A/N - Thanks so much for all reads, reviews, faves and follows! =D This is a pretty intense chapter packed full of content. It builds up towards the fifth and final part, but please heed the content warning if you're of a sensitive disposition.
CONTENT WARNING - Blood, wounds, and allusions to self harm.
Part 4
It took Harlequin over a week before they joined in with training classes. Running up to that, Niana had taken the zorua on privately. Enigma didn't see much of Harlequin in that time. Whenever he went to check on the zorua they were either not in their room or asleep. The two times he did managed to catch up with them was when Harlequin sought him out, poking their nose into his room in the late hours of the morning. One of those times had been for a game of Chess, which had gone on until sunrise. It was the first time Kera met the unusual zorua, not that Enigma hadn't told her about them. It hadn't gone down well. Harlequin had bristled under Kera's glare, and soon left Enigma's room muttering that they needed to get ready before Niana wondered where they were.
Harlequin's presence in the training class caused a bit of a stir. Niana had given them a baton, carved from a branch that had been broken from one of the trees near the barracks. Assassins didn't usually use tools, so Harlequin's use of one only added to the strange air that the zorua gave off.
Enigma wasn't the only one distracted during training. Harlequin was swift, diving past Niana to tap them with the baton clutched in their jaws. The scrafty would counter it with a swing of their arm, which only made Harlequin grin. Enigma wanted to know what the zorua found so amusing. If they'd been countered then surely their attack had failed?
Frozen claws whipped past Enigma's face, coating his fur in a bitter frost. He shook his head sharply and turned to meet Kera's disappointed face.
"Look sharp!" She folded her arms and sighed. "What's with ya today?"
She followed his gaze towards the zorua as they pivoted behind Niana to jab them in the tail with their stick.
"Ignore Harlequin," Kera told Enigma. "We're supposed to be graduatin' soon! Ya need to pay attention!"
"Sorry." Enigma turned back to Kera and raised his paws. "I'm ready this time."
"Ya should be ready all the time!" Kera jabbed a claw into his scarf. "What if someone were to sneak up on ya, huh? Ya'd be mince meat!"
"With your claws, yes." Enigma rubbed at his chest as Kera retracted her paw.
A playful smirk brightened Kera's muzzle. "Well it keeps ya on ya toes! Now… have ya got any new moves to try on me? 'Cos no offence, Enigma, but ya battle style is gettin' a bit predictable."
"Predictable?" Enigma narrowed his eyes at her.
"Oh come on, ya have a pattern!" Kera placed a paw on her hip. "Ya vanish into the floor and pop up behind me and bam! If it ain't that, then ya just tossin' shadow balls. It's been the same for the past… what… seven seasons?"
Enigma snorted and folded his arms. Predictable, huh? He vanished before her eyes, catching a surprised raise of the eyebrow. Kera turned her head to look for him, tracing the shadows and twitching her ears for his bell.
Silence.
Enigma had to stifle a chuckle as he watched her. She paced around where he'd vanished, then turned towards the door. Enigma slipped behind her and grabbed her arm, eliciting a squeak from the weavile. She turned to face him as he manifested again, and the banette burst out laughing.
"See?" he said between gasps. "That wasn't predictable."
"That was just some childish prank!" she gasped, snatching back her paw. Her voice sounded angry but her eyes betrayed her humour. "I thought ya'd got mad and left, I was gonna go lookin' for ya!"
"Childish?"
"Ya missin' the point, Enigma!"
He took her arm and lead her back to the spot they'd occupied. A few curious glances were fired their way by the gabite Tannen and his dragon companions, and they soon turned their attention back onto Harlequin as they continued their distracted training session.
Enigma and Kera returned to their spar, but despite warming up the effects of Kera's icy wind still lingered, making Enigma's movements more sluggish. Her dark-type attacks frequently hit home and Enigma could feel himself wearing down.
He glanced to the window, noting the moon high in the sky. Soon, they'd be stopping for lunch. As he failed to dodge another beat up from the weavile, Enigma wondered if he should try a move he'd been practising in his room for the past few days. The idea had come to him while he was bored, and he'd wanted to perfect it before pulling it on Kera.
The weavile raised her claws in a night slash and Enigma decided that it was as good a time as any. He vanished, but not into the shadows. Kera stumbled, blinking at the spot the banette had previously occupied. With a soft jingle, he reappeared behind her and slammed a paw into her back.
The weavile gasped and stumbled forwards. Enigma warped before her and caught her in his arms. Her look of surprise was joined by a deep blush and she pushed herself back from him. She scratched behind her ear, diverting her gaze as she caught her breath.
"What was that?" she asked.
"Phantom force." Enigma stared at his claws and sighed, shaking his head. "I don't like it. It just isn't fast enough."
"Not fast enough?!" Kera rounded on him, her eyes wide. "That's ya strongest attack yet! Who cares if it's fast or not?"
"It's not my style." Enigma raised his paws in a shrug. "I want to be quick, not held back waiting to reappear behind my target. If they knew what was happening then that would give them enough time to catch on and counter it."
Kera's paws hung limp at her side as she stared up at him. "I guess…"
"Right!" Jex clapped his paws together, bringing the training to a slow stop. "Time to wrap it up! There's no trainin' this afternoon. Barracks are a dump. We need 'em cleaned."
The trainees groaned and Enigma felt his heart sink. Cleaning duty? Was it really that time of year already?
"I don't care whatcha think!" Jex roared. "Go to Niana an' she'll assign ya'll a task. Hop to it!" He clapped his paws again and the trainees sulked over towards Niana.
Harlequin appeared at Enigma's side, still clutching the baton in their jaws. "Cleaning duty?"
"Every year." Kera folded her arms and pouted. "I always thought it were a rookie job, but no. They're assignin' us older lot n'all. Guess movin' up in the ranks don't free ya from menial work, huh? I'd much rather just go to bed."
"Hopefully they won't have us digging over the mess holes this time," said Enigma.
Kera wrinkled her nose and shot him a glance. "Think it were the only time I envied ya not havin' any paws. All ya had to do was hold the bucket."
Enigma chuckled, making his bell jingle.
When they finally reached Niana, the scrafty looked up from her list and nodded to Enigma, Kera then Harlequin.
"You three? Trainin' hall," she said. "This place could be used as a dragon's dust bath. I want it clean before dusk."
