How long had it been? Seven weeks? Two months? It all started to blend together after a while, but Chimera could always count on the end of a day's work to give him some clarity. He sat with his chair propped back, staring into the sky as a vibrant red glow reflected against the clouds. Even the palm trees lining the quaint, outdoor cafe had grown dormant this time of the year. With periodic chilling winds slicing against his scales, Chimera had to rely on the cape nestled around his form, and the undranken, steaming cup of Tapu Cocoa in his hands for some comfort.

Well, they weren't all that warmed the Bagon's heart. Maybe two dozen feet away, past the nearly dead isles of circular tables, overhanging straw umbrellas, and looming Klinklang logo (name hastily changed by the looks of things), was the fruits of his, and many a pokemon's labor: An imposing public stage, with paint still fresh, built against the marble walls of the Guild Hall.

Just a week ago he'd supervised a new community center across the way of the town square, and if Binair wasn't pulling his leg, the hours he spent leading pokemon today would make many more happier to come. A Primarina rockstar tomorrow. That Sobble and Scorbunny musical duo the week after (not quite his cup of tea, but he could see the appeal). His temples still ached with more than a day's worth of stress, and it wouldn't even be long before he was expected back at the apartment to restart the cycle anew, but Chimera found himself holding a tepid smile. The human of before may have spent just as much time filing reports, but now? Now he had something to show for it.

"Long day?"

A soft, yet cheerful voice reminded Chimera that the town square wasn't entirely a ghost town. She'd taken her seat on the other side of the circular table, a Nickit that had ordered her drink while the cafe was still full. Over the last hour as he waited, she'd take the occasional sip, or steal glances at the distant Guild Hall. Letting out a slight huff, Chimera nodded.

"One of many," he replied, chuckling. "But… not without purpose. Plenty of plays on that stage that pokemon will be able to see. Might ask my friend to come if we actually manage to find the time."

The Nickit replied with a terse nod, though her grin quickly took to something more bold.

"Very generous of you. I'm sure the beachgoers will be happy. Won't have to worry about their view being ruined by Bagon falling from above."

Chimera rolled his eyes, looking back at the Nickit with a soft smile. If she wanted to go, he had nothing better to do.

"Nor any Nickit shoveling sand into beachgoer's mouths while she makes a minefield of holes. Instincts are a funny thing." Chimera replied.

Her maw opened, seemingly in retaliation, before shutting with a conceding snicker. As Chimera looked back over the past few months, he found himself pondering the warmth in that laugh for perhaps a second too long.

"Touché. What's keeping a parvenu like you here anyway?" the Nickit asked. "Can't imagine we have much time until the new dawn."

Chimera let out a half sigh, testing the once steaming drink with his tongue to find it had cooled a fair bit.

"I'm the first one in, last one out for these types of projects. Gotta wait till my boss arrives to check our work. You've probably seen him."

The faint wrinkle in the Nickit's nose corroborated. The air settled into silence as the cafe gramophone across the way ground to a halt. A new track shifted automatically into turntable, spinning up a slower, more quaint tune.

"Sure have," the Nickit replied. "Went into town myself on a little search for something, and… an old acquaintance of mine. Had my own fair share of long nights. Still, feels nice getting to talk to someone other than myself during them."

"Right back at ya," Chimera responded, scaly brow furrowing the slightest bit. "Though, who are you searching for, then? Don't tell me you've been waiting out in the cold to talk to the one Bagon on Faire that needs a lighter to start a fire. There's probably another Bagon out there with a lighter cape who'd make much better company than his evil counterpart."

The Nickit's eyes seemed to widen, the rest of her reaction hidden as she stared down to the table. The brief silence that followed saw Chimera's chest grow antsy, and his smirk fade. It… wasn't that weird of a comment, was it?

"Well, I'd be chasing my own tail to find him," she replied, giggling a bit to herself. "The 'mon I was looking for, I'm… more trying to see what sort of role they really want to play. Been searching for a bit, but in my line of work, you learn to be quick on your feet."

She raised up on her seat, gesturing with a paw over Chimera's shoulder. Looking back at the stage, Chimera returned a slow nod. He turned back at the Nickit, gaze a bit more analytical than usual.

"That makes sense," Chimera replied, "if you don't mind me saying, you seem a bit like you've played a lot of roles yourself."

