Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Dare to Dream

Chapter 4

A Riven across Worlds

The sounds of swooning songbirds filled the cool noon air. Opening his eyes, Felix saw the dark stone ceiling of his unrefined shelter looming so close over him. Looking out into the opening to his side, the light from the outside world was blinding to his unadjusted eyes, appearing only as a bright white blur from within the confined black space. Dragging himself across the damp moss-ridden floor and out from the cold interior, he emerged into the late morning light.

A coral blue sky with a modest overcast enveloped the atmosphere above him. Getting up off the ground and stretching his stiff limbs to the heavens above, he wholeheartedly filled his lungs with the fresh, crisp air of the day. With his arms stretched above him, he noticed that the pain in his side had largely diminished- either that, or this large feeling of hunger he felt in his stomach had blotted out that pain. As much as he didn't like the idea, he knew he would have to travel back inside the village to chance any amount of food. And if he were lucky, maybe Star might be willing to help. He could try foraging for berries or produce in the nearby wilderness, but it'd be too risky given that he was wholly unfamiliar with both the area and the wildlife. From there, he would try completing jobs to begin amassing some funding for his plan going forward.

Rubbing the lingering sleep from his eyes with his hands, he frowned when he retracted his palms and held them out in front of him. Still blue. Still soft. Looking more like paws than hands. With a disgruntled grunt, he trekked down the slope that was now slick with morning dew into the lively village below. A tickling sensation from his backside that he just couldn't place as he went down the small hill was felt, repeating that same damp coolness from the grass that he felt on his feet. Turning around, he saw another dreary sight: he had been dragging his tail along the ground, which was evident through the earthly-brown color that was present on the tip of his new appendage. Another sigh escaped his throat.

Walking along a dirt path back into the village with small sprouting saplings of trees beside the way, he observed monsters he was familiar with: a Weedle and Swablu were engaged with a Deliberd alongside the street, conversing amongst themselves and expressing glee as the Deliberd peddled small wares from its tail cavity. He saw the low bug-like creature with purple whiskers and beady eyes from the night before speaking with a larger hawk with dark-blue down and fierce red stripes: a Swellow. Going further inside the village, the Swellow glided above him with its magnificent wing span as it passed overhead towards the skeletal tower, turning sharply around its beams and flying speedily over the treetops towards the horizon. More bustled about themselves and with others he had seen the night before, haggling with roadside facilities set on vibrant green shortgrass, each housing various items or services, he assumed. A gentle breeze washed over him, as pure as light that bathed the village, stirring the colorful tags that decorated the ropes which connected the torch posts beside the roads. A path ahead was dug up to about a few inches below the surface, revealing the dark, moist soil below. The low muscular beast with arms the size of tree trunks that Felix saw the previous night was mixing some unknown liquid in a large black vat beside the road with a thin wooden pole. Besides the bulky monster were a couple Machops moving some tan bags that sagged along the ground, as well as a set of two smooth stone pillars and several shovels of varying sizes which laid idly on the grassy terrain by piles of fresh unearthed dark dirt.

Arriving back at the plain booth and bulletin board, Felix spotted Didja still awake and alert atop his lectern as he idly swung his head and body rhythmically, with a new inkpot to join his old one beside him. He called out to the Murkrow. "Didja?"

The shifty bird looked towards Felix as he approached the station, a wide open smile forming with his beak. "Mister Felix! A good noon to you!" Stopping in front of the lectern, Felix was puzzled seeing the Murkrow being so full of energy despite being wide awake the night before. He had assumed that Didja was on a night shift, and that someone else would've been here in the morning.

"Didja, what are you still doing here? I thought you'd be off and asleep someplace. Aren't you tired?" The Murkrow took a proud stance upon his lectern, staring adamantly off into the distance.

"That is what one might think, mister Felix! But worry not! I never sleep! I am here at all hours, to render aid to all who want it!" Felix's face became scrunched up like an old, battered rag as he gave a gentle nod in pity. Snapping out his trance, Didja peered over to Felix with a knowing grin. "So, mister Felix… did ya give more thought about making a team and taking jobs from this here illustrious board?"

Felix nodded. "Yeah, some thought. Not as much thought as I'd like to put into something like this, but… yes. Yes, I'll make a team and take some jobs." Didja's smile widened across his beak and he began steadily beating his talons against the ledge of the lectern he was perched on.

"Oh, that is simply wonderful! Now, have you got a name for this team ready? Ooh, I know it's a good one! Something that'll make folks happy to hear!" Hearing this, Felix lowered a single brow.

"Name? I don't… no, I don't have a name ready. Can I go without a name for now?" The Murkrow nodded its head understandingly.

"But of course! No name, huh? I'll jot it down that there is nothing to jot down! But regardless, congratulations, mister Felix! Welcome aboard the New Galar Expedition Company!"

