Brine Episode 1: A Project In The Desert

The centre of Heroica is renowned for being a treacherous desert. Despite that, civilised Pokémon settled very close to that desert in towns and even a city. Perhaps these settlements were intended as respite for travellers who would dare to trek through the harsh sands. Or perhaps they're there to police and contain the feral Pokémon who live in the desert.

But now, there was a plan to change that. A little ways into the central desert, about half a day's march from Heroica's capital of Girage Fields, a settlement was being built. Slowly constructed by no more than two Pokémon, too…

…

"That should do it for today, don't you think?" Brine said. The Pikachu was sat back on the wooden frame of a tall house, where she looked down at a Muk who gathered a few more planks. Despite the house being in the middle of construction, held together by ropework, she leisurely kicked her feet and rocked the wood.

"We'll be done quicker if you helped!" the multicoloured sludge Pokémon replied. He had to look for her, and raised a slimy fist when he spotted her. "Get down from there before you break my hard work!"

"I'm too light for that," she said with a sigh, and twirled her sea blue scarf in a paw. She stretched her legs and then slid down anyway. "Besides, we're almost out of rope and that stuff you put on the sand. We're not gonna get much further today even if we keep going."

"So are you gonna head into the city to get those things or are you just gonna sit around telling me what we can't do?" Muk replied without looking at her. He lifted a heap of wooden planks and slid over to an area made of cobblestone, where he laid them next to piles of other building materials. Several other frames of structures were around them.

"No need to be rude about it. It's like you want me to leave earlier," Brine rolled her eyes.

"Because ever since you got that amulet, you've slowed productivity by seventy-five percent. It's almost like I'm the only one doing the work around here!" Muk raised a fist again.

"Scar. It's been one day. And I didn't spend half of that day arguing with Angel into not leaving so that I could spend it doing nothing. But at some point you've got to realise that it's unfair for a Pokémon like me to spend this long in a desert," Brine said. "I'm already risking my hide going back and forth between the city for you, whether there's money in it for me or not."

He slid over quickly and pointed a drippy finger. "You're fifty percent risking your hide just being alive, and you know it."

She folded her arms and looked away. That one stung. Not because it was true, but because she knew he knew it would sting. He seemed to catch that thought without words, and his angry pose turned into a pleading one.

"What I mean to say is, that's what makes me appreciate your help all the more," he said. His sludge seemed to flow down him a little quicker, as if he was sweating. "I have a one percent chance to stop you from having that journey, so perhaps it is best that this be the last day. I have this awful feeling that that Angel fellow of yours might do something underhanded to push their point, and I don't want to be held responsible for that."

"Just be honest instead of patronising." Brine rolled her eyes again. His eyes narrowed, and then he slowly made his way over to the cobblestone area to grab a pouch and a few other goods. The pouch vanished into his body as he brought it over to her, so she was wary to accept it.

"I say to make this the last delivery request. Put in the order for as much as you can buy with this, and then return to me here. Then you can be on your way as a Shining Warrior," Scar said, trying to force the pouch into her paws. When she eventually took it, she fell forward from the weight. "I can't stop you from being a warrior. As much as it pains me to be alone again, what has to be done, has to be done! Whilst I must build this village in the desert, you must wander the planet. This is one hundred percent fate!"

"Please don't try to sound righteous. It's weird coming from you," she said as she hung the pouch over her shoulder.

"Go. Try to be back before the end of the day. That will allow us to prepare you properly for your trip over the evening. In fact! Take two thousand of that Gald and use it to buy yourself necessities. And don't worry if you go a little overboard. It's the least I can do," he said. He moved to pat her, but she slid away.

"Now there's something I can appreciate. And don't you go getting yourself hurt or buried in quicksand again while I'm gone. I know what you're like," she said.

"Tell me, what do you expect me to do whilst you're away for many hours?" he said, rising up tall.

She raised a finger to answer, but one look around silenced her. They were surrounded by tall hills of sand on all but two sides, while the few structures they had set up looked like they could fall apart if the wind blew too hard. They were miles from the oasis, too.

"Just don't try to do anything you know takes two Pokémon." She smiled cheekily.

She headed deeper into the settlement, where the sand sloped and a corner could be turned around one of the hills. Her few belongings were here: a drawstring backpack, a hood with a sea blue theme like her scarf, and her weapon of choice, a kendama. She wore the hood so that it shaded her face, though it didn't have holes for her ears, so they peeked out the front. Meanwhile, her kendama could poke out of the money pouch for easy access. Then she fastened her fur-tight bracelets, patted her cheeks, and posed with fists raised high. She was coming back, so her actual bag of belongings could wait until later.

"Okay Brine. You can do this. One last run for duty's sake," she whispered to herself, and hopped a few times.

She waved to Scar as she left, who shouted something. It didn't matter to her, now. Once she was on this horrible desert trip, she had to focus or else. The blazing heat that turned up the moment she left their half-built village would be all over her for hours, and no amount of shady hoods or water biology would save her from its wrath.

