Wild Pokemon

by ThePrinceOfPuddles

When you've spent your entire life fighting on your trainer's team, how do you continue your life fighting in the wild? One Drought Ninetails will have to find the answer to that question. Luckily she won't have to find it alone; a few mistakes leads her to meeting, and fighting side by side with, an experienced wild Absol. But the wild is quite dangerous without your trainer...

21. Absol's Farewell

Chapter 21: Absol's Farewell

Otachi breathed in the crisp, icy night air as she soared above the city underneath a black, starry veil. Whenever she had trouble sleeping, she would always take to the skies. She loved to fly. It made her feel truly free, even if it was only for a short time. She knew she could never escape the West Side, but she enjoyed taking any chance to get as far away from it as possible.

The only reason she was allowed to do so was because Arcanine had given her special permission, since he knew she wouldn't leave. It was only half true, though; she would never leave without him. In that way, she grudgingly sympathized with Ember; they were both trapped in the West Side only by their bonds to those they loved.

As Otachi glided over the beautiful fields and meadows outside the town, she couldn't seem to find the usual comfort she felt from flying. Her thoughts relentlessly drifted back to her dear friend Shiftry; the sight of his broken body lying in the streets of Houndoom's town, his forlorn expression, the resignation in his eyes…

It was all Otachi could do to force the thoughts from her mind for the moment, though she knew they would creep back in to torment her soon enough. She had been flying quite frequently at night ever since the East Side invasion, unable to sleep without being sharply awoken by horrible dreams and visions of Shiftry's gruesome death, her mind inventing increasingly terrible scenarios of it. Every time it happened, she would take to the skies, silently mourning her friend and unconsciously keeping watch to make sure no more East Side agents approached the town.

Otachi sighed and took one last look at the rural routes below, deciding she'd better at least lie down and rest, even if sleep would never come. She reluctantly spun herself around and began to fly back towards town, towards her eternal prison.

Out of the corner of her eye, Otachi could swear she saw a tiny black dot on one of the small cliffs, backlit by the first signs of the sunrise. When she turned and quietly flew down for a closer look, it didn't take her long to recognize the solemn, stoic figure sitting at the edge of the cliff, watching the first traces of dawn paint the sky a dark green.

Otachi briefly hesitated, wondering whether he would invite or reject her company. Deciding that even the smallest chance he would want her there was worth the risk, she slowly flew down behind him, making enough noise with her landing so as not to startle him with her approach. He didn't look back at her, but she was certain he knew she was there. He always did.

"I had a feeling you'd be flying again tonight," he said, his cool, deep voice washing over her like a waterfall of frost.

Otachi sighed. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. You too?"

Arcanine nodded, his gaze still resting on the break of dawn. "We've never been so close to destruction. A battle like that will undoubtedly cause many a sleepless night for everyone."

Otachi knew he wasn't telling the whole truth. She knew the real cause of his pain was the loss of their good friend, though he wasn't the type to admit it. She didn't press the matter, since Arcanine had his own way of dealing with grief.

"I haven't seen Gunny since the battle," she said, changing the subject.

"He's probably coping with the loss of Shiftry as well," Arcanine replied. "It's probably best to leave him be for a while."

Otachi nodded, even though he couldn't see it. She began to feel slightly awkward, realizing that Arcanine had probably gone there to find peace and quiet.

"If you want to be alone, I'll go," she reluctantly offered.

Arcanine glanced back at her, smiling slightly.

"No, no, I enjoy your company," he said. "Please, join me."

Otachi returned his smile and floated beside him, a pleasant warmth washing over her at the invitation. She watched the sky slowly changing from bright green to blue as the shining golden fire blazed over the horizon.

"I can't even remember the last time we had a peaceful moment like this," she remarked quietly. "Do you think the war will ever end?"

"It almost did," Arcanine replied gravely. "It was a miracle Luxray and his butchers didn't sweep across all the lands and wipe us out. That Cloyster could have tricked us so easily…I've failed my duty as chief commander of the army."

"You haven't failed," Otachi said firmly. "If it weren't for you, Luxray would have won. He's made us bleed, but we're still alive."

"I don't know, Otachi. Each day, we walk a thin line between death and survival, and I have to lead the way. If I make the slightest mistake, people die. I try to keep calm at all times, but during that last fight…I was afraid. And because of that, people died."

"Everyone gets scared sometimes," Otachi persisted. "Shiftry's death wasn't your fault. If anything, it was Luxray's, and he'll pay the price for it. But you can't blame yourself for having a natural reaction when faced with death, especially the death of those you care about."

Arcanine shook his head. "I can't afford to be afraid. I have to be a fixed point for others to follow. It's my duty."

Now deeply concerned, Otachi looked at Arcanine, his face a grim mask as always, though there were lines of sorrow and anxiety there that she'd rarely seen. She wanted desperately to give him her support and to be there for him, even if he wanted only to punish himself. She gently coiled her tail around his waist and hugged him tightly, feeling the warmth of his inner fire and hearing his strong, yet soft heartbeat. She expected him to push her away, but he didn't seem to mind the embrace. She continued to watch the dawn as she nuzzled up against Arcanine, trying to comfort him against his despair.

"You're always pushing yourself so hard," she said softly. "When did you become so enveloped by your rank? You're not a slave, so why do you live like one?"

"It's my duty," Arcanine repeated with a sigh.

"Why does it have to be? Houndoom is the one who started this whole ridiculous gang war. Why should the burden of leading his army for him fall to you?"

Arcanine didn't respond, and Otachi knew debating it further would be useless. She sighed sadly, thinking about how much Arcanine had changed in the past few years. She could barely even recognize him now.

"Do you remember when we were just kids?" she asked wistfully. "We were alone and against the world, but somehow, we were happy."

"I do remember," Arcanine said quietly. "All we had was each other, and we travelled wherever we wanted and explored every new place like a whole different world."

Otachi couldn't resist a smile. "You remember the time we snuck into a cave filled with Ursaring to steal their stash of berries?"

Arcanine smirked. "That had to have been the dumbest idea you ever had."

"What? I distinctly recall you were the one who came up with the plan."

"Whatever you say, Otachi," Arcanine said, hiding a smile. "Anyway, I remember we got a pretty nasty beating when you did your little 'diversion tactic.'"

"Well, how was I supposed to know they'd heard that joke before?" Otachi groaned.

Arcanine chuckled softly. "It was worth it though, considering how many berries we got away with."

Otachi grinned. "Yeah, I remember afterwards we went to our favorite meadow to eat them all. The red and yellow tulips were finally blooming, and it made the whole field look like a sea of fire when you looked down at it over the nearby cliffs. We stopped by the lake under that old oak tree to eat, then we started playing, the sun eventually set, the lake sparkled in the moonlight, and before you knew it…"

"…Our first kiss," Arcanine finished.

The two remained in silence for a long time. Otachi thought about all her old adventures with Arcanine, feeling a pang of both sadness and yearning for the times long past.

"Whatever happened to those days?" she asked. "Things were so much simpler back then. You were a lot gentler and more open. We were never worried about wars, deaths, and famines. We didn't have a care in the world, and we were so happy…what happened that changed us so much?"

There was another long silence as Arcanine looked down, seeming to contemplate the question. Finally, he looked back up, sighing.

"We grew up," he said plainly.

Otachi felt a lump rising in her throat as she acknowledged the sad, simple truth.

"Then I wish we could have stayed young forever," she said, realizing how childish and hollow the words must have sounded.

Arcanine chuckled, though there was no humor behind it.

"Everyone does," he said. "You know, this life may be difficult, but it's not like I was only ever happy or content when I was young."

"Well, maybe I'm just not as strong as you, then," Otachi muttered. "I don't know what Houndoom said to make you believe in his crusade, but I've never wanted to serve his army. Ever since we joined the West Side, you changed so much…It's like I don't even know you anymore. And now he's got you thinking your only lot in life is to lead his army and kill the enemy…you've left me with nothing. Each day, all I have to look forward to are my dreams, my memories of happier times."

"Well, what's so great about those memories?" Arcanine asked, a hint of impatience creeping into his tone. "Why would you value them over the high station you're lucky enough to have?"

Otachi looked down. "Because in my memories…you still love me."

She could sense Arcanine falter slightly, the retort he was obviously preparing dying away from his lips. He didn't respond for a time, his eyes resting on the illuminated valley below. Otachi's sorrow only deepened with each passing moment of silence. She had faintly hoped he would deny it and say he still loved her, even if he were lying.

"There are times when I miss our childhood too," he said finally. "But those days are over. Too many people are counting on me to lead them. It's…too late for anything else."

Otachi looked up at him. "Maybe it's not too late," she said, her pulse beginning to race. "Arcanine, let's go! Let's leave the West Side now and put it all behind us, while we still can!"

She expected Arcanine to scoff or argue, but he merely nodded, as though he were expecting that reply. Otachi shut her eyes tightly, dreading whatever sharp rebuke he would give her. However, that rebuke never came.

"You know that even if I said yes, Houndoom and Honchkrow would still be able to find us," he said.

Otachi's heart soared. He was listening!

"They'll never find us if we take the low pass through Rypherior's cavern," she said quickly. "Both the East and West Sides are on this half of the region. If we cross to the other side, they won't be able to send enough soldiers behind Luxray's lines to track us down."

"Perhaps," Arcanine said evenly. "But we'd never make it outside the city unnoticed."

Otachi shook her head firmly. "There's a guard shift coming up in about twenty minutes. They always change shifts right after the dawn, and it'll be down to a skeleton crew. It's still dark enough on their side that we can slip away right under their noses."

Arcanine looked back at her, one eyebrow raised.

"You've been planning this, haven't you?"

"I've been planning it ever since we first joined this damned gang," she said, hugging him even tighter.

