Ch.30: Entering Scorch Grave City! Now Facing the Conflicts Ahead!

It may have been only a day's travel to get to Scorch Grave, but the tension made the walk feel like an eternity. Every so often, one member of Team Ravenfield was looking over their shoulder with the occasional scream, all from the smallest of sounds. The wind was extra devious, as it blocked out a lot of low sounds like footsteps. Anything that sounded like a twig snapping was enough to make them jump.

Though, Flint and Gwyn were the jumpiest of the group. They stayed close to each for comfort. Wes, who was taking point as usual, kept a calm, but serious look on his face. While not scared of the impending threat, he did scan the area for any magical auras. One can never be too cautious, especially when there was a bounty hunter chasing you down.

After the injuries they sustained, another direct confrontation wouldn't be welcomed. When Gwyn wasn't acting paranoid, she had to lean against Flint for support due to her aching back. Ella occasionally did the same against Wes, but she toughed it out more than the Mew.

Tony drummed his fingers against his arm. He looked ticked off. He has been trying to preoccupy his thoughts with something distracting. Money, the city, wondering about his family; anything would have worked. No matter what, the memory of the bounty hunter was still fresh in his mind. He was for all of them, though Tony was especially ticked.

He clenched his teeth, then punched his palm. "I still can't believe he made fools out of us…"

"Get over it, Tony," Wes said over his shoulder. "We're all down after yesterday." He smiled. "Still, as long as we keep our spirits high, there's nothing that can slow us down!"

The Dewott deadpanned. "That guy had multiple opportunities to kill you and almost did. How are you not the least bit pissed?"

Wes shrugged. "Well, for one, I don't like staying angry for too long." He rolled his eyes with a grin. "Makes me all exhausted and stuff. Secondly, this isn't the first time someone has tried to kill me." He held up his paw. "I was attacked by pirates, hunted by assassins, chased by a town of angry villagers-"

"Do you intentionally throw yourself into danger?" he asked.

Wes grinned. "Part of my natural charm. So yeah, not my first rodeo."

Flint narrowed his eyes. "What I want to know is where he got ahold of a bounty on us. There's no way our whole team is wanted."

"Yeah," Ella agreed before patting Gwyn's head, who closed her eyes and smiled cutely. "Look at this one. Does this look like the face of a criminal?"

Tony crossed his arms. "So, you're saying something smells fishy?"

"For the most part, yes," Flint said. "But even if the bounty is suspicious, the guy trying to claim it isn't. We're dealing with a warrior murderer, one who has slayed great warriors and took their weapons as his own. No matter the circumstances, that guy is dangerous and insane."

Wes crossed his forelegs. "Chill, bro. Next time we run into him, we'll be ready."

Flint smiled nervously. "Haha…next time?" He grabbed Wes by the jacket and shook him. "You actually WANT that maniac to find us?! We almost died the other day!"

"But we didn't!" Wes responded optimistically.

"We could have!"

"But didn't!"

Flint let go of him and curled up on the ground. "I don't want to go through that again…"

Gwyn bent down and lifted him under his forelegs. "Aww, don't be scared, Flinty! Wes' right! We need to stay positive!"

"I'm positive he's going to kill us!" Tony slapped him across the face. "…Thank you, Tony."

"Any time." He crossed his arms. "Anyway, if it'll assuage your nervous breakdown, Scorch Grave is a relatively safe city. Not a whole lot crime like most of the Fire Zone."

"How is that going to help us stay away from that bounty hunter?" Flint asked.

"This guy's clearly not on a genocidal rampage, so he's not going to go all out if he knows where we are." He chuckled. "In other words, do what I did when I met you guys: avoid you like the plague."

Flint deadpanned. "Your ingenious plan of avoiding him is to…avoid him?"

"Worked for me, didn't it?"

Ella raised a brow with a grin. "Yeah, for a whole day."

"Hey, my village is small compared to Scorch Grave."

Wes smiled. "Well, just keep your heads on and keep going. Worst case scenario, we get into another fight." He rubbed his paws together. "I'm looking forward to it!" His eyes shimmered brightly. "I wonder what other awesome weapons he has!"

"Wes, didn't you say those weapons belonged to…" Gwyn started with her hand raised, but Ella lowered it.

"Let him fantasize."

They walked for another twenty minutes, chattering away, before coming across the tops of buildings over the horizon. They picked up the pace and ran down the path. Once over, the city was in full view.

Out of all the rundown, poor, and uninhabitable cities they came across, this one was not only the largest, but most beautiful city of them all. Scorch Grave City was massive, stretching far and wide, almost beyond their field of vision. A red, earthy wall of sharp pillars surrounded the city perimeter. An entrance was hollowed out at the front wall.

