Chapter 12
Realization
Avery squeezed his arms tightly around himself as the gong shook him awake. Distantly, his mind remembered how chipper Nivanee was about that thing. He had no idea how she did that.
"Nmgh... Good morning, Viz..."
Once again, Avery found himself in the middle of the floor, Vizon wrapped in the blanket by himself. The Riolu grunted, looking as though he wanted to shove a pillow over his head...but seemed to realize this would do no good. He'd have to face the day eventually.
Vizon took a breath and JUMPED from the bed, throwing the blanket aside.
"Good morning, Avery!" Vizon said, trying to psyche himself up.
GONG
"What's say to another GLORIOUS day?"
Avery rolled onto his back, looking up at Vizon as he jumped out of bed.
"Okay, Nivanee~" Avery teased, slowly sitting up myself.
Vizon gasped excitedly.
"You noticed!" He said, bouncing. "I'm going try to be more like her today! Peppy! Professional! Cool!"
"Niv is cool," Avery said, standing up shakily. "But... I think Vizon's pretty cool too, y'know."
GONG
Vizon smiled back at the Plusel's compliment. Hammy perhaps, but appreciated. Over the gong, Avery could hear the sound of doors opening outside as the guild rose from their slumber, Vizon throwing their door open as well.
"C'mon, Avery! Seize the day!"
Avery gave a little smile, rubbing at his eyes as he stumbled after Vizon into the hallway for the morning address. They both exited the dorms, following after Lahnae and Loshjno, the latter looking much better than last night. In front of them was Aquashock, then Nivanee. The Eevee lookee back, waving at everyone before taking her place.
Everyone filed in as Sarfallinus set down the gong ringer. Off to the side, Olistia sat, leafing through reports, reading with interest.
Avery gave Kipunna a quick look as he got in line but... Broke his gaze pretty quickly. He felt a sort of pang.
'... Right. I'm not on good terms with him. I don't really get why...'
"Good morning, guild." Sarfallinus spoke just as Vizon stood at the ready. "Hope everyone slept well, recovered from a hard day's work? And what a day of hard work it was..."
Olistia hummed, taking a few papers from a folder.
'Oh, Olistia is here again...? I thought her visit yesterday was a one time thing...'
"Overall, for our first day, I'm very happy." Olistia smiled, standing up. "The elites have been making inquiries and arrests, and even our missteps have proven helpful!"
She gave Spade a comforting glance, the pair beaming.
"Now then...going over the results from yesterday if I might just review, Sarfi?"
"Of course, Conduit."
Olistia smirked, turning to the paper in hand.
"Team Aquashock successfully swept east Arcea, reporting Thieves' Guild movement going north from Steeljag bluff..."
She traced a finger down.
"Team Duskwalker conducted a successful security audit and oversaw required fortifications in Yahneri port. Thank you, Nivanee."
Nivanee weakly nodded.
"Team Azure has successfully retrieved a set of ten Dovve Fo Uddjo vouchers..." she flipped the page. "...aaand unearthed and subdued a flash army-based micronation posing a major threat to the civil populace and domestic stability..."
Her eyebrows raised, looking impressed.
"...huh..."
Avery coughed a little, looking down bashfully. He... Didn't want to dwell on that too much.
Olistia thankfully switched to another page, taking a breath.
"Finally, the western sweep was unsuccessful but contact with notorious Thieves' Guild member nicknamed 'The Old Wanderer' was confirmed, with movement recorded for heading due east."
"Thus, today's assignments." Sarfallinus began, Olistia handing him the larger file. "We're going to have Aquashock handle the west side sweep while Team Spade performs a southern sweep to ensure the way to Dovve Fo Uddjo is clear."
Kipuuna nodded without hesitation...while Lahnae rolled her eyes...but nodded all the same.
"As for Team Azure, I'm tasking you with something more specific."
He approached Vizon and Avery, taking a file from his folder.
WANTED:
MYSTERIOUS BANDIT OF THE THIEVES' GUILD AKA 'THE OLD WANDERER' WANTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST ARCEA AND ITS CITIZENS:
EXTORTION, KIDNAPPING, ILLEGAL LIVE TRAFFICKING, ILLEGAL GOODS TRAFFICKING, GRAND HEIST ON BANK ASSETS.
REWARD: 90,000 POKE
"You're going after the Old Wanderer, the bandit that attacked Lahnae and Loshjno."
"That's an old flyer." Olistia put in. "The Old Wanderer is wanted for even more now. Grand Conspiracy, Assault on Public Officials, Assault on Legal Personnel, like guild members...this Poke'mon is considered a top agent of the Thieves' Guild. Ruthless and Dangerous."
"According to Team Spade, their movement suggests they couldn't have gone far." Sarfallinus continued. "In fact...they may be reconvening at Breezy Plain."
Avery's face paled. This...
'This is a joke, right? This is some kind of joke?'
Avery looked up at him, Olistia, and the rest of the guild, waiting for them to burst out into laughter before giving them their real assignment.
But... That didn't seem to be happening.
"I... Sir, are we... Are we qualified for this...?" Avery stammered, unsure. "This is a huge bounty, a-and... This guy has a grocery list of... Of many, many different crimes...! This seems like something... V-very serious, doesn't it?"
"It does, but this suggestion comes straight from Olistia herself, after reviewing the results of yesterday's mission." Sarfallinus explained, the Gardevoir looking hopefully at Avery. "But even given your track record, we're not going to risk just sending two of anyone out there to handle a criminal like this, comperable to Xamao as they are."
He handed Vizon the wanted poster.
"This mission I'm mandating all your subordinates be dispatched with you...as well as teaming you up with Ni...mh..." He paused, stopping himself. "...Team Duskwalker. You two seemed to work well back on Rocky Hills, yes?"
Nivanee perked up, smiling at the news.
Avery let out a sigh of relief.
'So we aren't going to go at it alone, that's a relief. Though...'
One of the wanderer's crimes worried Avery. Kidnapping. The Thieves' Guild, if Olistia was to be believed, knew about Avery and his whole thing with Arceus. They were already trying to interfere with Avery's dreams.
'That...wouldn't happen to me, right?'
"All subordinates...? So everyone we've recruited, then," Avery said. "Is there an easy way to get in contact with them, or will we just go out into the city to get them?"
"They've been notified by courier. They should be waiting for you outside." Sarfallinus explained. He leafed through the rest of the folder, taking out a smaller folder. "Here, take this. You're gunna need it. It's a dossier on The Old Wanderer based on information gathered by elites and guild members over the years."
Nivanee took to folder.
"It's a lot of ground to cover," Sarfallinus explained. "Breezy Plain is a big, wide place. But we've got a good feeling they'll be there somewhere. We have to catch them today or else they'll slip away from us again."
"I remember The Old Wanderer..." Nivanee grumbled, putting the folder in her satchel. "That guy and his team have fought and gotten away from me...Kipuuna...now Lahnae. They're slippery. Tricky, too...really tricky...but I'll be ready this time!"
Avery's brow furrowed.
"So...how are we going to catch him if he's this slippery?" Avery asked. "We're going to have to try something different if the same thing hasn't worked...right?"
"Exactly. No running at this guy like any other outlaw, he has his way of getting away." Nivanee mused. "Let's see...you, Vizon, me...you had two subordinates, yet? That's 5...that should be enough."
"Enough? For what?" Vizon asked. Nivanee brought herself back to attention.
"I'll explain once we break."
Sarfallinus nodded, gesturing to Team Spade.
"Once you read the dossier be sure to talk to Team Spade about what happened. The information might be crucial."
Vizon and Nivanee nodded as Sarfallinus stepped back to Olistia's side.
"Now, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. The days off are probably going to be delayed due to everything that's going on, at least until we have more ground against Xamao and whatever his Thieves' Guild cronies are cookin' up." Sarfallinus put his hands behind his back. "With that, let's get to work, guild. Dismissed!"
"AYE" The guild, Avery included, replied.
With that, the line broke, each of the teams forming up to conduct their individual business. Avery sighed, turning to Vizon and Nivanee.
"...There's barely any time to train..." Avery sagged. "A lot of the Pokemon I've been going up against...electricity hasn't been enough. I need some more avenues, but I don't have time."
"Aw, chin up, Avery!" Nivanee's voice was ever mirthful as she shuffled up to him and Vizon, the rest of the guild members dispersing to their tasks for the day. "There's no training like experience, right?"
"None!" Vizon cheered, almost too quickly, though he backed off a little. "I mean...so long as we're not almost dying."
"Oh no, nothing like that. Worst The Old Wanderer does is knock you upside the head and flee like a coward." Nivanee shook her head. "It was two or so years ago, but I still remember how much of an idiot I felt like when I lost him. All of them."
"Hey yeah, about that..." Avery commented, looking up. "Why do you keep referring to the Old Wanderer as one Poke'mon some times and then as several Poke'mon other times?"
"Oh!" Nivanee snickered, realizing her communication failure. "The Old Wanderer has a whole team. He travels in a group of about five poke'mon, each of them with the same kind of colorful scarves around their heads, like those 'wanderers' in Illaminamo, you heard of them?"
Vizon nodded. Avery didn't but decided not to interrupt.
"Anyway, the issue is that The Old Wanderer always attacks from the shadows" Nivanee continued. "...and business deals are conducted as a team, obfuscating which one the leader is. It's indeed a single Poke'mon, but...nobody knows which of the five Poke'mon in the team is the actual Old Wanderer."
"So...the optimal outcome is to capture multiple of them...?" Avery said, frowning. "How are we going to do that...? If there's five of them, and they're in the shadows..."
Avery looked at his bag, and sighed.
"Gah, that job drained us dry...and I don't think we even got a reward for it. We, uh...don't have a lot of money, heh..."
Nivanee frowned, looking in Avery's bag.
"Oh...I guess your reward was only those Dovve Fo Uddjo vouchers, huh?" Nivanee giggled, beaming. "That's ok! I'll cover your costs today, no worries!"
"Wow are...are you sure?"
"Of course! Why not? We're all in this together, after all!" Nivanee smiled again. "Now, as for catching multiple of them...it's unlikely. They tend to keep spread out and are each powerful on their own...we'll be focused on finding the one true Old Wanderer. Here, what don't weeee..."
Nivanee opened her satchel, placing the dossier in Vizon's hands.
"...study our target~?"
Avery nodded, looking over the dossier in Vizon's hands. The Plusel did have to get up on his tip-toes to see it, which was...a little embarrassing. But it was fine! Thankfully, Vizon helpfully sat down onto the ground, letting both they and Nivanee peer over to look.
~ CASTLE ARCEALI - 6T61/L35~
BUREAU OF ARCEAN LAW INFORMATION COMPILATION
File Designation: The Old Wanderer
Filed Under: Criminal Investigation
Real Name: Unknown
Family: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Date of Birth: Unknown
Gender: Unknown
Description: Unknown
Species: Unknown
Abstract: The Old Wanderer is a high-profile criminal lord of the Thieves' Guild operating under the guild boss, Deshuuna. The Old Wanderer came into notice by local and state authorities in 6T58 when a new Thieves Guild team was seen operating in the Steeljag/Yahneri region. Operations began with high-profile heists on ships from Quayoff-based bank "Well of Gold", a sum of 40,000P taken. On this first officially documented sighting of The Old Wanderer, their modern-day team tactics were already in place. Crimes have escalated to taking money from merchant shops and construction companies as well as alleged kidnapping and trafficking of Arcean citizens, primarily from the Illaminian-national population. The kidnapped victims whereabouts are still unknown. No contacts or personal information has been extrapolated, neither for The Old Wanderer or the members of their team.
Psyche Profile: The Old Wanderer has been described as cocky and bull-headed, with a penchant for grandstanding when species is obscured. The other teammates do not share this behavior.
- Team: Team is confirmed to consist of: One (1) Nidorina One (1) Emolga One (1) Pikachu One (1) Pachirisu One (1) Rattata Names and identities unknown.
It is assumed one of these members is the Old Wanderer. All team members are described as obscuring their faces with multicolor scarves, along with wearing their Schism Sigil earrings to signify their affiliation with the Thieves' Guild.
