Ch.113: Ally Down and Out! Vengeance Is All That is Left!

All was quiet in the bedroom. No one dared speak a word as Morgan examined the state of the Flareon. Team Shatter Star licked their wounds and kept to themselves for the doctor's sake. Krystal had to take a breather since she took the worst from Zaros. Cybil sat next to her, gripping her wing to try and calm her down. She could feel the Delibird trembling with frustration.

Morgan, after a long half hour of getting Flint stable, sighed and retracted the string he had connected to him. "There. That should suffice for now." He rolled up his sleeves. "You were right to come to me when you did. I'm not sure how prepared the medical staff would've been for surgery. Injuries never get this bad."

Krystal narrowed her eyes. "So, how is he?" She winced whenever she watched the Flareon breathe. She could see him struggling.

Morgan narrowed his eyes. "Well…"

Before he could explain, the room door flew open hard enough to crack the wall. Team Shatter Star jumped to their feet, but partially relaxed when they saw it was Ebony, along with most of Team Ravenfield. Tony was the only one who was absent.

Ebony panted and leaned against the wall to take a breather. "Got them all…as quickly as I could-WAH!" She fell over as Wes and Gwyn rushed inside.

They both gasped when they saw the bloody state of Flint. The sheets were stained in his blood. He had magical string tied through his body, probably to keep him from bleeding out anymore. His face was barely recognizable with the swelling and bruises.

"FLINT!" they screamed before rushing to his bedside.

They suddenly found themselves caught in a web of string, suspended off the ground. They dangled for a second before flailing and screaming to be released. Morgan didn't look at them, but he could sense the panicked tears flowing down their faces.

"Enough!" Morgan yelled, shutting the two up. "I just got Flint to stabilize. You two should know better than to run into a makeshift operation room. Do you know what you might've done if you tried to touch him without thinking?"

Both their faces paled, then they lowered their heads guiltily. They didn't utter an apology, but Morgan didn't badger them for one. He understood they were frazzled, probably not taking the news well when they were first informed. He could tell by the vibrations in his string that they were trembling with fear for the Flareon.

Morgan took a deep breath and dispelled the string from them. "No jostling. No shouting. Nothing that will discomfort him." He frowned sympathetically. "I'll give you two a moment." He stepped back and sat on the other bed.

Wes and Gwyn approached Flint's bedside. A part of them wanted to hide their tears so not to worry Flint, but seeing him the way he was shattered their hearts. To think everything started out as a normal day, only to turn so bitter and cold in an instant.

Wes reached out and gently touched his brother's face. "F-F-Flint?" Wes whimpered. Flint's eyes were closed, but Wes didn't know if he was asleep or not. "Oh my Arceus, Flint…" Wes clenched his teeth. He wanted to hug his brother so badly, but he didn't want to aggravate his injuries. "Flint…Flint…" Wes pressed his forehead against the bedpost and sobbed.

Gwyn wasn't taking it any better. Tears were flowing down her face with no end. She took Flint's paw in her hands gently. "I…I was only gone for a little over an hour. You were supposed…to meet me later. I…" She bit her lip. "I left you alone…to this." She pressed his paw to her face and cried. "Flint…I shouldn't…I shouldn't have gone to that question event thingy! I should've just gone to the museum with you! Flint!"

Ella and Griffin found it hard to watch as Wes and Gwyn cried over Flint. Ella was doing everything she could not to break down into emotional sobs, at best holding in tears behind her watery eyes. She could tell Griffin wasn't taking it well, in his own way. He wasn't a crier, but the silent rage in his eyes could murder an entire region with a single acknowledgement. That didn't even include the steam pouring out from his hand.

Ella looked over to Team Shatter Star. "How…did this happen?"

Saffiro sighed. "Believe me, we're just as frazzled as you are. All we know is that some Watchog was beating on poor Flint. If Krystal hadn't stepped in when she did, we might've been too late."

"Oh Arceus," Ella gasped, covering her mouth.

Griffin grinded his teeth together. "The shadows. They're responsible for this." He curled his fingers tightly. "When I see that smug Simisage again, I'm going to cut him to pieces, starting from his feet. And when I find this Watchog, I will rip his chest open with my bare hands and-"

"Griffin." He stopped when Ella touched his shoulder. She looked up at him sadly. "…I'm worried for Flint's sake, too."

Griffin caught a tight lump in his throat and tried to swallow it. "S-Sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for."

Griffin nodded, then sighed to himself. "Right…" He rubbed his arm awkwardly.

There was a brief silence between the two before catching a noise from the door. They turned right as Tony slid into view, panting lightly with sparks dancing off his fur. His clothes looked a tad askew and messy, though that was nothing compared to the lipstick kisses found all over his face.

"Phew, sorry I'm late," he apologized, taking a moment to catch his breath. "I got…distracted."

"We noticed," Griffin growled.

"Yeah, one of my fangirls mentioned Ebony running by and asking they deliver a message to me." He wiped the kiss marks off his face and entered the room. "So, what's so important that I needed to…to…" His blood turned to ice when he saw the bloodied bed. "Oh…Oh shit…" His tone was instantly filled with panic. "What…What happened to Flint?!"

"Shh," Griffin hushed before leaning against the wall. "Flint had a nasty run in with someone a little over a half hour ago."

