A/N - The original write-up didn't include the Dazzle Dance. I decided to incorporate it this time. It was a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy it =D

In a couple of weeks, I'll be putting this into another hiatus while I finish Part 3. I'm pretty far behind with it, partly down to a Christmas story I wrote for Thousand Roads fanfiction forum that took me way longer than I'd expected, and also down to having a writing break over the Christmas period. I'm getting back into the flow of things again, amid other creative projects. However, I'm really starting to catch up on my updates and I like to have a healthy buffer. Please bare with me while I work on it =D

Thanks so much for all reads, reviews, faves and follows!

25 - Dazzle Dance

Tinker sat watching the little swablu as he tucked into a fresh plate of berries. The newly-named Starshine let out a series of contented chirrups as he pecked away at the berries that weren't much smaller than he was. The swablu occasionally looked up at Tinker between bites, probably making sure the riolu was still there.

"Decided to keep it then, aye?"

Tinker jerked back in his seat and turned to spot Skipper leaning in the open doorway.

Tinker let out a flustered sigh and brushed his ears back as he turned back to Starshine. "Skipper. I didn't hear you come in."

Skipper closed the door and shuffled over to him. "Told anyone yet?"

"Only Grey." Tinker sat back in his seat and toyed with the everstone around his neck. "I don't know how to break it to the rest of New City just yet."

"Well it's not like ye promised ye were gonna get rid of it, aye?" Skipper watched the swablu and a small smile tugged his lips. "Lively wee fellow, ain't he?"

Tinker nodded slowly. "The thing is, whether or not I said I'd dispose of the egg, I don't think a newly hatched baby dragon is going to be met with much joy. The Elites made their opinion very clear."

Skipper folded his arms over the back of Tinker's seat. "Not all of 'em were against ye either."

Tinker shrugged. "No, I suppose not."

"However…" Skipper paused briefly, watching the little hatchling as he scampered around to the other side of the heaping plate of berries. "Ye can't keep 'im a secret forever. Sooner or later he's gonna grow up. He'll be runnin' around New City like th'rest o' th'hatchlings."

Tinker stared down at the baby who was completely unaware of their conversation. Or was he listening? It was hard to say how much such a young pokemon actually understood.

"Laughin'," Skipper went on. "Yellin'. Makin' friends."

"Making friends?" Tinker's ears perked up and he turned his head around to look at Skipper.

Skipper raised an eyebrow. "Ye ne'er considered that?"

"No." Skipper brushed back one of his ears. "That's… brilliant."

Skipper's mouth went slack and he pushed himself back from Tinker's seat. The riolu rose from it in his excitement, sending it toppling to the floor with a loud clatter. Starshine let out a chirrup of surprise and sent a berry rolling from the desk to the floor amid Tinker's 'organised chaos'.

"Making friends!" Tinker fixed Skipper with a smile that bordered on madness. "Skipper, you're a genius!"

"Ahh, Tink…" Skipper raised his flippers in defence. "I was jus' sayin' like t'other kids-"

"Yes! Starshine is just like other kids!" Tinker bounced on his toes, waving his arms around as ideas flew at him left, right and centre. "If Starshine mixes with the other hatchlings and makes friends, then…" He trailed off, turning to look back at the swablu.

Starshine fixed Tinker with his beady black eyes and inclined his head on one side.

Tinker's excitement fizzled out like a snuffed candle and his arms fell limp at his sides.

Skipper cleared his throat, cutting through the sudden silence. "Ye dinnae think he'll make friends, do ye?"

"No, it's not that." Tinker righted his chair and flopped back into it. "It's the mothers. Ordinarily, hatchlings don't tend to be judgemental. They can see right through another pokemon's differences and accept them for who they are. But those in New City will undoubtedly be more conditioned and not want to play with a swablu. Starshine might make friends, especially with those closer to his own age, but how long will it last?"

Skipper pursed his lips and glanced towards the door. "T'is a long-shot, but if ye like… I can ask my sis? Wee Tad's about Starshine's age. Well… he hatched last season, but-"

"Of course, your sister has a little mudkip." Tinker looked up at Skipper. "You think she'd be happy for him to make friends with Starshine?"

Skipper raised his flippers in a shrug. "I dinnae ken, Tink. She's a wee bit protective of wee Tad. There ain't many of us left alive now, ye ken?"