Strategy: The Old Wanderer has made it a point to obscure which of the team is the real Old Wanderer. They conduct business deals together and attack from the shadows to obscure which member is giving the orders. (Reminder from above, when all teammates are obscured, the Old Wanderer indulges in show-boating, to date the only defining feature of the Old Wanderer to differentiate them from their teammates). At rest, the Old Wanderer has been observed keeping their team camping in relative isolation to one another, camping together in one area but maintaining distance from one another. Each poke'mon is strong enough to win and one-on-one duel with most poke'mon. When one is attacked, they send a flare to signal the other members to scatter, the one left behind staying to stall the attackers before attempting escape, typically using a Flash Seed or Fog Orb. Because of this, thorough investigation is REQUIRED before selecting a member to attack.
Avery thought for a moment, looking up and down the dossier. A Nidorina...could...?
He shook his head, banishing the thought.
"Alright...so from this...what's the plan?" He asked. "I...I'm not sure what I could do here with all this."
"Just that, right at the end." Nivanee said, pointing at the bottom of the page. "Thorough investigation. If and when we find them, we have to know beforehand who The Old Wanderer is before we make our move. Otherwise he'll slip away again while we end up fighting one of his cronies."
Vizon nodded...then tilted his head.
"Able to take on any poke'mon one on one...they sound extremely tough."
"They were, when I fought them." Nivanee shook her head. "When I went after the Old Wanderer down in Apple Woods I ran for the Nidorina and fought them while the others ran. Just before I got a clean shot, I got blinded...I don't even know if they were the right one..."
She folded her ears back.
"...very embarrassing."
"...So how would we figure it out beforehand?" Avery asked, looking at her. "If nobody's figured it out so far...what's the clue that we're missing?"
"No clue...he's kept his tracks clean. But..." Nivanee paused, smiling and turning toward the guild hall exit. "...if we're lucky then he's made mistakes this time. You keep doing this kind of thing long enough and eventually you mess up. And it only takes once."
Vizon stuffed everything back in the folder, nodding emphatically.
"Only once...yeah...we'll get him!" He cheered. "Well, guess we know what to do. Get our teammates, restock, talk to Team Spade then start our hunt in Breezy Plain. And that's practically a stone's throw away from Arceliaze."
Vizon turned to Nivanee, cocking an eyebrow.
"Though...seems kinda reckless on The Old Wanderer's part to camp so close to the capital city."
"The dossier must be right. The Old Wanderer is bull-headed." Nivanee replied with a giggle.
Vizon looked to Avery, ready at last.
"We're right behind you, Team Leader. Where to first?"
Avery paused, thinking about it.
"We should probably get our teammates first, then stock up to see what they might need."
Though as he said this, Avery thought to himself.
'This Old Wanderer guy...he's a showboat. If he's a showboat, how can we use that...? What sort of trap can we lay that uses that...?'
Vizon nodded in agreement, opening up the front doors to the guild. The three of them stepped out into Arceliaze. The sun was bright, nary any clouds in the sky. The air was still with barely any wind.
And there, by the entrance plaque stood a familiar Nidorina and Geodude. Jolvia looked back, hearing them approach first.
"Things just move a mile a minute at the guild, hm?" The Nidorina asked, chuckling. "First day a member and I'm already receiving messages by courier to come immediately."
"He caught me in the middle of my second to last bout at the fight club!" Rikzyod folded his arms. "No matter, they were like paper, whatever this is will be much more worth my time, surely."
Nivanee giggled.
"Nice to see you again, Rikzyod. Been busy with Avery?"
"No indeed, not yet! Apparently last mission was far too boring." He replied before flashing the girl a smile. "It is good to see you, too, Nivanee."
Jolvia's eyebrows raised, looking to Rikzyod.
"Oh, Avery, I didn't realize he was with you." Jolvia said with a small grin. "I figured he was just loitering."
"Oh Rikzyod...I had no idea how not-boring the mission was going to be," Avery said with a little laugh, looking at Rikzyod apologetically. "Hindsight is twenty-twenty, if I knew what was going to happen even on the way there, I could have definitely used your help. But, uh, how much do you two know about what we're doing? We've got the dossier if you want to give it a look-over."
"The courier didn't give any specifics on what we'd be doing...very hush-hush." Jolvia noted, pushing her glasses up, leaning over to look at the dossier. "...from the looks of it, perhaps a bit of a secret mission? High profile?"
"A little bit." Nivanee admitted. "Oh, Avery, is this woman also your subordinate?"
Jolvia lifted her eyes, looking at Nivanee. Her brow knitted somewhat but she otherwise looked happy enough to see the Eevee.
"Ah, famous Nivanee of Duskwalker...It's a pleasure." Jolvia was kindly and polite as ever. Nivanee nodded to the Nidorina as Avery replied.
"Yeah, Jolvia's a subordinate of a sort," Avery said, looking between Nivanee and Jolvia. "She's...a loan manager of the One Truth Bank. We met her during the coup, she was a huge help. Really good under pressure, too...!"
"Well well, we're going to need it, I imagine!" Nivanee said. "Do you know how to fight?"
"Yes." Jolvia said simply. Nivanee nodded, opening the dossier.
"Then take a look: we're going after The Old Wanderer and his team, last seen heading for Breezy Plains." Nivanee said. Jolvia raised her eyebrows.
"The Old Wanderer, hm." Jolvia mused, looking over the page, pointing to the date on the header. "The report is from last year it looks. Some of this might be outdated."
"What, do you, like...know something?" Vizon asked. Rikzyod only started between Avery and Jolvia as the Nidrorina clicked her tongue.
"A rumor among bankers...The Old Wanderer may be working close with Xamao these days. Moreso than they are with Deshuuna."
Avery gave Nivanee a quick look. This was normal. Jolvia seemed...to know a lot. But at least, if she was giving us this information, that helped corroborate that the Nidorina most likely wasn't her.
'Though...at the same time, Spade was attacked by the Old Wanderer while Jolvia was with us in the lowlands. So that should have been my first hint.'
"Xamao..." Avery mumbled again, clenching his fists. "He's been really active from the sounds of it. I haven't heard hide nor hair of Deshuuna compared to the guy. Is that normal...?"
"Uh..." Nivanee thought to herself before Jolvia cut in.
"Not normally, no. Thieves' Guild, as I understand it, typically work from the shadows. They don't like their names plastered on wanted posters like it's the early days of Arcean expansion." Jolvia smiled mysteriously, Nivanee giving her a sideways glance. "Xamao, however, seems to operate differently, I imagine much to the chagrin of the guild master, Dushuuna. But...that was years ago, back when he tried that assassination on Olistia...is he active again?"
Vizon hummed to himself, whilst RIkzyod tried (and failed) to read the hard words on the dossier.
Avery looked at Nivanee, trying to gauge how much they should say to their subordinates. It was top secret info, so...Avery figured he'd err on the side of caution.
Turning back to Jolvia, he nodded.
"Yeah. On our first mission, our hostage rescue was intercepted by Xamao. He took one of our bounties, and has been...pretty busy since. Vizon and I have been working in the shadow of his influence since we started off, actually. I think the coup was the first time one of our missions didn't involve him in some way..."
"Mmm..." Jolvia hummed to herself, hearing that, but said no more, only nodding. "So, in that case, this Old Wanderer is related, then? What of them?"
"Only that they attacked poor Team Spade and gave Loshjno a nasty bump on the head." Nivanee replied, closing the dossier back up. "The Old Wanderer attacked them up in Tall Woods and scattered from there, like his team usually does."
"Mm, directly attacking guild?" Jolvia mused...with a sigh. "How bold, rather cocky I'd say. I should think few criminals would actively pursue the guild for any reason. You get nothing out of it except maybe a few items and a whole country furious at you."
"Who cares! If they have the stones to attack guild out of the blue, then that means only one thing..." Rikzyod's look betrayed his excitement, which Nivanee tempered.
"Stones?" Nivanee shook her head with a grumble. "No, no, cowardice more like. Recall the dossier. They've in their ranks a Pachirisu, an Emolga and a Pikachu, along with a Nidorina. Paired up against a fire type and, poor Loshjno, a water type, the pair were easy picking. We'll show they what a real fight is like."
Nivanee seemed a tad more...gung-ho. Perhaps, Avery reasoned, that pervious failure to capture the Old Wanderer left a score to settle...?
"Well, no use delaying in that case." Vizon said, turning to Avery. "Alright, Team captain. We've got items to buy, maybe a withdrawal to make, Team Spade to talk to...a full plate before heading out to Breezy Plain."
"Well...normally I'd make a deposit to the bank for our surplus, but, uh..." Avery looked at his pouch, feeling how light it was. "Niv, are you still okay with spotting us for items for today? I'll pay you back."
"Sure, Avery! Anything specific you need from Zwangai's shop?" Nivanee asked, pulling out an envelope. Clearly some mail she got just today.
"Okay, uh...uh, some Cheri Berries might be smart, considering we're going up against a lot of electric types. A good few Oran Berries. I should still have a Rawst in my bag for the Nidorina in their group, and Jolvia can't get poisoned. Maybe...one or two Reviver Seeds..." Avery frowned. "I...really like the way Flash looks, but I don't want to ask for too much since you're spotting us, Niv."
"Pshh, 1000p? That's nothing, Avery. I got you~!" Nivanee assured, taking down the list. "So so...how about 3 cheri berries...10 oran...2 reviver seeds and 1 TM70."
Avery nodded in confirmation, Nivanee giving a nod of her own as she made the last few marks on her list.
"Say, Avery?" Jolvia piped up, leaning over. Avery glanced at her. "I see Vizon and Nivanee are splitting up to go to the item shop. Is there anything you need from Rikzyod and I? Would you like us to accompany you?"
"Blech, money counting, penciling pushing..." Rikzyod shook his head. "I understand it's preamble to the real fun, but..."
"Well, I was just going to be making a withdrawal from the bank," Avery said, looking back at them. "I'm not sure if that's something either of you would want to accompany me on though...! It's on the other side of town, in the Farming District, so it's going to be a bit of a walk in any case."
"That's fine. We may as well get acquainted with the guild facilities, right...Rikzyod, is it?" Jolvia asked. The geodude slouched, rolling his eyes.
"Bahhh, 'may as well see guild facilities'. Dry, dry, dry, are you sure this woman is up for fighting and not managing the team finances?" Rikzyod huffed, smirking a cheeky smirk. Jolvia, for her part, looked more amused than anything, a little glint in her eye.
"It'll do you good, too, Rikzyod." She replied. "Take things slow...let it all build up."
'Well, at least the two of them are getting along...I think.'
Avery smiled a little.
"Let the tension build in your body as you wait in anticipation, before...snap." Avery snapped his paw to illustrate. "Like a steel trap, primed, lying in wait. It'll just be a half hour or something to get there, do the thing, and get back, and then we'll meet up with Vizon and Nivanee."
With that, they set off on our way back to the bank. Avery was feeling a lot more optimistic about this, with a plan brewing in his head.
'A showoff, huh? Someone with pride...someone who enjoys making a scene. Maybe we could work with that.'
Jolvia followed him, Rikzyod lazily swaying in the back, staring off and looking at the sights as they passed by. Avery followed his normal route...the fantastic statues and fountains of the market district were soon replaced with smaller, more practical brick and stone buildings, now in the lower market district. Poke'mon were few today, many milling about at bars or some of the restaurant stands in the buildings, several others grouped together and handing flyers out to a few of the passerby. Closed down buildings sat abandoned here and there between the quaint businesses, boards covering several doorways.
Soon, on the cobblestone pathways, Avery saw it, as he always did: rising over the more modest buildings stood that ivory wall, blinding in the direct morning sunlight, Arcean flags fluttering on the buttresses of the high wall.
To Avery's left was his normal path, leading away from the wall as Vizon suggested. Safe. The Plusel looked up at the wall, brow furrowed.
"...Jolvia, what's...on the other side of that wall?" He asked. "Vizon told me to stay away from it, but...I don't know what's actually on the other side."
