As the hot air whistles by his feathery features, the Farfetch'd wipes the rolling sweat rolling down his beaked face. Glaring at the afternoon sun, he grunts as he tilts to the side, gliding down until he's a foot or two above the grassy ground.

"Get a move on!" he snarls as he turns around and hovers in the air, piercing his gaze at the five grounded Pokemon. "I am not paying all of you to sight-see!"

The Cyndaquil hisses through gritted teeth, her patience running thin. She and her two rescue team companions form a triangle: her and the Shinx in front, the Vulpix behind and the two bag-carriers in the middle.

As the flying-type continues his angry rant, the yellow Shinx glances at the seething fire-type, hoping against all hope that she doesn't explode, figuratively and literally.

It has been hours since they began their journey towards Pato Lawa, the Farfetch'd destination. Aside from the onslaught of verbal abuse from their client, their journey so far has not encountered any major problems. Perhaps one or two wilds, but those were handled pretty easily.

The white Vulpix sighs, hoping that this escort mission will go as smoothly as their previous ones. But as she looks up at their snarling client, it'll only be a matter of time before a bandit or two shows up.

She wonders if that will turn out being a good thing. With nothing else to do, she decides to entertain the idea to drown their client's tirade.

She closes her eyes and lightly shakes her head. Despite it all, she is still currently doing her mission, so it is best to stay alert at all times.

"So what did you guys talk about?" the Mew asks as she takes a seat opposite of the studious Eevee.

"Nothing much, really," the Eevee lies as he tears his gaze from the book he's reading, and blinks at the frowning Mew looking back at him. "Is something wrong?"

She closes her eyes and sighs. "I suppose I should just say it outright..." She looks back at him with an apologetic frown. "The requirements to join the expedition got bumped to gold."

A slow blink.

The Mew continues: "I tried, I really did, but the others argued that with the minimum rank being gold-"

"The expedition team will consist of experienced people that can handle themselves well," the Eevee suddenly cuts in with a disappointed frown. Ears drooping, he closes his eyes and sighs. "And newbies who just formed a rescue team can't instantly join."

The Mew frowns an apologetic frown as she nods her head. "Yeah... That's the gist of it."

"It's...understandable."

"I'm really sorry."

He shakes his head and looks back at her with a strained smile. "Don't be. You tried your best." He turns his gaze to the city through the window beside him. "Truth be told, I'd be more surprised if the guild did go with the no-rank requirement."

His lips curve into a frown as he stares at the orange hues on the ocean beyond. So many things to think about, many of them not going his way. He cannot defend himself efficiently, he needs to come up with another approach in case Palkia cannot help him, he needs to figure out how he got here, and now he needs to work more to get to gold rank. He really doubts that little "boost" the Alakazam gave him will be enough.

Progress is progress, right?

But it's still a little too slow.

He grits his teeth.

The Mew frowns an apologetic frown. "Jay?"

But there is another option...

If he cannot rank fast enough, and if he cannot defend himself against the wilds, then...

Then it seems he has no other choice.

A small smile. A sad one.

A sigh escapes his nostrils as the Eevee turns to the Mew. "I have an idea."

A curious blink. "Somehow, I feel like I shouldn't be surprised."

"Can I have that form again."

A curious tilt of her head. "You mean the rumored dungeon where Palkia might be?"

A bob of his head.

"Sure, I suppose..." Extending her arm towards her table, she uses her telekinetic powers to pull open a drawer and pull out a form. She smiles at the frowning Umbreon behind the desk as she pulls the levitating form towards her. Reading through it, she confirms it's the correct one before handing it to the Eevee.

"Thanks."

After a quick glance, the Eevee then hands the form back to the confused Mew.

After saying his farewell to the librarian and returning the book he was reading back to its proper shelf, the Eevee walks down to the all-too-familiar office and takes a seat on the chair opposite of the busy Bellossom.

Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, holds it in for a few seconds, and lets out a heavy sigh.

"I'd like to dissolve my team, if that's okay."

The Bellossom pauses from her work long enough to give him a confused glare. "Did I hear that right?"

The Eevee sighs once again, ears drooping. "I prefer if we can get this over with as soon as possible..."

