18th Winter Moon, 907—Afternoon

"Well, that was almost worth the detour," Marie groaned as she and Lambert traversed the village with full bellies. She picked at her teeth, then glanced up at Lambert as he flipped through his tiny notebook. "You're certainly satisfied with yourself."

Lambert laughed. "How can I not? A little bargaining here and there, and I managed to get Mr. Tibia's recipe for his signature noodles. When we get back, I'm asking Jason if we can bargain for new ingredients. I've got some new recipes to serve for lunch!"

Marie chuckled under her breath. "I'm sure Petra would love to be your taste tester."

Lambert rolled his eyes and stashed his notebook away. "I love Petra to bits, don't get me wrong, but that chick inhales everything without even tasting it. She'd be a terrible taste tester."

"What about Basil?"

"Too many damn riddles to give me a straight answer."

"Pandora?"

"She'll just ask me to become her evil head chef again. Seriously, how is one qualified as an evil head chef? Is the food extra spicy or am I supposed to mix it with the essence of dread?"

Marie giggled. "Well, I'm sure the others will love whatever you whip up regardless." She sighed and stuffed her hands inside her pockets. "Though, lunch will be pretty sour if we lose valued teammates. How's the ol' sniffer working for ya?"

Lambert stopped and held his head up high, taking a big whiff of the air. "Still nothing. If I caught a whiff of the bounty hunters' scents, this would be so much easier. It's like looking for a grain of sand in the Algus Kingdom." He sniffed the air again. "I can easily distinguish between smells, but there isn't anything out of the ordinary."

Marie sighed while her hair hissed with irritation. "I really don't want to spend another couple days raiding people's homes."

"We do that all the time."

"Yes, but we're not stealing anything, so I just feel bad. Well, we're stealing hostages, but you get my point." Marie scratched her nape. "Best place to start would be somewhere secure. Let's check the homes first and make sure no one was threatened to harbor unwanted guests."

"Right behind…" Lambert paused a moment, then lifted his nose again. "Wait."

Marie raised a curious brow. "Another meal worthy of Arceus?"

"No." Lambert took three big whiffs of the air, analyze the mixed scents all around him, then glared. "I smell sweat."

"Sweat?"

"Fear sweat. Heavy perspiration, triggered by a sudden flux of heat in the body. Not from the cold. Indoors."

Marie glared. "You can seriously tell the difference between someone sweating normally and sweating out of fear?"

Lambert shrugged. "Well, I can't be completely certain, but I do know one thing." Lambert reached inside his bag and pulled out the hair brush they brought along. He sniffed it a couple times, then glared. "That's definitely Thales I'm smelling."

Marie flashed a toothy smirk, then pulled out her hidden dagger. "Lead the way, my good man."

"What the heck is going on in here?!"

Charlie yelped and scrambled to the far corner of the bedroom as Hawlucha and Garchomp let themselves through, marching past a petrified Thales and Saga. Charlie looked up with sweat dripping down his face, quivering as two imposing shadows casted over him with matching, piercing glares.

"What's a kid doing in here?" Garchomp asked. "Did he break into the room?"

"Is he a Forester?" Hawlucha wondered aloud. "Did they seriously send a kid to spy on us?"

"That's ridiculous! This little squirt doesn't look anything like a Forester!"

"Looks can be deceiving, you fool." Hawlucha grabbed Charlie by the tunic and lifted him to meet his cowering stare. "Where's your backup? Did you come here alone?"

Charlie was stunned silent, unable to make a sound beyond the incomprehensible clicking of his voice. He couldn't move, much less fight back for as ineffective as it would be. The daunting glare of Hawlucha shook deep to the greatest depths of the Clobbopus' soul, twisting him apart with a pressure no words could match. He was at the mercy of Hawlucha's wrath.

"Dude, seriously, I don't think he's a Forester," Garchomp objected. "Besides, I know this brat. He goes around stealing with that ragtag group of delinquent kids. He's nothing more than a common criminal, not a master thief."

Hawlucha lightened his glare, but held a tight grip on Charlie's tunic. "Even so, we can't have him blathering his mouth off. We're already on thin ice with the tavern. If anyone hears we have two Foresters locked up in here, we're either going to have a mass rescue or rivals for the bounty. Lady von Elmnou will kill us if anything happens to these two."

Garchomp nodded. "Agreed. I'll get the rope. We'll leave the brat here. Someone will find him once Lady von Elmnou's bodyguard comes back to collect their rewards."

Thales and Saga's eyes widened, with Thales breaking out in a furious sweat. Garchomp stomped past the duo as they silently collaborated their next course of attack. They were definitely much weaker than the two guards, though they had a few advantages in typing. Plus, due to Regina's meltdown earlier today, she forgot to reapply the poison that's been weakening them. Though they were still sluggish, they should have enough juice to offer some fight.

However, with the window of opportunity closing in front of them, the time for planning was thrown out in favor of the timeless classic: doing stupid shit and hoping it works.

Thales lunged at Garchomp with the grace of a sick Magikarp and bit his foot. Whimsicott weren't born with incredibly sharp teeth like most other Pokémon, as they were primarily herbivores. It didn't help that Garchomp had tough skin, making Thales' desperate attack nothing more than an unexpected nuisance.

"What the—" Garchomp lifted his leg and tried to shake Thales off. "What the hell are you doing, you idiot?!"

Saga bounced over and inhaled. "Will-O-Wisp!" She peppered the back of Garchomp's head with a flurry of dark flames.

"AH!" Garchomp swung his foot and kicked Thales into Saga, sending the duo flying across the room.

"Let me go, let me go!" Charlie yelled, fruitlessly hitting Hawlucha in the head. His fists did nothing but annoy the wrester bird.

"Cut it out, you stupid brat!" Hawlucha raised Charlie in the air and motioned to slam him to the ground.

"Gust!" Thales' horns glowed white and released a strong wind through the room.

