A/N - So sorry this is so late. I was up in Scotland for my Japanese exam this past weekend, and it was pretty busy as I needed to keep myself un-stressed. This was helped by finally FINALLY seeing koalas! Koalas!
But the exam day was still pretty dang stressful followed by a long drive home, and as a result I had a headache yesterday and was so exhausted I couldn't bring myself to proof-read. But I've done the exam now! And I should get my results next year. Then I have to do the next level if I pass! XD Anyway, here's this weekend's chapter.
Thanks for all reads, reviews, faves and follows! =D
I can finally say I've been to Scotland now. Woo!
61 - Moving On
Spark paced back and forth in the doorway. Faith was still curled up in her nest, her soft snores breaking the silence. Spark's nest was cold. She'd barely slept a wink, her mind whirling over every worst-case-scenario. It had only been one night since Cleo had left to look for Mischief. One night. As far as Spark was concerned, that was one night too long. Sure, Cleo had reassured her she'd only be two days, but that was two days Spark and Faith could have been watching her back. Two days they could have kept a look-out for the Darkness. Now Yveltal had awoken things could become a lot worse than they already were. No, it was inevitable.
A yawn froze Spark to the spot and her whiskers crackled. Faith plodded towards her, rubbing her eyes with a paw. Spark calmed, letting her long black tail go limp across the floor.
"Good morning." Faith's smile melted as she looked the dedenne up and down. "You look very on edge. Is something wrong?" When Spark didn't answer, Faith added, "You've been chattering to yourself."
"Sorry," said Spark. "Did I wake you?"
"No. I just woke to hear you muttering." Faith tucked her paws behind her back and forced a smile. "Shall we get some breakfast? That always cheers you up."
"No." Spark kicked at the floor. "I'm not hungry."
Faith's violet eyes widened and she stood up straight. Her expression softened. "Oh, Spark… You're really worried about Cleo, aren't you?"
Spark threw her arms up in exasperation. "We're never apart! What if some murkrow flock mobs her? She's still not recovered, Faith! And she's out there, hobbling all over the mountains?! We could be helping her!"
Faith sighed and rubbed the base of her horn. "I know it must be hard for you. You two have been inseparable since you were hatchlings. You're like sisters."
Spark nodded and leaned against the doorway. "Yup. But what can I do? She told us to wait here."
She exchanged glances with Faith and a smile spread across the mawile's face.
"Do you want to go looking for her?" Faith asked.
"Finally!" Spark pushed herself from the wall and turned from the room. "I thought you'd never suggest it!"
Faith caught up with the dedenne. "All you had to do was ask, Spark."
"I needed a clear conscience!" Spark looked up at her, widening her eyes. "I needed to know my worrying wasn't for nothing!"
Faith shook her head and averted her gaze. "So how do you suggest we find her? She could be anywhere by now."
"She said she was going to the mountains," said Spark. "But they are pretty big. So I suggest we use Harlequin's nose."
Faith nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. But how do we get her? Tinker won't be too happy if we just break her out, and I don't wish to push his ire any further."
"Leave Tinker to me." Spark marched on ahead of her. "I know how to make him listen to reason."
Faith trotted to catch up with her. "I hope you'll be using a painless method!"
"That depends on how stubborn he is."
They found Tinker in the dining hall. Spark had assumed he'd be up early, but she hadn't expected to find him in the middle of what looked to be a meeting. He sat between Sandpaw and Skipper. Starshine and Scout sat opposite him with a shrewed Tad. The young marshtomp cowered under his mother's scolding glare. The other two hatchlings kept a watchful eye on her while they silently ate their berries.
Tinker looked up as Faith and Spark entered the room, his eyes widening in surprise. "You're up early!"
"I could say the same for you." Spark hopped up onto the table and grabbed a plate.
"Oh no! It's Spark!" Scout snatched several pancakes off the large serving plate. "Quick! Grab your breakfast before it's all gone!"
Sandpaw's shoulders bristled and she flashed her canines. "Scout! Don't be rude!"
The younger furret sank back in his seat, a small smirk quivering on his lips as he held back a snicker.
Sandpaw looked at Spark, then Faith as the mawile sat down beside her. "I am so sorry about him. I have no idea where he gets it from."
Lily grunted and nodded to Tad. "Thissun."
