4 days ago
In the muggy, humid morning there is a frantic buzz in the air. It happens about every few seconds, like clockwork. The sun has barely risen into the sky, yet the heat is already sweltered into an orange haze.
High above a stalk-filled swamp, wooden boards creak and clatter. In the dark moist dawn there was a Delphox who ran desperately, tucked away in her arms were two smaller foxes of her line. She made her way towards the Lauderdale Marsh Clinic.
The Fox Pokemon violently coughed before she used her telekinesis to slide open a door to a brightly lit building. Then she collapsed onto the floor. Her children crawled out from underneath her body, breaking into ragged coughing fits.
Quickly a Garchomp clad in a white cap and hat reached down towards the Delphox to help her to her feet. "Delphox what happened? To you, and to the kits, I trust the other two are safe?"
"Yes of course, Doctor Garchomp, you have to help them-" she stops to cough . "They tried to confront Marshall!" The Delphox explained frantically.
"No this can't be!" The Mach Pokemon exclaimed in shock. She looked at the injuries on each fox cub, reaching over to a counter to ring a bell. "We told everyone to stay clear of that Pokemon's abode! Along with the surrounding area and try not to interact, now they've been infected!"
Four Gabite hastitly entered the room due to the chime. "Yes, Doctor?" Once they established the situation, the Cave Pokemon slowly placed the Braixen onto one stretcher and the Fennekin onto the other. Before they hurried away.
They cough too. A Rhydon propped up in a cot; heavy fever. A Marshtomp couple who lay with their Mudkip children; full body ache. A Toucannon who perched on a log; paralyzed with devastating sneezes. What caused all these cases and more in the quiet town of Lauderdale Marsh?
Letter to the Midori Mori City Guildmasters.
Hello, I am the current Mayor of Lauderdale Marsh Dr. Garchomp. My town seems to be in a predicament, and we need your assistance in procuring a solution. I have the two situations listed extensively in the following documents, do take great care in understanding the contents. Of course, you and whoever you will be bringing will be reimbursed for all your hard work.
With Mewspeed, Dr. Garchomp.
-
Present day.
There is a large wooden boat sailing in the largest river of the Constellation Continent, the Nakagawa. It has made its way from the City of Palm Shore and is bound for Red Rock City by the next season. They have been traveling for a few weeks.
It had been docked near the town of Pebble Creek. The boat is bound for the Wei Cluster District, sailing north until it reaches the North Reach Pass, then it will sail west. Once at the Tapu Valley the boat will travel north and make it to Red Rock City.
Many years ago, before the Disruption.
In a dreamy hazy room, a Floatzel sits down on a chair. "Come on in Lua," He says before he pats his thigh and reclines back. "Lizbeth, Courtney you too!" His red eyes glance over to the squeaking of wood.
"Coming Papa!" A Buizel enters the room once the door is open wide. The little weasel smiles up at their father, spinning their fluffy tails. "It's always fun when you find a new book to read!" They say, their unique blue magenta eyes sparkling with excitement.
In the silence, the chair is bumped into. "Hmm?" The two sea weasels glance down. They see nothing. "Was that-" starts the bigger Pokemon.
"Hiya!" Suddenly an Eevee with a white bandana on their tail tackles Lua off the Floatzel. Their Papa leans back in surprise watching his children fall.
"Waa!" Lua cries after they take the hit directly in the gut. "Augh Courtney, that's not fair!" The Buizel groaned, crashing with their tube first into the sofa across from the chair.
Courtney looked up triumphantly and stuck out their tongue. "Don't care!" The Eevee laughed. "Heheheh, I scored my new move!" The fox kit cheers, leaping on top of their Floatzel father.
"Settle down you two," reminds the Pokemon resting on the cushions, a Glaceon. Nestled beside the ice fox is a small Eevee with a jagged tail and a small Buizel with one circle on her back.
Finally, once the door is closed another Eevee, one with a heart tail, climbs onto the confused Floatzel's lap and places a paw on his side. "Did I miss anything?" she asks.
"No, no you came just in time Liz," The elder Sea Weasel then points to words on a book's page. "These are some hymns from the Church of Mew, Lugia 3:21," The Father clears his throat. "Swim darling swim, now you go on and swim," he begins.
