"You're sure they got the message, Sir? I'd… rather not have them wandering through forests or the airfield while we're sitting here drinking sitrus berry smoothies and watching the Wingul fly by."
Were it not for the clouds of black smoke from the steam boats across the way, or the constant hustle and bustle of goods and pokemon alike being shuffled around Chimera and Binair, the Bagon would have thought he was on vacation. A soft, tropical breeze blew through the sizable Port Obstand, though any sound was quickly overshadowed by steps of guild member across the wide expanse of docks stretching out from the course sand.
"Not to worry, old chum," Binair replied, a metallic mug with a half coconut exterior telekinetically raising to his lips. "I took great care in ensuring your friends were informed of our whereabouts for our departure. They should be arriving in a few hours. From the reports I've read of your initial return, the two were very eager to leave after receiving rudimentary care."
Had Chimera kept any less company with Binair, he wouldn't have noticed the tinge of wariness in the Girafarig's tone. Aiming for a bit of distraction, Chimera gestured to a wooden bench at the end of one of the docks. Shuffling past a Marowak, Graveler, and Palossand working their way onto one of the dock's sandwiching steamships, Chimera planted himself on the bench. Binair lied himself on an adjacent cushion meant for more quadruple pokemon, inadvertently blocking Chimera from seeing a quizzical look somewhere in the boarding line.
"Well… between you and me, Sir, I'd say that mission you sent us on helped them connect a bit more than most teammates. Guess they were eager to go somewhere private," Chimera replied, giving Binair a cheeky shoulder tap. His coy smile faltered, however. He bit his lip, arms jittering a bit as he took a drink; a half truth, though one that would help uphold his agreement with Charmander and Girafarig alike. Binair said little.
Chimera made to speak, only to be cut off by three loud blares of a siren in the distance. The Bagon nearly jumped out of his seat at the noise, and seeing that some of the content's of Binair's cup had splashed onto his neck, the Girafarig seemed similarly startled.
"What in blazes?" Binair said. "I thought I'd told the port manager the westward dock was closed off for mooring until construction was complete. You alright, old chum?"
Chimera blubbered a half response, only to freeze part way feeling his scales a tad...wetter than usual. It was only when Chimera looked down, and saw a cold, pinkish, tasty liquid on his chest, below his now half empty cup, that he let out a defeated nod toward Binair. Glancing down, and realizing his free hand had subconsciously lowered to his crossbow at the noise, Chimera spotted its source.
Another steamboat, a tad smaller than the others moored in the docks, though perhaps that appeared only because the ship was about a football field's ways away in the water. The paddle behind the vessel spun in an unending rotation, churning up the otherwise clear tropical water, and steering it on a course that seemed to take it speeding toward the far right of the dock. Chimera could barely make out the figures of pokemon running topside.
"Y-yeah, fine Sir," Chimera replied, wiping off a bit of the drink so it fell in the water. "Blue scales wash off far easier than a white collar shirt. You know… you should have seen me during my first attempt at interviewing for management. Bought a cheap suit after working at that place for two years. Didn't count on my nerves getting to me when I got a cup of coffee in front of the interview room."
Chimera let out a chuckle, his smile fading as his eyes glazed over to the horizon. A small tap of a hoof shot him back to attention, just as a psychic aura emanated around the leftover bits of his chest. Soon, his scales were clean, with what remained diffusing into the water below.
"Well, no need to worry about that here, old chum," Binair replied, "You probably read just as many books as I did preparing for that interview. I suppose the difference is that it does wonders for unlocking potential when our efforts are rewarded. Take there, for instance."
Like clockwork, Binair's cane lifted from his mane pouch, its gold lined tip pointing to the western end of the harbor. Hammers pounding, cranes lifting, and pokemon shouting directions soon replaced the initial siren in Chimera's ears. A Weezing, one with bushy green mustaches of smoke, directed the organized cacophony of construction taking place. One second, the Weezing was giving orders to an Aggron, Rillaboom, and Dragonite carrying large, stone docking posts on their backs, the next it was listing off schematics for where a team of Sandaconda were clearing holes for the posts with a geyser of sediment.