Spark waved a paw at him. "Nah. It's fine! He kinda has a point." She grabbed a lone pancake and two oran berries and sat down with Starshine.
The little swablu beamed at her. "I heard Cleo's out. Do you think she'll have found her friend yet?"
Spark lowered her berry from her mouth and exchanged glances with Faith. "That's… kinda why we're here."
"What?" Tinker frowned at the dedenne. "Don't tell me you want to send out a search party? Cleo specifically said she'd be out for two days."
"And if not, then we were to worry, yeah." Spark nodded. "But she's wounded, Tinker. I wanna go and find her."
"Well I'm not stopping you. You're a Guild Warrior. One I currently have no task for." Tinker folded his arms. "So why did this warrant disturbing my meeting?"
"Yeah, about that." Spark spoke around a mouthful of pancake. "You're in the dining hall. Anyone could just waltz in. I mean, we just did."
Tinker rubbed the bridge of his muzzle. "Spark. If you want something, get to the point."
"We want Harlequin." Spark took a huge bite of an oran berry.
Tinker's eyes flashed and he looked from the dedenne to Faith and back. "Harlequin is a prisoner."
"Come on, Tinker," said Faith softly. "Harlequin has proved enough times she can be trusted."
"I don't trust dark-types."
"Well let's recap," said Faith. "Harlequin gave the antidote to Meredith. She protected Scout from those murkrow."
"Yeah, she was awesome!" said Scout.
"And she's come back here wanting to defeat Hydreigon," Faith added. "I think she's proved you can trust her."
"Yeah, come on, Tink," said Skipper. "Give 'em a wee break. Type don't matter. Ye should ken that more'n anyone, sure enough."
The marshtomp's gaze rested on Starshine, and Tinker followed it.
The little swablu shifted with unease and looked up at each of them. "Why are you staring at me?"
Tinker sighed and lowered his face into his paws. "Fine. Take Harlequin. I've got too much to deal with right now, anyway. With all this snow melt the tunnels are caving in."
Spark almost choked on her pancake. "What?!"
"Don't worry yourselves," Tinker hissed.
"Don't worry?!" Spark gasped. "Tinker, that's not something you should just be all casual about! What if some assassin finds a way in?"
"It's happened before! The excavation team is already on it."
Spark held the riolu's livid stare. "Which tunnels?"
"The tunnel to the cells is fine, if that's your concern." Tinker placed his paws on the table and stood up. "I'll be in my office if anyone needs me."
"Wait." Sandpaw grabbed his arm and Tinker's expression softened as he looked down at her. "I… I want to go with them."
Tinker's ears drooped slightly. "You… want to go with them?"
"Yes." Sandpaw looked over at Scout who's cheeks were bulging. "Now Scout is old enough I'd like to try and find the Fairy Garden, with Faith's help."
Tinker clenched his jaw. "This again?! Sandpaw-"
"Please!" The furret tightened her grip, forcing herself to meet Tinker's blazing glare.
Tinker stared at her for a moment longer. Then he sighed, closing his eyes. "I was hoping you'd stay…"
"You already know that wasn't my plan, Tinker. I always planned to find the Fairy Garden." She lifted a paw to turn his face towards hers. "Why don't you come with us? Everyone here? We could all go."
Tinker shook his head and stood back from her. "I'm not leading everyone here across Estellis to look for some fabled magical garden."
"Then I'm sorry." Sandpaw blinked back tears. "I'm going. Perhaps one day… I'll see you there?"
Tinker waved a paw and turned his back, heading for the door. All eyes watched him, leaving the dining hall in silence.
Spark blinked at the door, struggling to find the right words. The occasional sob from Sandpaw broke the silence. Faith placed an arm around her, trying to comfort the shaken furret.
Starshine lifted his head to look at Scout. "You're leaving?"
Scout shifted in his seat. "Yeah…"
"But what 'bout Team Heroes?" Tad asked. "Y'can't go!"
Sandpaw's sobs grew heavier and she sank in her seat, covering her face with her paws.
"I have to," said Scout. "My Ma needs me."
"That's reet she does," said Lily. "After that nyaff Tink got 'er all upset n'all." She paused and caught Scout's eye, forcing a smile. "Ye go'n' look after ye Ma, hon. Ye'll see Tad'n'Starshine again, sure enough!"
Skipper cleared his throat and pushed his chair back from the table. "Speakin' o' Tink, I'd better… go check on 'im."