It had been about a month since she came across that strange Muk. She knew the species as a toxic, trash eating Pokémon or something like that, so having an unusual one that looked and acted – no, was different to the rest of its species, resonated with her. But the difference she learned soon after meeting him was that he was segregated by choice, not by his colour or features.

He was too strange to pass up, though. He was a madman who wanted to build a village in the desert, where normal Pokémon not suited to desert life could live. Something about that wild ambition drove her to stick with him for a month or so. But then, yesterday happened.

Angel had shown up. The Togekiss was argumentative about Brine leaving the desert to meet the other Shining Warriors, but she knew better than to listen to any old Pokémon, legend or not. She couldn't refuse the amulet, so she'd chosen to ignore it for as long as possible and continue helping Scar. She would feel too guilty leaving him to build in the desert alone.

She'd had been on all fours while she was lost in that memory, and stopped to stand up and address that. Sand made her forepaws itchy and blisteringly hot, but she didn't feel it until now. She sighed and pulled her scarf away to reveal her amulet. She had to tear her eyes away though, and resumed her trip.

Without looking at them, she channelled her powers to cure her paws of their burns. Her bracelets glowed for a moment, and then small bubbles of water appeared over her paws. The water soaked back into her after a short while, but just that dip was enough for her to feel better.

…

"After her! She's wasting Bestia!"

"What kinda Pikachu uses water like that, anyway? That wasn't even Surf!"

"She must be one of them half-breed freaks. Kill her like the rest!"

It was like routine. A routine she hated more than anything, but had no reason to accept. Every time she went to a town, the moment a Pokémon or two saw how she handled water, it wouldn't be long before she was chased by a crowd with bladed weapons. In her latest escapade, she at least had the benefit of rainy weather on her side.

It was only a small village with cobble roads and fields surrounding it. A few uses of her powers to help out Pokémon around the village had resulted in the whole population chasing her. Or at least, that's what it felt like.

With all the open space to run around in, she didn't have to worry about accidentally destroying a building or something like she did in the past. Sprinting on all fours, her bracelets flashed and rainwater began to swarm around her in thick streams. She was soon submerged in a beam of water that sped across the land faster than any of her attackers could hope to keep up with.

She glanced back to see their figures fade into the distance, and laughed. The moment she did, water forced its way down her throat and she choked, dispelling her powers completely. With all that momentum, she rolled forward while coughing and sputtering, and ended up splashing headfirst into a swampy puddle somewhere in the middle of the fields. She was so frantic to get up and brush that mud out of her eyes that she slipped and fell right back in, where it felt like it went up her nose this time.

…

The miserable thought made her cringe, hard. "Stop thinking about it. Just stop thinking about it, Brine."

She slowly faced forward. The city, Girage Fields, was in clear sight in the distance. With a sigh, she hugged herself and trekked onward. She couldn't afford for this next trip to end the same way.

Hours passed before she got there. Her face was drenched in sweat, sand itched her sides, and all the other annoyances of a desert trip plagued her form. But despite the trials of the desert being over, she didn't feel like she had respite. Nothing about a populated place could ever feel relieving.

Girage Fields was a huge prairie with towering buildings and a colourful range of facilities dotting the landscape. Well, that's what she could tell of it. There were always a lot of different types of Pokémon around, and all of them were happy to crowd around the fancy looking shops. Flocks of Pidgey and Pidove gathered on rooftops, while bulky, evolved Pokémon like Machoke, Samurott, and Vigoroth took to the grassy streets. The actual structures were no better than the usual Pokémon-shaped wood and straw houses of the many villages she'd been to, but their size and height earned this place the title of city. Meanwhile, the grass and few trees had been cut here and there to make streets and roads.

Don't get distracted now. Just got to get those materials and get out, Brine. She shook her head and stormed off, only to immediately crash into a Larvitar, and two of them nearly fell over.

She heard him curse so she twisted to apologise, but he didn't pay her any mind, to her surprise. A whole crowd were gathering around a stage that had been set up in a city square, loudly chattering to each other. She put a finger to her lip and watched as staff appeared on stage to set up a megaphone and some decorations, and then shook herself.

Forget it, Brine. With all of them there, it gives me a chance to shop in peace, she said to herself. But then it looked like the whole city had shown up to watch whatever was happening, so her curiosity got the better of her. She stopped to watch the stage from a distance with a furrowed brow. The show started when a quirky Flygon showed up.

"Wait, what's up with them?" Brine whispered, and folded her arms.

The Flygon was tangled up in a sash engraved with old runes and markings, yet they didn't seem to trip over themselves in any way. The sash started from somewhere and went around their neck, then over a wing, around their tail a few times, then the opposite arm, and even their hair. Whatever this erratic design choice was, it didn't hinder the Flygon at all.

"Attention, attention please. Settle down now, Pokémon. Allow me to introduce myself to you, first," Flygon said. She had the perfect voice for giving speeches: grand, loud, and smooth. Fittingly, the crowd went quiet and faced her. Brine folded her arms. "My name is Panzer. You will not have ever heard of me, but that is fine. I am usually a professor that obsesses over fieldwork in the wild, uninhabited ruins of Heroica's uncharted. I'm here today only to deliver great news of importance to you all."