"I understand that. But it's worth asking?" Tinker rubbed his snout. "I usually get along fine with Lily. She might see this the way I do."

Skipper grimaced and shifted his weight from foot to foot. "I can give it a try, Tink, but I ain't promisin' nothin'. Ye ken me sis can be a bit fiery."

Tinker nodded and watched the marshtomp leave his office. As the door closed, Tinker turned back to Starshine who was looking between him and his lunch. Tinker scratched beneath one of his ears. How much did the little swablu even understand at his age? Could Starshine even play with another hatchling yet?

Starshine let out a loud chirrup and grabbed hold of a cheri by its stem. He turned to rush towards Tinker, flopping along the table as he flailed his wings in a bid to keep the berry aloft. Due to its size he didn't see the edge of the desk and Tinker's heart leapt into his throat. He reached out to grab the swablu in his paws before he hit the floor. He set the small bird down on his lap and settled back against the chair. Starshine dropped the berry and chirruped up at him, eyes sparkling, completely oblivious to his narrowly avoided demise.

Tinker let out a chuckle amid his sigh of relief. "You just wanted to share, huh?"

Starshine chirruped again and closed his eyes in a smile.

"Well, thank you." Tinker took the berry in his claws. "That's some good manners I want you to show to others when you meet them later, yes?"

Starshine ruffled his wings and stared up at Tinker, twitching his head from side to side. The door opened and Starshine let out a happy twitter and hopped around on Tinker's lap to view the newcomer.

"Tinker!" A female marshtomp barged through, startling Starshine into Tinker's side.

The riolu leapt from his seat, scooping the swablu up into his arms.

A large red ribbon flopped around on Lily's head with every movement, matching her eyes. Behind her stood a very shrewed-looking Skipper as he tried to close the door to no avail. A tiny mudkip poked his head out from behind Lily's ankle, fixing on the tiny pokemon cradled against Tinker's chest.

"What's goin' on 'ere?" Lily barked. "Is this ano'er one o' ye mad experiments?!"

Tinker stammered as he tried to find the right words. "Please close the door. You'll have all of New City in an uproar."

"An' rightly so, ye mad fool."

Regardless, Lily moved further into the room and Skipper finally managed to close the door behind them. He leant against it and gave Tinker an apologetic look.

Tinker was no stranger to Lily. Unlike her brother, she rarely left New City. She was very well known among the other mothers, and respected. If she was going to accept Starshine, it was likely that the other mothers would follow suit. But on the other paw, if it didn't go down well, word would swiftly spread about the swablu and Tinker would find himself on the receiving end of a very unpleasant riot.

Lily put her flippers on her hips and leant towards Tinker until they were almost nose to nose. "What made ye think ye could bring a swablu down 'ere into New City?"

Tinker's mouth flapped open uselessly. "I… I…"

"It's a dragon, Tinker!" Lily growled. "What if it turns on us, gets out an' reveals our location to Hydreigon?!"

"It's a baby!" Tinker's voice took himself by surprise. Lily just blinked at him, waiting for him to elaborate. "It's a baby. If we raise it with our morals, and it makes friends amongst us, and maybe even joins our ranks in this war… then that could give us a very strong edge."

"An' a glarin' weakness." Lily stood up straight and folded her arms. "Ye ken the dragon-type is weak against itseln. They could jus' pick it off an' then what? Back where we started? One altaria in the army ain't gonna give us much of an advantage, ye auld fool."

Tinker stared down at Starshine and sighed.

"Ye ken what I think?" Lily said, much quieter this time. "I think ye went soft. Ye found an egg an' ye wanted t'help it. A little baby, defenceless, abandoned in th'wild an' ye couldn't leave it. I'm right, ain't I?"

Tinker bit his lip and looked away. Those words had hit him hard. She was right, but part of him didn't want to admit it.

"Come on, Tinker. I ain't heartless." She smiled, drawing his attention back to her, all fury gone from her face. "It woulda died if ye hadn't found it an' got it all warm 'n' such. Ain't nothin' wrong wi' that. I woulda done th'same."

"So you're not angry?" Tinker asked.

"O' course I'm angry!" she said. "Angry ye didn't tell me! I coulda helped ye hatch it." She paused and narrowed her eyes. "I'm also angry ye lied! Why didn't ye just say ye went soft an' wanted to hatch a defenceless egg? What sorta example ye settin' for wee hatchlings like ye little swablu an' Tad 'ere?"

