"Where. Are. They?"

Sadie and JoJo, who were both tied up against the railing courtesy of Jet, glanced away awkwardly with a whistle. Jet had his arms crossed and impatiently tapped his foot as he waited for them to talk. Jason was standing by wearing an exasperated frown.

"Is this really necessary, Jet?" Jason asked.

"Like hell I'm giving them a chance to flee. They're giving us the truth now." He pulled out his scalchop and aimed it at them. "So, one of you start talking, or I start smacking!"

Sadie chuckled awkwardly. "You know, it's the funniest thing, but I've seemed to have contracted a sudden case of amnesia after that first blow."

He narrowed his eyes. "Should I apply a second one?"

JoJo, still in her mixed-up Buneary form, groaned. "This is ridiculous. We already told you, they're just out doing something around the fort. Sadie and I were playing a little trick on you, that's all. Harmless fun."

"I have zero reasons to believe either of you. A liar and a con."

"That's your problem, not mine."

Jason pinched his nose and sighed. "Jet, this is out of line."

"Well, I don't exactly have Marie here to handle interrogation!"

He pushed Jet aside and glared at the girls. "You two were going too far out of your way for a harmless prank. You know where Melissa and the other girls are, and something tells me you're keeping your lips shut because you don't want any of us to know."

Sadie grimaced. "Jason, believe me, it's best you don't. Besides, they're perfectly fine, so there's no reason—"

"So, they aren't in the base."

"…Shit." She sighed. "Look, they're fine! They're just galivanting around and having some fun. Melissa stays cooped up in this place enough, so let the girl—" Jason slammed his palm into the railing, cracking it.

"I didn't advocate for Melissa to stay in the Foresters just so she can goof off without informing one of us," he whispered. She could hear the growl deep in his throat. "She had a responsibility to take on, and all I'm hearing is that she ran off. Far as I can see, she failed her test already. She couldn't even get passed dealing with her apprentices."

Sadie pouted. "To be fair, I would've left if I had to deal with those…" She stopped when his glare deepened. "M-Melissa just needed some time off to refresh herself. The girls just wanted a little fun out together. There's nothing wrong with that! Besides, Melissa still has a little over a month before her heist starts. That's plenty of time to get back into shape and prepare."

"You're missing the point," he said. "Melissa shouldn't go running off and abandoning her duties out of the blue. If she wants to be a leader, she needs to pull her weight around here like the rest of us. Instead, all I see is a stupid rookie harboring secret meetings under everyone's noses just so she can have a little jaunt around the region."

Sadie glared. "Tch, you're one to talk about secret meetings."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Maybe you should practice what you preach, considering you never told me what your connection to Theobald was. All you ever said was that he'll be an ally to help me in case I needed to get the heat off me. So, mind explaining who his partner, Ydalyn, was?"

Jason's eyes widened. "You…met Yda?"

"She stayed in the castle for a month. How can I not have met her?" She bared her teeth. "If you want to go around saying you know best, maybe you should trust us a little more, starting with why you know these weird people."

"…" Jason closed his eyes. "I can't say."

"Of course you can't. And they say I'm the liar. Any skeletons I should know about?"

He gritted his teeth and glared at her. "Don't change the subject. Where is Melissa and the others?"

"What does it matter?! They're just goofing off and having a little fun! They'll be back in a few days, so quick twisting your pants into a knot, you jerk—"

"I'm…afraid the situation is a bit more serious than that, dear Sadie."

Everyone turned around and saw Basil approaching them, accompanied by a very nervous looking Shade, who was biting aggressively on his fingers. The Salandit himself had his usual carefree grin about him, hands tucked behind his back.

Jet glared. "Aren't you supposed to be guarding the prisoner?"

"I took a break," Basil said. "Even if she did break out, she wouldn't get very far. But I digress. I'm actually here to inform you that we have a bit of a breach in trust in the fort."

Jason glared. "What do you mean?"

