Sorry this is going to be a small chapter. Now onto chapter 30.

Chapter 30

A Familiar Day

Oliver P.O.V.

After walking for a bit, and returning Aurorus, Mamoswine, and Avalugg to their Pokeballs. We made good time and reached Halure as the sun started to set. When we got there, we noticed Halure's human population had almost doubled.

"There sure are a lot of people here." Yuri said to everyone. "They're refugees from the capital. See how they're all well-dressed?" Raven asked Yuri. "Makes sense. This is the nearest city to the capital." I said to everyone. "Besides the extra people, everything looks fine." Ava said to everyone. "It does look like there's nothing unusual with the barrier here for now." Rita said to Ava, as Karoll started to huff a little.

"Karol, are you okay?" Judith asked Karol. But then Karol started to fall to the ground. But Hugo and Raven caught him. "Looks like he ain't okay at all." Raven to Judith. Judith then walked to them, and placed a hand on Karol. "He's got a bad fever. He really overexerted himself." Judith said to everyone. "All because he had to go and be a hero! I swear…" Rita said to everyone. "At least it's just a fever, it could've been worse. Right, Yuri?" I said to everyone and asked Yuri.

But Yuri said nothing to me. "Yuri?" I asked Yuri again. "Huh? Oh, sorry. Let's go to the inn so that Karol can rest." Yuri said to me. We all nodded in agreement and headed to the inn.

When we got there, we found the innkeeper standing at a small reception desk, with a small creature on the desk next to him. This creature had a white body ,with two arms, with three green long vine like fingers, the lower part of the body was fluffy pink with stubby legs, balck eyes and mouth, and a large mushroom for a hat, the mushroom had a purple top with a few green spots on it, a fluffy pink edge, and a light green underside. "Cool a Shiinotic." I said to everyone. "A what?" Rita asked Me. I pulled out my Pokedex.

Shiinotic

The Illuminating Pokemon

Grass / Fairy

If you see a light deep in a forest at night, don't go near. Shiinotic will make you fall fast asleep.

"Hello, and welcome to Denebola Inn!" The innkeeper said to all of us. "Hello, we would like a room for the night. How much will it be?" I asked the innkeeper. "Don't worry about paying." The innkeeper said to me. "Huh? Why?" Rita asked the innkeeper. "Probably because we don't look like we have any money." Patty said to Rita.

"Well, you see, an important official is visiting the mayor's house right now, and it's by his orders. The government's handling the money for the inn. So that anyone can stay here for free." The innkeeper said to everyone. "That must be for all the refugees that've come to the town." Judith said to the innkeeper. "Circumstances being what they are, it takes the fun out of it, but our business is booming thanks to all of the visitors to our town." the innkeeper said to Judith.

"Sounds like a good deal for the empire." Yuri said to everyone. "So does that mean you don't have any vacancies?" Rita asked the innkeeper. "You're in luck! I have one room that's not taken." The innkeeper said to Rita. "Then I'll take that room, thank you." A male voice said to the innkeeper.

That's when everyone noticed a man and woman, in noble clothes, and overweight walking into the room. "Hey there, no cuttin' in line!" Raven said to the nobles, as they moved through us. "Yeah we need that room more than you." Ava said to the nobles getting in front of the desk. "Quiet girl." The noble man said to Ava, pushing her out of the way. I then pulled out one of my maces and was about to induce it to the noble man's face, but Hugo held me back.

"Of course, I wouldn't think of not paying. I'll pay ten times the regular price. twenty times if you keep those nasty creatures away from our room." The noble man said to the innkeeper, while trying to push Shiinotic away from him. That made Shiinotic angry and frowned at the noble man.

