Pokémon Chronicles - Web of Lies

by Eric566

Three years after the disbandment and defeat of Team Uncario, the members of Team Star find themselves thrust back into stardom after a succesful mission in dealing with an unexpected menace. However, the fall of the last of the Dark Eons and this new achievement has stirred new enemies from the ends of the world, and re-ignited the fires of an empire best forgotten. Sequel to AHR.

24. Chapter 20 - Union

Chapter 20

Union

A coming together of hopes for the future

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"Ok come on, it's not that hard to clean up after you're done in the bathroom people!"

"What the hell is the menu today anyways?! It's supposed to be a feast but I ain't gonna have enough with just this!"

"I still think that we need to get our own rooms… Serge can sleep in the basement for all we care, and I'm telling you that we shouldn't have this much cheese, the fat content is too heavy for..."

"The hell he will! That's where the food is being stored! And Sam, complain about the menu one more time and I'll make sure you don't get a single bite of food today!"

Jake and Ayame were just playing chess whilst Zed and Sam had that argument, Vincent was in the background trying to explain why the menu was extremely unhealthy and didn't contain the proper nutritional values and how dissatisfied he was with the room arrangements, Eric was ragging on about keeping the bathroom clean, Elly was stressing out over the pans and pots they had going on and everyone else was in a different state of exhaustion or exasperation, or a combination of both after having set the table and helped with the meal. Except Cherry. She was floating around and spinning in the air slowly going "Weeeee" and commenting on whether or not Jake or Ayame made a good move.

"This was a terrible idea."

"Indeed. Queen to D6." Ayame's simple response was all that was needed, as the screaming and screeching around them was already quite telling of the situation they were in, though through all of this mess Maria was very much finding them time and tranquility to read a book, much to Nox's surprise, who was face down on the couch after having helped around all morning.

"How are you even reading with all this noise in the background?"

"Father and I are often in public spaces, with time we have both learned to block out everything, unless of course someone talks to us directly."

"...And how do you tell between just random noise and someone speaking to you?" His question went ignored for a solid ten seconds, after which Maria just lifted her gaze from those pages and looked at him.

"What'd you say?" The Houndour sighed, turning to the resting Pidgeot on his favorite armchair. "Seriously, this is just a mess through and through."

"Barely been a week too. Then again I doubt there'll normally be this many of us all living together like this, if we're going to actually arrange and make a completely new schedule for everyone involved." He nestled in further. "I honestly don't mind the chaos though, it's all good fun and we're not actually tearing at each other's throats… except for Zed over there, he's about to have a heart attack."

"That's because things are already messy enough and he doesn't want to disappoint the guests we're having over… though in all seriousness, this was all pretty nutty to begin with. Twelve pokémon plus guests? It's a miracle we managed to get enough food for the whole group to last us a week, but where in the hell are we going to get the money for all this feasting today?"

"We're probably going to have to work our asses off for a month or two to make up for it." Serge groaned out, but as always Cherry was trying to make things a little more bearable.

"Well, think about all the good food we're going to have today! I don't know about you, but it already smells amazing here!" Her words did at least manage to rouse their morale a little more, and overhearing the conversation Jake chimed in.

"Consider that it was Elly's own idea to do this, something that Eric also approved, and they manage the finances. They would not do such a thing unless we could afford it."

"They were insistent in covering all the expenses themselves, despite the fact that I could have contributed with resources and money of my own. Regardless, the sentiment is appreciated… but the living conditions do perhaps leave a lot to be desired." Despite the spacious nature of the house, they could all very effectively spread out around the living room and the kitchen and there was actually plenty of space for them to sit around the fireplace, but it was when it came time to sleep where problems had arisen. After much arguing and back and forth nearly everywhere in the house, things seemed to relax a bit more, a sort of calm before the storm, as Eric spoke up.

"Alright so, I am well aware that we are all quite stressed out over what's going on today and the amount of pokémon we're having over, but it's been a week, and I feel like we should at least talk about some of the things that have been going on in these past few days. Zed, Elly, you two got a minute?" The Eevee pried herself away from the oven and pans, managing to find some clarity since she was handling so much stuff, whilst Zed was keeping an eye on his own things, shifting between his normal Zorua form and several two legged pokémon to work on the cooking.

"I'm going to keep an eye on all this stuff and Elly's, but I'm listening!"

"Alright alright… so, first and foremost, I want to say that yes, so far the week we've been together has been at times difficult and at worst stressful. I understand that there are some grievances and that's what we're going to be addressing today, if that is ok with everyone, so we can have a more comfortable time together. After addressing all the issues, I'll also address some of the questions you had over the schedule and teams, and how it's all going to be set up, taking into account the information you gave us… Though some of you were more specific than others…"

"Oi fuck you, I don't do much else besides punch shit." Sam felt like he was being talked to here… granted, he was, but he wasn't the only one. Lucy remained quiet and rolled her eyes, and others let out disgruntled or exasperated groans. Either way, their leader cleared his throat and spoke up.