"Yeah, best playing to your strengths, I guess," Chimera added "Couldn't lift one of those posts if you asked me before. Now? Damn things have a radius greater than my entire arm. Probably just as good as that Weezing at moving sand, too, even without the crutch. Staying behind a desk can be rough, course, and irritating, but at least it depends on the part of me I took time building up."
"And a much more useful part, if I do say so," Binair replied, eyes narrowing between Chimera, and the Weezing. "A mind that can delegate work is just as, if not more valuable than the ten, twenty, or a hundred bodies that execute it. In fact… how about a little pop quiz? You see those Mankeys, over there?"
With a bit of searching, Chimera nodded. Three Mankeys, hiding behind a pile of planks on the harbor just out of the Weezing's sight. Stout statures, fur ruffled and slightly stained from the fumes of the ships, and a posture between them that told the tale of pokemon that didn't have any plans on going back to work anytime soon.
"Yeah," Chimera replied, "I see 'em, and I've seen those same bitter scowls in the mirror enough to know they're not hiding because they're on break. Either someone took away their peeled chestnuts, or that construction has a taste of my good friend bureaucracy."
A slight smirk took to Binair's lips at Chimera's response. The Mankeys in question grumbled to themselves, heads dipping in a way familiar enough that Chimera half suspected their fur concealed bagged eyes.
"Given the latter," Binair replied, "what do you suspect are the causes of such inaction, and what could a leader such as that Weezing undertake to resolve it?"
Surprising Chimera most was how innate the answer came. Like a previously studied and stored away test answer brought to the forefront years later in a game of trivia, it rolled off his lips.
"Well… lack of efficiency could be one. Maybe that Weezing didn't do a good job delegating, and they're up a creek without a paddle waiting for instructions. Maybe the instructions they did get were poorly worded and the system they're lead under puts sitting around twiddling their nonexistent thumbs over asking questions to fix it. Or, maybe they simply haven't been given enough reason to work. Not enough carrot, not enough stick."
"A suitable start, old chum," Binair replied, a faint shout in the distance overshadowed by the horn of another ship leaving port. "I assure you, ports, ships, and guilds as big as these are not created by those willing to step back and accept the inefficient and directionless. A project like that construction needs a confident leader to keep it in motion. In fact, what say you to going over there for a little talk to those working? If there's anything I learned, it's that even the most… confrontational can be made productive given the proper incentive and direction."
Any confidence of Chimera's words was cut off by a loud gulp. He looked to the Mankees, as well as the overall crowd of pokemon at work on the dock, before glancing back to Binair. Chimera was half tempted to point a stubby hand at his chest and ask 'Me?', but the wide, expectant eyes staring at him from both front and tail of the Girafarig caught him in his tracks. Were instances like this not exactly what the Bagon wanted? Did he really get transported to another world, meet an everlasting companion, bargain with the legendary beings for a time gear, and nearly die climbing a mountain simply to back down from a bit of responsibility?
There wasn't any more room to question it. Lurching up to his feet with crutch in hand, Chimera pointed himself to the adjacent dock. A slight breeze billowed through the dock as he stood, causing the grey cape over the Bagon's back to ripple. To an outside pokemon, it looked quite heroic.
"I don't mind, Sir," Chimera replied, posture strengthening with every gust of wind. "Not at all. I promise you, I'll—"
A stray breeze also caught wind of the cape, sending a corner straight into the Bagon's face. The world seemed to freeze for half a moment, before relenting as the obstructing fabric fell.
"I mean… I'll take care of it."
"I have no doubt," Binair replied, "after all, it's an educational experience."
No sooner had the words left Binairs mouth had Chimera immersed himself in the slew of pokemon moving this way and that between the lines of docks, and stained cedar buildings lining the silk sand coast. In exception to the workers crowding the western end of the harbor, the pokemon Chimera passed were unified by in having the same three letters emblazoned on their badges. On his right, a wide eyed team of Cyndaquil and Squirtle were departing to the more inland dungeons, just as a Bagon and Raichu had made routine. On his left were a more roguish Serperior and Blastoise, escorting one of the many carriages of gold, cedar, cobblestone, meat, and somewhat familiar vegetables. Chimera watched as the Squirtle went up to one of the shops, ordering his own sitrus berry smoothie.