The Nickit tilted her head, blinking in incredulity. In most cases, Chimera would have backpedaled into an apology, but as he snuck a glance at the fox, the more he garnered a nearly infinitesimal smile on her maw.

"In a way," she said, tone accentuated innocence. "Was forced to study the bard a fair bit way back then. Dad always thought it kept me happy and content, but like they say, 'false face must hide what the false heart—'oh no."

The voice wasn't hers, at least at the end. Chimera saw the Nickit's face jump up in shock, recovering too late as she stared past him. By the time she tried to pull his attention back, he'd already seen it.

The stage was the same as he left it, excepting a single pokemon now at the center. The Fennekin waved at Chimera, a cheeky grin on her maw that was an unmistakable echo of her host. Pretty soon, Chimera joined in, turning back to a now pouty Nickit.

"I had my doubts, but… that confirms it," Chimera said. "How you been holding up, Cerise? Weeks been treating you well?"

A flash of light, and Chimera was greeted by a familiar Zorua across the table. Her muzzle snarled, paw lifting to take another sip of her drink as they locked eyes. After three long glugs, the cup lowered, its holder now sporting a smile; the game wasn't over yet.

"As well as they can," Cerise replied, tapping a bag at her side nearly overflowing with hastily drawn notes. "Seems like you've been doing well for yourself. I had you fooled, though, didn't I? You only found out because I wanted you to."

"Really?" Chimera asked, gesturing back over his shoulder to the stage. He couldn't see it yet, but the Fennekin once a few dozen feet away was now snickering a foot or so behind him.

Zorua and Bagon looked at each other across the table, one half smiling meeting another preparing for whatever verbal jab would continue the exchange. As Chimera looked into Cerise's eyes, however, memories of compasses, time gears, and hammy salemences coming back to the forefront, curiosity overtook pride.

"Alright… fine, you win" he replied, "you had me—"

"You win," Cerise said, "I got sloppy."

Nearly in unison, the two pokemon blinked, in unanimous surprise at the other's words. An entire argument seemed to happen in the silence, victory being passed back and forth like an unwanted coat. True, it was a juvenile game, but… something about it seemed to make the air a little warmer, soothing the reality of the pokemon each was sitting across.

"Well, you had me fooled for at least a couple hours," Chimera continued, clearing his throat "but… that lends itself to something else."

Leaning forward to take a sip from his drink, the Bagon's tone lost its levity.

"What's the real reason that you're here?" Chimera asked. "Been… what, two months since we saw each other? What's changed?"

Cerise perked up from her seat, only to pause, as if having a well practised presentation, but no time in front of an audience. As she pawed abscently at her exploration bag, trying to find the words, Chimera found himself balancing on the back two legs of his seat.

"O-oh, she's here because—"

"Gaahh!"

Whatever Chimera was expecting, the sudden voice of a fennekin not a foot from his ear wasn't it. Cerise's fur shot up in shock and horror while Chimera fell back. He saw himself pass straight through Sophia's illusionary body on the way down, back of the chair hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"Chimera!" Cerise yelped, before her own voice lowered to a snarl. "...Sophia."

"I-I didn't—" Sophia replied, fur quivering in front of Chimera, "I wasn't… I'll go."

Before Chimera knew it, the Fennekin before him had disappeared. Still on his back, it wasn't long before the offered paw of a Zorua took its place. Helping Chimera up, Cerise let out a sigh.

"She means well, just gets a bit antsy around other pokemon. We've had a fair bit of time to ourselves these past months," Cerise said, taking a deep breath for the rest. "And as for why I'm here, I wasn't lying as a Nickit, if you can believe it. What goes hand in hand with that though, is… we've been doing our homework, and I know what I said before about only observing the time gears, but let's just say I've been inclined on another visit to the Guild Hall."

Chimera blinked not once, not twice, but three times in silence. Though he kept up a smile, the air between Bagon and Zorua seemed to get a tad heavier.

"... Cerise—"

"Trust me, I-I don't like it anymore than you do," Cerise said, patting the worn notebook in her pouch, "but this is the only way forward. I—we've combed through my mother's old notes, undertook some less than official research at all the artifact museums across Faire, and the best conclusion I can come up with is that our little test coming down the mountain was a fluke. The compass wasn't meant for that time gear, but if I can get my paws on what's locked in the Guild Hall, then… I might get the breakthrough that we need. That's all I'm asking."

