The long and arduous journey came to its end as Valentine and Fabrice's teams road up to the base. Fabrice and Klaus were occupied in a small wagon after Valentine went ahead and explained what happened to the higher ups. Godfrey towed them and the others along before reaching below the base, where the elevator prepped for their arrival.

After Godfrey loaded them on, he stepped off and let the elevator lift the team through the leaves. Melissa stood over the edge of the wagon, smiling as the familiar scents of the fort came back to her. She took a big whiff of the air and sighed.

"It is good to be home," she said.

Klaus leaned his head over and smirked sleepily. "Home?"

Melissa chuckled. "Yeah. It is home."

"Heh. That's good."

The elevator came to a stop after reaching the platform. Everyone hopped off, with Melissa and Sid staying back to help Klaus and Fabrice to their feet. As Melissa helped Klaus out of the wagon, she spotted Marie and Pandora running up to greet her.

"Mels!" they cheered, throwing themselves at the Buneary and hugging her, bringing Klaus into the group hug, too.

Melissa smiled and hugged them back. "Ooh! I missed you two so much!" She nuzzled their faces. "You have no idea what my trip has been like."

Pandora pulled away and laughed. "Oh, we'll have plenty of time to catch up tonight, but you look like you could use a lie down."

Melissa huffed with a tired smile. "Tell me about it." She shooed them off and readjusted her hold over Klaus. "You good?"

Klaus chuckled. "I'll live."

Marie frowned. "What happened to you? You look sicker than normal, Klaus."

"A brush with the deadliest allergy, you could say: death itself." Klaus shook his head. "Melissa can explain it for me."

Ragger pulled his bags off the wagon while the twins helped JoJo carry her burlap sack of rock off. He snickered as he watched them dance around, trying to keep the bag stable. "You three got this!"

"Oh hush!" JoJo snapped. "Alright, you two! We'll have to shuffle on over to Pandora's hut, so hop to it."

The twins groaned, but nodded. "Yes, ma'am." They shuffled their feet along and hauled the bag away. Ragger just laughed and slung his bag over his shoulder.

"Well, sounds to me you all had fun." Ragger turned and saw Ursula hobbling over, accompanied by Valentine. Ragger immediately noticed that the Toxicroak was on crutches and had a cast around her left leg. Ursula smirked. "Valentine told me you got into a spot of trouble, Scales."

Ragger scoffed and turned away. "You say that like it's a bad thing. And what about you? Training accident?"

Ursula sighed. "An accident of sorts, you could say. I rather not talk about it."

Valentine nodded. "I was just telling Ursula about how you faired in your battle with Casimir, and she was thoroughly impressed with the account you told me."

Ragger smirked. "That so? Eh, it was nothing. Just your classic dealing of fisticuffs and the like. The most fun I've ever had."

Ursula smiled. "So I've heard. I was actually wondering if you would like to spar with me sometime, Ragger. Well, after my leg heals, of course." She sighed and glared off to the side. "My failure is what done this injury, and I need all the help I can get. I figured someone with your brutish strength could lend a hand."

Ragger scratched his chin. "Well, that's a surprise. My own superior is asking me for help." He closed his eyes and laughed through his toothy grin. "How can I refuse? Especially with a lady as tough as you!"

Ursula nodded. "I look forward to it, then. Thank you, Rag—"

"SUGAR BEAR!"

Everyone nearly jumped out of their skin as a frantic Glaceon sped past them and darted for Fabrice, pushing Sid away. Fabrice fell on his back and stared wide-eyed at his girlfriend as she hugged him tightly.

"My little sugar bear, what happened to you?!" Enora cried, burying her teary eyes into his chest. "V-Valentine told me what happened, and…and…and…" Enora wailed with tears and nuzzled hard into the crook of the Marshtomp's neck. "My poor, poor hunky mudfish!"

Melissa, Marie, and Pandora stared wide-eyed at the wailing Glaceon while Klaus shot a deadpan glare. "…Yeah Enora, I'm alive, too. Thanks for asking!" Melissa laughed awkwardly and patted his head.

"Ow," Sid finally let out before picking herself up. "My own fault for not seeing this coming." She suddenly shot a glare at her bucket, which was sitting on the wagon's edge. "Why didn't you warn me?"

…

"What do you mean because it was funny?!"

Fabrice finally pried his girlfriend off and sat up, offering her a warm smile. "Sweetie, I'm fine, don't worry. You should be thanking Melissa, actually." He smiled at the Buneary. "She kept Klaus and me alive just long enough to find help."

"Sh-She did?" Enora sniffled, looked up at Melissa with tears running down her face, then bolted straight for her. "MELISSA!"

"AH!" Melissa accidentally dropped Klaus before being engulfed in a tight hug from Enora. "D-Dying!"

"Thank you for saving my sweetie pie! THANK YOU!" Enora wailed.

"Ahem!" Klaus huffed.

"…And for saving Klaus, too," Enora added with an apologetic smile. Klaus rolled his eyes as Marie helped him up, flashing Enora a smirk.

Fabrice carefully sat up and pulled his bag off. "I'm glad we made it, too, because I wouldn't have been able to give you your present."

Enora let go of Melissa, who gasped in relief, and turned to the Marshtomp in surprise. "A present? For me?"

Fabrice fished through his bag, pushing aside the myriad of junk deep below, until his hands found a bundle of fabric at the bottom. He smiled and lifted out in his palms. Enora took it in her paws and unwrapped the cloth. She gasped and covered her mouth as the cloth folded away to reveal the mini statue underneath. A tiny, stone gray statue with tiny, cute versions of Fabrice and Enora leaning together, hand in paw.

