I'm surprised anyone voted for Amp Plains. I'm a little… differently surprised that people also voted for Brine Cave, but I can kinda get it. Either way, thanks for voting!
The proper results will be at the bottom. Also, a small switch to how the polls will be done will be explained down there as well.
After the wildness of the previous chapters, let's have a softer one, eh?
It was time to go.
"Thank you for helping us with everything," Scout said, bowing in thanks to the three healers and Clefable.
"We really should stop getting this hurt, though," Rai joked, but also not joking. "I'm pretty sure it's bad for us."
"Yes," Comfey said, eyes narrowed. "It is."
"Leave them be," Clefable said, "we all know how exploration teams are."
"If we're getting into bigger scraps than your outlaw hunters." Mane grinned.
"MY apprentices are taught to take down outlaws without getting nearly as banged up," Clefable retorted, smirking back. "I have half a mind to get Abra and Chimecho linked so I can yell at Wigglytuff for his poor job."
"Team Isotope says what?" Scout said, and her grin dropped into a glare. But it was a light-hearted glare.
"Take care you maniacs," Clefable said, rolling her eyes and waving them off. "Go and terrorise somewhere else, you hear?"
"We will," Rai and Scout said in chorus. Mane elected to keep silent.
Team Isotope, who were still in the medical wing, were not there to see them off and other than the two new guards, three sets of Clefable apprentices, and what had to be several underground pokémon, no one was there to give too much of a fuss.
Which was nice, except it wasn't.
A little hero worship wasn't too bad, but the guild wasn't used to their presence, and they had been a little odd about things.
Still, the walk to Blackstone Village was peaceful. In the confines of the town, they were promised to find Arashi, who was sticking around for the time being to make sure they, or rather just Rai, were safe and well.
She had visited and confirmed to Mane that she did look around for Morpeko but found nothing besides scorched and splintered trees. Unless he had been vaporised entirely, which no one believed, he had escaped.
Entering Blackstone Village, they'd need to look around for Ara to find her. She wasn't as kind or had as much free time, to wait at the border of town for them.
And inquisitive pokémon looking for another attracts other inquisitive pokémon looking for others.
"Ah, Shinx, Litleo, and Scout," Indeedee said, smiling warmly at them. They had reached the modest marketplace and had, to their relief, attracted little attention.
There were some concerned looks at the bandages they still wore, but pokémon here weren't as nosey as they were in Treasure Town.
"Indeedee!" Scout said, first to speak. He beamed. "It's nice to see you!"
"It is lovely to see you in kind," she replied, frowning a little. "My, what DID that beastly Pyroar do to you? I've heard you captured him, I offer my congratulations, but my word I had no idea it was such a bout."
"We took him down in the end!" Rai said, nodding confidently.
"You were unconscious most of the fight," Mane muttered, he got smacked by Rai.
"We're fine now," Scout answered, already mostly recovered. "Morpeko got away, though."
"Ah, that's not ideal."
"No," Mane grumbled, and she wisely left the topic alone.
"Well, I must say it is lovely to see you. May I ask if you've seen a rockruff around?" Indeedee asked. Inquisitive pokémon she was, she had spotted Team Ion while on the search for a pokémon herself. "He's quite the handful I must confess, always running off into dungeons. I was hoping to put that energy to a better use today, but I fear he's already traipsing around in the wilds by now."
"Sorry, we haven't seen him," Rai replied, and she nodded.
"Well, nothing can be helped. What can I do for you? You appear lost, but I've shown you around already so you must be looking for something yourself?"
"Oh!" Rai's ears flicked. He remembered hearing that Indeedee was the leader of Blackstone Village, she might be able to help their search. "We're just looking for my sister, Luxio. She's, well, a luxio. Carries a smaller pouch then Scout's Treasure Bag on her left shoulder."
Scout, who everyone had just accepted that they may as well call him by his name even in public, nodded when Indeedee glanced to him.
"I believe I can help," she replied, "I haven't seen Luxio, but someone will have. Let us walk."
"Yeah," Mane said, "since we're here I might as well ask. What do you want for the 'help' you gave us earlier?"
"Want?" Indeedee asked. "Oh, you don't need to pay me or anything. It was hardly anything difficult to have my assistant write up a series of accounts, after all." She winked.
"Everyone we've gotten help with wanted something," Mane argued, pressing the point. "Why would you be any different?"
"You've been shaken down for money and autographs all this time, haven't you?" she asked. Rai nodded. "Poor dears. I don't need anything from you."
"Tauroshit. Are you going to call us on a 'favour' a year from now?"
"Mane!"
Indeedee raised her hand. "No, no, don't tell him he's not allowed to speak his mind," she chastised, causing Rai to blink and consider how he may have been doing that a lot. "His concerns are fair. How about this? Three potatoes, four big apples, and some wheat to pound into flour and we'll call us even?"
"I…" Mane blinked. "What?"
Indeedee giggled at his perplexed expression. "I'm taking, what you may say, the piss out of you. I need nothing, Litleo. If it'll settle your conscious, and perhaps your nerves, you gave me a rather unique meal of gratitude when we parted ways before. Tingly and spicy even, I've rarely enjoyed gratitude with a kick like that."
"Wait?" Scout asked, and Mane's expression changed like he'd been hit by a malamar. "You can taste gratitude?"
"But of course?" Indeedee replied, looking down to him. "It's what I eat, after all."
"Can you eat normal food?" Scout asked, before hearing himself. "Sorry, that's probably… sorry."
Indeedee laughed it off. "I find no offence in your curiosity, Scout. Questions are fine, welcome even." He smiled, and she did too. "I can 'eat' as I have a mouth, a tongue, teeth, and saliva but… I receive no sustenance from it, merely something heavy in my stomach. And I have no taste buds for 'food'. Your gratitude tastes rather odd, understated but quite… present and filling."
"What did mine taste like?" Rai asked, also rather curious.
"Difficult to put into words," Indeedee replied. "Something similar to biting into a citrus fruit but not nearly so sour, sweeter with a… pop, I suppose is the best word to describe it. Odd, but pleasant."
Rai nodded, satisfied with that. He and Scout looked to Mane, who rolled his eyes.
"What about mine?" he asked. "If you even got any."
She smirked. "Oh, I did." He blushed, just a tiny bit when Rai and Scout smirked at him. "Spicy, Litleo. Very spicy. A rather violent kind of taste, overpowering but also… brief."
"That's really interesting," Scout said, unable to contain his enthusiasm. The Pokémon World still amazed him, it was incredibly wild and fun to live this reality, see things from this side and experience them in ways he couldn't have dreamed of.