"Huh. Wonder what the odds are he knows where the berries came from," Chimera whispered, tone matter of fact. "Fifty fifty? Thirty seve—"
"So…"A large, dry hand pressed down onto Chimera's shoulder. "You're the one the boss has taken a liking to. Thought I recognized your face. Been getting cozy with the big guy, huh?"
The world seemed to freeze, crowded conversation going by the wayside in lieu of the course voice behind him. Had Chimera any fur or hair on his body, they would have surely stood up.
"Just trying to repay someone who's done well by me," Chimera replied, head locked in place while his peripheral vision looked desperately for the speaker's form. "Never liked the types that stab you in the back. Think of it as… networking."
A hearty trio of chuckles sounded behind the Bagon. Chimera remained frozen in place, though he again found his arm drifting ever so slowly to the weapon at his hip. After a second, however, he blinked, the gears beneath his rocky forehead beginning to turn.
"Hear that, boys?" the voice replied, a tinge of rowdiness under its chipper tone. "This 'mon might have a tougher noggin than any of us! Aimin' for the heights the way he is. Seems like nobodys even seen a trace of you not two months ago, and already you got a shiny gold badge to your name. Rank like that takes most 'mons years to get."
Chimera let out a chuckle, hoping it could hide that the hand loosely placed on his crossbow was starting to shake.
"W-what can I say?" he replied. "I try my best. Had a great partner to help get me there. Sure, in hindsight, we had a fair bit of special treatment, but our achievements are our own. I'll be a corpse before I let that get taken away. I hope there's no problem with that, is there?"
A distinct cracking sound grinded into Chimera's ears, akin to a skull being ground into dust. The Bagon nearly jumped out of his scales. Adrenaline fueled him to turn, but the warm hand gave enough motivation to stay still; his Bagon neck may have been strong, but with the right hand and a wrong sudden move, it'd only take a second to break it. Tilting his head ever so slightly, he could now see that the hand had a dark, purple tinge to it.
"I've seen you before, haven't I?" Chimera said.
"Sure have," the voice replied. "And I've seen that partner of yours. She's one of the good ones. But enough talk! A 'mon like you trying to flap your wings into those upper echelons of the guild? What do you say we give him a proper welcome, boys?"
Chimera's muscles tensed, primed at the ready to butt heads with the figure behind him. He felt something at his side, as dry as the hand on his shoulder, and curved like a makeshift club.
"L-Look," Chimera said, apparent club at one side, fidgeting stock of the crossbow against his other, "we're in the middle of a crowded harbor, and if you got a bone to pick with me, there are better ways to settle this. Can we talk this out like civilized people, or is this gonna...gonna…"
He sucked in a breath, eyes wide getting a clear view of the apparent bone at his side. Balanced on the very end of the bone was a wooden bowl, holding a crushed pile of chestnuts.
"Apologies," another voice rang out, more demure than the first, "Helios… can be a bit more upfront than most. Works well in a dungeon, though. Do the chestnuts taste alright?"
Turning around, it was a bit easier for Chimera to refrain from headbutting the pokemon behind him; if the Marowak, Graveler, and Palossand did get hit, he suspected he wouldn't be on the winning end.
"Don't get your hands tied up, Vish," the Marowak replied, giving Chimera a pat on the back as he smiled under his mask. "You know I wouldn't let things get serious. I'll take a decent dungeon and loot over directin' 'mons from behind a desk any day of the week, but anyone willing to take that up is fine by me. Hope the entrance wasn't too blunt."
"I've… seen worse," Chimera said, shaking his cast leg at the three with a smile. "Like to think I'm better at using what's in my noggin than whats around it. Can't imagine when a pallid butts heads with you guys, you get two broken limbs and fly through the air like a pinball."
"Well… " the Palossand whispered.
