Ch.108: The Art of Theft! The Longing of Two Thieves!

"An exciting turnaround for Team Shatter Star, ladies and gentlemen! Team Gray Skull, who possessed a strong lead at the start, are now being pushed back! Radical!"

Saffiro swung his sword out and slashed through a Pyroar and Gogoat, setting them ablaze. The Pyroar put up enough resistance against the flames to aimed at the dragon's back. "Raging Roar!" He roared with immense power, rippling the air in a ringed shape.

Saffiro slashed the air and created a portal of flames, absorbing the spell. He sheathed his sword, then immediately swung it out with a stream of flames shooting from the scabbard. They opened into a portal that released the spell back into them.

Ebony, meanwhile, was bouncing around in the air thanks to her Friction Theft. She dodged a Granbull armed with a bow, firing off arrows of stone. Ebony maneuvered through her shots with a wicked smile to her face. "Hunter's World!" She vanished just as an arrow fired into her.

Granbull stumbled back and pulled from the field to make more stone arrows. "Where is she?" she mumbled cautiously.

Ebony walked out from behind the Granbull, seemingly from out of nowhere. She smirked, then flung her scarf around the bulldog's waist. Granbull gasped as she was pulled off the ground and flung high into the air. "Cybil, take her down!"

Red-trailed bullets zipped around the stadium and exploded into Granbull, knocking her out of the sky. Ebony forward-flipped and drove her foot into the dog's stomach, launching her against the far wall of the arena. She landed, dusted herself off, then leaned back with a cool grin.

The Lairon on their team fired off condensed beams of light from his armored plating, aimed on the steadfast Breloom running around the arena. Oswald either dodged the beams or struck them with one of his powerful hits. His fist drilled through the center of one and broke it in half. For someone who possessed no magic, he was utterly monstrous in hand-to-hand combat, the very thing Lairon was trying to avoid.

"Illumination Deluge!" Lairon outputted a pulsating field of light that engulfed the entire battlefield.

Oswald closed his eyes as the light enveloped him. "Sorry…but I already have my crosshairs locked on you." He bent his knees and rocketed through the light. "Impact Star!" He thrusted his palm and struck into the center of Lairon's face, channeling all his kinetic energy through the steely creature and shooting him across the battlefield, ramming into the walls.

"Mortis Storm!" yelled the Whimsicott of the Gray Skulls, throwing her spinning glaives at Krystal, who took to the air.

Krystal dodged the pursuing throwing weapons as they gathered up the air into razor sharp cutting power. She maneuvered as best she could, but found they were locked on her. She smirked. "In that case, we switch to Plan B. Saffiro, Cybil! Engage with the Watermelon Sunrise Maneuver!"

"Stopping eating bowls of fruit during strategy meetings!" Cybil yelled from her hidden position in the ground, thanks to a little spell of hers that depressed the ground to make a nice bunker for herself. She aimed the barrel of her rifle and fired off her ensnarement bullets, catching the glaives in their magic string and stopping them in place.

Before Whimsicott could act, Saffiro stepped from a flaming portal behind her and slashed her with Salamander, erupting flames into her back. She flew into Krystal, who blasted the wind user with explosives and threw her into her own lacerating wind magic.

Krystal held her wings in front of her chest and formed an amorphous glob of volatile magic. "Nuclear Revolt!" She threw it down on the Whimsicott, trapping her in a swirling vortex of the Delibird's magic while also sucking in the wind magic. She zoomed down, landed, and raised her wings. "All together now! And…KABOOM!"

With a dramatic pose, Team Shatter Star posed to the crowd as the Nuclear Revolt detonated. Whimsicott went sailing from the top of the explosion and crash landed with the rest of her fallen team.

The crowd roared with excitement, as did the announcer. "What a stellar finale to the second match! Team Shatter Star takes their victory with style and coolness! Hey, if you guys need a gig, I know some great clubs that could use that type of flair!" There was a pause. "Stop dissing me! I'm not self-promoting anything!"

Team Shatter Star grinned and waved to the crowd, specifically at Team Ravenfield, who were jumping out of their seats for their friends.

"Ugh, this popcorn still doesn't have the right amount of butter. I swear, people these days…" Zaros complained to the popcorn held between his fingers. He took his gaze off it and stared back down at the arena in the afterglow of Team Shatter Star's victory. He smirked. "Hmm. So, they will be going up against our team in the next round? If they match Team Ravenfield's level of strength, this might make a good test for Edwin's capabilities."

He felt something buzz in his jacket. He reached in and pulled out the humming crystal ball. With one wave of his hand, the image of Jeffery came through. He squawked and yelled, "Did you see the match?!"

"Of course I did," Zaros said smugly, pushing up his glasses. "What of it?"

"Should we get rid of them? Those were the guys that took out your Puppet Master's monster in Ironworks!"

"Yes, yes they did." Zaros smirked. "I spoke with Reuben about it. He was sure it would've killed one of them."

"So, we do get rid of them?"

Zaros shook his head. "No. I want Edwin to face them. If it comes down to it, he'll have to execute our hidden weapon a little early. My only concern is taking out Team Ravenfield's numbers."

