26. Road Trip!
"Check."
This was too easy for Blue. Then again, Rio was just learning. Still, he was way too hasty for this. He was more focused on taking pieces than actually completing the objective of the game. For every Carbink pawn the Riolu took, Blue took a Mudsdale knight, a Bisharp bishop, a Golurk rook. That last piece brought back bad memories, so it was cathartic to take it with his queen, a Sableye in this case.
"Damn," Rio cursed, glowering down at the crystal pieces. "You're good at this."
It had been a day since Diancie left, and Rio was still confined to the hospital wing. A few Heal Pulses a day made steady progress on his arm, and the Riolu should be released very soon. Maybe even that day!
Blue took a look at his teammate's still bound arm. He knew that was his fault, at least in part. Rio saved his life twice in there, and this was how he ended up. That was unacceptable.
"Rio-" he started.
"If it's about the arm don't worry about it," the Riolu interrupted, still focused on the already lost game. "Not the first time."
"Still, it's partly my fault-"
"It was my choice, and I'd say it was a good one."
"But-"
"You're alive. I'm alive. That's all that matters." the Riolu moved his king, Diancie in this case, out of the check. That's all Blue needed.
"...Thanks. And checkmate," he said, moving his own queen in to close the net he laid around his king, who was technically the queen. This chess set was weird the more you thought about its pieces…
"Gah!" Rio shouted. A flicker of light blue energy came off of him, but faded after a second. "Dammit."
"For someone who can read my mind, you suck at this," Blue teased as he swept the set back in the box.
"Yeah well this isn't a very emotional game. I can't get actual thoughts."
That reminded Blue of a question he had held off for a few days now.
"Speaking of your abilities," he started, testing the waters. "Can you tell me what happened to you in the Labyrinth? With your fur?"
"Whatcha talking about?" he asked, stretching.
"You-you didn't notice?"
"Didn't notice what?"
"Y-your fur!" the Bidoof continued to stammer. "It changed! How did you not notice that?"
"Well, what didn't I notice?" Rio repeated. He saw the blue flicker around his form, this time lasting a little longer.
"It-"
The door creaked open, cutting Blue off. Trucy, the healer, stepped into the room. A wide smile spread across her lips.
"Well," she said, stretching. "I've just properly met you two, and you're already some of my most frequent visitors. Don't make it too much of a habit, alright?"
"Yes ma'am," Blue said, pushing the question back for now.
"I only promise to try," Rio shot back.
"Try hard then. Hold out the arm, this should be the last session you need."
Rio did so gladly, tail wagging. The Audio put her hands on his cast, and let the Heal Pulse wash over it. He couldn't see it working, the cast wasn't see-through after all, but he watched the Riolu grin as he tested his paw. It clenched, and he saw no hint of a wince.
"I have to say," Trucy continued, putting her hands down. "I've never seen such a fast recovery, even with a few Heal Pulses a day. It's weird…"
"Yeah," Rio responded. "the Masters said the same thing every time I broke something."
"Are you ever gonna tell me who these mysterious masters of yours are?"
"Something tells me you're gonna find out soon enough…" Rio shivered at that. The team hadn't told Blue much about the Masters, their parents, even after the slight panic that newspaper caused. He'd never seen any of them that nervous, even facing down five massive Golurk. Pana dragged him and Scales out to secure a ride to Redwood right after. No matter how many questions he asked, how much he pried, all he got was, "We just need to get away for a bit… You'll be fine. Probably…"
Something that scared three fearless Pokemon. How bad could it be?
Blue tried to push down the building terror as Rio leapt out of bed. The Riolu stretched, arm still in cast.
"Let me take that off," Trucy said, taking a step towards the energetic punch dog.
"Nah," Rio said, holding his newly healed arm out in front of him. "I got this." Without any further warning the cast exploded, bits of plaster shooting everywhere. Blue managed to turn in time, and he felt a few chunks hit his body. When he turned back around his friend's arm looked as good as new.
The room wasn't so lucky.
