"Forgive my language, but what in Arceus' name is wrong with you?!" Erasmus yelled at Ignacia, stamping his paw down. "You bring up a wild accusation against these ladies with no proof of involvement. To dare to insinuate that have connections to the Foresters is utterly—"

Ignacia silenced him with a firm voice. "My job, as I was hired to do by your family, is to detain potential threats to the kingdom. Your personal feeling on the matter don't comply. It is simply business."

"There is the issue of evidence, which you lack," Erasmus said. "Whatever correlation you cobbled together is irrelevant to hard proof. Should I dare accuse the youngest Tetrarchs for their mischievous behavior and claim they are Foresters? By your own admission, it's the same evidence."

Adenine and Lillia tried to squirm out of Otis' tongue, but he tightened down on their arms. "Don't bother, ladies," Otis said with a tip of his hat. "I trained that tongue to endure pretty much anything."

Lillia stopped struggling and groaned. "Great, now an unpleasant image just flashed through my head…"

Adenine looked up at Erasmus and pleaded, "Sweetie, Ah swear—I! I swear! I swear I have no idea what she's talkin' about!"

Erasmus raised his paw. "Relax, Adenine, I will handle this." He unsheathed his claws and pointed them at the bounty hunters. "You have ten seconds to release them, or you will be receiving a lot more than your pay, though do not count on that either."

Ignacia groaned. "So tedious. Tell me something, Your Highness, where's the rest of your lady friend's little party?"

"Why does that matter?"

"They're not in the foyer with us, nor were they sighted anywhere on the first floor. As far as I'm concern, they're up to some mischief." She glared. "Besides, can you say with absolute certainty that they aren't Foresters?"

"Of course! I trust Adenine completely."

Adenine winced. "Erasmus…"

Ignacia pulled out one of her swords. "Then perhaps we should test your resolve." She dropped down and grabbed Lillia by the back of her dress, pulling her out of Otis' hold.

"Whoa, whoa, hey!" Lillia yelled.

Adenine gasped. "Lillia!"

Erasmus' eyes widened. "What are you—"

"Foresters protect their own. My father did his research on how they operate, and we're pretty certain Foresters will go to great lengths to keep their comrades from danger." She lifted the blade up to Lillia's throat. "So, will one protect the other, or will they go to their graves with this pansy act?"

Adenine struggled on the floor. "Let her go! She didn't do anythin' wrong!"

"Ignacia, I am ordering you to—" Erasmus tried to yell, but Ignacia cut him off again.

"This is how we do things in my father's business, kid," she said. "You want something done right, you need to break a few laws. Should've realized that when you hired us."

Before Erasmus could say anything, Gaufroi charged past him with his axe raised high. "Now you've done it!"

"Steinar!"

The Rhyperior slid in front of Ignacia and caught the axe by its blade and handle. Gaufroi and Steinar growled at each other as they wrestled for control of the axe.

Ignacia narrowed her eyes. I'm not actually going to kill her. I just need to scare one of them into doing something stupid. I either lure out Stormbreaker, or I reveal the spies. There's still the issue with the missing ones, but that's not for now.

"Time's up!" Ignacia lifted her sword, ready to swing it down on Lillia.

"AAH!" Lillia clenched her eyes shut.

"LILLIA!" Sparks generated through Adenine's umbrella.

"NO!" Erasmus unsheathed his claws and readied to pounce.

Just before anything could happen, an explosion went off above their heads. The blast startled Ignacia into releasing Adenine, and broke the quarreling rhino and bear apart. Everyone back away from the incendiary cloud descending on the foyer.

"Goooooood evening, ladies and gentlemen!" All eyes turned up to the crystal chandelier and spotted the Salandit riding atop of it. "Welcome to the show! If you don't have a ticket for the premiere, I suggest you exit in a calm and orderly fashion!"

Ignacia growled. "Forester!" She flapped her wings and flew straight up. She pulled back both her swords and slashed through Basil. However, to her shock, it was nothing more than a cloud of purple smoke. "What?!"

"Please remain seated at all times during the performance!" She turned and saw Basil sitting on the high windows. He raised his hand and said, "And now, Act 1." He clicked his fingers.

The front doors exploded open and went flying into the crowd. Gaufroi shielded Erasmus as one of the doors came down on them. Otis and Steinar backed away from the flaming debris while Lillia and Adenine scrambled away.

Through the smoke, Leon and Hedwig emerged. Hedwig beat her chest and howled up at the ceiling. The nobles screamed as the horrifying visage of a red snarling wolf seemed to project from the wild Lycanroc. It was like it was standing right in front of them, bearing its fangs. Everyone turned and fled for their lives, knocking away tables and each other, screaming their lungs off.

Hedwig laughed and dropped to all fours. "Flee. FLEE, you pathetic pups!" She took off running after them, barking like mad.

Serell dove at her with his halberd, but Leon intercepted his attack with his shield. They clashed through the air for a moment before bouncing off each other. Serell spun his halberd and generated wind over the blade. "Air Slash!" He swung and sent out a barrage of wind blades.

Leon ducked behind his shield as the wind slashes beat down on him. "Okay…Body Press!" He braced his body and charged through the Air Slashes. He kicked off with his hindlegs and rammed into Serell, dragging him across the floor as they landed.

Basil dropped to the floor and breathed a thick purple smoke around himself. He grinned with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Let the fun commence."

The floor rumbled beneath the girls and Dimitri as they descended down the stairs. Marie braced herself against the wall while Dimitri helped Pandora keep Melissa still on her back. He looked down and focused his hearing. "What is happening down there?"

Pandora winced. "That…would be the rescue party coming for us." She sighed. "Oh, we're so busted."

Marie glared at Dimitri. "Don't worry, they're not here to hurt anyone. This is a basic scare tactic. They're just causing a scene to give us time to escape."