"It was some freaky Watchog," Oswald brought up. "We think he was in league with the shadows."

Tony narrowed his eyes. "Freaky…Watchog? Was he wearing a suit and using a Guardian by chance?"

"That's the guy."

Tony's eyes widened for only a moment before dipping into a very, very angry glare. "That Watchog. It was him!"

"You know who they're talking about?" Ella asked.

"I fought him with Flint back in Ironworks. I had no idea what that guy wanted with Flint, but I didn't think it would involve malicious torture." Tony clenched his fists and growled, igniting crackling sparks through his fur. "When I see that stuck-up prick's face, I'm going to kick him straight into the moon!"

Griffin snarled. "Something I wholeheartedly agree with. I'll cut his limbs off, you beat the shit out of him."

"Deal!"

"Uh, can we save the murder plotting for later?" Ella asked. "In case you've already forgotten, one of our own is in critical condition."

The two rivals ceased their malicious plotting and frowned, turning their sights back onto Flint, who was being comforted by a sobbing Wes and Gwyn. Tony sighed and rubbed his arm. "Sorry, I don't…I don't mean to sound so malicious. I'm just worried about Flint." He turned to Morgan and asked, "You have to make sure he survives. If anything happens to him, I won't be able to forgive myself."

"None of us would," Griffin added somberly.

Morgan closed his eyes and nodded. "You all have a strong connection with each other. That's what you need to keep fighting. Keep that spirit inside you." He looked back at Flint. "I have him stable right now. I'll be prepping him for surgery soon enough. May take me the entirety of the night."

Wes looked up, wiping the tears from his eyes. "A-All night?"

"Surgery is a delicate thing. Plus, my method of surgery is effective, but also time consuming. I wouldn't need to cut Flint open to repair his bones and organs, but the process takes time since I'm only working with string." Morgan crossed his arms and sighed. "But I will stay up for the entire night and make sure Flint recovers."

Gwyn sniffled and pressed her watery eyes into her sleeve. "Th-Thank you, Mr. Morgan."

Morgan exhaled. "Just…doing my job as a doctor." Morgan cracked his neck and fingers. "I'm going to need you all to leave the room once I start. Don't let any of the hotel staff come in here. I don't know where to begin explaining this to them."

"Uh, doc?" Saffiro spoke up. "This is our room, you know. Mine, Hugo's, and Oswald's. Where are we supposed to sleep?"

Ella sighed. "Well, if the boys don't mind, you could bunk with them."

Krystal frowned. "Are you sure?"

Ella nodded. "You saved Flint's life. Letting you stay in our rooms is hardly repayment, much less a hassle."

Tony shrugged. "Yeah. It's no trouble."

Hugo sighed, then nodded at the Espeon and Dewott. "Your kindness is boundless, Ms. Cipher, Mr. Sapienti."

Wes smiled weakly at them, but then turned his sights back on Gwyn as she kept crying over Flint. He pressed his paw on her back and rubbed it lightly, though he wasn't holding it in any better. "Gwyn, are you al-?"

"This is my fault," she mumbled, leaning on the bed with her hands. Her teeth were clenched tightly while the tears dripped off her face. The tear stains were prominent in her fur. "I left him alone knowing the shadows were around. I didn't think one of them would actually hunt…h-hunt Flint down…" Her jaw quivered. "Flint…my f-fluffy bookworm, Flint…I'm so sorry!" Gwyn broke down onto her knees and covered her eyes.

Seeing her breakdown broke a dam in Wes' eyes as well. He clenched his eyes shut and dropped onto his rear, pressing his paws into his eyes and letting the liquid pour out. The sight was too painful for the others to watch, forced to turn away and ignore their cries. It was too difficult a task, sadly.

Morgan sighed and held his face. What am I supposed to say about this? I've never been good at helping with trauma.

He mulled over what he should do, only to stop when he felt another presence enter the room. He stood up and turned to Ava at the door. "Ava…"

The Medicham narrowed her eyes, first casting a glance at Flint before a shaky sigh escaped her lips. "I…informed the others about Flint's condition. The best they can offer is their condolences."

Morgan nodded. "It's more than enough. And the tournament committee?"

"I informed them that Flint Ravenfield will be unable to attend the tournament tomorrow. Given the state of his injuries, it's reasonable that he cannot compete in the tournament any longer."

Morgan covered his face and sighed. "I expected as much. Did they ask anything about how his injuries occurred?"

She shook her head. "Thankfully, I didn't have to explain too much. All I offered was to keep a lookout for that Watchog. I don't want them sending authorities after him, given how dangerous he might be, but it's better than letting him roam around at his own whim."

"Let's just hope he doesn't decide to pick a fight with them." Morgan paused before remembering a dreadful thought. "Have you…called Vivian about this yet?"

Ava paled at the thought, feeling a dreadful shiver crawl up her spine. "She'll most definitely ask questions once she realizes Flint isn't competing, but I have no idea how to explain that her son was almost murdered. That's not the kind of news I just want to drop onto someone without a warning."

Morgan sighed. "Alright, we'll figure it out later." He turned back to the others. "All of you need to leave now. I want to get started on Flint as soon as possible." He glared. "Gwyn?"