"I believe I know where the girls disappeared off to. They're in the Senbo Kingdom."

Sadie and JoJo's eyes widened. "WHAT?!"

Jason glanced at them briefly before looking back at Basil. "Explain."

He reached into his pocket and tossed him a pink envelope. "I rifled through Adenine's hut and found that stashed away in a secret compartment in the floor. You'll thank me for my snooping. Seems our little chameleon has been keeping her true colors under wraps."

Jason opened the envelope and skimmed through the letter. His eyes widened the further he went down. "What…?"

Basil grinned. "Adenine has been having a secret affair with Prince Erasmus Talbot."

"EXCUSE ME?!" Jet barked.

"And they're currently in Senbo engaging with nobles. I believe it has something to do with the rumors of their secret project. Naturally, it drew in Pandora's attention, hence her disappearance."

Jet growled. "Are you saying those times Adenine has been leaving to visit her family—"

"Minor deception on her part to see her beau. You may want to have a talk with Godfrey later. He also knew."

Jet gripped his fur and stomped in place, seething through his teeth. "That two-timing, slimy traitor! When I get my hands on her, I'll—"

"Jet…I don't think that's the issue here." He stopped stomping and turned to his leader. Jason narrowed his eyes as he read the letter again, then handed it to the Oshawott. "Basil, why did you rifle through Adenine's belongings? And why did you bring Shade with you?"

He sighed. "I had to know, sadly, because I'm afraid one of the girls is about to do something truly heinous." He gestured to Shade, who stepped forward. "Seems we have a little devil in the works."

Shade gulped and looked up at Jason. "I'm so sorry, sir, but…it's missing."

Jason glared. "What?"

"The Wraith. One of the vials was stolen!"

He and Jet gasped. "Excuse me?"

"Remember those four vials JoJo managed to steal? I kept one of them in a locked box in a cabinet for safe keeping while I tested the other three. I…I only just discovered this morning that the lockbox was broken into. Someone pried it open with a blade. I never noticed because I almost always keep that cabinet locked, and there was no forced entry. The Wraith and a syringe were taken under my nose."

"Are you saying one of the girls stole it?!" Jet yelled.

"I…think I know which one." Shade bared his teeth as if fearful of the answer himself. "I had the cabinet open a few days ago while I was working with some equipment. There was only one person who came through my hut before I locked it. I-I must've dozed off for a moment a-and…I hadn't opened it until today. I…" He gulped. "Jason, sir, I believe…she took it."

Jason's eyes widened. "You mean…?"

"…Marie stole the Wraith."

"…" Jason curled his fingers and clenched his teeth. "That lying, little devil…!"

Jet snapped his attention back on the tied duo. "You two have some nerve—"

"Wait, wait, wait!" JoJo yelled. "We didn't know about that! Marie stole that crap?!"

"We're not lying this time!" Sadie added. "We never knew Marie stole the Wraith, honest!"

"I believe them," Jason said, shocking Jet and the girls. "If Marie did steal the Wraith, she would've done it in secret. We need to get to Senbo and fast. Jet, cut the girls loose and run to Percival. We're making an emergency teleport."

Jet sliced the girls' binds off and took off running. "On it, sir!"

"W-What are you going to do, sir?" Shade asked.

"I have no time to get a proper team together, and I'll need Jet to take over in my absence." He pointed at Basil. "Basil, you're coming with me!"

"Aye, sir!" Basil exclaimed with a salute.

Jason quickly scanned the area and happened upon Leon and Hedwig passing by with a few scratches on their uniforms, likely just coming out of training. He hesitated for a second, but dispelled those thoughts and whistled to them. "Leon, Hedwig!"

The Aron and Midnight Lycanroc snapped their attention in alarm. "Eh, what?" Hedwig mumbled.

"With me, now! I'll explain on the way!" He dropped on all fours and ran off. Hedwig and Leon pulled themselves together and scrambled after him with Basil casually jogging behind them.

