Another chapter with a lot of introspection in it. An acquaintance suggested I try to get inside my characters' heads a bit more, so I've been experimenting these last several chapters. Please let me know what you think of them. Now then, enjoy!
Chapter 68: Starting Over from Scratch
~Azure Cape~
Gallian walked across the beach, a dismayed look on his face. Damp sand caked his paws, filling up the bridges between his digits. He paused to glance at his right shoulder, sighing heavily. After leaving Sunrise Village behind, it took him until his arrival at the beach to realize that his satchel and looplet had gone missing. He considered the possibility that they had been stolen while he was unconscious, but quickly dismissed that idea. After all, Sunrise Village was rather peaceful and he couldn't imagine any outlaws staying out in last night's storm.
'Which means they must've fallen off when I was slipping and sliding through the mud like an idiot,' he concluded, a frown on his face. Gallian briefly considered going back to try and find them, but a shudder racked his spine in response. If he went back, he risked Tessa seeing him. And after last night, that would be a huge problem.
So, Gallian plodded toward the shoreline. The sand went from damp to wet. Each step produced an audible squelch and left a deep pawprint. Seconds later, a wave drifted in, washing away Gallian's prints and some of the dirt and sand on his paws. The cold water made him wince, but he knew he had to bear it. If he tried to go anywhere looking so ragged, he would be mistaken for a wild Pokémon. Nothing good would come of that.
Gallian sucked in a deep breath and charged forward, gradually sinking into the water with each step. He ducked under the surface. The salt water forced the grime off his body, dirt and sand grains brushing against his fur. After staying submerged for half a minute, Gallian popped back out. Dirty water streamed off his torso. He trudged back toward the shore, shaking out his fur once he was past the shoreline.
To Gallian's annoyance, his wet paws attracted sand as he walked back across the beach. Had he showered back at the guild, this wouldn't be an issue. But just the mere thought of the guild made his head throb. Gallian's scythe crackled with dark energy. He had to stop thinking about the guild. The only thing he could do now was leave all that stuff behind.
He turned to look out at the water. Sure, leaving Aeon Town sounded nice. The problem was that he just lost all his stuff. Gallian's bag had his money. Without it, he couldn't pay a Sharpedo Sailor to take him anywhere. Gallian mulled his predicament as he walked onto the road connecting Aeon Town and Sunrise Village.
'I guess I could go see what I have stored in Dhelmise Depot,' he thought, only to freeze mid-step, fur standing on end.
He couldn't do that. Someone would surely recognize him and tell the guild he was there. Then Metagross would send someone to track him down and–
Gallian shook his head, panting. Now wasn't the time to let his thoughts run out of control. He needed to focus. Gallian shut his eyes, trying to envision a map of the Horizon Continent. He realized he could avoid Aeon Town entirely if he went south. But what places were south of him? Gallian scrunched his face up. The answer was on the tip of his tongue. He just had to think a little harder.
After several seconds, Gallian's eyes snapped open. He had his answer: Borea Heights! Gallian was confident Grandpa Lycanroc didn't have friends left in the village that would remember what he looked like. Especially since he looked pretty scruffy.
His mind made up, Gallian proceeded down the path heading back toward Sunrise Village. But before he got anywhere close to any of the buildings, he ducked into the small forest standing opposite the massive row of trees marking the boundary of Dewdrop Woods. Gallian dashed through the trees and bushes, wincing from the occasional branch that grazed his side.
'Hopefully I can find someone willing to give me a ride further south,' he thought. While he didn't have the most concrete plan, he had something in mind. Once Gallian exited the small forest and was free of Sunrise Village, he continued at a slower pace, again pulling up a fuzzy mental map of Horizon. Gallian tried focusing on the southeastern part of the continent.
'What was it that Dad told me, again?' Gallian wondered. 'There was something about quiet communities nestled into mountains and caves. That sounds like it could work out well for me.' The further he walked, the more he toyed with that idea. He could offer himself up as a guard or patrol nearby Mystery Dungeons to keep the community safe. Gallian figured if he lived on the outskirts of one of these towns, he could avoid unwanted attention. After all, he had helped Steenee prepare meals plenty of times at the Observatory. He could tend to his own diet.
The one issue that he found himself stuck on was something he had no control over. And that was just how the Pokémon living in the mountains would react to him. Memories of his unwelcome reception at the hands of Totem Toucannon surface. Gallian grimaced. Clearly, Absols weren't well-liked. There was a good chance no one would let him into their town. If that happened, what would he do?
A shiver ran down his spine. There were the Invern Mountains as a backup. Wild Absols lived there, but Gallian feared he wouldn't last a week with them. And could he even muster the stamina to get up to Solstice Summit by himself, with absolutely no supplies?
At the thought of no supplies, Gallian's stomach growled. He wondered if he would be able to find food in Borea Heights. It struck him that he had no idea if he could even make it there by nightfall. 'How long of a walk is this, anyway?' he thought.