The Mew, still amidst her crying, lifted her head and looked at him with her reddened eyes. "Y…Yeah?"

"Do you have any potions I can use that'll numb pain? Some form of anesthesia to keep Flint under while I operate? I said this method of surgery is simple, but it most definitely isn't painless."

Gwyn sniffled and rubbed her eyes into her sleeve, then stood up. "Y-Yeah, I have…something like that." Her shaky hands reached into her bag and dug around for the potion vials. "They should m-make him s-sleepy for two hours. I'll…just leave them a-all here for you."

Morgan nodded. "Thank you."

While Gwyn looked through her bag, Wes looked up from his paws and at his brother. Wes sniffled quietly for a moment, then blinked at the tears running down Flint's face. Not only that, but his face was a tad more scrunched up than before. Wes could hear the nearly silent clattering of his teeth, too.

"Flint? Are you…are you awake?"

Gwyn's eyes widened. "W-What?"

It took five seconds for the Flareon to sigh, with great difficulty, and open his eyes to the two. "H…Hey…" His voice was raspy and barely audible. He was struggling to get words out. His face contorted whenever he tried. "Y…You…two…"

"Flinty!" Gwyn cried, reached out and gently cradling his head against her chest. "Flinty, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry I left you alone! My poor, sweet fluffy! Someone as precious and noble as you didn't deserve this horrible treatment!" She pressed her face into his hair. "Flinty! I'm so, so, so sorry!"

Flint could barely make any expressions, but the watery gleam in his eyes was more than enough. With his best efforts, he tilted his head against Gwyn, trying for a very weak nuzzle. "Not…Not your…f…fau…lt…"

"B-But I-!"

"You…Y-You…" Flint coughed out loud, spitting blood onto the bed.

"Flint!" Gwyn cried.

"Y-You…c-c-couldn't have…known," he stressed. "I-I…w-w-was…c…c…careless." Flint coughed more blood onto the bed, turning paler.

"Flint, stop talking!" Wes shouted. "You're going to hurt yourself!"

Morgan raced over and sent out string into Flint's body. He felt the threads find their way to Flint's lungs and hastily stitched them back up. "Goodness sake, I just secured your lungs. Don't make my job any harder than it needs to me."

Flint looked at the doctor apologetically before turning his gaze back on his brother and girlfriend. He gritted his teeth, then tried to lift his paw. Gwyn took it in her hands and held it close to her. "I…I'll be…f-f-fine…" He paused to take a breath. "B-Better…I'm the…one t-to…t-t-take…the fall…"

A shuddering gasp flew from Wes' mouth. "Flint…"

Ava walked over to the duo and put her hands on their shoulders. "Wes, Gwyn." They looked up at her with teary eyes. She frowned in response. "Morgan needs to work. We should give him his space to work. Flint will be fine, I promise. Come on, we can talk about it in the other rooms."

Wes and Gwyn lingered by Flint's bedside for a moment, then nodded in agreement, much to their reluctance. Wes gently patted his brother's head while Gwyn left him with a kiss on the cheek and a quick nuzzle. Ava gently guided the two away from the bed and out the room, with the others soon following.

Ella halted by the door for a moment and glared back at Morgan. Morgan caught this, but didn't turn around. "You have something to say, Ms. Cipher?"

Ella narrowed her eyes a bit more, then turned away. "Just promise me you'll help him. That's all I can really ask for." She left the room, psychically closing the door behind her.

Morgan sighed, then grabbed one of the potions Gwyn left for him. "I can't say the dear has her highest faith in me, but at least she can trust me enough with your life."

"C…Cautious," Flint mumbled weakly.

"Yes, I suppose she is." He glanced down at Flint. "You shouldn't be speaking."

"S…Sorry."

Morgan sighed, then uncorked the vial. "Just drink this and I'll begin operating on you. You'll be out for a while." He tilted the vial over Flint's lips and fed him the concoction. Flint let the liquid float inside his mouth for a moment before swallowing. He flinched as he did, but it was a minor sore compared to the rest of his body. "There, now we wait until you're under."

Flint didn't speak, only nodded in response. He closed his eyes and tried his best to breathe at a safe pace. Morgan stretched his fingers and rubbed his wrists, physically and mentally preparing himself. He narrowed his eyes for a moment, then looked curiously at the Flareon.

"I'm quite shocked, actually." Flint lifted his ear a tad, offering his attention. Morgan rubbed behind his head. "I didn't want to say anything to your friends, otherwise I might've freaked them out. It's not easy knowing the anatomy as well as I do. With enough experience, you can easily tell which bones are broken and the lasting damage that'll cause. It's not a pretty thing to know just as naturally as breathing. It's a rather morbid talent, I must say.

"What I'm getting across is how you shouldn't be alive." Flint's ear flopped. He looked confused, but the drowsy effects of the medicine kicked in and made it impossible to convey any sense of fear. Morgan crossed his arms and glared curiously at the Flareon. "It's strange, really. The injuries you endured should've killed you. They could've killed most anyone, yet you held onto life longer than you should have. Very strange, is it not?"

Flint couldn't offer much of an opinion as he felt his consciousness slipping. The last thing he could see was the observing glare of his doctor before fading into the dark.