The crowd started chattering again, but were silenced by a few tall metal pokemon who joined her on stage. They were bipedal and humanesque, but clothed so densely that she couldn't make out any sort of skin or fur, or even their eyes. Each one held a different weapon in their claws, from swords, to lances, to axes, and more. Brine stayed in a corner to try and keep out of general sight, but the moment she saw those metal clad creatures, she shifted. What in the world are those?

"Perhaps some of you are already aware, but it appears that a new generation of Shining Warriors have been chosen. I've received reports of those with genuine amulets walking Heroica. The legend has begun once again. In time, our powers will return, and this dulling world will grow into the prosperous, natural wonderland it once was," Panzer said, and the crowd started up again. She cleared her throat to regain their attention, and then began to pace the stage as she spoke.

"As good as this news is, there are those who seek to plunge this world into chaos and darkness, however. We must beware of those vile Pokémon and stand against them! If you ever meet a warrior with an amulet, you must do what you can to help them. We cannot afford for our warriors to perish again. Lend them your home for rest, your assistance, fight alongside them, help to guide them on their way where necessary, and root out those would do wrong unto them. These are the simplest ways in which we can help."

What's her point? You're telling me she actually wants to help us? Brine cocked her head.

"As a researcher of ancient legends and happenings, it has come to my attention that this is not the only event set to befall our generation. I must ask you all to trust me, and remain calm," Panzer continued. She twirled a loose end of her sash around a nail. "This event is a great calamity – it does not bode well. Only the Shining Warriors can stop it. So me and my allies are doing the one thing we can do to prepare for it, besides sharing this news to you all."

A few mutterings here and there. Pokémon seemed to be interested.

"On the westernmost edge of Heroica, we are constructing a fortress, the Citadel Stadium. In this place, we will have full control over this event as it befalls our world. From the citadel, we will be able to view the calamity, as well as have the power and position to stop it! But our time is severely limited. We must complete the citadel in a very short space of time. And so, my last request for today is to recruit able bodied Pokémon with knowledge or experience in and surrounding construction. Please come to me and the knights after this. This is a job offering where we need as many Pokémon as is available, so expect great pay and worry not about competition. We need you all." Panzer said. She bowed gracefully, and the loose parts of her sash flowed around her even though there wasn't any wind. "Thank you very much for your time today, busy Pokémon. Merely listening has meant a lot."

"Hold up, ya big hooligan!" a gruff voice shouted. A Tyrantrum shoved his way to the front of the crowd. A Tyranitar and a Rillaboom were close behind, angrily growling at him. "Ya can't just go settin' off everybody's worries with a big ol' warnin' of some great calamity stuff like that and not drop any proof. And we're just supposed ta take ya word for that the Shining Warriors are a thing too, huh?"

"Proof, huh? You mean evidence." Panzer tapped her chin and swayed side to side. She slowly walked to the edge of the stage and struck a dynamic pose, pointing into the distance. Specifically, the desert Brine had just come from. "My research yields accurate forecasts! And my latest forecast says that in the Teriyaki Desert, a Bestia Fountain will awaken. A large dragon from an unknown world will descend to prey upon the ferals of that region. This will happen as early as tomorrow morning. Defeating that dragon will be the Shining Warrior's trial for this generation!"

"Uh, lady? You're still just spoutin' stuff," Tyrantrum said. Even the Pokémon that were angry at him had ceased in confusion.

"I am aware this must seem like unfounded rubbish to you. In fact, I do not expect you to believe it right away. All I ask is that you keep that forecast in mind, and look to that area tomorrow. If you see that I am correct, then I should hope you would help me in building the Citadel. I will stay here for two days, and look forward to gaining the help and trust of burly Pokémon like you," Panzer said, and bowed to them. "Thank you for your time today."

Brine took off the moment the crowd began to disband, and then melded into it. Like it's possible to predict Bestia Fountains opening up. That Pokémon didn't look like an angel, either. Whatever, it's probably just another big city publicity stunt.

Before she could think further, she was bumped from behind and shoved into a Lairon, who then kicked her aside. She almost fell over, but a bench broke her fall. "Ugh. This is why I hate this place."

She had to stand on the bench to get even a decent look at where she was going. The way Pokémon poured out in and out of buildings and filled the paths, it looked like she was going to get pushed wherever they wanted to go rather than wherever she wanted. The only option was to dive into this river of bulky species, let them shove her along, and hope for the best. How does a place so unfair to smaller Pokémon continue to function?

Now if Scar were the one doing this instead, she thought to herself as she shuffled along the wall behind the benches. The material shop she needed wasn't too far from here, only a straight run to the end of this road and then left.

Twenty minutes of bumping and bashing later, and she was there: Gurdurr's Construction. She never understood how it worked, but the big guy had a whole plot of land dedicated to his shop smack bang in the middle of the city. A hut in the shape of a Conkeldurr's face sat at the front of a massive area closed off by a sturdy metal fence, where one could see gigantic piles of steel, wood, and floor materials that stretched for acres. The area was always dusty and peach coloured, a complete opposite to the soft colours and fields of the rest of the city. But you always got what you wanted when you came here, so she never questioned that contrast.