His stomach growled again. Gallian lifted his head high and took a big whiff, hoping he could locate nearby berries. To his delight, he smelled pecha berries off in the distance. He trotted after the scent and located the bush in question. Gallian downed several pecha berries, hoping they would serve him well until he reached his destination. Then, he continued on his way.
The rest of his trek proceeded quietly. Occasional swathes of trees popped up on either side of the path, but, for the most part, Gallian continued following the waters of the Midnight Sea. The grassy road eventually turned into dirt and gravel. As the ground got more uneven, hills popped up around Gallian. The path itself wove between the hills, sometimes following one up and down.
Eventually, the forest patches disappeared. Instead, rock formations surrounded Gallian, with the ones on his left blocking his view of the water. He hit a part of the trail that went steeply uphill. At the top of the hill, Gallian spotted rock faces in the distance. The sky above the rocks had brief flashes of rainbow trails.
'That must be Aurora Vale,' Gallian thought. 'Which means Borea Heights should be close by.' He craned his head to his left and, sure enough, found a cluster of stone buildings. The sight of his destination filled Gallian with renewed vigor. He trotted the rest of the way to the town, stopping only to gulp down some water from a tiny brook.
Gallian arrived at the outskirts of Borea Heights just as the sun was beginning to set. Orange light swept through the town. Gallian had to shield his eyes from the light bouncing off the buildings and the cobblestone pathways. When he finally got a good look at the place, he realized the town's roads were empty. He knew that older folks lived here, but they couldn't all have turned in this early. Gallian wondered if the town had some place for visitors to check in.
"You! You there! You scruffy, unscrupulous fellow! What do you think you're doing?"
Gallian jumped in fright and whirled around, frowning. "You're… um… a Drampa, right? Is… is there something wrong?"
Drampa stomped toward Gallian, his large head bobbing up and down with each step. "Yes! There are many things wrong. Many, I tell you!" he huffed. "First off… it's Town Supervisor Drampa, you filthy mongrel. And second off, you are sullying my lovely town roads. I go to great effort to keep them clean. If you cannot show the same level of effort to your own coat, then you don't deserve to walk these streets. Which brings me to my most important point…."
Drampa cleared his throat. "Borea Heights does not welcome wild Pokémon," he said. "I don't care what Mystery Dungeon you decided to crawl out of. You are not welcome here! So, out, out, out!"
"H-Hang on a second," Gallian said. "I'm not a wild 'mon. I–"
"Ha! Likely story. Your appearance says otherwise," Drampa said, snorting out tufts of smoke. "Absols cannot live outside Mystery Dungeons. Your kind brings misery to tranquil communities like mine. I will give you thirty seconds to march your rump out of my village before I use my authority as Town Supervisor to give myself permission to use excessive force!"
Gallian gulped. What was up with this windbag? He was acting far more aggressive than Totem Toucannon did. And if Gallian told Drampa that he was with the guild, Drampa would surely contact Metagross. Then he would really be in for it.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Drampa huffed. "If you're looking to switch dungeons, Aurora Vale is that-a-way." He stuck his neck out and pointed toward the other end of town. "Get marching! Your thirty seconds are up and I'm about ready to Dragon Pulse your face."
"Listen, sir, I don't want to stay," Gallian said. "I was just trying to find a lift to get me to Eastern Horizon. My money was stolen from me, see, so I can't afford a Sharpedo Sailor."
Drampa eyed Gallian skeptically. "Hrmph. You really expect me to believe such a bold-faced lie, Absol?" He shook his head. "Odds are you take one step near the Midnight Sea and you'll send a tidal wave crashing over my beautiful town. I will not have it! Into the Mystery Dungeon with you!"
A stream of dragonfire raced toward a flabbergasted Gallian. He got his bearings straight just in time to dive to the ground and safely avoid the attack. "Nrrrgh! Stand still you hoodlum! That's an order from a Town Supervisor!" Drampa said.
"Seriously? Look, just order me a Sharpdeo Sailor and I'll be out of your hair forever!" Gallian groaned, collecting dark energy in his scythe just in case things escalated. This geezer had clearly lost it!
Drampa froze. "Hrrrrrmmmm…" He tapped his claws in thought. "You're asking me, Town Supervisor Drampa, to dip into either myprecious personal finances or the town's funds? Absolutely not! What a ridiculous idea!"
"Isn't it worth it to rid your town of the risk of disaster?" Gallian said, rolling his eyes.
Drampa shuffled backwards furrowing his brow. He shut his eyes in thought for a full minute. "Alright… fine," Drampa said. "I will get you a ride to Eastern Horizon. It should be a simple feat for a Town Supervisor like myself." He turned and waddled away from the town's entrance. "Well? Don't just stand there. Come along. You're wasting my time."
'Somebody must be jealous of the Totems,' Gallian mused, following Drampa. To his surprise, Drampa moved quickly toward the docks bobbing along the edge of the Midnight Sea. By the time Gallian reached caught up, there was already a Sharpedo waiting for him. Gallian double-checked and confirmed it wasn't the same Sharpedo he had last night. Unlike his previous ride, this Sharpedo had extra notches on his dorsal fin.