He sighed. "You better be right about that. I am committing so many crimes just talking to you two—" A second shockwave rumbled through the castle, this one much stronger than the first. They nearly slipped down the stairs, but caught themselves on the railing. "What was that?!"

Marie pressed her hand against the wall. "That one…was closer. Directly above us."

Dimitri glanced back up the stairs. "What the hell is that homicidal leader of yours doing to Darby up there?"

Marie glared. "Letting out several years of repressed anger, I imagine." She shook her head. "We can't stay here for long. I don't think he cares too much about property damage now."

Dimitri groaned. "Just great. Hurry up!" He continued down the stairs with the girls right on his tail.

"AGH! Enough!"

Ignacia beat her wings and whipped up a sandstorm over the foyer. Nobles shielded their faces as they charged for the exits and halls, anywhere to escape the cavalcade of attacks. Ignacia didn't care, setting her sights on the dancing Salandit as he fired Flame Bursts at her.

"Are you enjoying yourself, madame?" Basil asked. He clicked his fingers and caused the area around Ignacia to explode.

The sandstorm blew the blast away from her. She sneered at him, gripping her swords tightly. "Hold still and face your judgment!" Heat surrounded her blades and ignited them with hot sand. She spun her body and fired slashes of flaming sand down on the lizard.

Basil casually skipped off the edges of toppled tables, which were destroyed by the sand slashes. Ignacia took a deep breath and slashed both weapons simultaneously, sending down a wave of sand strikes. Basil backflipped out of the way as the attacks riddled the floor with holes.

"I'd hate to get hit with one of those," Basil taunted. "I have very sensitive skin."

Ignacia grunted and chased him down. He led her around the foyer, purposefully turning her attention off of Lillia and Adenine, who were crawling across the floor.

"The exit should be this way!" Lillia yelled.

Adenine clenched her eyes shut as the sand scratched her skin, but it eventually turned into an earthy brown. She breathed a sigh of relief and glared ahead. "Y-Yeah. I can see more clearly now. Hurry before—"

A foot slammed down in their path. They gasped and jumped to their feet, facing the Rhyperior bounty hunter with his horn drill spinning and squealing. "End of the line, little ladies," Steinar said.

Lillia raised her hands. "Um, can we bargain for our release perhaps?" Adenine nervously clutched her umbrella and raised it like a sword.

Steinar snorted. "You wish." He lowered his head and aimed his horn drill at them. They backed away with Lillia's eyes aglow with psychic energy.

"Adenine!"

Adenine's heart nearly stopped as she spun around. Through the raging sands, she saw Erasmus pushing through with his eyes barley open. He squinted her way, and her heart almost broke at the worried expression on his face, bordering on tears.

"Adenine, come with me! Let me protect you!" he yelled.

She clenched her teeth. "Razzy…"

"Adenine, we need to leave, now!" Lillia yelled.

The Kecleon looked between her friend and boyfriend with sweat flying off her face. "Ah…Ah don't…"

"Adenine…" She looked back at Erasmus, wincing at the strained tone in his voice. "Please tell me what she said wasn't true. You are not a Forester. This is just some big misunderstanding."

"R…Razzy…"

"Please, just come with me. I will keep you safe. We can work this out." He frowned. "I know you. You are not a bad person."

"…" Adenine clenched her eyes shut. "There's a lot about me Ah could never say…"

"We need to find cover. Come on, hurry!"

She squeezed her eyes tighter, choking her umbrella between her hands. "Ah just…wanted to have a dance with ya. Ah didn't ask for all this drama."

"Adenine, come on—"

"Ah can't!" She raised her umbrella and opened it. "AH CAN'T!"

The standoff between Steinar and Lillia was interrupted as a storm cloud opened up through the sandstorm. Lightning surged through as it grew larger and larger, overpowering the sands and leaving a section of the area free of its earthy winds. The temperature seemed to drop under the storm cloud, and those with fur felt it standing on end.

"Razzy…" Tears fell down Adenine's face. "Ah can't stay here with ya."

Erasmus' eyes widened. "Addy?"

"Ya should just forget about me." The umbrella trembled in her hands, but she kept it still as sparks raced up the neck. "Ah should've never come. Ah should've never left home. How can anyone love a rotten thief like me?!"

"Addy!" Erasmus ran to her.

"I've had enough of this melodrama!" Steinar lunged at the girls.

With tears in her eyes, Adenine raised her umbrella high and screamed, "Heartbeat Flash Burst!"

A massive thunderbolt came down on Adenine and struck her umbrella. The fabric around the canopy incinerated and revealed a metallic plating underneath. An erratic bright light reflected off her canopy and struck everyone in the surrounding area, followed by a sudden thunderous boom.

Erasmus recoiled and screamed. His vision completely whitened, and an ear-piercing ringing echoed through his ears. Steinar also succumbed to the same effects and completely missed the girls, sliding past them across the floor.

Lillia peeked one eye open and realized she didn't go blind. She looked up and saw Adenine had position her umbrella over them both. "Whoa…that was pretty cool—" Adenine grabbed her wrist and pulled her along. "WHOA!"

Adenine didn't look back. With tears flying from her eyes, she pulled Lillia to the exit, ignoring Erasmus' calls to her.

"Adenine! Adenine!" He stumbled around and shook his head, trying to get his bearings together. "Adenine, where are you? Adenine—" Someone slid under the prince and pulled him onto their back.

"Hang on!" He recognized the voice as Rikmai's. "We need to get you and the rest of your family out of here!"

"N-No!" He struggled to get off her. "I need to find Adenine! I need to know what is going on—" Serell swooped down and pushed the prince down before he could escape.

"Your safety comes first, Your Highness!"