"The waves rock the passing boat gently as it travels down the underground river. Swim away, swim down deep. Oh, travel down that underground river, paddle mon paddle, paddle down that underground river. Don't get on that boat, now don't you get on that boat."
Present Day.
You should have listened to the hymns Lua, you should have heeded the ultimate guidance. But you didn't, look where that got you. Stuck. Stray. Becoming a Feral.
I'm awake. After my eyes adjust for a couple of seconds I sighed in defeat. I can only make out those useless hate that it's pitch black. Again. These cabins are just like yesterday. Just like last week. What was that?! A silhouette…. Not another ghost or something… Ah okay.
Would it kill for them to leave on at least one of these lights? That darn stack of crates looked like a Pokemon for a second. My eyes have only gotten a bit used to this darkness. We Buizel don't have excellent night vision, just good underwater vision. Soon this will be no longer. I'll never wake up in this boat again.
One day I'll be free from this so-called debt and get off this boat. I mean, it wasn't fair, I was lied to! That bastard said we'd sail directly to Bristberg, he said that the fee wouldn't be that high either!
I need to leave, I have to keep my promise and make it to the Bristberg League. I'm a Keeper after all, and these guys do work Dad used to do. Hopefully, soon, I told Mom and everyone I'd be fine on my own. I got into this mess myself so I wish I could get out on my own.
But with the way these cells are I know, I'll have a better chance of escaping later. And I can't train or get any stronger being bound to vines like this. My arm fins are beginning to fray and my neck tube isn't full as it used to , nothing is how it used to be! Every second I'm not training I can feel my strength fleeting. At least I can-
Dink.
Dink.
Dink.
Rrr.
Once I heard a rustling sound from a room close by I instinctively flexed my muscles. Kanamori has come to collect our voyage fee. Even if we were supposed to dock at our destination days ago. There is another noise and then I can see a flicker of light from a far-off cell. "What the hell is wrong with you, failure 8!?" Kanamori shouted irately.
Swing!
That's his all too familiar Leaf Blade. My short Eevee ears fold further into my skull at the sound. I hate that I can always hear these sorts of things because of them.
"Ah! Wahhh!" Whatever Pokemon 'failure 8' is, shrieks out. Their cry is one of the many that haunts me in this hour. Damnit, I have a feeling whoever they are, they are really young, like Alvin or Sky. My tails spin anxiously at the thought of Pokemon like my siblings, how many kids are here?
No one like that should be on this ship. Getting yelled at for not meeting a quota. Having to 'pay' with your 'body'. Forced to go mine for minerals in these Mystery Dungeons and scavenge for food. Of course, this is all his fault. No one else would do this besides a Pokemon like him. In the past, I never actually truly hated anyone, nor despised another Pokemon. That of course was before I met that no good Leafeon.
Clink.
I brace myself once the fox enters the room. "Morning 14," He immediately gets his muzzle close to my throat. "I'm missing 300 poke from you, that's 3 hundred!" He yelled, pressing his claws against my chest. He lifted his head and stared at me with his narrow brown eyes. S hit. Those eyes. Those Mew-forsaken eyes. Then he giggled. That damn giggle too, mon.
Thump
Thump, thump.
Thump, thump
Thump, thump, thump
Thump, thump, thump
"Aw," Kanamori's ears perk up. No, my heart is beating too fast, he's gonna know I'm nervous. The fur on my chest feels like it's constricting me whenever I'm near him, dang it!
"I thought the Buizel line was good at finding things failure 14," Kanamori dropped to the floor and stared at my belly. "You managed to find this," He yanked off the scarf tied to my waist. The fabric over my thin furred areas, it's gone!
"But how did you not manage to find a profit?! Huh?" He paused for a moment "Huh?!"
The grass type peered down at my lower half. "Why would you hide something like that, not that I need it yet…. Anyway."
Oh no. I thrash around to try and hide my body but the Leafeon places a paw on my side to stop me. "You are so funny, failure 14-" He smiles.
Swing !
Suddenly my face and snout erupt in pain. "Ahh!" I screamed out in agony and desperately shut my eyes. After a while, I was able to feel the blood pool down my muzzle. Okay, okay, okay.
"You're so fucking funny, thinking you can get away with not paying me my money!" The grass-fox snarled and pressed his small nose into my belly. "You wanna know something?" He asked me. I don't respond.