"Surprise," Fabrice said with a weak smile.

"I…I…" Enora cried and threw herself into Fabrice's arms. "I love it! I love it so much!" Fabrice patted her back and let her cry into his shoulder.

"Aww!" Melissa, Pandora, and Marie gushed.

Klaus deadpanned at the couple. That woman is emotionally unstable, I swear.

"Alright, alright, that's enough fussing for one day."

The fanfare died down as Jason approached the group. Everyone scrambled to their feet and saluted him, though Fabrice nearly fell over from standing up too fast. Enora caught him in her forelegs.

"At ease, all of you," Jason said. He crossed his arms and scanned them. "Looks like Valentine wasn't kidding in his brief report. You all look like you've seen the underside of Hell."

Melissa laughed awkwardly. "More or less."

Ragger crossed his arms and huffed. "Could've been worse."

Jason closed his eyes and nodded. "My apologies for any grievances any of you encountered in your outings. We take the necessary precautions to avoid danger, but not always with complete certainty." He glared at Valentine, Sid, and Fabrice. "I will need reports on what happened during your missions."

Valentine and Sid saluted him. "Sir, yes sir!"

Fabrice weakly raised his arm. "Yes sir…"

Jason shook his head. "First things first. Enora, Ragger, you two take Fabrice and Klaus over to Shade for a checkup. You two, brief him on anything you can about what happened when Grim attacked you. I don't want his body count to be plagued with Foresters, and any precaution against him is needed."

Klaus nodded. "Aye, sir."

Jason turned to Enora. "When Shade gives the okay, escort Fabrice to my hut for the heist evaluation." Enora nodded, then walked Fabrice away with Ragger and Klaus. He sighed and pinched between his eyes. "Grim Deadlock. I'd had hope to avoid conflict with him…"

Melissa approached Jason. "I…did not know much about the world outside of my kingdom. To see the reaper with my own eyes…" She gulped. "It concerns me he is in the same league as you."

Jason frowned. "I'm terribly sorry you had to experience that for yourself, Melissa. If you have any reservations about going back to the capital, we could always have you take your test in another kingdom."

Melissa breathed out through her nose and shook her head. "No. I studied too much to back out now." She raised her fists and smiled. "I worked really hard for this, and I do not want to backtrack. I will just…have to avoid going out at night." She giggled nervously.

Jason sighed. "If that is what you wish." He shook his head and glared at her. "Rest assured, I'll be giving you and the others the next few days to recuperate. No mandatory chores or training."

Melissa smiled. "Oh? Thank you, sir."

"I'll call you to my hut later when I've gone over the details in your proposal." He nodded his head to the side and said, "Get going." Melissa saluted and hopped off with Marie and Pandora in tow, giggling amongst themselves. Jason sighed to himself. "It's just one bad thing after another."

"Um…" Jason turned to Valentine and Sid, who awkwardly shifted in place. His stern glare broke through Sid's silence as she cradled Rusty tightly in her arms. "I…see Valentine neglected to mention one other thing when he gave his report."

Jason's glare dipped deeper. "It's about your search for the Dukes, isn't it?"

Valentine sighed, then nodded solemnly. "Something…happened, and the situation's much worse than we anticipated."

Jason curled his claws into his sleeve, sensing a horrible aura in the Spinda's tone. "My office. Now."

The sun began its descent below the horizon, bathing the sky in a dark amber glow. Most Foresters would preoccupy themselves with a hearty dinner at the mess hall, but Melissa and her roommates opted to eat in for the occasion, away from the hustle and bustle of the mess hall.

They sat on the floor with a tray of tea and biscuits and chatted the day away. Melissa drifted off a bit as Pandora recounted her time with her students and took in the sight of the hut's interior. To imagine she resented being in such a dirty place upon her initial arrival, but now she development a familial fondness to the natural setting. Unlike her muddy quarters for the last couple weeks, she felt at home again. She felt relaxed for once.

"…And then one of the sprockets just went flying out and nearly punched a hole in my face!" Pandora exclaimed. "Can you believe it?!"

Melissa snapped out of her daze and yelped, "Uh, what?"

"Exactly what I said!" Pandora groaned and slapped herself. "What kind of evil minion attempts to assassinate their supreme ruler? It's ridiculous! I should've sent him to the gallows!"

Marie laughed. "Pan, I think you're overexaggerating the danger you were in."

"And what makes you say that?"

"For one, Lucient told me what really happened, and the worst it did was bounced off your head like a pebble. And two, it was a tiny catapult."

"A remote control catapult," Pandora corrected.

Melissa gasped. "A catapult that can be operated remotely? Is that even possible?"

"Oh, of course not, that's just silly. You can't remotely control objects…yet," she added. "Not until I work out the science, at least. Still, how dare he think he could one up his supreme leader?!"

Marie shook her head and smirked. "Annnnd, now you see how most of my week has been."

Melissa giggled. "I missed you girls so much." She sipped her tea and grabbed another biscuit. "All I did was research for the heist and attended an opera…illegally, at least."

"Aww, our innocent cinnamon bun is finally getting in touch with her dark side!" Pandora gushed. Melissa smiled bashfully and looked away.

Marie frowned. "Still, can't imagine what it was like facing down Grim Deadlock. You seriously got everyone to safety on your own?"

She shrugged. "I-I mean, I had some help from the twins, but I more or less cobbled together an escape plan. Guess I work better under pressure?"