"If you think I'm shutting down my business because a bunch of metal clods say so outta nowhere, you've got another thing coming!" a gruff voice shouted as she walked in. "Do you have any idea how hard I have to work just to barely make ends meet? And now you're gonna try and shut me down for what, some silly nerd's fantasy fears? Get real!"

Brine slowed down and hid. A group of four of those metal Pokémon from the stage show had confronted the Gurdurr and Timburr running the place. They exchanged glances and then bowed. "We are only suggesting this as a safety procedure due to the circumstances. Believe us or not, it is fact that the Shining Warriors have awakened, and their activity will greatly change the terrain of the land."

"Master Gurdurr. The locations on the sheet are the only places left that are safe to build on. Building anywhere else risks the safety of lives," another metal Pokémon said, and tapped his lance on the floor. "You have been warned. With that, we shall leave you."

She had to squeeze against the wall as they marched out, and then warily made herself known. Gurdurr had openly aggressive movements until he noticed her. "Gah! Sorry about that, assuming you saw it all."

"I didn't see much. What happened?" She walked in.

"They want to restrict my team from building since they're trying to predict where the Bestia Fountains will appear. But I just got a ton of material, and lots of Pokémon are lookin' to buy. I can't just brush them off because of some kids playing hero!" he said, stomping around the room. He slammed his iron girder on the floor so hard that the whole building shook. "This shit happened last time! Those stupid heroes costing me a fortune without doing a damn thing for me."

Brine was hesitant to comment. The Shining Warriors being held in low regard wasn't new to her, but now that she was one, the indirect rage hit different. "I-I'm sure they're just taking precautions. Just, y'know, if it did turn out to be true, it wouldn't be a very nice mistake to make."

"It's a very big if. I know from last time, anyway. Pokémon told me to help 'em out, so I did. Gave 'em a whole chunk of hard weapons and treasures, even Derris Ore. That shit sells for a fortune!" He slammed his girder again. His fists cracked and veins throbbed. "I thought it was fishy that they kept coming back, but I thought I'd be the nice guy, play hero's helper and all that. Next thing I hear, they're living the high life, drinking and partyin' down at the lounge!"

They were partying? Instead of doing Shining Warrior stuff? Brine cocked her head.

"Can ya believe it? Shining Warriors, prophesized to bring back our powers and all that, cheating me off and selling my treasures for waste money. I expect that shit from the Impidimp, not mature-ass Pokémon like that," he said.

Could he have been cheated by imposters? If the Shining Warriors were goofing off, Angel would have stopped them, surely? Brine rubbed her chin. "Anyone would be upset if that happened to them, Shining Warriors or not. That's a real waste."

"Right? I'ma continue on the way I do things now, anyway. If they show up, then they show up; I'm not gonna treat them any different from any old Pokémon. Until we get our Pokémon attacks back, Gurdurr Construction has gotta do what it's gotta do!" he said, and threw a fist up high. "Which brings us back to business. What'cha here for, Brine?"

"Oh, er, I came for another boost for Scar's thing. I don't have a list this time because he wanted to get everything you could spare," she said, handing him the money pouch.

"That old village in the desert stunt? You guys're mad, but you're paying and you're not comin' back with broken bits and complaints, so… something must be happening," he said as he stuck his nose in the pouch and rummaged. He rubbed his chin with a finger and wandered over to the back door. "This is pretty hefty. A whole twenty-eight thousand gald. Tell ya what. I'll count up what this can get ya and then bring it over to your site later, personal delivery and all."

"That's a really big help, but won't you be leaving your shop unguarded?" Brine gasped.

"It's the least I can do for ya. You've been a regular for a while now, and you listened to an angry old fool rant, haw haw haw!" he said, and smacked his chest. "Ya hear that, Timburr boys? We've got an evening's worth of heavy liftin' to do! Let's get to work!"

Timburr popped out from behind desks, doors, or other corners of the office, and cheered with a raise of their fists or wood blocks. The positivity made her relax and smile a bit, so she bowed to him. "Thank you, sir."

"Aw, don't get all formal on me. Just come back in a few hours and let me know if the list of materials and stuff is OK, alright?" he said with an eager snicker.

She waved him goodbye and was off, after that. That went smoothly, but his rant kept repeating in her head. Not that she knew who the old Shining Warriors were, but the idea that Pokémon chosen to be heroes would flaunt their status to party instead. It was hard to believe. At least, she knew she would never do anything like that.

Or did this count as messing around? Not listening to Angel and carrying on with the construction of the desert village. The potential began to gnaw at her, and she clutched the amulet by her chest. Why me? What could I have that could possibly make me a Shining Warrior?

She sighed as she looked out at the crowded streets. Not looking forward to fighting this one again. Maybe some food ought to calm me down and clear my head.

And back into the crowd she went. A river of conversations blurred together, while the Pokémon all seemed to be more restless than earlier. She noticed a lot more running and pushing, and a lot less cursing and complaining directed at her. There was no doubt, too – she kept hearing them mention the Shining Warriors. They were the talk of the town.