I'm too busy dealing with how to hide my contradiction. I really wish I could have a different body at times like these. Being an adult made it worse too, you can't miss it.
"Everyone pays eventually," Kanamori prods up to my thin rib cage before he trails downward. Hey!
"Either with pain," I flinch once his maw grazes my stomach. No, no, no, no, this isn't fair!
"Or with pride," Please no, I panic, when it feels like he's gonna, reach for, go for my-
Swing!
My left shoulder and upper arm are ripped into by the knives of grass created on his claws. "Knn-" I managed to stifle back a cry. Oh thank Mew, I'm glad he didn't actually touch it.
But that is always worse. "Aw, you're so cute when you make that face!" The Leafeon fawned, stepping back towards the door. I took in a sharp breath, writhing in agony once my skin and muscles registered the intense damage.
"Froot is coming in, I suggest you follow all of his orders," Kanamori waves his leaf tail, prancing away. "Well if he has any for you," he finishes.
Okay, time to count to ten. One, I can hear his footsteps. Two, I can smell the spores. Three, I see the look in his eyes. By the time I got to four, I shut my eyes. Froot isn't talkative.
"Same as always go into the Mystery Dungeon with your assigned team, bring back items to sell worth 500 poke or more. The more coins you make, the easier this will be."
I made it to 10 and everything was over. Nothing else had touched me. It didn't happen? The tendrils that constrict and bound me were gone. I'm finally free, at least for now.
In a dreary, dim morning, the sun's rays peaked through the grey wooden blinds of a window. The city of Bristberg had an oddly bleak skyline. Dark clouds rumbled along, barely any warmth reached the earth. Still, the rooms of the Bristberg Mana Research League were warm, they were safe.
But that didn't matter.
Ars didn't feel safe. Wicked Blow, they tried to make her fold. Those gang members almost made the hyena break their promise. She was a Keeper too, this wasn't allowed. The WB Police or the Leagues or even worse her dead little siblings would watch them slip up. Then they'd torture her just as Amelia did. Until they got bored and eventually killed the cub.
The Poochyena woke up in a panic; from yet another nightmare. All of the fur stood up on her back before her eyes shot open. While still in bed Ars sat up immediately, widening her eyes. In the covers of a bed right next to the hyena cub was a Totodile. Totodile. They were a strong Pokemon with jagged rows of sharp teeth and a rough scaly body. Not good.
"Augh, where am I?" She scrunched up her nose, standing up, and stepping away from the Big Jaw Pokemon. All around them were dark grey curtains, more curtains, a covered window, and even more curtains.
"Why am I here!?" Ars whimpered loudly once she saw the gator stir. Their teeth bore watching the stranger in the other bed, sit upright.
Glade flicked open her eyes and nearly panicked herself. "Woah, settle down A-ars!" The veteran member demanded, caught off guard.
"It's a bit early-" she looked down at the Poochyena, being shocked, then glancing back up. "In the morning… for all that." The Totodile realized her size compared to the Poochyena. Glade was bigger than the cub, only slightly.
"I can't!" Protested the hyena cub, her tail wagging in excitement. "I don't remember who you are!" Her expression may have been one of fear but the Totodile could only notice her jaws widened. Ars was dangerous.
"Well, I'm Glade, one of your new team members," The gator leaned forward to scan the anxious Poochyena. "We are in Team Sharp Claw's room." She explained, curtly. " What the hell is up with her?" Thought the Totodile, checking out the other Pokemon.
"Yeah, but where?" Ars folded her ears when there was a rustling of a curtain behind her. "Why am I locked in here with you all?!" They whined in fear, nose twitching.
"Don't hurt me." The Bite Pokemon said with a practiced tone. It was somewhere along the lines of fear with just the smidge of authority.
The senior rescue team member softened her expression, deciding to fix the tension. "I'm not gonna let anyone lay a claw on you," She stated firmly to the hyena cub.
Ars sniffed the air again, lowering her hackles. "You and the others won't?"
"Don't fret it bud," Glade slowly pulled on the blinds, gentle bits of light coming inside. "You're in the Bristberg Mana Research League remember?"
"Yeah, but why is my bed next to yours?" The Poochyena asked.
"Because you asked me if I could move the spare bed in."
"Right next to yours?"
"Yes, you told me you were scared and didn't want to sleep alone."
