Well, that previous chapter was something.
Let's go to Fissure!
It was said that every road on the Grass Continent led to Fissure.
Walk far enough without a break, experience enough without any rest, see enough without a reprieve, you would wind up in Fissure.
Really, Blossom wasn't so sure about that. If every road led to the continental pit, then the maps were a bit askew.
And no one said anything about the roughness of the road itself.
"Again?" Jet hissed as the sharp sound of wind breaking struck their ears before an attack did. They were well-honed now, dodging back and grouping up in a castle.
Getting split up is what the bandits wanted, and this was no rookie beginner team.
Blossom gave them a patch of Grassy Terrain to heal from while Boom disorientated the attackers with a hyper, loud cry with Jet spitting a sharp barb of water against the more obvious targets.
It took a few minutes of shouting and enforcing their strength, but the bandits were driven off, and Team Voyage was free to continue. Until the next attack.
Every road led to hell, and every path led to Fissure.
The town, if such a name could be given, was an aptly named one. Fissure existed underground, within a massive crevice, a literal fissure at the base of an unnamed mountain range. Something had split the ground once, be it an earthquake of the power of some mighty pokémon.
Within the once gem-encrusted and rich vein of minerals lay a community of low lives and thieves, murderers and blackmailers. It was a lawless town, where someone ran to if there was no other place to go.
There was judgement in Fissure, of course, but there lacked the care to enact upon it. Unless you angered someone.
It was not an easy place to get into. Ignoring the bandits to wade through to get there, entering the place itself was down a few sheer cliffs.
Not an easy place to leave either.
Unless you knew someone.
Scratched into the stones partway down the cliff was a set of rough words.
You have to lose something to come here.
And as they went further, hundreds upon hundreds of words scratched into the stones told a tale of what was lost.
Innocence.
My partner.
My money.
My friend took her.
I lost him.
I took his life and lost my own.
There is nowhere else for me.
My friends.
Reed.
Take my damn bag.
My life.
Towny Town was a shanty town, yet still relatively sensible as far as dangerous towns went.
Fissure….
"Do they have anything down here, hey?" Jet asked, looking around as they finally reached something resembling a bottom.
The cave mouth before them yawned into darkness, with pinpricks of light to lead their path. It was very dark. The cave's jagged stalactites appeared not unlike teeth. A mouth that could bite down at any time.
Boom didn't speak. He feared his voice would echo so far they'd have a lot of angry pokémon in their faces quickly.
"Let's just be quick about this," Blossom said. "Find Delphox, get her word, get out."
"You don't think she's the killer?"
"We're probably not doing any arrests today unless she outright admits it." Which Blossom doubted would be the case.
"So…do we ask?" Jet asked as they walked the cave, hitting sharp poky stones everywhere they stepped. "Ow, hey, ouch. Oof. Dammit!"
"Stop complaining," Boom rumbled, voice echoing as he feared, but he managed to keep it only at a raised volume. "Your legs have the tiny point; it's my feet that are suffering."
"Just because yours is worse doesn't mean mine isn't bad and worth complaining about!"
"Boys," Blossom said sternly. "Not here."
It was so dark that Blossom pulled a little at herself to glow.
Boom stared in the darkness. "Sunflora, your stone," he said, concerned.
"My Sun Stone can handle a little glowing," she said, her head glowing brightly as she pulled on the power of the stone within her head.
"But if you drain it…?"
"I won't," she said. "And I can get a new one if I devolve anyway. Don't worry, we gotta see where we're going."
Fissure was quiet.
Which was the first sign that something was off. Besides the whole place being located IN a crevice and the sign telling them to abandon all hope, ye who enters here.
It was a mystery that no one had a sense of humour enough to actually write something like that on the plain of messages. Maybe humour was something they all were missing here?
Not that they knew it, but eyes were upon them the moment they reached the cliff. And eyes remained on them as they ventured forth. Fissure was dark but not pitch, and Blossom was able to dull down her glowing after a while.
The place was quiet. There was no wind to blow down here, nor were pokémon congregating in public places. It was just quiet.
A little unnerving quiet combined with the darkness.
"Who sets up shop here?" Jet asked.
"It must be a roaring business," Boom agreed.
"I'd like to ask someone for directions," Blossom said, looking around and beaming light into crevices that hadn't felt light in decades. "But…there doesn't seem to be anyone around."
They weren't fools. They knew that wasn't the case. They remained very close, eyes in every direction.
"You know, I'm okay with not meeting anyone here," Jet said softly. "Let's just find the Mystique and get out of here."
Delphox's shop, the Mystique, was an unfortunate-looking place.
It was covered in talismans and bones, just to start with.
And that was the end of it. No one in Team Voyage wanted to look too closely at this place. They took a moment to ensure they had each other's backs and then headed in.
The door jingled happily as they entered into a cramped, incense-heavy, dark building. Breathing too deeply made Boom a little dizzy, and Blossom began to use a light Safeguard to ward off the effects of all the smoke.
"Welcome, dearies," a soft, aged voice greeted them from the darkness. From the dim light emerged the witch's cloak, also her fur. Faded in colour, patchy in places.
Delphox's wand was lit, a fire burning like a candle at the end as she peered at them with sharp, blue eyes. "And what brings three outsiders to my humble residence?"
"You live here?" Jet coughed, the smell of smoke was still everywhere.
"Why, of course." Her head brushed something hanging from the roof. It might have been herbs. It might have been something else. They didn't want to know. "I live in my place of work. As did you, Team Voyage. Even if your work technically took you elsewhere from the guild."
"You know of us?" Blossom asked.
"Everyone does," Delphox replied easily. "Word spreads very quickly. Which you, of all pokémon, should understand." She eyed Blossom notably.
"Why me of all pokémon?"
"Do you want me to list it out?"
"If you know who we are, then you know why we're here, and so you didn't even need to ask why we were here."
Delphox smiled and gave a harsh, vulpine bark of a laugh. "There is something that is to be desired here that you are lacking," she said. "You barge your way in, demanding this and that. Why should anyone tell you anything? Learn some manners, youngling, and you may learn more than you ask. You were friends with the residents of Treasure Town, after all. Why not make friends here?"
"We'd rather not make friends with killers," Boom muttered, which was basically shouting it.
Delphox raised an eyebrow at him. "Already with the accusations, I see. Well. Very well then. I didn't kill Pyroar. Now, are you going to believe me like you believed Indeedee and Liepard?"
"Are you saying they did it?"
"I'm saying many things," Delphox countered. "One of which is that I do not like your attitude. I thought to invite you to tea to discuss politely what you've missed, but I suppose subtlety is a thing of the past. Pokémon these days, you desire answers now, and you desire them without effort. Tell me, Team Voyage, have you so much as ventured to the site of Pyroar's murder?"
