Chaos.
Ran stared numbly as the bodies rushing around her screamed over each other. Updates on the state of the Elder Council. News from the collapse site. Lingering sightings of the Children of Mother in the many nooks and crannies of Crag. And the steady din of conversation and arguments around her as Outrider addressed her, her friends, his officers, and a sizable chunk of the Lesser Councils of Crag.
They had not had any time to truly savor the death of Octavian. Really, she didn't have much reason to savor his death - he was a traitor to his city and bringing him to justice was logical. Or so Outrider had explained. But it was beginning to occur to her just how tremendously out of place she now felt. The officers and her friends - they weren't the issue. She felt fine around them. But the Lesser Councils…
There was so much uncertainty in their eyes. Uncertainty. Fear. Judgement. Even resentment.
Except in the eyes of the scribe that dutifully had written down almost everything that had been said. The smeargle's pen moved so quickly across the rolls of parchment it had that it made Ran dizzy. Complex runes appeared on the pages with such speed they appeared to be forming whole instead of through individual brush strokes.
Ran glanced over at Stone, leaning against the far wall of Octavian's office, staring through the crowd, expressionless. Her eyes slid from the lycanroc across the dark wood of the room to Valor and Thea, both standing just a few feet to her right, listening to the conversations with noticeable intensity.
She focused her attention on Outrider, standing in the center of Octavian's office. The huge skylight above him cast the slowly dying glow of the late afternoon sun on him and on those gathered around the table before him. The maps, the plans, the little figures that had marked troop locations - all of them had been cleared up and set aside. Now, the oak table served a new purpose, for a new war. Placed in the center of it, the two concentric rings that had made up Octavian's diadem.
A new war, for a new Crag. Fought with words and the exasperated flailing of limbs instead of rock, claw, muscle and steel.
She walked up beside Outrider and leaned against him. The lucario brought a hand down to her back and gently ran a digit up and down. A bibarel - Archstone, and a gigalith - Thump, stood directly opposite him, and they were both flanked by members of the meowstic, tropius, tangrowth and ludicolo tribes. The air at the table was dripping with anxiety. Ran saw the curious, almost fearful gazes of Outrider's officers as they shifted from their commander to the Elder Tribes of Crag.
A brief silence fell as all the parties stared down at the table between them, and the representatives for the Lesser Councils made their move:
"The Elder Council proved to be completely incapable of handling any kind of threat to their existence! We should not be discussing, as you have been, the face of the new Elder Council. We should be discussing the face of a new Crag!"
"Preposterous," said a lombre standing beside Thump. "The Elder Council has guided Crag for her entire life. How could we simply-"
"Your guidance of Crag has hardly been perfect," said Coal. The table was too tall for the flareon to properly "stand" at, so instead he had settled for standing on it. "It's filled with council after council dragging their asses on every decision they possibly could. We're so fucking bogged down with inefficiency, the fact that a successful defense even occurred is a miracle."
Thea cut in, stepping forward and joining the table. "The reason behind the successful defense and the death of that traitorous bastard is because someone who wasn't from Crag did it. Or, I suppose I should say, someones."
"You helped too Thea, don't sell yourself short on this," said Ran, looking over at her.
"Sure. Fine, I led troops and I was helpful. Maybe even instrumental. Maybe I was even important - but that hardly matters," said Thea, shaking her head.
"How could that possibly not matter, Thea? Without the information you provided us, it would have been impossible to accomplish half the things we succeeded in. You were the one who found the letters that revealed Octavian's plans and animated us to bring him to justice," explained Outrider.
The braixen waved the compliments away. "That doesn't matter. You took over from there. Organized us, kept us together, properly led us… You made decisions and took responsibility for everything. You did more than act the part of the leader, you were the leader."
From the corner of the room came a chuckle. All eyes shifted towards Stone as she stood up and shrugged. "She's got a point. You actually saw this through, you crazy bastard. I've got my uh, let's say 'reservations' about everything, but Thea's got a point."
"I have a point about all of you," said Thea, looking over at Stone, and then to Valor and Ran.
Valor shrugged. "I just stood around stopping stuff with my shields," he said. "I was pretty low impact."
"You fought alongside me multiple times, Valor," said Outrider. "I wouldn't write that off. I did not choose battles removed from the frontlines."
"I guess I did help kill Octavian," said Ran, shrugging. "But that's it."
"Where are you four from? And are there more of you? We could do with pokemon that sell themselves this short with humility," said Foremost, chuckling.