Morgan bent down and checked Flint's eyes to make sure the medicine worked. After that, he summoned his string and sent it through Flint's skin. Morgan didn't immediately begin to operate, focused on staring at the Flareon with a mix of disbelief and realization.

"Here I thought I was just going crazy. To think, I thought meeting your father was one of the biggest coincidences in my eternal life." Morgan held his chin contemplatively. "But, as it stands, it seems the stories were true: the Ravenfield bloodline…is an unstoppable conundrum."

The teams gathered in Ella and Gwyn's room, scattered about on the beds and chairs. No one spoke upon arriving, with only the quiet cries of Wes and Gwyn filling the void. They sat close and held each other for support. Wes had his chin rested on Gwyn's head while she kept her arms wrapped around him, sobbing into his chest.

It was too painful to look at, most choosing to look away. They were lost in their own private thoughts, some of dread, disbelief of the situation, and anger welling up. Anger was felt among the entirety of Team Ravenfield, masked only by their sadness and worry for their teammate.

Ella felt like something had to be said. Right about now, someone would crack a joke to lighten the mood. They knew Flint was going to be alright. Maybe someone should make a jest or quip about the situation, like how Ella could now compete in the tournament. Ella didn't play with the idea of announcing that to lighten everyone's spirits, but it always came out in bad taste in her head. Frankly, she felt like she needed to wash her mouth out with soap for conceiving such a tasteless joke, and she hadn't even said it.

It was bad when even the two jokesters among their two teams, Tony and Ebony, were eerily silent. Their faces told it all. Everyone's face reflected the concern for Flint's recovery.

That was a concern Ella hadn't considered. There was no reason to doubt Morgan could get Flint back onto his feet. He was a skilled doctor and he gave his word that Flint will make a safe recovery. However, safe doesn't mean Flint will come out of surgery unscathed. When someone gets their skin torn up or some growth removed, it leaves scars. Other times, when a bone breaks, the damage lingers over the years. Head injuries can affect the brain until one's senior years.

Flint would recover, but to what extent? Would he be able to walk? How long would he need before his treatable injuries were fully healed? Could he still fight? Would he be able to fight? That's what Ella, and likely the others, were worried about. Flint might live, but at what cost?

Ella groaned and pressed her paws against her face. I didn't want to take his spot like this. Getting sick or food poisoning is one thing. Slipping down the steps is another. But…I didn't ask for someone to perform a hit on him. Why do I feel like this is partially my fault? Did I jinx the universe or something?

After a long ten minutes of unending silence, Ava took a deep breath and spoke. "Now is not the time to wallow in defeat. Flint is now counting on you five to continue forward without him. Even from here, you will have his support in the tournament. As a team, you must remember what comes first."

"B-B-But, Flint…" Gwyn whimpered.

Ava raised her hand at her. "Flint's situation is unfortunate, yes, but this is what you six signed up for when you decided to follow in the prophecy's footsteps. This is what you should expect against the shadows. Now we are in the final moments of obtaining a new key. With only two remaining in our possession, we need to keep as many as we can away from the Shadow King. We need to stay strong for Flint, otherwise what he went through will only add to the failure."

Griffin bared his teeth. "And what do you expect us to do? These guys are out to kill us, and they went after our own."

"We knew we were risking our lives, but this is…this is just messed up," Tony added. "I couldn't stand looking at Flint like that." He growled. "He didn't deserve that. If I could, I would switch places with him in a heartbeat."

"R-Really?" Gwyn mumbled.

Tony frowned, then awkwardly rubbed his head. "Uh, personally speaking, not really. I prefer keeping my face the way it is." He shook his head. "But you know what I mean. I don't want to be killed, but I don't want a friend dying on me either, not even this hothead over here."

Griffin huffed. "The sentiment is…mutual, at best."

Ella sighed and leaned back. "Well, I'm glad someone decided to break the silence. It was killing me." She glared. "Still, Ava's right, we shouldn't be sitting and wallowing over Flint. Morgan will get him back on his feet. We should trust him to do that." She crossed her forelegs. "Though, this leads to a second concern. If they were willing to go after Flint the way they did, even if it was just one guy, that means they'll do anything to erase us. Pretty obvious beforehand, but this was a brutal example."

Hugo nodded. "We can confidently say they won't try to finish the job now that we will expect this much."

Ella glared. "Even if we do get the key, that won't stop them from ransacking the city for it. They're playing cautiously."

"It's not caution." The groups glanced at Tony as he leaned against the wall. "They wrecked an entire kingdom in a day. A tournament shouldn't really matter to them. However, I'm more willing to bet Aeternus is pulling the strings in this particular operation. He's the type of guy to do things for testing purposes, otherwise known as his little experiment we have to fight tomorrow."

"So, they're just fooling around?" Krystal asked. "That doesn't sound smart."

"They led a war for fifty years. I don't think they're overly concerned getting there again," Tony suggested. "I think their main priority is assuring Wes and Flint are erased from the equation." He pointed at Wes. "The Shadow King has a very strange fixation on your family."

"H-Huh?" Wes mumbled.

"Call it a hunch, but when he first woke up back at the library, I noticed he had his sights on you and Flint. Granted, he wanted to kill all of us, but he was walking towards you. And, when you really think about it, there's a good chance you're the Hero in the prophecy." Tony shrugged. "Then again, prophecies are vague, so what do I know? You could be the Reborn for all I'm concerned."

