After his dream, Flareon Light raced with a dozen questions he didn't have answers to.
Light had the view of the ocean to calm him down. Soothing, yellow walls and the full view of the ocean through a window surrounded the clean bed he woke up one. Outside of that window, a small patio overlooked the sand. The smell of the sea breeze managed to sneak its way into the room as an undertone in his nose.
He had thrown the thick white covers off himself in his sleep, but still felt a bit too hot. When he looked himself over, his fur had grown again in his sleep. His gray tail covered the bottom half the bed, and his mane got close to tickling his nose. The white fur along his body stuck out randomly. He tried to sit up, but dizziness washed over his limbs.
While holding his head, Light accidentally rolled and took a tiny fall on the floor. He groaned. The impact didn't help his dizziness. He forced himself up against the bed frame and sat till it went away. He walked out of the room with unevenly spaced steps.
In the soft, carpeted hallway, Light saw Roserade Storm heading in his direction with a small cloth bag over his shoulder. He stopped and stared at Light as he wobbled forward.
"Did you sleep okay, Light?" Storm asked.
"I'm fine," Light grunted. "Where's..."
Light glanced around at the walls.
"What are you looking for?" Storm asked.
"I... don't know."
"Are you feeling alright?"
Light rubbed his eyes and yawned, staring at the floor, then his head shot up when he realized he forgot to answer. "Yah."
"Chad knows how to do fur," Storm said. "You should go get a trim and just relax. You look tired."
"Where is he?" Light asked.
"I'll show you to him, if you want."
"Sure."
Light followed Storm through the hallways. The brown carpet absorbed any sound they would make walking in case anyone still slept. Windows outside lit up the hallway with a view of the ocean.
Light followed him down a short, winding ramp down to the first floor. The passed the lobby with only a single Breloom behind the front desk and empty lounge tables and chairs. As they were moving outside, Light noticed Storm's pace slow a little bit.
"Did you look at yourself in the mirror when you woke up?" Storm asked.
"No," Light said. "What is it?"
"You have a bit of a, uhm... Well, it looks like you're wearing eyeliner."
"Eyeliner?" Light asked.
Storm stopped walking and took out his phone from his small bag with a vine from his roses. He took a picture of Light, then handed him the phone.
His blue and white eyes had a pure black outline, and his eyelashes were a little more pronounced. Light put his paw over the black line and felt a new smooth, supple surface. When he closed one eye, it looked like a thick dark line across his face.
"We should probably get you a phone," Storm said. "For emergencies, and other things of course. And a bag."
"I'm not really sure what kind of bag," Light said. "Besides, Reshiram should be the focus here. I don't need anything."
"Take my advice, constantly thinking about one thing is a recipe for disaster. Reshiram has disappeared and is wounded. Train, prepare, but don't obsess. And you being able to call us when you're in danger is easy prep."
"I'm not obsessing."
Storm reached around the Light's back and gave him a one-arm hug.
"Let's go to the ship," Storm said. "They're waiting for it to be brought around."
"Okay."
Light continued to follow Storm out. The doors ahead slid open on their own.
They walked across an empty rotary with a small roof overhead to the beach. The brisk air felt like small, cold pins on the surface of Light's fur.
Past a short wall of plants, the beach awaited them. The song of the waves got stronger as they got to the white sand on the other side.
Light didn't expect almost everyone from the ship to be waiting on the beach. They were talking at the same time among themselves in different small groups. Slowking Chad and Manaphy Jewel stared out at the ocean, standing side by side just past the different groups. Sky-Forme Shaymin Ariel spoke with Galarian Ponyta Nadia and Mienfoo Robin. Talonflame Roxanne and Emolga Alisha stood together, with neither of their mouths moving. Zangoose Fernand listened to Dewgong Nathan talk about something.
"Uhm, I don't," Light stumbled, "look good for this."
"You don't have to look good around everyone all the time," Storm said.
"I'm not going to embarrass myself."
"Just be a hero," he groaned.
"What?" Light asked. "Be a hero? What's that supposed to mean?"
"What you did was heroic, so be proud. Wear it."
"I... don't see how that helps. But okay?"
"Be in the moment."
With those last words, Storm continued forward. Light stalked after him, purposefully trying to keep his steps quiet on the white sand.
They still turned in his general direction because of Storm walking in so aloof. He got annoyed when a few of them got quiet and started to stare. He wanted to tell them to stop, but he knew it was just a reaction.