However, what really captured their attention was the volcano that sat in the near back of the city. A composite volcano, to be precise. For the most part, it was inactive. It had to be if one wanted to live so close to it. Though, even with it inactive, the inside's dangerous and hazardous to enter unless you were crazy or can survive that specific environment.

The team of treasure hunters walked towards the entrance, awestruck by the city. "Awesome!" Wes exclaimed.

"An actual city where I don't have to look over my shoulder sleeping? Definitely awesome!" Flint exclaimed as well.

Ella grinned. "I wonder if there's any hot springs around here. Now that would be nice."

Gwyn scratched her cheek. "Hot springs? What are those like?"

Ella threw her forearm around the Mew. "We are SO having girl time while we're here! Just follow my lead and I'll show you the best day ever!"

Gwyn's eyes lit up in excitement. "Yay!"

Tony held his hands up. "Slow your roll, gals. We're finding a place to stay first."

They walked into the city. Another obvious difference between the other villages, towns, and cities they passed were the clothing the Pokémon wore. They were newer than the ragged clothing they came across.

The city had a plethora of different stores, restaurants, and various stops to explore. There was even a park. Not a typical park with grass and trees, but with a rocky terrain. There were swing sets, slides, etc., though.

Gwyn wagged her tail. "Ooh! This place is so fancy!"

Ella snorted a laugh, confusing the Mew. "Gwyn, if you think this is fancy, the rest of the stops on our regional trek will astonish you."

The Mew smiled. "Cool!" She looked around. "I have a question, though. How come this place is nicer compared to the other places?"

"I'm glad you asked," Flint started, having already pulled out a history book and opening up to a section on Scorch Grave. He was always eager to teach history. "Scorch Grave has some distinct advantages over the rest of the Fire Zone. You see, the wall formation that surrounds the city was a natural formation that occurred over thousands of years. These formations were used to keep out rogue bandits…at least the ones that can't fly. With only one entrance, residents here can intercept and handle bandit raids at a single point. Scorch Grave was also known for having valuable resources burrowed deep in the earth. They mined them out and used them rationally over the years before the Fire Zone became…well, current day Fire Zone. Fascinating fact about Scorch Grave's name, actually. The ground here used to be so unbearable to walk on that any non-fire affiliated Pokémon would burn to death in a near instant. Also-"

Tony pushed the history book down. "Flint, while this is all interesting and all, we need to find a place to stay."

Flint blushed in embarrassment. "Oh right, sorry!" He stuffed the book away, then turned to Gwyn. He whispered, "I'll tell you the rest later." Gwyn squealed quietly.

The group resumed wandering the streets for a hotel. Unbeknownst to them, though, a certain bounty hunter was watching them from behind a corner.

Griffin narrowed his eyes. I figured they would come here. Closest city for miles. He pulled up the hood of his cloak and walked onto the streets. He summoned one of his long-bladed daggers. Remain patient and you'll have your prey.

As figured by Team Ravenfield, the bounty hunter wasn't going to slash his way through crowds to get them. Despite all the heinous deaths he brought, he isn't someone to go on a slashing spree. That said, a populated city like Scorch Grave made it harder to find reasonable cover.

He made sure to keep his distance as he followed them, while keeping his magic aura low this time. If he couldn't take them out on the streets, he'll at least know where they'll be staying.

He followed them for a couple minutes, then he felt two auras behind him. Two very specific auras. He looked over his shoulder. He couldn't physically see them. They were somewhere in the crowd, but he could sense the familiarities of the auras.

He looked back at Team Ravenfield for a moment, with them getting farther away. He sighed and sent his dagger back to his pocket storage. With a whip of his cloak, he turned around and went towards where the two auras were.

"Holly! Mack!" he called out. He looked around for the two. "Where are you?"

"Yo, Griffin!" The Grovyle looked at his left and saw the Lurantis at a café with a Sudowoodo. Holly wore a white jacket over a blue tank top and jeans. She had a large, folded up fan hanging on her back. Mack, the Sudowoodo, wore a gray shirt, black shorts (though, with his short legs, they were basically regular pants), and a purple scarf around his neck. Sheathed on his back was a three section, bronze staff. Holly waved him over. "There you are! Get over here!"

Griffin slid his hands into his pockets and walked over. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "I see you two made it."

Mack was leaning back in his chair with his feet resting on the table. He had a lax expression. "We're not as slow as you claim."

"Which reminds me," Holly brought up as she reached into her bag sitting next to her chair. She tossed Griffin a sack of bits. "There's your cut from the Gastrodon."

