With their departure from the castle, Monica and Asterio ventured out into the carnival streets with the archivist leading the way. She laughed and spun with her arms out, taking in the sights and aromas filling her with sensory overload. The bells on her red and blue cloak jingled, and her eyes sparkled behind her blue, jester-themed mask.

"Isn't this wonderful, Star Prince? Can't you hear the sounds of cheer and music filling the air? Listen to the wonderful souls speaking their voices out, crying a symphony of passion among their laughter!" She shivered and threw her hands in the air. "I love the Misty Lights Carnival!"

"Uh huh."

She turned around and chuckled. "Cool outfit, by the way. It, uh…really adds to the festivities."

Asterio pulled on his hood and groaned. Compared to Monica's attire, he looked downright depressing. The only other cloak he had in his wardrobe was pitch black with a high collar. Most striking of all was his choice of mask. It was a golden, wooden mask that completely obscured his face, save for his red eyes. It resembled some kind of demon with crimson tusks wrapped around the sides and a U-shaped crimson crest on the forehead.

"Maybe I should've stayed indoors," he grumbled.

She grabbed his arm. "Nah, don't say that. I can't have you running off on our date when we just got here."

Still on that assumption, huh?

She pointed ahead. "Come on, there's plenty of areas to check out. We could play some games, get lunch, watch a couple shows—ooh, I heard there's a fun mock battle taking place somewhere."

He grunted. "An artistic forgery of true combat."

She snickered. "Come on, it'll be fun. Maybe you could learn a thing or two about adding some flair."

"Fighting isn't a spectacle, Monica. I was trained in swordplay to defend myself…or to see it used on the battlefield should I lead the knights into battle."

She waved it off. "Yada-yada-yada, boring political talk."

"That wasn't exactly politic—"

"You and I are going to have a wonderful evening, and we're not going back to the castle until sunset." She grinned. "You got that?"

"…" He sighed and looked away. "Yes, ma'am."

"And try to crack a smile once in a while. We're supposed to be having fun." She playfully tugged on his arm. "I promise you, even if it takes me the rest of my life, I'm going to make you laugh like you used to. A really big laugh!"

"…Right." He looked ahead. "Well, you're the expert around here. What's first on the agenda?"

She rubbed her hands together. "Well, I heard there's this amazing circus in the city square that we just have…to…" She paused and tilted her head up, sniffing the air. "Hold on, what's that?"

Asterio raised his brow. "Something wrong?"

"I smell something sweet and wonderful and…yummy~!" She licked her lips and gasped. "Oh sweet God of Knowledge, that tantalizing aroma! It's unmistakable! An enrichening, divine mix of ingredients unlike anything I've smelled before, not even from the Festival della Festa!"

"Uh, what are you—"

"PANCAKES!" She charged through the crowd, plowing a path for herself despite her petite stature.

Asterio awkwardly watched the Alcremie barrel through unsuspecting carnival goers, his mask hanging crooked off his face. "…Pancakes, it is." He adjusted his mask and floated after her.

Echo Bell Catacomb

Guided by the soft flickering of the Mystical Fire, Felix and Victoria traveled down the intertwining tunnels of the underground. The damp walls and floor glistened under the flame's glow. They kept a feeler/hand to the walls while Felix read out the directions marked in Melissa's notebook.

"We should be getting closer," Felix said. "You're marking the walls, right?"

Victoria chipped an X into the stone as they turned a corner. "Yep. As long as we follow these marks, we'll have a way to get back to the surface." She sheathed her dagger and placed her hand to the wall again. "Where do these tunnels lead, anyway?"

"Not sure. The catacombs were used to bury the dead in the old days, but they stopped using them. There's loads of secret passages around the capital, even under the museum they used last time."

"And people just…buried the dead here?"

"Seems so. There are hidden chambers scattered underground, and stone coffins where the bodies lay in eternal sleep. They stopped using them a few decades ago because of some rumors."

"Rumors?"

"If I remember right, thirty-five years or so ago, a knight murdered his partner down here. Easy to blame a criminal that got lost and turned to killing. Though, it's just a rumor. There was never an official case documented. It was some ghost story that got out of hand because kids kept sneaking down here."

"Heh, that's funny. Yeah, this seems like the kind of place you could murder someone in." She scratched behind her head. "Criminals are weird. Why do it in the first place?"

Felix smirked. "A thief asking a thief why crime is illegal?"

She giggled. "I just mean murder in general. Seems so…pointless." She sighed and looked away. "Then again, the mages of Arcania speak of the wars like they're directly funerals. I guess they're one in the same."

He frowned. "That's right, you're from the Arcania Kingdom. What's it like there?"

She smiled. "Oh, there's loads to talk about. We're some of the best alchemists known to Virdis and know how to play some pretty great music. The elders know how the party, and our king is the bestest king you could ask for!"

Felix chuckled. "Sounds like fun."

"Heh, yeah." She frowned and looked down at the damp floor. "I do feel bad for the mages, though. They try to put on brave faces for us, but you can tell the topic of war is uncomfortable for them."

"Mages. You keep saying that."

"Oh, that's how we classify our elite soldiers. See, while we have knights, they're not really in the same vein as other kingdoms. They are on the low end of the military hierarchy. The truly elite are the mages, Pokémon who push the limits of our evolution and turn their biology into unstoppable power."

He glared. "That's right. Any Pokémon that can learn more than six moves are referred to as magicians."