Felix blankly stared at Didja. Then he swiveled his head around, looking at his surroundings as if he had missed something. "Really? Just like that? No paperwork, or tests, or anything like that? Just a, 'welcome aboard,' with a handwave?" Felix asked.

"Typically it's just the former, but yessir! As I've said, we really are quite pressed for the help! As such, many barriers have steadily been removed over time for the purposes of attracting new faces! We even had a swell bonus for signing up!"

"And did that work?"

Ignoring Felix's question, Didja ducked beneath the surface of the lectern and could be heard briefly rummaging through a drawer. The Murkrow jumped back up a moment later with a small bronze object clasped in his beak. With a sharp flick of his head, Didja tossed it to Felix who caught it with one hand. Examining it, it seemed to be a bronze badge shaped into an intricate shield sectioned into four parts, with two crossed broadswords behind it, and a flattened crown lining the top. Four small footprints of differing monsters were engraved into the shield, with one footprint in each section. "There you are, mister Felix! A nifty badge to officiate you!" Felix fidgeted with the bronze badge in his hands, feeling its smooth edges and cool metallic touch between his stubby fingers.

"Alright. Besides the trinket, are you still offering that bonus?"

"Ooh, I'm very much sorry, mister Felix! We had offered that swell bonus some time ago, but we no longer offer such a prize anymore! It was quite the pretty penny too, as well as some handy supplies, but that's in the past!"

At the news, Felix silently cursed to himself. "Right, well, do you at least have anything left over? Anything at all? How about one of those bags, like the one Star has. You have to have something left," he pleaded.

"Oh, no! Those bags were a benefit of creating an expedition team before my time! The capital cut the benefits, like those bags, some time ago. I imagine miss Star simply procured that bag from Team Horizon, since it is to my understanding that they were the first team to be registered. But a bag should be a simple thing to acquire anyhow, even without that bonus! But, if you would like a little something…"

Felix eagerly leaned forward against the lectern that towered over his new diminutive size. "Yeah? What do you have?" Didja turned around and ducked his head beneath the lectern, returning back up with a familiar and disheartening broad piece of paper rolled with twine, tossing it to Felix with a pathetic plop as it hit the bare ground.

"Have the map! I recall you being quite kerfuffled last night about the land here, so consider it a little gift from me to you to help find your way!" Felix sighed and picked up the coarse roll of paper, tucking it underneath his arm.

"Well, it's something. Thanks."

Spinning on a talon, Didja flourished his wings towards the board laden with papers pinned to its surface. "Now, mister Felix! Pick a job from the board, and go forth and seize the day!" A frown steadily grew on Felix's face as he looked at each paper. All of them were covered with more of those footprints that he knew nothing of.

"Didja…" he started. "I can't read."

Didja's fervently shaking wings drooped from the board to the sides of his small frame. "Oh… Well… I suppose we all… Ooh, I know! I'll pick one out for you! I see you're on your own, and considering you're a recent rescue, we'll start off nice and simple!" Hopping off the lectern onto the ground in front of Felix, Didja hopped over to the board and peered his small head up, looking over each riddled sheet with keen eyes. Didja leaned forward with a squint, then suddenly flapped up to the board, grabbing and pulling off one of the many papers, then fluttered over back to his spot on the lectern with the paper in his talon. "Here's a real simple one, mister Felix! There's a client traveling here along Route 91, the same route I believe you traveled on just yesterday! They wish to be received along the intersection of 91 and 92, and escorted to this here fine village! You simply need to keep their escort timely and safe, given the rise in criminal activity in the area. Safety in numbers, and whatnot!"

"So just down the same path?" Retrieving the map from beneath his shoulder, Felix undid its coarse twine and held the paper out in front of him, revealing the same charted land as before.

"Yes sir, mister Felix! It's a fair bit farther than 'just down that path,' but you still should be very well able to bring them back before the sun sets!" Looking at the map, Felix attempted to gauge precisely where they were. A fair amount of black lines were scrawled on the map, tracing themselves around the plains and topography present on the map, each one connecting to more punctuated black dots that were few and far between; a black web of weaving lines that he found himself entangled in. Noticing Felix's growing squint at the mess of unfamiliar routes in front of him, Didja let out a chortle from his beak. "Oh, that's right! You don't know quite where we are, do you? Just look along the upper west coast along the map- the village is near the shore there. It just hasn't been added to that map yet, it seems. Just travel east along the same route as yesterday until you come across an intersection between 91 and 92!"

"A straight shot to an intersection, right?" Didja hastily nodded at Felix's question. "Alright, hold on to the map for me until I get back. I don't want to lose it, so keep your talons on it for me until I get back, got it?" Jumping up and placing the paper on the lectern's surface, Didja retracted the map with a talon towards him.