"First and foremost, all of you have brought up issues with the current system. We have to spread out all across the bedrooms we have and who rooms with who. I want you to at least remember please that we ONLY have six rooms, one of which we've been using as a storage closet, so whoever is sleeping in this one will have to understand we're trying to find some room for it all so bear with us. Now with that being said… how do you propose we go about this?"

Immediately everyone spoke up and had some way to arrange the rooms that they personally thought was best, though through the mess eventually three voices came through. "Alright so, if I can speak up then…" Serge cleared his throat, earning him an annoyed look from Ayame. "I believe the best way to go about this is just let people sleep in whatever room they want. Again, we're not all going to be together unless there's some very special circumstances that are keeping us all together as a large unit, so at most I think it'll be around eight pokémon in the house at most, and eight spread out across six rooms is a hell of a lot more manageable than twelve."

"Yeah, but we sure as hell aren't letting you into our room Serge." Lucy spoke up. "It's mine and Zed's, we've got stuff in there, furniture and our own way of organizing stuff. Plus, it's weird knowing someone slept on our bed when we sleep in it the next. Plus, you make a mess of our stuff, I'll fry your feathers off one by one!" Her threat was particularly ordained towards the Pidgeot, but it was easy to extrapolate it to the remainder of the team, who more or less felt the same way when discussing their belongings.

"Yeah, she's got a point there, I'm not particularly enthusiastic about someone sleeping in my room and potentially moving stuff around, especially because I've got all sorts of documents in my desk." Elly as always was the voice of reason.

"Personally, and don't take any offense Elly, but I don't see myself rummaging through your belongings and messing everything up, and I sincerely doubt anyone else on the team will do it. Still, if it is a matter of privacy you only need to say it, and if someone raises a stink about it…" Serge glanced at Sam, who huffed. "They can just shove it." That set them off with a huff and a swing of his tail.

"Right well, excuse fuckin' me for havin' to sleep on the fucken' straw bed and feeling hella fucken' uncomfortable, because I'm too fucken' large and sleeping on the floor makes me feel hella cranky." The discussion started up again, because indeed, three of the rooms didn't have a bed, or rather had straw beds. And while two of them were because of a lack of funds and need to furnish the rooms prior to the team's recent and rather hasty expansion, the third was undoubtedly because of Serge's personal, if also selfish preferences.

"I literally don't understand why you people have an issue with straw beds, I think they're comfortable."

"Your opinion sucks and nobody cares old man!" Cherry screamed out from the other side, and Ayame, Lucy, Sam and Vincent all audibly cheered and shared high fives, whilst Maria just giggled and patted his side, much to his confusion and dismay.

"I don't think they're terrible, but I suppose some of us will need better accommodations. I for one prefer softer beds and frames, but that is because I have grown used to sleeping in one."

"Then we'll look into beds for all the rooms, is that ok with everyone? Only three rooms have beds thus far, being mine and Elly's, Zed and Lucy's, and Jake's, though Jake's a single bed…"

"Actually, been meaning to ask: why?" Vincent raised a hand to finally voice the question that had been plaguing everyone's minds since they came here and realized there were only three beds and seven pokémon living in that house. Of course before Serge and Nox could come up with an excuse, Lucy decided to lay it all bare.

"Because Nox is shit with money and Serge is an ass." The accused voiced their displeasure and an argument broke out soon after, but was shut down immediately when Eric clapped his paws. He breathed in, and elaborated on the issue.

"Essentially, early on we realized that trying to convince someone or other to buy a certain piece of furniture for their own room was a pain in the neck. Given that Leon rarely has furniture in stock, most of it has to be custom made, and that raises costs. Add some specific details like colors, engraving, patterns… The costs balloon rapidly, and someone's choices and tastes ended up eating into the larger funds that had to go towards others. And that happened per piece of furniture, and we still needed money for food and other expenses. It was a massive headache."

"Oi. It was. It still is." Elly and Lucy exchanged glares and stuck their tongues out at each other, but were giggling soon after. "Still, since we wanted to avoid discussions like those for the more important things, we decided to rearrange how we handled the money, so everyone has their own individual funding for things like books, furniture and other knick knacks they want to own and use to decorate their room or whatever, whilst we also have a general fund that we use to buy food, pay bills and other general expenses that benefit everyone in the house, like new kitchenware or trying to fund the basement expansion."

"That thing has been a long time coming and I don't understand how the hell we didn't just make it when the house was first built!" Zed desperately wanted to use it as storage and get proper ice boxes for some of the perishables, having stumbled upon one too many rotten veggies and fruits, partly thanks to Elly's terrible habit of never taking stock of what was in storage.

"Oooo, ya'll get a cut of money that you can use on whatever the fuck ya'll wanna… Wait, so then why the fuck don't they got real ass beds again?" Sam'd lost his train of thought and everyone just groaned, Lucy's annoyance boiling over.

