Mizuchi led Shade and Milkweed back into the library, remembering Shade's question about humans. She told them to wait while she walked through the maze of shelves, giving her time to think.
Why would Claymore do something like that? she wondered, scanning the shelves for the legend book. He's normally so calm. What would have pushed him over the edge?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of the thick brown tome on the shelf. She climbed up the bookcase walls to get it, pushing it off of the shelf- though she was still aching a bit from her battle- to bring it back to her friends.
"There you are," Shade said, smiling as she floated down onto the ground.
Mizuchi didn't answer, flipping through the pages until she found a page simply titled "Humans". She had only heard this story once, but besides Regigigas' Labyrinth, this was the one she remembered- and feared- the most.
Meanwhile, as the sun reached its peak in the sky, Claymore opened the door to a familiar room. This was Team Keeper's room when they'd first joined the guild, although it barely got used anymore on account of the jobs they were assigned.
"Amphibian!" the Pawniard called. "Are you here?"
"Over here!" his partner replied from the top bunk of their bed. "How'd it go?"
Claymore closed his eyes. "Not very well. Actually, we need to leave as soon as possible."
Amphibian tilted his head like a dog. "...Why?"
"I may have… disregarded my master's teachings about rage. The Guildmaster is not pleased." He didn't say anything else, and began packing the few things that Team Keeper owned into his bag. Amphibian climbed down to help him, but the Pawniard had already finished. With nothing left to do in Spotlight Town except pick up their job, they headed to the assignment room.
Mizuchi took a deep breath before beginning to read. "A long time ago, before the legendaries ruled our kingdoms, our world was controlled by bipedal beasts known as humans. They were fearsome, taking us away from our families by first weakening us- sometimes even fatally wounding our kin first just to get them out of the way- then capturing us in little spheres. While they could not understand our speech, we understood every word they said. They told us that they cared about us, or that we were their best friends, only to force us to fight for their own entertainment. We-"
Shade interrupted. "Hold on, that's what humans were like in the past? All of them?"
"That's what we're led to believe," Milkweed said. "But probably not all of them. After all, if you can't say all members of a nation are evil even if a large number of them are, why should you say the same about a species? You don't seem so bad, for example."
"Well said," Mizuchi stated, then continued reading. "We were forced to live in fear, to hide in tall grass and caves, but it wasn't enough. Humans always found a way to find us. And when they got too close to our families, we were forced to reveal ourselves and fight- and sometimes lose, fighting to the point of exhaustion, often with deadly wounds. We were afraid that this would go on forever, until one hero rose up to fight for our freedom."
Amphibian and Claymore walked through the halls without a word. While the sound of someone talking did come from the basement, it wasn't enough to fill the silence, making them both feel awkward.
"So," Amphibian tried. "What, uh, happened?"
"Amphibian, do not try to be a therapist. I am not willing to speak yet." Claymore said that, but it didn't make him feel any less awkward.
Amphibian didn't argue. Instead, he put a hand on his partner's shoulder, saying, "All right, Clay. When you do want to explain, I'll listen."
The Salandit's acceptance added some kind of guilt to Claymore's blend of emotions. He didn't show it, though, as he opened the door to the assignment room. Two bulletin boards sat on the walls, with different kinds of jobs depending on the boards.
Team Keeper didn't go to either, instead walking to a desk on the right side of the room. Sitting behind it was a Noctowl, who wore glasses and was currently organizing messy piles of paper.
"Tiberius," Claymore addressed him. He still hadn't gotten over how odd that name was for a Pokemon, as it wasn't even Moltrian. It was completely foreign to him.
The Noctowl looked up so quickly, you would think he moved at the speed of sound. "Oh, hello, Claymore!" he said with a cough. "Are you here for a job?"
"Yes, we are!" Amphibian energetically called from the window on the opposite side of the room, which he enjoyed looking out of while Claymore and Tiberius figured out the important stuff. Once, he'd watched a Salamence fly by it. That was the first dragon he'd ever seen, and he had always looked back on the memory fondly.
"Let's see here…" While Tiberius looked through his desk, Claymore took the time to think.