His small explosion shot bits of cast all around the room. Holes littered the walls, the floor, the ceiling, and even broke some glass vials. Thankfully, they were empty but still. Trucy also managed to recognize what the Riolu was doing and managed to throw up a Protect around herself. She didn't look too happy as the forcefield fell.
"Why would you do that?" she asked, incredulous.
"It's faster," the Riolu responded. "No one's hurt. Thanks!" He walked out of the room without another word. The two normal types just stood there for a bit, looking around at the thankfully small amount of destruction he wrought.
"I-" Blue started.
"I'll get Jain to pay for it," Trucy said, shrugging. "She's got in interest in him. In both of you."
"I'm sorry?"
She waved him off. "Might want to catch up to him. He sounded a little impatient."
With something else to think about, Blue went after his teammate. Rio he could understand, but why would the guildmaster be interested in someone like him? He was so weak, so unimportant.
That reminded him, Diancie called him a Legacy too. He had suspicions on what exactly that meant, but she had to have been mistaken. There was no way he had a connection to a Legendary Pokemon! Him? The screw-up Bidoof? Hilarious.
Rio was tapping his foot right outside the door, waiting. Ms. Trucy was right, he was more jittery than usual. It was unsettling, seeing him so nervous.
"We have a ride yet?" he asked, almost bouncing as they walked.
"Y-yeah. Caravan headed north today. Pana was talking about breaking you out if they didn't release you today."
"Yeah, I was going stir crazy in there."
"Could you please tell me what exactly has you guys so nervous? What do I watch out for?"
The Riolu was silent for a time as they walked. That just made the Bidoof more nervous. What had he gotten himself into? Rio didn't speak again until they were out of the guild tower, and walking into the town proper.
"If we do see our Masters," he started. "run. Just run. Hopefully they ignore you."
It was his turn to be quiet for a while. He really didn't like what that implied. "Did they… hurt you?" Blue prodded.
"Oh plenty. Training always gets rough, especially with them."
"Not what I meant. Outside of training?"
"Huh?" Blue watched realization wash over his friend. "Oh! Oh no, nothing like that."
Blue sighed in relief. That made him feel a little better at least. Not by much, of course, but it was something.
It was weird seeing so many Sableye around. At least these ones looked normal. The gem goblins swarmed all the crystals they could find, shredding each one in minutes. Diancie's way of saying sorry, and feeding some of her people. It was efficient, and they seemed to be enjoying it. A Vulpix with a bandage on her paw and her Ninetails mother smiled as one tipped with dried blood was consumed.
"Wow," Rio said, looking around. "They're almost all gone."
"Yeah," Blue said, used to the sight now. "So, are you gonna tell me what happened?"
He was silent for a bit again, then shrugged.
"I honestly don't know. Your guess is as good as mine."
Blue did have a guess, but he wanted to confirm it first. It would be embarrassing to be wrong about something that crazy. A temporary hybrid evolution? Insane. But considering everything he's learned, about the Labyrinth, what he suspects about Legacies, anything was possible. He just needed confirmation, and he could get that back home.
Normally he'd visit the library, but the crystal cleanup extended there too. Mr. Thesus was more of a grump than usual while he carefully oversaw the operation, and Blue knew better to bother him right now. He left the Noctowl a note to say goodbye for a while, Arceus writing without thumbs was infuriating, and that was that.
"Alright then," Blue responded. "I'm surprised Pana agreed to a caravan. I thought she'd save money by walking there."
"The Masters probably won't expect her to spend any money, so she is," Rio continued. "Plus, Scales would stand out more if we walked."
"I see," It made sense to the Bidoof, do what your pursuers aren't expecting, lay low. But considering his explosive company, he wondered how long that would last.
Soon they reached the north exit of the city. Eight covered carts were lined up near the city, all hooked up to Mudsdale. While most looked normal, brown and black hair, coated in mud, one, the largest looked a little different. What looked like a horn poked out of his dark red and yellow mane that flowed in the wind. It almost looked like it was made of magma. The same went for his legs. The hybrid towered over his companions, watching the two walk up to him. Blue had met him yesterday, but that still didn't take away any of the intimidation.
"Well hey there little guys!" the leader of the caravan boomed cheerfully. "The name's Artei!"