"Cuz Serge's a weirdo and Nox sucks with money."

"Rude!"

"I don't suck with money!" Their rebuttals were quickly met by smug grins and skeptical looks from their teammates, whilst Sam was just sitting there glaring at Nox.

"So the reason me fuckin' back hurts 's because yer shit with money kid? Fuckin' ey what are ya even spendin' it on?! Actually, don't fuckin' answer that question…" The laughter coming from some of their companions and Nox's blush were pretty telling and were far more damning than the Houndour was willing to try and correct. Following that though, it was clear that some exceptions would be made and arranged to get beds into the rooms missing them, as a special occasion.

"Just don't rely on this, we're not exactly tight on money right this instant, but that can change quickly. Now, that still leaves the matter of who rooms with who… Obviously the couples remain together, so that leaves us with eight pokémon arranged across four rooms. So…"

"Ok well, Serge and I roomed once before, so I think we could handle that again yea?" Nox looked at the Pidgeot, getting a shrug as a response, since neither seemed to particularly mind. Cherry hugged Jake, much to his chagrin and annoyance due to the fact she knocked over some chess pieces, which were made to levitate and return to their positions with her gravity manipulation.

"Ok that just leaves us four pokémon to arrange, an- Yeah, Maria?"

The Absol blushed and remained quiet for a bit, as if forgetting she'd actually been acknowledged, and snapped back to reality. "Oh! Uuh… actually, I… I have a small request if it doesn't bother anyone. I would like to room with Serge, if possible." A long silence followed her request, puzzled, shocked and amused looks that turned into worry. "I… did I say something wrong?"

"Well… It's Serge. Maria."

"Yeah he'll be like, super inappropriate or something!"

"Try to find his way between your legs."

"Be real weird!" One by one Elly, Lucy, Ayame and Cherry spoke up, Serge's fame preceding him which did make him rather gloomy, but at the end of the day he'd gathered up all of that reputation on his own. In spite of this however, the Absol shook her head sideways.

"I am aware of this, but despite it all, I believe that everything shall be fine." She remained quiet for a bit, and felt that she needed to add something, making her roll her eyes. "Yes, however, I will not lie and say I am not well aware that I am rooming with who is far and wide considered to be the town's bicycle, but I suspect he will behave himself in my presence." The girls were all shooting dubious glares in Serge's direction, but the Pidgeot just bowed, smiling.

"I shall do so, my fair lady." His courteous response made Lucy gag, as a joke of course, but the sentiment was pretty much shared among everyone.

"Excellent, then! I do hope father doesn't catch wind of this arrangement however, I am afraid he might do something quite… extreme if he got the wrong impression." That wasn't exactly an uncommon thing for Serge to hear, so it prompted him to laugh, assuring her that he wouldn't have anything to worry about. "That's reassuring to hear… most are quite scared when they realize that my father is the Reciter." And then all blood and color drained from Serge's face, having forgotten or missed that important detail about the Absol, and prompting giggles and laughter from his companions. Still, Maria seemed genuinely happy to be able to spend time with him, time that perhaps to everyone's surprise, as would later be discovered, was mostly spent reading and sharing thoughts on their literary affinities. Regardless, that was something for them all to uncover in the following months, and they still had four pokémon, the most problematic ones, and two rooms to arrange.

"Alright so, let's get it out of the way first and then we can decide who takes the other room so… who's taking the current storage closet upstairs?" No one stepped forward at first, but once the threat of pulling straws for it was suggested Vincent decided that enough was enough.

"Alright cowards, if that's how it's going to be then I'll take one for the team, literally, and I'll be one of the pokémon to sleep there. Besides, it's a temporary arrangement and considering my place in Cunabula got thrashed, later this month I'm going to have all the furniture that survived moved over, so by the time the whole room is cleared out there'll also be some furniture."

"Nice! That's some more money you get so save up then! Still, we need to decide who is actually going to be sleeping with you though."

"I said it once, and I said it again, I ain't sleeping in that tiny ass fuckin' room and not with the weedfuck." Sam spoke up about it quite quickly, the moniker earning a snicker from the Roselia, but before he could retort Ayame sighed and stood up.

"Very well, muscle head, then I propose that you sleep in my room, so that we may be spared any further discussion and a bigger headache. Sounds good to you?" Her proposal came as a shock to everyone, specially Serge and surprisingly Nox, who looked at her shocked and raised a paw to complain, but Sam, once again, had something to say. Or rather, shout.

"The fuck ya mean ya fucking deformed blueberry?! I ain't sleep in the same room as a fuckin' girl, no fuckin' way I'm having you bug me about bein' a fuckin' pig or a dude or whatever!" The water type simply sat there and took it, before calmly standing up and walking to the sitting ground type. Everyone expected her to slap the shit out of him over that, but instead she merely leaned over and whispered something into his ear… the face that appeared on the Krokorok's face was one of sheer terror, confusion and concern as he scrambled away from her, breathing heavily. "The fuck?! How do y-"

"Would you like me to repeat myself then? Perhaps this time louder, so that it gets through that thick skull of yours."