"You know, no West Side commander in their senses would tell Houndoom's right-hand about their plans to desert the army," Arcanine said with a smirk.

"You're forgetting, I'm not in my senses," Otachi chuckled. "I'm desperately, hopelessly in love. You know I could never keep anything from you."

Arcanine looked away again. "Even if I agreed to all this, though, what would be the point? We'd be leaving behind all our belongings, our ranks, our status…what would we have left?"

Otachi smiled warmly. "We'd have each other again. What more do we need?"

If her words had affected Arcanine at all, he didn't show it. She held her breath as she awaited his answer. She hoped and prayed that there was even the smallest chance he would say yes, and that they could turn their backs on Houndoom and start anew. However, Arcanine didn't agree to either of those things. What he did do was crush her already pained heart into dust.

"If I were driven by my personal feelings, I might say yes," he replied. "But I still have my plan, and it would be nothing less than a great waste of potential if I didn't seize the power I've earned once Houndoom is gone. I'm sorry, Otachi, but there's no longer a place in me for silly fantasies and emotions. I've humored your escape plan, and as much as it grieves me to say it, I'm afraid you need to face facts. I can't leave. Ever."

Otachi felt like she'd been stabbed in the gut with a Stealth Rock.

"You really have changed," she said, her voice quivering.

"No, Otachi, I haven't. I've merely been given gifts too precious to throw away on a whim. You think I care about Houndoom? That old dog will be dead in a few years anyway. All I care about is defeating the Pokémon trainers and freeing the rest of our kind, so that there will be no more Pokémon who suffer the way…the way you do. You and I are soldiers now, nothing more. If you want to leave, I won't stop you, but I can't come with you."

For a long time, Otachi couldn't bring herself to speak. She slowly released Arcanine from her embrace, her heart heavier than an Iron Ball as she looked into his cold, stern eyes that had once been full of love and affection whenever they gazed upon her.

"Alright, Arcanine," she choked out. "I'm sorry I bothered you. It won't happen again…sir."

With that, Otachi flew off back into the blue skies, her tears disappearing into the bright green fields below. What she didn't see—and what Arcanine would never have been able to let her see—was the single silver tear forming on the rim of his right eye.

---

Ember the Vulpix nervously wandered through the PC containment system her master, Rose, had placed her in. Her mind had been reeling all day long as she tried to keep up with all the new events. First, her master had suddenly taken her from the PC chambers and put her in her Poke Ball, heading out into a grassy route she'd never seen before. Then, Rose had made her battle dozens—maybe even hundreds—of weak Staravia and Gastly for something she called 'Effort Value training,' and then finally put her back into the PC, but in an entirely different chamber that looked like a forest.

Ember had seen so many Pokémon that day she couldn't even remember half of them, and she had no idea what other Pokémon were in this PC box. Her master had been preparing her to join a team of Pokémon that revolved around her ability, Drought. She didn't know why Drought was so important, but apparently, the team needed it to be strong. But before she could join the team, Ember needed to go through something called 'evolution.'

She'd overheard Rose talking about it with some of her friends, and quite frankly, the process sounded terrifying. First, she'd have to swallow a red stone about the size of her paw. Then, her whole body would suddenly change shape. Ember was mortified at the thought of it. What would she change into? Would she still be the same person? What if the Pokémon she became was hideous or wicked? Could she ever go back to the way she was before?

Ember couldn't understand why she needed to evolve. Did her master not love her the way she was now? She felt a lump in her throat at the thought, but she decided that if evolving would make her master appreciate her, she would try to be brave. Besides, she couldn't let her new teammates down, whoever they were.

She had no idea what big, scary, battle-hardened Pokémon awaited her in the PC, but she was about to meet them all. And one day, she would become one of them. She only hoped they would like her, and that she would be accepted there.

"You're going the wrong way, you know."

Ember jumped at the sudden voice. She pivoted and saw a huge, yellow-and-green Pokémon that looked vaguely like a bell with a sharp vine on its head. The creature was hanging from one of the nearby trees, looking down at her with its big, black eyes. She wanted to run and hide, but she knew this might be one of her teammates, so she forced herself to try to stand tall and not look too intimidated.

"Um, hi," she began, groping for the right words. "I didn't see you. Are you…one of my teammates?"

"That's right," the grass Pokémon replied cheerfully. "I hate my nickname, so you can just call me Victreebel. Oh, but don't tell me your name yet. After all, there are still four of us left, and it's better to introduce yourself just once, right?"

"Oh, okay," Ember replied, a little muddled. "Where are the others?"

Suddenly, a bright light illuminated the entire section of the PC. Ember had to close her eyes, the blinding light shining brighter than the sun. Thankfully, the light soon died down, and Ember saw an enormous moth-like Pokémon with red wings slowly descending into the holographic clearing. As the light faded even more, she also saw a blue-and-purple Pokémon that hadn't been there before, who looked like a large clam with a spear-like spike on his head.

"Finally, our little lighter has arrived!" the clam-like Pokémon announced over-dramatically. "It'll be fun watching you dance on eggshells for the next few days."

"Oh, shut up, Cloyster," the fiery moth spat. "Can't you see she's nervous? It's only her first day."

The moth then glanced at Ember, smiling.

"Don't worry about him, sweetie," she said. "Things won't be as rough as you might think. I'm Volcarona, and this is our resident clown, Cloyster."

The blue and purple Pokémon grinned sheepishly at her.

"Yeah, sorry about that," he said. "I was just joking. We don't usually get to meet our Drought lead as a Vulpix, since Rose almost always evolves them before even putting them into the PC for the first time. She must have lost her evolving stones again."

Ember didn't like to be reminded of her inevitable evolution, but she pushed those thoughts away and smiled politely at her new teammates.

"Nice to meet you all," she said. "Is there anyone else?"

She suddenly heard a loud roar, causing her to jolt in fright. Before she even had time to think, a massive dragon suddenly flew down into the clearing, pulling up at the last second and doing a stylish spin through the air before landing perfectly, right in front of her.

"Nice entrance as always," Cloyster said dryly.

It was all Ember could do to avoid bolting away in terror at the behemoth in front of her. The dragon was at least several feet taller than her, and he had a vicious, battle-scarred face that sent chills down her spine. He looked like he could eat her alive in one bite.

"So, more fresh meat for the grill, eh?" he said wryly.

Ember tried to force her body to stop shaking. Standing in the middle of the circle of highly-trained, competitive Pokémon, she'd never felt more out of place. She looked up at the others accusingly.

"Are you guys just waiting for me to ask where you are so you can jump out and surprise me?" she asked.

The massive dragon grinned. "You catch on pretty quick. It's just a bit of fun, really. We don't get to play with our new teammates very often, at least not before they become as arrogant as the rest of us. You can call me Salamence, by the way."

"Who are you calling arrogant?" Volcarona asked with a tired voice, obviously having done this exchange before.

Ember gulped, hoping her voice wouldn't crack. "My name is Ember. I, uh…I'll try not to get in everyone's way."

Salamence chuckled. "No need to be so frightened yet. You haven't seen how scary we can really be. How about I show you?"

The behemoth suddenly took a step toward her. Ember took an involuntary step back. She didn't want to look as terrified as she felt, but he was getting too close for comfort.

"Leave her be, Salamence," Cloyster said angrily.

Salamence grinned wolfishly. "Don't worry. I won't hurt her too much."

Ember stepped back again, bumping into a tree. Salamence continued to advance on her, and the terror became too much to bear.

"Get back!" she yelled.

Salamence raised an eyebrow. "Or what?"

"Or I'll burn you," Ember threatened as fiercely as she could, which sadly wasn't much.

Salamence snorted and took another step. Now in complete desperation, Ember felt flames welling up in her throat. She spat them right at Salamence's face, causing him to wince and stagger back slightly. Ember expected an enraged retaliation, but he looked more surprised than hurt or angry. In fact, his grin soon returned, though it didn't look as wolfish as before. He glanced at his other teammates.

"I like her," he said.

Ember saw the others exchanging little smiles. She began to realize that they were all actually trying to boost her confidence. She hated being tricked, but she still felt a bit warm and fuzzy at the thought that she was being accepted by her new team.

"So, is that everyone, or is someone else going to jump out at me now?" she asked.

Salamence chuckled. "Well, you haven't met our leader yet, but he's a little past the startling stage. He loves to meet new teammates, but he doesn't like to join in the fun when one arrives, since they usually need more time to adjust to their new home."

Both Ember's curiosity and nervousness were piqued at the mention of this last Pokémon. She wondered who could possibly be even tougher than Salamence.

"So, where is he?" she asked tentatively.

"He's in the clearing at the back of the PC box, but you don't need to rush to meet him yet if you don't want to."

"No, no, I'll go," Ember said quickly, knowing it would be rude not to.

Salamence shrugged. "Alright, but you should probably meet him on your own, then. We'll wait here, and we can all hang out and play later until Rose comes for us. She probably has our leader on her active roster, but he's usually down that path when she returns him to the PC. You can look there if you want."

Ember nodded her thanks and trotted off deeper into the woods. She half expected someone to try and sneak up on her for fun, but no one followed. As she proceeded farther down the trail, the path became darker and darker until it was too hard to see. Everything looked like a thick, black canvas surrounding her. She'd never find her last teammate in this lighting, and she couldn't even see the trail she'd followed to get this far.

Ember began to jump at the slightest sound in the murky darkness of the enormous holographic PC chamber. What if she could never find her way back? What if she got lost in the darkness forever? No. She couldn't think like that. There had to be a way out. It was hard to think clearly when she was so nervous and edgy, but she managed to calm herself down by thinking of a warm, toasty fire.

Then, it hit her. Fire. Ember wondered if it would even work here, but she realized she might as well try anything at this point. Ember slowly extended her inner fire, activating her ability Drought. The artificial sky remained the same, but the light from her extended inner fire managed to illuminate the entire surrounding area, revealing all the pathways through the forest.