Had he been in any other position, for any other team, Chimera was confident he would have taken Cerise's paw and started scoping out entrances into the Guild Hall right then and there. The ticking gears of time had chosen their route, however, and taking a sip warmed his tongue a bit less. He looked to Cerise, an irritation on his face that, unwilling to drench the Zorua before him, turned back to the only other target.

"I know why you're doing this, Cerise," Chimera said, "and I respect that. I really do wanna help you, a-and the last time we spoke, I was a lot harsher than I should have been. I apologize for that, it's just… I do have a role to play here. A lot of pokemon rely on me now, and I'm not sure I can… "

His head drooped. The shiny, platinum badge on his bag reflected against the crimson sky. In it, he could see Cerise's face, not a hint of blame in her eyes, though equally determined.

"And I respect that," Cerise replied. "Even if I do get this time heist to work, I think you'll have done more good on a whole than a petty thief like me. She let out a soft snicker, turning to a sigh as she looked to the clouds. "Not to mention you've indulged my antics more than any other 'mon in the guild would. But… I guess we both got a job to do tonight."

Chimera nodded, though something sat poor in his mind at the thought. He glanced around, to the town square that'd take hours before another soul entered. To the barren cafe, with easy listening melodies and smooth oak wood tables. Lastly, he looked to Cerise, seeing how her scarlet black fur swayed gently in the wind. Chest subconsciously starting to flutter, an idea took form. Sure, perhaps it was a longshot, and not the most professional option, but he could think of worse ways for the night to go.

"Well, I wouldn't say that," Chimera said, putting on an endearing smile that showed just a bit too much teeth. "Time gear heists are wonderful and all, but...how 'bout instead we go for a little night out as friends? You and me. We can go and get something to eat; my treat of course."

Cerise was halfway through taking a sip when every inch of her froze. She sucked in a breath, nearly taking a glug of cocoa with it as her eyes, ever so faintly widened toward the Bagon.

"Maybe find some out of the way studio for a bit of dancing," Chimera continued, "that is if you don't mind going with a Bagon who nearly got psychocked into oblivion by a lake guardian the last time he danced. Could even have a little movie night. I have it on good authority that the actor for the partner in 'Heroes of Time' is absolutely superb."

Chimera's arms lowered as Cerise' gaze lifted, desperately hoping he could hide his shaking hands under the table.

"I…" Cerise said.

The suave smirk she had carried over from the Nickit faded as Bagon and Zorua stared at each other. The latter clutched the notebook at her side, while the former found his jittering hand fiddling with his guild badge. Just over Chimera's shoulder, Cerise could see the theatre in the distance, with two towering, emblazoned theatre masks that almost seemed to stare down at the two. Following their example, Cerise returned Chimera's toothy grin, leaning forward on her seat.

"A tempting offer," Cerise said, "but I have to ask first, what happens if I say no?"

After taking his own deep breath, Chimera looked left and right over his shoulder, confirming yet again that the square was empty. This should have been the more dreary part of the offer, but for some reason, the butterflies in his stomach hadn't stopped. In a slow, calculated motion, he took hold of his crossbow, setting it on the table with a thunk. Even as Cerise's throat darkened with a preemptive shadowy aura, however, she couldn't help but notice that the Bagon's demeanor had dimmed only a bit. He smiled back, eyes wide as if he'd not placed a weapon, but a deck of cards or a new round of drinks.

"If that's the case, Cerise," Chimera said, scaled brow furrowing as he picked his words, "then I'm sorry to say that we'll have to part ways. If we're both still by the Guild Hall after one minute or so, we're going to have a… different kind of dance on our hands. One thing is for sure, though: I'm not going anywhere."

Were it any other Bagon, or any other Zorua listening, his tone would have seemed more like a threat than an offer. Like a poker player moving chips to the table, Chimera scanned his exploration bag. His hand glazed over the sharpened, glimmering bolts neatly lining one of the pouches, instead pulling out one with a wide, blunted end. True, it'd hurt, Cerise noted, but not more than a decent punch, or a halfhearted dark pulse from her own maw. As he set the bolt on his weapon, Chimera gave Cerise a quick nod. The Bagon was unable to hide his trepidation, and as an unspoken conversation sounded across the table, Cerise dipped her head likewise.