Hawlucha braced himself as the wind slammed into his side. His claws ripped through Charlie's tunic, and the Clobbopus went sailing out of his grip, flailing and screaming.

"Psychic!" Saga's eyes glowed blue, and she caught Charlie before he hit the ground. Her hold weakened due to the lingering poison in her system, so Psychic cut out a second after activation, dropping Charlie one inch off the ground.

Charlie scrambled to his feet and raced for the door, but Garchomp blocked off his escape and let out a loud, thunderous roar that shook the room. Charlie's blood turned ice cold as he fell back on his rear, staring up at the land shark in terror.

"Gus—" Thales tried to call out, but Hawlucha lunged across the room and slammed both his and Saga's head into the wall, dazing the captured duo.

Hawlucha picked the duo up and threw them over his shoulders. "Grab the kid. We'll have to find Lady von Elmnou and relocate before her bodyguard comes back."

Garchomp nodded. "Good call." He bent down and reached for Charlie. "Let's go, you stupid brat."

Charlie's eyes widened. He tried to back away, but his arms were locked up. He could only look up and quiver as the intimidating dragon reached out for him with his pointed claw. Charlie, with tears racing, clenched his eyes shut and curled up into a ball, hiding beneath his tattered cloak.

"L…Leave me alone!"

BAM!

"AGH!"

Charlie's eyes snapped open as he heard the guttural cry of his attacker, like something socked him in the gut. However, for some reason, it sounded like Garchomp was right behind him instead. Charlie opened up his cloak a bit and saw he wasn't even in the same position anymore. He was outside of the room by the doorsill.

A hand reached down and patted his head. Charlie tensed up at first, but relaxed to the gentle, almost motherly touched that calmed his nerves. He looked up and gasped softly, facing the sweet smile of a Mawile.

"Hey. You alright, kid?"

Charlie blinked. "Wha—"

"Gah! Where did…you come from?!"

Charlie looked over his shoulder and gasped as Garchomp stumbled backward, clutching his stomach. Standing where Charlie once lay was a Grumpig in a green camo uniform, a large camper bag, and a wooden peg leg on his left side. Charlie's eyes widened before turning back to the Mawile, who wore a similar uniform.

"You're…Foresters?" Charlie whispered.

Marie bent down and smiled. "Stay right here. We'll handle this." She patted his head once last time, then stood up. She rolled her shoulders, then pulled a dagger out from behind her waist. "Lambert, let's roast these suckers."

Lambert grinned. "It's been a long time since I've had some action. Save some fun for me, love."

Marie smirked, dexterously twirling her dagger between her fingers. "I'll try my best."

Hawlucha dropped Thales and Saga and backed into a corner. "F-Foresters? Here? You've got to be kidding me. We were so careful."

Garchomp took a deep breath, then straightened up. "Who cares about that? Let's waste these losers! Giga Impact!" He stomped his foot down, then launched at Marie with a purple aura blazing from his body.

Marie raised her dagger, but remained fixed in place as Garchomp closed in on her. A shimmer of mischief twinkled in her eyes.

Lambert clapped his hands together. "Ally Switch!"

A brief flash of light shined in Garchomp's face. Suddenly, Lambert appeared in front of him and stopped him by the shoulders. Lambert dug his peg leg into the floor and pushed back on the Giga Impact. Garchomp dragged his claws through the floor and pushed against Lambert, shoving him outside the room and towards the tavern banister.

"Hey~." Garchomp felt an arm coil around his neck, and the blade of a dagger tracing under his chin. He looked through his peripherals and saw the intimidating red glow of Marie's eye. "You're cute~. Let's get physical~."

Garchomp's eyes widened as giant fangs manifested above his head like a guillotine. Lambert smirked and jumped back, causing Garchomp to stumble forward. The fangs snapped down on Garchomp and exploded with psychic energy. Lambert shielded Charlie from the blast.

The light cleared, and Garchomp collapsed to the ground in a heap of smoke, gawking as he barely clung to consciousness. The psionic fangs left behind remnants of teeth jabbed into specific parts of his body, which stung the worst out of the injuries covering his body. A concentrated attack to his weak points.

Marie sat on the dragon's back and patted his dorsal fin. "Oh, that's a shame. You didn't last as long as I hoped." She licked her lips sensually. "I wanted to have so much more fun with you, too~."

Hawlucha stood firm in the far corner of the bedroom, flummoxed to see his partner go down in one coordinated attack. He felt the pairs of eyes fall onto him, the only remaining captor left standing.

Lambert walked over Garchomp's body, then reached around into his bag. "Mind if I take this one, love?"

Marie shrugged. "Go right ahead."

"Appreciated." Lambert produced an aspear berry, spinning in on the tip of his finger. "Hopefully this doesn't end too soon."

Hawlucha bared his teeth. Two on one. I won't stand a chance. I'm better off ditching the idiot and saving my skin, but Lady von Elmnou will be disappointed if I lose her bounty. My only hope then is to finish these two with decisive blows. One hit to knock them out for good. The Mawile's intimidating, but I might stand a chance in direct combat. It's my only choice.

Hawlucha slammed his fists together and set them alight with Thunder Punch. He heralded his attack with a battle cry and charged head first toward Lambert, kicking off into a flying tackle.

Lambert smirked, then grasped the aspear berry between both hands. A white aura surrounded the berry as it rapidly shriveled up. He dropped the shriveled fruit, then inhaled deeply through his nose.

"Natural Gift."

Lambert threw his head forward and, with a crackling snort, blew a thick gust of snow from his nostrils. Hawlucha tried to punch through it, but the freezing blast of wind effortlessly overwhelmed his body and blasted him across the room, smashing him underneath the shattered window. Hawlucha bashed his head against the windowsill and fell unconscious in a pile of snow.

Lambert exhaled excess frost from his nose, then snorted in disappointment. "Darn. He went down quicker than I hoped. Should I have used a weaker element?"

