Here we are. A nice chapter, I think. Setech, your wants have finally been answered!
"Armaldo. Guildmaster Wigglytuff," Rai said, stepping up to them as morning address was dismissed. "We've come to a decision."
Whispers broke out through the apprentices, they had been walking off, but this was interesting.
"You've got work to do," Armaldo barked, and so the apprentices began to slink away. Slowly.
Rolling his eyes, Armaldo nodded to Team Ion. Wigglytuff beamed.
"We accept."
Because this outcome had been prepared for, Wigglytuff ushered them into his meeting room with a bounce and beam while Armaldo moved in after them. The former outlaw closed the doors and made his way up to the library.
"Armaldo's just got all the information we have!" Wigglytuff explained. Soon enough, Armaldo returned. He knew where he had kept the information and had no patience for dillydallying.
"Here's your assignment," Armaldo said, passing the information to Wigglytuff, who promptly dropped them in between Team Ion and himself. Armaldo sighed, sitting down, bones creaking as he went.
Team Ion all stepped forward to take a closer look, there were numerous pieces of paper all set in a pile, although that scattered slightly after Wigglytuff dropped them.
"We want you to track down an outlaw," Armaldo said as Rai pawed the top paper over to read. "Pyroar. We don't know where he is or what he's currently up to. Still, there are dozens of accounts of blackmail, mugging, several counts of kidnapping for reward, and taking hostages when in danger."
"He's been quite tricky to capture," Wigglytuff said. "Clefable's guild has put an additional reward out for his capture, but even they haven't had any luck."
"A predominantly outlaw-focused guild, that is," Armaldo explained, as none of Team Ion seemed to know who that was. "Situated outside Blackstone Village, you may want to go there to get any information they have on him."
Team Ion finished staring at the picture of Pyroar and reading his crimes. Mane looked up first. "Pyroar, huh?" he asked, deeply unimpressed.
"Don't get sassy," Armaldo warned. "It was determined he would be the most appropriate challenge for you."
"Yeah, but a pyroar? I feel like you're saying something to me."
"So, you want us to track this outlaw down?" Rai asked, wanting to make sure they understood exactly what was required of them.
"Yes," Wigglytuff said, leaning down to pick up the documents he had dropped. "The Wigglytuff Guild is proud to be an exploration-first guild, but in light of your deeds, it was decided choosing a task that could test your strength, teamwork, and resourcefulness would be better than… the other idea."
"Battle against the whole guild?" Scout asked, only a little snarky.
Wigglytuff gave him an innocent smile.
"While we do not doubt you can bring Pyroar to justice," Armaldo said, taking the documents from Wigglytuff, "as there is no intention to send you into something we don't believe you can handle, finding Pyroar is going to be a challenge. I've gathered what information I can on his movement and history, but there is no clear path I can see from this."
"You don't have a time limit on this task," Wigglytuff continued, it was only due to Wigglytuff speaking that Rai and Mane didn't interject with sassy comments about a time limit they HAD received not long ago. "And you'll have the full support of the guild in this endeavour. You can't bring anyone with you, but you can take your pick of items and request any help leading up to your leave."
He magicked something into his hands and passed it to Scout. "This is just an extra bit of identification in case any other guild tries to give you a hard time," he said, nodding to the envelope he gave.
"Due to your fame beginning to spread, there may be pokémon doubting your authenticity so hold onto that," Armaldo said, rifling through the documents he had.
He organised them and passed them to Scout as well. "Read through this carefully, again you have no time limit on this task." Rai and Mane had to bite their tongues. "But you should still take the time needed to plan out your path, your gear, and anything you may need to do before you leave. This task could take months, and while you'll always be welcome back here, you won't be graduating until you complete the task or give up."
"What if Pyroar is captured by someone else?" Scout asked, glancing over the wanted poster on the top.
"If he's got some other guild after him," Mane said, nodding, "what then?"
"Then you'll fail," Armaldo said. "If he disappears entirely, dies unrelated, or is captured by someone else, you will not complete this. However, if you capture him utilising the help of others, there may be an exception possible. It'll depend on how much you actually played in his defeat and capture."
"Thank you, Guildmaster and Armaldo," Rai said, deciding to speak for the team. He stood up straight, and his companions followed suit. "We will not let you down!"
"Good luck," Wigglytuff said.
"Be smart." Was all Armaldo offered.
Team Ion left and decided to go to their room to discuss this.
"Any incites on this?" Rai asked Scout as they settled down to start looking through the documents.
"Nothing at all," Scout replied, shaking his head. "Never heard of a 'Pyroar' bad guy. Not even other guilds."
"Well, then this'll be fun!" Mane grinned, sparks had been popping off him as soon as they had been told their target.
"You okay?" Rai asked, concerned. "I mean… a pyroar is a bit of a… choice."
"Heh," Mane smirked. "I thought it might be a dig at me, but even if it is I'm going to take this a different way! I get to beat up my own evolved form, that's like… the dream!"
"If you need to talk about it, don't hesitate," Rai said.
Mane gave him a scoff and a smile. "Okay, we've got to read through this stuff and figure out a plan."
Nodding to his common sense, they began. There was a lot to go over that didn't actually say a lot. Armaldo had given them clippings of Pelipper Post and other news outlets that carry information on Pyroar.
Most of it repeated the same general information. Nasty fellow. Quite a thug, known for browbeating and blackmailing to get his way.
"This guy's not dumb," Mane pointed out as they discussed their findings. "If he's slipped away this many times. It says here that Team Force took him on and he still got away. I have no idea who that is, but it's probably impressive."
"Trio of Fighting-type's," Rai said, always knowing his teams. "So, yeah. If he got through them, he must have some smarts."
"I noticed a bit of a theme in my reading," Scout said, pulling up some papers. "Pyroar seems to like anywhere he can drink stuff other than water. So, if I know my RPG's, then we might be able to get something from bars and taverns around."
Not long after, they agreed to split up to get some things done.
Knocking gently, and being called in, Rai walked up to Wigglytuff. Mane and Scout were off doing their own tasks, Rai's was meeting with the Guildmaster.
"I'm sorry to bother you so soon, but I had something I wanted to ask," Rai began, taking a seat. He hadn't really spoken to Wigglytuff one-on-one much, with no Scout, Mane, or even Armaldo it was just them.
"Go ahead." Wigglytuff smiled, he was sitting on his throne but always welcoming.
"I was just wondering since you're quite the explorer, where you'd go first for some information on tracking this outlaw down?"
Wigglytuff's smile broadened, happy and proud at once. "I did have a few thoughts while looking into Pyroar's movements. I'd check out the Swanna's Feather, it's a rather exciting tavern in Meadow Town." Exciting was clearly a fun word here, based on Wigglytuff's giggle. "But the best place to look would be Fissure."
Rai blinked. "Fissure?" The word sounded familiar, he was sure it was a move of sorts.
Wigglytuff's smile became something else. Fonder, but also sadder. "Fissure is a rather colourful town Northwest from here. Do you have your map?"
Rai pulled the Wonder Map out, and Wigglytuff got off his throne to inspect it. He knelt down with Rai and drew a mark with something pink. "It's not usually marked on exploration maps because it's a rather unwelcoming place."
"Unwelcoming?" Rai repeated, Fissure certainly didn't inspire positivity with the name.
"Many pokémon who disdain the standards of politeness gather there as it is safer than the wilds. Undoubtedly there are criminals there, but the place as a whole would be very difficult to attempt to attack. There are many pokémon loyal only to each other there. It's fine to visit for information, but I implore you not to stay very long."
Rai nodded, stepping back to leave. "Thank you, Wigglytuff."
Wigglytuff nodded. "Fissure is an exceptional place for information, at a price Shinx. That price is usually money, but some pokémon may ask for something else. It is worth going to, but again. Don't remain there for long."
Rai agreed and thanked Wigglytuff one more time before returning to base.
While Rai met with the Guildmaster, it was Mane's duty to speak to Chimecho. Chimecho was always of great help to anyone polite.
"Hey Chimes, can you help me?" Mane asked. He was not a polite pokémon, yet Chimecho seemed to not only tolerate him but like him.
"How can I be of assistance, Litleo?" Chimecho replied, beaming. Other pokémon may have an issue with Mane, but Chimecho never did.
