Chapter 24: Trust you? What do you mean?
The sun was slowly rising in the sky to signal the start of a new day, and the Pokémon working at the various shops in Fenix Town were in the process of getting everything ready before the various rescue teams were up. Marietta the Ledian was nearly done setting things up, as she seemed to usually be one of the first Pokémon to arrive at the town plaza early in the morning.
As she was looking over things to make sure she had gotten everything ready, she noticed a certain dark blue beetle Pokémon walking by.
"Good morning, Hercules!" Marietta called out, waving one of her four hands.
"Oh, good morning to you too, Marietta," Hercules responded, waving back.
"So, what are you doing out here?" Marietta asked. "Shouldn't you be at the dojo by now?"
"Well yeah, but I think Lotus and the others have it under control," Hercules responded, shrugging slightly. "I just kind of needed some fresh air, and felt like going for a little morning walk…"
"I see," Marietta replied, nodding her head slightly. "Is there anything on your mind?"
"Sort of," Hercules responded, sighing. "I got talked into revealing something to someone that someone else would've preferred to keep a secret…"
"Oh?" Marietta inquired, tilting her head slightly.
"Yeah…" Hercules replied. "Part of me felt it would be best if they knew, but I wanted the one who told me to keep the secret to tell them themselves…"
"I see…" Marietta responded, nodding her head slightly. "Well, I'm sure you'll be able to sort things out."
"You're probably right," Hercules replied, giving a small smile. "I'm just not sure how, yet."
"Words can bring you a long way, you know," Marietta responded, winking. "They may not listen at first, but just try a few more times and I'm sure you'll get through to them."
"… Thanks, Marietta," Hercules replied, smiling at the Ledian.
"No problem," Marietta responded, grinning. "Glad to help out another bug type."
"Well, I guess I should head over to the dojo, then," Hercules said, waving good-bye to Marietta. "Nice talking to you!"
"Have a nice day!" Marietta responded, smiling as she watched the Heracross fly away in the direction of the dojo. "I'm sure he'll have those problems of his sorted out quickly. He's such a nice guy." Marietta giggled a little. "And he's quite handsome too! Of course, this isn't the time for that. Right now, I've got some work to do!"
And so, Marietta took one more quick look to make sure that everything was in its place, and that the bank was ready to open. The Ledian had a good feeling about this day.
Lita had woken up as the sun's bright and warm rays shone in through the windows, and had decided to wake up her older brother as well. She carefully grabbed onto one of Blitz's ears with her teeth, making sure not to accidentally hurt him in the process by biting him too hard as she started playfully pulling at his ear. Blitz eventually opened his golden eyes and looked over at his sister.
"Okay, okay… I'm awake," Blitz said, getting up.
"Good morning, big brother!" Lita said, smiling at her brother. "Slept well?"
"I suppose," Blitz responded, yawning and stretching. "And you?"
"I slept pretty well," Lita replied, nodding her head slightly.
"That's good," Blitz said, smiling at Lita.
Lita then ran up to Chiaki, and started shaking his shoulder with her paws.
"You should get up too now!" Lita said, giggling a little.
"All right…" Chiaki responded, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "So, what are we going to do today?"
"Well, I guess the first thing we should do is head over to the town plaza and see if Sera has gotten there yet," Blitz said.
"Oh, right," Chiaki responded, nodding his head.
Chiaki hoped that Sera was feeling better today. She'd seemed pretty upset when she went home the day before after learning of the things from Blitz's past that he had never told her about. He wasn't really sure what to say to her, or if there was a way he could help her and Blitz.
As the three of them headed into the town plaza, they began looking around for Sera, while other rescue teams were going about their preparations as usual. Sting and his teammates were buying some items at the item shop, Frosty and Melody seeming to be in a bit of a disagreement on which items would be more important on their next mission.
Mirage and her teammates were over at the bank, Marietta waiting for Mirage to decide on how much money she would deposit into their team account, how much she would send to her family and how much they would use to buy items today.