"Let me go! Adenine! ADENINE!" He started to kick and flail against them, forcing them to stop and get a hold of him.

"Calm down!" Serell wrapped his arms over Erasmus' forelegs and pinned them down, though even that was a trying task as the Glameow kept fighting with him. "O-Okay, he's stronger than I expected—"

"Look out!" Linota suddenly jumped in front of them and blocked a rogue Flame Burst with her shield. She dug her feet down as the explosion nearly sent her flying. She glared over her shield and at the Flygon above them. "Watch where you swing those things!"

Ignacia batted away Basil's Flame Bursts while firing off flaming sand slashes. He continued to casually dodge her attacks while throwing out quick snap and explosions with stylish precision. One moment he was flipping over sand attacks, the next he was sliding into a pose before firing his explosions off.

"Come, my winged adversary!" Basil exclaimed. "Let us dance to the fireworks!" With several clicks of his fingers, he swung his arms and let off a chain of explosions through the air.

Ignacia shielded herself from the blasts coiling around her. She spun in place and sent the explosions scattering over the winds. Once she stopped, she grunted at the playful lizard. "Eroding Storm." She aimed her wings forward and fired a vortex of sand down on Basil.

He smirked and raised both his hands at it. "That won't do." He clicked his fingers and triggered an explosion in the center of the storm. It ruptured open, sending flaming sand toward Erasmus and his knights.

"Ah shit!" Linota raised her shield in front of Erasmus.

Several shots fired near them and blasted the sands apart. Gaufroi looked up and saw Jael hanging directly above them from the ceiling. He saluted and yelled, "I'll cover you! Hurry!"

Gaufroi glared in response and scooped the struggling Glameow into his arms, easily restraining him. "This is for your protection, Your Highness!" He turned and booked it out of the hall with his fellow guards following behind.

"Gaufroi! Let me go!" Erasmus yelled, kicking and flailing in the Ursaring's inescapable hold. "Adenine!"

"Your Highness, with all due respect, shut the hell up!" Erasmus' blinded eyes snapped open under Gaufroi's commanding tone. "Regardless of her true allegiance, I will personally make sure nothing happens to her, but my priorities are to your safety only. Now, I recommend you calm down and allow me to get you somewhere safe until your blindness wears off."

"…" Erasmus reluctantly relented to the bear's advice and relaxed in his arms. He bowed his head and frowned toward the floor. My sweet Adenine, what is going on?

Darby rarely felt fear in the face of danger, as he always knew he could come out on top through words alone. It was how he got by with his schemes, and how he thrived as the most beloved prince in the Wick Kingdom. Manipulation was all he knew, and he reveled in that power.

Though he didn't feel fear, he admitted to himself he made a mistake antagonizing the Fairy Knight.

"Bastard!"

He tried to block, but Jason's fist flew through his guard and clocked him square in the face. He staggered and hit his back against the wall, receiving a second blow to the stomach. He coughed blood and doubled over, allowing Jason to grab the back of his head and slam his face into the wall.

Jason snarled as he pressed Darby's face against the stone. "You nobles, you royals…you're all the same. Every last one of you." He pulled Darby back and smashed his face into the wall again. "It's all that power and gold, pretending your gods looking over us feeble insects. It's so easy to force your influence over us and do what you want."

Darby lit up his wings and spun around, backhanding Jason's arms away. He wiped the blood dripping from his nostrils and smirked. "You should try it sometime. Do you know how boring it is being a prince? Aerial Ace!" He thrusted his wing forward.

Jason deflected his strike with ease and socked Darby across the face. "I gave up my childhood because of scum like you." He grabbed Darby by the collar and hammered his fist into his gut, knocking the wind out of the penguin's lungs. "I could've walked away. I could've just let it go. But then, who would keep you gilded monsters in your place?!"

He spun Darby by his jacket and tossed him across the hall. Darby skidded off his back, but managed to roll onto his feet. He took a second to catch his breath, then smirked at the seething Pikachu. "A killer like you doesn't have any right to lecture me over right and wrongs."

Jason scowled. "I rather be branded as a killer than a sick freak like you." His fur stood on end with electricity. He kicked off the floor and blitzed Darby with a hard punch to the chest.

"GAAAAH!" Darby cried. He flew off his feet and went sailing further down the wrecked hallway torched by the Fairy Knight's electrical outrage.

"It's that mindset that makes me angry. Anyone with power and money believes they control the law. They think they can get away with anything and not expect the consequences." Jason curled his fists as he marched up to Darby. "I could've spent the last twelve years doing anything else, but I couldn't forget. How can anyone forget that? I sacrificed my childhood so I didn't have to listen to another story of someone being screwed over by rich bastards!"

Darby chuckled through his heavy breathing. "Like the poor are saints." He flashed a devilish grin. "It's amazing what morals people are willing to break when they're desperate for something. How many good nobles had to suffer because someone was inspired by the Foresters to take crime into their own hands—"

Jason cut him off with a hard swing across the face. Darby massaged his cheek, growled, and lunged with Aerial Ace. Jason dodged his swings, caught him by the wings, and bashed his skull into his. Darby staggered and cradled his aching head, leaving him open to another punch in the face.

"You can dance around the issue all you want," Jason said with a growl. "It doesn't change the fact you tried to manipulate my crew!" He electrified himself again and kicked off at high speed. He tackled Darby and dragged him through the hall, leaving a scorch streak behind them.

Jason gripped into Darby's jacket and spun, using the high speeds to bash Darby repeatedly into the wall before tossing him into the end of the hallway. The penguin bounced off the wall and landed on his wings and knees. He panted heavily as his vision tripled and blurred.

I can still feel that poison in my system. The antidote hasn't fully kicked in yet. No, that's not the problem. I've never fought without a sword before. I need a weapon. He clenched his eyes shut and tried to focus. The Talbot's armory is a floor below me. There should be something for me to use.

