Chapter 24

Conspiracy

The sun was setting on the day.

First came the 1st platoon. Six soldiers, shoulder to shoulder, marching down the path, sent by Olistia.

Next came the 2nd platoon, holding their position at the woods between Lightning Wastes and Breezy Plains. The treeline was scoured and prowled through as Team Azure and Team Spade were escorted, battered and bruised from their battle with Thundurus.

They were given medical treatment. The power of the pearl seemed to interfere with their badges, hence the escort...yet they could see it. The fear in the soldiers' eyes looking at the state of the teams.

Whispers. Worried, hushed whispers amongst the soldiery.

The walk back had been long and gruelling. These soldiers, supposed to be on Avery's side...he'd seen how they treated people in the city. He didn't think they'd attack him, but...It was hard to feel comfortable like this.

But more than that, Avery saw the fear in their eyes. They'd lost the pearl. And while they had gotten out together, while they had beaten an artificial avatar of lightning itself...

'...we didn't get the pearl.'

A temporary checkpoint was set at the end of the dirt trail leading out of the woods, their group moving with the two platoons to Arceliaze.

The soldiers could see it was not a triumphant march, even as Lahnae and Loshjno tried to keep their heads up. The soldiers respectfully parted ways to let the guild by.

As the sun finally vanished behind forested hills, the tannish hues overtaking the land through the cloudy sky, the whispers only grew more worried. Panicked. Morale slipping at the sight of the guild beaten. Nivanee missing.

Vizon furrowed his brow, fists clenched as they all finally made their way to Arceliaze, flanked on either side by iron carriages, guards stood atop ready to fire projectile attacks.

There, at the east gate, three more platoons greeted the two teams, iron carriages rolling out, the soldiers fanned, concerned looks on their faces. The streets here in the farming district were vacated but for the soldiers.

There, in the center of the path, stood Olistia and Sarfallinus. The Gardevoir held her hands behind her back, while Sarfallinus wrung his hands anxiously.

Olistia. That mysterious Gardevoir who Avery was quickly and rapidly realizing he knew close to nothing about.

Intentions. Past. Nothing.

As they approached, Olistia spoke first.

"Nivanee returned in dire straights." She said, immediately stepping forward, a hand punctuating her words as she looked to the teams. "What happened out there?"

Avery was the first to reply.

"...There was an invasion of the Qeasé Ruins by both the Thieves' Guild and the Treasure Guild. They were fighting over the pearl. We were able to get inside, but...a projection of Thundurus came out of the defenses and sent us, a treasure guild member, and two thieves guild members falling miles underground. We were all separated and heavily injured, and had lost our badges in the fall. Nivanee...Nivanee had the worst injuries of all of us, and we only had one badge. So we elected to send her home once we got out."

Olistia's brow furrowed, a glint in her eye as she brought a hand to her mouth, looking off to the side in thought. Avery continued his story.

"While we were three separate guilds, we worked together to get back up. There is a chance we wouldn't have survived if Snivy had not shared his medical supplies with us. And the...ensuing battle with Thundurus might have gone similarly without their assistance."

Avery turned to Team Spade.

"... But I can say the same for Team Spade. Loshjno led us through the ruins both underground and above ground. His quick thinking and knowledge helped us immensely. And if it wasn't for Lahnae during the last two fights against the two forms of Thundurus, we wouldn't have been able to bring it down. She was...she was an inspiration."

Sarfallinus straightened, shaking his head. The guards looked to one another at the Plusle's tale. Avery sighed.

"... Unfortunately, after we finished off Thundurus for the second time...Xamao appeared before we could recover the pearl. He collected his guild members and the pearl and flew off. We were...all of us in too weak a state to stop him. If we tried to fight him as we were...I was afraid some of us wouldn't make it back."

Avery's story concluded at last, his eyes affixed to the Gardevoir standing over him. Olistia was silent, staring off with that strange look in her eye, brow knitted tight.

Was it a look of anger?

Fury? Disappointment? Dissatisfaction?

"Conduit...?" Vizon asked quietly.

Everyone leaned in. The discipline of the soldiery cracking, only reeled back in by commanding officers that hissed for them to maintain composure.

Sarfallinus sighed as Olistia said nothing, the Infernape stepping forward and kneeling to check over Lahnae and Loshjno. The both of them were quiet, only staring at Olistia, the Gardevoir's face unchanging.

Annoyance? Malice? Frustration?

The silence was awkward. Only light shuffling could be heard. A chilled wind blew across the Arceali valley. Someone coughed quietly. Olistia only stared. And stared, down at the ground, in thought.

...fear.

It was fear.

Her crimson eyes lifted, gazing in Avery's direction, keeping her face stoic, lips pursed. Like a dam ready to burst, she kept herself steely.

"The Thieve's Guild..." she began. "...made fools of us all..."

Avery said nothing. He didn't know if that was Quayslaan and Calladin's intention. But saying such a thing now of all times...it wouldn't go over well. Avery just...sagged his shoulders a little.

'...Q and Calladin. They wouldn't make fools of us. Right?'

Olistia was quiet a moment, then looked to a Bisharp that sported a cloak and brooch.

"Ai, ai, Arceali Works Officer. Dictation." Olistia nodded, the Bisharp taking a parchment. "Engineering Division to the Yahneri path, super highway construction effective immediately and without delay."

"Aye, Conduit."

Olistia took a step forward, pointing to another Bisharp.

"Ai, ai, Arceali General Army officer." Olistia's voice was commanding as the Bisharp took out a parchment. "3rd, 4th, 6th Battalions to Yahneri port immediately and without delay."

"Aye, Conduit."

"Ai, ai, Arceali Armor Officer. 1st armored vehicle brigade to Yahneri port, immediately and without delay."

"Aye, Conduit."

"Where is the elites commissioner?" She asked, looking back.

"Out, Conduit, to Quayoff. Shall I send for courier?"

"No need, I'm assuming direct control. Fifteen elite teams to Yahneri port. They will arrive with the armored vehicle brigade."

The soldiers seemed to relax as Olistia made her move, watching her give orders, confidently walking amongst the officers that stood under the east gate. Yet Avery didn't know what to think of this. He'd never seen Olistia like this before. A lot of the words she'd said were...scary. Super highway? Battalions? Armored vehicles? Did these Poke'mon have those?

She was dead serious. And it...concerned Avery a little.

Finally, she turned to Sarfallinus.

"Arceali guild."

Sarfallinus stood, everyone getting to attention at once.

"We will get to work immediately Olistia." Sarfallinus promise, a hand upon his chest. "We'll begin to divide work and make for Yahneri port to secure the water pearl."

"No."

Sarfallinus paused, perking up, looking confused. Olistia's crimson eyes glanced down at the two teams.

"Sarfallinus, have you looked at your guild? Injured, its most prominent member out of commission, the only other available team beaten. They're in no condition to go on. They'd break if not just get in the way for now."

"Of course. Then we'll-"

"Rest." Said Olistia, firmly. Sarfallinus blinked.

"Rest...now of all times, Olistia?"

"I'm imposing a day of no working upon the guild. Perhaps two, if I can spare the time. I want the super highway to Yahneri finished and the guild recuperated." Olistia's voice was still so firm in her demand for rest. "They've done enough."

Sarfallinus was quiet...took a deep breath...and nodded.

"Aye, Conduit." He agreed...almost reluctantly.

"...Beaten...?" Avery mumbled, his mind focusing on that one sentence Olistia had said. "...What happened to Aquashock? A-are they okay?"

"A lot has happened, I'm afraid..." Olistia sighed, waving away the officers, the soldiery taking their groups in tow to deliver the messages to the different divisions.

"No need to worry yourselves..." Sarfallinus addressed the group, patting Avery on the back lightly as he kneeled. "Kipuuna and Ganisus are battered...took their first loss in years-"

"Oh no..." Lahnae let out a breath, clearly concerned. Loshjno, however, folded his arms and smiled, Sarfallinus returning the soft smile, confidently looking at them all.

"I said there's no need to worry. They're beaten but undeterred...in fact, I don't think I've ever seen Kipuuna so happy to have lost." The Infernape chuckled, shaking his head as he spoke quietly whilst Olistia gave a few more orders to the surrounding soldiery. "They both looked strangely happy to be so covered in bumps and bruises...I can't understand it...after all this time, suddenly they take a mission like this and enjoy failure...?"

Sarfallinus glanced at Avery, a small grin on his face as Olistia turned to face them all again.

"What's up with that, I wonder..." the Guildmaster mused. The Infernape broke his gaze from Avery to stand up and look back to Olistia.

'... Happy to have failed? Then that mean...'

The last remnants of a weight that had been resting on Avery's heart lifted. If they were 'bumped and bruised' as Sarfallinus put it, but happy...Avery could imagine it. Ganisus, thrilled that he could go on an adventure again. And Kipuuna, if he was happy...truly happy...then he was able to let go of that fear that had inhibited him for so long.

'...I might be seeing cracks forming in my own team. But at the very least, Aquashock truly had been reborn...Of course maybe seeing Nivanee back so badly injured, and seeing us back like this might test that foundation a little. But... We'll be fine!

"Alright, that's everyone..." Olistia breathed, keeping her stoic and professional air around the soldiers, waving Sarfallinus over. The Infernape gestured for guild members to all to follow, the soldiers escorting them back into the city. "The heat map from Dovve Fo Uddjo has proven ineffective so far, so our only choice now is to secure the Water Pearl with overwhelming force."

"Alright...!" Lahnae said, loudly, her energy slowly returning to her, even as her voice was a little hoarse. "Let's see those jerks try to get this one with the backing of the whole Arcean army locking it down! See what happens! It's not going anywhere!"

The soldiers around them chuckled at her energy, some even cheering excitedly. The commanders reluctantly hushed them, if only so they remained professional.

Olistia motioned to the guard to begin their move back to the castle. Sarfallinus walked with Team Azure and Team Spade, following behind the group. This time, Jolvia and Rikzyod walked with Avery, Vizon, Lahnae and Loshjno. The Nidorina held a paw to Avery's shoulder, sighing in exhaustion as they all marched.

"I'll be nice to settle back in to my old haunt..." Jolvia mused, glancing to Rikzyod as he cracked his knuckles.

"I still have energy to expend!" Rikzyod said, chuckling deeply. "Will you be joining me for another night at the fight club?"

"I was rather hoping for some time at an actual establishment instead of drinking swill between betting rounds." Jolvia chuckled. Vizon glanced over, eyebrows raised.

"Huh? Fight club? Where at?"

"The X-Eye district! Where else, uh?" Rikzyod's voice was downright excited. Vizon, meanwhile, only stuck his tongue out with a 'blech' noise.

"A fight club," Avery said, chuckling under his breath. "So soon after so many injuries, Rikzyod...? Don't Geodudes need to rest their bones, too?"

Soon, they were all back in the safe cradle of the market district, soon approaching the Castle Arceali. Olistia gave a final wave behind herself, the guard leading her back to the castle, leaving them all to their own devices.

They all had the night to themselves...

...and all of tomorrow, as well.

Avery gave Olistia a last wave as she separated from the rest of them. He knew he was going to have to talk to her. He knew that. And it'd be better to be sooner rather than later.

There were still some things he had to do around the guild too, not the least of which checking out Team Infinity's old room... Though he'd have to do that tonight, when everyone else was asleep.

Sarfallinus sighed to himself as the guard began to disperse, the other guild members slowly making their way towards the double doors of the guild hall. Night was approaching, the sky a dark blue and the land and cityscape surrounding slowly melting into silhouettes.

As usual, Jolvia and Rikzyod hung back, knowing they weren't allowed in the guild...though this time, Jolvia lifted a paw, patting Avery's shoulder as he passed.

"Excellent job today, Avery. You did everything right." Jolvia said, squeezing the Plusle's shoulder before letting go. "Are you busy tonight? You're welcome to meet us for some rest later. Ah, no pressure, of course, if the others have you bound elsewhere or you wish to take the night to yourself."

Jolvia chuckled, backing off.

"The tumultuous life of a guild member..."

Avery stopped when he felt Jolvia's hand on his shoulder. At first he just stared ahead at the guild, about to turn her down on her offer out of instinct. He was tired, still working off injuries, and he had a bit to plan.

'But...'

He looked up at her.

"I might like that, later tonight. You guys are part of the team too, I don't want our only interactions to be on missions. I don't know if I can take a fight club, but...that sounds good."

Avery turned to move, but stopped again.

"... And, uh...Thanks," Avery said, lowly. "...I've been kind of doubting myself for a while, so...I just hope I'm headed in the right direction."

Jolvia nodded. She smiled warmly at Avery's words, though her eyes sparkled with something more. Kindness?

"I'll talk Rikzyod into a normal bar..." Jolvia promised, the Geodude rolling his eyes.

"I suppose any bar can be a fight club with enough gumption..." He muttered. Jolvia patted him on the back, looking to Avery.

"And, hey, perhaps you'd like to bring a friend or two along?" Jolvia softly suggested, looking up thoughtfully. "I'd say there's plenty in your circle of friends I'd like to know more about..."

"Avery!" Vizon's voice called from the door as Lahnae passed. "You coming?"

Jolvia snickered, handing the Plusle a slip of paper.

"Here's an address, down in the lower market district. We'll be there a while yet if you'd like to swing by." She whispered, folding Avery's fingers over the paper as though to conceal it and keep it hidden. "We'll get outta your hair."

"Aaaaverryyyyyy!" Vizon called again.

"Sorry, coming-!" Avery called over his shoulder. "I'll see you later, then, Jolvia"

With a nod, Jolvia and Rikzyod went together, disappearing around the side of the guild building and into the adjacent alleyway.

"Kipuuna's here! He's wondering where you're at!" Vizon called again.

With a turn, Avery quickly made his way back to the guild, to the waiting Vizon and the others. The Plusle's leg wasn't too happy with his fast pace, but...he'd be fine! Probably!

Inside the guild entrance hall, Avery saw them, Aquashock, standing with Estaloni to greet them all. Lahnae and Loshjno had stopped in their tracks to look at Kipuuna and Ganisus.

And the pair...looked awful.

Ganisus had a patch on his cheek, a bloodied lip. A slight limp. Nicks and cuts covered his body, the tip of every strand of his fur electrically charred.

And Kipuuna? Looked even worse.

His eye was closed shut. Head feathers tussled and messy. Bandages around his flipper and foot. Bruises festooned his body, grass stains spread throughout his feathers.

And both of them smiled. Wide and happy, eyes sparkling with a renewed vigor, as though ready to charge out and do it all over again.

"Avery!" Kipuuna called out. "Vizon! You guys!"

"Kip, what the heck?!" Lahnae said in disbelief, only getting a smile in return as Kipuuna answered.

"We headed north, to Squirtle lake! Circling around it to see if we could follow up on rumors of encamped thieves guild and...!"

"They found us." Ganisus said flatly, a smile smile on his face. "Ow."

"I think there's more up there...they got the drop on us but we nailed a few of them ourselves! Not so clever of a trap when they expect us to just duck out at the first sign of trouble!" Kipuuna laughed, Lahnae looking back at Avery in disbelief. "I guess they'll know better next time!"

Avery's jaw dropped. He knew that they'd lost, battered and bruised, as Sarfallinus had said, but...he didn't know it was this much!

"...Hah, wow, you look almost as bad as we do, heh...Your first real mission after so long together, and you come back looking like that..." The Plusle stepped forward, shaking his head. "Guess that's how we know Team Aquashock's really at it this time, huh? And look at you guys, you're like...you're beaming...! How'd it feel?"

"It felt...! Why I just! Like!" Kipuuna rambled, running a flipper through his hair, eyes sparkling. "Like I was a kid, deep in the thick of a tale of action, good and evil, all the stories that made my heart swell coming to life all at once, it...it! I...!"

"Good." Ganisus finished quietly. "It felt good."

Kipuuna let out a laughing breath, nodding emphatically.