"What...that?" Jolvia asked, already walking towards it. Rikzyod followed Jolvia, the both of them looking back at you. "Why stay away from it? It's just the Illaminian district...didn't you know?"
"I go through it plenty." Rikzyod said, cocking an eyebrow. "What is Vizon so scared of? I've seen the boy fight."
Avery's brow furrowed more.
"...That's it? It's just..."
His fists clenched for just a moment.
"...Is it a shorter route to get to the Farming District through there?" Avery asked Jolvia.
"Yes, much." Jolvia replied, blinking. "Oh don't tell me you're one of those kind of poke'mon..."
She chuckled...though her eyes were searching Avery. Investigating him. Sizing up his every move and reaction to the question. Rikzyod, however, just looked confused, clearly not understanding the question.
"...I don't know what 'those' means," Avery said slowly, "...but I don't have anything against Illaminian Poke'mon at all. I'm not from Arcea either, I have no room to judge."
He huffed, walking towards the wall.
"...I just don't get why so many people here seem to be so cagey around them."
Jolvia was quiet a moment, soaking in Avery's answer. Then she nodded with a smile, seemingly...satisfied.
"Oh what else? Bit of bad history both ways hundreds of years ago and now it's just practically tradition to hate one another." Jolvia said, though her voice was still cryptic. "Illaminians are hardly fond of Arceans, you know. Bless you for not knowing a thing about it, but you must have no idea what you've dropped into here."
"I don't get it." Rikzyod said. "Who has an issue with the Poke'mon from the west? You two are having your own conversation, I am very lost."
"Well, perhaps we can talk along the way...Avery...?" Jolvia stepped aside, the path toward the Ivory wall clear. Avery, without hesitation, decided to walk down the path through the Illaminian district.
Vizon was good. Avery liked him a lot. But...
'This. This specifically, rubs me the wrong way.'
"I'm...not from here. I don't have any memory of my life past maybe a week back, and nobody that I've seen has any idea who I am. I don't remember the calendar system, geography, names, places, faces, anything. But..." Avery looked around at the buildings. "From what I've seen...a lot of Poke'mon here don't like Poke'mon from Illaminamo, despite two Illaminian folks I've met being nice, if maybe a bit reserved."
Avery looked back at Rikyzod.
"There's just people that...I otherwise look up to that...I don't know." Avery sighed. "They're made uncomfortable. And I don't...I don't know what to make of that."
"Mmm" Jolvia mused, walking by Avery's side, Rikzyod at his other side. "You sound a clean slate, Avery. And not a few days into your life as a clean slate and you're already assaulted with all the subtle ways the biases creep in, hm? Avoiding the ivory wall, the discomfort around poke'mon the moment that accent is heard. You sound as though you've see it a lot."
She paused a moment...the mysterious look in her eye deepened.
"I have, too."
She was quiet as they walked the cobblestone paths. The path became more and more narrow, the buildings closed off, many more boarded up and in disrepair, dilapidated. Scant few Poke'mon were here, milling about in alleyways, staring at them as they passed.
But the glint of their badges kept them away.
At last, the wall towered over them. It cut through a line of buildings like a knife dropped from the sky, splitting the city between where they were...and what was beyond. The cobblestone path turned immediately to dirt. Through a tall arch, under the opened gate doors...Avery looked upon the Illaminian district...
...Avery felt an ache. He was greet with dirt roads. Wood cabins that had begun to rot. Doors hanging from their hinges. Collapsed roofing. Even from just the entrance Avery could see the blackened remains of a burnt down home, its blackened wood old and wet.
This was...
'This is where the Illaminians live? Arceans live in veritable luxury compared to this...! Stone paved paths, mosiac art installations, statues, brick housing...'
Avery hadn't realized he'd stopped walking until he saw Jolvia pass him in his peripheral vision. The Plusel jumped and began to walk again.
"... I don't... I don't like that they seem nervous around me either," Avery said quietly. "... I mean... I get it. I understand why. But... I hate that it has to be this way."
'...Why is it like this? Was... Why do I want to fix this so bad? I'm just one Pokemon. Hero of Arceus or no, this... This isn't what I'm here for, right?'
Jolvia smiled a sad smile, trudging forward on the dirt path with Avery. Rikzyod, on the other hand, looked as though this were perfectly normal.
They passed the small log cabins. Yet more old and rotten wood surrounded them. Unkempt roads, high grass. Many lots were empty...many houses were left forgotten and unkempt, never rebuilt after falling apart.
In the houses Avery could see flickers of movement. Between houses Poke'mon milled, muttering to one another in their native tongue. A few larger buildings dotted the innermost part of the district, with a few more Poke'mon loitering outside.
All around, the ivory wall loomed. It surrounded the district. Only this district.
"It's a fact of life, and it has been for hundreds of years." Jolvia said, glancing down at Avery. "I'm glad you're cut from a different cloth, Avery. I really am."
Soon, the three slowly approached the south end of the district, the wall getting closer again, exiting out into a small strip of Lower Market District before leading straight to the farming district, right on the path they needed to be on.
Much faster. Much faster.
"... I don't like it," Avery said quietly, fists clenched. "I don't...like it. I don't like this. I wish these Poke'mon didn't have to live like..."
He stared at the wall in distaste. The ivory wall. Not a lick of ivory in here, no, it's all to keep them inside.
'...I'd hate ivory if I had to live here.'
"Like prisoners."
"Prisoners?" Rikzyod questioned, eyebrows raised. "The gates are wide open. And who would stop them if they left?"
Jolvia patted Rikzyod on the arm, smirking. Rikzyod had no maliciousness or double meaning in his words that Avery could tell, simply obliviousness.
Soon, the three traveled the road in record time, seeing the bank stand in the distance. And there, once again, the Flaaffy woman stood, sleepily looking down at a ledger and writing. Avery approached quickly, happy for the distraction.
"Good morning, Kellixae...!" Avery said, his mood brightening a bit as he saw her. He was glad that the last meeting went well - it felt nice seeing her as part of the morning routine. "How was your day yesterday...?"
Kellixae blinked, looking over to Avery and yawning, a small smile spreading across her muzzle at the sight of him.
"Mh...well. Busy, as everr, but I have weatherred worse." She chuckled, leaning on the counter, looking to Jolvia and Rikzyod. "Mmm...more frriends, Averry?"
"Teammates...and perhaps friends, depending." Jolvia affirmed, giving a respectful half-bow. There was no hesitancy in her voice as she spoke, a far cry from Vizon's awkward shuffling. "You sound as though you know Avery well."
"I do." Kellixae replied, stretching. "Though ourr firrst meeting was trroubled...we have since made up."
She chuckled, looking back to the Plusel.
"And what of you, Avery? Was yourr day well yesterrday?"
Avery let out a sigh, looking off to the side.
"Well, our mission was...a lot more high-octane than I'd have ever expected from a simple fetch quest." He explained. "I was hoping today would be a day to rest, but...It seems our guild has a lot going on and nobody can afford to rest on their laurels for even a day...!"
He turned to the others to introduce them.
"This is Jolvia and Rikzyod, two friends I made on two separate missions." Avery said, presenting them. "Jolvia, Rikzyod, this is Kellixae."
"Jolvia...Rrikzyod. It's nice to meet you both." Kellixae said. Rikzyod smiled, giving a polite half-bow as Jolvia did.
"Of course, I am happy to meet you as well." He said, rather cordially. The Geodude seemed at least willing to put on a face around company.
"As am I." Jolvia put in, smiling. "It's not often I get enough time to come this far out in the farming district. I'm usually only passing. Tell me, Kellixae, is this your main job or...?"
"Debt job. It is quieterr than most otherrs. I mostly smile and look prretty for the bank. Seen more, hearrd less." The Flaaffy nodded, a quiet yawn escaping her lips. "Now, then. How might I help you, frriends?"
"...Debt job...?" Avery muttered, tilting his head, a motion the Flaaffy mimiced.
"Yes, of courrse. My debt job." Kellixae repeated as thought it were obvious, closing her ledger book. Jolvia snickered.
"He might need a proper explanation. He's none too familiar with how things work in Arcea." Jolvia said, Kellixae letting out a chuckle.
"Nor do most Arceans when it comes to our matters." Kellixae laughed, setting her books aside and sorting her papers.
"You live in the Illaminian district, right?" Jolvia asked.
"Corrrect." Kellixae affirmed. "I was given a home like everryone else when we fled old Illamini."
"The expense of which is paid for in a small morning job, like Kellixae's work here at the bank. It's her debt job." Jolvia explained, glancing at Avery. Kellixae rolled her eyes, looking a little uncomfortable being used as an example of the concept. "Tell me, Kellixae, what would your main job be?"
"The one that actually earrns me money? Nothing special, a small inventorry and clerrk job at a no-name item shop in the Lowerr Bazaarr." Kellixae replied.
Avery's eyes went wide.
"You have two jobs...? Just to pay off a debt...?" Avery looked back towards the Illaminian District, shifting a little.
'She lives in one of those...? And has to pay it off...?'
"Yes, two jobs. All Illamini op Arceali do. My frriend worrks a bookstorre as herr main job and does a morning job farrming out in the village distrrict." Kellixae explained. She didn't seem content moreso accepting. Working this job was like rain or gravity. Just life.
Avery sighed a bit, his ears drooping. At least she didn't seem to mind it too much...as far as he could tell. She kept these things close to her chest, he knew that.
"Maybe I could stop by there sometime one of these evenings," Avery said, looking up at Kellixae. "Give you some patronage that'll actually support you in a more...direct way, I guess...!"
"Hm, funny you should mention.." Kellixae replied with a chuckle. "I was meaning to ask if you would like to come to dinnerr with me and a frriend a few days frrom now, Avery. I do hope that is not too forrwarrd forr Arrceans? We sharre meals often in old Illamini."
That made Avery's ears perk up.
And...just a little, a bit more rosiness than usual coming to his cheeks.
"Oh! I'd love to! I don't know if...I'd be back from whatever mission I'm on a few days from now, since...I'm starting to doubt I'm ever going to get a day off for the near future," Avery said, scratching the back of his head. "But if you'd have me, I'd love to come have dinner with you. Would you rather I come alone, or would you want me to bring someone as well?"
Kellixae smiled.
"You can brring a frriend or two if you like, I should think I would love to meet morre of your frriends if they arre like Jolvia and Rrikzyod here."
Rikzyod smiled warmly at that, along with Jolvia.
"And not to worrry, Avery. We typically don't go out until late at night. You should get back from yourr work at about the perrfect time to stop by my home." Kellixae took a slip of paper, writing her address down onto it and sliding it to him. It was an address in the heart of the Illaminian district. "We plan to meet...not tonight but...the night after next. I will be happy to see you therre."
"It's a promise!" Avery said. With all that set, the Plusel quickly conducted his business, taking out 500 p of coin from the bank and bidding the woman a hearty farewell, the address clutched in hand with the money. As he left, the Flaaffy gave a warm wave. With the initial awkwardness gone, she seemed in so much higher spirits, so much happier to see Avery and talk. Jolvia chuckled at the display.
"Not an Arcean indeed..." the Nidorina mused quietly to herself.
Now no longer fearing the ivory wall, the three walked through the Illaminian district once more. Nobody bothered or even looked at them as they passed the roughshod buildings.
Of course...the second time through Avery noticed the glimmers of warmth in the district.
Between burned and broken buildings there were lovingly painted and redecorated homes. Gardens well kept. Ornaments and flags. Simple houses made into pretty homes.
A hardy district for a hardy bunch of Poke'mon.
Avery took a deep breath - they were Poke'mon in a shitty situation, but doing the best that they could. They deserved better, absolutely...but they were doing well for themselves.
The trio crossed the ivory wall again, returning to the Lower Market district, heading for the One Truth Square.
The morning was waning, approaching noon, and the crowds were thinning as more and more Poke'mon tended their jobs, most of the Poke'mon out being couriers and delivery Poke'mon.
There, by the One Truth Square monument, was Nivanee and Vizon. The Riolu looked up and happily waved, running over.
"Heya, Avery! We got everything you needed!" He said, Nivanee padding up behind him.