"Agreed," said Current, smiling. "And on that note, I think I agree with the Lesser Councils. The Elder Council failed to properly guard itself against an attack from within, and it failed to properly guard Crag from the same thing. Three different times."
"What do you mean 'three different times'?" asked the lombre, looking scandalized.
Coal snorted. "Octavian killed most of the Elder Council. Ain't that right, you old bastards?" Archstone nodded soundlessly, while Thump made an indistinct, low rumbling noise and stomped the ground twice.
"That means yes," said a voice in the crowd behind them.
"Figured as much," said Coal, chuckling. "So there was that. Then there was the whole business with the SDC being wrapped around Octavian's little claw. Second failure. And then there was the whole issue with the Children of Mother actually managing to cause the damage they did. Third failure."A shadow crossed the flareon's face. "It's been said before, but I'll say it again: we're not going to know just how much we lost in the collapse for months. Whatever or whoever ends up at the top after this is going to have a very full plate."
Foremost nodded in agreement "I don't envy them," he said somberly.
"You could argue that even the defense forces weren't properly set up," added Current, looking around the table. "After all, they had to be spurred to action by a lucario and his companions." The golduck turned her eyes to the representatives for the Elder Council and the Lesser Councils. "And that's near enough a disgrace to make anyone seriously question if this system is what we need."
Outrider suddenly gripped Ran's shoulder. She looked up at him, and noticed he had become very tense. "It will certainly be a difficult job. But if there's no council, be it made of the Elder Tribes or the Lesser Councils, then what will there be? There must be law and order in Crag, especially after so much has devastated it. What arises must be effective and strong, as well." He paused and then let out a sigh. "I ask because this war was motivated by the desire that burned in the hearts of all within Crag to see that dragon given his due."
The Elders and their representatives standing across from him all nodded and murmured in agreement. "He speaks wisely," said a meowstic standing next to Archstone. "The hesitation comes from a place of experience. We must consider: the system has worked. Even if some of the Elder Council must step down. Even if all of it must step down. But the councils were effective."
"The Lesser Councils didn't know that the Elder Council had three of its members murdered by one of their own! They didn't know that Octavian was seizing power until he was already putting everything in motion!" shouted Thea.
"Thea's got a point," said Stone, finally walking over to the table and standing on the other side of Outrider. "You guys really did shit the bed. How'd you manage to fuck that up?"
"The Lesser Councils had some that were already suspicious of that dragon," said a voice from somewhere behind the tropius representative. "Once we took notice of additional-"
"Once you took notice?" said Stone, laughing. "I don't know shit about governing, and I don't fuckin' pretend to. But! If your policy for dealing with shit is 'once we take notice,' then I'm wondering if maybe you just kicked Crag from one crisis to another, Outrider."
"The Councils have worked before, what is this skepticism?" asked the lombre. "We suffer one hiccup and suddenly the entire system has rotted through? Down to the very roots? Because you speak of removal, lycanroc. Outright destruction of an important institution. And possibly the destruction of Crag with it."
"Name's Stone."
"And Stone has a point," said Foremost, frowning at the lombre. "The failures of the Council come at the end of a very long series of annoyances, inefficiencies and missteps. And worse still, motivation was dying. I wasn't in that tavern when the war was declared - but Coal was. And his brief recollection of what happened there does not fill me with much confidence in the Council."
Ran's head was swimming. She'd agreed to follow Outrider - to help him bring justice upon Octavian's head. But the politicking was so far out of her league she felt slightly sick. What was she even doing at this table? What was Outrider doing here? Stone? Valor? She stared longingly at the door that led out of Octavian's office. Just let us leave, she thought.
"What does motivation have to do with any of this?" asked the lombre. "The council did as it always had, from top to bottom. Crag was successfully administered and problems were-"
"What would you know about problems?" spat Coal, his entire face screwed up in a bitter expression. "What would anyone in the Council know about problems? Did you know there's a floor in Crag with five water requisition centers? It's sandwiched between two floors that don't have any. Tell me you know about problems. Tell me you knew about that and were going to fix it."
"A lesser council should have been-" began the meowstic.
"A lesser council assuredly did everything it had to do, and that resulted in a process beginning that is probably still ongoing," interjected Foremost. The stantler sighed and added, "It is a regrettable position."
"Then what do you propose?" asked the tropius representative, speaking up for the first time. "If the use of the councils is so objectionable, then there must be an alternative. Or set of alternatives."
Outrider nodded. "Crag needs guidance and leadership. Total removal of any semblance of guiding hands is untenable. So that's one suggestion off the table," said the lucario.
"What was Octavian trying to do?" asked Ran. "He killed off the Elder Council, but left the Lesser Councils alone. Where was he going to go from there?"