Kera looked between Enigma and Harlequin. "Us three?"
"Do ya see anyone else?" Niana motioned to the door. "Each of ya grab a broom and get a wiggle on."
Kera muttered under her breath and stomped from the room, leaving Enigma and Harlequin to follow after her. The supply closet was by the front of the barracks, stuffed with various equipment from books to tools. Enigma groaned inwardly at the mess of books that he'd neatly stacked only a week before. Kera tossed him a broom and grabbed the matching dustpan and another broom for herself. Harlequin glared after the weavile as she left the closet, then climbed in to search around the cleaning supplies.
Enigma was about to join the zorua and help, but Harlequin lifted their head from behind the supplies and dragged out a small brush and dustpan. The zorua had to drag it by the handle in their jaws, but they didn't even look at either of their companions as they passed.
Enigma shrugged and followed after Harlequin and Kera. The training room was empty, and their claws echoed loudly over the dry earth. Kera begun at the far end, whipping up a cloud of dust with her broom. Enigma decided to start at the opposite end and meet her in the middle.
Harlequin watched the pair beside their small dustpan, looking between the two. Kera opened her mouth to say something, but Harlequin grabbed their tools and trotted over to Enigma to sweep up the pile he'd created.
Well, with the three of them working together it shouldn't take so long.
"They didn't give us much of a heads up did they?" Harlequin scoffed.
"They don't," said Kera, her voice echoing slightly. "I quizzed Niana on that last year. She said they used to, but come the day so many of the assassins here would claim to be sick. So they decided to drop it and just dump it on us, that way we wouldn't get the chance to cry off."
Enigma flashed her a knowing grin. "I take it you wanted to do just that?"
"Oh aye!" said Kera. "Rotten lot ruined it for the rest of us."
Harlequin snorted, disturbing some of the dust from its pile.
Enigma laughed at Kera and continued sweeping, creating piles for Harlequin to scoop up.
"If we get this done fast enough," said Kera, "we might even have enough time for a game of Chess or somethin'."
"They don't expect us to keep training?" asked Harlequin.
"No one said anythin' about keepin' trainin'," said Kera. "We were told that was it for the day." The weavile paused to look head on at the zorua. "Besides… ya don't exactly train do ya?"
Harlequin narrowed their blue eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well ya just leap around with a stick." Kera shrugged and whisked up dust into the dustpan standing beside her. "Assassins ain't meant to use tools, yanno. We're meant to fight."
"I am fighting," said Harlequin. "Lord Hydreigon took me on to be a poison user."
"But ya ain't a poison-type," said Kera.
"Exactly." Harlequin puffed out their chest, and Kera's eye went straight to the stone around their neck. "My targets will never see it coming."
"And what's that?" Kera nodded to the stone. "'Cos I doubt that's protocol, either."
Harlequin looked down at their pendant and grunted, returning to their duties.
"I don't see a problem with it," said Enigma. "I think it's more interesting to see a pokemon do something out of the ordinary. Better than the boring same-old every day."
Harlequin flashed him a glance, which didn't go unnoticed by Kera.
"Really?" The weavile folded her arms and shifted her weight to one leg. "Well Harlequin ain't gonna get stronger that way. Are ya?" She aimed a glare at the zorua. "Pokemon get stronger through combat and, like Enigma there, zorua evolve through battling too. Ya ain't gonna evolve if ya keep smacking your opponents with a stick."
Harlequin bared their canines. "I don't want to evolve."
"Well it's gonna happen," said Kera. "Ya'll be forced into proper combat sooner or later to build up ya strength. Deal with it."
"Then…" Harlequin shifted uneasily. "Then I'll wear an everstone."
Mischievous fire lit up in Kera's eyes and she leant her broom against the wall. "An everstone? And how exactly are ya gonna carry it?"
"I'll wear it."
"Ya can't." Kera raised her paws in a shrug. "Ya can't wear anythin' that can be used against ya! Someone could grab it and strangle the life outta ya, or it could get snagged, or worse… lost and leave valuable evidence!"
"Don't lie to me!" Harlequin spat. They nodded towards Enigma. "He wears a scarf, and has a bell somewhere. You can't tell me assassins can't wear stuff!"
Enigma looked down at Harlequin's pleading eyes as they looked towards him for backup. He shrugged and gave a small sigh.
"They're made from ghost materials, I can manipulate them," he explained. "Besides, even if they weren't then I could just phase through them and escape."
"And leave evidence," Kera added as she returned to her sweeping.
Enigma shrugged again and turned back to the zorua. "Sorry, Harle. You're best speaking to Niana. I can't help you here."
"Oh, just evolve," said Kera. "It ain't that bad. It only hurts for a short while, and I bet it'll hurt a zoroark a lot less than Enigma when he evolved." She flashed him a playful smile. "I remember ya screamin' like a baby!" The weavile snorted laughter and wiped a claw across her eyes.
"Well at least I look cool now!" Enigma retorted playfully.
Harlequin's hackles bristled and they dropped their brush to the floor. "I don't want to evolve! What part of that don't you understand?!"
"Why not?" Kera asked.
"I just don't, okay?!" The zorua closed their eyes briefly and looked towards the door. "I'm gonna go speak to Niana."
Harlequin's claws scraped over the floor as they dashed towards the door.
"Ya meant to be cleanin'!" Kera called after them.
The doors swung on their hinges as Harlequin fled through them in a blur.
Kera sighed and begun sweeping again with increased vigour. "Great. This will take even longer now."
"Don't you think you were a bit hard on him?" Enigma asked.
"Him?" Kera looked up with a start. "What?"
"Harlequin." Enigma narrowed his eyes at her. "He's scared. You didn't need to jab at him like that."
"It's character buildin'." Kera paused her cleaning and narrowed her eyes at him. "Ya think Harlequin's a boy? What're ya on?"
"That's what Jex told me." Enigma looked back at the door. "Besides, aren't zorua predominantly male? I thought that was why there's so few of them."
Kera shrugged her shoulders as she begun cleaning again. "Then maybe I'm wrong. What does it matter? Get a wiggle on, ghost dude. I wanna get this over with so I can chill before sunrise."
Enigma rolled his eyes and complied. "Maybe we could watch it? It looks like it might be a good one."