"Oh, but it goes beyond that. The only way you can become a mage in Arcania is to research and create a new form of magic."

"Magic?"

"What we call techniques. There are reputable families in Arcania that do research on the ways move operate with each other. Research into alchemy allows them to perform alterations and increase the potential of these techniques. Rather than forcing certain combinations to work, we use alchemy to help the process along. If your magic is approved by the king, it's recorded into the royal archives, and the family of this magic style is held up as one of the elite clans. It's an honor among our kingdom to be recognized for our research."

"Incredible, and you tried to become one?"

She laughed. "Oh, hell no! My family's been trying to research a magic specialty for years, but it keeps blowing up in our faces. Believe it or not, accidental self-detonation isn't recognized as a magic style."

Felix laughed. "Let me guess, your entire family is as lucky as you."

"Right on the money!"

He shook his head and continued looking ahead. "Still, you must've been passionate about joining the knights."

"I was." Victoria frowned at the walls. "Arcania isn't doing well, and we've been falling on hard times. The elders keep saying everything will be fine, but…you can't help questioning them. I'm not sure how we've been upkeeping the last of our land. When I was little, we used to struggle for resources. Nowadays, we just have issues with mini invasions from New Chariot or the Wick Kingdom."

"Hmm…" Felix narrowed his eyes. "And you said the mages were…"

"They almost looked dead inside." She sighed. "Mom and Dad always told me war was terrible. I got to experience it firsthand when I was five."

Felix's eyes widened. "You mean the…the Arcanian Massacre. The one where the Great Gate Empire invaded."

She winced. "Yeah. Yeah, that one."

"…I'm sorry, Victoria."

She shook her head. "It's fine. I barely remember. Just the fires. I lost some friends that day." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I wanted to become a knight so I could protect what remained of our kingdom. Since that didn't work out, I hoped joining the Foresters would lead to somewhere."

He patted her shoulder with his feeler. "Well, who knows? Something may turn up in the future."

She smiled. "I hope so. After all, my lucky streak keeps on rolling, so it's bound to turn up a fortune!" She paused and gleamed over the Sylveon's shoulder. "Uh, Felix?"

"Huh?" He looked ahead and stopped. "What the?"

He raised and increased the flame's heat to light up more of the tunnel. They found themselves at a dead end. They checked over their shoulders for a moment, then back at the bare wall in front of them.

"Did we make a wrong turn?" Victoria asked.

Felix looked into the notebook again. "That can't be right. I was certain I followed the directions exactly. Did Master Harlow make a mistake?"

"We're not…lost, right?" Victoria asked with a tinge of concern.

"As long as you've been marking our path, we should be fine." He sat on his haunches and scratched his head. "Maybe I did make a wrong turn while we were talking, but I know for certain I followed her directions most of the way." He groaned and slapped himself. "If we don't know where we are, we may have to backtrack to the tomb entrance."

"That sucks!"

"Can't be helped." He stood up and pocketed the notebook. "Best to get moving—"

As soon as the pair turned around, their guiding flame illuminate a tall, dark figure towering over their heads. Their eyes widened, traveling up the length of the form, and met the eyes of frightening Cacturne wielding a shovel over his shoulder. The flame accentuated the shadows dancing on his face, sending shivers up their spines.

"This area is off limits," he said in a dry tone. "If this is your first offense, the fine for trespassing varies between two hundred to—"

"AAAHHH! GHOST!" Victoria reached into her bag and chucked a glowing orb at the living cactus.

It exploded into an array of sparkles. The duo remained frozen in place while the Cacturne continued looking down on them, unbothered by her retaliation. "…Varies between two hundred to five hundred bits. If you wish to plead your case, you may reach out to the capital courthouses to rectify the fine—"

"IT'S STILL ALIVE!" Victoria chucked several more of her Present bombs at the cactus, only to keep exploding into sparkles. "OH NO, I FORGOT NORMAL-TYPE MOVES DON'T WORK ON GHOSTS!"

No, you just keep throwing healing bombs at him…somehow. Felix gulped and shuffled away from the cactus' intense stare. "Uh, hello. Um, this is a little difficult to explain, but—"

"Perish, Ghost!" Victoria pulled out her boomerang and chucked it. It whizzed around the cactus' head and rebounded back into her forehead. She staggered back, giggling and spinning in a daze. "D-Did I get him?"

Felix watched the klutzy Azumarill twirl and stumble about before nervously looking back at the stern-faced Cacturne. "Uh, there's…a perfectly good explanation for all of this."

The gravedigger narrowed his eyes. "These catacombs are dangerous. It'd be easy for one of you to get lost. It'd be easy for someone to kill you down here, and your bodies would never be found. Left to decompose and return to the soil anew." He raised his shovel and struck it into the floor, the clang ringing out through the tunnel. "I could kill you both right now, and no one would be wise to your disappearance."

Felix clenched his teeth into a tight grin. "Is that a fact?" His feelers angled toward his holster of playing cards.

"…" The gravedigger sighed and flipped his shovel back onto his shovel. "What a waste of life that would be, too. Death should be a natural process. The beauty of decay would be soiled by my actions. My sister would give me an earful ruining the cycle."

Felix froze. "Sister?"

"You two are Foresters, aren't you?"

He gasped. "You knew?! How?!"

"My little sister sent me a letter. She's in Nalzona right now."

"…" He gasped again. "Wait, you're Zephora's older brother?!"