"Does that mean we're gonna get our powers back?"

"Only if they're not lazy again. They were real party poopers last time."

"I hope one of the warriors is hot. Wouldn't it be cool to have a hot warrior wife?"

"Get real! Like they'd wanna settle with a bug type like you."

"I wonder who'd waste time hunting the warriors?"

"The way the underworld works, you'd probably get paid a fortune for killing them."

Even an hour and a bit later when she sat down to eat, she couldn't help but eavesdrop. She had never stopped to listen to the comments of the public before, mostly due to not caring about them. But now that they were talking about her, her heart twisted from the personal attacks. As she slowly chewed through a roll of pecha bread, she played with her amulet behind her scarf. Her ears twitched irritably as the trio on the table behind her started up.

"What was that theory you came up with earlier? You said something about the Shining Warriors and celebrities," Delcatty began.

"Oh, that. It was something my Dad told me. It sounded like garbage, but then the last Shining Warriors turned out to be those awful Pignite, right?" the Floatzel of the group replied.

"What's this about now? Go on, I love your dad's crazy conspiracy stuff," Glaceon leaned on the table.

"Well, them Shining Warriors are supposed to be part of an ancient legend, right? But that legend's ancient for a reason. Who out here genuinely believes in old mystery and magical stories nowadays?" Floatzel said with a snicker. "It's all just some publicity stunt to make fake celebrities. They spread rumours to make up a legend, then everyone hails them as heroes before their story comes true. They get to eat like kings and get free stuff from everyone, while we work ourselves raw hoping to get powers we aren't going to get."

"That's disgusting. You're saying they're using us?" Delcatty leaned back.

"Yeah. I thought it was bullshit too, but then we had the last set of heroes. I heard way too many stories about them to believe they were assholes. Drank like Wailmer, partied like Spinda, did nothing useful!" Floatzel said.

"Ugh, tell me about it. I heard they stole from Kecleon and stuff. The women looked pretty flaunty, too. Now that I think about it, what you said is probably what they were doing," Glaceon said.

"How many guys do you think they got with to spread rumours that strong, though? It takes a lot to motivate a guy in a city like this." Delcatty giggled.

"Oh, does it? How do you know that?" Glaceon said with a cheeky, half-lidded smirk.

"Oh please, don't go spreading rumours about me, now. Do you know how many guys chat me up? They all want a touch of this fur coat," she said.

"I kid, of course. Even if you did do that stuff, it's hardly as despicable as those supposed Shining Warriors." Glaceon said.

"You see what I mean, though?" Floatzel laughed. "That Flygon was probably in on the whole mess, too. Like, what was she even talking about? Forecasting a fountain or something?"

"Don't look at me! All the stuff she said was weirder than she looked. She had all those creepy steel knights with the spears and swords and stuff on her side, too. Did you see them?" Glaceon hissed.

"I wonder if they're part of the deal. There were loads of them, too. Would they really put in that much effort just to try and play us?" Delcatty said.

"You'd be surprised. They're countryside Pokémon, right? Pretty sure they're pretty good actors… and liars. Those old kids have got all sorts of silly folklore they grow up believing." Floatzel said, and swished a paw through the air. "Whether it's true or not, I'm not giving them a coin even if they kissed my feet."

"Way to say it. Pokémon won't ever be Pokémon again. Everybody knows that." Delcatty nodded.

"Yeah. Wish they wouldn't choose such a sensitive topic, too. Imagine getting so many Pokémon's hopes up just to be a flaunty slag."

By now, Brine's paws were curled into fists and her head was an inch away from the table. She'd finished her bread mostly, though what was left of it had been crushed into crumbs. Is this really what Pokémon think of the Shining Warriors?

She pushed her plate away and stood up fast, inciting a silence in the room. But she didn't care. Some kind of adrenaline fuelled her. All she could think about was defending herself. She stood over the table those Pokémon were at with curled fists and a fierce frown. "Are you listening to yourselves right now?"

"Huh?" Floatzel replied. Brine grit her teeth. "What's your problem?"

"I said, are you listening to yourselves right now?" Brine said firmly.

"Were you eavesdropping? I think that's a bigger problem, lil' lady," Glaceon said.

"Didn't you parents ever tell you not to listen to grownups when they're talking?" Delcatty added.

"With your volume, kids would hear you even if they plugged their ears," Brine said. "Either way, what's with that attitude? Do you guys want Pokémon to get their powers back or what?"

"Oh, don't tell me you actually believe that Shining Warrior jumbo?" Floatzel swished a paw through the air again. "Trust me, kid. You're better off not believing in that crap. If your folks ever told you Pikachu could shoot electricity, that ain't ever happening in your lifetime, ever."

Brine shivered. She couldn't pull her trigger too quickly, but she was very tempted to blast this whole group with water, right here and now. "Why do you think like that?"