"Bad idea." Zaros raised his brow at the Chatot, who quickly raised his wings in defense. "D-Don't take it the wrong way! We know how much of a pain they are, but…have you met them?! There's no way the crew we currently have on hand are enough to take out one of them! Those guys are monsters!"

"It's called a surprise attack for a reason. You just need to either incapacitate them or kill them. It's not that hard."

"Easy for you to say…" Jeffery muttered.

"We'll let the match go on as usual and hope to see another victory. Team Ravenfield's our true target for now. I especially want their heavy hitters out of the way."

"Mind clarifying which ones you're talking about?" Jeffery whined. "At this point, the Espeon scares me…"

"Uh huh. Is that all?" Zaros asked dully.

"Um, yeah, there is something else. Have you seen Indigo anywhere?"

"Who?"

"The…The Sneasel."

"Ah. Her. What about her?"

Jeffery glanced around in confusion. "I don't know, she up and disappeared a while ago. I've been searching all over, but not a feather or claw to be seen."

"That's your problem, not mine. If she gets herself killed, so be it. You lot, for now, are expendable. Don't bother me with your pathetic notions again." Jeffery opened his beak to retort, but Zaros had already ended the call.

He shoved the crystal ball back into his jacket and stood up. Team Ravenfield's match won't start for an hour. I'd best see to picking my target wisely. He glared down the crowd, where he could barely spot the six as they exited from the stands. Shall I go after their strongest…or should I send them a message through their weakest? He smirked. Decisions, decisions…

"Nice work, you guys!" Wes exclaimed after he and his team met up with Team Shatter Star. "You guys really gave the audience a show!"

Krystal rubbed her wing against her chest, chuckling proudly. "I don't mean to brag, but Team Shatter Star has always been known for their spectacular performances."

Cybil crossed her arms and glanced to the side. "Some people call that being a showoff, Krissy."

Krystal chuckled. "Oh come on, Cy, you know you love it!" She pressed her cheek up against the Furret's. "You can't deny you love showing off a little for the audience! I think you look adorable when you join in!"

Cybil rolled her eyes while trying to hide her blush. "Sh-Shut up…" Krystal snickered under her breath.

Griffin sighed and held his hip. "I give you my congrats for making it through, but how do you intend to deal with the Shadow Bringers."

Krystal's mood deflated a bit after being reminded of them. In the afterglow of their victory, it slipped her mind she and her team would have to face off against the same guys who wiped the floor with the Waves. She gulped, then grinned awkwardly at Griffin. "Eh…what's there to worry about? I got this in the bag."

The Grovyle's brow furrowed deeper. "Are you positive?"

"Um…maybe?"

Saffiro tapped his sword light against his shoulder. "Hey, hey, chill, you two. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The match doesn't start for two days, anyway. We got time to review the Shadow Bringers and work out a counterattack against their tricks." He pointed his hilt at Griffin. "We could use some tips from you, if you're okay with that."

"I'm normally against giving out trade secrets about my people's abilities, but this is a notable exception." Griffin scratched his cheek as he thought it over. "Hmm…how about we discuss it after dinner? The mechanics of Revulsion Anima take some time to understand, especially with its archive of spells, but it does have its exploitable weaknesses."

Some ease returned to Krystal's face. "Oh…that's great. Thank you, comrade!"

Hugo narrowed his eye at the Delibird worriedly. "Krystal, are you sure you're not nervous about the fight?"

"Hehe…when have I ever been nervous over a big fight? Besides…" She pounded her chest proudly. "I've taken on some of those shadow goons back in Ironworks! I can handle these posers, no sweat!"

Wes smiled. "You better. I'd feel more comfortable entering the final round with friends instead of enemies."

Krystal winked at him. "We got you covered, comrade! Just as long as you guys get through your first match!" she teased, poking him in the nose, which made him laugh.

Tony teetered on his heels out of boredom as he watched the others chitchat. He was thinking about striking up a conversation with Ebony (and perhaps convincing her to lunch) or seeing if he could find do the same with Hazel from the Wild Fangs. As he did, his eyes wandered around the room to place his attention on anything of interest. The talking turned to white noise as he scanned through the mostly bare room.

He blinked twice at a reddish feather sticking out from behind a column, along with a pair of claws holding the side. His eyes narrowed at the hidden figure, who could tell they were being watched. A head poked out from behind with the Dewott instantly recognizing their face.

Indigo. Tony glanced at the others to make sure they weren't looking at Indigo. Thankfully, they were too absorbed in their conversation to notice. Thank goodness Indigo didn't have any magic or she might have been singled out. He returned his confused glare back on the Sneasel, who was also checking to see if no one else was around.

He watched her lips move, sending a message over to him. Tony wasn't particularly great at reading lips, but he could instantly interpret it with Indigo. 'Please meet me outside in five minutes. We need to talk.'

Naturally, Tony had to be suspicious of this request. For one, they were on opposite sides as of now. This could easily be a trap to lure him away from the others. He didn't sense any familiar auras that belonged to the pirates, but not all of them had magic auras. Second, trust between the two friends was a little iffy given Indigo's new bosses.