"Odd..." Placing her pen on its holder, she regards the normal-type with her full attention. "And what brought this on?"

"Do you have to interview me about this?"

"No," she tells him with a small shake of her head. "But I was not expecting a human to give up being a rescue team."

His ears perk up in surprise, his eyes widening in shock. "H-how did...?"

"Your age."

"H-huh?"

The Bellossom shakes her head. "Born and raised in the Air Continent. Worked in the guild until that large meteor almost wiped us off the globe." She frowns at him. "I moved to the Grass Continent and was hired in a guild until time itself stopped. I believed that I was just an ordinary person living out her ordinary life just like any other ordinary person. And then I moved here." She sighs. "After I met you, I started wondering if I was just unlucky enough for the world to toy with... I have already packed up so I could leave the very moment another crisis presents itself."

"Uh... I... I don't follow." A curious frown. "What does all that got to do with you knowing what I really am. Or was."

"Your ages." The grass-type sighs. "On your registration forms, you three have put your ages way beyond your species' life span." She frowns at him. "For your case, no Eevee in recorded history has lived beyond twenty years."

Silence...

...until the Bellossom pulls open a drawer and hands the Eevee a form. "If you're set on dissolving your team, then please fill out this form."

With nothing else to say, the grass-type grabs her pen and goes back to her work.

Sighing, the Eevee grabs a pen and hesitates. "...did you tell anyone?" he quietly asks.

"It didn't look like you wanted anyone else to know, so I didn't." A pause. "Word of advice, if you're going to apply for something, use an actual Eevee age." She looks up from her work to give the normal-type a quick look over. "By my estimations, you're maybe nine years old, almost ten judging by the faint brown coloration on your white fur."

"Oh, uh, thanks."

Nodding, she goes back to her work.

Looking down at the form, the Eevee frowns as he reads through it. Sighing through his nostrils, he slowly starts filling it out.

"We camp here," the Farfetch'd announces as a chilly breeze brushes against his feathers. He looks back, his glaring eyes reflecting the last hints of the setting sun's orange rays. "You two, gather some wood."

After carefully placing the merchant's belongings on the grassy ground, the two Pokemon salutes and immediately run towards the nearby forest.

"As for you three," he continues, glaring at the trio of rescuers glaring back at him. He takes a breath and sighs. "At ease..."

A chilly breeze blows between them, dancing with the blades of grass under the twinkling night sky.

The Farfetch'd frowns at them. "...that means you can talk and rest."

"I'm gonna-"

The yellow Shinx immediately stops the angry Cyndaquil from taking another step. "Cindy-"

"Did you forget what he did-"

"He's still our client-"

"He can kiss my ass for all I care-"

"Guys, please!" the white Vulpix begs. "We're better than this!"

Seething, the Cyndaquil lights up her back and takes aim at the cloudless sky above-

The Farfetch'd sighs, rubbing his head. "That's one way to let the bandits know where we are."

"Fuck you!" the fire-type snarls. She hates to admit it, but he's right. Gritting her teeth, she stops her flames on her back, pushes the yellow Shinx back and turns her back on them.

His ears drooping, the yellow Shinx turns to glare at the flying-type. "You cannot blame her after what you did back at the guild."

"Indeed I cannot." He suddenly bows so low his head is almost touching the ground. "And I cannot apologize enough for what I did."

The Shinx and the Vulpix are taken aback at his sudden change of attitude. The Cyndaquil takes a glance, but is not impressed.

He raises himself up once again, meeting their gazes. "But please understand. I am a merchant, and I needed to keep my image up."

The ice-type tilts her head in confusion. "Image?"

"My reputation," he clarifies. "So many eyes were there. I cannot risk the chance that some of my rivals' people are watching me." He turns toward the forest. "I cannot even trust my own people these days."

"I...don't understand."

The Farfetch'd sighs as he looks at the yellow Shinx. "And I envy you for that." He bows once again, this time more modest than the previous one. "As your client, I ask you to keep up the act." He raises himself up once again. "I tell you this in advance, in case I cannot get another chance of telling you." He looks at the fire-type. "In case I cannot get another opportunity to apologize."

"Tsk, whatever," the fire-type comments as she walks away.