"Well," Chimera said, "what'll it be?"

The paths before her seemed equally valid, but a deep, mischievous grin on Cerise's form revealed she already knew her choice. Adrenaline coursed up her spine, forming the vibrant, cocksure posture of a role that was all her own. As the seconds ticked down, the few, precious seconds Chimera had given to make her choice, Cerise learned forward to take another drink. She looked him right in the eye, giving Chimera a wink while she sipped. After licking her lips, she cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry too, Chimera," Cerise said, "because I'm not going anywhere either."

Not a word more needed to be said. Bagon and Zorua sat in silence, scanning each other head to toe across the table. With a shrug, Chimera held his free hand out to Cerise. Eyes narrowing at the Bagon, it didn't take long for Cerise to realize that he was just as, if not worse at feigning innocence than herself. She closed her maw, a way to hide the shaded fire building in her throat, before outstretching her own paw. For a long second, the two shared an impromptu handshake.

Quick as a Ninjask, Chimera tugged. His head shot forward, rocky surface careening toward Cerise. The last thing he saw, as his gaze dipped to the table was a concentrated pulse of energy from the Zorua's maw.

Headbutt hit Dark Pulse point blank. A resounding crackle echoed through the Bagon and Zorua's ears, launching them both back from the concussive force. Like searing hot cocoa against a tooth, Chimera felt his forehead tingle from the blast. He hit the cobblestone floor back first, skidding a good dozen feet before he stopped. Thankful that his crossbow was still in hand, Chimera dusted himself off. Brown eyes met blue, gazes meeting over the coffee table between.

"Not bad," Chimera said, chuckling as he felt the scorch mark over his forehead. "I take it you won't accept a stun seed for dinner?"

Cerise rolled her eyes, dusting her own fur off from the exchange.

"Not unless your pride would need it," she shot back. "After all, that's the only way you'd get one up on me tonight. That, or putting me to sleep watching all the paperwork you do. Still… pretty impressive yourself, for a salarymon."

Any retort Chimera had was cut short by a crackling, jet black sphere soaring toward him with the speed and size of a baseball. On his back, with no way to dodge, Chimera's mind went into reflex. A nervous gasp left his maw, more of a squeak than anything. The shadow ball couldn't have been more than five feet away when his crossbow raised. The Bagon was quick on the draw, blunted bolt whiffing against the side of the sphere for an early detonation. By the time the smoke had cleared, and he'd gotten to his feet, the Zorua once in his sights was nowhere to be found.

"Just where the hell are… there."

Cerise snickered, paws working on overdrive bolting to, of all things, the stage. Panting all the while, she gave a triumphant glance behind her. Not twenty feet out, it was obvious to both Zorua and Bagon that the latter couldn't keep pace. What only Chimera knew, however, was that he didn't have to.

"Looking for someone?" Cerise asked, giving Chimera a cheeky paw wave as she leaped onto the stage. "Seems all that time getting chummy with Binair has made you a bit sloppy."

High ground obtained, the battle seemed almost over for Cerise. She readied herself for a potshot from the Bagon. Only… one that never came. Her ears perked up, hearing a faint slicing sound directly above. By the time she'd realized, it was too late.

Looking up, Cerise saw exactly what was keeping the weighty stage curtain behind her raised: A sizable sandbag counterweight, now with a thin, long slice cut from the bottom. She barely got in a word before a mountain of sand poured down. Less painful than most attacks, but shaking the heavy sediment off gave Chimera all the time he needed to close the gap.

At least, at first. The Zorua's agility had made jumping onto the stage, about twice either of their heights, a difficult yet manageable task. By the time she'd regained her senses, however, Chimera's stubby arms were still trying and failing to grapple for purchase. Every few seconds, she heard a grunt, followed by a brief glimpse of the top of the Bagon's forehead.

"Are," Cerise said, head tilting in realization, "are you—"

"I'm fine!" Chimera called back, jumps growing more frustrated. "Just… give me a few seconds."

His gaze craned to the top of the stage, Chimera silently cursed the two or three odd feet his transformation had blessed him. Priming for another leap, he was greeted by Cerise's silent, somewhat sandier eyes looking down. He froze, awaiting umbric fire.