"The team's got a graduation test," Mane began. Chimecho nodded, she knew that already. "And we've been told to track down, get this, a pyroar outlaw. I think that's a bit on the nose but whatever, I like a challenge. The other two are doing their own thing, we were hoping that you could get into contact with a few pokémon, see if they have heard anything about this 'Pyroar' bastard."
Mane pulled up the documents he had carried in, and Chimecho levitated them out of his mouth. "Pyroar, huh? Hmm…" she stared at the paper for a little longer than was normal, and Mane coughed. "Oh, right. Yes, I can ask around. It may take me a while to do so, however."
"We don't have a time limit," Mane said, rolling his eyes. "THIS time." She giggled at the tone in his voice. "Thanks, Chimes. I… mean it, really. Thanks for being so good. You're probably the nicest pokémon in this place."
Chimecho gave him a soft smile. "You are very sweet, Litleo. I wish others would see that, but they are too preoccupied with their own ideas to see how things really are."
"You and me both," Mane replied, nodding. "I'll get out of your space now." He stepped back, turned around, before pausing. "Would you like a drink or something to eat that I can get for you?"
"Some water would be lovely for later," Chimecho said. Mane brightened and dashed off to get her some.
She sighed softly and floated into position to begin to meditate and reach out to the other Psychic's to ask around, she read over the items Mane had given her to help focus and to learn what questions she needed to ask.
As Rai and Mane did their work, Scout headed into the guilds storeroom. He breathed in the spices and smells, remembering old times, before looking around.
As Wigglytuff had given permission to take what they need, it was Scout's job to get a good idea of what they could take. Armaldo did as Chatot once had and checked the larder, but occasionally he was busy with other work, and it was down to Marill or Flaaffy to do it.
Marill was okay, Flaaffy was thankfully a perfectionist. The written record of items seemed up to date, but Scout still looked through to get a feel.
He was just beginning to write things down when Mane popped his head in.
"Can I get a cup?" he asked. Scout, close by to the cups, quickly retrieved one.
"What do you need it for?" he asked, passing it over. Mane briefly took it in his mouth before considering what he was about to attempt.
He spat the cup out and frowned. "I was going to get Chimes some water, but… hmm, she's going to have my drool in it."
"Didn't know you cared about that," Scout said, stepping back to go back to his items.
"Anyone else, whatever. Eh, Flaaffy's alright. Chimes is nice though."
"And evil," Scout interjected.
Mane rolled his eyes. "And eevillll," he said, putting on a mock-imitation of Scout's voice.
The two fell into a moment of silence. An awkward kind. "Uh…" Mane said, twisting a foot. One of Scout's ears flicked, but he didn't verbally respond. Mane eventually thought better of whatever he was going to say.
Then disregarded that as he didn't like to listen to polite thought. "How about you get her some water and then go find Team Sunrise," Mane said.
"Pardon?" Scout asked, turning back to Mane in confusion. His tail flicked out hard, knocking a couple of folded scarves onto the ground. "Shoot." He quickly turned to pick them up.
Mane did not make any mention of Scout bending over in front of him and instead said. "I'll take over this job, I think you should spend some time with them."
Scout didn't reply at first, quietly spinning one of the scarves into a circle before setting it in its place. His tail flicked again, but he didn't knock anything off this time, only nearly whacked Mane in the face.
"Awkward with them or awkward with you?" Scout hummed. "Tough choice, I got to say. Tough indeed." Scout finally turned around, leaning back on the shelf and curling his tail around his leg.
For once, Mane actually did wear a somewhat flustered expression. They were in private after all, Mane did not always feel the need to keep an ever-present cool, calm, and collected manner of behaviour.
"Look," Mane said, bluntly, "even ignoring the awkwardness going on with the three of us, I still think you ought to actually check in with them. Dusknoir was freaking out just as hard as Rai was when you didn't come back, he's just a lot better at hiding it. And ever since you've been back… you've pretty much avoided him. Not just him, all of them really."
Scout frowned and chewed on his lip, glancing away.
"I get it's weird," Mane said, stepping closer before reconsidering and stepping back. "I really do. Maybe not how weird, but I get it. You were their friend too, I think you still are, but you're not going to figure it out one way or the other if you avoid them forever."
Scout continued to be silent, dwelling on Mane's words. "I don't get how you are so observant," he settled on, giving a heavy sigh. "Seriously? How do you work that stuff out so much?"
"It's easy when you're as awesome as I!" Mane smirked. Scout raised an eyebrow. "Do you want the peppy answer or the depressingly sad answer that involves figuring out how to read people just so I know what ones will not kick me and what ones I can safely walk by?" he snapped.
Scout blinked and seemed to recoil without moving. "Sorry," he said.
"It's fine," Mane sighed. "Really. We're going to be fine too. Rai and I ARE both really sorry, we won't do it again."
Scout managed a smile. "It's not that I don't… that I'm not… that… argh. It's just hard for me when I barely know who I am right now."
Mane smiled. "I understand. Now shoo, give Chimes her water because she's wonderful for helping us all and being so nice and eeevilll and go see your old pals."
"Alright. Promise you won't work too much while I'm slacking off?"
Mane rolled his eyes. "It's counting items. Between the three of us, you'll probably be the one working the hardest. Tata."
Scout retrieved the water, delivered it, and stopped by in the room to tell Rai the plan.
"I think that'll be good for you," Rai said, nodding. "For all of you. Especially since we're going to be leaving them for who knows how long. But don't push yourself, if it's getting too hard you just come right back. No one will be mad at you."
Feeling nervous, he made one last stop to see Armaldo.
"You look nervous," Armaldo said, not even looking up from the papers he was reading.
"Sorry, I just wanted to ask where Team Sunrise are working today?"
"Kangaskhan's Storage," Armaldo replied. "They are rather wasted there but keeping them busy looks better on them."
"Thank you." Scout turned to leave.
He was exiting the door when Armaldo spoke up. "You've got good friends there."
Scout paused, turned back with a questioning look. "Pardon?"
Armaldo looked up from his work, at last, to give him a stern look. "You've got good friends," he said, slower and clearer. "We both know I'm not the biggest fan of you, but friendship and loyalty don't come from nowhere. It's not easy to get, but it is easy to lose."
He ended it with that, leaving Scout puzzled. He blinked and wondered if that meant he was excused, but he was curious. "Sir?"
Sighing, Armaldo said. "You've got strong and smart pokémon on your side, but you're pushing them away. You're limiting your options and allies. I'd advise you actually speak to them, not just Dusknoir. Riolu, Celebi, and Grovyle as well." He put more emphasis on Grovyle and gave Scout a firm nod, excusing him.
And at long last, with no other excuses to make, Scout left the guild to find Team Sunrise.
He walked anxiously, which sped him up slightly. It wasn't that he couldn't stand to be around them, or the idea of talking to them was terrible. Scout liked all four members of Team Sunrise, although Sean and Saniya were definitely the best for him.
It was the other two that made things awkward.
There was just something so painful with Guardian. Scout wasn't sure if it was some sort of residual emotion sourced from before he travelled back in time the first time or something formed in the present Scout.
More memories had returned to him during this time alive. He could remember, and it embarrassed him, curling up on Sean's lap. He could somewhat remember what Sean looked like as a human as well and remembering it from the vantage of a meowth was trippy for him.
He also had a persistently returning memory of being levitated by Saniya and flown around with her while a dusclops panicked on the ground. It was a very fond memory, enough to make him smile whenever it resurfaced. He hadn't asked Saniya about it though.
The memories were fine. But when he was speaking to any member of Team Sunrise, he felt Guardian's eye on him. The dusknoir didn't chat with him very often, they talked of course but didn't spend time together. Polite hello's, good mornings, and questions on how the other was. Stiff, distant, and reserved only for polite chitchat.
He wanted to climb on Guardian's shoulder and see the world from the height of the dusknoir. But he also remembered when Guardian had grabbed him during the lesson on Shadow Pokémon he gave, how sudden and scary that was.
But Guardian didn't try anything, and Scout was too wary of reaching out himself. He supposed that Rai and Mane had noticed, he didn't mean to, but it wasn't easy to forgive Guardian for what he did.
Even though he felt like he was supposed to, it still felt weird.
And Guardian wasn't the only factor causing him to shy away.
"Good morning Kangaskhan," Scout said, arriving quickly at Kangaskhan Storage.
"Good morning, Meowth." Kangaskhan smiled, picking him up for a quick, gentle, hug. It still knocked the wind out of him, but she didn't hurt him.
"How can I help you today?" Kangaskhan said, smiling happily as she set him on her counter.