"Probably use the SDC to coerce the Lesser Councils into following along with his plans. He could strip them of power, install figureheads from the ranks of the SDC itself, and who knows what else. He was a bastard through and through, if those letters are anything to go off of. The letters explain a little, but I think he kept most of his plans to himself," said Thea. "Smart move too, means that as few pokemon as possible would know what was going on."
"Do you think he had the right idea, Ran?" asked Valor, walking up and standing beside Thea.
"What? No, I don't really have any ideas about this. It's all beyond me. I wasn't built for politics," said the weavile. She raised her claws and looked down at them meaningfully before shrugging. "At least not the polite kind. I bet Octavian would have loved using Karan."
"Who is that anyway?" asked Stone. "You mentioned her once on the way up here to Outrider."
"I'll have to explain later, now's not the time," said Ran.
"Suit yourself," said Stone, shrugging. "Back on topic: is voting out of the question? Just let Crag itself decide what it wants to do. That's fair, right?"
Outrider nodded vigorously. "That is indeed fair. In fact, no matter what system is decided upon, a vote reduces the impact of favoritism."
"Who gets to vote? The average citizen of Crag sees elections that they actually get to participate in rarely, and it's almost always for extremely local things. Most of the time it's not even an election, it's just a vote being called for an initiative. And your average Cragger doesn't even bother to vote in those," said Current, frowning. "It's a problem, sure, but is giving the vote over to them a good idea? If they don't care, is it safe to trust what they choose?"
"Why would it be any more safe to trust the powers that be?" countered Outrider, shrugging. "In the interest of fairness, the Elder and Lesser Councils should have greatly reduced voting powers. Otherwise they'd just as soon vote in one of their own. Perhaps that is for the best, but it's hardly what's fair."
"Well how do you keep things fair, then?" asked Ran, scratching the side of her head. "What even counts as fair?" She gave Outrider a pleading look.
The lucario shook his head. "I- well, I have a sense of what is and isn't fair. Everyone does. Deferring to my sense of fairness, though? Why mine? Why not Stone's? The Elder's? Current's?" He gestured around the table as he rattled the names off. "Your question is a good one Ran, but it is a paralyzing one."
"Fuck this paralysis," spat Coal, heat rising from his fur and distorting the air around it as he spoke. "We can argue about what to argue about what to argue about what to choose until we're all fucking dead."
"These are monumental decisions!" said the tropius representative, looking aghast. "We cannot simply rush into them, especially when they could cause so much resentment and disunity."
"Fuck your disunity!" said the flareon. "Disunity was around before this war broke out, and it was because the SDC was wedged into this city as the Guard when it should have been the defense forces that had that job! And if you want to talk resentment, you don't know the first thing about resentment! Have you ever tried to get something changed on your level? Because I have. My kin have. My friends have. You know how many times someone managed to get something changed?"
The flareon fell silent and gave the tropius a pointed stare.
"Then we should vote," said Thea. "We should vote on how power in Crag will work."
"And then we vote on who wields it," added Foremost. "Action is necessary, or we'll just drag ourselves into a new war. And Crag cannot suffer another."
"Agreed," said Outrider. "What are the suggestions for power structures?"
"We should leave the Council system on the table-" began the lombre.
"We should understand when we have failed and accept change," said the tropius, cutting across him. "The Elder and Lesser Councils will have their say in other ways under the new system."
Current nodded in agreement and added, "I don't think cutting the Councils altogether out of how Crag runs is ideal. They could become advisors. Or at least useful resources to tap for whoever ends up in charge."
"So, the power structures then?" asked Outrider.
"A triumvirate," suggested Foremost. "Focused on defense, production and health. Final decisions - most decisions, even - fall onto their desks. They can discuss a course of action, but the head of the department the issue belongs to has final say. Defense can include the guard, patrols, actual defense of the city, scouting, securing materiel, equipment… the list goes on."
"And production is for food and materials for construction?" asked Archstone, speaking up for the first time.
"And for construction itself. Farming, construction, the production of any kind of goods. They'd work alongside Health. In addition to ensuring proper medical supplies are created or traded for, they can also plan how Crag will develop into the future. Life at the bottom of Crag is not especially attractive, after all."
"The idea needs more work," said Coal, frowning. "But it's on the table at least."
"Any other suggestions?" asked Outrider.
"Just do what Octavian already started doing, but don't be evil," said the tropius. "He's made an enormous mess of things, might as well go through with it."
"That's madness, why would we do that?" said the lombre, looking offended. "Accept what some would-be tyrant had planned?"