"Do you… need some help?" Cerise asked, holding her paw out. "I may only be waiting up here so I can launch a shadow ball in your face, but you can trust me."

From the damage to his pride, Chimera was half tempted to take the shadow ball. He looked up to a Zorua no stranger to deceit. What she did lack, however, was the mocking snicker Chimera expected at his predicament.

"That does put a bit of a damper on our relationship," Chimera replied, shooting her a grin, "but… no sport in launching a bolt at your muzzle from down here."

After a running jump, the Bagon's hand met Zorua's. With a bit of effort, Chimera had scrambled onto the stage, leaving him and Cerise lying down with eyes to the sky as they caught their breath.

"And for the record," Chimera said, letting out a few quick gasps, "you do learn a few things working with Binair. Balancing scope, schedule, and budget in project management, keeping a very headstrong Sylveon from biting into the Applin it thought was lunch, and—"

A pause. Chimera bit his lip, words stuck on his tongue. Was it worth saying?

"And… the regrets a certain 'two face' has being estranged with his talented, heist-happy daughter."

Not a peep, nor even a breath left the Zorua's maw. Before Chimera even knew it, Cerise had rolled onto her side to glare at him. From her wide eyes, his words had paralyzed far more than any stun seed.

"You know?" Cerise said, incredulity lasting another second before a sigh took its place. "I-I… of course he'd tell you eventually. He's got a lot of tools to butter pokemon up, help them ignore his own faults."

After a moment more of silence, with Bagon and Zorua casting each other inquisitive looks, Cerise shook her head. She grinned back at Chimera, shaded auro forming around her paw.

"Now that we're both onstage, though, I think it's time to see how this scene ends. I'm ready to keep going. You?"

Chimera nodded back, though with a hint of perturbation under his smile. "Always was a fan of two 'mon plays," he replied. "Let's-uh… lets keep the collateral damage down. Will have enough forms to file already after this."

With crossbow in hand, he swung. It was a downward attack with the weapon held in his arms like a pickaxe. A hint of fear flashed in Cerise's face as she rolled, crossbow prods missing her chest by a single length of fur. By the time Chimera had jumped to his feet, and Cerise likewise, he had the Zorua right in his sights.

One of her. Chimera found his grin faltering, with not one, but two Zorua snickering back at him. They were soon joined by a third. Then a forth. Then a fifth. With only one bolt loaded, Chimera's aim started to shake, faced with five, equally lifelike opponents staring back at him. Desperate to buy time, Chimera stepped back, words primed to strike where arms couldn't.

"W-well, you're looking a bit beside yourself, Cerise," Chimera said, breaths quick as his aim clamored from one Zorua to the next. "I need to know, what's your endgame for this time heist of yours anyway? Binair can't have been father of the year by any imagination, but… I think he does regret not being there for you, and I think he genuinely wants to make amends. You're going to have to make a choice eventually."

Simultaneously, across five different Zorua, Cerise's muzzle crinkled. Each of their shadowed claws sat dormant, while their owners' eyes seemed to glaze over in an inner debate. Her posture shifted between trembling and firm, as if she was arguing with a nonexistent fennekin. Eventually, she settled on the latter, all planting their feet while staring back at Chimera.

"I-I could say the same to you," Cerise replied, voices echoing off of each other. "You can't really believe my Dad's beacon of benevolence is real, can you? I… might not have much love for Pallids myself, but you must have seen the work farms? I know from experience, the moment a pokemon gets in the way of his ego, the 'great mission' he has, he'll not give them a second of his time, or worse. Is he really the 'mon you want to become?"

It was Chimera's turn for his thoughts to waver. Perhaps she was exaggerating? Looking around where he was, there seemed enough evidence for that. The ornate, monolithic Guild Hall in the distance. The very wooden planks below their feet that was the product of their cooperation. Many a pokemon would find joy before the two faces of the stage. And yet, finding his aim wavering, Chimera couldn't help but look down, to the project accounting report hastily shoved into his exploration pack. All the progress he'd made, yet how often did the human of yesteryear find himself filing out the same?

"I—" Chimera said, giving a quick shake of his head, "I'm forging my own destiny, just like you are. The path to get there is mine to choose, just like yours is."