"It looks like the team's going to be leaving soon," Scout said, smiling sadly as she gasped. "We've got a graduation test to find a criminal."
"Oh, dear, you will be missed. All three of you." She hugged him again, longer this time. "It feels like you've only just come back, and you're leaving again?"
"It hopefully won't be for too long," Scout said, strained under the strength of Kangaskhan. "But we thought it might do everyone some good if I spend some time with Team Sunrise. Y…you know?"
"I do." She nodded, wisely. "They're in the warehouse right now, you are more than welcome to distract them." She winked. "All four are such good workers, they deserve a treat."
Scout disagreed with the notion that his presence was a treat but smiled thankfully and was carried to the heavy door. She opened it without any issue whatsoever and called. "Which one of you eavesdroppers is closest?"
"Me," Striker said, from the shadows to the left of the door. He uncrossed his arms and walked forward as Kangaskhan set him down. "Follow me, I'll bring you to the others."
"You are free to join them further in," Kangaskhan said, "I can call for you if I need assistance."
"I'd be happier being close by to assist," Striker said politely, "but thank you."
She closed the door, trusting Striker to lead Scout in safely. The storage unit wasn't pitch-black, to Scout's surprise. Instead, with the various glowing items all throughout it, there was a soft, if flickering, light all the way through it.
"Dark in here," Scout said, wanting to say something to fill the silence.
"Not particularly," Striker replied. "More than enough to see."
He wasn't wrong.
That was that until they reached where the team usually set up shop when helping Kangaskhan. As there could be periods of little activity, she had set up some rugs for Sean and Striker to sit on while waiting, Guardian and Saniya were offered the same, but both declined on account of floating.
The three currently played some sort of game of I Spy.
"I spy something that sounds like Sssss," Saniya said.
"Scout?" Guardian said, shocked.
"Yes!" Saniya cheered. "First try, great job!" She then turned around and waved. "Hi, Scout!"
Scout brightened. Things with Striker were a different kind of awkward to Guardian, and he didn't know why. But Saniya was always a breath of fresh air.
Sometimes literally. She and him had taken to going for walks after their own work was done for the day and talk about stupid things, life, the universe, and everything. One walk, they spoke of crop rotations and how the Kecleon's ruled the world.
Once Scout was deposited, Striker left to return to the door and await instruction from Kangaskhan.
"I hate to see him go," Saniya sighed, staring at Striker, as Scout stepped into the cosy zone. "But I LOVE to watch him leave."
Scout laughed at that, Sean only smiled.
"What's up?" Sean asked, always friendly. He gestured for Scout to sit, and the meowth did so, the rug was surprisingly soft. He wondered what exactly went into making something like this, hoping it wasn't anything terrible.
"We've accepted the graduation offer," Scout said, the trio sitting with him nodded. Knowing the offer was up was already spreading through town, Sunflora was very good at her job. "And so, we're going to be leaving soon to track down an outlaw."
Scout went over what they had been told and what they currently knew and what Team Ion was doing in as much detail as he could.
"But I'm here not just to tell you that," Scout continued after he was done explaining, "I was thinking, we were thinking, that before we go, it might… be good if I spend some time with you guys. If you're okay with that, I mean we haven't really done that since I returned because of things and… you know?"
They did know. Saniya immediately cheered, and Sean smiled happily. Guardian's eye flickered between its normal state and a happier, lighter, colour before he bowed slightly.
"I'm sure there would be no issue to have you with us," Guardian said, "I assume Kangaskhan already knows?"
"Yep." Scout nodded. "She said I could stick with you for the day."
"I am glad."
Scout smiled at him, but they both glanced away from each other.
"So… what exactly do you get up to here?" Scout began.
Thus his first day with Team Sunrise began.
"Kricketune please." Was the first customer after Scout's arrival.
"Between the deledele or the whoooop?" Saniya giggled, having Scout accompany her. As he had no idea of where things were in here, it had been quickly decided that he'd shadow them.
She was able to pinpoint the right collection of items, blew some dust off it, and placed Scout on top, floating it merrily behind her as he hung on tightly.
Kricketune blinked only once at them when they exited into the light, Saniya smiling pleasantly with a meowth nearly clawing the box with how tightly he was hanging on.
"Is this the reward for a loyal customer?" Kricketune joked, and Kangaskhan laughed as she plucked Scout off.
"One meowth," she said, going along with it and sticking him on the bench, "and one collection of items."
That became his day. Going along with Saniya, she was the most capable at the item finding with only multiple boxes or overly heavy ones requiring help from the others to carry back.
But just so they didn't die of boredom, the actual person sent to retrieve the box tended to change. Scout was amazed at the size of the place, and often Kangaskhan had multiple people wanting to look at their wares, so two or three of them would spread out.
He stuck with Saniya the most, they continued their conversation about how aeroplanes stayed up and why fire hurts. The aeroplane having been discussed earlier thanks to the topic of why pointy things hurt. Neither was sure how it had derailed to planes, especially Scout, but neither cared to ask.
When not shadowing Saniya, Scout drifted along with Sean. They didn't have train-of-thought-style conversations like with Saniya, but there was a different kind of kinship there.
Fighting through the Dark Future and Temporal Tower tended to build that.
And even then, they could still have delightfully odd topics talk about. "I miss swiss cheese and all the things I used to put it on," Sean sighed.
"I'd like to eat cheese if I remember right, it's pretty tasty."
"Yeah."
Or Sean would start talking about embarrassing things. "My family had a purloin who loved scratches behind the ear. Oh man, the first time I tried that with you I was bleeding, you were screeching something, and then Striker picked you up by your scruff and marched off to Guardian. Hahaha. I never knew what he said, but I doubt he did much."
"Sorry. But also, weird."
"Like you wouldn't melt if someone did that to you now!"
"Dog does not pet cat! Or, really, canine does not pet feline."
"Pfft."
What didn't occur, however, was item finding with Guardian or Striker. Guardian hurried off without a word whenever Kangaskhan gave the order, and Striker didn't offer. He didn't really look at Scout much.
As much as Scout was happy with this arrangement, he knew this wasn't the point of this. Spending time with Sean and Saniya was fine, he did that normally.
"Um, Guardian?" Scout asked after Kangaskhan had called for Pidgeot's stuff. "Can I come with you?"
"I would be honoured," Guardian said, after a brief pause. Sean smiled at them as Scout hurried to Guardian's side, and they walked off.
Despite this step, it was only a small one. And Scout could not think of anything to talk about on the walk, leaving the two to just drift along in tense silence.
"How have you been?" Scout asked; finally, voice breaking slightly at the start. He cleared his throat, loudly, just thankful for the noise.
"I have had no complaints," Guardian replied. "How have you been?"
"Fine. Well, it's been a little weird between Rai, Mane, and me for a couple days but overall we're good. Getting the chance to graduate is exciting, and I'll finally get to see more of the grass continent." He began to ramble but cut himself off wincing.
"Great job," Scout thought. "Talking about leaving this place to someone who isn't allowed to. Perfect, you are smart. You sure do know what words to say that aren't rude and insulting. Yes, best cat."
Guardian was not offended at what Scout had said in the least. Instead, he burned with curiosity over what was 'weird' between Scout and the others of his team.
But even as he began to say. "May I…?" He paused. "It is not my place to ask. Not anymore." Guardian concluded, and just stopped talking.
"May you, what?" Scout asked, he had stopped lambasting himself to hear Guardian's pleasant rumble.
"It is nothing," Guardian assured. "Do not worry. Oh, we're here." He smoothly turned to float back a few steps, having already passed Pidgeot's items. The box was large, but nothing Guardian could not handle.
The walk back was slightly less tense, but still filled with silence.
Later on, while retrieving with Saniya, she asked about it. "How did it go?" Saniya cocked her head, speaking quietly as this was secret or something.
No one was sure why, but Saniya sometimes liked to whisper-chat as if she was discussing secrets.
It was usually the weather, or a particular type of flower she had seen and decided needed to die.
"Very awkward," Scout replied, also quietly. Quiet begat quiet, plus he didn't want Guardian to overhear somehow. "We managed 'how are you', and that's about it."
"Drat," Saniya cursed, covering her mouth as if she had spat a filthy slur. "My apologies. He didn't ask you anything else? Didn't try and start up any conversations or nothing?"
"No. I was the one to speak first."