"W-What are you getting at?" Wes asked.

"Wes, it's normal to do genealogical research on your family history from time to time, to see where you came from. I never did due to…obvious issues regarding one branch of my family," the Dewott grumbled briefly. "But the Shadow King seemed interested in killing you by all means. Something like that happened back in Ironworks when you fought him, right?"

Wes scratched his head. "He was determined to kill me, and he hated my father a lot despite only knowing him for basically a day. Though, I don't really know-"

"Then let's propose a hypothesis," Tony suggested. "Assume the Shadow King does have some personal vendetta against your family. A long-standing feud or personal grudge, whichever works." His eyes dipped seriously. "Why would an all-powerful dictator like him want to extinguish your family at all costs? If anything, I believe that says a lot about your blood."

"Are you saying Wes and Flint might be…legendary heroes or something?" Ella asked.

Tony shrugged. "Who's to say? I'm just going off what I've seen and heard." He gestured to Ava. "Your thoughts?"

Ava narrowed her eyes, then looked at Wes. "I grew up with your father when we were children, so no one knows his growth better than me. I have noticed for a long time that his magic was exceptionally stronger than many others. That's one of the reasons Master Cielo accepted him into his academy and took him on as an apprentice. Your father was stronger than most, a natural born fighter."

"So, what about my family history?"

"That, even I don't know," Ava admitted sadly. "Actually, there's not much record on the Ravenfield family that Garret has ever told me of. And the only place where you could get that information is…no longer accessible." She glared. "Tony is correct, though. I can sense some tension whenever the Shadow King addressed Wes. It's not fear, but there is some anxiousness to it. It makes me wonder what the Shadow King's history with the Ravenfield family was."

Tony sighed. "Well, the fact Flint is still alive must mean destiny has other plans for him."

Ebony raised her hand. "So, what do you guys intend to do?"

"Obviously, continue to compete in the tournament. Like hell we're backing out this soon."

Gwyn pulled away from Wes and wiped her eyes. A few tears fell from her reddened eyes before she casted a dark glare on the floor. "I normally don't wish harm to anyone, but I refuse to be merciful after what they've done to my Flinty. I'll fight for Flint's honor, even if I must face this Watchog myself!"

Wes blinked in surprise for a moment before sharing in on her mood. "Yeah. That Simisage may not have done the deed, but he's going to pay for thinking he has a shot at beating us. We may have lost Flint for tomorrow's match, but Team Ravenfield is full of powerful fighters. This won't halt our pursuit, not for a second."

Ella nodded. "We're doing this for Flint, and for ourselves."

Griffin huffed. "We don't know what they might be planning for the match, but we'll be good and ready by then."

Tony closed his eyes and flashed an irritable smirk. "And here I was hoping to cruise on through this whole tournament picking up some chicks and getting lucky." He dropped the face and scowled. "It's about time we showed these guys just how brutal we all can get."

Wes slid off the bed and looked his team over. "We can't go in blindly. Even though the Simisage, Edwin, is one fighter, we're not taking any risks. He could come at us with anything. He's bound to have a few other tricks up his sleeves."

Griffin nodded. "Considering I know all the weaknesses to Revulsion Anima, we have a pretty good chance of beating him, especially with his team out of commission."

Tony rubbed his chin. "A part of me is still concerned about that. I can't shake this feeling they were expecting something like this to happen."

Ella shook her head. "We can't plan for something if we don't know what they're doing. All we can hope for is be ready to adapt."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right."

"Which reminds me…" She turned to Wes and Gwyn sympathetically. "Are you two sure you're able to compete tomorrow?"

Wes opened his mouth to say 'yes,' but stopped halfway before slumping forward. Gwyn had drawn too many tears to cry again, opting to turn away with a glum face. Ella frowned, able to tell they were still shuddered by Flint's current state. She was an only child, so she couldn't relate to Wes' plight, but she could understand Gwyn's. After all, Ella would be devastated if anything happened to Wes, especially in the same fashion.

Ella blushed when she realized what she thought and shook it off. She got on her hindlegs and set her front paws on their shoulders. "Look, if you two don't feel well to compete, the guys and I could just go in alone. We should be enough to handle Edwin."

Wes felt grateful for his friend's kindness, but also ashamed. "I…I really can't let you three do that. I'm supposed to be the team leader. I'm supposed to be the one who guides us to victory."

"Not every leader is born with an iron wall for stress," Ella countered. "If Flint were awake right now, he would tell you to give it all and not to sweat the small stuff." She smiled warmly. "You're you when you don't worry about everything. Wes Ravenfield is a strong, fun-loving guy who goes where adventure calls to him. He doesn't know fear."

Wes lowered his head bashfully. "Y-You really mean that?"

"I tease you a lot, but I would never lie to you."

Wes wiped his eyes, trying his best to smile at Ella. "Thanks." He then frowned at the floor, then glared. "However, I am ready to compete. I'm not going to let this stop me." He stood up from the bed. "Flint would do the same for me in my place. We're supposed to be a team." He gritted his teeth. "These guys have made me mad for months now, but they've crossed the line with this. I will keep competing, and I will get that key with all my strength. You have my word as your team leader."