They shared a look.
"I thought not. What about Clefable? Have you asked her why she has hidden information from you?"
"You're saying Clefable is hiding things?" Blossom asked.
"Yes. And I'm saying them to you rather than conversing with you since you seem so stalwart in simply hearing the surface details. There is something going wrong with the Clefable Guild. After you crawl back to Blackstone Village, maybe talk to Torterra? She may have something interesting for you to explore."
"Are you just going to throw accusations around?" Jet demanded. "That's three pokémon you've accused without us even having spoken to you yet."
"I will treat you as you would treat me," Delphox growled. "But…perhaps we are all being too hasty. Would you join me for a cup of tea, and we can discuss this like civilised pokémon?"
They shared another look, which Blossom nodded to. "Fissure's put us on edge," she admitted. "I apologise on behalf of Team Voyage."
Politeness was a good start, and Delphox granted her a nod. "There is no excuse for rudeness, but I will accept your apology. Now, follow."
Delphox swept around and strolled further into her abode. There were hanging meats, herbs, and a crackling fire over a pot where incense drifted out. She led them past that and further in, where it was not so smoky.
Three charms were arranged in a pattern above a door further in from a small sitting room she poured tea in; she did not acknowledge it when Jet couldn't stop staring.
"I'm very old," Delphox said. "I am your elder; I expect to be treated with respect while you are in my home. Get your legs off the table," she snapped at Jet, who had been about to crawl on it. "Elbows off," she added to Boom. "Clearly, decorum is not taught at the Wigglytuff Guild."
"You're being rude too," Jet muttered. Delphox gave him a dangerous look.
Indeedee had been welcoming and helpful. Liepard had been dangerous but ultimately welcoming as well. Blossom quickly had realised that was not the case here.
She was good at befriending people; she counted everyone in Treasure Town as a friend and knew everyone's names.
"Thank you for giving us a second chance," she said. Delphox tilted her head slightly. Blossom took a drink of the tea. It was quite nice.
Jet and Boom quietly did the same. They felt a little like third wheels when Blossom was ready to do her thing, but they'd back her up regardless. And try not to do anything to hold her back.
"So, people talk in Fissure?"
"People talk everywhere, dearie," Delphox replied. "If a place is brought together through adversity, you can expect closer ties."
"I thought this was a criminal town?" Jet muttered.
"Adversity," Delphox repeated.
"Why do you live here?" Blossom asked. "Have you shared experiences here too?"
Delphox cracked a smirk. "Look at me," she said, gesturing at herself. Similar to Keira in a way, she had faded fur all over, streaks of grey much more pronounced, and patches of rough or thin fur. Her eyes were still sharp, however.
"So, you've lived here a long time?"
"Fissure was one of the oldest towns," Delphox returned. "Lucario may not have started on the Grass Continent, but it didn't take her long to come here. I was very, very young and don't remember her, but my parents yipped on a lot."
"You're THAT old," Boom blurted out.
Delphox slowly turned to stare at him.
Blossom considered the benefits of covering her face or striking Boom with a Razor Leaf, but then Delphox snorted. "Alright, you get that one." She then zapped him. "Do it again, and I'm sending you to a healer in six pieces. And I'm the healer here, so good luck with that."
As Boom wallowed, Blossom took that chance of a relaxing of tension to ask something a bit firmer. "Is there anyone dangerous here?"
Delphox laughed in her face. "Honey? If you think you're being slick, I've got news for you."
Blossom flushed, and Delphox shook her head. "Fissure has its reputation for a reason. If you're trying to ask if anyone in Fissure could have killed Pyroar, I'd say yes. If you're asking if anyone has any motive? I'd say no. If you're asking if I think it's possible anyone could have done it, I'm going to go with another no."
"But you said you think someone could have done it?" Jet asked, not letting that just fly on by.
"In a mental, 'could they actually kill someone' of course. In order to do it the way it was done? Nah."
"How it was done?" Blossom asked.
"Breaking him out like that," Delphox said. "I know why you're here. Clefable has me enchant the jail so that no one can use any of those fancy powers or abilities they have to simply bust out. There are some really dangerous pokémon there. One such ninetales was an enchanter as well. Lucario herself had to bring him down, and even then, stories are said that he nearly killed her. Reckon that's just history conflating that or if it's real?"
"You're saying your enchantments can't be broken?"
She snorted again. "Can? Again. Sure, it could be possible. You won't find many enchanters better than I am, though. Word spreads, as I said. Pyroar just…got out of his jail cell? Now, my enchantments aren't meant to last forever. I intentionally set them at a level that forces the guild to rehire me. Still, there is no way that cell would have simply have its enchantments fade due to running out of time."
"…that's what we thought," Jet said. "And taking out an enchantment isn't easy work. This makes you more suspicious, you know?"
"Of course I know," she scoffed. "The guild immediately came charging down Fissure. Caused quite an incident. Folks around here don't like law enforcement too much, even less so when so many of them come to pick on their granny. Almost caused a turf war, and I don't have enough herbs to patch up that many injuries. They worked it out, though, and I gave them what I knew."
"Which was?"
"When that cell was supposed to lose its enchantment."
"If it was weakening, could he-?"
"No," she interrupted. "I don't leave things to chance. I don't leave them until they're about to fail before redoing it. The enchantments are reapplied well before any of them could start weakening."
"Could you have…just messed up?"
"Sharp, that was asked as well." She slammed a book on the table from nowhere. "But I keep records. Look for yourself if you must, damage it, and I damage you."
Blossom flipped carefully through the book, but most of it lacked much sense to her.
Delphox could read her like a book in that regard. "Now, if you'd done some extra research. Saw his cell, saw his murder scene, maybe you'd get some use out of that." She flicked her wand, and the pages turned to one in particular. "His cell. Enchanted seven months before he entered. My enchantments are built to last for two years each, following the recipe listed there. It's the same for each one. There's no reason one of them would have failed."
"Unless it was deactivated somehow?" Boom asked.
"Right. Which, fair enough for the guild to suspect me. I get it. I don't agree with their behaviour since then, however, nor trying to flip the entirety of Fissure off. I don't have any reason to have gone after Pyroar. Why the fuck should I? He was a bastard who got taken down. I don't execute criminals in the prison, and there are far worse than him in there. Real freaks of nature that will never see the light of day again."
"…then someone else did it?"
"How is the real question," Delphox said, leaning across the table. "Fissure is a close-knit place, but I'm still very well protected here. Safe here. The Clefable Guild entrusts me to disable the worst criminals on the entire continent, and that's with a backup force of an army of hunters living there. My enchantments are not something that can just be snapped."
She shook her head firmly. "Only two things could do it. Intimate knowledge of how they work, and they are slightly different for every enchanter or an absurd amount of power. The latter of which would be noticeable."
