Sorry about the long hiatus. I'm afraid I can't say I'm off it entirely yet, so no rejoicing yet. But I'll still try to post more of my story if I can find the time.

IN the meantime, I'm hoping all the logic presented in this chapter is sound. Please review and let me know if anything feels off.

Vines & Briars

Chapter 15: Fault & Punishment

Few things had surprised Rick in the last several hours, and Roserade's reaction to him returning after sneaking out of the guild (though he had never originally intended to go much beyond the front door) was yet another event that failed to surprise him.

Almost as soon as he had arrived with both Zoe and Rio in-tow, he was summoned to the Guildmaster's chambers. Zoe was still as timid as ever and so she entered the guild huddled close to Rick's side, something that made him feel a little self-conscious after he had climbed down the ladder going in. Everyone else seemed to be looking at Zoe, which clearly did not help her nerves at all as she tried to keep closer still to Rick, almost tripping over him in doing so. Croc though, among the guild members, took note of Rio's return and gave Rick an approving grin. The former human could only manage a halfhearted smile at this.

Roserade gently dismissed Rio to rejoin Quil after expressing her gladness that he had returned safely, then she turned her attention to Rick and his new friend and beckoned him inside, closing the door behind him. Zoe had to move forward quickly to avoid getting her tail shut in the door.

"Seeing as how you are an unofficial guild-member Rick, I thought Rio or Quil would have told you the rules of the guild and saw to it that you respected them." Roserade sighed as she moved to the center of the room and faced him, a disapproving frown on her countenance. It seemed she was going to focus on Rick before she asked any questions of Zoe.

"My apologies Guildmaster." Rick responded formally, "They did. My actions were my own decision." In-truth, Rick never had been told the exact rules of the guild, though he had guessed from the way the gate was shut that leaving the guild at night was breaking one of them. However, he was in enough trouble as it was, he did not wish for Rio or Quil to get into trouble for not explaining the rules to him.

"Then do explain why you left the guild at night and went off on an exploration that could have gotten you lost, or possibly killed." Roserade said with a testy edge in her tone. Rick took a breath and started to explain how he hadn't been able to sleep that night, mostly out of concern for Rio, as well as from his own matters. And how, in the end, he had decided to simply step outside the guild to get some fresh air and think under the night-sky. He then paused, thinking his explanation over more.

Now... how do I compose this story without making it look like I'm blaming Zoe for all this? Admittedly, it is her doing that I went out there last night, but it's not really her fault. She wasn't herself.

"I heard a call of distress and... well, I saw what looked like Zoe here, being dragged away by some unknown figure." Naturally, this was a completely fabricated lie, and Zoe opened her mouth to try and correct the story, however Rick smoothly and gently slapped his leafy tail over her mouth, silencing her as he continued.

"I followed the figure in-question... I never did get a good look at them, but they led me to Denwood and I'll admit: I was a fool and an idiot going in there alone." Rick confessed. The fact that his story held a little bit of the truth helped him sound convincing. Roserade was simply hearing out him out, waiting for him to conclude his story before she voiced any judgment.

"I found Zoe in Denwood, passed out." Once again, Zoe tried to speak up and tell Roserade the truth of the matter, but Rick opted to use a vine to hold it shut this time, "Let me finish." He spoke shortly to Zoe, then refocused on Roserade.

"Someone had knocked her out and while I didn't see who it was (which was technically true), we didn't come under attack, so I can only assume they escaped the forest." Rick said, "I'm afraid Zoe here likely was unconscious the entire time, so any memory of who knocked her out is probably a blur at best."

Zoe looked hurt when Rick said that much, and she also looked guilty, uncomfortable with Rick taking the full-force of the blame like this.

"However, she did help me find Rio. He had been taken to Denwood by the outlaw, Denzel. Why... I don't know. I don't think any of us really understand why. But I found Rio there and that is a fact." Rick concluded.

Roserade took a couple of minutes to think the story over, looking at both Rick and Zoe, gauging their expressions and other actions while Rick had been talking. The two minutes felt much longer than natural to Rick as he stood at-attention and waited for the Guildmaster to speak. She finally turned her attention to the zorua.

"You said your name is Zoe, correct? I understand if your memory is unclear... but could you tell me what you do remember?" Roserade asked, her tone gentle.

Rick glanced back at Zoe, forced to remove any measures to keep her quiet so she could answer Roserade. She did look uneasy being the center of attention in the small room and there was another long minute of silence while she considered her words and what she was going to say, leaving Rick to feel quite nervous as he waited with Roserade for her answer. Then she answered, speaking timidly.

"Rick... is right, that my memory is... kinda blurry. But... I- erm, I do remember who knocked me out, and... well..." Her eyes wandered away from Rick.

Ugh... please don't tell her. I don't want you getting into trouble along with me.

"I had attacked Rick. Out of panic. So- erm- he had to knock me out." She said quickly. Rick was mildly surprised by this lie, as he had been half-expecting her to confess to having lured Rick out there in the first place.

"I- there- there wasn't anyone out there at the time." Zoe continued, "But when Rick approached me, I- I thought he might be about to attack me and I just overreacted. It- it's not his fault." she stammered out.

Roserade's expression remained mostly impassive, though she did look fascinated by Zoe's different line of events. After this, Zoe had gone silent, flushing a gentle red under her pitch-black fur.

"And this figure Rick claims was dragging you away?" She pressed, still being gentle.

Zoe shook her head.