"Hey, that's great-!" Avery said, jogging over to him. "So are we all ready to go?"
"Just about..." Nivanee said. She reached back and popped open her satchel with her nose, extracting a small spyglass to show to Avery. "Aside from everything we need to do beforehand we need to keep in mind this guy is, by himself, a very competent fight, and so is the rest of his team."
"Beforehand...?" Vizon asked, tilting his head.
"Yeah! We're going to need to do a thorough investigation. Once we have everything figured out, we can use this to select our target and move in for the arrest."
"Should we do a sneak attack?" Avery asked, eying the spyglass as Nivanee replaced it in her satchel.
"It's worth a try...though if he spots us we might be the ones getting ambushed..." Nivanee shook her head. "In any case, what's say we catch up with Team Spade and get their testimony before heading out for Breezy Plain?"
Vizon nodded, patting Avery on the shoulder.
"They should be out by the north gate, as usually." The Riolu said, unfurling the map, pointing to Breezy Plain on the map. There, just sound of the city of Arceliaze, was a massive expanse of grass surrounded by forests in the dead center of the country. Avery looked down at the map...and his eyes widened in recognition.
"Oh! Oh, I...that's where I...that's where I woke up!"
"Yeah, exactly!" Vizon said, smiling. "It's a wide, wide expanse. Lots of ground to cover...here's hoping that they've left a trail to follow."
Nivanee stepped forward, Vizon and Jolvia following. Rikzyod slapped Avery on the back encouragingly as the group moved south toward south gate to meet up with Team Spade.
"Come, Avery. Let us have some fun today!" The Geodude cheered, Avery laughing with him.
With a pep in the team's step, they all moved through the streets of Arceliaze, soon getting back out into the farming district, following the dirt pathways past plots of farmland, coming to the stone archway signaling the start of the massive Village district.
And there, leaning against the archway and talking to one another, was Lahnae and Loshjno. The Torchic perked up, noticing the approaching team and waving.
"Avery!" She blurted, Loshjno looking their way as well.
"Hey, guys!" Avery called, waving to them as he picked up the pace towards them. They were nearly off. They were nearly there to try and capture the Old Wanderer! "We're just here to collect intel on the Old Wanderer before we go. Your talk about the swamp really helped us last time, heh..."
Lahnae bounced over excitedly, Loshjno coming up from behind. Nivanee handed Vizon a pen and paper, which the Riolu took immediately, understanding.
"Oh yeah yeah, totally! We were just waiting for you guys!" She eyed over the group, looking to Avery, Vizon, Nivanee, Jolvia and Rikzyod. "...Cool team by the way!"
"Thank you!" Rikzyod rumbled, pointing to her and Loshjno. "Cool you! And you, too!"
Lahnae giggled proudly, looking to Avery.
"So, you wanna know how it all went down, huh?" She asked, rubbing the back of her head. "I can try to be as specific as possible.
"Yes, as must detail as you can spare." Nivanee urged, nodding to Vizon who got ready to jot down notes.
"Alright..." Lahnae leaned close, voice going quiet. "Listen real carefully. This is how it all went down...:
"Here's how I remember it: Loshjno and I were tasked with sweeping Tall Woods and asking after the Thieves' Guild in Souljraan right? We do it sometimes when some big name criminal is on the loose, sweeping around, trying to look for clues...
"So while walking through the woods we get to this real dark spot...it's a patch of tall woods where the ground flattens out on the hill and the canopy is super thick. Basically zero sunlight...Loshjno stops and starts getting a bad feeling..."
"It's because I heard voices." Loshjno said.
"Yeah, Loshjno heard 'em first. He whispers to me that he heard voices and I strain to listen...I don't think I heard what he was hearing."
"It was like a crowd." Loshjno said, shaking his head. "...you know...that rumble where you can't pick out too many individual voices. I'd guess around...20 or 30 individuals."
"In the middle of the woods." Lahnae shuddered. "Like an idiot I tell him to lead us towards the voices cuz, like, during a sweep you HAVE to be brave and look into stuff like this.
"But then, get this: not a few more steps in we both nearly have a HEART ATTACK when someone shouts at us to stop. I puff out some embers to try and see someone and I see the Pachirisu first, in the thicket, like, just WATCHING us, SUPER freaky!
"Loshjno shouts, we drop down to avoid a lightning bolt. I puff another ember and see some more shapes in the forest but can't make anyone out specifically. After some shuffling and running the Poke'mon are surrounding us and changing position rapidly, some of them even go up in the trees and I can't get a good sight on any of them...
"Until at last, more attacks come. Loshjno and I try to blast where they're coming from but one hits Loshjno square in the head...then from the trees, get this, that Old Wanderer creep announces themselves!
"They say 'You won't go another step in these woods! The Old Wanderer opposes you at every step!', like it's some lame-o scare tactic."
"That must be the 'showboating'..." Nivanee noted, Vizon scribbling in his notes. "That confirms the one in the tree was the real one."
"Before they attacked again I uh..." Lahnae stopped.
"Lahnae tearfully begged them to stop and leave us alone..." Loshjno smiled, shrugging. "She didn't want me hurt any more."
Lahnae huffed, flushing.
"I didn't cry..." Lahnae muttered, Loshjno just laughing.
"But the point is, and my head was swimming at this point but...they all just kind of stopped." Loshjno raised his eyebrows, a curious look on his face. "And with that, the one in the tree called off the attack, saying 'they had enough, let the kids go. Turn back now, you guild kids won't catch us!'."
Lahnae blew a raspberry.
"The members all scattered in different directions. But..." Lahnae smirked. "Here's the important part...the only one to head directly east from Tall Woods was the one in the tree, the Old Wanderer! And the best part? It was raining when it all happened. So more than likely...The Old Wanderer has got to have left a trail you can find."
Avery nodded, Looking to Vizon as he jotted that down.
"Okay, gotcha...! That really helps...! Do you know where exactly in the woods they were when they fled? If not that's fine, it'll just narrow the area we have to search for a trail to track the guy down."
Lahnae hummed, pulling out her own map of Arcea and drawing on it. She circled a bit of forest on the westernmost edge of Breezy Plain, deep in Tall Woods, with an arrow pointing directly east.
"Here. The dotted line is the carriage trail from Arceliaze to Souljraan." Lahnae explained, tracing the line that went along the west edge of the surrounding forest. "I think we were ambushed somewhere around the 'X' in Tall Woods, so the clue may be on the dirt path in the circle there. I assume the Old Wanderer had to cross that path if they were running eastward."
"If I remember Sarfallinus correctly..." Nivanee began. "The Old Wanderer's team should be regrouping by now, and may have already done so, mostly likely they're all somewhere out in Breezy Plains. If we follow a trail, it could lead us straight to their encampment."
Avery nodded, looking down at the map. "Alright. I think we've got it. Is there anything else to do? Because...if not, I think we're ready to go!"
Nivanee shook her head.
"We're ready." The Eevee said, looking up the side of valley Arceali, her brow knitted in determination. "We'll get them this time, there's no way they'll escape."
"Not from Team Azure!" Vizon nudged Avery happily. Jolvia snickered, simply watching the three work. Lahnae nodded as well.
"Well, I guess we better head off south and get the way to Dovve Fo Uddjo ready!" She said, gleefully flashing one of the vouchers. She grabbed Loshjno's hand, the Squirtle yelping as she dragged him away excitedly. "Kick that Old Wanderer jerk's BUTT for us, Avery! We're counting on you!"
"We're counting on you two, too!" Avery said as they ran off. "Come back victorious!"
Vizon nodded, putting the notepad away, patting Avery on the back.
With that, the group set out, crossing the archway into the village district, clambering up the steep slopes of the Arceali Valley.
And when they crested the hill...a gentle breeze blew across. Tall grass swayed in the cool spring air. The morning dew still yet hung and glistened in the sun...they now stood before the vast expanse of Breezy Plains.
Avery took a deep breath through his nose as he looked out at the plains. He hadn't been back here since that first day...this was it.
"Alright. Let's track those bandits and bring them in." Aver punched his palm.
"Ha! That's the spirit!" Rikzyod cheered, punching the air. Vizon unfurled his map of Arcea to look it over.
Still so close to Arceliaze, the area was hardly uninhabited. In fact, the group stood by one of the microvillages of the Village District, sat here at the top of Arceali valley. A brick building or two sat here along with wood buildings. A few Poke'mon milled about out here, including a flash merchant with his carpet rolled out under the shade of an awning outside a small local restaurant, clearly here to accept anyone first entering the city.
Jolvia stood by, watching the three guild members with interest. Nivanee took out a compass.
"Alright, Avery. We're currently facing south, toward Taeriana. The path to Souljraan goes west before curving towards the south, following the edge of Tall Woods before turning west again to Souljraan on the southwestern edge of Breezy Plain." Nivanee explained, her eyes tracing the path. "Keep that map handy, we're going to need it to keep our bearings. Breezy Plain is a big place without many landmarks."
"Oh trust me, I know," Avery huffed, giving Nivanee a little smile. "I dropped down here in the afternoon, and by the time I got to a road it was basically already dark. But...if we're going to start with the tracks...we should work our way down towards the Tall Woods, seeing if we can find any tracks that would fit the description of one of the Old Wanderer's members. Maybe some soliciting for info would be a good idea too..."
Vizon nodded, looking at the landscape then over at the buildings nearby.
"Well...we can start by asking anyone if they've seen anything."
Nivanee nodded at the suggestion. Jolvia and Rikzyod followed behind as they all made their way to the brick buildings. Nivanee was first up as she walked to the merchant under the awning.
"Good day. Nivanee, Team Duskwalker at the Arceali Guild." Nivanee turned on her 'professional voice', addressing the merchant. "We're investigating the trail of the Old Wanderer. Do you mind if I ask after anything you might have seen or heard?"
The merchant, a Skitty, perked up, nodding softly.
"Oh ho ho, yes! Yes! Do ask! Ask away!" The skitty agreed, bouncing. She was clearly starstruck by Nivanee, the Eevee smiling warmly at the reception.
"Thank you very much! The Old Wanderer was observed attacking guild members out west in Tall Woods and is believed to be out in Breezy Plains. Tell me, did you notice anything yesterday or last night?"
"Well, yesterday 'twas raining. Not much to see. Just a quick shower, 'course." The Skitty replied. "I had to pack up me effects during it."
"What about after the rain?"
"Well, by the time the rain stopped 'twas about...evening?" The Skitty pondered, trying to remember. "I got me stuff back out in a jiff, just as the sun was hitting the horizon and it gets real dark."
Nivanee nodded, Vizon was already scribbling in his notebook.
"Only strange thing I noticed the whole night...mmm...oh, wait, I remember, how's this? I remember me mate, Holus, sweet Raichu man, he was out having a puff of Totter while there were no customers at his bar. While I'm mouthin' off to him about some story he stops me sayin' he saw some kinda flash waaaay out in the dark of the plains."
Nivanee cocked an eyebrow, urging the woman to go on.
"I says 'flash, what flash?'. And he points out south. And on my life we sees this...dot? Lil dot of light way on the horizon, squint or you'd miss it, tiny lil' thing. Orange 'r red. Might've been a smoke plume with it but it was real dark and it was gone by the time Sanshiyad raised in the sky."
Nivanee hummed.
"So...a mysterious flash and glow south from the city exit, hm?" Nivanee repeated, Vizon scribbling.
"Weird..." He mused.
"Anything else?" Nivanee prodded.
"Naught, says I. Other than that strange happenings, it was a quiet night."
"Well, I do thank you very much." Nivanee said, bowing softly, turning to Avery and leading him away. "Alright, Avery...sounds like there wasn't much else to see. Our Skitty friend here sounds like she was out all night."
"Hm...a flash south of the city exit. That'd be over that way," Avery mumbled, looking slightly southeast. "So we have two leads. The tracks and the flash."
Jolvia reached for the dossier, Nivanee letting her take it as she reviewed.
"Emolga...Pachirisu...Nidorina...Pikachu...Rattata..." Jolvia read, nodding. "We need to look for telltale signs of one of these."