He took a deep breath and cleared his mind. "Agility!" A blue aura outlined his body. He flashed a cocky grin at Jason. "Work Up." An orange aura overlapped his body, giving in a heated hue.

Jason glared. "Am I supposed to be impressed?"

"We'll see. Aerial Ace!" He lunged forward, wrapping his wings in the orange aura.

"That won't help you." Jason readied to parry his attack.

Darby's grin stretched. "Wing of Desire."

"Huh?"

Darby suddenly stopped on his foot and swung his wing down. For a brief moment, Jason saw dark energy emanating off his wing. The Aerial Ace struck into the floor and caused the floor beneath them to rupture. Jason jumped and used Magnet Rise to cling to the ceiling as the floor collapsed under him. He watched Darby fall with the debris and land on the next floor, albeit with an ungraceful tumble.

Darby picked himself up, dusted his clothes off, and gave a mocking wave to Jason. "Catch me if you can, Fairy Knight." He dashed off.

Jason dropped from the ceiling and landed on the edge of what remained of the third floor. He listened to the retreating penguin's footsteps. "This has to be a trap." He paused for a moment before scowling. "And I don't give a shit."

With all the chaos happening in the foyer, once Dimitri and the girls reached the first floor, he took them down a different path around the castle before reaching a window facing out the front castle. After checking over his shoulders, he undid the lock and pushed the window panels open.

"I suggest you make your escape quick. You don't want to be out here for too long when the patrol starts sweeping the streets. You won't last a minute against our military."

Marie glared. "We'll take our chances, thanks." She hopped through the window first. "Pass her over."

Pandora and Dimitri lifted Melissa's unconscious body and handed her off to Marie. After that, Dimitri helped Pandora up through the window. She hesitated for a moment as she looked down at Melissa's still face. "Is she going to be okay?"

"I don't know. Jason said she was poisoned. Let's hope it wasn't anything lethal."

Pandora hopped out the window and turned back to Dimitri. "What about you?"

He glared. "I need to tend to the panicking crowd. After that, I am going to personally inform everyone of Darby's wrongdoing." He growled. "And this time, I will make sure he does not weasel his way out of the accusation."

Marie frowned. "Be careful. That Darby…he gave me some bad vibes. I know a thing or two about manipulators. Don't let him have his say. Shut him down as fast as you can."

He nodded. "I will be fine." He closed his eyes for a moment. "I better not see you people anywhere near Senbo Kingdom again."

Marie nodded. "I'll take that as your goodbye. And…thanks." She jumped onto Pandora's back and secured Melissa close to herself. "Let's ride!"

Pandora groaned. "This is so belittling…" She started into a slow run before sprinting away from the window.

Dimitri closed and locked the window behind him with a deep sigh. "Done and done." He turned and glared toward the foyer. "Now to expose that penguin for the monster he is." He took off running in search of his family.

Adenine and Lillia escaped through the front gates while the knights were trying to calm the panicking nobles down. They slipped behind the wall and shuffled out of sight before allowing themselves a moment to breathe.

"Man, that was too close for comfort." Lillia turned to Adenine. "How are you holding up—" She gasped as Adenine dropped to her knees and sobbed into her hands. "A-Adenine!"

"He hates me!" she cried. "He knows Ah'm a dirty, rotten Forester, and he'll never want to talk to me again! Ah knew Ah should've never left the fort! Ah should've never joined the Foresters! What was Ah thinkin'? Ah knew this would happen! Why did Ah do this to mahself?!"

Lillia knelt down and hugged the trembling Kecleon. "Whoa, whoa! Adenine, calm down. He was pretty adamant you weren't a Forester. Maybe there's still hope—"

"Ah almost told him, too!"

Her eyes widened. "What?!"

She looked up at Lillia, tears streaking down her face. "The guilts eatin' me up real bad! How can Ah ever continue a relationship with Erasmus if Ah keep lyin' to him? His parents had to have heard what that no-good bounty hunter said. They must hate me, toooooo!" She fell onto her side and sobbed into the sleeves of her dress.

Lillia frowned and gently stroked the Kecleon's head. "You love him that much, don't you?"

"Ah…" She sniffled and peeked through her arms. "Ah…do."

"But…if you knew this would happen, then why did you ever join the Foresters? Surely, you knew a conflict like this would happen arise if you kept dating him. You both were under enough pressure with your different statuses. Why?"

"…" Adenine clenched her eyes shut. "Ah never wanted to become a thief. It…just happened."

"I don't understand."

"Ah'm poor. Ah come from a poor family that gets by tailorin' and makin' clothes. Hardly any big business in mah hometown except locals in need of mendin' and junk."

"So, you had to steal to provide for your family? I mean, I am sure Erasmus would understand that."

"That's not the problem…" Adenine covered her eyes. "Ah've told some fibs about mah homelife. Somethin' bad happened, and…Ah was ran out of mah hometown over it."

Lillia's eyes widened. "You were—what? What are you talking about?"

"Ah—"

"HEY!"

They both jolted upright, and Adenine aimed her electrified umbrella toward the voices. They calmed down when they saw it was just Marie and Pandora. However, when they saw the unconscious Buneary in Marie's arms, they gasped and ran up to them.

"Oh my Arceus, what happened to her?!" Lillia yelled.

"Is she okay?" Adenine asked.

Marie frowned. "We don't have much time to talk. Percival is here with his Teleportation Corp. We need to find him on Newton Street and wait there. There's going to be a sweep of the streets soon."

Adenine felt Melissa's face. "She doesn't look so good." She wiped her eyes. "Oh man, Ah wish Ah was a doctor."

Pandora grunted and shifted Marie's weight around. "I…I think someone from the Teleportation Corp has a little medical experience. Hopefully enough to keep Mels stable."