The otherwise silent 'entrance' of Palossand's mouth drew a deep sigh from Helios. He raised his hand to the side of his skull, scratching the sides as if rubbing temples.
"Ya got me there, Courser," Helios replied, "but if Arceus wants to come down and explain his thoughts giving a foot tall, grey Budew a godsforsaken solar beam, he can be my guest. Mate and kids'll have enough of a laugh at it once I get home."
The Marowark shook his head, outer cranium not hiding a bit of frustration. While Vish's top right arm gave Chimera a wave, the Bagon took a tentative hold of one of the chestnuts. A nibble at the exposed inside soon turned into a bite, and swallow. Seeing Chimera's nod, a content smile settled over the Graveler.
"Anyway… 'preciate the good humor in all of this," Helios replied. "May have only seen you a few times, but not a lot of 'mons I know would have kept their cool during that little performance. Not to mention I got a Cubone at home who'd probably kill to play with a gadget like you got. You were the one Flora was giving a tour of the, uhh… agriculture, weren't ya?"
"Yeah," Chimera replied, glancing left and right to a couple of the less informed teams passing them on the dock. "First taste of it. Guess it was necessary if I-we're gonna be working with more of you guys. I know I saw you in the fields, but Argon did mention your team a couple times… where exactly is the line between guards and resource teams?"
"If you're asking for the dotted line," Courser piped up, while his left sand bastion tilted up like a finger being raised, "you'll find that at the bottom of our contracts. We got the most benefits from the two week on, two week off agreement for guarding when we signed up. Just last year a pallid, grey vaporeon we came across dungeoneering thought it would be a great idea to turn to water and tackle a pokemon of animate sand. Can you guess how much it would have cost in health insurance?
Chimera spent more time than he'd like to admit trying to think that one through. A look toward Vish met a four armed shrug from the Graveler, while Helios shook his head slow enough to quash any curiosity in the Bagon. Clearing his throat, Helios looked back at Chimera, his face seeming to loosen under the mask.
"Look, my point here is that we're on the same team," Helios said, "I made my choices and I don't regret 'em, but before I had a mate and kids, trying to figure out the life I wanted took a lot of wandering. From what I've seen of you and the big 'mon in charge, you have that same decision ahead. Ever need help, and Team Tectonic would be happy to—"
"Look out!"
The voice was weathered, yet still had a sense of pride to it, perhaps because it was not one voice, but two. In stereo, the identical calls sounded, followed immediately by a deafening crash.
"What's that ten gallon hat saying no—... oh no…" Helios whispered.
Chimera saw the eyes of Helios, Vish, and even Courser widen before he could turn around. A half second passed where the three's mouths held open to speak, only to be silenced by another splintering crunch. Turning around, Chimera saw it.
A ship, a somewhat familiar one, was close to the half constructed dock. Very close. So close that its large, aft pedal was still spinning, while its bow had carved out a six foot gap into the harbor. Pokemon scurried. Panicked yells echoed left and right. About a dozen sailing pokemon rushed out from the confines of the ship to the upper deck. At the bridge, Chimera spotted a tricorn-wearing Areodactyl tugging desperately at the throttle lever.
For a millisecond, none of the four pokemon acknowledged each others presence. As with the others, Chimera's mind had gone into overdrive analyzing the situation.
"Shit," Chimera muttered. "Shit, shit, shit. Did anyone…"
Most had made it out alright. Shoulders bumped against wings bumped against fins with the deluge of pokemon running past the four away from the dock. Near the bow at the edge of the dock, Chimera only saw two figures. The first, a Weezing, floating not in the air, but lying in a heap near where the ship had initially struck. A deep gash had hit along the larger of its two bodies, spilling a thick, purple substance.
While the Weezing was thrown clear of the ship's path from the collision, another wasn't so lucky. A second loud thunk hit the air, accompanied by a scream. In the haste to retreat, a concrete mooring pillar had been dropped, landing firmly on the legs of a Mankey not two dozen feet in front of the lurching steamboat. It grasped the course edges of the pillar in a desperate attempt to move it, finding little purchase as the steamboat moved closer.
"... I-I got the Mankey," Chimera said.