Drampa was conversing with Sharpedo as Gallian walked up to them. Sharpedo nodded and turned to Gallian. "Ready to set sail, kiddo?"
"Yeah," Gallian said. He stepped onto Sharpedo's back and turned to nod at Drampa. "Thanks for your help, Town Supervisor Drampa."
"Yes, yes, best of luck and all that," Drampa said, shooing Sharpedo away with flicks of his tiny paws. Sharpedo sped off across the water. Gallian watched the coast disappear behind him. The setting sun cast an orange glow across the normally-black Midnight Sea, resulting in a harsh glare that Gallian abruptly turned around to avoid.
"So, uh, I don't know what Drampa told you, but I've heard there are some quiet villages in the southeast part of the continent," Gallian explained. "Think you can take me there?"
"Aye. That won't be any trouble," Sharpedo replied. "Just hang tight, kiddo. With any luck, we won't be there too long after sundown."
Satisfied, Gallian nodded and sat back in his seat, focusing his attention on the rolling waves. Looks like he would be able to get to the mountainside after all. Yet, the thought didn't make him as happy as he was hoping. He was too worried that other Pokémon would react to him like Drampa did. Which would make his entire trip completely pointless.
Gallian shook his head. He would just have to figure something out. The Horizon Guild had trained him, even if those days were now over. A pang of guild struck him as thoughts of Tessa filled his head. No matter what he did, he kept coming back to her. He took a deep breath. 'She'll be fine. She's got Sylveon and Eevee,' he told himself.
His stomach growled again. Gallian ignored it, fixing his gaze upward. Far in the distance, there was a small mass of storm clouds giving way to a wall of thick black smoke. As Sharpedo continued speeding through the water, he grew progressively closer to the smoke. At first, Gallian grew concerned that Sharpedo didn't actually know where he was going. But it wasn't long before the two of them passed by the jagged rocks sticking out of the water, leaving the wall of smoke behind.
When the last remnants of the sun disappeared in the west, Sharpedo slowed down. Gallian sat up straight in his seat and looked around. To his confusion, he didn't spot any docks. Was Sharpedo getting tired? "Um, excuse me? Do you have any idea how much longer we'll be travelling for?" he asked.
"Oh… yeah. We're nearly there," Sharpedo replied. "There's a small dock nestled within those rocks sticking out of the water. It's just to the right of us."
Gallian turned his head in the direction Sharpedo indicated and frowned. "What are you talking about? I don't see any–"
Without warning, Sharpedo unleashed a burst of speed. Gallian gasped as the sudden shift in momentum made him lean back. Sharpedo then stopped and bucked his body forward. Hollering in surprise, Gallian careened into the Midnight Sea, landing with a large splash.
Sharpedo bobbed in the water, a look of regret on his face. After several seconds, he spotted bubbles on the surface. Gallian's head popped up, gasping for air. "W… what the hell?!" he sputtered. Though his vision was blurry, he could just make out Sharpedo in front of him. "Don't just float there. H… help me!"
"Sorry, kid, but I ain't trying to get myself jinxed or cursed or nothing," Sharpedo said, moving away from Gallian. "You Absols are nothing but bad news. Especially wild ones thinking they can pass for a civilized 'mon."
"But I–" Gallian started, only to duck underneath the surface of the water as a wave swept over him. He thrashed his limbs about and managed to push himself up once again. When he had steadied himself, he noticed that he was all alone. Salt water in his eyes kept him from seeing that Sharpedo swimming away at breakneck speeds. Gallian's heart pounded.
It was all a trick.
Drampa hadn't gotten him a ride. He had laid a trap… and Gallian walked right into it! He was a goner! He was going to drown! What could he do?
Land! He had to find land! Somehow… someway…
Gallian swept his legs around in circular motions, all while trying to keep his head above the surface. Eventually, a cliff came into view several yards away. It was steep, but it was the closest stretch of land available. Gallian didn't have a choice. With a deep breath, he doggie-paddled through the water.
It was slow going, but the water eventually grew shallower. Gallian was soon able to stand up and trudge the rest of the distance to dry land. He had to dig his claws into the rock to stop himself from sliding under the surface and onto his belly. Gallian glanced up the steep slope, flinching from the painful gurgling of his stomach.
There was a trail a long way up the cliff. Surely, it had to lead somewhere. And that meant Gallian had to climb up it. With a loud groan, Gallian sprang out of the water. He dug his claws into the cliff face, legs screaming in protest from the exertion. Gallian was able to stop sliding down with his tail dangling inches above the water. He hung there, taking in big gulps of air. His stomach growled loudly. Gallian shook his head and, with an effortful grunt, swung his left foreleg up, digging his claws into a crack in the cliff.
It was actually working. Maybe he really could do this! Gallian moved his right foreleg up to join his left. Gallian braced himself, but it proved unnecessary. He found a foothold that kept him from sliding down. Gallian's sense of relief was fleeting, however, when his stomach cramped up again, growling its discontent with the current situation.