Griffin opened it and counted the bits. Yep, he was left with forty percent of the bounty. He rolled his eyes and stuffed it in his jacket. "Thanks."

Mack straightened himself up and waved a waiter over. "Hey buster, we want some service over here!"

"Mack…" Griffin groaned in a warning tone.

He shrugged. "What? I want my damn food already."

The bounty pinched between his eyes, then looked at Holly. "Anyway…my targets are in the city as we speak. They're going to check into a hotel, most likely."

Holly raised a brow. "Is your plan breaking in and waiting for them to return?"

"Something like that."

She shook her head. "What I still can't wrap my head around is you actually failing to kill your bounty. Seriously? How hard was it to kill five people? You were in the middle of nowhere."

Griffin leaned back in his seat. "They're stronger than they look. But I'm not giving up until I collect the reward money."

"Yeeeah, we need to talk about that, first," she said.

"We can talk after lunch," Mack said before whistling loudly, irking a nearby waiter. "Yo! You going to keep us waiting or what?!"

Holly exchanged a glance with Griffin. They were sharing the same idea. If things escalate, they were throwing Mack out of the café. They were not passing up food.

"So, there's a few hotels we could check into," Flint said as he read through a pamphlet he picked up along the way. "The Hot Spot Center? Cinder Hotel?"

Ella snagged the pamphlet out of his paws and held it up to her face. "No…no…no…no…OOH!" She slapped the pamphlet into his face. "That one! Right there!"

He pulled the pamphlet away and looked. "Lava Springs Suites?"

Ella purred in delight. "All hotel residents get free access to the hot springs they provide. Plus, there's a spa." She ran her paw through her fur. "This girl deserves the full treatment after roughing it for days."

Tony smirked. "Heh, I wouldn't mind crashing there." He snickered. "Might meet some cute girls, too."

Flint looked over the hotel, then deadpanned. "Ella, do you know how flippin' expensive a night's stay is there? Most of our money is strictly for food and supplies."

Wes counted off his digits. "Well, we could work in a three-night stay if we don't go overboard."

Flint pulled down on his hat. "We would be better off getting a cheaper hotel. I mean, these other places aren't bad." He pointed at Hot Spot Center. "They have bingo night tomorrow. Doesn't that sound more exciting?"

Ella raised a brow. "Bingo?" She scoffed, then headed in the direction of Lava Springs Suites. "Yeah, we're better off staying at a fancy hotel."

"We can't afford a fancy hotel!" Flint cried, pulling down on his ears.

Tony patted the Flareon's back. "Worry not, my friend. I think I can work around that issue."

Flint narrowed his eyes. "What are you thinking?"

The Dewott smirked before following Ella. "Oh, you'll see."

Flint face-palmed, then looked at Gwyn. "Please back me up here."

"Um…" She sweated nervously. She really wanted to go to Lava Ridge, but she didn't want to hurt Flint's feelings. "I, uh, don't know which is better! They both sound equally fantastic!" She gave a forced, nervous smile.

Flint groaned. Wes threw his foreleg around his brother's neck. "Come on, buddy! After the terrors we've endured, we deserve to spoil ourselves a bit!" He poked Flint's side. "Besides, once we retrieve the key, there's going to be a ton of treasure to collect. Remember the dimensional cave we went to? The key was surrounded in loot!"

Flint narrowed his eyes. "…you really want to go to that hotel, too?"

Wes poked at his sides. "Hot Springs, bro! Comfy beds! Actual food in the dining area!" He held his stomach. "Seriously, I can stand canned meat for only so long."

Flint sighed. "Everyone else's minds are made up…" he slammed his book closed and stuffed it in his backpack. "Find. Lava Springs it is."

"YAY!" Wes and Gwyn cheered before grabbing the Flareon's paws and dragging him after Ella and Tony.

They raced throughout the market area and crowds before reaching the hotel. The building looked to be ten stories tall. It was a brilliant red with a gold colored roof. Steam could be seen coming from the back of the hotel.

Ella rubbed her paws together. "Finally, relaxation paradise!" She raced in with the others following.

The lobby was neatly decorated, with a carpet stretching out from the front door to the fountain in the middle. Four columns surrounded the fountain. There was a space off to the side to rest at. There was a dining area nearby that served quick foods like cereal, coffee, or anything that can be quickly cooked. The lobby itself felt like it glowed in a golden glow. Though, that was just the chandelier and lights illuminating the room.

They walked up to the front counter, where Tony rang the bell. He attracted the attention of the desk clerk, a male Jellicent wearing a red vest.