Saniya sighed. "Every time he fails to follow my genius advice, I am going to fine him more. He's currently up to 1,200 Poké, time to double that."
"He wants to talk to me?" Scout asked, surprised.
"Uh… yeah?" Saniya replied, giving him an odd look. "We talk like every day, you and me. How Guardian's been trying for weeks to gather up a series of talking topics to have with you. How he's so sad and depressed and really wants to get to know you again? That stuff?"
"I don't… recall anything like that."
"No?"
"No."
"Hm." Saniya tapped her chin. "Oh! That's right. He asked me not to say so I've just been thinking it at you, which doesn't work since you're Dark-type now. Hahaha, oops. Pretend I didn't say that!"
Scout narrowed his eyes. He may not technically know Saniya as well as the others from Team Sunrise, but he had known her long enough, plus some memories resurfacing, that she tended to know what she was doing more often than not.
It would not surprise him if she grew weary of Guardian not following her advice and deciding to just 'accidentally' tell him.
At the same time, she might genuinely be that thoughtless. He was getting convinced she had a grand total of three marbles in her head that only occasionally clinked together to make a rational thought.
Saniya giggled at his expression, the half-narrowed eyes sliding off into the roof when Scout was doing some mental gymnastics. It was a cute look on him, she decided, so she booped his nose and then flew ahead to grab the box.
Time went quicker than Scout had realised, Saniya and Sean were great company and the time just flew by, but Kangaskhan popped her head in to inform them she was closing shop for the day.
Scout had walked with Guardian exactly twice, both times failing to get anywhere. He could empathise with Guardian's apparent tongue twistedness because he could not gather the nerve to broach conversation himself.
However, he hadn't even gotten one time with Striker. Striker tended to disappear before he could even begin to ask. No one said anything about it, but Sean started to frown a little after he vanished again on them.
Walking through Treasure Town with them was interesting. After the day began, Team Ion didn't usually run into Team Sunrise much. The latter team always had some job to do in town, and they were very good at being on time.
By the time Rai, Mane, and Scout entered the town, they were busy somewhere out of the way.
Leaving it a curious feeling to get the idea of how Team Sunrise was noticed by the town. It had been nearly three months since they had returned. Scout had seen the drama their return had caused initially when ghosting around.
He found himself overall flummoxed.
On one hand, he was happy as, for the most part, they were ignored. The same way any member of the town was, or random exploration team. A few eyes came to them, then left as that pokémon had no business staring.
On the other hand, the few that didn't ignore them rubbed him the wrong way. It was either gawkers that reminded him of the somewhat weird reception Team Ion got when they were around or suspicious glares.
Pokémon following them with their eyes to make sure they weren't up to trouble. Or ones ready to intervene when Guardian tried to eat a baby or burn the town down. Again.
"Okay, that one's fair, I guess." Scout thought. Guardian was an enigma to many pokémon around. He hadn't done anything wrong since his return, and he had changed sides.
But at the last minute away from almost everyone here.
He understood why Guardian was still distrusted, even if he didn't really like it.
"I'm no better, I can't even talk to him like a normal person."
In the end, nothing happened. Scout overthought things as he tended to do, and they made their way back to the guild without issue.
The next day would not be so kind.
After spending the rest of the evening going over plans for their leave with Rai and Mane, they had destinations and certain places to decide upon that needed to be agreed as a group. Mane didn't think Brooklet Crossing was even worth considering, Rai considered Shine Village to be a waste. After a compromise was mediated with Scout's assistance they had dinner and went to bed; Scout was feeling pretty good about the next day.
"So, it didn't go too badly?" Rai asked.
"No, it was still a bit weird. I can't really think of what to talk about with Dusknoir. And I kinda got the feeling Grovyle was avoiding me. But some progress was made, I was able to 'get' a lot of Saniya's jokes which was nice."
"Maybe instead of talking about your day," Mane offered as they settled down for bed, "because I know that's what you defaulted to." Scout laughed nervously. "Ask him something about yourself, something you don't remember that he might."
"That's… not a bad idea."
"Could be a conversation starter at least," Mane sighed, rolling around to get comfortable. Rai shifted out of the way because Mane was tossing straw around and he was licking his leg.
Scout curled up in his own pile and drifted off, Rai and Mane going to sleep against each other.
Spinda was a surprisingly harsh taskmaster.
He wasn't mean by any means. Just particular about what he used. "These.. oran's are good, these pecha will… work. This… sitrus is… all wrong." He tossed the visually fine berry aside, Scout had to resist the urge to chase.
Spinda would get Team Sunrise to do three things for him. Carry in larger boxes, get specific items, and help with extending the café.
Today he wanted all three of these things to be done. Guardian and Saniya were lugging crates around. Sean and Striker were making new tables. Leaving Scout to fetch specific items.
"This Blast… Seed? Useless... no good." He tossed it. Something exploded. "Not nearly enough… pop, you see?"
Scout stared at the blackened patch. Part of the wall had cracked under the explosion. "Y-yes?"
"Good, good… good. Now, this… this… this… this lum is alllll good!" He tossed that to the Yes Pile. Scout wasn't entirely sure how he remembered which pile was which, but he trusted Spinda to not get confused.
Eventually, however, Scout found himself directed to helping Sean and Striker. It went okay at first.
The pair were putting some chairs together first, having completed two already. Scout noted there weren't any nails.
"Nails aren't too common, huh?" Sean replied, fiddling with a leg. "It's basically just screwing them into place, not too hard."
"I'm sure even you could do it," Striker said, before moving onto a table.
Scout frowned slightly but didn't say anything. Sean was quiet for a bit, but he began to work with Scout to finish the chairs.
Scout couldn't help but notice that Striker was watching him. Not even discretely, any time he looked up and over, the grovyle would be staring and wouldn't glance away politely as if he hadn't been.
He wanted to ask. Striker hadn't been staring at him yesterday, or at least it didn't seem like he was.
It wasn't until Guardian and Saniya returned with the last of their boxes and joined the pair that Striker stopped.
He remained off on his own task but stopped staring at Scout.
"You've… done great guys!" Spinda said after all the furniture was assembled, or repaired. "How about… you five… take the rest of the day… off!"
"Thank you, Spinda," Sean replied happily. "We might stop around later?"
"Feel free, always happy to… have you!"
"Should we get something to eat?" Sean suggested as they walked back into the bright day. It was only somewhat past noon, Scout guessed, by the time taken and position of the sun.
"Food! Yes!" Saniya answered for everyone and zoomed off into the marketplace.
Sean chuckled. "Better go after her before she slaps Goodra again."
"I won't be cleaning that up again," Striker warned. So, Sean hurried up.
"Is that what happened?" Scout asked, looking up at Guardian. The Ghost seemed startled that Scout was addressing him directly.
"Yes, Saniya refused to bathe unless Striker helped her." Guardian shrugged as Striker side-eyed them. "You know how she can be."
Scout nodded.
Striker ended up racing off after Sean, leaving Scout and Guardian alone. They both peeked a glance at the other before looking away when noticing the other was looking.
"So…?" Scout began, like the crashing waves; everything Mane had suggested had just flowed away from his reach.
"Hm." Guardian pondered for a moment. "If you would prefer, I may remain outside of town. It would not do your reputation any good to be seen with me after all."
"What?" Scout gasped. "No. What? No. No. I don't care who sees me with you, they all joke I'm a hooker anyway."
Guardian's fingers twitched at that, but he refrained from commenting on it.
"Dusknoir I…" Scout trailed off, he just didn't know what to say.
"I believe I see Litleo," Guardian said, softly. Scout's ears perked at that. "By the Kecleon's. I would not mind if you went to him."
Scout hesitated, on one hand, he wanted to go, on the other hand, Mane could help him find the words again, but on the tail end of it, leaving felt rude.
"I'll be back," Scout settled on, and walked away. Guardian just watched him leave before choosing to make his way to where Sean and Striker were trying to pry Saniya off Goodra.
Thankfully, Goodra was not offended.
Spotting Mane made Scout unreasonably happy, and he almost skipped his way over to where Mane was speaking to the Kecleon Green, Rai was nowhere to be seen, and Mane's expression was neutral.
"And... that'll be 980 Poke!" Green said pleasantly. Mane scowled, checked the items over again, and scowled harder.
"Really?" Mane asked, glaring at the modest collection of items on the table. 'Really? I... fine, whatever."
Green beamed and held his hand out for payment but blinked. Mane was turning around. "Uh..."