"What? No way." Kera shuddered and cast a wary glance towards the window. "It's way too hot at this time of year. I can't stand it."
That was fair.
Enigma turned his focus onto cleaning, desperate to get it finished before the sun rose. If Kera didn't want to watch the sunrise, then maybe he could think of something else for them to do. They'd had so little time to spend together lately. It would be nice to finally catch a break.
...
Kera stretched until her spine cracked and let out a long groan. "Finally! That took forever!"
The sun had almost completely risen by the time Enigma and Kera had finished with the training room. Harlequin hadn't returned to help them, which Kera had gradually turned more and more prickly about. The pair had swept the entire room including the walls, leaving it almost transformed.
Enigma stopped at his door, ready to phase through it, and opened his mouth to bid Kera a good rest, but the weavile stuck beside him. She gave him an expectant look and Enigma took the hint. The weavile wasn't going to bed yet, despite how exhausted she looked.
"So…" Enigma turned the handle and pushed the door open. "Chess?"
"It would help me wind down, yeah." Kera yawned and followed him inside, nudging the door shut with her foot. "After all that I could use a bit o' fun."
Enigma dragged out the chess board, feeling Kera's eyes on him the entire time. His fur prickled around his neck, and he silently thanked his scarf for keeping it hidden.
The weavile flopped down opposite him and began to set up her side of the board. She turned a Nidoran in her claws and examined it before setting it in place.
"Thinkin' about what Harlequin said…" she began.
Enigma looked up at her with a start. She'd not mentioned the zorua since they'd abandoned them.
"It's pretty convenient ya can just… carry whatever ya want," Kera finished. "Like… none of us can, yanno?"
"I wouldn't say that," said Enigma. "I can't carry a bag unless it and all its contents were made from dusclops cloth and honedge steel. I'd have to abandon it if I needed to escape, or travel quickly."
Kera shrugged her shoulders and made her first move, nudging a Nidoran across the board one square. "Well, it fascinates me. I never thought a ghost could just transport their belongings like that. So I guess ya can't carry anyone with ya unless they were a ghost-type too?"
Enigma raised an eyebrow. He'd never considered that. "I guess not." He casually took Kera's Nidoran and popped it beside him.
Kera smirked at him, saying nothing about his move as she focused on the other side of the board. Was she distracted again? Enigma couldn't tell.
"So why do ya wear a scarf?" Kera asked. "I noticed you started doin' that after ya evolved, but I never thought much about it until Harlequin pointed it out."
Enigma shrugged. "My mother's cloak would never fit me, really. I want to keep her close."
Kera stared at him for a moment, her eyes softening. She sat back on her paws and twitched her feet. "That's kinda sweet actually. I… well I don't remember my mother."
Her expression turned distant and Enigma thought for a moment she was going to elaborate on that. But instead she shook her ears and fixed him with a curious tilt of her head.
"And what about the bell?" Kera asked. "I never see it but it rings all the time! Ya've had it since ya came here."
Enigma turned his focus back onto the game. "My Dad gave it to me, shortly before… well…" He retracted his paw and the Knight he'd been moving toppled over. He hugged his paws around his knees and took a deep breath. "You know what happened."
Kera took a sharp breath and looked away from him as he stood his Knight back up. "So… why d'ya keep it hidden?"
"I never really thought about it." Enigma turned back to his game. "As a shuppet I didn't have paws so I'd carry it in my body. It was easier than dragging it around in my mouth."
"But ya have paws now?"
"I guess I never grew out of the habit?"
Kera looked up at him as curiosity lit up her eyes. "So where do ya hide it?"
Enigma opened his mouth to answer, then stopped. That look on her face… he couldn't turn down an opportunity to mess with her. Instead, he chuckled and moved one of his pieces across the board. "That would be telling."
"Aww c'mon!" Kera leaned forwards on her knees. "Why won't ya tell me?"
"I like to keep some things secret." He flashed a grin. "It's in my name after all."
"Pff, fine." Kera puffed her cheeks out. Then her eyes glittered and she bounced in her seat. "Can I at least guess?"
Enigma raised his paws in a shrug. "Sure. But I don't have to answer."
"No, ya do! If I get it right, ya tell me?" Kera pleaded. "Capiche?"
"Okay, sure." Enigma leaned his head on one paw and pointed to the Chess board. "It's your move."
Kera quickly moved her Nidoqueen and Enigma raised an eyebrow as she plonked it right in the thick of danger. "Is it in ya scarf?"
"No, it's not in my scarf," said Enigma. "I didn't have one when I was given the bell."
"Well ya can't hide it in ya body," said Kera. "It'd be dangerous, right?"
"Would it?" Enigma purred, meeting her gaze.
Kera flicked her feathery tail and pouted. "Ya havin' me on, surely?"
Enigma shrugged again and a playful grin spread across his muzzle.
Kera shook her head and sighed, but it was cut off sharply as he took her Nidoqueen with his Knight. "Well that wasn't fair!"
"You put it there," he said flatly.
She shook her head again and looked up at him, her expression serious and calculating. She trailed her eyes over his body, making his fur prickle around his shoulders.
"What about ya tail? It's fluffy enough, right?" she asked.
"Nope." He sat back on his paws, the jingle of his movements making Kera's ears twitch. "It's not secure enough. It would fall out."
Kera's eyes lit up at that comment and she leaned forwards over the Chess board. "It's in ya mane ain't it?!"
"Wrong."
"Nah, I'm right!"
He shook his head, but he couldn't stop a smile forming at the excited look on Kera's face.
"C'mon!" she said. "Prove it to me! It's there, right?"
"I don't have to prove anything," he said. "Make your move."
"All right then." Kera scampered over the board, scattering all the pieces. "I'll check myself!"
Enigma recoiled as Kera reached for his mane. He moved backwards until his back touched the wall.
"Kera, cut it out!" He caught her flailing paw in his.
"C'mon, I only wanna check!" she retorted.
She reached with her other paw, but lost her balance, toppling forwards onto Enigma. Her nose bumped his and he jerked his head back so hard it bounced off the wall with a jingle. He grunted at the impact, but thankfully his mane took most of the punishment.
"Yikes, are ya okay?" Kera asked, pushing back slightly.