Pandora grinned. "Sounds to me you have the makings of a leader already, if not one filled with reckless abandon."

Melissa pouted. "Harsh." She frowned and looked down. "Though, I cannot say that was the worst thing that happened to me."

Marie and Pandora instantly recognized the murky depths of her mood shift, all from a single look into her eyes. Marie scooched forward and lifted her head by the chin. "Did something happen, Mels?"

Melissa sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I…I am fine. I lost something really important to me."

"You did?" Marie gasped. "What?"

"Her locket," Pandora guessed. She winced as Melissa jolted in response. "Oof."

"H-How did you—"

"You wear that thing wherever you go, and you're always clutching it whenever you feel doubtful," Pandora explained. "Wasn't that hard to figure out." She looked away. "It's…how I coped after I lost my dad and granddad, actually."

Melissa frowned. "Oh, Pan…"

Marie patted her back. "Don't worry, Melissa. I'm sure your locket will turn up somewhere in the future."

"That is not what I am worried about most, though," Melissa continued. "I know who probably has it, and when they see the picture of my mother inside, they might…" She covered her teary eyes and shuddered.

Pandora's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh no. That's right, there's a picture of you and your mother in that thing."

Marie frowned. "And if they're shrewd enough to put two and two together…"

Melissa sighed into her arms. "What am I going to do?"

It seemed so simple at first glance, but the girls slowly pieced together the depth of Melissa's concerns. The biggest secret and scandal of the Foresters, one they've tried their best to mitigate whenever allies or suppliers asked questions, at risk of being unveiled to all of Virdis. Everyone, especially Jason, understood the risk of having the princess of Verde Kingdom as an active member, and the repercussions on the whole of Virdis' unstable borders.

Before they got too deep into their thoughts, they were mercifully spared by a knock on the door. Melissa dried her eyes quickly and bounded for the door. She opened and smiled. "Oh. Hello, Lillia."

The dual-eyed Meowstic smiled back. "Hey, Melissa. Happy to see you and others are back. I would've greeted you when you arrived, but I was busy running some errands for Blitz."

Melissa shook her head. "It is alright. I should have invited you over to tea and biscuits with us."

"Maybe another time." She nodded over her shoulder. "Anyway, Jason sent me to get you. I'll walk you over to his hut. We can catch up while we do."

"O-Oh, my proposal! Already?" Melissa gasped. "Oh no, I did not prepare a speech or anything! Should I make notecards? Do I need charts? Am I supposed to dress nice for the interview? I—" Lillia grabbed the Buneary's shoulders and gave her a gentle shake.

"Chill, girl. It isn't that bad. Just be natural and answer any questions Jason has. Simple."

Melissa huffed through her nose and relaxed her shoulders. "R-Right. Chill. I can do that." She breathed out again, then looked back at her roommates. "I will be back in a bit. Save some biscuits for me!"

"Will do!" Pandora exclaimed.

"You got this, hon!" Marie cheered.

Melissa beamed, then followed Lillia out. The girls waved the two off until Melissa shut the door completely behind her. Once it was closed, they dropped their smiles and glanced at each other with worried looks.

"What do you think?" Marie asked.

"Melissa sounded like she knew who stole her locket."

"Verde Kingdom resident?"

"A knight perhaps?"

Marie glared. "I'll find Petra."

"And I'll write a note to Sadie," Pandora added.

"We cannot let that information leak!" they both exclaimed before parting. Marie ran out the door while Pandora scrambled for a piece of charcoal and paper.

Melissa and Lillia chatted for a good five or so minutes as they made their way to the upper levels of the fort. Lillia parted ways once they arrived at Jason's hut, promising her Buneary companion lunch the following day so they could fully catch up.

Melissa waved her off, then turned to the hut. She raised her ears, detecting chatter inside. She assumed either Klaus, the twins, or one of the other Greenwood candidates were going over their own proposals, but she heard the distinct chatter of Valentine, Sid, and someone else. Curious, she pushed the door open, signaling the occupants with a knock.

"Um, hello?" Melissa called out. "I am not interrupting, right?"

She saw Jason at his desk, along with the two Nature Spirits she identified and Eadwulf. They quieted for a moment to acknowledge her presence, and with an unsettling aura that made the Buneary shy away behind the door.

They look upset about something, Melissa mumbled.

Jason finally sighed and straightened up. "Come in, Melissa. We were just wrapping up here."

"O-Oh. Okay." She pushed the door open and shuffled on in, nervously wringing her hands together.

Jason nodded at the Nature Spirits. "Find out everything you can on the situation. Sid, see if you can get Zephora's opinion on Ainsley's manner of execution. Eadwulf, go to the neighboring villages and make sure no other shady characters appeared recently. Make sure we're not being monitored."

"Aye, sir!" they exclaimed. They turned and marched off.

Melissa stepped out of their way as they passed by. She relaxed as they flashed her reassuring smiles along the way. Eadwulf stopped for a moment to ruffle her fur and say, "Good luck, you crazy princess."

She giggled and fixed up her fur as she approached Jason's desk. As she pulled up a stool, Jason shoved some files into his cabinet and replaced them with a new set, slapping them across the desk.

"I've decided to interview you first, Melissa," Jason said. "After the proposals I've gotten from the other returning team leaders, I thought I've seen the worst of the worst."

Melissa frowned. "Is that a bad thing for me?"