"I wondered when you'd try that."

Ember jolted and turned around. On top of a rock behind her was another dragon, only this one had black scales and stood on two legs. He was no larger than Salamence, but he exuded an aura of unchallengeable power and authority that none of the others possessed. Intimidation washed over Ember like a harsh wind, though this Pokémon seemed less hyperactive and in-your-face as some of the other Pokémon. He actually seemed quite calm and laidback at first glance, though she had no idea when he might suddenly change from relaxed to fierce.

"Do you want to keep staring, or may I finally know your name?" he asked.

She quickly snapped out of it. "Uh, it's Ember, sir."

The dragon smirked slightly. "Sir? Trying to flatter me already?"

Ember looked down at her feet. "Well, no…I just thought, you know, since you're in charge and all…"

"Did they tell you that? Well, I guess I am Rose's starter—or at least, one of them-but she's the one who's in charge. Just think of me as a fellow teammate. I'm Charizard, nice to meet you."

"Charizard?" Ember asked in surprise. "Wait, don't Charizard usually have red and orange scales? Why are yours black?"

Charizard shrugged. "Rose was lucky enough to get a "shiny" as a starter after multiple attempts, which is what inspired her to become a competitive trainer in the first place. I also happened to have the right nature and IV count as well, so she eventually made sure I was migrated, properly EV trained, and added to the team."

Ember thought for a moment. "Added to the team…just what is our team for, anyway? Why are we being trained like this?"

Charizard thought for a moment, as if contemplating how to answer her question.

"We're what's known as a 'competitive team,'" he said finally. "We're not like typical teams build to handle the standard regional Pokemon Leagues. We're specifically trained to be the strongest of the strong to fight in tournaments against the best trainers in the world."

"But why?"

Charizard scowled thoughtfully. "I don't really know. I guess trainers just enjoy the competition, and they think our lives are worth it. But we have one purpose, and one purpose only: to battle the toughest Pokémon out there. We're a sun team, which is a powerful type of competitive team, and Rose will have us fight for her in tournaments."

Ember tried as hard as she could to understand it all, but it didn't seem to make sense.

"When do we get to stop?" she asked.

Charizard let out a long sigh. "We don't stop. At least, not until Rose has had enough of us and puts us in the PC for the remainder of our lives. It's just our lot in life."

"I…I don't understand."

"Yeah, me neither," Charizard replied sadly. "But anyway, we probably shouldn't dwell on it now. After all, we didn't choose this life, but we can try to make the best of it. Speaking of which, how has your first day been?"

Ember shrugged. "Everyone seems nice, though I think they're getting a little stir crazy."

Charizard chuckled. "Yeah, they've been in the PC for a while now. Though with you here, we'll probably be back on the battlefield soon enough. At least, once you've evolved and all that."

Ember looked away slightly, feeling a knot in her stomach at the reminder. Charizard's smile faded a little.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked, not unkindly.

Ember briefly debated in her mind whether to tell him about her fear. He seemed like someone she could talk to, and she didn't know how else to get it off her chest. She didn't know what he'd say, but she decided it was worth the risk.

"I'm scared," she muttered finally, looking back at him hesitantly. "The whole Fire Stone evolution thing…what if I change into something awful? Why do I need to do it, anyway?"

A light of understanding dawned in Charizard's eyes.

"I see," he said. "I can understand why you'd be afraid. I think every new Drought lead is, but most of them don't have the courage to admit it."

Ember nodded slowly, trying to hold back tears. "I don't really have much choice, do I? I'm going to become a completely different Pokémon, and I can't ever go back to the way I was…I just don't know what to do."

"You're right, there isn't much that can be done about it," Charizard said sympathetically. "But your personality will stay the same, I can promise you that. I've done it twice, after all. Some Pokémon change personality when they evolve, but your kind doesn't. If it's any consolation, I can also tell you that Ninetails are beautiful, elegant Pokémon. I think you'll grow to like your new form."

Ember felt relieved that at least she'd be the same person and the Pokémon she'd become wouldn't be hideous, but the lingering fear still refused to go away. It took a moment before she realized why.

"Will it hurt?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Charizard gave her a reassuring smile. "Not a bit. It might be a little shocking to have your body change shape so quickly, but you won't feel any pain, I promise."

For some reason, Charizard's kind words eased her worry. She trusted that he knew what he was talking about, and that no matter how unpleasant her transformation was, she'd make it through in the end.

"Thank you, Charizard," she said, managing a smile.

"Anytime," he replied. "For the record, I don't think there was ever a Pokémon in history that didn't fear evolution, most of them with good reason. You're not strange for being afraid. In fact, it would be odd if you weren't a little concerned. Still, there's nothing wrong with growing three more tails."

Ember did a double take. "I WHAT?!"

"Oh, you didn't know? Well, it's better than being forced to grow wings, let me tell you."

"Better? But wait, how can one evolution be worse than another?" Ember asked. "You just said evolving was painless."

Charizard faltered a bit, as if groping for words. Luckily for him, Ember's young mind shifted gears rapidly to other thoughts.

"You said three more tails?" she asked in wonder. "What will I do with them all?"

Charizard shrugged. "I don't know, whatever Ninetails normally use their tails for. No one knows why they have so many, but maybe when you do, you can tell me."

Ember contemplated the issue, though she supposed the answers would come in time. Still, she was suddenly reminded of a much more important question that she'd wanted to ask Charizard since the moment they'd met.

"By the way, Charizard, do you have a nickname?" she asked.

Charizard grinned. "You'll be just fine, alright. Now, go on and have fun with the others. I'll catch up with you later."

Ember sighed. "Okay, but I'll find out your nickname one day!"

With that, she turned back down the trail she'd taken before.

"Oh, and Ember, one more thing," Charizard called after her.

Ember turned back around. "What is it?"

Her new leader smiled. "Welcome to the team."

---

Ember tried to keep her eyes closed and stay in the dream a little longer, but nothing could stop it from fading away like mist as she woke up. She sadly yawned and stretched herself out, slightly wet eyes fluttering open. Dreams as vivid as that could only be found in memories of the past, she reflected. She remembered that day as clearly as her own name. Charizard and the others had been so kind, and for many years they were the best friends she'd ever had. And now, she would only ever see them again in her dreams and memories.

She wished she could forget what had happened to Cloyster. She wanted to remember him the way he used to be, not for who he'd become under Luxray's ideals. She hoped everyone else from her team was at least safe, especially Charizard and Salamence. Despite Salamence's often threatening demeanor, he'd quickly become one of her most ardent friends once he'd warmed up to her, and Charizard had always looked after her as though she were his child, even during the harsher times. She never did find out his nickname, though.

Like so many people waking up in the morning, Ember wished she could rest longer, but the cold, unforgiving draft coming in from one of the broken windows refused to allow her any more sleep. She sighed and rolled to her feet, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through her sides and rear as she did so. She grimaced as her stomach and back began throbbing agonizingly. The injuries she'd received from Mienshao had healed a little, but despite the bandages they still occasionally tormented her and restricted her movements. It had also taken her a while to get used to moving with only eight of her tails left.

Finally, the pain began to settle down enough for her to walk, albeit slowly and carefully. She took a moment to clean her fur before slinging her shabby but fixed trainer bag around her back and pushing open the creaky wooden door of her new room. It had only been a few weeks since the destruction of the mansion, and she was already beginning to miss the hard, ugly bed in her old room. At least it had been better than sleeping on the floor.

Since the West Side manor had been utterly destroyed in their last battle with the East Side, Ember had been temporarily put in one of the small, decrepit houses in the middle of town. It was the closest thing to a punishment she'd received for her recent escape attempt, though it seemed like Arcanine was more disappointed than angry with her.

As Ember stepped into the barely-furnished living room, she noticed a small tray of food on one of the tables, similar to the kind she'd been served in the manor each day. It was hardly gourmet; just a bottle of Fresh Water and a few Oran Berries. Still, she decided it was better than nothing and sat down to eat. The water was a bit stale but still good, and at least the berries were ripe.

However, she noticed something strange about the third berry. Its color was slightly darker than the others and something very small—practically unnoticeable to the naked eye—was protruding from the side of it. She carefully peeled away the skin of the fruit with her claws until an incredibly thin sheet of paper was revealed.

Upon further inspection, she realized it was a letter, written on classic Orange Mail. What Pokémon would send her a letter? For a brief moment, she dared to harbor the hope that perhaps Absol had found a way to write to her, but she mentally berated herself for keeping false hope. Even if he could find a way to write one, there was no way he could get a note to her.

Deciding there was only one way to find out, Ember pulled the letter off the door and examined it. The writing was barely legible, and she had trouble making out all of the misspelled words, but she eventually pieced it together.

Dear Ember,

It's good to know you're still well after that dreadful business with Mienshao I heard you were put through. They say that every cloud has a silver lining, and the same holds true for this battle. You see, during the chaos of the fight, I managed to do what you were no-doubt trying to do as well. After all these years, I finally escaped the West Side.

The reason I write this is really to thank you. Out of all the people in the West Side, you were the only one who was ever the slightest bit nice to me, the only one who ever called me a friend. You would actually thank me when I cleaned the room or brought your dinner, and whenever I was slow or delivered it to the wrong room (dreadfully sorry about that), whereas most Pokémon would blast me clean out of the manor, you merely brushed it aside and thanked me anyway.

But I ramble. During all my years of service, I collected and horded every item and TM I managed to scrape together and kept them hidden in a secret room in the mansion just in case I ever got the opportunity to escape, which I have. The truth is, I actually collected so much loot over the years that I couldn't carry half of it!