Tad trembled behind Lily's ankle. "Ye shouldn't lie, Uncle Tinker. Ma'll make ye eat nomel berries."

Lily nodded and a playful smirk appeared on her face. "Darn straight. Shame I dinnae have any on me, aye?"

Tinker paled slightly and let out a nervous laugh. "So you're happy to help me?"

"O'course I am! All hatchlings hatch the same, Tinker, but ye have to remember… this little swablu… what's his name?"

"Starshine."

"Little Starshine here will evolve in time, unless ye give 'im an everstone. An' if that 'appens, an' things turn nasty… anythin' goes wrong at all! Then that swablu is out of 'ere. Understood?"

"Of course." Tinker glanced down at Starshine who was eyeing each pokemon in turn. "New City is first and foremost my number one priority. I will not let any harm befall this city or the Outcasts here."

Lily cave a curt nod. "Glad to 'ear that."

"Whew!" Skipper slid down the door onto his bottom. "Seriously, sis! I thought ye were gonna bite 'is 'ead off!"

Lily looked Tinker up and down. "I was thinkin' 'bout it."

Tinker glanced aside. "I think I'd have preferred the nomel berries."

"Well that one ain't out the window yet, ye auld fool. Now then." Lily leant forwards and smiled at the swablu in his arms. "Hello there, Starshine!"

The swablu looked at her and chirruped.

Lily chuckled. "Cannae talk yet, aye? No worries! I reckon ye know more of what we're talkin' 'bout than you let on, aye?"

Starshine closed his eyes and let out a playful twitter.

"Ye wanna meet Tad? Come on, then." Lily took Starshine gently and set him down on the floor before the mudkip. "He's a wee bit older than ye, but I think ye'll get on."

Tad stared warily at the swablu who seemed much more interested in examining the room from his new vantage point on the floor. The mudkip stepped towards him and tipped his head on one side.

"Hi there!"

Starshine turned to him and chirruped before hopping in circles to admire the roots stretching across the ceiling.

Tad looked up at his mother and crinkled his nose. "Dinnae do much, does he?"

"Give him time, Tad!" Lily laughed and shook her head. "He's only just hatched! Give him a few weeks an' he'll be playin' on your level." She turned to address Tinker and folded her arms again. "This swablu is your responsibility now, aye?"

"Of course!" said Tinker. "If anything goes awry, then I shall take full responsibility. I am acting head of the Outcast Guild, after all."

"That's not what I meant," said Lily. "I'm sayin' you're Starshine's surrogate dad now, aye? So ye gotta take care o' th'wee swablu. It ain't easy bein' a parent. If ye need any help, ye ken where t'find me. Come on, Tad." She turned to the door, ushering Tad along. "It's almost dinner time."

Tad glanced back at Starshine and waved a flipper in farewell. Starshine returned it with a tuneful twitter, then turned to examine the papers scattered along the floor.

Lily paused beside her brother and frowned. "As for you! Dinnae keep secrets like this from me again, aye?"

Skipper raised his flippers. "I was sworn t'secrecy!"

"Aye, well." She clicked her tongue and smiled. "Like I said. I coulda helped. Ye didn't 'ave t'go through all that alone, aye? If things go well wi' Tad, then I'll put a good word in for ye."

She slipped from the office and quietly closed the door behind her.

Skipper rubbed a flipper across his head crest and sighed. "By 'eck she can be a wee bit intimidatin', sure enough."

Tinker let out a sigh of relief and dropped into a squat to supervise Starshine. "It went a lot better than I'd been fearing. I didn't expect that at all."

"At least ye 'ave hope of wee Starshine makin' friends now, aye?" Skipper dropped down beside him and held a flipper out to the swablu.

The tiny bird promptly dropped a balled up sheet of notes into it that Tinker had abandoned several weeks ago.

Tinker chuckled. "We certainly do."

Hope of making friends… Tinker smiled and sat back on his paws as he watched the little swablu flop around the room. Tinker was actually starting to feel there might be hope of a little more than that on the horizon.

...

Heart Abbey was alive with pokemon, their voices a rumble of noise throughout the vast dining hall. A long mahogany table stretched across the length of the room, surrounded by such a variety of pokemon it made New City's variety look sparse in comparison. A ninetales with luxurious shimmering fur sat opposite Cleo, her breath misting in the warm air as she spoke, dusting a light coating of harmless frost over the ears of the cinccino she was talking to. The chinchilla pokemon didn't appear to mind, or notice for that matter. The ninetales was one of many pokemon in the Fairy Garden Cleo had never seen before.