"Depends on how this goes." He glared at her as he sat back down. "I've had to reject numerous proposals in the past on account of their difficulty, risk assessment, and the individual proposing the heist. As I made clear earlier today, I do everything I can to keep the Foresters safe. I don't like taking unnecessary risks. That's why we have some many different strategies for avoiding conflict when necessary. Speed, evasion, stealth, maneuverability, etc. That's the physical side of it, of course, and doesn't compare to dealing with a person's mentality."

Like the six rogue Foresters who lost their lives, Melissa recalled.

"If you're even remotely aware of your teammates' proposals, you know I'll have words for Gold and Jewel's ludicrous idea. And yet, somehow, even that doesn't compare to what Fabrice reported to me about yours." Jason pulled up Melissa's file and opened it. "The fact he gave his approval tells me I need to hear this one out in full."

Melissa shifted nervously in her seat. "I…take it you have a problem."

"Call it curiosity, but yes, I do have a problem with it." Jason leaned back in his seat, twirling a stick of charcoal in his hand. "Why don't you explain to me what your heist is about?"

Melissa closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pushing away the anxieties creeping up beneath. At an earlier point, she may have scrapped the idea all together and gone for something simpler, but she braved too many tough obstacles in her time with the Foresters. If she wanted to get anywhere with her goal, she had to push the boundaries of her limitations and exceed the expectations of her superiors.

She had to, in other words, think crazy.

"Very well. I intend to steal the crown of King Massimo Visconti during the Misty Lights Carnival of the Red Ash Moon."

A tense silence followed after as the two stared each other down. Melissa, a bundle of nerves, gripped the edge of her stool, valiantly maintaining a somewhat passable look of composure despite her trembling. Jason, in contrast, remained as cool and unfazed as ever, not even a flinch from his stone cold expression. It'd be impressive to the Buneary if it weren't so menacing.

Fortunately, Jason dropped the facade as he sighed and leaned forward on his desk. "Melissa."

"Y-Yes?"

"I don't even know where to begin with this. I'm sure you understand the depths of my issues with this heist."

Melissa nodded curtly. "For the most part."

"Let's ignore the fact you want to break into the Visconti family's castle. Stealing a painting or one of their treasures is one thing, but you of all people should know the significance of stealing a king's crown." Jason tightened his glare. "To us, they're pieces of metal. To them and their subjects, it's a symbol of their authority. To part with that or have it stolen…it's unthinkable. Those crowns tend to be guarded with their lives."

Melissa nodded, but more confidently. "Yes, I am aware."

"And let's not overlook the biggest issue with all of this: the Viscontis have met you. If they get one good look at your face and put the pieces together, a scandal of overwhelming magnitude will—"

"That is exactly why I need to do this!" Melissa interrupted, and louder than she intended. She yelped and covered her mouth.

Jason, understandably surprised, glared curiously. "Explain."

Melissa uncovered her mouth and gulped. "Look, at some point, I will need to be more active in my role as a Forester. As a Greenwood Leader, I would have to face the risk of being exposed as Princess Penworth. Dancing around the issue will not help, so I want to take the Tauros by the horns and make a name for myself, as Harlow. I put a lot of time and thought into this, sir, and I know the risks involved should I go through with it."

Jason softened his glare. After a moment of silence in contemplation, he leaned back in his seat and nodded. "Alright. I take it you've formulated the skeleton of a plan?"

Melissa nodded. "Those catacombs I mentioned? I will be utilizing them in my heist. A way to travel through the capital undetected, to plan my assault."

Jason nodded. "Alright, but why specifically during the Red Ash Moon? During the Misty Lights Carnival?"

"It lasts a week. I have never been to one, but I have heard much from Lucient and from the books I found. The king helps with deciding what vendors will help run the carnival. With your permission, I want to setup a fake vendor stand for my team and me. We will be in disguise and serving the public, but we will also be using it to scope out the area. It will allow us to blend with the crowd."

"I see."

"There is one other reason: the spirit of the carnival itself. A time where all societal classes, low or high, join together in mask and costume. It is a tradition among the Visconti rule for generations to host this carnival as a way for all classes to socialize without the pressures of status and birthright muddying the waters. That also includes the royal family."

Jason stroked his chin. "What you're saying is—"

"That is the only time of the year where King Visconti is parted from his crown. He intends the carnival every year in disguise." She sighed. "You would think it would be easy to single out a giant blue jellyfish, but there is quite a number of Jellicent and the like in the capital. Still, if I can single out which one is the king—"

"You would be able to get a grasp on his schedule during the day," Jason guessed.

Melissa nodded. "Precisely. During that, my team will also help scope out the castle for weak points and to determine where the crown is."

"And because of how busy everyone will be during the carnival, security won't be terribly tight protecting the crown," Jason finished. "They'd be more concerned guarding the castle from the odd stranger or two."

Melissa smiled. "I believe there might be a tunnel that leads directly to the castle, though it might be completely sealed off. Still, I will use as much time as I can scrape up in that week to steal the crown."

"You're dead set on this, aren't you?"

"More than anything." Melissa glared. "I am asking for a lot, and I know this. The risks that may come are too great, but hiding will not do me any favors. If I can lead a successful operation to abscond with the king's crown, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to."

"…"

"By the time the Red Ash Moon is over, I will have been a Forester for over a year. I need to do this. Something to prove the progress I have been making. Please, sir. Jason. Give me a chance."

"…" Jason closed his eyes and sighed through his nose. "You Penworths will do anything to get the job done."

Melissa's eyes widened. "What?"

