Hello, everyone! This is Umbrocity, or Lonely Riolu if you didn't notice the pen name change. Here's another chapter of Slayer of Gods! Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Plotting Perfection

Narration

"Talking"

Thinking/Memories/Flashbacks

Emphasis

Super Emphasis

Super-duper-emphasis

What the hell does caretaker mean?wondered Umbra, glancing back and forth the list of available work in Rosedale Town, which he still found to be more of a city than a town. He had not come to a conclusion, and wouldn't come any closer until a certain familiar, puffy mass of fur appeared next to him, offering him a warm smile. Umbra didn't bother returning the smile, trying to act too busy to acknowledge Auburn's presence. She had come after him, her day having come to an end and willing to help the Umbreon and his Kirlia friend to find something to earn their living by. While Auburn wasn't too hostile in any sense of the word, she did have a temper typical of most Fire-type Pokémon when angered. She didn't exactly appreciate Umbra's ignoring her and she wasn't going to let it go unfixed. She gave him a not-so-light surprise smack to the face with her front paw. Umbra's head was thrown back slightly and his cheek was left with a dark red bruise.

"Um… Ow", Umbra said, putting on his best mocking/indifferent tone, rubbing his cheek as if just trying to fix his fur. The smack he had received had hurt but he wasn't going to show it. Auburn beamed at him with a mixture of frustration and anger, basically forcing him to realize she was there and upset. Umbra sighed, realizing there was no way out of this that didn't involve either talk or a hospital trip his empty wallet wouldn't appreciate.

"What is it, Auburn?" he asked as politely as he could manage, considering she had just smacked him. Auburn scoffed almost condescendingly.

"You're askin' what it is? Well, IT is that I was here to help you pick out a job and you gave me the air treatment! I don't exactly appreciate that kind of stuff", she said, switching into a more deliberative tone of voice, not wanting to spark a bad relationship between them. Umbra, on the other hand, grimaced and turned back to the job list.

"I don't recall asking for help. If I need any, I will do so. I…" He turned back to Auburn, a stern expression plastered on his face. "… I appreciate the concern but I should be able to pick my own work", he said, almost sounding sarcastic, but a certain gloominess still prominent in his speaking. Auburn nodded but didn't leave.

"I understand. But I'd still wish to help you, if you'll let me. After all, you're not from around here, so you might need someone who can get you used to local customs and such", Auburn argued.

"I suppose that makes sense. Damn it, why do females always make such good points?" Umbra joked, earning a chuckle from Auburn.

"It's because we've got something you males don't: a brain", she countered, nearly making Umbra smirk. She didn't know it, but that alone was an accomplishment worth relishing. Umbra let her help find him some work and soon he was out of the building, having accepted a job offer as a caretaker. Maya soon followed with an application for an assisting healer's job in hand. Auburn chuckled at Maya's enthusiasm and Umbra's content air, and soon she headed home, a hot bath being all that filled her mind. Little did she know, however, that a pair of ominous eyes followed her from the high window of a large mansion-type building. A raspy yet youthful voice sounded within the room.

"I want to know everything about those two new Pokémon, and the Flareon as well. As mayor, I wish to know EVERYTHING that goes on in this town, and I haven't been informed of any new townsfolk", it said, addressing the three shadowy figures at the door on the other side of the room. One saluted, one nodded and one rubbed its paws together.

"Yes, sir!" said the first one, his voice youthful and loyal. He was tall and thin, but his hips were unnaturally wide. His arms resembled blades and his head was akin to a Spartan helmet.

"Consider it done, milord", said the second one, her voice full of menace but also an odd, seductive tone. Her ears were long and fluffy and her paws were covered with similar, fluffy, pale fur.

"We'll find out eeeeeeverything…" said the third, his voice old and trembling. His long, red claws looked sharp enough to slice through steel, and his long, flowing hair, colored black and crimson, emphasized his evil grin. He had a foxlike build.

The mayor turned to his henchmen, grinning devilishly. He had a slick, green torso and a long, leaf-like appendage that started at the top of his head. His hands had two similar leaf-like appendages each, just shorter, and he was wearing a pale blue dress suit and pants. His head was reptilian and he had a cigar in his mouth. He waved his hand and the three figures exited the room. The mayor sat back on his arm chair, stubbing out the cigar on an ash tray. He opened a magazine that had a very enticing Servine on the front page. He sighed with satisfaction and returned the magazine in its drawer.

"Soon, my love. Soon. So swears Marre the Grovyle…" he muttered before shutting the curtains and returning to his paperwork.