He tipped his hat. "Zechariah Beaumont, at your service. Now, can one of you please explain why you're illegally trespassing? If I don't like your answer, you'll be getting that fine."

Before Felix could explain, the dizzy Victoria stumbled into the dead-end wall and fell back against it. Something clicked inside the walls, and the wall itself rotated open.

Felix gasped. "A secret passage!"

Victoria sat up and shook her head clear. "Eh?" She examined the secret passage and grinned. "Ha! Told you I was lucky. That's the Maldonado pride at work."

Felix helped her up. "This must be the entrance under the castle—"

"Breaking into the castle, huh?" The pair flinched as Zech looked over them, feeling the stiff aura radiating off him. "Suspicious."

They spun and held their paws/hands up. "W-We can explain!"

"…" Zech looked ahead into the entrance and glared. "This was opened recently."

Their eyes widened. "Huh?"

He pushed past them and pointed at the ground. Felix raised his flame and revealed a set of footprints leading through the passage. His eyes widened. "These are the same prints we saw at the entrance."

"Shh," Zech hushed them before pointing at the ceiling.

They looked up and saw shadows moving through the wooden floorboards above their heads. The trio shared looked with each other before stepping through. A ladder stood at the end of the short hallway, leading to a hatch in the floorboards. Carefully, they climbed up it together and pushed the hatch open a crack.

They appeared to be inside a wine cellar based off wine racks and barrels organized about. A barrel stood near the hatch, providing them some shade among the lantern light.

"What's going on?" Victoria whispered.

Felix looked around before noticing someone pacing between the wine racks. "Look."

The light made it difficult to see exactly, but they could see it was a Mr. Mime in a yellow suit, checkered pants, and a matching yellow top hat. He leaned back on his cane, checking his pocket watch.

Victoria gasped. "That's the master of ceremonies, isn't it?"

Felix glared. "Why is he in the castle wine cellar?"

Zech glared when he saw shadows moving through the stairwell. "Someone's coming."

They ducked their heads down as Benvenuto also took notice of the moving shadows. He straightened up and put his pocket watch away. "You really know how to keep a fellow waiting. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up."

"Enough of your prattle. I'm here, aren't I?" The voice sounded distorted, though it sounded vaguely masculine.

"Indeed." Benvenuto stamped his cane down and grinned. "Shall we get down to business, then? You're probably dying to know why we sent you an invitation."

Neither of the hidden trio could get a good look at the second figure. Their form melded with the darkness, blending in seamlessly that it looked as if they were cloaked in darkness itself. That, however, tipped Zech off. "Wait, is that…?"

Felix and Victoria seemed to come to the same conclusion once they saw the red glow of the cloaked figures eyes. Their hearts pounded inside their ribcages, and they took to the safety of the gravedigger while controlling the sudden trembling in their bodies.

Grim…Deadlock?!

Capital Streets

"(Thank you, have a wonderful day!)"

Melissa handed out a to-go bag of pancakes and waved off the happy family. She took a moment to stretch her arms back. She wore the knitted cap Granny Aurelia gifted her with her ears bent back inside. She patted her hands against her apron.

"Don't your ears hurt being bent like that?" Jason spoke up after taking down some notes.

She grinned. "Buneary can keep them rolled up indefinitely. This is nothing. Besides, it makes me look cute, doesn't it?"

He chuckled. "No comment."

"Can't even compliment my appearance? Shame."

"You're a fairly attractive young woman, I'll say that much."

She giggled, her cheeks glowing red. "That's a little more than I was asking, but I'll take it."

Wyatt flipped another batch of pancakes onto a tray. "And just you wait when we get to opening presents later. Avel and I got you the best present ever!"

Avel rolled his eyes. "Yes, it's definitely not a snow globe he grabbed from a knickknack shop."

"Avel, hush! It's supposed to be a surprise!" The Lombre flinched and laughed at Melissa. "N-Not that it's actually a snow globe. Avel's just kidding around."

Melissa giggled. "I'm sure it's a lovely snow globe."

"N-Not a snow globe, I swear!"

"Sure, sure."

"PANCAKES!"

Melissa gasped and looked down the street. Someone barreled through the crowd, knocking nearby Pokémon to the ground. It appeared to be a masked Alcremie based off the few features she could pinpoint. She skidded to a stop in the middle of the street and raised her nose, sniffing the air.

"It's close. Close as close can be. It's…" She pointed her finger directly at their stall. "There! That delicious smell is coming from here!"

Melissa stared in befuddlement. "Um…"

The Alcremie raced up to the stall and pulled herself onto the counter, grinning at the startled Buneary. "Are you all selling pancakes?"

Melissa blinked. "Uh, yes."

She leapt back onto the ground and stared up at the sky, her mouth watering and eyes sparkling. "It smells so good. Just from the scent alone, these pancakes were handled with renowned care and premium ingredients! Just from the scent alone, I can indicate the maximum fluffiness of the middle and the crisp edges after being thorough cooked atop the perfect temperature! High quality ingredients for the based topped with added fixings of berries and much galore!"

Wyatt walked up to the counter and grinned. "I see you have a nose for quality. I happen to be the chef of those little miracles."

She gasped with joy. "You, sir, are an artist!"

"Indeed! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! The best meals are served at breakfast, and must be honored for all they're worth!"

"I must taste them! I need these pancakes!"

"Spirits be damned, Monica." She and the Foresters turned their gazes to the cloaked figure in the strange, demon-like mask as he approached the stall. "Don't go running off like that. You could've hurt yourself…or someone," he grumbled, checking over his shoulder at the fallen bystanders.