"By your word, mister Felix! I shall safeguard your map with my life! This job should be but a lovely stroll for you! Now, the sooner the better, so get!" Didja dismissively shooed away Felix with dark wings that batted at the air. Felix gave a curt nod to the Murkrow and began making his way to the village entrance from the simple station.

Passing by short wooden buildings along the clear dirt path, he observed the short-kempt grass and sparse rocks beside the road, which were bathed in gentle light from what glow could pierce the overcast above. But what caught his attention more, was how peaceful the inhabitants seemed. The Delibird from earlier was now sitting on a rock, contently eating a pear, its sweet juices dripping from its beak. Nearby perched atop one of the torch posts was a sleeping Swablu, its cloud-like wings puffed out and absorbing what warm light they could, nestling its own body between them like a heavenly pillow. Just below it was a Weedle and a Wurmple, calmly conversing just below as if the predator wasn't looming so close overhead. Giving a short confused sigh as he passed the sight, he looked ahead and saw a reassuring figure, giving him a small smile.

"Hey, Felix! Nice to- woah, you still haven't cleaned yourself." The conflicted response came from Star as she and Willow came up from the path ahead. Felix gave a short wave, then examined himself; taking a look at his body, his blue fur was matted and dirty, covered in spots of soil and a little dry blood from the night before. He scoffed.

"Hey there, Star." Felix shot a glance towards Willow, who was slouching their posture and had an inattentive, wandering eye. The slouthful gaze passed right over Felix, drifting off to the side. "He, uh… what's going on with him?" Felix asked. Willow slowly slid his gaze back over onto Felix, a tired stare made plain upon his lone red eye.

"Apologies, little filthy one… the daytime is not to my kind's liking, but alas, duty calls. Now come, Star. We've work." With a small grunt, Willow began trudding his way further into the village, heading towards the board where Didja worked- not noticing that Star had not gone with him.

"There he goes…" mumbled Star. "Just full of energy as always…"

Looking back to Felix, Star's eyes widened when she saw what he was holding in his hand. "Felix… you made a team?" Felix held out the bronze badge in front of him, taking a moment to admire the small brooch.

"Believe me, even I'm surprised. But the money is something I need if I'm going to make my way home. To Marea. Maybe even buy myself something to eat afterwards, too. Anyway, I'm off to a job now."

"Really? That's great!" exclaimed Star. "Nice to know that there's at least one paw to help around here." She gave a frown at her own remark. Curious, Felix walked over to her.

"You say it like you and Willow haven't been out and about," he commented. "Why, just yesterday, I overheard you say you were looking for someone's thing or whatever, and you helped me. Seems like you've been keeping busy with this helping stuff." Star gave a short huff through her snout, causing a small ember to shoot out and Felix to recoil back, and looked away.

"Yes, we did help you. And that's about the only help we've done! Willow has had us looking for that item for a week! And he nor Didja seem to know what we're even looking for! Everytime I ask him, he just says, 'We'll know it when we see it, Star!'" she said while mockingly imitating Willow's deep voice. "It's just so… so… infuriating! There are Pokémon who need our help, and we're just looking for someone's scarf for all we know!" Star's brow was furrowed in frustration at this point.

"Well…" Felix spoke up. "Here's to hoping you get to help out more the way you want," he said while walking past her. "I should probably hit the trail." Star gave a small sigh and began walking away to where Willow had trudded off to.

"Yeah, you're right. Someone around here has to do the jobs posted. Good luck, Felix." With a nod of acknowledgment from Felix, the two continued parting from one another. Star suddenly stopped in place, turning around and shouting, "Oh, and Felix!" He looked over his shoulder to her. "If you ever need some help, let me know!"

"Right, I'll… keep that in mind, thanks."

After that, the two finally went their separate ways, well and true. Star had gone further down the cleared path into the village, walking to the bare skeletal tower that loomed over the settlement, as Felix arrived at the village entrance; the giant free-standing gate captured the coarse fieldland ahead between its poles. The sparse patches of stone that made themselves known along the route peered from their soily blanket, and the gray overcast hung drearily overhead, accompanied by a cool breeze. And just at the end of this trail, was his first job. With a deep breath, Felix took a step out onto Route 91.

—-

Some length of time had passed since Felix embarked on the trail. Route 91 carried with the familiar sights he had seen the night before: natural pillars of stone that protruded from the earth, stone plateaus laden with vegetation, and open spans of grassy plains, whose grassy surface waved with the breezes that passed over it. But now, it was all seen in the light of the day, and not from the basking glow of moonlight. The tranquil scenery was passed by without much incident, much to Felix's enjoyment- even if the peace of the trip provided nothing to distract him from the hunger pains that still stirred inside of him.