Lionel the Linoone was looking through the items Regina the Servine had stored away, as she and her teammates had received a request from a Pokémon wanting a particular item. Zap the Rotom was currently talking to Arbolith, asking if the Suduwoodo was interested in linking a few moves. Based on the impatient look of Calder the Wartortle, leader of the rescue team Arbolith was on, it seemed the Sudowoodo was taking a long time to decide.
Bijou the Sableye seemed to have a small pebble stuck between her teeth, and was currently attempting to use the lock-picking tool she used to open treasure boxes as a tooth pick while waiting for customers to show up, and Celio the Togetic was looking after a Pokémon egg one of the other rescue teams had asked him to look after.
"Anyone see Sera yet?" Chiaki asked, looking around.
"I don't see her," Lita responded, shrugging slightly.
"Maybe she's at the HQ or the café?" Blitz suggested, thinking for a moment. "Let's check the café first. That way we can also bring Azure along if she's not already at the HQ with Sera."
As Blitz, Lita and Chiaki arrived at the café; they tried looking around for Azure and Sera, but couldn't see either Pokémon. Frederick didn't seem to be there either. While they assumed they were at the rescue team HQ, they decided to ask River first to make sure, once River was done talking to a vulture-like Pokémon with a bone-like skirt that was currently standing at the counter.
The Mandibuzz looked a bit disappointed as River finished saying something, and left the café while River waved good-bye. Once the Mandibuzz had left, River shuddered slightly and looked somewhat disturbed.
"Ugh, dealing with customers of mainly carnivorous species is always such an awkward experience…" River muttered. "Although this was probably the strangest yet…"
"You okay, River?" Chiaki asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine…" the Azumarill responded, nodding slightly. "So, I'm guessing you guys are looking for Azure?"
"That's right and we're looking for Sera too," Blitz replied, nodding his head. "I'm guessing they're already at the rescue team HQ?"
"Yes, Azure headed over there just a little while ago," River responded. "I think Frederick decided to tag along as well."
"Okay, thanks," Blitz said, turning to Chiaki and Lita. "Let's head to the HQ, then."
Nothing seemed different than usual at the rescue team HQ, with rescue teams looking at the various boards and choosing their missions for the day. Blitz finally spotted Sera, Azure and Frederick near the regular mission board, waiting for the rescue team that was currently selecting some missions off the board to finish. Blitz, Chiaki and Lita quickly went over to their friends.
"There you guys are!" Chiaki said, smiling. "We've been looking for you guys!"
"Well, we've just been waiting for you guys to show up, and waiting for these other rescue teams to finish choosing their jobs for the day," Azure responded.
"I just came along because I felt like it," Frederick commented.
Chiaki looked over at Sera, noticing that she seemed to be unusually quiet at the moment. He wondered if she was still upset.
"So, see any good missions on there?" Blitz asked, looking up at the mission board. "One more mission should be enough to earn us that Silver Rank."
"That's great," Sera responded, not sounding particularly excited.
"… You okay, Sera?" Blitz asked, feeling concerned by the lack of enthusiasm in Sera's reply.
"I'm fine," Sera replied in the same tone.
"Are you sure?" Blitz asked, still concerned for his friend.
"So… How about we try that mission up there in the top right corner?" Chiaki said, trying to distract Blitz.
"Oh? Let's see…" Blitz responded, taking a few moments to read through the request. "Hmm… It's an escort mission, and which means one of us would have to stay behind to make room for the Pokémon needing to be escorted."
"Oh, I didn't think about that," Chiaki replied, stopping to think for a moment. "I guess whoever stays behind can look after Lita, then, so maybe-"
"All right, then," Sera said, nodding her head slightly. "Azure will stay and look after Lita, while the three of us do this mission."
"Uh, okay…" Chiaki responded, glancing around.
"Wait, why do I have to stay behind?" Azure asked, looking rather surprised. "I mean, Lita is a cute kid, and all, but I didn't join this team so I could be a babysitter, you know!"