As Chimera blinked, and Cerise snapped out of her own trance, the two realized they'd just spent nearly a minute of battle lost in their own thoughts.

"That's fair, though uh… mind if we go back to hitting each other?" Cerise asked, letting out a slight giggle. "A lot simpler that way. Less stressful, too."

"You know that?" Chimera replied. "Couldn't agree more."

Adrenaline coursed through Chimera, facing five separate Zorua charging him. The first dashed to the left, serpentining across the stage, only to face a head-on bolt between the eyes. Its body faded into oblivion, giving Chimera only a second to prepare before another charged him from the center. Quick on his feet, he backpedaled. The Zorua sped across him, facing a sideways headbutt from the Bagon that left it equally dispersed.

It was good, but not good enough. Chimera only had time to turn before a third Zorua jumped from behind, claws bared. He winced, expecting a piercing pain in his scales when paw met back. Instead, the Zorua's claw sliced against him with all the power of an imaginary knife against butter. His illusionary foe left equally nonexistent wounds, but a very real opening.

"Poor choice, Chimera!"

His head was still turned when the genuine Cerise slammed into him from the front. Like getting tackled by a swift, quadrupedal, and especially furry linebacker, Chimera fell to the floor. The Bagon's head was in a daze, crossbow skidding from his hand across the stage. By the time his back had hit the floor, a number of realizations hit him.

The first: he had a large mass of Zorua lying on his chest. The second: trying to move his arms caused the paw pressing down on each to pin them to the floor, with his legs a similar story. The third? His instinctual reaction to lunge with his rocky forehead was equally fruitless. Something was holding it against the floor, denying him the distance he needed for a good swing. And as his eyes opened, he saw that something was Cerise's forehead.

Time seemed to slow. Two thoughts wrestled for control in his consciousness: He'd lost, and he could feel the Zorua's rapid heartbeat against his chest. Chimera looked at Cerise (little able to look at anything else where he was}. Cerise looked to Chimera. Her face beamed in a triumphic flare, with the umbric fire from her maw barely an inch away from Chimera's, though… something else laid behind. Chimera could scarcely describe it himself.

"I-I… I think we can call the winner here, wouldn't you say?" Cerise said, unable to pull her forehead back from Chimeras, lest risking a headbutt. "Promise you won't have anything to worry about. Will be in and out of the Guild Hall to test the time gear before Dad even knows what's happened. I'm sure he won't mind. Might even still have time for that night out." A pause. "I-If you don't mind, that is."

His thoughts were awash. Unable to move, and equally unsure whether failure would be as bad as it seemed, Chimera froze. His breaths were quick, a tiny bit of him thankful he'd taken a mint earlier, considering where he now lied. At the last second, he opened his maw, barely hearing the faint clop of hooves against cobblestone.

"I-uh… I guess that could work," Chimera replied, "as long as—"

"Old chum."

Nearly in unison, Bagon and Zorua's heads craned to the side. The Girafarig they saw, countenance suspended in a mix of shock and incredulity, was more than enough to chill their spines. Chimera looked back and forth between Binair and Cerise, desperately trying to find words that were long gone. The Zorua above, meanwhile, kept a deadset glare towards Binair. Her muzzle twitched in agitation while her fangs barred.

"Chimera, Cerise dear," Binair continued. "I would—amicably—ask the both of you to separate."

Bagon and Zorua could nearly feel the air get heavier around them. Binair's head, both of them, craned to the side staring at the scene. The pokemon on bottom was much too pinned to follow his suggestion, while the one on top (half covered in sand) much too distracted.

"S-sir," Chimera stammered, "I promise, we weren't… I wasn't… we—"

"No need, old chum," Binair replied, tone faster than usual. "We can sort out… this on a later date. It does complicate things, but for now I'll trust you're being truthful. Cerise, dear… "

The name was almost like a plea from Binair's mouth. Where he lay, Chimera could feel something build in Cerise's chest, a tension in her being that seemed ready to bolt into a nearby alley any second. Tentatively, Chimera raised a hand, not having the willpower to divert the Zorua's attention and ask her to move from his chest. She looked back at Binair, glaring at an equal height on the stage to the Girafarig.

