18th Red Ash Moon, 908

Two days. Two days of keeping up appearances around Erasmus. Manipulating the staff was child's play for the faux princess, but Erasmus proved to be a persistent thorn in her side with his insistence to protect her. A chivalrous display, but one unwarranted for a spy posing as a princess who went missing for an entire year.

It was a miracle JoJo hadn't slipped out of her disguise from stress. His keen observations put her on guard. She felt his eyes studying every little thing she did with judgment, a game and test to see how much the faux princess had regressed since her disappearance. Or at least that's the explanation he gave in addition to his concerns for her safety.

But how could she forget the other thorn in her side, Nathaniel? It was getting harder to escape his notice. The Lucario had better vigilance of her movements and kept apace whenever she gave him the slip, thankfully oblivious to the obvious nature of her escapes. Unlike Erasmus, he wasn't looking for anything out of the ordinary, which made her life a bit easier.

She didn't have to tiptoe around so many obstacles to pull of a con. Life was easier when she could flash a wink and a smile to bypass someone's guard. She was a con first, a merchant second, but now she was reevaluating her potential into the merchant business. It sounded less stressful than having the world's most nosy prince joining her for the day when she just wanted to be left alone to continue with her stealing.

What could possibly make her day worse?

"Be sure to clean yourself up, Princess. You'll be meeting with House Thorp for a scheduled lunch."

Ah yes, that.

JoJo and Charlie (and Erasmus, again) stood before Ortwin as he went over her duties for the day. Nathaniel and Ivone were on standby. JoJo wasn't sure where Erasmus' knights ran off to, though the fact they left their prince alone either means they're horribly irresponsible or were decorations that paraded around the cat. After interacting with the Vaporeon, she was willing to believe both.

More meetings with nobles to wish their sincerest thanks for her safe return and more fancy talk the shapeshifter couldn't be bothered to translate into regular English. Something, something, the poor are inferior or whatever. She was sure that's what they said.

Charlie was the more enthusiastic of the pair as he saluted. "Yes sir, Mr. Ortwin, sir! I'm looking forward to the lunch."

Erasmus smiled to himself and laughed. "I do hope my inclusion will not disrupt your schedule, Mr. Vetzer. I just want to make sure the nobles do not put too much pressure on dear Melissa."

The elderly Noivern shook his head. "Nonsense. I'm sure they will appreciate having another prince in their company."

Charlie laughed. "They probably want to look extra snooty to impress you."

Erasmus flicked a few stray furs back with a smug grin. "I cannot blame them. I do carry a certain charm. Many nobles back home would knock on our castle doors into the dead of night seeking an audience with me. The Verde Kingdom have their priorities straight if they wish to see me."

JoJo rolled her eyes. The fact Adenine and this guy dated ASTOUNDS me.

Ortwin leaned on his cane. "The lunch will begin in a couple hours. Best to freshen up now. A carriage will be waiting for you at noon sharp."

JoJo suppressed a groan and smiled. "Thank you very much, Ortwin. I look forward to meeting with House Thorn."

"Thorp," Erasmus corrected.

"Thumb, right. Got it."

Ortwin nodded. "Very good. I have some business to attend to. Your father picked a poor time to leave me with the paperwork." He hobbled out of the foyer.

Nathaniel and Ivone bowed to the princes and princess. "Shall we escort you back to your chambers?" Nathaniel asked.

JoJo forced a smile. "Surrrre." The knights nodded and led the trio up the stairs. Charlie happily scuttled behind them while JoJo and Erasmus lagged behind.

Erasmus glanced at the faux princess, taking note of her irritated expression. "You do not fancy lunch parties, Princess?"

She laughed bitterly. "I can only handle listening to some stuck-up suit talk about himself for so long. I have a lot more interesting things to say than whatever politics they try to bore me with."

Erasmus raised his brow. "You do realize a lot of the noble houses oversee maintaining sections of your kingdom, right? Those politics that bore you are rather important."

JoJo waved them off. "Eh, Charlie is the one becoming king, so it does not matter to me."

"Lost the will to take the throne, Melissa?"

Her eyes widened. "Uh, well, I simply wish to give my dear adopted brother the chance he deserves to stretch his…tentacles and what not."

"Hmm." Erasmus gleamed ahead. "You have become more vocal since we last spoke. It usually takes a more emotional outburst to get you this talkative."

She grimaced. "It has been a long year."

"Indeed. Though, it is good to see you recovering apace, even if you are a tad grumpier than before."

She pouted. "Who you calling grumpy?"

He laughed behind his paw. "Oh, my apologies. It…just reminds me of Dimitri. He acts quite similarly when it comes to the throne." He turned his head away, hiding his frown. "It has been hard."

JoJo softened up. "Huh, right. Uh, how is he doing?"

"Our physician stabilized his condition. We are still looking into a cure for the poison."

JoJo shielded her face to hide her wincing. She recalled hearing about how the Wraith worked. Dimitri may have been stabilized, but he was on a countdown now. For how long, they couldn't say. Sooner or later, the crystalized poison will release and force a heart attack on him before releasing more of the poison out from his body.

Sure hope Shade and the Freias come up with a cure soon. JoJo frowned. Actually, Shade should be in the capital right now working with them. Maybe I can find some time to swing by and check on their progress.

"Siblings can take a lot out of you, you know."

JoJo shook out of her thoughts. "Eh, what?"

Erasmus chuckled. "My brothers and I were closer as children, but expectations of the throne drove us apart. But no matter what, we still love each other. I am…happy to have rekindled some of my relationship with my brother. Dimitri would make a fine king in my place. He has the right experience. He just needs the right ambition."