Slowking Chad and Manaphy Jewel, noticed the sudden quiet. They turned around, noticed Flareon Light, and cleared the distance. Light stayed put while they came closer.
"Light," Chad greeted, "need a little trim?"
"Uhm, yes," Light answered. Chad gave a smile and coughed to cover up his own laugh.
"Okay. Well, I should have things on board," Chad said. "But I got word it might be a few more hours. For now, why don't-"
Light felt a warm feeling in his head. His anxiety suddenly got hot, and he started to feel like moving around. His arms started shaking, and he was looking around.
"Light?" Chad asked. "Is something wrong?"
Light zipped around, looking at the groups of pokemon to see if they had said something.
"Light? Are you okay?" Chad asked.
A large boom shook the air.
Everyone paused and turned their attention skyward.
"Kaigan is a poor example of what I have to show you, Angelo. I will wait for you in Lao Shen. I will take you on a tour of the true nature of the world. Take your time. I am patient. I will wait as long as it takes for you to see the truth."
A red dot drawing a line of smoke appeared in the sky. It went offshore.
Light fell on his side. A tired feeling overcame him as a circle of chatter and people formed around him, and the Slowking was looking right down at his face.
"Light!? Can you point to what hurts?" Chad asked.
"N-Nothing," Light huffed. "I'm ti... I'm tired. One minute..."
Light took his time to get himself into a sitting position. All of his muscles in his back felt sore, and an annoying pin irritated in his stomach.
Everyone stared back at him. Light's eyes stayed on Sky Shaymin Ariel for a moment, but he forced them to shift away. They all waited for him to speak first.
"It's going to Lao Shen," Light said.
"That's far," Galarian Ponyta Nadia said.
"We can't go there as a military force," Chad said. "Currently, we're considered as Kaigan soldiers and volunteers. They wouldn't approve of us bringing or using much in the way of weaponry."
"Then why not go as a Guild?" Manaphy Jewel suggested.
The group turned to her, prompting Jewel to continue.
"We have the funding now. And if we ask for donations, I'm sure Lao Shen would be okay with it. And Guilds are considered third parties, not military forces."
"It's not really about what Lao Shen wants," Chad said. "It's about what their Empress agrees and disagrees with. Even if Guilds were universally allowed in the past, we would at least have to adhere to whatever they demand."
Light had heard about Lao Shen before. Lots of Valorian work for creating things like medicine were shipped overseas by big businesses avoiding taxes. Every nation had dark sports, but Reshiram would likely be a showoff about it.
Maybe it was to try and make him lose faith. Maybe that was the "truth".
"But it's likely that they'll let us, right?" Light asked.
"It is," Chad said. "But I'm worried about what they'll want. And you'd be at the front lines of whatever their demands might be. If you became a Guildmaster now, you'd be the face of the conflict."
Light looked up at the sky. The red dot had made some progress, moving to the horizon.
"Then let me be the Guildmaster," Light said. "If I'm really that popular, then that would make it easier, right?"
"They literally couldn't even say no," Jewel said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Chad said. "Many countries decided to gift you for your efforts. You have honorary citizenships, including in Lao Shen. If we were a group led by you, they can't deny entry to their own citizens under any circumstances. And certainly not because we're a 'military force'."
Light rubbed his eyes. He may have been out of commission, but he at least wanted to know things. He suddenly couldn't wait to have a phone.
All of the others had uncertain looks. They were looking back and forth between each other.
"Alone or not, I'll leave tonight," Light said quietly. "I know that leaving home isn't exactly what was in the plan."
"That's not what I'm worried about," Sky Shaymin Ariel said.
"You would make a good banner," a Zangoose agreed, "but one way or another, people will try and use you. And whatever form it is, we need to be careful."
"Very," Chad said. "I respect your decision a lot, and you even more. But your life and mental health is in danger on every front, and we'll be the only ones who have your back. And we're just... people. And you're just a teenager."
"But you can teach me how to be a Guildmaster, right?" Light asked.
The group turned to Slwoking Chad while he moved his mouth around. Light realized that Ariel and Jewel might've been the only other ones to know.
"Well..." Chad said. "It's not complicated, just difficult. Almost all of it is social interaction."
"So, you'll do it?" Light asked.
"Well, of course I'll teach you… I'm just not entirely convinced it's a job that belongs to a fifteen year old."
"Wait," an Emolga said, "you're fifteen? You're way too young for this."
"I think I'm fine," he argued.
"Well," Chad said, "come along with me. We'll talk."