And so, since I have little use for what's left behind, I would like you to have the rest, Ember. You may do with it what you will. Go to the basement of the manor, which should still be intact. Since you were the only one who actually bothered to notice how I did things, you should be able to find my secret chamber with ease. Just remember all the times you saw me blundering through the manor, and you'll figure it out.

Take the fight to life, I wish you and that Absol chap good luck.

Your friend, Torkoal.

Ember slowly put down the letter, smiling as she thought of good old Torkoal. At least he could have a happy life now, and she was glad she'd made him feel good about himself. Still, his letter had made her immensely curious, and once her curiosity was piqued, she wouldn't rest until it was satisfied. Tucking away the note in her trainer bag, she trotted out of the house and into the city, eager to find Torkoal's secret stash.

As Ember walked through the streets of town, she looked around at the devastation done to the city. The previous battle had cost the West Side dearly. Many agents were still going to-and-fro, trying to repair some of the damage, though it could take weeks, if not months, to fully to restore the city to all its...glory.

As far as she was concerned, the worst thing they had lost in the fight was Shiftry. Ember couldn't help feel a lump rising in her throat at the thought of it. She'd heard that Shiftry had gone off by himself and was killed in action some time during the East Side's main push into the city. Ember had talked to Arcanine about it, but he simply said that Shiftry was 'just a soldier, nothing more. A casualty on a list of casualties.'

At first, Ember was amazed that Arcanine could be so cold and heartless. But despite his best attempts to conceal it, she'd noticed a deep sorrow behind his eyes as he spoke the words. It was then that she realized he wasn't dismissing Shiftry as a common agent, but that telling himself that was the only way he could cope with the grief. She could only imagine what Gunny and Otachi were going through.

Since then, life seemed even bleaker. With Shiftry dead, Torkoal gone, and Absol still down in whatever cell Houndoom had picked for him, Ember truly had no friends left. There was no one she could talk to, no one to help her get through each increasingly worse day as Houndoom's tool\weapon. She tried to always keep up a facade of confidence, but the grief and stress were starting to eat away at her day by day, and she knew it.

Ember was snapped out of her thoughts when she saw the ruined mansion up ahead. She knew her new house was relatively close to the manor, but she was still surprised she'd gotten there so quickly. She looked back and forth as inconspicuously as possible, then calmly walked into the mansion, ready to tell anyone who asked that she was merely searching for a few personal items she'd left behind by mistake, hoping they'd survived the fire.

The area she stepped into wasn't much of a 'manor.' Only the first floor had been partially repaired, and the walls and ceiling were still covered in several large holes that allowed sunlight, wind, and even small Bug Pokémon inside the building. Fortunately, there were few West Side agents around. After all, with all the repairs they were making in the city's defenses, fixing up the entire manor wouldn't exactly be top priority for the next few months.

Ember carefully stepped over several piles of brick, wood, and rubble, heading for the long wooden stairway that led into the basement. She feared it might have been burned away, since it was still close to the foyer. She carefully stepped through an entryway that used to have a door, glancing down the stairs.

Only part of the staircase had been charred away near the top; the rest was mostly intact. Still, she would have to make a risky and terrifying jump to reach the rest of the stairs below. She briefly debated whether the supplies were worth it, but she decided that even if they weren't, satisfying her curiosity about the secret chamber was. With that, holding her breath, Ember made the leap.

She managed to land perfectly on the stairway, but the impact caused her body to wrack with pain once again. She cursed under her breath, sitting down and waiting for the pain to cease before moving on. After about ten more seconds, the throbbing settled down, allowing her to proceed into the basement, the scent of mold and plywood soon filling her nostrils. She looked around, using Drought to brighten the pitch-dark room.

The entire basement floor had been left completely intact from the fire. The cellars were still filled with dusty, long-empty crates and cobwebs hanging in the corners and ceiling. Ember looked back and forth, scrutinizing every inch of the room, but she couldn't find anything even slightly out of the ordinary. She walked around the area, searching from corner to corner, but the whole basement was entirely barren.

Ember felt crestfallen, realizing that there might have been some mistake in Torkoal's letter, especially considering his poor spelling. Perhaps she'd entered the wrong room, or someone else had already found his supplies. Whatever the cause, Ember knew that searching any more would be pointless and dejectedly turned back toward the stairs. As she slowly climbed up the stairway, she cursed again, wondering how she could possibly climb back up with the gaping hole ahead of her.

Suddenly, it hit her. She vaguely remembered all the times she'd seen Torkoal slowly and clumsily climbing up flights of stairs, usually carrying trays of food or items on his shell. Ember crouched low to the ground, climbing the way he used to and looking back and forth for any clues. Sure enough, when she reached the charred and impassible end of the stairs, she noticed a small hole about the size of a shell in the concrete behind the staircase.

Ember took off her trainer bag and pushed it through the hole, knowing it would be barely large enough to fit her even without it. She then crept on her belly into the hole, managing to fit through the entrance.

What Ember saw on the other side was nothing less than spectacular.

She drew a sharp breath, taking a moment to process all she was seeing. She had suddenly found herself in an entirely new room that was filled to the brim with money, berries, TMs, tools, and items of all kinds. There were more supplies than she could have carried with five trainer bags, and all of them looked to be in good condition.

"How long has Torkoal been working for these guys?" Ember muttered to herself in wonder.

Deciding that she'd better take advantage of this opportunity while she had the chance, Ember began grabbing as many supplies and items as she could carry, taking only the best and most useful items and leaving the rest for any later visits she might decide on. Sadly, there were very few TMs that would work on her, and most of them weren't as useful as her current moves, so she left them be for the moment.

When digging in a box she came across a fully functional PokeRader. Checking to see if it still wokred Ember accidentally got it locked onto her own signal. Still, A key item as rare as this was worth keeping.

In the corner of the room, Ember noticed something shiny under a nightstand. She reached down and carefully pulled it out. She couldn't help grinning in ecstasy when she saw that it was the held item Shell Bell. At last, a useful held item that could actually help in future combat! She knew the healing effects of Shell Bells could be quite powerful if the item was used correctly.

Ember discarded her old Quick Claw, which had been quite useless lately. She then managed to tie the bell around her neck, hearing a faint, pleasant jingling sound as it shook slightly. After taking another moment to admire her new necklace, she used a few more potions to help further heal her injuries, and then continued to raid the incredible supply room.

This would be a very interesting day indeed.

---

The warmth of the natural sunlight and the smell of fresh air provided a much welcome contrast to the basement Ember had spent over an hour in. Getting back out had been no small feat-she had the dust and soot lining her fur to prove it—but the added weight to her trainer bag was well worth it. After a while, the extra weight began to make her back ache slightly, but it was a good ache; it made her feel more secure to have so many extra useful items at her disposal.

As good as the feeling was, Ember was now faced with a new problem: she had no idea how to spend the rest of her day. She'd used to seek out conversation with Torkoal or practice her battling skills with Shiftry, but with them gone, there wasn't really much to do except wander around the city and wait for Houndoom or Arcanine to call on her again.

Ember felt an unpleasant sensation boiling in her stomach as her thoughts drifted to Arcanine. She never had any idea what he was thinking or feeling and she never knew what to expect from him. Their last mission against Cloyster had revealed a side to his nature that was disturbing, to say the least. She began to suspect that he was manipulating her at every turn to lure her closer to his schemes.

She hadn't seen too much of him since the East Side's last attack, and she couldn't tell whether he was avoiding her on purpose or merely waiting to catch her unprepared with her next assignment. She remembered him promising her some sort of reward for volunteering to help deal with Cloyster, but that reward had never come, which didn't surprise her.

Perhaps it was time to bring up that debt. She didn't want to risk just walking up to Arcanine and demanding he reward her in some way, but if she made a small request now, she didn't expect him to refuse. It didn't take long for her to think of a request. Ever since their bloody, costly clash with the East Side commanders, Ember had been deeply concerned about Absol's welfare, especially after Houndoom had ordered him to be moved to a deeper cell in his base since the mines were no longer in use. With the new healing items she'd found in Torkoal's stash, she could undoubtedly aid his recovery and make life easier for him with whatever new tortures Houndoom was putting him through.

With that resolution in mind, Ember decided it was time to pay a visit to the mines. She was already brainstorming a way to form her request to Arcanine as she walked down the charred asphalt streets that led to Houndoom's lair.

Ember suddenly heard a tiny clacking sound amidst the near-silence of the ruined city. She turned and saw Gunny sitting atop a decrepit archway, occasionally tossing pebbles into the alleys below. He was facing in her direction, but she tried to sneak by unnoticed. She didn't particularly dislike Gunny, but right now, she felt about as much like engaging him in a conversation about their 'glorious victory' as she felt like grinding her face into the pavement.

Sadly, he soon spotted her and smiled, gracefully leaping down from his perch and strolling up to her. She forced a polite smile and decided to be as friendly as possible.

"Hey, Ember, how are you holding up?" he asked casually.

She knew he was referring to her injuries, a topic she didn't like to think about too much. Still, he was the only one who'd at least had the courtesy to ask, so she pushed those feelings aside.

"Could be worse," she replied honestly. "How are the repairs coming along?"

"Could be worse," Gunny replied wryly. "It's the dead and the wounded that concern everyone, really. It's like wading through a sea of blood to find the bodies that aren't corpses yet."

Ember couldn't help a grimace. "Geez, that's a cheery way to look at it."

"It's just honesty, really. If we were attacked again, we'd have little chance of survival."

Ember snorted. "Whatever happened to the 'glorious and unbeatable West Side?'"

Gunny grinned. "That was just a bit of theatrics, really. Part of my image as the unshakable West Side loyalist, but with Shiftry gone and Arcanine and Otachi off brooding or doing damage control, I've decided to give that tune a rest."

Ember had no idea what he was getting at, but she didn't want to keep the conversation going much longer and tried to think of a tactful way to end it.

"So, is there a point in telling me this?" she asked.