"…" JoJo sighed to herself. "I wouldn't put much stock into it. Family can be nothing but trouble. Especially when they don't have any faith in you."

Erasmus frowned. "Still have poor relations with your father?"

"…" She closed her eyes. "Yeah, something like that."

Even on his day offs, Matthias never stopped working. Sequestered away in his private training room, he worked on his exercises dressed only in a set of plain clothes. He performed vertical pushups while balancing weights on his feet. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his flame crest flickered from exhaustion. His muscles seethed through the pain, but endured the labor.

Matthias took a moment to steady his breathing before lifting his right arm and tucking it behind his back. Balanced on only one arm, he continued apace with his pushups.

A knock sounded off the door. Not breaking his concentration, he huffed a firm, "Enter."

The door opened, and Gaufroi let himself in. The Ursaring was out of his armor, wearing a red tunic and plain trousers. "Sir Matthias," he greeted, shutting the door behind him.

"Sir…Gaufroi. A pleasure," Matthias said in-between breaths. "Am I needed somewhere?"

"None of the sort. I came by to see you." He looked around the training room and whistled. "So, this is how you spend your day offs."

"One must keep their body and mind in peak condition. That is how I can protect my kingdom."

Gaufroi nodded. "A sound reason. I, too, use every opportunity available to keep my strength up." He flexed his claws and tightened them into a fist. "I've been told by my peers to retire due to my age, but I have a duty to this kingdom even if it costs me my bones and mobility. I must work twice as hard to stay in shape."

Matthias grunted. "You came here to work out, didn't you?"

"I normally train alone, but since the prince instructed my subordinate and I to take it easy during our visit…"

"Heh. Your charge is far too lax to roam around freely."

Gaufroi smirked to himself. "Prince Talbot was infamous for sneaking off into the city. I was the only one who could keep up with him and had the patience to do so. Besides, he will be joining Prince and Princess Penworth for a lunch today, so he'll be in good hands."

Matthias took a deep breath and threw the weights to the ground with a hard thud. He flipped back onto his feet and stretched his arms. "I suppose I can put you through the wringer, old man. Don't expect me to take it easy on you."

"Heh. I would appreciate the challenge, Black Knight."

"But first…" Matthias sat down, crossed his legs together, and lay his clasped hands in his lap. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "After the workout of the body comes the workout of the mind."

Gaufroi sat down next to the Infernape and mirrored his form. "Meditation. From the rumors about you, it doesn't sound like your style."

"I learn to channel my rage for a singular purpose. I've been incorporating these exercises into my workouts for over a decade."

Gaufroi narrowed his eyes. "Your discipline is astounding, Sir Matthias."

"Hmm." Matthias narrowed his closed eyes. "If we're speaking of my reputation, yours holds considerable weight through experience alone. Gaufroi the Ruthless, they call you. A man of such dignified composure doesn't quite match that description."

"I am a different man on the battlefield. Like you, my only objective is protecting the kingdom and the royal family. Death itself will not claim me until the deed is done."

"…" Matthias sighed. "There was a time where the Verde and Senbo Kingdoms waged war in mini skirmishes. I was a child back in those days. Naïve. Optimistic. Hopeful."

"Have you ever been to war, Sir Matthias?"

"Not officially. I haven't seen the battlefield up close, though I have heard stories from my father."

"Consider yourself lucky. War changes you. It's not an experience you'll forget." Gaufroi sighed. "I've had to block out memories of the atrocities I committed to protect my kingdom in our time of isolation. The ones I do remember were the ones that changed me."

"…" Matthias shook his head. "I'll destroy anyone who threatens the Verde Kingdom. Before a war ever breaks out."

"If only it were so simple. You may be the head knight of your kingdom, but you're still green. I do hope you'll never have to experience war personally. Rarely does one start where it doesn't end in tragedy for someone."

Matthias briefly opened his eyes to glare at the floor. A brief memory of his rookie years under his former master flashed before his mind. He recalled the dismal state his master brought himself into whenever he told his own stories of war, especially after his return from the ruins three decades ago.

"I'll keep your words close in mind, Sir Gaufroi."

"Doo-doo-doo-doo, exploring the city on my day off~," Rikmai sang to herself, strolling through the streets with a long-sleeved white shirt and blue skirt hanging an inch off the ground. She held a map in her paw, following the street to her intended destination.

With Erasmus giving her and Gaufroi the day off to enjoy the city, she already had her sights set on one location: the local forge. A magnificent structure of flame and molten metal joining as one, the ringing of hammers striking down on their creations until they sparkle with flawless splendor, the rattling of chains as they plunge their creations into the hottest pits of magma until it's set aglow in glorious orange light.

…Or at least that's what she imagined working in a forge was like. Exciting stuff like that.

She turned the corner off the street and gazed ahead. To her delight, her destination stood stationed between two larger stone buildings. The forge was an open brick building, giving all who pass by a glance into the blacksmiths working diligently inside. She could see the open furnace burning in the back while the blacksmiths struck their hammers down on anvils and the superheated metal sitting atop.

"Yes!" She tucked her map away and clasped her paws over her heart. "I'll learn everything I can about blacksmithing, and my beloved Tank will be so impressed that he'll make me his wife! Haha!" With a skip in her step, she bounded over to the forge.

A Darmanitan blacksmith finished striking his latest project, which Rikmai recognized as a standard issue sword for the Verde Knights. She supposed they got a lot of business fixing up equipment for the knights. For such a small forge, they must've been dedicated craftsman.

The perfect teachers!

The Darmanitan wiped his brow and turned to the Camerupt and Solrock in the back. The Camerupt was keeping the furnace burning by shooting out some lava from his humps while the Solrock psychically mended a dented shielded that was partially heated. "I swear, those knights keep breaking weapons in training more than actual combat. I'm surprised none of the squires poked their eyes out yet."