"I'll also give the same amount to you travelvers. That should settle things nicely, yes? Then you can leave and take all your nastly little creatures with you." The noble man said to us. "You son of a-." Yuri said to the noble man, as the Pokemon got ready to fire a move at the noble man, but the innkeeper interrupted Yuri, before he could finish his sentence or a Pokemon could attack.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I took another look at the register, and it seems that I don't actually have any vacancies. So sorry, come again!" The innkeeper said to the noble man. "What?! I knew this town was in the sticks, but this is-" The noble man said to the innkeeper. "Honey, let's just go on to Heliord from Nor Harbor." The Noble Woman said to the noble man. "Well said! I should be thankful we didn't soil our clothing in a fitly little hovel like this..." The noble man said to the noble woman, as they exited the inn.

"They're gonna be in for a nasty surprise when they try to go to Port Nor… heh heh!" Raven said to everyone. "Betcha a coin they come running back here before they even see the creator." Ava said to Raven. This made Raven laugh a little more. "Sorry to have kept you waiting. Your room is upstairs, in front." The innkeeper said to us. "Wha? But you said there weren't any vacancies…" Rita said to the innkeeper. "Business is business, right?" Yuri asked the innkeeper.

"Yes, don't worry about it. I can't stand people like that. Especially after they insult my friend Shiinotic. And wasn't it you who saved Halure's tree? This is the least I can do. Enjoy your stay!" The innkeeper said to us. "Thank you." I said to the innkeeper, before we went to our room.

In the room, we started to recover, with most of us laying on or standing next to some beds, and the Pokemon scattered around the room sleeping. But Judith was looking out a window in the room, to see all the people outside. "All those refugees… the capital must be in a sorry state." Judith said to everyone. "Make you wonder what we're walking into?" I asked everyone. "What evil y'think that bastard Alexei's going to perpetrate next?" Raven asked everyone.

"Whatever it is. It won't be good." Hugo said Raven. "There's no way I'm letting Alexei get away with all the stuff he's done…" Patty said to everyone. "That's the spirit Patty." Ava said to Patty. "Who cares about Alexei? Estelle. I want to save Estelle." Rita said to everyone. "We all do Rita." I said to Rita. "But to do that we need to take care of Alexei. And we need to come up with a better plan to do it. We can't let ourselves get blasted all the way back to Nor Harbor again." Judith said to everyone.

"Easier said than done. We have no idea what's going on in the capital." Hugo said to Judith. "Well, we can't go anywhere 'til Karol gets better, so we might as well gather some info 'round town, dontcha think?" Raven asked everyone, as we looked at a sleeping Karol. "Good idea. Someone might end up saying just the thing we need to hear." Judith said to Raven.

"Wasn't the innkeeper saying that someone important from the capital was in the Mayor's house? Let's go and have a look-see." Yuri said to everyone. "I'll stay here." Raven said to Yuri. "Old man?" Yuri asked Raven. "Someone's gotta look after the boy, don't they? Leave that to me. You kids go on ahead." Raven said to Yuri. "Why don't we leave the pokemon with Raven, they could use a break." Ava said to everyone. We all nodded our heads, and left the room.

After a bit of walking, we made it to the mayor's house. When we got there we saw Ioder, Mason, a couple of men in robes, and two creatures walking out of the mayor's house.

One creature was a big penguin with dark blue top, light blue lower half and tip of it's flipper, four white ovals on its belly, yellow feet and beck, blue eyes with a light blue face, and two yellow fins that goes over it's head and to its back.

The other creature dog, with long legs, front white paws, back yellow paws, black sides, yellow front and back, with white fur on its face and neck, two black points on its back legs, and a yellow tail with a few hairs sticking up from it.

"Ioder, Mason?" I said to them, getting their attention. "Oh, I'm so glad you are all safe!" Ioder said to us. "More or less." Hugo said to Ioder. "I see Piplup and Yamper evolved into a Prinplup and a Boltund." I said to Ioder and Mason. "Yeah, it happened the other day." Mason to me. "What are they?" Patty asked me. I then pulled out my Pokedex.

