Chimera thought he had seen everything.

The room was dark, and the edges of his vision blurred slightly from the drink in his hand, but even he could not forget the gloomy eyes staring at him from across the ballroom. The Charmander's pupils seemed to narrow into a feral continuance, terror and malice fluctuated between them just as rapidly as when they had first met. Painful memories of horrific burning sensations played on repeat in both pokemon's mind, each cringing with recollection of the bitter wounds caused by the other. With an apologetic frown, Eoin released himself from Argon's hold and turned to meet him, defiant stance betraying the fact that he had instinctual re-donned the opaque goggles, and reached a quivering hand to pull his already concealed grey flame from the Bagon's vision.

"It's you," Chimera stated blankly, quietly placing his other hand on the weapon at his side while searching Argon's eyes for confirmation of the Charmander's intentions, "the pallid from the cave...the feral that—"

"Do not call be that!" Eoin cried out, voice echoing through the empty ballroom. "I insist. My name is Eoin, and dare I say I am just as, if not more civilized than you."

He stomped over to Chimera, tail cover barely able to hide the Charmander's now fuming flame. The sudden change in atmosphere shocked Argon to attention, and in an instant she rushed forward, positioning herself between the two pokemon.

"I-I suppose now's a good time for introductions. Eoin, meet Chimera, we've been in a team together ever since we went on that first mission, and he's one of the main reasons I was able to actually come here. Chimera, meet Eoin, he's much more...sapient than I'm sure either you or I remember, and he's been more than cordial to me so far. I...I know you two haven't gotten off on the best start, but I think it'd be best if you tried to give each other a chance. If Eoin wanted to attack either of us, he'd of already had plenty of opportunity."

A pensive yet tense silence ensued as both pokemon considered her words, glaring at each other with arms crossed in a posture she could only describe as eerily similar. Each seemed to be scanning Argon's face in a nonverbal plead for support, but for the moment only found neutrality in the Raichu's expression. In an effort to further defuse the situation, Argon reached to her side for the recently reclaimed guild badge, levitating it towards Chimera's hands. A hint of nostalgia flashed in the Bagon's eyes as he ran his hand over the familiar object, but quickly returned to a scowl after remembering the reason for its absence.

"Here, Eoin wanted to return this to you."

"Thank you," Chimera spat towards the Pallid, "better late than never. Though Eoin, it would have been a heck of a lot more useful if I had this when Uxie was threatening to forcefully probe my memory. I could of died because I didn't have this badge...or worse."

"You seem fine," he replied, matching the Bagon's hint of sarcasm, "I can assure you, you were in no danger, I knew Uxie well enough to know there was no way he...she...Uxie would have actually gone through with it. The sole reason I stand before you, and I was not destroyed the next day when the mystery dungeon reset is due to that object. Its possession defined my life, its absence barely inconvenienced yours. Though I should not be surprised, you showed in Uxie's Cave that you gladly place your petty mission over the well being of others."

Argon stepped back from the ensuring argument, glancing over her shoulder to confirm that the assembly area's soundproof walls had prevented any pokemon being awoken to notice its three moonlit silhouettes. It was now clear to her that the Pallid was only able to escape the dungeon due to the teleportive abilities of the guild badge, through any of the moral questions that plagued her mind with such a conclusion were put on hold until whatever conflict could be resolved.

"You have no way of knowing Uxie wouldn't of done that!" Chimera shot back, Raichu flinching at her partner's exclamation. "The way I remember it, you attacked me first. You don't get to act so high and mighty when you very well could have killed me."

"I...yes, I attacked you first," Eoin admitted, "but I never had the intention of killing like most of my kin, I doubt you can say the same."

Both pokemon looked toward Argon, pleading expressions again being met by pensive silence. Eoin's cry as his tail was drowned echoed through her conscious just as clearly as it did thirty days ago, but came in tandem with recollection of her partner's own painful shriek after being knocked to the floor. Many a resource mission had been undertaken by Chimera and herself since his arrival, and in that time, she could recall no similar incident had occurred. Part of this, she concluded, was likely due to the differing nature of their missions, but the Bagon also seemed to have taken her words to heart. Of course, the trouble he had since they first met with keeping a cool head had not disappeared, but at the moment, it was difficult to distinguish the flame in his eyes with the one on Eoin's tail,

"That's a lie and you know it," Chimera replied, "if you just wanted the badge, you would of stolen it when I fell down and ran off. But no, you kept attacking well after you had the chance to run."