Auburn arrived at her house and opened the door. She sighed with relief when she closed it, having survived another day at that crazy police station. She shed her police attire, which consisted of an officer's cap and the cyan ribbon that said "RDPD – Rosedale Police Department" as well as the copper badge that said the same thing. As if the force didn't make themselves clear enough with just either one, the Flareon thought to herself. She was rather new at the job but she hadn't joined the police just like that. She had gone through straining training programs and education those with weak minds would never consider. But she had done it. Sometimes she wondered why. It would've been much easier to just inherit her father's grocery stand and live a quiet life with no hassle and no worries. But she wasn't that kind of person. She wanted, craved even, adventure, excitement and blood-pumping situations that made one's heart pound feverishly.

Auburn left the water running, dropping a few soap bubbles in the tub, which soon filled with purifying foam that would wash away all the day's stress. Oh, how she longed to hop in the water, regardless of being a Fire-type. Oh, she couldn't wait for the relaxing, ecstatic sensation of the-

There was a knock at the door. Auburn groaned very audibly and stopped the water, hoping that it would stay warm until she got rid of whoever was at the door. She didn't care if it was the chief, the mayor… It could have been the man of her damn dreams, but if they disturbed her daily bath time, oh she would shove their business up their-

"Hiya, Auby!" chimed a familiar, friendly voice as Auburn opened the door. Her close friend, Nady, a Lopunny, was at the door. Auburn's frustration vanished instantly. Nady was the nicest person she could imagine, hands down. She was always so understanding and helpful. A bit of a coquette, maybe, but the Flareon considered that Nady's way of having fun. The Lopunny strode in, gushing over Auburn's newest door decoration, which was a bell common among Eeveelution mothers, but often used as an accessory for the cubs rather than a door decoration. Nady sat on the couch, soon to be joined by Auburn.

"I didn't come at a bad time, did I?" Nady asked politely, wishing not to inconvenience her bestie. Auburn shook her head slightly, though her eyes gave away her real answer.

"No, not at all, Nady. I was just about to take a bath but that can wa-"she was cut off by Nady, who gasped in exaggerated, yet apologetic, surprise.

"Ohmigosh, no! A girl needs her bath time, Auby! You take your time, I'll be back in… How long do you need, hun?" Nady said frantically.

"Nady, stop", Auburn said, humored by her friend's reaction, "I'll just take a bath later. You came by for something, right? You're not one for simply hanging out." Nady giggled at Auburn's modesty. She was not surprised that she could read her so well. She wasn't exactly a mysterious bunny.

"Ok, ya got me, Auby. I just happened to see you with a couple of unfamiliar faces today. Were they your friends, or were they somethin' else?" Nady inquired, not wanting to push the matter if Auburn didn't.

"Oh, those two! The Umbreon and Kirlia. Yeah, they're new in town, came in last night. One of the guards let them in. I think it was Scion, the little Riolu? What about them?" Auburn explained. Nady's face was now one of interest and, just for a second, of malice.

"Sooo… Do you know what they're doing here? You know, 'cause I'm a journalist and I need to let the townsfolk know what's going on with this place", she justified her further interest in Umbra and Maya.

"Nady, you don't have to justify wanting to know about new people, not to me. You know I'd tell you anything", Auburn reassured her friend, "They came in last night because they didn't have a place to sleep, so Scion, a night guard let them in. They say they're looking for the Umbreon's sister, an Espeon named Melody. The Umbreon said they won't stay for long, though, so I don't know how important it is for the town to know. They'll just do some work in town, earn some money and then they'll be off. But if you think it's important to put this on the paper, then I won't ask." Nady was memorizing everything Auburn said and was getting hungry for more. But she couldn't show that to Auburn. The Flareon would think it was weird.

"So… What did you say their names were?" she asked, trying to hide her thirst for more information.

"I didn't. The Umbreon's name is Umbra and the Kirlia is Maya. Is that all you need?" Auburn replied, half willing to help her friend, half eager to get to her bath. Nady nodded, not wanting to push too far, as that could seem suspicious, even to her trusting friend.

"That's all. Thanks, dear. You're a real friend. This'll make a great side story for Rosedaily", she chirped and made her exit with wishes of a good, long bath. Auburn sighed in relief, finally at peace to return to her bath. But when she checked the water's temperature, it had cooled down. She sighed, this time in aggravation, and lit up the coals under the tub, warming the water back up in seconds. She climbed in the tub, finally sinking into the relaxing euphoria of foam and hot water. Her thoughts focused on Umbra. I wonder how that Umbreon will take to handling kits… she mused, but soon found herself free of any worry and stress, thanks to her bath's relaxing effects.