Nivanee hummed to herself, Jolvia handing the dossier back.
"But a flash...I wonder what that could be..." Nivanee wondered.
"Avery, what's say we follow the path and see if we find any tracks?" Vizon suggested. "Lahnae said if tracks would be anywhere they'd be on the west side of Breezy Plains."
"Here's hoping there's anything left. Mind you recall the path is traveled multiple times a day by carriage and occasional foot traffic." Jolvia put in, Nivanee and Vizon both sucking in a breath at that.
Rikzyod, as ever, looked lost.
"Nghhh...too much thinking..." He grumbled. Avery nodded.
"The trail's definitely the one that could go cold faster. The glow south might have already gone cold, so...I'm thinking we go trail first."
Nivanee nodded, letting Vizon pass and lead the group along the path. The buildings were soon far behind them, the path trailing west toward Souljraan. As it cane near the forest it curved,now heading south alongside the forest. A little ditch was dug between the forest and the path, still partially filled with water. The path was moist but not muddy, still drying from the shower last night.
For a long time the group walked, all eyes peeled on the dirt path for any tracks, any footprints, irregularities.
Just as there seemed to be nothing of note on the path something might catch your eye...there was a line in the path ahead, a break.
Vizon perked up, Nivanee too, the pair bounding ahead to see.
"Look...we found them..." Nivanee said, looking back as Vizon examined the oval, blobby disturbances in the mud.
"Are you sure?" Jolvia asked. "This muddy path is like clay to every passing creature or gust of wind..."
"No no, look..." Nivanee pointed out, Vizon leaning in with his notepad. "They're angled east-west, with mud kicked westward, meaning whoever left these was heading east. Deeply set, it's a run not a gait. They're a little messed up so they're unclear but considering these are in the area Lahnae mentioned...these are definitely the tracks we're looking for. Has to be."
Vizon wrote in his notepad, Jolvia nodding, satisfied.
"So...do we follow them?" The Riolu asked.
Avery looked down at the tracks, bending down to look them over.
"First we should verify for sure that this is one of our five suspects." Avery said, eying them closely.
'Nidorina. Pikachu. Emolga. Pachirisu. Rattata. Does this match any of them...?'
Unfortunately, wear from passerby and carriages reduced these tracks to indistinct blobs. Avery vaguely saw a scrape of small claws but that alone didn't narrow it down between a team of rodents.
"... Nidorina's pretty big compared to the other four," Avery said, looking at the others. "They're too washed out to make specifics, but the rodents have pretty similar foot shapes to me, and Nidorina's paws would be much bigger."
Avery put his own paw next to the footprints to measure his own paw's size to them, similar as they were. He also looked at Jolvia's paws, trying to contrast them together. If this fit either of them...they had a lead. It was hard to determine...the tracks had been widened...or did they shrink as they dried? But they were somewhere between Avery's paw size and Jolvia's...
"Mmm...close. You have the right idea, Avery..." Jolvia noted, setting her own paw by the track. "I think it could be closer to yours, but we may need to find clearer tracks. These were made messily and have quickly deteriorated."
"... Well, I can't verify them," Avery said slowly. "Not beyond a doubt, anyway. But I think it'd be worth it to track them anyhow. We might as well see if they go south of the city, where the Skitty saw the flash."
Jolvia nodded, following after Avery as Vizon continued jotting down notes. Rikzyod trailed behind with Nivanee, the Eevee keeping an eye on the trail as it continued into the grass.
Avery could see patches of grass crushed in a line. It was subtle...if one weren't looking for them they'd have never noticed the broken stalks of wild grass and weeds. Due to the grass the footprints in the dirt were too light and subtle to make out clearly.
The trail continued eastward, farther and farther from the line of trees, deeper into the plains. The team occasionally has to pause to look carefully, making sure they can still see the path. But soon, Vizon stopped, holding Avery's shoulder.
"What's wrong, Vizon?" Nivanee asked, stepping up beside. She looked side to side looking over the tracks...
Except, when Avery looked closely...the tracks seemed to split. One set of tracks continued eastward while another set seemed to go south. The eastward set of tracks seemed to double-up, as though the tracks went east then came back. Vizon pulled out the map, trying to pinpoint their location...
Avery looked down at the tracks, frowning deeply.
"Hmm... I wonder if the Old Wanderer split up? The easternmost tracks work the best with the glow last night, but we still don't know what caused that, or...if that was even the Old Wanderer. Do you think it's worth it to split up ourselves, or should we stay together in case of a possible ambush? "
"Split up...?" Vizon mused, flipping through his notebook. "You think The Old Wanderer was traveling with someone?"
"But there's only one set of tracks from Tall Woods to here." Nivanee put in.
"Ah, but, those tracks leading south...could they have instead been heading north to this spot?"
"You mean someone meeting up with the Old Wanderer? Then both of them going east, hence two sets of tracks?"
Jolvia nodded, looking to Avery.
"Whatever the case it's important we stick together. Thinning our ranks will mean a tougher battle against a strong Poke'mon." Jolvia continued. Nivanee huffed at Jolvia's explanation.
"I coulda said that..." The Eevee grumble.
"Either way, where we heading, Avery?" Vizon asked.
"... If this was going to the woods... But there's the... Hmm..." The Plusel's frown deepened. "Why is there only one set of tracks here? Where did the other set go when they converged...?"
Avery looked back towards Tall Woods.
"And when did they go back there? Before or after the flash?"
Avery tapped his arm. He didn't really get it. Vizon shook his head.
"Well, no, the way the mud was kicked up on the path by tall woods showed whoever made those tracks was leaving Tall Woods, probably right after Team Spade was attacked..." Vizon said, flipping through his notes. "Here's how I see it:
1 - Team spade, ATTACKED!
2 - The Old Wanderer's Team SCATTERS, the real Old Wanderer running directly east.
3 - The Old Wanderer BURSTS from Tall Woods, running across the muddy path by the treeline, into the grass
4 - The Old Wanderer reaches this spot and? Meets up with someone? Who approached them from the south?
5 - They? Head together?, continuing east, giving us our two sets of tracks heading that way.
"At least that's what it seems like right now..." Vizon admitted.
"Thus...maybe this isn't a split at all? But a meeting?" Jolvia hummed, sounding unsure, even though she were the one to posit the theory. The Plusel nodded in thought.
"... Hmm... You think maybe the rest of them scattered, one of them went south and met the others here, which means..." Avery folded his arms. "There's two of the five here. If we find the glow..."
Avery looked further east.
"Maybe that's where the rest of them met up. Three of them are electric types so that's not too far fetched..."
Nivanee nodded, facing east with him, walking ahead through the grass, Vizon following behind.
They all trudged a short ways, everyone keeping an eye on the tracks, until-
"Ow!"
Nivanee flinched, stepping back. Vizon nearly bumped into her, Jolvia tripping forward past Nivanee, yelping. The Eevee lifted a paw, a small cut on her pad...but instead of red...it oozed purple.
"Tingling..." She muttered, looking ahead. In front of the group was a massive patch of purple, twisting, coiling thorny vines.
"Poison bramble..." Vizon sighed. "And a whole lot of it, too."
Nivanee sighed, taking a Pecha berry from her bag and swallowing it immediately. Even the small prick had inflicted severe poison on her. Jolvia, meanwhile, lied face-first in the patch of poison bramble, slowly getting up.
"Ow...ow..." She muttered, getting up, lifting a paw up at an offered Pecha berry. "No, no, I'm immune, remember? Just a little prick."
She stepped out of the bramble, everyone backing from it, taking a look at the tracks.
The tracks seemed to go into the bramble...a few crushed stalks of vines showed where the two tracks seemed to...converge.
...or, rather, it seemed to be one set of tracks all along, going into the bramble a ways then turning around and heading back.
Vizon scribbled on the map, updating it.
"...That's the Nidorina," Avery mumbled, squinting down at the spikes in the ground. "...It has to be. Are you going to be okay, Niv...? That seemed really nasty compared to how little of a prick that was."
He looked back at the rest of the team. Rikzyod and Jolvia would be fine, they couldn't be poisoned if memory served...but Viz, Niv and he would have to be very careful about it.
"Do you guys think this is where the glow was?" Avery suggested. "Maybe there's something more here...but I wouldn't want anyone endangering themselves by going in there. Rikzyod and Jolvia are the only ones that wouldn't get poisoned up the kiester by going inside...and I don't feel comfortable sending only two people to investigate. It could be a trap."
"Hmm, I don't know if it'd do any good to investigate further anyway..." Jolvia noted, pointing down to the ground. Nivanee perked up looking down, followed by Vizon. On the ground Avery could see..
...a pecha berry, bitten into and discarded. Its insides were getting mushy, it had been here a few hours.
"Oh..." Nivanee stroked her chin. "Does that explain the two sets of tracks? Why the tracks loop back from the bramble?"
Avery looked down at the pecha berry. This...was pretty far fetched, but...if the teeth marks looked rodent-like, that might be a team of the Old Wanderer poisoned themselves.
"Why would they go into a patch of poison bramble just to double back...?" Avery asked. "Unless they're trying to lead anyone tracking them down the garden path."
"Guess they don't expect to be followed." Jolvia mused, staring down at the pecha berry. "They're being sloppy. If this is our Old Wanderer...doesn't it make sense that a showboating blowhard would try to run through a patch of poison bramble only to scramble back out and quickly eat a pecha or two...or three and a half. Hubris, hubris, and their hubris is only going to compound with all these amatuer mistakes."
"Amatuer..." Nivanee muttered, leaning over to the Plusel and whispering. "...Avery, who is this lady?"
Avery just smiled and gave a helpless shrug. Jolvia was as much of a mystery to himself as the identity of their quarry. Nivanee gave Jolvia a sideways glance...but conceded, saying no more. Jolvia turned back to face them, pretending not to notice.
"So that confirms one thing." The Nidorina said. "The Old Wanderer tried to brave the poison bramble patch but got severely poisoned, eating Pecha berries to recover."
"...Which crosses off the Nidorina as a possible suspect," Avery said, looking at the others, "...considering we have an example here."
He nodded to Jolvia.
"Jolvia can't get poisoned, which means unless this is a Nidorina of a different type, the Nidorina suspect can't either. And considering the berries here...I'd say the Old Wanderer did get poisoned."
Avery looked back, a smile on his face.
"So that's one down, four to go."
"Let's head back to where the path branched, ok?" Nivanee suggested. "We'll follow the footsteps south."
Vizon nodded, updating the map:
The group began making tracks toward the split, following the old patches of crushed grass west. They all turned, now following the path to the south. The way south was a tad longer, the footsteps no more clear this way. Vizon looked worried, clearly hoping they were making the right deductions so far.
"Well, at least we only have to choose between four..." The Riolu muttered, looking to the team leader. "We're really doing it, Avery!"
Jolvia looked back to the two, smiling, that ever mysterious glint present in her eye as they all continued south.
Then, something caught Avery's eye. A patch of bare dirt, no grass. The area was cleared...and there were objects left behind.
Jolvia tsk'd, shaking her head.
"Sloppy..."
Avery saw a large black piece of tarp with a sigil on it...some piled wood...the footprints led right to this spot.
"...Has the Old Wanderer been known to be this sloppy?" Avery asked suspiciously, looking between Nivanee and Jolvia. "First the poisoning themselves, then the camp...I wonder what happened after they attacked Spade last night. Were they being chased, or something...?"
Nivanee hummed, shaking her head.
"I don't know...I never got a chance to do a thorough investigation..." She admitted, padding carefully around what appeared to be...an abandoned campsite. "Maybe all this time being uncaught has made him cocky."
"All the better for us." Jolvia replied flatly, following Avery as he carefully got closer to the tarp to see if he recognized the sigil.
"A tent, left behind..." Vizon noted, scribbling. "...that is sloppy."
Avery looked at the tarp for a moment.
'Them just leaving this behind seemed...odd. Why would they leave a perfectly good tent behind if they weren't trying to leave in a hurry?'
His thoughts were interrupted by Nivanee's voice.