Marie snickered. "Nah. He would've crumpled if you used the weakest of them all against him. You're just that strong."

Lambert chuckled and scratched his chin. "No need to butter me up, love." Lambert massaged his neck, then walked over to Thales and Saga. "Sorry to keep your two waiting. Let's get you out of those ropes."

Thales and Saga looked up at Lambert with tears in their eyes. "Thank you!"

Charlie stood up and stared blankly between Marie and Lambert, utterly enraptured by their swift takedown of the bodyguards. "Wow."

Marie looked back at Charlie and smiled. "Impressed?"

"You two were…so cool," Charlie praised in awe.

Marie chuckled. "We're filthy bandits, don't get us wrong, but it pays to use what you have to make the world a better place. Can't say I approve of you skulking around on a dangerous mission like this, but you helped us find our lost teammates. Thanks, kid."

Charlie blushed from her praise and nervously wringed his hands together. "Just…trying to help." He turned away and covered his face shyly. Marie smiled sweetly at him, then went to help Lambert untie Thales and Saga.

Regina yawned as she dragged herself back to the tavern filled with newfound content. Though the noodles she had didn't compare to Katsu's cooking, it left her feeling better than she was this morning. She was partially sobered up, too. Her body was more or less adapt to alcohol swimming through her system, even if Katsu warned her of a possible addiction from her excessive drinking. What did he know, though? Regina was the picture of stability, or at least that's what she told herself in the morning.

"Katsu should be back soon," Regina mumbled. "Better start packing so we can get back to the lodge. Sweet, sweet bounty money in my future." She laughed quietly, slipping into a mini fantasy with herself at the beach, surrounded by tough, handsome Pokémon as her servants. "That'd be nice~."

"Excuse me, miss?"

Regina stopped, then glared over her shoulder. A withered Lopunny wearing tattered clothes and the most peculiar beard approached her, brushing snow from his shoulders. Despite his appearance, Regina sensed a strong confidence in how he carried himself. He was obviously some pompous hobo thinking she'll give handouts because he's poor or something.

Regina von Elmnou would not stand for such indecency, however!

"What?" Regina asked in a raspy, harsh tone.

The Lopunny seemed to pay no mind to her tone and explained, "I'm looking for a kid. Clobbopus. Really young. Wearing tattered clothes. Cute little fellow bawling his eyes out."

Regina evened her glare. "Sir, do I look like someone who's paying attention to every damn miscreant running around this place?"

The hobo glared. "Easy there. I'm just wondering if you saw him or not."

"Well, I haven't. Happy?" Regina brushed him off and continued on her way. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be."

"Ma'am, please, I've been looking all over for him." The hobo grabbed her shoulder and stopped her. "I just want to make sure he's okay—"

"Get your filthy hands off me!" She backhanded his hand off, then jabbed him in the chest. "You dare touch me?! Do you know who I am?"

"I…honestly don't care, I just—"

"I am Regina von Elmnou, daughter of House von Elmnou! I don't have time to be looking for snotnosed brats when I have a goldmine of riches waiting for me." Regina sighed dramatically and turned away. "Honestly, I don't know why I bothering with you."

The hobo sighed. "Lady, I'm not in the mood for this."

"And you think I am? I told you, I haven't seen any brat, yet you continue to pester me."

The hobo crossed his arms and glared. "You said you're part of House von Elmnou? Wasn't there a disowned member of that house?"

"Ugh! Why does everyone know that?!" Regina pulled on her ears and growled. "You get disowned from your family one time, and suddenly everyone treats you like a loser. Well, guess what? This loser is going to become the top noble of all of Virdis while you can continue living your bumpkin life here in the sticks! You can fashion yourself up some scraps from the local rubbish bin while I dine on imported fruits and meats from across the world. So, ha!"

The hobo raised his brow, then chuckled under his breath. "You poor fool."

Regina glared. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing, madame."

Regina bared her teeth. A heat rose beneath her chest while steamed hissed through her teeth. She turned and raised her claws at the withered Lopunny. "Listen here, you sack of shi—"

Before she could finish her threat, a commotion brought her attention down the street, where villagers were gathering around the tavern she was staying at. Her ears perked up from the chatter coming from the people grouped up outside.

"What's going on over there?" Regina asked aloud.

The hobo raised one of his ears and tried to concentrate. "Hard to tell with all the snow, but something about a fight breaking out."

"A fight, huh?" Regina tapped her chin as the gears turned in her head. Though not abnormal for a fight to occur, what would spark one in the afternoon? Best case scenario, some drunkard insulted another man's wife. Worst case, someone freed her prisoners. Though, there was the possibility two idiots were fighting over the waitresses again—

"My prisoners!" Regina gasped. She nearly tripped over her cloak as she made a mad sprint toward the tavern. "My bounty! My fortune! My future hot servants/husbands! NOT MY FUTURE!"

The hobo, Roscoe Penworth, watched her flee into the crowded tavern with a perplexed look. "What the hell was that about?"

Marie sliced off Thales' restraints while Lambert ripped Saga's off. The duo stood up and embraced each other, laughing with tears in their eyes. "We're free!"

Marie patted their heads. "Let this be a lesson to you two about our curfew hours. We have those in place for a reason."

Lambert sighed. "Let's just be glad they're safe. We should start heading back to base now."

Marie glared. "Yeah, but that other bounty hunter's still roaming the forest. We need to be extra careful when we get back." She grabbed Thales and Saga's hands and dragged them out the room. "Sorry it took so long for us to find you two." Marie looked around the room and saw Saga's excessive scribbling. "Though, from the looks of things, you kept yourselves entertained."

Saga giggled. "For the most part. We had fun messing with our captor."

"Speak for yourself," Thales mumbled.

Saga glared at him. "Hey, you had fun, too."

"Well, yeah, but I've been freaking out all day. We were hours away from being shipped off to that madman."