Enigma looked up to answer her, but his words froze in his throat. She was close enough for him to see the golden flecks in her eyes. His heart began to race and he silently willed it to slow down perchance she heard it. Her breath tickled his face as she said something he didn't quite catch. Claws tightened on his shoulder and he thought she was about to push herself back. He didn't want her to, but how could he stop her?
She didn't. Instead she inched closer until her nose brushed his again. Enigma's heart flipped into his throat.
"I give up," she whispered. "Ya win."
Enigma no longer cared. He reached up to stroke her feathered ears with his claws and brushed his lips against hers. A sigh washed over his muzzle, and she trailed the back of her paw over his cheek towards his mane. He pulled her into him, catching her in a kiss.
Kera looped her arms around his neck, returning it as she nestled into him. Heat spread from Enigma's ears to his feet. He didn't remember ever feeling so warm. Kera's claws combed through his mane and she shifted, her breath catching. Her ear twitched and she pulled herself back. Her face was flushed beneath her black fur and she looked away from him towards the door. Her claws trembled with nerves and she shook her head.
"Sorry," she muttered breathlessly. "We shouldn't be doin' this." She stood up and scurried for the door. "I should go."
"Wait!" Enigma watched after her as she fled his room, his heart still pounding. "Kera!"
The door slammed behind her and Enigma blinked as he tried to work out what had just happened. He pushed himself to his feet, staggering so his bell jingled erratically. Everything was spinning in a web of confusion. He slipped through the door and across the hall towards her room.
As he slipped through her door, frantic sobbing reached his ears. He manifested in Kera's room and his eyes widened at the sight of the weavile huddled on her bed. Her face was buried in her paws, but she looked up when she heard his bell.
"Please go away!" she begged.
"Not until you tell me what's going on."
"Ya know full well what's goin' on," she choked. "We can't, Enigma. It's against the rules. Assassins can't have families or loved ones. We're not even meant to have friends!"
Rage boiled in Enigma's chest and he stuttered for a moment before finally spitting out, "Well it's rubbish!"
"Is it?" Kera turned so she was facing him, and her eyes flashed with fury. "If one of ya targets were to catch me and hold me hostage, would ya go through with ya job or would ya take risks to rescue me?"
Enigma's mouth flapped open, speechless.
"My life shouldn't matter!" Kera went on. "Ya go through with ya job regardless, unless it harms Lord Hydreigon."
"And what about you?" Enigma asked. "If the tables were turned, would you risk your job for me?"
Kera met his eyes and what Enigma saw in them both excited and terrified him at the same time.
"I don't know…" The weavile blinked back tears and hugged herself, diverting her gaze to the wall. "That's what frightens me."
Enigma stood by the door, speechless. He didn't know what else to say. Ripwing had been right. Kera's loyalties had been altered. Enigma took in a deep breath. He had to do something. Could he get them both out of the Shadow Lands?
"I think we need to stop seeing each other." Kera's quiet voice cracked and she choked back a sob.
Enigma jerked his head around to look at her. It was as if an icy spear had pierced his heart. "What?"
"I'll find another trainin' partner," Kera went on. "Ya should do the same."
"But Kera-"
She raised a paw to cut him off. She didn't even look at him. "Just stop. It's for the best, okay? Now leave. I want to be alone."
Her voice wobbled and tears glistened on her fur, but she still wouldn't look his way.
Enigma faltered for a moment, trying to find words that could change her mind. There was nothing. He turned and slipped through the closed door as the icy claws of loneliness clutched around his heart.
He slumped back against Kera's door and took a deep, trembling breath. What was he meant to do? Kera had been his only companion since he'd arrived in the Shadow Lands. His only other friend, Ripwing, had left and there was no news as to what had happened to the gentle salamence.
Enigma rubbed a paw over his eyes as tears threatened to break free. He needed to get back to his room and try to sort out his head. There had to be something he could do to change Kera's mind. He didn't care if they only remained friends, so long as he got to see her. That playful smile, her constant jokes and laughter… he already missed her. A low groan escaped his throat and he pushed himself back from her door.
It hurt.
As he staggered towards his room, a soft noise tickled his ear fur. A whimper? He turned his head to look down the hallway. It wasn't coming from Kera's room. It wasn't her voice. Was it coming from one of the others?
He crept down the corridor following the noise as it grew louder, finally stopping at the door second from his. The whimpering was definitely coming from there. He frowned as he realised who's room it was. Harlequin?
Enigma muttered and turned to walk away. But something gnawed in his chest with urgency. It wasn't the whimpering of a frightened pokemon. It was pain.
Enigma gave himself a mental shake, turning himself invisible as he slipped through the closed door. He almost popped back into reality as his eyes fell on the zorua. Those icy claws of loneliness turned into thorns of dread. Harlequin lay in the middle of the room, surrounded in a puddle of blood. They held an iron thorn in their jaws and were jabbing at something sticking out of their right leg. A low whimper resonated from their chest as they desperately tried to remove whatever it was, but each prod just sent the thing deeper.
Enigma leapt towards the zorua and whipped the iron thorn from their jaws, causing Harlequin to yelp. "What are you doing?!" Enigma hissed.
Harlequin whined and fixed wide, sapphire eyes on the banette. They widened as Enigma grabbed the zorua's paw, slick with blood.
"Get off me!" Harlequin howled, trying to yank their paw back.
Enigma kept a firm grip as he tried to grab whatever was sticking out of their limb. The zorua wailed, gnashing helplessly at his paw.
"Stop it!" Enigma snapped. "I have to get it out!"
"Put! Me! Down!" Sapphire flames burned in Harlequin's glare as they opened their jaws wide to attack.
"Do you want to bleed to death?!"
Dark energy turned to shadowy wisps around the zorua's fangs and the anger left their eyes. Harlequin reluctantly sank back to the ground, panting heavily. The whites of their eyes showed as they kept a close watch on the banette.
Enigma returned to trying to prise the sharp object from Harlequin's leg. Whatever was sticking out was thin and hard, and he struggled to get a decent grip on it. Harlequin yelped and tried to tug their paw back, but Enigma kept a firm hold to try and keep them steady. Harlequin was growing weaker, their cries turning into feeble whimpers. The zorua was exhausted, most likely from blood loss. The stony fragment slipped in Enigma's claws but after what felt like an eternity he managed to tug it free.