'Just hang on for a little longer,' Gallian told himself. He continued scaling the cliff using slow, deliberate swinging motions with his forelegs and claws. Every so often, he would make himself a foothold by channeling dark energy into his scythe and firing it into the cliff, taking out a chunk of rock. Each time he did that, however, he would have to hang from the cliff, trying to catch his breath.
After what seemed like an eternity to Gallian, he succeeded in dragging his damp, raggedy body over the edge of the cliff and onto a dusty path that curved around the mountain. Gallian lay on his side, panting heavily. His limbs shook and his stomach flared up with a fresh round of cramps. "N… nnnnrrrggggh," he groaned, writhing about in pain. "Gotta get up… gotta move… can't just… pass out here…"
With considerable effort, Gallian staggered to his feet. He tried to take a step forward, but almost collapsed in the process. Gallian stood on the edge of the trail, legs locked in position, worried that any sudden movement would cause him to pass out. His stomach lurched and his vision went fuzzy.
'No…'
Gallian's head pounded.
'I just can't…'
His vision flashed white.
'I can't move another step.'
His chest tightened up.
'This is it… isn't it?'
"Hey, you okay there, Absol?"
Gallian blinked rapidly, but he couldn't get the fuzziness out of his vision. He saw a black figure moving toward him, carrying a bright, circular light and waving a limb at him. Gallian slowly opened his mouth and weakly coughed out a, "Help me… please."
"Oh, gods… you don't look so good," the figure gasped, his male voice sounding rather quiet to Gallian. He closed the distance with Gallian, revealing himself to be a Zoroark with streaks of red fur across his chest. Zoroark got down on one knee and held the Luminous Orb he was carrying in front of Gallian. "Absol, you still with me? Can you walk?"
Gallian coughed again and crumpled onto his side. Zoroark dropped the Luminous Orb and barely managed to catch Gallian's head before it hit the ground. "Crap! No, no, no! C'mon, buddy, stay with me here!" He bent over and, with a loud grunt, hefted Gallian up over his shoulder. Zoroark adjusted his positioning so he could grab his Luminous Orb and then took off sprinting down the mountain path.
"Dusk! Dusk!" Zoroark shouted. "We've got trouble!"
Several yards down the path, Dusk turned to look at Zoroark. "What's going on?" she said.
"I found a wild Absol and he's in real bad shape! Run back into the village and wake Totem Decidueye! We're gonna need his help," Zoroark ordered. Dusk nodded and disappeared into the cave behind her. Zoroark glanced at Gallian, whispering, "Hang in there, Absol. I don't know what happened, but we'll get you patched up. That's a promise."
Zoroark ran through the entrance tunnel to Cosmic Cavern, ducking light crystals at every turn. After several minutes, he entered the village. He sprinted up the path to his right without a second thought. Zoroark rounded a bend to another ramp that took him even higher. Once he was up on the third floor, he walked past some homes nestled into the rocks. He reached a narrow bridge extending to Totem Decidueye's moss-covered lookout.
"Totem? It's Zoroark. I've got someone here who needs your help," Zoroark said as he entered Totem Decidueye's home. He found Totem Decidueye standing beside Dusk and a Midnight Lycanroc. Next to them sat a table carved out of stone. It had been cleared of all its contents, save for a thatched, green and brown tablecloth.
Totem Decidueye examined the newcomer lying limp on Zoroark's shoulder. "An Absol? And you found him out on the mountain?" he said.
"Yeah, I did. What's the problem?" Zoroark said, laying Gallian down on the table and hunching over to catch his breath.
"We don't have wild Absols around here," Totem Decidueye said. "They all live in the Invern Mountains."
"And for good reason! You've heard the stories, ya git. They bring disaster wherever they go," Lycanroc growled, looking disdainfully at Gallian. "Rack off with him, Zoroark. Otherwise he's gonna bring the cavern ceiling crashing down on all of us!"
"Midnight, that's quite enough," Totem Decidueye said, waving him off with a wing. "I'm well aware of the superstitions."
"You're not just going to ditch him because of that, are you?" Zoroark said. "You can't do that, Totem! He's…" Zoroark looked down at Gallian. "He's kind of like me."
"I'm no hypocrite, Zoroark," Totem Decidueye said. "Of course we'll tend to Absol."
Lycanroc stepped back from the table, piercing red eyes staring down Zoroark. Dusk shifted about uncomfortably next to him. Zoroark fixed his attention on Totem Decidueye. He expected his fellow guards to react like this, yet it still irked him. Zoroark bit his lower lip. He had to focus on Absol. That's all that mattered.
Totem Decidueye approached the table and leaned down, gently placing a wing on Gallian's chest. "Alright, he's still breathing. By the looks of things, I'd say he took a dip in the Midnight Sea."
"But Zoroark found him up on the mountain trail," Dusk said, frowning. "How could he have gotten up there?"
"A bad run in with a rogue flying-type?" Zoroark said.
"Don't make me laugh, mongrel," Lycanroc sneered. "I'll bet someone tossed him in there for a good reason."