The Camerupt smirked. "Or maybe you're losing your touch, Mason. A shoddy weapon can only be blamed on the craftsman."

He rolled his eyes. "I don't see you picking up a hammer."

"Uh, hello. No thumbs." He raised his hooves for emphasis. "Or hands."

"Maybe you're just not producing enough heat for the furnace."

"Wah! I am appalled. My mother told me I'm the hottest Camerupt in the family!"

Solrock snickered. "Pretty sure all mothers say that about their sons."

"I meant it literally and you know that!"

"Oh, I know. Your looks aren't your best feature."

"Why you—" The Camerupt flailed his hooves at the floating sun rock, who floated higher into the ceiling and laughed.

Mason groaned. "Maybe it's time to go on a lunch break."

"Salutations, good blacksmiths of Verde!" Mason and the two blacksmiths, who ceased their quarreling, turned to Rikmai as she approached the forge. She curtsied to them. "I am in need of your assistance on this fine day!"

Mason stepped out of his chair and approached. "Eh, we were about to get lunch. You can place an order for us in an hour, and we'll have it finished for you in a week."

Rikmai laughed. "Oh, I am not here for a sword or anything."

Mason raised his brow. "Pardon?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rikmai of House Kruger, and I seek the expertise of refined blacksmiths such as yourselves for a different kind of request of mine."

Mason scratched his head, still confused. "House Kruger? Never heard of them."

"Oh, wait!" The Camerupt carefully maneuvered around their workstations and joined his side. "I've heard of them. It's a noble house in the Senbo Kingdom. My cousin had the hots for this one Flareon chick from that house, but he got turned down." He scratched his chin. "Probably because he trespassed on their property by mistake."

Rikmai laughed. "Yep, sounds like one of my sisters!"

"I see," Mason mumbled. "And what does a Senbo noblewoman need from us? Don't you have blacksmiths in your kingdom?"

"Of course we do, but I am here on important business for the prince, and I've been given permission to explore the city. I figured I could use my time here to elevate my skills in fields outside my current profession." She bowed her head to them. "I wish to be taken on as your blacksmith apprentice."

Mason's eyes widened. "An apprentice? Wha—"

"Glad you asked!" Rikmai spun around and clasped her paws together. "You see, the stars aligned for me weeks ago when I crossed paths with my soulmate. I saw the red string of fate tied between us, and I knew I had to do everything I could to get closer to him. That is why I wish to learn the blacksmithing trade to—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down, lady," he interrupted. "Uh, look, we're flattered you came all the way here to seek training from us, but this isn't exactly…well, have you given much thought into this?"

She turned back around and frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know how you do things in the Senbo Kingdom, but women around here don't jump at the chance to work in a hot stove until nightfall. Believe me, there's a reason we only have three walls up. Besides, you don't look like you actually want to learn this trade."

Solrock floated over. "If you want to impress this soulmate of yours so much, you could just ask him to join you for lunch. That's how I met my partner."

Rikmai nervously laughed, pressing her digits together. "Well, I haven't really…talked to him that much. Or know where he is." Not a total lie, but better to keep the part about him being a Forester to herself.

Mason pinched between his eyes. "Lady, I can't be bothered to teach someone who's probably just doing this on a whim. Maybe you should try up a different hobby like…I don't know, knitting? Croquet? Cooking?"

Rikmai pouted. "Hey now, if you think I can't handle it, just try me." She puffed her chest out proudly. "After all, I'm also a knight of the Senbo Kingdom."

"A-A knight?!" Mason gasped.

Solrock chuckled. "Riiiiight, I forgot the Senbo Kingdom allowed women to join the knights. Heh, they've been doing it longer than us when we let that Snivy join."

Rikmai stamped the ground. "And I am serious about learning to become a blacksmith. After all, when my beloved soulmate and I reunite, he'll want me to be by his side running our own forge together!"

"This lady's delusional," Mason muttered.

Camerupt nudged his side. "Ah, come on, give her a chance. If she puts in the effort, there's no harm. Besides, it's a slow day, and we're almost done with our orders for the day."

"You can't be serious."

Solrock floated over the Darmanitan and added, "You never know. A Vaporeon might make for a unique blacksmith. I've seen some interesting techniques from Water-Types before. I say we give her a few lessons and see if it works out or not."

Mason wanted to protest, but he found himself staring back at Rikmai with her paws clasped together and her eyes shimmering with hope. He felt pressured enough with his two buddies goading him into it, but this was the last thing he needed to deal with.

He slapped himself in the face and groaned. "Alright, alright, cut it out. Rikmai, was it?"

She saluted. "Yes sir!"

"We're going out for lunch. If you give us an hour, we'll give you a crash course into the trade. If it goes well, I'll…consider extending the lessons."

She grinned. "Thank you very much, Mr. Blacksmith! I'll be the best apprentice you've ever seen!" She turned away and skipped down the street, cheering, "Going to impress my beloved Tank~. Forging fire and metal, woo, thanks~!"

Mason massaged his forehead. "That lady has her head deep in the clouds…"

House Thorp

JoJo held her tense smile as she entered the luxurious home with Erasmus and Charlie. The servants guided them to the dining table, taking their places on one side with JoJo at the end. On the other end of the table were a Crobat wearing a tiny suit and bowtie and a Swellow in a mint green dress.

As the servants set out the plates, Lord Thorp raised his wings and said, "Welcome, Prince and Princess Penworth. And a fine day to you as well, Prince Talbot. Thank you for accepting our most generous invitation. May the meals be to your delight."

JoJo laughed through gritted teeth. "And a fine day to you, Lord and Lady Thump."