Sadie and JoJo rubbed their rope marks and looked at each other in concern. "What did…she do?" Sadie mumbled.

"I…don't think I want to know."

Shade clasped his hands together and dropped to his knees. "Oh please, oh please, let nothing bad happen. I don't know what I'll do with myself if I let that despicable poison escape my sight…"

Senbo Capital…

Marie stared in utter disbelief at her friend as she fawned and giggled over the smug Prinplup. Her blood boiled as she watched him caress the Buneary's face, who sighed to his affectionate pats. She grinded her teeth together, seething with each breath. Her fingers curled into a tight fist as she marched up to the pair.

Darby leaned into Melissa's ear and whispered, "My dear Belle, would you care to accompany me to somewhere more private? The atmosphere is nice and all, but I want to get to know you better outside of polite customs. Maybe you can show me that beauty beneath your mask."

She smiled dreamily, hugging his wing closer to her chest. "I would love that…"

"Hold it right there!" Darby looked away from Melissa and glared at the seething Mawile. "Prince Talbot clearly stated no one was to leave this part of the castle. If you—"

"My dear, you must be confused," Darby said. "While it is true the party guests are restricted from the upper levels of the castle, there is no such restriction on me. I am a guest in this humble building, and I am free to return to my room at any time I wish." He smiled at Melissa and caressed her chin. "I am sure bringing a single guest would not hurt."

"Yeah, well I'm her friend, and we're supposed to stick with each other." She showed her teeth and snarled. "So, unless you have an issue with me tagging along, you're going to leave her be."

Darby frowned. "No need to be so hostile. Dear Belle does not mind. Is that not so, my precious?"

Melissa smiled drunkenly at Marie. "It's fiiiiine, Marie. Just leave me alone with the cute, hunky prince." She nuzzled her cheek against Darby's.

Marie grimaced. "Mel—Belle! Belle, seriously, I think you should stay down here with me."

"Why's that?" Darby asked, pulling Melissa closer. "Do you not trust me? I am the prince of the Wick Kingdom. I can assure you she will be in good wings. I would dare not try anything on such a lovely specimen."

Now Marie's hair was starting to growl. "Listen here, you slimy, smooth-talking—" The second she took one step forward, her path was blocked by his knight, Fulbertus. Soon joining his side was an Octillery and an Arcanine, each of them standing defensively between her and the prince.

"I advise you keep your temper in check, madame," Fulbertus said. "Any harm you bring to the prince will be viewed as a declaration of war by us. We will not hesitate to use force should you engage in a conflict."

She gritted her teeth. "Are you freakin' kidding me right now?" She looked between the knights and watched as Darby escorted the giggly Buneary away. She tried to go after them, but the knights pushed back harder. The Arcanine, Lionel, even huffed embers in her face, forcing her to step back. "You…!"

The Octillery, Jael, crossed his tentacles and glared. "It'd be in your best interest to return to the party, miss. Your friend will be perfectly fine in Prince Darby's care."

Lionel smirked. "For now, just relax. Enjoy the punch. I'm sure it'll make all your worries disappear."

Marie growled at them, but her fury wavered the further Darby and Melissa got away. They disappeared into the crowd. She relaxed her shoulders and straightened up, shooting a glare at the knights.

Fulbertus' eyes flashed. "We better not see you harassing the prince again. Are we clear?"

"…Crystal." Marie snatched Melissa's unfinished drink off the buffet table and walked away.

The tension in her fingers slowly relaxed, but her anger still burned hot in her chest. She glanced once over her shoulder, casting a suspicious glare at the knights as they walked away. She could see the Arcanine laughing about something while his Beheeyem ally seemed to shake his head in an exasperated manner.

There's something fishy going on around here.

"Yeesh, that chick gave me the creeps," Jael mumbled, his suction cups popping off the floor as he waddled along. "Anyone else get that feeling? I could feel her eyes piercing into my soul."