Ella smirked. "That's what I wanted to hear." She frowned at Gwyn. "What about you, Green? Want to stay out of this one or…?"

Gwyn wiped her puffy eyes and stood up. "N-No, no, I'm competing." She sniffled, then glared despite the tears streaming from her eyes. "I have a purpose in this, too. I owe it to Flint to compete and make up for him now that he's out of commission." She clenched her teeth. "And I won't forgive anyone who tries to kill my fluffy bookworm. I don't normally say things like this, and I never want to, but I won't be saying kind words to that Watchog if I ever see his face."

Ella nodded. "Even when angry, you have a tempered soul."

"I'm trying really hard not to cause all the seeds in my bag to burst out," Gwyn mumbled irately. They could see her left hand blazing in her magic.

Wes took a deep breath, then extended out his paw. "We're doing this for Flint. Forget about the key for tomorrow. We're going to teach these bastards a lesson when they try and harm one of us. They've made this personal, and we're going to make them pay."

Griffin nodded and lay his hand atop Wes' paw. "I'm not backing out of what I warned that Simisage. Whether or not he was involved, he will suffer for this."

Tony set his hand in the middle. "Team Ravenfield doesn't let one of their own down."

Gwyn joined in the circle. "We've come this far. We won't let this get in our way."

Ella was the last one to set her paw in the center. She took a deep breath, then glared between her teammates. "Whatever they have in store for us, no matter how powerful or intimidating, we won't be deterred."

Wes nodded. "Right. So, let's give it our all tomorrow and finally show these shadows we mean business. Ready, team?"

"Ready!"

"Then let's do this! For Flint!"

"For Flint!" they shouted, throwing their hands and paws up.

Ava smiled sweetly at the group. As long as they keep that bond strong, there's nothing that can stop them. She frowned afterwards. At least, that's what I'm betting on tomorrow.

"And you're certain you have the spell ready?" Zaros asked as he paced around Edwin's room.

The Simisage groaned, massaging his wrist as he lay in bed. "Yeah, yeah, I know what to do. Quit pestering me about it." He glared at the Watchog. "You've really gone and done it."

"Explain."

"You couldn't off that stupid Flareon, now his friends are going to take their anger out on me. Do you realize the kind of stress I'm under?" he growled.

Off to the side, Ambrosine sat in a chair with her back facing the two. She was leaning forward on the desk, hiding the fact her eyes were red and puffy, as well as the tears that were drawn in that period. They were from Flint's condition, though she couldn't fully explain to herself why she was sobbing over the enemy. She couldn't explain why she was so fixated on the Flareon to begin with. The only had one meaningful interaction, back in the water temple, but that couldn't have possibly triggered any sort of sentiment for him.

At least, that's what I think, she thought glumly.

Her mind wandered away while the two males continued to argue. "Why couldn't you have just saved the assassination attempt for after I fought them tomorrow? They all would've been too tired and injured to face you."

Zaros shook his head and waggled his finger with disappointment. "Now that's a rather closeminded view. Surely, I am flattered you think so highly of me, capable of taking on all of Team Ravenfield at once. Alas, I must crush your expectations in the form of realism, for I wouldn't fair well against a group, especially theirs. I favor one-on-one fights. I simply hate the chaos that draws from multiple opponents. There's simply no order or predictability to exploit."

"And yet, you still couldn't kill him before the cavalry showed up?" Edwin grumbled. "And again, worth mentioning, they would've been weaker had you waited until tomorrow."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. A wounded warrior isn't any less of a threat than if he came out of an uninterrupted, eight-hour sleep filled with a hearty breakfast. What you suggest shows- nay, demonstrates your lack of understanding your opponents. Perhaps it was best to give you the anima that focuses on defensive measures. Only a full could screw that up."

Edwin scowled, but went against any form of retaliation. Zaros outclassed him in many fields, so letting his temper fly wasn't a viable solution. Edwin took a deep breath and leaned back on the bed. "So, as long as I can get the summons ready, I'll be fine?"

"I don't guarantee anything, but you are working with the best the Anguis Organization can offer."

Edwin sighed. "I'm a dead man walking, anyway." He stood up and trudged to the bathroom. "I'll be right back. Need to take a whiz." He slammed the door shut behind him.

Zaros folded his arms behind his back and glared directly at the back of Ambrosine's head. She could feel his piercing stare on her, but tried her best to ignore it. A cold chill ran up her as Zaros placed his hand on her shoulder. It felt like a jolt of electricity shooting through her body. She sat frozen in place as the Watchog leaned close to her face while staring directly at the wall in front of them.

"Ambrosine, a word," he whispered coolly. "While it seems your intention weren't directly there to help me, I appreciate the unintended assist in my efforts. I'd almost say you have my respect."

Ambrosine tried not to cower in his presence and held back her whimpers. "Oh, uh…you're welcome, sir-"

"However," he interrupted, "I can't help but question where your loyalties lay." Ambrosine stiffened as he set his gaze on her now. "Your eyes couldn't fool the blind. What is the reason for these tears you shed? Are they tears of joy? No, that can't be right. These tears are that of distress. Perhaps you don't like seeing someone get murdered up close. Some pirate you are," he said snidely. "Though, I have to wonder if it has to do with any feelings towards that Flareon."