After he had passed the stony plains, the trees around him began to condense into a modest forest which now surrounded the dirt road. Their arching branches and autumn colors lazily hung over the path, stirring mildly with the breeze, emitting a chorus of rattling leaves in response to the growing wind. Letting the fresh air fill his lungs while traversing past the forest scenery, he slowed to a stop. Just ahead, he saw a break in the treeline.

The same break he had entered yesterday.

Carefully, he walked in an arch around the dungeon entrance, picking up his pace after he cleared the hazard. Looking back, the ominous entrance grew smaller in the distance as he made his way across the leaf-ridden ground; the dark canopy within the archway of twisting branches seemed to fend off the light of the day, its thick layer of yellow and red leaves protecting against the security of the daylight from leaking into their interior.

And just within the space, he knew was an eternal spiraling labyrinth.

Felix broke his concentration off of the grim locale, returning his gaze forward. The intersection should be some ways ahead on the path. All that was required of him, was to bring this client back to the village with him. And with that, he would get some much needed money to finally feed himself, and look for more work.

—-

Lounging against a tree beside an intersection of two paths, Felix spent his time admiring the scenery of the unfamiliar location: rolling hills with smooth curves washed over the area like a tranquil sea of grass. As the hills around caressed the sky with their gentle slopes, they captured and funneled gusts of wind between their peaks, through the winding canals that were shaped from the bottom of their reaching slopes, releasing a torrent of wind that howled at their bases.

The overcast ahead had grown thicker, a persistent blanket of gray now casting the land into subdued light, casting away many of the shadows that had existed some time before. A stronger wind had formed as well. Normally, Felix would've enjoyed such a stimulating breeze that would've carried with it crisp air and a comforting coolness. But that was Marea's great winds. Here, in this foreign land and in a strange small blue body, the wind was unsettling. It was somewhat warm, and each gust seemed intent on lingering in the air, pushing its way past Felix and the tree he sat beside. Just as the branches swayed and rattled their leaves in the gust, Felix's own black tassels on the sides of his head were sent swinging from the wind. He grabbed them, trying to keep them still. It wasn't a painful feeling when they swung, but just knowing that such tassels now existed on him, that they sent new sensations to his head that weren't there before he was a Riolu when they swung or were touched- It was discomforting. Each breeze that swayed them, each turn of his head that swung them, each second.

It served to remind him what was lost.

A quiet exhale escaped his mouth as he pinned the black tassels to the sides of his head with his blue paw-like hands. Relaxing his posture and sliding down the coarse trunk of the tree, he looked over to the hills where one of the paths had snaked over, spying some distant figures coming closer from upon the trail. Coming over the crest of the hill, he saw a Hakamo-o with a bag tossed over its shoulder, and an orange-coated Deerling approaching the intersection he was slouching at. Peering behind them, he saw a low quadruped with large pink ears, a light cream-colored coat, and ribbons on its neck and its left ear. On its waist, it wore a black satchel. The group seemed quite cheerful for having traveled some distance in this windy weather for who knows how long. Smiles were readily present on each of their faces.

Picking up his badge beside him and hoisting himself off the tree, Felix approached the group as they descended the slope towards him. They came to a stop at the intersection ahead. The Hakamo-o and Deerling happily watched as the Sylveon behind them circled its way in front of the pair. "Why fellas," it said. "Thank you very dearly for the escort. Can't trust the world to not pelt us with pebbles and stones like we used to. So once again, thank you, fine sir and lady!" The Deerling gave a content nod.

"Oh, it's nothing! We're just glad to have helped!"

"Well ma'am," the Sylveon replied as it drew closer to Felix, "You take care on your travels home, alright?"

"Oh, we will! Take care now!" came from the Deerling.

The Hakamo-o and the Deerling turned to leave, but as they walked away, the Sylveon shouted, "Oh, and sir?" The Hakamo-o glanced over its shoulder to the Sylveon. "You enjoy that fine booster, you hear? You just got yourself a great deal, so feel proud of it!"

"Oh, I'll enjoy it alright," the Hakamo-o stated, tugging on the strap of the bag it carried.

"Alright fellas, take care now!" the Sylveon replied as it waved towards the team with one of its ribbons. After that final word, the Hakamo-o and Deerling duo left back over the hill.

Left on their own, the Sylveon turned to greet Felix. A warm smile was present on its face, with a pair of relaxed cyan eyes. "Good seeing you, fella! Name's Riley," it said while stretching out a ribbon from its neck towards Felix's hand. "And what might your name be?" Ignoring the outstretched ribbon, Felix turned towards the path he traveled on, and began walking back on the trail back to the village, motioning for Riley to follow.

"The name's Felix. Now come on, we can talk and walk if you want, but we should hit the trail before it storms. It's a straight shot to the village from here."