Lionel smirked. "I don't know about creepy, but she was pretty hot. Too bad she wasn't interested in a good time."

Fulbertus scoffed. "Make sure you idiots keep an eye on her. The prince wants to be alone with his prize, and last thing we need is someone sticking their nose somewhere it shouldn't be."

Lionel waved it off. "Can it wait? I've been doing nothing but my patrol rounds all day. After all, why should the prince get all the fun when I could have my own slice of tail?"

Fulbertus shook his head. "You stupid hound…"

"I can keep an eye on the girl," Jael said. "If she keeps to herself, no problems for anyone. Let Lionel do whatever he wants for all I care."

"I thought you said the woman was creepy."

"I'll be perched on the ceiling. Perfectly out of reach, and I'll do a better job of keeping an eye out for something."

Lionel dropped to his haunches and rubbed his paws together. "I like the sound of this already. So many fine women to sample."

Fulbertus groaned. "You're as bad as the prince. Fine, whatever, but I won't hesitate to shoot you if someone raises a fuss. The people have been growing concerned over the recent scandal in Verde. If they see a knight doing something out of line, they'll only assume the worst."

Lionel laughed. "That just looks bad on the Foresters, though, so what's the harm?" He scanned through the nobles. "So many beautiful women to choose from, but who to—oho! What do we have here?"

Fulbertus and Jael tilted their heads and saw their Arcanine comrade staring in the direction of a stumbling Growlithe leaving the crowd. She had a glass in one paw as she teetered around on three legs.

Lionel grinned. "What a brilliant stroke of luck. So small, so cute, and so easy to have to myself. You two don't mind, do you?"

Fulbertus scoffed. "I don't give a shit. I'm returning to my post." He teleported out of the foyer.

Jael shrugged and waddled away. "Have fun, I guess. Try to keep it discreet."

Lionel grinned. "Oh, I will~." He growled excitedly and stalked through the crowd.

"Heh…hehehe," Pandora mumbled as she stumbled through the foyer. "Tooooo much punch for this mad dictator, hahaha…" Her glass slipped from her claws, but she didn't care. Her heart was aflutter with joy at the revelation of the century, and her mind was concocting a slew of possibilities despite her search for a restroom.

She couldn't be more elated unless a vein of elementium itself fell down upon her from the skies. She expected a grand invention for the coming world, but never did she anticipate a wonderous look into the past, nor a find so rich that it made her weep tears of joy.

"The Arbiters, the original thinkers," she mumbled. "History's greatest minds, the ones who brought us out of the Savage Era. What an honor to be in the present of those descended from such beautiful realms of genius. Ooooooh, what I wouldn't give to have a peek at their history so I can use that knowledge for myself~!"

"Ah, you were fascinated by the presentation, cutie?"

Pandora spun around, her eyes blinking out of sync, and gazed up at the armored Arcanine looming over her. At first, a tiny bubble of confusion and irritation gnawed at the tip of her tongue as if she felt slighted by something the knight said, but the feeling went away as her mind drifted back to euphoria.

"Heheehe, the presentation?" Pandora's face flushed red as she giggled to herself. "Did you enjoy the presentation, too? Are you perhaps a man of science?"

Lionel smirked. "In a matter of speaking, I do enjoy certain sciences." He bent down and got up close to her face. "What's a cute little thing like you so interested about in the Arbiters?"

"Ooooooh, I know a thing or two about the Arbiters. You could say I…" Pandora giggled with a giddy hop. "Well, my grandfather told me quite a bit about them. He was always prattling on about the Arbiters when some prompted the vaguest of things. He liked talking about pyramids for some reason, but he was kind of losing his mind at that point. He must have really like triangles~."

"Fascinating." Lionel licked his lips at the glazed look in Pandora's eyes. "You know, I'm actually fascinated to learn more about the Arbiters. I only know so much from my king. Perhaps you could…give me a rundown of the history you know?"