Monica laughed and stuck her tongue out. "Oops. Lost myself there."

Melissa sighed and smiled at them. "Well, we'd be happy to serve you both. Are you two on a date?"

"Yes!"

"N—dammit."

Melissa chuckled. "What will it be?"

Monica glanced up at the menu hanging over the counter. "Ooh, so many choices. I'll have a ten stack with kebia berries and chocolate chips."

"…" Her date huffed and looked away. "Two plain pancakes."

Melissa wrote down their orders and handed it off to Wyatt. "Alright, the ten stack and a normal plate. That comes out to twelve bits."

Monica patted herself down and frowned. "Oops."

Her date glared through his mask. "You forgot your money, didn't you?"

She smiled apologetically at him. "Heh, sorry."

He sighed and psychically produced a silver and two copper coins. "Here."

Melissa snatched the coins and placed them in the moneybox. "Thank you. So, are you two enjoying the carnival?"

Monica grinned. "We actually left a little bit ago, but I always make time for the carnival every year. I'm surprised this grump asked me to go with him. He hates the carnival."

He glared. "Monica…"

"Heh, sorry. I meant he hates other people."

"…Ugh."

Jason chuckled. "I can relate. Strangers can get on your nerves if you're not careful."

Melissa waved him off. "Go be a grump somewhere else, mister."

Monica pointed at Jason and asked, "Is he your boyfriend?"

Melissa laughed. "Nah. He's too much of a prude for me."

Jason glared. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"

"Just keep jotting down in your little notebook."

He rolled his eyes and went back to listing his notes. "Too much of a prude, good grief…"

Melissa smiled back at Monica. "I'm just glad there's someone here I can actually talk to. I only know one phrase in your language. Based off some of the stares I've been getting, I might be butchering the pronunciation."

Monica giggled. "At least you made an attempt. I had to learn the common language of the west since I work as an archivist. My sister taught me before she went on her trip to Arcania."

Jason lifted his eyes from his notebook. Hmm?

"Wow, that's great. What does she do?"

Monica crossed her arms and puffed out her chest. "She was personally selected by King and Queen Visconti to assist in the restoration efforts of Arcania. She keeps me updated about her work."

"Incredible! That's so cool!"

"Yes, it is." She smiled sadly. "Unfortunately, she's so busy over there that I haven't seen her for about five years. I hope she visits when she gets the chance."

"Or you could always visit her."

"That's true, but there is the warring in the Umbra Clock Kingdom that would make that difficult."

"Aww, yeah, that's true." Melissa smiled. "Well, maybe you'll get to see her soon enough. I'm holding out hope for you."

"Aww! Thank you, miss!" She smiled up at her date. "Maybe we should send Rubina a care package. Eh, Star Prince?"

He shifted beneath his cloak. "Uh, sure. I…guess we could do that."

Right as he shifted his cloak, Melissa caught a brief glimpse of a glimmer inside. She squinted and focused on the inside of the cloak until she saw the same glimmer again. It came off of the cloaked man's skin, which was a striking green. The way it shimmered indicated he had the shiny pigmentation.

Wow, her date's a shiny? Lucky her. She paused for a moment. Wait. Star Prince? Sister selected by the royal family? A…shiny Pokémon.

She looked up at the masked man's face. For a second, their eyes meant, and she felt an uncomfortable tremor hit her body. The darkness of his eyes hit her with a wave of familiarity that nearly locked up her muscles, the memories of that foreboding presence she had experienced since last year.

"Um, excuse me for a moment," Melissa excused herself, backing from the counter. "I just remembered I needed to…bake something. Ja—er, Jay! Mind helping with that?"

"Eh—WHOA!" Jason fell off his barrel as Melissa dragged him behind the stall and out of sight. He brushed her hand off and glared. "Problem?"

Melissa fearfully pointed at Monica and her date. "I know him," she whispered.

"Who?"

"Her boyfriend. I know him. That's…That's Prince Asterio."

"Here you go."

Frediano looked up from a piece of paper he was staring at as Armant returned with dumpling bowls. The flamboyant Weavile rubbed his claws and took his bowl. "Ah, thank you, my towering acquaintance! This is a fine meal."

Armant parked his rear down on the same bench and lobbed a dumpling into his mouth. "Mmm. I was thinking of checking out a few shows. There's a play reenacting the Algusian War of 756. I've heard of the retellings. It certainly dramatizes the actions of the kingdom's head knight, though it was a satirical play."

Frediano laughed. "A good bit of satire to spread the feelings of the people. Why, without art, we couldn't express the tragedy and faults in our souls. That is what it means to create! That is why I must create through my brilliant presence. My unrivaled beauty is unmatched!"

Armant scratched his chin. "I've lived a long time, and I grow to appreciate the arts more with each passing day. There was a time I scoffed at taking interest in dried paint, but it gives one something to think about when they're on their own. That play I mentioned, it's a satirical take on the actions of a brutish knight emulating the royal family's brutality, yet he lacked the tact or wisdom to control that barbaric nature."

"Does it resonate with you, friend?"

"In a sense. I knew very little about controlling my strength. Then again, I choose not to get involved in the political matters of other kingdoms unless they actively harm the innocent. I admit, I've crushed a few armies back in my early traveling days."

Frediano pressed his fist to his cheek. "You are an odd sort, my friend. A man of your stature preaching the arts and wisdom?"

