberating through the clearing. "Defensive formation now!"
As if a switch had been flipped, the scattered scouts converged with the efficiency of schooling wishiwashi, with the exception of Girafarig briefly hesitating before locking himself in place next to a zangoose. In an instant, the dozen or so pokémon had formed a tight-knit circular unit, multiple sets of eyes trained on the shadows lurking among the trees as the enigmatic fire shuddered behind them. Ren swooped down from above, deftly landing upon Leo's back.
A chorus of violent hissing rang out about them, the first sign of the oncoming onslaught. Leo's ears pinned back at the unpleasant sound.
It started with one toxtricity crawling out of the shadows, putrid sludge dripping from its gaping map as it slithered towards the scouts on all fours. The electric blue mane streaking down its back was weak, barely flickering with life.
Then came a second toxtricity. It lumbered into the clearing; animalistic eyes fixated on its prey as it salivated.
Then four more emerged.
Then ten.
The Guildmaster was frozen. The beasts poured out of the woods from all directions, their hisses evolving into deafening white noise. The scouts tensed, a wave of unease rippling through them as they quickly became outnumbered by the approaching ferals.
Leo pulled his muzzle back into a snarl. Sure, a small pack of ferals was to be expected.
But this?
This was a monster house.
A cacophony of babbling voices overlayed with wild hissing ensued.
"What do we do, Guildmaster?" Leo growled in anger and desperation.
"We can take 'em!" Ren squawked, but the staraptor's voice cracked from the false confidence.
"We have escape orbs, yeah?" Girafarig asked, his voice wobbling.
"No escape orbs." The Guildmaster demanded, yet their voice wavered with uncertainty. Their feathers ruffled as they hastily racked their brain for all possible solutions.
More toxtricity emerged from the woods, piling over their brethren as the savage masses creeped towards their prey from all directions, hungry jaws gnashing as poisonous sweat turned the grass purple as it fell.
"What are we gonna do?"
"Shit, I'm not dyin' here."
"Guildmaster?"
The Guildmaster's beak clenched at the increasingly futile situation, their heart hammering in their chest and drowning out the scene around them. The chatots took to the skies overhead to circle the clearing as their chatters joined the auditory onslaught, awaiting instructions from their master.
There was no other choice…
The horde toxtricities broke into a mad dash, limbs flailing and tongues flapping as they closed the distance between them and their targets. Leo crouched down, mentally firing curses at the Guildmaster for putting him into this situation.
Chiding themselves for what they were about to do, the Guildmaster thrust out a wing.
CHATOT(?) used EARTH POWER!
The ground underneath the toxtricities' feet erupted, molten earth exploding into the air. The entire clearing shattered in a mighty typhoon of mud and rock, save for the small circle upon which the scouts watched on in shocked awe.
The force flung the feral pokémon into the air, throwing them back against the trees as the earth unleashed its savagery. Leo's jaw hung agape; eyes blown wide as the insurmountable horde was obliterated within seconds.
The earth settled down, rumbling as it returned to its dormant state. Its carnage remained, however. Knocked out bodies of toxtricity littered the clearing alongside mounds of rock and dirt. The trees that lined the outskirts twisted askew as their roots were ripped out of the ground.
A heavy silence befell the scouts as one by one, they turned back to look at their Guildmaster. An orange aura faded from the shiny chatot, brilliant cyan eyes illuminating their navy feathers. Panting heavily, they slowly lowered their wing.
After a moment, they stared up at their scouts. Their voice was laboured and heavy with a gripping power that stifled Leo's breath as they thundered their demand.
"Nothing happened here. Never speak of this again."
"How'd it go? Did you get to the tower?"
"Lapras? What do you mean? I was only gone for five minutes. Something's not ri-"
"Manaphy? I've been waiting here for three days."
…
…
…
"What's going on?"