He cleared his throat before saying, "Ah, welcome to the Lava Springs Suites. Checking in?"

Tony nodded, leaning against the front desk. "Why yes, my good man. A room to accommodate me and my four acquaintances here. One of the nicer rooms, if you'd be so kind. Preferably the ones on the top floor."

Flint gasped. "Tony, those are freakin' expens-!" Tony slapped his hand over the Flareon's mouth while still presenting his charismatic charm.

Jellicent checked through his book. "Let me see…there are a few rooms available on the top floor. How long do you plan on staying?"

"Three nights."

"Very well then. Just sign in here." Tony signed his signature into the book. "I shall go get your key." The jellyfish floated off.

Flint crossed his forelegs. "How do you expect us to afford three nights here? We're on a strict budget."

Tony shot him a wry grin, clicking his finger. "Hey, chill. I got the money situation handled."

The Flareon glared. "I'm listening."

"Scorch Grave attracts some of the richest folks around. It's the one place in the Fire Zone considered a paradise. Where there's rich folks," He rubbed his hands together maniacally, "there's also rich snobs to pilfer pockets."

Flint's eye boggled. "Wait, time out! Are you actually-?!"

"Here's your room key, Mr. Sapienti," said the Jellicent as he came back. He handed him the key.

Tony gladly took it. "Thank you, my good man."

Jellicent gestured to the Breloom wearing a similar vest as him. "The bellhop will show you to your rooms."

Breloom bowed. "Hello, valued guests. Allow me to take your bags."

Gwyn held her hand up to decline. "Oh, no thanks, we're-" Tony jabbed her side. "Ow!"

"What she means to say is, we would appreciate it." The Breloom moved a cart over and placed their bags on it.

As the Mew rubbed her side, she looked at Tony in confusion. "Why did you do that?"

He whispered, "While that is kind of you to do, these guys get paid to carry your stuff. You'd be doing the exact opposite of giving him a break."

"Ooohhh," Gwyn expressed.

The bellhop wheeled their cart to an elevator system, then let them step in. He pressed a button and took them up to the top floor. Once they've reached it, he guided them down the hallway before reaching their designated room number.

"Here we are," Breloom announced.

Tony inserted the key and unlocked it, revealing the stunning room. The main room was decorated to resemble a living room, with a small kitchen off to the side. There was a couch, a bookshelf to read from, a beautiful carpet, and two bedrooms.

Tony tipped the Breloom. "Thank you, my good man." Breloom bowed before placing their belongings inside, then wheeled his cart away. Tony shut the door. "Well, what do you all think?"

"WOOOW!" Gwyn exclaimed, eyes shimmering in pure delight. "It's so fancy!" She ran over to one of the bedrooms and gasped. Two queen sized beds with red comforters and white sheets and pillows. "A BED! AN ACTUAL BED!" She sprung up and belly flopped onto the bed with a muffled thud. Her body sank into the mattress. She shivered in delight. "Yay…"

Ella smirked. "Well, I guess that'll be the girl's room."

Wes picked his bag up. "Flint and I can share one of the beds while Tony gets the other."

Tony shrugged. "I'm cool with that." He went to grab his stuff, but Flint was glaring at him. He shot the Flareon a grin. "Yes?"

"So, you're going to pay for our stay here with other people's money?"

Tony leaned against the kitchen counter coolly. "Hey, you were the one complaining about being on a tight budget. I figured some 'generous donations' from the rich folk would be appreciated."

"Tony, we're not robbing people!"

He folded his arms behind his head. "Too late, made up my mind."

Flint pulled down on his ears. "We're being chased by a bounty hunter who thinks we're criminals! Acting like criminals isn't doing us any favors!"

"Chill, Flinster." He smiled smugly. "I got this."

Steam was practically blowing out of Flint's ears. Wes poked Flint's head. "Um, bro?"

Ella unpacked her stuff in her room. She shouted through the walls, "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking forward to some R 'n R!" She pulled out a pair of sunglasses, flicked them open, and slid them over her eyes. "I'm checking out the springs! Hey Gwyn, care to join me?"

Gwyn pulled her face out of the bed. "But I don't own a swimsuit."

"Eh, we can buy you one." She walked over and ruffled the Mew's hair. "You and I are going to have a great time here! I'll show you the ins and outs of relaxing at the spa!"

Gwyn smiled. "That'd be great!"

Flint flailed his forelegs wildly, losing his mind at everyone's scatterbrained behavior. "We came here to find a place to stay, not to vacation! Need I remind you we're looking for the Key of Fire?!"

Tony opened the fridge in the kitchen. "You know these walls don't completely muffle sound, right?"