"Thorp," Charlie whispered.

"Whatever."

Lady Thorp picked up her wine glass with her talons as a Musharna servant floated by, pouring red wine into her glass. "We are ever so grateful for your safe return, Princess. Know that we of House Thorp were devastated by your disappearance and devoted our resources to the cause."

"Eeeeeh?" JoJo muttered.

Charlie leaned over and whispered, "House Thorp helps fund the aerial knighthood."

"…" She deadpanned. Why does he know this stuff better than me? She forced a grin. "Oh, I do hope my disappearance was not cause for any financial trouble."

"Hmph! Nonsense! No expense is too great." The lady shook her head. "Alas, not even our best could find those dreadful bandits. For too long, they've resided in that forest without any repercussions for their actions. It is almost embarrassing the Verde knights have failed to locate them."

JoJo smirked behind her hand. Well, can't be helped. Y'all suck, I guess.

Lord Thorp nodded. "Indeed, my lady. That is why House Thorp wishes to extend its resources further into flushing out these scum. King Penworth rejected our plans due to the threat of danger on the city, but recent events have shown action needs to be taken. The Foresters have already proven they will cross lines."

Lady Thorp shuddered. "Truly dreadful!"

JoJo frowned. "Wait a minute, I thought this lunch was just to discuss business for the city."

"This is business, just not for the development of the city. More so ensuring development from any unlawful types."

Lord Thorp nodded. "Princess Penworth, you have seen these monsters with your own eyes. They stand accused of attempted assassination against another royal, and that of Prince Talbot's own brother."

"…" Erasmus narrowed his eyes.

"Not to mention the rumors of kidnapping and torturing other criminals. While I hold no sympathy for them either, how long until they extend these crimes to the people? Have you heard the rumors that one of their recent captives died?"

JoJo attempted to keep her composure, though she was wincing inside. Hollow Otis.

"All their other captives mysteriously turn up days later after their disappearance, but this one has been gone for nearly two months. They were bold enough to kidnap you, Your Highness. How long until they get bolder and try again?"

JoJo narrowed her eyes. "What are you proposing exactly?"

"A simple procedure," Lady Thorp said. "Wiping out the Forbidden Forest."

"W-What?"

Charlie raised his hand. "The Forbidden Forest's trees are said to be super dense and packed with lots of energy. They would be really, really hard to cut down."

"Uh, yeah. What my little bro said," JoJo mumbled.

Lord Thorp nodded. "We are developing means around that. We have suggested sending the aerial knighthood to dump a toxic compound over the forest, away from main road naturally. It'll kill off some of the trees and make it easier to find the Foresters. Even better, it may even neutralize them."

Lady Thorp nodded, taking a sip from her glass. "Your father prohibited the idea due to the potential risks of poison reaching back into the kingdom, but we've taken the necessary steps to prevent such a possibility."

JoJo glared. "Still…"

Lord Thorp glared. "Your Highness, the Foresters are dangerous, and the kingdom already has enough troubles hanging over its head. I don't suppose you've heard the rumors about New Chariot."

"I have heard plenty," she grumbled.

"Then you must know the threat of war is over the horizon. People are in fear of war reaching out into the west. Any small hope of quelling their nerves would do wonders. Some are even speculating the Foresters are secretly spies from New Chariot, hence why they target the west. They dismantled the Senbo-Wick train system weeks ago and caused a ruckus. If they continue to operate unimpeded, they'll only bring more destruction."

"I…suppose, but…" Any argument JoJo could conjure led to the possibility of outing herself. From the perspective of everyone outside the Foresters, they were a violent bandit group turning to kidnapping and murdering anyone of interest. In any other circumstance, JoJo would agree to just killing them off because that's the only information she'd have to go off of.

Except she knows the Foresters.

"The thing is, I…" JoJo scratched her cheek, wincing as she felt her fur melting back into ooze. She covered it behind her hand. "Well, you see—"

"Lord and Lady Thorp." Thankfully, Erasmus came to her rescue. He picked up his own wine glass and swirled the wine inside. "I ask you refrain from stressing the princess out. She had a long, eventful year and may not feel inclined to answer these questions. Besides, if the king declined your request, it was probably for a good reason."

Lord Thorp glared. "Your Highness, we strongly believe—"

"He's right!" Charlie exclaimed. "Mr. Fletcher said he doesn't want to risk harming the kingdom. The poison could do more than kill the trees. It could have irrava…" He pouted. "Irraverable…irra…irreversible consequences!"

Erasmus nodded. "Like tainting the ground underneath the kingdom and ruining your drinking water by leaking into the underground pipe systems you draw from."

The nobles winced. "O-Oh. We…never considered that," Lady Thorp mumbled.

"Besides, the Verde Kingdom made its name because of this forest. It serves as a natural defense. Between its impenetrable hide and the seclusion of the kingdom deep within, ruining those defenses would only open yourselves up to war."

Lord Thorp massaged his wing meekly. "I…suppose you make a point."

Erasmus sighed. "A good leader must be able to see all the angles. Some risks are not worth sacrificing the people and their livelihood. We must set better examples."

"Even still, the Foresters—"

"As of now, they are a non-threat, or at least for the Senbo Kingdom." Erasmus glared. "Despite allegations, they were not the ones who initiated damage to the train system. If anything, they saved many lives by stopping the train after it ran amuck. I have my knights as witnesses for this. As for as the attempted assassination on my brother, the issue is being investigated as we speak, and I have matured from my previous outburst. I wish for them to be captured, but for interrogation. I want a fair trial."

The Thorps frowned. "But what of the rumors—"

"Rest assured, they will be tried for their crimes. This is merely the logical course of action."

