As soon as the sun rose, Shade's team made their way to the Guild to prepare for their final test.
As it turned out, most of the other teams hadn't passed the battle test. The only other team left was an oddly short Electabuzz and…
Is that Orc? Shade wondered. She doesn't look like she even took the test at all!
The Granbull turned around. "'Ey there. S'prised ta see yeh made it, 'specially aftah what happened with yer Dreepy."
"Who are you?" Mizuchi asked her, prompting a slight chuckle from the massive fairy-type.
"Apologies, it seems ah've only met Shade 'ere! Name's Orc, that's Havoc, we're Team Corsair."
"Well, this is Milkweed and Mizuchi," Shade replied. "We don't have a team name yet."
Orc smirked. "Yeh'd bettah get one, then. I'll help yeh, if ya want. Lemme see… how 'bout Team Runt?"
"That seems more like a name for if Havoc were on a different team than you," Shade countered.
"I- well- if yeh're so clevah, then yeh won't have a problem with this test!" Orc tried, storming off.
"Er… wait! Orc!" Havoc cried, hurrying after her.
Team Keeper also began their day the moment the sun began to peek over the distant horizon. The Glowing Mountains were still distant, but another camp was visible on one of the nearer cliffs.
"Wake up, Amphibian," Claymore told his partner, already beginning to pack up supplies. "If we start now, we will reach Glacier Town just after dusk."
"Five more minutes…" the Salandit mumbled, rolling over. His tail scraped against a rock, jolting Amphibian to consciousness and causing a minor cut. "Nope! No more sleeping! To Glacier Town!"
Claymore nodded, tossing a berry from the bag to his partner before taking one for himself. "You are the tracker. Are there any signs of something that could become a threat?"
"No, we're good!" Amphibian said through a mouthful of Razz Berry. "This place is safe!"
"Then we will head north as quickly as we can." Claymore hoisted the bag over his shoulder, beginning the next leg of the journey.
"To the two teams that have managed to make it this far, welcome to your final test to enter this Guild!"
Insight's statement was met with applause. It wasn't the loudest applause ever, but of course, there were only five Pokemon in the room, not counting the Xatu and a Noctowl that had apparently been plucked from his job at the last second to fill the gap left by Claymore and Amphibian leaving.
"I'll be honest, this is the most Pokemon we've had at this point since Team Keeper joined us ten years ago. I hope that that becomes the most Pokemon joining the Guild since it was founded!" Guildmaster Insight chuckled, but the others realized that this was not an easy-to-enter organization at all. "Now, for the survival test, both teams will be sent out into Myriad Forest for the night."
Orc burst out in laughter. "That's a good 'un, Guildmastah! Send us out intah… Myriad… oh Eternatus she's serious."
"That was no joke," the Xatu confirmed, nodding to the Noctowl next to her. He placed a map of the area surrounding Spotlight Town on the table.
To the west of the town, there was a body of water labeled the Cobalt Ocean. The rest of the area surrounding the port town was a dense forest, and to the east of the woods, there seemed to be a grassland.
"For tonight, you'll set up camp, forage for food, and fend off anything that tries to harm you. It will take teamwork, skill, and if push comes to shove, incredible luck. However, in the kits I'll give you, there is one Escape Orb for each member of your team. They are registered to the main hall of the Guild, so if you need, you can bring yourself back here, though it will count as a failure." The Guildmaster picked up two large leather bags, throwing them to each team. "We will not expect you back until noon tomorrow. Good luck."
Mantis had almost made it off the Glowing Mountains when he heard Sigil call him.
"What is it?" he demanded tiredly.
"Appaaarently Orc's beeeing seeent out iiinto Myriiiad Fooorest," Sigil replied.
The Kleavor groaned. "So?" he asked. "What does that have to do with me?"
Sigil laughed. "Yooou've forgoootten how liiikely sheee is to geeet herseeelf iiinto trooouble. I'm siiimply loweeering the possibiiility of looosing our laaast spyyy."
I have no clue how she managed to stay a spy, Mantis wondered. "Did she ask for me specifically? Because if not, you easily could have just sent Basilisk. Or perhaps you could have finally come out of that dark room of yours?"
"Maaantis, you knooow whyyy I caaan't leave thiiis rooom."
"Yes, but you have somehow proved capable of movement despite-"
Mantis was interrupted by Sigil answering his previous question. "Sheee didn't aaask fooor any assiiistance. I juuust thooought sheee would neeeed heeelp, and yooou weeere clooosest."
"This will slow down the plan considerably," the Kleavor groaned. "And if I just show up at the same time as Orc…"
Sigil chuckled. "The plaaan can waiiit. You cooould stay at aaan iiinn for a cooouple daaays."
"But-"
"Buuut whaaat's yooour best optiiion, endaaangering Orc, endangeriiing ouuur entiiire opeeeration, or sleeeping in a plaaace that's nooot the Guiiild?" Sigil stopped the connection, leaving Mantis alone with his thoughts.
"Okay, we've set up our tent, we've established night patrol shifts and routes, and we've gathered berries."
A handful of hours later, Shade's team was ready for the night to come. Milkweed was checking necessary preparations off a mental list, Shade was relaxing by sitting on a branch of a nearby tree, and Mizuchi was out gathering firewood.
"Shade," Milkweed called to the Dreepy. "I don't want to be too much of a boss, but can't you find something to do?"
"What's left for us to do except wait for Mizuchi to come back?" she explained. "Right now, it's time to chill."
I have no clue what that means, but I suppose she's right. The Cottonee nodded, going to eat one of the berries from the disorganized pile next to the tent. Ugh. Do neither of them have any idea what "neat" means? they pondered, taking a Rawst Berry to eat while they sorted the berries by color.
When Mizuchi came back, she was turning invisible from sweat. She dashed into the clearing- still carrying the wood she'd collected- shouting, "Pack of wild Poochyena! Chasing me!"
Shade floated down from the branch. "Don't worry. I know just what to do," she said, taking two of the sticks from Mizuchi and raising them above her head.
The Poochyena ran at the trio as Shade made grunting noises, waving the sticks in the air. "I… am a monsssteeeerrr!" she shouted in a deep voice. This didn't scare the Poochyena away. If anything, it just confused them.
"I think I just gave them another reason to attack," the Dreepy whispered, backing up.
Mizuchi charged up a water blast, launching it at the closest of the Poochyena. It stumbled backwards, falling into the one immediately behind it.
The pack barked at each other before scattering into the trees. Right when Shade's team let their guards down, the Poochyena leaped out from every direction.
Milkweed backed into the tent, hiding while their allies took care of the attackers. Shade dived after the one that tried to lunge at the Cottonee, hitting it with her tail and scaring it off.
Mantis finally reached the edge of Myriad Forest. All right, Orc, where are you?
He tore through the dense plants that popped up every few minutes, wondering why he was even listening to Sigil. I am the boss of this operation. I could simply have met with Insight right now and let Orc's reappearance come afterward. Less suspicious that way.
He was jerked out of his thoughts by the sound of barking. A Poochyena darted out from between the trees, passing the Kleavor without even seeming to notice him.
Odd to see a lone Poochyena… oh, Eternatus.
Orc, what have you done?