"Yo," Rio said, not even flinching at the horse's appearance. "Rio. Nice to meet ya."
"Oh yeah! Team Disaster right?" He lowered his head to get a better look at the smaller Pokemon. Blue took a step back, but Rio didn't move, still smiling. "I met your Bidoof friend yesterday, but he didn't talk much. I tend to have that effect on Pokemon."
The Mudsdale-Rapidash huffed, literally blowing steam into their faces. Blue coughed at the sudden temperature change and the smell of week old apples. Again, Rio didn't even flinch.
"B-blue," he stammered to introduce himself.
The massive horse nodded. "I gotta say, you guys aren't what I expected from a team that saved a queen. I guess big things come in small packages!"
The hybrid let out a booming laugh, shaking his head.
"I told that to your Pancham friend earlier, and she looked like she wanted to kill me."
"Makes sense," Rio said. "Watch your back." Blue got the feeling the Riolu wasn't kidding.
Artei laughed at the warning. "I like you, kid! Well, your friends are in that cart over there," he gestured to a cart past a little bit away. "And it'll be a few days til your stop."
"Thanks for this!" Rio said, before going to the cart in question. Blue hid his sigh of relief and followed his friend to the cart in question. The horse seemed nice enough, but dammit if he wasn't intimidating. Seriously, all the Pokemon in his life seemed to be some level of terrifying. Size, ability, reputation, pure glare, it was weird.
"I think there's someone here to see us off," Rio said, before opening the curtain of their ride. There was one Pokemon in there that the Bidoof wasn't expecting, but the graying wings and steely glare were too familiar as he poked his head through the curtains.
"Hello young mon," Thesus said, climbing out of the cart. "It is...good...to see you up again."
Blue backed up in shock. He wasn't at the library, watching over the books?
"The name's Rio, Mr. Thesus," the Riolu answered back. "What's up?"
"I came to see my protege off. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to speak to him in private."
"Sure, sure." Rio started to climb in himself. "Damn, you pissed off Pana…"
"She does not like me, and I can say the same is true concerning my feeling for her."
"YOU JIPPED US!" Pana shouted from behind the curtain. The loud clanging of scales followed. Blue was honestly surprised she hadn't burst from out of the cart to start trying to throttle the Noctowl.
"I am not having this conversation again. Come along." Thesus walked away from the cart with a raging bear inside, and after some hesitation Blue followed. He only spoke when they were out of earshot.
"You should really say goodbye face to face," the Noctowl advised. "It could be considered rude not to."
"Sorry," Blue said, looking away in guilt "You just looked so annoyed and busy-"
"It is fine. I just wanted to inform you I have made considerable progress in deciphering the text you obtained."
"You did?" Blue's eyes shot back to his mentor, alight with curiosity. He bounced in place, asking questions. "What does it say? Does it have anything to do with that Pokemon? Is it historical? Scientific?" What-"
"Calm yourself," the Noctowl chided. "While I have not deciphered everything, I can safely say that tome was an instruction manual of sorts."
"For what?"
"Creating a Pokemon."
Blue was speechless at that, as he put the pieces together. "So, what attacked us-"
"An artificial human creation, it was called Mewtwo."
Blue had to sit down. This was...insane. Years of research, of searching for some new, or old in this context, remnant of humanity, and one tries to kill him. A living, breathing remnant of humanity probably wanted him and the rest of his team dead. It was simultaneously amazing, and utterly horrifying.
"Mewtwo?" Blue asked, pulling himself out of his thoughts for the moment. "That name implies a connection to-"
"Yes, it seems to be a modified recreation of the mythical Mew."
"That… is that blasphemy?"
"I recommend asking Mew herself. It is her likeness…"
That comment sent the Bidoof reeling. Was...was that a joke?
"What?" Thesus asked, his characteristic scowl still on his face. "You should if given the chance."
"But the legendaries…"
"You have met one already, why not another?"
It was then that Blue realized he didn't tell him about the Labyrinth. Should he? It wouldn't hurt… and why wouldn't he? The Noctowl had taught him so much, helped him follow his dream, even assigned him his first real job! Why would he hesitate?