"Butt out, Midnight," Zoroark hissed, scraping his claws against the table.
"It's all rather curious," Totem Decidueye said. "If Absol did indeed come from the Invern Mountains, then he left that Mystery Dungeon. But why would he do that?"
"How would a wild Pokémon even be able to get all the way to the other side of Horizon?" Zoroark said.
"I'm not sure. And that's where the problem lies," Totem Decidueye said. "Look here." He lifted one of Gallian's forepaws. "Even if they're dirty, these claws are filed. I don't think Absol is wild. I think he came from another town."
"Piss off with that nonsense! What Totem has enough of a death wish to let an Absol live in their midst?" Lycanroc said, drawing disapproving looks from his colleagues. "Don't look at me like that. "Every minute he stays here, it puts the village at greater risk of a bloody catastrophe!"
"Dusk… Midnight… why don't you two return to your patrols?" Totem Decidueye said, though his tone made it sound far more like an order than a suggestion. Dusk hastily left while Lycanroc followed behind her, glaring at Zoroark.
Once Lycanroc was gone, Zoroark sighed in relief. He thought he'd have Lycanroc shouting in his ear all night. Now, he could actually focus on helping Absol.
"Zoroark, do I have an elixir anywhere in my supplies?" Totem Decidueye asked.
Zoroark knelt down to look into a wicker basket sitting on a smaller table. He pulled a glass bottle out of the middle of the basket. "Right here, sir," he said, waving the tonic around. "Want me to give it to Absol?"
"No. Take that bowl over there and mix the elixir with mashed oran berry. Absol's stamina is depleted and I fear his health is suffering as a result," Totem Decidueye said. Zoroark grabbed the bowl and the oran berry and used a stone pestle to mash the latter into a paste. He poured in the elixir and stirred it around with his claws.
"How's this?" he asked, holding up the bowl.
Totem Decidueye examined Zoroark's handywork. "It'll do," he said, grabbing the bowl from Zoroark's hands. "Now, lift Absol's head up for me and hold his mouth open. We're going to have to force this down."
The prospect made Zoroark queasy. "Eww. You're not gonna, like, feed it to him, are you?" he said. "Because you're a bird, so–"
"I had you mash the berry for a reason, you know," Totem Decidueye said, chuckling. Zoroark walked back to the table, looking embarrassed. Using lifted Gallian's head up by the scythe, grabbed his jaw, and yanked it downward. Totem Decidueye poured the mixture into Gallian throat. When he finished, Zoroark closed Gallian's mouth and lifted his head up higher, making sure the medicine went down his throat and not his windpipe.
The effect was immediate. Gallian coughed loudly and his eyes fluttered open. Zoroark lowered Gallian to the table and stepped back, kneeling until he was eye level with Gallian. "Hey there, Absol. You awake?" Zoroark whispered. He waved a paw in front of his face.
Gallian blinked several times, trying to get his bearings straight. He fixed his gaze on Zoroark and his mouth hung open. "Uh… uhh," Gallian said. A red tint fell over his cheeks. He tried to cup his forepaws over his face but flinched in pain from the gesture.
"I'm going to see if I have any more oran berries," Totem Decidueye whispered to Zoroark. "Keep him occupied in the meantime." He walked out of the room, leaving Zoroark alone with Gallian.
Zoroark reached out and gently placed a paw on Gallian's shoulder. Gallian's eyes widened in surprise. 'Who's this guy? And… did he bring me to his house?!'
"Shh… it's alright," Zoroark coaxed, holding his free paw out in front of him. "I'm sure you're a bit confused. Let me explain. You're in Cosmic Cavern. I'm Zoroark, one of the villagers here. I'm a guard, see, and I ran into you while patrolling the mountainside. You passed out, so I brought you back here to our Totem's house."
"Zoro… ark," Gallian said. "You're… you're…"
He figured this had to be some sort of dream.
"Take your time. I don't exactly know what happened to you, but it can't have been good considering how haggard you look," Zoroark said, offering Gallian a reassuring smile.
"You… you saved me," Gallian rasped.
Zoroark's ears twitched. "Oh… aha ha… it was nothing, really," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "Just a part of the job, that's all."
"No," Gallian whispered. "I was so exhausted… and so hungry. I thought I was a goner for sure." Gallian slowly sat up and glanced around Totem Decidueye's house. It was relatively plain, housing a couple of chairs, a shelf with some pottery, and a green carpet that was made entirely of feathers. He glanced out the window, where light crystals twinkled in the distance.
Everything was so… quiet. Quiet and calm.
"This place… it's a village, yeah?" Gallian said.
"Yup."
"And it's in a cave?" Gallian said.
"Yeah," Zoroark said, raising a brow. "Um, you know, if you want to talk about what happened, I'm happy to–"
"Do Pokémon like it down here?" Gallian said. "I mean, you don't get any sunlight. Wouldn't that get gloomy? Then again, I guess Zoroarks would prefer nighttime…" He stopped himself and blinked. "I'm sorry. Were you saying something?"