Flint slapped his paws over his mouth, then groaned. "We're not here to vacation. We're here to find the Key of Fire. Nothing else."

Ella slung her bag over his shoulder and gave him a look. "Flint, no offense, but we NEED a break. Gwyn and I took slashes to the back." She subconsciously rubbed her back. "I heard, upon request, that you can get a bath that helps soothe cuts and injuries." She closed her eyes. "So, I'm taking up that offer with Gwyn."

Gwyn stepped out of the room. "Sorry, Flint."

The Flareon looked at the girls, then sighed. "Ugh…y-you know what, fine. You two enjoy yourselves. You've been through enough."

Gwyn smiled brightly. "Thanks Flint!" She ran over and hugged him, snuggling into his mane. He rolled his eyes and smiled.

Wes stretched his legs. "Well, I'm going to take a quick nap before heading out. I figured everyone wanted to take a break, so I'll take initiative and handle gathering information on where the key is being held." He poked Flint's cheek. "If we're being honest, you look like you need to soak in a hot spring for a while. You know, destress and stuff."

Flint's eyes bugged out. "Wha-?! I'm not stressed! I'm not!" He looked at the others, with his right eye twitching. "Do I look stressed to you?!"

Tony blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "Yep."

"Absolutely," Ella added.

Gwyn meekly looked away. "Kind of…"

Wes patted his brother's back. "So, as team leader, I hereby decree you are to take the rest of the day off and relax!"

"But-!" Flint pleaded.

"Seconded," the other three agreed, raising their hands.

"But I-I…"

Wes shoved Flint over to the couch, dropped him on it, then went over to the bookshelf. "The team has spoken!" He grabbed a book, then handed it to Flint. "You either read and get your mind off things or go to the hot springs."

"But what about-?!"

Wes placed his paws on the Flareon's shoulders. "Bro, it's cool. We can't be working all the time. You need this." He grinned. "If anything comes up, tomorrow will be the day to take things into action. For now, you are going to rest up and enjoy our mini vacation." He patted the Flareon's head.

Flint looked down at the book in his paws. He sighed, then threw his bowler hat onto the couch. He gave a defeated smile. "Fine, you win." He leaned back into the cushions and opened the book. "I'm just going to relax. Nothing else."

Wes grinned brightly. "Yippee!" He threw his bag over his shoulder. "Everyone, enjoy your day off! Let's meet up at the dining hall for dinner!"

Tony gave a thumbs-up. "Sounds like a plan."

Ella grabbed Gwyn's hand and led her out the door. "Come on, girlfriend! Time to relax!"

Gwyn, as she was dragged out, waved at Flint. "Bye Flinty! See you at dinner!" she exclaimed before disappearing around a corner.

Tony rubbed his hand together. "I'm gonna fool around in the streets." He gave a short wave before stepping out, hands in his pockets. "Later."

Wes adjusted his bag, then smiled at Flint. "Remember, just lay down and relax."

Flint sighed before falling on his back. "Lay down and relax…right." He smiled. "See you later, Wes."

Wes grinned. "Later, bro!" The Umbreon skipped out the room, shutting the door behind him.

With some peace and quiet to clear his mind, Flint turned to the first page of the book. "Okay, chapter one. In a distant land far, far away…"

Mack patted his stomach in content. "Oh yeah, that hit the spot!" He picked at his teeth with a toothpick. "You think I should order another sandwich?"

"No!" Griffin and Holly shouted in frustration. If it was a fifth or sixth sandwich, maybe. That was his twenty-seventh one, though. It was baffling how he considered ordering a twenty-eighth. They had two sandwiches and a water. That was it.

Mack rolled his eyes. "Tsk…loud."

Holly groaned, holding her face. "Unbelievable." She looked up at Griffin. "Anyway, about that bounty…"

Griffin held his hands up. "Relax, I'll split it with you and Mack. Not a big deal."

"That's not what I'm talking about." Holly sighed. "Griffin, didn't you say that bounty required you to kill them and take back some key of theirs?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So? Doesn't that strike you as eerily suspicious? I mean, why would the police make a bounty specifically to kill five travelers for stealing a key? The entire police force in Dust Bowl is either full of dimwits or that bounty isn't authentic."

"Looks real to me," he responded with a light shrug.

She pressed her scythes against her face. "It may LOOK real, but it doesn't SOUND real."

"If it's the money you want, you can have it," Griffin said, closing his eyes.

Holly face-palmed. "Ugh! This isn't about the freakin' money! This is about taking any ol' bounty you come across! Every day, it's the same thing with you: I have to get stronger. I have to test my might. I have to ditch you guys!" She growled. "Honestly, it's like all you care about it killing every evil that gets in your way!"