"I was actually hoping to get the chance to talk to you today," he replied. "Tell me, how have you been feeling? About working for us, I mean."

Ember hesitated. "What do you want me to say?"

"Just tell me honestly, do you still hate serving Houndoom?"

Ember didn't see any point in lying. She knew he would be able to tell if she did anyway, and right now, the pain from her injuries was still eating away at her patience.

"You know full well I can't stand it," she replied, a little louder than she'd intended. "I mean, I've sort of gotten used to it at this point, but I'm still being forced to fight for my life on a daily basis by a sadistic warlord who has my would-be mate by the neck and will kill him in a moment's notice if I die or fail to obey him."

Gunny chuckled. "A simple 'yes' would have sufficed. But your anger is still expected, and If you had said anything different, I wouldn't be making the offer I'm about to give you now."

Ember looked at him in confusion, though she said nothing. She'd learned that silence often prompted even more than questions, as they did now.

"I'm leaving the West Side," Gunny said evenly. "I'll be gone by tonight."

Ember did a double take. It took a moment to wrap her head around the sudden declaration. Gunny was the last person she'd ever have expected that remark to come from, save perhaps for Arcanine himself.

"You mean, permanently?" she asked in wonder. "You're just going to up and go? Do you really have so little loyalty to the West Side?"

"You have no idea," Gunny said, grinning as though he were laughing at some private joke. "Anyway, you're the only one I could tell this to, since you hate the West Side. In fact, I was hoping you would join me. There's a secret tunnel in Houndoom's base that only a few people know about. It used to be abandoned, but I've been utilizing it to go in and out of the West Side city in secret. If you want to join me, you can use that. It's to the left of the entrance to the supply room on the upper floors, behind a pile of large TM crates. You'll find a small hole between two of them that will take you to a tunnel leading right outside the city."

"Wait, why would you need to leave the city in secret?" Ember asked, scowling thoughtfully. "Where have you been going?"

"Back to my real roots."

"And where's that?" she asked.

"Let's just say I've been in close contact with a few others over the years, and I think it's about time to tighten the noose around the West Side."

Ember staggered back, thunderstruck. There was only one group he could be referring to. She was left speechless for a few moments, certain he must have been joking. However, his eyes were more serious than ever as he regarded her.

"Don't be so shocked," he said. "I mean, how do you think Cloyster knew we were coming? How do you think Mienshao managed to find you so easily? I didn't think he'd push our little ruse that far, but I believe he was pretty mentally unstable at that point. I've been working as Luxray's personal Guest in the West Side for years now."

"But…but how?" Ember asked in awe. "You're the one who's been giving away our plans and strategies the whole time? What about your friendship with Arcanine, Otachi, and Shiftry?"

Gunny shrugged again. "What better way to win a high station than befriending Houndoom's right-hand? In fact, my job is almost done. The East Side will soon destroy this place, and we'll take over the region. I just decided to give you the chance to join the winning team."

"How can you be okay with working for Luxray?"

"Well, when he killed our old trainer, out of the six pokemon in his party, I was the only one Luxray deemed worthy letting live, and I'm still trying to repay him for that. Now, then, about my offer. I think you'll find it's a lot more pleasant on our side, especially with your free will an intact factor."

"You want me to just join the East Side?" Ember said incredulously. "You must be joking. Besides, even if I wanted to, I couldn't just leave Absol behind."

"Ah, I keep forgetting your sentimentality issues," Gunny snorted. "I bet you were going to try and ask Arcanine to let you see Absol right now, weren't you? You really ought to stop obsessing over that one Pokémon and wake up already."

Ember's eyes narrowed slightly. "If you call caring about my only companion in the entire world an obsession, you really ought to take a reality check. Everyone else in the West Side wants me as a pawn, and everyone in the East Side wants me dead. You really think I'm just going to ditch Absol and march out of here to join a faction that's no different than this one?"

Gunny scoffed. "The difference, Ember, is that we will win. You shouldn't be so hostile towards me, you know. I'm offering you the chance to save your own neck. If you stay here, Luxray will kill you when he comes. And he will come. After all, what is the West Side to you? With Mienshao dead there is no one out to get you back home. You've said repeatedly that you hate them for what they've done to you. Well, here's your chance for revenge!"

For a moment, the prospect of revenge on Houndoom was tempting, but Ember could never sacrifice Absol's life just to save her own skin, and working under Luxray would be no different than Houndoom.

"Forget it," she said. "And before you ask, no, I won't tell Houndoom you're a traitor, since he probably wouldn't listen anyway. But even though I hate the West Side, I still think what you did was pretty rotten. Besides, we both know that you don't actually care about me. You just don't want to be fighting Drought in the next battle."

Gunny held Ember's gaze for a brief moment, his face an impassive mask. Finally, he merely sighed.

"I had hoped you might be willing to see reason, but I guess even what Mienshao did to you wasn't enough to convince you to join the winning team," he said. "You know, since you're such a threat to us and you won't turn, I actually have to kill you."

Ember resisted the urge to step back, trying to look unintimidated.

"You can't kill me," she spat. "We're right in the middle of Houndoom's city, and Honchkrow is probably floating overhead right now, knowing him. You'd never get away with it, even if you could beat me."

Gunny shrugged once again, and Ember couldn't tell whether it was a sign of indifference or smug defiance.

"You're probably right," he said, grinning. "But there's more than one way to skin an eight-tails."

With that, Gunny turned and walked off, dropping the pebbles in his hand onto the road. Ember nervously watched him stroll away nonchalantly, as though nothing had happened. She didn't know what his cryptic threat meant, but she knew life would be much deadlier as long as he was around.

---

About a mile outside Houndoom's town was a small grove obscured from view by several large trees near a sun-kissed lake. Several rhododendrons and berry bushes bloomed around the area, providing a sense of peace and solace to anyone nearby. Or at least, it did for Otachi, though her heart was far too heavy to be lifted even by the familiar, soothing scenery.

The grove was known only by her, Gunny, their late friend Shiftry, and Arcanine, though he rarely ever came there anymore. And it was here that Otachi-the once-formidable West Side commander-wallowed in her grief, the salty taste of tears in her mouth. Even now, her bloodshot eyes refused to dry as she stared into the lake, memories of her childhood adventures with Arcanine flooding through her mind and tormenting her relentlessly.

They say misery seeks out misery, but she knew it to be a lie; only misery makers seek company so they can spread the sorrow to others. The truly miserable seek only solitude, wanting no one to see them at their worst, or to point out the possibility that the misery was in some way their own fault. Otachi knew she might be called on by her superiors, and she couldn't perform her duties in this condition, so she'd come here to pour out her sorrow into the grove, though it refused to leave her.

Why couldn't things just go back to the way they used to be? Why couldn't Arcanine love her anymore? She'd poured her heart out to him and pleaded with him to forget his wild schemes, but he'd rejected her once again. The sad thing? Even though Arcanine had turned his back on her, treated her like a common soldier, and repeatedly broken her heart, she still would have given anything for him to change his mind, to have his love again. But she knew she never would. The thought sent fresh tears sliding down her cheeks, long after she was certain she'd run out of them.

"Pretty rough day, huh?"

Startled, Otachi turned toward the voice. Even with her vision blurred, she made out Gunny walking toward her, stopping just a few feet from her. She quickly turned away, not wanting him to see her like this.

"Please go away, Gunny," she said, struggling to keep her voice level.

"Is it Arcanine again?" he asked, not unkindly.

Otachi didn't respond, knowing it would be useless to deny it. Gunny sat down under one of the trees next to her, sighing.

"It must be hard to keep giving someone your heart only to have it crushed," Gunny said sympathetically. "You're nothing if not loyal."

"I…All I ever wanted was a quiet, peaceful life with him, Gunny," Otachi said, choking back sobs. "There was a time when he wanted it too. It's…It's all Houndoom's fault. If he hadn't found us…"

"Maybe Arcanine's just too focused on the war right now," Gunny offered. "Once the East Side is defeated, maybe he'll have time to appreciate how much you love him. Maybe deep down, he still loves you too, even if he doesn't show it. I think he'll come around."

Otachi shook her head ruefully. "No, he won't. He still has those crazy ideas about defeating the humans and taking over the region, and then there's Ember…"

"Ember? Is she a part of it?"

Otachi gritted her teeth. "I hate her. Ever since she came here, things have been going from bad to worse. Now Arcanine wants her by his side when he takes over, i-instead of…instead of me…"

Gunny shrugged. "Ember doesn't seem too interested in him. I heard she was with that Absol guy."

"It doesn't matter," Otachi muttered. "She's all Arcanine sees anymore. I don't understand it, Gunny. I'm the one who cares about Arcanine, not her, and I've known him for so long…what does she have that I don't?"

Gunny scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe Ember just fits into Arcanine's plans better. I don't think he has more feelings for her than he does you, but for a dream like his, her talents are more valuable. We can't really blame him in the end. I mean, he certainly has a lot on his mind, and quite a few responsibilities most people would crack under."

Otachi appreciated Gunny's honest and probably accurate answer, but it still deeply hurt her that Arcanine would pick Ember over her just because of her abilities.

"I'm sorry, Otachi," Gunny said. "I'm not very good at this. If Shiftry were here, he'd know what to say, but…"

Another pang of sorrow jolted through her at the thought of Shiftry. She bit her lip, thinking back to their last battle against the East Side.

"It's my fault he's dead," she muttered, her voice cracked. "Arcanine put me in charge of his squadron since you were probably battling more soldiers elsewhere, but I didn't know what to do…all those faces staring at me, waiting for me to give them the right orders, their lives resting in my hands…I've never been so scared, Gunny. I knew none of them had any faith that I could lead them, least of all Shiftry, and before I knew it, he was gone…"

Gunny reached out his scrawny arm to her shoulder, offering her what little comfort he could give. His scaly hand was ice cold, but she gratefully accepted it, glad to have at least one friend left.