"Ooooooh, sure! I'd love to!" Pandora cleared her throat. "It all started during the Savage Era when we all nothing more than wild creatures feasting on our bones—" Lionel pressed his paw against her muzzle.

"Somewhere more private, actually," he said. "We can have a real…heart-to-heart."

"Eh? Sure, why not~?" Pandora giggled. "I'd love to spend some time with a fellow adventurer of knowledge."

"And I do love pretty girls," Lionel whispered as he pushed Pandora along and away from the foyer. "I think we'll have a lovely time together, miss. Oh, but do you care for some more punch before we talk?"

"I love the punch!"

Lionel smirked. "As do I."

That was so stupid of me.

Marie slumped over on the buffet table, furiously tapping her fingers down while twirling Melissa's unfinished drink between her fingers. She scowled at the stairs, no doubt where Darby left to have his alone time with Melissa. She couldn't place why, but the way Melissa was acting on top of Darby's smug attitude sickened the Mawile. Ever since he first spoke, something about the cadence of his voice disgusted her. She couldn't place why, though. It didn't sound any different to how he was normally talking.

I shouldn't have backed down so easily. Marie set the glass down and sighed. I've gotten soft. Before I joined the Foresters, I would've sucker punched those losers and preened the pretty boy's feathers until he was a bald chicken. Or worse. She clenched her eyes shut. I should've put my foot down and told Melissa not to go with him. Ugh, that girl irritates me. Why does she have to make everything so complicated?

She frowned and pressed her hand to her cheek. The same one Melissa kissed.

So strange. Never would I imagine someone as boy crazy as Melissa would make a move like that. It was kind of nice. It felt nice. Pleasant, even. But…it also felt cold and empty. It was nice, but it didn't feel right. It's not like I have feelings for Melissa. Sure, she's cute and all, but…it's not the same. She's not…Riko.

She sighed, gently massaging her cheek as she stared longingly over the crowd.

What am I doing? I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have agreed to this. She frowned, clutching at her chest. I'm sorry, Giles, but I don't think I'll ever earn that second chance. I'm…still me.

Her eyes wandered sadly through the crowd. She lifted her finger and singled out a Muk in a messy suit and a Gurdurr showing off his muscles. "Would I rather go with the Muk or the Gurdurr? Heh, if you ask me, I'd be a tad interested in the action with Mr. Sentient Sludge. Heh…heh…" She sighed and slammed her face down on the table. "Nope. Not as fun without Melissa."

She looked up from her arms and scanned the crowd again. As she pointlessly judged the looks of the Pokémon, her eyes landed on a peculiar sight. The Nosepass waiter from earlier was offering drinks to a young Luxio, who seemed to have finished a glass of punch. Her eyes moved to the other side of the foyer and spotted the Kingler offering punch to a voluptuous Flareon.

Her eyes slowly narrowed as she straightened up. "Those two again?"

She kept her eyes on them as they made their rounds through the crowd, offering punch to nobles. Strangely, they kept passing by men and older women who clearly had empty glasses. They specifically went to young women who were finishing up their drinks, possibly the punch that was being served.

"The other waiters have been going around and offering food and beverage to everyone. They've been exclusively giving that punch to young women. The same crap they tried to give me. The same crap they gave Melissa. Why have they been circling around like that?"

"For now, just relax. Enjoy the punch. I'm sure it'll make all your worries disappear."

The Arcanine's words echoed in her mind as her eyes fell upon Melissa's drink. Cautiously, she picked up the glass and held it up to her lips. Her heartrate quickened as a nervous sweat dripped down her face. Why would two waiters be giving away a specific drink to exclusively young women? And why did Darby call over those particular waiters to give Melissa another drink?

Marie gulped and pressed the glass to her lips. She tilted her head back and let a little liquid pass through onto her tongue.

Her eyes widened. The lemony-cherry flavor Melissa described was right on the money. It was a positively delightful taste, so overpowering and so refreshing that it could make her swoon.

It also masked a sweeter taste, one Marie instantly recognized.