"She's part ice, part fairy!" Faith had explained when Cleo ventured the question. "One of two known varieties of ninetales."

Cleo found herself wondering how many more pokemon were part fairy-type as she glanced along the table. Most of the pokemon were tucking into the huge spread of food. Cleo had never seen so much, and Spark's eyes glittered as the tiny dedenne took it all in. Bowls were filled with fresh berries which interspersed the plates of steaming berry flat-cakes, vats of vegetable and root soup, pancakes, nut roasts, and root gravy. And that didn't even cover it all!

Cleo soon had a plate filled with delights which she tucked into with relish. She sat sandwiched between Spark and Faith, while Mischief perched on the other side of the dedenne. The seats were easily adjusted to accommodate pokemon of all sizes, but Spark had abandoned hers to sit on the table, declaring it was easier access to her plate.

Cleo swallowed a mouthful of nut roast and her eyes closed briefly. "This is absolutely amazing!" She turned to Faith, who was beaming at her. "You really have this every day?"

The mawile nodded and made a little 'mhm!' "This is normal for us! I'm so happy you're enjoying yourselves."

"It's certainly a change to what we know," said Spark. She bit into an oran berry that seemed to sparkle in the light. Her face lit up and she turned to look at Faith. "What on earth is this? The skin is so sweet!"

"Candied berries!" Faith chuckled. "They're usually a desert, Spark."

Spark grinned and returned to the sweet berry.

Cleo smirked at her small friend. "You're supposed to eat desert after your root soup."

"Hey, it ain't as if I'm leaving anything," said Spark. "My plate will be well and truly licked!"

"Good evening." Hope's familiar voice drew the group's attention.

The gardevoir stood beside Faith, leaning on the empty seat beside her. The mawile's face lit up and she sat back from her plate.

"We've not seen you since the library," said Faith. "Are you joining us?"

"Oh, I'll be sitting elsewhere I'm afraid." Hope stood back to wave a paw at the pokemon beside her. "I thought Harlequin might want to sit with pokemon she's familiar with."

The zorua had their head down and ears back, blue eyes flitting around the room as they struggled to take it all in.

"I'd be delighted!" said Faith.

Cleo watched Harlequin with caution. She hadn't been convinced they'd even see the assassin again, but after what Cleo and Spark had learned, she had a lot of questions to ask. The zorua trembled slightly as their eyes trailed over the table, ears twitching at the cacophony of voices. Not a single accusatory glance was fired in Harlequin's direction, just acknowledgement and friendly smiles from those close enough to spot Harlequin before they returned to their discussions.

Harlequin looked over Cleo and her friends, lingering on Mischief, and a brief sneer appeared on the zorua's face. It didn't last. A low whine left Harlequin's throat as they turned back to scanning the assortment of cheerful pokemon.

Faith's smile faltered and she turned in her seat to face Harlequin. The mawile forced another smile and tapped the stool beside her. "Come on. Join us. I'd like to get to know you a bit more!"

Harlequin glanced away and tucked their tail between their legs. The zorua took a step backwards towards the door, catching Hope's eye.

"I told you." Harlequin's voice came out deeper and lower than usual. "I'm not hungry."

"You must eat something." Hope spoke quietly, her voice almost masked by the rumble of noise. "There's barely anything on you. I'm actually concerned."

Harlequin's canines flashed. "I don't want anything. Just…" The zorua let out a sigh and lowered their head. "Just leave me alone."

Hope sank slightly and sighed. "Okay. Today has been a lot for you. I understand. I can show you to your room instead?"

Harlequin's jaw went slack as they stared up at Hope, dumbfounded. The zorua shuffled backwards, then turned and scampered from the dining hall.

Hope watched Harlequin's black tail vanish beyond the door and shook her head. "Oh dear." She glanced back at Faith. "I'm sorry, I have to go after her. She's been left in my care."

The gardevoir trotted from the room, pleading for Harlequin to wait.

Silence had fallen over the small group, and Spark broke it by asking, "Are you sure she belongs here?"

Faith looked up at Spark and raised a paw in a half-hearted shrug. "It must be a huge shock to her. I mean… to accept that what you've been believing all your life is a huge lie? Working for something so evil… I can't say what's going on in her head right now. But like I said, if she didn't want to be here, she wouldn't have found this place."