"It's not your fault, Otachi," he said gently. "No one could have predicted Ember's escape attempt, and if Arcanine hadn't left to go find her, you wouldn't have been put in charge."

Otachi's eyes widened. She thought back, realizing that if Ember hadn't tried to escape and Arcanine didn't leave her in charge, Shiftry would have stayed in their squadron, and he wouldn't have been killed. It was all Ember's fault! She was the reason Shiftry was dead!

"Ember…" she spat the name as if it were poison. "Everything is wrong because of her…"

Gunny nodded sadly. "It's hard to disagree with you there. I still can't believe she's being allowed to roam free after that last escape attempt. Arcanine must really sympathize with her."

Otachi launched a Fire Blast into the air, narrowly avoiding setting the trees on fire in her anger.

"I hate her!" she screamed. "Shiftry, Arcanine…she's taking everything away from me! I'll…I'll…"

"Please calm down, Otachi," Gunny pleaded. "I hate it too, but there's nothing that can be done about it. Unless Ember gets killed in action or something, Arcanine will still go through with his plans with her by his side."

Killed in action. The words rang in Otachi's head like a swarm of Beedrill. She looked up, the seeds of a plan slowly growing in her mind. Gunny's eyes widened when he saw her sudden change in expression.

"Oh, no," he said. "No, no, no, I know that look."

"She's destroying my life, Gunny," Otachi said sharply. "I'm going to end this before it gets any worse."

"You'd never get away with it. Houndoom would find out."

Otachi scoffed. "What more can he do to me? Besides, I think maybe you're right. Maybe deep down, Arcanine does still love me. I…I know he'll stand up for me. He'd never let anything happen to me. I have to do this, before anyone else dies because of her."

Without waiting for a reply, Otachi took off, ready to carry out her plan.

Back in the grove, Gunny watched her leave, grinning wickedly. With that, he headed back toward Houndoom's base, ready to use the secret passage one last time.

---

Ember felt a chill as she entered Houndoom's base, despite the ludicrous heat inside. The Heatmor guards at the entrance were as stiff as statues, totally indifferent to her presence. She still found herself moving more cautiously around them, though none of them so much as looked her way as she passed by. She cautiously descended the first stone stairway leading to the supply rooms, the Heatmor statues behind her still staring at the rock walls near the entrance.

Ember still felt slightly nervous as she treaded down the stone steps of the lair. She hadn't been able to find Arcanine in the city, so she'd decided to go into the mines anyway, telling any guards or agents who stopped her that she'd received Arcanine's permission. Luckily, none of them seemed too concerned with her arrival, especially since there was almost nothing left in the mines of any value, and any prisoners still left behind were kept in cells right beneath the mining area.

Now Ember's only concern was whether Arcanine himself was in the base. If she ran into him now, there was no way she could talk her way out of it, and she'd be kicked out right away or worse. Still, she decided it was worth the risk and boldly proceeded into the supply room. Most of the items were still there, though they were kept under less heavy guard, since most of the guards were more thinly spread through Houndoom's base after their losses.

Normally, Ember would have used this opportunity to grab a few items, but she already had more than enough thanks to Torkoal. She trotted down the next flight of stairs and into Houndoom's main chambers. She froze in fear as she reached the floor, cautiously looking back and forth down the halls. If there was ever a risk of her running into Houndoom or Arcanine, this was it. Nearly every elite West Side commander still used the rooms nearby, and with her luck, most of them would be there now.

Ember knew she'd be standing there forever unless she forced herself to move now, so she stepped forward, turning down the left hallway. A Darmanitan was walking down the hall in the opposite direction, and she forced herself not to make eye contact. The behemoth Fire Pokémon barely gave her a glance before continuing on his way. Ember breathed a silent sigh of relief once he had passed by.

After a few more thankfully uneventful minutes of silently treading down the corridors, Ember saw the stairway leading to the mines up ahead. She quickly approached the stairs, taking the first step…

"Well, well, well," a sickeningly familiar voice cawed. "If it isn't a little ember shining in the dark."

Ember felt her stomach churn as she looked up, seeing Honchkrow perched on a ledge above her, grinning snidely. She'd been so close! Why was he always there at the worst possible moments? She forced herself to look calm and impassive as he flew down and landed between her and the stairs.

"What brings everyone's favorite Drought tool to our base?" Honchkrow practically sang.

Ember tactfully ignored his remark about being a tool, knowing he would love to see her get angry.

"I'm here to pay Absol a visit," she said evenly.

Honchkrow cawed in amusement. "What a shock. But what made you think you could just blunder in here and see him?"

"I have special permission from Arcanine," Ember replied quickly.

"Heh, I must say, you're pretty bad at bluffing," Honchkrow said, smirking. "It really is fun watching you holding a hand with no cards in it."

"Go ahead and ask him, if you like," Ember said, forcing herself not to show the slightest sign of emotion. "There's no one bluffing. Do you really think I'd just march in here without permission and get kicked out again? Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

"Yes," Honchkrow chuckled.

Despite his smug demeanor, Ember saw the faintest trace of doubt in his eyes, and she knew she just had to play it calm. Honchkrow obviously didn't want to risk angering Arcanine any more than she did.

"Suppose I do decide to verify your story with Arcanine," Honchkrow said smugly.

Ember shrugged nonchalantly. "Fine with me. You'll just be wasting my time and yours, but go ahead."

She then made a show of stepping out of his way, gesturing to the chambers behind her. If he did leave to find Arcanine, she would rush down the stairs and find Absol anyway, but that would leave her much less time than if Honchkrow would just butt out. There was a long silence as Honchkrow held her gaze, looking for the slightest sign of doubt. Finally, he tossed his wing up in frustration.

"Oh, fine. If you do cause trouble or try to escape, it'll just give me an excuse to torture you two when you fail."

With that, Honchkrow flew off into the darkness above. Once she was sure he was gone, Ember breathed a silent sigh of relief and hurried down the stairs before someone else showed up. After a few more moments of carefully making her way down the increasingly dark stairways, she finally reached the mines, activating her Drought to see the way.

There was a strange, almost sad aura about the now-empty mining caves. Ember saw no Pokémon anywhere in the massive cavern, and not a single ray of light shone anywhere, save for the light from her ability, which she kept to a minimum just in case there were any agents around. Still, the concern seemed unwarranted. No one was there to stop her from finding Absol's cell.

Ember carefully stepped around and between several smashed or overturned ore containers, looking for any prison cells or other stairways leading further down into this incredible abyss of a lair. She nearly stepped on a few multicolored spheres and other bits of uncollected ore here and there, wondering how long the slaves had been forced to work there before Absol freed them.

Ember suddenly heard a faint scratching sound to her left. She turned, seeing a large shadow swiftly glide across the ground before disappearing around a corner. There were several large claw marks on the wall that hadn't been there a second ago. Her heart pounding, Ember quickly glanced around the area, then continued more cautiously once she was sure there was no one around.

A loud clang behind her made her jolt. She pivoted and saw an ore bucket wobbling slightly on the ground before coming to a stop. Ember nervously extended her Drought to brighten the entire cavern, but she still saw no one around. She hoped it was some weird coincidence, but fate had rarely ever been that kind. She turned back around again…

…finding herself face-to-face with Otachi!

"AHH!" Ember yelled, jumping back in fright. "Uh…w-what are you doing here, Otachi?"

"Killing you," Otachi replied, grinning mercilessly. "Care to join me?"

Before Ember could react, Otachi blasted her into the air with Surf. It was all she could do to spread her tails and flip her body around in time to land on her feet. Otachi was already rushing at her, preparing another volley. Ember leapt and rolled to the side to avoid a Fire Blast, which scorched the rock wall behind her and coated it in ash.

Ember was about to use Toxic, but she quickly stopped herself. Poison meant death, and she didn't want to kill Otachi unless she had no choice. Instead, she used Will-o-wisp, burning her like she did in their first match. Otachi snarled and fired a Focus Blast at her, and she only barely managed to jerk her body to the side and avoid it, the ball of energy tearing through the stone floor and leaving a five-foot deep hole in the rock.

Ember sent a Drought-empowered Fire Blast toward her, but Otachi skillfully flew out of the way, retaliating with her own Fire Blast. Ember stumbled on a large, jagged rock and couldn't dodge the flames, which blasted her backwards and caused her to hit the floor hard, the pain from her recent injuries still throbbing hard with every hit she took. She scrambled to her feet, trying to ignore the agony. She saw Otachi grinning at her, despite the pain her own burn was probably causing now.

"Where's that tough, unshakable Drought Ninetails now?" she scoffed. "I'll still never know what Arcanine sees in you."

Ember gasped, realizing why Otachi was attacking her.

"I'm not trying to steal Arcanine away from you, Otachi," she said quickly, hoping to avoid the fight.

"It's too late, mutt," the dragoness spat. "You've already caused me more pain than all of Luxray's soldiers combined, and it's your fault that Shiftry's dead! Now, I'm gonna have a Ninetails skin rug!"

Ember struck first with Fire Blast before Otachi could attack, finally nailing her in the abdomen. Ember felt her Shell Bell heal her wounds and rejuvenate her as she did so. Otachi cursed, whipping her tail at several small stones on the ground and sending them flying at her. Ember shielded her eyes with her paw as the rocks hit home, then quickly uncovered them. However, she hadn't been quick enough to avoid Otachi's Focus Blast, which struck her in the side and pelted her across the cavern room.

Ember heard the sickening crack of bones as she hit the floor again, her whole body throbbing viciously. She was hardly close to fighting shape. Ember heard Otachi grunt as her burn sapped her health, but also a chuckle of satisfaction. Ember rolled to her feet and prepared another Fire Blast, knowing that she had only three Power Points left for the move. Once she ran out of shots for Fire Blast, she would have no moves left that could damage Otachi.