"Thank you," Indeedee said, "most pokémon give me naught but strange looks if I ever was to describe how their gratitude tasted."
"How does it work?" Scout asked, deciding to just go all in and learn. "Tasting, eating gratitude? It's hard to imagine, but…"
Indeedee considered the question. "I must admit the idea of receiving sustenance through consuming fruit, vegetables, and even… flesh is rather hard for me to imagine, in kind." Scout shivered slightly when she said flesh, it wasn't a nice word. He hadn't eaten anything meat-based, as much as he knew, since he was here and could never imagine ever doing it—even a feral.
Rai and Mane did not comment.
"As an indeedee, I have special sensors in different parts of my body," Indeedee explained, the gentle, even matronly, tone to her voice fading slightly to something more enthusiastic. Everyone liked talking about themselves, after all. "Psychically entuned, we are a very sensitive species to the emotions of others. In a technicality, I can feed on other emotions, but most would be the equivalent of processed foods such as cookies and other such sweets. Not particularly good for me. And anything I take in is brought in its purest sense, there is no filling in-between. Imagine eating nothing but sugar, or spice, or salt? You wouldn't be able to live off that."
"Wouldn't be able to eat that in general," Rai mentioned. "That sounds way too strong."
"It's something I am prepared to consume," Indeedee replied. "Powerful emotions can be overwhelming, but my body is suited in kind. It's these sensors that are connected to my central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and others that run off those and send signals. Gratitude triggers certain cells I have to absorb it and transform into nutrients that…" she paused. "I… my apologies, I have gotten far too into this."
"Oh!" Scout said, very enthralled. "No-no, that was really interesting!"
"Did you understand it?" Indeedee asked, genuinely curious.
"I think so." Scout nodded. Rai and Mane, who had barely understood a lick of that, just nodded along as well. Nod and the confusing words might stop.
"Quite an intelligent pokémon you must be," Indeedee said, smiling. "I imagine Chimecho must love to speak to you; did you learn this from her?"
"I have talked to Chimecho about this kind of thing," Scout agreed, without really confirming what she asked. She didn't need the mind-spinning explanation that had to be secret anyway.
On the inside, he was a bit surprised, though. Indeedee was very intelligent, even his conversations with Chimecho hadn't gone nearly that far, and she was right about to lose him before she stopped herself.
"Well, give her my best. I should stop dominating the conversation and actually assist you in finding Luxio. The last time I started talking about cell processes, I scared away some prospective pokémon looking to move here."
"Are you scaring off more pokémon?" one of the townsfolk, a flygon, called. "I thought we agreed you weren't to talk to anyone ever? Anymore?"
"Oh, hush you." Indeedee waved her hand and pinched the flygon's lips shut with a pull of Psychic. "Weren't you helping Houndoom rebuild his wall?" Flygon gave her a Look and flew off. Rather quickly, actually.
She had forgotten about that, poor Houndoom would be waiting by his wrecked wall with nothing but hope and emptiness with him.
"Sometimes I wonder if they keep me around just to bully me so much," Indeedee sighed, turning back to Team Ion. "Let us find Luxio!"
Indeedee reminded several other pokémon that they were supposed to be helping Houndoom today. An aegislash, dragonair, and manectric all ran off with shame on their faces after being reminded.
"You would think they'd get the idea by now," Indeedee sighed, shaking her head. "My apologies for all the distractions and detours. This town always seems to be falling apart one house or another, and you'd think someone would help when they themselves offer that help." She gave Dewott a Look, and he too ran off to help Houndoom in shame.
"I'm sure that's why they keep you around," Scout said, concealing a laugh at Indeedee's fierceness. "You keep everyone going."
"You are overstating me," Indeedee replied. "But I suppose I am useful for some things. Luxio?" she called, raising her voice. Ara, who was peering into a tent of goodies, pulled her head out quickly and glanced around. "I have a team asking for you."
Rai brightened as Ara paid the merchant and trotted over, Scout and Mane were a little more neutral. But Ara HAD helped them out after everyone lost consciousness, even if it was just for Rai's sake the point was still fair.
"So, that's what the cat dragged in?" Ara said as she looked the three over.
"You mean you?" Rai giggled.
"Well, I AM of the feline tendencies, yes."
"Thank you for coming to help us," Scout said, he gave Mane a glance. "It was pretty rough by the end." Another look. "So… thanks."
"Even if was just for Shinx's sake," Mane grumbled, he had seen the looks. "But thanks, whatever."
"Easy boy," Ara said, tail flicking out, "someone might think you're actually being grateful."
Giving her a flat look, Mane blew some fur out of his face. "Take it or leave it."
She rolled her eyes right back. "Whatever," she drawled, in an exact duplication of Mane's uncaring tone.
"Play nice, please," Rai said, to Mane. "Luxio's just giving you a hard time for fun. You know all about that!"
"From my own partner, I am called out!" Mane gasped, falling onto his side dramatically.
"Get up," Scout said, grabbing his shoulders and tugging him back up. Mane definitely considered going all floppy just to piss him off but decided against it and remained standing.
"Alright, we've all here now. Shall we be off?"
"Before you go," Indeedee said, watching the back and forth quietly. "I insist you have something to eat. It's quite a travel before you."
"We do need to stock up on a few items," Scout agreed, patting the Treasure Bag. It was a little damaged from the battle against Pyroar, having been touched by scatterings of flames several times. But it still helps firm, if fraying in parts.
"Well, we have shopkeepers who would love your money." Indeedee winked and took Scout for a walk, the rest of them standing around in confusion for a moment before following.
"I confess I am curious about you in kind," Indeedee said as she brought Scout to the best of the best for only the highest quality of items. "I've told you a bit about myself, and you listened which is… depressingly uncommon. But how about yourself? I shouldn't dominate the conversation."
"Oh!" Scout's ears went up before folding back just slightly. "Uh, well… not really sure where to begin to be honest."
"How did you meet the others of Team Ion?" Indeedee asked, happy to lead him into some conversation.
"Well, I met Rrrra. Sorry. Shinx first and we made the team together. Litleo was actually one of our first missions in the Wigglytuff Guild."
"Needed rescuing did he?"
"…Sure, let's go with that."
Indeedee chuckled, it wasn't hard to imagine what the rather sharp-tongued litleo may have been doing.
"But he joined the team after we went to Amp Plains, he thought it was a trap… he was right, and he wasn't willing to let Shinx go and get hurt. Turns out, he does care."
"That's sweet," Indeedee said. "I promise not to tease him about it."