"No!" That shout came through with such panic Sam's voice seemed to grow a pitch higher, but he coughed and recomposed himself. "No. No. I'll fuckin' do it… fine, ya fuckin'... desperate bitch. Geez…"

"Then let that be the end of that. Also…" Now she slapped the back of his head, making him grunt as he didn't harden his scales in time. "That's for calling me a bitch, asshole. I expect you to behave yourself."

"Ugh…" He groaned and fumbled, and with that solved, the only available pairing were Nox and Vincent, the former not too happy about this arrangement., and the latter definitely less than ecstatic.

"I gotta sleep with this pretentious douche?"

"I don't think it's pretentious to demand you to actually shower before going to bed, scoundrel. If you're to sleep in my room, and potentially on one of the beds I bought with MY money, I expect you to be properly cleaned and washed every day, do you understand? Besides… how do you intend to woo the ladies if you smell like a Snorlax?"

"Hey, Serge told me that women like a man that has a bit of uh… musk to them!" The Pidgeot visibly cringed and rubbed his face with a wing, whilst Vincent laughed and pointed at him. Seemed like those three were going to have much to discuss, and neither the rest of the guys or the girls were too terribly interested in it… except for Cherry, who sniffed on Jake's fur and had him swatting her away.

"What the…"

"I just wanted to check where you landed, is all! You definitely do smell nice though!" She giggled, hugging him tightly and making him gasp for her, she was quite strong for someone her size.

"Personal… space… but thank you…" With that squared away, preparations for lunch continued for a few more minutes. Considering the weather was overcast and Ayame claimed it might rain later that afternoon, they had to borrow some tables and chairs from Spinda's and move some stuff out of the way in the living room. The preparations were proceeding apace all things considered, Jake standing up and walking over to the kitchen once Cherry let go of him. "Think I'll get to finish that cake?"

"If you want to have it by the time we finish lunch, you'll really have to start on it now." He merely responded, then glanced at Cherry who'd followed Jake to the kitchen. "Hey, Cherry, what'd I tell you about coming in when we're cooking?"

"Ok listen, I'm sorry but I just wanted to like help or do somethin' you know? I can flip and move around pans and stuff, or fetch you stuff from the cupboards… You know?"

"If you want to do something, you can help Jake with the cake and mixing stuff, I'm good over on my end… Before that though, go tell Elly that I've things under control, so she can go get some rest. She's been looking a little pale."

"Awww… Wait! Imma do that, then come back, squeeze her a glass of pecha berry juice, yea!" She giggled excitedly, and something that Zed agreed was a good idea as she went off to give the Eevee the news, he turned to Jake.

"She's taken a liking to you."

"You say that as if it were surprising."

"You're usually pretty reserved."

"Says you? If you had as much spunk when you're out in the field as when you're cooking I'm sure you'd be quite the intimidating rogue." The Zorua smirked, getting a simple grin and chuckle from Jake. "She has grown rather attached though, that is true… I don't quite understand what she sees in me or what she even seeks, but I will not turn her away."

"Mentorship, maybe?" The Sneasel shrugged, getting the bowl and other utensils ready to make the cake batter. "Whatever it is, she's pretty nice, even if a little scatter brained, plus she did save your life from… Jiho, was it?"

"I'd much rather we don't discuss it here today." Jake didn't even flinch even when saying that, pouring flour and sugar and adding liquids and mixes. "It is a day for reverie and relaxation, not to discuss the affairs that have brought all of us together under the same roof." He glanced at Zed, a subtly accusing glare in his eye. "I'm sure you can also agree."

"...Keep that up and you'll sour up the mood and the food." The message got across, both males quieting down again. "...Sorry about that, it's just… a lot."

"...No, I also understand. Even though our relationship was not as intricately linked as your own, I can only imagine what the revelation must have felt like." He rose a hand and stopped mere inches from patting the Zorua's back… then decided to go for it, and patted it, albeit awkwardly, earning a stare from the dark type, which he returned and held for ten seconds before the Zorua cracked a smile. "What?"

"You look like a Deerling in front of a speeding carriage man. Patting me on the back and stuff caught me by surprise… but it's alright, I appreciate it. I just… feel that I can barely talk about this stuff with anyone, you know? Lucy's been feeling very down since then, and given what I know it's hitting her even harder."

"What about Eric? You two are pretty close as well."

"He's got his own things to worry about, and I just don't want to put more on his plate… or anyone's for that matter. I've always thought that those things I'd rather keep to myself if I've nothing good or insightful to offer. It's part of the reason why I'm always so quiet."

"Yet there's a large portion of it that has to do with your own embarrassment and perceived lack of social skills, right?" The Zorua crouched to check on the oven, face warmed by the heat so that he might hide his flustered cheeks.