Instead of using Fire Blast right away, Ember used Psyshock, despite its uselessness against Dark types. Obviously having expected a Fire Blast, Otachi reflexively dodged the ineffective move, but that put her in a bad position and Ember nailed her with Fire Blast again, knocking her out of the air. Otachi grunted as she hit the hard ground, then roared wrathfully at Ember. The dragoness spread her wings and flew back up again, wincing as her burn once again stung her body.

Now Ember only had two shots for Fire Blast left, and Otachi still looked ready for a long and drawn-out battle. Ember tried to reach into her trainer bag for a healing item, but Otachi saw the move and instantly used Surf, forcing Ember to stop and spread her tails to keep on her feet as the weakened water move slammed into her, still doing quite a bit of damage to both her and the rest of the cave.

Ember leapt up onto one of the large ore containers, aiming a Fire Blast at Otachi from the better position. She launched the move, certain it would strike her dead-on. However, Otachi suddenly folded in her wings and fell to the ground, the flames sailing over her. Ember had no time to be taken aback by the clever ploy, as Otachi was already back in the air in seconds and launching a Focus Blast at her.

Ember jumped off the ore container to avoid the blow, but Otachi had apparently expected the move and rushed at her while she was still in the air. She then used Strength, her tail whipping at Ember and smacking her in the side, knocking her into one of the rock walls. She felt jagged stones digging into her back as she hit the wall, and she quickly rolled to the side to avoid another Fire Blast from Otachi. Her Shell Bell was probably the only thing keeping her going after taking so many hits.

Ember was about to retaliate with her own Fire Blast, but she remembered that she had only one shot left. If she missed, she would be at Otachi's mercy until she succumbed to her burn, which didn't look like it would happen any time soon. Otachi laughed when she saw her hesitate.

"What's wrong? Don't have any water to spit in my face?" the dragoness chuckled. "This is easier than I thought it would be."

"If you kill me, the West Side won't have Drought anymore," Ember said between breaths.

Otachi snorted. "What do I care? For that matter, when did you care? I'm sure Houndoom will find another Drought Ninetails soon enough anyway, hopefully one that won't keep sticking her nose into other peoples' business."

Ember braced herself as Otachi sent another Surf at her, every part of her body screaming in pain as the tidal wave crashed down on her again. She was starting to feel dizzy, and she knew she couldn't take much more punishment. She knew she had to risk her last Fire Blast and hope it would be enough to take Otachi down.

She saw Otachi rush at her, no-doubt to grapple her to the ground and finish her off. She waited until the dragoness was only a few feet from her and then used Fire Blast, finally nailing her opponent dead-on. Otachi fell into a pile of ore crates, smashing through several of them. Ember took a moment to catch her breath, certain she'd won.

However, she soon heard a low growl from her adversary. Otachi burst out from the pile of crates, roaring furiously. Ember swallowed hard, not knowing whether she could survive long enough to outlast Otachi now, especially with the dragoness's rage and hatred fueling her to fight the burn. Ember braced herself for the final bloody round of combat, knowing it could be her last.

Suddenly, however, she heard a sharp, piercing bellow from her right. Both she and Otachi turned and saw none other than Houndoom himself standing at the entrance to the mines, his black body glowing brightly and surging with flames. The West Side leader suddenly used Heat Wave, a wall of fire washing over the entire mining cavern, burning ore containers to ash as it went.

The last thing Ember remembered before blacking out was the Heat Wave enveloping both her and Otachi, pelting them both to the floor swifter than lightning.

---

Ember was awoken by the muffled, distorted sound of voices nearby. She didn't bother trying to open her eyes right away, since she'd learned it would take a few moments for the black fog to clear from her vision anyway. Instead, she listened carefully and tried to make out the voices speaking. She heard at least two people talking, and they sounded quite familiar, though the ringing in her ears still made it difficult to hear everything they said.

"…battling…under my chamber…ridiculous…must be punished…"

"No need…just stress…forget this…surely…"

As Ember felt her disorientation fade, she opened her eyes, her vision finally clear. She saw Arcanine and Houndoom arguing near the entrance to the mines. Behind Arcanine, she saw Otachi leaning back against a rock wall, her left wings too damaged and wounded for her to hover. The dragoness's eyes were bloodshot and weary, though she was watching Arcanine's every movement and hanging on his every word as though her life depended on it. She didn't even seem to care anymore that Ember was there.

"I don't know what kind of ridiculous grudges your commanders are carrying, Arcanine," Houndoom spat. "But I'm going to put an end to it."

"Please, you must understand, both of them have been under very stressful situations as of late," Arcanine reasoned. "Ember had an awful encounter with Mienshao during our last battle, and Otachi is clearly torn with grief over the death of Shiftry. Surely we can just forget this incident and focus on more important matters?"

Houndoom scoffed. "More important matters? You're just grasping for straws, Arcanine. I know all about your previous relationship with Otachi before you came here, and if you're allowing that to cloud your judgment—"

"I'm not, sir. I'm merely stating facts. It would be a waste of time to punish these two valuable commanders any further for one mistake. My past relationship with Otachi has nothing to do with this."

Ember noticed Otachi visibly stiffen, though the dragoness said nothing.

"So, you expect me to just forget this and act like nothing happened?" Houndoom snorted. "It makes me think this is all a result of your failure to discipline your subordinates."

"I assure you, that's not the case," Arcanine said evenly. "I think the punishments they're going through, that they've inflicted on themselves, and that they've inflicted on each other are enough discipline for now."

Houndoom's eyes narrowed, though he said nothing. Arcanine drummed his paw on the ground, the red energy from Close Combat shimmering off of his claws. Houndoom glanced between Ember and Otachi for a moment before fixing his gaze on his right-hand again, realizing that if it came to a clash between him and Arcanine, not only did his second-in-command have the advantage, but the support of everyone else in the room as well. He knew he had little choice but to relent.

"See that this never happens again," Houndoom warned in a low, menacing tone. "If it does, I'll personally kill them both, and you with them!"

With that, Houndoom turned and stormed out of the mines, vanishing into the shadows of the stairway. After a few moments' silence, Arcanine turned to Otachi, a look in his eyes that could have been either sympathy or disappointment.

"Are you hurt?" he asked softly.

Otachi merely shook her head, though Ember could tell she was more than a little hurt, both physically and emotionally.

"Go back to your room, Otachi," Arcanine said. "You're relieved of duty until further notice."

Otachi slowly stretched her hurt wing and managed to use it to hover. She then left the mines without a word. Ember had never seen her looking more broken and dejected than after their fight. Arcanine looked down at his feet and let out a long, deep sigh. He then turned and slowly approached Ember.

"If you're not badly hurt either, you need to return to your quarters too," he said wearily. "I hope this unfortunate behavior won't be repeated."

Ember slowly climbed to her feet, looking up at Arcanine.

"I had no idea she'd be down here," she began. "She was—"

"It's alright," Arcanine interrupted. "You don't have to explain. Otachi told me and Houndoom the whole story. I don't think she could ever bring herself to lie to me. She told us about how she planned the ambush in the mines when she saw you go in. The only thing she didn't tell us was why, but I think the reason is pretty obvious."

Ember felt a knot in her stomach as she thought about how broken and desperate Otachi had looked both during and after the fight.

"Please don't punish her," she said. "It's not her fault. If I were that upset…I might have done the same thing."

Arcanine nodded. "That's pretty selfless, considering how close she came to killing you. But you're right, this isn't her fault. It's mine, if anything. I think she'll realize her mistake, but you'll be protected nonetheless."

"Alright. I'll try and stay out of her way."

After a brief silence, Arcanine glanced toward the lower cells in the mines.

"You should go ahead and visit Absol before you leave," he said.

Ember's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Well, that's why you came here, isn't it?"

Ember looked down, feeling both confused and a little embarrassed.

"Why would you let me do that?" she asked.

"Like I said, everyone's been on edge lately," he replied. "This fight only proves that. I don't really like it, but if seeing Absol again is the only thing that will make you happy, go ahead. Don't bother trying to escape, though. We have guards posted near every exit."

With that, Arcanine turned and headed for the stairs leading out of the mines, leaving Ember alone in the cavern. She couldn't tell whether Arcanine was having pity on her, planning a trick, or just trying to give her what she wanted to try to ease the tension and avoid future fights. Whatever the reason, she didn't plan to waste this chance she'd fought hard for.

Ember descended the final stairway to the very bottom level of Houndoom's base, seeing rows of empty cells lining the walls. She'd never been more grateful to have Drought; it was so pitch-dark down there that she could have been lost for the rest of her life if she couldn't light her way. As she continued down the massive prison chambers, she noticed that there were no prisoners in sight; all of the slaves must have escaped in that last battle, save for Absol. It was a sad thought that the one to free all the others was the only one to remain trapped in Houndoom's dungeon. Even sadder was the thought that it had been her fault in the end.

For a moment, Ember considered calling out to Absol, but she didn't want to risk attracting the attention of any guards that might be nearby, so she quietly continued the search. She knew only one cell would be occupied; she just had to find it. Thankfully, since the cells were so large, few were needed to contain all the possible inmates Houndoom might collect, so the search wouldn't take too long. As she passed each filthy, moldy cell in the enormous pit, the almost overpowering stench of all the past prisoners nearly forced her to hold her breath. She hoped she could find Absol before the odor made her pass out.

After a few more minutes' walking, Ember finally reached the end of the dungeon-like cavern, though she hadn't seen Absol anywhere. What was going on? Was Houndoom moving him again, or had he found some way to escape? Certain that he wasn't there anymore, Ember dejectedly turned back toward the exit.

"You missed a cell."

