Alright, first upload for NaNoWriMo, I think this one turned out pretty good

"Hey, Frukkshin." Fringe called over. "Would you mind helping me out here?"

Glancing over his shoulder Frukkshin saw that Fringe was mentally weighing two separate baskets of apples, trying to figure out which one was in better condition. "I don't know much about apples, yeah?" The Rapidash responded after a few moments.

"Well, it was worth a shot." Fringe replied with a small sigh before picking up the one on his left. "We'll take this one." He fished out a few poke from a pocket within his shirt and handed it to the Lucario at the stall.

"Very well, have a nice day." she said as she scribbled something down on a note of paper.

As the two of them walked off, Frukkshin lifted the basket on his back and Fringe worked to tie it down. "Careful not to get too excited this time." Fringe said. "We don't want to cause a scene."

Frukkshin let out an amused sigh. "Yeah, I'll be more careful." Frukkshin replied with a slight roll of his eyes.

"I'm serious, Frukkshin." Fringe said, somewhat unamused by the Rapidash who gave a slight snort in response.

Pulling out a list and checking off some items, he pulled the sheet closer to hhis face. "Alright, what else do we need to get?" he asked himself.

"Hm?" Frukkshin sounded as he peered over.

"We got everything we came to the market for, but I'm starting to think I missed something." Fringe said, confusion written across his face as he turned over the list a few times in his hands.

After a few moments of thinking, he folded up the list and said, "Well, maybe we should walk around a bit, maybe I'll see it and remember…" his voice trailed off. "Speaking of remember, how has Ninetales been?"

Frukkshin replied quickly, "He's been doing fine, can't really say much else about him other than he's a bit odd." he paused the conversation, "Actually, just yesterday, he was approached by our waiter, the same place where he destroyed his throat drinking too fast." Frukkshin had to pause to let out a laugh, before calming himself when Fringe shot him an unamused look. "Yeah, but we were asked if Flocon knew someone called… 'I think it was 'Jack Flash'? Or at least if the name sounded familiar to him. He said that he might've heard it before."

"Jack Flash, strange name." Fringe mulled over the new information. "I can't say I've ever heard of him."

Frukkshin paused for a minute. "Heh, then you're in the same boat as we are."

Fringe sighed and told him, "It's entirely possible he could be related to someone in La Premiere Quartiere."

Frukkshin made a noise of disgust. "Could be, it isn't impossible." he reasoned. "But I'm not going to that part of the city."

"Then you're just like everyone else." Fringe remarked. "There has to be a way to sneak Ninetales in, I'll dig down in the client lists to see if I can pull a few strings to get him in."

"You plan to send Flocon in alone? Won't he be immediately recognized?" Frukkshin asked.

Fringe took a few moments before replying. "Sending him in alone is quite possibly the only way we could get him there." Fringe gave a slight smirk. "And remember, Ninetales is an amnesiac, If I can get in contact with someone from up there, they might be able to claim they were friends, or distant relatives or something along those lines, I don't like using methods like this, but it might work."

"You might need to hone that idea a bit before it becomes any use." Frukkshin said after a few moments of deliberation.

Fringe sighed. "It has a lot of holes in it, but I'll work on patching those up in due time."

Frukkshin looked up. "I don't really get it." he said.

Fringe waited a few moments before finally saying, "Don't get what? You're being a little vague here."

Giving a slight huff, Frukkshin explained, "Well, I don't get why you're putting yourself at so much risk to help Flocon."

Fringe stayed quiet for a moment. "There's a few reasons, I can at least tell you a few of them in public." giving himself a few moments of silence to explain himself, he finally said, "Ninetales is the case of the century here, if we can solve it, then we can solve anything. I think that people need to be able to trust that we are capable of solving any mystery or any issue set before us. And if we can, perhaps we can finally get enough recognition to become a guild and finally bring some stability to this city." Fringe looked the other way. "I know it doesn't sound good when I say it aloud, but that's the truth."

Frukkshin took in this information set before him, his flames quelled a moment in silent deliberation. "I respect that you told me the truth about the situation." he said. "But you would be correct in that last part, it doesn't sound good when you say it aloud." he let out a small huff as he looked off in another direction.

"It's not that I don't care whatsoever about him." Fringe mused, though there was something in his voice, as he opened his mouth to say something else, he closed it almost immediately after.

Frukkshin looked back at Fringe, first he waited, but after a few moments he got the bigger picture and responded, "You don't need to justify it to me. I'm not Flocon." he said with an understanding tone to his voice, but something about it seemed almost accusatory, though he continued, "Everyone has imperfections…" Frukkshin stuttered as he finished saying those words. Something resonating from deep within him. He managed to pick himself back up, though his next few words came slowly, "…some of us more than others." there was a strange note to his voice, though he quickly shook it away.

Gazing in the Rapidash's direction, Fringe said, "Don't blame yourself, there's nothing you could've done." his voice had taken on a softer tone.

Pausing in his tracks, Frukkshin began to breathe heavily. "You're right." Frukkshin's voice had taken on an intense silence, something that threatened to scream. "And that's what hurts the most." he said as he almost fell to the ground.

Helping his friend back to his feet Fringe said, "They'd want you to be happy. Remember that."