A clatter came from beside Cleo, and Mischief shoved his plate away. A few berries rolled away from the half-eaten flat cakes and plopped onto the table.

"I'm not hungry either." Without looking up he slipped from his seat and shuffled from the dining hall.

"Mischief…" Cleo raised a paw weakly and let it flop back into her lap. She turned back to the table and rubbed her eyes with both paws.

"He seemed to be really happy earlier," said Faith. "What happened?"

"Harlequin happened," said Spark.

Cleo lowered her paws to meet Faith's violet eyes. "It's a long story. But to cut it short, Mischief tried to protect us when Enigma attacked. But Mischief almost…" She waved a paw as she searched for the right word. But finding none better, she ended with, "almost killed him."

Faith blinked a few times and shook her head as she glanced to the door. "I have no idea who Enigma is. But I'm guessing he's one of Harlequin's friends?"

"I'm not sure about 'friend'," said Spark. "But Harlequin's pretty bitter about it."

"That makes sense," said Faith. "I mean you are both from opposite sides in this war."

"It's not just that," said Cleo. "Mischief has a condition. I'd explain more, but I really want to go and see if he's okay." The meowstic pushed herself up from the table. "Please excuse me."

Faith waved a paw and smiled. "Please, go ahead!"

"I can explain," said Spark. "You won't be wanting me there being a razz berry on a rawst bush." As if to punctuate that point, she popped an entire razz berry into her mouth.

Faith closed her eyes and chuckled. "That's an odd analogy."

Spark gave a small bow and picked up another berry.

Faith caught Cleo's eye. "The Dazzle Dance will be starting soon. It's in the courtyard. No pressure if he's not feeling up to it, I just thought it might help take Mischief's mind off things?"

"I'll see what he says." Cleo gave her a small smile then turned back to Spark. The dedenne's cheeks were still bulging from the razz berry. "If I'm not back, you have permission to finish my berries."

Spark responded with an 'okay!' that came out as more of an 'mmkf!' and turned back to her plate.

Cleo trotted from the dining hall and worked her way down the cobbled path that lead past the abbey's courtyard. Volbeat and illumise were busy decorating the gazebo for the evening's events, and they gave her joyful waves as she jogged past. She returned them gratefully then fixed her attention back on searching for Mischief. The whimsicott wasn't far away. She spotted him sat beneath a willow tree, watching the bug-type pokemon flit about the courtyard.

She dropped into a casual stroll and moved over to him. He looked up at the sound of her paws crunching over the grass.

"Hey," she said.

"You didn't need to leave your dinner to come after me." He turned back to watching the volbeat and illumise.

"Are you kidding?" she said it with a playful tone in her voice. "I wasn't going to continue eating when one of my friends is like this." She sat down beside him, and he gave her a small smile. "I thought you might want a bit of company."

"Thanks," he said.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the bug-types finish setting up their decorations. Red and blue streamers and decorative flowers wound up the sides of the gazebo, adding a splash of lively colour to the green woodwork and rusty cobbled square. She wanted to talk to Mischief, but wasn't sure where to begin. Bringing up Harlequin and the fight with Enigma probably wasn't the best idea, even if she was trying to reassure him that it wasn't his fault, and that Harlequin would drop their bitterness eventually. The latter wasn't Cleo's place to say, and she had no idea what was going to become of the zorua now anyway. Would Cleo still be forced to drag the assassin along? Or was Harlequin going to stay in the Fairy Garden? Cleo was still tasked with her job of finding fairy-types to help in the war, but if she had the option of leaving Harlequin - her hostage - in the Fairy Garden then Cleo was going to take it.

"I like it here," said Mischief.

"So do I," said Cleo. "I think we all do."

Mischief shrugged and folded his paws in his lap. "Maybe not Harlequin."

"Well…" Cleo inclined her head on one side. "I'm not sure how to take her reaction if I'm honest."

Mischief was silent for a moment, then he let out a small sigh. "I think I might stay here."

Cleo looked up with a start. "You… you want to stay here?"

"Yes." He stared down at his paws, avoiding her gaze. "Don't you?"