Avery gave Lahnae a little look.

"Told you Aquashock changed...!"

Vizon couldn't help but share the smile. Battered or not...at least they were all battered together.

"What happened on your mission...?" Kipuuna asked, stepping forward. "I heard Nivanee got badly hurt...in the clinic and everything."

Avery's smile vanished at once.

"Hah, yeah...boy, that was quite a mission. It was a bit of a fight getting into the Qeasé temple - Treasure Guild was terrorizing the town, beating up officials, all that...Thieves' Guild and Treasure Guild were fighting over the pearl deeper in, so both were trying to keep us out.

"We got to the center, saw an apparition of a Thunder God that sent us hurtling...miles down into the earth. That's, uh...that's how most of us got our worst injuries. We still had Loshjno's badge, and decided that once we got out, we'd use it to send Nivanee home, since..she was the worst out of all of us.

We ended up going up against Thundurus - twice - but...everyone worked together, thanks to Loshjno's plan, that guy's amazing! Lahnae and I managed to score the final hit...! She's..."

Avery looked over at her.

"...She's a freaking powerhouse, through and through."

...And then he deflated a little.

"We all fell again after the thing disappeared, and...when we came to, Xamao just, swooped in and picked up the pearl while we were all weak. And...then we headed back."

"I-!" Lahnae sounded as though she wanted to stop Avery short of mentioning the last part, but it was already out. She deflated, shrinking back, though Loshjno held a hand to her shoulder, standing tall...which the Torchic emulated.

Kipuuna and Ganisus listened close, their eyes widening, hearing every twist...obstacle...the increasing, absurd danger. The Piplup bit his flipper in worry, eyes flicking over to Lahnae with concern. But Avery's words...Loshjno...amazing...Lahnae...a powerhouse. And together taking down a thunder god...and only failing because of dumb luck.

Kipuuna looked over at Lahnae, a certain look about him.

"...to think..." Kipuuna muttered, staring at her. "...I used to ever think you didn't take this seriously..."

"Maybe once." Loshjno replied, chuckling. "But things are different now. And we'll do even better yet next time."

Kipuuna's eyes sparkled. Even Ganisus looked amazed at the transformed, synchronized Team Spade.

Here, Avery stood, before two much stronger and wiser teams.

They stared at each other a moment, sizing one another up. Kipuuna coughed, straightening.

"Say...Lahnae..." He said.

"Yeah...?"

"I admit, we don't have much of the coordination and strength as teams that have been more regularly doing harrowing missions." Kipuuna said with a chuckle. "As it turns out, moving boxes has left us wanting for experience."

"Well that's ok. Whatever we can do we're still only a two person team...and never reeeaally learned stuff like...optimizing."

They smiled to each other, Ganisus and Loshjno looking to their respective teammates.

"You wanna..."

"...work together next mission?"

The both of them beamed excitedly, a spark between Aquashock and Spade. Vizon looked back at Avery with his own excited look, like a fanboy watching his favorite heroes team up.

Avery's hands curled into fists at hearing this. He didn't say anything...but he couldn't help but feel his heart swell a little at that.

These two teams...they were better. They were better now. Maybe not the best they could be, that wouldn't happen overnight. But they were better, and they could get better. These teams that used to be so broken...they were healing.

Avery turned to Vizon, sharing in his excitement for a moment-

But...something ate at the Plusle.

Deep in the pit of his stomach, as he looked at his teammate, the Riolu's eyes wide and enthusiastic...something ate at Avery. The Plusle began immediately trying to push it down. He'd have time for that later. But he didn't want to think about it right now. He didn't want to think about it.

But it was still there.

"That won't be for a bit though," Avery interrupted, stepping forward. "Remember what Olistia said, Lahnae...? Both Azure and Spade have to rest for a few days. These aren't surface level injuries, after all...we really have to let them heal...!"

Lahnae...to her credit...sighed and let her excitement deflate, nodding as she faced Avery.

"That's true..." She said, though it looked more like she strained it out. "...it won't do any good to get hurt more...and it'd be a pretty...useless effort right now."

Kipuuna nodded sagely, visibly proud of her restraint.

"Days off...it's certainly been a while..." Kipuuna sighed to himself, stroking his flipper through his hair to reset it. "I think I could really do with a few days of nothing...we've plenty of money for it."

Lahnae and Loshjno nodded, Vizon stretching as the energy in the hall dampened. The day's events were winding down and night was surely upon Arceliaze.

"Well, I'm going to just take a sec to remember what my bed feels like..." Lahnae huffed, exhausted, staggering forward and followed by a chuckling Loshjno. She muttered something to the Squirtle, and Avery even caught her glancing back at him before saying more to Loshjno.

"We'll be out and about later, if anyone wants to find us." Loshjno said, looking back to the rest. "Maybe around the One Truth Square or something."

"In that case...Ganisus, maybe you and I can head to that one place we used to go?"

"Yeah...cool." Ganisus agreed almost instantly in his monotone, yet Avery could tell by his movements that this time...he was genuinely excited to go with his buddy.

Vizon put an arm around Avery's shoulder, hugging a bit.

"What about you, buddy?" The Riolu asked. "Any plans? I'm probably going to rest..maybe see Nivanee."

"I do want to see Niv," Avery said, sighing a little. "Jolvia and Rikzyod invited me out to a bar to hang out too. I don't know if you'd want to...come to that?"

Avery wasn't sure if inviting Vizon was the best idea. The Plusle wasn't sure he'd entirely be able to talk candidly if Vizon came. But at the same time...he was Avery's friend. He was his partner. Avery had to trust him.

'...right?'

"Oh...they mentioned the X-Eye district...?" the Riolu began.

Vizon glanced away, sucking a breath through his teeth.

"Yeeeaaah, tell you what, buddy. I'll catch up with you later!" Vizon said, keeping a merry smile on his face. "Juuust make sure you stay near Jolvia. Didn't really know she hung out down there..."

Avery's smile fell.

"...Oh."

'Can't say I didn't expect it.'

"Um...okay, yeah, sure. I'll see you later, then." Avery conceded.

"Alright, cool..! And make sure you don't exert yourself too much with those wounds..." Vizon mothered a little, looking Avery over. "Just to be safe..."

The Riolu didn't even seem to...notice Avery's expression, as though lost in his own world. Perhaps, lost in some post-mission haze, far too excited to think of anything except Team Azure's latest caper...oblivious to everything else right under his nose.

He patted Avery's shoulder, running for the stairs to get settled in their dorm room.

Avery could feel it in the air. The sun had just crossed the horizon. The windows were dark. And the night was young.

And all to himself, in that quiet hall.

Avery listened to Vizon's retreating footsteps as he was left alone in the hall, the echoes reverberating through the walls. The Plusle was once again alone.

And He began to walk to the bar. Alone. Without his partners.

Which...allowed him to think.

'What am I doing wrong? Isn't Vizon supposed to see my emotions or something...? Why doesn't he know?

Is...is he avoiding me? He's not avoiding me, is he? Maybe he's getting sick of me associating with Illaminian people, or something...What am I going to do about that...? What can I do about that?'

It was quiet again. There seemed to be some hush over the city as Avery passed by the tall buildings lit now only by the magenta light of Sanshiyad above and the orange glow of lanterns.

The air was crisp, a welcome change from the arid desert he'd had spent the day in.

A large group of poke'mon passed Avery, ornately dressed and quietly talking amongst themselves. Those that walked the streets of the market district were esteemed and soft spoken, though they carried themselves with distinction. Escavilier guards stood in at every corner, alert and still as the finely dressed poke'mon passed.

There was a quiet rumble, from far off, the ambient noise of the city.

They had said they'd be in the lower market district...a short walk from where Avery was...

And all along this silent trip, to have such thoughts...worry about his partner.

The way they both seemed to be...drifting? So soon...? Surely it was just a careless lack of awareness on Vizon's part..right?

Even then, if it was careless...what would it turn into? How would this escalate? What if this was the beginning of the end of Team Azure?

They'd been there for the rebirth of Spade and Aquashock. Avery didn't want to take full credit for it, but...he was sure that he was at least a catalyst for their redemption.

'But...I can't do that for myself. I can't do that for us. Vizon is drifting away from me...towards Nivanee. His hero.'

He supposed that made sense. Avery was just some random person he found in a field. Nivanee was the leader of Team Duskwalker. Avery had been brushing Vizon the wrong way with the Thieves' Guild and Illaminian People, Nivanee had been on Vizon's side.

'Maybe it's natural that we're going to be drifting apart.'

Down the road, around the bend, that way to the lower market district. To Jolvia and Rikzyod.

Here, near the threshold where buildings were smaller, where the statues were less in number, where the marble had more and more imperfections...a chilled wind blew.

Down the street Avery could hear a laugh. A group of Poke'mon, their singing and jokes echoing over the brick and stone as they passed, a flurry of in-jokes and humor, no doubt, in a cacophony impossible to coherently make out...from so far away.

The stone was cold. The sound of a clack sounded to Avery's left as a stand closed shop, the owner sighing. A few other stands on the street did the same. Few walked this way...so many shops quickly silencing at night, until only those few late-night establishments, and bars, made any echoing noise over the roads.

Avery gave little waves to those he passed, even lost in his thoughts as he was.

'Vizon's supposed to be my guardian. I chose him, right at the start.'

His feet slapped coldly against the stone of the street.

'Arceus deigned him for me. So isn't he supposed to be perfect in that way?'

Avery came to the front of the bar.

'...Unless...'

The trek through the lower market district had been quiet, the roads dark. Yet this street he stood on seemed so much...more.

Here, at the street, the very address Jolvia had given. The street had turned to cobblestone a few blocks back, the buildings here in the lower market district mostly brick and unpolished ivory stone. A single fountain surrounded by bushes and trees stood in a small square nearby, no water flowing at night, dimly illuminated by the torches on the wall.

The shadows were thick and heavy, trees from small gardens swaying and rustling in the cold wind.

This close to the bar, Avery could hear the muffled sound of music and voices inside. A rumble of laughter came from a patio off to the side, raised and overlooking a cliff and the street below. The land here in this part of the lower market district was so much less even than elsewhere. Just behind Avery was a ramp leading up to a higher street that towered over him, many Poke'mon walking to and fro, above and below.

Shops selling gifts and clothes and games shone their bright lights on the street, as well as the restaurants and special locations, the exhibits, the fly-by-night shops taking empty lots. A ways down the road he swore he saw some street performers.

While so much of the lower market district was quiet, this street seemed so alive.

Perhaps that made things even more lonely.

The door to the bar swung open, the music spilling onto the street as a pair of older Typhlosions walked out, a Floatzel holding the door for them. Their voices were louder than those of Poke'mon in the market district.

Avery stepped back, allowing the two of them to walk out before stepping in to take their place - giving them a little nod when he passed them. Shifting uncomfortably, Avery looked around for Jolvia and Rikzyod. He was eager to get away from his thoughts.

As he crossed the threshold, a voice sounded off in the bar.

"And I'd like to extend a warm 'thank you' to our friends at the Arcean's Works Association for providing the collections we have today for our charity auction."

There was a light clapping among the patrons.

As Avery entered he could see the inside was meticulously decorated with stone pillars, carpet and wood stools with velvet seating. Lanterns hung in glass boxes above. The bar was long, with two tenders working it. A few Poke'mon milled about, standing on the carpeted center of the bar, the only seating besides bar stools being armchairs by the wall with tables between them.

And on the far side, a Leavanny stood by a collection of small glass bottles, corked and tied with gold twine. She lifted one, setting it upon the podium on the stage.

"For item number 22 we have a 6T52 Ginema Ferment white, with the black Rezhstya fault gardens label. This Eksai has a dry and tart blend for experienced connoisseur, rated four-and-a-quarter stars, on the higher end for a 10 year. The Eksainery has put forth a sample platter from one of its barrels..."

"Sample, sir...?"

A voice spoke to Avery, a Mankey standing by him, gold bracelets on his wrists, fur slicked back as he kindly offered a small glass of greenish, bubbly drink to the Plusle, enough for a sip.

"Oh, um...thanks," Avery said, taking the drink. The Plusle swirled the drink, lifting his head to look across the patrons.

Among them, Avery was able to spot the head of a Nidorina on the end of the bar closest to the stage.

"I'm just going to be joining that woman over there." Avery said, giving the Mankey a nod which he returned. "Thank you very much."

The Plusle took a small sip of the drink as he made his way to the bar. The drink was just as described. A sour taste hit his tongue, drying his mouth ever so slightly as it entered his throat. Avery could taste it, this was stronger than a totter drink. Lucky, then, that he was served such a small sample. Waiter poke'mon served samples of the drink to the patrons as the woman at the front continued.

Avery sighed. He had to wake himself up, make himself feel better...he couldn't be sullen in front of his suboordinates!

Weaving between the larger Poke'mon, Avery approached the end of the bar. There, he could see his Nidorina friend, Jolvia, a thin glass in her hand, glasses resting low on her snout. She lightly sipped the red liquid, a glass bottle sat beside her.

Rikzyod was nowhere to be seen.

She turned her head to Avery, eyebrows raised...and smiled.

Silently, she patted the stool next to her.

'...Rikzyod isn't here?'

The Plusle looked around for him, but didn't question it. He had to climb up a little, but he sat himself down next to the Nidorina.

"...An auction?" Avery asked, looking towards the products and the person speaking.

"That it is..." Jolvia spoke, her voice low as the auctioneer spoke. "...something fancy to spend the money on, bottles of high class drink for lushes and collectors. And perhaps...it's simply entertaining to play at being blueblood."

She reached over to the bottle, gently shaking the dark liquid inside with a smile as the auctioneer put down a minimum bid, a few of the standing Poke'mon calling out their bids.

"If you're wondering where Rikzyod is, I decided this would be the last place he'd want to be trapped. I relieved him of having to suffer with me." She chuckled, setting the bottle back down. "We'll find him later, I know well where he's likely gone off to."

Avery let out a little laugh through his nose.

"...I think Vizon would feel the same way. Everyone kind of...went their separate ways after we went into the guild. I invited him, but...he kind of snubbed me. Lahnae's asleep, and...well, I don't think I can bring Kellixae here, so...sorry. No friends of mine along with me today."

Avery gave Jolvia a slightly forced smile.

"It's just me."

"Snubbed you...?" Jolvia asked...even sighed, taking another drink as she listened, nodding softly. "Oh...that's a shame, Avery...though I understand not being able to bring Kellixae. At least not here, in the lower market district..."

She eyed the patrons in the bar, her crimson eyes tracing across the bar as a Charizard in the crowd put down a large sum for the bottle on auction.

Finally, her eyes slowly made their way over to Avery, a small frown on her face.

"Talk to me, Avery." She insisted, waving over one of the bar tenders to give her another glass of what she was having. "For the longest time since we came back from that desert there's been an...air about you. I admit it's half the reason I offered you to join me tonight..."

Avery sighed, his smile dissipating entirely. He looked down at the counter.

"...How much am I allowed to say?" He asked.

Jolvia was quiet for a moment, looking at him. Her gaze seemed curious...and sympathetic. She leaned over to lift the glass of red juice, offering it to him

"As much as you like, Avery." She offered. "You've done plenty enough for me."

A grunt.

"I just don't know how much I'm allowed to say," Avery mumbled, tilting his empty glass towards the Nidorina to accept her offer of juice. "I'm not even sure what I have done for you. My relationship with you has been more or less just... Meeting you in the Delta, your help with Janus, finding out you don't actually work for me in Dove Fo Uddjo, and...Today."

Avery laughed a bit.

"I still don't know where you work. I have... Some guesses, but...There's just so many secrets."

"What have you done for me?" Jolvia repeated with a smile, dodging the last statement for now. "Well what else? The childish dream of adventure with the guild and some money on the side as well. Why else would I be at an Eksai auction? I'd never have the money for luxury like this without guild money...and even then, that's just subordinate money."