She gasped and smashed the glass on the floor, spitting what remained out of her mouth. Her hand clasped over her mouth as she stared at the broken glass with tiny, shaking eyes.

"That…That's…"

She spotted something through her peripherals exiting the crowd. Her eyes widened as she saw Pandora being escorted away by the Arcanine knight from earlier, and she spotted Pandora with the punch in her paw.

An animalistic growl sounded from within her hair. Her eyes shrank to dagger-like pinpricks, and her brow furrowed into a furious glare. "That disgusting, wretched, evil Prinplup…" Marie snatched a fork off the table and marched around the table. "Adenine should be fine with Erasmus. I need to find Lillia first, then get that creep away from Pandora."

She clutched tightly to the fork as flashes of the smug Prinplup passed through her mind.

"After that, I'm going to kill him."

"And here we are," Darby said as he pushed his bedroom door open. He gestured Melissa inside and closed the door behind him. "Make yourself comfortable. We have all the time in the world to get to know each other. Perhaps I can even convince you to stay longer."

Melissa giggled and spun on her toes. "Oooooh, that would be delightful, Darby~."

"I am glad you think so." He removed his dress coat and threw it onto the floor, laughing to himself. "You know, it is funny. I have charmed many women in my years. I have gotten quite good at it, working it down to a science. Most women have this fantasy of being swept off their feet by a charming prince, and they swoon at the chance when one fancies their attention."

Melissa giggled again. "Yeeeeah~."

Darby folded his wings behind his back and marched around the dazed Buneary. "I realized as I grew up that I had a type. I never cared for the scholarly types, always prattling about some fascinating tidbit that I just listen to for politeness' sake. So drab, so pointless. They were so much prettier when they just smiled and fawned over me." He sighed. "And yet, I get so bored because a young lady can only remain charmed for so long. The fantasy dies, and the fun is over. I could never get terribly far in my game before they become disillusioned to my looks, but they will think nothing of it in the end. They remain blind to the truth of my charm.

"However, as I took on a serious outlook as my father's heir, it occurred to me how important loyalty was. You can never trust when someone will defend your honor to the bitter end or drive a dagger through your back. You need assurance that those you trust truly give you their trust. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Heee, yeeeeeeeah~," Melissa hummed, teetering on her heels.

Darby smirked and shrugged. "My apologies, I shouldn't expect intellectual conversation from a woman of your…current state. Are the hearts still dancing around your head, love?"

"Heeee, you're pretty~."

"Quite." Darby continued marching about, undoing a few buttons on his shirt. "Father was so proud of me when I took an initiative to earn the people's trust. I give them favors, they swear loyalty to me. Princes like me have an image to uphold, one of righteousness and kindness. We have to be perfect images of purity. Ah, but I am afraid I was born with a sinful heart, so I have to mask my desires through my kindness. I have my little flings, and everyone goes on about their day. That is, until I discovered my father's intriguing history."

Darby approached his bedside and opened the drawer. He pulled out a round-bottomed flask with a familiar pink liquid inside. Melissa's face lit up. "Ooh, punch~!"

He laughed. "Father was always a rebellious man, and he himself earned the favors of others. Who would have guessed an alchemist in the now dilapidated Arcania Kingdom would be so grateful that he would give the recipe to a peculiar potion? My father was many things, but he did not possess the lustful heart I have developed, so he saw no use for this stuff. I, however, am a different story." He put the vial away.

"Punch?" Melissa asked dumbly, tilting her head.

Darby turned and smirked. "Why am I even telling you this? You can barely comprehend anything. It is strange, but you fell for me much faster than I expected. True, you had five glasses of the potion, but it hardly lets me pull your mind like a puppeteer. No, you were already infatuated with me. Deeply in love, even."