"You let me?"
"Of course. I'm not a terrible monster."
Ars closed her maw and sat still in thought. "Oh, I'm sorry I freaked out like that," they finally whispered to the Totodile before the curtains in front of the two opened up.
"Good morning!" Linus started before he extended his hand. "Thank you, Glade, for keeping an eye out for Ars."
"No problem Linus," The Totodile responded.
The Poochyena beside Glade looked forward to Linus. Then to the stocky Wood Gecko's right and saw Nevada. A rather lanky Charmander. Both wouldn't be pushovers in a fight.
"Two other Pokemon were sleeping in this room too?" Ars stared at the smaller mon for a moment before sheepishly glancing down at the floor.
"We can go on a tour of the facilities before breakfast if you want Ars," The Treecko smiled when the hyena placed their paw on him. "Nevada and I won't make you do anything you don't want to do."
"A tour?" the cub asked, her eyes low.
Nevada yawned. "We had a hectic night so we didn't get to do anything proper for you," They explained.
"Last night?" Ars questioned, eyes closed.
"Yes, is that okay?" The Charmander tilted their head. "Did you forget something?"
The Poochyena looked down at her belly, a blush creeping onto her muzzle. "I'm sorry guys, I gotta leave!" Ars yelped, jumping off the bed and dashing out the room.
Glade and Linus both turned to each other, whilst Nevada extended a hand down in confusion. The Big Jaw Pokemon simply shrugged. "Let's go get Team Deliverance, it's their turn to make breakfast," She said, reaching over to grab her scarf.
"Who made you the leader?" Linus nudged her, laughing.
"I- " The Totodile frowned, walking forward. "I'm just trying to do better, Ars has shown me a glimpse of my selfish ways."
"I see, nice work, I'm proud of you," Nevada said, closing the room door. Then the Charmander patted the Treecko on the back, "Careful Linus, Glade is gonna take your position!" They laughed.
"It's not that simple," The Wood Gecko chuckled, grabbing the Lizard's claw. "She's got a ways to go before she can become a Team Leader."
When some of the other teams woke up, Libra and Fred sat outside on the patio. "Okay so we have a joint mission with Team Sharp Claw down in Lauderdale Marsh," started the Riolu, her green eyes glancing over pages of paper.
"I've never worked with these kids, maybe they are kinda like Yoshiko and Austin," the orange-eyed Froakie rubbed the back of his head, combing through his frubbles. "Though those two from the Tactics Branch are now a Grovyle and a Charmeleon."
"Yeah but I don't think Linus and Nevada could ever be annoying like those idiots regarding a mission," Libra yapped. "Team Sharp Claw didn't complain about our lack of intel or anything. Yoshiko would have been trying to milk out all sorts of details and Austin would have just been dragging his feet the whole way there."
"So true, those morons, I miss them," The Froakie closes his eyes. "I wish Master didn't separate us to different lands."
"Don't worry, we'll see them soon," his partner wagged her tail. "I think our letter made it those two on the Jovial Continent. Speaking of letters, is there any more info?" Libra added.
"The only details we have is that Strong Will Guildmasters want us to apprehend this interesting Pokemon who is causing problems in Lauderdale Marsh," Fred repeated information of a page aloud.
"They are a fighting-type, apparently reports say a stray Keeper," his Riolu partner leaned forward. "This Pokemon doesn't belong to any groups but-" The sliding glass door opened and the jackal paused.
With all eyes on him, Wally raised his head, eyes blurry. "Could we talk for a moment?" He asked, coming out in the doorway. The glass slides further, revealing his Skorupi partner.
"Wally, Spyla, of course," Libra extended her paw, beckoning forward. The Shieldon pulled the tether of the door shut, anxiously glancing at his teammate.
"Thank you," Spyla scuttled beside Wally onto the wooden floorboards towards the low table. "We'd like you to check this out," She pulled a set of folders out of her League Bag.
"Sure thing."
Soon the four of them sat at a patio table. A pair of folders was then handed to Fred and Libra. "So what do you two think?" asked the Skorupi, once she noticed the other Pokemon.
"This eulogy, I think it's lovely, " the Bubble Frog holds the pamphlet further away, admiring it from a distance.
"Oh thank Mew. I was so worried no one would like it," the Shield Pokemon across from him places a claw above the document. "Well what we wrote, I mean."