Zoroark scratched his head. "I was just going to ask if you were okay telling me what happened to you. But it seems like you have other things on your mind and I don't want to pry," he said.
Gallian stiffened. Of course this guy would want to know what happened. "Well… it's just… complicated. I was trying to reach a place like this… because I wanted somewhere quiet to live," he said.
"Are you from the Invern Mountains, then?" Zoroark asked.
"Um… I…" Gallian bit his lip and looked away. What was he supposed to say to this guy? Zoroarks were expert liars, so Gallian was sure this one would know if he's lying. Yet, he couldn't just talk about the guild. If he did, the Totem here would contact Metagross.
Zoroark frowned and looked away. "I… I'm sorry," he whispered. "You've been through a lot. I shouldn't have tried to pry." He twiddled his claws nervously. "It's just… you know… you're a dark-type with a bit of a dubious reputation. Kinda like me. I figured we oughta look out for each other." He glanced toward the back room in Totem Decidueye's house. "Maybe I should just go help the Totem? I can't imagine why it'd be this hard to find another oran berry."
"N… no," Gallian said, reaching a foreleg out. He misjudged the angle, however, and his paw brushed against Zoroark's waist. More blood rushed into Gallian's cheeks.
Zoroark looked back at him in concern. He'd really gone and mucked things up now! Gallian knew he had to say something to make things less awkward.
"I… well… c-can you keep a secret?" Gallian asked, wincing as his voice cracked.
Zoroark knelt down again, his sharp blue eyes meeting Gallian's gaze. "Hey, like I said, us dark-types gotta stick together." His ears twitched and he glanced over his shoulder. "Hold that thought. Totem Decidueye is coming back."
Totem Decidueye reentered the room, carrying the same bowl as before. "I figured I may as well mash this berry up, too," he said, setting the bowl down in front of Gallian. "Here. You need to get your health back."
Gallian tried to reach for the bowl, but his aching head refused to budge. "I've got it," Zoroark offered, gripping the bowl and gently placing it up by Gallian's snout. Gallian graciously lapped up the berry paste, trying to avoid eye contact with Zoroark. He was sure Zoroark could tell he was flustered. The last thing Gallian wanted was for things to go south because he felt like ogling a stranger.
He squirmed around on the table, his joints popping loudly the more he moved around. "How are you feeling now? Do you think anything's broken?" Totem Decidueye asked.
"I'm just… sore," Gallian said. "My legs are throbbing and my head's pounding. But there isn't any massive pain or anything." His heart was also racing, but that was for an entirely different reason he didn't want anyone knowing about.
Totem Decidueye nodded. "That's good to hear." He tucked his head down. "I must confess, Absol–"
"Gallian."
"Huh?" Zoroark said, raising a brow.
Gallian lapped up some more berry juice, then said, "My name. It's… it's Gallian."
"I'm not sure I follow," Zoroark said, brow furrowed.
"W-well…" Gallian's voice trailed off and he bit his lip. "There's, uh, a Lucario in my family. Apparently, they gave each other names in ancient times, so it's kind of a family tradition."
Totem Decidueye's brow furrowed. "So, you are a civilized 'mon, then," he said.
Gallian stiffened in alarm. Why did he have to open his big mouth?
Zoroark noticed the shift in Gallian's demeanor and stepped in front of him. "Um, hey, Totem. Why don't you let me take Absol back to recover at my place?" he said. "I know you're worried about the superstitions… and you've got to lead the village, so you'll be busy. I've got spare medicine from my last trip to Midday Valley, so I can tend to him and do my guard shift at night."
Gallian's jaw slackened. Zoroark was willing to take him in? No strings attached? That was a huge step up from being willing to keep a secret! Gallian caught the corner of Zoroark's gaze and Zoroark winked at him reassuringly. Warmth spread across Gallian's face again.
Gods, what was he doing? If he didn't control himself, then he was going to turn Zoroark's kindness into another Vaporeon situation. 'Deep breaths… deep breaths… stop staring at him, for pity's sake!' Gallian told himself.
Totem Decidueye hummed in thought. "I don't have a problem with that offer, Zoroark. I'm just… concerned. Y'know, about what the other townsfolk will think if they see Absol in your presence."
Gallian winced. Sure, this was more like what happened with Totem Toucannon than with Drampa, but the prospect still hurt. Would the other villagers really try to run him out just because of superstitions?
Zoroark looked about ready to defend Gallian, but Totem Decidueye held up a wing. "Relax, you two. I am not going to kick a wounded Pokémon out of the village," he said. "I still remember hearing about the exploits of Team Go-Getters. They befriended a wild Absol and things turned out fine for them." He looked at Gallian. "You don't come across as hostile. Far from it, actually."
"My den's the perfect spot for him. It's in the corner of the village, so I can keep him out of sight," Zoroark said. "The only real issue is getting him there. You can't walk, right?"
Gallian strained to lift his head up higher and flopped back against the table. "I'm sorry. I've never been this tired before," he croaked.
"Then I'll carry you," Zoroark said, pounding his chest. "I got you all the way here, didn't I? It'll be a piece of cake."