"No time to talk. We need to move," Marie ordered. The girls nodded and started down the street.

Their path was cut short as the street burst open in front of them. Adenine shielded them from rubble with her umbrella. She closed it, and the girls gazed up in horror as the Rhyperior, Steinar, towered over them. His drill, spinning off the dust coated across it, pointed toward them.

"Yep, that pretty much confirms it," he said.

Marie's eyes widened. "You…You were eavesdropping on us? From underground?! But you were blinded!"

Steinar snorted. "I'm from the Subterra Kingdom, little lady. I've learned to adjust to bright lights and how to avoid them. It stunned me, but not for too long. I was right to tail you underground. Now I have proof you girls are Foresters."

Marie clutched Melissa close to her chest. He hasn't said anything about Melissa, so he must've missed Pandora calling her Mels. One good thing on top of all of this.

Steinar punched his fists together, generating sparks through the friction. "Make this easy on yourselves. I wouldn't want to hurt you ladies too badly."

Lillia glared. "Want a bet?" Her eyes glowed while sparks raced through her fur. Adenine opened her umbrella and aimed it while Pandora breathed purplish-red flames through clenched teeth.

Steinar smirked. "Feisty. This ought to be fun—"

"Hands off my pack!"

Steinar quickly raised his arms and blocked a flying kick from Hedwig. The force pushed him back and tripped him over the hole in the front. The Midnight Lycanroc landed in front of the girls and snarled at the bounty hunter. Her fur stood on end, and her eyes glowed a brighter red.

"You thought you could escape the apex predator? I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!" she growled.

Steinar pushed himself up and rubbed his chin. "Of…course."

Lillia stepped back. "H-Hedwig?"

She glared at them. "I shall distract him. You go on ahead, and I will catch up—"

"I'm afraid distracting him won't be enough," Marie said with hesitancy. As she stared at the confused glare Hedwig was giving her, she closed her eyes and sighed. I'm going to get a lot of flack for this. "Hedwig, what were your exact orders?"

"To scare and distract everyone so you all can escape."

"Well, change of plans." She pointed at Steinar. "That guy's not going to be scared off so easily like those nobles. That's a bounty hunter, the toughest of the tough out here in Virdis."

Hedwig tilted her head. "So?"

Marie sighed. "I hope I don't regret this…Hedwig, I'm giving you permission to let loose on the bounty hunter."

Her eyes widened. "R…Really?"

Steinar glared. "Let loose?"

Marie nodded. "Do whatever you want. I don't care if you tear his arms off, but don't kill him.

Pandora's eyes widened. "Marie, you don't have permission to give that order anymore—"

"If Jason throws a fit, I'll take responsibility." She pointed at Hedwig and yelled, "Make sure he stays down! Whatever it takes!"

Steinar scoffed. "What is this? You think I'm afraid of some Lycanroc in rags? What difference does it make if she fights me?"

"You'll see. MOVE!" The girls, sans Hedwig, darted around Steinar before he could respond.

"Wha—HEY!" Steinar turned after them. "Oh no, you don't! Stone Edge—" A hard punch whipped across his face and sent him flying off his feet straight into a building. He landed back on his feet, but stumbled as he held his aching face. "What…hit me?"

His eyes widened as they landed on Hedwig. The bipedal wolf was hunched over, fur bristled, and emanating a harsh red aura around herself. She dropped down onto all fours and looked up at him with a sharpened gaze and snarling fangs. She pressed her claws into the street and caused it to crack under the pressure.

Steinar narrowed his eyes. What just happened? Her disposition changed all of a sudden. She…She looks like a savage Pokémon.

"Pain…" Hedwig whispered. "To survive…to kill…all I've known of battle is the scars of victory. There is no win or lose. There is only the predator and the prey. Survival…is the only recourse!" She raised her head and let loose a spirited howl to the sky.

Steinar's eyes widened. Oh…shit. She IS a savage!

Escaping the chaos of the foyer, Erasmus' knights escorted the prince through the halls until they came across a hall closet. Serell pulled the doors open and crouched down to pull open the secret trapdoor. Gaufroi set Erasmus down, and Rikmai helped him down the ladder.

"I'll keep watch," Linota said. "You two head back to the foyer and try to contain the crowd."

Serell nodded. "I'll see if I can find Adenine." He lifted his halberd and flew on ahead with Gaufroi not far behind.

Linota closed the hatch just as Rikmai and Erasmus reached the bottom. Erasmus blinked his eyes a couple times as his vision started to come back. He first noticed a candlelight flickering in the room. After rubbing his eyes and blinking again, his vision cleared up, revealing he was in the castle's secret bunker, spacious room built under the floor. Despite its low ceiling, it was quite spacious, almost five times the size of his bedroom. To his surprise, his family and the Tetrarchs were already inside.

"Erasmus!" Constance ran over and embraced her eldest son in a hug. "Oh, thank heavens you're okay!"

Kaolin dropped to the floor and covered his face. "What a travesty. I did not think we would get out of there."

Gilbert sighed. "Some help, Wilkin."

The Empoleon crossed his wings. "I said they were the best protection. I think the fact they were gang members should have tipped you off that they do not follow standard procedure." He turned his attention over to Erasmus. "Though, I must say, they certainly did their jobs effectively seeing as they identified a thief in the castle."

Erasmus glared. "You saw all of that?"

"Hard to miss."

Gilbert pushed Wilkin aside. "Do not speak to my son like that." He sighed and stared at Erasmus. "But…I must admit, that was…shocking, to say the least."

Erasmus threw his paws up. "What? You believed that bounty hunter? She was clearly lying."

"Doubtful," Wilkin said. "Hobs trained her himself. She would not make a mistake like that without proof."

"She hardly provided anything beyond baseless accusations!"