"That's... it's not true. Rick's just trying to avoid having me take any blame. I- my memory isn't clear, but... I think was wandering near the guild and I headed back home... to Denwood. I- I guess he followed me."

Rick was fairly sure from Zoe's expression that she actually couldn't remember... there was a shy uncertainty in her countenance. But she was trying to shift blame back to herself... at least partially.

Roserade focused her attention on Rick.

"I believe I have an understanding of last night's events then." She said curtly, "Rick... you have admitted to leaving the guild after hours, attempting to follow Zoe here all the way to Denwood... where you then unintentionally caused her to panic and attack you... forcing you to defend yourself." her tone was critical now and a little severe, "A most foolish series of actions. And then you've attempted to cover up your mistake in the forest, by trying to claim someone else had knocked Zoe out." Her tone grew in disapproval and Rick could feel that she was building up to the point where she would figuratively throw the book at him.

"Erm- Ros-er, I mean Guildmaster," Zoe tried to interrupt, "It's not-" Roserade cut her off though.

"Zoe, I understand that you feel Rick is not to blame here, but his actions clearly led to what happened." Her expression looked a little pained, "I'm sorry to do this Rick... I've asked a lot of you in the recent past,and you helped Rio return... but I'm afraid I'm going to have to expel you from the guild." she said... and it was clear that she was uncomfortable doing it.

Rick was stunned by her verdict and he couldn't think of a response.

"I cannot have someone who attracts trouble through his own actions in my guild. You could end up being a danger not only to yourself, but to the other guild-members. It is best if you stay within Silver Village, for your own safety. Now... be on your way." her tone left no room for argument.

Zoe looked like she wanted to complain against Roserade's judgment, but Rick recovered shortly after the guildmaster's declaration and he simply shook his head, recovering himself and started heading out.

"C'mon Zoe... I have to go." he said, his tone dead now.

She looked torn and offered little resistance as Rick pulled her away and out of the guildmaster's chamber.

"Rick! This isn't fair! Not for you!" Zoe protested. Rick shook his head again though.

"No. It's alright. I can't stay anyways... I... I don't fit in around here... not in the guild." he said with dissonant calm. He headed out of the guild, the guild-members watching his course with some shock. It was evident that expulsion wasn't exactly a common punishment... or perhaps they were shocked that Rick was taking it so calmly. It didn't matter to him though.

As he finally stepped outside, Zoe continued to stutter and weakly object, trying to say why he didn't deserve such harsh punishment.

"I-it's not fair, Rick! She- she wouldn't listen to me! I- I- it's- it's really my- it's- mmph."

Rick pressed a vine up on her jaw again, quieting her babble. She finally just broke out in tears, feeling guilty of getting Rick kicked out of the guild.

"It's not your fault, Zoe. There's still a lot I don't understand... and whether she was right about me or not... about my actions drawing trouble to me... I can't stick around the guild. I have something to do... and I was asked to do it by someone."

Even if I have no idea who that person is... or where they are.

Zoe looked confused, tears still in her eyes. Rick wouldn't have blamed her for thinking he was nuts.

"'Course... I don't have any idea of what I'm actually here to do... or any clue as to where I'm supposed to go now... or how." he muttered, talking more to himself now.

What if my destination is across the ocean? I certainly can't swim.

He glanced up at the sky and around him, as if trying to see the person who had periodically been speaking in his head ever since he'd woken up as a pokemon.

"Can't exactly fix the personalities of every one on the island and stop the fighting... can't leave the island because there's water all around and I can't swim..." He continued to muse.

He'd almost forgotten Zoe as he absorbed himself in his own thoughts, so when she spoke up again, cutting across his thoughts, he was a bit startled.

"Rick. Why should the water around the island stop you from leaving? Can't you just ask a water-type to give you a ride?"

Rick thought that over and shook his head.

"No. It won't work. I don't know any water-types around this island aside from Croc... and he's got guild-duties to attend to. I can't drag him away from the guild like that."

"I didn't say you had to ask a guildmember or someone in Silver Village to give you a ride. Why not just fight a water-type and prove yourself to them that way? You are a grass-type so it shouldn't be too hard for you." Zoe said simply. Rick gave her a questioning look, doubting her logic.

"You're sure about that? If I can get someone to cooperate with me if I beat them in a fight?"

Zoe simply nodded in response. Rick sighed... or rather groaned.

"Right. So then who am I supposed to beat up anyways? I can't exactly go swimming out in the ocean and draft one of the fish out there to my little personal cause." He added in an eye-roll for good-measure.

"That's not a problem either. You mentioned him earlier to Roserade... and I know about him personally too."

Rick looked at Zoe again, and eyebrow raised quizzically.

"Denzel. You could find Denzel and beat him." she said, smiling a bit encouragingly.

Rick shook his head even more vehemently at this suggestion, completely at-odds with Zoe's confidence.

"Attempting to fight him is what got me separated from Rio and Quil in the first place!" Rick said, "There's no way I'm going to be able to beat him alone... certainly not if I couldn't even with Rio and Quil. And even if I could, I don't know the guy! How would I find him?!" Rick's frustration with his utter confusion and lack of knowledge was starting to get to him. Zoe meanwhile had recoiled a bit as his outburst. After Rick calmed down a bit and stopped yelling, she spoke up again timidly but still with some confidence.

"W-well, I- I know it- that it may not be much... but I'm here. I could help. And... I have a pretty good idea of how to find Denzel too."