"I said whatever, which means I'm off." Mane began to storm away but nearly walked into Scout instead.
"What's going on?" Scout asked, glancing between Green who was wearing a most composed expression now and Mane who was looking most frumpled. He looked to all those items that were on the counter, and Mane was leaving them. What was going on?
"Overcharged," Mane grunted. "Again."
Scout blinked and glanced to the Kecleon Brother's, who were holding their most business-like expressions. "Well, okay, don't we need them?" he asked, a cute sort of frown on his face. "Maybe there was a mistake. Hang on."
He approached the counter himself. "Good afternoon!"
"Good afternoon, Meowth!" Green and Purple chorused back.
"How much was all this stuff again?" he asked, looking over the collection of seeds, berries, and a couple orbs.
Green nodded. "Of course, of course. That'll be 400 Poke for you! It's fantastic, truly fantastic, to hear you have an opportunity to graduate! With your salvation of time, along with Shinx, we both think you deserve it."
It irked Scout that Green was disregarding Mane, and Sean for that matter, in that assessment. "Oh, just 400? I was expecting something like 800 or something, I thought you might have miscounted a little from your price to Litleo. Not that much."
Green paused, Purple did too from where he was serving a different country.
"Just a little harmless fun," Green said after his pause.
"Is it?" Scout asked. "Or are you price-gouging Litleo because he's not with me or Shinx?"
"What are you doing?" Mane hissed.
"I… do not like what you are implying here, Meowth," Green said, quietly.
"And I don't like you treating my friend like a criminal," Scout said, not quietly. They were attracting attention now. "Or do you have a habit of raising the prices for other exploration teams around? I'm sorry, but we can find this stuff elsewhere."
And with that, he walked off.
Mane quickly joined him. There was silence between them for a moment.
"Holy shit, did you see his face?" Mane whispered, almost afraid to laugh. He could feel the Kecleon Brother's staring after them but did not give them the gratification of looking back.
"It was hard not to laugh, I have to say." Scout grinned back. He was trembling slightly, not from fear but from the nerves he had felt in doing that.
"What are we going to do, though? Rai wants those items." They began to head to the guild, ready to share Scout's surprising boldness with Rai.
"Oh... I'm sure we'll be fine." Scout said, tossing a seed in his hand. Mane nearly tripped at the sight.
"You... stole?" He lowered his voice, someone could hear, and Scout stashed it away.
"Call it repayment," Scout said, smirking slightly.
"For saving the world?"
Scout gave him a Look. "No," he said softly. And that was that.
Mane swallowed, he wanted to comment but didn't. "The Kec's will kill you if they realise," Mane said instead.
Scout shrugged, and a claw popped out. "I don't think we'll have a problem," he said, reaching the guild. They entered the guild, and Scout looked around, spotting his target quickly.
"Sunflora!" He beamed. She beamed back.
"Good afternoon, Meowth. How's Team Sunrise? And Litleo, back from shopping?" she asked, nodding to Mane.
"Indeed." Scout nodded. "We had some fun, got into only a little bit of trouble." Sunflora giggled. "And I was wondering if I could ask you a favour?"
"Oh?" Sunflora's eyes lit up. She liked favours. Ones owed to her at least. "What do you need?"
"I was hoping if you could spread the word that the Kecleon Brothers are still prejudiced against my good friend Litleo and are resorting to petty price raising when me or Shinx isn't around. Probably doing it to other teams as well, not local ones though, but visitors. Not the best look on the town probably. I dunno."
Sunflora blinked. Scout's expression remained steady. "Uh... why?"
Scout shrugged. "Nothing too bad, you don't need to demonize them or anything. But I was hoping you'd do this for me."
"Uh… I'm not sure. I don't like spreading nasty rumours."
"Not a rumour," Scout pointed out. "Plus, who better to spread the word than you! You did excellent when you told everyone I was a prostitute." Scout laughed. Sunflora did too, it was not as happy. "So, I thought of you right away!"
Abashed now, Sunflora gave a reluctant nod. "Okay, I'll do this. As long as we're cool?"
"Of course, we are!" Scout beamed. "And thank you."
Sunflora opened her mouth to receive a promise of a favour in return but rethought it and closed her mouth. She nodded, and they parted ways.
Mane was again silent for a moment as they came to the third floor to meet up with Rai. "I've never quite been so attracted to you as I am right now," Mane said, causing a most perplexed expression to cross Rai's face as he overheard that.
Scout simply laughed.
"Where did all that come from?" Mane asked as they approached Rai.
"Where did what come from?" Rai asked. "Also, hi!"
Mane quickly explained. His face darkened, but not because of Mane not returning with the items. "How often do they do this to you?"
Mane shrugged. "I'm usually in town with at least one of you, so I don't really get it anymore."
"Any more?" Rai said.
"Rai, come on," Mane said. "I'm the town bastard."
"That isn't far," Rai snapped. "Not now, and not back then either."
"Well it's how things are," Mane replied, almost snapping back. When Rai recoiled, he sighed and glanced away guiltily. "Sorry, I know you're just being nice."
"I'm not just being nice," Rai sighed.
Scout glanced between them with a frown. "Hey, I did get this at least." He pulled out the Blast Seed.
Rai smiled at him before cocking his head. "Why just that?"
A smirk began to slide onto Mane's face, what a nice reminder. "He may not have paid for it," he said.
Rai's eyes widened. "Where HAS this all come from?"
Scout grinned and, gently, tossed the seed to Rai. "I don't know. Something about Team Sunrise has been reminding me of a few memories I've sort of been remembering. It's something Scout would have done, so I wanted to try it. What better reason than to stand up for Mane!"
"Well, as long as you don't stop being cute, I think I can handle you being cheeky," Mane laughed. Surprisingly, Scout took being called cute well.
"I am the cutest," he agreed and then booped them both on the nose. "But you're both alright. Haha."
Rai decided this was grounds for a tackle-hug. He didn't do it for long, Scout was beginning to squirm, and he didn't want to make things weird again. This time, however, Scout was able to maintain eye contact.
"As much as I would love to continue being assaulted," he teased, making sure they knew that was a joke, "I should get back to the future people. Dusknoir knows I came to see Mane, but…"
"You haven't talked to him yet?" Rai said, gathering that was the case.
"You have such faith in me," Scout said, not even offended. "Yeah, I haven't."
"Remember, ask him about you as an adorably little cub," Mane suggested, "or ask about that weird old scarf he has tied around his arm. That could be something important to him?"
"I will. Thanks."
They waved him off. Once they were alone, Mane bumped Rai over. "You scared him off again," he said, also teasing.
"You were the one to call him cute," Rai defended, bumping him back. They soon started wrestling with each other.
Before Scout was able to leave entirely, he ran into Sunflora hurrying to the lower level. "Oh my gosh! Excuse me, sorry."
"Sorry," Scout also said and moved out of her way before continuing up.
Sunflora ran to Loudred's side and yelled down to Diglett. "I'm taking the dead weight."
"Kay," Diglett replied.
"Shinx, Litleo," Sunflora said, over Loudred's loud disagreement in being dragged around. "Can you watch Loudred's post for a few minutes, I just need to have a little conversation."
You did not refuse Sunflora, so they hurried to their place.
"Okay, could you, okay, oKAY!" Loudred managed to force her leafy, but strong, hands-off in the corridor. "OW. Could you just ASK politely before you START GRABBING?"
"May I remind you that you have the tact of a cauldron?" Sunflora said. "Get in the room."
"NO."
"Do it."
"NO!"
"Do it, and you won't owe me for Journey Path," Sunflora said.
Loudred froze. "Seriously?" he whispered. Actually whispered.
"Yes."
He deliberated, but the answer was obvious as his shame. "Fine." He stomped into the room he shared with half the damn guild.
Corphish and Bidoof were already in there, waiting in confusion.
Based on Loudred's mood, they assumed he knew what this was about.
"I reckon I gotta get to my team," Bidoof said as Sunflora closed the door after her.
"They have been dealt with," Sunflora explained, vaguely gesturing.
"Uh…?"
"Corphish, stand there." Sunflora pointed, Corphish eyed her but decided to listen.
"Loudred, on the other side." Loudred did not move. Rolling her eyes, Sunflora took the position instead.
They now stood in a triangle around Bidoof.
"Can we talk?" Sunflora began, gently.
"Uh… I kinda feel like I don't have a choice here, yup… yup."