"We've got him now. Look at this." Nivanee said, gesturing to the wood pile.
Clear as day, it was an old campfire. The wood was charred as expected, but something caught Avery's eye..
"You know what this is?" Jolvia asked, smirking.
Avery paused, turning to the pile of wood. It looked almost like the beginning of a campfire, if not for the odd pattern on the top.
"It looks...somewhat scorched, but from the top. If that was a normal campfire, the bottom would be burnt up too..."
"Flash and glow." Jolvia said, a smile spreading across her face, recalling the Skitty's story. Nivanee looked around as Vizon lifted the flaps of the dismantled tent.
"...Oh!" Avery's eyes lit up. "So you think this was a flashbang or something?" Avery asked. Jolvia only hummed in thought.
"A flash bang...or a move that could light a fire." Jolvia thought out loud as Vizon looked over the tent.
"What kind of hurry were they in?" Vizon mused, voicing Avery's thoughts.
"Scared, I'd reckon!" Rikzyod laughed, lifting the black tent suddenly, making Vizon yelp. The Riolu looked confused. Avery looked over at Rikzyod and laughed a bit when he yanked the tent up.
'He probably thought he'd find one of them cowering beneath it.'
"Scared? What for?" Vizon asked the Geodude.
"Of us!" Rikzyod laughed. "Immediate retaliation for attacking the guild! We're not but a stone's throw from Arceliaze! They were in quite a lot of danger."
"Which means we need to hurry." Jolvia urged, standing up. "Wherever they are they could be packing up camp and running off any second now."
"We're getting hot on their trail, Rik, we'll get to skirmish yet." Avery rubbed his paws together.
"Mmm.." Rikzyod mused, looking at the pattern on the tent. A schism sigil was printed on, again, different from the ones Avery had seen before. This time a lightning bolt went through a lightning pattern. He dropped it with a huff, Vizon puffing his cheeks.
"Alright...which way now? Are there any more tracks?" Vizon asked.
"Here." Nivanee called, pointing to another set of crushed grass tracks heading east. Vizon nodded, updating the map again. "This must be where the Old Wanderer ran just this morning."
"All the clues up until now have been from last night. Now, everything we see will have happened more recently, I'd say." Nivanee noted, Jolvia nodding.
"Alright, so if it was this morning, this must be only hours old." Avery said, smiling. "They can't have gotten far...!"
"Watch out, Old Wanderer! We're coming for you!" Vizon cheered with him, Nivanee beaming at their combined energy, Rikzyod SMASHING his fists together. The team began to move eastward, hot on the trail of the crushed grass.
It wasn't long until the trail ran right toward something, what looked to be an old, old splintered wood fence. The fence was overgrown, tall grass and vines surrounding its slowly rotting frame.
"Wow...guess there used to be a micro village out here." Nivanee thought to herself as they approached the fence. "This could be decades or even a hundred years old..."
Just as the group was about to duck under the wood posts, Nivanee stopped, looking close at the under side of the fence.
"Ohhh...gotcha now." She smirked, beckoning Avery and Vizon closer, Rikzyod and Jolvia leaning in as well to see...
...a bit of blood. Fresh blood. And a small tuft of yellow fur. Avery looked at the fur, frowning in thought.
"...Pikachu," he mumbled, staring at the fur. "None of the others have yellow fur. Just Pikachu. If this is the Old Wanderer then they've had a rough past twenty four hours...poisoned, scary location to camp, cut on the fence. I almost feel bad."
"Psh, I don't." Vizon huffed. "Serves them right for hurting Loshjno."
Nivanee nodded in agreement while Jolvia nodded at Avery's assessment.
"It's looking likely to be the Pikachu, but let's make sure to keep our eyes peeled." She said as the group began to go under or around the fence, continuing the follow the trail. "Any clue is still worth holding on to."
Vizon scribbled in his map as they all continued...
In short time past the fence, Nivanee stopped, halting the group, peering ahead.
"Gah, more poison bramble. The trail continues up north. Guess our wanderer learned his lesson from last time." She snickered, pivoting northward as Vizon continued to update his map...
Avery looked at the poison bramble, narrowing his eyes.
"Is this...normal here?" He asked, feeling worried. "When I was here before, I didn't notice any of these. I'm...glad I didn't come upon any of them, it would have been the death of me, I think..."
"Yeah, it's fairly common, you really were lucky..." Vizon noted, stepping away from the poison bramble.
"I always have to watch for Poison Bramble when crossing Breezy Plains..." Nivanee put in. "Of course in the dark or in a panic it's easy to lose track of the stuff and fall in..."
Avery shivered a little at the thought of it.
'I could have absolutely died.'
The group continued as the trail curved eastward again, the end of the bramble patch reached. As they continued to move they came upon a tree, seemingly rare for these plains. But as the group approached...Avery could tell there was something worth looking into with this tree.
Avery approached the tree, looking at it carefully.
"Three points of interest I see. Claw marks on the tree, like they were trying to climb it. Broken branch. Footprints beneath it. They tried to climb up onto the branch, and it broke, maybe?"
'Broken branch...
Claw marks on the tree...
Footprints beneath the branch...'
"Yup...looks like it. And look, looks like that surprise hard landing left the clearest footprints yet." Nivanee noted, leaning in with Avery as everyone examined the tree.
"Lahnae said the Old Wanderer was up in a tree, so they're clearly a good climber..." Vizon noted.
"But perhaps too heavy for a branch..." Jolvia put in.
Nivanee stared deeply at the footprints.
"...and bipedal." She finished
"...No Rattata, no Nidorina," Avery said, looking down at the prints. "And from them not being good at trees, I'm going to say no Emolga or Pachirisu either, since...those are both very at home in trees."
He looked back at the others.
"If we haven't made any mistakes...I think we have our culprit."
Nivanee smiled at Avery's assessment, Vizon nodding.
"All the pieces are coming together." Vizon said, Jolvia and Rikzyod going on ahead as the trail continued south. In the distance Avery could see an old wood post and hill.
"We've got to be getting close, though. Stay very very alert, you two." Nivanee warned, slowing her pace as she followed behind Jolvia.
As they all approached the post Avery spotted something...fluttering on it...Vizon saw it too, pausing. Avery stopped, squinting his eyes as he leaned forwards, trying to figure out what the thing was. Another piece of fabric...?
Indeed, there on the post a ripped bit of green fabric fluttered in the wind. Vizon made a final update to his map.
'This seems almost like a diversion. There was no way they wouldn't know that we're on their tail now.'
"...even if they get away," Avery whispered, "...we have a very strong idea who the Old Wanderer is. And that's...very valuable information."
"Yeah...we got him now. Even if he gets away, his little shtick of hiding in the group is shot." Vizon said, the rest of the group continuing onward quickly. Nivanee beamed with pride as she watched Vizon and Avery, the pair shooting her a smile back.
No matter what, they were in this together.
The others in the group began slowly creeping up the hill. Nivanee got low, Jolvia crawling on her stomach in the tall grass. Vizon looked back at Avery, putting his notes away.
"This is it, buddy..." He said, giving an encouraging smile. "...you ready?"
Avery took a deep breath.
"We can do this. Everyone, it's time."
In. Out.
"Let's ground this wanderer."
Vizon nodded, patting Avery on the shoulder. Then, he crouched, getting low in the grass, letting it obscure him. As they both crept forward towards the hill, the tension built...and built. The others were already at the top, Vizon just ahead of Avery as they both joined them.
Slowly, as they came to the top and looked out...they saw...
Vizon gasped silently, Nivanee silent as the dead, staring intensely out at the Pe'mon spread far apart from one another, dotting the hills amongst their tents. They kept low, hidden by the grass, observing the bandits, the Thieves Guild...the Old Wanderer's team.
"It's just like the dossier said..." Nivanee muttered. "Scattered, ready to bolt at the signal flare should one of them be attacked in order to preserve the identity of The Old Wanderer..."
"Not that it'll help him now..." Vizon muttered. His breaths were deep and slow. Jolvia looked back at Avery.
"...Okay," Avery whispered. "They're probably ready to bolt at the first signal. So...I think instead of trying to bring in all of them...we just need to bring in one. I don't even know if it has to be the Old Wanderer, since...we know who that is now."
"I'd rather we book the real one..." Nivanee said, eyebrow knitted. She looked determined. "I don't want to let him get away again."
Nivanee turned her head, opening her satchel to take out her spyglass, handing it over to Vizon.
"Do you see him...?" She asked as he lifted it up to his eye.
He looked out, tracing the horizon. Avery watched him, breath held. After a bit, Vizon hummed in thought.
"What?" Nivanee asked.
"I dunno...I'm having second thoughts about this guy's identity..." He muttered. He looked over to Avery, handing him the spyglass. "Avery, take a look. What do you think?"
Avery looked at Vizon.
"What's giving you doubts...?"
Vizon squirmed.
"The Emolga looks hurt...on its yellowed wing..." he replied.
Jolvia hissed.
"Which means trouble using the wing flaps to balance."
"Mutliple bipeds..." Vizon continued, shaking his head. Avery furrowed his brow, taking the spyglass from him. "Even the Nidorina...look for yourself. Let's make sure we're certain."
Avery frowned.
"...Right," he mumbled, narrowing his eyes. "We know it's not the Nidorina though - they were poisoned. But if it's hurt...we did see old blood, which..."
The Plusel lifted the spyglass, trying to get a clear look at each of the bandits. He brought his spyglass up to the first Poke'mon, the Rattata...green and red scarves...
"We've already knocked off the Rattata, right?" Vizon muttered.
"Yeah, has to be a biped." Nivanee responded. "No idea if they can climb trees, but they'd be susceptible to poison..."
"Yeah, no way it's them..." Avery muttered. He brought his spyglass over to the Emolga, taking a good look. "And remember, they have to be wearing green, too, from the scrap we saw."
There she was, the Emloga. Fresh cut on her wing, clearly would leave a tuft of yellow fur. Susceptible to poison and mostly bipedal and in no condition to properly navigate a tree.
"I dunno..." Vizon muttered. Avery could hear him stroking his chin.
Avery cringed.
'That...looks like a nasty cut.'
"...Bipedal. The wing's torn. Can't fly with that. Susceptible to poison. But..." Avert squinted. "...No green. She's wearing orange and yellow."
He paused, looking at Vizon.
"What's up...?"
"Nervous, that's all..." Vizon said. Avery could practically feel his heartbeat from here. Nivanee's breathing was slow, focused.
Avery nodded and went to move to the Pachirisu next
There was the Pachirisu. Bipedal...green scarf with a clear tear. Looked to be bad with the tent she was building. If anyone would leave one behind it'd be the one struggling right now, surely.
"...But no yellow fur, and no reason to fall from a tree," Avery mumbled. "The only yellow's on her cheeks, and the scarf isn't soaked with blood to suggest an injury."
To be sure Avery went to the Nidorina. Just to make sure they weren't possible.
There was the Nidorina. Seeming to be enjoying a snack of...Pecha berries, which seemed an odd fixation. She looked to have several in her pack.
"...Hm. The Nidorina's eating Pecha Berries," Avery whispered. "...So immunity to poison might not be a knockout on its own. But...no yellow fur, no green scarf. Tent's set up.
Finally...Pikachu. The last one.
There in the back, the Pikachu. No Pecha berries. Bipedal. Yellow fur...
Avery's eyes went wide.
"...There. Her scarf is torn. The same pattern we saw on the post. Bipedal. Yellow. Green scarf."
He looked back at the others.
"Her elbow is injured too, from the looks of it. Can't see her back, but I'd bet you there's a scratch there too, from the fence."
"You think she's the one?" Vizon said, squinting. "I didn't even see the elbow or scarf tear..."
Nivanee was silent, only giving Avery a sideways glance. Jolvia piped up.
"Alright, sounds like you're satisfied." She said to the Plusel. Nivanee and Vizon nodded in agreement. "We'll need to keep low and circle the perimeter to remain unseen...ready to nab the Old Wanderer, Avery?"
"..." The Plusel frowned. "Do we...do we think...do we have any hangups about this? Niv? Viz? Jolvia, Rikzyod, any of you think it could be someone else...?"