Cleo let out a flustered sigh and brushed her fur back between her ears. She looked up at the volbeat and illumise again, barely noticing them anymore. Stay here… she hadn't considered it an option for herself. There was a war. She was meant to fight in it. She couldn't leave innocent pokemon struggling just so she could have a respite. Besides, Hope and Faith said they themselves were also fighting in the war.

"As much as I'd like to," she said slowly, "I can't. There's a war, Mischief. You know that. We need to fight against Hydreigon and end it."

"But I don't want to fight."

Cleo felt something inside her twinge and she closed her eyes. "I know."

"If I stay here, then there's no need for me to fight," he said. "Some pokemon aren't fit to fight, and… aren't I one of them? I mean… it makes me into a monster."

Monster…

Cleo closed her eyes at that, feeling that horrid twinge again.

The problem was, Mischief enjoyed fighting. Cleo saw it on his face. Cheerful, naive. Those tests Tinker ran on him were still clear in Cleo's mind. Fighting was fun to Mischief like it was to many pokemon. She thought back to the story about Yveltal's Fall. Fighting existed in the Fairy Garden. It hadn't been meant for war. It hadn't been meant to cause pain.

"You find it fun, though, don't you?" The question had just rolled off her tongue.

He gave a weak shrug. "Not any more. Now it just scares me."

"Because you're scared of losing control?"

"Because I'm scared of hurting you."

She jumped at those words and twisted to face him, but he was still staring down at his paws.

"Or Spark," he added. "Or anyone." He screwed his eyes shut and a lone tear broke free and trickled down his cheek. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

Cleo reached out a paw to his shoulder then froze, retracting it slightly. What was she meant to do? She tucked it back into her body and closed her own eyes, letting out a small sigh.

"I killed that noivern," he went on. "I don't remember it, so I don't know what it looked like afterwards, but I have nightmares. Horrible images of it looking like those seviper. Mangled and unrecognisable. It haunts me." He rubbed his paws over his face. "Then that absol said he saved you from me."

He paused, unconsciously giving Cleo time to let it all sink in.

"I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you," he added quietly.

They sat in silence again, watching the volbeat and illumise finish wrapping up their decorations. A soft breeze washed over the courtyard, stirring the streamers and flowers and blowing a few stray petals free.

"I really don't know what to suggest," said Cleo. "But if you want to stay here, then… I'm not going to stop you."

Mischief gave a stiff nod. "Spark did say… that there might be a cure. Somewhere."

A cure… The thought had crossed Cleo's mind. But would there even be one for pokerus? No one had made the effort to find a cure. It was a beneficial virus. Some pokemon would spend years tracking down someone with it in its contagious stage just to catch it. Some had even tried to make money passing on pokerus, but it didn't remain contagious for long. The benefits would always remain, but the contagion somehow went away.

Now, when a cure was needed to combat a nasty mutant strain, where would one even start?

Cleo felt her heart sink into her stomach, but she hid it behind a smile. "We'll find one. We'll search for a cure, and bring it back here when we find it."

"Thanks, Cleo." He gave her a sad smile and leant his head back against the tree. "I'll miss you, but I think you're safer without me."

Cleo hugged her arms around herself and turned her attention back to the square, blinking back tears from her eyes. She didn't want to cry. It would only make Mischief feel worse. Pokemon were pouring out of the abbey into the courtyard, chatting and laughing, unaware of the conversation that had just unfolded. A few pokemon climbed onto the stage beneath the gazebo, clutching various musical instruments. Cleo thought she spotted Faith among them, her pink bow bobbing as she bounced on her toes with a violin in one paw.

Soon, the courtyard was filled with colourful pokemon. The band began to play, harmonious strings singing out through the dusky air. The volbeat and illumise wasted no time, rising above the gazebo, their tails flashing in beat with the music. The crowd broke into cheers, whooping with joy.

Cleo watched the bug-types as they twisted around above the courtyard, leaving behind trails of light. Together, they traced various shapes in the air from hearts and stars to Xerneas' cross that Cleo had seen carved into the door of the ruined abbey. She felt her tears settle, but she didn't find herself joining in with the crowd. Mischief was just as silent, watching the dance with a mixture of awe and sadness.

Cleo unfolded her paws from her lap to sit back against them in the grass. Her pads brushed warm fur and she glanced down at Mischief's brown paw beneath hers. He shifted slightly, turning his arm so he could wind his claws through hers. She looked up, meeting his orange eyes. Warm, yet damp with tears. Her heart lurched and she turned back to the dance, fighting back tears of her own once again. She relaxed her paw in his and joined him against the rough trunk of the willow.