"...yeah, I'll be honest, if you stuck me in front of a crowd I'd be as done as these veggies down here. Hold on…" Jake stepped away to not get blasted by the heat radiated by that infernal contraption, as he put it whilst Zed fished the food out.

"I can definitely understand that… but I feel we would all benefit from being more honest with each other."

"And others would benefit from talking less with one another." A voice came from behind them, Zed dropping the vegetables, but before they touched the floor they began to float up and harmlessly land on the trays and plates. Elly walked into the corner of their vision, putting the next dish, a large cheesy casserole into the oven, sighing. "That should be about forty minutes before it's done, make sure to turn it around…" She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "You sure I can take a break? Cherry said something to that effect, and I just wanted to check in."

"Yeah, absolutely. You look like you need it." Both males agreed on that end, with the Eevee sighing, she turned around and announced to the others she was going to have a short nap.

"Call me if you need anything, alright?"

"Yea yea, jus' go get yer beauty sleep already, ya look like shit." Sam was blunt as always, but he was quite honest, Elly did look like she hadn't slept much last night, or any prior night for that matter. She dismissed herself and went upstairs whilst Sam returned to his heated game of War with Vincent, Serge and Ayame. "Girl ain't right I'm tellin' ya… whatever the sick fucks did to 'er's definitely taken it's toll."

"She hasn't said a peep about it, not even Eric."

"How do you know that?" Vincent questioned the Pidgeot, who merely motioned to the Riolu with his head, who was sitting in the armchair, chin covered by his paw, cross legged and leaning back against the comfortable pillows behind him. He looked crestfallen and worried, eyes trailing his mate as she disappeared upstairs. "...Sheesh, I think you might be right."

"I don't see why you must prod into their affairs like this." Ayame slapped down a card. "It is concerning since they're our colleagues, and in your case friends, but they are both mature enough to come to terms with it. I'm sure they'll talk about it before long."

"You sure about that? Eric's been a bundle of nerves since Cunabula, hell even earlier, I'd say since the Parasite he's been all jumpy."

"I think he was scared of something like what happened in Cunabula. You said that it'd already happened once, right?" Whether they liked it or not, Eric and Elly had to deal with the fact that their friends and colleagues talked and discussed them and their circumstances. To say that they were cursed was perhaps an understatement, though of course no one in their right mind had the guts to say it. Plus, it was rude, even if they thought it, they knew it wasn't deserved. Vincent pressed the Pidgeot however, very interested in this particular story. "You said it was like… what? Six, seven years ago?"

"Something along those lines yea, they were both in their mid to late teens, so I can't really remember accurately. On new year's too, if you can believe that. Why, something on your mind?"

"Hmmm… I was in the area back then is all, I don't quite remember what I was doing, since it was a night like any other to me back then…. but to know something like that was going down at the same time is disturbing to say the least. You ever thought about that? Just what kind of messed up things are happening while we're doing our daily routines? Eating, sleeping, going to the bathroom…"

"Not really. 's fucken' pointless to think 'bout shit like that no? Ya know what they say, outta sight outta mind. Got enough of me fuckin' plate as is, don't need to concern meself about what's happenin' across half the globe, eh?"

"Yeah, I getcha… Well, that being said, what'd you actually do before coming here, Sam?"

"Eh? The fuck's that come from now, birdbrain?"

"I dunno, but since we were talking about what we were doing when bad shit was going down, thought we might at least get to hear each other's stories a little bit."

"Apologies but I'm not the least interested in sharing my life's story with you, Serge." Ayame, as always, seemed to oppose everything the Pidgeot says by virtue of the fact that he said it. Something about the Frogadier got under the flying type' feathers every damn time she spoke to him like that.

"Yea, I think I'll take a pass on that too. I'll at least say that I was an information broker, but I think you already knew that."

"Yeah, chasin' after yer sister was it? Then turns out these bozos gone 'n killed her for ya? The fuck's that about?" The Roselia smiled and chuckled in a dark way, before he lifted a finger to his lips and hushed him.

"My secret, so you'd better not pry 'less you want your spilled "Sammy" boy~ Ayame here isn't the only one, after all~" His teasing tone of voice and that last remark spoke volumes of what he implied, and Sam fell quiet soon after. "At the very least though, yes, that is correct. And you and Ayame were mercenaries, correct?"

"Eeeh… mercenary's a lil' too much. I just wandered, gettin' into all sorts o' trouble, then either broke out or punched me way through."

"Sounds pretty aimless."

"Oi watch it featherface."

"Besides, you're one to talk." Ayame once again used that infuriating tone of voice on the Pidgeot, much to his dismay. "Your reputation precedes you, Serge, for good or ill, and I'd reckon I know a little too much for your own good."

"I've nothing to hide."

"You sure about that, Kaze?" Again, that surname, he shot her a venomous look that would've made those who knew him closely recoil in surprise.

"Watch it, blueberry, you really don't know what you're fucking with. What, do you just have a hate boner for me or something? You're always getting up in my case."