JoJo stared at him in awe. Wow. He's handling this like a champ. Then again, I'm used to conning country folk and city slickers, so I'm out of my element.

Erasmus crossed his forelegs. "If I were to speak my personal opinion of the Foresters, they are rowdy criminals acting of their own volition to commit these crimes. However, I have heard statements of them helping poorer villages who have been struggling under the recent taxes brought on by your king."

Lord Thorp winced. "Taxes are necessary for maintaining—"

"I am well aware of the importance of taxes. They are a necessary evil for a functioning society." Erasmus glared. "However, based off what little I have observed, it is to the detriment of villages who do not have a dominant noble house overseeing the upkeep. Do you pay taxes?"

"W-Well, of course we do! Our money goes directly to upkeeping the capital."

"So why do the other villages have to live in squaller? Where is all that tax money going to for them?"

JoJo glared to herself. Come to think of it, Jason wanted me to look into what Roscoe's been using the money for. I wonder if he has a ledger hidden somewhere.

"If war does break out, those villages will be the first to go," Erasmus continued. "And I bet the Foresters will be the first to respond to it. Regardless of their actions, they seek to help those in need. In fact, I do not blame them for these underhanded tactics just to keep the lesser class alive."

"…" Lord and Lady Thorp looked away shamefully.

"If you truly want to do good for this kingdom, perhaps use your resources for something other than poison. I guarantee helping the villages will have substantial benefits for the capital as a whole. You only need to be creative with how you approach the matter."

"…And what do you propose we should do?" Lord Thorp asked hesitantly.

Erasmus placed his paw over his heart. "The Senbo Kingdom believes in nurturing the talents of all its subjects. That is why we distribute learning material for free. Everyone is capable of learning if they have the correct resources. Perhaps you could help give education to the villages who lack it, or utilize the funds to the aerial knighthood to observe the villages from the skies. If the threat of war is on everyone's minds, they may feel safer knowing they will have someone watching over them from the skies above."

Lord Thorp scratched his chin in thought. "I…suppose we could do that. Uh, if that is alright with you, Your Highness."

Realizing they were talking to her, JoJo perked up. "Oh, uh…sure? Yeah, what Talbot said."

Erasmus sipped his glass and sighed. "Perhaps we can extend this lunch to go over the finer details. I am sure the princess will happily tell you all she knows about the state of the villages."

She grimaced. Good grief, not even Melissa knew how bad everything outside the capital was. Why would I know?! Ugh, this is going to be a long afternoon.

Blackfire Training Hall

Matthias and Gaufroi took part in the former's workout routine, consisting of balancing over active pyres while supporting weights to sparring against a rotating training dummy. Next, they were practicing their punches with their arms strapped to rope that threaded through the wall. According to Matthias, heavy counterweights sat inside weighing over two-hundred and fifty kilograms each.

Their fists flowed like the wind, repeating the motion over and over for two hundred rotations for each fist. Their arms burned, feeling the strain of the counterweights pulling back on their arms. The weights clattered against the inside of the walls with each punch, ringing out like a church bell.

Once they finished with the exercises, they pulled the bands off and let them snap back into the wall with the weights crashing down into their internal resting area. Matthias massaged his wrists as he walked over to a bench and grabbed his canteen. He poured the water into his mouth before tossing it over to Gaufroi.

"Got to admit, kind of nice to have someone who can keep up with me," Matthias commented.

Gaufroi poured himself some water and threw the canteen back to him. "Same. My squires couldn't keep up with my daily exercises. Had to tone them down for their sake."

"Heh. Rookies." Matthias sat down to catch his breath. "They march in all bright-eyed, expecting to become heroes for their kingdom, then they get a dose of reality when the mentorships start."

"What was it like training your own squires?"

Matthias pressed his fist to his cheek and sighed. "Menial. I've only ever had four. Jakke's got incredible firepower and can be a menace in armed combat, but he needs to work on his bravery. Nathaniel has the undying optimism for his work, but he puts himself in too much danger for his comrades. Ivone's strong and diligent in execution and carries out orders down to the letter. He was probably my best squire."

"What of Lady Freia?"

"…" He laughed quietly. "Definitely my worst."

"Hmph." Gaufroi leaned against the wall. "The Verde and Senbo Kingdoms differ with who they recruit. Your kingdom still holds to the traditional roles for men and women. Why did you choose her?"

"Because I knew she was going to be my worst student."

"I don't follow."

"Freia had the attitude for the role, but she possessed every disadvantage compared to her peers. Small, frail, light, could be punted across the city like a ball." He closed his eyes. "Every little thing her instructor perceived her as. But who am I to deny someone who wants to get stronger?"

"You accepted her because she just needed a firm hand to guide her."

"I knew no one was going to take her seriously, so I gave her the worst of my training. I had every intention to break her piece by piece, to make her life a living hell." He smirked. "If she can survive all of that, then there's no reason to keep her from taking up the shield for her kingdom."

Gaufroi crossed his arms. "Fascinating. You wanted to prove without a shadow of doubt she can handle the position."

"And to give her a reality check of what this job entails." Matthias glared off to the side. "I may not partaken in war, but I learned the horrors of it through my father. And my grandfather. The Blackfire Clan has been serving the Verde Kingdom since its founding. And it will continue to do so until it falls."

"Then who continues the tradition after you?"

Matthias sighed. "I don't plan on having children. When I reach retirement, I plan to pass on the secrets to a worthy successor. You don't have to be from the Blackfire Clan to know the secrets. It can only be learned by a trusted successor."

"That sounds like the teachings of the Arcania Kingdom."

"Perhaps that's where we got it from."