"I-I have nothing to say to you," Cerise replied, head dipping to the floor. "Not now. Not ever. For the record, Dad, I came here on a heist to get one step closer to bringing Mom back, a-and to see whether Chimera would try and stop me, but she'll have to wait today."

With a huff, Cerise gently stepped off of Chimera, before turning her back to Binair. Chimera was just getting to his feet as a flash of light enveloped the Zorua, in her place appearing the Nickit he'd shared drinks with. Binair's gaze drooped when the Nickit turned away, about to make her way to the floor. It looked to Chimera as if the Girafarig was filled with stage fright, with his jeering audience the faces of past and present. He let out a deep, shuddering sigh, to a fox many feet away.

"I don't doubt your words are warranted, Cerise," Binair said, voice distant as she walked away. "But for however much my own are worth, just know that I miss her too."

The fox stopped. Her whole body seemed to quiver, while a sharp, whistling breeze flowed through the streets. Chimera was just about to take a step towards her when another flash of light hit his eyes. He raised his hand, seeing when it lowered a growling, steadfast Zorua staring back at Binair.

"Really?" Cerise asked, tone a biting whisper. "Seems like your illusions were always better than mine, Dad. Answer me this then: where were you?"

Cerise's paw lifted to step towards Binair, and for a half second, Chimera saw one of Binair's hooves step back. The Girafarig lay still, lost in the question while Cerise approached.

"Where were you," Cerise demanded, "every day Mom used to watch over me? Where were you every day I had to spend studying guild management and human literature? 'To persevere in obstinate condolement is a course of impious stubbornness. Tis unmanly grief,' the book said."

She took another step forward, letting out a dry chuckle. Binair kept his footing, though Chimera could see the Girafarig's mouth hanging open like a loudred trying to find an answer.

"Figures, there'd be more than one two faced king to say that," Cerise continued. "What about every one of Mom's hatch days, where I'd read her adventuring journals now that she couldn't read them to me? Would have been nice to have someone else to talk with, as the weeks turned to months turned to years. Someone other than… than—"

Another flash of light, and the fox before Binair was joined by another, a familiar Fennekin that looked at the Girafarig with a seemingly foreign eye. Her ears drooped a bit as she turned to Cerise. Eyes widening at her faux pas, Cerise mouthed an apology. Chimera kept his own solemn silence watching from above, as if Arceus himself had flipped the audience and stage. Ever so quietly, the Bagon stepped away until he was in their peripheral; with the tense air, he was starting to miss getting shot at with shadow balls.

The fire in Cerise's gaze seemed to fade, if only a bit once she was right before Binair. Looking up, she let out a deep breath.

"I just… wished you'd have been there more, instead of that damned mission of yours. Wished you could have spared a factory or two for family's sake. Would have made things a lot easier. I bet you don't even know that I—"

"—Pay Ezra's resting place a visit, on the first day of fall every year?" Binair replied, Zorua jumping up at his response. "Under the disguise of the Umbreon sexton. I must compliment you on your choice of flowers; lavender makes her seem quite at peace, which I'm sure she is right now."

Silence. Cerise's own maw hung open, not sure whether to shout or whimper. Settling for a grumble, she looked away, glazed over in thought.

"What is it you want then, Dad?" Cerise asked. "A little late for a family reunion."

Her words seemed to sting both of them in equal measure. Taking a moment to collect himself, Binair set himself down on the cobblestone, matching Cerise's height.

"To make amends," Binair replied, tone soft and terse. "In your youth, I let myself get too absorbed in my obligations. Though I thought, and still think they were to the benefit of all pokemon of Faire, I've only realized recently the damage my hubris has caused."

A brief pause. With a Zorua's gaze bearing down on him, what came next was even harder.

"I-I… I'm sorry" Binair said. "I seek only to start over between us, and as I'm sure you know, I'm not one without a plan. That, and for you to stop tearing apart the best days of your youth in Ezra's name."

His latter words hit Cerise much harder. Her whole body tensed up, paw clutching desperately the notebook in her bag. Turning away, she met only Sophia's equally imploring face. The Fennekin didn't say a word, only taking a step back, closer to Binair. Chimera could barely see Cerise's silent gasp at the mutinous action. It'd have been easy for her to dispel the fennekin illusion—he'd seen it before—but… Sophia remained, as did the Zorua standing her ground. She looked to Binair, then back at the Guild Hall, artifact inside so close, yet out of reach.