However, the Dewott's natural curiosity spoke out to him, wondering if the Sneasel came alone to speak with him. He cupped his chin at this. Regardless of the trust issue, Tony was well aware the Desert Beasts were being forced into this position. While it was scummy to be working with the shadows, he could understand they weren't doing it entirely of their own free will. This might've been Indigo's only chance to speak with someone out of the shadows and her crew.

Besides, if the worst came, Tony was prepared to avoid any ambush set up for him.

He turned back to his team one more time, then raised a finger to Indigo, signaling that he will be there in a moment. She smiled, nodded at him, then ran off, keeping her head hidden.

Tony shoved his hands in his pockets, staring at the door she left through with open concern and bitterness. He sighed, then spun around towards his team, hiding his feelings behind a casual smirk. "Hey guys, love to stay and chat, but I'm going to scope around the arena for a bit. There's many wonderful ladies out there who are dying to get my autograph~!"

Griffin rolled his eyes. "Dream on, Casanova."

"Oh, I will, thanks!" Tony winked at the Shatter Star girls. "Don't feel bummed out without my company, ladies!"

Krystal shared a wry grin. "We'll contain our tears in your absence," she replied sarcastically.

Ebony held her chin and smirked. "Try not to get a concussion from all the slaps of rejection. You still have a match in an hour."

"What lady can resist my charming mug?" Tony boasted as he backed up towards the door.

Wes chuckled to himself. "Alright Tony, just make sure you're not late."

"You wound me, Ravenfield, you wound me," the Dewott groaned theatrically as he stumbled out the door, arm hanging over his face before waltzing off.

Flint rubbed his neck. "Might as well do some strategy before he gets back."

"Mind if I help?" Ella asked. "I at least want to do something before you reach the championships."

Wes grinned awkwardly. "Heh…of course, Ella…" The Espeon's ears drooped, then she turned away from Wes while awkwardly rubbing her foreleg. He frowned at this. "Um…"

"Right, uh…let's head to the waiting area," she mumbled, marching past Wes.

"Ella?" Gwyn called out, but got no response. She looked at Wes with a worried look. "Is something wrong?"

The Umbreon frowned. "Just…awkward stuff."

As soon as Tony wandered out of sight, he trudged around the arena with a sour glare. He kept his senses heightened in case there was an ambush planned for him, not that he worried about the possibility. His only concern was finding out what Indigo has been up to.

Fortunately, it didn't take him long to spot the Sneasel waving him from behind a building in front of the stadium. She took cautious glances before ducking back behind the corner. Tony huffed through his nose, then marched over to the Sneasel.

He turned the corner and pressed his hand against the wall. His eyes settled on the pirate, who was sitting against the stone wall while hugging her legs. He couldn't get an exact read on her face. It was almost blank. Or absent.

He sighed and leaned against the corner, hands shoved into his pockets. "You know, there are other ways to lead someone into a trap. You can lead an idiot with a trail of candy. You can lead a guy like me with a hot girl. Or there's always pelting them in the head with a stone and running for your life. Either or works."

Indigo sighed and pulled her legs closer. "Good to see your joking personality hasn't changed."

"Clear to me you've changed a lot. You're not normally this reserved." He shrugged. "Though, I'll give you a pass, on the account you should be hiding from your enemies." He cupped his chin. "Now, who would they be exactly?"

Indigo narrowed her eyes. "Look, I didn't call you over to ambush you…or to help you out. I just want to talk, that's all."

"Just talk?"

"I haven't had a decent night's rest in a while and…I don't know, need to get some stuff off my chest."

Tony stared down at her silently, then peeked out from around the corner. He sighed, then plopped down beside her. "Well, don't drag it out, I'm on a time limit."

She nodded weakly. "Right. So…how are things?"

"Oh, wonderful. My mom's doing great, Cheri has friends, my best friend is working with a deranged warlord from five hundred years ago, and I got these new sunglasses. You know, the typical day-to-day stuff."

Indigo winced against the harshness of his tone. "Tony, you know I-"

"I know." He sighed and ran his hand through his fur. "Sorry. I'm mostly bitter at your bastard of a captain for letting this happen."

"He's the only reason we're talking right now."

"Fair, I guess." Tony glared. "We're just trying to get by and stuff. Wes was in a rut after what happened in the library. I don't blame him. His favorite teacher in the world, not to mention the best friend of his father, is being used as a puppet for the Shadow King. Honestly can't describe how sick it makes me feel…"

"I…have an idea," Indigo muttered, scooching away from the sparks crackling off Tony's fur.

"Mind telling me how to pull him out?"

"I told you, I'm not here to give you help. I don't know who might be watching." She clutched her arm. "Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't know where to start. Aren't shadows impossible to pry from a host?"

"Well, after that display back in Scorch Grave with Griffin, I wouldn't say impossible."

"Hmm? How so?"