"'Cos it's true? I'm a big old Floatzel now, yet I ain't never even seen a real Pokémon do a Water Gun or an Aqua Jet. Believing I could ever do something like that would be stupid!" he said. "So it really ticks me off that there's a bunch of inconsiderate bastards out there hyping up everyone's belief for freebies."

"Ask yourself: if the Shining Warriors heard the way you guys were talking just now, do you think they would want to save you?" Brine raised her voice. The trio shifted back a little. "If everybody hates them without knowing who they are, why would they bother saving the world?"

"So what, you some kind of defender?" Glaceon said.

"I don't think it's very smart of you picking a fight, kid," Delcatty added, standing over her.

She grit her teeth and clenched her fists tight to stand up to them, but the moment she felt her feet dampen, she gasped and froze. Her powers were coming out, and she just about hid them before it became obvious. No, Brine. It's not worth it.

She turned and stomped off, but the light splish sounds from where her water her appeared was unmistakable. Thankfully, it seemed the Pokémon ignored it, but she could still hear them as she stepped out.

"Tsk. Freaking weirdo," Floatzel said.

"Probably has delusional parents. Gotta feel sorry for when reality hits," Glaceon said.

Her mind was rushing. Clouded. She couldn't hear anything but the cynical comments she'd heard all day. Hatred and untrue statements. Even the crowd seemed to have caught on to the aura around her, and she was able to walk through without bumping into anyone. Head down, fists at her sides, and a furious glare stuck on her face. She headed back toward the desert, where the crowd grew thin and she got the space to stop.

She slowly looked up. The sun was soon to set, so its glare off the sand ahead wasn't blinding. She still squinted at it, spotting wheel tracks. Gurdurr had already set off.

"This place," she mumbled. Pokémon may think that way in the city, but I still met Scar, and Gurdurr. Despite the impossible task, the lot of them are working together to try and build a village in the desert, of all places.

She slowly turned to face the city. Families and friends sat on benches to snack and chat, while flocks of flying types headed home from above. The shopkeepers stood out front, either taking in their display goods or chatting with what few customers they could get. Wherever she looked, things looked lively.

Maybe that's why I'm a Shining Warrior. I'm the kind of idiot who'd still go through it all to help Pokémon like this. Scared of anything outside their comfortable norm. We've spent so long without our powers that we barely feel like magical creatures anymore, she thought. She shook her head and slowly pulled her hood back. Her ears flicked right back into place. Not everyone thinks this way, though. I just have to believe that. I wouldn't have met Scar if that wasn't true. And on top of that, I wouldn't have been born.

That made her gasp. That's right. Most of these Pokémon don't even know that Undine exist… how watermarked Pokémon come to be. But somewhere out there, there was a Pokémon that fell in love with an Undine, and gave birth to me. Somewhere, there are Pokémon open to accepting anything, even scary things they don't know, and they can love those things. My journey is for those Pokémon…

…

That night, despite the busyness of the builders being around and Scar's praise, Brine felt melancholic. This would be the last time she would fight the desert to get building stuff for the village. She didn't think the feeling would hit as hard, yet here she was, wide awake in a sleeping bag staring up at the stars.

She dressed herself for the journey so that she could set off first thing in the morning. The hood was replaced by bright blue goggles, while her kendama now fit into a proper travel backpack. She had everything she needed for a trip around Heroica. Well, everything she could get to prepare.

Now that everything had become as quiet as howling wind, she couldn't help but think of the possibilities. She knew nothing about the Shining Warriors other than the rumours of the old ones. This journey could either go smoothly, or disastrously.

Or it could be the same as her journey until she met Scar. She wouldn't have a problem with that.

She turned on her side and sighed. I don't even know if I want to do this or not. I don't want to seem lazy or entitled…

She was drawing shapes in the sand with a finger, and stopped. She couldn't finish her own sentence. But she sat there and tried to, and kicked herself to her feet with a loud groan. "This whole thing is stupid!"

Wandering out of the enclose, she quickly regretted getting out. It was freezing out here, enough to have to hug herself and shiver. It didn't seem to be affecting Scar though, who to her surprise, was out by the opening to their enclose. "You're awake?"

"Huh? That's my line. You need to be rested for your departure. You'll increase your chances by sixty percent if you sleep well," he said with a fist raised high.

"Yeah yeah, doesn't mean I can just do it," she said, joining him. There was a lengthy silence. "Hey. You gonna be okay when I'm gone?"

"Bah, don't start dropping that on me. I was perfectly fine even before you were here! Eighty percent done with this stuff. Production won't slow when you're away," he said.

She turned to him with a furrowed brow. "When I met you, you hadn't even started."

"Ahem. I was eighty percent done with the preparations. Yes," he said, scratching his head. She leaned back. She never knew he even had a head to scratch. "With Gurdurr and that lot here though, construction will go just as smoothly. Progress won't stagger."

"Hmpf. Nice to know you're gonna miss me." She rolled her eyes. Another pause. "Okay, this one's serious."

"Go ahead."

"When I'm gone, don't tell those guys that I'm watermarked. Don't tell anyone that I'm watermarked. They can't know about my powers, or that I was here, okay?" she said.