Lambert's eyes widened, then he pulled the two out of Marie's hold and spun them around. "Wait, what's this about a madman?"

Thales gulped. "It was horrible. That mean lady who was looking after us was planning to trade us to a terrible man called The Ghost."

Marie raised her brow. "The Ghost?" She looked away and stroked her chin. "Why does that sound familiar?"

Lambert glared and grabbed Thales' shoulders. "What do you mean? Who's The Ghost?"

Thales whimpered. "A terrible figure of legend spanning over a thousand years. Legends talk of a bounty hunter who roams Virdis, hunting down targets of interest. He's said to be a phantom of Virdis' past, but no one knows anything about him but the stories told. I always assumed they were legends, but people swear on their graves that they've seen him in person. And now…now he's after us!" Thales pulled his mane around himself and trembled in a pool of sweat. "W-W-We're going to die. We're going to all die!"

"Thales!" Saga grabbed him and shook him hard. "Snap out of it! No one's going to die!"

Thales reciprocated her actions with even harder shaking. "You don't know that!"

"Both of you, cut it out!" Lambert pried the two apart, then massaged his temples. "Look, I don't know anything about some ghost, but we can discuss this after we get you two back to base." He grabbed them by the arms and pulled them out of the room.

Marie stepped aside for them while sifting through her thoughts. "The Ghost, The Ghost, The Ghost. I've definitely heard that name somewhere before."

"Um, excuse me?"

"Hmm?" Marie turned and looked down at Charlie, who fidgeted with his hands. "Something wrong?"

"I'm…sorry for causing trouble." Charlie sniffled and wiped his eyes. "I was just trying to be helpful."

Marie smiled, then bent down. She tilted his head up and said, "You did help us find our friends, even if by accident. So, for what it's worth, you did alright. Just try not to do something like this again." She winked. "Besides, I'm sure opportunity will come around where you can help everyone. It's what I would do."

Charlie stared at her with hopeful eyes. "Really?"

Marie nodded. "Absolutely."

Charlie blinked, then wiped his eyes until they were dry, or dry enough. He raised his fists and nodded firmly. "I'll help as many people as I can."

Marie giggled. "That's the spirit." She stood up and stretched out her weak leg. "Now, you run along while I—"

"AAHH!"

Marie was caught off guard by Charlie's sudden squeak and saw him staring past her. She whipped her head around and nearly missed a pair of claws flying at her face. Instinct kicked in, and Marie bent backwards as the claws sailed over her face. She tripped over her weak leg and landed next to Charlie, taking him to the floor, too.

Marie rolled onto her stomach and gasped as a Zangoose flew over. The Zangoose dug her claws into the floor and spun herself to a stop before snarling at Marie.

"The mean old lady!" Charlie gasped.

Regina growled with flames shooting through her teeth. "I'm in my thirties, you little—" She shook her head and stood up. "Forget that! Hand over my prisoners, now!"

Marie picked herself and Charlie up, then looked back to see Lambert and the others were at the stairs, stunned by the surprise attack. Marie kept Charlie close and backed away toward the stairs while Regina advanced at the same pace, dragging her claws across the wall.

"I didn't put up with a week of complaining, arguing, and misbehaving to let my only chance at getting my fortune back slip through my claws." Regina reached out to them. "You either hand over those two Foresters, or I'm cashing all four of you in."

Marie glared. "You wouldn't dare fight us in the presence of a child, would you?" She carefully pushed Charlie behind her.

Regina reached inside her cloak and pulled out a gourd. "Let me answer that with another question. How far will you go to keep him safe?" She leaned her head back and guzzled down the gourd's contents.

Lambert twitched his nose, sensing a powerful scent coming from inside the gourd. "That smells like…" He gasped and pushed Thales and Saga down. "Marie, hit the deck!"

"Flamethrower!"

Marie grabbed Charlie and threw herself back into the bedroom before Regina spewed a wall of flames from her mouth. The flames had a dark, pink tinge in color mixed with the harsh reds. Lambert threw himself down the stairs with Thales and Saga hooked around his arms, barely stepping out of the Flamethrower's range.

The flames instantly incinerated the banister and burned through the wooden flooring and walls. The harsh smell of smoke filled the air, covering the entire second floor in black clouds. Patrons on the first floor rushed out of their seats and escaped the tavern as flames rained down on tables. A few unfortunate souls were sprayed in flames that clung to their clothes and skin. They practically leapt out of the tavern and into the snow.

Lambert and Thales were nearly rained on by the flames, but Saga stood guard and absorbed the flames with her Flash Fire ability.

Regina huffed the last of her flames, then put her gourd away. "I want my bounty!" She jumped down to the first floor and rushed at Thales and Saga.

The duo hugged each other and screamed, but Lambert jumped in front of them and caught Regina by the shoulders. "Back off, lady!"

Regina snarled. "Don't be jealous. You're next!" She raised her claws as they glowed purple. "Night Slash!"

Lambert backed off and crossed his arms as Regina slashed into him. Lambert flew back into the bar counter and smashed into the corner, dropping onto his rear. He winced, but not from the Night Slash. In fact, though he felt the elemental damage to his body, his skin was barely scuffed. "What the…"

Regina raised her claws again. "Don't make me take this seriously."

Lambert pushed himself up and dusted his arms off. "That didn't hurt nearly as bad as I thought. It's almost like her claws are…" His eyes widened in realization. "Your claws are dull."

Regina scoffed. "My, aren't you perceptive."

Lambert massaged his neck. "That's right. Women in noble houses typically file their claws to make them less sharp."

"And I don't intend to break tradition, because I am still a noblewoman. Forever and now!" Regina activated Night Slash again. "But I don't need sharp claws to take you out!" She rushed at Lambert and swiped at him.