"They've got a point though," said Current, scratching the underside of her beak pensively. "Octavian's concentration of power let him get things done if he wanted them done, didn't they? That's how he got as far as he did."
"That's probably true," said Stone, leaning against the table and sighing. "It happens a lot back-" She paused. "Yeah. It happens. It's happened. He was…doing all the right things. We could do the same but for a good reason instead of a bad one."
"Concentrate power in a single pokemon in Crag?" asked the lombre, now looking terrified. "It would be a death knell for Crag!"
"Oh shut up," spat Coal. "It would be a lot of work for a single pokemon. But if they can manage it, they can manage it. Octavian is dead and thank the gods for it, but he was a crafty bastard and knew what he was fucking doing."
"What if the pokemon is kept in check?" asked Ran.
"How do you keep the ruler of Crag in check?" asked Outrider, raising an eyebrow. "They would make all the decisions. What does a check mean here?"
"Ran's got a point. I'm familiar with, uh, ways that things have been done in other places," said Stone slowly. She appeared to be choosing her words extremely carefully - Ran could understand why. If word got out she was human, the meeting would probably drive Stone out of the city altogether, desperate to defy her reality. "The rulers usually have advisors. Pokemon with experience in things the ruler doesn't have experience in. Whenever a decision has to be made, the ruler just talks with the advisors and then makes the choice. And if they think they're going to ignore the advisors, set things up so they have to listen to them if the advisor has something they want to say. Maybe make it so all the advisors together can overrule them?" She picked a pebble out of her mane of fur and tossed it aside with a shrug. "I dunno, just a thought."
Thea tugged on one of her ears in an anxious sort of way, and appeared to be chewing her tongue. "Is that on the table then?" she asked in a curt voice.
"I think so," said Stone.
"Then I think the other thing we should toss on the table is making Outrider the leader of Crag," said Thea resentfully.
"What?" asked the lucario, snapping his attention to her. "Why me? Thea, what's all this about?"
"Shut up," said Thea, cutting across him. "Look, we just killed someone that we know was working against Crag. You're not. You led pokemon you didn't know in a city you've barely lived in against a force you couldn't properly size up. You did incredible things." She paused. "We all did. But because you led us, that means a lot of that glory is on your shoulders."
"That doesn't mean I'm ideal for this at all. This is a very reckless suggestion," said Outrider, frowning.
"But you're not turning it down," noted Thea.
"I-"
"You won't be in charge forever. You can't be, we need a more permanent solution than just you sitting pretty in this office making decisions. Fortunately, you've got friends." She gestured to Stone, Ran and Valor. "And me. If you want. Anyone here, really. Any of us are able to help out in any way that we can. You'd just have to tell us. Though I think you'd ask." She gestured to the pokemon around the table. "But this means you're beholden to us. To Crag. If we want you gone, you're gone. Only difference is we won't have to kill you, because you'd step down."
"You want this lucario we barely know to rule the city?" said Thump.
Everyone stared at the gigalith. His voice was absurdly deep. It sounded as if something from within the bowels of the world itself had called up to them.
"That's a preposterous idea," continued the gigalith. "It is rash. It has not been deliberated on. We do not know how it will shape this city. We do not know how it will shape this lucario."
"What's your point?" said Thea, looking tired. "None of the other suggestions are tried and true either."
"It is only a slightly modified version of the previous suggestion. If this is going to be considered, then the other suggestion should be taken off the table," said Thump. The finality in his voice sent a chill down Ran's spine.
"I'm willing to take the compromise," said Coal. "Anything that gets us to the part we actually make a fucking decision."
Current nodded in agreement. "Sure. We can do that. Triumvirate or Outrider assumes power on the condition we don't take it from him."
"I trust we won't have to violently take it from you, yes, Outrider?" asked Foremost. Though his tone was serious, there was a hint of a grin on his face.
Outrider shook his head. "I can certainly lead troops. A city? I'm not so sure. I could do it, but I have my reservations," he said looking around at them all. "It would be putting a lot of faith in an-"
"Shut up," said Thea, her voice thick with exasperation. "You'll do fine, and if you don't I'm sure Stone or Ran will make sure you shape up quick."
"Do we really have to stay in Crag?" asked Ran and Stone in unison. The two looked across at each other and then down at the floor sheepishly.
"It's the right thing to do," mumbled Outrider. "Especially after all that's happened."
"So are we taking off continuing with removing what Octavian had planned from our suggestions?" asked the lombre, sounding defeated.
"We must," boomed Thump.