She smiled softly, pouring to fill Avery's cup, drink shared between the both of them.

"I'll say, I appreciate your respectfulness. Secrets can have their place, not all are kept maliciously." Jolvia said, her voice warm. "And not all need be revealed. I'll not pry into what you don't wish to share, Avery, but I'm always listening."

"...I think...before I can talk with you about anything like this, I need to know where I stand with you already," Avery said, turning to look up at her.

Jolvia looked off toward the stage as Avery spoke, her crimson eyes watching the auctioneer intently...but her ears were swiveled toward Avery, drinking in every word. The Plusle sighed and continued.

"...Speaking...as candidly as possible - you don't need to tell me how or why you know - but...what do you know about me?" Avery asked. "How much do you know, o-or even think you know, that I can talk about...? You just strike me as the kind of person who knows more than she lets on, so I'm...honestly kind of hoping you know certain things so I can talk to someone about them..."

Jolvia idly sipped her drink as Avery finished...and shrugged.

"I've done my research." She said, glancing over. "And as someone who likes to be in the know I did plenty of it...and I don't know a thing about you. Not parents or hometown."

Her eyes carried a mysterious look to them as she stared, drinking in Avery's expression. He knew he was alone. He didn't have parents or a hometown. That was all taken away from him. If he didn't have Vizon, if he didn't have the guild...

...he'd be completely and utterly alone.

Jolvia never broke her gaze, continuing on.

"Maybe that's one reason I'm so fascinated by you, Avery. You seem like such a...clean slate. Clueless of the world, no attachment to it, yet still having a clear moral fiber...so in truth that's all I know of you: whatever you've shown these past weeks. Your strength, your diplomacy, your kindness towards Illaminians in spite of what friends might say..."

She lowered her gaze, peering at the Plusle over her glasses.

"Your heroism...and your abidance to the word of law...to carry out the spirit of law."

She leaned back, breaking her gaze with Avery at last.

"Maybe you're the next Adelaide..."

"...Adelaide?" Avery repeated. "Who's Adelaide?"

"She was the same as you...200 years ago, a buizel girl of 17 years with no birth date. No birth town. No parents...no orphanages registered...no citizenship recorded, nor records of immigration nor citizenship with Illaminamo or Quayoff. One day simply here, brought on to Tyarnikus's Guild..."

Jolvia's eyes scanned Avery as she spoke, watching every twitch and change in his face and body.

"And while many love focusing on her heroic deeds of stopping outlaws, any real historian will tell you at length of her clashes with the then-newly formed Nationalist Arcean's Movement. Of course, any book will say it was merely rogue members of NAM. Naturally."

She gave a small smile, raising her eyebrows.

"I wonder where I've heard this story before...would you know?"

Avery's brow furrowed.

"That...does sound really familiar."

He was quiet for a moment, and took a drink.

"What do you know about humans, Jolvia?"

Jolvia gave her head a tilt, her look curious though undeterred.

"That depends. Which humans? Ask a Quayoffi Poke'mon and they'll say humans are merely tall machops, pale and lanky with no face, claw like fingers, one always clutching an orb that drives Poke'mon to madness.

"Ask an Arcean and they'll say that two arms are instead 200 arms, crawling at frightening speeds, the orb of madness moving from hand to hand, hypnotizing, infusing whole armies with the bloodlust of war...

"But then...ask an Illaminian...they'll speak of a massive, writhing amalgamation of flesh and interweaving limbs and two-thousand mouths inside and outside, each commanding whole countries to destroy and pillage others, orb of madness emerging from the incomprehensible chaos of living mass to seed evil that shakes Tulaan to pieces and burn the whole world black and ashen..."

She chuckled, swirling her glass.

"Ah, the hyperbole of Illamini myth..."

Her crimson eyes slowly moved toward Avery, eyebrows raise.

"But then, Avery...what would you know of humans...?"

Avery stared at her a moment in silence.

'...am I going to do this...?'

"Quite a bit," Avery said. "...I could draw one for you. I think...this Adelaide might have been one. Then she became a Buizel."

Jolvia looked at Avery for a while, looking over to a set of napkins and taking one, offering one of the graphite sticks in a wood cup.

"I have a feeling..." Jolvia said, voice low. "...you may want to say your next words very quietly."

Avery nodded.

"I wasn't planning on saying much," he said.

Avery began to draw. It was a little clumsy.

A body. Shirt, pants, shoes.

"I'd be about this tall compared to one," he said under his breath, drawing a line a little under the knee. "But that's what they look like, give or take. I'm no artist."

Jolvia leaned over, watching Avery draw the human, unerringly, without hesitation. Clearly from memory.

She stared at it for a while...a long time, her eyes darting over the visage, taking in the details.

Before she took a sip of her drink, setting the glass on top of Avery's drawing, obscuring it.

"How very interesting..." The Nidorina muttered. "What a very mild creature, far from the fiendish horrors we've conjured for ourselves...goodness knows why we'd make such myth from simple things."

Her fingers tapped the glass.

"Of course, not in all my time living have I heard of humans actually existing nor have I heard of them even being seen anywhere on Tulaan...one must wonder how it was that...Adelaide arrived in Arcea...and why a creature purported to be so destructive and evil was fast-tracked into the guild of Arceali back then."

"...Whatever method she came by to get here," Avery said, his voice getting a little shakier. "...I don't think there'd have been a way back for her. Nor were there any other people from her past coming with her. Obviously she wouldn't have had any roots. No family, no home. Planted somewhere foreign and scary, and...given a direct clear path of where she should go. What she should do."

Avery furrowed his brow.

"...What happened to Adelaide?"

"Well...she certainly didn't prevent the start of NAM, as I'm sure you're aware..." Jolvia said plainly, picking her words. "In the end, she crept away into obscurity. None, not even her partner, Siranae, knew where she went."

Jolvia clasped her hands together, staring at Avery.

"Imagine that...stolen from your home, that old life uprooted to be thrown somewhere hostile to you and confusing..."

She let out a quiet chuckle.

"Frankly...that's a familiar story to me as well, as I look out at the Illamini op Arceali..."

"...Yeah," Avery said quietly, taking another drink. "...But... I'm sorry, I changed the subject. You wanted to know what was up with me since the desert."

Avery sighed, putting his forehead in a hand.

"... Snivy and Starly were nice, weren't they?"

Jolvia leaned down, her curious eyes looking over the Plusle.

"They were...perhaps that was just necessity. Could have even been a trick to get the pearl, don't you think?" Jolvia asked. Avery shook his head.

"Maybe. But when we were separated...I talked with them for a while." He explained. "And...They said some things I hadn't really thought of."

Avery looked up at Jolvia, concerned.

"...Xamao stole the map. He didn't make it."

Jolvia raised her eyebrows, hearing the last revelation of the map...yet her eyes...did not carry a spark of surprise.

"Oh, is that so?" She asked, leaning back, sipping her glass and reaching over to pour a little more. "Did you really go and fraternize with your enemy, Avery?"

The last sentence contained a subtle lift.

Like a laugh.

Avery's ears sunk. He knew she was being more or less sarcastic, but...he knew other people wouldn't see it that way. He was even planning on talking with Janus later, and checking out Infinity's room.

He really was in the weeds with his enemies, wasn't he?

"...People lie to me," Avery said, drumming his fingers on the table. "They lie to me, they keep things from me, they try and push their biases onto me whether on purpose or not."

The Plusle furrowed his brow, and took another longer drink of the Eksai juice.

"...At least when I talk to those 'enemies' they're up front about what they're not telling me."

Jolvia was quiet a moment, just listening. Not looking at or staring Avery down, only listening. On your last word she was quiet still, only watching the auctioneer hand off the bottle to a Wartortle that won the bid.

She took a deep breath, looking up.

"I understand..." Jolvia said softly. "Arcea is a land of secrets built upon more secrets...where everyone has an idea to sell, and will give and withhold whatever they can to make you believe it..."

She glanced his way.

"So let's do the opposite, Avery." She offered. "Give me your biases. Tell me your lies. What idea would you sell to me?"

"My lies?" Avery said, looking away for a moment. "...Vizon is my guardian. He was...I chose him from the very beginning. Ever since I came here, even before I met him, I was told, I knew he'd be important. He saved me when I had nobody. He brought me to Olistia, he helped me get into the guild, he's been by my side since the beginning. Always by my side."

Avery could feel his throat tightening as he sat there on the barstool.

"...He's my best friend and my teammate. And I trust him implicitly to help and guide me when I don't know what to do."

Jolvia nodded softly, sipping the glass quietly.

"That's a good idea to sell..."

She said nothing after that for a while, a respectful silence only broken by the auctioneer and the murmurs of the patrons.

"He seemed very sweet and kindly to you when we got back..." Jolvia began. "But I hardly see everything that happens, despite what you might think."

She offered a small chuckle. Avery sighed deeply.

"...I'm a Hero of Arceus, you know," the Plusle continued with his selling. "That means Arceus chose me specifically to help with this conflict. That's why the Conduit brought me directly into the guild on recommendation. She knew me before I knew myself. And that means that I'm on the unequivocally right side of the war. Because..."

Avery put a hand to his head.

"I'm a hero of Arceus, whatever the fuck that means."

Another, longer sip.

"...he'd look at me differently, you know." Avery slurred. "That first look he gave me when Olistia called my name in the square. He looked at me like I...like I was some angel, or something. When we got into the guild. Our first night in that ratty room. I...I love him, y'know? I..."

Avery trailed off.

'...Do I?'

"... Now he looks at me like I'm some...some lost lamb. Like I'm too stupid and naïve to think on my own. Which I am. I'm not from here, I'll never be from here-"

Avery stopped, and pushed his glass aside. He could feel it starting to affect him.

"...I'll never be from anywhere."

"Well, Avery from nowhere...are you a lost lamb? Truly?" Jolvia asked honestly, looking off. "Are you really the same as when you first woke up in Arcea?"

Her crimson gaze side-eyed the Plusle.

"Is Vizon...?"

She took a long sip of her drink, absorbing Avery's every word.

"You speak a lot to being a Hero of Arceus...chosen...you mention it quite often, actually, like a badge of honor...or maybe...a shield."

Jolvia clicked her tongue, as though picking her next words carefully.

"What if you weren't, though? We've all heard from the mouthpieces and the Conduit of the Hero brought down to deliver us from strife but let's pretend a moment...what if you weren't some chosen hero, just another Poke'mon stuck in the middle of Arcea like the rest of us...what then?"

Avery snorted.

"...As nice as that would be I don't think that's an option," Avery said, tapping the napkin he'd drawn on, now soaked through with a ring of wine. "Whether I like it or not there's something going on with me. I'm certainly stuck here, that much is true. But...I don't know if I can ever really belong here."

He slumped a bit.

"...But if I was...if I was just a person, I...I don't know. This all seems so big. There's people hurting, everywhere, all of the time. If I wasn't some hero maybe I wouldn't have to deal with it."

As soon as the words came out of his mouth he frowned.

That didn't seem right.

"...if I wasn't some hero, I'd feel like it was a choice I'm making. Not something pre-destined I'm meant to do. I'm no saviour. I didn't choose this. I didn't choose to be this. I wasn't a warrior, or a god, or a tactician. I was...

He grunted, gritting his teeth.

"...I was just a guy, out camping with two friends I can't even remember the faces of anymore. Because those memories were taken from me. And now...now I see Janus. And Kellixae. And Sekura, and Lahnae, and Aquashock, and Sarfallinus, and Nivanee, and they're all hurting, everyone is hurting all of the time and they're hurting each other or hurting themselves, and here I am...! Here I...I..."

Avery's fingers clenched at the base of his ears as his breath hissed against his palms. Jolvia listened to Avery, closely. She didn't interrupt. She didn't stare. She gave him space, her ears trained on only him, letting him speak and slump unseen.

"...you're the first person to ask me what's wrong, Jolvia." he finished.

Avery could hear Jolvia let out a breath through her nostrils.

She was quiet a moment, after he finished, deep in thought.

"Do you want to know what I think of all this, Avery?"

A genuine offer for her to speak. But he could have left it, not be spoken to, not given another opinion. She forced nothing, only asked.

Part of this made Avery feel sick. He was her boss. Or he was supposed to be. He knew he wasn't.

And yet here he was, spilling his guts out to Jolvia.

It was unprofessional.

Avery didn't even know if he'd said something that might piss her off. There was a good chance he did.

Not able to make words, Avery simply made a weak gesture with his hand to encourage her to speak, avoiding her gaze.

"I think this pressure you're feeling is intentional."

She turned her head, her expression hardened...but not at Avery.

"First told you're a hero of Arceus. Then singled out in a crowd by the Conduit. Given a special letter from Arceus's own mouthpiece, fast tracked to the guild and given big missions that generated big press. Hero of Arceus, Hero of Arceus."

She set her drink down.

"Now all of a sudden it's all on your shoulders, everything hinges on your actions. Everyone made to sit and stare at you and nothing else, then give up immediately when you and you alone fail. To overexert yourself..."

She furrowed her brow.

"...to be entertaining to watch. Romantic adventures, daring do. Surely, yes, surely, it must all hinge on only him. When the Conduit talks of Avery of Azure it absolves the world of responsibility, because now it's all on you. The single point of failure..."

Jolvia reached over, her hand resting heavy on the Plusle's shoulder as she looked him clear in the eye.

"That is not how you change the world Avery. If you think you can't do anything because the world...the problems...are too big...you're right. All that hopelessness you feel is because you're exactly right. The idea of a 'single chosen Hero of Arceus'...is absurd."

As she spoke, Avery's heart sunk.

He didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe that it was intentional, that this was what the Conduit wanted from the start. Avery didn't trust Olistia. The Gardevoir had lied about his memories, about the locks. She'd made that map.

But would she really bring him from another world, here, just to use him...as a scapegoat? There had to be easier ways to do that than just this...

...But this was the family thing all over again. Whether on accident or on purpose, the effects were the same. One could walk into a fire or trip and fall into a fire. The burns would be the same.

He felt the pressure. He felt the isolation.

Jolvia was quiet a moment, staring at Avery as he sat in silent contemplation...before finally backing off.

"I want to show you something tonight, Avery. May I?"

"...Alright," the Plusle said, voice quiet. "You can show me."

Jolvia smiled softly...patting his shoulder.

"You have a good heart, Avery. It's why I've stuck with you for so long, that person that you are. I don't want to see a mythical hero grow...I only want to see where you, Avery, the Poke'mon, go from here."

She reached over to finish her drink in a single gulp, hopping from the stool and waving Avery to follow.

"Alright, follow me. We'll need to meet up with Rikzyod. Man's probably off getting thrashed at Solza's."

She didn't offer her hand to hold, only stepping away from the bar, not looking back as she made tracks for the exit. Trusting him.

'...A lot of good a good heart had done me so far.'

Avery stumbled a little as he slipped off the stool, trying to regain his balance. But he did, and began walking after Jolvia. He was a bit more of a lightweight than he would have liked.

But he followed, wondering what she'd show him that she needed Rikzyod for.

Jolvia stepped through the door, onto the cobblestone path. The air immediately chilled compared to the inside of the bar. Jolvia thankfully kept an even pace, allowing Avery to catch up as she walked down the lower market district streets, by small patches of foliage and trees that lined the outside of brick and marble buildings.

She turned the corner, passing by a group of performers and the crowd around them, weaving through the Poke'mon. To the left, a small stream babbled with running water through a ditch of stone.

Avery could see Poke'mon milling outside of buildings. Many of which looked...closed, their front doors boarded up, parchment pinned to the front.

SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 4A SUITE 12 - 6T61

Another building, more Poke'mon standing across the street from it, staring at it almost angrily.

SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 4A SUITE 09 - 6T61

A few bars were on this street, though hardly anyone seemed to visit them despite how many Poke'mon milled on this wider road. A loud banging echoed over the streets, a pair of Machokes nailing boards over another building's windows.

SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 4A SUITE 03 - 6T62

As the both of them continued, the bars quickly grew fewer and fewer in number. Avery could see on some buildings the remains of stands now bricked-up and closed off permanently, with extensions to the brick walls built. The lights were on inside these buildings, a shuffling coming from within.

Jolvia stopped Avery, letting a massive cart of wood and steel pass by, entering a large depot in one of these large, expanded buildings.

"Things are still busy down here on the lower market district...even at night..." Jolvia muttered to him, continuing forwards after the cart passed, the depot doors shutting at once.

Despite what she said, the street they walked down...was otherwise deserted. The only signs of life came from within the buildings.

Avery furrowed his brow. All these businesses, bars, closed for business entirely.

'Why is this...? It's like some sort of epidemic or something...'

"Where are we going...?"

"Where else?" Jolvia said, glancing back. "Where all poor souls of Arceliaze go...or eventually end up. The X-Eye District. We just have to cross through this end of the Lower Market District..."

Jolvia stepped to the side, a pair of Buizels shouting and cursing to one another, thick pieces of paper in their hands. As Jolvia turned the corner at the end of the road, yet more closed buildings could be seen.

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 24 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 23 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 22 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 21 - 6T62'

Scaffolds and bricks lied in the street, wood cranes left of the roof, hanging overhead, the same extensions being applied to these buildings, the stands that used to be now long bricked up.

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 20 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 19 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 18 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 17 - 6T62'

One after another.

Poke'mon talked amongst themselves, Avery could hear them:

"Grah, didn't think they'd come for ours next..."

"I can't face Hila, not like this..."

Poke'mon in the street here passed the two forlornly, weaving by brick and scaffold.

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 16 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 15 - 6T62'

"No, it's fine, there's another place down the street we-"

"No doing, that place went down a month ago."

"You're kidding...where am I supposed to go?!"

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 14 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 13 - 6T62'

'SEIZED PROPERTY: BLOCK 5C SUITE 12 - 6T62'

"The Lower Market District..." Jolvia muttered, pulling ahead, putting that derelict street behind them both. "...home of Poke'mon bound for the X-Eye district, and fighting tooth and nail to keep it from happening."

At the end of the street, a low rumble of voices could be heard. One or two Poke'mon milled about here, pipes in mouth, others holding cups from the small bar they stood by.

Due for Seizure - FLASH SALE. ALL TOTTER MUST GO.

The bar was quiet, and the group that stood outside had a stack of papers by them. Jolvia tried to keep from making eye contact, hurrying her pace.

Yet despite this, one of the Poke'mon spotted the both of them, a Weavile. He stepped forward, glass in hand, a neutral expression on his face as he brandished a slip of paper. He lifted the thick flyer, offering it to Avery.

"Evenin', folks..." the Weavile said in a slightly slurred voice. "We're handing out invitations for our seminar...! Interested in coming to a NAM meeting tomorrow night? S'for kids and adults. Owner of this bar will be doin' a talk, real honest man. Local, too, want a cup?"

Jolvia looked as though she were going to deny at once, though glanced to Avery first.

'...NAM?'

Avery had to hide his recoil from hearing the word again.

"Um...No, thank you," Avery said, trying to keep moving.

'...All these businesses seized, and now NAM here, too. Is it just too much money? Can they not afford to hold their doors open?

This entire district is like a graveyard.'

"Maybe another time, fight the good fight, boys~!" Jolvia merrily said with a wave, the Poke'mon happily waving back as she turned to leave...with an inaudible frustrated huff.

"This place has turned into a hotbed for recruitment..." Jolvia muttered once she and Avery were out of earshot. "Property seized, Illaminian debt workers go in, Arcean workers come out...and NAM's always there, practically greeting those outbound Arcean workers right at the door."

She shook her head, looking back at Avery.

"Do you think you can single-handedly solve this, Hero?" She asked, brow furrowed.

"...No," Avery murmured, his feet dragging more and more with each step he took and each derelict shop he saw. "I don't even entirely understand what this is, but...no. I...I don't even know if my team would see this as a problem."

Jolvia...smiled at his answer, his acceptance. She waved her hand for him to follow.

"Don't worry, Avery. This isn't what I wanted to show you." She assured, continuing on.

The silence of the lower market district was slowly...slowly replaced by another noise. A rumbling noise.

The cobblestone under their feet turned to dirt, loose and wet, with occasional sunken planks to serve as a facsimile of a pathway. But this wasn't the farming district...no...the buildings around them were tall...and old.

No marble here. All the buildings now were red and brown bricks, stained and dirtied and chipped. Wood buildings now accompanied the brick, all while still standing tall...imposing...looming.

The muddy dirt street widened into a larger plaza as they passed under a brick archway and saw it at last.

"We're here." Jolvia said.

A bad scent permeated the air. A melancholy...Avery could feel it.

A poke'mon covered in cloaks sat upon the sidewalk by a doorway.

Another near the bar held his hands in his face...

A trio of other poke'mon sat by their cart silently.

Why in the world would Jolvia bring him here...? Another part of Arceliaze miserable, no doubt. More hurt. More dreary, tiring hurt.

Yet...he had to wonder. Maybe this was like...how it was in the Illaminian district. He remembered his first time there, seeing how awful it was...and only seeing the resilience and community they had his second time there.

'But...'

"... Why did you want to show me this...?"

Jolvia looked down at Avery, smiling.

"I see it in your eyes." She said softly. "All the time we've spent in the bright and shiny marble roads of the Market District make such places look worse. But...you know better don't you?"

She chuckled, looking back out towards the street.

"I wonder what Vizon said of this place..." She mused.

And all it'd take was a second look.

The trio of Poke'mon sitting by their cart erupted in loud yells as a fourth finally rounded the corner, fashionably late.

The Poke'mon near the bar with his hands in his face lifted his head to show his bloodied nose, his friend ribbing him for getting pummeled at the bar.

The Poke'mon covered in cloaks jolted as the door beside him FLEW open, a Taillow woman coming out and knocking him upside the head for sleeping outside, bringing him in at once.

"There's something I learned a long time ago..." Jolvia said softly, watching as more Poke'mon filled the muddy street, the lines disorganized and crossing into one another, less foot traffic and more just crowd chaos that still managed to flow. "And you'll see it shortly, I'm sure...but what's say we find Rikzyod?"

Another sigh, this time of relief. First impressions had been wrong, thankfully.

"Sure. You said he was at another bar...?" Avery asked.

"Solza's, aye." Jolvia confirmed with a nod, walking forward on the muddy roads, passing the large brick buildings. "It's a lil hole in the wall that's just recently opened...well...more re-opened."

So much about the X-Eye district seemed similar to the lower market district...a few guards here and there along the roads, looking a mite dirtier than the ones at the market district.

The buildings were old, many boarded up and closed off. Many of the buildings sported the seizure notices...but the papers were wet and yellowed, dated for 6T59...and always partially torn.

As the two moved along the road, old and rotten planks lie beside buildings, bent nails that had been haphazardly removed now sat in buckets.

A building with the extensions Avery had seen before stood. But no depot. The windows above were dark. And where he would expect a bricked-up stand there instead sat a perfectly functioning stand and store, the light from inside spilling out into the street.

'So these people had had their shops seized... And were just ignoring it. Going about their daily business after a few years of dormancy... re-opened.'

"Ah, down there." Jolvia said, pointing down the road.

There, an open-air bar stood, the only thing separating it from the street being a handful of pillars.

Even from here Avery could see a Charmander get thrown out onto the muddy street. The Plusle jolted watching the Charmander skid through the muck, looking up at Jolvia. A cheer ERUPTED from inside!

"Ah, Rikzyod must be up on the ring." Jolvia laughed, waving for Avery to follow.

"... Yeah, that's Rik's fingerprint alright..."

The both of them approached the bar. Even here, the building was extended. Avery could see where there used to be walls sealing-off the bar...and all on the sidewalk and street sat rubble and chips of brick, knocked down, seizure overturned.

And the guard across the street merely stood, watching patrons enter and exit the bar...even having a glass himself as he stood.

Avery and Jolvia stepped up into the fight club. The dirt floor crunched under their paws, a crowd stood at the middle, cooing and cheering.

The bar space was sparse, the bar tender filling glasses in a line for anyone to come and pick up as they pleased, leaving some coins in the glass's place. The totter juice here was cheap and frothy, Avery could see it from here. The old building creaked and groaned, like cheers of its own as loud SMACKS came from the center of the crowd of Poke'mon...from the ring.

"OH THAT'S A CHEAP SHOT!"

"HIT EM BACK HIT EM BACK"

Avery looked around. It wasn't...a lively place, not like the barbecue was, but...it had its own charm. Not the least of which was the Poke'mon beating the crap out of each other in the ring.

Staying close to Jolvia, Avery turned to see whether Rikzyod truly was up there.

Poke'mon walked in and out of the bar area freely from the street, bringing food and drinks from other stands and restaurants to see the fighting.

A CRACK erupted!

The crowd gave a sharp "OOOH".

A quilava ROCKETED up to the ceiling, SLAMMING into it!

"HIT ME AGAIN!"

"Ai, no, I got 30 riding on him, boyo! Throw! Throw!"

Jolvia stepped forward, pushing past the poke'mon to give Avery a good view of the arena.

There, the Plusle could see the roped-off stage. Just as he suspected, Rikzyod held his fists up. A good number of brand new gashes, exposing his geode underneath, decorated his body. In front of him, a Quilava with an equal number of gashes stood, popping his neck, smiling.

"You hit like my mother."

"She must be very strong! May I fight her next?!"

The Quilava laughed, circling around Rikzyod, which the Geodude returned.

"HIT 'IM! HIT. HIM."

"CHARGE! CHARGE IT, LAD, WHAT'RE YOU DOIN"

"S'A FIGHT NOT A DANCE YOU YELLABELLY, C'MON!"

An Ursaring next to Avery chugged down a massive tankard, dropping it to the floor. Someone else coughed and spat. The bodies all around he and Jolvia lightly shoved and pushed as everyone tried to get the best look at the action.

The two opponents LUNGED.

Rikzyod STRUCK. The Quilava TWISTED around the fist, SLAMMING his body into the Geodude! One strike! Two strikes!

"Haugh?!"

THREE STRIKES!

Rikzyod SLAMMED into the ropes. Jolvia winced, grinning as she watch him slump of the ropes.

"Hoogh..." The Geodude shook his head, the Quilava bouncing in place, puffing fire from his mouth in excitement. Rikzyod waved to one of the patrons, immediately handed a glass of Totter, chugging it down halfway. The rest he poured over himself.

The crowd ROARED, SHAKING the stage.

"I'm alive again!" Rikzyod roared, cracking his knuckles. The Quilava huffed and puffed, darting his head side to side. "COME ON."

The Geodude CHARGED.

Avery stood up straight. He was... Pretty damn short. Couldn't see beyond a good number of the Poke'mon around, but he could see enough, and he could hear even more.

The Plusle heard Rikzyod being Rikzyod...and a challenger. They were beating the shit out of each other, yeah, but...they seemed like they were having a good time with it.

'...He comes back from one of the most harrowing, painful missions I've ever been on in my life... And that same night he's in a fighting ring.

...This guy has spirit.'

The Ursaring beside Avery staggered, looking down at the Plusle with bleary eyes...before reaching down and grabbing Avery's head.

"Ehhh cmere y'little gobswabble..." The Ursaring slurred.

He picked Avery up, lifting the tiny Plusle up to his shoulder, Jolvia backing up with a laugh as Avery was suddenly hoisted up for a better view of the fight. Avery couldn't help but let out a little squeak of surprise as his face was palmed like a ball - but found himself set down with a much better view. The Plusle let out a quiet, embarrassed thanks, holding onto the shoulder as he watched.

The Quilava dodged RIGHT, then LEFT.

Rikzyod punched and STRUCK, the Quilava weaving around. Rikzyod feinted once, twice, STRIKE. His fist CRACKED into the Quilava's face, THROWING him back, tumbling, slung into the creaking ropes.

Rikzyod LUNGED! The Quilava lifted his hind paws, SLAMMING them out! A DIRECT HIT! Rikzyod was put into a spin, CRATERING to the ground, pebbles cascading.

"OOOOHHH"

"Oh Arceus, nawp, I'm out, I can't take this."

"Ouch!"

The Quilava pushed from the ropes, standing over the Geodude. Rikzyod lied upon the ground, dazed...dizzy.

"Ey mate, y'aight? C'mon, up you come."

The Quilava held out a paw, the dazed Geodude taking it and getting up, swaying.

Avery stared, enraptured. This looked like a tough fighter too - already at a disadvantage type wise, this Quilava was really holding his own.

Avery let out a cheer to try and motivate Rikzyod as the Quilava helped him up - that was sporting of him...!

"You're not down yet! You've gone through worse!"

"AI AI, ROUND TWO ROUND TWO"

"Y'good?" The Quilava said quietly, Rikzyod nodding. The Quilava patted his shoulder, the both of them tapping fists as the bell sounded again.

"Ay, Fofo."

The Ursaring that held Avery on his shoulder grunted, looking over.

"Uh?"

"Mug?"

Rikzyod SLAMMED his fist across the Quilava's face!

"Aye, yeh."

The ursaring took a large tankard, rearing back and taking a big gulp...then he looked at Avery.

"Thirsty, lad?" the Ursaring asked.

Avery looked down at the tankard, and laughed a bit.

"I've already had enough to drink, hah...help yourself."

The ursaring nodded, pulling the tankard away and taking another deep SWIG.

CRACK.

"OOOHH"

Rikzyod FLEW back, spinning against the ropes, grabbing at them to keep himself steady and standing. Below Avery could see Jolvia laughing and clapping as Rikzyod got tossed like a ragdoll, the Geodude clearly having the time of his LIFE.

Really...it was the merriest Avery had seen either of them. Here in the shadow of Arceliaze, deep where none others would take him.

Avery had never really thought that Jolvia would enjoy herself here, too...she'd mentioned how being part of the guild had been a childish dream she'd had, and how the money had allowed her to try some high-society things.

'Does that mean that she's from here?

Perhaps she's even like Sekurae, where she's just very good at surpressing her accent. But watching the two of them, Jolvia watching...violence, and Rikzyod taking part in it. The Geodude really can't get enough of the stuff, huh?

A mask removed from the mysterious Nidorina. A woman in her element. A woman...home.'

The Quilava was PUNCHED. Once! Twice! THRICE! Uppercut!

"OH THAT'S DONE IT!"

The Ursaring burped, grunting and sniffing. Another Poke'mon beside Jolvia handed her a small tankard which she took happily, digging into it with a big gulp. Nothing like the petite sips at the Eksai auction bar.

The Quilava doubled back, a bigger and bigger crowd slowly drawn from the street, many of the passing Poke'mon excitedly running over from other bars to see the two go at it.

"BRING IT IN, BOYS."

"FOURTY! FOURTY P ON GEODUDE!"

The crowd YELPED, seeing Rikzyod's punched PARRIED, slammed by the Quilava's shoulder. STRIKE to the face. The cheek! The jaw! Rikzyod staggered back, guffawing as another fist ROCKETED towards him!

He SLUNG his fist forward, SLAMMING into the Quilava's!

"OOH"

Another parried strike!

"GRAPPLE! GRAPPLE!"

The Ursaring swayed, jostling Avery. Jolvia glanced up at the Plusle, a warm smile on her face.

The Quilava slung forward, grabbing the Geodude. The Geodude's hands GRIPPED the Quilava back, both of them slinging around in a dizzying circle. The Quilava RAMMED his head forward!

Rikzyod returned! The Quilava's nose bled!

The Quilava let go a hand, SLAMMING his fist into Rikzyod! Again! Again! He grabbed at Rikzyod's arms and SLAMMED him into the ground of the ring, the Geodude rolling.

The Quilava twisted suddenly, his foot FLYING toward's Rikzyod's face!

CRACK!