"Hmm." Gaufroi closed his eyes for a moment before sighing. "You remind me of a man I met during a territory dispute many years ago. An Infernape clad in black armor that wielded flames that looked as if they were pulled from the night sky."

"…You fought my father."

"A brief scuffle. I bested him in combat, but we had no grounds for bloodshed. It was merely a matter of protecting our land. He fought well. I still have the burns on my side. You'd be surprised how many warriors I've faced when the Senbo Kingdom stayed in isolation."

Matthias glared at the floor. "Makes you wonder."

"About what?"

"About how many strong foes exist outside these walls. Despite my strength, I fear it'll wane at an inopportune time. In a moment of weakness, I will fail my kingdom and my sacred duty to the Penworth family. That's why I have to keep my mind sharp and my body unyielding. It's all I have left to give me purpose."

Gaufroi stared at the Infernape with a sympathetic glare. "You're a good man, Sir Matthias, but…sometimes duty isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"What makes you say that?"

He sighed. "I used to be like you. Dead set and focused on my mission that it's all the matters in the end. That ruthless nature everyone attributes to me was from a time I've come to regret about myself. I've done more than my fair share of protecting Senbo, but in exchange of pushing away the things that mattered."

Matthias straightened up. "Hmm?"

"I used to be married a long time ago. My wife and I, we met when I was in training. She was a former maid. I would sometimes sneak off from training to go out with her, and even bribed some friends of mine to take my shift. She would talk about whatever book fancied her that week, and I would tell her stories of my training to make her laugh. We eventually got married, and we planned to have a kid."

"Hmm…"

"I…ended up being put in charge of a team during the reign of Last Autumn as well as fending off invading forces from New Chariot. Those days were hectic. I lost many good friends in those battles. I watched them die on the battlefield. I had to block out all my grief and keep fighting. For the first time in my life, I knew what war was. I was covered in broken armor and soaked in blood when the battle turned back into our favor. Several long, grueling months of combat thinking today may be the last you'll wake up.

"When I returned from war, all I wanted was to see my wife and our child." Gaufroi closed his eyes. "Our child never hatched from his egg."

"Oh. I…I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "She had the egg prematurely. The doctors tried everything to keep it alive, but…it wasn't meant to be. I tried to console her, but I was still shaken from war. All I could remember was the fighting. It…led to some arguments. Stress. Things I said I'm not proud of. We just…decided we needed time apart. And that time apart led to our separation."

Matthias frowned. "Sir Gaufroi…"

"We got back into contact about a decade ago once I fully settled into my role as the prince's guard. We're on better terms, though we've agreed to stay separated. We didn't want to draw up bad memories."

"You've…lived a complicated life, Sir Gaufroi."

"That's one way of putting it." He sighed through his nose and glared at the black knight. "Matthias, if there's one piece of advice you should take away from this old relic, enjoy life while you can. This job isn't easy, and any day could be our last. Always let those in your life remember that you appreciate them. In the end, we're all Pokémon. No matter how hardened our bodies become, our souls will still yearn for that connection with others."

"…" Matthias nodded slowly. "As with your previous advice, I shall take it to heart. I am sorry for everything you've gone through."

"And I am sorry for your own loss. I hope you'll one day make peace with it."

"…" He clasped his hands together and glared down at the floor. "Make peace. That's asking for a lot."

Verde Forge

Rikmai, wearing a protective work apron over her clothes, kept her distance as she watched Mason go through the basic procedures of their job. Based on the specifications of an order and how they want it made, they would dig through a collection of metal that have laying around (typically broken blades and the like) and melting them down to reforge into new shapes. It seemed simple at a glance, but…

"Anything you build has a chance to be riddled with flaws if you don't think ahead," Mason explained as he turned a crank and pressed it down on a block of hot metal. "Sometimes a client wants a thin blade, sometimes they want a thicker one. Sometimes you need to make complex shapes, too."

"We have stone molds for that," Solrock commented as they psychically shaped the metal wagon wheel. "We can get the metal hot enough to turn into liquid. Takes a while, but easier than hammering it out."

"I prefer to shape everything by hand," Mason said. "There's a special care that goes into these builds that requires that personal touch."

Camerupt rolled his eyes as he shot another glob of lava into the furnace. "Well, some of us don't have a choice with the molds."

"If you complain about having hooves one more time, I'll—"

"This is all so fascinating," Rikmai interrupted, staring in awe as Mason flattened out the hot metal. "You do this every day?"

"It's a living." Mason pulled the slab of metal out, inspected it, and brought it over to his anvil. He grabbed his hammer and started pounding down the imperfections. "It can be a process. Sometimes little imperfections inside the blade go unnoticed, which can damper a blade's effectiveness at the worst time. Some blacksmiths get by doing the bare minimum and not checking for this sort of stuff, but I'm something of a perfectionist."

"So, how do you shape the imperfections out of the edges?"

"Heh. I'm too much of a brute for that. I either use a machine, or I just have Emerson do it."

"Delicacy is my specialty," the Solrock chirped.

Rikmai nodded. "I see. So, you've learned to use your moves to simplify the work. Impressive." She grinned. "Is that why you think I have potential?"

"Never said that." Mason raised his brow at her. "However, yes, you do have some potential. How good are you at controlling your body in a liquid state?"

"I'm practically a master at it."

"Well, water is pretty good at eroding objects over time. You could learn how to grind down the imperfections in a sword better than anyone I know, and probably faster. If you have good precision, you could do it on your first try. Water has more cutting power than most realize."

Rikmai tapped her chin. "Hmm, if I were to use Iron Tail with my Aqua Tail, I could spin the sword around and precisely grind down these imperfections."

"Exactly. We'll try something like that with the scrap metal we have laying around."