Lambert jumped over the counter as Regina tore out a chunk in one swipe. She swiped furiously as Lambert danced across the counter. Tankards and glasses were torn asunder in Regina's wild fury of slashes, tearing apart all in her way.

"Calm Mind." Lambert jumped over Regina's head, performing a meditative stance as he flew through the air. He landed on a table, then pulled out some berries from his bag. "Lady, my ladle can cut better than your claws. Why don't you stop playing pretend as a bounty hunter and get a job?"

Regina turned and snarled at him. "I'd sooner die! Facade!" She wrapped herself in a yellow aura, then lunged at Lambert.

Marie coughed and waved away the smoke as it filled the room. She pulled Charlie over to the broken window, keeping his face covered with a rag, then lifted him up.

"Get to safety, now," Marie ordered. She set Charlie outside and onto his makeshift tower of junk used to get to the second floor.

"What about you?" Charlie asked worriedly.

Marie winked. "Relax. I do this all the time." She turned and raced out of the room.

Charlie hung by the window, watching the Mawile disappear into the smoke with a concerned look.

"Hold! Still!" Regina screamed, smashing through everything in her way. Even for a noblewoman with virtually zero combat experience, she was smashing through tables and chairs like paper. Lambert bounced around the room avoiding her volatile assault.

Man, this lady's crazy. Lambert landed on the floor, then popped a persim berry into his mouth. "Let's try this!" Lambert pressed his hands together, then inhaled deeply. "Elemental Release: Tremor!"

Lambert dug deep into the very depths of his stomachs, then unleashed a loud, rumbling Belch attack that bordered on boorish. The floor split open and crumbled in wake of his mighty burp with the force of a devastating shockwave. Regina, stunned and disgusted by Lambert's uncouth attack, was blasted backward by the shockwave and exploding floor. She slammed through a burning wall from her earlier Flamethrower.

Lambert let out a deep sigh, then pounded his chest. "Phew. That one felt good." He glared at Thales and Saga, who continued hugging each other and shivering in the corner. "You two! Outside! Now!"

"Y-Yes, sir!" Thales and Saga picked themselves up and raced toward the exit.

"Stay out of sight until we find you!" Lambert added before they left earshot. He sighed, then glared back at the wall as Regina pulled herself out.

Regina scowled, then lifted her tattered cloak up. "Do you know how expensive purple is around these parts?! You ruined my cloak!"

Lambert deadpanned. "Lady, are you sure you're a bounty hunter—"

"Oh, shut up!" Regina threw her cloak off and rushed him on all fours. "I'm going to wring your neck!"

Lambert reached into his bag for another berry.

"Oh, hell no to that! Embargo!" Regina stopped and thrusted her arms out. Shadows chains made from aura fired from her arms and struck Lambert. Chain tattoos spread over his body, then emitted a quick shock to his system, forcing him to drop his berries.

Lambert's eyes widened. "Oh crap!"

Regina smirked. "You rely on items for that little trick of yours. Ha! You're so pathetic! All of you are, relying on weapons!"

"You literally used a potion to increase your Flamethrower, you hypocrite!" Lambert snapped.

"Yes, but I can shut you idiots down!" Regina activated Night Slash. "To get by in this world, you need to cheat and steal until you've reached the top. My stupid family thought they can outcon me. Oh, just wait until I ruin their lives, too! Let's see how they like it when they wallow in the dirt!"

Lambert's eyes widened. "Do you, like, need a moment to sit down or something? You sound like you have a lot of baggage to get off your chest—"

"No one asked you!" Regina lunged and threw her claws at him.

"Psychic Fangs!"

A giant pair of teal-colored fangs spawned over Regina and bit down on her arms, stopping her short of hitting Lambert. Regina struggled to get her hands loose, then growled over her shoulder as Marie approached them. Psychic energy spilled from her hair, connecting to the Psychic Fangs.

"Yeesh, and here I thought you were some drunk noblewoman. I should feel bad for you, but you did kidnap two of our underlings." Marie flashed her dagger. "I can't overlook that."

Regina bared her teeth. "Of course you two are Foresters. Of freakin' course! People act like they know everything, like they can help me, but all they see is some pathetic noblewoman who needs to be put in her place! I'm sick and tired of everyone treating me like a joke!"

"Look, just calm down and—"

"You calm down!" Regina blew Flamethrower at Marie, which the latter dodged. The Psychic Fangs faded, to which Regina turned her Flamethrower onto Lambert. He dodged just before Regina turned the table behind him into firewood. "I want my money!"

Marie huffed, then flipped her dagger into a reverse grip. "[Crazy woman.]" She balanced on her good leg, then lunged at Regina with the grace of an Emolga in flight.

Regina reared his fist back and activated Facade. "I'll crush you!"

Lambert ran around Regina while her back was turned and lunged at her. With a smirk, he clapped his hands together. "Ally Switch."

Lambert and Marie instantly switched places, with Lambert blocking Regina's punch. In the split second of confusion, Marie punched the back of Regina's head and toppled her forward.

Regina gawked as her vision turned fuzzy. Wha…?

Lambert clapped his hands again, switching places with Marie who slashed Regina across the face. Regina doubled back as blood sprayed from her cheek, then threw a Night Slash at Marie. Marie dodged and threw a knife at Regina's shoulder. Regina sidestepped it, only to get kneed in the head by Lambert.

Regina snarled and swiped at Lambert's head. Lambert swapped places with Marie again, and Regina's fist sailed over Marie's head a few inches too high. Marie grabbed Regina's wrist and threw her across the bar, smashing her through a table.

Marie spun her dagger between her fingers, then asked smugly, "Are you finished with your tantrum?"

Regina pulled herself out of the wreckage, growling and fuming red. "Stop treating me like a joke! I'm sick of it!" She raised her claws, then swung them around with dance-like movements. "Swords Dance." Light shimmered around her body, channeling into a thin aura around her claws. "Night Slash!" Her Night Slash elongated her claws a bit longer, then she raced toward Lambert and Marie with murder in her eyes.