Tony leaned back on his hands. "I have to wonder how strong the shadows think their possession really is. Sure, it's damn near difficult once you get yourself glued together, but they're not as invulnerable as they like to boast. They bury you under corruption or some shit like that. Guess they never met someone with a bigger ego than Griffin." He tilted his head in thought. "No, more like temperament."

Indigo narrowed her eyes. "So, it's not the possession, but the gravity of their influence?"

"Hell if I know. I'm just saying junk." He crossed his legs and looked up at the sky. A twinge of anger came to his gaze. "They haven't hurt you, right?"

"No."

"Good. As if I need more reason to kill each of those inky bastards." He closed his eyes and smirked. "Though, it would be a good motivator."

"You're not normally the type to get angry."

"Heh, trust me…" His gaze darkened. "That's been happening a lot lately. Too often to guarantee their safety."

Indigo gulped and scooted away a few centimeters more. "Riiiight." She scratched behind her head. "…Your mom and Cheri are doing well, you said?"

His face softened. "Better than I could imagine." He pressed his fist against his cheek and laughed. "If we ever do find the Idol of Origin, I might want to use it to get the dreamhouse my family deserves. We'd be set for life."

"You would have the power to shape reality at your fingertips," Indigo added. "Why stop at a dreamhouse, though?" She rubbed behind her head, wincing to herself. "You could…get all the girls you wanted, right?"

Tony smirked. "Just make them out of thin air? I mean, I could, but…I'm not the kind of guy to do that. Sure, I shamelessly flirt with everyone, but I do want to settle down one day with someone."

Indigo quietly sighed in relief, then pressed her head against the wall. "So, why just stop at the house? You wouldn't want to give yourself infinite resources? Make it so that you would never have to work again?"

"Well, for one, I don't think the team would appreciate me misusing the power of a god." Tony narrowed his eyes seriously. "But the second reason…is that I want to live a life where I take the necessary shortcuts. I work hard, but take every opportunity to screw the people who get in my way over. Those are the shortcuts I take."

Indigo pressed her lips together, then sighed. "You did have the tendency as a kid. Never taking crap from anyone and kicking them down." She gritted her teeth together tightly, as the face of a certain Mr. Mime came to mind. It's almost scary how you two can relate in ideals.

"The power of a god would be something, but it would be pretty lackluster, too." He smiled at the sky. "There's something more rewarding about stealing riches for myself. Sure, if I could, I would use it to get myself that dreamhouse in the Storm Zone. After that, life goes on as usual, but in a sweeter pad."

Indigo frowned. "You've nearly died on this adventure and you're still thinking with a smile on your face. How do you do it?"

"Because I hate roadblocks telling me where my path ends." He scoffed. "It matters not who they are or what, but no one stops me from achieving my goals. That's why I became a thief. I only had one single goal in my mind: to help my sick mother and young sister. I set my path and I went for it. Didn't matter who I had to take out to get through."

"…" Indigo tightly clutched her arm. "How far would you go? Far enough to ruin someone's life?"

Tony shrugged. "If they piss me off enough…and if they're an unforgiveable scumbag. Why the hell should I care what some jackass is going through? Sure, I'm the jackass who steals from people, but I save the true reckoning for people I hate."

"…Would you kill?"

"…Indigo, what's this about?"

She closed her eyes. "Tony, the Desert Beasts are putting up with this crap so that they can obtain ultimate power. We've nearly crossed lines in the past, but we've pushed over a long time ago with these shadows." She glared. "I'd never say this to one of their faces, but…they're the absolute worst. You don't know just how far they will go with their plans. They want you guys dead."

Tony shrugged that off, too. "Meh. I think I've gotten use to people wanting my head cut off."

"And yet, death might seem too east for some." She glanced at Tony with worried eyes. "I remember what happened at the library, you know. I saw how Aeternus was torturing you into joining him." She saw the Dewott's brow furrow. "…You don't know this, but he has a deep-seeded obsession with you. You've left an impression on him. He sees something…familiar in you."

"…What makes you say that?"

"He doesn't have an indoor voice, for one," she said half-jokingly and half-fearfully. "I'm just worried about you."

He shook his head. "Indigo, you aren't giving me enough credit. Why should I care what that mad clown wants from me?"

"Tony, I think I know why he wants you as a minion. Maybe even his apprentice. He…I think he sees himself in you."

Tony blinked twice, a little caught off guard by that statement. "Come again?"

"Have you never got that impression from him?"

He glared, then looked forward. "I…think he said something similar that one time, but I never gave it much thought." He sighed and scratched behind his head. "Don't tell me you really think I'm going to end up like an insane psycho like him?"

"What I'm thinking is that…you two have similar ways of observing the world. Nobody but yourselves and those in your lives matter. People you respect, work alongside, all those things. Everyone else…is trash under your feet."

Tony glared at her, looking quite offended. "Hey, I have never called anyone trash! Not even Griffin! And I dislike him! A lot!" He huffed and crossed his arms. "Bastard doesn't even refer to me by my name," he grumbled.