"Of course you have a choice," Sunflora continued, "there have just been some recent concerns that as a future team, I thought would be best to bring up."
Corphish glanced to Loudred, who still had nothing to say, before clicking a pincer in realisation. "You're not jealous Team Ion are gonna graduate?" he asked, shocked.
"Of course not." Sunflora shook her head, but Bidoof was looking guiltier. "I don't mind how long it takes for the four of us to graduate together… assuming we all are still in agreement?"
"Hey-hey? What do you take me for? Of course, I'm still!"
"Humph," Loudred grunted. Unlike Corphish who couldn't read the room, Loudred knew exactly what was going on.
He heard it.
He heard it as Bidoof raved on and on about his 'new' friends and 'new' team. How Flaaffy was making such strides in not being so fussy, how Paras was coming out of her metaphorical shell, and how Marill was adjusting so well to guild life.
He heard it as Bidoof led the team of the four with pride. Being able to be the one looked to for advice, be seen as competent, as the leader.
He heard it as Flaaffy suggested combing techniques to Bidoof that actually made him look better, rather than the piss poor insults he tossed at Loudred. Or how Paras could be prodded to talk if asked how Bidoof was managing them.
He saw the writing on the wall.
Before Bidoof had joined the guild, Sunflora, Corphish, and Loudred had befriended each other. All joining within a couple weeks of each other, they were the newbies. With pokémon like Ponyta and Graveler already getting set to graduate when they entered, it was the dream.
They would graduate together and form a team together. Then Bidoof had joined, right when Corphish was in consideration to be offered the choice. Wigglytuff and Chatot had known their plans, and while they weren't an official team, the first one wasn't offered the standard chance until they were all getting ready.
Then Bidoof joined, and they loved him. The doofus that tried so hard. Sunflora basically adopted him, using him to run errands of her own around town when Chatot couldn't find non-dungeon-based jobs for him.
Loudred hadn't liked him at first, he seemed the kind to run the first time he failed. But Bidoof hadn't. He hadn't run. Despite his clear lack of skill and constant failure, he would not give up.
That had built respect to Loudred, and Corphish in kind during one of the rare missions Bidoof was allowed on a job, he went with Corphish. The crustacean had confirmed that Bidoof held his own.
They asked if he would graduate with him. Thus, when Corphish was offered, when Sunflora was offered, when Loudred was offered, when they were all offered the chance to graduate, they refused. They wanted to graduate together and Bidoof, after some hesitation, accepted their offer.
"Do you still want to form a team with us?" Sunflora asked.
"Of course, I do!" Bidoof insisted, glancing around him as Corphish finally clued on.
"Well… do you want to make a team with us, or the others more?"
That question caused Bidoof to fall silent.
"What's the point in asking?" Loudred snapped, he hated feeling emotions and easily got angry when feeling them. "He's already made up his mind! Why did you have to drag us ALL here, Blossom?"
There was silence for a bit, Bidoof sniffled slightly. "I'm sorry," he said weakly. "You all 'ave been counting on me to get good enough to be on your level, but… you're just too many steps over me. You all could'a graduated a long time ago, I reckon. You were, when I first joined, weren't you?"
"Yeah?" Corphish confirmed as the others were quiet. "We were. But we liked you, so we thought…" He was having trouble grasping this, but a lot of things were making sense very quickly.
"What's SO MUCH BETTER about THEM?" Loudred shouted, causing Bidoof to flinch away. "We were YOUR TEAM FIRST!"
"Boom," Sunflora said, quietly. It cut through their ringing ears. "Don't shout at him."
Loudred huffed again.
"Hey-hey-hey wait a minute," Corphish said, clicking again. "Wait." He turned to Bidoof. "Timber, are you actually… not? What's going on."
"You're an IDIOT!" Loudred snapped. "If you haven't seen it already. He LIKES the newbies because it lets HIM be the leader and important and smart and feels SO MUCH BETTER THAN BEING PART OF OUR TEAM."
"Boom, STOP!" Sunflora shouted. Bidoof was tearing up now.
"NO!" Loudred shouted back. "WE ALL COULD HAVE GRADUATED MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO BUT WE HAVEN'T BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR HIM. WE'VE BEEN WAITING. FOR. HIM. THIS IS NOT FAIR."
Silence overtook the four after Loudred was finished.
"Feel better?" Sunflora asked.
"A little…"
"Boom's right," Corphish said, turning to Bidoof. "We've been counting on you for ages, you're leaving us? Were you not even going to say something or just wait until you could graduate with them? With your rate, you'd probably slow them down to."
"That is enough, Jet," Sunflora demanded, voice shaking and freezing Corphish in place. "That is going too far. How much help have we actually given Timber? Or was it not YOU TWO who decided he had to get there on his own despite how much he was struggling?"
"Y-you don't need to stick up for me, Blossom," Bidoof whispered. "They are right, you know?"
Sunflora grimaced and turned to him. "Timber, it's not okay that you didn't bring this up. It's been how many months since you've started feeling this way?"
Timber whispered. "Four." Then shook his head. "N-no. I'm sorry, ah honestly and truly are, but… but you kinda… y-you. You three made me agree. Ah knew I'd slow you down. Ah told you that when you first asked me, but you wouldn't take no for an answer."
"So this is OUR fault?" Loudred demanded.
"I'm not saying that," Bidoof protested, "I'm just saying that you three are such good and strong explorers and I wanted to learn everything I could from yuh, yup-yup. But ya didn't help me, Blossom said you two decided not to help me. How is that fair, you knew I wasn't good, how long did you think it'd take before I'd suddenly become an expert?" Tears pricked Bidoof's eyes, but he didn't stop.
"I wanted to tell you to graduate without me so many times. I could have just joined your team after, ya three didn't even need to graduate together, I can't reckon for the life of me why you decided on that."
"It was to make building the team afterwards easier," Sunflora answered softly.
"Ya could just ask the Guildmaster to do that at any time!" Bidoof protested. "I'm not saying I'm good, I know I should have talked to you about this before, but whenever I tried you'd not listen eventually I just decided to shut my trap as talking got me nowhere, by golly. You didn't listen when I tried to refuse the first time, so why would you change your minds after I already agreed?"
Nearly two years of stress all came out at once. Every debriefs with Bell to speak his mind. Every bit he'd held his tongue over. It all came out, leaving the rest of them blinking.
"I… I'm sorry," Bidoof said. "But I… I will be pulling out of the team. You three shouldn't have little old me weighing you down any longer. I really hope we can still be friends."
"Sure," Sunflora said, processing all of that. Loudred and Corphish were entirely silent. "I… really do wish you the best of luck, Timber."
"Y-you two."
And with that, Bidoof left. Not just the room.
Scout found Team Sunrise close by where he saw them last, mulling about in the middle of town. No one had picked a fight yet, which was terrific news.
"Sorry, I just had to handle something," Scout said, approaching. Two faces smiled, one turned away, another watched in silence.
"I saw you rushing off with Litleo," Sean said. "Something important?"
"Just him getting treated badly, which is a depressing usual." Scout frowned. "But I think that's handled now."
"Point me at whatever you want 'handled' heh," Saniya said, punching a palm.
"Calm yourself." Guardian patted her on the shoulder with a finger.
"Were your teammates not in need of your help?" Striker asked, finally turning back from looking at the sky.
"No." Scout shook his head. "They seemed to have things under wraps. Also, they may have been wrestling."
"Sure, that's all-" Saniya was elbowed.
"With your travels ahead," Striker said, "are you not doing anything to help prepare?"
Scout blinked. "Well… I was doing inventory, I was helping Litleo with that too. But they just want me to be spending some time with you guys before we go since I haven't really been doing that."
"What a time…" Striker sighed.
Scout frowned and opened his mouth to ask Striker's problem, but someone beat him to it.
"Do not try and drive him away," Guardian snapped, rather loudly. Loudly enough that a few people glanced over.
"I don't need to try, he'll do that on his own."
Guardian's eye began flickering violently.
"Striker," Sean said, quietly.
Striker jerked his head away from Guardian and returned to looking at the sky and ignoring everything. "Maybe, uh… we should go somewhere private?" Sean said, sensing what was about to happen.
"Not a bad idea," Saniya said, quickly. "Striker, race you to the beach!" She zoomed off, Striker did not follow.
"Are you actually serious right now?" Guardian growled. "Scout is finally with us again, and you are behaving like this?"
Striker's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond.
"He's making an effort, and you toss this back at him?"