Prinplup

The Penguin Pokemon

Water

It lives a solitary life. Its wings deliver wicked blows that can snap even the thickest of trees.

Boltund

The Dog Pokemon

Electric

It sends electricity through its legs to boost their strength. Running at top speed, it easily breaks 50 mph.

"Huh. you did this, right? Had the inn open up its rooms free of charge." Yuri asked Ioder, as I put the Pokedex away. "And just who are you? Watch your tongue. Do you know to whom you are-." One of the men said to Yuri, but Ioder stopped him, by moving in front of the man. Ioder then shook his head.

"There are many who have escaped with only the shirts on their backs. I felt this was one service their country could provide for them." Ioder said to Yuri. "Hmm, okay. Actually, I'm more interested in what you can tell me about the capital." Yuri asked Ioder. "The capital… Zaphias is no longer a city fit for any person." Ioder said to Yuri. "The city's barrier blastia began giving off a great light… and the town was wracked by earthquakes and lightning." The first man said to Yuri. "After that, my men and I headed for the capital.

"However, the real terror came after that. A glowing fog appeared from the barrier blastia, and quickly spread throughout the city. The plants it touched grew hideously large, and the water became poison… it was hell itself." Ioder said to Yuri. "Sounds calming." I said to Ioder. "Rita, any ideas on what's going on?" Ava asked Rita. "The aer is out of control…" Rita said to Ava, with a hand on her head.

"Oh, that such dire events could befall Zaphias, jewel of our glorious empire…" the second man said. "If the aer covered the entire city… What is he doing to her…?" Rita asked everyone. "Th-this is that turncoat Alexei's doing. I'm sure of it. He came to us demanding our obedience. When we refused, he swore he would reduce us to dust!" the second man said to everyone. "Alexei…" Patty said.

"That beast even had the gall to t-turn the Royal Guard on us after we made our escape!" the first man said to everyone. "It was at that point me and my man reached the capital. We fought our hardest against Alexei's forces, but some of my men joined Alexei, we were outnumbered and lost the fight." Mason said to everyone.

"Then how did you come all this way unharmed?" Judith asked Mason. "You can thank Flynn for that. He came with what's left of the imperial knights. He turned the tide, gave me and my wounded men the chance to escape with the refugees." Mason said to Judith. "It's true. If he hadn't come to our aid when he did, we all would've died." Ioder said to everyone.

"Oh, I'd love to hear more about how great Flynn is, believe me. But I haven't seen anyone from the lower quarter here. What happened to them?" Yuri asked Ioder. This made Ioder and the two men look away from Yuri. "I'm sorry. I haven't seen anyone either." Ioder said to Yuri. "They must have been left behind. With all that aer flooding out." Judith said to everyone.

"I-it was all we could do to save ourselves. With all that was happening we were unable to take everyone with us. We did all we could! You must understand!" the first man said to us, not looking at us. "Lies. you probably could have done something. But since those people were part of your upper class. You did nothing. It's no wonder Alexei is taking over your Empire. You're all greedy Raticates. Maybe I should do Alexei a favor and finish you off." I said to the first man, pulling out one of my maces, scaring him.

"Oliver that's enough." Yuri said to me. I just groaned and put my mace away. Then Yuri started to walk away. "Hey…" Rita asked Yuri, making him stop. "I'll be at the inn." Yuri said to Rita, as he got back to walking. "Let's go with him. We're done here." I said to everyone, giving a mean look to the men, before leaving.

After making it back to our room in the inn, we explained things to Raven. "His Highness is…" Raven said to us, but Yuri interrupted him. "It sounds like the entire capital's been covered in aer. And the one in the middle of it all is most likely…" Yuri said to Raven, but Hugo interrupted him. "Alexei." Hugo said.

"That's insane! If he's using Estelle to cause all of that, then… she can't handle that! Who knows how much of a toll it takes on her each time she's forced to use her power? She was already having problems controlling it. Now there's no telling what will happen to her. What if… what if we get there too late, and… even if we take out Alexei, she…" Rita said to everyone, making us all go quiet.