"IT'S AAAALL OVERRR!"

Rikzyod FLEW back and slammed hard into the ground, the Quilava panting, wiping his lip.

The Plusle nearly fell off of the Ursaring as he took a swig, and then did. He dropped and landed hard on the ground.

"Oop-...sorry..." the Ursaring muttered as Avery fell. The Plusle could only lie there for a moment in surprise.

Rikzyod was beaten. Avery's eyes wide. He didn't think that he could be taken down at all, let alone by a Quilava! Nonetheless, Avery found himself caught up in the energy. Even with his friend losing like that, Avery had to admire both opponents...

"That was a fight-" Avery said, picking himself up off of the ground, dusting his back off. "And after what happened today...that guy's hard as diamonds."

Jolvia stepped up by Avery, crouching to make sure he was ok as he stood.

"And so uncomplicated." Jolvia added, dusting off Avery's shoulder as she looked towards the ring. "He's a rare Pokemon whom you can trust when he says he has no secrets. I genuinely believe that."

Her eyes sparkled, watching as the Quilava helped Rikzyod back up, the Geodude laughing and patting his opponent on the shoulder, heading off the ring.

"Haugh! What a place! No other fight club in Arceliaze hosts such fighters, such Pokémon of spirit!" Rikzyod yelled merrily, approaching the pair. "It is good you joined me, Jolvia. I trust your gathering of the weak and spongy went well?"

"As well as it could, I suppose." Jolvia nodded, showing her bottle of Eksai. "There's one for the collection."

"And good evening to you, Avery!" Rikzyod said, turning to the Plusle. He moved forward, helpfully leading the two along as a new pair of fighters stepped into the ring, the larger crowd dispersing. "Where are the stupid ones?!"

Jolvia coughed, as though to cut him off.

"Avery, what's say we scrounge some food, hm?" The Nidorina suggested. "I don't think you've eaten all day, have you...?"

Avery was almost waiting for his stomach to chime in and embarrass him. Thankfully that didn't happen - but she was right. He hadn't eaten at all.

"If you don't count the medical supplies, no," Avery said with a shake of his head. "What kind of stuff can you get to eat around here, then...?"

"The GREATEST SLOP." Rikzyod yelled. "Tradional X-Eye dinners, hard as rocks and reminding you to be thankful to just be alive!"

"Rikzyod...restaurants here serve that as a gag." Jolvia corrected with a laugh. "Real traditional X-Eye District meals would be like...bread bowls. Totter Rice...you know...spiced and salty potato slices..."

"Cheese and buttered Totter bread!" Rikzyod continued, Jolvia nodding.

"Ah, so you do know...!"

"Then I confess! The greatest slop is MY tradition!"

Poke'mon casually walked in and out and through the open bar, talking to one another, shouting. A loud song echoed on the old bricks.

Then Avery heard it...

Familiar music...trumpets and fast strings. Like he'd heard...at the barbecue with Kellixae.

Jolvia side-eyed Avery, the Illaminian lyrics belted loudly and in the open. A few of the Poke'mon around the three drunkenly swayed and bounced to the beat.

A voice in the surrounding crowd.

"Oioi, which way to Hondo's?"

"Dji dute...?"

"Ah, sorry, lad. Uhhh...tdati..."

Among the thick X-Eye district accents Avery heard...Illaminian mixed in. Quayoffi, too, he recognized it.

'...Illaminian? Here?'

Avery's eyes lit up in recognition of the words - not their meaning, but the words nonetheless.

'Are...they more accepted here? I can hear Quayoffi but...as far as I knew they aren't quite as looked down on.'

"I think some bread bowls might do nicely..." Jolvia said casually, breaking Avery out of his thoughts. "What sounds good to you, Avery?"

"I've never had bread bowls before...are they really bowls made of bread, or...bowls with bread in them?" Avery asked.

"Oh hey, why not we find a fourth or fifth to our little party!" Rikzyod cheered. "I had promised to drink the red one under the table..."

"...I hope you don't mean me for 'the red one'..." Avery said, voice laced with trepidation. "I'm as light a lightweight can get when it comes to alcohol. But...if you guys have friends, I'd like to meet them! If...that wouldn't be awkward."

"I don't think my friends are available tonight." Jolvia shrugged with a smile.

"No no no, I speak of the bird! My favorite stupid one!" Rikzyod said, gesturing as though to show her size. "She was very amusing and looked as though she could melt my face!"

"Oh, you mean Lahnae," Avery said with a nod. "She's at the guild passed out at the moment...but I think that she'd enjoy coming down here one of these days."

Jolvia's paw crunched on a piece of paper littering the road, the thick flyer looking...familiar but unreadable.

"Anyway, to answer your question: yes, bread bowls. A classic meal of excess with whatever is available of the table scraps from the market district." Jolvia explained, chuckling. "Also lovingly called a 'dustbin dinner', sweeping the floor into a bowl. Oh, now, don't pull a face, it's not literally that. It's just a bowl of bread with sauces and various ingredients thrown within."

"A cacophony of luck!" Rikzyod cheered. "I got seaweed in mine last week! Delicious!"

As the three continued down the dirt road, they entered a more narrow pass. The stands here all had signs proclaiming their grand reopening, boards and old bricks discarded, and whatever used to be inside the larger buildings had clearly been gutted, turned into local shops and inns.

The stands had amateur art shops. Books. Performances. Medicine. Food and drinks. Inns with small rooms...for free. The rooms were, somehow, free.

A group of Illaminians passed by, laughing loudly, dirt caking their faces. A guard glared at them...yet made no move. Only stood there as the Illaminians walked through a crowd of X-Eye Pokémon. Avery was ready for that guard to pull something when the Illaminian people walked through, but...nothing happened. That was good. This was nice...ish. The glare he could do without, but at least Illaminians didn't feel unsafe here.

Avery was starting to wonder if he was being a little patronizing, admiring the resourcefulness of the Poke'mon living here. Obviously it'd be good if they didn't have to be resourceful, but...operating just under the city's eyes and doing what they could to make a life and culture here...it was nice.

Jolvia smiled, side eying the Plusle.

"Feeling better, Avery?" She asked warmly with a gentle chuckle.

Rikzyod laughed as well as the three approached a small stand set into the side of what looked like an old warehouse, the Raichu inside slamming at the counter to attract passerby.

"Bread bowls fer ye, friends?" The Raichu practically yelled. "Got me shop back at last and I'm feelin' like a discount!"

Indeed, all around the stand were old stained bricks and debris, while everything in his stand looked fairly new.

"What's in the bowls today?" Jolvia asked, leaning on the counter, beckoning Avery over.

"Lots of totter, some rice, eyyy...lime, too. And mushrooms a' plenty. Oh! Meat plant came in this morning so, sod it, I'll throw that in cheap. How's 5 coins each sound?"

That...was an astonishingly cheap price, especially when the Raichu turned to his brick oven, pulling out a massive iron tray laid out with bread kneaded into a bowl shape and filled, positively FILLED with layered ingredients...and they were enormous.

"Looks good, huh, Avery?" Jolvia nudged with a grin.

"Hah! I could down two I bet!" Rikzyod put in.

Avery's eyes went wide, first at the ingredients, and then at the price.

"I...I can't pay five for that-" Avery said, quickly digging into his pouch. "That's...that's got to be worth at least twenty each, at least-!"

Avery was almost alarmed- Had the Raichu made some sort of mistake? Maybe he'd misheard and the clerk said fifty, that sounded more reasonable, with all of that...and the size of it!

'...It looks so good though...'

Jolvia and Rikzyod snickered, cooing and singing together.

"Mar-ket district boy's a king

rich n' proud n' spoiled n' gay

Snubs his nose at e'ry-thing

unless he has to over-pay ~"

The Raichu took no notice, rolling his eyes as he wrapped the bread bowls in wax paper for the three of them.

Avery blushed a little at the song. That was probably about him.

He...supposed he should probably take the prices as they were. He didn't want to seem spoiled or condescending...but he found himself laughing a bit anyway. It seemed that...what he had done was pretty common practice.

Jolvia and Rikzyod laughed good-naturedly, sidling up to Avery. It was warm, as they all took food in hand, putting their money on the counter. The Raichu thanked them as they all moved away, walking down the street amid the other poke'mon that staggered and swayed along the path.

The nighttime was deepening, clouds hanging above.

"You look in much better spirits, Avery." Jolvia said, smiling, taking a bite of her bread bowl. The food was warm in Avery's hands, the scent a grand herbal mix of tomato and pepper, smoky meat making the Plusle's mouth water...it'd surely be hard to not just immediately dig in, especially with some totter already in him!

And he did. There wasn't as much self control as he'd normally have, the totter was definitely doing its job there.

"I...I am feeling better, yeah," Avery said finally. "There's still a lot on my mind, but...it's nice to shelve it for an evening. Plus, I haven't really been able to spend much time with you two before. So it's nice."

"It's been nice for us, too..." Jolvia said with a sigh, smiling. "I feel like I've gotten to know you better. The real and honest you...you're no liar, Avery, it's not in your nature."

She paused a moment as the three of them continued walking down the road. A commotion sounded ahead with the rush of cheering, joyous voices.

"I feel, now more than ever, confident in who you are. Confident in your words and character..."

"Did you think I was a liar before?" Avery said, raising an eyebrow. "I'd really think a loan manager like you would know when someone's lying~"

"You can never know for certain if someone is genuine or if they have the greatest poker face in the world." Jolvia laughed. "So if I'm wrong about you then, congratulations, you've outwitted me."

The Nidorina smiled wistfully, a look that Avery returned. With a turn of his head, Avery decided to keep the conversation rolling.

"So, question..." Avery began. "...where are you from, anyway, Rikzyod...? You and Jolvia both knew that song...is it common?"

Jolvia smiled again, returning to eating her bread bowl to allow Rikzyod to answer Avery's question.

"Ohoho, Avery. When you take as many blows to the head as I you forget things." Rikzyod explained, biting into his bread bowl. "They say my accent is...Quayoffi. So I would suppose I would be from there!"

Jolvia nodded, picking at the crust of her own bread bowl.

"They most we've figured is that his voice sounds like a south Quayoffi-slash-Yahneri mix...so maybe a boatsman once upon a time?" Jolvia shrugged. "Or at least spent enough time there to get a corrupted south Quayoffi accent."

Now that Avery had gotten the first few bites of his bread bowl in, he was a little more careful with it. He didn't want to eat at the edges so much that the stuff inside would spill out!

"Quayoffi, huh...?" Avery said. "I think Yahneri Port is one of the only places I haven't been yet...I know Nivanee and Janus were from there, but that's where my knowledge of it begins and ends."

The three of them all took to their bowls, Rikzyod taking big and messy bites, sauce falling to the mud.

"Mrrphm!"

"Chew, Rikzyod." Jolvia hummed.

The Geodude swallowed hard, belting out a satisfied breath.

"I should endeavor to go BACK to Yahneri port! I don't even remember a thing about it if I've been!" Rikzyod stroked his chin, wiping away some sauce. "Er...hopefully there is no one that recognizes me."

As the three emerged into the wider street Avery could see things were as bustling now as they were when they'd first arrived, despite how late it was. One would have expected any shop in the other districts to be long closed by now, but many here looked to only now be opening their doors as night crews at the surrounding worshops went on 'lunch'.

Avery nodded, looking about the square. He supposed it made sense that a district with bars and gambling would open up more during the night. One didn't drink at two in the afternoon, after all.

The voices were lively. Avery saw a group of Poke'mon talk to one another then quickly make tracks up the road. He even stepped upon another thick flyer, some of the surrounding Poke'mon holding them and looking them over, brows furrowed. Illaminian voices still mingled with the Arcean voices, though there was another noise.

Jolvia sniffed idly, walking with the crowd, eying the different gamblimg parlors opening up.

"Well...Yahneri port is quite a bustling place. I hear Illaminians sometimes sail there rather than going through Souljraan." Jolvia said, taking a bite of her bread bowl. "It'd be a nice place to call home...I wonder if Nivanee misses it."

"This is as probably as much of a surprise to you as the sun rising tomorrow, but I've never been to a port town." Avery admited, "At least not in my memory. So I think it'd be nice to go there!"

His smile faded a bit, and he took another bite of the bowl.

"...Of course if I do go it's probably going to be under pretense of guild work. So I won't be able to see the city proper."

"A shame, but not unsurprising. Yahneri really is beautiful..." Jolvia smiled, taking another dainty bite as Rikzyod messily finished his. "It's teeming with culture of all across Tulaan. Perhaps one day we can make a day of visiting when you can find time."

"Ha! I should think I'd like to be reminded of the place." Rikzyod wiped his mouth with the wax paper, shoving the trash in his satchel. "Blue waters, constant rain."

"Your favorite." Jolvia chuckled, Rikzyod giving an emphatic nod.

As he continued to eat, Avery people-watched as well. There were flyers people were holding, mixed voices...and something else.

Avery nodded to the crowds.

"Do either of you know what's going on there?"

At that last question, Jolvia was quiet, watching the crowds as they moved, eyes half lidded. She took a casual bite as she watched, a smile on her face.

More and more, Poke'mon were whispering to one another, spreading...news. running off. A guard or two on the side of the road nodded to one another, rushing in the same direction.

A loud voice could be heard down the road.

"Ah, there they are." Jolvia said, swallowing a bite. "It's what I wanted to show you."

Avery perked up, looking down the road as Poke'mon ran by.

"...The ring wasn't what you wanted to show me?" Avery said, sitting up straighter. "The bowls, the shops, they aren't...?"

There was a small seed of dread settling itself in his gut. If the guards were involved...this couldn't be good...right?

"The bowls and shops were fun but not really what you needed..." Jolvia said, glancing down at the Plusle. "C'mon, lets go see the commotion."

As they followed the crowd, it became easier to see...and hear what was going on. As many of the night workers were leaving the store houses, they were called to, spoken to, by a group of Poke'mon handing out familiar flyers.

All around, Poke'mon held the flyers in hand. Avery caught a glance at one of them:

Arcea needs YOU.

The National Arcean's movement stands in support of the X-Eye District.

Your children will be fed, your spouses will be housed. This is the promise of Arcea. Stand with us to keep that safe!

The crowd parted, letting Avery see ahead.

A Meowstic, a Turtwig and a Azumarill stood by a building, a little tent set up. They wore armbands, signifying their rank in the organization, handing out flyers merrily as they spoke.

"There y'are, sir. We hope you'll meet us at the convention a few days from now." The Azumarill said. "Together, stronger, Arcea will remain the shimmering jewel of Tulaan."

"You're willing to do whatever it takes for your father's land? Your children's land?"

The Poke'mon around Avery eyed the flyers.

"No western invader stands a chance against a unified Arcea. Did you see the Brighter Arceliaze weekly pamphlet?"

There were more than three Poke'mon handing out flyers. Yet more walked through the crowd, talking to Pokémon.

And there, in the center of the ring, by the Turtwig and Meowstic was a kindly looking Smeargle. His voice boomed over the crowd, a warm look in his eye.

"Going through the lower market district I see stands closed, block after block, turned to warehouses filled to the brim with them and not ONE of your fellow countrymen within! I see your countrymen starving and homeless. I see these problems encroaching, cascading over Arcea."

There was a shift in the audience. Someone bumped against Avery.

"But the time for fear is over. The time for hope has come. Stand with your countrymen, with us, at the Nationalist Arcean's Movement. Your children WILL be fed! Your spouses WILL be housed! And Arcea will be a rich Arcean's land!"

A Bulbasaur came up beside Avery, handing a flyer to him. He looked Avery in the eye.

"Will you do what it takes for your country?"

Avery could see it already. The guards closing in, worming their way through the crowd to join the guards already standing with the NAM Poke'mon.

That distress came back. Avery took the flyer from the Bulbasaur wordlessly, looking down at it. The Plusle turned to Jolvia, concerned.