Ambrosine's leaves erected in shock. She whipped her head around and shouted, "I-It's not like that! I-I-I don't care what happens to Fl- Ravenfield! It is as you said, I'm simply not comfortable with people dying in front of me."

Zaros narrowed his eyes. "Is this the truth?"

"I mean it."

"You have to understand that I can't take your truth blindly, but my actions have corrupted my anonymity in this city. I'm afraid I can't stick around as long as I want. I'm sure you will be able to handle things while I am gone? Should things not go our way, we have plans in place for that."

Ambrosine gulped and covered her face. "Y-You have my word as a Desert Beast that we will take that key should the Shadow Bringers fail."

"Good, good." He turned away and opened up a portal with a snap of his fingers. "I best be off." He stuck his leg through first before saying, "Oh, yes, I almost forgot. Ambrosine? Would you do me a favor?"

Ambrosine worried where he was going with this. "Y-Yes?"

"Do you remember that little thing I mentioned to Ravenfield? About my personal goals against the shadows? My disloyalty to the Shadow King?"

"Y-Yes."

"Yeah…that never happened." He traced his finger across his neck. "Understand?"

Ambrosine clutched her throat, then nodded. "Clear as day."

"Good girl." Zaros stepped through the portal and closed it behind him.

Ambrosine finally allowed herself to breathe, collapsing back into the chair. She covered her face and sank onto her back. Her eyes felt rough as she rubbed them, due to all the fallen tears. She gazed up at the ceiling with a forlorn stare.

Ever since I joined those stupid pirates, everything's just been…muzzy recently. She closed her eyes and sighed. I don't even care about these people. I'd be better off alone and away from all these selfish pirates and self-righteous treasure hunters. I'd be better off living the rest of my second life…away from any more tragedy.

The day of the finals had arrived. The crowds were anxious with excitement for the final battle before the grand championship battle. Their cries could be heard from the waiting rooms, with both competitors awaiting to be called on.

In the crowds, Team Shatter Star and the circus troupe were waiting for the battle to begin. Cheri munched on some popcorn, albeit anxiously. She wasn't nervous about the battle, but rather about the news the others told her yesterday. They wanted to keep it tightlipped from everyone else, but news about Flint's injuries from yesterday spread like wildfire.

Angel sensed her daughter's worry and wrapped her tail around her. "Flint will be fine, dearie. He has a hot-blooded soul that can't be doused. Not munch you can do about it."

Cheri inwardly groaned, suddenly losing her appetite. "Mooom!" She huffed, then frowned at the arena. "Will Tony be okay?"

She patted her head. "Tony has his friends. They won't let this happen again." Cheri nodded reluctantly.

Krystal sighed, pressing her wing to her cheek. "How's the old doctor doing with Flint, anyway?"

Holly answered, "From what I heard, Morgan hasn't taken a break since he started. He was still working with Flint before we left."

"That man has surprising dedication to his work," the Delibird mumbled.

Ava crossed her arms. "We'll worry of Flint's condition later. Focus on supporting Team Ravenfield in their match. They'll need all the hope they can get."

DJ Chance finally cued in. "Annnd, we're back! Thank you for waiting, ladies and gentlemen! Remember to purchase my hit singles out front and for a special chance of booking me at your next big party-!" The crowd flinched as they heard someone smacking DJ Chance over the head. "Ow! Geez, cut me some slack!"

The DJ cleared his throat and resumed. "Continuing. Today we have a special battle for you all. Quite the spectacle on both sides of the field. Let's bring them out!

"Everyone knows them, everyone remembers them! Give it up for the Shadow Bringers!" The gate opened and, to the confusion of the crowd, only Edwin walked out onto the field. He didn't look up at the crowd, keeping his scowl on leveled. "Shocked, I see. Due to the injuries in the Shadow Bringers after their last match, only Edwin of the Shadow Bringers will be competing. But don't let that disrupt your enjoyment of the match. Perhaps Edwin can take home the gold himself."

The crowd burst with cheers for the Simisage, cheering him on to solo his opponents. Ava, meanwhile, glared at the grass monkey skeptically. "He seems rather confident."

"Really? I can't tell over the scowl," Ebony joked.

"There's no way he can take on Team Ravenfield all by himself," Saffiro said. "He's as good as finished~."

Holly glared. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have no idea what they're planning in response."

Morgan dabbed a washcloth in a basin of water, then gently wiped off the bloodstains in Flint's fur. The Flareon had stitches in his chest and legs. Magical string continued to flow out of his body as they worked tirelessly to repair his internal structure.

Morgan turned to the floating crystal ball broadcasting the battle to him. "It seems the match is starting," he said to the unconscious Flareon. "They have your support, and you have theirs. Wish them luck."

"And his opponent, standing at a particularly high advantage, we have Team Ravenfield!"

The gates opened and Team Ravenfield walked out onto the field. This time, however, accompanied by a new member the crowd hasn't been introduced to. Ella, with Daybreak in its dormant state on her back, walked alongside her teammates at an even stride, glaring daggers at the Simisage like the rest of them. An intense aura could be felt by each of them with their sights set on the monkey.

"Due to unknown injuries casted on Flint Ravenfield, he had to be removed from the tournament. Taking his place is their substitute, Ella Cipher. Give her a hand, ladies and gentlemen! Things are going to get heated up!"