"I'm on the Weezing," Helios replied, nearly simultaneously.
A side eye from Helios to Chimera for his exclamation was returned in kind. They didn't have long, however, for another moment of staring brought a second cry for help from the Mankey.
"What should we do, boss?" Courser said, gesturing to Vish with his sandy barricade. "There's not—"
"Crowd control," Helios and Chimera replied.
The latter understood the former's sideways glance a little better now. The Bagon's words seemed instinctual, with past training just barely able to lull Chimera's trepidating hand. Sharing a nod, Vish and Courser sprang into action, towards opposite bunches of pokemon on the harbor.
"You sure you got this, kid?" Helio said, glancing towards Chimeras stilts as he bolted toward the Weezing. "You-uh… don't look so hot."
"As long as there's no slight gusts of wind," Chimera replied, half-hobbling half-scurrying towards the Mankey, "I'll be fine."
The dock boards thudded under Chimera's feet, pace about equivalent to a medium jog if he were in perfect condition. Scrambling over a loose pile of scrap wood next to the large stack of boards, he was about a dozen feet from the Mankey, with the ship a similar distance away on the other side.
"Wha… wha-what should we do?"
Chimera froze, hearing another voice on the opposite side of the boards.
"I don't know," another voice yelled back, "What are you asking me for? We can't stay here. We gotta go someplace safe. We gotta—who in Landorus' beard are you?"
Turning the corner, he saw them. The two other Mankey of the bunch, huddled behind the pile of wood. Their eyes darted left and right between Chimera and the ship, knees shaking as if the air was filled with stun spores. Giving the two only a cursory glance, Chimera prepared to turn back to the imperiled Mankey, only to nearly stumble to the floor. As a shot of pain went through his crutched arm, Chimera eyed the concrete slab. The Mankey had made no purchase getting it off, and with his own half broken limbs, he would be of little help.
Unless…
Quick as a ninjask, Chimera shot back to the two Mankeys, pointing his free hand at each of them.
"You two, with me! W-We gotta get your friend free, and I can't do it alone."
The Mankeys glanced behind themselves, as if Chimeras arm was pointing to invisible figures standing on the open water behind them.
"You out of your mind?!" one said. "You want us to run toward the crashing ship?"
A horn from the vessel blarred, its hulking frame inching forward. A panicked response from Chimera was cut off by the warning yells of the topside pokemon. He didn't have much time.
"Look, I…" Chimera said, adrenaline overtaking his words.
There was no time left for subtly. More boards from the harbor snapped, moving towards the entrapped Mankey like a fault line cracking. It was all instinct now. Shoring his footing, Chimera glared at the two Mankey, posture raising in spite of the crutch.
"If you don't help me get your friend free," Chimera said, voice rising by the second, "then he's either going to get very, very hurt, or something far worse. Are you in?"
The Bagon's exclamation shot them to attention. The Mankeys looked to Chimera, befores shifting to the approaching ship and back at each other. Still, their legs did not move.
"So… that's how it's going to be," Chimera whispered.
The two Mankeys retreated an inch. Even as the words left his mouth, Chimera needed to double check that the authoritarian voice was his. Scanning across the harbor for a moment, Chimera looked back at the two, his hand lowering a tad to his weapon.
"If you don't help me," Chimera said, words seething, "then I will make sure you both spend the rest of your lives as unpaid sod farmers with barbed wire fence as your lawn decure. Do you want that, or are you gonna help me? You should know I have some friends in high places."
It was enough. Whether the Bagon's face, or the golden badge pinned to his bag, the two Mankeys gaze trembling nods. Nodding to the two, Chimera joined them in making their way to the pillar. Once there, the Mankey greeted them with a groan. His leg below the pillar was stained with blood, and the ship was but a half dozen feet away.
"Arrghh… hurry!" the Mankey yelled.
They were quick to oblige. With his new 'team', Chimera grabbed hold of the end of the pillar with his free hand. They pulled.
The pillar went up a smidge, but trying to pull his leg out brought only another yell from the Mankey.
"C-come on, it's getting closer!" The Mankey yelled.