"Oh, right you are, fella!" Riley said as he caught up to Felix. "The weather seems to be going sour on us soon. I reckon we ought to hasten our pace if we're to avoid the showers."

Felix's stomach audibly growled as the two walked down the path, eliciting a grunt from Felix as the hunger pain stirred in his abdomen. Riley gave a curt chuckle beside him. "Well now, fella! I can't tell if that was the storm brewin' above or just you. Did you not eat this morning?"

"Try more like, 'I can't remember the last time I ate,' and you'll be closer on that account," Felix grumbled.

"Oh, well I'm sorry to hear that," Riley empathically replied. "I'd give you something to eat, but I'm afraid I ate my own rations on this trip earlier. But what I do have to offer…" Three of Riley's ribbons wrapped around to his back, digging into the black satchel. "I do have these fine enhancers!" From the bag, Riley retrieved his ribbons, each of the three now wrapped around the necks of musky-brown bottles, with a different colored cap on each one. Handing one with a purple cap to Felix, he took the bottle and examined the label on it: it was worn and faded, the adhesive on the label had begun to loosen, leaving the corner of the sticker awkwardly sticking out. Just beside a dull purple arrow printed on the label were symbols. The faded text on the bottle wasn't written in the footprints he had seen often recently, yet he was still unable to decipher their meaning. It was another foreign language.

A human one.

"What… what is this?" Felix asked. "Why, I'm very glad you asked! What you hold is a miracle of medicine, and one of few! Carbos!" Riley confidently answered.

"Carbos?"

"Yes, quite! Carbos is a physical enhancer, one of a selection of them. This one improves your dexterity and speed. Just one swig, and you'll feel lighter than ever!"

"This drink can do that?" Felix asked as he held up the bottle.

"Oh, most certainly! This drink can work for you and make you better than ever, but…" Riley extended a ribbon and grabbed the bottle from Felix. "There is the matter of price we must discuss if you're interested. These miracles don't come free, I'm afraid." Felix gave a huff. "I don't have any money. I've got nothing." From up ahead, Felix could see the outline of the forest growing along the horizon.

"Oh, we can work around that, fella!" Riley smirked as he put the bottles back into his bag. "What say I give you a bottle of carbos, and you pay me back later! Normally, these tonics pack a nasty price on them, but I on the other hand, believe that everyone should give at least one a try once in their life. How does that sound, fella?" Riley gave Felix's shoulder a nudge with a free ribbon.

Felix felt something in his gut. An irk. "That sounds too good to be true," he flatly stated.

Riley's persistent smile wavered. "Oh, don't be sour! I mean well!"

"You mean well?" Felix asked. "Then tell me, what would the amount I'd owe you mean for me?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just a few thousand pieces."

Felix's eyes widened at the amount as he sputtered some air out. Even new to this world with foreign currency, he knew that was no small sum. Riley saw his exasperated expression, and hastily began speaking again. "Now, I know that may seem like much, but money is only ever good when it's used, as all assets are! Savings are temporary, but the effects of these tonics are forever- they'll make you stronger your entire life, and not only is that a fact, but it's a fact that Company members such as yourself need every ounce of strength they can get in your line of work."

"Not happening," Felix sternly replied.

"Oh, don't worry, fella!" Riley said as he reached out a ribbon towards Felix. "Why don't we talk about that loan? I'm sure we can work something mutually beneficial out." Riley began lightly wrapping his ribbon around Felix's arm, but was stopped when Felix jerked his arm away with a fierce glare piercing into Riley.

"Don't."

Riley just gave a scoff. "Very well then, fella. I won't press the matter. But if you're in the market for improvement, you should spare no expense."

"Oh believe me, buddy, I'm looking for more than-"

A bright flash of light.

Blinded by the sudden flare of light, Felix threw up his arms to cover his face. A low hum of an imposing presence resonated in his ears as he stumbled around blindly. Looking around, he couldn't see anything as the green afterimage that obstructed his view from the sudden bright magenta flash slowly dissipated from his view. "What just happened?!"

"That," Riley replied as he stumbled around, equally blinded, "is a lucrative opportunity! Come on now, fella!" From what little he could see, he saw what looked to be Riley running forward and disappearing into an afterimage. Stumbling forward to where he saw Riley run off and rubbing his eyes, Felix stepped through the afterimage that lingered in his eyes.

Frigid coldness seized Felix's body, condemning him to fall to the ground from the sudden sensations. Howling winds torrented over him as he pressed his arms into the cold earth, feeling layers of snow around him. Buffeting shards of ice battered his small body. Shakingly standing back up, he tried to gauge his surroundings as the frigid wind conjured a snowstorm around him, but could see little as his eyes adjusted to the dimmed lighting and competed with the whipping winds' walls of snow for sight. Looking ahead of him, he saw Riley wrapping himself in his ribbons against the bittercold, his legs embedded in a layer of snow as he waded through the terrain. Felix's own body quickly began to shiver, and he embraced himself tightly with his arms, his fangs chattering. He winced in pain as he was continuously buffeted by shards of ice that flew in the gelid blizzard as he advanced towards Riley. All around them, a blizzard raged, coating the landscape in snow and severely limiting his visibility as walls of snowdrift frenzied around them in a fervent rage of the arctic's will.