"You better not!" Mane yelled. They were close enough to overhear the conversation, but the three were choosing to let Scout talk to Indeedee alone. She seemed to like him, and Scout was smiling.
"Or I'll tell her about the 'sleep' seed story."
"Don't." Scout spun on them. "You. Dare."
"What is the sleep seed story?" Indeedee asked, serene and very amused.
"Well," Mane began, strolling up all fluffy and satisfied with himself. "One day, Scout decides to play a prank…"
Scout's good time was ruined forevermore when Rai and Mane decided to tell Indeedee a bunch of embarrassing stories about him.
From Rai's retelling of the naming debacle, also used to inform Indeedee that it was all just a misunderstanding, to Mane's story involving the three ducklett and a very upset Scout, they had a great time and so did Indeedee.
But to make up for it, they got discounts when a red-nosed Scout pointed out the stuff he wanted to buy, and Indeedee made sure of it.
She walked them to the edge of the town, the side they originally entered what felt like weeks ago now, smiling a little sadly.
"Well, it has been lovely meeting you four," she said, mostly looking to Scout. "Stay safe on your trip home, please do not get yourself into trouble like this again, and when you reach Treasure Town would you ask Chimecho just to inform me, so I know you made it back safely?"
"Of course." Scout nodded. "Thank you, Indeedee."
"Take care." She waved and received it in return.
Team Ion each took a breath, nodded to each other, and stepped out with light in their eyes. Ara followed along, slightly apart but closer to Rai as the three chatted about the future.
Pyroar was defeated, their graduation exam was finished. Scout supposed they'd be living in Sharpedo Bluff soon, a part of him was sad, a part of him was excited, and a part of him was scared.
He feared they'd have darkness to deal with soon enough. But for now, he smiled and spent time with Rai and Mane, walking comfortably to Treasure Town.
Team Sunrise arrived back in Treasure Town in a fit of panic.
Lapras, pushing himself harder than before, made it in almost one day, but night had well and truly fallen when they arrived, and he sagged on the beach as Saniya levitated and flew the other three ahead.
Guardian, calmer than the others, lifted the gate with some strain, and once they were all through, passed under and let it drop. He had tried to phase through it and bumped right into it, but no one else needed to know that. It was likely enchanted similar to the jail cells.
Saniya, actually bouncing off the walls, caused quite a ruckus by the time they had stormed into Wigglytuff's chambers and woke him up.
"Wuzzuh?" Wigglytuff groaned, eyes pulling open as he clutched a chatot-doll firmly to his chest. He didn't quite recognise them at first, or anything really, being woken up far too suddenly. He had no blanket, there was none in the room.
Saniya might have cooed at the doll if the sight of it also wouldn't have made everyone so very sad. Wigglytuff soon set it, gently, aside and got up. "What is it?" he asked, as Armaldo also stormed in.
Four threads of white string suddenly wrapping around the four of them and pulling them out very ungently, Armaldo roared. "WHAT ARE YOU FOUR DOING?"
The String Shot very tight, knocked the wind out of Sean and Striker's chests, but Saniya struggled, yelling. "We have bad news!"
There had been a little more shouting, and conflicting voices before Wigglytuff shut everyone down with a small shockwave.
"Okay," Wigglytuff sighed, sad he had to do that. To make up for it, he began to Sing his next words, putting some calming Power into them. "Tell us, tell us, tell us what you've found~?"
Eyes fell to Sean. Team Sunrise never had an official leader, but decisions were most often deferred to Sean. He knew it, his companions knew it, everyone knew it. So, it was him to explain.
"We visited Dialga," Sean said, voice soft and almost meek in the pressuring silence around them, "and we found out that when Shinx, Litleo, and I went to ask Dialga about reviving Scout, it wasn't Dialga we met that day."
"How have you learned this?" Wigglytuff asked, prompting Sean to elaborate.
"Dialga said they hadn't seen anyone since the others." He gestured around him to the others of Team Sunrise. "Left, besides Lapras. And… well, on the same night we stayed there we all, including Lapras, had a nightmare. Since the only one that could also see Scout was Darkrai and the false Dialga offered to take Shinx's memory of Scout."
"Which doesn't make sense," Saniya said, nodding. "But none of us really thought about that."
"Yeah," Sean agreed. "It must have been Darkrai there, trying to do something. And I mean… Darkrai 'wanted' Scout to be revived and he could probably have done it at any time. Why would he NOT have revived Scout then and there when we were asking for it? Why try and trick us into thinking Dialga wouldn't?"
"That is… confusing," Armaldo said, Wigglytuff was very silent. "You can't be certain that the Dialga you saw was Darkrai."
"Who else could it have been?" Saniya snapped, always ready to argue with Armaldo.
"I am not saying it can't have been Darkrai," Armaldo retorted, heat entering his voice. "I simply find it foolish to immediately determine one suspect and treat it as if that is the only answer. Darkrai are not known to be able to create illusions, they can manipulate dreams, but I do not know of any Darkrai that can cause a waking illusion. The zorua family is far more capable of that."
"Scout informed us that 'Dialga' could see him, however," Guardian pointed out. "Currently, only two pokémon have been able to do that. And considering that Dialga is now proven to not be the same, that leaves us with only one. I am a Ghost-type and Saniya is a time-based legend, and yet neither of us could see Scout."
"Right," Saniya added. "The most I had was just a little tickle on the back of my neck, I had no idea. And I'm literally the Time Travel Pokémon, Giratina told me."
"Which leads us back to Darkrai," Wigglytuff sighed, speaking up. "Considering that Scout's own statement on the matter. According to Darkrai himself, according to Scout, Darkrai could see him due to a combination of his earlier manipulation of time and Scout's current state as a 'living memory or dream' of sorts. Perhaps a dream-manipulating pokémon could also see him, but perhaps not if they didn't have some sort of control over time."
Armaldo crossed his arms. "I will accept that Darkrai is the most likely answer, but that doesn't explain how he could create an illusion like you are claiming. There are pieces missing here, and it's dangerous to work with incomplete information!"
"Then we will find what we need," Striker said, deep voice running through every crack and crevice in the room. "We don't know where to start, however…"
Armaldo opened his mouth, but Wigglytuff spoke first. "First things first, everyone… go to bed."
"What?" Was the unanimous response.
Wigglytuff looked tired. Lines were under his eyes, his shoulders were slumped. His fur was matted. His eyes were dull. "The four of you are still exhausted from your own harrowing trial in Blizzard Island, Armaldo is tired of dealing with the guild in my absence and I… I'm just tired. We aren't going to get anything done working off stress and panic, so we will all go to bed and reconvene tomorrow morning."