"Don't worry, Azure," Frederick said, smiling. "I'll help you look after her!"
As Azure reluctantly agreed to stay behind with Lita, Chiaki felt a bit uncomfortable as he, Sera and Blitz headed out to meet with the client. He was going to suggest that Blitz stay behind so he and his sister could spend some time together, while Azure came with him and Sera, but Sera had interrupted him before he could get that far. Chiaki had hoped to discuss the situation with Sera, but that would be difficult if Blitz was with them.
He could tell that Blitz was already suspecting something was wrong by Sera's behavior, and Chiaki was worried that he would find out that they had talked Hercules into revealing his secret and get mad at them. Maybe he could just keep Blitz distracted by changing the subject whenever it came up, and continue doing so until he and Sera had discussed how to deal with the situation.
It didn't seem like the most reliable plan, though. Still, it was the only thing he could think of, and it would have to do until he could come up with a better plan.
The trio eventually came across the entrance to the mystery dungeon, where a small blue penguin Pokémon was waiting for them.
"Ah, you must be the rescue team that took on my job?" the Piplup asked.
"That's right!" Chiaki said, smiling. "So, you need our help to find a certain item?"
"Yeah," the Piplup replied. "So, I made this bet with some Pokémon, and unless I can get that Joy Ribbon from the ninth floor of this dungeon, I'll have to only use my left wing to write for a month. Now, the punishment itself isn't that bad, since I'm actually left-winged and so that's the one I use to write with anyways, but my species is known for having quite a sense of self-pride, and so, I'd bereally mad if I lost the bet."
"Understood," Blitz said, nodding his head. "So, you need our help to retrieve it because the wild Pokémon are too much for you?"
"Pretty much," the Piplup responded, nodding. "But don't tell anyone, okay? If anyone asks, I did this without any help."
"Isn't that kind of cheating?" Chiaki asked.
"Hey, they never said anything about not being allowed to bring help," the Piplup responded, winking. "But again, if anyone says anything, I'll deny it. So, let's get going, shall we?"
It didn't take long before the four Pokémon were exploring the first few floors of the mystery dungeon, although Sera didn't seem to be particularly interested in what was going on even as she led the group. Chiaki could tell that Blitz could tell that something was wrong, and even the Piplup seemed to be making a note of Sera's behavior.
"So, the Eevee is your leader, right?" the Piplup asked. "Is she always this quiet?"
"Not really…" Blitz responded, shaking his head.
"She's probably just a little tired today," Chiaki commented, trying to distract the two Pokémon. "Or maybe she's just concentrating really hard on guiding us through this dungeon? Better not disturb her, then!"
"… Chiaki, is something wrong?" Blitz asked, glancing over his shoulder at the Mienfoo.
"Uh… Where would you get an idea like that?" Chiaki responded, chuckling nervously. "So, um… Let's all be quiet so Sera can focus!"
Chiaki's attempts to convince Blitz that there was nothing wrong only made the Shinx even more suspicious. He could tell that Chiaki was hiding something, and it had something to do with why Sera seemed so out of it today. Had something happened the previous night while the two of them had gone off somewhere else while he, Lita and Azure went to the café?
This wasn't the right time to confront them about it, though. It'd have to wait for after their current mission was finished.
Azure, Frederick and Lita were taking a walk, telling Lita more about themselves since they hadn't been able to come up with much else to do.
"Wow, you only joined their team two days ago?" Lita asked.
"That's right!" Azure responded, grinning. "But I'd been on a few missions with your brother and his friends a few times before, so I already had some experience with how they do things."
"I'd like to join too," Frederick said. "Except I don't know if I'd be any good at it… I also haven't been on any adventures with them like Azure has…"
"Don't worry, buddy," Azure responded, patting the Deino on the back. "I'm sure you'd do just fine!"
"You're all really good friends, aren't you?" Lita asked, giggling a little.
"Well, yeah," Azure responded, shrugging slightly. "What about you? Do you have any friends back home?"