Do… do ya think maybe there's a way ta get her power under control?" Raven asked Rita. "There is. There has to be. We just haven't found it yet…" Rita said to Raven. "Ah… hm, hey, what about the Knights?" Raven asked Yuri. "Flynn's doing what he can, but it's not enough. They don't have Dein Nomos." Yuri said to Raven. "Hmm…" Raven said. "I'll try asking Phaeroh. It would be good to know how much time we have left." Judith said to everyone. We all nodded yes, and Judith tried to communicate with Phearoh.

Then Yuri let out a groan. "Yuri… Oliver." A voice said, getting everyone's attention. We turned to see Karol awake, but still laying on the bed. Me and Yuri then walked to Karol. "Hey, did we wake you up? How are you feeling?" Yuri asked Karol. "Looks like I slowed you guys down again… You're going to the capital, right?" Karol asked us. "Don't worry about that now. We're still fighting out what to do. You just get better." Yuri said to Karol. "Yeah, I just don't want to be left behind, okay?" Karol asked us. "We won't leave you Karol. Estelle needs you too." I said to Karol.

"Right our whole guild is gonna rescue Estelle." Karol said to me. "We know. Why don't you try and get some more sleep, huh?" Yuri asked Karol. "Okay…" Karol said to Yuri, before going back to sleep. "Bad news. I can't seem to reach him. The aer may be causing interference." Judith said to everyone. "Or he's mad at us." Hugo said to everyone. "Either way, it's just a matter of making Alexei sorry he ever started this. Right?" Yuri asked everyone, as he walked away from Karol.

"And nothing more?" Judith asked Yuri. "I'm gonna go get some fresh air. Keep an eye on Karol for me." Yuri said to Judith, as he started to leave. But Patty grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Yuri." Patty said to Yuri with a sad look on her face. "What's with the long face? You don't need to worry about me." Yuri said to Patty.

"Just don't stay out too late, and be quiet when you come back, we might be asleep." I said to Yuri. "Alright." Yuri said to me, before walking out the door, with Repede following him. And although we didn't say anything, we all knew what each other was thinking. But it was late and we decided to sleep on it, so we went to bed.

NO P.O.V.

Outside the Inn, Yuri was looking at his right hand. "A job nobody wants to do…" Yuri said, before he started to walk with Repede. Yuri and Repede were almost out of the city, when Ioder and Prinplup. "Are you going out alone? Not even taking our Pokemon with you?" Ioder asked Yuri. "I don't think that's any of Your Highness's concern. I want to know how things are in the lower quarter, so I'm gonna go take a look." Yuri said to Ioder.

"The Council has decided to bring formal charges of criminal conspiracy against Alexei. The knights are currently forming a strategy for reentering the capital from Deidon Hold, while Mason's Knights stay here and help protect the refugees." Ioder said to Yuri. "With all that aer in the city? I doubt they'll get very far." Yuri said to Ioder. "Estellise is with Alexei, isn't she?" Ioder asked Yuri.

"How did… So you caught on. Huh? I wondered why you didn't bring her up earlier." Yuri asked Ioder. "What do you intend to do about her?" Ioder asked Yuri. "What do you mean?" Yuri asked Ioder. "All those who carry the imperial blood possess a certain power. In most of us it is too faint to be of use, but I have heard that hers is extraordinary. I'm sure it was for this reason that the Council threw their support behind her." Ioder said to Yuri.

"Why are you bringing this up now?" Yuri asked Ioder. "Isn't this current disaster being caused by her power?" Ioder asked Yuri. "So what if it is?" Yuri asked Ioder. "The Knights may have to… You're aware that defeating Alexei may not be enough." Ioder said to Yuri. "That's not going to happen." Yuri said to Ioder, before turning away from Ioder.