"No particular distaste, beyond the fact that I know about your past and some of the things you've done."

"Not everyone says the truth, and I've plenty of people that I've pissed off enough to start smearin' and spreading shit about me."

"True enough… granted, the particular request I accepted didn't cite the reason for your capture, merely your name and the client's name. That's enough for me to make some connections." Serge sneered at that.

"Figures he wouldn't go any deeper… still, to think he'd make it that obvious? Must be getting desperate… and fucking senile." Vincent and Sam felt lost in this conversation, which felt more like a standoff between the two than anything else. "But seriously, just that? I feel like there's got to be more to it… then again, you've so far been pretty uppity around any guys on the team, not just me. What, have a bad break up or somethin'?" Ayame nearly crumpled up the card in her hand, and now it was time for her to glare at Serge whilst he gave her a big ol' shit eating grin.

"If anyone saw either of you they'd probably think you're exes or something, wow." Lucy spoke up, laying on her back and watching the game from the couch.. "Like seriously, the amount of vitriol between you two would make anyone think you're two seconds away from killing each other."

"Well, I don't exactly want to kill her. She just gets under my feathers is all."

"As if you could kill me with your half assed technique… but regardless, as much as I harbor some negative feelings towards you and the way you live your life and treat females, I don't exactly have a desire to seriously harm you either."

"Yeah well, you tried to do that when we first met and that didn't work out, did it?"

"One: back then I am sorry to wound your pride, but you were merely a statistic, and the information I gathered did not paint you in a good light either. Two, the only reason you weren't harmed then was because Nox jumped in at the last second and got a cheap shot in."

"Hey! Come on, it was a good attack!"

"You got lucky."

"Sounds to me like you're still salty about that." The Pidgeot didn't help his case, or Nox for that matter, who just shrunk away when Ayame gave him a similar glare to the ones that Serge received every so often. "Still, I have to ask, not what was on that document, since to be fair, that's pretty pointless, but rather your own personal opinion: do you think I am someone who could earnestly do something like that?"

There was a long, and borderline uncomfortable pause, before she sighed. "I do not know you, nor do I care to, but if you are here and have been a part of this team for a sufficient time, then I do not see you as the type to commit the crimes described in that paper." She gave him a heavy look. "Do not think for a second that means I trust you. Any pokémon, male or female, who refuses to use their real name is hiding something."

"We've all got our baggage here. At the end of the day I feel this is a team where a lot of misfits ended up at. So I'll hazard a guess that you've also got your secrets and have done questionable things… or else I don't think you would've accrued the fame you have in the mercenary world." He slapped down his card on the table, and took that round himself, earning a smirk from Ayame.

"Fair enough I suppose. Time will tell then… Serge." The Frogadier's countenance softened ever so slightly, shuffling the deck and dealing out some more cards, glancing towards Nox. "Will you play?" He wasn't even knowledgeable of the rules of the game, so he shook his head. "So then why are you standing so close to me?"

"Well uh… earlier you were talking with Serge about the first time we met and when we fought and stuff…" She lifted an eyebrow. "Well uh, I just wanted to ask two things, or well, say one thing and ask another. So uh, first, I just wanna say I'm sorry that I stepped in like that and attacked you, you were kinda trying to kill him so I felt like I had to intervene. Then I just wanted to ask if well… I did a good job? Like, was I impressive? Did I put up a decent challenge? You know? All that… sorta stuff." The water type stared through him, then turned her attention to the game once her turn came.

"If you're wanting for praise you won't find it here, I stand by what I said, it was a cheap shot and you attacked from a blindspot, that's all. Call me overconfident if you want, but I have trained long and hard to make sure my sword and combat skills are second to none, while you are unrefined, emotional and too erratic. If we were to seriously fight there's no doubt in your mind I would soundly defeat you." His ears flattened against his head with every word she let out. "You are still too immature and unfocused… But you are possessed of a lot of vim and potential." Those last two words made his eyes light up. "I'm sure you could ask anyone here and they'd tell you the same."

"Hah! Well I mean, yeah! I'm a pretty passionate guy, and when things get tough and I put my mind to it I'm sure I ca-"

"But that potential means nothing if you keep sitting on your ass, waking up late and eating and wasting time. How old are you anyways?" He looked at her, blinking. "I asked how old you are."

"Nineteen."

"I am twenty four. As it stands I am the head of an illustrious family and owner of many successful businesses, a skilled swordswoman and now a member of one of the most illustrious exploration teams of the modern age, and I accomplished most of this by that age, if not a little earlier. Look around you and ask those who share your age or outlive you, you'll see very quickly that their achievements leave yours behind, or had something to show for at those times."

"Are you trying to praise me or talk me down?!" That definitely struck a raw nerve in Nox, something that Ayame took notice of.