It was hard to tell and impossible for Jet and Boom, but Blossom could see a little more. There was an undercurrent of pride, a pride that had been punctured, anger due to it and…something else.
"Was there anyone who came here?" Jet asked suddenly. "Who was asking about that?"
"What do you mean? About my enchantments?"
"Yeah. Or just about how you work in general?"
Delphox frowned and considered it for a moment. "…Yes. There were three."
Three?
"Who was coming here? When?"
"Three curious figures, actually," Delphox said. "It struck me as curious that so many were curious about how my magic works. And while it's a trade secret, I don't mind wowing some pokémon with some displays. There was a nervous wreck of a morpeko; he was buying protection charms. He really wanted to be sure they would work."
Blossom's breath hitched; she knew Pyroar's father was a morpeko.
"There was a luxio as well. She was after the morpeko. Pyroar's father, I assume he was. She also wanted to know how the charms worked, so she could get around them. I didn't tell her much; she seemed able to work on her own."
"Who was the last?" Blossom pressed.
Delphox smirked. "Guildmaster Clefable."
"She wanted to know?" Boom asked. "Wait, she didn't know already?"
"That was the odd thing," Delphox hummed. "She does know how they work. In fact…she's the one who knows the most, besides me, of course."
"You accused Clefable earlier," Blossom said. "And you knew this?"
"There is too much about her that is questionable," Delphox said. "No one has ever escaped her prison. Yet Pyroar did? He was let out. We know this. Let out and murdered."
"That's exactly the thing, though," Blossom said, as Jet and Boom grew worried. "If Clefable did this…why would she let others know? She'd be able to cover it up, but rather she's done so much to prevent that exact thing from happening."
"I don't know," Delphox said. "Yet the question still remains. Who polices the police? And even if it wasn't her, there is still much she hasn't answered. Tell me, were you allowed to see Pyroar's cell?"
"No."
"Have you been told where he was buried?"
"No."
"Have you been offered to be shown the scene of his murder?"
"…no."
"And you have so many suspects that simply don't match up. I may have the capacity to have let him out, and, indeed, I even have the abilities to kill him the way he died. I am a Fire-type, after all. But what's the motive for me? Where is the drive to do it?"
"Well…what if you were working with Liepard? She had motive and connections to these places."
"Ah, going for the multiple killers angle?" Delphox asked before a curious expression flashed across her face.
Blossom caught it. "What did you just think of?" she asked curiously.
"Nothing, just…an old thought."
"Would you share it?"
"I'd offer a sarcastic comment for just coming here to listen to me tell stories, but that's ultimately all you were going to get out of this."
She shrugged. "Settle in then, children. I've won competitions in the past during the spooky season for my stories. I'm old, older than civilisation some could say. Frankly, I'm about on the fringe. When I was very, very, young. Before I so much chewed on my first stick, the world was ending."
She smiled a ghost of a death. "Ah, to be alive during the world's end. How many times?" She quickly counted on her fingers. "Ah yes, five times I have lived through the apocalypse. Maybe the first was the most terrifying because it was the first. Maybe because I was so young, and my memories are skewed. Maybe because it was a time of absolute terror."
Team Voyage gave each other a concerned look.
"First time?"
"Yes. The first time. Really, I don't think the world itself actually was in much danger. But it sure felt like it back then. When the world consisted of your tribe and some neighbouring land, in those times, anything breaking them apart was the world ending. It was the epidemic of Shadow Pokémon, led by The First Fallen."
"The First Who?"
"The words are simple, dearies. The First Fallen. I remember the day I found my brothers. I could not have been more than a few weeks out of the egg. Yet some things you never forget. Strewn up and nailed into trees. Tell me, did Clefable tell you anything about how Pyroar was found?"
The words were said coolly, and Blossom realised what that other thing besides anger and annoyance Delphox had been feeling at the notion of her enchantments being broken.
It was fear.
"…no."
"Maybe you should ask," Delphox said. "And, while you're at it, ask Mayor Indeedee too. She knows a lot more than she's often willing to say either."
"Wha? But we've already interviewed her!" Boom protested. "And she's fine."
"Indeedee was alive back then too," Delphox said, squinting. "And unlike me, she wasn't a cub. She probably won't be happy to talk about it, though."
"Is that all?" Blossom asked softly.
"Is that all you have to ask of me?" Delphox replied. "There's not much else. Pyroar's father came here, as has Clefable. But if either of them are the one who released him, the question else raises, who killed him? Don't be so naïve as to believe that killers always work alone."
They agreed to leave now. Thanking Delphox for her information, they swiftly made their way out of Fissure, climbed the cliff with Blossom's vines, and back into the open air.
"So, this is what we've got." Jet laid everything down on the ground the next day. "Indeedee. She has the knowledge but no motive or means to do it. We've got Liepard; she's got motive but no real knowledge or means. And Delphox, who had the means but no real knowledge or motive. This doesn't really help, hey-hey?"
"None of them make sense unless there's something we're missing," Blossom groaned, leaning back and covering her face. "The only one with motive basically told us she would have done it, but not that terribly. So, who would hate him that badly to do THAT?"
"…What about Morpeko?" Boom asked softly. Blossom paused and lowered her leaves. "I mean…Litleo said that Pyroar turned on him during their fight. That could be the motive. He knew he was there too."
"No means, asking Delphox doesn't really count as 'intimate knowledge of her craft', you know?" Jet pointed out. "And I heard he's a coward too."
"Yeah, but he could have hired someone maybe," Boom added, growing excited. "Yeah, yeah! That could make sense! He wanted revenge!"
"On his son?" Blossom said softly. Boom paused. "If…if you're right, then that is the worst thing I've ever heard."
Boom fell silent. "…We should track him down."
"How, though?" Jet asked. "He just disappeared completely, hey-hey?"
"We ask around."
"Fine, but if that doesn't work?"
"Well, I don't know! I don't see you making genius suggestions!"
"Hey, calm down. I'm just talking sensibly."
"Well, it's grating on my nerves!"
"That's your problem, hey."
"Shut UP!"
"Boys," Blossom snapped, rubbing her head. "Please." There was a tone to her voice that did make them stop and settle down.
"We've got to work out a plan together, okay? I think someone should go to the guild and ask around in town if anyone has any idea of Morpeko. And talk to Torterra like Delphox suggested. We might go back to Fissure to ask too, there's probably a better chance there, but I'd prefer not if we can help it."
"Split up?" Boom asked.
"Yes."
"Is that…a good idea, hey?"
"We haven't gotten anywhere. Maybe if we take on a few different places at once, we'll find something."
They spent another day of bantering to return to Blackstone Village. Despite it being agreed to split up and search for clues, something else happened to stall such a great idea.
"Hey, you three?"