She laughed. "This is so amazing! My beloved Tank will be so surprised by my skills the next time we cross paths." She clasped her paws together and sighed. "I can already envision our next meeting. It'll be just like my dreams, with me emerging out of the water like a sea goddess and him approaching me, asking for my paw in marriage—"

"Lady, are you sure you haven't spoken to this guy?" Camerupt asked.

She waved it off. "I mean, we did speak before. Just, you know, not on a friend-to-friend basis. More like a business exchange…on a runaway train," she mumbled under her breath. "But I need to make a point to my friend that I'm serious about this relationship!"

"By learning how to become a blacksmith?" Mason asked.

"Well, sure. Why not?"

"How come you didn't think to do this back home?"

She laughed nervously. "Well, the thing is, I didn't want my mother finding out. It took a lot of convincing for her to let me join the knights. She would probably flip out if she saw me becoming a blacksmith for…similar reasons."

Mason pinched his nose and groaned. "This is why I stay out of noble business."

"Yeah, I admit, it wasn't the best reason to become a knight. Still, I actually enjoy the work I put into it, and I learned a lot under my captain." She grinned. "But I know this'll be my ticket to Tank's heart!"

Mason shook his head. "But are you serious about this? It may take a lot of hard work to get the hang of it."

She saluted. "I want to do this. I've never been more sure about anything in my life."

"Alright, but you better promise me something."

"Yeah?"

He tapped her on the forehead. "If you're going to do this for love, I want you to do this for an appreciation of the craft, too. If you want to learn, I expect you to take pride in your work. We're going to turn you into an amateur blacksmith before you know it, and soon…perhaps you'll be able to outshine me."

She grinned. "I promise, sir!"

"Good. Let's see how good you are with that Aqua Tail of yours. Grab some scrap metal to practice on."

"Aye!" She raced over to the corner.

Emerson floated over to Mason and chuckled quietly. "I think you're already warming up to her."

He rolled his eyes. "We'll see. If she means what she said, it'll be worth the effort. Frazier, pour on the heat!"

"Aye!" The Camerupt shot another ball of lava into the furnace, sending heat throughout the open forge.

"The sooner we get our work done, the sooner we teach the lass how to become a true blacksmith!"

Castle Penworth

"Ugh…" As soon as they returned from lunch, JoJo stepped into the foyer before faceplanting onto the floor in exhaustion. "Two…hours. So boring."

Erasmus and Charlie followed behind her along with Nathaniel and Ivone. Nathaniel reached down and pulled her back on her feet. "Are you okay, Your Highness?"

"Nnnnoooo…"

Erasmus bowed. "My apologies if I overstepped my boundaries, Melissa. They were quite keen on hearing my input, and you made no objections otherwise."

She straightened up and waved it off. "Whatever. It is fine. I just want to crawl back into my bed until dinner is ready."

Charlie scuttled up and grabbed her hand. "Can we play first? I want to spend time with you, Big Sis."

She smiled apologetically. "Eh, I really need to get some sleep, little buddy." She flinched as goop formed down her back. "A-After all, a good leader must always be well rested and bright-eyed to tackle the day!"

Charlie's eyes sparkled. "So wise!"

Erasmus smiled. "I will entertain him for you, Melissa. Go get some sleep."

"Thanks…" JoJo dragged her feet and made her way up the stairs with Nathaniel escorting her.

Ivone lifted his wing and asked, "Shall we move the festivities to the dining hall? Perhaps Gustavo will prepare you a snack."

"Snacks! Woo!" Charlie hurriedly scuttled to the dining hall with the Corviknight tailing behind.

Erasmus chuckled to himself and began to follow. He stopped briefly, casting a subtle glare up the stairs as Melissa stepped out of sight. He held his stare for a moment before continuing onward.

Something is definitely wrong with her. She seems rather forgetful lately, or unsure. The way she carries herself, and the little bits of frustration she shows. It is not unlike her to get heated, that I know, but she usually hides it better. I figured I would test her patience by extending a paw to aid House Thorp. She was desperate to leave, nodding off whenever I take my eyes off her. A stark difference to the bright-eyed, optimistic leader I met.

His glare sharpened as the pieces formed in front of him.

Either she has changed during captivity…or that is not truly Melissa.

"This is a game my friends and I played whenever we were bored," Charlie explained, sliding over a large wine glass to Erasmus across the table. He picked up a small bouncy ball. "You need to make the coolest throw into the cup. Whoever gets the most points wins."

Erasmus inspected his glass and smiled. "A remarkable and simple game. And how does one earn points?"

"Points are determined by cool factor!"

"Vague, but acceptable." He set his glass down and gestured to the child. "Very well. Show me how it is done."

Peeking through the kitchen doors, Gustavo watched them while biting on his fingers nervously. "Oh, please be careful with my wine glasses," he mumbled.

Charlie raised the ball over his head. "And…GO!" He slammed the ball down and sent it sailing into the air.

Its height was enormous, but made little distance as it came back down on the table. It bounced a few more times, losing height with each advance, before finally rolling to a stop against Erasmus' glass.

"Woo! Ten points!" Charlie cheered.

Erasmus picked the ball up and chuckled. "You did not get it in the glass."

"But it looked cool!"

"Yes, it did look cool. Alright, I understand the objective." He spun the ball on his paw. His eyes flickered around the room, taking in his surroundings. "Coolest throw, huh?" He tossed the ball lightly and smacked it over his shoulder.

It bounced once off the floor, ricocheted off the wall, and flew over his over his head. It bounced past the wine glass, causing it to shake and Gustavo to nearly pass out from the shock.

"Whoooooa!" Charlie awed. "That was a cool throw! At least fifteen points!"

Erasmus bowed. "I am flattered."