"Payback." Marie transferred energy through her dagger and turned the blade black. She swung and stopped Regina's attack in its tracks. The ruined floorboards caused Marie to sink down to the dirt. She put all her weight into her good leg and pushed back on Regina, who kept pushing harder and harder.

Damn, she's strong, Marie thought with a grunt. What the hell's with her strength? She's tougher than she looks.

"Night Slash! Night Slash! Night Slash!" Regina roared and bombarded on Marie with a flurry of slash attacks. Marie adeptly deflected them with her dagger, though Regina didn't give her any room to escape. It was an endless flurry fueled by drunken rage.

Lambert charged full speed into Regina and threw his whole weight into her, checking her through a couple smashed tables and chairs. "I can still fight back, lady!"

"Get off!" Regina kicked Lambert off, then flew at him with Night Slash.

Lambert used Ally Switch again and switched places with Regina instead, causing Regina to fly into the bar counter. Regina didn't give up, however and flipped over the counter before she slammed into it. She glared at the rack of alcohol behind her, then swiped several bottles off.

Marie pulled herself out of her hole, then asked, "What is she doing?"

Regina smashed up the bottle necks, then guzzled down five whole bottles of liquor. Much of it spilled off her face and down her body, but she paid no mind. Once emptied, she tossed the bottles aside and grabbed more.

"I'm not going to let a bunch of no named thieves get away with my bounty! No one, and I mean no one, will stop me from getting my fortune!"

Marie and Lambert's eyes widened, spotting the purple glow in Regina's eyes. The veins in her arms started to glow purple, making them look well-define and like her arm was covered in cracks.

"Oh, don't tell me…" Lambert mumbled.

Marie deadpanned. "The alcoholic Zangoose has Toxic Boost."

Regina broke open the other bottles and sprayed alcohol into the air. She fired off Flamethrower and sent down a rain of flame onto the tavern. Marie and Lambert out of the flames and watched them spread through the rest of the bar.

"Let's burn, baby!" Regina lunged through the flames, ignoring the heat licking her fur, and swung Night Slash with a cloak of flames around her claws.

Marie pushed Lambert away, then blocked Regina's Night Slash. The force was stronger with the added boosts and sent the lightweight Mawile flying across the tavern. She crashed next to the bat wing doors and collapsed onto burnt debris.

Lambert kicked up tables to shield Regina's attacks, but his defenses shattered with each blow. He kicked up a discarded tankard and nailed Regina in the face. Regina doubled back and covered her nose, snarling through her hands. Lambert threw himself at her and checked her in the gut. They tumbled across the floor, with Lambert kicking her into the upper level's support beams.

Regina clung to the beam, then dug her claws through. With one swift slice, she ripped the support beam in two and sent the unstable upper floor crashing down onto the bar. Lambert ran to the far side of the tavern and avoided the avalanche of wood.

"Facade!" Regina leapt off the avalanche and came down on Lambert with two fists, bashing down on his head.

Lambert snorted roughly before throwing Regina off. He wiped his brow, then raised his fists to fight back. He paused as the chain markings on his body started to recede and fade. "The Embargo's wearing off." He grinned and reached around into his bag.

Regina pushed herself up, then raised her arms. "Oh no you don't! Embar—"

"Pain Split!" Marie tackled Regina in the side, then raised her dagger as black and red flame spewed from the blade. The flames traveled up Marie's arm and engulfed her. Ignoring the pain, she slashed through Regina and engulfed her in the same flames.

Regina threw Marie off and screamed as she tried to pat out the flames. Marie's dagger extinguished itself, then Marie absorbed the flames through her hair. She breathed in as she felt her stamina return, while Regina felt herself being drained.

"It pays to have weaker constitution," Marie taunted. "I get more back compared to you, even if we are even."

Regina finally patted the flames off, then charged at Marie. "Stop messing with me!"

"Ally Switch!"

The swap happened again, and Regina took a sudden right hook to the face from Lambert. Marie jumped off Lambert's shoulders and elbowed Regina in the neck. Regina, in her blind fury, tried to lacerate them with her wild Night Slash attacks. Lambert continuously used Ally Switch on himself and Marie to dodge her attacks.

I can't keep rhythm with them! Regina thought. Every time they switch, I have a half a second to react before they attack. These stupid kids won't stop messing with me! AGGGGH!

Lambert switched again while Marie was airborne, then drove his peg leg down on Regina's back. He kicked off her like a springboard, landed, then pulled out a jaboca berry. "Marie, stand back!" Lambert threw the berry into his mouth, then pressed his hands together. "Elemental Release—"

"Crush Claw!" Regina lunged at Lambert, her claws sparking and glowing blue, but Marie caught her with her Psychic Fangs, trapping her in place. "No!"

"Let a rip, Lam!" Marie called out.

Lambert puffed out his chest, feeling the pit of his stomach rumble with power, then let out a might Belch across the tavern. Unlike his previous attack, a shockwave made up and shaped in draconian energy fired from his mouth, baring its fangs at the helpless Zangoose.

"Elemental Release: Draco!"

Roscoe approached the tavern and stood in the back of the crowd, watching as the smoke rose through the cracks in the walls. He couldn't see much from where he was, but he heard the fighting going on inside. He hazarded a guess that the crazy Zangoose he was talking to got herself into a scuffle.

Roscoe shook his head. "People these days will do anything to get into a brawl." He adjusted his fake beard and started on his way.

He stopped as an explosion went off inside the tavern. A shockwave burst through the walls and threw the front crowd to the ground. Windows shattered and the batwing doors went flying off their hinges, shattering into the building across the street.

Roscoe bared his teeth. "What the hell's going on in there?"

"Hey, you!" Roscoe turned and saw the Golduck bartender approaching him. "Where's your kid at?"

"My kid? Charlie?" Roscoe shook his head. "He's not my—never mind that. I haven't seen him. I'm actually looking for him."