Lily nodded, her eyes narrowed. "Ye do that. 'Cos if I go after 'im 'e'll be gettin' a reet skelpin'." She turned her soft gaze onto Sandpaw. "Are ye all reet, dear?"
"Yes." Sandpaw wiped at her eyes. "I'm fine. We… we should get ready. Come on, Scout."
Scout didn't move. He looked between his two friends, who stared back at him with wide eyes.
Starshine shuffled towards him, his eyes glossy with unshed tears. "You're really leaving?" He looked to Sandpaw.
Sandpaw looked as if her heart would break into a million pieces. She nodded stiffly.
Faith leaned across the table to Spark. "You go and get Harlequin. I'm going to help Sandpaw. I'll meet you at the mountain exit."
Spark nodded and scampered across the table, leaving her pancake half-finished.
...
Cleo jerked awake from a deep, dreamless sleep as two paws clasped her shoulder, shaking her violently. Psychic energy hummed in her ears as she sat bolt upright, turning on her assailant. She met a pair of wide, orange eyes. Mischief fell back from her onto his bottom, his shoulders sinking with relief. It was followed by a loud whine as he broke into sobs, sinking sideways against the cold, damp wall.
Cleo shut off her psychic and pushed herself to her knees. "Mischief-?"
"What do you think you're doing?!" he snapped. His eyes turned livid and he flashed his canines. "I thought you were dead!"
Cleo opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the right words.
Mischief dragged his paws over his face, letting out a flustered breath. "I thought I…" He shook his head. "I can't…"
"Are you still sick?"
As Mischief met her gaze, Cleo realised that had been a poor choice of words.
She cleared her throat and tried again. "You had a fever when I found you. The cold had got to you."
He kept one eye on her as he gathered up the blue cloth. It was strewn in the middle of the cave as if he'd thrown it off in his panic. Cleo guessed that was exactly what had happened. Rather than cover himself again he folded the sheet into a rough square with stiff, forced movements.
"You shouldn't be near me," he said bluntly. "I'm not safe."
Well that was a complete change to his attitude the night before. Cleo cast a glance at the cave mouth. Faint light leaked through as the sun rose on the other side of the mountain. When she turned back to Mischief he'd abandoned the blue sheet beside her in a shoddy bundle. Cleo picked it up and tucked it into her bag.
"Harlequin told us everything," she said. "I'm really sorry, Mischief. It must have been such a shock to you."
"He's lucky I didn't kill him too."
Cleo looked up at him. "Who?"
"Harlequin." Mischief rubbed his face and let out another sigh, shaken with repressed sobs. "Where is he?"
"In the cells with Scratch and Claw."
Mischief hugged his knees to his chest, avoiding her gaze. "How long have you been here?"
"Only since last night." Cleo pulled her bag back onto her shoulder. "I should be asking you the same question."
Mischief snorted and turned his head towards the back of the cavern.
"Do you really not remember me finding you?" Cleo asked slowly.
Mischief shook his head. "All I remember is waking up thinking I'd killed you."
Cleo's heart clenched and she closed her eyes. Why hadn't it been obvious to her he wouldn't remember anything? He'd been so delirious. She should have been more careful.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be." Mischief rubbed his face again as more sobs took over his body. "I'm the monster, not you."
Cleo leaned forwards on her knees. "You're not a monster."
"I am a monster, Cleo!" He looked up at her, his eyes wide. "I killed Flutterwick! I told them to run, but none of them did and I killed him!" He took a few breaths and sank down against the wall until he was lying on his side. "What must he have thought of me? I was meant to be his friend!"
The cavern echoed with his sobs. Cleo closed her eyes, fighting back her own tears.
"You're all better off without me," he said. "That's why I came in here to die."
Cleo sank back onto her tails, her heart heavy. All she could do was listen to Mischief's erratic breathing as his sobs lessened into ragged breaths. Silent tears streaked over her cheeks to soak through her ruff. Her paws ached and she became aware she was digging her claws into the hard soil. She wiped her paw on her satchel and took a steadying breath.
"Mischief, please let us help you." Her voice shook despite her attempts to still it.
"How?" His voice was muffled and he wiped a paw over his nose. "There's no cure, Cleo. Nothing. It didn't work. And… and I'm getting worse." He took in a trembling breath. "I keep… going dizzy… and then I don't remember anything."