Marowak was waving them over. There was no sign of the azumarill he had been around the other day.
"What can we do for you, hey?" Jet asked, scuttling up first.
"Nothing for me," Marowak said. "I just heard that you were looking for the mayor's aid? Chatot? Well, he's back now. If you want to talk to him?"
"How did you hear about that?" Jet asked.
Marowak shrugged. "I heard it from a guy who heard it from a girl. Dunno. If you weren't asking about it, someone must have just overheard you. We like to be helpful around here, and we all know you're hunting down that poor bastard Pyroar's killer. No one wants a killer on the loose, and no one likes having the mayor being looked badly upon. Talk to Chatot; he can corroborate what she's said and drop the matter for good."
Mayor Indeedee had been the town for as long as anyone could remember.
"You think that highly of Indeedee?" Blossom asked curiously.
"Indeedee's everyone's grandma," Marowak replied. "The only lady that's out of MY league too." He grinned at Blossom. "You're cute, though."
"No."
He shrugged again. "Worth a shot. Indeedee's been here forever, and she's given up so much to keep the town running, even as criminals crawl around, and just everything is always being broken. It's a tough task, and she's got to do it in a way that makes us happy too. I can't imagine being in her position and make the hard choices while also needing to make popular ones as well."
"So, you believe she couldn't have killed Pyroar?"
"Okay. Why would she? That is the question. There's just no way. The only reason she's on your list of suspects is because she knows Mystical Fire, and we heard Pyroar got burned to death. Which is the worst thing I've ever heard. Anyway, I wasn't with her that night. Chatot was. He'll be at her office now that he's back, probably signing paperwork, haha."
"Well, thank you for your information."
"Welcome. If you want, come around to the café later, and I'll treat you to drinks."
"Oh really?" Jet and Boom asked. Marowak blinked.
"That's so kind of you," Jet added. "I'd love to."
"No, I meant-"
"YEAH!" Boom boomed. "I can't wait! Been ages since I've had drinks. See you later!" His voice carried. A long way. Marowak flushed as everyone turned to look at them.
"Touché," he admitted, opened his mouth to continue, and just closed it and slunk off.
Blossom shook her head in amusement. "If I ever actually accepted a date from anyone, it'd be a four-person date, and you'd scare them off."
"Gotta find someone who's worth you," Boom mumbled.
"What was that?"
"I said your leaves are okay, but you should stand in the sun longer."
Blossom laughed. "Okay, okay. Let's track down Chatot and get moving, okay?"
"Right!"
Blossom did not possess a great sense of direction. Jet was the mon with the mind for those kinds of things. So, he was able to lead them down the streets of Blackstone right to the office.
Boom knocked and opened the door for Blossom.
"Come in," said a voice and Blossom experienced a brief flash of déjà vu.
They entered into Indeedee's nice little office. She was nowhere in sight, but the sword was still on the wall. Behind the desk sat a puffy chatot.
"Ah, welcome," he said softly. "Team Voyage, correct?"
"That's us," Jet said, nodding as Blossom didn't.
"Take a seat then; it shouldn't take long for me to say my piece."
Blossom's eyes were lingering on him for a hard moment. For a moment, just a moment, she saw someone else. But the moment passed once he spoke. The voice was soft, gentle, almost serene even. Nothing like….
"Are you alright?" Chatot asked, and Blossom blinked, realising she was just staring into the wood of the desk in front of her. Jet and Boom glanced at her in concern, and she put a smile forth.
"Oh my gosh, sorry for ditzing out like that," she giggled bashfully. "It's been a bit of a long walk from Fissure."
"Ah," Chatot said, nodding. "That's fair enough. Would you three like some water? We have it with ice here."
They would love some water, and he flapped off to prepare a jug. With his talons, he was able to skilfully pour the water into fine glasses.
"Fancy stuff here," Jet said, trying not to scratch the glass.
"The mayor has fine tastes," Chatot said, smiling. "When she lets herself indulge at least. Which is a challenge if there ever was one."
The water was lovely and chilled, and Blossom felt the smog clear from her head. Vertigo passed, and she was able to shake it off.
"We know you're busy," she said. "So, we won't take any more of your time than we need. Simply put…on the night that Pyroar escaped and was murdered, where were you?"
"In this office," Chatot answered, gesturing with a wing to a door. "I was here, we had the door open, and the mayor worked in there. Her actual office, as this is the receptionist desk. Mine. We were working on paperwork that had fallen behind on."
"For how long?" Blossom asked.
"Most of the night," Chatot answered. "She told me to go home and sleep, but I didn't wish to leave her with it all. It gets extraordinarily boring doing nothing but paperwork. At least some company preserves some of your sanity."
"So, she wanted you to leave?"
Chatot's eye quirked in amusement. "Perhaps she did; I can chatter on for quite a bit. I did leave, eventually, and returned home. The dawn was already beginning by that point, and Pyroar escaped in the middle of the night. We didn't leave each other's sight the entire time his escape could have occurred."
Team Voyage shared a look and nodded. "Thank you…Chatot," Blossom said, with some difficulty on the last word.
"What were you doing in Towny Town?" Boom blurted out. Eyes turned to him. "Sorry. That's where Indeedee said you'd gone when we first arrived."
"Ah, Towny Town," Chatot chuckled. "I cannot get over that name. The history of the place is quite interesting; the name does have significance. Ah, but I am distracted from your question. I was required to mediate over a dispute, and as a relative outsider compared to many here, I was deemed to be impartial of the matter."
"Indeedee volunteered me," he added dryly. "Something about 'You have to get out of the building sometimes, Chatot. You'll turn white if you never see the sun' or some malarky like that. I think she did just want some peace from my chatter for a few days."
He could clearly talk quite a bit.
"Thank you for seeing us, Chatot," Blossom said, deciding now was right to go. He nodded to them.
"Good to see you," he said. "Team Voyage. I wish you luck on your quest. Be…careful. Killers are not a safe foe to tangle with, but I am certain you already know this, considering your graduation from the Wigglytuff Guild. Good day."
And so, that was one thing down.
Blossom was quiet as they left, Jet and Boom doing the chattering for her.
"Should we head to the guild now?" Jet asked, antsy to get some real questions answered.
"Yeah," Blossom agreed, distracted. "Let's go."
As a group. Jet and Boom didn't bring up she mentioned splitting up first, and the three made their way to the Clefable Guild once more.
However, they were to be met with disappointment.
"What do you mean we can't see Clefable?" Boom demanded Mienfoo.
"You didn't book a meeting," Mienfoo said, staring impassively back at him. "I don't know how it is done in your guild, but Clefable is an extremely busy pokémon. You have to book an appointment to see her."
"Fine, when can we book?"
Mienfoo took sweet time in looking up times.
"In five days."