They tried again, with equal success. The splintering of boards against the bow was their timer. A little bit more, and the dock would collapse.
A third attempt. No dice.
"It's—arrgh—it's no use," Chimera grunted, teeth gritted. "We need… we need…"
His eyes widened. The two Mankey gave him a quizzical look, one that did little to stop the smile on his face.
"A lever," he whispered.
"We don't have time!" a Mankey replied. "The ship will be here any second."
Even as he heard the words, Chimera's mind went on overdrive. He searched around. No dice. The closest thing on the floor that would suit the purpose were the discarded two-by-fours two dozen feet away. He needed something else. Something sturdy. Something with leverage.
Whether from his own intuition, or simple dumb luck, he found it. As another horn from the ship crashed through their eardrums, Chimera reached into his satchel. Gesture having been well practised, he took out a bolt, and with the sharp edge cut the string of his crossbow off at the end of the prod.
"In Kyogre's name, what are you—oh."
Aiming the crossbow to the floor, Chimera wedged the free prod between the pillar, and the dock. He then took hold of the stock, pushing it so the prod would lift up. The Mankey needed only a second to think before they had taken a similar action.
"Come on," Chimera yelled. "Pull!"
"Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on…"
"Almost… there! N-No, too la—"
"Jump!"
The dock itself seemed to shake as the ship plowed into it. Once sturdy pillars snapped apart like toothpicks against the many-thousand ton vessel. It crashed forward like a lumbering giant, decimating the last fourth of the dock, before coming to rest just feet from the shoreline. It was a gargantuan sight, made even more so by Chimera's underwater viewpoint. His arms flailed. The thought of a watery grave hit him just as a pair of arms and… something else took hold.
When Chimera resurfaced, he was greeted by the sight of three Mankees. After blinking the water from his eyes, another voice called him to attention.
"Everything within hand? I came here as soon as the commotion was within check."
Turning around, Chimera spotted on the opposite dock, a familiar Girafarig, along with a Helios, Courser, and Vish.
"F-fine, Sir," Chimera replied, before letting out a few hacking coughs of water. "Just… taking a little dip to learn some swimming. Was either the big, terrifying ship about to slice you in half here, or the public swimming pool back home."
"Everyone made it out alright?" Chimera asked.
A towel wrapped over his shoulders, fueled by the telekinetic power of Binair. Chimera's feet dangled over the now splintered edge of the dock. Staring into the clear, marine water below, he saw the reflection of Binair at his side, both figures coming in and out of focus with the droplets dripping from Chimera's leg.
"A little shaken up, old chum, but yes," Binair replied, a slow sigh following. "I'm having the port administrator interviewed as we speak. I suppose it's somewhat fitting an Aerodactyl have difficulty understanding the tonalities of the modern steam engine. Accidents happen, but perhaps I should be a little more prudent integrating new technology so rapidly into the guild."
Glancing over his shoulder, Chimera caught a glimpse of the Aerodactyl. Even a hundred feet away, his crooked tricorn stood out a mile. Below it was a look of absolute incredulity, facing the questions Team Tectonic.
"I… I don't know what happened," the Aerodactyl replied. "One second, we're pulling into the harbor and everything's roses, the next the engine controls get jammed!"
"And where was the captain during this?" Helios asked, feet tapping.
A long pause. From a distance, Chimera saw the Aerodactyl scraping his claws against each other.
"I-uh. Uhh...on the shore," the Aerodactyl replied. "W-we got in a bet over who deserved their wages more. Had a month's salary riding on being able to handle that ship for one day."
If Chimera's arms could reach high enough to face palm, he would have. Binair's tail seemed to snicker likewise.
"Well, I'm glad to hear no one got hurt, Sir," Chimera replied, looking back down to the splintered dock at his feet. "If… if you don't mind me saying, Mr. Boulder Bird seems like he's got smaller responsibilities than business in mind."
Binair's mouth opened just in time for another exclamation from the Aerodactyl. For a moment, it almost seemed like the Girafarig was mustering a defense, only to be replaced by a short nod to Chimera.