"And you call that impromptu escape in the foyer baseless? Tell me, if she was not filled with a devious heart, why would she deploy such a crafty escape tactic?"

"I do not ask her how she spends her free time. That is not proof she is a Forester—"

"Erasmus." His ears drooped to the sound of his father's tone. It was brimming with disappointment, something almost unheard of when directed at him. "We were happy you found someone that made you happy after what happened to Melissa, but…can you confidently say that girl is not a Forester?"

"Of course she is not. She is too good to be one."

Queen Saige scoffed. "I am sure the staff of Castle Penworth made similar remarks in regard to its two traitorous spies, though one cannot trust the judgment of a lovestruck boy."

Erasmus wanted to say something snappy in return, but held his tongue as not to cause discord with the visiting queen. He sighed and said, "I know in my heart Adenine is a good person."

"A good person does not mean she is not a Forester," Wilkin said. "Those pesky thieves fancy themselves as philanthropists, but they are just as greedy as the nobles they pick the pockets of."

"You do not know her like I do!" Erasmus yelled.

"Erasmus," Gilbert interrupted again, this time with a glare. "The facts are she ran away after being accused, and apparently did so in a rather dramatic fashion. I cannot confidently say she is or is not, but facts are she was tied with whatever other mischief makers that made themselves present in the castle. You could have very well brought a spy into our home."

Erasmus frowned. "She is not a spy…"

"A king should not just follow his heart, my son. They have to be wise when making decisions. Do you truly know everything about this girl?"

"…" He looked away. "Not…everything, but—"

"Understand that I will not pass judgment until this is sorted out with the young lady herself, but I cannot in good conscience overlook the possibility you brought a Forester into our castle without being completely sure they had no criminal history."

"But she is not a thief…"

Gilbert closed his eyes and sighed. "We will discuss this later."

Wilkin shook his head. "The boy appears more interested in the young lady than his own common sense. How tragic this world falls to the trappings of lust—"

"Hey, knock it off!" Cairo interjected, standing in front of his older brother. "You are hardly one to talk about common sense, Mr. Bounty Hunter Friend…Guy! I will not let you insult my brother like this."

Erasmus smiled slightly. "Cairo…"

"Ahem." All eyes fell on Galen, who adjusted his spectacles. "As much as I agree with Cairo, we have other pressing issues to look into, namely that we are not all accounted for. We are missing two princes, one from both families."

Teri gasped. "Dimitri!"

Saige grimaced. "Darby…"

Constance touched her lip and frowned. "Dimitri never came down to the party. He must be still in his room."

Rikmai saluted. "I will inform Linota and have her pass along the message. I am sure they will find the princes." She climbed up the ladder.

Wilkin crossed his wings and leaned against the wall. "Fulbertus has likely already followed protocol and teleported Darby somewhere far away from here. I am hardly worried over the boy's safety."

Erasmus glared off to the side. "Ignacia mentioned that Jason Stormbreaker is in the castle. Dimitri might be in trouble…"

Gilbert sighed. "There is nothing we can do but wait it out. I have every confidence that the knights will locate Dimitri and escort him safely to the bunker."

Erasmus looked up at the ceiling. "Dimitri…"

Dimitri poked his head into the foyer and immediately backed away as a rush of sand blasted near his face. He shook the particles out of his fur and carefully peeked around again. He spotted the Flygon, Ignacia, battling it out against a rather troublesome Salandit. All the knights were getting the last of the nobles out of the castle, leaving only the two opponents in the foyer.

"Stormbreaker is still upstairs with Darby, and there does not seem to be anyone else present." He closed his eyes. "Mother and Father should be in the bunker." He grimaced. "Which…is right across the foyer from here."

It seemed stupid to run into a raging sandstorm, and it definitely was, but he couldn't hold off on informing his parents about Darby's misdeeds. If he somehow managed to slip away from the wrath of the Fairy Knight, he wouldn't spare a moment explaining away any accusations Dimitri had to give. Even if there was hesitance to believe him, the doubt would certainly be enough to warrant investigation.

He took a deep breath and, after steeling himself, bolted straight into the foyer. The raging sands buffed across his clothes and fur. He could feel the sand slowly leaving microtears across his jacket. A few minutes inside the storm, and his jacket will start to come undone with rips. Fortunately, his fur acted as a good barrier for his skin.

He clenched his eyes shut and pressed on in the direction of the hallway. He tried to ignore the fighting going on nearby, and tried really hard not to pay attention to the explosions ringing over him.

These Foresters are nuts, I swear. Where do they find people like this?

He dared himself to open one eye to see how much further he had to his destination. He was about halfway across the foyer, taking careful steps as he moved. He could feel more of the sandstorm weathering his jacket, but he ignored the irritation across his body and focused on the rest of the walk.

Almost there. I can do this. I can do this—

Though he chose to ignore the fighting, one sound caught his attention. He squinted through one eye and saw a buffet table that was caught in the sand current. It tumbled through the air and came straight toward him.

Oh SHIT!

Dimitri braced himself as the table came down at him. However, he heard something jump in front of him and smash the table apart. He felt a board bounce off his back, but it was nothing to what could've been. He opened his eyes a little, feeling a little of the sandstorm let up, and saw an Aron in white camouflage standing in front of him with a shield raised.

"Are you stupid or something?" the Aron growled. "Walking about in a sandstorm?"

Dimitri breathed a sigh of relief. Never thought I would be relieved to see a Forester. "S-Sorry, I just need to get to my family. They should be in our bunker under the castle."

He felt a sudden change in the Aron's composure. Though it was rigid, there was a slight jolt in his posture. He craned his neck a little, peeking one eye over his shoulder in a glare directed at the dark-furred Glameow. "Family? Bunker in the castle?"

"Um…yes?"