"FIVE DAYS!"
"Being a loudred is no excuse to shout. Get out now, and I'll pencil it in. Argue further, and it'll be fifteen days."
"Just drop it, Loudred," Blossom warned, pulling him back.
Boom ranted on the way back. Very loudly.
"She's definitely hiding something," Boom growled, leaving footprints in the ground with the force of his furious stomps. "Now she won't see us?"
"A busy pokémon."
"This is a murder investigation!"
"Maybe we can speak to a few pokémon in town then?" Jet asked to try and calm them down and stop an argument. "Torterra, ask Indeedee about what Delphox said. Heck, we can use this time to get to Pyroar's murder site. Five days is a while, hey-hey, but we don't need to spend it just rolling around in the grass."
His suggestions were sound, and Boom cooled his jets a little. "…fine. This better be worth it."
"It's not like we weren't prepared for this to take a while," Blossom sighed. "Come on, let's get back to town, find a place to stay for a couple nights and just take the rest of today off, okay?"
That was a popular decision.
There was a charming little hostel in Blackstone Village. Small. They did not get a lot of tourists. Still, the couple of Gardevoir and Swampert were very welcoming.
It was nice to relax for a night and not think about their work, but the night couldn't last forever, and the work needed to be done.
Feeling supported as a trio, they decided to see Indeedee again first before speaking to Torterra. Potentially they'd have to wait again to see her, so booking in time early there was also for the best.
However, she wasn't in at the time, and they chose instead to travel into the woods. Not splitting up. To look over Pyroar's murder scene.
The file from Clefable at least had the location. He had run or had been taken, a significant way out of town. In the wilderness between Blackstone and Towny Town.
Although actually finding it? That took all day plus a lot of arguments.
"Oh, FINALLY!" Boom shouted. "I'm sick of walking."
"Really, I'd be sick of killers, but you do you."
"Shut UP!"
"Look at this place," Blossom whispered. It was a scorched clearing; a white circle had been drawn around the centre of it, where the ash had remained. Blossom carefully dug a vine into the ground, tasting the soil.
Her face screwed up, and the vine quickly retracted.
"Woah," Jet said, catching something else. They turned to him, where he stared up at a tree. Another white circle had been drawn around it. There were black spots that were not part of the tree that had dried meters up on the bark. Parts of the branches were snapped, and a section of it was scorched as well.
The black marks were not scorched marks.
"Blood," Boom said. "Up on the tree?"
"There," Blossom said, edging Jet away from a dangling rope. "Look, it's been tied?" It was a coloured similar to the bark, chunky with black remains, blending in with the side of the tree.
It was tied just right to fit a pyroar paw.
"Was he hung here?" Jet breathed, horrified.
"Worse," Blossom said. A vine brushed away part of the black gunk, revealing something silvery embedded into the wood.
"…Delphox said she found her brothers nailed to trees," Boom whispered.
"He got burned to death and then nailed to a tree?" Jet gagged, and then he threw up.
"Hopefully, that order," Blossom said. "Holy fuck. Why wasn't this in the report?"
"Too disturbing?"
"Just let us find it ourselves?" she shot back. "Or was he not hung up."
"What else is this dried blood meant to be?"
"I don't know!" she yelled. "I just…I…ugh, have we seen enough? Can we go?"
"You're the boss, Blossom."
"I'm asking for your advice."
"Yeah, let's go. It's just what Liepard and Delphox said. We've seen what we should have already known. Let's go."
Finding their way back was easier than finding their way to it. Whoever had killed Pyroar had ensured it was done out of the way and not easy to find.
After that, they needed something a little nicer. But it was not time for nice; it was time to continue the investigation. Indeedee was in office.
Unlike Clefable, fortunately, Indeedee was happy to accommodate them.
"Good afternoon, you three," Indeedee said, not a whisper of a yawn about her despite the rings under her eyes. "How are you finding Blackstone?"
"It's extremely welcoming," Blossom said honestly.
"I like Piplup," Jet snickered.
"I like Marowak," Boom challenged.
"I'm sure he likes you too."
"They're a fun bunch," Indeedee laughed. "Never a dull moment. What brings you here this morning? Chatot mentioned he's spoken to you. Do you have more questions?"
For a brief moment, their cheer faded. They had put the murder scene out of their minds and chose to ignore it for now. But that was until they reached here, and the smiles dropped.
"Sort of," Blossom said. "More about…just something that Delphox brought up."
"You're old, right?" Boom blurted out.
Jet and Blossom gave him a double-look of horrified embarrassment. Indeedee took it well.
She raised an eyebrow. "That's a daring thing to say," she said neutrally.
Then she smiled. "Teheheeh. Think before you speak, Loudred. That might have offended me if you'd meant it the way it sounded."
She could feel the shame emanating from him like a light after all. No offence was taken.
"Well…thanks for not tossing him on his behind," Blossom sighed. "I guess that's the question, although it could be very tactfully spoken. You are quite old, aren't you? Marowak mentioned you've been here as long as the town has."
"Why are you asking?" Indeedee asked, frowning at the jab at her age yet again.
"…How are you that old?"
"You don't know much about indeedee, do you?" Indeedee asked. She received shakes of her head.
"We know you eat gratitude…?"
"It's not quite as simple as that," Indeedee said gently. "But…well, that does play a small part in the explanation, I suppose. Yes. Indeedee persist unlike most pokémon, more similar to some species of Ghost pokémon who can consume emotions. Gratitude is what sustains us, but we can taste the whole range of emotions. No indeedee has died from age as far as I know."
"Really?" Blossom asked. "How? You're…well, flesh and blood."
Indeedee nodded. "I am. Even I'm not entirely certain of the absolute reasons why, but from what I was taught and have come to understand, we simply live until we die. Positive emotion, most particularly gratitude, is greatly healthy for us."
She frowned. "Negative emotion is a trickier situation. Gratitude is given, but if matters call for it, an indeedee can effectively draw an experience from another. Pain and misery can be extracted so that a pokémon does not suffer it so severely at that time. Doing so, however, begins to make us grow ill, and over time this leaves a certain toxin. Eventually, we grow sick and die."
She gave a shrug. "I've been careful over the years I have lived. My mother lived a few hundred years before she passed. I am still healthy due to the gratitude of the people who live here. Now…I don't mean to be rude, but is there a point in asking me about my age?"
"We…we spoke to Delphox, and she mentioned something," Blossom began, trying to explain.
"Yeah, this FIRST FALLEN that was in charge of the shadow pokémon or something?" Boom cut in.
Indeedee's reaction was restrained but noticeable. With a brief widening of her eyes, a hitch to her breath, she almost moved back as if the words had physical force. All things Team Voyage caught.
"You can't be serious," Indeedee said, almost flatly but with an edge of something sharp and painful to it.