"Because according to Lady Diancie," Blue started. "we might never see another again."
Blue told Thesus everything. What happened in the Labyrinth, about the Labyrinth, how exactly Diancie was freed, everything except about Rio's color change. The Bidoof still wanted to confirm his suspicions, and he wasn't sure Rio wanted him spreading the word about that. A thoughtful expression sprouted on the bird's face.
"I see," Thesus said after Blue finished, now looking forward. "That would certainly explain their absences in the world… and these Legacies…"
The Noctowl suddenly snapped his head back to look at Blue, a full one hundred and eighty degrees. The Bidoof hated it when he did that.
"I shall see what I can find here," he said, looking directly into his eyes. "I shall try and gain an audience with Diancie. While the stories say she is playful to the point of initiation, she may tell me more if she does not know of our relationship. If not…"
He looked away again, spreading his wings and crouching. He was getting ready to fly. He turned again to give Blue one last glance. The constant glare softened.
"Enjoy your trip, and be safe."
Thesus flapped his wings, the strong gust of wind that followed blinded Blue. When he could open his eyes again his mentor was soaring back to his library, a dot in the sky. The Bidoof could only stare at his teacher for a bit, still trying to put his thoughts together. He didn't have much time to do that before the call to get in came.
"We're shoving off!" the large hybrid whined. "Get in or tough luck!"
At that, Blue rushed off to join his companions. He'd try and take his mentor's advice. At least for now. It would be nice to see his family again.
He just hoped they would be happy to see him.
…
When Rio walked in, Scales was sitting on Pana, tail wrapped around her outstretched arms. Her constant rocking was shaking the dragon's scales like mad. She was really, really angry to say the least.
"GET OFFA ME!" she shouted at her brother.
"We're supposed to be relaxing," Scales shot back. "Not maiming."
"You think I can't do both?"
"We know you can do both," Rio finally said, crouching down to look her in the eye. "But you know we gotta stay low for a while, and a maining ain't gonna help. Plus he's close to Blue. So chill."
The raging Pancham closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, and Rio could feel her Aura calm. After a few minutes of this, she opened them once again. Her glare was still there, but it was her normal one, not the murder one.
"I won't kill him," she said. "Now get your fat ass offa me!"
Scales did so, and Pana spring up from the wood floor, snarling at her brother. He threw his claws in the air, punching a few holes in the ceiling as a result.
"Whoops!" the dragon quickly pulled his claws from the ceiling, taking a chunk of wood with it. He shrugged and sat down, picking splinters from in between his claws. The sun shone through the cart, and Rio sat down next to his brother. At least they'd have some sun as they went.
Pana just started at the hole, shrugged and sat down herself. It looked like she burned through all her anger. For now at least.
"How long do you think we have before they find us?" Scales asked, still picking at the splinters.
"If this goes well they won't," Pana answered. "If no one blabs, we'll be good for a while."
"Maybe that Labyrinth thing'll keep them on the island?" Scales asked, hopeful.
"Doubt it," Rio said. "Griza said they weren't happy, right?"
"Speaking of," Pana said, focusing on her brother. "You think she'll come after us too? It did mention how fucked up you were…"
The Riolu's blood ran cold. He didn't think of that. Arceus almighty why didn't he think of that? A broken arm wouldn't be anything if his spine went next!
Before he could further panic about his impending death-by-hug, a voice boomed from outside.
"We're shoving off!" Artei warned. "Get in or tough luck!"
The cart started to move, and Scales's scales clanged together from the sudden force. Rio hoped the ride wouldn't be too bumpy, he wasn't sure his ears could take again it might distract from an impending terrifying bear attack, so tradeoffs?
"Wait! Wait!" Rio felt Blue's Aura enter his range once again, and he got up to open the curtain. He kept pace with the slow moving cart, but his short stature and lack of climbing ability kinda left him stuck walking. It was hard to hear him between the clanging dragon scales, the movement of the carts, and the stomping of hooves.
Rio reached down and grabbed Blue's front leg, quickly pulling him inside. Their trip had truly begun.
Each of them wondered how long it would really last.