"Aside from my big brother, I don't really have all that many friends back home," Lita admitted. "I may not seem like it, but I'm actually kind of shy towards the other Shinx in the pride. I never know how to approach them, or what to say."
"Don't worry about that," Azure said, patting Lita on the head. "Everyone has a few such moments throughout their lives where they just don't know how to break the ice."
"For breaking ice, I recommend fire or fighting moves," Frederick commented.
"Not that kind of ice, silly!" Azure responded, giggling a little.
"I have been spending some time with a Luxio in the pride lately, though," Lita explained. "A few days after my brother left, I ran into the Luxio by accident, and he took me to this mystery dungeon in an attempt to help me overcome my shyness."
"Oh, is that so?" Azure asked.
"Yeah," Lita responded, nodding her head. "At first, it felt a bit strange, but once we'd spent some time together in that dungeon, we realized that we were getting along pretty well."
"Good for you," Azure said, smiling at the young Shinx. "I assume he's a bit older than you, seeing as he is evolved?"
"Yes, he is," Lita replied. "His age isn't what was strange about him and me becoming friends, though."
"Oh?" Azure inquired. "What was it, then?"
"I can't tell you," Lita responded, shaking her head.
"Oh, okay," Azure replied, shrugging slightly. "If it's a bit too personal, I'll stay out of it."
"I'm getting kind of hungry…" Frederick said. "Can we head back to the café?"
"Sure, why not?" Azure responded, grinning. "Are you feeling hungry too, Lita?"
"Not really," Lita replied. "I am a bit thirsty, though!"
"Well, let's go, then!" Azure said, grinning as she started running ahead. "I'm going to get there first!"
"Oh, we'll see about that!" Lita responded, giggling as she started running after Azure.
"Huh? Hey, wait up!" Frederick said, trying his best to keep up with the two girls.
On the ninth floor of the mystery dungeon, the Piplup snickered to himself as he ran up and picked up the Joy Ribbon. Holding the ribbon in his two small blue wings, the Piplup ran up to the rescue team.
"Thanks for helping me out!" the Piplup said, grinning. "And if anyone of those guys I made the bet with sees me giving you your rewards at the rescue team HQ later, just tell them that they must've gotten me confused with another Piplup, okay?"
And with that, the rescue team badge shone with a golden light and teleported the Piplup back to the HQ.
"Okay, let's go back…" Sera said, preparing to use the rescue team badge to return to town.
"Hold on, Sera," Blitz responded, stopping her before she could use the badge. "I need to talk to you."
"Uh, Blitz? Maybe we should wait until we're back in town?" Chiaki suggested.
"I need to talk to both of you!" Blitz said, looking at his teammates. "What is going on?"
"W-What are you talking about?" Chiaki asked.
"Don't lie to me!" Blitz responded, glaring at Chiaki. "You two are hiding something from me, and I'd like you to tell me what's going on!"
"Uh…" Chiaki wasn't sure how to respond. He didn't want to lie to Blitz, but he didn't want to hurt his feeling either by telling him the truth. So, what could he possibly say?
"… Blitz," Sera said, looking up at Blitz. "… Do you trust me?"
"Huh?" Blitz responded, tilting his head slightly. "Trust you? What do you mean?"
"Well, I've been sharing details about my family, and my feelings with you," Sera said, making eye-contact with Blitz. "However, apparently you didn't trust me enough to do the same."
"Wait… What?" Blitz responded, blinking a few times. "Where… is this all coming from…?"
"I talked to Hercules," Sera explained, glancing down at the ground. "He… told me and Chiaki everything…"
Blitz went silent, and stared wide-eyed at his two teammates in disbelief. He started breathing heavily as he processed this information, shaking his head and taking a few steps backwards as he looked back and forth between his two teammates.
"Blitz, I'm sorry," Sera said, looking away. "I just… had to know, and… if you don't trust me enough to even tell me-"
"And why would I trust someone who doesn't even respect me enough to keep their noses out of where they don't belong!?" Blitz growled, glaring at Sera.