He shook his head. "Forget I said anything." He straightened up and glared at her. "We usually host a few heists at a time. I usually have Jet, Blitz, or one of the Nature Spirits monitor their progress as a safety precaution. I don't normally monitor them myself."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying the only way I'm allowing you to perform this heist is by being your overseer. I won't directly influence the heist itself, nor will I interfere personally unless something goes horribly awry. I trust one of the others to handle it, but I'd feel better keeping an eye on things personally."

Melissa's eyes widened even further. "D-Does that mean…?"

Jason nodded. "It's stupid, crazy, and risky, especially for someone as green as you." He closed his eyes and smirked. "But, in the time you've been here, you've survived stupid, crazy, and risky situations. If you're confident you can pull the job off, then you have my permission. Melissa Penworth, I approve your proposal."

Melissa stared in stunned silence, the trembling in her body halting. Her jaw hung open as little gasps escaped. She didn't even blink, staring at Jason with a vacant stare.

Jason frowned. "Uh, Rookie? You okay—"

"YES!" Jason gasped as Melissa leapt over the desk and grappled him in a hug. "Thank you, Jason! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I won't let you down, sir! I promise!"

Jason's cold facade melted amidst his flushed face. Melissa's fur tickled against his electrical cheeks. He gulped and patted her shoulder. "Rookie. Th-This is inappropriate behavior, you know."

Melissa opened her eyes, glanced at him, then sprung away with a gasp. "Ah! I'm so—AH! I am sorry, sir! Won't—AH! Will not happen again!" She turned away and covered her red face. Why did I do that?! So embarrassing!

Jason pulled on his collar and sighed, the redness draining from his face. "Right. Anyway, I should mention these heists are done in teams of five, with you as the acting leader. You're free to ask any two Foresters available to assist you."

After her face cooled, Melissa faced him with a furrowed brow. "R-Right. And you will be pairing me with two rookies, right?"

Jason nodded. "Yes. Seems you were filled in on the details beforehand."

"More or less."

"Then I suggest you find two people you're willing to work with. And remember to take this seriously, Melissa. You will be acting as leader. The planning and success of the mission rests solely on your judgment. Think you can handle it?"

"I…" Melissa clutched at her chest instinctively, but remembered her locket still wasn't with her. She winced, but offered the best smile she could. "I…can manage. You can count on me, sir."

Jason frowned. "Are you okay?"

"N-Never better. Cannot wait to start the heist, haha!" Melissa quickly shuffled away to the door. "Th-Thanks again for approving my idea. I will have that crown before you know it!" She turned too quickly and smacked herself into the door. "Ow!"

"Melissa?"

She rubbed her nose and opened the door. "Heh. Did not see that. Heh." She shimmied out and closed the door behind her.

Jason blinked at the door skeptically, then glared. "Hmm…"

"…Well, thank you for your time, Gold and Jewel. I look forward to seeing the results of this admittedly original idea."

The twins high-fived each other and scampered out of Jason's office, giggling along the way. Jason sighed and pushed their file to the side before massaging his temples.

"I can't believe they convinced me to approve that. Stealing a house? Of all things?" He shook his head and glanced out his window. It was pitch black outside with only the light of his candle illuminating the hut. "Guess I'm not going to bed any time soon. Might as well start pairing up the teams with rookies."

Jason pulled out another file containing rough sketches of the new recruits. He slapped it down and shuffled through the stack of files. He reached for Klaus' first, but stopped as his finger grazed the tab of Melissa's. He lingered on the file for a moment, glanced at the rookie sketches, before pulling Melissa's file from the stack.

"The twins' idea is insane, but that's to be expected. You surprised me, Melissa, I'll give you that. This is the last thing I expected from someone as meek as you." He held up the file and skimmed his written report out. "To steal King Visconti's crown. She really did put a lot of thought into this. I've had some crackpot ideas before, but she put in the effort for a basic plan. Now she just needs to refine it."

He set the file down and looked up at the ceiling. "I already know which two I want to stick her with, but is that fair? She's been here since the Vernal Moon. The new year is just around the corner. And yet, she's still so new to this." He closed his eyes and mulled it over for a moment.

"…" He huffed and straightened up. "I told her she wasn't getting any special treatment, and I don't think she would want it for this."

Jason picked through the files and grabbed two. Sketches drawn with a charcoal stick. Rough jagged edges, but portrayed the two rookies all too well, in Jason's opinion.

A proud Sylveon with a shark-tooth grin and playing cards in his feelers.

A ditzy Azumarill with a boomerang and explosions coming out of her messenger bag.

"You chose this path, Melissa, and I want to push you to your limits, too." Jason stuck the sketches into her file and set it aside. "So, do your best, and prove me wrong. Prove to me you deserve to be here."

With night upon them, Luna and Jane braved through the forest in the pitch blackness, their path alight only by the flames of the Rapidash's mane. Both teetered on the brink of collapse, sleep festering to take hold of their minds, but their destination was so close that they agreed to push through the path a little longer.

They reached the gates of the capital and, after signaling their return to the nightguard in the watchtower, galloped through the empty streets. Jane slowed her run, however, and went for a steady walk. She yawned and hung her head forward, eyes blinking drearily.

"Maybe we should've stopped to rest," Jane mumbled.

Luna rubbed her eyes. "We don't have any camping supplies, so resting in a field was out of the question."

"Should we just call it a night and book an inn? My hooves are killing me."

"Maybe. I don't have much coin left, though. Could have the castle pay for us…" Luna looked off to the side for a moment, struggling to keep her eyes open. She frowned as an idea came to mind, then pulled on Jane's reins.

"Ah!" Jane shook herself awake and glanced at her partner. "What?"