Armant narrowed his eyes. "There are horrors to this land I dare not see repeated. There was a period in my life where senseless violence could end senseless violence. My younger days, back when I was an immature brat who viewed the world as black and white. I had a friend who despised war, yet he was deceptively skilled at being a leader. We had a common foe and strengths the other had, so we spent our youth causing trouble. Eventually, it landed us into more trouble than we could imagine. The cycle continued, and we were eventually a two-man duo razing armies."

"And what happened to this friend?"

Armant closed his eyes. "I haven't seen him in well over thirty years. I realized the path we were taking, and I needed to distance myself from him. Since then, I've been on a journey of self-reflection, using my strength for good. I loved battle more than anything, but my strength is called cursed by those I face. I sought out the arts as an outlet for my troubles, and soon I became the man I am today. Wiser, controlled, appreciative of these wonderful cultures."

Frediano tilted his head. "Have you been to every kingdom?"

"Several times, actually. I once went to New Chariot and participated in one of their colosseum matches. Unfortunately, there were some fighters who despised me for ruining their winning streaks. I was a younger man, still naïve of how the world worked, and I limited my visits to the towns rather than the capital."

"You never went back to free them from their captivity?"

Armant shook his head. "Strong as I am, I'm not hero. It'd be easy for me to break down that colosseum and free the captive slaves forced to fight for their freedom, but every action ripples into another. Every action has a consequence, and we can never predict if it'll turn for good or bad. If I knew the outcome, I would consider going back there and freeing them, just as I wish I could do more to help Arcania or settle the disputes of the other kingdoms. I'm a man cursed with boundless empathy for other creatures."

Frediano laughed. "The world is so cruel, my friend. You call yourself cursed for being too kind to strangers? There are many who could take a lesson from your example." He picked up a dumpling and subtly slid it under his mask to take a bite.

"Hmm." Armant chuckled to himself. "And what is your ambition in life, Fred? To become the star of Virdis?"

"Now, there's a thought." Frediano swallowed and picked up the piece of paper sitting next to him. "I became a bounty hunter for my own reasons. To due that, I need to hunt the best quarry that'll gain me the most attention."

Armant saw it was a wanted poster. He glanced at the image on the front and laughed. "You're kidding."

"I may look strange to others, but I take my work seriously. I follow your example to protect the peace. After all, I can't shine throughout Virdis if it's in a perpetual state of gloom." He stood up on the bench and posed dramatically. "That is why I, The Great Frediano, will hunt the worse of the worst to ensure the world respects the name of The Great Frediano!"

Armant threw a dumpling into his mouth and chewed softly. "Lofty goals. You wouldn't have that wanted poster if you didn't suspect your target was here."

Frediano sat back down. "It was only a rumor I heard, but it gives me an excuse to come to the carnival. Once I see something, I'll strike them down."

"Hmm. Well, I'll keep you posted if I see anything suspicious."

"Much appreciated, my muscular companion!"

Armant casted a glare the wanted poster. "Still, I have to wonder…"

The poster depicted something that didn't look like a Pokémon, or any Armant had ever seen. All it really showed was a monstrous shadow with huge, talon-like hands and a grin stretched wide open. He could almost hear the cackling from the image.

"Why would the fifth most wanted man in Virdis be here?"

Felix, Victoria, and Zechariah kept perfectly still on the ladder, balancing against each other and on a single ring. They stared intensely at the master of ceremonies and cloaked shadow standing around the several wine bottles lay out across the cellar.

"That can't be Grim Deadlock," Felix whispered. "Why is he in the castle, too?"

Victoria scrunched her brow. "Maybe he really likes the wine?"

Zechariah glared. "Something doesn't add up here."

Benvenuto twirled his cane and paced between the shelves. He picked up a bottle and examined it. "Fancy yourself a drink? We have all the time in the world to get down to business, and tradition does mean sharing a drink with partners."

Grim glared. "I didn't come here for chitchat, clown. You summoned for me, now I expect an answer before I tear you limb from limb."

He chuckled and set the bottle down. "Right, right, of course." He scratched his chin. "Still, I must say, it's hard to imagine you are the infamous Grim Deadlock. That is a surprise."

The Forester duo gasped quietly. It really IS Grim Deadlock.

"…" Grim looked away.

"You're even more vicious than I could imagine. You'll be a perfect candidate for the heir system."

"Just get on with it. What is this heir system you mentioned in your letter?"

Benvenuto snickered. "I'm just the messenger, so take my explanation with a grain of salt." He leaned forward on his cane and cleared his throat. "My employer's boss is seeking out worthy candidates from each of the ten kingdoms, those that possess superior ideals and determination for the future of Virdis. To be specific…" He smirked. "We're seeking out worthy candidates from the ten royal families."

Felix and Victoria's eyes widened. What?

Grim crossed his arms. "The ten royal families, you say?"

Benvenuto nodded. "The invasion two centuries ago was writhe with conflict and peril. Ten invading nations seeking to claim this rich land and its resources for themselves, soon dividing into ten distinct territories. They continue fighting for the last two hundred years, shifting the control of land back and forth. It's an exhausting sight for the elderly, I'm sure, but all commanded under the superior might of the royal families. Rich in tradition and ideals different from one another, contrasting views on how to run a kingdom. Each kingdom claims they are the right choice to lead Virdis, and that's where the master decided to put their ideals to the test."

Grim's glared deepened. "You've been reaching out to prominent heirs of their respective kingdoms and persuading them to join this system. All for what?"

