A/N
I've always been sure to thank users for reviewing, however I feel as if I haven't been doing enough. These people are taking time out of their days to discuss my work, after all, so I should be reciprocating their time with my own.
This has been the first story in a really long time I've actually enjoyed writing, so seeing people discuss it has also done a lot to make my efforts feel more justified.
So, in addition to my usual thank-yous, I'll be compiling more comprehensive review responses in a Google Doc as to not bloat the story's word-count too much. You can find the link to the document on my profile page.
All current reviews on this story, as well as future ones, will be responded to there. It may contain semi-spoilery information at times, so be warned.
I'll be trying my best to avoid giving any important plot/character information or anything outside of the story, but a few minor details will be given about some things. I might also take a while before responding to a review in-depth because I have a life and priorities.
Thanks for reviewing: MUDA, and bc414.
Team Heroik, Team Waffle, and Team Glamour were mostly all sat within their living room. The obnoxious white light installed in the ceiling was inactive, its job being taken by the TV. The room was bathed in a blue glow, with harsh shadows cast along the floor.
The device's volume was set to a low volume, just barely audible to reach everyone's ears.
Small, vibrant purrs rumbled from deep within Floss' chest. She splayed out in Peel's lap, paws occasionally twitching as she recieved long, delicate strokes across her fur.
Shallot dropped his yellow disc into the four-in-a-row board between him and Salami. He could not maintain his poker-face as his opponent's brows furrowed in perplexment.
Coco paraded Tart around the room on his back, who in turn was practically drooling as her paws felt up the steed.
Pear's arms crossed with a huff as he observed his two eevee companions tumbling about the room. The pair traded swats, kicks, and bites back and forth, eliciting tiny squeals and giggles. The chespin soon looked back down to his phone before speaking up.
"So... We gonna cut to the chase, or what? It's already seven."
Salami slipped a red token through a column of the board. Shallot's smug demeanor faltered a bit, though it didn't fall completely. His ears perked as he studied the new move, his tail giving an intrigued flick.
"Whenever sleeping-beauty in there decides that sufficient time's been wasted."
Pear chuckled as the chespin spoke, with Peel giving a little grin.
"So, you think she's beautiful?" spoke the luxray, her tail giving a small flick. The pink cat in her lap remained oblivious to all.
"I... Uh..."
Shallot slipped his piece into the spot directly mirroring his friend's most recent.
"Well, Sal', maybe you should go kiss her awake."
Salami gave an indignant snort, a puff of smoke leaving his nose.
"Fuck you."
"I don't think Team Waffle would 'preciate that. On account a' sharin' a room with us, 'n all."
"That's right," Pear nodded.
Lemon and Waffle remained ignorant to the conversation, rolling away into the kitchen.
"What's right?"
The pokémon paying attention turned to face the voice. Barbie gazed back with a bleary stare, raising a hoof to rub at her tired eyes.
"Good morning, princess," spat Salami. As everyone was distracted, Shallot stealthily levitated a piece out of the game-board, once more securing an advantage before making a move.
"Oh! Good morning, Salami!" Barbie gave a wide grin, the hoof at her eye moving to give a hearty wave. "And, like, to everyone else, as well!"
Tart hopped off from Coco's back as he trode over to share a brief nuzzle with his sister.
The two ponyta soon took a seat on the couch. Barbie levitated a brush over to begin straightening her mane and tail.
"Now that everybody is present," Coco started, "we can discuss business. Correct?"
Salami cursed under his breath as Shallot secured victory. The two began to pack up the board soon after, as Waffle and Lemon returned to the room.
"That is of correctness, I am hoping!" Lemon cheered. "The cola that is my mind is bubbling with the carbonation of excitementness!"
Waffle gave a shy smile, nodding along with his friend.
Shallot, Salami, and Tart looked to each other with a nod, before the latter spoke.
"It is apparent that this is, indeed, the case, I would wager."
Peel gave a smirk.