He released Harlequin, letting them flop back onto the floor. They placed their other paw gingerly over the wound, their blue eyes frantic as they watched the blood pool away from them. Enigma glanced around the room, trying to make sense of what was happening. Lying a little away from Harlequin was a needle and thread already prepared, and what Enigma slowly realised was an everstone sat next to it. A chunk of it had been broken off and lay in crumbling fragments around it. Had the zorua actually been trying to force part of it into their body?
"Am I going to die?" Harlequin's voice was barely more than a whisper.
Enigma looked back down at them. They weren't looking at him. Their eyes were blank and distant, as their breaths came in quick bursts.
Enigma shook his head, reaching for the thread and needle. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
The needle was covered in blood and dust, but if he didn't work fast then Harlequin didn't stand much of a chance. Of course, he wasn't going to admit that. With trembling paws, Enigma began to sew up Harlequin's wound. The zorua wailed but didn't resist, instead kicking their hind legs. Tears streamed down their face. The wound wasn't as big as Enigma had first suspected. In a matter of seconds it was closed up, although the banette's work was somewhat shoddy. Tufts of fur stuck out from around the stitches in a mangled mess. He tossed the bobbin aside and stood up, tracing his eyes over the zorua's body. Harlequin's blue eyes were fixed on the far wall, unseeing. But their chest rose and fell frantically as their tongue lolled from their mouth. Their blue feet were almost dyed rusty red and clotted with dirt from the floor.
Enigma shook himself and left the room to return to his. He needed to get something to fasten around that leg. The scraps of his cloak would have to do. Again, it was dusty, but he didn't have time to look for something else. Besides, the barracks weren't great at keeping their medical supplies in top condition. They were all stored with the cleaning supplies and books, stuffed on a shelf.
Enigma tore a piece off the cloak and whisked it back to Harlequin. The zorua didn't fight as Enigma fastened it around their leg. Once the bandage was in place, Enigma hoisted Harlequin into their nest.
"Get off me," Harlequin whispered, shoving Enigma away with their good paw.
Enigma stared back into their sapphire eyes, rage boiling inside him. "What on earth were you doing?"
Harlequin didn't answer. But Enigma was growing more certain as to what the zorua had been trying to do. He glanced around the room again at the broken everstone, the fragment that had been wedged in the zorua's leg… and on the floor beside their bag, the strange stone Harlequin held dear.
'I don't want to evolve! What part of that don't you understand?!'
Enigma closed his eyes and grimaced. Kera… Had her words really driven Harlequin to this? Or had it been Niana? Both, maybe?
Was there anything Enigma could have done to prevent it?
He picked up the remains of the everstone and looked back at Harlequin. "I'll get this cleaned up. You rest."
Harlequin closed their eyes and let out a small whine. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because I feel like you need a friend."
Harlequin's eyes widened with surprise. They curled their paws towards their chest and rolled away, turning their back to him.
There was more behind those words than Enigma had intended. His gaze wandered to the door, but he couldn't see Kera's room. Her door would now always be closed… his heart ached. He shook it off then turned from the room.
"I'll get you some sitrus berries," he said. "You should eat them before any infection sets in."
Harlequin didn't reply. And they didn't say a word as Enigma mopped up the mess, desperate to get it done before Jex or Niana saw it. As far as he was concerned, no one needed to know. Harlequin was in no state to argue their case. They were terrified enough already.
...
Despite how exhausted he felt, Enigma couldn't sleep. His mind was reeling over the events with Kera and Harlequin. Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see was blood and Kera's pained face. Her words echoed through his mind, mixed with the frantic screams of Harlequin until the events blurred together.
It wasn't until the sun set that Enigma finally dragged himself from his nest. Stale hay clung to his dishevelled mane and he shook it out to no avail. He had no energy to preen himself. He adjusted his scarf and slumped from his nest. Nausea claimed his hunger, but he wanted to make sure Harlequin had actually eaten the berries. They'd been sound asleep by the time he'd finished cleaning their room.
As Enigma slipped through his closed door he almost walked smack into Niana. The scrafty recoiled with a yell of surprise, then quickly regained her composure as she slicked back her mohawk.
"Jumpin' joltiks, Enigma!" she gasped. "Give a girl some warnin'!"
"Sorry." Enigma ruffled his mane and cleared his throat. "Didn't see you there."
"Clearly." The scrafty raised an eyebrow as she looked him up and down. "Ya look like ya ain't slept in months. Is somethin' wrong?" She punctuated that by plucking a piece of hay from his fur.
He sighed and raised his paws in a weak shrug. "Just the major drawback of insomnia," he lied. "I was actually going to check on Harlequin."
"Why?" Niana narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong with Harlequin?"
"He… had an accident." Enigma paused, noting the concern that spread over Niana's face. "He's wounded. I don't think he'll be joining us today."
"Neither will you, lookin' like that," said Niana. "Take the day off. Ya no use to us in that state." She waved a dismissive paw as she stomped past him. "Ya might as well look after Harlequin, n'all, eh?"
Enigma watched the scrafty go then crept towards Harlequin's room. Soft noises came from the surrounding rooms as the assassins stirred in their nests. Enigma was through Harlequin's door just as a jangmo-o exited the opposite room, yawning widely.
Harlequin lay curled up in their nest, their sides rising and falling steadily. The bucket of water Enigma had left beside the bed was untouched, the zorua's paws still matted with dried blood. The pouch of berries, however, lay on the floor empty save for a few sitrus skins. Relief washed over Enigma and he picked up the pouch to take back to the storage room.
Harlequin's ear twitched in his direction and the zorua raised their head slightly. One sapphire eye locked onto the banette, widening briefly with fear.
"Wh-what are you doing in here?" Harlequin mumbled.
"Checking you ate your berries." Enigma waved the pouch. "Niana's given you the day off. Enjoy it."
The banette turned from the room but froze as Harlequin asked, "Did you tell her?"
"What? That you maimed yourself?" Enigma fired a glare over his shoulder. "Do you think I'm that heartless?"
"I don't know you." Harlequin shifted in their nest so they were facing him fully. "Besides, isn't being heartless part of the assassin job requirement?"
Enigma closed his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. He wasn't about to let the zorua rattle him while he was still reeling from his argument with Kera.
"Go back to sleep, Harle. You lost a lot of blood." Then, leaving the room, he added under his breath, "I should know, I cleaned it up."