"What is this place!?" Felix shouted over the blistering wind.

"It's a space-time distortion!" Riley shouted back. "Keep an eye out for anything that glitters!"

Before Felix could respond, Riley leapt into the snowstorm. With no retort or ounce of sense in the matter, Felix ran after him. Despite how fierce the blizzard was, the Sylveon seemed to gracefully hop across the thick snow. He easily tread ground and left Felix behind, disappearing further into the blizzard with nimble hops. Raising his legs to step over as much snow as he could, Felix chased after him. The winds were oppressive, never taking a moment to settle, and sudden bursts in the gusts struck him with sapping glacial air and painful flying shards of ice. He knew his strength was quickly leaving him in this deathly blizzard.

Catching up to Riley after wading through the dense layers of snow and oppressive howling winds, he saw the Sylveon was scanning the ground around him beside a large snow-covered rock. Felix stood close to him as they shivered. "A what?" Felix asked, taking a moment to exhale warm air into his hands. "A distortion of what?" Felix repeated.

"Now's not the time to ask questions, fella!" Riley shouted back as he fiercely rubbed all four of his ribbons across his body. "Look what's up ahead!" Peering past the side of the mound they stood beside, he struggled to find what Riley was talking about. Some large shapes of rocks and boulders could be made out through the snow-whipped wind, their broad shape masked partially by the snow-hurling winds in the field ahead. Leaning further out, Felix's breath caught when one of the broad figures in the blizzard moved, its details becoming more clear. Just ahead, effortlessly traversing the dense snow, a large white bear with a jagged ice-lined jaw, prowled the boulder-laden area ahead. Its head surveyed the area before it, then lazily turning to where Felix was. Quickly ducking back behind the rock, Felix nodded with a feverous shiver.

"Yeah, that would be a problem." Riley stepped beside Felix after searching the nearby ground, his ribbons still tightly bound around his body.

"So what say you? There's nothing here. We'll freeze to death if we try going another way if we're unlucky. We need to get past that Beartic, but a head-on approach is suicide, especially in this weather." Felix rubbed his body with his arms, trying to get any amount of warmth from the friction against the seeping cold.

"Where are we even going? What are you even looking for? We're in who-knows-where!"Riley irritably shook his head at Felix's question.

"We're in a distortion, remember? Big plane-warping sphere? If we keep heading forward in a single direction, we'll make it to a boundary and get out of here! And if we're lucky, we'll find some nice bits of sellables! My business is risk, and so is yours! Now think! We can't change directions now, or we risk freezing to death!" Felix's arms, legs, and face were already numb. Racking his brain for any sort of thoughts on how they could make it past, Felix's eyes shot open at a realization. He looked down at the badge he held in his palm.

"Follow my lead, we only got one-shot at this!" Riley wearily nodded.

"Right behind you, fella! Now make it quick, I can feel that I'm starting to not feel anything!"

Peeking past the rock they took cover behind, Felix saw the Beartic sitting comfortably on the ground, its gaze alert and scanning for any signs of movement near it. Looking for a rock exposed near the monster, he spied a stone that jutted from the surface of the snow, its angular form standing firm against the howling wind. It was just close enough. With a shivering breath, Felix pulled back his arm that held the badge, and threw the metallic brooch in an arc to the rock.

A sharp ping reverberated in the bitter air as it connected.

The Beartic's head sharply swung to the rock where the sound had shot from. Quickly clambering to its four legs, it effortlessly strided through the packed snow towards the jutting stone, at a speed much faster than Felix knew was possible for him to wade through the same snow himself. As the Beartic investigated the source of the sound, Felix quickly began wading his way across the snow, Riley following close behind. Despite the small grunts they made as they struggled across the field, Felix knew that the sounds of the howling winds that surged throughout the area would muffle their noise. Hopefully.

Making it through the clearing as they were continuously buffeted by the glacial storm, Felix released a shaky breath as he looked back and couldn't see the Beartic through the howling blizzard. Riley pushed past the fierce wind to Felix's side, his ribbons no longer wrapped around himself and now weakly streaming with the blizzard. Continuing their stride through the icy torrents of air, a pale purple hue began to fill Felix's vision, almost like an ethereal purple wall that stretched around the terrain ahead of him. Dread filled his head at the thought he was beginning to lose consciousness in the blizzard, that he would succumb to the freezing elements so far from home, his body being frozen and buried in the snow, never to be found. Dull shouting could be heard beside him, fighting for his attention against the cold. His arms no longer told him they were cold, and his legs didn't feel any footsteps as he weakly waded through chilling layers of snow. Then he felt himself nearly tripping. Something loose and hard stopped his leg as he walked. Bending down, he rummaged through the snow and picked up a peculiar rock. It was a transparent cyan color, a beautiful pattern of a snowflake embedded inside it, and its surface was quite angular, but smoothed to perfection.