"You don't need to match others, but you need to actually use that talent for something, Nox. You are among the youngest here, but I think you are aimless, you merely slide along and wait and remain passive. Life will not wait for you." She put a card down on the table, and won the round, leaving the others speechless whilst Serge reached to shuffle the deck.. "Life is anything but kind. It will not discriminate for age or gender, it'll try to break you and destroy you and everything you own and stand for. Once the time comes, and you are inevitably alone, you'll sorely regret it. Your friends may be here for you today, but they will not be able to stand by your side forever." She closed her eyes and controlled her breathing, relaxed, and continued. "Learn to stand on your own four paws, Nox. Learn what it means to be alone and how to protect yourself when no one has your back… then, and only then, you can come challenge me."

The Houndour was left speechless and dejected, and quietly slipped away from the table and towards the couch, trying to shake off what she'd just told him… the water type meanwhile, just turned her gaze on Serge, whose grave look followed the fire type. "You are too harsh on him."

"I think you're too soft is the issue. He cannot remain under your wing forever. It won't just be a problem for yourself, but also hinder and waste him." It was hard to tell if Ayame spoke out of care or irritation, as it was no secret that she had a special disdain for Serge and Nox both, which most had attributed to that supposed loss in the Giant's Forest… but now Sam and Vincent were starting to have second thoughts about it.

"...heh. Maybe you are right." Ayame's eyes widened for an instant and looked away when those words slipped from his beak, thudding like stones on the table due to their solemn weight. Just like that though, the Pidgeot recovered, exclaiming as he continued the game, making the others think it'd been but a mirage. Nox on his end would be deep in thought and walking past a resting Eric and Lucy, passing by Maria and sitting on the opposite end of the couch, remaining quiet for a few minutes and pondering the words that Ayame had directed at him.

"I've never seen such a gloomy look on your face, Nox. Is something the matter?" Despite the fact that she was reading, Maria's perceptiveness was quite impressive… if unreliable.

"Not gloomy, just… thinkin'. About stuff."

"Nox? Thinking? Shit man, we might have to cancel lunch today, I think the world's ending." Lucy's rather mean spirited jab actually managed to get a snarky chuckle from Nox, but not much else, prompting the Luxio to raise her head and look at him. "Wait, seriously? What the hell's gotten you so bothered?"

"Just… stuff. I'm thinking about what I am doing right now, and what I want to do, what my end goal is, stuff like that. Thinking ahead as it may." He huffed. "But now I'm starting to get anxious about it too…"

"Ugh, not you too. Why's everyone now starting to look into the future so much, and bringing the whole mood down? I mean, I'm no different, I can't get some shit out of my head and it's twisting my stomach in knots…"

"Wanna get it off your chest?" There seemed to be genuine worry in Nox's question, but the electric type just shrugged him off.

"Bah, I'll manage. Not that you'd get it anyways, most of my thinking is stemming from what happened in Cunabula. You can probably guess…" She let out another sigh, whilst Nox did the same… and that was apparently one sigh too many for Maria, who snapped her book shut, flustered and annoyed.

"Will you two stop that already? You ought to be more… optimistic about things, you know? You don't know how things'll turn out, what the future has in store, so you can afford to be excited and hopeful."

"Eeeegh… I can't help but be depressed about this shit, that's my brother that I'm gonna have to beat the shit out of. Family." She rubbed her eyes, trying to de-stress somehow. "If I could, I'd look forward into the future just so I can know what's going to happen. Good, or bad, I don't care, it's not knowing that's fucking with me."

Maria fell very quiet, and with Lucy being further away, she did not hear what she muttered, but Nox did. "Ignorance is bliss. Relish it." He supposed she was right, ruminating on what Ayame had told him, and glancing over to Eric. He wanted to ask something of him, but… the Riolu was also absorbed in his own thoughts, and his eyes kept wandering up the stairs. This continued for an hour before a sudden knock at the door broke everyone's focus, echoing louder than even the hushed shouts that Zed and Jake were directing at each other as they tried to bumble through the kitchen together. Cherry would take it, teleporting to the entrance and swinging it open inwards without even asking who it was… and revealed Slew on the other side.

"Well look at you, Cherry!"

"Professor!" She practically lunged into the Slowbro's arms and began to spin him around with her powers, erasing any friction and ending up just spinning him into the house, releasing him and letting him strike a pose alongside her as a manner of odd greeting… before the psychic type nearled keeled over from nausea, albeit chuckling all the same. "You live so close, what took you so long!"

"Well, despite being so close, I had some matters to attend to…"

"Probably just got buried under another stack of books just before you left home, didn't you?" Eric joked as he stood up and walked towards their old acquaintance, shaking his claw and then going for a hug.

"...more like four, but I digress." He smiled warmly, and repeated the gestures with most of the members of Team Star he already knew, specially with Jake and Zed, to whom he'd lent and gifted various books, specially cookbooks, since as he himself put it, was just as bad as Lucy when it came to cooking. The newer members didn't take long to introduce themselves, recognizing Ayame's surname immediately.