Golduck flinched. "Oh no."

Roscoe glared. "What?"

"He was at the tavern not too long ago. I saw him run off before this started up, but I don't see him anywhere. I'm worried he might still be in the tavern."

Roscoe's eyes widened. "Charlie's might be inside there?!" He whipped his head back at the tavern as the rumbling continued to intensify. "Oh no…"

Regina took the full frontal blast of Lambert's attack and endured it to the best of her ability. With the use of Facade, she pulled herself out of Marie's Psychic Fangs and punched into the Elemental Release: Draco, offsetting the power difference just enough that the force slamming into her was softened. Marie avoided the shockwave and dove for cover as it spread out across the tavern.

The entire upper half of the tavern collapsed over them, burning away from lingering flames and the collective damage caused by their attacks. A building barely stood above them, now resembling a frail husk standing on stilts. The roof was minutes away from caving in and crushing them all.

Regina panted heavily as smoke drifted off her body. Her outstretched arms twitched with light burns to her fur, though her sleeves were turn to ash. A permanent scowl persisted on her face.

Lambert relaxed himself and took a breath. Damn, this chick is really tough. He looked around and took note of the damage. Jason's going to hand out lectures once we report about this.

Regina bared her teeth and snarled. "I've about had it with you two." Regina reached around her waist and grabbed something hooked to the back. "I wanted to take you in alive, but it's obvious I need to be more forceful here."

Regina slipped on a pair of battle claws over her own. Gauntlets strapped to her hands with twin, retractable blades overlapping her own. She sharpened them against each other, throwing sparks in the air, then struck a dynamic pose with the blades pointed toward Lambert.

"Let's get rid of your other limbs, shall we?" Regina raced forward on all fours, then pounced at Lambert.

"Trick Switch!" Lambert clapped his hands and swapped places with a bar stool, which Regina tore to pieces. Lambert hopped over the counter and hid behind it alongside Marie. "This chick won't quit."

Marie glared. "Agreed, but we can't waste our time fighting her. We need to escape with Thales and Saga."

"But she's not going to give us any time to escape, not without losing an arm."

Marie huffed. "If I have to, I can administer more lethal damage to her."

Lambert glared at her. "Marie, you know Jason will throw a fit if you do that."

"Well, we need something to buy us some time." Marie held up her dagger. "I'm just saying, one slice to the Achilles and—"

Four blades pierced through the counter, right between the two. Marie and Lambert broke apart as Regina pulled her claws and ripped the bar counter in two. Her Toxic Boost continued spreading through her arms, increasing her strength further.

"What was that about killing me?!" Regina snapped, going for Marie this time.

Marie caught one set of claws between her dagger and stopped the other by biting down with her hair. Regina's strength vastly outmatched Marie's, placing the Mawile into an endurance test as Regina pushed down. The blades were inches from cutting Marie's face and chest.

"Ally Switch!"

Marie swapped places with Lambert, who then kicked Regina in the stomach before she could react. Marie rushed at Regina with her back turned and leapt onto her neck. Marie hooked her arms around Regina and placed her into a headlock, pressing her arms onto the Zangoose's throat.

"GAH!" Regina stumbled backward and shook violently to get Marie off, but the Mawile clung on hard. She threw her back into the liquor rack, smashing Marie with broken glass and liquor, but Marie held on strong and squeezed harder onto Regina's throat.

Her panicked response rapidly depleted her time for consciousness. Her vision became spotted, then blurred as everything turned to grayscale. She felt her mind fading from oxygen deprivation. Desperate gasps for air squeaked like dying breaths. Each attempt to smash Marie off her back became slower and more lethargic until she didn't have the strength to stand.

What's…with this Mawile? Regina thought through her hazy mind. This feels like…she's done this before.

Marie could see the light fading from Regina's eyes. A few more seconds of this, and she and Lambert will have their opportunity to flee uninterrupted. She couldn't help the sinister red glow in her left eye, almost like it was an instinctual response.

"Sweet dreams, my dear~," Marie purred.

"AAAHHH!"

Marie's eyes widened, breaking from her mini trance, and turned her attention to the second level. She gasped, peering through the thick veil of smoke, and saw Charlie standing a barely stable plank of wood withered by the flames.

"Kid?!" Marie gasped. "What are you still doing here?! I told you to—"

Marie mistakenly loosened her chokehold on Regina. Fresh air flooded Regina's lungs and sparked a new wave of adrenaline through her body. With sharp reflexes, she grabbed Marie's arms and flung her off. Marie smashed through several broken tables and crashed into the far wall.

"Marie!" Lambert called out.

"S-Save the kid!" Marie choked out mid-breath.

Before Lambert could even look up at Charlie, Regina tackled Lambert through the counter with Facade activated. The added boosts to her attack nearly knocked Lambert out on the spot, but he held on strong and rolled out of a blade swipe that tore open the floor.

"Time out!" Lambert yelled. "There's a kid up there!"

"Like I'm falling for that!" Regina growled. "Swords Dance and Night Slash!" She waved her arms, sent power through her battle claws, and lunged at Lambert again.

Lambert ducked her slash and watched it shred through the remaining support beam holding up the upper floor, the one that held up the plank Charlie was marooned on.

"Help! Help me!" Charlie squealed as the platform teetered.

Marie picked herself up and tried to get her bearings in order, then saw the batwing doors swing open. A Lopunny hobo rushed in, covering his mouth.

"Charlie?!" he called out.

"Charlie?" Marie mumbled. Her eyes widened. "The kid!"

Roscoe looked down at her with wide eyes. "Wait, you're a—"

Marie cut him off and pointed at the second floor. "The Clobbopus! He's up there!"

Roscoe whipped his head towards the crumbling platform and saw Charlie hanging on desperately. "Stupid kid!" Roscoe bolted across the room, ignoring the smoke and flames.