In the president's mansion in Dion, Marlo the Banette was busy at work, nearly buried under all the paperwork a president had. Even with all his assistants at work, helping him from neighboring rooms via an intercom, he had too much work for his cloth-like fingers to bear. He soon took a short break, collapsing on the bed, exhausted by a full day of writing and making calls. He had one last call to make, though: to the leading scientist of Project Eternal Life. He picked himself up and slowly wandered to his desk, picking up his phone and dialing the number. Soon enough a rather old-sounding voice answered.

"Ah, hello Mr. President. Good of you to call me. How is everything at the mansion?" the voice asked, more out of etiquette than actual interest. Marlo sighed.

"My hands burn… Too much writing for one day. But after this call I'll be free, for now. Tomorrow's going to be no less painful, I'm sure. Being the president of the entire nation is hard on one's fingers. But straight to the point now: how is Project Eternal Life coming along?"

"It's coming along smoothly", the voice replied, "and we have come across an interesting development. Not only does the prototype extend the life span of the subject, it also energizes it and enhances its abilities. The only drawback we still face is that the subjects seem resilient and unwilling to obey our commands. We are having trouble restraining them after the process is complete." Marlo nodded as if the person at the other end could see or feel it. He sat down behind his desk, tapping his fingers on the oaken surface.

"I think, my good Olvid, that the best way of handling that problem is, at this time, Hypnosis. Put them to sleep and close them up in a cage that can hold them. It's not like they'll resist for long. Your team will find a solution soon, I'm sure", the Banette stated and then ended the call with a brief goodbye, placing the phone on the desk, face down. He rose from his seat, wobbled over to his bed and collapsed on it, still clad in his suit. He was sound asleep, finally free of the day's worries. He could relax, if only for a few hours.

Marlo's wife, Asper the Servine, came in to check on her husband, and found him sleeping. She smirked, satisfied to know that he had been hard at work. She exited the room, headed downstairs and entered her own room, immediately greeted by the strong scent of perfume and an assortment of different flowers. The room was elegant, even stylish, holding all the latest elements of fashion and bling in it, reaching from the most expensive jewelry to the most top-of-the-line fur coats. She took a small remote in her delicate hands and pressed the power button, activating a large screen on the back wall. A Pokémon's face popped on screen. It was very reptilian and had a cigar in its mouth. Once the figure stepped forward the unmistakable face of a Grovyle revealed itself. He removed the cigar from his mouth, uttering a whistle one would use to catch the attention of a fetching lady. Asper smirked, glad to see her associate once again.

"Good evening, Marre. It's been too long, hasn't it?" she greeted, her voice more flirty and energetic than when she spoke with Marlo. Marre, the Grovyle, hummed and nodded slightly.

"It has, milady, it has indeed. But I see all this time makes you all the more beautiful. Maybe we should see each other more scarcely. No, I merely jest", he answered, keeping a playful yet business-like tone in his voice. Asper grimaced, however, as she wished to get to business.

"All in good time, Marre. What news have you for me?" she inquired. Marre gave her a fake disappointed look.

"As direct as ever, I see. Everything is going swimmingly on my end. The town has been under aviary attacks recently. I assume that is not a coincidence?" he inquired, knowing her answer already.

"Yes, those are indeed my servants doing their work. I trust their distraction has been sufficient?"

"Yes, milady, it has. The guards have been too busy defending the town or mending the walls to pay close attention to the shipments leaving and entering the village. The items I've received are quite intriguing, by the way."

"They should be. They're components of an early prototype my husband's scientists are working on. He has them working day and night, and the development they've reached is quite impressive. Not only prolonging a Pokémon's life, but also enhancing its abilities… Think of how powerful a Pokémon could become with that kind of technology", the Servine mused, fascinated by the potential results.

"Yes, and that's why it's good that we hold it in our palms. Don't worry, the town is well protected against actual threats, so the components will be safe with me. I'm glad to have your husband's 'cooperation'", Marre mentioned. Asper nodded and they soon ended the video call with a good night's wish and some slightly indecent conversation. Asper lay down on her bed, quivering with excitement over what she was so close to achieving. Just as long as Marlo continued to cooperate and nothing went wrong on Marre's end, nothing would get in her way.

I've been wondering something. Do you think the length of these chapters is good? Are they too long, are they too short? Let me know if you review, which I would really appreciate. I noticed just today how much a review can help me write. It makes me much more willing to write when I know someone is enjoying my story and wants more soon. Now that I have a lot of free time because I'm not in high school anymore, I will be able to write a chapter in one or two days. So as long as I have motivation and support from whoever is reading this, the story will progress very quickly!

So please, do REVIEW!