"That's an unexpected tone for you," he said. She glared at him seriously, so he grumbled and turned to the desert. "Your secret is safe with me. But once your journey begins and tales of your battles spread, it may become known. You're aware of that, right?"

"Of course," she said with a nod. "I just want to walk around without challenge for a while longer."

Just then, the ring of a giant bell echoed across the sands. It was louder than an Exploud, yet smooth enough that it didn't ring her ears. Each bong came about two seconds apart, and after the third ring, a gush of light flowed across the world.

Brine gasped and spun around to face the source of the light waves. There was no doubt that they came from somewhere deep in their enclose. "What's?"

"Is something wrong?" Scar said.

"Can't you hear that? Or see that?" she gasped. Scar didn't react, so she groaned and ran off.

"Wait, where ya running?" he cried.

In the centre of the enclose, where the dunes grew tall enough to surround the village and cover it in shade, light was erupting out of the ground. Gurdurr and the Timburr were already there, but Brine pushed them aside.

"Brine! What's going on, what is this?" Gurdurr said.

She couldn't answer. She didn't know. That bell kept ringing, and with it, a lake of bright blue light swirled and rippled into existence before her eyes. With each ring, a wave of light blew past her. And then the light burst from the ground in a towering pillar that engulfed them. She cried and shielded her eyes, but adjusted quickly.

Did we get teleported? she gasped in her mind. The blue light had been replaced the sandy floor below their feet, while waves of blue and white flowed across the background like an aurora. She could still see the dunes of the desert and the frames of their village in the distance, implying they hadn't gone anywhere.

"This. I've seen this before. I am one hundred percent certain. This is a Bestia Fountain!" Scar said as he slid his way between them.

"A Bestia Fountain?" Brine and Gurdurr gasped. They exchanged glances, and then glared at Scar.

"Them knights gave me a warning, they said this area had the potential to be one. If you're being serious, then… no, this has to be a trick!" Gurdurr raised his voice.

"No… Panzer said there'd be one in the desert," Brine said quietly with a blank stare. The fighting type growled and closed his fists, but shivered hard.

"You're serious? This is actually the trial site for one of them Shining Warriors?" he said slowly.

"I wouldn't forget this glow. That blue light always signals the coming of some terrible monster," Scar said.

"It actually happened… a Bestia Fountain actually opened up somewhere I was building," Gurdurr whispered.

"Look alive! Something's coming!" Brine said, facing forward.

From the brightest white of the light on the ground, a monster was in fact appearing. Brine stood back as she identified a thin but large, draconic body as it rose. Spiky wings adorned the tips of a jagged, purple body, and the creature roared as it pulled itself free. Its lower half wasn't serpentine or bipedal like most dragon Pokémon she recognised, however. Instead, it was huge, round, and sported an comically large stinger. She almost thought it was a mutated Beedrill if not for its featureless, visor-like eyes and pink claws.

"What is that?" she whispered.

"Brine, this is your thing. It's up to you," Scar said. "Look! The amulet glows. It is time for you to do your duty."

"Wait, you're a Shining Warrior? Is that why this thing is here?" Gurdurr cried.

"I seriously don't know the answer or what's going on here at all," she said, glancing at her amulet. It glowed brightly, and the symbol of a sword had appeared inside of it. She spun to pull her kendama free and then leaned forward, ready for battle. "Let's just focus on not letting this thing hurt us, okay?"

"Grr, alright, whatever. Timburr, don't get in the way!" Gurdurr shouted as he joined her side. Scar stood between them with both arms raised, and then the monster roared at them, loud and strong enough to blow a heavy wind against them.

Brine expected the first move to be an array of savage slashes and stabs. With a stinger that large, this monster would be silly not to, or it was simply toying with them. But instead of coming right for them, the monster leaned forward and laid on the floor, holding itself up with its claws.

"What?" she whispered seconds before danger. With an otherworldly bellow, a stream of flames fired from its mouth, which spread the further they went. By the time the fire reached the group, it was a wall of flame, and the three of them crossed their arms over their fronts.

For Brine, her powers activated on instinct. Her bracelets glowed, and a bubble of water formed around her. Although it doused the flames, she was left surrounded by a humid cloud of steam thick enough to blur her view.

"Damn it!" Gurdurr's voice came through. He'd charged ahead to try and hit the monster, but just one of its claws held back his girder like it was a toy. The size difference between the two was frightening. When Brine's view settled, it looked like the monster might bite Gurdurr in half.

"Gurdurr!" she shouted, and flicked an arm up. A pillar of water sprouted between Gurdurr and the monster, but it barely helped. He stumbled back for a moment, and then the monster backhanded him away.

She growled and tightened her grip on her weapon. She would need a lot more power than that to make that thing flinch. But she knew better than to throw away her water in a big attack. She still had the desert to think about.

In her moment of hesitation, the monster took off into the air, its wings creating heavy pulses that pushed the group back. Then it aimed its stinger at them, and its body swelled.

"Get behind me!" Scar cried.