"No one asked you to."
Enigma froze part way through the door and glanced back at the zorua. So their hearing was as good as their nose? He shook his head and stormed to the closet to return the pouch. Jex was already there, and he gave Enigma a questioning look. The banette didn't answer. He dropped the pouch in the shoddy pile with the rest, then turned towards the queue of pokemon waiting for their rations. A few glares were fixed on him, thick with accusation.
"Don't worry, I've not been helping myself," Enigma scoffed.
A heavy paw fell on his shoulder and he looked back to see Niana staring down her brother.
"Harlequin needed medical berries," she told Jex. "Enigma was just returnin' the pouch."
Jex shrugged. "Whatever. No skin off my snout. Get in line if ya want ya breakfast." He nodded to the back of the queue.
Enigma gave it one look and frowned. He wasn't hungry today, no matter how much his stomach complained. As he turned away, he realised he'd noticed something. He jerked his head back towards the queue, scanning the pokemon hungrily licking their chops or practising their moves as they eagerly waited their turn.
Enigma's heart sank. There was no sign of Kera.
Should he check on her? He trotted back down the corridor, and faltered by her door. No… she'd told him to leave her alone. But that didn't mean he couldn't watch out for her, did it? He stood close to her door and dropped his density until he was invisible to the naked eye. Then he strained his ears over the noise of the barracks. It was useless, he couldn't hear a thing. Silently cursing under his breath, he phased part way through her door.
The nest was empty.
Where was she?
He whipped himself back into the hallway, muttering under his breath. Should he go and look for her? His feet answered that question for him as he found himself walking towards the back of the barracks. Harlequin's door opened as he went past and the zorua's blue eyes followed him down the corridor.
"Where are you going?" Harlequin asked around the bucket in their jaws.
"Lake."
The zorua trotted behind him, limping heavily on their right paw and leaving a trail of wet footprints. "Me too. I need a drink."
Enigma's fur bristled and he swished his tail, but he didn't say anything. He didn't want the zorua following him around like a wooloo especially while he was trying to find Kera, but he couldn't begrudge them a drink. It was a relief they were up and about anyway.
Soft moonlight leaked down onto the lake, illuminating the ripples over the surface. Harlequin dipped their nose towards the water and lapped quietly, leaving Enigma to look around at the surrounding foliage. A small movement caught his eye beyond the willow tree, and he thought he could just make out the silhouette of a weavile. The moonlight glinted off water droplets as they tossed water over their face.
Enigma relaxed and turned away, gazing out over the lake. He slowly realised he was thirsty himself, and joined Harlequin on the bank. The weavile's soft footsteps made him look up, and he watched her return to the barracks. So it had been Kera? Relief washed over him and he finished his drink and stood back.
Harlequin shook water from their whiskers and fired Enigma a glance. "Is something wrong? You seem off."
"What makes you say that?" Enigma asked. He looked back at the weavile's retreating shape.
"You're not your usual playful self," said Harlequin. "It'd be obvious to anyone here." The zorua paused, following his gaze. "And you didn't even say 'hello' to Kera."
"Was it her?" Enigma shrugged. "I hadn't noticed. I guess zorua have a better sense of smell than banette?" He walked away from Harlequin, following the trail back to the barracks.
"That's true." Harlequin limped after him, wincing with the effort to keep up. The empty bucket swung from their jaws. "But I don't believe for one second you hadn't noticed."
Enigma slowed his pace to match Harlequin's limp and tucked his paws behind his back. "Whatever. Friends argue."
"You're not just friends, though, are you?"
Enigma hissed and fixed the zorua in a fierce glare. Harlequin cowered beneath it and pulled their ears back.
"Keep your voice down," Enigma warned. "Or your mouth shut. One or the other."
He stormed away from the zorua, desperate to get back to his room and shut himself away forever. Harlequin's uneven footsteps echoed behind him, and he tuned them out as he phased through his door. Moonlight bathed his nest from the gap in his blind, and he tugged it aside to block it out to no avail. Giving up, he flopped heavily onto his back in the hay. How had things gone so badly? He covered his face with his paws and groaned. Loneliness stabbed him like a pawniard's blades. He just wanted to escape. To get out of the Shadow Lands and never look back, and if he died trying then so be it. The Darkness had taken away everyone he cared about, anyway.
Claws scraped the door, tearing through his thoughts and dragging him back into his musty, damp room. He cracked his claws to peer at the door as Harlequin's slender muzzle nudged it open.
"What do you want?" Enigma spat.
Harlequin closed the door with a hind-paw and sat down heavily in the dust. Their sapphire eyes fixed on his. No fire behind them, just the slightest hint of fear that the zorua was trying hard to suppress.
"You said yesterday I needed a friend." Harlequin shrugged their shoulders. "But I think you're the one who needs it more."
Enigma's fur smoothed out and he removed his paws from his face. A small smile spread across Harlequin's muzzle and they glanced away as if eye-contact caused them physical pain.
"I don't expect you to talk to me," the zorua went on. "You can if you want. I don't know what's happened with you and Kera, but I know what it's like to lose someone." Harlequin's voice cracked as they added, "At least she's still here, and you know she's okay."
"I guess." Enigma stared up at the ceiling and sighed.
"So… do you wanna play Chess?" Harlequin asked. "Or shall I just curl up in the corner and quietly keep you company?"
"What makes you think I want company?"
"Just a feeling." Harlequin shrugged again. "I'll leave if you want."
"It's fine." Enigma pushed himself up and smoothed the hay from his fur. Somehow the moonlight didn't bother him anymore. "I'll get the Chess board."
...
Days rolled by, turning into weeks. An eternity seemed to pass before the leaves began to change colour, dropping their hold on the trees they'd accompanied for two seasons to drift in a rainbow of reds, oranges and yellows onto the sandy floor. Enigma sat on the edge of the lake, watching the golden boughs of the weeping willow trace ripples on the murky surface. The sun was setting, painting the sky behind him a vibrant red, smudged with black clouds that warned of rain. Estellis needed it.