He approached her and cupped his wing under her chin. "And yet, I am also drawn to you. I have not felt like this since my last obsession. I have never been attracted to any woman, but there was one I fancied more than any other. She was a jewel, a gem of purity that was potential for corruption. It was the game I could not stop hunting. She was the perfect target, the one I wanted most of all. She was my obsession, my masterpiece to bend to my will.

"Oh, my dear sweet Melissa Penworth, where are you now?"

Melissa giggled. "Your feather's tickle—"

Snap out of it, you giggly idiot.

Melissa blinked hazily. "Heh?"

He is not who he says he is.

"Darby is perfect…"

Darby is a devil.

"I want Darby all to myself."

He's using you. He's using me. He's using US.

"Darby—" Melissa blinked her eyes again, the fog in her eyes flickering. "D…Darby?" Her eyes flickered with a smoky white aura.

Get a hold of yourself, Melissa.

Lionel led Pandora away from the party and down a hall where no other servers or guests could see them. It took a while for them to leave, what with the Growlithe being stubbornly insistent on talking about the Arbiters. He tried to feed her more punch, but he couldn't find the servers with it. He shrugged it off and stayed patient with her until he finally convinced her to come along with him.

They traveled to the farthest parts of the castle and stopped by a cleaning closest. Pandora could barely keep her eyes open as a haze filled them. She giggled with a few hiccups as she gazed up at Lionel. "Ready to talk about the Arbiters? It's some juicy stuff."

The Arcanine licked his lips. "Actually, I was thinking we could so something else." He cupped her head in his paw, which she moaned and leaned into. "Doesn't that feel nice?"

"So soft~," Pandora said with a dreamy expression.

"I can show you a good time if you let me. What do you say, cutie?" He lowered down and showed his toothy grin. "Want to have some fun with an official knight like me? I'll make all your fantasies come to life."

"Hehehe, sure~."

"Good answer." He ran his paws over her dress and started pulling on the collar.

However, before he could go further, a bang on the closest door brought him back to reality. He blinked in surprise, staring at the door as if he imagined the sound. Pandora giggled and bent her head back. "Who is it~?"

Lionel squinted at the door. He almost wanted to write it off and get back to his fun, but a second banging brought his full attention forward. He groaned and pushed Pandora aside. "Did some drunk idiot lock themselves in here?" He growled as the occupants punched the door a third time. He grabbed the doorhandle and twisted it open. "Alright, alright, I heard you! What's the big idea—"

He flung the door open, and he was met with a shocking sight. The Nosepass and Kingler waiters were bound and gagged on the floor in tablecloth. Cleaning supplies was dumped over their faces. Their eyes were scratchy and red as the chemicals burned them. They looked like they were dragged and beaten before being thrown into the closest, all without alerting a single knight.

He stumbled back and dropped to an alert stance. "When did this happen—"

A cloth suddenly flew over his head and pulled over his neck. He gasped and reached for the cloth as it pulled taut over his throat. He squeezed down on his windpipe, preventing him from screaming for help. He tried to shake off the attacker on his back, but they had him in their hold.

Screw it! Fire Fang! He ignited his fangs and spun in circles to bite his attacker off. They evaded his attack, but lost their grip on the cloth, freeing his throat. "Where did you go—"

As Lionel turned himself around, he froze in terror at a single red eye glaring down on him. A hand reached up, clutching a fork, and drove straight through his left eye. Lionel tried to scream, but the cloth pulled over his throat again and cut off his voice.

The attacker left the fork in his eye, then threw their weight forward. They pulled the Arcanine along by his head and used his weight to throw him into the supply closet on top of the waiters. He passed out on top of them.

His attacker, Marie, slammed the door in his face. "Go to Hell," Marie whispered as she dusted her hands off. "Lillia, you can come out now."

Lillia stumbled from around a corner, staring at the Mawile in awe. "Uh, wow, that was…intense."

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I guess, but can you explain to me what's going on? You grabbed me out of nowhere and…well, now this is happening!"