Scout looked between the two with building fear, he didn't like this. Something deeper than just discomfort, something he remembered feeling but not how.
"Just because you cannot let go of-"
"No!" Striker shouted, spinning back on Guardian. "I can NOT let it go."
Sean stepped forward, ready to force them apart in case this escalated. Or just drag Striker away before it could.
"What is your problem with me?" Scout asked, voice clear and sharp over the blood in their ears. "I haven't been blind. Can you tell me? So I can try and work on it?"
Striker finally dragged his eyes off Guardian, off Sean, off the sky, off Saniya who was awkwardly returning, to really, really, look at Scout.
Scout almost flinched. There wasn't hate there, but there was something he never knew Striker capable of holding. Not personally, this was something reserved for a special type of person to Striker.
"Months back," Striker began, voice very clear to the eavesdroppers, "when you and I were imprisoned Sean risked himself, risked everything, to break us BOTH out. Even you, who we had established by that point was not aware of the truth, or at least had fooled us all into thinking. He risked himself to save you, and what did you do in return?"
"I helped him," Scout said.
"NO!" Striker yelled, causing Scout to flinch back and Guardian to nearly grapple Striker. The only thing stopping him was the equal desire to shield Scout. "When your new friends found us and refused to listen to reason YOU PUT YOUR CLAWS TO SEAN'S NECK. You threatened HIS LIFE! That is something I cannot forget."
Striker closed his eyes, words going much softer now. "I can't forget it. It doesn't matter why you did it. Out of desperation to calm the situation, out of panic, I just don't care. All I see when I look at you is you threatening his life."
He opened his eyes again. "When you were with us, you were kind. You're not kind anymore, Scout. It's why I think you may be right, that you aren't really him. And if you aren't, then you've taken our teammate. And if you are, you have still changed too much."
Having nothing more to say to Scout, Striker turned to Guardian. "I'm sorry, I really am." And then he walked off.
Sean glanced between three different pokémon he wanted to help, Scout, Guardian, and Striker. Ultimately, he turned to Scout. "I… he doesn't… I'm not upset about that."
Scout nodded.
Sean turned to Guardian, but the dusknoir spoke first. "Go after him," he sighed, "make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
Sean nodded and ran after him. Scout and Guardian were left, with Saniya awkwardly floating around the sidelines. "I'm uh…" she began before pausing. "Not going to go. I'm going to help, it's what I've been working on with Azumarill." She breathed. "Okay. Uh… who needs to talk first?"
"I, uh… I think I should go," Scout said, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the guild.
"Scout, he…" Guardian began, but he didn't know where to even start with that. For one thing, he didn't know about Striker's reasons here. He did not think this was fair, yet he was rather stunned by the explosion from the composed grovyle.
"I'll see you at dinner," Scout said, firmly. "And maybe tomorrow. I… yeah." He began to walk off himself. Thankfully Striker had gone in the direction of Sharpedo Bluff.
He looked at his paw as he went and ended up going right and towards the beach, rather than the guild. He wanted to be alone.
Later that night, dinner was a tense affair. Loudred, Corphish, and Sunflora weren't talking much. Striker and Guardian projected a sense of awkwardness around them that caused even the chatterbox Saniya to eat with her mouth closed.
Scout, Rai, and Mane continued working on their path to get information. Fissure was a destination Rai had insisted on, although Mane had nothing nice to imply about the place. Sky Peak was agreed to be worth checking out. Downer Town was agreed to not be worth checking out. Scout didn't mention what had gone on beyond that things got a little heated, but made sure they knew it was no big deal.
Everyone retired to bed early except for Bidoof and Guardian. Neither wanted to exactly share a room with certain others that night and ended up talking to each other.
Saniya, magic sorcerer she was, fell asleep almost immediately after touching her bed. Leaving Sean and Striker to talk in peace.
Striker had not wanted to talk earlier, and Sean didn't push him.
"Was that everything you're angry about?" Sean asked.
Striker sighed, not wanting to talk but relenting to it. Sean wouldn't sleep otherwise, and he wouldn't accept that. "Essentially. He's done a lot of things lately, since even before we first came to the past, but that's the main thing. I just can't get it out of my head. Him threatening you like that."
"I have forgiven him for that," Sean pointed out. "It all happened so quickly and then everything with going back to the Dark Future, he did his best even with… uh, it's a bit hazy now. But I know he was injured throughout the whole thing."
"Just because you forgive him, doesn't mean I have to," Striker replied, calmly.
"I understand," Sean said, smiling at him, "I can't say I know exactly what's going on, but… he's not unkind, Striker. He's changed, there's no question about that, but just over these last two days, it's almost been like old times! Saniya making jokes about him coughing up hairballs, Guardian telling her off for picking on him, he's only swiped at me once for scratching his ear."
Striker was quiet.
"You're only seeing that one moment when his two new friends were fighting his two old ones. He freaked out. Scout was always a bit rash and definitely liable to panic."
"That's all fine," Striker sighed. "I understand, Sean. But you're not understanding my side of things."
Sean raised his head and waited.
"If that really is Scout and… yes, I am more convinced that it really is him just with something extra, it doesn't change what he's been doing. Just because he was my friend, doesn't mean I can just let go of what he's done. If he knew all this stuff, why didn't he do something to stop Guardian earlier? I'm sure there were many things he could have that could have helped us, but he didn't. And threatening you like that…"
Striker shook his head before burrowing his face in his hands. "It's like an orb activated in my head. Whenever I look at him, I just see that moment. I don't see him playing with the string of his scarf. I don't see him purring on your lap. I don't see him laughing or crying. All I see is his claws at your throat, telling ME to stop fighting two pokémon trying to kill us. It's a betrayal. I can't trust him."
"Why haven't you told any of us that's how you feel?" Sean asked quietly. Saniya was awfully quiet for the snorer she normally was.
"How could I? When you and Saniya have such a good relationship with him, and Guardian wants nothing more than to have one at all. I thought I could just ignore it, or avoid him, keep an eye on him when that didn't work. But I just…"
"I think you really do need to talk to Scout," Sean said, Saniya started snoring. "Nothing's going to change, or get better until you have a real conversation."
"As if Guardian would allow me anywhere close to him after today," Striker muttered.
"Is that an excuse?"
"Yeah."
Sean gave a chuckle. "I just don't think all this pain is good for either of you. He's really not too bad, but I get why you can't see anything else. I get it. If he tried doing that to you, I'd probably feel like you do."
Striker snorted. "You don't hold grudges. Anger and resentment 'don't do you any good' right?"
Sean smiled and shook his head fondly, aura tassels flopping. "You don't have to forget," he said. "I haven't. But there is a difference between forgiving and forgetting."
"I'll try."
"It's all I ask."
And so they went to sleep. Guardian eventually joined them, but both were asleep by that point.
The next day did not start with a bang but a whimper. Team Sunrise waited in consideration after the morning announcement, no one was directly ready to ask if Scout would join them. The meowth himself seemed unsure, oddly enough neither Shinx nor Litleo were tossing Striker unpleasant looks.
Scout hadn't told them much. He had downplayed it and assured them it was nothing.
Eventually, after some hesitation, Scout did walk over to them. "May I join you today?" he asked.
Guardian visibly sagged with relief and Saniya squealed. "Of course! Come along, Armaldo, we've got a plus one again!"
"Whatever," the grouch replied, already walking off to do his duties.
Things were stiff and awkward to start. No one was really talking. Things were compounded by the fact that they were working for the Kecleon's today, but neither made mention of Scout or any grievance they may have with him.
Eventually, Striker made a joke.
"If the wind changes with that expression on," he said, as Saniya was making faces behind his back. "It'll get stuck like that."
They assumed it was an attempt at a non-orb related joke at least.
Whatever it was, the tension broke, and everyone laughed at it.
The tension began to recede. Striker helped Scout balance some loose objects, Guardian caught something falling from Saniya's wares before it clunked Sean on the head, and Saniya continued making faces.
At no point did anyone apologise. Striker's words to Scout were not laced with guilt or resentment. It was normal, it a little stiff. More akin to Striker talking to someone like Ursaring than someone he knew well.
Scout himself didn't try to apologise either. He doubted it'd help, and he had already apologised to Sean himself about that whole situation back during their trek into the Dark Future.
Scout did have something big to say, however. "I was talking to Rai and Mane last night. They think we should be ready to leave tomorrow."
"Aww, we'll miss you."