He wasn't looking forward to training that day. Most of the assassins had been called out to the Border Woods to deal with a group of outlaws. Rumour had spread that they were planning an uprising, and Hydreigon's forces were still too weak to deal with a rebellion from his father's followers. Niana had taken a large group of assassins with her, along with most of Yurlik's flock, leaving a disgruntled Jex behind to keep an eye on the newer recruits to the barracks. Enigma had been asked to assist him, much to the chagrin of those he trained alongside.
Enigma didn't want that task.
The Shadow Lands felt quiet. The forces had only left that morning, hoping to get a sneak attack in on the outlaws. Since Enigma had been awake and heard everything, Jex had recruited his assistance immediately. Enigma couldn't help but wonder if it was to keep him quiet. Spreading news of a possible rebellion would be too risky given the unbalance that was still contaminating the Shadow Lands. Those secretly harbouring hatred for Hydreigon would be too tempted to join in. Much like Enigma himself.
He picked up a smooth pebble from the bank beside him and skimmed it out over the surface of the lake. It bounced along a few times before sinking with a quiet plop several feet away.
"Nice."
Enigma almost leapt from his skin. Harlequin sat behind him, nodding with approval. Enigma settled back on his paws and let out a repressed sigh.
"Still worrying about your new job?" Harlequin asked before picking up a pebble in their jaws.
Enigma nodded and looked back out at the lake. "I don't think I'm the one to help train a bunch of rookie assassins."
"I think you are." Harlequin's voice was muffled by the rock.
They twisted their head back and spun, sending the rock skidding over the water. Enigma watched it bounce along past where his had vanished before it sank into the murky depths.
The banette stuttered and jerked his head around towards Harlequin. "How?"
Harlequin fluffed out their chest. "I'm a zorua of many talents."
Enigma chuckled and scooped up another stone. It was less smooth than the previous and didn't go far at all. Harlequin snorted laughter and sat down beside him.
"You might think I'm the right fit," said Enigma. "But I'm as much a rookie as the rest of them."
"You've been here longer than most of us left behind," Harlequin reminded him.
That wasn't exactly true. Sure, Enigma was older than the hatchlings who'd joined the barracks towards the end of the warm season. But Kera, Vixen, Tannen and Jannen had also been left behind, and they were a whole lot more skilled than he was. Harlequin knew full well the only reason Enigma had been asked was because he'd overheard everything. Because he'd been sneaking, and Jex had caught him. And, in typical Jex fashion, the scrafty hadn't been annoyed, he'd been impressed.
Harlequin motioned for him to follow them with their muzzle. "Come on."
With a sigh, Enigma pushed himself up. Harlequin stood a little way away from him, watching him with soft sapphire eyes. He fell in step at their side as they headed back to the barracks. The zorua had grown considerably since they'd joined over a season ago. The top of their head reached past Enigma's waist. But they were still small and scrawny underneath all that shaggy, unkempt fur.
The remaining assassins were already awake when he returned, hovering around the rations table to grab their breakfast. Those that had finished were stood in the training hall, firing punches to warm up before their training session. A few leers were thrown in Enigma's direction, and the banette balked and took a step back from the door. It wasn't just their reaction that had bothered him. Kera stood against the wall licking oran juice from her claws. She hadn't spoken a word to Enigma since the end of the warming season, and every time he saw her his heart ached. She had one eye fixed on Enigma, but when he noticed her watching she looked away and kicked back from the wall to join Tannen. The gabite flashed Enigma a menacing grin as he lead Kera out into the middle of the training room.
A chill ran down Enigma's spine and he clenched his fists tight. He watched Tannen ready a flamethrower, the flames licking around his sharp canines. A heavy paw landed on the banette's shoulder, snapping his attention away from the spar between his former friend and the arrogant dragon. Jex stood over him, his eyes narrowed in a way that told Enigma he meant business.
"Right." The scrafty nodded towards the assassins flooding into the training hall. "I need you to keep an eye on things with me, all right? Make sure everyone's doin' what they're meant to be doin'. No goofin' off, no laziness. I want everyone here in top shape when Niana comes back, an' that means you too. Understand?"
Enigma felt a jolt deep in his chest, and his bell jingled in response. How much did Jex know?
Given the odd number of assassins left, Enigma helped Harlequin hone their skills. Harlequin leapt towards him to strike with their wooden baton. It was oddly difficult to dodge. The zorua was fast. Even Enigma's warping wasn't enough to avoid getting clipped. He was silently thankful Niana had banned the zorua's use of their nidoking horn.
"That's my tail!"
The cry caused Enigma to freeze and Harlequin's baton struck him hard in the ribs. He doubled over, clasping a paw to his chest. The zorua muttered an apology around the baton, but their voice was drowned out over the sudden argument that had exploded between the new recruits.
A nikkit stood with his tail between his paws, canines bared at a fluffed-up purrloin.
"Watch where you're putting your paws, you dumb cat!" the fox snapped.
"Dumb?!" The purrloin's back arched and she swished her tail. "Watch who you're calling 'dumb' you stupid fox!"
The other hatchlings were stood aside watching. A scraggy and dark-furred meowth wore silly grins on their faces while a zigzagoon cheered them on, his tongue lolling from his mouth.
"Bite her ears off!" he goaded the nikkit.
The nikkit's ears pricked forwards and he lunged towards the purrloin. But the kitten reared back and lashed at his face with her claws. Tiny specks of blood splattered the floor and the hem of Enigma's scarf.
"That's enough!" Enigma cut between them. "You're supposed to be training, not maiming each other."
A low growl came from the nikkit but the small fox didn't retort. The purrloin, however, craned her neck to see around Enigma's legs. Her claws were out and a loud hiss came from between her teeth. She looked back up at Enigma and swished her tail.
"Move it, ghost," she warned as her lip curled back in a sneer. "This isn't your fight!" Her eyes narrowed. "It will never be your fight."
As she made to lunge past him, Enigma grabbed her by the scruff. The nikkit winced back, but the purrloin never reached him. The feline hissed and spat, kicking her feet as Enigma dragged her across the training hall. He dropped her in the far corner and glared down at her. The purrloin's ears pulled back and her fur fluffed out, but instead of retaliating she huddled down, back arched. Enigma stared at her for a moment longer before turning his back to stalk across the hall towards Harlequin.
"Well done," Jex told him as he passed. "I'll take it from here."
Enigma watched the scrafty stomp over to the now cowering purrloin then returned to assisting Harlequin.
"That was fierce," said the zorua. "Sorry you had to put up with that."