"And you tortured me long after I was no longer a threat!" Eoin countered, cringing to the floor in painful recollection before pointing to Argon. "Your bloodthirsty nature would have killed me if it was not for her."

He went on, no doubt glaring daggers at Chimera under the opaque goggles,

"I was not the same pokemon then, I have left that part of me behind. What I did was on pure instinct, nothing more. There is a difference, you...you made a conscious decision to keep attacking, despite possessing a sapience I did not have at the time. That Bagon, is what truly defines a barbaric and uncivilized mind."

Argon seemed perturbed by the spiteful accusation. A part of her had always chalked the incident up to survival instinct, the unfortunate consequence most teams had to contend with when first faced with enemies that were truly life threatening. After all, Chimera gave the impression of having little experience fighting in his former life, and it very well could have been her that was attacked from the shadows. However, an attempt to raise her voice in evenhanded sentiment was interrupted when a glance to her partner showed him to be more or less unfazed. He lowered his head to the floor, staring into the Pallid's eyes as much as its goggles would allow, before raising it in a dark chuckle,

"Everyone has their demons Eoin, no matter how hard they try to hide it. You can suppress them, it's admirable even, but you'll never be able to get away from them fully."

Chimera's wicked laughter as he brandished his grey cape at the Pallid seemed familiar, although she questioned if the Bagon was past the point of simply putting on an act,

"Tell me this Eoin, if you really are a different pokemon, then why are you angry at me? If you aren't accountable for your actions because the Charmander I faced under Uxie's cave was nothing more than any of the other pallids, then why am I accountable for what I did against it?"

The question put the Charmander on the defensive. Despite his attempt to hide the grey torch on his tail from Chimera, Argon could see the fuming flames as clear as day.

"I...I do not—"

"You hate me, don't you Eoin? I caused you a lot of pain, I very well might deserve it. But the only way you can show that hate is justified is by admitting that under those goggles are the same eyes that attacked me."

"That," Eoin replied, voice ever so slowly twisting into a nasally snarl, "that does not matter, I have read countless novels on political philosophy, I have studied every major event of Faire's history, that is what makes me more civilized. I am not like you, I am above that bitterness and hate."

Eoin and Chimera were about a dozen feet away, with Argon in between them. The situation was escalating, and running to alert security before the worst could happen was enticing, but history showed that the two pokemon were more likely to come to blows without someone being there to witness. She stood her ground, a paw raised to each gently.

"There are some instincts you can lose Eoin," Chimera stated, "I know that for a fact. But the need to live, the gene that causes you to be cruel in your lowest moment isn't one of them. I can't fight the need to survive anymore than I can fight the voice in my head telling me to jump off cliffs. And I'm willing to bet if our situations were reversed you couldn't either. You'd need a lifetime to try, not one month."

"The way I see it," Argon interjected, "i-it would be best to put this all behind us. You each have decent points, but there's got to be a better way of resolving this. I've seen enough arguments to know you aren't going to change each other's minds by doing this. You can't change the past, but you can change how you act with each other now."

It was difficult to judge either pokemon's reaction, but after a moment passed Chimera took a step forward, until he was directly in front of Eoin. Argon watched anxiously as this happened, ready to intervene if the Bagon decided to hurl his stony forehead at the Pallid or reach the arm held up against his weapon for a sharp variation of its ammunition. Instead, Chimera held his other arm holding a cup to Eoin, gesturing the strong, freshly filled drink to him in a sign of offering,

"She's right. If you really stand by what you think, than I see no more reason for us to butt heads with each other, Arceus knows I'd win at that. There's a decent bar a couple rooms over, what do you say we go there and you could enlighten us as to how you turned into the pokemon you are now?"