"Nope..." Vizon sighed, grinning to him. "...I trust you, Avery."
Nivanee lifted a paw, patting the Plusel's back.
"Likewise...I trust you." Nivanee said.
"I think you've got it perfectly." Jolvia said, not taking her eyes off the Pikachu in the distance.
"Let us SMASH this Old Wanderer, uh? And hope he puts up a good fight!" Rikzyod said merrily.
All four of them smiled at Avery, their full trust in him.
'Deep breath. In. Out.'
"We'll have to be fast." Avery said, nodding to his team. "Knock 'em out and send 'em away with our badge before the others have a chance to get away with them. Be prepared for dirty tactics. Flashbangs, bombs, that sort of thing."
He clenched his fists.
"Let's do this."
Everyone nodded.
Nivanee motioned her head to the side, all of them following her in the tall grass. She moved like a predator through the foliage, Jolvia following close behind, Vizon and Rikzyod right behind Avery.
In a single file line, they all silently shuffled through the tall grass, slowly circling the camp. In the distance Avery could see the tents of the other members of the Old Wanderer's team.
The sun was high in the sky.
Slowly, they saw her, between the blades of grass. In the open and alone, the Pikachu, the Old Wanderer.
"On your command, we strike, Avery." Nivanee whispered.
Everyone froze.
Everyone waited for his word
Deep breath.
In. Out.
One more time.
"Go."
All at once, all five Poke'mon LEAPT with Avery!
Nivanee SHOT out with a quick attack! Jolvia sprinted behind Avery! Vizon FIRED an aura sphere! Rocks from Rikzyod SAILED overhead! The Geodude sang and laughed, ROARING as the sneak attack STRUCK!
The Pikachu yelped, immediately knocked to the ground by the quick attack. Then the aura ball SLAMMED into her! The rocks PELTED her as she was FLOWN back!
The Pikachu scrabbled to her feet, a look of confusion in her eyes, totally caught off guard! She fumbled for her satchel, desperately taking out a blue blast seed and throwing it down.
A billow of smoke shot up into the air. A yelp sounded from over the ridge!
"The others're scattering!" Vizon yelled, reading another aura sphere. "Let's hope this Pikachu is the right one!"
The Pikachu recovered her footing, standing her ground before them, even as a fear crossed her eyes.
"What, are you scared?" Avery taunted, standing his ground as the others scattered. "I thought you were supposed to be the Old Wanderer, not the Old Coward-! Surely someone like you could hold her own, eh, Wanderer?"
Avery pushed through, firing a few bolts at the Pikachu! The Pikachu tensed, dodging to the side as the bolts SAILED pasted. She squinted, getting a good look at the team.
At their badges.
Avery heard her curse.
Quickly, she bolted left, DIVING! Spraying multiple energy shots out in a wide arc!
Vizon DOVE for Jolvia, knocking her down! The energy bolts SAILED into the group, everyone trying to dodge!
Nivanee ducked, speeding towards the Old Wanderer. Quick attack! Another clean shot! But this time the Pikachu GRABBED Nivanee's limbs and TOSSED her away in a pirouette!
Avery heard another curse from the Pikachu. She seemed panicked.
He looked down into his bag. The TM was there. Flash.
'...That could be useful.'
"Niv, h-how does this disk thing work-?" Avery looked back at the Pikachu, lobbing another bolt towards her while keeping his distance. Nivanee rolled, recovering and shaking her head.
"Grab it in both hands and focus!" She yelled, DIVING to dodge another bolt! It SOARED across and SLAMMED into the hill. Dust CASCADED out.
Vizon and Jolvia ran together, Rikzyod close behind. The pair LEAPT, preparing double kicks!
"Loyal guild, ever loyal guild!" The Pikachu hissed in a gravelly voice. She raised her arms, TANKING the four kicks delivered by Vizon and Jolvia.
Behind the two, Rikzyod LEAPT with a laugh, his forehead ROCKETING toward The Pikachu!
The Pikachu responded in kind!
A fierce HEADBUTT was Rikzyod's reward! Rock CRACKED, his skin SPLINTERED. The Geodude tumbled back, hysterical laughter echoing across the plains.
"Who're you?!" The Pikachu yelled, looking at all of them. "You're guild lapdogs, aren't you?! I don't recognize your team, though! Ruddy place finally get some new kindle for the pyre?!"
Avery took the disk out, and focused on it.
'Flash. Flash...trying to learn Flash.'
He winced at the sound of Rikzyod's rock cracking - that was familiar. He tried to refocus quickly.
"We're Team Azure...!" Avery shouted, gritting his teeth. "Loshjno and Lahnae send their regards-!"
The TM glowed in Avery's hands, the rainbow glow on its surface slowly dissipating. Build up electricity and...let the light CASCADE into a blinding flash! He always knew that. It was so obvious. The disk turned to stone.
"Never heard of 'em!" The Pikachu retorted.
Vizon threw a punch. The Pikachu CAUGHT it in hand! One fist CRACKED Vizon's side! Then his CHEST.
Left hook, right hook! SPIT flew! The Pikachu reared back, fist CRACKLING and SLAMMING into Vizon. The air SHUDDERED as he was FLOWN BACK, skidding and tumbling on the ground with a scream!
The Pikachu didn't get a second. Jolvia was on her! One punch in the jaw! Another! Nivanee slowly circled a distance from the Pikachu, readying a shadow ball.
The Piakchu grunted.
Cheap shot! Feint! She WRAPPED an arm around Jolvia's neck, swinging behind her. The pikachu hoisted Jolvia in a chokehold, the Nidorina body-blocking Nivanee's shadow ball! Jolvia screamed!
The Pikachu threw Jolvia to the ground. Her body CRACKLED with electric energy.
This...this was no ordinary enemy. She was trained. Intensely powerful.
She turned to Avery, brow furrowed, fists clenched, her THUNDEROUS footsteps coming near.
"And I've never heard of you." She growled.
She stomped closer...
closer...
"I...am Avery. Captain of Team Azure."
He rubbed his hands together...and waited for her to get closer.
Closer.
He turned his palms outwards! A BLAST of light ROCKETED out of his hands, giving the outlaw a taste of her own medicine!
The Pikachu screamed, STAGGERING back! COVERING her eyes! She tumbled, desperately trying to regain he footing!
A WILD bolt SHOT from her hands. Unfocused and random, striking the dirt. Her eyes were screwed shut.
Vizon staggered to his feet! Jolvia jumped back up! Nivanee was already RUNNING at the offensive as Rikzyod threw Jolvia an Oran berry!
The Pikachu growled, fists clenched, eyes closed, totally blinded.
"D'ya want me so bad, -Gooder?!" The Old Wanderer roared, body crackling. "Come take me!"
"Have it your way-!" Avery retorted.
With that, he RUSHED forward!
Her ear twitched.
Avery threw himself forward, trying to tackle her to the ground!
She spread her stance.
Avery SLAMMED into her body! She flung back.
Put a foot on his chest.
Rolled backwards.
And KICKED her foot out, TOSSING the Plusel into Nivanee! They yelped, falling back, Avery barely catching himself on Nivanee and righting himself.
The Pikachu swept her legs, back onto her feet. Eyes still screwed shut.
Vizon and Rikzyod flanked her. Vizon's arm GLOWED with aural energy.
The Pikachu swept her leg again, ducking under Rikzyod's punch, TRIPPING Vizon! She spun, tail GLOWING as her iron tail STRUCK across Rikzyod's body! One more spin, around Jolvia's poison string, as she SLAMMED her hand into Jolvia's head! GRIPPED it! A SHOCK exploded around the two, FRYING Jolvia!
The Nidorina fell, smoking.
The Pikachu backed off, clenching her fists.
"I said come take me, guildie! Or has Sarfallinus's little band of children lost their nerve? It's all fun and games until you trade blows with someone who fights back!" The Pikachu roared. "If you're to arrest me, do so quickly but don't waste my time!"
Her eyes were still screwed shut, still yet totally blind. Avery panted, a wave of fear gripping him.
'She can still sense us?!'
"Alright, Niv, we need a plan if we're going to take her in." Avery said, gasping for breath. "I don't think paralysis is going to work on her. So we need to figure something out. And quick."
Nivanee clambered back to her feet, helping Avery up. Her eyes were laser-focused on The Old Wanderer.
The Pikachu's ear twitched. She turned to face them both.
"She can hear us..." Nivanee muttered, the Pikachu electrifying her fists again. Nivanee turned her head, seeing Vizon trying another charge.
"Vizon, stop!"
The Riolu skidded to a halt, just as a fist whizzed right in front of his face. He backed off before a sweep kick connected.
The Pikachu's ears, pointed down, were swiveling in all directions as they all surrounded her. She'd keep her space with volleys of energy SHOT at the ground, kicking up dust.
"C'mon you guild rats!" The Old Wanderer bellowed, making Nivanee freeze. "C'mere, c'mere, bloody your paws again on me!"
Nivanee shook her head, whispering to Avery.
"We gotta deafen her...got blast seeds?"
Avery looked down at his bag, frowning. He looked to Nivanee, and held up a finger.
One. One blast seed. If they were going to use it, they had to make it count.
"Shoot, none?" Nivanee lied aloud, the Pikachu's ears swiveling. The Eevee nodded to Avery. "Alright, you run to the left..."
She motioned for him to go right instead.
"...and I'll charge her from the right..."
She motioned that she'd be going left instead. A misdirection she knew the Pikachu could hear.
Quickly, she BOLTED left, SLAMMING her front paws to sound more like a biped, masking her hind leg footsteps. The Pikachu's ears swiveled!
Avery got down on all fours, and began to run, rifling into his bag and palming the blast seed. His heart was pounding out of his chest. He came around to her right!
Thinking it was Nivanee, the Pikachu LUNGED for Avery, KICKING...but found no purchase! Her leg sailed over the shorter Plusel!
With a motion practiced from the marsh, Avery took the blast seed and cracked it into the ground beside the Pikachu!
She SCREAMED! The Explosion ROCKETED out, blowing her back toward Nivanee. The Eevee spun, tail glowing...!
and SLICED through the air! STRIKING the Pikachu!
Orange and Green tatters EVERYWHERE! Blood CASCADED!
The Pikachu was put into a spin, SLAMMING into the ground, skidding. Dust FLYING. Her headwraps torn to shreds with only the scarf around her neck remaining.
She lied, face-down, shaking.
"You got her!" Vizon cheered from behind. Jolvia and Rikzyod recovered, moving to encircle the downed Pikachu. Nivanee nodded to Avery to approach carefully. The Old Wanderer's ears would surely be ringing now!
"Okay-" Avery huffed, looking around at everyone. "Strike now! If we get her downed then we'll have captured the Old Wanderer-!"
He rushed forward, preparing a thunderous punch! Vizon readied a mach punch! Rikzyod with a SLAM! Jolvia flying in with a double kick! Nivanee sailing forward with iron tail!
The Old Wanderer hobbled to her feet. Slowly, she opened her eyes, trying to blink away the blurriness.
Avery could see her face now. Green eyes. An old scar on her lip. Ears folded behind her head. A tuft of messy hair from her head wraps upon her head.
Avery's thunder punch CONENCTED, STRIKING across her cheek! She backed up!
Vizon SCREAMED in, STRIKING the other cheek! She stumbled back again. Blood spat from her lip.
Rikzyod whiffed his slam but THREW his fits up, uppercutting the Pikachu.
BOTH of Jolvia's kicks connected! The Pikachu's body TWISTED as she was sent skidding to the side.
One more hit! THIS WAS IT!
THIS WAS IT!
...
Silence.
The Pikachu's legs wobbled, body shaking, blood dribbling down her chin as she grit her teeth. Bleary eyes drunkenly swayed from side to side, trying to get a look at her opponents.
Just one...more hit...
One more hit...
But it wouldn't come.
The Pikachu stepped back, straightening, fists clenched.
No more hits came.
Vizon jumped back. Rikzyod moved out the way. Jolvia back-stepped.
Nothing...nothing...
"Nivanee!" Vizon yelled.