The pokemon around the table murmured in agreement.
"Well, hurry up and vote for the triumvirate then," said Stone, looking out at the table. "I'd like to be out of here some time by the end of the week."
"Who gets to vote?" asked Ran. "We never decided."
Coal looked around at the pokemon gathered in the room and made an indistinct noise in his throat. "One vote for the Elder Council, one for the Lesser Council. One vote for Outrider and his friends. One vote for the officers…" He stopped and frowned.
"Why do we get a vote?" asked Outrider. "We've only been here-"
"You led us. If you don't want your friends attached, then the vote is for you. Consider it a spoil," said Coal, cutting him off. His eyes scanned the room and eventually found the smeargle sitting in the corner, dutifully writing everything down. "You're dedicated to your job. You hear things. Write things. Know things. What's your name?"
The smeargle looked at the flareon with wide eyes and nodded. "Scribe," he said. And still, he kept writing.
"Good. That means you've heard how things work here more than anyone but that pile of rocks and inbred idiot. Possibly even more than them."
The smeargle nodded once again. Still writing.
"Then you get a vote too. Makes five." Coal looked back at the table. "No ties."
"Is that agreeable?" asked Outrider, looking out at everyone.
"If we must," said Thump. The representatives for the Elder Council all looked different degrees of worried or furious. Except Archstone, who appeared lost.
The Lesser Councils offered vague agreement and mutterings, though a few nasty and carrying whispers still met Ran's ears concerning Outrider.
Foremost, Coal, and Current, on the other hand, all nodded vigorously. And so, Outrider did as well. "Then we shall vote. Secretly. Scribe? Could you bring some parchment and ink?" The smeargle nodded and got up to head over to them. "Everyone take a sheet and leave with your respective group. I will remain here with my friends. Return when you have written down your vote."
Ran watched the pokemon around the table peel away from the table in groups. The Lesser Councils were first to leave, and they had hardly crossed the threshold when they began their arguments. Close behind them were the Elder Council's representatives, as well as Thump and Archstone. The argument that erupted when they had stepped out of the office was even louder, and perhaps twice as animated. She winced as she saw their tempers flare right as they rounded a corner and disappeared out of sight - though their carrying shouts and accusations continued to sound in the room.
A short silence fell before Coal, Foremost and Current gave Outrider a quick nod and left the room. Current took the parchment, ink and quill with her and appeared to be in high spirits, along with Coal and Foremost. Right as they made a left and disappeared out of sight, Ran heard Current say, "Well this is easy enough to pick, right?"
Indistinct sounds of affirmation met her ears, drowned out by Outrider saying loudly, "Well. Time to vote. Let's hear it." He looked around at his friends and then stopped when he noticed the smeargle had not moved.
"You're supposed to vote too, you know," said Outrider to Scribe.
Scribe scribbled down something on a piece of parchment, folded it up and tucked it behind the large roll he was already working on. "I just did. You heard Coal, no ties. Read my vote last." At this, the smeargle went back to sitting in his corner, though instead of writing, he busied himself with staring placidly out of the skylight in the center of the office.
"This is a bad fucking idea," said Stone. She looked around at everyone. "Don't you think? We've got you on the ballot - which means we're on the ballot." She crossed her arms and sighed. "I wanted to get the fuck out of Grass when we were done here." She looked up at the lucario and gave him a hard stare. "Guess not."
Outrider sighed and nodded, but looked Stone in the eyes. "My apologies. But you don't have to stay. You can leave if it bothers you so much, Stone."
Silence fell between the two before the lycanroc finally groaned and said, "You know I'm not going to do that. I'm not leaving you all behind."
"Why do you want to leave Crag so badly?" asked Thea. "Is this place that insufferable?"
"It's not looking like the best place to be, given all that's happened. Can you blame me for getting cold feet?" asked Stone.
"We can't just leave, Stone. We helped this place, but…" Valor looked up at Outrider. "Did we do the right thing? Can we leave and act like we did?"
Outrider shifted uncomfortably on the spot. "It would be insulting to the pokemon of Crag to cause such incredible destabilization and then leave them to work it out on their own. I'm certain Thea would never forgive us for it."
The braixen raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "That's one way of fucking putting it, yeah."
The lucario chuckled. "Point made. Still, this should be put to vote. And the offer for you to come with us, if that's what's decided, should be kept open." He nodded at Thea. "If it so happens we vote to leave, I want you to know you can come with us. Perhaps you'll hate us, but there's at least a chance you'll eventually forgive us. Or at least them, if you can't ever forgive me."