"Residential district. We're staying at my place for the night."

Jane pushed herself the rest of the way until they came up on the residential district, passing by the esteemed homes of the many nobles who occupied the capital. Luna's eyes scanned through the houses, trying to pinpoint her own. She smiled as, at the end of the road on the corner, a house came in sight. She saw the lights peeking through the window.

"Good, they're still up," Luna said.

Jane broke into a mini sprint before stopping outside the house. Luna rappelled her off Jane, stretched out her limbs, and walked up to the door. Jane collapsed in the lawn to take a breather.

Luna grabbed the door knocker and banged it against the door a couple times. She teetered on her heels as someone moved to answer the door. The door pulled open, greeting Luna to the Typhlosion in her nightgown and robe. She had some faint scarring on her face, and Luna knew there was more than just those.

"Yes?" the Typhlosion mumbled. "Who's there?" Her eyes moved down, and she gasped at the Snivy standing in front of her. "L-Luna?"

Luna smiled wearily. "Sorry to disturb you so late. Mind if I come in, Mom?" She nodded over her shoulder. "And some blankets for my partner?"

Since the house wasn't made to house a Rapidash, Jane agreed to sleep outside with a fresh meal and some blankets. She didn't mind, either. She liked the outdoors.

Luna sat in the living room's armchair with a cup of hot tea. After her mother settled Luna in, she went to wake up her husband for a little family reunion. The sleepy-eyed Serperior wobbled about out of his room, but was delighted to see Luna.

After Luna's mother pour tea for herself and her husband, they sat opposite of Luna on the couch. Her father, Ceran Freia, smiled and said, "We weren't expecting you to come home so soon, Luna. Actually, we didn't expect you to pay us a visit."

Luna chuckled. "Couldn't be helped. It was a late run back from the Echo Bell Kingdom. Jane and I were pushing it to get back here. I considered staying at an inn, but I figured I could sleep here for the night."

Her mother, Noel Freia, smiled warmly. "Luna, you didn't even have to ask. You moved out to live in the castle over a year ago. Your room's barely been touched. You have a place here still."

"I know." Luna sipped her tea and sighed. "That hits the spot."

"So, what took you so long to get back?" Ceran asked jokingly. "Was it that hard to find whatever documents you needed?"

Luna groaned. "Trust me, the less I think about that mess of an archive, the better. But yeah, I found what I was looking for, more or less. I'll be reporting in to Matthias first thing in the morning. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I postponed a night to get some sleep."

Noel shook her head. "Oh no, we're not allowing that."

"You're staying for breakfast, at least," Ceran added with a grin. "We barely have time to talk to see you."

Luna smiled. "Alright, fair enough. Breakfast first, then I go report in to the captain." She sipped her tea again, then said, "That reminds me, King Penworth should've returned from whatever business he was attending to, right?"

Noel nodded, then frowned. "Yes, about a week now. Although, we learned from some unusual rumors."

"What do you mean?"

Ceran shrugged. "It was the strangest thing, but the nobles are claiming the king was roaming a nearby village in disguise. Dressed as a beggar or something."

Luna's eyes widened. "You're jesting! I was not made aware of this before I left."

Noel shook her head. "It was very odd. Some commotion arose from that village, and the king dealt with it, though the felons responsible escaped. Something to do with the Foresters."

Luna glared. "The Foresters?" She glared off to the side. They're certainly popping up in some strange circumstances.

Noel nodded. "Honestly, I don't know what that man has been getting up to. Things have changed ever since the queen died."

Ceran sighed. "I would never say it out loud in public, but the outcry of the lower class can't be ignored. Even the taxes he deals to the upper class are a bit much. Not sure what he uses the money for. I haven't seen any major changes to the capital to warrant them."

"We get by just fine, but it's still questionable," Noel agreed.

Adding to the suspicion pile, Luna thought. She shook her head and said, "Well, maybe you can bring it up with the king's council in the next open house. If you push hard enough, you might get them to sway the tax."

Ceran laughed. "Please. All your mother would need to do is drag in her old battle axe and scare them into amending the tax."

"Ceran!" Noel laughed. "I would never!"

"You sure? When we were first met, you chucked one of my acquaintances through a window because he…well, took an interest in your voluptuous charm, to put it gently."

Noel rolled her eyes. "He didn't have to look like a creep while he was doing it."

"Never mind when I did."

Noel smirked. "Yes, but you at least had the courtesy of introducing yourself first before complimenting how gorgeous I was."

"Not was, my dear Noel. You're still as radiant as the day we met."

"Oh Ceran~."

Luna groaned. "Uh, can we change topics? I've been scarred for life enough after listening to Jane for the last few days."

Noel laughed. "One day when you get married, Luna, you will understand the joys of embarrassing your own children."

"Like that young man, Amon," Ceran said with a smirk.

Luna glared. "No. Freakin'. Way."

Ceran laughed. "Fair enough! I can't stand him either." He glared off to the side. "Or House Noir in general…"

Luna swirled her tea around. "I don't know if I ever will get married. I imagine most men are intimidated by a woman in my position."

Noel smirked. "Those are just the cowards. You know what I'm like, yet your father still courted me. There are plenty battle-hardened folks out there, so I'm sure you'll find a nice young man who shares your passion for violence."

"While that's true, I'm more concerned by them learning of my religious practices," Luna said.

Noel shook her head. "Trust me, there are far stranger people in the world. Verde Kingdom can be pretty closeminded when it comes to the other kingdoms. I'll give King Penworth this much, he is trying to extend the bridge of friendship to other kingdoms, though mostly the ones that aren't on the brink of war." She glared off to the side.