"Bitchin'. 'Nut and Barbs, here, as agreed to finish touring y'all about." She paused, allowing Coco and Barbie to both nod with varying degrees of enthusiasm. "Before that, though, we'll tell ya' our schedule."
The skitty reluctantly sat up, pulling away from the affection she'd been receiving with a dissatisfied grunt. She scaled up Peel's body, coming to a stop sitting on the luxray's head.
"Evwy monday, wednesday, and fwiday, we go out fo' missions. Evwy othew day is a bweak day, if said mission is done. You aw fwee to shawe the same woutine, but if you don't, thew may not be one of us heew to cook n' stuff."
Coco was the next to chime in.
"Of course, every time we elect to depart for a mission, we will inform you all. You may accompany us if you wish to, where we will then split the reward evenly between each team. We will put at least a quarter of each yield into the share box."
Peel gestured toward a large chest in the corner of the room.
"That's the share box. Anything in there's free to take, be it money or anything else. Just don't be too greedy and everything'll be awesome."
Both Lemon and Pear's mouths were leaking saliva, their postures leaned forward in interest. Waffle gave a small sigh.
"Of course," Coco continued, "go on missions separately if for any reason you do not wish to go with us. You are not obligated to add to the share box, however we would very much appreciate it if you would."
"This will not be an issue," Tart chirped. "We would be more than willing to financially contribute to our mutual living-space. If ever should we be in need of funds for any reason, I am sure that my family would be eager to assist."
Barbie spoke next.
"Oh, like, not all of us will go on missions at the same time, by the by. If it's decided that, like, all four of us going is unnecessary, those with the least helpful skill set for the task stay home. Most teams in the guild do this, so, like, if you guys do it, don't feel bad about it. 'Kay?"
Salami's irked gaze fixed on Barbie, his ears splaying back at the sound of her voice. Their eyes soon met, with Barbie giving a bright smile. The vulpix's tails gave an involuntary wag.
Pear cleared his throat, grabbing the room's attention.
"Well, if nothing else needs to be said, you all have fun on your tour or whatever. Lemon, Waffle and I gotta stay here to... Uh..." The chespin's eyebrow furrowed in thought. After a second of nothing, he faked a cough, subtly kicking Lemon's leg. The eevee spoke up with a grin.
"Err... We need to be finishing the setting up of our stuff, yes! We were not of the bountiful time last night, you see, as we were of goneness or asleepness for most of the night. Yes..."
Waffle glanced between the two, a confused look painting his features. He opened his maw to speak, but only yelped as he felt Pear's foot step down on his delicate paw.
Coco gave an understanding nod.
"That's quite acceptable. The guild building is not too terribly large; I am of the utmost faith that you could find your way around on your own."
Pear gave a bright grin, as he moved to push his comrades toward their room.
"Yeah cool thanks gotta go pack now goodbye see you!"
Every pokémon in the room gave a collective blink, staring at the door, then to each-other.
With a shrug, Peel began to talk.
"Uh... Okay. Well, Floss and I are gonna go grab a bite to eat."
Shallot gave a nod, his face neutral.
"Okay, cool. Guess we should be goin' then, correct?"
Coco stepped forward with a nod. "And I'm going grocery-shopping!" Barbie pranced up beside him.
"After us, you three."
"Fine."
"Okay!"
"It would be my delight."
Team Heroik plus one exited the apartment, followed a few moments later by the two other members of Team Glamour.
The jolteon's breath came in short, rapid gasps, with her heart practically vibrating with the speed at which it beat. This only spurred her on to run faster.
A putrid stench assaulted her nose as she dashed and turned throughout the winding brick tunnels. Her pawsteps echoed across the walls. For every four thumping impacts of her paws meeting the ground, twelve more met her ears.
She was being pursued.
Every foriegn step she heard fueled her panicked attempts to flee. Her muscles strained hard against every change in angle the corridors took, screaming in agony as they were pushed beyond their limits. Long since having exhausted her energy supply, she kept herself moving solely by shooting electricity through her limbs and heart where needed.