Griffin narrowed his eyes. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

This made Holly laugh in frustration. "Hehe…understand?" She slammed her scythes down on the table. "Griffin, we've been friends for a loooong time. I think I have you all figured out by now." She narrowed her eyes. "You're one step away from turning yourself into a cold-blooded psychopath. All those bandits and crooks you killed just to feed your hatred."

Mack straightened himself up. "I have to agree with her on this one." He leaned forward on his elbows. "No offense dude, but you are nuts. You are mad with power." He blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "Well, you would be if you learned to crack a smile every now and again."

Griffin crossed his arms. "This is ridiculous. I don't need an intervention from you two about how I handle things." He glared. "I don't care about the money anymore. I want to see how strong those five are, especially that Umbreon."

Holly raised a brow. "And then what? What if I'm right and you end up axing an innocent group of travelers?"

Griffin's aura began to leak out. The vile, loathing energy could be felt from the other patrons, which made them scoot away in fear. "What if they're not?" He glared deeper. "I made the mistake of believing someone was pure of heart. A naïve brat who thought no one could hide under a façade." He clenched his fist tightly.

"And look what remains from my mistake: the three of us."

Holly and Mack exchanged a glance with each other. They coughed a bit from Griffin's spiteful aura. "Pal, can you turn off the angry aura?" Mack asked, waving his branch in front of his face.

Griffin's aura settled down upon request. Holly scooted closer to the Grovyle. "Okay, I get it. You're still angry about everything that happened." She narrowed her eyes. "But how could you stubbornly accept that the word of a piece of paper is truth?

"I'm not going to deny anything. You did put an end to hundreds of actual murderers. These guys, though? I've never heard of them, nor have I seen records of them being worthy of death."

Mack snatched the bounty from Griffin's jacket and looked it over. "Eh, I don't know, the Umbreon does look familiar." He rubbed his chin. "I think I saw a poster of him in some part of the Desert Zone. Something about stealing a grand piano. Though, I'm pretty sure most I've came across want this guy alive."

Griffin folded his arms on the table, remaining silent. Holly patted his back. "Griff, I know you're not the merciful type, but at least check to make sure who were after are dangerous criminals." She took the poster away from Mack. "And make sure this is legitimate. Seriously, that many zeroes for a key!"

Griffin took the poster back and looked it over once more. Second glance, it did seem suspicious. However, his mind was set on challenging them once more. If they were worthy prey, they were worthy opponents to fight.

The Grovyle sighed, then stuffed the poster in his jacket. "Fine…I'll be rational about this." He glared. "But I'm still getting my fight."

"And the reward money," Mack reminded. "Don't forget the reward money."

Griffin rolled his eyes. "Sure, and the reward money."

"That's all I needed to hear." Mack stood up and clapped his branches together. "Anyway, let's go find a hotel to crash at. After that, I think I'm going to find a nice restaurant to pig out at."

"You just ate," Holly reminded with an annoyed expression.

Mack held his hand up to his forehead. "Yes, and just the reminder is making my stomach growl." He snickered. "Now come on!" He left the café.

Holly groaned, then grabbed her stuff. "Unbelievable." She followed after him. "Come on, Griff!"

Griffin slid his hands into his pockets. He peered at the poster sticking out of his jacket a tiny bit. He shook his head, then followed after the bickering Pokémon.

Morgan stood in front of Ava's trailer. It was around noon. He would have been by earlier, but Angel was feeling woozy for a while. Thankfully, it was only a minor feeling and it passed. He really needed to get her out of the village.

He rapped his knuckles against the door, then waited patiently with his hands behind his back. In only a few seconds, the doors opened. However, it wasn't Ava who answered. It was Micah and Susan.

They looked up at the Hypno in confusion. "Uh…hello?" Susan greeted in question.

Morgan smiled, then crouched down. "Hello, little ones. I'm here looking for Ava."

"Madame Ava?" Micah asked. "Do you know her?"

He chuckled. "We're old time friends."

The twins looked at each other for a moment, then looked back at Morgan. "Please wait," they said before closing the door. They probably wanted to double check with Ava first. He figured they were taught not to let strangers into the trailers. That was good.

He waited a few minutes before the door opened again, this time with Ava greeting him. "Hello, Morgan."

Morgan smiled and stepped inside. "Hello, Ava. How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty well. You?"

"Not at all."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course. Well, follow me. I'm brewing some coffee. Care for any?"

He shook his head. "No thank you. I brought my own drink."