"So, you do know of it?" Jet asked. "You know, the way Pyroar got killed and brandished up. It's just like that."
"You don't have any idea what that is like," Indeedee said, her voice raw and harsh for a long moment. She paused, checked herself, and closed her eyes. "I apologise. I should not snap at you. Those times are long behind me. Long behind me. Long behind me." She repeated it, visibly calming herself down.
"…Seriously, how old are you?" Jet asked.
"Corphish!" Blossom snapped as Indeedee's expression turned flat for a moment.
"No, no, it's okay. He's right to ask," Indeedee sighed, settling down. "I was alive before the Legendary Lucario began her work. I know what the world was like before, and I remember the first time our world came at risk. Not from a meteor or time or whatever happened on the Mist Continent, but by the hands of monsters. These are dark matters indeed."
Her eyes turned slightly unfocused as she stared ahead, seeing something vivid in her memory rather than just those in front of her. "It was the worst time in my life. You couldn't trust anyone. And there weren't towns and villages like we have now. It was small groups who worked together, only each other. There was no love for outsiders, only singles and small groups against the world."
"No love for outsiders?" Boom asked. "But outsiders are great! Trade! Stories! The company even."
Indeedee swallowed. "Dungeons were unknown terrors, few pokémon explored them, most avoided if possible as myth and folktale ran rampant about the 'wind of the dungeons driving you mad'. Some things spread, even in the small, isolated communities. And one such thing…was the Shadow Pokémon."
Blossom looked disturbed. "That…that would spread."
"Oh no," Jet said under his breath.
She nodded to that. "Very much so. You only trusted those you knew, and with the size of these groups…if someone got turned, it wouldn't take long before they'd kill everyone. It was a spreading disease, overcoming the world. To us, back then, our small slices of living were the entire world. And so the world fell a hundred-hundred times."
"Didn't pokémon come together to stop them, though?" Boom demanded. "That's what we do. We join forces and beat the baddies."
"With what communication?" Indeedee asked. "With what trust? Outsiders, survivors, what were they? Some welcomed them in at first, some harsher, or perhaps smarter, turned them away. Maybe some were truly free, but many were moles and carried the blight with them. Soon, bigger places began to collapse as strife ran through everything."
"Why haven't I heard of this?" Blossom asked. "I…I've researched history, a lot! It's a part of being an explorer."
"This was before a collectively written language," Indeedee explained gently. "And this was a nightmare most wished to forget. Soon enough, the world became a terrifying place. You could not trust anyone, for anyone could be carrying it. They are not like us anymore, even if they pretend to try. The worst thing is that, in order to defeat such a horrible menace, pokémon would need to come together, work together, trust each other. But…."
She closed her eyes. "The 'First Fallen' had ensured that trust was broken, that no bonds would be formed, and no bastion could be raised to stop them. Mistrust, paranoia, anger and fear were rampant. Of course, there were collections of pokémon fighting, but they were too small to make a difference. The world seemed like it was becoming overrun."
"How? How did…the world survive?"
She smiled. "Lucario arrived. Apparently, someone that strong, that blinding in her radiance, that awe-worthy was enough. She broke the front of the horror, shattering it into pieces. From there, she destroyed the pieces that split off, and pokémon came together, united behind her. Lucario spread civilisation, and she did this by becoming a common story. A rally point."
"Wow," Boom breathed. "And we got to meet her."
Indeedee smiled, almost grinned. "This is how the world we know now was formed. Pokémon working together for a common goal. I've travelled much since those darkest days and learned that this blight was widespread but still…shockingly minimal in actual numbers. Stronger in some places, but much weaker in others. And, what you spoke of. That awful name. 'The First Fallen'. That was not one pokémon; that was many."
"Pardon, what?" Blossom gasped.
"One pokémon could not have done what they did," Indeedee explained. "Which is what made them seem so dangerous. It made them seem truly everywhere, all-powerful, all-knowing. A single, driving mind behind the nightmare, unassailable, untouchable. However…heh."
She grinned proudly. "Lucario sniffed them out, learned what really was going on. It's said they called themselves 'The First Fallen' due to having embraced the cruel condition that they had become. Nevertheless, when they fell, the strategy behind the shadow pokémon broke and with the worlds pokémon greatly united, the rest could do nothing."
"…Still, I had to ask, why has this been forgotten?" Blossom asked. "If Lucario had come just in time to stop this, and she brought things like money and writing, why wasn't this recorded?"
Jet and Boom nodded, looking to Indeedee for answers.
Ultimately, she shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sorry, I can't really say more than that. I agree that it should have been remembered. Those that don't remember history are doomed to…okay, let's not go there. This situation with Pyroar cannot be The Fallen's doing because they were all killed."
"Where were you there when they died?"
"Well, no but-"
"Is it possible Lucario only killed the majority?"
"Well, maybe, but if others escaped, they would have-"
"How can you say at least one might not still be around?"
"It's been hundreds of years, they-"
"You're alive."
Indeedee paused. "…Yeah." Her face crumpled, and she seemed to collapse on her chair. "Oh my gosh, please…please, you do not understand. This canNOT be happening. I can't go back to those times. I love this town; I've been here since its conception. It's living proof of everything good Lucario did. The pokémon here are so different, so weird and wonderful. They sometimes fight, but they are as close as close can be. I never knew anything like this until here. I cannot go back to it. I cannot. I cannot. I cannot!"
She began to hyperventilate, and Blossom jumped into action. "Hey, hey, hey, hey. Listen to me. Indeedee. Look at me." Indeedee looked up. "We're not going to let whoever did this get away with it. Whether it was some fallen freak or a copycat or just a coincidence. I'm sorry we pushed you into talking about all this, but this is extremely useful. Thank you."
Indeedee nodded rapidly, still hyperventilating, but she felt Blossom's gratitude, as well as Jet and Boom's, and began to calm down.
"I…I…yes. Okay. You're right; I cannot just panic at the simple thought. Oh dear." She rubbed her face, trying to make it seem like she was blushing due to stimulating blood flow that way rather than embarrassment.
She held her head for a fairly long time, tracing a paw down her right horn. "I apologise for that," she said, at last. "To ignore the past is to repeat it, but it's very much something I would like to forget. As a young indeedee, trying to find a place to be. I was always a wanderer before I came here. In those times, I was rejected from everywhere. Perhaps that's what saved my life? But it was a lonely and terrifying time. If you…believe this could be a repeat of those times, then I would genuinely suggest turning back. One of the Fallen is not someone you ever, ever, want to meet."
They conferred with each other at the hostel afterwards.
"That's, what, the third time someone has warned us to turn back?" Jet asked, clacking his pincers. "Any bets if Clefable will do the same thing?"
"No bet," Blossom and Boom said at once. Then smiled.