His eyes narrowed deeper, and the next words he spoke could be felt with dripping with the most potent of venoms.

"You're a Talbot."

Dimitri winced. Of…course.

"Where the heck is Newton Street?!" Lillia yelled, searching all over the street signs.

"How should Ah know?!" Adenine yelled.

"Well, duh! You've been here more than us! I'd think you would remember where you're going!"

"Y'all think Ah can remember every bloomin' street sign?! Ah can barely remember where mah hut is after a long night shift!"

Marie growled. "Will you two stop bickering and just focus on finding Percival? I rather not be out here for any longer than we need to."

"What about the others?" Lillia asked. "Shouldn't we go back for them?"

"Jason has everything under control!" She bit her lip unsurely. "…I hope."

"Oh, for badness' sake!" Pandora stepped on her heels and came to a sudden stop. She took a deep breath and raised her nose to sniff the air.

The girls stopped and looked at her oddly. "What are ya doin'?" Adenine asked.

"Trying to smell out Percival. The guy's probably drenched in coffee or something."

"There's got to be like a dozen places here that make coffee," Lillia pointed out.

"I have spent enough time with the guy to know what his coffee smells like. Let me tell you, it smells a thousand times better than whatever they serve here." She took a big whiff of the, pondered for a moment, and pointed to her right. "That way. I can't be exact like Lambert, but I do faintly smell Percival's coffee in that direction."

Marie sighed. "It's a start. Let's go—"

Just as she stepped forward, a pink whip cracked down in front of the girls. Or rather, a pink tongue cracked down at them as they watched it retract into the mouth of the purple Kecleon, Otis.

He tipped his hat and laughed. "Sorry ladies, but nobody escapes Hollow Otis. You'd be wise to surrender. I'd hate to rough up those pretty faces."

Pandora pushed Adenine forward. "Quick, do something!"

She stared at Pandora in disbelief. "And what are ya insinuatin' exactly?!"

"Well, he's a Kecleon cowboy, so—"

"And ya're just implyin' Ah know the guy or somethin'?! There is so much wrong with that statement, Ah can't even—" The girls jumped as Otis cracked his tongue down on the street again. They only just noticed that at the tip of his tongue was a metal tip.

"I ain't playing games, ladies. Kindly turn around and march yourselves back to the castle. I have no business in harming you, so let's make this a simple business."

Marie growled. "I have plenty of forks for you…"

Lillia winced. "Marie, this guy looks tough. I don't think you'll be able to fight him with your bad leg."

"We'll see…" She pulled out her stolen forks, wielding them in reverse grips. "You all go ahead, I'll—"

"No." Marie gasped as Pandora shoved her off her back and handed off Melissa to her. "You girls go. I'll keep him busy."

Adenine and Lillia's eyes widened. "You?!"

Marie gawked. "Pandora, you've never been in an actual fight before!"

She waved it off. "In case you've forgotten, I outrank these two, and I'm the only one between us with all legs in good condition. Besides, I'm still pretty pissed off about earlier, and you already beat me to kicking that bastard Arcanine's butt." She stomped her paws down and growled at Otis. "This one's all mine."

Marie frowned for a moment. She almost considered staying behind to help Pandora, but was reminded of the poisoned Buneary in her arms. She sighed and shook her head. "Stupid mad scientist…Lillia, Adenine! Come on!" She turned and ran ahead. Lillia and Adenine lagged for a moment, but eventually ran after her.

Unlike Steinar, Otis didn't bother going after them. He focused his attention on Pandora. "Well, cutie, fancy a dance with me?"

Pandora turned her head around, bit down on her skirt, and ripped most of it off. It freed up her tail and gave her hindlegs room to move. She spat the fabric onto the street and spread her stance. "I want you to remember two very important things, bounty hunter."

"Oh ho?"

"One, you are in the presence of the future overlord of this region. All those who oppose me shall crumble under my regime and be subjugated under my unstoppable, evil army. The punishment I shall bring down upon you will not be swift or merciful. I will use all the force that is necessary to crush my foes to dust. Everything shall burn in wake of my unrelenting evil."

Otis smirked. "Cute speech. And that second thing?"

Flames spewed through her fangs as she crouched down into an attack stance. "No one. Calls me. Cute."

Darby took a hard right through the hallway, mentally mapping the layout of the castle. He checked behind his shoulder a few times to make sure he still wasn't being chased. Strangely, the Pikachu wasn't behind him. He was half-expecting to be tackled to the ground by now.

He's messing with me. He scoffed and looked ahead. His loss. He's giving me enough time to get to the castle armory.

He skidded to a halt upon reaching a locked, metal door. Wasting no time, he activated Aerial Ace with the dark wisps steaming off his wing and jammed it through the gap in the door. He felt his wing slice through the inner bolts and pulled the heavy door open.

Inside was Castle Talbot's personal weaponry, made exclusively for the use of the princes and guests to train in the outdoor training yard. Darby figured they wouldn't mind him raiding the armory. After all, it was an emergency.

"Hello, beautiful," he said. He found some matches next to a lamp and used one to light the room. He put out the match, tossed it away, and approached the rack of swords. "So many to choose from. Which should I pick?" He smirked. "Which would slice through a Pikachu the cleanest? Ah, how about this one?"

He reached for a sword, but stopped as he heard something flying toward him. He barely stepped out of the way as a black cable with a metal tip whipped the rack before retreating back to the entrance. Darby gasped upon seeing Jason, who reeled the cable back under his sleeve.

"That was a warning shot," he said.

Darby relaxed and smirked. "Oh really? And what do you call the brutality you unleashed early?"

"A warm-up."

Darby didn't have time to move as Jason instantly crossed through the armory and checked him into the weapon rack. The swords were sheathed, so their blades didn't cut into Darby's back, but that hardly negated the splitting pain they were putting against him.