'Why does she want to show me this...? These people burned down Sekura's house-! The guard is with them! They're...They're recruiting people...!'

Jolvia looked down at Avery...and was smiling. She lightly took another bite...looking almost amused.

The flyers continued to be handed out, the Smeargle continuing to speak.

"Looking hopelessly in the derelict streets of Arceliaze, if you've seen a westerner with a fat coin pouch whilst yours remained empty, if you were sat worried about tomorrow...if you wondered to yourself 'can I even do it' then I am here to tell you that YES YOU CAN!"

Off to the side there was a shout. An Illaminian expletive. The Smeargle recoiled, the Azumarill backing off.

"Keep it civil, don't think I don't know what that means!" The Meowstic shot back.

"This...! Is our time for hope!" The Smeargle recovered, dusting himself off.

Another lewd shout in Illaminian.

"OI, he said CAN IT." A guard shouted, shoving into the crowd at the Illaminian shouting.

"Oooooh!" Came another shout.

"Hey, lay off!" Another voice shouted. An Illaminian shouted something profain again.

"Either get that blighter's mouth shut or I'll get a whole platoo-"

"Oi! What was that wad that just spilt out yer mouth, guardie?!"

"I'm warning you!" the guard barked.

"Everyone, now, let's refocus! Unity! We need unity to stand against-" the Smeargle was interrupted again.

"My NAN is a soddin' Illaminian, you gunna kick her out, too?!"

There was a shout. The Azumarill and Meowstic began to look worried.

Especially when the Smeargle was hit by a wadded up flyer.

Then another.

Another.

The guards shouted back, stepping forward and protecting the NAM presenters.

"Back up! Back off!"

"WUZZAT, GUARDIE? CAN'T HEAR YOU WIT YER NOSE SO FAR US NAM'S-"

The guards pushed forward. The crowd roared, a Typhlosion PUNCHING one the guard.

"Don't you come in this side o' town talkin' TRASH."

A wad of mud struck the Smeargle as the guards rushed for the Typhlosion, only for a Charizard to LIFT two guards, dragging them and THROWING them aside.

"Oop, back up, baaack up..." Jolvia laughed, pushing back at Avery as the crowd cheered. Avery backed up obediently when Jolvia guided him away from the fight. He...almost felt like he would have had to join in, but...

...They didn't need his help. Quietly, Avery crumpled up the flyer, and let it fall to his feet. These Poke'mon...they didn't stand for it. They didn't stand for this sort of thing.

'The Illamini op Arceali aren't alone.'

The line of guards broken, mud pounded the NAM presenters as swear words in Illaminian and Arcean rang out drunk and merry, an Ampharos SHOVING the Meowstic over. The flyers SCATTERED and billowed in the wind, the NAM presenters scrambling.

The guards tried to make threatening moves at the crowd, but the swarm of X-Eye District Poke'mon were undeterred, taunting and play-lunging at the increasingly cowardly guard.

"RUDDY SWILL DRINKERS, I'LL GET YOU LOT BACK FOR THIS!" A guard shouted as he was forcibly shoved away and pelted with mud.

"Go cry home to mommy Olistia you shite-mouth! Go on!"

The crowd roared and laughed, bullying the guard as the Escavaliers were powerless to do anything but run.

Jolvia...was laughing. Rikzyod himself had fun tossing mud at the fleeing NAM presenters, a hail fire of mud and wadded fliers at their back, the crowd cheering as the guard scattered uselessly.

Avery felt a hand on his shoulder as the crowd thinned, walking toward the NAM Poke'mon and guard to run them out for good

Jolvia held Avery's shoulder, chuckling as she watched the scene.

"I knew they'd try it, thinking every Arcean would take that drivel hook, line and sinker..."

She glanced to the Plusle, smiling warmly.

"You were worried, weren't you?" Jolvia asked. "How in the world could one Poke'mon solve such a massive problem? How could a 'Hero of Arceus' fix Arcea..."

The Nidorina shook her head, looking back towards the cheering crowd.

"One Pokémon can't...and that's the point." She said with a smile. "Individuals fail easy and often. I'm sure NAM would love it if we were all 'Heroes of Arceus', stumbling and alone and powerless...but what's the difference between an Illaminian with nothing and an Arcean with nothing?"

Jolvia lifted a hand, sweeping as though presenting the X-Eye districters and Illaminians jeering at the fleeing NAM Pokémon and guards that supported them.

"That, right there, is your way to solving this, Avery. That is your hope for the future." Jolvia said warmly. "That...is what I wanted you to see."

Avery let out a little sigh. A weight felt like it was lifted off of his shoulders. He looked up at Jolvia with a gentler smile.

"I...yeah. I did need to see this, I think." Avery said. "Thank you. It's..."

He looked back out at the crowd as the last of the NAM were chased off.

"It's good to know that I'm not alone in this. That...we aren't alone in this."

That word, 'we', made Jolvia brighten considerably, the Nidorina squeezing Avery's sholder softly as the street slowly cleared out, the sounds of crowd growing fainter and fainter. Warm air blew between the old and creaking buildings.

At last, Jolvia sniffed, looking off toward the sky.

"Ah, well, how the night's progressed." She mused, lifting her other arm to pat Rikzyod on the back. "Food, fights and totter, what more could one ask for? Tell me, Avery...would there be any other business you'd like to attend to tonight?"

"The night is quite late...or VERY young if you are a night hoothoot, uh?" Rikzyod laughed. "We know plenty more places to drink! Gamble! Be merry!"

"Well, mind, Rikzyod, I still need tend to my other job in the morning, day off at the guild or not." Jolvia chuckled, adjusting her glasses. Avery gave a laugh.

"Honestly...I think I should be headed to bed," Avery said, stretching. "I shouldn't do that much walking since...I do have a fractured leg, hah..."

Bringing a paw down, he rubbed his thigh a little. Then he looked up at Jolvia inquisitively.

"Other job, hm? Doing loan-work?"

Jolvia grinned in that mysterious way she always did, patting Avery on the shoulder.

"Of course, Avery. Reports to file, people to see, as ever." Jolvia laughed, leading the Plusle down the street. "Shall I accompany you back to the guild? Rikzyod, will you be fine on your own tonight?"

"Feh! And to think we were just getting started!" Rikzyod laughed, shaking his head. "Oh well, another time, another night. Do take care, Avery! And nurse that leg as soon as you can! I loathe to think you weakened for our NEXT BIG ADVENTURE!"

Jolvia waved good-bye to the Geodude, Rikzyod returning the gesture.

It was time to get back to the guild.

Jolvia walked with Avery a ways, breaking away from him at the cross roads near the market district...though as she departed, she said one last thing.

"Oh, Avery? Mind if I call a favor sometime first thing tomorrow?"

She didn't elaborate much, even when asked, in that mysterious way of hers. Perhaps just more to consider for tomorrow.

"Oh. Yeah, for sure. Tomorrow, then." Avery said, standing right in front of her as the night encroached.

Jolvia nodded, bidding Avery farewell as she walked off. Avery gave her his warm goodbyes, and made his way back to the guild.

Past the lower market district, the market district...and back to that front entrance.

Avery was quiet as he entered, not wanting to wake anyone up - but past that...

...he wanted to check out Team Infinity's room.

He made his way inside, closing the entrance doors silently. He crept down the stairs and soon stood in the dark guild hall. The dim light of the candles only barely illuminated the walls and tile floor.

It was silent, just as Arceliaze outside. Avery could see lights on under his guildmates' doors...

'...Fourth door on the left. Fourth door on the left...

Nobody's on the doors to the left.'

Avery crept down the hall, eying the left side. The doors on the left were visibly untouched. Dust lied lightly on the doorknobs. The cracks under these doors were pitch black.

Avery paused.

Here...fourth door on the left.

There on the door, the place for a nameplate was empty, only the vague imprint of something that used to sit in that slot. A ghost with no face.

Avery looked around the hallway. Left. Right. Behind him.

Finally, he reached forward and gently eased the door open.

The door didn't even creak. It silently opened, a small gust of warm, stale air gently flowing into the hall.

The inside was pitch black. No window, like the right side rooms. Avery could only make out vague silhouettes in the dim light from the hall...

A dusty smell entered Avery's nostrils. Even from here, he could see the particles floating in the air, freshly disturbed by his presence.

Quietly, he tried to make a little spark in his hand, to work as a light.

'What did Quayslaan want me to find in here...?'

The light in Avery's hand grew...and grew. It cast a blue glow onto the walls of the dark room. Shadows heavily clung to the walls.

In that dim blue light Avery could see a bed, pillow and blanket still sat upon it. The sheets looked different from the ones in the others' rooms...older. The blanket was wrinkled and thrown aside. Avery could practically see where Quayslaan had lied in bed for the last time, nine years ago...but the sheets were clearly only disturbed by one Poke'mon.

There was an end table by the bed with a candle holder sat on top and the drawer half-open. Nothing lied under the bed from where he could see.

There was even a small table and chair on the far left wall, sat silently, the chair scooted to the side, a graphite stick left long discarded on the desk.

'...There...there was only one person in this room. What happened to his teammate? The Tepig?'

Carefully, Avery eased the door shut, so nobody getting up would notice anything amiss. As soon as the door closed it was like Avery was...sealed in another world, a silent time capsule of the guild nine years ago.

He took a breath and approached the end table. The sound of his own footsteps filled his ears. The air was stale and musty and warm.

The drawer was unremarkable...an old and tattered thick piece of paper lie by the candle holder. It looked like an old itinerary.

Dawn - Roll Call (Don't be late!)

Morning - Mission Assignment

Noon - Work

Evening - Return + Dinner Time in Mess Hal

Night - Free Time

Midnight - Curfew

For any birthdays please see ESTALONI for adding to the calendar.

~ 6th Turn, 42 ~

- Guild of Arceliaze -

'...Hm.'

Avery looked through the itinerary...it definitely wasn't by Quayslaan. Judging by the date...the itinerary was about 20 years old.

'Were these standard issue...?'

A shiver went down his spine. He was transported back in time, it felt like...and it was eerie.

As Avery read over the itinerary, something glinted in the drawer. Spotting the object in the half-open draw he decided to open it fully and take a look inside.

Opening the drawer he saw a few items inside the dusty compartment...a few gold coins, tarnished and covered in dust, only one of them glinting. There were also a few papers inside, looking like to-do lists, hand-written in clean lettering.

Finally, an old guild badge was inside...but the design was completely different from the one Avery wore. It was white with rounded bird wings instead of the bladed wings of his own badge. A small circle of gold sat in the center with the carving "INFINITY" in cursive lettering.

The badge looked worn with the paint fading. One of the wings looked chipped and cracked.

'The design's different. Perhaps something from years ago...? That might make sense. It seemed like the end of an era, anyway, when Janus went away. Maybe they changed the badge designs. I could always ask Vi-

...

Maybe I could ask Kipuuna.'

Avery turned the badge around in his hand, seeing 'Quayslaan' engraved on the back. There were supposed to be two people here...why did it look like there was only one?

Setting the badge back in the endtable, Avery turned to check more in here. The rest of the room seemed unremarkable. The room was fairly large...and there seemed to be a fair bit of empty space.

Almost too much empty space...in the corner of the room by the door there could have been a whole other bed and end table. There probably could have even been another desk on the wall opposite the one already there.

Like half the room had been stripped, turning it into a room for...one.

...

There was something uncomfortable about this place.

Walking so silently around the room, eyes glued to the floor, it was more and more like the room was a piece of theatre. Set up. Cleaned and left. Perhaps hoping someone would come back. Maybe Quayslaan. As though it were left intact for if he returned...but carefully cultivated.

But with your Avery's to the floor...he caught something.

Beside the desk, partially hidden by dust: Scuff marks upon the floor, made by the legs of the desk, left behind from someone moving the desk. Someone like Sarfallinus could no doubt lift he wood desk, but someone smaller would have to push it such that it scraped across the floor.

But why?

...Avery looked back at the door.

'...It's late. I have time.'

Slowly, carefully, as quietly as he could...Avery dragged the desk out. There was...there was something down here. Something on the left side of the guild...

The desk slid silently over the tile, only lightly scraping over the floor. It hardly caused any real noise, nothing that would wake others.

Finally, Avery moved the desk all the way across the scuffs on the floor, the wall behind exposed.

Avery held up his electrical light, squinting close...and saw something. On the wall of bricks, one of the bricks was discolored, with the cement around it dug out, making it loose.

Avery's heart was beating faster and faster and faster.

He knew what this might be. He knew what this might entail.

And he was so, so so very curious.

Avery pressed, gently, on the brick. It shifted.

He paused, taking a deep breath of the stale air..and pulled.

'If I know about this...maybe a compartment. A hole to...store something.'

The brick slid out, crumbling cement flakes dropping to the ground as Avery pulled it from the wall. It was light, lighter than he'd expect for a brick its size.

Something rattled inside.

As Avery held the brick in hand, there sat...two folded pieces of paper and another of the old badges. This one had much more damage on it and splotches of old, old discoloration. It was turned over, the back showing, a name inscribed.

Rikaerd

Avery's brow furrowed.

'Rikaerd. Was that the Tepig partner of Quayslaan's? But...why? Why was his existence...hidden? What did he do?

The papers might have answers. I know that Quayslaan wasn't with Tepig- Rikaerd before. He was with Calladin the Starly. If Quayslaan had escaped together with Rikaerd, I'm sure they would have been together right now in the Thieves Guild'

Avery sat, staring inside the brick for a moment before pulling out one of the papers, the thicker of the two. Slowly, he unfolded it and revealed a strange, official looking document. It had golden trimmings, now frayed and faded, and an official looking seal.

NOTICE OF ARCEALI ELITES OBSERVATION

- 6th Turn, 53, YESHINYE 33rd -

This document is to be presented to the following parties:

- QUAYSLAAN of TEAM INFINITY and SOULJRAAN BIRTH

The parties listed are hereby notified that they have been placed under watch and observation by the Arceali elites as of the posted date. Movement and communication will be monitored. Meetings and friends must be documented and audited. Listed parties must surrender to all questioning and auditing of all purchases, business, communication and contacts, local or foreign national.

Please make bi-monthly check ins with your observation officer no later than the 30th and the 90th of each month

This observation period will end on:

- 6th Turn, 56th, YESHINYE 33rd -

ARCEALI ELITES COMMISSION

Avery furrowed his brow, reading the document.

'...Quayslaan was put under watch? But why? And this document still doesn't make any mention of Rikaerd...but Quayslaan was under watch by the Elites. How did he get away if that was the case?'

Avery looked at the date on the document. It was 6th Turn, 62 currently...placing this 6th Turn, 52 document at...

'Nine years old...'

Avery shook his head, and looked at the other paper.

The other paper was thinner, although as Avery unfolded it he realized it was actually several sheets of paper folded together.

Every sheet was a loose leaf, with smudged words written in graphite. The letters were pressed hard but in the same handwriting as the to-do lists.

6T53 Y31- Quayslaan

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE...

The lines repeated, over and over, written carefully and with a hard press onto the paper. Looking at another paper revealed much of the same...

6T53 Y32- Quayslaan

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE...

And the next page.

And the next page.

6T53 Y33, then Y34, then Y35, then Y36. 100 lines of the same thing. Day after day.

Avery compared the dates written here to the one on the first document.

'This was...directly before Quayslaan was put on watch by the elites, by only two days. And then...after.'

Avery furrowed his brow, a chill going down his spine at the words, over and over. They were all so immaculately written, every single one.

Rikaerd and Kanah fell in love and abandoned the team at Seaking Peninsula.

...

'Is this a code? Why did Quayslaan want me to find this?'

Flipping from page to page...they all said the same thing...over and over. Ritualistically.

Until Avery slipped out one page from the stack that stuck out.

6T53 Y44- Quayslaan

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNISULA.

It went on like the rest...but the words were scrunched, the sentences smashed together in thinner lines to get 100 lines in less space...