Cheers rose up from the square as the mawile violinist broke into a jaunty, quick-paced solo. The volbeat and illumise broke apart, zipping back and forth as they ran rings around each other.

Cleo wasn't sure how much longer the dance went on for. Her mind kept playing over Mischief's words, leading back to their encounter with the noivern.

Safer without him…

If not for Mischief, Cleo and Spark would have died in that forest. They would never have come to the Fairy Garden. They'd never have learned the truth.

Cleo wound her free paw into the grass and bit her lip. As terrible as Mischief's condition was, Cleo had a lot to thank him for.

...

"Cleo?"

Cleo tore here eyes from the ceiling. Spark hopped up onto the edge of the hay nest, and the scent of lavender and rose tickled Cleo's nose. The motion created erratic shadows from the candle next to the bed as it flickered in protest at being disturbed.

"I missed you at the Dazzle Dance," said Spark.

"Sorry." Cleo turned her head to look back at the ceiling. "I was caught up talking to Mischief."

Her voice came out hoarser than she'd expected. She lay spread-eagled on her bed, exactly how she'd landed on it since she returned to their room. She'd barely moved except to wipe the tears from her whiskers.

Spark hopped up onto her friend's chest and her tiny nose twitched in Cleo's face. The dedenne sat back and wiped at the salty trails in Cleo's fur with her tail.

"What's wrong?" Spark asked. "Come on. Tell me."

Cleo rubbed her paws over her face and sighed. "Mischief wants to stay here."

Spark's ears pricked up. "Oh! Well…" She raised a paw in a shrug. "I can't say I'm surprised. It's pretty peaceful here."

Cleo grunted her agreement and stared up at the ceiling again. An ornate carving stood out from it, depicting altaria swooping around a sun as it stretched its rays across the room.

"So what are we gonna do?" Spark asked.

"I don't know," said Cleo. "Go back to New City, I guess."

"Tinker will be pretty ticked off."

"We can't do anything about that. I'm not going to drag Mischief with us just because Tinker says so, it's not fair."

"But he assigned us-"

"We can't exactly fight the Darkness alone, either," Cleo went on. "No matter what he's told us to do, if we continue without Mischief, we're as good as dead." She paused and closed her eyes, letting out a sigh. "I suppose we could go back to doing odd jobs or something?"

"That's always an option." Spark sat down on Cleo's chest and gazed off at the window. She stiffened and turned back to Cleo. "But… it's not exactly safe, is it? I mean…"

Cleo's eyes widened slightly. She knew exactly what Spark was getting at. No, they couldn't just return to New City and expect things to return to how they used to be. They had a price on their heads. Mischief would be safe in the Fairy Garden, but Cleo and Spark would still have Enigma trailing them. Stalking them. Waiting for the perfect moment to pick them off. There was always a chance he'd track them all the way back to New City, then what would become of the pokemon there? And even if Enigma wasn't in a fit state to track them, Hydreigon had other assassins.

Cleo's blood turned cold as the image of fire raging through a forest flashed through her mind. Howling shadows leapt from it spewing flames, eyes flashing crimson in the darkness. Her heart pounded through her ribs, and a look of concern spread over Spark's tiny face.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"We can't go back," Cleo choked. "Not now." She sat up, and Spark nimbly leapt aside to perch on her knee. "We're in a lot of trouble, Spark."

Spark shook her head. "We're not. Because like Mischief, we can stay here. We don't have to go back to New City."

"But there's a war, Spark. So many pokemon are fighting for their lives out there. We can't just abandon them to stay here in safety, it's not fair!"

"But we're just two." Spark spread her arms in defeat. "Just two. What can we do? We're not fairy-types. We don't have fairy-type attacks like Mischief. We'll be obliterated. Sure, we can hold our own, but we're being hunted down, Cleo. Wherever we go, we're just gonna bring danger on everyone else."

Cleo closed her eyes and sighed. Hearing Spark confirm her own fears made them feel a whole lot more valid.

"I know you want to help others, Cleo," Spark went on. "But just the two of us won't make much of a difference. Not against hundreds… thousands of Hydreigon's forces!"

Two. Just two.