Thea deflated. "I was the one to get all fired up for what that bastard did. But still, you can't just leave."
"Well, that's why we're voting on it," said Ran, clutching her sides and feeling nauseous. "I don't want to stay in Crag…" She looked at Thea with pleading eyes. "It's not your fault, or anything in this city. I think we should help but-" She glanced at Outrider. "I'm not cut out for being at the top or near the top of anything. Not right now. Not after the demon I had to put away."
"Karan?" asked Stone, looking distracted. "That who you're talking about?"
"Yeah. It's a long story, but you should at least know that this isn't a great place for someone like her to be," explained Ran. "I'm worried. I don't know if she's going to stay gone."
"She will," said Outrider confidently. "I can see it in your aura. You are stronger than her. Otherwise, you wouldn't have beat her, would you?"
Ran simply shrugged. Her head felt like it was full of cotton. "If you say so," she said in a faraway voice.
"Should we keep our votes secret too?" asked Valor.
Outrider rubbed his chin. "Yes. It's probably for the best. You four vote. I'll be the tiebreaker if need be," he said.
"Why?" asked Stone.
"Because I'm the one that's on the ballot, which means I should be removing myself from this process as much as I can. If there wasn't the chance of a draw, I wouldn't vote at all," said Outrider. "But there is. And so, we must do things differently…" He handed out sheets of parchment to each of them, along with inkwells and quills.
"A circle for the triumvirate, a square for handing a position of leadership, and a triangle to signal we should leave the city. That helps the two here who can't read or write," he explained. He gave Ran a swift smile and then crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "Fold them up when you're done and place them onto the table."
Ran stared down at her inkwell, quill and piece of parchment and excused herself to wander over to a corner to sit down. The quill was awkward to hold. She let out an exasperated growl, set it aside, and instead dipped a claw into the glass container. Then, she paused. The blank page stared up at her. She wanted to leave. Karan was under control, gone, dead - whatever it may have been, but she had no idea if she'd ever return. Was taking that gamble really worth it? She took a deep breath and exhaled, long and slow. No matter what, she would be by Outrider, that was certain. But there was something significantly less troubling about being by his side out on the wild trails of Grass and beyond. Even the threat of raiders and wildlings wasn't enough to really deter her. Besides, by now, she'd had plenty of practice dealing with both.
Maybe too much practice, she thought grimly. But it beats practicing politics. She drew a triangle on her piece of parchment and shook it spur the ink to dry quicker. When it had, she folded it up and went to set it down on the table. Stone, Valor and Thea had already voted. Out of the three, only Valor appeared unbothered. Thea seemed to be caught between looking miserable and looking tired. Stone, for her part, appeared to be grappling with her expression shifting from annoyance to morbid fascination. Funny little ghosts of a smirk would yank at the edges of her mouth, but almost immediately after she'd frown.
Perhaps there really was nothing else to do in her position but argue whether she should laugh or cry. Guilt thrummed in Ran's stomach. This wasn't even really her fault, but Stone cared enough about them to risk staying. As grateful as that made Ran, it still concerned her. Stone really had no one else, did she?
No, of course not. Neither did Ran. Everyone she had, Stone had. Outrider, Valor, Thea and each other. How fitting - both of them had come from the same place, and now both of them kept each other in welcome company amid a swirling landscape of hasty decisions and poorly understood consequences.
In a quiet voice, Ran said, "It's been two weeks."
Stone finally settled on a facial expression, and threw her head back to laugh. "Feels like forever, huh?"
"Let's see what the count is…" said Outrider, turning and picking up the parchment. He unfolded them wordlessly, one by one. After he'd read all four, he closed his eyes and picked up his own piece and turned back to the table to scribble down their collective vote.
"Did you have to break a tie?" asked Thea, looking anxious.
Outrider straightened and cleared his throat. "Yes."
The braixen's gaze remained steady on Outrider's back. "I see."
"So what are we voting?" asked Valor. "The votes are secret, but we should know what we ultimately voted for. Even if it's not what we wanted."
Outrider nodded and said, "We will be staying in Crag. The vote was to see me made leader. So that is our vote."
Ran's heart sank. "O-oh." Across from her, Stone closed her eyes and shook her head, mumbling something indistinct all the while.
Valor, however, gave the lucario a look of approval that shone past his very tired face. "Sounds like the best way to do things. You've done a good job leading us, Outrider."
"It's probably the best we can manage for now," added Thea.
"Perhaps. But now we- Ah. There they are," said Outrider, stopping himself when he noticed the others filing into the office.