Indigo frowned. "Tony, I don't mean to say you're a horrible person. I just notice some qualities between you and Aeternus that are, well, frightening. The only clear difference is your moral outlooks, but…how easy can that be changed if power is offered?"

"I rejected him once, I would do it again."

"But what if you weren't given a choice? A choice that forced you take his side? Something you desire more than anything, but forced upon you in a way that you couldn't say 'no' to?" She sighed and touched her heart. "You knew how I was back in the village. All I wanted was power. Respected. I wanted something that gave me height over all.

"Becoming a Desert Beast was exhilarating. I was given that freedom in the skies. I made my choice and I was happy about it." She frowned. "Then the shadows offered us glory beyond our comprehension. How could I refuse something so…tempting?" She closed her eyes. "I know it's wrong, I've always known, but I don't want to be seen as some weak creature ever again."

Tony glared at the building in front of them, tapping his finger against his arm. Indigo often didn't show it, but she envied those who had a better life than her. Unlike him, she didn't start out well and lose everything. She was dirt poor from the beginning. She didn't have much to call her own.

She had very little growing up.

Tony coughed into a bucket that was given to him by his mother, coughing up whatever ash he had inhaled earlier. He had vomited a little, but it helped clear the ash from his throat.

Angel wasn't looking well herself, but was pushing through. She was leaning over someone with medical supplies by her side. Cheri, the young Pichu, was waddling around carelessly. The Raichu narrowed her eyes. "That was very reckless of you, Tony. You could've gotten hurt."

Tony coughed harshly into his bucket, then groaned as he wiped the spit off his mouth. "H-Her house…was collapsing in the ash storm. Had to…save her…" He threw his head into the bucket and coughed. Angel flinched as she heard him spit something up.

She sighed, then looked down at the dirty Sneasel lying unconscious on their floor. "The poor thing." She looked up at their windows, which were locked shut as the walls shook from the harsh winds outside. "She wasn't even awake when the storm came through."

Tony bared his teeth. "Her mother ran out of the hut without even looking for her. That abusive bitch."

"Tony! Watch your language!" Angel scolded, though she couldn't help but agree to his statement. If she were in any other place with more helpful authority, Angel would've reported the Sneasel's mother for the other injuries she inflicted. Angel had to get the child into clean clothes and found a number of scars and bruises over her body.

It was horrible, but didn't compare to the state of her right arm. When Tony saw her house collapse and rushed out to save her, he found her right arm pinned under a lot of debris. There were splinters jabbed into her arm and cuts that had ash sprinkled on them. Angel did her best to clean it off, but she was anything but a medical professional.

All she could do was pull the splinters out and tie up her arm so that an infection would spread farther up her arm. She sighed and leaned back, coughing a bit into her fist. "…That's as much as I can do for her?"

Tony looked up at his mother worriedly. "Will…Indigo be okay?"

Angel frowned. "I don't know, sweetheart. I don't know."

"What about that doctor guy who came into the village last week?" Tony asked.

"There's no way we can get through that ash storm without worsening her condition." She coughed and held her chest. "Or mine. And there's absolutely no way I'm letting you go out there."

Tony gritted his teeth. "You have to do something! She might die!"

"Tony, I'm worried for her safety too, but I have to take priority over my family first!"

"She is our family!" he screamed.

"I-!" Angel winced as Indigo stirred. She was still asleep, but visibly uncomfortable. She could barely move her claws. She sighed, then looked at her son who looked ready to burst into tears. "…I'll need to cover my mouth." She pushed herself up and walked to the kitchen.

Tony felt a little guilty. "Mom…you shouldn't go out there."

"I have to." She sighed, then smiled weakly over her shoulder. "Regardless of it all, I would trudge out there for you and Cheri."

"Mom…" Tony was about to say something further, but froze at the hard knocking at the door, which made Angel jump, too.

"W-Who's out here in this weather?!" she exclaimed, hobbling to the door.

Tony glared. "If it's Indigo's mother, punch her in the teeth!"

"Tony!" she snapped as she undid the locks. She covered her mouth and pulled the door open a bit. She could see the dusty blackness racing through the air outside. "Yes, hello? Can we-?" Her eyes widened, then she stumbled backward.

Tony put his bucket down and ran over. He gasped as a Hypno stepped into their hut. He had one hand in his pocket with the other carrying a briefcase with him. Tony recognized him as that weird doctor fellow who came into the village, the very one they needed.

Angel gawked at him for a moment, then immediately closed the door. "Um…hello? May we help you?"

The Hypno narrowed his eyes on her. "Actually, it is I who should be asking that question." He pointed at the window. "I saw a door flying past my window and…well, naturally, I rushed over to make sure no one was hurt."

"Are you okay?" Angel asked, noticed the ash covering his body. "You could get sick out there."

He shook his head. "It's nothing. I was wondering if you could tell me if anyone was in the hut. I searched the wreckage, but didn't find anyone."

Angel tapped her hands together, then looked down at her son, who narrowed his eyes in concern. Angel sighed, then gestured to the Sneasel on the floor. "That…would be her."