"It was nothing," said Enigma. "Just silly kids."
Harlequin's expression told him they'd overheard everything, and that it wasn't just 'silly kids'. He looked away, catching Kera and Tannen watching him. He thought he saw concern in the weavile's eyes, but the gabite only looked amused as he muttered something to Kera. Enigma tried to ignore it as he returned to his battle with Harlequin, but those words echoed around his head until the sun finally rose.
'It will never be your fight.'
Enigma had always felt out of place in the Shadow Lands. Having some insolent hatchling point it out only made him feel even more so.
...
Enigma was last from the training hall, making sure all the trainees returned to their rooms. He finally went back to his alone, but when he arrived there he found Harlequin waiting by their own open door. They quickly stepped out to greet him with a wide yawn.
"Get some sleep," he said, reaching for the handle.
"Later," said Harlequin. "I don't like sleeping straight after-"
"Straight after training, I know." Enigma pushed the door open so Harlequin could head in before him.
He'd got used to it over the past season. Harlequin rarely ever went straight back to their own room, always joining Enigma in his for a game of Chess before falling asleep on his bedroom floor. Enigma had lost count of the times he'd had to either wake them or carry them back to their own nest.
As he turned to follow Harlequin inside, another door clicked open behind him. He looked back to meet Kera's red eyes peering out from beyond it. Enigma's heart skipped a beat, and he masked his surprise by clearing his throat.
"Good morning," he muttered as he stepped into his room.
"Ya did well."
Her voice surprised him, freezing him mid-step. He hadn't expected her to say anything. He'd just assumed she was going to wash up before bed and was trying to avoid running into him.
He turned his head to meet her eyes, but she was looking away from him. "Thank you."
The weavile shrugged. She hesitated in the door for what felt to Enigma an eternity. Just when he thought she might say something else, she closed her door abruptly. He could just hear her claws over the dry earth as she retreated to her nest.
Enigma stared at her closed door, feeling a lump form in his throat. He gave himself a mental shake and forced himself to join Harlequin in his room. The zorua stood watching him, and once they'd caught his eye they inclined their head questioningly.
Enigma closed the door and silently paced over to his nest to retrieve the Chess board.
"What happened between you two?" asked Harlequin quietly.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself about." Enigma sat back on the floor and began setting up his side of the board.
Harlequin joined him on the opposite side, setting each piece neatly in its place. "Well I hope you eventually work things out."
Enigma shrugged. "It's unlikely. Kids are different to adults. Once you start taking things seriously here, you put your job first."
Harlequin eyed him curiously and raised an eyebrow.
"We don't have friends." Enigma put a lot of emphasis in that last word.
The zorua's eyes widened and they retracted their paw from the Chess board. "Oh…"
Enigma watched the pain spread across Harlequin's face. They drew their ears back and shuffled a paw on the dusty floor. Enigma sighed and pushed himself up.
"Maybe this was a bad idea." He nudged the Chess board with his foot back beneath his bed then climbed onto the hay. "You can leave if you want."
Harlequin didn't leave. Instead, they stared at the door, every muscle in their body as taught as a coiled spring. Enigma rolled his head back against the cold wall. No friends. No family. Without even thinking, he'd removed his bell and rolled it in between his paws. The soft jingle caused Harlequin's ear to flick his way, and they turned their head towards him.
"It's pretty." Harlequin's voice snapped him from his thoughts. The zorua sprang up onto the hay beside him and nodded to the bell. "Where did you get it?"
"My father."
"So you weren't raised in the Shadow Lands?" Harlequin asked.
Enigma felt a jolt shoot down his spine. He shook his head, avoiding the zorua's questioning gaze.
"So… where did you come from?"
Enigma took a breath as he braced himself to answer. "I… don't really remember."
If Harlequin had detected the lie they didn't reveal it. They shuffled a paw in the hay and gazed at the far wall. "I was raised in the Border Woods. Yurlik snatched me and brought me here. I… only had one friend, and he was taken away from me. So… I suppose I get it."
Enigma looked up at the zorua then, probing them with his own questioning gaze.
"The whole assassin thing," Harlequin elaborated. "Why you can't have friends or families. To lose someone, well… it hurts. Lord Hydreigon needs us in top form, right? So it makes sense. It protects us, and it protects the Shadow Lands."
Enigma grunted and shrugged. He wasn't sure he agreed with the zorua. He turned the bell in his paws, and his reflection scowled back from its silver surface.
"So if you don't consider me a friend," Harlequin went on, "then that's fine. But it doesn't mean we can't keep each other sane, right?"
Something about that statement made a lot of sense. Maybe it was just the zorua-traits speaking, to suggest a friendship could be masked as nothing other than keeping each other company. Illusions were their strength, after all.
Enigma closed his eyes and chuckled. "You're a strange one, Harle."
Harlequin shrugged and cracked a half-smile. "Eh. I suppose."
"Well, I'll take you up on that offer." Enigma shuffled round on his bottom and tossed the bell towards the zorua. They caught it instinctively in their jaws, and their sapphire eyes widened with alarm. "Like you said. We need to be in top form."
Harlequin blinked, unable to speak around the bell's thick ribbon. Enigma clapped his paws and spread them. Taking the hint, Harlequin swung the bell back towards him. Enigma caught it nimbly in both paws.
Harlequin smiled, their entire face lighting up. "Then I guess I'll do my best to keep you sane."
"Likewise." Enigma tossed the bell back towards them.
Harlequin wasn't taken off guard this time, snatching it up by the strap and tossing it back to him in one swift movement.
Rather than a game of Chess, the pair sat in the hay chatting until the sun was high above them. By then, Harlequin could barely keep their eyes open. They flopped into the hay, curling their tail around their paws. This time, Enigma didn't move them. He sat beside the sleeping zorua, soothed by the soft, rhythmic snores that filled his room. Much to his surprise, the next time he opened his eyes it was sunset, and Harlequin had gone.
...
Review Replies
Williamlap - Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying Enigma's backstory. There's a lot in it, such as the experiment in the last chapter, that adds up to his current state of mind in the main story. I felt a little anxious at how long this side-story is (it's more than twice what it was originally!) so I'm happy to hear someone is enjoying it =D I hope you liked this chapter too.
Thanks everyone! Please R&R! =D