Team Ravenfield stopped about ten meters from Edwin. Edwin didn't feel intimidated as they stared him down. He sighed and stuffed his hands inside his pockets. "Well, isn't this a sticky situation for me?"

"Where's the Watchog?" Tony growled, raising a sparking fist at him.

Edwin shrugged. "Away. He's nowhere in sight right now."

"You're lying!" Gwyn shouted. "Tell us where he is right now! He needs to pay for what he did to Flint!"

Edwin glared. "Perhaps you should be focusing your attention on the match. You'll be joining your friend real soon."

Wes glared, then stamped his foot forward. "Not an ounce of care knowing one of your own attacked my brother? And here I worried you were the honorable type just carrying out orders."

Edwin smirked. "Was that what you were hoping for?"

"Nope. I'm actually quite glad." Wes bared his teeth. "We won't let the Tribe of Shadows obtain a single key ever again. We'll find the rest and take back the ones he stole from us."

Edwin shook his head. "Try surviving first."

Griffin pulled out his sword. "Enough. There's no point conversing with the enemy."

"Agreed," Ella said, pulling out Daybreak.

"It looks like both sides are ready! Then without further delay, let's end off the finale and see who'll move on to the championship! Ready, set…BEGIN!"

"Don't give him a chance to set up a barrier!" Wes ordered, charging into action with the others close behind.

However, they stopped when Edwin raised his hands above his head. He smirked evilly at them. "You didn't think I came here empty handed, did you? Let me show you what I've brought with me! Summoning Ritual!" He slammed his hands down.

The team jumped back from a green shockwave rippling across the ground. They saw four magic circles open up in the ground that shot green pillars of light into the sky. "What the hell is that?" Ella yelled.

Tony glared. "A summoning spell?"

"Didn't they say summoning spells were grouped in with item qualifications?" Gwyn asked.

Wes glared. "That would explain the general lack of equipment, but what the heck is he summoning?"

"I don't believe it, ladies and gentlemen! It seems to make up for the lack of teammates, Edwin is calling upon four summons to aid him in battle. The question is, what on earth could be calling upon?

Edwin lifted himself up and raised his arms up high. "Now, come forth, my minions! Assist me in battle and end the lives of our puny opponents!" Rising from the magic circles were gray, wooden coffins standing upright. They each bared a letter on their lids. Two Ls, one C, and one R.

Griffin glared. "Coffins?" He focused on the coffins and tried to detect anything off about them. "I can't sense anything inside."

"Maybe it's isolating magic," Tony guessed.

Gwyn gulped. "W-What if he's summoning more of Rueben's puppets?"

Ella scoffed. "Please, we can take those dead carcasses on."

The magic circles faded away. Edwin spread his arms out and laughed as the coffins stood evenly by his side. He snapped his fingers and commanded the lids to open.

As soon as they cracked open, the magically sensitive suddenly felt strange auras coming out of them. Three of them were familiar to most of the group, but Griffin's eyes widened in horror as he recognized all four coming out of the coffins.

"W-What is that?" Gwyn shrieked.

"Those auras are so potent," Tony growled. "And I'm sensing an overwhelming about of…something from each of them."

Wes glared. "Yeah, and they all feel familiar. They almost feel like…" His eyes widened with realization. "No." He whipped his head at Griffin. "Griffin, that aura feels familiar, doesn't it?!"

Griffin nodded stiffly, now biting his lip. "That's what they were doing…"

Ella couldn't sense the magic, but she felt a familiar tension she got whenever she was around Griffin or his friends. "Wait, you mean to tell me-"

"That's right!" Edwin interrupted proudly. "This was the contingency plan in case you all became too much to handle. However, with my team gone, seems I have to bust these bad boys out sooner than expected." He smirked. "I believe some of them should be familiar faces to you lot! Take a look!"

With the lids wide open, the occupants of the coffins stepped out onto the field. Each was dressed in a black robe that went down to their feet. Their features were dreary and colorless, with only their eyes mirroring the color of their auras. Above all else, they truly were familiar faces.

An Ursaring blazing in Hatred Anima.

A Purrloin wrapped in Fear Anima.

A Sableye bouncing with Jubilation Anima.

And a Cradily pulsating with Sorrow Anima.

Team Ravenfield looked on in shock.

"That's the same Ursaring I torched back in Scorch Grave!" Griffin shouted.

"And the Purrloin you and my jackass dad barbecued back near Tempest Valley!" Tony pointed out.

"That's the same Cradily I fought when I was training with Willow," Ella mumbled in shock.

They weren't the only ones dumbfounded by this, as up in the stands, Ava looked on in surprise. "Isn't that the Sableye Morgan executed?"

"What's going on?" Angel asked worriedly.

Ava gritted her teeth. "Something bad."

Back below, Edwin laughed as his undead warriors limply approached Team Ravenfield, staring them down with their soulless eyes. "The Grim Ash Clan has our thanks for supplying us with this power, whether or not it was allowed. Now you will all face the true power of the Emotion Anima together!" Edwin smirked proudly. "Victory is ours!"

Team Ravenfield shuffled away from the approaching warriors, gritting their teeth as they tried to come up with a plan.

Things suddenly just got a whole lot more complicated.