"But I want them to be happy." Frukkshin replied. "Gods, what I wouldn't do to have taken their places." he slammed the ground with a hoof, the crown of fire adorning his head flaring to an unbearable heat that stabbed into whoever stood near with searing thorns.

"Frukkshin, calm down." Fringe tried his best to ease the Fire-type, though he hesitated to touch him, visibly backing away.

Frukkshin looked over at him with bleary eyes but his gaze shifted to something much softer as he regained control of himself. "I… sorry." he averted his gaze as he spoke.

Getting back to his feet and dusting himself off. "It's not me you should be apologizing to." he tried to sound sympathetic to Frukkshin's demeanor but also to tell him that what he did wasn't okay. Though he wasn't entirely sure whether he succeeded in doing so or not since Frukkshin continued casting a sad gaze down at the ground.

His voice had regained its usual volume by the time he spoke next. "Fringe." Frukkshin began, shame laced in his voice as he stood quietly in the same place, not looking up at his leader.

"I get it." Fringe replied. "It might be for the better that we go back now." as Fringe spoke he glanced at Frukkshin's back where he was carrying their groceries.

Looking confusedly over at the Banette, Frukkshin turned to look back at his hind. Seeing the food that they had bought had gained a subtle coat of ash during his episode he let out a sullen, "Sorry."

Fringe didn't respond, instead electing to hold up a hand to wordlessly tell Frukkshin that he was fine with it even if he wasn't completely happy about the outcome.

Frukkshin looked over in surprise before softening his gaze. "Thank you." he said quietly, holding his head up slightly higher than it was before.

The two began their wordless journey back to base, Frukkshin occasionally sending glances towards Fringe to try and get a read of how upset he was. Though Fringe didn't seem to show anything that told him that he was especially angry, his face seemed unsettled and he gave Frukkshin a wider berth than before but nothing more. The sight made Frukkshin look away. "I forgot." he said regretfully.

Fringe paused in his tracks for a moment, his face darkened for a moment. "I like to think I have too." he replied as he continued his gait.

Frukkshin turned his head back forwards, trying to keep his mind away from their interaction, though images began to swirl through his mind. All he saw was fire, inside and out, a flame like a furnace, the burn that keeps him alive, the burn that brings others to the ground..

After they returned to base Irukan came over to help the two of them unload their groceries. "Thank you, Irukan." Frukkshin said flatly.

Irukan turned back to him for a moment. "No quips this time?" she remarked sarcastically before she read the expression on his face and turned away. "I guess not." she said quietly.

She retreated down the hallway and by the time Frukkshin had passed through the gateway, Irukan had already begun unpacking though her eye seemed to linger on the scorched edibles.

Frukkshin too gazed down at the brazed food and shifted his weight as he dug into the tiled ground with his forehoof. He let out a small cough before saying, "It was an… eventful day."

Irukan let out a sigh as she unloaded the rest of his groceries. "I see." she said, understanding of his tone.

Frukkshin lingered for a few more moments before walking away. He soon found himself back in the main room with Bancho and Flocon having returned.

"Hey, Frukkshin." Flocon said as he marched towards the Rapidash, a slight limp in his steps though he seemed otherwise okay.

Frukkshin surveyed Flocon's body quickly noticing splotches of crimson on the Ninetales. He looked over at Bancho but noticed that there was no sign of injury, ho looked at Flocon and then at Bancho to only repeat that same motion a moment later. "Training?" he asked as he did so again.

Flocon let out a yawn and nodded, seemingly unfazed.

Frukkshin stood there for a moment, confused as to what he should do. But he finally let out a small grunt of amusement at his fellow's actions, Frukkshin remarked. "Don't go being as silent as Bancho now." he let out a laugh even while shooting a glare at Bancho who returned a similar look.

Flocon turned his gaze between them before finally walking away. Frukkshin dropped his previous expression for a much more confused one. "Hmm." he sounded, tilting his head in confusion.

While he was distracted Sylpheed sneaked up behind him and grabbed him from behind in a hug. But when Frukkshin's expression didn't really change she let him go and asked, "Did I miss something?"

Frukkshin waited a moment before finally registering her question. "Has Flocon… smiled before? Is he okay?" he asked.

Sylpheed backed up and put a claw up to her chin taking a few moments before finally answering, "A few times, but it's been a while. And why do you ask?"

Frukkshin nodded before casting one look over at the Ninetales and then back at Sylpheed. "He didn't look good," he remarked.

Sylpheed peered up in silence, letting Frukkshin continue his train of thought. The Rapidash continued. "How does he feel about all of this?'' The question he posed was entirely rhetorical but if Sylpheed was going to make an attempt to answer, he wasn't going to stay to hear it. His clopping retreated back down the halls and he found himself at the entrance to his room once again.

Slowly entering into the room he perked an ear back to make sure nobody was watching. Confirming the vacancy of the area he ventured over to his bed and cleared some of the hay. Revealing two small and polished orbs of obsidian only big enough to fit in the palm of a hand. He stared at it for a long time, as if waiting for something to happen before covering it back up. He touched one for a moment and started to put his weight on it. Sorrow welled within his body and he strained to force the tears back. He lifted his hoof from it, not able to follow through with letting the past be the past. He looked at the sun through a small window at the top of the room. He saw it was falling to dusk though it only felt as if morning had come.

It was as if time had never even moved.