"...Felix!"

Riley finally broke through to Felix. He weakly turned his head to the Sylveon. "That's an ice stone, you've got there! A fair find! Hold on to it, it's worth some coin. Now, the boundary is just ahead! It's a shame we didn't find much more of anything for the effort, though. Make one final push, we're almost-"

A bright blue luminescent beam of energy shot out from the blizzard from their side, snapping at Riley's side as it collided with him. Riley shouted in pain and fell to his side, shards of ice now forming on his torso from the ice beam. Throwing a quick look to where the attack had come from, Felix spotted a floating ghastly figure. The image of a faint red ribbon was easily distinguishable on the floating spirit drifting through the howling blizzard, a haunting hum accompanying it.

Grabbing Riley as tightly as he could with frigid arms, Felix threw the Sylveon over his shoulders, and waded as fast as he could through the packed snow and biting winds with the additional weight. Slowly striding through the blizzard with shaking legs, the purple started to deepen in front of Felix, sparks of energy becoming apparent across its surface as the looming magenta wall became closer. Another hum was heard, but was wholly distinct from the hum that followed behind him; a low, ominous, churning whir came from the purple boundary, easily distinguishable from the sounds of the shrill wind. A haunting giggle came from behind him.

Turning to the Froslass behind them, Felix saw a shadowy blob rapidly shoot towards them. With little other option, Felix collapsed onto the ground with Riley, letting the shadow ball sail over the two as it passed with a low gurgle. It collided with the ground in front of them, erupting in a thick cloud of snow from the impact, encasing Felix and Riley in its cold cover. Crawling on the frigid ground through the snow, Felix found Riley still motionless on his side, faint breaths of air being sucked into his mouth as he fought to breath against the bittercold. Weakly lifting him back on his shoulders, Felix took shaking and exhausted steps through the thick cloud of ice, each footstep feeling as though it would falter and he would collapse. Emerging from the cloud, the insurmountable violet wall of crackling and humming energy presented itself in front of him; the awe of such of grand and impossibly large barrier of undefined power stole Feliz's attention, as he stood in fear before its sheer scope against the howling blizzard that sapped away at what little strength he had left.

Another ghastly giggle.

Felix spun around just in time to see shards of ice flying towards him through the low visibility of the snowstorm behind him.

There was no chance he could evade the attack.

The ice shards struck Felix's side, a shout filling the air as he was launched into the barrier… and right through it. Felix and Riley tumbled onto the dirt ground beside the barrier, rolling to a stop at the bottom of a small grassy slope. Small, weak wheezes filled and evacuated Felix's chest. No matter how much he commanded his body or his limbs to move, they were unresponsive. Using what sliver of strength he had left, he rolled his head to the side, away from the golden overcast of the sky above from a setting sun against a rolling blanket of clouds. Riley was next to him, motionless on the ground beside a dirt path surrounded by trees. But still breathing. The ice stone he had held was now lying close to him, its brilliant blue hue a pleasant contrast from the dirt it laid on. His own breath weak, Felix emptied his thoughts, and enjoyed the breeze. The air around him was delightfully warm compared to that glacial wasteland. Blissfully so. Closing his eyes to rest, he didn't feel his consciousness slip away, into that comforting vision of a warm golden light of the setting sun.

—-

Felix's eyes slowly opened. He was still on the ground, drenched in a low violet hue from the titanic glowing dome that was beside him. Still humming an ominous chur. Weakly getting himself off the ground and finding his footing, he looked around the ground for Riley.

He wasn't there.

Wearily looking around, he couldn't find Riley anywhere- not near the trees that surrounded him, or along the dirt path. Nor the stone. With a sudden thought, Felix looked upward. The cold expanse of night was upon him, its encroaching darkness nearly dominant over the sliver of the sun that was nearly sunken past the horizon, casting a pink hue along its length. Felix glanced down to his body. It was damp with water from the melted snow and ice that had accumulated on him inside the dome. His blue arms wouldn't stop shaking. He couldn't spend the night looking for Riley, especially in his current state. He accepted it.

The job was a failure.

Facing the path back to the village, he began his aching trek past the twisting trees that formed a natural archway beside him. Each numb step, each breath, and each thought- all wore his fatigue. The flickering stars above, a pleasant breeze- his only company as he traveled past the forest which opened up into stone-laden plains.