"You all will be compensated properly, of course," the Farfetch'd adds, looking at the electric-type. "For keeping up with my act."

"Well why didn't you say so sooner?" the Cyndaquil quickly asks with a bright smile, suddenly standing beside the startled Shinx. "Heck! You can beat me how many times you want!"

The electric-type frowns at her. "I prefer if he doesn't."

"Shush, Shino. Easy money!"

The Shinx's frown goes further down. "Cindyyy..."

The Farfetch'd frowns and turns to the ice-type who's rolling her eyes. "I'm afraid I've hit your friend here a little too much." Seeing shadows from the dark forest, he clears his throat and glares at the returning duo. "And what took you so long?!" He suddenly snarls, startling the three rescuers. "I'm not paying you to let us freeze here to our deaths!"

"What are you reading, big bro?" the young Nickit asks as she curiously glances at the studious Eevee sitting on the wooden floor, his back against the side of the bed.

"Hm?" The Eevee looks up at the dark-type peeking over her bed. "Ah, well..." He looks back down at the small book on his paws. "Just reading through the rescuer handbook." He looks back at her with a smile. "I haven't read through it yet."

She smiles back, but her gaze then shifts to her big brother's rescuer badge lying on the floor beside him. She blinks, looking back at the reading Eevee. "Big bro?"

"Yeah, Plu?"

"Why is your badge not shiny?" she asks. "Is it dirty?"

The Eevee's ears droop. "Ah," he whispers as he moves his gaze to his dormant badge. Frowning, he closes the handbook, puts it on the floor and grabs his badge, its gray surface barely reflecting his reflection. "It's, well, deactivated."

"Huh?"

He closes his eyes and lets out a sigh. After he dissolved his team and handed his badge back to the Bellossom, he didn't realize how much he cared about it until one of the Kirlias deactivated it right in front of him.

It felt like a part of him was removed from him.

Through the slightly open door, a Pangoro stops by to take a peek as the Eevee takes a deep breath, trying to ease the stinging sensation of loss.

"My badge is no longer connected to the guild."

The young Nickit tilts her head in confusion. "I don't get it..."

The Eevee sighs. "I'm no longer a rescuer."

The dark-type lets out a gasp. "What?" She frowns. "But why? What happened?"

Smiling a sad smile, the Eevee lifts a paw and pats the young and worried Nickit's head. "I couldn't rank up fast enough on my own."

"Why not ask other Pokemon to join you?" she asks in genuine curiosity.

Smile faltering, the Eevee sighs through his nostrils as he pulls his paw back. "I...don't want to do that."

The Nickit frowns. "Why not?"

He looks away. He doesn't think she'll understand his reason. "...you've seen how I act with other Pokemon, Plu." He closes his eyes and sighs. "I'll just end up arguing and fighting with them."

"Then don't!" she sternly tells him, glaring at him. "You're good!"

"Not really."

"Then why are you nice to me?"

"Because you remind me of my sister."

"I don't believe that."

He blinks, and looks at the glaring Nickit. "...what?"

"I remember when we first met!" she tells him, still glaring. "You didn't have to help me, but you still did!"

The Eevee tilts his head, looking really confused. "I...what?"

"Don't you remember?" she asks, pointing at him. "The breathing exercise!" She smiles. "We didn't know each other back then, but you still helped me!"

"Oh..."

He recalls the first time he entered the restaurant. Plu was still a nervous wreck back then, barely able to utter an audible word. The only reason he told her to breathe was to calm herself as he was getting annoyed by her shyness.

But it seems it made some sort of impact on her, because here she was now, glaring and yelling at him for being forgetful.

"...huh. That was a long time ago..."

She frowns. "It wasn't that long!" She shakes her head. "Okay, you were a meanie head before, but you were still good, and you still are good!" She smiles. "You just need to open up to people more, the same way you opened up to me!" She frowns once again. "I don't really understand why you don't like talking to other people, but..." She smiles yet again. "You did, and you have more friends now! Like that yellow...thing." She blinks, her smile faltering. "And that long nose...Pokemon. Hm, maybe not the Charmeleon... Oh!" She brightens. "And that Vulpix, too! And—" She suddenly blushes, looking away. "And um, S-Soma, too."