"B-Blitz…" Sera stuttered, visibly frightened at his sudden anger. "I didn't mean to-"
"Shut up!" Blitz snarled back at Sera, before turning away from his friends. "Both of you… Just… leave me alone!"
Blitz ran off, running deeper into the dungeon. Sera and Chiaki stood there in a stunned silence for a few moments, before giving chase. However, they couldn't see Blitz anywhere, and it seemed the Shinx had already gotten far away from them.
"Did he already make it to the end of the dungeon?" Chiaki wondered, stopping for a few moments to think. "So, if we get to the end of the dungeon, we can…"
Chiaki's train of thought was interrupted as Sera fell to the ground, curling up and burying her face in her forepaws.
"Hey… Don't give up!" Chiaki said, petting Sera. "I'm sure we can still catch up to him!"
"There's no point…" Sera muttered, shaking a little. "Let's just… head back to town…"
"Huh? But we can't just leave without Blitz!" Chiaki exclaimed. "He's our friend, after all!"
"I don't think he wants to be friends with us anymore…" Sera said, looking up at Chiaki with tears in her eyes. "… And it's all because of me."
Chiaki was unsure what to do, as Sera began sobbing. The Mienfoo realized that right now, Sera needed him more, and sat down next to her, gently petting the Eevee, unsure of what else he could really do for her.
"I should've been a better friend…" Sera sobbed, wiping away some tears with a paw. "If I had been acted like a true friend to Blitz, then this wouldn't have happened! It's my fault… all my fault!"
"Sera… That's not… You're haven't…" Chiaki wasn't really sure what to say to comfort his teammate, although it didn't seem like Sera was listening anyways. Still, he had to try to say something. "Sera, don't give up… I… I'm sure Blitz will forgive us!"
"No, he won't…" Sera responded, shaking her head slightly. "Because… I was such a bad friend… and I've ruined everything…"
"Hey, things may seem bad now, but… I'm sure he'll forgive us," Chiaki said, even if he wasn't sure if he was right or not. "We're still friends; we're still a team… It'll be all right…"
Blitz was running as fast as he could, not particularly paying attention to or caring about where he was going. Teardrops were falling from his eyes as he ran, further and further away from everyone else.
"How could Hercules betray me like that…?" Blitz muttered. "And Sera… and Chiaki… How could they…?"
Even as he bumped into or tripped over things, Blitz just continued running without paying much attention to his surroundings.
"Still… I shouldn't have said those things to Sera…!" Blitz wheezed, more tears streaming down his face as he continued running.
After returning to town and picking up their rewards, Sera and Chiaki had a bit of a difficult time explaining to Azure, Frederick and Lita why Blitz hadn't come back with them. They eventually decided that if Blitz hadn't returned by the morning, they would all head out to look for him. And so, Sera returned home, while Chiaki followed Lita back to Blitz's stone hut.
"I hope big brother will be okay…" Lita said, sadly lying down on her bed.
"Me too," Chiaki replied, sighing. "It doesn't feel right to leave him out there like this…"
"Yeah…" Lita responded, nodding her head slightly.
The two Pokémon were quiet for a moment, before Lita spoke up again.
"Don't worry, big brother is never angry for long," Lita said, giving Chiaki a small smile. "If you and Sera just tell him how you feel, then I'm sure he will understand."
"Thanks, Lita," Chiaki responded, smiling back. "I just hope that we all work things out quickly, for Sera's sake…"
Sera was sitting in the bedroom, staring at the rescue team badge. The top half of the badge was now silver colored, and they had received a bigger treasure bag that would allow them to bring more items.
"So… We did get that Silver Rank…" Sera muttered, sighing. "But… it doesn't really matter… if Blitz and I are no longer friends…"
Unbeknownst to Sera, Flare was quietly watching her with a concerned look on his face. The Flareon felt sad to see his younger sister in such a state, but figured she'd probably prefer to be alone right now. However, Flare definitely intended to do whatever he could to help his little sister.
End of chapter 24.