Eoin for his part was taken aback by the offer. For a moment, his grey flame retreated below its metallic confines, and the Charmander reached out as slowly as if the object in the Bagon's hand were a tamato berry. The second was fleeting, for he froze in place before the transaction could be finished, muttering audibly to himself in a jumble of snarls and vernacular. The Pallid stepped back as colorless flames again peaked from its tail, removing his hand so Chimera could fully see its source,

"No. I apologize, but that is...insufficient. If I am going to prove to you both that I am not what I was, then we must settle this 'mon to 'mon. I demand satisfaction."

Dread accompanied by adrenaline flushed through Argon's body. She again stepped in between the two, tranquil smile that first looked toward Eoin long since removed. Her reaction only added to Chimera's confusion, though he knew well enough to keep the weapon at his side close at hand,

"You mean...a battle?"

"Eoin!" Argon interjected, sparks preemptively emanating from her cheeks, "I-If you're doing what I think you're doing, that's not going to solve anything. You told me while we danced that you couldn't apologize enough for what you did, if Chimeras willing to do the same, you're only going to get pokemon hurt...or worse."

"I...I am not asking for blood," Eoin hastily replied as he held his hands up, "only something to put our minds at rest over this and settle whatever honor has been tarnished. I have learned a fair amount of history in my brief time here, and I believe that what started as barbarity is best settled by civilized behavior. To put it bluntly, I challenge you to a duel, Bagon, right here, right now."

It was Argon's turn to look toward her partner to gauge for support, and just as before, nonverbal beseechment found only a pensive stare. Recollections of Chimera being slammed against a plank wall by her own hand flashed. She could see a glint in her partners eye, the same glint that had been lost to stagnation after their first mission, and had only reappeared when the Bagon was testing fate against the harsh sands below her cliff-side resting spot. If Eoin had picked most any other pokemon, their answer would have been obvious, obvious and sane. Unfortunately, the consequence of Chimera risking what could be lost so often resulted in her rushing forward with oran berries and bandages in hand, something in particularly short supply currently.

"Alright Eoin...what are the rules?"

"Nothing too complicated," replied the Pallid, matching the Bagon's toothy grin, "we stand thirty paces apart, and take turns attempting to launch an attack at the other. Of course, no attacks whose element would be of particular advantage against the opponent. When one yields, the victor is decided. If you wish, I shall grant you the privilege of going first. I can assure you Argon, this will not be fatal, the only thing that could die is Chimera's pride."

"This is...really stupid," Argon continued, "you both know that right? I-I don't know what you two are trying to prove with this, but I'm pretty sure there are easier and less painful ways to do it. I can't say I know too much about dueling, but if it's to settle honor, you're supposed to do it with a level head, which I doubt either of you have right now. I...I just don't want any of us to get hurt."

Despite her best efforts, the Raichu could only turn to the floor and sigh after saying this, not even having to look toward her partner to know what his response would be. By the very nature of the game, refusing would no doubt be interpreted by both as an admittance of wrongdoing, something she knew the Bagon was far too hardheaded to accept.

"Alright Eoin, lets settle this. I understand your concern Argon, but I'm willing to take the risks so long as he is. I'll accept the consequences."

Had Chimera's opponent been any other, she would of been content to let consequence find the Bagon, but these circumstances were different. The pokemon before her were already bitter from the other's blows, and Argon suspected that more would only result in the divide being lengthened. Was the Pallid's goal, as he claimed, conflict resolution, or was the challenge simply an excuse to inflict harm on a supposed enemy? She looked into his eyes, finding only dark goggles that flickered with reflection of the flame at his side. With this however, came a bout of inspiration, formulating a plan in the Raichu's mind that, if it worked, would gain the former benefits of the duel without the necessity of the latter.

It started off as a glance. A wink. A shuffle with her legs he knew wasn't natural. In the midst of combat during their now many dungeon explorations, Chimera had grown to understand the importance of reading the subtle gestures and eye movements used to subconsciously coordinate strategy, and this was no exception. The Bagon wasn't as adept as some pokemon he knew, but enough to recognize her intentions when imploring eyes toward the weapon at his side were accompanied by one of her paws soaring past the other.