"To take the seat on the true throne of Virdis." Benvenuto chuckled. "Do you know the true name of the Great Kingdom?"

"…Elysivine, correct?"

He nodded. "The Elysivine Kingdom, a mighty power that existed since the turn of the Savage Era. A kingdom ruled by peace for eight hundred years until that invasion. That will be the throne of the next candidate."

Grim scoffed. "And I'm assuming I'm not the first you've given this shpiel to."

"Oh, I'm just operating for my employer, so this is my first time. But you are correct, we have other candidates selected."

"…Is one of them Darby Tetrarch?"

He smirked. "Perceptive, aren't you?"

Felix's eyes widened. "Darby Tetrarch? A candidate?"

Victoria winced. "Boy, this heir system thingy has really low standards, doesn't it?"

"Shh," Zech hushed. "Keep listening."

"There is also Amano Riko, granddaughter of the emperor of the Great Gate Empire," Benvenuto continued. "Her fiery disposition could rival your cold exterior."

Grim's eyes narrowed deeper. "The eldest Talbot son?"

"Haven't reached out to the Senbo Kingdom yet."

"…What about Princess Penworth?"

He laughed. "Ah, now there's an interesting one. She was intended to be a candidate."

Felix and Victoria had to cover their mouths to keep themselves from gasping. WHAT?!

"Was?" Grim asked.

He shook his head. "Unfortunately, she was deemed…mentally unfit to become a candidate, according to our spy. We did consider looking into her potential again, though then came her disappearance. We do plan to revisit the possibility now that she's returned to her kingdom."

"…" Grim closed his eyes and huffed. "You're all insane."

"Insanity keeps the game interesting."

"Tell me this, then. What makes you think you'll have a say in the laws of this region? Announcing one of us as the true ruler of Virdis will not bring prosperity, but war. No one would dare accept such a declaration, lest rival kingdoms strike down all that oppose. And even then, rebellions from the people would tear this region apart to overthrow the likes of us."

Benvenuto smirked. "Ah, this is where my expertise starts shining. You see, my murderous specter, there are some secrets still buried under Virdis long forgotten to time."

"What do you mean?"

"During the invasion on Virdis, there was a disastrous earthquake that shook the land apart. Buildings crumbled, resistances collapsed, and the earth sank below the horizon never to be seen again. That earthquake put an end to what would've become a bloody massacre across Virdis. Instead of complete annihilation, the ten invading forces collected whatever land they conquered and set up their base of operations there, soon growing into the kingdoms you see today."

Grim glared suspiciously. "What are you saying?"

"You asked me how anyone could accept the law of a single ruler. You see, before I became an entertainer, I was actually a budding historian. Something about Virdis tickled me with intrigue, so I dug into all the resources I could." He tipped his top hat. "I hit the motherload of information when I was recruited into the circus. Secrets untold opened up to me, and I was finally able to peer into the truth. This region was built up on secrets you couldn't imagine, mysteries unfolding! Even under the catacombs of this city, there lays secrets from the past forgotten by development. It all circles back to the Arbiters."

"The Arbiters. The original thinkers," Grim muttered.

"They brought knowledge to a savage land. Virdis was a land that didn't evolve at the same speed as other regions across the world. It was a savage place unfit for society. Have you ever wondered how the Arbiters brought knowledge to us beastly creatures?"

"…I don't like where this is going."

Benvenuto laughed. "Well, I can't give away all the secrets. All I can say is that it's linked to something special still existing in this land: the secret treasure of the Ogden royal family."

"A secret treasure?"

"Yes. A treasure that, according to the ruined texts, was solely responsible for the Ogden family's eight hundred years of peace. Those who control the treasure control the fate of Virdis. And the one to become Virdis' new heir shall be bestowed with the secrets of its power." He extended his hand to the specter. "A power that could be yours if you accept our proposition."

Grim narrowed his eyes. "That seems like a lot to take in. It almost sounds too good to be true."

Benvenuto laughed. "Even grounded to reality, life is often stranger than fiction. Whether or not you believe in Arceus or one of the many deities, there are still forces in this world that tip between the planes of mortality and godhood. It's a matter of perspective, you could say."

"Still, to accept an offer like this. I'm unsure if I can—"

"Just a moment, though." Both Grim and the hidden trio felt a cold chill in the air as the clown's tone changed. He propped his cane atop his shoulder and tipped his hat over his eyes. His smiled curled into something more…unsettling. "I should warn you to choose your next answer carefully. You never know what consequences may occur in your haste. For example, what if I told you…that your answer determines whether or not this city becomes a graveyard of ash?"

"Oh no, oh no, oh no," Melissa muttered, still crouched behind the kitchen equipment. She vigorously wrung her ears between her hands while Jason peeked out to see Monica and Asterio waiting for their food.

"That's the prince, huh?" Jason asked.

"Without a doubt. I recognize those cold, unfeeling eyes anywhere," she whispered. "He's so scary. And he sounds like he's two seconds away from stabbing someone whenever he brings up the crime rate here. I don't know how Azelia puts up with him. She talks about him like he's just grumpy all the time, but those are the eyes of a killer right there!"

He glared at her. "Perhaps you shouldn't voice your opinions so loudly."

"Meep!" She covered her mouth. She settled her breathing and lowered her hands. "E-Even then, what if he recognizes me? He'll rat me out to King Massimo, then they'll drag me back to the Verde Kingdom, then who-knows-what will happen when it's revealed JoJo's impersonating me."