Ava gestured to the table that was set up. "Well then, please have a seat. I'll join you shortly." He nodded and took his seat at the table. She turned her back from him and went for the coffee brewer. She heard the thud of a bottle against the table. She turned, then deadpanned at the whiskey Morgan was holding. It was in a large bottle. "Seriously?"

He shrugged. "Hey, I thought we could share a few drinks together."

"I've tried to limit my intake of alcohol these days." She pulled out the coffee pot. "It'd be a bad example for my children."

He opened the whiskey bottle. "Of course, of course. Well, more for me." He took a big sip from the bottle.

Ava held her hand up to her mouth and giggled. "How can you consume that much alcohol without getting drunk?"

He set the bottle down. "Hey, I can get drunk. I just prefer to hide." He wiped his lips clean. "Though, I do have some fond memories of you going nuts after a couple drinks."

She poured coffee into her mug while she rolled her eyes. "Don't remind me…"

"If I remember correctly, you and Garret were getting competitive while you were both drunk." He grinned. "Oh, you two fought hard for a couple of loopy idiots. Next thing we knew, we had to buy Willow a new dining table."

Ava held her face in annoyance. "Please don't remind me of that incident. I looked like a fool."

Morgan chuckled. "Eh, we were all fools having a good time. Don't beat yourself up over it." He took another sip of his drink.

The Medicham smirked, then sat herself down. "It was a simpler time. The six of us adventuring and traveling Mysto together. You, me, Garret, Clara, Willow, and Alex."

Morgan sipped his whiskey again, then said, "There was also the tournaments. Don't forget about those."

Ava held her chin in her hand. "Remember how close we came to beating the champion?"

"I bet we can take him on again, this time with more satisfying results." Morgan set his bottle down. "Though…I suppose we can't anymore."

Ava looked down. "Yeah…" She glided her finger around the mug's edge. "So…the prophecy?"

Morgan pushed the bottle away, then folded his hands together. "Right." He rested his chin on them. "Six warriors rising up and taking on the Shadow King."

"The Beast, the Rose of Death, the Wise, the Protector, the Reborn, and the Hero," Ava listed off. "I have reason to believe I found three of the warriors."

Morgan chuckled to himself. "Well, I guess I'm one step ahead of you. I've met all five."

Her eyes widened. "You have?"

Morgan held up five fingers. "Three Eeveelutions, Cheri's older brother, and…a green Mew."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "A green Mew?"

Morgan sighed. "Gwyn Belladonna."

A brief pause of silence occurred between them. Ava looked at the Hypno with a stunned expression. "Bella…donna?" Ava held her head in shock. "I, uh…a Mew?"

"Let's just get down to business before we get into that mess," Morgan almost pleaded, clenching tightly on the table.

Ava could see the tension in his body language, so she complied. "A-Alright." She cleared her throat, then continued, "Well…if that's the case, that means there's one more to complete the prophecy."

Morgan loosened up, then leaned back in his seat. "You met the Eeveelutions first, I'm assuming?" She nodded. "Do they know about the prophecy?"

She shook her head. "I only pieced it together after they left. Even if I did, I'm not sure I have the heart to tell them." She leaned forward. "You know if they find out the importance of their success, it could hinder their judgment. To them, this is an act of goodwill and adventure, not a divine prophecy that came up at short notice."

Morgan rubbed his eyes, then sighed. "But they have a right to know. Look, when Cielo gave us the run down on what was happening, I took it as gibberish and crap. I wasn't someone who believes the fate of the universe rests on a spoken prophecy. But given everything that happened five years ago, I'm not taking any more risks."

Ava closed her eyes. "But they're so young. Are they capable of enduring the challenges that lie ahead? Randolph was fairly new to the order, only seconding to Margo."

"Time in the order is irrelevant to skill," Morgan reminded. "Randolph and Margo, despite being the newest members, wouldn't have been chosen have it not been for their skill level. I have confidence that Randolph did everything he could to give the Team Ravenfield a challenge."

Ava's eyes widened. "Team…Ravenfield?"

Morgan chuckled, scratching his cheek. "That's what they're calling themselves." He looked at her with narrowed eyes and a sad smile. "Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Ava frowned. "It does." She wiped her eyes, preventing tears from spilling. "Garret and Clara are gone…and we don't even know what happened to Alex after…" She sighed shakily. "Everything went wrong so fast."

Morgan glanced off to the side. "I know the feeling…" He shook his head and turned back. "This new Team Ravenfield is picking up where we left off. Only they're not protecting the idol, they're searching for it."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "It won't be easy. The next key is in Scorch Grave City, meaning-"

"-they'll be confronting Seraphina," Morgan finished. "She's a skilled sorceress. Very powerful and deadly with her fire magic."