Her intake of oxygen was not sufficient. She felt her grip on reality fading. Each precarious movement tripled in danger by the minute.
She made to round another corner. One paw came down onto the ground at a bad angle, and that was all it took.
The structure shook with a smack and a scream as her exhausted body crumpled against the wall. Her entire mind and senses were completely overwhelmed with an influx of signals, which slowly faded.
Consciousness began to fade. Vision blurred by tears, she looked up to see a gardevoir looming over her. She diverted her gaze elsewhere, only to be met with the sight of her own bones piercing through her flesh. She squinted her eyes shut. She couldn't even cry out as a paw struck her head.
She let one final plea run through her mind.
"Someone, please help me..."
Shallot shouted in alarm as he felt a paw smack his face. He kicked his assailant, then rolling into a battle stance. His eyes locked on his attacker, only to see Tart on her back. Salami helped her up, as she dusted herself off.
Shallot ran over quickly, pressing his muzzle to her cheek.
"Poptart! Oh god, oh god, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
The minccino gave him a small grin in return. Shallot felt a tear forming in his eye, which Tart wiped away with one paw.
"Do not fret, for I am unharmed. However, I do believe it would be appropriate to ask you the same question."
A relieved sigh left Shallot's chest, his ears and tail briefly drooping as he smiled. They then perked up, with his smile turning to a puzzled line.
"Huh? Why wouldn't I be okay?"
Tart just blinked. Salami raised an eyebrow.
The two ponyta moved to sit closer to the three, heads tilted in concern.
"You, uh... Kinda zoned out a bit. You looked, uh, scared."
Shallot's face paled, his ears flattening.
"My sister is in danger," he murmured. His voice was almost too quiet to hear.
"Excuse me? Please, do clarify."
Shallot's breath quickened in pace for a moment. His body began to relax upon feeling Salami wrap a leg around him.
"I... I felt it," spoke the fennekin. "I could feel her fear."
Coco and Tart shared perplexed expressions. Salami and Barbie give small nods.
"It's, like, a psychic thing," Barbie added. "When we're like, really really close to someone, our minds bond and stuff."
"Uh... Yeah. It usually doesn't do that much at long range if you don't actively work to maintain the link, though." Salami tapped his paws to his chin in thought.
Coco gave a small tilt of his head.
"Are we to assume she is close by, then?" The ponyta sat straight with pride, his flames roaring to life. "I, on my honor, will do whatever I can in my power to assist your sibling, Shallot."
The fennekin's smile grew as he looked up at Coco. Barbie and Salami both cracked small grins as well.
"Not necessarily." The mood instantly fell at Tart's words, a thick cloud of dread settling on everyone. They turned to look to the minccino; a silent request for elaboration. "I have, actually, done quite a bit of reading on this topic. From what I have been able to gleam, even the weakest of connections can communicate powerful emotions with ease." She turned to face Shallot. She could see his resolve crumbling. She assumed a stoic expression, but could do naught to prevent her drooping ears. "I am afraid that, if your sister is truly in danger, she could easily be half-way across the continent."
Shallot turned to face the ground. The ears of all present were assaulted as his claws scraped against the glossy floor. Both Tart and Barbie backed away as they felt the air heating up around. An occasional puff of steam rose from Shallot's tightly shut eyes.
Tart stepped back in a moment later, joined by Salami in her advance. They both nuzzled either side of Shallot's cheek. He hiccupped a small sob, though managed to force anything else back down.
"We'll, uh... We'll save your sister, Shalls. It may not be today, may not even be next week, but you have my promise that I'll do what I can to help. Okay?"
The others nodded in agreement, leveling Shallot with varying levels of pity, hurt, and resolve.
"I... Er... Thank ye'..."
Coco cleared his throat.
"Perhaps we should visit the library first, for research. The librarian, Avoca, knows a lot of things about a lot of things. She could, perchance, help you to further train your psychic abilities. Amongst other things, of course."
Tart gave a nod.
"That is a good course of action for the moment. We may desire to get into contact with administration as well."