He held a firm look and waited until a few pokémon began to crack. "Also." Wigglytuff raised his voice. "That goes for the eavesdropping pokémon as well. You have work to do tomorrow, and you can't be tired either."
A shadow of a smile crossed Wigglytuff's face as the distant sounds of scuffling hit everyone's ears, and Armaldo positively snarled at the impudence. Before he could march off to shout at them, Wigglytuff said. "Not tonight."
Armaldo paused at the door, standing very still. He took a deep, shuddering, breath and let it go. "Very well. Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."
Armaldo glanced back to Team Sunrise, none of whom were moving. "The Guildmaster has ordered you to bed. Move it."
The sharpness of Armaldo's tone did get them to move, and Team Sunrise retired to bed, slumping into their room as one.
Despite various levels of exhaustion among the pokémon, few had a particularly good night of rest. Saniya's wings were still sore. Guardian could still feel the pokémon lost in Froslass's icy graveyard. Sean could think of nothing besides the meeting with 'Dialga' that hadn't been Dialga at all. And Striker simply didn't want to leave his companions unguarded with what was likely an enemy on the loose.
He also thought of Team Ion. They had no idea of what had transpired, and to make matters worse, they were likely exhausted as well.
There was a lot of conflicting emotion with Team Ion, but he didn't want them harmed.
Striker did slip into rest eventually, but the days at the guild always begun early and they had arrived back rather late. It felt like he had closed his eyes for a minute before they were opening again and Team Sunrise moved.
They were not the first ones up, but not the last either. The four rested close to each other during the morning announcement. Wigglytuff barely said anything, simply stood around as Armaldo discussed what needed to be discussed.
He didn't mention the eavesdroppers, as he didn't know who exactly it had been. Knowing the guild as he did, however, Armaldo assigned everyone besides Chimecho a lot more work than normal and glared holes through anyone who even looked like they were thinking of complaining.
Soon enough, with more than a few pokémon giving curious looks to Team Sunrise. No one knew exactly why the four were back so soon, especially when they had been given a break from work. It left the guild on edge.
Saniya was dozing on Guardian's shoulder, and Striker had an arm hooked around one of Guardian's hands, holding himself steady. Guardian and Sean were more alert, one being a ghost and the other built for this kind of activity.
Looking to the four, Armaldo nodded and slowly turned around to avoid knocking Wigglytuff over with his tail. He began to walk into Wigglytuff's room, and the four followed. Wigglytuff entered last, feet almost dragging.
As soon as Wigglytuff had the doors closed tightly, Armaldo activated a Mute Orb. The aura of quiet flowed out, folding along the hard surfaces of the room until no sound would easily leak out.
"Are we all ready to discuss this reasonably, levelly, and respectfully?" Armaldo asked, gesturing for Wigglytuff to sit in his big chair. Wigglytuff trudged to it and sat.
"I'll be nice," Saniya said. "I can be serious, you know?"
"Miracles have happened before."
"You don't make it any easier," Sean said, raising an eye at Armaldo. "You egg her on as well."
Armaldo eyed him but said nothing.
"Who would like to begin?" Wigglytuff said. "Say your thoughts on the matter at hand."
"I'll start," Sean said, the youngest of the six in the room. "We were treating the whole Darkrai stuff as 'he's probably evil, but we're not sure' well… shouldn't we change that? It's not really a matter of 'probably' anymore. Directly trying to manipulate us, especially Shinx, into forgetting Scout… into giving UP on him, when he could have helped at any time. What could it be besides him being evil?"
"A fair point," Wigglytuff said. "Who next?"
"At least one of you go again," Armaldo said. "You know I'll be playing Yveltal's Advocate in this discussion, so start mounting your reasonings now."
"I don't see what else needs to be added," Saniya said, going next. "He could have revived Scout whenever and he didn't. He's got to be a dick as well. Attacking the guys when they travelled back in time too, as if he's had a change of heart. He's just trying to trick Scout."
"Not the hardest thing to do, that," Striker said, sighing. "We do have a problem with it all."
"Ah?" Armaldo said. "You've noticed something wrong?"
"It's hardly difficult to notice," Striker replied, very tiredly. "We know that Darkrai revived Scout, but we don't know why. We now know that he posed as Dialga in an effort to do… something, perhaps memory erasure wasn't even the goal? But he posed as Dialga for some reason, to speak to Scout perhaps? But we don't know why."
"The issue that I see with everything," Guardian said. "Is that Darkrai wants Scout alive. I have him to thank for that. But at the same time… he could have simply offered that revival in the Hidden Land. Clearly, he has no fear of reprisal from Dialga or Palkia or else he would not have revived Scout in the first place. But the issue is still there. Why later? Why not use the guise of Dialga to revive him without needing to give himself up as the benefactor here?"
"Well, I am impressed," Armaldo admitted. "Some logic. I'm glad you four haven't lost it completely yet. We have no motive for Darkrai's actions. It seems random, confusing, even contradictory. We have no definite confirmation that it was Darkrai who met with you besides the fact that you had a nightmare the same night."
"We all had a nightmare," Sean pointed out.
"Which may be a correlation, rather than something caused by another."
"What else could disguise as Dialga and still be able to see Scout?" Sean pressed. "If the dialga still couldn't have seen Scout, this would make more sense. But Scout told us he did!"
There was silence.
"And Scout is known to lie," Armaldo pointed out. He knew it would not go down well, but he had to make the point.
As expected, Sean, Saniya, and Guardian all reacted rather negatively. Striker was notably absent from their cries of anger.
"We agreed to be calm," Wigglytuff said, raising his voice in that way that left the feeling of physical pressure on the necks of everyone who heard him.
"I know it is not exactly something that is wanted to be discussed, but it DOES have to be pointed out," Armaldo said. "For the matter of what he had told us about why he lied and why he knows and what he knows… I do believe him."
More than a few pokémon blinked in surprise at him. Armaldo continued. "Knowing where Scizor was where even Lucario failed heavily weighs in his favour, and he gets nothing out of admitting it besides relief of admitting the truth and anger at his behaviour. I acknowledge that. But YOU have to acknowledge that everything we are working on is his word."
Quietly, behind the others, Striker nodded in agreement.
"You are… right." And to everyone's surprise, so did Guardian. "I don't believe that he is lying about anything," Guardian said, sternly. "But… yes. We are working on Scout's word and only that. And with Darkrai being able to damage time, revive Scout, and likely more… it is definitely not out of the question that Scout may have been tampered with in some way."
"So. You believe it possible too?" Armaldo asked.