Ember jolted at the sudden voice, though not out of fear. She'd know that strong, rich voice anywhere. She pivoted toward an inky black corridor to the left of the very end of the cavern, almost entirely hidden from view. She bolted toward it without thinking, stopping right in front of the cell door. Between the bars, she saw the smiling face of her beloved Absol, his ruby-red eyes shining as she approached.

"You really have no sense of direction, do you?" he asked teasingly. "Will I always have to show you the right way?"

"How did you know I was here?" Ember asked ecstatically.

"It would have been hard not to, since you left Drought on."

Ember suddenly felt like an idiot, realizing she'd been flooding the entire cavern floor with light from the moment she'd arrived. She dimmed it a little, so it was just enough to illuminate their corridor.

"I hope no one else is down here," she muttered.

"Don't worry, we're alone," Absol said, his grin widening. "Now, would you mind opening the lock so I can kiss you?"

Ember grinned and ran over to the lock. She couldn't see a key or any other way of opening it, so she decided to introduce it to a Psyshock. As the lock shattered, the cell door slowly swung open, screeching as it scraped the stone floor. Absol stepped out of the cell and promptly kept his word, reaching one paw around her and greeting her the way she'd hoped to be greeted. She eagerly returned the kiss, feeling truly at peace for the first time that week.

Their lips eventually parted, though they remained in each other's warm embrace. Absol's smile faded when he examined the injuries she'd received in her fight with Otachi.

"What happened?" he asked.

"It's nothing," she replied quickly. "Just a bad run-in with one of Arcanine's lieutenants. I think we made a lot of noise right underneath Houndoom's chamber, so he came down to investigate, and he wasn't exactly happy that we were fighting right beneath him. I have enough supplies to get patched up later."

"Really? I thought you'd have run out by now under Houndoom's tender care."

Ember chuckled. "Yeah, I would have, but an old friend left me some more. Speaking of which, I brought some extra ones down here for you, in case you still needed them."

Absol glanced absently at a pair of large, red marks on his side.

"Yeah, I still haven't fully healed from the last battle against Luxray, thanks to Houndoom," he said, meeting her gaze again. "He's been making sure I pay dearly for releasing his slaves. I haven't had one relief or comfort down here, until you came along."

Trying not to blush, Ember slung off her trainer bag and reached inside, handing him a Max Potion. He gratefully drank it down, not even wincing at the no-doubt awful taste. He'd probably gotten used to it long ago, she realized. Absol's wounds didn't fully close right away, though the traces of infection disappeared from the gashes on his sides and chest. Ember took the moment to drink down a Max Potion as well, feeling it wipe away the traces of pain she felt from her recent wounds.

"I needed that," Absol muttered contentedly as he set down the potion. "Thank you, Ember. I'm glad to see you're at least doing alright for yourself these days."

"I've been worse," Ember replied with a shrug. "But not much. Houndoom's gonna keep us here until this ridiculous war is over, which may not be for years, and I'm betting he's gonna kill us both afterwards, once I'm not of use to him anymore."

"Probably," Absol agreed. "But I'm not going to let that happen, don't worry."

"I don't know what either of us can do to stop it," Ember said quietly. "But at least we're together now. Oh, that reminds me, Absol, I have something important I need to tell you. There's a secret tunnel that leads out of Houndoom's town near the supply room above us. Do you think maybe we can use it to escape together?"

Absol scowled thoughtfully. "I don't think so, Ember. First of all, I'm sure Houndoom's guards will escort you out of here the moment you exit this floor, and I doubt they'll ever let you back down here again without supervision, so we can't both get there. Besides, I've already escaped from Houndoom's base twice now. He'll be watching me like Honchkrow, and even if I could get out of this dungeon, I doubt I'd get as far as the supply room."

Ember had a hollow feeling in her gut as she listened to Absol poke the glaring holes in her escape plan.

"And here I thought we finally had a chance for freedom," she muttered sullenly.

"There is still a chance for freedom," Absol replied firmly. "Every day, I sit down here in fear that something might be happening to you, and the feeling has been eating me alive even more than whatever tortures Houndoom can concoct. What Mienshao did to you was the final straw, Ember. I refuse to see you suffer in Houndoom's clutches anymore."

Ember looked up at him hopefully. "You have an escape plan?"

Absol nodded. "When you leave this place, play along with Arcanine and his commanders for however long it takes. Then, whenever you get the opportunity, you have to leave this place. You can't let your concern over my wellbeing hold you back anymore. The first chance you get to escape, take it. I know you'll find a way."

"But what about you?" Ember asked worriedly.

"Don't worry, I can find my own way out," Absol said with a smile. "Now that I think about it, maybe there is a way I can use that secret tunnel of yours after all. I'll be gone before Houndoom even has time to blink. Just focus on finding your own way out, and I'll meet you in the forest a few miles from the city."

Ember smiled and nodded, already thinking about how she would escape once she'd left. However, there was something in Absol's eyes as he smiled and spoke the reassuring words; something that she'd recognized every time he told her he was 'fine' when he was badly injured or poisoned. It was only the slightest shift in his eyes, no more than the faintest traces of a tell, but Ember saw it as plain as day. The blood drained from her face and her throat constricted as the truth hit her.

"Y-You're lying," she said, her voice trembling. "You don't think you can escape at all, do you?"

Absol faltered slightly, his smile disappearing. He took a hesitant breath, as if trying to form a reply. Finally, he let it back out in a long sigh.

"You have to get out of here, Ember," he said softly. "When Elsa and I worked for Houndoom, I selfishly thought both of us could escape and things would be just perfect in the end. She died because of my mistake, and I refuse to let that ever happen to you. I could die happy as long as I knew you were safe. When you make your escape, I'll try to get out too, but you're right; I don't think I can make it."

"Don't ask me to abandon you, Absol," Ember pleaded. "I-I can't…I can't leave you behind…"

"You can, and you must. It's the only way, Ember. You're much stronger than you realize. You can do this. I…I don't think I was the right one for you, anyway. You'll find someone else, someone who hasn't made the mistakes I have. But don't let Houndoom make your life and your journey a thing of the past. Just go, and leave everything else behind you."

Tears stung Ember's eyes. She tried to hold them back, but it was no use. The thought of turning her back on Absol—the one who had guided her, fought with her, protected her, helped her find her way when she'd hopelessly lost it, and loved her to no end—and leaving him to die was far too much to bear.

"I-I could never bring myself to just forget you," she sobbed. "I won't leave you, Absol! If Houndoom decides to end it…then I'll die with you."

"No, Ember!" Absol said so sharply it made her jump. "Don't do that to me. If you do, all that I've been through—all that I've fought for will be meaningless. Everything I did was for you, from the moment we first met. Don't throw all that away. You're stronger than that. Please, make this easy for me, Ember. If you truly love me, you'll go."

Ember shut her eyes tightly, trying to choke back the sobs wracking her, but to no avail. She didn't want to look weak in front of Absol, but the knowledge that she'd have to leave him to his fate clawed at her heart like a knife. To her surprise, Absol pulled her into a tighter embrace, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. She allowed the tears to flow from her eyes now that the blue-and-white pokemon's warmth had enfolded her, making the show of emotion safe. Her shoulders heaved as she thought back to all the time they'd spent together, all the times he'd been there for her and supported her whenever she needed him.

"Y-Y-You said you'd always be there for me," she choked out, as if it were a glaring flaw in his plan.

Absol leaned back and met her eyes, giving her one of his warm smiles that had always set her heart at ease in the past.

"I will always be there for you, Ember," he said. "This is the last, best thing I can do for you. I've always tried to do what's right for you in the past, and this is the only way to make sure you survive."

"But how can I live without you? I…I love you so much, Absol…"

Absol chuckled soothingly. "You don't know how much I love hearing you say that. But I know you can keep going, and that you can overcome your grief in time. And I know you can do it because you love me. I'm not asking you to rewrite history, Ember. I just want you to live. Live, and choose your own path. At least then, I'll have done one truly good thing in my life: help you find your way."

Ember wrapped her paws around Absol and held him tightly, not wanting to leave his embrace, or to face the inevitable end of their life together.

"Where should I go?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Wherever you want to go, Ember. If you want my advice, I think you should find Umbra's town. You can count on him to help you with anything you need. It's also a pretty good place to live. Apart from that, there's nothing left for me to tell you. Make your own choices, find your own way, and live your own life."

Ember and Absol remained in silence for a few more moments in the dim light of the cavern. Finally, their lips met one last time. With that kiss, the two said their farewells, and their thanks for all they'd done for each other. A few last tears escaped Ember's eyes as she held Absol one final time. When their kiss finally ended, Ember was surprised to see tears in Absol's eyes as well.

"Don't ever forget what you've learned from your true home, Ember," he said quietly. "The wild has always been in your blood. Now, go back to it."

With that, the two reluctantly broke their embrace, gazing fondly into each other's eyes, trying to keep back their sorrow.

"Here, take this." Ember said in a wavering voice, pulling the PokeRader from her bag. "You can use this to know when I leave so you can have some warning for when Houndoom comes to..." Ember couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

Absol shook his head. "You know me. I'd never go down without one last act of defiance. When you're gone, I'm going to settle my account with Houndoom once and for all. After that, well…there's no escaping it in the end."

Absol slowly turned and headed back toward his cell.

"But no matter what happens to me or where I end up, just know that I'll always love you," he said over his shoulder.

Ember thought back fondly to all the times Absol had done that. She slowly turned and headed back for the stairs, her heart aching with every step further away from Absol she took, with every inch of distance she put between her and her old life. Even as the pain and sorrow engulfed her, she knew she couldn't let Absol down. He had given everything so that she might have her life back, and she wouldn't let it be in vain.

It was time to leave the West Side.

---

Thats it, the penultimate chapter of the gang wars is over. For better or for worse in all ends next time in: Chapter 22: The Last Breaths of an Empire