...and at the bottom...the page was ripped.

Avery frowned...and glanced back in the brick. There, he saw it: the final item in the brick.

A scrap of paper. One would have assumed it was trash, but...

Avery's heart was racing.

'What is this? What does this mean? Why did Quayslaan do this? Why-'

One more. One more clue. Something to explain...what happened to Team Infinity. What happened to Rikaerd.

Why Rikaerd and Kanah fell in love and abandoned the team at Seaking Penninsula.

Picking up the scrap...flipping it over. The words were faded, lightly written, only able to be seen when looked at closely. In small letters, crammed in the tiny scrap torn off in secret.

I know what I saw. soil Lie Light Upon Richard, 17, Kanah, 14

Avery stared hard at that little piece of paper.

He didn't get it at first.

'Soil Lie Light Upon Richard? Is that another code? What is-'

All at once, the ground seemed to drop out from under him.

Icy cold claws gripped around Avery's heart, and it took all of his willpower to simply stay on his feet.

'Soil lie light.'

Quayslaan had seen two people die. Kanah, and...

...and...

...

'Richard?

...Richard?

Why...why do I recognize that name? It not someone I know, I know that. But...it wasn't like any other name I've heard before. Vizon. Sarfallinus. Quayslaan, Rikaerd.

So why is 'Richard' so...familiar?

Familiar...like Adelaide.'

Avery folded up the papers. He put them back in the fake brick. Back into the wall. Table slid back.

He carefully walked to the door, and gently slid it open.

Time for bed, Avery thought to himself, trying to stop himself from trembling.

Like the portal opening again, a rush of fresh air billowed into the room. The soft glow of candlelight touched Avery's cheek, the empty hall spread before him.

At his back, the silent dark of the old room stood, that old snapshot so long untouched. The echo of days long past, adventures long over, friendships forged and strengthened, fun had then ended.

Times long past. Memories long faded. Stories forgotten.

Nothing but an old room.

The door shut, the portal to the past closed behind him. Here Avery stood in the hall, back in the present, back in 6th Turn, 62.

...He felt sick as he almost mindlessly trudged back to his room.

'...I don't want to die.'

Nobody disturbed Avery's walk to the end of the hall, standing in front of Team Azure's door. Opening it...seeing the magenta light of Sanshiyad pouring through the window...

And there staring out at the rippling water of the canal...was Vizon, looking worried.

Hearing the door open, the Riolu's ear twitched and he looked back, slouching his shoulders and sighing.

"Arceus, there you are..." Vizon said.

"A-ah-" Avery jolted at the door, seeing the Riolu.

'...Right. My partner. My teammate.'

"...Hey, Viz." Avery hesitated a moment, and then approached the bed. "...How's Nivanee doing?"

Vizon recoiled a bit, looking at Avery as the Plusle spoke. A deep and worried look crossed Vizon's eyes as he watched Avery. The Riolu was quiet a moment before speaking.

"She's...fine." Vizon said, tilting his head and watching Avery. "She asked about you before anyone else and I let her know you're ok and how the mission went...I was thinking we could visit her together tomorrow. I just figured you'd want some space to relax tonight."

He fidgeted, staring at Avery, twiddling his paws.

No doubt Avery's aura must have looked abysmal.

"Avery...?" Vizon began...though seemed unable to find the words.

'...now he notices.'

"...That'd be nice," Avery said quietly, sitting down on the bed. "...I, um...I missed you tonight. I had fun, with Jolvia and Rikzyod. I wish you could have come."

Avery pulled his paws up onto the bed, hugging his knees to his chest.

Vizon stood for a while, softly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah...sorry, I just...wanted to go see Nivanee and felt..." he paused, eyes wandering. "...a little too tired? For the X-Eye district. The energy of that place is exhausting and it'd been a long mission and..."

Vizon paused again, biting his lip.

"Well I'm...glad you had fun down there. What did you guys...get up to? I don't know much about either of them...frankly, Rikzyod seems like kind of a wild card, huh?" The Riolu laughed lightly, as though trying to lighten the mood.

"...Yeah, I...I probably should have seen Niv first," Avery said, sagging a bit. "...It was, uh...it was good. It was good! It really looks like everything is shut down there when you first go, but...there's a lot of really nice Poke'mon there. Jolvia and I saw Rikzyod fight in a fighting ring - he got taken out by a Quilava, but it was a really close match. And then we went out for bread bowls...they were really cheap, but really good. And then-"

Avery had gotten into his explanation a little, but what had happened next stopped me.

"...We went past a NAM demonstration on the way home. That part wasn't...super important, though. I, um..."

Vizon perked up.

"NAM...? Those guys again? The bad-"

Vizon stopped himself, shaking his head.

"...those guys...that burnt that Poke'mon's house down...?" Vizon asked. When Vizon hesitated, Avery slacked a bit on the bed, releasing his knees to flop on the bed. He let out a little sigh, and gave Vizon a smile as the Riolu continued.

"Yeah, though, that sounds like the X-Eye district. Kinda shifty, lots of closed down places and out of business shops around there, kinda spooky." Vizon shuddered, shaking his head. "Fighting, drinking, loud and burly Poke'mon, aha...I'm glad you have fun, though...!"

He was quiet a moment...as though checking Avery's reaction...like he was worried about...saying something wrong.

"It was pretty rough and tumble, yeah," Avery said with a smile and nod. "But it wasn't bad. I think it'd be fun if you came next time. And, uh...I do really appreciate you going for a wider spectrum of morality. I mean...I'm pretty convinced NAM is all bad guys from what I've heard, but...if you're going to try to keep an open mind, I'll just say...I know those two that did it were bad guys. But...thank you."

Vizon let out a sigh of relief at the Plusle's smile, relaxing at once. Carefully, Vizon approached, jumping up onto the bed with Avery and sitting on the edge, looking at the Plusle carefully with a gentle smile of his own.

"Yeah, I know...it's just..." Vizon squirmed a little. "Being in the guild...when I read about them it was always easy. The guild was good guys and the people they fought were bad guys. I never saw much reason to overcomplicate it. If it boils down to having to fight against someone, what's the difference? But...look, I know I'm not that smart or wise in stuff. I need someone to tell me who the bad guys are but I just...want to be a good guy for the good guys, you know? Whoever they are..."

Vizon shook his head.

"I'm probably sounding like an idiot. I dunno. Poke'mon that hurt others...those are bad guys. I don't want to be paralyzed by what-ifs and maybes and overcomplicated thinking, sitting there and letting others suffer because I'm worried about hitting the wrong person. I just...want to do good."

He looked at Avery sadly...it was clear he'd been doing a lot of thinking.

"That's all. I swear."

Vizon was quiet a moment, looking down at the floor, gripping the bedsheets tight.

"Anyway, sorry. I'll stop. I know when I open my big mouth about this your aura falls miserably. I just...wanted to talk on that a little, I guess."

Avery paused, thinking about what Vizon was saying. A weight welled in the Plusle's throat. His knees came back up to his chest. He took a deep breath. His heart felt heavier.

In any other circumstance, Vizon might have thought that he screwed up again.

"...I've just...seen a lot of things since I've been here." Avery began. "I'm friends with Kellixae, and Sekura. I went to a little sandwich shop run by an Illaminian, and the X-Eye District was really nice. I went to a barbecue in the Illaminian District. And..."

Avery looked at Vizon.

"...I'll admit. Walking around in there alone, when I was going to meet Kellixae...it was scary. Poke'mon were staring at me. I didn't feel entirely safe. I don't...I don't doubt that there are bad Illaminian Poke'mon, too. But I just..."

Avery sighed.

"I don't want to paint everyone with the same brush...I know that I'm new here. I know that you and Nivanee both care about me, and you're scared for me. But...I'm also new here, you know? I didn't grow up around any of these Poke'mon, so...I just...judge things how I see them..."

Avery laughed a little.

"But don't insult yourself, either." Avery said. "You wouldn't be in this guild if you didn't want to do good. And I think that means a lot. And...you mean a lot to me. Still."

The Plusle put a paw on Vizon's.

"You're still my partner." Avery affirmed at last with a warm smile. Vizon's ears perked, feeling Avery's paw on his own. He turned his head, looking over at Avery, eyes wide...almost begging. Vizon was giving puppy eyes if Avery had ever seen them...must have learned that from Nivanee.

"Avery..." The Riolu whispered, sighing lightly. "...I'm glad..."

Vizon was quiet a while, having listened to Avery. He lifted his legs, crossing them as he sat on the bed, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

He didn't say anything to the food, Avery's words, not for a long time.

He only looked at the Plusle.

"I don't wanna paint others with the same brush either, I don't think..." Vizon said, firmly nodding. "But at the same time...if someone is doing bad things we know is bad...when the time comes that we have to be heroes, you'll be with me. No, I'm not asking...I know you will. You're a good g-...a good Poke'mon, Avery. Ever since I took that gamble on you when we first met, you've been nothing but a good Poke'mon."

Vizon chuckled.

"I guess I just want to protect you, just the same as I wanted to when we first met..."

Vizon coughed, shaking his head.

Avery looked at Vizon for a moment. Just...stared.

And the Plusle rolled over on the bed and hugged Vizon tightly.

"...I've been scared, Vizon. I've been scared a lot." Avery explained. "About a lot of things. But I want to be able to trust you. We're..."

Avery separated, looking up at Vizon.

"...We're still partners. And...And I think I need to remember that, too."

Shaking his head, Avery scooted back to where he was seated. Now, after all that...Avery bit his lip...turning to Vizon.

Because Avery knew...he had to bring it up.

"You know a lot about the guild, right?" Avery asked.

Vizon tilted his head, confused at the topic change.

"Yeah...I know about the guild..." The Riolu concurred. "Been a fan of it since I was a kid."

Avery sighed, and bonked his head gently against the mattress.

"...Adelaide. I've heard...a bit about Adelaide. What do you know about her?"

Vizon nodded at that, putting an arm around Avery and hugging back with a sigh. He thought for a moment, drumming his fingers on the bed.

"Well...she was a member of the guild. Like...vintage member of the guild. Arceus when was it...5th Turn, 12? That's like..." Vizon looked down at his paw, counting on his fingers. "Uhhh...something like 150 years ago now, yeesh. I think the guildmaster back then was Guildmaster...uh...hang on...first came...then...yeah it'd have to be Tyarnikus."

Vizon nodded, clicking his tongue in thought.

"Her and Siranae made up Team Heart. Apparently, Adelaide was only 17. I actually got to read a super old periodical from back then. Like, it was a reprinted transcription, not the original printing, but it said she was a very level-headed girl, if a bit stuffy and vain. She left fighting as a last resort, always trying to be diplomatic, even with criminals."

Vizon snickered.

"Not really my style, but hey. She's still a legend! One of the first ever 'all-star' teams. The kind that captured the hearts and minds of poke'mon across Tulaan! For thirty whole years, even after becoming an Elite, she stopped evil poke'mon in Arceliaze. Ones that'd go around, terrorizing the innocent, making the very streets unsafe. She had something like...102 arrests in a single year just cleaning up Arceliaze of the roaming terror!"

Vizon's eyes sparkled, the Riolu swaying.

"So cool...it's amazing how an all-star team from over a century ago is still as impressive as all-star teams of more recent years!"

Avery nodded a little.

"So she was a big important person..."" Avery said. "That makes sense from what I've heard so far. But, uh...the questions might get a little weirder from here. First, I'll say, um..."

Tracing a finger on the bedsheet, Avery furrowed his brow.

'How best to say this?'

"The name's...familiar. Not like...I've heard of someone by that name before. More like...like...that name's like the kind of names where I'm from. Like...Vizon, Nivanee, Sarfallinus, Jolvia, Rikzyod, all those...they're foreign to me. But..."

Avery turned to Vizon.

"My name is different, too, 'Avery'. And Adelaide...that name's like mine. It's...it's like Luke and Addison. My old friends Malzena mentioned."

Avery wrung his hands.

"...I think Adelaide might have been a human, too."

Vizon squinted, tilting his head, looking confused.

"Human...?" The Riolu said quietly. "But she...no, wait...I thought 'Adelaide' was just a Quayoffi name I..."

Vizon looked down...as if recalling things.

"Wait a sec...hang on...no..." Vizon shook his head. "I mean, I know there was that thing about her not having any documentation but I always assumed she was some orphan or..."

Vizon frowned, scratching the back of his head, looking as though his brain were frying.

"Avery...and Adelaide...?" Vizon muttered. "...No wait, no I remember now, Adelaide had a longer name than that...oh Arceus what was it...what was it, uhhh..."

Vizon beat on his forehead with a fist, trying to remember, gritting his teeth.

"Imp something Imp...dee...oh Arceus it was a long one but I used to be so proud that I could remember the whole thing..."

Vizon's eyes widened! A smile crossed his face!

"Yeah! Adelaide Imperadore di Milano!" Vizon said at once, looked proud of himself. "Are you sure that's a human name? Sounds different from 'Avery'...unless your name is super long like that, too!"

"...T..." Avery's eyes went wide. "...V...Vizon, that's Italian, that's an Italian name-"

"A what?" Vizon asked, blinking, tilting his head.

"Italian, it's-" Avery held his head. He wasn't even going to question how he knew this. "It's a language. Like how I showed you last week, what I write? That's English? Her name is Italian, her name means 'Adelaide...' Imperadore, that's...imperial...imper...emperor. Adelaide, Emperor of Milano. She was royalty-!"

"Ruh...what?!" Vizon's brow furrowed in utter disbelief. "Royalty? Like, human royalty?! First you tell me they're not monsters and now they have royalty? Of...Milano? Italian? You're dumping a lot on me all at once..."

Vizon perked up, looking over at Avery.

"And wait...aren't you supposed to be an amnesiac? How do you even know that?"

"I don't know-" Avery said, eyes wide. "I mean I don't even know how I know English, but...Gah, I don't know where or who 'Milano' is, maybe it's a family name, but...Adelaide was...a princess, or something...! And...and..."

That confirmed it.

"I'm not the first human to be brought here." Avery looked back at Vizon.

"Not the first..."

Vizon's face blanched, a paw going over his mouth, the possibilities flashing in his eyes.

"...how many humans have there been?" Vizon muttered, his brow knitting. "Have they seriously been here all along? Have there been ones before Adelaide? After? Arceus alive, could there be more right now?"

Avery could see Vizon shudder.

"That's...creepy!" The Riolu said, voice shaky. "To know about Adelaide all this time and only JUST now learn...holy moley, do you think Siranae, her partner, knew? Like how I know about you?"

Avery was thinking again, looking up at Vizon.

"...This is a bit out of your wheelhouse, but...do you remember who the Conduit was back then?"

Vizon paused his rambling at Avery's question, thinking.

"Oh no no, I know this one. It was Conduit Lippi, the one right before Olistia. She...oh man, that's spooky...she also personally advocated for Siranae and Adealide into the guild...just like us."

"...I think there was at least one more," Avery said lowly. "But...Vizon, I..."

'Deep breaths. Deep breaths.'

"If I tell you this, you have to keep it secret." Avery said firmly. "From everyone. This is...this is getting into stuff that's really starting to scare me, but...if you're going to try to trust me, I need to trust you too."

Vizon's brow furrowed, staring at Avery.

"Avery...your aura..."

Vizon gulped, glancing towards the door...and leaned in close. He slowly nodded.

"I trust you Avery...I won't tell anyone." The Riolu said, silently. "Why are you scared...? What's wrong?"

"..."

Avery got up from the bed.

"...It might be best if I show you instead. Come on." Avery nodded towards the hallway.

Vizon watched the Plusle get up from the bed. Avery could see the fear in Vizon's eyes as he slowly jumped from the bed.

"Show me...?" Vizon asked, padding up closer. "Avery what is this...? I'm getting freaked out now..."

Avery took Vizon's hand, and went to the door. He looked up at the Riolu.

"...We're going to Team Infinity's room."