"No," Cerise replied. "I'm sorry too, Dad, but no. I've given up too much, gone too far to go back now. Unless Mom wants to come back from the grave right now, and tell me every note I've read, every mountain I've climbed and every prison stint I've served has been for nothing, I'm not giving up."

Just as softly, Chimera could swear he heard a sniffle from Binair. Both head and tail on the Girafarig were slumped over, glum as if their worst fears were realized. A faint pink hue began to glow around his horns, followed by a wallet floating up from his side. From it, hovered a familiar black and white photo, texture stained and torn over the years.

"I can't give you that," Binair replied, "I'd trade all the gold and silver of Faire for her to come back, but I can't. I never wanted it to come to this, but if it will change your resolve… I can offer the next best thing."

Cerise's breath hitched in her throat. She looked up, curiosity whispering into one ear against the anger of another.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Binair raised a hoof, before slumping it down as if pressing a button; the nuclear option seemed upon them.

"Those journals," Binair said, "the ones you and Sophia often read. They were from me and Ezra's time together during our exploration career. Alone, I don't doubt they give sound evidence to your goal, but not long before she fell, we buried a secret time capsule to dig up when we retired. It's there, that lies the journal with her complete conclusions of the artifacts."

Cerise blinked, then blinked again. Her eyes glazed over, mind trying to fit a new puzzle piece into what was once complete.

"I'd hoped my word would be enough over the years to convince you to desist," Binair continued, "but considering my many mistakes, perhaps Ezra's will succeed where mine failed."

"E-even if I did believe you," Cerise replied, "where would this journal be? Wouldn't put it past you to have a dozen teams waiting to bring me in."

A silent look exchanged between father and daughter, former frowning, though at whom no one could tell. He turned around, giving a gesture with his hoof to Chimera that shot the Bagon to attention. Now facing the port on the outskirts of Pith Town, he reached out, pointing to a familiar patch of land. Grey clouds formed in the distance, slowly building together for an oncoming storm.

"I can only offer my honor as a pokemon that you'll arrive safely," Binair replied. "The actual capsule is buried just a little ways off where she fell. For now it waits under, which I'm sure you'll recognize as old chum, what would become the primary worker lodgings at the Pallid Agricultural Center. In hindsight, I would have picked a more… accessible spot, but if you'd wish, I could accompany you in unearthing—"

"No," Cerise replied, voice shuddering a bit. "No. I-If… if you're being truthful, then I'll give it a look, but on my own terms."

Setting himself down from the stage, the Chimera of yesteryear doubted he'd have given two figs of what wasn't his business. There was paperwork to file, a Raichu waiting at their apartment to go to sleep, and the fact that just minutes ago they'd been exchanging shadow balls and crossbow bolts across the coffee table. However… something didn't sit right. He looked to Cerise, the Zorua whom his resistance had denied her the closure she deserved, not to mention the one he'd now need to book restaurant reservations for.

"What if I went along?" Chimera asked.

Two heads and a tail swerved to stare at Chimera. Clearing his throat, the Bagon gave a tepid smile.

"I-I mean, it could be a decent compromise," Chimera continued, tone hastening by the second. "Cerise, you'll get to call the shots without your dad watching over you. Binair, you'll get to know she's not going on a recovery mission alone. I-uh, promise things weren't what they looked like at the start. This is strictly business."

The slight furrow in Binair's brow, and the chomp of his tail told of a pokemon suspecting otherwise. While Cerise seemed antsy herself, however, a look, a pause, and eventually a nod was shared between Zorua and Girafarig.

"I-I mean, that—" Cerise said, "that could be alright. I know well enough you can handle yourself. I appreciate it, Chimera. I really do."

A renewed smile on her face, Cerise stepped away. She walked past Binair, set towards the wide expanse of land an ocean away. Just before Chimera could join her, she looked back, head turned in contemplation.

"I need to know, though," Cerise said, "why are you doing this for me? I know I haven't exactly been the most cooperative pokemon on your end."

Try as he might to deny it, Chimera had the answer in his head almost instantly. Joining Cerise's side, the Bagon let out a sigh.

"I've already been leaving one friend out to dry," Chimera replied. "I'm not about to do the same now."