The Hypno glared and marched over to the unconscious Sneasel. He got on his knees and opened up his medical case. Angel and Tony looked at each other worriedly as the doctor looked her over. Tony gulped, then walked up beside him.

"Is she going to be okay?" he asked timidly.

The doctor looked down at Tony with what he imagined to be a cold, heartless stare. Tony winced and looked away, baring his teeth tightly. He considered stepping away when a hand plopped down on his head and ruffled his fur a tad. He looked up at the doctor, who offered a warm, sympathetic smile.

"She'll be fine, I promise." Tony blinked, then smiled. The doctor returned to examining Indigo, now glaring. "Some of these scars on her body don't look new. Where did she get them?"

Tony glared. "From her mom…"

"Hmm…where is she?"

"Probably half-dead from here."

"Tony!" Angel scolded.

The doctor's eyes softened. "I'll be sure to have a word with that woman, provided she isn't suffering from the storm. As for her injuries, some of these are only superficial. They're treatable." Angel sighed in relief while Tony sat down on Indigo's other side. "However, while most of her injuries are treatable, I'm afraid I can't say the same about her claws."

Angel's ears flopped down. "Oh no…"

He touched the arm and traced his fingers up to where the Raichu wrapped the cloth. "You were wise to cut off the blood flow to her arm. The ash out here isn't good for open wounds. It can cause serious infections." He closed his eyes. "Though, from what I see, I can't do much to treat it. I can also tell she hasn't been given any proper medicine or vaccinations for the conditions out here."

"How can you tell?"

He flexed his fingers, revealing the purple string shimmering off his fingertips, puncturing harmlessly into Indigo's arm and body. "Call it a specialty."

Angel gasped softly. "You can use magic…"

"This particular spell lets me monitor the body's condition with fine tuning. Difficult spell to learn, but well worth it." He glared at Indigo's arm. "I'm afraid all the way out here, we don't have the necessary means to fix her arm."

"Don't you have healing magic?" Angel asked.

"I don't use healing magic, and I doubt a lot of folks out here know any, too." He glared worriedly at the child, then looked up at Angel. "Her arm's not going to last forever in this condition. It'd be better to get it amputated."

Angel's eyes widened. "Amputated?!"

"W-What?" The Hypno's eyes moved down, seeing the shocked gasp came from Indigo herself. She was barely awake, feeling hazy from the collapsing hut, but stared at the doctor in disbelief. "You…mean cut off my…?"

The doctor narrowed his eyes at her worried grimace. "…I'm really sorry, but your arm is already seriously infected. I can't do much to save it the way it is. All I can do is make sure it stops spreading."

Indigo immediately clutched her arm, shouting, "No! You can't do that! I don't want to lose my arm!" Her eyes shook with panic. "Just feed me some medicine or something! Please! Don't hurt me!"

The doctor sighed, then tried his best to look sympathetic. "If I don't do something now, that infection will only get worse. The people of this village don't have the proper care to take care of themselves. So many can die from infections like this. You'll hurt a lot more if we don't act soon."

Indigo bit her lip, feeling tears come on in her eyes. "I can't…I can't lose my…"

She felt her other claw being clasped by two smaller hands. She turned her head and saw Tony looking at her with a worried face. Tears were poking out from his eyes, too. He pulled her claw to his face and leaned against it.

"Indigo…I don't want to lose you. I don't want to live the rest of my life remembering that my friend died in my home. Please…Please survive for me. For yourself. Don't be stubborn about this."

Indigo shivered fearfully. "B-But, it…"

"He won't hurt you." He looked up at the Hypno, who stared back with an unreadable expression. Tony gulped, then looked back at Indigo. "You'll be fine. I won't leave your side."

"Tony…"

"Do this for me, please."

"…" Indigo breathed in, then looked up at the Hypno. "It…It won't hurt, right?"

The doctor smiled, then reached into his bag. "You will feel sore, but I'll provide medicine to numb the pain." He pulled out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. "You'll need to take two of these. They'll leave you out cold long enough for me to amputate your arm. You won't feel a thing, I promise."

Indigo pressed her lips together tightly, then squeezed Tony's hand. She looked up at him and pleaded, "Please…Please don't leave me."

As much as Tony didn't want to see it, he nodded and squeezed her claw. "I won't let anything get in my way. I won't leave you side."

"Thank you, Tony…" Indigo breathed. "Please be quick…"

The doctor nodded, then fed her the pills. She swallowed, gagging a bit, then waited for them to take effect. Tony kept a tight grip on her claw, staring down at her with a sympathetic gaze.

Why must the world always be so cruel?

Tony and Indigo, the former now a Dewott, poked their heads out from around a hut, staring down the market place. They spotted two travelers that they've never seen before, implying they were passing through the village. The duo looked to each other, with Indigo smirking.

"This should be a good score, eh?" Indigo said, drumming her claws against the corner.

Tony, however, sighed with some reluctance. "This is ridiculous. How much longer can we do this before we get caught?"

"As long as we can." Indigo threw a smirk over her shoulder. "Come on, you were born to be a thief, Tony. Live a little."