He patted her shoulder. "Calm down. I've been keeping an eye on him." He peeked around the kitchen counter again. "Even under that cloak, I can get a good idea of his body language. He hasn't made any indication he recognizes you."

She lifted her head. "He hasn't? Are…you sure?"

"I'm positive. At best, you just look like any other Buneary to him."

She sighed and wiped her brow. "Oh, thank goodness—" Her eyes widened. "Wait."

"What?" He looked back at her and gasped as she collapsed onto her hands and knees in a fit of tears.

"He doesn't recognize me at all?" she whimpered. "Was I that forgettable?"

"That's what's got you upset now?!"

"Um, excuse me?" they heard Monica chime from the front counter. "Is everything okay back there?"

Melissa wiped the tears away and jumped back into view with a big grin. "All good! Finished…baking that something."

Wyatt flipped the last of the pancakes into two separate to-go boxes. "Food's ready!"

Melissa grabbed the boxes and handed them to the pair. "Here you go. Enjoy!"

Monica took a big whiff of her pancakes and salivated over them. "They smell amazing~!"

Wyatt turned around and grinned. "If you like my pancakes, maybe I'll show you what a real breakfast looks like."

"Ooh, yes! Please!"

Melissa looked around before saying, "We're not getting many customers right now, so why not stay a bit and chat?"

"Really? Aww, thanks." Monica grabbed the top pancake with her hands and shoveled it into her mouth. She cupped her cheeks and shivered with joy. "They taste even better than they smell!"

Melissa giggled. "Yeah, he makes a mean breakfast, though I'll stick to my birthday crème puffs."

Monica gasped. "It's your birthday?! OMA, Happy Birthday!"

"Aww, thanks!"

Monica grabbed her hands and said, "And can I just say, that is such a cute cap you're wearing. Is it a birthday present?"

"You like it?" She giggled bashfully. "Kind of feels like it, but I actually got it a few weeks ago from…my granny."

"Awwww! We should go shopping for cute hats later! Star Prince can pay for us since he's so generous!"

"Ooh, I like the sound of that!"

Asterio grimaced. "My money bag suddenly feels lighter."

Jason walked up to the counter, chuckling to himself. "My apologies for your eventual loss of wealth."

He closed his eyes and sighed. "It doesn't matter. I…want her to enjoy today."

Jason turned around and leaned back against the counter. "Real talk, you two aren't actually dating, are you?"

"Was it that obvious?"

"You can tell a lot about a person from just their body language. You wear your emotions on your sleeve for someone so reserved."

Asterio sighed. "I care about Monica. I really do. I…just feel uncomfortable whenever I speak to her. I try to hide it, but it hurts inside."

"Why's that?"

"…I can't say." He covered his face. "It's better just to suffer in silence than to let the world know how you truly feel."

Jason narrowed his eyes and gazed at the floor. "I know the feeling. Cold logic keeps you on track. Emotion…gets in the way."

"Love, guilt, shame…" Asterio shook his head. "I've been feeling worse and worse every time I hear another crime or murder took place in our kingdom. I feel so powerless."

"Because of the lax rule of the Visconti family?" Jason asked.

"…Yes. They have been a source of conflict for everyone. The current king's too softhearted for his own good, and the heir is…unfit to lead a kingdom. His older sister would do a much better job leading this kingdom back to glory."

Jason frowned. "I always assumed every kingdom was run by terrible monarchs."

"Criticism is unavoidable, and there are those who shouldn't be in power to begin with." Asterio sighed. "But at the end of the day, we're all Pokémon. We hold the royal family up with such lofty ambitions that we forget they're capable of mistakes, too. The Visconti family is a host of unshakeable sins."

"Unshakeable sins, you say?"

He nodded. "No matter how much someone wants to redeem themselves, they'll always be shackled by the weight of their sins. There are just some things that can't be forgiven, so we hide away those sins and bear the weight in hopes we can continue at life until the end."

"…Yeah," Jason muttered. "I know what that's like."

"A perfect future for Virdis is one without criminals. Without crime, murder, or destruction. A world like that is nothing but a fantasy, sadly."

Jason glanced over at Melissa and Monica, focusing on the former as she laughed and smiled with the Alcremie. He smiled to himself and closed his eyes. "I don't know. I think there's hope for the future."

"You're just as optimistic as Monica."

"I'm a pessimist by nature. I have no hope for Virdis." He chuckled. "I do have hope for the person who will bring glory to this region. It's an impossible fantasy, but an ideal can become stronger than reality if you strive hard enough for it. That's why I want to see this region turn itself around, and maybe a future without crime or war can finally exist."

Asterio scoffed. "You're too naïve."

"Maybe, but I won't let my sins shackle me down for the rest of my life. I'll break free and live once again."

Asterio narrowed his eyes and glanced at the girls, still chatting away while Monica stuffed her face with pancakes. He sighed and played with his mask, hiding the tears shimmering off the corner of his eyes.

I wish for that same freedom, too.

"What the hell did you do?!"

Benvenuto kept his cool, even against the tempest of shadows blowing in front of him. The reaper's piercing red eyes shined through the billowing shadows encompassing the wine cellar. Their ghostly chills wrapped around the trio hidden beneath the floorboards. Felix and Victoria felt their teeth chatter, but Zech immediately covered their mouths and shushed them.

Benvenuto raised his hand. "Now, now, let's not get dramatic before the final act. It's simply a matter of precaution."