"Ohh my goosh," Blossom moaned, covering her face. "What the fuck are we getting into?" she asked. Jet and Boom shared an unsettled look.
"We knew what we were getting into," Jet began.
"Did we?" Blossom cut over. "Did we expect this?"
"Look," Boom said. "I think you're freaking yourself out and overthinking stuff. What Delphox and Indeedee had to say is scary; I'm not denying that, but what are the chances? It's been hundreds of years. Whoever did this is a freak for sure, but we CAN handle them. We're Team Voyage!"
"And we're doing this because it's right," Jet added.
"And for our friends," Blossom finished. She sighed. "You're right. You're right. I'm sorry for oh my goshing about things, it just seems so huge, and we don't even have any actual leads."
"We'll talk to Clefable."
"When, though? Four more days?"
"We got to talk to Torterra first," Jet reminded. "Delphox made it seem like something to do BEFORE seeing Clefable too."
"Tomorrow then?"
"Yeah!"
"Knock-knock?" Team Voyage looked up as someone knocked on the door. "I've brought you three some soup," Swampert said kindly, bringing a steaming pot and several empty bowls. "I hope you enjoy."
"Thank you, Swampert."
"Anything you need, just give a holler. Everyone in town is here to support you."
The soup made them feel a little better. It was easy to panic on an empty stomach.
"Alright." Blossom was energised the next day. "Let's find Torterra!"
"Torterra runs the primary garden fields outside of town," Gardevoir helpfully explained when they asked her for directions. "Feeds much of the area. It's called the Jolly Holly Garden. You can't miss the fence for it, just outside of the exit towards Yellow Petal Town."
"A lot of pokémon help out there," Swampert added. "The farm is massive, and Torterra…can't really do it herself."
"She already tried," Gardevoir giggled. "One year, she harvested every apple tree on her own. Then fainted in the middle of the town for a solid three weeks. We planted a sitrus berry bush on her shell for when she woke up. She wasn't impressed."
The couple shared a pleasant laugh. "Torterra had actually found it very funny and promised not to work herself to that level again."
With a destination in mind, they headed off. Probably morning tea too, as the couple had made them pancakes which made them all very happy.
"Remember when Chatot would make that one big batch of pancake batter every year," Blossom sighed as they walked.
"Oh yeah!" Jet said. "He made it the night before to let it 'mature' or something."
"Why was the date random every year?" Boom asked.
"Random?" Blossom asked. "It was always the same time."
"But never the same day," Boom argued. "And the bird knew his dates. It was always around the same time. Guildmaster Wigglytuff, erk. Uh…just Wigglytuff now, I guess? Well, he was always a bit funny during those times too."
"More than usual?"
"You know what I mean," he snapped. "You and I caught him that one time, and he was really weird. Like, not on purpose weird."
Blossom frowned and thought back. She did vaguely remember what he was rambling on about. "I don't know…I guess we'll never know. Hm." She kinda wanted to know now. She liked to know everything, but Chatot had always been…there was something about pancake day that was to be celebrated. It seemed to make him happy.
She missed those times.
She couldn't stop thinking about-
"Race, you guys!" Blossom chirped, rushing off before they could respond.
"HEY!" Boom shouted, racing after her.
"Hey-HEY, that's my line!" Jet called, scuttling as fast as he could before giving up and just boosting himself with water jets.
Jolly Holly Gardens. Despite the name, it was less of a garden and more of a massive farm.
One could not even begin to count the number of carrots that existed in the backfields. Nor all the various fruit trees and berry bushes planted in neat little rows.
Torterra wandered her farm, chatting with workers and showing the newbies how things were done. A not-so-swift kick could shake every apple of a tree in a single blow. She had learned not to knock the trees themselves down.
"Good morning!" Blossom called brightly to Torterra as they drew closer, the large tortoise pokémon slowly turning around to lumber away.
"Hm?" Slowly she began to turn back. "Why hello there, what brings popular strangers to ma garden?"
They stopped before her. Torterra was a BIG pokémon, with a tree growing out of her shell, wicked stones, and a sitrus berry bush. But her eyes were kind and patient.
They decided not to ask about being popular strangers. Torterra likely had heard about them like everyone else had.
Really, strangers were not a common thing in Blackstone Town. Blossom would be blushing if she realised just how much the talk of the town they were.
"We've just stopped around to ask you a quick question," Blossom explained.
"Well, by howdy, go ahead. I'm all ears."
"We recently returned from Fissure," Blossom started as Boom stared hungrily at an apple. Torterra saw, and a single leaf sliced it off to fall into his hands. She smiled and nodded at him, and he broke it in half for Jet.
"Fissure's a dangerous place," Torterra said. "You make it in and out, alright?"
"We were fine."
"Good ta hear."
"While we were there, Delphox told us we should speak to you."
"Really?" Torterra asked. "I wonder why she'd say that? I haven't had much ta do with Delphox, besides us both havin lived in this place for a long time. She's much older than me, I gotta say. What's she tellin' you ta talk to me for?"
"To be honest, not entirely sure."
"Chlefafle," Jet said.
"What?" Blossom said.
Jet swallowed. "Clefable," he said. "That was what we were talking about when Delphox said that."
"Right…."
"Clefable?" Torterra asked. "I reckon you mean the Warden. Guildmaster Clefable?"
"That's right."
"Huh. Normally I wouldn't have much ta say. I provide much if not all of the grub at the guild over there. Hungry pokémon gotta eat, I always say. You could say I'mma business partner. Lately, however, the orders have been gettin' smaller."
"Because the guild is being stretched thin?" Blossom asked.
"I reckon that's why." Torterra nodded. "But…the prisoners also gotta eat. I guess with lurks like Tyranitar gone, they don't need nearly as much food. Still, tis a bit odd. The last shipment was food for a feast. Normally I provide food for an army."
"Oh…well, thank you, Torterra, for your time."
"Hah. I've got plenty of that. If you wanna hang around, I won't be saying nothin' about stoppin' you. But I reckon you've got more things to do, am I right?"
"Thank you for seeing us."
"Thanks for stoppin' by. Take care, ya hear?"
They returned to the main town with that curiosity.
"How did Delphox know anything about that?" Jet was the first to ask, pointing that out.
"Who knows what anyone knows?" Blossom sighed. "Seems everyone knows a little more than they're willing to say first off."
"What?" Boom asked, munching on another apple. "You think we should talk to Liepard again or something?"
"I think," Blossom said, "that we need to talk to Clefable."
"She's…busy."
Blossom steamed.
Not really sure what to do now, waiting until Clefable would see them; the team actually split up to just talk to the townsfolk.
Boom found Marowak, mysteriously.
Jet ended up helping Piplup with his very important guard duty.
Blossom had only one pokémon in mind.