Ivone picked up the ball and tossed it over to Charlie. "Don't go too easy on our guest, Your Highness," he said with a slight grin.

"I won't!" Charlie held the ball in front of his face, lining up his shot.

As he waited for the Clobbopus to the throw, Erasmus folded his paws under his chin and leaned forward on the table. "Charlie, do you and Melissa get along?"

"Hmm? Yeah! She's the best big sister ever!"

"You have only known her for a few weeks."

"But she's really nice, and she plays games with me, too. She helped me with my homework." He pouted. "I'm still learning how to read and write, but she's very patient with me. She says if I become king, I'll make everyone's hopes and dreams come true."

Erasmus smirked. "Is that right? She must have a lot of confidence in you."

"Uh huh!"

"Heh. I met her last year myself, and I agree with your sentiments. She is a wonderful person who sees the best in others, so I am glad she treats you well. It must be frighteningly being taken into a strange place and expected to rule an entire kingdom."

Charlie looked away. "It is kind of scary. The adults keep muttering about wars and stuff. Why do people go to war?"

The innocent question made him frown. For someone so young, it must be rough trying to comprehend the stresses of the adult world. Erasmus was a precocious child at Charlie's age. He took to concepts like war and death fairly early in his life, and they weren't pleasant subjects to think about at that age. Thinking back to his brother and his previous declaration of war, it was a scary mindset to adopt.

"War…is complicated. We Pokémon are creatures of habit, and sometimes we act out of our base emotions. We may want something someone else has, or we may simply hate someone so badly that we would want bad things to happen to them. No one wants war because it brings harm, but sometimes people see it as necessary."

"But it makes everyone feel bad."

Erasmus sighed. "For your sake, I hope you never have to experience war, Charlie. It is a harsh world you cannot turn back from once you go down that road."

"Why can't people just be happy together?"

"…" The prince sighed and shook his head. "I do not know. I just do not know."

"Oh." Charlie rolled the ball between his hands, feeling awkward by the mood shift. He brightened up with a change of subjects. "Well, my future kingdom will be one where smiles and happiness are the law! I won't let any of those bad thoughts hurt anyone ever again!"

Erasmus snorted and hid his grin. "I would not mind a future like that. If everyone could live in peace, maybe there is hope for us all."

Charlie tossed the ball forward, sending it flying over Erasmus head and bouncing off the wall. It hit the back of Erasmus' chair, the wall, the chair again, and finally dribbled onto the floor.

"Twenty points!"

"I feel like you are making up these points," Erasmus joked as he scooped the ball up.

"Hee! Ooh, maybe later we can go polish Mr. Fletcher's crown like Big Sis suggested!"

Erasmus' ears perked up. "Oh?"

"Yeah. She said it would be a nice present for him when he returns from his trip."

He casted a wry grin at the tiny octopus. "Really now? Melissa suggested that?"

"Uh huh."

"You said she played games with you when she returned, right?"

"Yep!"

"How about you tell me more about these games?"

"UGH!" JoJo collapsed onto her bed, melting into a huge purple puddle. "I haven't gotten any work done since that stupid cat showed up, and now I feel five percent dumber from listening to their stupid business meeting!"

Hilda sat on the bed and patted her back. "I'm sure Erasmus means well. He came all this way to see you—er, Melissa." She lifted her hand and let the purple goop slide off.

"I know for a fact he's suspicious of me." JoJo pulled herself together into a Glameow. She pointed at her eyes. "I feel like he's staring into my soul whenever he looks in my direction! He knows something, and I can't work if he's constantly spying on me!"

Hilda frowned. "I take it finding information on the king isn't going well."

"Any scrap of information I can get on the guy leads to a dead end. I can't find records of House Fletcher anywhere in his office or the archives. It's like he just showed up one day."

Hilda hummed aloud. "I never heard of House Fletcher when I first heard of his marriage to Odolina. None of my friends heard of him, either."

JoJo glared. "Something isn't right." She crossed her arms for a moment and thought. "I do have one other lead to go off of, but I'm not sure where to find it."

"Oh?"

"I got the idea of checking his ledger for anything on the tax money that he's been funneling. Problem is, I doubt Ortwin would let something like that slip under his notice since he would likely have access to the ledger."

Hilda nodded. "Indeed. Ortwin has been in service to this kingdom for years. He would never allow something like that to happen."

"But what if Roscoe had a second ledger to keep track of the stolen taxes? He'd have to make accounts of the money if he wanted to do this secretly and correctly. He has to have it written down somewhere." She groaned and covered her face. "But I never found a stupid ledger, and it wouldn't be out in the open or in a drawer somewhere!"

"…" Hilda looked around quickly before leaning down and whispering, "Well, there may be somewhere else you can find it."

JoJo's eyes widened. "Oh?"

"Castle Penworth has a few hidden passageways scattered about inside. The maid staff typically the known ones to maneuver around the castle as to not disrupt the royal family or their guests. However, back when Sadie was working with us, I recall her looking into a rumor about secret passages and hidden rooms in the castle."

JoJo's eyes widened. "Wait, there's actually secret passages in this castle?"

"Ones that are exclusively for the royal family in case of emergency, but this castle has some old secrets hidden about. Perhaps if there is a secret ledger, the king hid it in a secret area."

JoJo glared. "Doesn't really narrow my search, but…" She scratched her chin. "Then again, maybe I should do another deep dive through his office when I get the chance. I could've missed something in my haste."

"It is only a rumor, so pace yourself, dear."

JoJo hopped off the bed and morphed back into Melissa. "You kidding? With a lead like this, I feel more invigorated than before! I'm going to dig up every scrap of information I can on Roscoe if it's the last thing I do."