Cleo's breaths came in heavy bursts as that image of a blazing fire filled her mind again. Howling flames spreading across a forest filled with meowstic and dedenne, amongst other pokemon. An entire forest swiftly overrun by a pack of vicious houndour lead by a wicked houndoom. Hundreds of innocent pokemon, wiped out in one day.

Just two. What could her and Spark do?

"Hey."

The pair looked round at the door as Cleo tried to calm her frantic breathing. Faith stood smiling at them, one paw on the door frame. A pair of blue eyes peered at them from around Faith's waist. Harlequin stood with their head low but their ears were no longer pulled back.

"I heard some heated discussion back here," said Faith. "Is everything okay?"

"That depends," said Spark. "How much did you hear?"

Faith gave a faint chuckle, but the concern was plain on the mawile's face.

Cleo looked away and wiped at her eyes. Tears had started to leak out again, and for some reason she was a little embarrassed to let Faith see it.

"I heard enough to say one thing." Faith tucked her paws behind her back and strolled into the room until she was beside the bed. She leant forwards slightly and closed her eyes in a smile. "Two pokemon can definitely make a difference."

"But…" Spark stuttered. "But the type advantage isn't-"

"Type advantage?" Faith shook her head. "Nonsense! What matters is not backing down." The mawile straightened but kept her paws clasped behind her back. "You might be just two. But you are two members in a massive army. And that army needs you."

Cleo looked up at her, forcing her tears back. "And what about Mischief?"

"We're all in that army," Faith explained. "Anyway. I didn't come hear to eavesdrop. I was just dropping Harlequin off. I hope you don't mind? I thought she might appreciate some familiar company."

The zorua shifted in the doorway, suddenly looking unsettled again. Their blue eyes flicked around the room as if it was all too much to take in, lingering briefly on the engraving in the ceiling.

Cleo's heart sank. She'd been looking forwards to actually sleeping through the night for a change. She hadn't expected to be keeping an eye on an assassin who might take the chance to kill them in their sleep.

Xerneas' words echoed through her mind. 'Death has no place here.'

Cleo relaxed and nodded, albeit a little stiffly. Faith looked back at Harlequin and motioned for the zorua to enter. The assassin lowered their head and slinked into the room like a scolded hatchling, stopping by the window to peer back outside.

"I also have a message for you," said Faith. "Xerneas wants to see you all first thing tomorrow. So get some sleep, okay?"

"Xerneas wants to see us?" Spark gasped.

"What for?" Cleo asked.

"I wasn't given that much detail," said Faith. "I was just told to bring you to him tomorrow morning. Sleep, okay?"

She gave them a friendly wave and left the room, closing the door silently behind her.

Harlequin watched her leave then returned to staring out of the window at the Fairy Garden. The zorua didn't say anything, but they didn't look afraid anymore. 'Overwhelmed' would be the more appropriate word to use.

Cleo looked away from the zorua to Spark still perched on her knee. They were both thinking the same thing. Xerneas wanted to see them the next day. But for what?

Spark blinked her large eyes and yawned widely. "Faith's right. We need to get some sleep."

"Yeah." Cleo caught her yawn and flopped back into the hay. "I'll try."

Spark scampered off to the small nest situated at the foot of Cleo's bed. Cleo snuffed out the candle on the table beside her, then rolled over to face the wall and tucked her twin tails around herself. She was worried sleep wouldn't come, that her mind would be fixated on Mischief, on the unknown events of the next day, or wondering whether or not her and Spark would make it through the night with Harlequin no longer detained by their collar. But just as the fog of sleep descended, it was broken by a feeble voice from the other side of the room.

"This world's a mess, isn't it?"

Cleo looked up, squinting through the shadows at the zorua curled up on the opposite nest. Had she just imagined it? Or had it been the start of a dream that had alarmed her back to consciousness?

Either way, she decided to venture a response. "Yes. It is."

Silence.

Perhaps she had dreamt it after all? As Cleo closed her eyes to summon sleep once more, Harlequin let out a strangled noise that could have been a sob. But the words choked out following it were as clear as day.

"A real mess."

...

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AdamFics: I'm glad you enjoyed the battle with Enigma! I was really excited for you to reach that chapter, as it shows how scary and capable Enigma actually is. As for Mischief's outbursts, I can understand the concerns. But given what Harbinger uncovered on Project B, Mischief is pretty far along with his infection. How this unfolds later you'll soon find out! If you've made it this far, you may have some idea now ;) Thanks for reading!

Thanks, everyone! Please R&R! =D