"I… fear it," Guardian answered, admitting it in a different way. "And, unfortunately… with the elusive nature of Darkrai, it throws anything Scout has to say under at least some level of scrutiny. If Darkrai is an enemy and he revived a being that KNEW he was an enemy… the question is simply… why?"
"Well… what if Darkrai isn't bad?" Saniya asked. "Maybe he really did change?"
"A possibility that hasn't been ruled out," Armaldo said. "But it grows less likely each time something comes up. On top of every possible manipulation, if Darkrai is a Shadow Pokémon than there is no doubt in his malevolence."
"What about the pokémon who killed Darkrai?" Sean asked, Wigglytuff cringed. "Soothe, I think?"
Saniya also cringed.
"She should be erased from time, now," Guardian said since no one else was talking. "And yet… I recall an order to keep an eye out for her."
"Wigglytuff," Saniya said, sharply. "How much of her do you still remember? Of Soothe?"
Wigglytuff blinked, not prepared to be addressed by this point. He hesitated for a moment, but there was only one answer to give. "Everything. Well, I mean… not literally everything, but I can't think of anything I knew before that I don't still know. Although would I know anything I don't remember? Would I even know that I knew, notice that I knew? Hmm."
"I still remember her too," Saniya said, voice heavy. "And… Guardian, who were your servants after you joined Dialga?"
Guardian stared at her, puzzled for a moment. He blinked. "Uh… S… B…" He flexed his fingers, looking at a hand and trying hard to remember. "I… can't really remember. I remember remembering, but there is just a hole… maybe I could remember if I really dug deep."
"No," Saniya said, shaking her head. "That's not my point. My point is… besides core memories that just won't go away, even we can't remember much of the Dark Future. Maybe I could get away with it, since I'm Celebi and everything, but even some stuff has slipped from my head. But I still remember Soothe, and so does Wigglytuff."
The point hung in the air before digging deep.
"You really think she's still?" Wigglytuff gasped, nearly rocketing out of his chair. The matter had been raised before, of course. But besides a general warning to the guild, it hadn't been addressed further. And yet, the memories of her still did not fade.
"I don't know how that could be," Saniya admitted. "I've even talked to Scout about it. He doesn't know anything about Soothe. Nothing at all. And, well… if Soothe is the reason why Darkrai turned evil then… well, I sent Soothe into the past even though Giratina yelled at me for it later. It's kinda my fault."
"What?" Guardian nearly thundered. "Saniya! Do not DARE think that way. The Dark Future was not your fault! Soothe's actions were her own."
"And," Sean added, "time travel's really weird and funky. Self-fulfilling prophecies and all that. Even if it wasn't Soothe, since the Dark Future happened, it had to happen in some way, right?"
"We stopped it though," Saniya argued. "You can't self-fulfil that way, because we DID stop it happening. Don't try and teach me anything about time travel, Sean! I barely can wrap my own head around it, but I know more than anyone else here."
"That doesn't change the fact that Soothe did it," Striker said, coming up to her. "Not you. As Sean said, the Dark Future existed in some way or another. You can't make a time loop, you've said that before. It wasn't your fault it happened."
She smiled slightly at him. "Well… enough of my pity party. I have no idea how Soothe could possibly still be alive. Sean was even hit by the paradox, there's no way it would have missed her too."
"But if Scout was revived," Armaldo said. "Perhaps she was as well?"
"She's connected to Darkrai in some way," Striker agreed, "and he revived Scout."
"Are you two saying what I think you're saying?" Saniya asked.
"Perhaps." Armaldo nodded. "I think one thing cannot be disputed here. We don't have all the answers. We don't even have some of the answers. There are too many holes, and we can't get it out without someone to ask. Dialga clearly can't help, and I doubt Darkrai will be accommodating even if we were to track him down."
"You want to find…?" Wigglytuff asked, painfully softly.
"You've left a Shadow Pokémon to run amok for years upon years," Armaldo answered, causing Wigglytuff to recoil. "Whether or not she can give us information, she needs to be found regardless."
"We don't know for sure that Soothe is still around," Wigglytuff attempted, but he did a poor job of trying to sound convincing. It was in his eyes, Armaldo could see. Shame, regret, and worst of all. Hope.
"She needs to be found because she is dangerous, Wigglytuff," Armaldo stated, and Wigglytuff's expression flickered for a moment. Eventually, he slowly nodded.
"I think Team Ion needs to be recalled as well," Armaldo added. "I know they deserve a break, but this is important."
Again, Wigglytuff reluctantly agreed.
Chimecho, who was waiting outside the door and definitely not eavesdropping, took this as permission to enter.
"Good morning, Guildmaster, Armaldo, and Team Sunrise!" she said warmly. The power of the nurse meant she could hide any and all signs of exhaustion unless she was literally beginning to keel over. "I hope I am not interrupting anything."
Armaldo snorted.
"We are just wrapping up now," Wigglytuff said, noting that the Mute Orb must have deactivated earlier than normal. "Team Sunrise, you look like you need to properly rest. Take the day off, you still have your offer to take some time off. If something comes up, you will be alerted. Now please, rest."
Guardian carried them all back to bed.
As Team Sunrise was departing, the two leaders of the guild nodded to Chimecho to speak her part. "I have two things to report. Scizor has regained consciousness and is markedly less confused than he was the last time. I think it may be prudent for someone to speak to him, answer some questions, and just begin bringing up to speed with how much time has passed."
"And you are not doing this because…?" Armaldo asked.
"Because I believe I'll need to be contacting someone through the Psychic Network urgently and that will likely take some time, effort, and focus. Scizor is awake and confused now."
Armaldo snorted at that. Chimecho certainly had a way with words.
"And the other thing?" Wigglytuff asked.
"Staraptor from the Pokémon Exploration Team Federation is here to squawk at someone about Scizor, he's currently being met with Sunflora to try and calm him down. He seems most, what is the word…? Ah yes. Up his own ass."
"I'll handle that," Armaldo said, rolling his eyes, and stepping forth. "Wigglytuff can go to Scizor. Sounds good?"
"Yes," Wigglytuff breathed, relieved in several different ways. "Thank you, Armaldo."
"It's hardly trouble. I'll deal with the lackey from HAPPI."
"Pokémon Exploration Team Federation," Chimecho corrected.
"The federation is a subsection of HAPPI, Chimecho," Armaldo corrected her right back, causing her to blink. "The local branch dealing with the Grass Continent. HAPPI exceeds the boundaries of the continents."
"Of course…" Chimecho said, looking a little upset that she had been corrected.