Ava groaned. "We wouldn't be able to reach them in time. By the time they get the key, they'll already be off before we have a chance to intercept them."

"Actually," Morgan said, "I think I know where they'll be going next."

"You do?"

He shrugged. "Call it a hunch, but there's a chance they'll be heading to the Aqua Zone next. Think about it. It's close to Scorch Grave and it wouldn't take them long to reach Spring Wells City. If you ride from here to there at a reasonable pace, you should meet up with them."

"Are you sure?"

He smiled. "I used to be a bounty hunter, remember? I'm pretty decent at judging distances for travel. And, given that you have an efficient mode of transportation, you'll be there before you know it."

Ava rubbed her chin. "Hmm…well, I've never doubted you before, so I guess…wait, you said if 'I' ride from here to there." She narrowed her eyes. "What about you?"

Morgan scratched his head. "I have a job here, and two Pokémon under my care. I can't go on adventures at the moment."

Ava reached out and grabbed his hands. "Morgan, I understand, but this is important. I need your help. We both know what's at stake. You said you won't take risks. Can't you work around it and have someone hold down the fort for you?"

"Ava, I…" Morgan paused for a moment, then pulled his hands away. "…okay, I know some people a few towns away that could use a job. Competent doctors who can fill in for me while I'm gone." He rubbed his chin. "Plus, the fresh air would be good for Angel and Cheri."

Ava smiled. "So, you're coming?"

He chuckled. "I suppose I am. If anything," He cracked his knuckles, "those shadows deserve what's coming to them."

Ava nodded. "We'll get back at them, don't fret."

Morgan smiled. "Good." His expression turned negative as he frowned. He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. "Now that that's out of the way…we should discuss the Donphan in the room." Morgan's eyes narrowed sharply. "Clara had a kid. A daughter we didn't know about."

"And a Mew, apparently," Ava added, rubbing her chin. "Clara was in contact with one of the gods. How bizarre, but not unheard of. According to some sources, the Legends come down from the Hall of Origin and walk among the mortals. I'm surprised she had a kid with a Mew, though."

Morgan glanced to the side. "Yeah, surprising…" he grumbled under his breath.

Ava narrowed her eyes worriedly. "Morgan, are you alright?"

"I'm fine…"

The Medicham blinked, trying to read his expression. After a moment, she gasped in realization. "Oh…oh, oh, oh! I see what's wrong here."

Morgan's face reddened. "Ava, please…"

"You're still not over her, are you?"

The Hypno's fist tightened while his face darkened in red. "…maybe."

Ava held her hand up to her chest and stared at him sympathetically. "Oh Morgan…I'm so sorry."

He waved it off. "I-It's fine, Ava. It's just…" He groaned and held his face in annoyance. "I'm just…mad at myself for never telling her the truth. Now I never will."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Do you…hate Gwyn?"

He pulled his hands away. "No! No, no, of course not." He shook his head. "She just…reminds me too much of her mother. The way she acts resembles Clara. She's even a brilliant potion maker like her mother. I can't hate her, but…it feels weird. I mean…when I found out she was Clara's daughter, I was shocked. I haven't seen Clara in years when she left the group. Now I find out she was hanging around a god and has a kid with him. It's just…a rush of information crashing into me."

Ava placed her hands over his. "I understand how you're feeling, Morgan. You loved Clara. I'm sorry you never had the chance to tell her the truth."

Morgan sighed, then held his face. "Clara never felt the same way about me. I didn't want to ruin our friendship. If I knew that a witch was going to curse her, I would have said something sooner." He narrowed his eyes. "Maybe if I wasn't a coward, I could have saved Alex, too…"

"You're not a coward, Morgan. You've just…never been much of a people person. But I can see that you've changed. Heck, you even became a doctor because of Clara. That has to amount for something."

This made the Hypno smile. "I suppose so." He sighed. "Whatever the circumstances, I'm going to help Team Ravenfield, so I can protect what's left of Clara. So, I can avenge those we've lost because of the shadows."

Ava nodded. "And we will." She stood up. "If you're in, we'll leave when you're ready."

Morgan swiped his whiskey off the table and downed half the content in several gulps. He slammed the bottle down and stood up. "Let me make a few calls, then tell Angel and Cheri about what's planned."

Ava smiled. "Take your time." Morgan nodded and prepared to leave. "Oh! And Morgan?" He looked over his shoulder. "If you…ever want to talk to…get some things off your chest, just know I'm willing to share a drink so we can talk."

Morgan smiled to himself. "You've always been a good friend, Ava. Thanks." He exited the trailer and shut the door behind him.