He shrugged. "I know I'm not living the best life ever, but I'm not all that motivated to steal people's shit."

"These guys can bounce back from some missing coins. We need it." She pointed at the travelers with her stumpy arm. "Now, just like we planned. You set?"

Tony rolled his eyes, then stood up with his hands shoved in his pockets. "I suppose."

The travelers finished making their purchase at the stall they were at, then proceeded down the path, absorbed in whatever conversation they were having. However, they missed the Sneasel running out from an alley and 'accidentally' ramming into them. The one she ran into staggered a bit, but she went right to the ground.

"Ugh…" Indigo held her head as she groaned. "My head…"

The traveler grumbled and dusted off his cloak. "Kids these days never watch where they're…" His friend grabbed his shoulder and pointed at the fallen Sneasel, who seemed to have some red liquid dripping out from under her head. "What the…?! Hey kid, are you alright?"

"My heeeeead…" she groaned, holding herself as she shivered.

They knelt down and tried to turn her over. "I didn't think she hit her head that hard."

"She didn't hit your dagger, right?"

"No. Maybe she landed on a stone. Crap, give me the gauze."

Tony peeked out from his hiding place, seeing the two distracted. He huffed, then casually walked up to their backs. With one hand in his pocket, he raised the other with a fluidity that passed through the air like mist. Then, with swift silence, his hand picked through their pockets and cleaned them out of a few sacks of bits. He stuffed them away in his jacket, then turned around and walked away.

Indigo watched as Tony retreated, then sprung up, scaring the travelers. She cried out angrily and touched the liquid running down her head. "That just sucks! I got hot sauce on the back of my head!"

"Hot…sauce?" the travelers repeated dumbfounded.

Indigo flipped to her feet, then grinned at the two. "Thanks for helping me out, though! True gentlemen these days! See ya!" She dashed off before they could get a word in.

Indigo skidded around a corner and laughed upon finding Tony juggling the sacks in his hand. She jumped, clicked her heels together, then landed beside him. "Tony, this is the best haul we could ask for! We're eating well tonight! Ooh, you think your mom can cook for us?"

Tony narrowed his eyes. "I hope…assuming she can stand."

Indigo frowned. "She looked fine yesterday."

"It's always like that. It's like flipping a bit each day. Odds are fifty-fifty if she can get anything done." He sighed and set the bags down. "She can barely work anymore."

Indigo pulled her legs up to her chest. "Well, stealing is always an option."

"I just don't think it's my best option. I'm trying to do odd jobs for Pops and hoping that can get us the money." He leaned back and folded his arms behind his head. "I don't want to resort to rampant thievery…yet."

"You've considered?"

He shrugged. "Right motivation, I said. Mom's not…completely hopeless, yet. I'm hoping she can get through this." He frowned. "We don't have much else to go to, so this is our only option. Living out in this dump of a village."

Indigo groaned and shoved her face into her knees. "I hate this dumb village. Everything about it just reminds me how shitty everything is."

"I know how you feel. Sometimes I wish I could just leave."

Indigo lifted her head and looked at him. "Why don't you, then? Nothing's stopping you."

"I care too much about my mom and Cheri to do that. I'd rather stay here and take care of them than go off on some life adventure." He raised his brow at her. "Why you asking? Considering it yourself?"

She shrugged. "Why not? I don't have much here. I live alone…well, aside from the nights I stay at your place." She looked up at the sky. "…Tony, I want to go on an adventure and live a life of freedom, where I can make something of myself my way. Doesn't that sound awesome?"

Tony smirked. "More like nuts."

"Hey, I could do it."

"Sure, sure."

Indigo pouted briefly, then chuckled behind her hand. "It is a bit out there, but…all I wanted was to have that freedom to be something. I don't want my time here to decide what I can and cannot be." She held her cheek and sighed. "…Seeing all those travelers with their riches coming through the village…makes me jealous that they started out such great lives. I never had much to my name."

Tony frowned. "You're not missing out on much."

"I want to feel important. I would do just about anything to get that power."

"I wouldn't say everything," Tony joked.

Indigo rolled her eyes and smirked. "Fair. You get what I mean." She held her cheek, thought for a moment, then asked, "What about you? How far would you go to get what you want in life?"

The Dewott's eyes narrowed. "What would I do?" He rested his arms on his knees and stared at the ground. "Huh…what would I do?"

"…Indigo."

Indigo lifted her head and looked up at the Dewott. "Hmm?"

Tony stared at the ground with a hard look. "…If you're worried I may go too far to reach my dreams like Aeternus, then let me reassure you right here and now: I will never stoop as low as that bastard." He glanced at her softly. "And I promise you, soon, I will liberate the Desert Beasts from the shadows. I won't let them hold you captive, not while I'm around."

Indigo's shoulders slumped. "You're saying a lot there, Tony."

He closed his eyes and smirked. "I have a dream." He looked up at the sky. "A dream where I will steal everything to make my family happy. I'll steal from the scum of the earth, the lowest of the low, and the evilest beings imaginable. I am a thief. I will not let the will of one authority suppress my desires. When someone says I am beneath them, I steal away their authority and make it my own."