The representatives for the Councils all looked as furious and displeased as they did when they left. Likewise, Current, Coal and Foremost all re-entered the room in high spirits. The golduck clutched a folded piece of parchment and gave Ran and her friends a cheery wave.
"Someone light the torches in here, it's getting dark," said Foremost. The stantler pointed with his head at the skylight in the center of the room, at the rapidly darkening sky as it shifted from oranges, to reds and purples. Coal obliged him.
Outrider pointed at the piece of parchment in front of himself and said, "If you could please stack your votes here, I will lay them out for counting when they're all accounted for."
One by one, they were stacked atop his. The officers' vote. The vote from the Elder Council. The vote from the Lesser Council. Ran felt her mouth go dry as Outrider set them side by side and began to open them.
The first piece of parchment. "Triumvirate," he said in a loud, clear voice.
The second. "Outrider."
Ran leaned against Outrider once again, though it was as much for support as it was for comfort now.
The third piece. "Triumvirate."
"Pfft," said a voice behind Ran. She looked back and saw Stone staring at the table, her arms crossed.
Outrider ignored her and opened the last piece of parchment. He cleared his throat and said, "Outrider."
"Of course. Of course it's a tie," said Stone, heaving a sigh. "Alright. Go ahead then ya little bastard." She turned to the smeargle and gestured at him.
Scribe looked around at everyone and gave them an uneasy grin. "So many eyes…" he mumbled. "Here." He pulled a piece of parchment out from his enormous stack and held it out to Stone. The lycanroc took it and flipped it open immediately.
"Stone! You weren't supposed to do that!" said Valor. "Outrider was reading the votes."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you forget I can't read?" said the lycanroc, giving the chespin a wide grin. She trudged over to Outrider and handed him the piece of parchment, then leaned her hip against the table. "Alright. Read it and make us weep."
Outrider looked down at the vote and furrowed his brow. He cleared his throat and said in a confident tone, "The tiebreaker goes to…" He set the parchment down for everyone at the table to see. "Me."
"Tsk. Figures. Guess I'm fuckin' stuck here," grumbled Stone. She picked the two broken pieces of Octavian's crown up off the table and set them roughly down on Outrider's head. "Pack it up. Important pokemon coming through."
"Show some respect to the position!" said Coal in mock admonishment.
Ran felt Outrider's paw come down around her to her hip and squeezed. Hard. Very hard. This was not a sign of affection. This was concern.
'I accept this responsibility," said Outrider, his voice steady. "The vote has named me the temporary leader of Crag." The grip on Ran's hip was still strong. "And so, tomorrow we begin the long process of restoring this city. A new light dawns on Crag, and I am at your service." He inclined his head.
"You'll need advisors," said Thump.
"I have several. I'm certain the Councils will be willing to lend me their aid when requested," said Outrider. Though it was supposed to be a statement, it sounded more like a question.
Thump stomped his foot twice. "We shall."
"And then there is the counsel of my officers. They can also assist." Outrider looked over at Coal, Foremost and Current.
The stantler grinned. "We'll be here. Crag will be better."
"And then of course, there is the help of my dear friends." He looked at Stone, and then back at Thea and Valor, and then finally down at Ran. "Especially yours, Ran."
Ran looked up at him, her face lined with concern. Her head was still trying to catch up with what had happened. Outrider's words were not helping. "I… How?" she struggled out.
"You've been by my side through all of this. I trust your input," said the lucario. He finally let go of her hip and reached up to his head.
"What?" said Ran, struck dumb. She watched Outrider take the interior of the two concentric circles that made up the diadem and pull it gently from atop his head. He lowered it deliberately onto her own head, and the weavile noticed that his paws had begun to shake. What was happening?
The weight of the diadem on her head registered a full second after it had been set down. Ran fought down the urge to vomit. "No…" she whispered desperately, looking up at Outrider.
Outrider brought a gently shaking paw to her face and lowered his face down within an inch of hers. "Please," he whispered.
The word echoed in her head. This wasn't a polite plea. This wasn't a confident plea. Something was wrong. She could see it, even if no one else appeared to be able to.
She didn't want this. She had only wanted to live. But in Crag, the crown now fell upon the head. It was not placed.
She couldn't drag this silence out for long. It would cause a panic. She gathered up her will and fought through the fear and nausea in her stomach and finally managed to say, "Of course." She nodded and brought a clawed paw to Outrider's face. "Of course."
"It has been a long day," said Outrider, standing up immediately. "And there are many more ahead of us."
Indeed, the light coming into the room had all but died now.. The sky had changed from the orange of the late afternoon to the purples and blues of a dying sun. The flickering yellows of the torches upon the walls threw long shadows across the ground and the wall.