The three pokémon each stepped, or floated, out and then went separate ways. Armaldo upstairs. Chimecho to the rooms as it'd be quietest over there for her concentration. And Wigglytuff went towards the medical wing, wishing he felt excited about speaking to Scizor, Lucario's student, and who was a legendary explorer in his own right.
But all he felt was tired.
It had taken Wigglytuff more than a few moments to take the last few steps and enter the medical wing, but he did so, and the sole occupant looked up as he entered.
Chansey had retired to sleep for several days, leaving Chimecho to work on the smaller things for Scizor.
The old pokémon wasn't covered in bandages that spoke of horrific injury, bandaging carapace wasn't usually the first choice regardless.
He did have a great deal of woven blankets on him. Retrieved not only from the designated stores in the medical wing but from everywhere else they could. Wigglytuff had given up his own blanket for Scizor's sake and could spy it somewhere within the pile.
Scizor didn't look well, but he was alive. His eyes were squinted, his breaths were a little laboured, and he didn't move much. Glancing to his guest and trying to sit up politely had winded him but Wigglytuff didn't tell him to take it easy.
He could tell that wasn't what Scizor wanted. Strong pokémon often had to suffer a lot of pain and stay in these kinds of care to get where they were, but it could be difficult to accept you were helpless, and so Wigglytuff let him slowly clamber his way up until Scizor's back was touching the wall.
"Good morning, Scizor," Wigglytuff said, stepping to a seat to collapse into. "I am Wigglytuff of the Wigglytuff Guild. Some of our, uh… I suppose apprentices is the most accurate word, managed to find you and rescue you."
Scizor took a moment, still catching his breath. "Th-thank you," he gasped, he shivered slightly, the blankets having slipped down slightly in his efforts to get up.
"If you don't mind me," Wigglytuff said, getting up to pull the blankets up. "Chimecho would deafen me if she knew I let you be cold."
"I can," Scizor began but stopped. "Thank you."
"It's no problem," Wigglytuff said, sitting back down. "Now that you're awake, we thought it might be helpful for me to talk to you. Catch you up on what's happening exactly and answer any questions you might have."
"You… you said this was the Wigglytuff Guild?" Scizor asked.
"Yes."
"Are you the Guildmaster or…?"
"I am." Wigglytuff nodded. "Guildmaster Wigglytuff, but I much prefer Wigglytuff friendly friend!"
Scizor hesitated, a balance of respect for Wigglytuff's position and his request battling in his head. The whole matter was already giving him a headache, and Scizor groaned. "Sorry," he grumbled, almost pulling an arm out to rub against his head, but his arms were too heavy.
"There is no need to apologise for anything," Wigglytuff said. "You've been through quite an ordeal. There were fears… that you would not survive."
"What happened, exactly?" Scizor asked. "I remember… Froslass she uh… uh, well. She did something, I didn't want to refuse her… dammit."
Wigglytuff nodded, he had a mind to ask Team Sunrise about the exact matters later, but he knew enough to answer. "You were frozen in a dungeon known as Crevice Cave, on Blizzard Island, by a very wicked Froslass. One of our best, Team Sunrise, was able to find you were all others had…" he hesitated.
Saniya had told Chimecho about what they had found in Froslass' domain, all the frozen pokémon and only one alive. He felt it was best not to mention everyone who had been lost trying to save Scizor, that information could be given later if it ever needed to be told.
"No one had managed to rescue you," Wigglytuff said, he hadn't paused for long. "But Team Sunrise succeeded, destroyed Froslass, and we were prepared for your arrival, so Alakazam was able to teleport you back here where our nurse Chimecho and the town healer Chansey were able to save your life."
Scizor shivered. He was cold, sure, but he could also imagine what Froslass had been doing to him. He was a little surprised he was still alive at all. "How long?" he asked. "How long was I a captive of Froslass?"
Wigglytuff's expression was filled with sympathy. "Forty-three years," he said, and everything in Scizor's mind went blank.
Wigglytuff's mouth was moving, the sound was sure coming out, but to Scizor it was all garbled sounds as if he was meters upon meters underwater. Or, perhaps, under ice.
The Guildmaster soon noticed the dazed look in Scizor's eyes and stopped speaking useless words and sat in silence, giving him time to try and adjust.
Scizor wasn't thinking of his shock or how he could possibly be alive. He wasn't thinking anything, it was just blank.
"H-how?" he coughed out, he was so damn cold. Noticing his violent shivers, Wigglytuff stood up and came right to his side. He rested a paw underneath the blankets, somewhere on Scizor. The Bug-type was quite cold.
"We don't know," Wigglytuff answered. "Only it seems that Froslass wanted you preserved."
"I was a trophy," Scizor hiccupped, he wasn't crying. He wasn't. Okay, he was a little.
Wigglytuff continued to rest a paw on one of his arms as Scizor coughed out a few sobs. Forty-three years.
"Everyone I knew must be…" Scizor began. If not dead, then at least much, much, older and vastly changed. "How has the world…?"
Wigglytuff sat with him. Scizor had been lost for most of Master Armaldo's life, Wigglytuff could barely imagine what it must be like for him now.
"What about Lucario?" Scizor asked, calming down slightly.
"She looked," Wigglytuff replied. "Reportedly for years."
"And she gave up?"
Wigglytuff nodded sadly. "One can only look for so long before believing that it can't be done."
"But YOU found me!" Scizor persisted. "Or, a team of yours did. No offence, but Lucario is… how could she NOT have found me?"
"We had… help in a sense," Wigglytuff said. "Information that Lucario doesn't."
"That STILL!" Scizor raised his voice too far and broke into hacking coughs that shook the whole bed.
Wigglytuff began to hum something soft and soothing. ""Nighty-nighty sleepy-head. It's time to go down to your bed. There are dreams and rest to have tonight. The day tomorrow, it will be bright."
"Ha… that's… a nice song," Scizor murmured, eyes closing and head lolling as he drifted into sleep. Wigglytuff continued singing it softly before trailing off and smiling sadly.
"Yes," he said, to no one. "It is."
Wigglytuff continued to sit with Scizor. He could hear it, even from here, the raising of voices. Armaldo was good at many things, but he was never able to stand pokémon who behaved like they were better than others.
Chimecho eventually poked her head into the room. "Guildmaster?" she asked, concerned as she looked at the two.
"I've broken the news to Scizor," Wigglytuff said. "And I Sang him to sleep when he began to get too distressed."
"Thank you for that," Chimecho said, "but that's… not quite why I'm here. I've spoken to Abra, but Team Ion has already left. And, uh…"
A very loud crash rang from somewhere above. "Armaldo and the representative are being separated. Would you…?"