"Make sure your heart's in it, I-I guess," she stated, "I suppose the whole point of you doing this is to prove you're civilized, and there's probably nothing more bloodthirsty than attacking a defenseless pokemon."

Both nodded, though Chimera's nod as he and Eoin walked to opposite ends of the ballroom conveyed more than simple agreement. It was a nod of trust, rather than complete understanding, of putting faith into the plans of ones partner just as she had done with him.

"I grant you the courtesy of going first, Chimera," Eoin stated, pulling off his goggles so the Bagon could be better seen in the dark conditions, "use it well."

Chimera intended to. Ever so slowly, he reached for his crossbow, running hand between bladed and blunted bolts before settling on the former. Moonlight reflected off of the deadly projectile's sharpened edge as he sighted his weapon for Eoin's distance. The Pallid's defiant stance remained, but Argon could see the flinch in his eyes as Chimera lowered the weapon to wipe off a speck of dust on the grain, before retraining it on his target. Bagon and Raichu exchanged final glances, in what she hoped was a reaffirmation of their plan.

A click followed by the signature 'floosh' of the weapon being fired broke the silence. Argon could see Eoin's eyes closes as this happened, breaths hastening to borderline hyperventilation as he waited for the inevitable pain of his scaly body being pierced. One second passed, followed by another, and another still. Each passed like hours for the Pallid, all filled with the expectancy of the room's silence again being broken by his own painful cry. What took its place, however, was a faint clatter, followed by a relieved sigh from their impromptu Raichu second. His eyes opened, and grey pupils looked onward with the same confusion, bewilderment, and rage as when they had were first introduced. About five feet in front of Eoin was the bolt, faint mark visible from when it had met the floor and skidded harmlessly toward him. Chimera hadn't moved, though the crossbow once angled upward before Eoin had closed his eyes was pointed parallel to the flat marble.

"Your move Eoin," said Chimera, again flashing his grey cape at the Charmander, "this is the true test. I'm willing to forgive you for what happened in the cave, just as long as you're willing to do the same. On the other hand, you have your reasons to dislike me, I suppose now is your chance to act on those feelings. "

Eoin appeared frozen in time. The Bagon's grin was enough to show that the miss had been intentional, and with this came a dilemma entirely unexpected by the Charmander. Grey flames again flickered out of their metallic cover, unable to decide whether they intended to imitate a candle flame or bunsen burner. The Pallid fell to his knees, pupils narrowing to their feral continuance as snarls and words carried over each other. By deloping, Chimera had handed himself to whatever cruel vengeance Eoin's mind could muster, giving way to colorless flames that could finally strike true against his defenseless opponent. And this, Eoin concluded as he looked toward the Raichu witness, was why he couldn't.

And why I must.

Attacking that Bagon would be the cruelest breach of etiquette.

It would be the greatest fulfillment of nature.

It is the antithesis of everything he tried to accomplish.

It is the purpose of his creation.

The Pallid shot back to his feet, letting out a booming roar accompanied by a sharp inhale before sending a stream of colorless flames souring toward Chimera. Just as before, the opponent closed his eyes, and just as before, piercing silence followed. Heat licked the edges of the Bagon's scales, sending a shot of adrenaline through his spine, but nothing more. Eoin's fuming breaths ground to a slow but consistent tempo as he redonned his concealing goggles. He looked between the two, gazing at the pokemon who had nearly ended his life and the pokemon who had saved it, smiling at both with equal intensity,

"I believe whatever conflict between us has been resolved. I cannot say I don't feel anger toward you Chimera, but it is pointless to continue when one can belay their cruel desires. I...think it would be best if we were to start over, all of us. I have yet to conveyed my full reasoning for why I came here."

"Well then," Chimera said, cup set to the floor being levitated to his hand by his smiling partner, "what do you say tomorrow we get some drinks and you can catch us up on...everything that we missed?"

The glass was again held to Eoin, now being accepted without hesitation,

"Nothing would make me happier."