Regina flailed her claws at the jumpy Lambert, tearing up everything around her, but paused just as Roscoe ran into the flames. "Wait, you're the hobo—" Lambert struck her in the chin with his knee while she was distracted, knocking her into the wall.

"Lambert!" Marie called out. "Let's get out of here, now!"

Lambert nodded. "Right!" He turned and fled for the exit.

Regina picked herself up and massaged her jaw before growling, "Hey!" She stumbled into a run after the two thieves.

Roscoe jumped over Regina as she ran by, then looked up at the cowering Charlie. "Charlie!" Roscoe called up.

Charlie peered down from the flaming platform. "M-Mr. Fletcher!"

"What are you doing in here?!"

"I-I just wanted to—"

"You know what, forget it!" Roscoe squatted down, then used Bounce to jump up to Charlie's level. He landed on the platform and scooped up the Clobbopus. "We're getting you out of here."

"B-But the others! They need help, too!"

"The others?" Roscoe turned to the nearby bedroom and saw the unconscious Garchomp and Hawlucha in the flames. "What the heck—"

"Mr. Fletcher!" Charlie pleaded. "They need help!"

"Kid, I need to get you out of here!"

Charlie shook his head. "They're really mean, but that doesn't mean they should be buried alive!"

"I—" Roscoe adjusted himself as the platform crumbled under his feet. He looked between the unconscious goons and the exit while the flames and smoke continued to build up. He wanted to just leave and not look back, but the pleading look in Charlie's eyes made him reluctant.

"Please!" Charlie yelled, pounding his fists against Roscoe's chest.

"I…" Roscoe gritted his teeth, then growled. "Oh, for the love of—" He jumped into the bedroom just before the platform collapsed into the fire.

Marie and Lambert threw themselves out of the flaming tavern and rolled into the snow, startling the dense crowd. A path parted for the thieves to give them space as they coughed and cleared their lungs. "Oh, J-Jason's going to throw a fit over this," Marie coughed.

Lambert pounded his chest, blowing smoke from his nostrils, then helped Marie up. "He can shout all he wants later. I want to get out of here."

"Marie! Lambert!" They looked up and saw Thales and Saga pushing through the crowd to join their side. Saga exclaimed, "Are you two okay?"

Marie smirked. "What, this? Nah, this is nothing. You should've seen me in my prime. I was—"

"FORESTERS!"

The thieves turned and gasped as Regina lunged out of the flaming tavern and landed in the snow. The flames flickering off her fur made her look like a demonic beast for a brief moment.

Right as she jumped out of the tavern, the last of its support wilted in the flames. With a creaking groan and crackling of flames, the building came toppling down on itself. A mass of smoke and burning wood piling on top of each other, scattering embers in the air as the street became alight with the harsh orange glow of heat.

"My tavern!" Golduck cried.

"Oh, suck it up!" Regina snapped before turning her sights on the Foresters. "I've had about enough with you four. I'm going to tear you all limb from limb if it's the last thing I do!"

Marie and Lambert stood guard of Thales and Saga and backed away with them as Regina advanced on them, brandishing her bladed gauntlets at them. A sinister Night Slash crackled through the blades, enhancing their sharpness with an eerie sheen. Fury and bloodlust burned inside of Regina's eyes with intensity surpassing the burning wreckage behind her. All that mattered to her was her bounty.

Her glory. Her fortune. Her status.

Everything that mattered to her.

Everything to keep her from being seen as useless.

Everything she needed to live!

Right as she readied herself for the attack, a hole burst open in the flaming wreckage. The crowd gasped, their alarm drawing Regina's attention away from the Foresters to see some moving underneath the flames.

From the flames, Roscoe pushed away the flaming debris while draped in a soaked blanket. His fake beard was burned off his face, and his clothes were tattered with burns and soot. He looked weary, but pushed through and knocked the debris away to make room for his escape.

He didn't travel alone under the security of the wet blanket. He held a Hawlucha under one arm and dragged a Garchomp over his shoulder with strength unseen by most Lopunny. Charlie clung to Roscoe's spare shoulder, keeping his head buried in the safety of the rabbit's fluffy ear.

"Someone…help me," Roscoe growled.

Members of the crowd immediately went to Roscoe's aid and relieved him of his burdens. The crowd safely pulled the Hawlucha and Garchomp into the snow and lay them down. Roscoe picked Charlie off his shoulder and set him on the ground, then took a moment to catch his breath.

Marie relaxed her shoulders and smiled in relief. "The kid got out alright. Thank goodness—WAH!" Lambert grabbed her arm and pulled her away with Thales and Saga locked under his other arm.

"Time to bail!" Lambert yelled, sprinting as fast as his legs allowed.

Regina snapped out of her daze and gasped as the Foresters fled the scene. "Hey, wait a minute! Give me back my—" Just as she started to chase after them, something sopping wet nailed her in the back and knocked her down into the snow. It was a soaking wet blanket.

"Hey, you!"

Regina pulled the blanket off herself and tossed it aside. Sitting in the snow, she glared up as Roscoe marched up to her, hands tucked beneath his charred cloak. However, as he stepped away from the intense glow of the flames, Regina saw past where a fake beard once was. She squinted as she tried to place the face.

"Why do you look so…familiar?" Regina mumbled. Regina looked to the crowd and noted their startled expressions, all pointing at the Lopunny and whispering amongst themselves. She glared, then raised a quizzical brow at the man she assumed to be a hobo.

"You have a lot to answer for, madame," he stated coldly.

Regina narrowed her eyes, then peered through the rabbit's cloak. She noticed the twin rapiers attached to his waist and their ornamental hilts. Blades far too expensive and regal to be owned by some common street rat. Unlike before, he also spoke with a much more commanding tone of voice, brimming with the confidence of a natural born leader.

It finally clicked who was standing over her, and she was at a loss for words.

"You're…King Penworth?!"