He just hoped he'd make it to the village before collapsing again.

—-

Well past the archway that marked entrance to the village, Felix slowly limped his way to where Didja would likely still be awake and alert, awaiting his return. His stomach felt like it was trying to digest itself, a burning sensation persisting throughout his abdomen that he struggled to ignore. Looking around to distract himself, he saw that the streets were empty, a gentle calm prevailing over the path as warm light from the torches guided him to Didja's stall. The night sky had finally won over the day, a complete starry canvas dazzling above as he walked forth. When he caught sight of the booth, his exhausted gaze narrowed when he saw Star and Willow beside it as well.

They were arguing.

"... is exactly why we need to actually help, Willow! He could be dead! Why won't you let us help for once?!" Star shouted.

"I would love for us to help, Star, believe me! But there are circumstances you don't understand that prevent us from doing so!" Willow retorted. The two exchanged glares at one another, all the while Didja had his head meekly turned away from the confrontation. Limping over to the counter, both Star and Willow shot a glance to him before returning back to each other with fierce glares. Then their eyes widened. They spun their heads back to him.

"Felix!" shouted Star as she ran to him. "You're not dead!"

"I'm already regretting it," he blankly replied as he shuffled towards the lectern.

"Little one, you're safe! That is most certainly wonderful!" came from Willow as he followed behind Star. Felix reached the lectern and planted his hands onto its side, lightly shaking the lectern and Didja as he did so.

"Would anyone like to tell me what that thing was?" Felix bitterly asked.

Didja peered over the countertop above Felix, turning his head so one eye would track him. "Mister Felix, you've returned! Did ya-" Felix kicked the lectern, causing Didja to cease speaking with a jolt.

"No! I don't know where the client is, I lost him!" he exclaimed while shooting an irritated look at the Murkrow.

"Oh…" crowed Didja. "Are you referring to mister Riley, mister Felix? He came here earlier on his lonesome, and is at the clinic now receiving treatment." With a faint glint of hope behind his eyes, Felix looked back up to Didja.

"So… so he's here? He made it to the village?" he asked. Didja fervently nodded his beak. "So does that mean I completed the job, and get paid?"

"Oh no, not in any sense! By all accounts, that was a total failure, mister Felix! Not only did the client arrive here later than what is reasonably acceptable, they were quite injured to boot! And they came here by themselves, so in essence, you hadn't escorted the client quickly, safely, and fully as per the request."

Felix hung his head to the ground. The sight of those black tassels entered his view as he did so, sending new waves of hopelessness through him. No money, no food, no way home.

Star took a small step towards him.

"Don't take it too hard, Felix! Give it some time, and I'm sure-"

"I don't have time." Felix coldly interrupted. A silence fell between the group. He let out an exhausted sigh. "I'm starving, I'm tired, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do if things like that… that dimensional rift are a part of the job." The three gave Felix silent stares. Didja and Star seemed disheartened at his words, while Willow wore an empty expression with his lone glowing eye.

"I'm going to sleep. Goodbye," Felix tiredly stated. Turning his back to the group, he began his lonesome walk to the only place he knew waited for him.

It took longer than he would have liked, having to slowly walk with a gait past numerous buildings, by the fields growing a season's harvest, and up the small slope to where some stones jutted up at certain angles. Letting himself collapse down onto the gentle grass with a pained grunt, he leaned against a nearby stone that was larger than him. He let his head roll back and his vision fill with the looming night sky. Flickering stars in the great expanse of the cosmos and the gentle streak of yellow across the night sky- and looking to where he remembered the constellation, he found the Splintered Seat once more. Its array of stars faintly flickered against the night sky. Just below it, he knew laid home. Taunting him. Further away than he could ever hope to reach. Closing his eyes, he fought to ignore the hunger that bored into him. He was too tired to attempt thinking of any sort of plan going forward- and if there were any plan that could even work. A tired sigh left him. Tomorrow.

He didn't know what tomorrow meant.

He just wanted to sleep.

The grass near him quietly rustled as light footsteps made no attempt to hide their approach to him.

Opening his eyes, he saw Star approaching him with her satchel in her mouth.

"What is it, Star? Please, just let me sleep," he quietly pleaded as she drew closer. Star deftly swung her head and tossed the satchel onto the ground in front of Felix. The undone flap on the satchel flew open as it fell to the ground, letting an apple and an oran berry tumble out towards him. He stared at the berry and the food. Then to Star. Then back to the items.

"Felix…" Star said. She walked to where he was sitting, and sat herself beside him, staring at him with a serious look in her brown eyes. Her angular ears twitching as he stared back with an uncertain expression. A short silence fell between them, letting the leaves around them chitter as a small breeze blew past.

"I have a proposition I'd like to make."