"I am certain you will be exemplary to all bandit hunters."
"Make sure to 'call' back with Chimecho when you can!"
"I wish you luck."
And as this was their last day together, Guardian began to gird himself. It started during a trip carrying an old, breaking, box that had holes in it. Scout rode on top to catch items before they fell out.
Guardian didn't talk then, he just began to craft his words.
They delivered, helped stock, then went to get more. The smeargle the Kecleon Brothers were buying from was happy to nap as they did so.
Eventually, however, even Guardian could not hesitate to gather more information any longer.
"Scout?" he asked as they rested after being excused by the brothers. "May we talk? Alone."
Scout glanced back to Team Sunrise, before nodding to Guardian. "Sure."
They went for a walk, in Scout's case at least, to Sharpedo Bluff. "You know, this is where I woke up," Scout said, smiling to the cliffside. "Not at the beach. Rai spooked me and I actually almost fell off the cliff, he grabbed me before I could fall though."
"I am relieved," Guardian said.
They came to a stop, Scout had trouble finding the strength to lift his head to meet Guardian's eye. The dusknoir was so large, wide and dark. Despite being a Ghost-type, his arms were clearly defined with muscle, his belly moved slightly as he drew breath in and out, even the djinn-like ending of his body waved and wisped away in the wind.
It was bizarre how such a creature could exist. But here he was.
And he was silent. "I…" Guardian started before pausing with a brief laugh. "You ever think about talking to someone so much, all the things you'd say, they'd say, and then when you finally get the chance you can't think of a single word to say?"
Scout gave the same laugh back. "Yeah. I know that feeling."
Guardian nodded and floated down slightly, pushing his physical, yet spiritual, body through the ground so he could better speak with Scout. No craning Scout's neck to look at him.
"I…" Guardian began, but again. He couldn't speak.
It wasn't like they hadn't spoken at all throughout the last two months. But it was all polite, distant. It was friendly, good mornings, and pleasant days. It was moments where Rai and Mane and Striker and Sean and Saniya, where everyone, was there to fill the gaps with sound and laughter.
All those times were gifted with distractions to avoid this. Now that they were here, neither knew what to say.
"I forgive you, you know that?" Scout asked, voice very small all of a sudden.
"I… don't." Guardian shook his head. Scout looked shocked, but Guardian continued. "I don't forgive myself," he explained, calming the meowth. "And… to be honest, I don't think you forgive me either."
Scout's ears flicked. "I do," he insisted. "I understand why you did what you did, and you changed. I... I knew you would in time, I just wish I had done something more to help."
"You did help," Guardian said. "Your words to me before we parted in the Dark Future. I still remember them. The heroes who saved time or the villain who tried to end it. When speaking with Striker further, working with him again, reliving our old times… I cannot say that I am selfless. I am selfish and greedy."
Scout was silent.
"The point yet remains, even as we try to avoid it. I destroyed our relationship. Even IF you don't remember my betrayal so well, I do. That's not something that is just forgiven because 'redemption' and apologies are made."
Scout glanced away. That made him think of Striker. "I remember… some stuff now. Not a lot. Not so much that I'm totally convinced, but…"
Guardian reached to his arm and began untangling the old, scruffy, scarf he had tied around it. "This scarf is what I found for you when I first took you in," he said as it unwound completely and fell into his hands. "After realising, you were freezing, and I had no hope of warming you up. It was your blanket, then your cape, then your scarf. You threw it back to me when I betrayed you, and I kept it."
He handed it out. "I know I ruined our relationship, but I would do anything to begin fixing it, building one anew."
Scout raised his paws, and hesitantly touched the scarf. It was soft and clean despite its overall disrepair. It felt like warm and safe, and home.
He took the scarf and Guardian carefully tied it around his neck. Scout gave Guardian a genuine smile and Guardian, despite his face lacking a mouth, clearly gave one back.
Things weren't okay, not by far. But it gave them hope that there would be a time that they were.
Team Ion determined the last of their immediate plans, feeling confident with their chances.
That night, there was only one more conversation to have.
"Grovyle," Scout said, nodding.
"Meowth," Striker returned.
Striker smiled. "You know Guardian would vehemently disagree with such impersonal addressing's between us?"
Scout smiled. "Heh, probably. You'd know better than me."
With that sobering comment, they both considered their next words carefully. "I…" Striker began but had trouble continuing. "I don't know," he sighed. "Sean, Guardian, everyone thinks this and that, and I want to agree, but then we're here, and I can't ignore what you've done."
Scout nodded. "I don't think you should. It's… not to sound manipulative or anything, it's not what I mean. But… having someone to doubt me is good, I think."
Striker frowned. "Explain."
"What if I'm wrong?" Scout said, shrugging. "What if I'm crazy? What if Darkrai did something to me and I don't know it? Even beyond all of that. What if I'm lying?"
Striker didn't respond.
Scout bowed his head. "You're a true hero, you know? Everything about you. I won't ask you to forgive me because I wouldn't. I don't get why everyone else has."
"I think… in a sense you are too hard on yourself," Striker said carefully. "There is a lot of talk about what you should have done, which I agree with, but if you endlessly think about what you could have changed, you'll be blind to what you can do. It's also getting somewhat depressing. I don't hate you… Meowth."
"You can call me Scout," he said. "If you want."
Striker almost smiled. "Around the others, I might. You may call me Striker."
"Thank you."
"I don't hate you," Striker repeated. "I just can't trust you. For everything. You did the right thing in the end, like Guardian really. Like father like son, I suppose. Perhaps this makes me hypocritical or, rather, it certainly does."
"I don't think how you feel really 'counts' with stuff like hypocrisy," Scout said. "Sometimes, the answer just is 'because'."
Striker did smile briefly at that. "I don't know if I can ever call you my friend again. Can you accept that?"
Scout was quiet. It wasn't easy to hear, especially with Guardian's situation with Striker. But, as Scout said, sometimes the answer just was because. "Yeah, I can. As long as we can get along. Coexist. Respect each other."
Striker nodded. "I can do that. For what it's worth, I am trying."
"It's all I can ask," Scout replied, causing Striker to give a ghost of a smile. "I'm trying too, to be better, I mean."
"It's all anyone can ask."
They shared a nod and then walked to dinner together. It wasn't the ideal outcome for both, Striker wished he could forgive and forget and Scout wished the grovyle could see him as a friend again, his own memories of Striker painted the grovyle in such a wonderful light.
Both game and personal memories. Striker had taught him Night Slash twice and was the coolest, bravest, pokémon ever. But if being tolerated was the most he could get, then that's what he would take.
Scout smiled to Guardian, sitting next to him. Marill asked about his new scarf, noting from Azurill's chatter of Guardian that the scarf had gone from his arm to Scout's neck.
Loudred passed an apple to Bidoof and Wigglytuff danced around an amused Armaldo.
Their last night all together was a merry one.
So, funny story. I initially thought this chapter would be a quick, small, simple one. I had it all planned out, but I always underestimate how long I'm going to make a chapter. Parts of this just WENT, and I couldn't and didn't want to, stop.
But yeah. Big things are happening. Team Ion are going to be leaving Treasure Town, for the time being, set off to track down Mane's own evolved form (he's still sure this is some sort of dig at him personally). We are at long last going to see more of the Grass Continent! I've been eagerly waiting for this for months now!
We'll still be seeing Treasure Town, even deeper into it actually, with Team Sunrise's side of things. Think of the earlier chapters of Arc 2 as a test, with the half chapter being Team Ion and the other half being Team Sunrise. That's what I intend to continue doing going forward!
And Scout has finally talked to Guardian. Sadly they do need to do more, but they waited too long. Sorry Setech, I hope this was something to tide you over for the moment. We will get more Scout and Guardian father time in the future, but not for a while.
Who expected Striker's emotions here though? I did :P
Overall a fun chapter. We got to see some of the other apprentices outside of stuff to do with Team Ion or Sunrise for once! As well as the names of three more of the apprentices! That scene got a bit more heated than I initially planned, especially with Bidoof snapping back! But hey, got to have the delicious drama. Day two was an unfun day for a lot of people, day three was much kinder.
Also! I made a Tumblr for Warped Skies! You can find it here just remove the spaces
team-ion . tumblr . com
It's bare-bones at the moment, I'm not entirely sure what I'll use it for besides answering stuff and what have you. But hey? Maybe I'll work something out, post snippets of stuff and junk.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy and have stayed safe lately!