Before he can tease her, she clenches her eyes shut and violently shakes her head. Soon after, she glares at him, freezing him in place.

"So just let other Pokemon join your team!" she tells him with a smile. "Let them help you!" She blinks, and rubs her chin with a paw. "...or maybe you can just join dad's team?" she suggests with a blink. "They're really strong."

"Can't," he quickly replies with a small shake of his head. "A team's limit is three members, and his is already full."

"Oh," the Nickit says, ears drooping. "Then let others join your team?"

The Eevee lets out a chuckle as he pats her head once again. "Don't worry your cute little head, Plu," he tells her with a wink. "I don't need to be in a team to get to that dungeon."

"Really?"

"Yeah..." He pulls his paw back as he turns toward his bag. "I only became one because I wanted to have this."

The young Nickit blinks a blank blink. "...huh?"

His gaze still on the bag, his smile slowly turns into a frown. "...I'll be going soon."

Her ears droop. "...Promise you'll say goodbye."

He blinks at her. "Of course I will!" he tells her in surprise. "I'm not just gonna disappear, Plu. I promise."

She glares at him. "You better."

Smiling, he pulls his paw back, and then boops her nose. "I promise." He stands up and wraps the Nickit in a hug.

The Pangoro quietly walks back down the stairs.

A big yawn escapes from the tired Eevee's mouth as they break their hug. After wiping the sleepy tears off of his eyes, he moves toward the open door and flips the light switch off, the soft silver rays of the moon pouring through the window, painting the dark room in soft gray hues.

"Time for bed, Plu," he says as he closes the door.

"I'm already on it, silly," she tells him, but then a sudden thought pops in her head. "So what is your home like?" the young Nickit suddenly asks him.

"Hm?" the Eevee hums as he approaches the bed. "My home?"

"Mhmm." She scoots away as her brother climbs up the bed and settles down beside her. "Is it as big as this city?"

"Hm..." He rolls on his back, blinking at the dark ceiling. "I think this city's bigger," or maybe it's only big because he's small? He can't be sure. "...but overall it's the same." Minus the biggest obvious difference, he thinks to himself.

She rolls on her side, her back on him. "Mmm... So, why don't you and your sister just move here?"

He lightly shakes his head. "Can't," he simply says with a frown as he gently pats her head. "She's...sick." He sighs. "She's been bedridden for the longest time now."

"Oh..." Plu quietly breathes out through a sad frown. No wonder he wants to go home so badly. She can't imagine what that would be like, and she was trying to prevent him from going back to his home, too.

What a bad sister she is.

The Eevee blinks as his twitching ears hear her sobbing quietly. He turns to her. "Hey, hey... What's wrong?"

She rolls to face him and buries her teary face in his fluffy white collar fur. "I'm sorry..."

For what, he mentally asks himself. "Shh, shh..." He wraps her into an embrace, gently running a paw on her back to calm her. "It's okay, Plu."

"I'm gonna miss you..."

Smiling a sad smile, he places his head over hers. "I will miss you, too, Plu." He closes his eyes as he takes a breath. "I will really miss all of you, but most especially you..."

She wraps her paws around him as she continues to sob in his collar floof.

A large wooden boat sails through the open sea, heading towards the many distant lights in the dark and misty horizon up ahead. On its deck stands a smiling orange figure, her fur glowing under the soft silver rays of the evening moon as she gazes towards the cliffside city still a distance away.

Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath, letting the cool and salty air fill her lungs, and exhales through her nostrils. She reopens her eyes, her gaze on the city in the far-off distance.

"I have returned, love." Her smile brightens. "I hope you didn't miss me too much."

Author's Note

The rest of Arc 4's chapters after this one got so many rewrites. So many chapters got shelved or removed, so many directions this story could have gone, but none felt right. Countless times I've tried making them work, but it felt too rushed, another felt too sudden, another felt like the characters were simply there along for the ride with no purpose anymore.

This was the reason of this story's long hiatus (as well as this historic veerus we're all experiencing).

But I finally have come up with a good direction on where to steer this story. The ideas I had in those many shelved chapters will be repurposed some other time, or not at all.

This chapter itself got a lot of revisions as well as it is this chapter that will steer where the story will go.