"Something wrong, Mom?"

She shook her head and sighed. "The warring between Umbra Clock and New Chariot is getting worse. I had some mercenary friends who joined to help the Umbra Clock Kingdom. They told me how bad it's getting out there. There's rumors that the New Chariot Empire will be expanding its march toward us."

Luna frowned. "Because of the missing princess."

"Yes. It was inevitable, but the rumors of Princess Penworth's disappearance has reached beyond ally territory. There was even an attempted assassination on Prince…no, I mean King Foirbeis' life, just like what happened to his father. They're getting bolder with the regicide. Fortunately, from what I was told, the king's personal guard executed the spy before he could even draw his dagger."

Luna glared. "But that just means their numbers are increasing, and they may stage an attack on Verde Kingdom if they succeed."

"Our kingdom's morale is low, and everyone's panicking now that even the royal family can be harmed without anyone knowing. That's the double-edged sword of royalty. They command a godly presence to their subjects, but felling a god can send people into chaos. That worship can be broken and used to turn the people against each other."

Luna gripped her teacup and frowned at her reflection in the tea. "All of this because of Princess Penworth's disappearance." Her jaw tightened, and her teeth grinded together. "All of this because of her…"

Ceran shook his head. "Don't put blame on the princess, Luna. She's a victim to this chaos, too. No one asks, much less expects, to be kidnapped."

"…Yeah." Luna finished off the rest of her tea and slid off the couch. "I should turn in for the night." She smiled at her parents. "Can't wait for that breakfast tomorrow."

Noel smiled. "I'll make your favorites. Get some sleep, dear. You deserve it."

Luna nodded, then walked up and hugged them both. "I missed you both."

Noel and Ceran hugged her back. "As did we," Ceran whispered.

Luna gently nuzzled them, then pulled away. She walked to her room and closed the door behind her. When she heard it click shut, she pressed her back to the wood and slid to the ground. She shuddered with a long sigh and pulled out the locket hidden beneath her shirt.

A war on the brink of spreading over here. Great. Just great. Luna opened the locket and glared at the Buneary inside. What does that royal turncoat think she's doing?

Morning soon came, and a hearty breakfast was shared in House Freia before Luna and Jane resumed their gallop to the castle. By the time they reached the main doors, the partners parted ways and Jane took off back to the castle stables. Luna, after asking about Sir Matthias' current location, went to look for the black knight.

She scoured the halls until she found the castle's weapon storage chamber. She pushed the doors open and spotted the black-cladded Infernape inspecting the weapon racks. As usual, he was accompanied by his imposing broadsword, a weapon that seemed too heavy for anyone to be lugging around nonchalantly.

Luna sighed, then said, "Good morning, Sir Matthias."

Matthias glanced over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes upon spotting her. "Luna." He set his checklist down and approached her. "You've been gone a long while."

Luna sighed. "A long, long story I care not to retell. Point being, I was caught up in a series of messes, otherwise I would've returned sooner."

Matthias crossed his arms and sighed. "It can't be helped. Were you able to secure the information on Sir Gerard?"

Luna frowned. "Sort of. Actually, I did find the scroll on Sir Gerard, but I lost it."

"You lost it?"

"I had an unfortunate encounter with our mystery thief, Harlow." She glared, clenching her fist tightly. "I faced her in combat."

Matthias deepened his glare. "You actually faced that rogue? Truly?"

"I witnessed the infamy of her skill for myself. To say I was surprised would be an understatement." Especially considering WHO Harlow might actually be.

Matthias nodded. "So, she stole the file off you."

"Regrettably, but I at least know which town Sir Gerard resides in. Nalzona, which is relatively close to the Echo Bell capital. I didn't get his address, but it's a start."

Matthias closed his eyes and thought it over for a moment. "Hmm. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. I trust your observation." He glared at her. "Still, the real challenge will be wrestling the information out of him, and if this information quest will have any real bearing on the present."

Luna glared. "This case is bigger than we realize. We were only looking for the mole in the castle, but there may be something darker beneath the surface. The only evidence we have is a prisoner with a questionable past and a retired knight with a hidden past."

"Hmm…"

"Has Theobald relented with any new information?"

Matthias scoffed. "His will is as unbreakable as ever. He practically goaded Jakke into torturing him. Nearly made the poor fellow pass out. Theobald is not a normal man, that much we understand."

Luna crossed her arms. "This Crownless King business is becoming a concern. Some sort of secret society, and one that could be connected to the Foresters. But why would the Foresters have connections to a secret society?"

"You may be thinking too big, Luna," Matthias said.

She blinked at him confusedly. "What do you mean?"

"We confirmed Theobald at least has some passing association with the Foresters, but I've danced with those thieves more times than I can count. They don't seem like the type to concoct elaborate plans on par with a conspiracy. It's not their style. Or at least, that's the impression I get from the Fairy Knight."

"What are you saying, sir?"

Matthias glared. "I concur that this Crownless King business is suspicious, but I've had long chats with that Theobald. I've confirmed only one thing to myself: he's not a wicked harbinger of evil, nor is he planning some devilish ploy."

Luna frowned. "Then what do you suppose is this Crownless King?"

"That, I don't know, but Sir Gerard could illuminate us on the answers." Matthias closed his eyes. "And maybe we'll have an answer as to why the princess was kidnapped."

Luna looked away. "Yeah…"

The black knight crossed his arms. "I'm curious, Luna. You faced Harlow in battle. What was she like?"