The Riolu sat upright and licked her chops. "It's fine Wally, you too Spyla," she placed her paws down and stated firmly. "You can let your true feelings out, today is the big day."
Libra's Froakie partner folded his arms. "The day Chad and Diamond are sent on, their souls sent onto Lord Mew, no matter what anyone-" before Fred could continue his rant there was a knock, no crash at the screen door. "Yes?" He asked, puzzled.
The door slide opened and out came Young Pokemon trainee after trainee, leaving the senior League Members dazed. All the former guild members and then the Chief's youngest children.
To gauge the meaning of their stares, Libra raised her aura feelers, gathering everyone's emotions one by one. Wally and Spyla gave a worried glance to the Riolu before she placed her thumb up.
"Uh Senpais, do we need to leave?" starts Hikari, the Scorbunny, guessing the content of the papers on the table.
Fred placed a hand on the table and sighed once he saw Nekotetsu start climbing up to the balcony. The steel cat made it up to the rafters and then began playing with the light fixtures.
"We are probably interrupting their meeting," panics Bernard, turning around. "Come on, let's go back," The Pokemon that were behind the Lillipup started heading back inside.
"No, no it's fine kids," Wally cuts them off when he finally decides to answer. The kids "What is it that you wanted to tell us?" He asks, a faint smile on his maw.
To answer the question the Meowth above him releases his claws. The young Keeper falls onto the railing behind the Shieldon. "The team Master's on, I mean Deliverance finished making breakfast!" he yowled proudly.
Wally looked to Spyla who placed every document back into its folder and then into her bag. Libra and Fred nodded when Team Aegisdrip seemed uneasy.
The Riolu and the Froakie stood up and helped the two up. "Alrighty, we'll be there in a second!" The Froakie waves the younger teenagers off.
After Breakfast Team Deliverance isn't off the hook just yet. "Kobi, Makkuro please follow me to the office if you don't mind." Chief Mcbone requested the Espurr and Rockruff.
The two nodded, leaving their teammates and new League companions back at the dining table.
"So wat did ya want us in for, Chief?" Kobi finally asks the Stoutland, once she and her companion were in their seats.
Chief Mcbone reached down below her desk and pulled out a bag. She then placed out a scarf and badge. "I brought the two of you in here to thank you for making it all the way here to Bristberg," The Big-Hearted Pokemon smiled.
"Oh no, thank you for allowing us to come Chief," Makkuro spoke up, wagging his tail.
"Ah yes, in addition to welcoming Kobi Espurr to the League as the Leader of Rescue Team Deliverance I want to offer a fast track exam to you Makkuro," Mcbone said, walking away from the desk to point to the wall. "That sound good?" she added with a smile.
The Rockruff nearly fell out of his chair in surprise. "Wow, seriously I get to do what Voltaru did?" he barked in confusion. "That's fricking awesome! Let's gooooo!"
"Settle down bud, 'cha thought ya could just walk in like I did?!" The Espurr lightly pushes Makkuro.
"Yeah but," the Puppy Pokemon starts to say but he held his tongue. His curly tail thrashed even harder.
The Stoutland laughed at the display of excitement from the other canine. "It's the least I can do, it seems like I may be in need of your help Makkuro, with Hatchet and Voltaru."
"Why them?" puzzled Makkuro, turning his head to look at the Chief. "Did they do something weird on their last missions with Team Sharp Claw?"
Mcbone's eyes fell to the floor. "I'm worried about that Axew, there seems to be something wrong with his body regarding mana," She raised her head and shook left and right. "I will have to look further in the future, and pray for the best."
"Alrighty' ya can count on me Chief, that's my Keeper's Promise," Kobi responded, pressing one of her fore-paws into her chest. "Now regardin' Makkuro's exam, why the fast track?" The Restraint Pokemon questioned.
"It's because he helped secure the mana keys of flying and bug along with their locks with you," The Stoutland replied. "Not anyone can willingly sign up for something so dangerous as handling the artifacts of mana, especially just with one other Pokemon."
The Rockruff sighed. "Woo, for some reason I thought I was in trouble," he lamented, his ears folding back.
"Why would you always think of the worst?" Mcbone opened the office door. "Enough of this, for now, I would like you to head outside to the courtyard," she barked, exiting.