"AGH!" Darby tried to reach for a sword, but Jason punched him away from the broken rack.

"I'm sorry, did you need these?" Jason picked up two sheathed swords. "Too bad."

Darby protected his face as Jason dual-wielded both weapons and swung them wildly into him. Dozens of blows bombarded Darby by the second. Despite both weapons still being in their scabbards, it felt like he was being assaulted with clubs. Their hard casings could bruise skin, or break bones if swung hard enough.

"Typical royals!" Jason bashed one sword down on Darby's head, breaking his guard. "No morals, and no honor!" With his guard broken, Jason cracked the other sword into Darby's face, knocking him flat on his back. "All talk!" He jumped and brought down both weapons onto Darby's chest.

"GAH!" the Prinplup cried.

"How does it feel to be powerless?!" Jason bashed one sword across the face. "How does it feel to be alone?!" And again. "There's always some bastard who wants to ruin everyone's lives because he can!" He tossed the swords away and started beating across the penguin's face. "You have no principles! So, what drives YOU to act like a selfish jerk?!"

He didn't give Darby a chance to speak. He just kept cracking his fists across his face, his temper flaring by the second. His fur stood on end, crackling with electricity and making him look spikier. The only thing that mattered in the moment was making sure the prince never harmed anyone else again.

His fists started to stain with the color red, as well as his winter uniform. Droplets of blood sprayed over his face, but he hardly noticed, too focused on beating the life out of the Prinplup.

"I won't let you harm anyone ever again!" Jason screamed, raising and bringing down both his fists at once.

"ENOUGH!" Darby pulled his wings up and parried Jason's punch with Aerial Ace. The shock was enough for him to kick the Pikachu off and scramble over to one of the swords. He touched his face and winced from the pain. "Sh-Shit, my face…"

Jason stood up and took a moment to catch his breath. The electrical flow through his fur settled down. He shook off a brief case of lightheadedness and glared at the trembling prince.

Darby glared over his shoulder. "Worthless piece of shit…" He stood up, staggering on his legs. Parts of his face were swollen and covered in blood. He could only keep his left eye open, which was bloodshot. Some blood dripped onto his jacket and shirt, both of which had tears in them. He ripped the jacket off and lifted the sheathed sword in both wings. "Are you done with your tantrum, thief?"

Jason scowled and grabbed his sword. "I haven't even started."

Darby forced himself to smirk. "Why should I care what you say? What is the word of a thief if not lies and sin? It is a waste of breath even acknowledging you as a worthy opponent."

Jason scoffed. "Spare me. You haven't landed a single decent hit on me."

"You really have no idea what's going on, do you? You have no idea what King Penworth was really planning to do with Melissa before he decided to renounce her right to the throne. If anything, I call it a blessing on my part."

"…"

"It was clear as day, Fairy Knight. I know she and Harlow are the same person." He snickered. "Oh, the fun I will have when that secret gets out."

"…" Jason scoffed and drew his sword.

"And yet, you still deny it? Whatever. I will drag the truth out in time. All you need to know is that you are a tiny speck compared to my destiny. Getting rid of you fools should be more than enough to guarantee my place on the throne."

"I couldn't care less about your destiny, but I won't have you ruling over the Wick Kingdom."

Darby's grin curled. "I never said which throne I will be taking."

"And I told you, I couldn't care less." Jason kicked off the floor and flew toward Darby with his sword wrapped in sparks.

Darby swung his sword back, the momentum sending the scabbard flying off. "Blade of Desire!"

Both swords clashed with each other in a brief struggle. However, much to Jason's surprise, Darby won in the power struggle and threw him across the armory. He dug his claws into the floor and dragged himself to a stop. He felt his heels touch the wall outside the armory.

"What the…?" Jason looked at his sword and saw the blade trembling from the impact.

"I do not fancy myself a brawler like you uncouth thieves." Jason stood up and glared as Darby waltzed out of the armory. He clutched his sword between both wings as he surrounded himself in the respective auras of Work Up and Agility. Strangely, his blade wrapped itself in a dark aura, turning the metal a reflective black. "I am much more adept with the sword."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "You overpowered me."

The prince snickered. "Did you really think I carried on with my lifestyle without any way of protecting myself from retaliation? I took the necessary precautions, and I studied everything I knew about swordplay to create this enhanced move of mine. I inherited one of the moves necessary from my father's side of the family. I am truly blessed to have come from such a proud species as the Piplup."

Jason scoffed. "That move."

"A necessary component for my technique. Work Up! Agility!" The aura around him intensified. His smirk stretched wide. "I must say, you have got to be the first person in a long time that truly pissed me off, and you will be the last to have damaged my beautiful face."

"Don't hold your breath." Jason raised his sword. "I haven't even started laying down justice."

Darby snickered. "Now who's being cocky? Arm yourself well, Fairy Knight. You are about to see what true torment looks like. For my legacy will be everlasting, yours will plummet into the depths of forgotten history, a mere footnote to my reign over this—"

"Spare me the monologue and die!" Jason bolted forward and swung.

Darby immediately countered and held his ground as black and yellow sparks exploded off between their swords. Jason braced himself as he was once again repelled back by the blade. He caught himself on the ground, but his fur stood on end as Darby pulled his sword back.

"Envious Return!" Darby slashed across the floor, sending out a powerful shockwave that ripped the surrounding area in front of him to pieces.

Jason quickly jumped over the shockwave and flew over Darby. Once he landed, he looked back and watched as the entire hallway behind him collapsed onto the next floor. Almost everything, from stone to doors to furniture, had been ripped apart by the single attack.

Darby rested his sword on his shoulder and turned around to smirk at Jason. "Now, let's see if you truly are deserving of your title as one of the Three Deadly Storms."