"He's the best manager I have for the port," Binair replied, before biting his lip. "Was, I mean. He'll be lucky to be stamping cans after this incident. Though… perhaps his folly brings with it some opportunity."
"Sir?" Chimera replied.
Chimera adjusted his hand on the port to steady himself, only to gasp as a sizable chunk buckled to the water under the pressure. Staring past their reflections, the long line of now scrap wood told a similar story. In spite of the accident, the majority of the pokemon walking through the dock had returned, including the work crew waiting on the adjacent dock.
"You don't mean— I couldn't."
"Is that so?" Binair replied, smiling at the Bagon's widening eyes. "Someone has to provide the leadership to get this project back on track, and the current gaseous director is getting treated for his wounds. If you showed one thing today, old chum, it's that you have the initiative. The qualities that follow are education, commitment, and most importantly, opportunity. Perhaps… Helios! Could you bring your team and the good administrator here?"
Chimera's chest thumped like a jackhammer. His hands shook. It took a great deal of willpower to keep his smile contained to passive curiosity. The palm trees swayed as the Aerodactyl and Team Tectonic approached.
"Need something, boss?" Helios said, prodding the Aerodactyl to the front of the team with his bone. "Seems like the gentleman gambler's given us everything he can. I'll have the report to you tomorrow."
"Merely offering some assistance to Chimera here," Binair replied, his gaze shifting between the three. "Should he accept picking up where the fine Weezing couldn't. After all, the best leaders only succeed by recognizing the knowledge of others. And you…"
The world seemed to sink in on the Aerodactyl with his silence. He tucked in his wings, as if trying to hide himself with a makeshift coat. Under his excitement, a tinge of empathy hit Chimera. He knew that look. The sullen eyes of thinking all was lost.
"Y-yes, Sir?" the Aerodactyl whimpered.
"Normally, a danger to life and property like this would warrant having those wings clipped to the lowest realms of this guild, but I'm willing to offer you a new position, of co-administrator."
Two beings on the harbor felt their insides twinkle with hope. It was the only time besides the wakeup that Chimera could remember pinching himself.
"You mean…" Chimera whispered.
Though he was far enough from Binair's head to hide his words, the Girafarig's tail caught it just fine. It's large teeth raised into a grin. Under its course nature, it seemed genuine.
"Correct, old chum," Binair replied, "though only if your rock and flying equal ensures you are well-trained in the fundamentals. A major stepping stone, but with the condition that another is crossed beforehand."
His hoof lifted, gesturing to the entourage of pokemon shooting the breeze at the adjacent dock. Concrete pillars were stacked for installation. Project plans stood idle above a fresh stack of lumber. The very world itself seemed to come into focus. Looking to Helios, the Marowak had a humored grin under his mask.
"Trial by fire, ain't it?" he said. "Guess you're getting that direction sooner than expected. Don't worry, though. We've had our fair share of helping with these projects, ain't that right, guys? We'll be with you."
Before Chimera even knew it, Binair had raised a hoof to him. It was a familiar gesture, with an offering that lifted down to him like a plush in a crane game. The world cleared. The cold of the mountain, the numbness in his broken leg, and for an infinitesimal moment, the memory of a certain Raichu and Charmander. It passed like the flowing breeze of the palm trees, all the while Chimera gave the hoof a hearty shake.
"T-thank you, Sir," Chimera said, roaring to life, "I won't let you down."
"You never have before," Binair replied, "I have no reason to doubt you now."
Chimera turned, about to make his way off the harbor. He stopped short, however, catching a look at Helios, with Courser and Vish flanking on both sides. Helios' purple hand, Vish' rocky arm, and even Courser's barricade were raised in a salute. The former's smile told of the gesture having a tinge of levity, but the meaning was all the same.
"Well… Sir," Helios said, sharing a look with Chimera. "What are your orders?"
The word seemed almost foreign to the Bagon, or at least the context. Eyeing the raised path before him, Chimera gave back his own toothy grin. His thoughts swam, awash in emotion at the wondrous new position ahead. A few grey clouds went over the evening sun, but he was content to lead in the shade.
It felt good.