Indigo narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying…?"

Tony glared. "Aeternus and I are the same, you say? Let's put that to the test." He clenched his fist. "He wants to run his little gang of misfits? I'll surpass that and take that title for myself. Only I get to decide my decisions. My choice is to take hold of my destiny and lead the future through my vision.

"I will become the better leader over Aeternus."

Indigo's eyes widened. "Are you…saying you want to become a gang leader?"

Tony laughed and raised his hands. "Gang leader? Hell no." He stroked his chin, then snapped his fingers. "A guild of thieves. Thieves with only one purpose: pillage and rob the scum who use their power to suppress others. Yeah, that's it." He punched into his palm. "I'll become the greatest thief in Mysto and use my authority to make thugs like Aeternus pay."

"You can't be serious…" Indigo mumbled in awe. "Where's this all coming from?"

Tony frowned and dropped his hands into his lap. "…I can see the distress in your face." He glanced at her. "How long is your captain going to allow this? When will he reach his breaking point? He must know the whole crew is feeling the stress. If you exceed your usefulness, they'll kill you all."

Indigo blushed as Tony lifted his hand to her cheek. "I want to save you and your crew from them." He glared. "But I don't want to see you acting weak. It's either me…or the Desert Beasts that need to make the call. Only when you are safe, I will strike down the Anguis Organization and eliminate scumbags like Aeternus from the picture."

"But…he's-"

"To hell with he's strong!" he exclaimed. "I don't give two shits about how strong that bastard is! He could erase the entire planet in one blast and I still wouldn't be impressed!" Tony raised his fist. "When I say I want to live a life unrestricted by the world, I mean it! I won't let some stupid clown dictate the way my life goes! He wants to believe I'm another him? He'll need to break me down to the most basic level! And believe me, that's a feat only a bastard like him would believe!"

Indigo slumped, staring at the Dewott in awe. "You…You really mean it?"

Tony glared. "I may not have as much of a past with Aeternus like Gwyn and Griffin do with the other heralds, but Aeternus and I share one common trait: we want to rule our lives the way we envision. His vision is of sadism and power. Mine…is of riches and freedom."

Tony stood up and pulled Indigo to her feet. "Indigo…promise me you will talk to Arid about this. You've already caused enough trouble at Ironworks. Decision time is now. Where do you want to go in life? Where does your future start and end?"

The Sneasel narrowed her eyes at him, then looked to the ground. She joined the Desert Beasts for the same reasons as Tony explained. She wanted to live her life unrestricted by the world. She never felt freer as a pirate. It has been the best experience of her life. To let that freedom become shackled in heavy chains, there's nothing left of that dream.

Indigo breathed through her nose, then nodded. "I promise to talk to Arid."

Tony smiled. "You'll be free in time, I promise." He slowly pulled away from her and turned back to the stadium. "Now, I have a match to get to, so-"

"Tony." He stopped as her hand clutched his tightly. She looked up at him with a blush, then pulled him closer. "Can you…promise me something else, too?"

"Where is he?" Wes mumbled, tapping his paw on the floor.

Flint checked the wall clock. "Five minutes until the match starts."

Griffin sighed. "Better call Ella down."

Gwyn shook her head. "Give it a minute. Tony will be here on time."

Griffin rolled his eyes. "He's probably wasting his time with a bunch of idiot fangirls."

Flint sighed. "That…wouldn't surprise me, honestly."

Was chuckled. "You guys need a little more faith in Tony. He won't be late, just like Gwyn said." He tapped his chin. "Although, I didn't see a whole lot of people outside the stadium when he left. I wonder if something else is holding him up."

Flint stood up. "I could check."

"You wouldn't be able to navigate the entire stadium in time," Griffin said.

"No need to." They turned their heads and saw the Dewott enter the waiting room, rubbing the back of his head nonchalantly. "Yo."

Wes sighed in relief. "Oh thank goodness."

Gwyn tilted her head. "What held you up?"

Tony shrugged, smirking. "Oh, you know, my adoring fans and all that. Couldn't get enough of me."

Griffin rolled his eyes. "Uh huh. Our match is about to start, so try and keep your head in the game."

Tony brushed him off. "Yeah, yeah, I got it covered."

The intercom over their heads buzzed. "Team Ravenfield, your match is about to begin. Please get into position."

Wes nodded. "Alright guys, show time! Let's get to work!"

"Right!" the team exclaimed. They turned and marched for the gates.

Tony lagged back a bit and peered over his shoulder. He narrowed his eyes softly, remembering the last thing Indigo told him before she ran off.

"Promise me that you won't die. I came close to meeting that fate once before. Please. When this is all over, I want us to be together again."

His fingers went up to his lips. A single parting gift shared between them before she ran off. The years really did take their time, but Tony missed Indigo far more than he imagined. Now he had a new purpose to reach out for.

I won't die, Indigo. Just like I told you. He glared confidently as they stopped at the gates to their match. My vision is clear. I will steal the world and make it mine. That's the mark of a thief. The role I've chosen for myself.