Gallian bit down on his tongue in a half-baked effort to keep his runaway thoughts under control. "Well, Absol? Is that agreeable?" Totem Decidueye asked.
"Y… yeah. Sure. Of course," Gallian replied, perhaps a bit too quickly and enthusiastically. He mentally kicked himself. What part of staying calm didn't he understand?
Totem Decidueye gave him a skeptical look and shrugged. "Very well, then," he said. "Zoroark, I'll have Midnight cover your shift tomorrow. I think it's best you focus on getting Absol up and walking again."
"If that's what you think is best, I won't complain," Zoroark said, nodding. He leaned down and scooped Gallian up. Gallian tensed up, squeezing his eyes shut. "Everything okay there?" Zoroark asked.
"I'm fine. T-totally perfectly fine," Gallian squeaked.
'Don't think about him… don't think about him… don't think about him…'
"Okay then. Let's get going," Zoroark said. He hoisted Gallian over his shoulder and walked out of Totem Decidueye's house. Gallian was relieved at the change of scenery, since it offered him a distraction. He looked down at the different levels of the village.
"The Pokémon here made their homes within these rocks?" Gallian asked.
"Yeah. We can hollow out parts of the cavern walls to make homes for 'mons who want them," Zoroark whispered. "Try to keep your voice down, by the way. We don't really get sunlight in here, but most 'mons manage to sleep during the night."
"Sorry," Gallian whispered back, taking in the sights of the tiny light crystals embedded into the rocks all around him. "Um… so, you said you're a guard here? How does that work?"
"Oh, that. It's nothing special, really," Zoroark said, chuckling. "See, our village is inside of a mountain, right? Well, there are other parts to the mountain. Some of which may house wild Pokémon or offer a good hiding spot for outlaws. I patrol the mountainside and make sure that trouble doesn't come to the village."
Gallian raised an eyebrow. "Is that everything? Because it sounds like there's more to it than that," he said, hoping he was right. Zoroark's job sounded perfect for him. It was the exact idea he had thought about earlier.
Zoroark chuckled again. "You're a sharp one, there. Fitting with the scythe and claws, I suppose." Gallian snorted, a result of trying to hold back laughing. Zoroark turned and shushed him again. "Yeah, there's more to my job. Sometimes I help make supply runs to Midday Valley or go there to get information on things like weather patterns or changes in outlaw status."
"I suppose the biggest part, though, is going into the Cavernous Depths," Zoroark said, glancing toward a tunnel opening behind them.
"Is that a mystery dungeon?" Gallian asked, looking at the shadowy mist swirling around the tunnel.
"Yup. Strange things pop up there, so I need to go explore it," Zoroark said. "Sometimes I'll find supplies or an unruly wild Pokémon that needs calming down." He shrugged. "It might not be as glamorous as, say, working for the Horizon Guild. But it's a solid job and I'm happy with it."
Gallian stiffened against Zoroark's shoulder. That was exactly what he did over at the guild. Gallian didn't see any reason why he couldn't be a guard here. If he did that, maybe the villagers would accept him.
Zoroark reached the village's ground level and made his way toward the nearest outcropping of rock. "Here we are," he announced quietly. Zoroark carried Gallian in through the door. "You'll have to, uh, excuse the mess. I'm not really used to having guests." He walked to the back of the room and laid Gallian down on a straw bed. Gallian winced, his sore muscles objecting to the prickly fibers bristling his legs and underbelly.
Gallian had a look around the room. There were some bowls and cups made from clay positioned on a pair of tables, caked with the remnants of past meals. Like Totem Decidueye, Zoroark had a carpet. This one was black and shaggy, however. In a sense, it resembled the fur on Zoroark's chest. Open books lay scattered around the floor. Zoroark dashed toward them, scooping them up in his arms and sticking them in his mane.
"Anything I could get you that'd make you more comfortable?" Zoroark asked. "I could make some tapu cocoa for you. I'm not as good with the recipe as Totem Decidueye is, but it's great for trying to relax."
Gallian's face grew hot and he rested it against the straw. "I think I'm okay," he whispered. His eyes fell on a small square cloth situated in front of him. Like Zoroark's dishes, the cloth had crusty patches on it. Before Gallian could examine it further, however, Zoroark's arm swiped it off the ground. Gallian glanced up and watched Zoroark stuff the cloth in his mane, an embarrassed look on his face. What was so important about a dirty piece of cloth, anyway?
"So… uh…" Zoroark tapped his claws together. "I guess I'll let you get some rest."
"Where are you gonna sleep?" Gallian asked.
Zoroark jerked his head toward a doorway to his right. "I've got some towels in there. I'll make myself a little mat in my dining nook. If you need me… uh…" His voice trailed off and he looked around the room. He grabbed one of the used bowls and set it down by Gallian. "Just hit this with your scythe. I'm kind of a deep sleeper, so I apologize in advance if I don't wake up."
"Okay," Gallian said. He tried to curl into a ball, but his legs refused to budge. Zoroark nodded and walked out of the room. He came back moments later with towels in his arms and walked toward the only other doorway in the house.