Wigglytuff groaned, but he nodded regardless. Even so, it took him a long moment to gather the willpower to go and play nice with the dignitary. But he was hastened by the distant threats of snapping someone's wiry neck.
Chimecho watched him go, a frown on her face as Wigglytuff ran but with no energy. She couldn't do anything for the matters up above, however, so she turned to Scizor and closed the door gently.
"Statement: That was adequately enjoyable."
"Yeah yeah! Beating that ninetales and zapping everything and zooming along when you smacked into him and Thoughtlight doing that thing he does to make us all fast! Well, more like you two. I'm fast enough!"
"Trick Room, Volt. I say the name every time."
Team Gazer was flush with victory, as they usually were. Beheeyem wondered if winning would ever grow old, but he doubted it.
After rescuing Sliggoo and returning her to her mother, they were back on the road. A group consensus to travel towards Blackstone Village to sniff around for Team Ion or any outlaws they could apprehend was reached, and the three made haste.
As fast as they could go, at least. Which wasn't actually very fast.
If Electrike's complaining was indicative of.
The easy-going chatter that filled their days was shattered, however, when an explosion up before them caused them all to jump in alarm and go on the defensive.
The explosion which, judging by the smoke, was caused by a powerful Fire-type attack caused Volt and Thoughtlight to edge closer to Cobalt, aiming to protect the beldum if it was needed.
However, then the talking began.
"Prepare for trouble!" a voice that could only be described as amused called out, from the smoke emerged a four-legged pokémon with a shock of hair a lot like a flame on his head.
"And make it double," a second voice, almost as amused, just a tinge of excitement, added to the presentation. Both pokémon were… singing.
"To protect the world from devastation!" the litleo emerged, doing a jump and kicking out with his forepaws.
"To unite all pokémon within every nation," the shinx emerged, doing a barrel roll and jumping up sparking with electricity. Team Gazer stared in mutual stunned silence.
"To denounce the evils of truth and luuv," the litleo purred, giving a wink.
"To extend our reach to the skies above!" the shinx called, shooting a bolt into the blue sky.
"Litleo!" Mane smirked devilishly.
"Shinx!" Rai smirked, falling into a prowling stance.
"Team Ion blast off at the speed of light!" Mane stood on his hind legs for a moment and might have committed a cardinal sin.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!" Rai joined him.
"MEEEOWTH! That's right!" Scout did a jumping flip from somewhere and landed on his back legs, praising the very sun. Then he collapsed into laughter. Rai and Mane quickly joined him, and the three felines fell into a fluffy pile.
"I have now won at life," Scout giggled, wiping his face as a luxio also walked onto the road, an expression of absolute nothingness on her face. "I succeed. I win. Nothing can stop me now."
"I still don't know why you wanted to do that so badly," Mane said, trying to regain SOME street cred. "But I will admit that was kinda fun."
"Can we do it again?" Rai asked. "Maybe when we arrest someone?"
"Probably have to change it though!" Scout laughed. "It IS stolen after all."
"From US!" Beheeyem yelled, fuming as Beldum and Electrike struggled to hold him back from grabbing Team Ion and throttling them. "The idea of a motto is OURS!"
"Team Rocket did it first," Scout called, detangling himself.
"I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS BUT THEY SOUND STUPID!"
"Do NOT belittle the TRio in my house here, good sir!"
Beheeyem, who had calmed down enough to be released, rubbed his shoulders as Beldum floated up. "…Digression: Team Ion, are you… well?"
"That was pretty cool," Electrike added, Beheeyem nearly had a stroke at the word of approval. "But ours is better!" That downgraded him from a stroke to an aneurism.
"Funny as that… was," Ara said, frowning when Team Gazer glanced at her in perfect unison. "Creepy. Anyway, fun as this is… are we going to stand around talking or can we walk and talk?"
"Walk?" Beheeyem said, defaulting to repeating words until his brain rewired.
"Wellll, hello there," Electrike said, grinning as he began to approach Ara. He was knocked back with a bolt of electricity.
"Luxio!" Rai called. "You could have at least given a warning shot first."
"That WAS the warning," Ara said, as Electrike pulled himself back up.
"I like a girl who can play rough."
"My family was murdered by your kind," Ara snapped, and he closed his mouth.
A moment of awkward silence fell over the collective teams until Mane leaned to Scout and whisper-shouted. "She has NO chill at all, does she?"
That broke some of the tension, and Beheeyem cleared his throat. "Ahem. Understanding that you have had bad experiences with electrike's. Still." His eyes flashed, and he suddenly snatched Ara up from a distance, holding her in a powerful Psychic. "Do not attack unprovoked again."
Ara spluttered for a moment, psychic holds pressed down on everything. Including the throat.
Before Rai could do something rash and unthought, Beheeyem released Ara. Not exactly gently, but at least onto the ground.
She rubbed her neck but nodded. "That's fair enough."
"Wait?" Mane asked, blinking. "You're just letting that go?"
"I 'warned' his friend, he 'warned' me. It's fair play."
Mane nodded, a small measure of respect in his eyes. He never quite agreed with having to talk everything through and play nice and roll over for anyone who was upset or offended.
Scout was entirely lost to the silent machinations of pokémon and simply wanted to do damage control. "Uh, now that that is all… moved aside, hello!"
Beheeyem blinked but raised a hand in greeting.
"Hi-hi!" Electrike chirped, although he did refrain of running circles around them.
"Declarative Observations: Team Ion are alive, signs of previous injury, high spirits that don't appear to be deceitfully affixed to present a 'strong front'. Deduction: You arrested Pyroar?"
"That we did!" Rai said happily, after sharing a look with Ara to make sure things really were okay. He did admit it was fair, but he still would have protected Ara had things gone further. "He was nasty and tough and had help, but we still won!"
"As expected from the saviours of time," Beheeyem replied, smoothly. "Nevertheless, it is good to see you again. From your little… plagiarism from earlier, I suspect you are here for that promised bout we each agreed to?"
"Not just yet," Ara said, speaking over Mane who had gone to answer. "These three get into more trouble than they're worth and still have got SOME injuries, you're not doing any fighting until it's fair. Understand?"
"Then, why are you here?" Beheeyem asked.
"We've been given a little bit of a break after catching Pyroar," Rai answered, Scout, didn't look as happy as he and Mane did. "So, we decided to walk back to Treasure Town and do and see some stuff we didn't really get to see or do before."
"Is that so…?"