Grim settled the shadow winds and collected them back into his cloak, though his glare turned more haunting than before. "You have some nerve making threats, clown."

He sighed and scratched his head with the cane's handle. "You make it sound barbaric. I'm sure you would do the same in our situation. After all, the only thing that matters is the results."

"…" The specter relaxed, but didn't let up on his fury. "What is going on?"

"I'll cut to the chase. If you refuse our offer, we'll be forced to rig this entire city with high grade explosives designed by our potent alchemist. You understand what that means, yes? These aren't your typical explosives, but volatile concoctions designed with the express purpose to leave a blackened scar across the land. Buildings set ablaze, and corpses cooking in the streets. That sort of deal."

"You rigged explosives throughout my city just to make sure I went along with this insane deal?!"

"Precisely. If you refuse, we'll be forced to set off those explosives one-by-one until this city is reduced to ash. And when you have nothing left, your only recourse is to come with us or perish. It's a simple deal, really. You'll be doing everyone a favor by accepting."

Grim clenched his fist. "Don't make a mockery out of me—"

"You think I'm scared of you?" Benvenuto chuckled. "We know you better than you think."

"…" His eyes narrowed deeper. "I will inform King Massimo about this—"

"We've already taken that into account, as well as the rest of the Visconti family."

His eyes widened. "What?"

"Did you think I told you all of this without taking precautions? Let this be a lesson to you, Deadlock: you're not the only one lurking in the shadows. Whether or not you think the Visconti are safe, there will be someone watching over them. Whether hiding in the distance…or even inside their shadows."

"…"

"Don't speak a word of this to anyone, and we'll get along swimmingly."

"…" He loosened his fist and sighed. "Why are you going through this much effort just for me?"

"You asked me if Darby Tetrarch was a candidate. I think you can understand why we need more than the two. Between you and Melissa Penworth, you're both apt candidates for the heir system for your strong convictions and ideals. Since the princess is currently under reevaluation, that just leaves you. If you were added to the mix, that might even give Tetrarch and Amano reason to step up their acts and tighten the scope of their convictions. They're still green when it comes to leading a kingdom, but you're the bloodthirsty type willing to get their hands dirty for results. It's that simple."

"…You're all insane."

"As you've said, yes."

"…" He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm not going to refuse, but I'm not going to accept outright. Give me until the end of the carnival to come to a decision. Will that suffice as an answer?"

Benvenuto smirked. "You passed the test. You're the first one to hear all of this and not immediately say yes. You're actually thinking ahead." He tipped his hat. "You have a deal. We'll hold off on the explosions until the end of the week where we expect an answer."

"Do you promise?"

"Oh, I promise. Just make sure you think everything over carefully. We wouldn't want any accidents to occur, right?"

"…" Grim growled, and his eyes burned redder. "Not at all."

Felix, Victoria, and Zech shuffled back down the ladder and closed up the secret passageway to the cellar. Once the stone sealed shut, the two Foresters collapsed onto the ground and gasped for air.

"Holy shit, that was crazy!" Felix yelled.

"What the heck did we stumble on?! We were just supposed to find a route into the castle to steal the king's crown—" Upon remembering the gravedigger in their company, she nervously said, "I-I mean, the king's crown…worthy ice cream supply. Yes, that's a believable excuse."

Zech leaned on his shovel and glared back at the passageway. "How peculiar. I've roamed these catacombs several times during my employment. This is the first time I'm hearing of secret passageways and underground ruins."

Felix stood up and yelled, "That's the least concerning aspect of that conversation!"

Victoria stood up and gulped. "This is bad. What do they want with Melissa? What's with this heir system thingy? What's this secret treasure thing they mentioned? Also, THE CITY'S BEEN TURNED INTO A BOMB!"

Felix huffed. "This is definitely more risk I was asking for, that's for sure."

Zech scratched his chin. "The appearance of Grim Deadlock is concerning, too. I've associated with the man on numerous occasions. For a criminal-hating mass murderer, he's a surprisingly reasonable fellow who's tipped me off on his targets. Stark contrast to the mad gibbering accounts of surviving criminals. Not to mention…"

Felix frowned. "That guy said they were looking for candidates from the royal families…"

"And he offered the job to Grim Deadlock," Victoria gasped.

Zech glared. "Precisely. That means Grim Deadlock…is he actually one of the Visconti children?"

"[…How disappointing. You ruined the surprise.]"

Their heads popped up as a cold wind raced through the catacombs. The trio stood back-to-back and watched as ice crept along the damp walls. The wet floor froze around their feet, chipping off chunks of ice clinging into their skin and fur. The temperature dropped so low that they could see their breath.

"[You dug too deep into matters not of your concern. I should've kept a better eye on your brats, but it seems I'll have to silence your tongues before you go off squealing to the events you saw.]"

Zech raised his shoved and pointed down the empty tunnel. "This area is off limits. You will be reported for trespassing with a fine ranging from—" He glared as ice formed around his arm and down to his shoulder.

"[Silly westerners. I believe it's time you understood your place in the hierarchy. A storm is brewing, and death approaches.]"

A cold mist whipped up in front of the group, and Yukimura Junko took shape before them, composed of a frosty blue mist. She swayed her body seductively as more ice filled the walls. Felix and Victoria winced as even the sweat on their skin froze and jabbed into their skin.

"[But don't be afraid. The cold welcomes all into its embrace. Come, won't you follow me into the afterlife?]"