Before the trio could do that, a glob of purple fluid flew from the stinger straight towards Brine. She reacted with a flick of her kendama, which threw the ball across her front. A wave of water followed the ball, which blocked the poison attack just in time.

The monster let out a low growl and kept its stinger aimed at her. It began to fire several bursts of fluid, glob after glob with erratic aim somewhere in her direction. Brine gasped and took off towards Scar, where she had to dive to get behind him. Gurdurr was already there.

"I swear that's Sludge Bomb?" he asked, crouched behind the Muk.

"And a fire attack earlier, too. This thing can use Pokémon attacks, while we can't," Brine growled. She tried to look up, but it just kept spitting poison at them. Even though Scar took the attacks with his back, his face twisted with strain and grumbles.

Ugh, just do it, Brine. Do it! Hit 'em where it hurts! she shouted to herself, and stood up. She focused on her kendama, manipulating the toy in way that made the ball bounce in a pattern. A thin stream of water formed to draw that pattern, which then surrounded her body. Seconds later, Brine was submerged in water, while the same pattern formed above her head, made entirely of water. The bigger it got, the more Brine tensed up, and her throat began to dry.

The monster's attacks stopped when it noticed Brine's special move, and that signalled her to unleash it. With a shout and a thrust of her paw, the water above her shot forwards in a beam. In the blink of an eye, it smashed into the monster's chest, and it recoiled and screeched violently.

"Yes!" Scar pumped a fist. His smile reversed as quickly as it came, though.

Her attack had merely knocked the monster back. It wasn't taken off balance, nor did it show any damage as a result. And a quick glance at Brine showed that the attack had put her on one paw and a knee. She gasped for breath, and her voice sounded like it had dried out.

Once the water stopped, the monster made a noise, and then pointed its maw again. The gleam of a Flamethrower grew within, and that threw Scar into turmoil. "Guys, I see a less than ten percent chance we can get through this."

"Less math crap, more movement!" Gurdurr said as he scooped up Brine and made a break for it. The Flamethrower just about missed him, but it wouldn't stop coming either, so he had to run to escape it.

"Gurdurr!" Brine gasped. The sound of flames grew louder frighteningly fast, and then a heated blast went off. Gurdurr was thrown to the floor with an agonising cry, and fell on top of her. They scraped and rolled against sandy cobbles, even though all they could see was the light of the fountain.

Brine was the first to stand back up. She breathed hard through her mouth and wiped her forehead, but flinched when she felt a cut. Gurdurr beside her was barely any better. His back was blackened by the fire attack. Scar was sliding toward them in a panic, while the monster glared from a distance.

"It's so powerful," she whispered, shivering at the sight of it. What the heck can I do? I'm practically out of water, these two can't get close, and we haven't dealt any damage at all. Is this is how difficult the Shining Warrior trials are?

The monster's growls grew deeper as it slowly drew closer. Brine stumbled backward at the same pace, gritting her teeth at it. Do we have to try and use Bestia, too? Or is there some other secret trick to beating it?

Her focus shattered the moment it opened its mouth again. Out came another wave of fire, which she thrust her paws at to try and channel her powers. But her body stiffened, and no water came. An instant before that fire hit, she gasped and her eyes widened.

And then her mind blanked out. She couldn't hear, and even though she shut her eyes, orange and red smeared her view. She knew that she screamed out, but she couldn't hear anything. This only lasted for a second, and broke when her back hit the cobbles below, which were cool and cold compared to the flames that bathed her front.

Her body was blistering. The kind of pain that's so intense that it doesn't register right away. Her senses came back one by one, and were mostly focused on which parts of her hurt the most. The burning sensation seemed to quickly die down, though only to a level that felt like her front had been torn off. Her breaths were hoarse and heavy, and her heart raced.

"Brine! Brine, say something!" Scar shouted.

"Get yourself together you old pile of goop! You're gonna poison her!" Gurdurr shouted and slapped Scar away. He growled as he cradled her without hesitation. "We're getting' outta here. One way or another."

She managed to gasp, and then sputtered weakly. "Wa-wait, what about the village? A-and your girder…"

"We're making the right move, Brine. There's no way we're beating that thing as we are now," Scar said.

Brine grit her teeth. I thought I was strong enough to do this. My water powers can do anything, and I still lost to this.

The monster allowed them to run away, though it watched them the whole time. When they disappeared behind the light of the fountain, it shook the world with a feral roar which sounded like a screech.

As for Brine and the group, they didn't stop until they were far into the desert. Gurdurr collapsed onto all fours as a sweaty mess, while Scar slumped forward, his crystals marked with burns. Brine managed to sit up, but shivered in her efforts to try and stand up. She was covered from head to toe in black marks.

They were on a tall dune that overlooked the Bestia Fountain. She couldn't take her eyes off it, even though it hurt to look at. A month of work, of hopes and dreams, gone. All because she wasn't strong enough. All because she hadn't taken Angel seriously when she became a Shining Warrior.

But what hurt the most was her failure of duty. Those negative, cynical words flowed through her mind again. She wasn't a lazy scumbag of a phony hero, but one that was too weak to do what she needed to do.

To her, she was just as bad.