"Want to come with?" Scout asked. He received a few curious looks for the suggestion. "Well, I mean. We do have the standing offer of a match between us. And there's probably stuff on the way and in Treasure Town that might be coming up. Do you three have other plans?"
Beheeyem raised a hand. "One moment." Before he pulled Beldum and Electrike into the bushes.
"What do you think?" Beheeyem whispered.
"I think it could be fun!" Electrike replied, speaking quietly for once.
"Inquisitive: Do we have other plans?"
"No…"
"Inquisitive: What of this 'other stuff' Meowth mentioned?"
"I'll ask."
Scout was beginning to count his claws when Beheeyem emerged again, a few leaves falling off his head. "May I ask about 'other stuff' that is coming up?" he called.
"Team Charm might be stopping around Treasure Town sometime soon. I can't say for sure, however."
Beheeyem needed a moment. "O-oh. I will. Uh."
Electrike burst out, Beldum wasn't far behind. "WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?" Electrike did zoomies around everyone, besides Ara. "Let's GO!"
Far away, Team Thunder Crash sneezed. "Someone talking about us?" Eevee asked.
"Probably," Pikachu replied.
Back with the two teams, Beheeyem was trying to regain order. "He said he can't be sure!" he yelled, stalling the beatboxing Beldum was belting out.
"Declaration: Any chance of meeting Team Charm in person is a chance worth taking."
"You're not wrong, but."
"Interjection: There is no but."
"Yes, however."
"Interjection: There is no, however."
"Beldum…"
"Declaration: Yes. You are Beheeyem, I am Beldum."
Beheeyem felt that oh-so-familiar headache come about. "Beldum, by the legends I will SLAP you."
"Defiant Statement: There is nothing you can do to me! Do. Your. Worst."
Beheeyem slapped the shit out of Beldum with his mind before turning to Team Ion. "Yes, very well, we shall accompany you at least some of the way until we can have our battle."
"And flirt with Team Charm!"
"And flirt-" Beheeyem snapped silently. He turned to Electrike who grinned. He then slapped the shit out of Electrike with his mind. "And MEET Team Charm if the situation presents itself."
"Alright!" Electrike whooped, recovering well from the beatdown. "We're back off to Treasure Town! I can't wait to see Marill again."
"Declaration: Team Ion." Beldum turned to the group of kitties. "For the time being you, three are recovering from what likely left you needing urgent medical attention. We of Team Gazer aspire to help you regain complete and total physical wellness."
"Aww," Rai said, smiling. "Thanks, Bel-"
"Interjection: And then we will beat you back into needing urgent medical attention."
With that, they swivelled around and floated off out front, Electrike already running ahead to get a move on getting a move on Team Charm.
Beheeyem, who was floating back, sighed tiredly as Team Ion, plus Ara, reached him and gestured. "Well… let's go."
Far away, Team Thunder Crash sneezed again.
"Loudred and Sunflora managed to complete a bounty hunt today. We're all surprised they didn't sabotage each other again."
Wigglytuff sat on his throne.
"Chimecho reports Scizor is much calmer, he still is having emotional difficulty with how much time he was frozen with, but it's only the same day he learned of it."
It was a throne. He knew it. Armaldo knew it. Everyone knew Wigglytuff rested on a throne. Only Wigglytuff knew that he hated the throne.
"Team Sunrise slept throughout the whole day, as you told them too. We only saw Dusknoir at dinner, and only for the time needed for him to take food back to the room. The apprentices asked where you were, however."
It was comfortable, sure, but it raised him at such a height. Anyone who came to see him had to look up. It was intimidating, grandiose, and just in poor taste.
"Staraptor was happy with whatever you did to appease him and his overblown organisation, I definitely owe you some thanks for dealing with that."
But he couldn't remember whose idea it was to install it.
"Bidoof's little group are coming along well. Flaaffy chipped a hoof and only cried for a minute and complained for two hours, apparently. I'm not sure if I believe that, Bidoof tends to under exaggerate."
It didn't seem like something he would have suggested, but Chatot knew him too well to imagine suggesting it either.
"I would continue, but you are clearly not listening to me."
Or maybe it just turned up, and it was comfortable, so he sat in it and never questioned it like he never questioned anything anymo-
"Rhythm!" Armaldo smacked him on the head with some paper, snapping Wigglytuff out of his thoughts. "If you are so bored of my presence, you could at least end this useless recap without just letting me prattle on."
Wigglytuff slowly blinked. "Sorry," he said, quietly and vapidly. Armaldo glared at the tone. "What was that?"
"Listen to me when I'm talking!" Armaldo said, bordering close to the pure offence at this. He smacked Wigglytuff again. "And if you start to sleep with your eyes open I'm going to toss you off that chair and into the sea."
"Do you want the chair, then?" Wigglytuff replied, much quicker than his vapidness from before. "I just want to go to bed."
Armaldo opened his mouth to snap something sharp and cutting but paused. He looked at Wigglytuff for a long moment, really looked at him, and ultimately swallowed the words.
"Go to bed, Rhythm," he said, instead.
Without hesitation, Wigglytuff slid off and began to walk to his room. "Goodnight, Master Armaldo," Rhythm said, quietly. But his voice carried, it always had.
Armaldo snorted at that. The little brat never called him master anymore. They hardly were an explorer and his student anymore.
But still. "Goodnight, Junior."
The door closed and Armaldo loitered for a moment. He took a few steps forward, considering going to Rhythm's room to talk. He paused at the chair and glanced behind him, to the window that was still broken to the right of the chair.
Right from the position Rhythm would sit, one could make out just a tiny lip of rock. And on that rock, a marker.
A grave.
Armaldo looked back to the chair, heaviness clouding his thoughts for a moment. It was too late to do anything now, but he definitely had to visit Azumarill the next morning.
Junior, his student, Guildmaster Wigglytuff, or just Rhythm. Whatever you wanted to call him, he was not okay.
Armaldo sighed and closed the door behind him, quietly letting it click shut and letting Rhythm sleep.
A softer chapter… yeah. Sad is soft, right?
Wigglytuff is not good at dealing with grief.
But, uh… Team Ion finally did the Team Rocket Motto I've had planned for them for months and months! That was fun! And Team Gazer is on their way back with them too, along with Ara! I'm not, like… shoring up defences or anything ;P
But yes. So, the results of the previous poll are thus: The Dark Future and Scout's Escape both won (and Brine Cave was second you madmen!)
Also, as per a much smarter suggestion by someone on A03, I'll be running the next poll in TWO places. Fanfiction and a strawpoll for those who want to vote but can't. The link can be found in the authors note of the A03 version!
This gentler pace will continue for a bit.