"...Team Infinity...?" Vizon whispered. "Quayslaan's team...? I mean I was shocked to see him working for the thieves guild, but..."

Putting a finger to his lips, Avery led his partner out into the dark hallway...and pointed. Vizon stopped himself and nodded, worry in his eyes as he followed Avery to the door. A specific door of many.

The fourth door on the left. Unmarked.

"How do you know this is theirs...?" Vizon muttered silently. "...this...feels...wrong."

"...When we were separated in the temple," Avery said quietly, "I talked with them a little. This is the second person I've met who left this guild to join the Thieves' Guild. Once is a coincidence. Twice is a pattern. Whether they were right or wrong to do so...there was something going on between five and ten years ago that caused an exodus. Until last week, Vizon, this guild has been frozen in time for half a decade. Something caused that."

Avery carefully opened the door.

"...The table slides away. Behind it is a brick. Take it out, and look at the things inside. I'll...talk more once we're back in the room. I just..."

A shiver went down Avery's spine.

"...I can't hold onto this alone, Vizon."

"What alone?" Vizon hissed. "Avery are you trying to prank me? You're seriously scaring me."

Vizon was silent, looking in the dark room, fiddling with his paws as he stared inside, squirming. Then he looked back at Avery, taking a candle from the wall.

"I swear to Arceus if you shut the door behind me I'm going to scream and never talk to you ever again."

Avery gave him a half-hearted smile at that, but said nothing.

With a shaky step...Vizon entered the room, leaving Avery to keep watch as the Riolu followed the instructions carefully...making a face at all the dust. Avery stepped into the room with him, and gently eased the door almost completely shut - moving silently away from the door, to Vizon's side as Avery summoned a light in his own hand to help them see.

Vizon jumped a little at the new light Avery conjured but nodded as he moved to lift the table quietly, setting it down with no noise. His taller stature and more physical strength meant he didn't need to drag it.

He eyed the wall, spotting the brick at once. With a gulp, looking back at Avery to make sure it wasn't a trick, Vizon pulled it out, seeing the hollowed-out inside.

"What in the world..." The Riolu muttered. "What's this secret compartment stuff...?"

He reached in, pulling out the badge.

"Oh wow...a classic style badge...these were all replaced with the new design like...7 years ago." Vizon said softly, turning the badge over, looking at the rounded wing design.

He then peered in, seeing the papers, looking at the surveillance notice and the strange worksheets. He shook his head.

"Oh man...this is creepy..." Vizon muttered, tilting his head. "Quayslaan must've been really broken up about Rikaerd running off with Kanah...heck...I was 14 when it happened, I think. I remember getting the news in a brochure and the periodical clinched it..."

He looked back at Avery, sighing.

"I never told you about that, huh? How Infinity broke up suddenly. Apparently Rikaerd, Quayslaan's partner, fell in love with their new partner, Kanah, and the both of them eloped in the middle of a mission to Quayoff. Quayslaan left all alone..."

Vizon huffed, shaking his head, looking sadly at the sheets of paper.

"That's some cold stuff, leaving your own buddy like that...breaking his heart..." Vizon muttered.

Avery looked at the Riolu forlornly and, without saying a word, picked up the last little slip of paper, folded, and handed it to Vizon.

The Plusle's expression was dark.

Vizon looked at the slip, confused, taking it cautiously in hand.

"Avery...?"

Vizon glanced down at the paper. He stared at it. For a while he only stared at it. His brow furrowed. First he was confused. Then his expression sunk, confusion deepening as he read. And read it again. Again. Again.

"...what is this...?" Vizon said. "I don't get it..."

Avery carefully took everything else, and put it back in the brick. He waited a moment...and took the paper back, placing everything back in the wall, and pushing the table back into place.

Still as silent as the grave, Avery motioned for Vizon to come back to the door - and made sure to peek out into the hallway. They'd have to go back to their room to talk.

But...Avery had to say something.

"...Rikaerd was a human, too, Vizon."

Vizon looked terrified all at once at that. His eyes trailed to the ground as he stood, following Avery, mind awash.

"That..."

The Riolu moved with Avery, going through the door and into the empty hall.

Empty...though now it was beginning to feel haunted. Like they were being watched, from far off, from the shadows that leapt upon the cold stone walls of the guild hall.

Without a word, they both returned to their room, Team Infinity's room sealed shut once again. Vizon was almost too hasty to close the door to their room. Back to safety in the light of Sanshiyad.

"Avery..." Vizon began. "What in the heck was that? Any of that? All of that?"

The Plusle was back on the bed. Huddled up.

"...Richard." Avery said in a low voice. "That's another name I'm familiar with. It's not Italian, it's...I think it's English."

Avery's arms were wrapped around himself. Even as he tried to stay brave, being reminded...of what that was.

'RIKAERD AND KANAH FELL IN LOVE AND ABANDONED THE TEAM AT SEAKING PENNINSULA.'

"...There's at least three, Vizon." Avery said, nearly mumbling. "Adelaide. Richard. And me. And here's something I know."

The Plusle lifted his gaze, looking into VIzon's crimson eyes.

"Turning me into a Pokemon was a process. It took time. A good bit of time."

'Deep breaths. Deep, deep breaths.'

"...I don't know if it's nine years' worth. But Olistia was still the conduit then, right? What if..."

Avery began to tremble.

"...W-what if he had the dreams, too? What if he was a 'Hero of Arceus'? And...and when he died they just...they just replaced him?"

"But..." Vizon stammed, shaking his head. "...but if that was true it'd have to be different because Rikaerd and Quayslaan they..."

Vizon paused.

"You only came into the world recently, right? Team Infinity was brought in back 20 years ago, in 6T42..."

Joined 20 years ago. Soil rest lightly upon Richard at 17, 9 years ago...

Richard had joined when he was...

"You really think Rikaerd was a human...? That he...died...?" Vizon shook his head. "But...no that makes no sense. He left the team! Every news outlet reported it! Up and down, they can't all be wrong, surely. I mean this is the guild. Something like that would be kind of high-profile, right? I mean...I don't remember anything about a 'Hero of Arceus' with Team Infinity...they were an alright team, sure, they did their part, fought criminals here and there...at least, that's what I always read on them. Their assigned missions were pretty mild up until Rikaerd's injury...then they had to take a hiatus where they met Kanah at some point then came back and re-joined the guild."

"...Then why did Quayslaan leave?" Avery asked quietly. "I asked him. Back in the temple. He didn't answer directly, but... He told me that his room was exactly as he left it. If Richard did...if he did die... And the guild covered it up, everyone covered it up...that'd be a pretty good motive to join the Thieves, wouldn't it...?"

Avery shifted.

"And it isn't like we haven't seen this get covered up before, Vizon. Even to other guildmates. Remember Ganisus? The only people who knew exactly how bad that went were Kipuuna and the administration. Even Nivanee didn't know."

Vizon began to squirm, uncomfortable as Avery spoke.

"N...no...w-wait, that's different surely, I..."

He couldn't even finish, lifting a paw to his mouth, biting his finger and looking away.

"I thought he left...because he was sad...Rikaerd..."

Vizon could barely get the words out.

"They wouldn't do that." The Riolu said, shaking, his eyes closed. "I can't believe this guild would do that to anyone...not to family, Avery..."

"...I don't know," Avery said finally. "...I don't know, Vizon. I don't. I'm just...I'm going off of what I see. What you tell me. What Nivanee tells me. What Kipuuna told everyone. What I've heard from the magazines, from the way people look at me on the street when they see my badge, both good and bad...and from people like Janus and Quayslaan."

Avery took Vizon's paw to keep his own from shaking.

"But what I do know is that Olistia lied to me, Vizon. She told me she couldn't see into my past, you remember that, you were there. And then Malzena not only did that, but...said that she could do it too. She knew about Addison and Luke and Ember. She took me from my old life, and I didn't get a choice. And she lied to me about it."

Avery's throat was bunched. He could feel himself choking up from dread.

"...I can't go back, either. I'm here for the rest of my life, Vizon, and...and I want to believe that everything will be okay, but...Adelaide disappeared. Richard died. It's...i-it's not a good track record, Vizon, I'm scared-"

Vizon perked up immediately. At once, his confusion and worry was shoved down and the Riolu threw his arms around Avery, pulling the Plusle into a hug at once, burying Avery in his chest. Vizon's arm squeezed the Plusle tight and secure as he tucked Avery under his chin.

"You'll be different." Vizon said firmly. It was a simple fact to him. Nothing besides.

Avery's trembling worsened as he felt Vizon's arms around him. He melted into the Riolu's grasp, quiet tears welling up in his eyes.

"...I have...I-I have so many questions, V-Viz, I don't...I don't know what's going on, b-but I'm scared-" Avery quietly sobbed. "Q...Quayslaan was a good person, he's smart, he's resourceful, he helped us, he loved his partner...Janus was...Janus was Nivanee's sister, they were some of the best in the guild...! Why...why did they leave? What made them leave?"

Avery shook his head again, burying himself into Vizon.

"I can't...I can't think about this too much longer tonight," Avery admitted. "I-I'm going to break down, I'm...Just...I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry I brought you into this too much-"

Vizon was quiet, holding Avery tight, never letting go.

"What're partners for?" Vizon whispered. "It's just another grand adventure for Team Azure."

Avery felt Vizon's paw pet over his head, firmly in the Riolu's grip. Warm...cozy...after such a long and hard fought day...after such a long and emotionally draining adventure...it was be easy to just...slip into that embrace's warmth and let tomorrow finally...finally...come.

"...Don't tell anyone," Avery said quietly, voice cracked and laden with emotion. "I...I-I don't want to hurt anyone else. I don't..."

'If this gets out I might get killed.

And they'd cover it up.

And nobody would know.

Not Lahnae. Not Jolvia. Not Janus. Not Vizon. Nobody.'

Avery just closed his eyes, and tried to will himself past the fear to sleep.

Vizon held him...all the while he held him. In those arms Avery lied against Vizon's chest.

The warmth surrounded Avery.

And as he drifted. And drifted.

It never left him.

And once again...that darkness surrounded Avery.

He knew what was coming.

But now...he had to wonder.

He hadn't had a dream since before Dove Fo Uddjo. Before the revelations he'd had recently.

'Do they know? Would they know? And if they do...'

Avery waited.

"Hello?"

The darkness was silent. But Avery could see it. The blue lights again.

He could hear the faint, faint voices once more.

And, almost predictably, that light.

But Arceus's voice did not come.

Instead came that voice. The woman's voice.

If you saw a wallet on the side of the road, what would you do with it?

But this wasn't a memory. It wasn't a ghost in the back of Avery's mind. It was here...asking. Avery was cognizant. Here to answer again, the full questionnaire. Where once he may have been too hazy to remember the full set of questions...now he would clearly register every one that was asked.

Avery felt sick. He felt so sick.

"...I'd check the name. See who the wallet belonged to. See if I could find them. Who are you?"

The voice was silent. There was a murmuring around Avery. A tsking.

"It's just a check-in, Avery." He heard another voice. "You know who I am. I've told you already."

Olistia.

"Only answer the questions truthfully, same as last time." Her voice said. "I know you have plenty to ask me as well."

What Did you Want to Be As A Child?

Avery made a face at that. Olistia. A check in.

"I don't remember," Avery said. "You took that memory away from me."

'...She wanted me to be truthful.'

There was a sigh.

"We did." Olistia sighed. Avery couldn't see her in the dark. "This feels like a rather horrid place to speak, I admit. What say you to some tea in the drawing room come morning?"

Would You Open an Envelope With the Date of Your Death Inside?

"I admit I feel I've failed you somewhat. For someone tasked with guiding you I've left you stumbling alone far too much." Her voice said. "Worry not, we'll speak openly."

Avery frowned, answering quietly.

"I don't know. I'd...be curious to know. But I know if I opened the envelope I'd be living in fear of the day I saw for the rest of my life."

Avery looked down.

"...Why can't I see? Can you see?" He asked.

She sighed.

"Nevermind, Avery. It's a bit hard to see here, isn't it, in this sacred place of Arceus?" Olistia asked. "I can't see much. What I can see I don't understand. Nor do I need to, I suppose. Arceus shall do as he does. I'm only his Conduit, after all."

If you could see a measuring scale above people's heads, what would you want this scale to measure?

"...I guess that makes sense," Avery relented.

'This question...

Honesty.'

"...Honesty," Avery said aloud, after a hesitation. There was a chance Olistia was reading his mind anyhow, so he wouldn't be able to hide anything.

'...That and it'd be hypocritical to lie about this answer.'

Olistia offered no reply at first, but Avery heard a breath being taken. She was still there with him...voices muttering.

"A fair answer." She said. The other woman's voice continued.

Would you be friends with yourself?

"...I'd like to think so," Avery said quietly. "...But I'm wondering if I'd be...too much for myself to handle right now."

Avery's ears perked. He still couldn't see.

"...Who else is here...besides you?" he asked.

Olistia was quiet a moment.

"Arceus."

If Someone Stole Bread to Feed Their Family, Would You Consider Them A Bad Person?

"...It depends on who the bread is from, and how much the person who had it needed it. But...on the whole, if it wouldn't be a selfish act, no."

Both he and Olistia were silent for a moment.

"Should I come alone?" He asked.

"If you wish. I'd not stop you from bringing someone if it'd make you more comfortable to speak candidly." Olistia's voice came. "I'm not here to strongarm or intimidate you. There's no smokescreen I seek to cast. You are the last person I'd want to be the enemy of. After all, I think it's obvious...I need you more than you perhaps need me, hm?"

You see a cube. How large is it? Where is it located? What is its surroundings?

"Anything you want to ask I will answer." Olistia said. "Directly. To the point. No hand-wringing or half-truths or obfuscation or insisting you can't handle the truth. And yes. That includes the topic of your memories."

"...Small. It isn't anywhere though. I could hold it in a hand, but it's... Floating in a white nothingness. I don't like it." Avery answered the question before replying to Olistia.

A frown crossed his face.

"...You need me...? I don't understand why. What can I do that any Poke'mon can't do better...?"

...He didn't know whether he could believe her. Avery knew that by going there tomorrow he'd be walking into the lion's den. But...he needed answers.

"Icons are powerful, Avery." Olistia's voice said. "Humans are simply...wired different. And you're no ordinary Plusle."

There is a ladder by the cube. How large is it? How is it oritented to the cube?

"Surely you've noticed the power you wield? In short time you've gone from nothing in the middle of a field to felling projections of thunder gods and matching the strength of senior guild members." Olistia explained. "You are a powerful icon to inspire hope in hopeless times. That was always my want..."

"...It...it's leaned up against the cube. As soon as the ladder's there the cube feels larger. It barely clears the cube in height." Avery replied to the question.

He didn't get these two questions. He didn't know why they were significant.

"...And if you don't want to be my enemy, why did you lie to me about my memories before...?" Avery prodded. "Didn't you think that'd make me wonder why?"

"It'd make you wonder more if I told you I was deliberately withholding them." Olistia said. "It was a lie I expected to be found out. Otherwise you'd likely have just rejected Vizon and pined after Luke and Addison, forever only searching for a way home, never minding the world of Arcea I needed you to take care of."

There was a warmth around Avery.

"Nobody would help Nivanee and Janus. Kipuuna and Ganisus would have fallen out. Lahnae and Loshjno would forever remain broken. Every friend you've made would have been left unprotected and uncared for. We've run the simulations, and while I apologize for the carrot on a stick...the good that you've done makes it worth it, even if it doesn't entirely sit right with me."

She paused again.

"When we meet, you can ask as much as you like about your human life, Avery. Unlocking the memories wholesale would be dangerous but you may know anything you like."

... No question.

He supposed they were done for the night, maybe.

"... Alright. I'll see you in the morning, then."

"Have a good rest of your night, Avery." Olistia said as the light began to recede. "I'll see you in the morning."

Darkness retook Avery.

Chapter 24

Conspiracy