"Because you'll do it yourself, alone? Flynn told me about you and Oliver. That you always try to carry far too much on your own shoulders, while Oilver always tries to help you carry that weight with you in some way." Ioder said to Yuri. "You can tell Flynn that we'll be just fine without the help. And I don't need Oliver's help" Yuri said to Ioder, not looking at Ioder. "But why?" Ioder asked Yuri. "I thought I told you, this't your concern." Yuri said to Ioder. "That sword… Perhaps you are just the person it was waiting for." Ioder said to Yuri. "Keep talking and I'll try it out on you." Yuri said to Ioder. "Forgive me." Ioder said to Yuri. Yuri said nothing and left with Repede.

Under the cover of night Yuri and Repded entered the Quoi Woods. As the two of them walked through the woods, they noticed that Dark type Pokemon made this place their home, and saw families sleeping together, trying to confront their little ones that were shaking in their sleep. During the walk, Yuri and Repede found the stone pillar they, Oliver, and Estelle found when they met Bisharp back when he was Pawniard.

"Heh. I remember when Estelle ate that Nia fruit. That was quite a face she made. Then Oliver made us that chowder, and Bisharp stole my bowl." Yuri said to Repede, touching the stone pillar. Yuri then took a seat next to the stone pillar. "Come to think of it, it's been a long time since we've been on our own, huh pal? I haven't been feeling like myself, even when I'm fighting. It's like I'm tired, all of a sudden. You mind keeping an eye out for a while, Repede?" Yuri asked Repede. Repede woofed, and Yuri went to sleep.

The next morning the sounds of rustling started to rouse Yuri from his sleep. "...Yuri, you…" A voice said, confishign Yuri. "IDIOT!" the voice yelled. This woke Yuri up, and his reflex reacted just in time to dodged a large sword swinging at his head. "Huh?" Yuri said, as he got up and noticed Karol was the one swinging the sword. "What the? What Karol?" Yuri said, as he noticed Karol shaking with rage. "You braindead piece of crap." Karol said to Yuri, swinging his sword wildly at Yuri.

"Hey, hold on a sec!" Yuri said to Karol, dodging Karol's attack. "No you hold on." A voice said, as someone suddenly grabbed Yuri from behind. Yuri turned his head to see Oliver holding him. "You trying to be some stupid lone wolf or something?!" Karol asked Yuri, as he pointed his sword at Yuri. "Lone Wolf… Wait, I…!" Yuri said, trying to get out of Oliver's grip. "Save the excuses for later." Rita said to Yuri, getting ready to fire a spell at him.

Before Rita fired the spell. Oliver threw him into the path of the spell. "Huh?" Yuri asked. "For now you can drop dead!" Rita said to Yuri, before firing a fireball at his feet. This fireball explodes and sends Yuri flying to everyone else and the Pokemon. "Whooaa!" Yuri said, before landing on his front, and laying down in front of everyone else. "Such excitement." Patty said. "A fine way to start the day." Hugo said, as Yuri still hasn't moved.

"Hey there, sunshine. Still livin'?" Raven asked Yuri. "Maybe." Yuri said to Raven, not moving. "Well it looks like you're awake. How nice." Judith said to Yuri, cracking her knuckles. "I call first dibs." Ava said to everyone, cracking her knuckles. Then everyone gave Yuri a few "words".

After everyone gave Yuri their words, they all stood around Yuri, so he couldn't get away. "Jeez, Repede. What happened to keeping a lookout?" Yuri asked Repede, as he tried to shake off the pain. "It wasn't just Repede, Banette helped as well. I thought I told you this. A Trainer and Pokemon with a Keystone and Mega Stone can sense each other." Oliver said to Yuri. "We followed Banette, and found Repede here. They led us right to you, like the good boys they are. They're pretty clever, you know." Judith said to Yuri, before giving Repede and Banette some pets.