"…" Luna clenched her fist, glaring at the floor. "My honest opinion, sir? It was like fighting the legendary warrior of shadows."

"Warriors of shadows?" Matthias scratched his chin in thought. "Giratina?"

Luna shook her head. "Marshadow."

"Marshadow?" Matthias cupped his chin and looked off to the side. "The name's familiar."

"A creature of legend that hides in the shadow of its target, passively absorbing knowledge and techniques, and uses them against the target. It's like fighting your own shadow." Luna gritted her teeth. "She used my own techniques against me. Sloppy execution, but seeing it for myself startled me. She seems to be able to call upon various fighting styles on a whim, even when there were no others in sight."

Matthias glared. "How…frightening. Another one, you could say."

"Another one?"

"There was a creature from long ago that my father encountered. He claimed to have fought a Zeraora before he was crippled in the attack. The Mortal Zeraora, a mortal draped in lightning. Now you claim Harlow is a walking shadow of the soul. I dare say that makes her the Mortal Marshadow in comparison. One's loud and deadly, the other is subtle and unpredictable."

Luna glared softly. "Harlow, the Mortal Marshadow."

"It puzzles the mind, you could say, to find such peculiarities in our simple world." Matthias turned to the weapon racks, picking an axe from the shelves. "My father was good friends with Sir Gerard before his retirement. I never knew of the mission to the ruins, but I heard Gerard changed since that day. He never seemed all there, like something was on his mind. He had this thousand yard stare, always puzzled but never with an answer." Matthias spun the axe deftly between his fingers. "We may very well be seeing a new age."

"A new age?"

"Pokémon are getting smarter by the day, developing the strangest techniques that don't even resemble a fraction of our wild ancestors. The dawn of a Mortal Zeraora and Mortal Marshadow is a prime example of its logical extreme, second only by the more common magicians who turn battle into a mystical art."

Luna cupped her chin. "I…see what you mean."

"Is this the next stage of evolution? Perhaps. We broke away from our wild roots and traded our claws for steel armaments." Matthias set the axe back into its place. "I share in your curiosity to an extent, Luna."

Luna looked at him in surprise. "You are?"

"After the queen's passing, I've become fearful of the unnatural world, and I did all I could to protect the princess. Though I serve the king, he is not a Penworth by birthright. My sole purpose would be to protect Princess Melissa at all costs, even if that means facing the unnatural world itself."

Luna looked off to the side wearily. "Even…Even if the princess was up to no good?"

Matthias shook his head. "I could never imagine the princess to perform underhanded mischief. She doesn't have the heart for it. Even still, I would lay my life on the line to protect her."

"I…see." Luna scratched her nape, awkwardly averting her eyes. "Back on topic, when should we execute the search mission for Sir Gerard?"

"I'll have to discuss it with the king, first. He hasn't left his chambers much since his return. I can only imagine what business went down in that village. Until then, I expect you to be prepared. You've been a valiant aid to the kingdom, Lady Luna."

Luna smiled and bowed. "All in the name of the Penworth family, sir." She sighed and rubbed her arm. "All for the Penworths…"

"Breakfast time, Theo~."

Theobald send his manuscript down and smiled as his Inteleon companion approached his cell with a tray of food. "My, oh my, that looks delicious. Did you prepare it yourself?"

Yda laughed. "With some help from Hilda. She's gotten much better at cooking according to Gustavo."

"Ah, it does smell divine." He took the meal through the service window and set it on his cot. "So, my dear, how's life in the outside world?"

Yda smirked. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

Theobald paused a moment, then smiled to himself. "The end of the year is fast approaching, I see?"

"The Foresters will begin their little raid to secure Sadie without raising suspicion. After that, we will flee the scene while no one's the wiser."

"Marvelous. I can feel the shackles of my imprisonment loosening already." Theobald took a spoonful of oatmeal and ate it. "Then maybe we can get some actual work done."

Yda narrowed her eyes. "Although…"

"Yes?"

"Ms. Freia has returned from her mission. She's closing in on the secrets of the Crownless King."

Theobald closed his eyes for a moment, then laughed. "What a shrewd young woman. I suppose it can't be helped."

"But you know if that information gets out to Roscoe—"

"Roscoe isn't a primary concern. He's a fledgling in the grand scheme of things." Theobald glared at the floor. "What matters now is defending Virdis from the coming storm. If Last Autumn, if Terrowin, uncovers the truth, I fear the backlash it will have on the land. I trust our dear Snivy will make the right choice when she learns Virdis' dark history."

Yda frowned skeptically, but nodded nonetheless. "If you say so. I'll be ready to break you out when the time comes."

Theobald nodded, then looked up at the ceiling. "In that case, let the games begin."

Higher up in the castle, someone else was making preparations for the Foresters' big raid. Sadie packed everything of value into her knapsack, from personal journals to hairbrushes to sentimental portraits. Once everything was packed, she dug through her secret compartment and pulled out her Forester uniform and collection of throwing knives.

"Time to go home," she whispered. She folded up the uniform and tucked it inside her knapsack for safety. "Just a few loose ends to tie up before I can leave."

Sadie reached inside her maid uniform and plucked a letter she received in the dead of night from Petra. She unfolded it and reread the distressing message from Pandora. It didn't take long for Sadie to piece together who might have been the cause of their and Melissa's strife.

She frowned and tucked the not back inside her uniform. "Sorry Jason, but this is for Melissa's sake. Looks like I'll be having an interesting chat with Luna."