Slowking Chad walked to the side of the group down the beach. Flareon Light followed, while the group began to talk among itself again behind them.
After a minute, Chad sat on the warm sand facing the sea. Light did the same while curling his tail around himself.
"Before we do anything," Chad said, "you were awfully fast to choose this. Have you wanted to become an explorer before?"
"Well, yah," Light said. "But I guess I feel different about it now."
"The way Guilds are organized is very different based on what they do. In a way, Reshiram is like an outlaw, so we're going to be primarily a Guild focused on combat. That usually means that we'll be organized into different teams. One of which includes you."
"That sounds simple enough," Light said. "But I'm kind of worried about all of the... Uh, finances. I don't know how to, like, handle it..."
"I'll help you learn about that over time. Adults are always complaining about how hard it is, but it's just complaining. It's simple, and nothing to worry about."
"Well... I guess what I mean is making money for us."
"Making money?" Chad asked. "Well, Guilds make money by doing jobs and helping other people. Considering the amount of donations we've already gotten, we'll be thriving for however long it takes."
"This all just sounds a little too easy with that kind of thing…"
"The Guild's environment is the biggest factor. How everyone interacts with each other and keeping fights from breaking out. Who you recruit for what reasons is also up to you, so you have to make smart decisions about people daily."
Light started to get hit by the emphasis he had. He had to be a people person.
"I'm, uhm, kind of introverted," Light said.
"That won't matter," Chad said looking at him. "If I had to tell you one thing above everything else, being a Guildmaster is an experience. So, I'll just let you have it."
"Okay then..."
Light felt the silence that followed was awkward. Chad seemed to relax, but Light wanted to fill the void.
"Have you been to Lao Shen before?" Light asked.
"Yes," Chad said.
"Any tips or things I should know?"
"I'll have to research about interacting with their government, but I know how the streets are. With all the diversity it should be easy to operate, and you seem like you would be fine. If anything, you can just research their economy and history on your own time."
"With what?"
"Your own phone," Chad said, smiling. "Storm's going to fetch you one, along with some other things for yourself."
"Other things?" Light asked.
"A bag, some things that Kaigan gave, and some special food commodities. Your body uses a lot of sugar, so we need to give you a lot of sugar."
"Special foods like what?"
"Cakes, brownies, cups of frosting for snacks... I'm surprised you haven't started craving them already."
"Cups of frosting for snacks? Won't that make me fat?"
"I doubt that… Well, with you."
"I want to know everything about what those doctors told you," Light said.
"It's still a work in progress,. The Acuitan gene is easy to detect, but I'll go straight to you on further developments. I'm a little concerned that you're tired enough to collapse."
"Just a… bad dream. I didn't sleep well."
There was another short silence. Light watched Chad lie down on his back and smile at the sky. When the Light looked up, the red comet and the line it left in the sky had already disappeared.
"This is our last few hours of sunshine and rainbows," Chad said, "so go do whatever you want to for a few hours. If I had your preferences, I might offer Ariel a walk on the beach."
Light didn't know what to reply with. He stopped and thought for a short moment.
"Wait, uhm, what are you… talking about?" Light's voice shivered.
"Your fur puffing up kind of gives it away, sorry to tell you."
"But I didn't say anything to her…" he whined.
"Just relax. There are a lot more dangerous things out there than Ariel. Besides, you should do something to thank her."
"I mean… Yah, of course. You're right."
Light swallowed to keep his body from reacting, but his energy leaked through his fur. He stormed away while his fur began to fluff up.
Flareon Light watched as the ship came in just after sunset. The lights from inside were shining along the shoreline. He listened to the different groups' chatter as they went onto the ship. From what he could see, everyone was still there. He stole glances at Ariel, but didn't summon up the mental fortitude to say anything.
He learned Reshiram had the biggest bounty in recorded history on it, but it was hard for him to understand why and who would risk their lives for it. He had a week out at sea to try and talk and get to know them as they went to Lao Shen. Light watched them one by one as they made their way up the ramp to the deck.
He was finally an explorer; a total opposite from a thief. He thought he'd hold his head up higher, but instead, he got the sense he was only using his new Guild. Light buried his uncertainty in a deep hole of logic. They had plenty to gain by joining, and they all came by their own choice.. After everyone had gone up, he followed up the ramp to the cruise ship.
Looking out over the dark ocean, Light felt like he didn't have anywhere to go back to in the whole world. The others all went inside, but he stayed with his face hanging over the rim watching the dark beach disappear.