"Yeah, they told us if we came this way, we'd see the biggest fool in the world." Rita asid to Yuri. "Do you guys know what's going on? Do you really understand what has to happen after this?" Yuri asked everyone. "You're the one who doesn't understand!" Karol said to Yuri. "Karol." Yuri said to Karol. "You can't… this is one thing you can't just do on your own, Yuri!" Karol said to Yuri.

"What were you tryin' to prove? How far did you think you'd get without us?" Rita asked Yuri. "Yeah we're a team. We stand by each other through thick and thin." Oliver said to Yuri. "Yuri, even if you leave us behind, thinking you don't need us… We're still gonna search the whole world from top to bottom until we find you!" Patty said to Yuri. "What it boils down to is… It's no fair keepin' all the fun and glory to yourself." Raven said to Yuri.

"Would it hurt for you to believe in us a little bit more?" Judith asked Yuri. "Yeah we're friends, have a little faith in us." Ava said to Yuri. "Alone, a person can only do so much. But with friends, both human and Pokemon, by your side, many things are possible." Hugo said to Yuri. "We believe in you, Yuri." Patty said to Yuri. "Yeah. I mean. We're your friends!" Karol said to Yuri. Yuri then looked at everyone and sighed. "You got me, guys. All right, then. We're all in this together. Until the end." Yuri said to everyone.

"Aye!" Patty said to Yuri. "Right!" Karol said to Yuri. "Um, duh." Rita said to Yuri. Repede woof at Yuri. "Always." Oliver said to Yuri. "We never backed down before. Why start now." Ava said to Yuri. "And you won't do it alone." Hugo said to Yuri. then the Pokemon all let out a roar in agreement to Yuri. "So let's go do this thing!" Raven said to Yuri. "The way out of the forest is right over there." Judith said to Yuri, pointing the way out of the Quoi Woods. "Then let's go save Estelle. All of us." Yuri said to everyone, before they started to leave the Quoi Woods.

Meanwhile in the nearby plains a small herd of creatures were eating some fruit from some trees. Many of the elephant-like creatures had a block body, grey eyes, with four round legs, with three outlines of toes on its legs, with a copper outline over the front of the toes. Four bumps on the top of its head, a large trunk with three metal bumps on the end of it, to street short metal tusk, two triangle shaped ears with three bumps on the end of them, a tail with a teal tip, and a teal underbelly, a teal tip on the end of it's trunk, and had patches of copper on its body, with a long stretch of copper on the back of it's trunk, and a copper mask on its face.

And there were a few smaller elephant creatures being fed and comforted by the large creatures as well. They were similar to the large creatures, but more round then the big ones, had a copper color body with teal markings, a single round bump on their heads, no tusk, and their tunks end was spoon shape.

While the herd was trying to enjoy breakfast, a mist rolded in. "Cufant." one of the small creatures said, getting nervous. "Copperajah." One of the large creatures said to the herd. The hired then formed a circle with the large ones on the outside and the little ones on the inside. The large ones were ready to fight whatever came out of the mist.

And what came out of the mist, was a large majestic deer, with a black body, legs and shot fluffy tail, the legs had a fin point with a whote outline up to the knees, a blue neck that led to a blue head, with two blue side horns on its head, and eight white antlers, each with a crystal infused with it, two blue crystals, two purple crystals, two red crystals, and two orange crystals.

Upon the sight of the deer the herd calmed down. "Hello." the deer said to the herd with a gentle and calming female voice. "Cufant?" one of the small creatures said, looking at the deer with wonder in its eyes. "Hello little one. My name is Xerneas." the deer said to the small creature. "Copperajah copp copp?" one of the large creatures asked Xerneas. "I came to you, cause I need your help. Well to be accurate. I need your herd's help, to help some people, so they can save one person, whose soul reflects my own." Xerneas said to the large creature.

Hello everyone please like, follow, or review if you like this story. And again sorry that it was short.