Why did I let that happen to me? The first thing I ever learned was not to let anyone push you over the edge! And yet… Shade must be more powerful than I thought. Maybe she used some mind-affecting move. She's quite the enigma. That must be it…
"The hero's name was Silvally. He said that he was created by humans, and was treated as less than alive by them. He led an army of freedom fighters to human settlements, taking back our families, friends, and even some Pokemon we'd never met before, from the humans. Eventually, the Legendaries took notice, and began to fight on our side." Mizuchi paused, looking at the artwork on the next page. It showed Pokemon that she'd never seen before, but had heard of.
Dialga, a dark blue wingless dragon, with pale blue energy running through him. A rainbow phoenix, who she knew as Ho-Oh, or simply the Radiant Eagle. And of course, in the middle, a Pokemon that seemed to be a hybrid of several different creatures. Silvally. The hero who inspired everyone to fight instead of hiding.
"After the remaining humans were scared into hiding, just as we were, it was a period of rebuilding. Some Pokemon had forgotten everything about their life before they were captured, and acted oddly. Others were outright violent. And a select few just didn't remember anything, and acted as if they had no personality whatsoever. After a while, the Legendaries decided to help us with the "controlling the world" part, as they already had quite a bit of experience with that.
"They created the original kingdoms of Moltria, Artice, and Zapdopolis on Riopse, as well as the city of Utopion in the Far South. It was a time of peace and hope for the first time in anyone's lives." Mizuchi closed the book, letting out a deep sigh before finally looking at her team's reactions.
Shade's mouth was open in disbelief, while Milkweed was simply nodding sadly. "Yes, Shade, that's the story. There's more to history than that, but that's how our society became what it is."
Shade sighed. "Well, good thing I got turned into a Dreepy instead of staying a human, huh?"
The others agreed that it was true. After Mizuchi put down the book, the three of them went back to Mizuchi's home for a good night's sleep.
Claymore and Amphibian left the Guild shortly afterward, still in silence. They did cross paths with Shade's team, but neither of them spoke- for some, due to fatigue, and for others, due to a pure unwillingness to talk.
Amphibian looked up at the Glowing Mountains to the far east, named for how they seemed to "glow" during sunrise. "So, Clay, what's our mission?"
Claymore had managed to train his brain to ignore that nickname when his partner said it, as he didn't want an embarrassing-memory-fueled Night Slash to kill the Salandit. He had more trouble with others, but at least he didn't attack them upon hearing the word "clay". Most of the time.
"There are reports of a monster attack near Glacier Town. If anyone has survived, they will need our help."
Amphibian nodded, following his partner northeast.
Atop one of the more distant mountains in the Glowing range, Mantis looked down at the plains just outside the woods as the sun began to set. Two small figures were setting up camp for the night, just as the Kleavor was.
I hope that is not the "gifted trio" that Sigil was talking about, he thought. Of course, they would have either lost a member or have one out doing something else. I would hate to have missed them.
He pulled out his communication stone, saying, "Sigil, do you hear me?"
"Of cooourse," came the eerie voice. "Whaaat do yooou neeed?"
"Ask Orc if the 'gifted trio' has failed their test," Mantis ordered, only to hear Sigil chuckle.
"Aaactually, I was juuust speeeaking with heeer. She saaays that the Dreeepy neeearly toook out the Kiiing of Baaattle!"
Mantis had to run what Sigil had just said through his head again. "The Dreepy almost defeated Claymore? That… that is a good one," he laughed.
"Nooo, it's the truuuth. Sheee seems extroooardinaaarily poweeerful."
The Kleavor was beginning to panic. "I… I don't imagine Claymore took that very well. In all of our previous meetings, he seemed… rather confident in his skills."
Mantis heard Sigil sweep some papers to the side. "Thaaat's what yooou told meee afteeer missiooon ooone. Which, miiight I reeemind you, would haaave been a succeeess haaad you nooot-"
"Yes, I get it. Do not remind me." Unpleasant memories flashed through the Kleavor's mind. "You are my second-in-command, not the other way around. Good night, Sigil," he signed off, going to sleep.