"Hrm. You'll need sleeping quarters then," said the lombre standing across the table. He looked as if the displeasure in him had finally broken into a muted resignation. "Unfortunately, there's been the issue of murder in several of them. And we cannot simply toss Thump out of his own chambers, even if he's no longer part of the Elder Council."
"Well yeah, it doesn't exist anymore," said Stone. Despite her tired and resigned eyes, she still bore a mischievous grin.
The lombre threw her a derisive look and continued, "The officers and your companions are welcome to the guest chambers. The Elder Council would often receive Lesser Council members or affluent traders. When discussions ran long, the chambers were there to avoid having to send the guests out to purchase a room in an inn."
"Thank you for letting us know," said Outrider, nodding his head.
"You should take Octavian's chamber," said Coal. "And piss on his stuff."
Outrider shook his head. "I can agree with the former, but not the latter. They shall be my chambers for now. But, please, I think we could all do with a rest."
"I'm off to the guest chambers then," said Stone, giving them all a dismissive wave. "Gotta see which of the piles is nicest."
"Piles?" said the lombre, looking scandalized. "We don't sleep on hay. They are beds. Proper beds. We do not sleep on hay as you com-"
"That's quite enough," said Outrider sternly.
"Yes. Well. We take our leave then," said the lombre, looking embarrassed. He, along with the Lesser and Elder council representatives left.
"You're welcome to the guest chambers too," said Outrider, looking at Coal, Foremost and Current.
"Sounds good, we just have to find them first! See you tomorrow," said Coal. He paused and grinned. "Feels weird saying that." The officers filed out - Foremost stopped in the doorway long enough to give Outrider and his companions a swift nod before catching up to the others.
"Thea, please take Valor to the guest chambers. And find Stone. I doubt she even knows where they are," said Outrider, suddenly sounding weary. "Though I get the feeling she might not even have intended to head there in the first place."
"I don't know where they are either, but I'm sure they can't be too hard to find," replied Thea. "Come on, Valor." The quilladin gave Ran and Outrider a tired smile and a wave and set after the braixen.
"Where is Ocatvian's chamber?" asked Outrider aloud, turning to look back at Scribe.
"Step out to the right, follow the hallway. Ignore the first hallway on your right, go down the second. The double doors at the end are his chamber."
Outrider nodded. "Let's go, Ran."
Ran looked up at him helplessly. She nodded.
Ran stared into the room in awe. It was enormous. And nearly empty. A large writing desk against the wall off to the right, flanked by bookcases filled to the brim with countless texts. A massive window and a stool sitting in front of it to the left. And a large bed pressed against the center of the back wall that dominated most of the floor space.
It bore a very fluffy comforter and eight pillows. Perhaps Octavian had a taste for the luxurious? She cocked her head at what hung off the footboard of the bed. It looked like a silvery blanket.
"What is that?" asked Ran, stepping past Outrider. She strode over to the bed and picked up the material. It was chainmail. A chainmail blanket. Was this for protecting the linen of the bed? The door shut with a snap and threw the room into the muted tones she associated with darkness. She looked back at Outrider and saw him approaching.
She gave a start as he stepped up to her and then fell to his knees. He pulled her into an embrace. Right as she opened her mouth, however, a sob met her ears.
"O-Outrider?" said Ran, stunned. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. "Outrider. What's wrong?"
The lucario continued to weep - it was as bad as the day Nomad was attacked.
No. No, it was worse.
Ran pulled him away and looked into his darkened, sobbing face. "Outrider. What's wrong?"
The lucario tried to catch his breath and swallowed. "I-" he began. He shook his head. "I…" He pulled her into an embrace again and whispered, his voice shaking, "I don't remember anything."
"What?" asked Ran. "What do you me-" She stopped. "Wait. You don't- this didn't do anything? You don't-"
"I don't remember anything, Ran," cried Outrider. "None of this has done anything to clear this fog from my head. I still have amnesia. I still don't have an answer." He mumbled something incoherent and then added, "Or maybe I do."
Ran put a paw to the back of his head and shushed him, doing her best to comfort him as much as the razors growing from her digits would allow. So this was why he was acting so strangely in Octavian's old office. "Shh. It's fine, Outrider. It's fine. There's still a lot to do. There's still a chance for-"
Outrider pulled away from her and looked at her. His wet, shining eyes shone in the dark to her. Ran felt his paws cup her face as he whispered, "Yes. Of course."
She stared back at him and ran the back of a claw gently across his cheek.
What now?