"Hi," she said, sliding up next to the chatot hopping along.
"Oh, hello, Sunflora," he chirped. "How is your day going?"
"Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you asked!" she said to his startlement. Then she talked his ear off about all the many small things. Jet and Boom did that aggravated her.
"It…seems that you may need to have some time alone," he said, looking truly uncomfortable now.
"You've got good advice." She nodded. "That's why we've split up to search for clues."
"Oh? Am I part of your clues?"
"Maybe," she giggled mysteriously. "Maybe I just want to get to know people here. I knew everyone in Treasure Town after all, and this place is so welcoming."
She sighed happily. "Well, that's enough about me. And a lot about me, teehee, sorry I talk a lot too. Tell me about yourself! I hear you were the most recent pokémon to move in here. What was it like coming to Blackstone Village? What drew you here?"
"Here? Nothing in particular, really. I left the nest and didn't really have anywhere to go, flapped around a few places. I wound up here and, as you said, everyone is so friendly that I wanted to stay and help. The mayor could use a hand, paw, or wing of help. Even the two of us have trouble keeping up; I wonder how she ever managed it without me."
"So, you have a talent for books?"
"I suppose so. I'd much prefer a talent for helping."
Blossom nodded wisely. "Surprisingly hard to learn, that is. But some people just have a knack for it."
"That they do." He nodded in return. "Well, uh. Not to be rude, but the mayor does require my help."
"It was nice speaking to you…Chatot," Blossom said, smiling. He nodded happily and hopped off with a song under his breath.
She stared after him.
Blossom ran into Chatot again the next day, twice stopping him for long chats. He was more than happy to talk, and she had a great time.
He apparently was a fan of bowling, which she hadn't expected, and could sing screamo like no one could. He demonstrated in privacy.
Yet despite that, she felt like she didn't know him at all.
"I think Chatot is hiding something," Blossom said to Jet and Boom at the evening of that day. Sitting in their room.
"…what?" Jet asked, holding up a bit of roasted pineapple in a pincer.
"I think he's hiding something," Blossom said calmly. "I get a weird feeling from him."
"…Blossom," Boom said, uncharacteristically gently.
"Don't," she said immediately.
He sighed. "Then you already know you're being crazy."
"Don't!" she snapped.
Jet was looking at her with sad eyes. "We all miss Chatot, but."
"I said-"
"Blossom," Boom snapped over her. "He died."
Her body seemed to clench in pain for a moment, and her squinted eyes squeezed shut further. "…I know. But…but still. There's just…something about THIS chatot. I mean, guys, come on. I know everyone in Treasure Town, inside and out! You think I'd be making this up?"
"I think you're still grieving," Jet said carefully. "We knew him just as well as you did. Boom?"
Boom nodded. "This Chatot is like…ten years younger at least and acts nothing like him. Plus, he died. We all saw it. We all saw him get buried. We all heard Wigglytuff singing to the grave every night for months."
Blossom had her head bowed.
"…"
She chewed on something.
"…"
"You can talk," Jet said. "We won't judge you. We…you know?"
"I know," she sighed. "All this talk about this 'First Fallen' and Shadow Pokémon just got me thinking…what if Kabutops was a Shadow Pokémon?"
They paused and shared a look.
"I mean…what pokémon just lurks in a cave and tries to murder people who come through? There's being a bandit, then there is that."
"That's…a bit of a reach," Jet said. "Wigglytuff and Chatot encountered him once before, remember? Years and years before the…second time. Surely they'd have done something about him? Did anyone say if he used any Shadow Moves either?"
Blossom gave a helpless shrug.
"And…that's like saying that Chatot has become one too," Boom growled, not at Blossom. Just in general. "I can't imagine a fate worse."
Blossom teared up. "You're right…you're right. I've just never…gosh darn it." She broke down in tears. "I just miss him so much. And I was talking to this guy, and it seemed like there was so much and so little about him…but…but…but I still think he's hiding something."
She wiped her eyes with her leafy hands. "Look. Guys. You KNOW I'm good at getting to know people, at learning about them, about figuring out everything. This guy is like a closed book wrapped in chains. I'm not getting anything out of him. The only people half as difficult as this was Chimecho, Wigglytuff, and…well Chatot."
"Do you really think he's hiding something bad?" Jet asked. "I mean…you are a stranger after all."
Blossom hadn't really considered that.
And she didn't sleep that night.
"Enough is enough," Boom snapped the next day. "We are going STRAIGHT to Clefable and demanding answers. Are you with me?"
"Here-here!" Jet said, clacking his pincers.
"It's hey-hey, but I'll take it," Boom joked.
"Hey! Funny. Hey. Joke. Hey."
"Yeah," Blossom mumbled.
"I said, are you with me!?"
"You've woken up the town at this rate," Blossom said.
"What's got you so gloomy?" Jet asked. "Not enough sun?"
"Not enough bleh," she groaned. "Just…ugh. I don't want to go anywhere. You go if you're so motivated."
"Are you serious?" Boom asked.
"Yeah."
"Really!?" he raised his voice.
"Boom," Blossom said tiredly. He blinked. "Just go. Let's do the whole splitting up thing. I'll go and talk to someone if you want."
"…is it going to be Chatot?"
"No," she said. "I just…I want to clear my head." She rolled out of bed. "I'll…I'll join you, I just…ugh. Go on ahead; I feel like a dead weight today. Maybe I do need to sit in the sun for a bit…Fissure took some light out of me."
Several days ago.
Reluctantly, they went along with this. Blossom didn't touch much of breakfast and just laid in the modest garden that Swampert and Gardevoir both tended to.
"Do you think she's alright?" Jet asked Boom.
"Not really," Boom said. "She's too strong all the time, never lets herself be a little weak. She only cried with us the one time after Chatot died. And I wouldn't be surprised if she never really let herself cry again over it."
"I think we should do something for her," Jet said. "When she arri…ves?"
He and Boom fell to a stop.
"Is that…?"
"SMOKE?"
They shared an alarmed look and then bolted for the guild; getting closer and closer, their fears were confirmed.
The Clefable Guild was on fire.
Blossom laid in the grass, with her eyes closed. She wasn't asleep, however.
When a miraculous lead comes out of nowhere when it looks like you've run out of trails to follow, and I'm fearful one will appear to you, just remember what I've said.
Something tickled her face, and her eyes opened, sneezing. Rubbing her face, she looked for what touched her.
It was a feather. Blue, yellow, and green.
She looked up sharply, scanning the sky….
There. A small dot, but visible to the trained explorer's eyes. A chatot, flying out of town.
Without hesitation, she stood up and began to follow him.
Alone.
I do love writing so much.
I imagine if you've actually come THIS far, you must love a part of it as well.
Discord: discord gg/MUtgHqKhwg