"Sleep well, okay?" he whispered.
"Thanks. You too," Gallian said. Zoroark disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Gallian alone on the straw bed. He stared into the darkness, a mental image of Zoroark lingering in front of him.
'If I could stay here… with him… maybe all this trouble will be worth it.'
~Cavernous Depths~
"An Absol? A bloody Absol? Has the Totem completely lost it?!" Lycanroc snarled, pacing back and forth by the black cloud marking the way back to Cosmic Cavern. "I mean… I knew he was a sucker for Zoroark, but to bend over for him like this… it's bloody unforgivable!"
Dusk sat on her haunches and curled her tail around her waist. "I don't know, Midnight. Don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit to this?" she said. "Don't get me wrong, I'm worried, too. But I don't think Zoroark would do something to intentionally bring trouble to the village."
Lycanroc whirled on Dusk, his crimson eyes gleaming in the shadows. "What are you talking about? The guy's a total drongo! Everything he does is suspicious," Lycanroc barked, shaking his right fist at Dusk.
"Midnight… you're letting your anger get the better of you, again," Dusk said, sighing and lowering her head. "We've talked about this… you've got to control your temper."
"I'll control my bloody temper when Totem Decidueye mons up and gives Absol the boot!" Lycanroc growled, kicking pebbles in Dusk's direction. "I ain't about to go to sleep tonight knowing there's a disaster-bringer in our midst… staying in the company of a two-face, conniving prick of a dark-type!"
"That's enough, Midnight," Dusk said, getting to her feet. Her green eyes flashed red. "Look… I know you're still upset about what happened at that party, but you have to move past it. You can't keep holding grudges like this, Midnight. The other villagers are sick of it–"
"Holding grudges? Moving past it?!" Lycanroc hissed, hunching over so his paws rested on the ground. He flashed his canines at Dusk. "That root rat almost claimed me! How am I supposed to look past that? Even if he was a sheila, I still wouldn't want him!"
"You're blowing it out of proportion… again," Dusk said, shaking her head. "It was one kiss–"
"He groped my ass!" Lycanroc snarled, paws glowing blue.
"Yeah, well, both of you were drunk and you were teasing him after I told you not to," Dusk said, taking a hesitant step back. "Look, Midnight, I'm trying to stick up for you around the others. But you're making it really hard. If you could just control your temper–"
Dusk never saw Lycanroc's glowing fist coming. She fell to the ground, wondering how he had closed the gap so fast. Lycanroc grabbed her bloody snout and yanked her up. "S… stop! Midnight… please!" she squealed. "I'm… I just want… to help. You're my… friend. I… I…"
"I shouldn't need to worry about my bloody temper. If I'd evolved into Midday like I wanted… then maybe I wouldn't be so angry all the time," Lycanroc hissed. He threw Dusk to the ground. "All of this is your fault!" he shouted, nostrils flaring. "You had already evolved! You could've taken those Geodudes! Instead, I had to bail your ass out… and look what happened! Why weren't you paying attention?!"
Dusk didn't answer. She lay on the ground, shuddering, with Lycanroc panting above her. Finally, she squeaked, "I'm sorry. I got distracted. It was a mistake."
"A mistake that ruined my bloody life," Lycanroc snarled.
"Midnight, please… you have to calm down," Dusk begged, lifting her head up. "I know the playful, energetic Rockruff I had a huge crush on is still in there somewhere. Let me help you find him!"
Lycanroc hocked up a loogie and spat it into Dusk's face. "I don't want your help," he whispered. "If you're not going to convince Absol to leave, then stay out of my way." Lycanroc turned and marched into the black fog, leaving Dusk lying on the ground, clutching her injured snout.
Some of you astute readers might remember the Q&A event I posted back on my profile in April that had Lycanroc saying he wanted to evolve into Midnight form. That was a bit of intentional misdirection. Nobody said all of those answers would be truthful.
And, with this update, we've officially reached one whole year of Guiding Light on FFN... give or take a couple of days. I'm seriously amazed by all of the support this story's received. I certainly didn't expect it to get as big as it has. So, once again, I'd like to thank everyone who's taken the time to read this, whether you're brand new or have been following for a while. There are a plethora of Mystery Dungeon fics out there, so I'm humbled that you're here. Especially with how long this story is. I hope you'll continue to enjoy the fic as we keep moving forward. Now, onto the replies.
SuperOmegaGuest: oops, thanks for pointing that out. I'll add it to the list of edits.
Anon Omega: funny you mention Mega Man. When I wrote scenes with infected!Gallian, I had Craft's theme from the Mega Man Zero 4 Remastered Tracks album playing. His battle theme was even "Power Field."
Another guest: normally, an Absol grows up around other Absols, so they can learn how to control their disaster sense and prevent it from running out of control. Gallian never had that luxury, since he was adopted. And don't worry about timing. Any and all comments are welcome at any time! Except spambots... I don't want bots or copypastas.
Next time: the ship sets sail!