Before Marie could explain, Pandora threw her forelegs around her and giggled. "Hi, Marie! How are you doing? Were you playing a game with that guy? Oh, you and your silly silliness. Is this Seven Minutes of Heaven?"

Marie glared. "Pandora, eat this." She pulled out a brown pellet and flicked it into the Growlithe's mouth.

Instantly, Pandora's face twisted in disgust. She spun around and started throwing up on the floor. Lillia averted her eyes in disgust while Marie watched with a scowl. Pandora unloaded virtually everything she ate at the party and trembled on her front paws with bile dripping down her snout.

She shook her head and glared weakly at Marie. "What the actual hell is wrong with you?! Why did you feed me that?!"

"Because you were ten seconds away from being that jackass knight's one-night stand."

"I…I, what?" She blinked a couple times, then her eyes widened in horror. "Oh Arceus, what was I doing?!" She clawed into her head and scowled. "That jackass called me cute! That son of a bitch!"

Marie held the same brown pellet between her fingers. "That was a bitter pill I gave you. It clears the body of most toxins. Some of that love potion is still in your system, but not enough for you to be manipulated thankfully." She pocketed the pellet and turned away. "Come on, we need to find Melissa before that creep, Darby, does anything to her."

"C-Can you give me a minute?!" Pandora yelled. "Ugh, you know I hate throwing up. I feel like I can't breathe when…I'm…" Her eyes widened in realization. "Wait…what?"

Lillia frowned. "Marie, did you say…love potion?"

Marie scowled as she turned her attention to the ceiling. Hang on, Melissa.

Darby pushed Melissa up against a wall, grinning excitedly. "Well, my dear, I am all yours. Shall we commence with the fun?"

Melissa giggled bashfully. "Heehee, y…yeah…I…guess…" She furrowed her brow and blinked a couple times.

Darby frowned. "Something wrong?"

"N-No, I…I'm just…" She squinted. "Whaaaaaa…?"

Her vision blurred for a moment. After blinking a couple times, she saw someone standing over Darby's shoulder. A transparent-looking Buneary. It…almost looked like her, but much angrier.

"Melissa, get a grip! You know this isn't right. Marie was trying to save us earlier. We're not well."

"No, I…I am fine," Melissa mumbled.

"What part of this is fine to you? You know you're not. Your Inherited Will is fighting back. The part of you that will act in defiance. You think Harlow would be in this situation right now?"

"I…am…Harlow…"

Darby's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yes, you are Harlow. I am Harlow. We are Melissa!" Harlow pointed at Darby's face. "Look at this creep's eyes and tell me this isn't the face of a monster!"

Melissa squinted at Darby's confused expression. She detected something reflecting off his eyes. A faint, pink glimmer of hearts flying at her.

"He's using Attract on you! He's amplifying the effects of that punch he fed you!"

Her eyes widened. She quickly shoved Darby off and backed away into the corner of the room. She trembled against the wall, her heart exploding inside her chest, and panted anxiously. "W-W-What's going on?!"

Darby picked himself up and rubbed his jaw. "That…was uncalled for." He glared at the cowering Buneary. "Strange. Even after five doses of love potion, you are still lucid?"

Melissa's eyes widened. "L-L-Love potion?!"

Darby smirked. "My, my, now this is a surprise. I have never had someone actually fight me during this part. You must have a strong will, my dear Belle. You have brought me a gift. I wonder how strong that will is, though? I look forward to testing its limits."

Melissa's teeth chattered together, pressing her back far against the wall. Her throat felt tight, her head pounded with tension, and chills wrapped around her body. She wanted to run, but her feet remained firmly planted on the floor. She couldn't command her muscles to move and fling her out the door to escape the horror show they premiered before her eyes, lest she be dragged back in her desperate escape. She faced villainous Pokémon throughout her year as a Forester, dodged the icy hands of death more times than she could count, and even improved beyond limitations she never thought she could overcome.

So why now, of all times, did she feel so cornered and terrified?

"Now, what was that part about you being…Harlow?"