The Eevee was just...standing.
"Nivanee, attack! What're you doing?! Nivanee?!"
"NIVANEE!"
"DON'T LET HER GO"
"NIVANEE"
Nivanee's mouth was open, frozen...but she muttered only one thing.
"Janus..."
Avery almost didn't hear the word for the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He stood ready to go, fists clenched to help deliver the final blow-
But that word made his blood run cold.
"...what?"
Everything was still.
Nobody moved.
The Pikachu gripped her scarf, brow furrowing.
"...Janus...?" Nivanee said again. Louder.
Her voice...was terrifying.
Empty.
Cold.
The Pikachu's eyes widened for a moment, hearing the name. She grit her teeth harder...and swore under her breath, pulling the scarf over her bleeding lip.
There was silence...
Then...laughter.
A giggle. Mirthful.
Playful.
Like this was all a game.
"Janus...~!" Nivanee said, her bubbly voice cracking. She took a hobbling step forward. The Pikachu stepped back. "What're you doing over there, huh? It's...it's been a while."
The Pikachu said nothing, only staring deep at the Eevee.
"Janus why don't you say anything. It's...it's your big sister..."
Vizon slowly backed away, Jolvia following suit. Nivanee kept approaching the Pikachu.
"I've...been waiting for you to come home..." Nivanee said, her voice cracking again.
The Pikachu said nothing...then sighed, her brow heavy.
"I'm sorry you had to see this, Nivi." Janus said at last. "I'd hope that if you had to bring me in you could at least think I was just some mook."
"Oh no no, I could never think that, Janus, not about you, I swear." Nivanee assured, choking. "But now I found you and...and you can come home and come back to the guild and..."
Janus stared hard at her.
Nivanee gulped.
"...and everything can be ok again." Nivanee finished. Janus offered no reply.
"...Niv," Avery said carefully. "...This is...this is the person whose...whose gang of thieves attacked Lahnae and Loshjno yesterday. I don't know much about Janus, but...she wouldn't do those things. Right?"
Nivanee's lip wobbled, hearing him.
"No, Avery it's...it's got to all be a big misunderstanding, it's..." Nivanee hiccuped. "Janus, tell him. You didn't really attack Lahnae and Loshjno, right? You're not with bad guys, you're just...undercover! Or, or...Janus?"
Janus stared hard at the both of them.
"Nivi...what's happened to you?" Janus said, her voice piercing. "You're rambling like a mad woman. I expected many things...if this ever happened. But this? This I never expected from you."
"What?" Nivanee asked, stepping forward, the Pikachu stepping back. "J-Janus what are you talking about? You don't have to pretend anymore. You're safe with your big sis, you can stop all this nonsense!"
Janus's eyes flared, an ARC of lighting firing from her hands. Nivanee yelped, backing away at the attack. The Eevee's face was confused. Hurt. Broken.
"Grow up, Nivanee!" Janus shot back, shoving an Oran berry in her mouth. She popped her shoulders and knuckles, staring daggers at the group. "I didn't want you to know, but now that you do-"
"Know what? What's there to know?" Nivanee stammered. "What-"
"I'm not coming back to the guild!" Janus roared, a shock wave CASCASING out from her, knocking Vizon and RIkzyod over, Jolvia barely hopping out of the way! "I'd cut my throat before going back there, do you hear me?!"
Avery flinched.
"...If...if you won't come back as Janus," Avery said, words measured. "...You'll have to come back as the Old Wanderer. That's...that's the choice you have in front of you. If you don't want to come back, Janus, if you don't want to work there...then you're going to have to come with us as...as an outlaw."
It felt wrong saying it. Avery didn't even know Janus that well, but...
"Niv...Niv has been looking for you. For...a really long time. You just left. Without a word. T...to your own sister. And then seven years later she finds you as an outlaw? Working with the Thieves' Guild? Have you been brainwashed?"
"Brainwashed?" Janus growled. She eyed Nivanee...then returned to Avery.
"I should ask the same of you." She said at last, BOLTING forward.
Her body ARCED with electricity. SHOCKWAVESspread with every step. Her body lightning fast, zig-zagging to the Plusel!
She DOVE, teeth BARRED.
"Then bring me back an outlaw! Whole or in pieces!" Janus STREAKED to you. "My conscious is clear either way!"
Nivanee sidestepped, unable to retaliate, shaking her head, utterly in shock.
Avery squared his stance, arms out to receive her. Whoever this was...it was his duty to bring her in.
Avery let out a yell, falling back along with her tackle, somersaulting backwards! He kicked into her gut as they rolled.
Janus tumbled back at the kick. She CAUGHT herself on her feet, IMMEDIATELY springing forward again!
"AVERY!" Jolvia yelled, blind-siding Janus with a kick, veering her off course! She SHOT out toward Vizon who tried to catch her! The Riolu was knocked aside. Janus RICOCHETED from Vizon, SHOOTING to Rikzyod, SLAMMING HIM, and BOUNDING toward Jolvia, PULVERZING her.
All the while Nivanee watched. Only watched. Shaking her head, mouthing something to herself, tears streaming down her face.
"Nivanee!" Avery shouted. "Snap out of it!"
Vizon flipped back up, firing aura sphere after aura sphere at the speeding pikachu.
"Huh!" Rikzyod shook his head, the electricity barely phasing him. Janus was STREAKING towards him again! The Geodude stuck an arm out, grabbing her and SLAMMING her into the ground.
'She's fast. She's really fast. Incredibly fast. What can I do about this-?!'
She was hurt. But she bounced, ZIPPING up then DOWN, like a meteor, right to Avery!
"Avery! Watch out!" Vizon yelled!
The Plusel didn't had time to react. He only had time to register Vizon's words before he turned to see Janus screaming towards him like a bullet. Janus TACKLED Avery, rolling with him and pinning him to the ground. She straddled the Plusel, fury in her eyes.
"You..." she said, striking Avery in the face. "...I don't recognize you. Another new team..."
She hit him. Again. Again. Again.
"I don't know who you are, or who your friends are..."
Again. AGAIN.
Avery coughed, and a metallic taste found its way between his lips. The punches...hurt. They hurt badly.
Janus grabbed Avery by the scruff of his neck, grabbing his badge. She PULLED it off and TOSSED it away.
He wasn't unconscious. But he was close. His badge flew off, landing into the mud with a wet sound as he hung there, struggling weakly in her grasp.
"...get out before you're in too deep, kid."
His head was spinning - this was something he should have been able to escape! But...Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.
Then, there was a shout from behind her.
A shrill scream pierced the air.
All at once, Janus was off of Avery! CARRIED away by a dark streak!
"DON'T YOU HURT MY FAMILY!"
Nivanee's voice echoed across the plains.
Janus tumbled. Struck. Struck. Nivanee's iron tail swiped. SLICED. POUNDED her!
"You-!" Janus was cut off. SLAMMED into the dirt by the iron tail.
"HOW COULD YOU?!" Nivanee screamed. She SLAMMED her tail down! Janus yelped, trying to get away. Another slam! ANOTHER!
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?"
ANOTHER.
"TO ME?!"
ANOTHER.
"TO SARFALLINUS? KIPUUNA? GANISUS? OLISTIA?"
ANOTHER. ANOTHER. ANOTHER.
"TO YOUR FAMILY!"
Nivanee huffed, breathing shakily. Janus lie crumpled, blood smeared on her face.
Breathing ragged.
Janus lifted her head...
...shuddering...
"I did...I did what..." Janus spluttered, a single eye open. "...what I knew was right..."
"What?" Nivanee growled, eyes flaring as she stared down at the Pikachu, tail glowing.
Janus lifted her head higher, broken on the ground.
A small, wavering grin crossed the Pikachu's bleeding face.
"...fuck...you..."
Nivanee lost it. She SLAMMED her tail into Janus with EARTH SHATTERING FORCE!
THE GROUND RIPPED ASUNDER.
TORRENTS OF DIRT SHOT INTO THE AIR.
THE SHOCKWAVE KNOCKED OVER VIZON AND JOLVIA.
And above the crashing sound of the ground splintering and ripping
was Nivanee's wails.
Until finally...the dust settled...
All was silent...
There, silhouetted in the dim light that pierced the swirling dust...Nivanee stood alone.
Avery was lying there in the dirt, rasping breath through his lungs. He wasn't out, but...he didn't feel good at all. His head was throbbing, he could feel blood dripping down his cheek from his mouth. He'd been pummeled, mercilessly, into the dirt.
Slowly, deliberately, Avery rolled over and tried to push himself back up into a standing position, on trembling arms, trembling legs. He moved to take his badge, but found nothing there.
His hand fell back to his side. Avery just stood there, swaying on his feet.
Avery wanted to say something to Nivanee. To...anyone. But none of the words would come. He felt a million miles away from everyone standing here with him.
All his teammates stood in silence.
Jolvia. Vizon. Rikzyod.
Nivanee.
Staring toward the crater Nivanee had created. The Eevee was...shuddering. Trying to not break down. Trying to be strong as she stood over the now immobilized Janus, the girl barely conscious anymore.
Slowly, Nivanee removed her badge.
"Janus..." Nivanee began. Her voice was...cold. Trying to maintain. But it couldn't hold. Her next word broke. "...I l-love you."
Janus's eyes weakly rolled toward the Eevee. Her lip trembled.
"...yeah." Janus quietly replied.
In a flash of light, it was over.
Janus was gone, vanished from the crater. Nivanee replaced the badge.
"...mission..." She tried to begin. "...m-mission com...c..."
Her legs wobbled. She collapsed, sobbing. Vizon looked to Avery from across the charred battleground.
Avery stumbled forwards, legs trembling. He was a mess. His head hurt both inside and out. None of them had gotten out of this unscathed.
But...he reached Nivanee, and fell to a kneeling position, wrapping his arms around her side.
Avery's voice sounded hoarse, like he'd been gargling rocks. But he squeezed.
"...We found her, Niv. We'll...we'll get to the bottom of this." He rasped. "Vizon and I...we promised we'd help you get your sister back. T...this just means...t-the job isn't...over yet. The mission isn't over yet."
Nivanee gulped...and let out a cry, pressing into the Plusel, sobbing. She bit her lip, trying to control herself, but only screwed her eyes shut and let her tears flow.
Slowly, Vizon approached, pressing against her other side, hugging with Avery. Jolvia and Rikzyod stood back respectfully, watching.
"Everything will be ok eventually." Vizon assured, his own voice weak. Nivanee rubbed her cheek against Avery, body wracked with every sob.
"What's happened to her...? What happened to my little sister?" Nivanee cried. "What happened to our nights in Arceliaze with Kipuuna and Ganisus? What happened to having each other's backs? What happened to...my best friend? The girl that rode Dad's boat with me? What happened to Janus, Avery? What...?"
She hiccuped.
"Why did this have to happen? Why like this?"
"...I don't know," Avery said, hating the phrase more and more every time he had to say it. "But we'll figure it out. We'll figure it out together, we...we know where she is. She's in custody. We have...we have all the time in the world now."
He let out a long sigh.
"We'll be with you every step of the way." Avery gave her a little smile. "...But...for now...I think we should head home. Janus is..."
He let out a little laugh, wiping his cheek free of crimson.
"...well, she's almost as tough as you."
Slowly...Nivanee nodded.
"Thank you...thank you, Avery...I..." She sniffed softly. "...I love you."
She was quiet a moment, staring down at the crater.
"She...seemed serious, though." She sighed. "Never coming back to the guild...I hope we can get her to renounce that horrible Thieves' Guild that's gone and confused her..."
Vizon nodded, squeezing them both.
"I spent 7 years thinking we were still a team. That she'd come back any moment, any second, and everything would be ok...but we..."
She paused, as if dreading the words.
"...we disbanded a long time ago."
And in the following silence...a wind blew over the tall grass of Breezy Plains.
The sun slowly beginning to set.
[[ MISSION COMPLETE SUSPENDED ]]
Results: Team Azure Cleared Tall Woods. Mission completion pending.
Recruits: None
Rewards: 90,000 p
Chapter 12
Realization