"Are you sure that wasn't just the fever?"
"No. It wasn't. It's all the time! Since Spark asked me if there's any foreshadowing to my outbursts I've been paying more attention. And there is. I get dizzy. But now it's almost all the time."
Cleo felt sick to her stomach. She swallowed back bile. "How couldn't you know that?"
She met his bloodshot stare and immediately regretted her words. His answer stung her. "Because I don't know what 'normal' feels like."
Cleo licked her dry lips and glanced aside. "You can't give up hope, Mischief. There has to be a cure."
"If there is, I'll still remember everything I've done. I'll know I've killed other pokemon."
"But it's not you!" Cleo turned to meet his eyes again. "I know you, Mischief. And I want to help you. You're my friend."
His eyes softened with warmth and he held her gaze for a moment. "That's what frightens me." Tears trickled over his fur to mix in the dusty floor and he closed his eyes. "Please. Just go."
Cleo dug her claws into her knee. "No."
He looked up at her again with a look of defiance.
"I'm not leaving you," she said. "I can't bare the thought of being away from you again."
"And I can't bare the thought of hurting you."
Cleo held his gaze. "You won't"
She reached into her bag and her heart flipped as her paw found the detainment collar. For a brief moment she warred over offering it. She still didn't know how he'd react, and given his current frame of mind he could either take it really well or really badly.
With a sigh, Cleo set the collar on the floor with a soft clatter. Mischief's eyes immediately went to it, and he pushed himself up onto his elbow.
"What's this?" He looked up at her, his expression hard and unreadable. "Harlequin's prison collar?"
"I've had Tinker modify it," Cleo explained, forcing herself to speak slowly and confidently. Her heart was racing. "You'll be able to use all your attacks, but you won't be able to touch me." She paused to give him a moment, and he looked back down at the collar. "You'll be able to travel with us again safely."
He placed a paw on the collar gingerly. "And what about everyone else?"
"I'll deal with that problem. If anything happens, I can get you away to a safe distance."
Mischief pushed himself up, lifting the collar in both paws. He turned it thoughtfully, his eyes turning distant and hazy.
"Don't think of it as a prison," Cleo went on. "You'll be able to fight against the Darkness again, safely. And we can also help you to look for a cure at the same time." She paused, then added, "It will be a lot less lonely this way."
Mischief said nothing as he examined the collar. His mind seemed to be elsewhere. For a moment, Cleo began to fear the fever had taken over him again.
When he did speak, it took her by surprise. "You know, I had really given up."
Cleo raised her head. "'Had'?" She watched Mischief brush his paw over the collar's metallic surface.
"Yes." He took in a ragged breath. "But if there's still hope out there, then I want to hang onto it."
"Does that mean you'll join us again?" Cleo couldn't hide the hope in her voice.
Mischief gave a small nod. "If you can guarantee this collar will work, then yes."
A smile played at Cleo's lips and she leaned towards him to take the collar. She snapped it open, and Mischief flinched at the sudden sound amplified by the hollow cave. She looked from him to the collar. Once it was on him, that was it. So long as she wore the bracelet, she wouldn't be able to touch him. Her paws brushed the soft, creamy fur around his shoulders and he raised a paw to her arm, stopping a hair's breadth away. Cleo froze, meeting his warm gaze. Her heart leapt in her chest as the previous night came rushing back to her like a tidal wave. Even if he didn't remember it, she did. She wanted to know if he'd meant it.
The frantic worry had vanished from his face and instead he looked… sorry. Yet there was a tenderness behind his eyes that stirred something deep within Cleo, and she struggled to bring herself to fasten the collar. But she needed to stifle it. Doing otherwise would only make this much harder than it already was.
His paw brushed against her fur as he reached up to stroke her face. His arm trembled as he softly combed his claws through the fur around the base of her ear. Cleo's heart lurched into a gallop and she closed her eyes, fighting the urge to lean into his paw.
"I'm sorry." His breath tickled her muzzle. "But I know I won't be able to touch you again when this collar is on. And… I really wanted to."
Cleo bit her lip against fresh tears as her stomach tied itself in knots. She leaned into him, pressing the ends of the collar together. The snap echoed around the cavern with an unsettling air of finality that reminded Cleo of a slamming door.
...
Thanks for reading! Next update should be this Saturday, and be back to normal from then.