"Well now, to see a Shimizu this far from their home… I'd heard the clan had nearly been devastated." Her eyes widened at the remark, but he shook his head. "Relax, my lady, I do not mean to pry into your family's personal affairs, nor am I too interested in politics. It's just that a few years ago I came into contact with a few pokémon who claim to have left your village, and had settled here after the continent had been fully explored and Treasure Town had been founded." She was puzzled to say the least, but decided to leave the conversation for later, and continue it over food and drink. That, and also he noticed something that puzzled him. "Where's Elly?"

"She's upstairs, she was complaining about a headache."

"Ah… Well, I meant to ask how she's doing, but I suppose that's answer enough. If what you told me in that letter was true, then she'll need time to recover, and her migraine episodes will persist for a year or so, I fear." Eric nodded, looking grim as always to the others, but to Slew's eyes, it was a shock. "Come now, what's that long look on your face young man?! Why, I haven't seen you looking so down and drab since you were sixteen and you were mercilessly exploring with your fox companion over there!" He pointed to the transformed Zorua, who turned to him when he was mentioned. "Pull yourself together already, you're her main support in these trying times!"

"Hey, hey, I know. It's just… exhausting, no matter what I do it doesn't seem to improve the situation, and it hurts seeing her like this."

"Then all the more reason for you to show her support and get used to this. As I said she's lucky enough to even be here and have kept her mind intact, and she's even luckier the migraines aren't constant and endless. Having your mind probed like that is an awful, invasive and painful process that many writers and victims have equated to…" He trailed off, but given the context it was heavily implied to what he was referring to, which only made Eric's mood sour further. "I digress. Grab a glass of water and some walnuts, and take them upstairs to her. They'll do her some good, and make sure she's hydrated."

"Are you a doctor or an archeologist? Sheesh." Nox sat back down as Slew went all out on Eric, practically hurrying the Riolu upstairs with the aforementioned accompaniments, and disappearing from view. Upstairs, the window was directly behind him, shining a light directly down the hallway and making him cast a long shadow as he approached his and Elly's room, at the end of the hall. He knocked on the door as a token gesture, and walked inside, expecting her to be asleep and trying to recover.

Tiny motes of dust filled the streaks of dim, purple tinted light that bled through the curtains and blinds, a feeling of languish and slight disrepair staining the room. The air felt musty, an effect of keeping the windows locked to keep the temperature comfortable, as Elly's naps had become far more frequent. Eric had done his hardest to clean up everything while she was indisposed, but he could only do so much without her psychic powers. He scanned her position under the sheets, recognizing her limbs and head and making out the rest soon after: she was facing his side of the bed, legs curled up, attempting to grab at something… or likely, someone.

It felt like a punch to the gut. He hadn't been giving it his all lately, he'd felt like he'd been knocked off balance and was having issues standing back up, and while he was busy fumbling around and looking like a fool, his mate was struggling on the floor. He'd already mentioned it back in Cunabula, then in the forest, and now here: bitter and acrid defeat clung to his tongue since that day, and the new conditions and changes around the team's structure hadn't helped in the slightest. He wasn't the only one who was uncomfortable and annoyed at how things had turned out, and that still felt like they'd lost more than they had gained… Those words and thoughts though, there was someone else who deserved to hear them and share in them. And his presence hadn't gone unnoticed, a change in her breathing giving away the fact she was awake.

"Eric?"

"Yeah. I brought you some water. And walnuts." There was a long pause, and blinking and a yawn from the Eevee.

"Walnuts?"

Another awkward silence, and an adorable smile made his own lips curve into a bashful blush. "Yeah, Walnuts." Another pause, and a snicker from his mate. "I heard they're good for headaches and migraines."

"I'm sure they are, for normal ones at least. Still…" She trailed off as he gently kicked the door shut behind him and shuffled through the dimly lit room towards the bed, practically stumbling onto it and shoving the glass of water in her face. "Uh, thanks." It was genuine, as she attempted to reach for the glass, and upon realizing it was at an impractical position for her to grab with her paws, he corrected. She still grabbed it with her paws however, despite how much simpler it would've been to just use her psychic. "Everything ok downstairs?" She asked before attempting to drink the water whilst he began to peel some of the walnuts with his bare paws, all the while trying and ultimately failing to keep any of the shells from covering the sheets, something that slightly annoyed Elly and as she tried to point it out to the Riolu, she ended up choking on her water and breaking into a coughing fit, spilling over most of the water in the glass and making the sheets even messier.

"Sheesh, I thought you already bathed this morning." He preemptively grabbed the glass before she dropped it from the coughing, and he picked up as many shell bits as he could. "You alright? Sorry if I'm being overbearing and worrying too much." He gave her the peeled walnut, which she accepted and munched on happily. He tenderly looked at her, reaching for cheek and caressing it, a gesture which she affectionately returned by purring and nuzzling his paw.

I'm sorry, I'm sure that me being like this isn't helping." Her comment was answered with another peeled walnut.

"No, it's me that needs to apologize. I just… wasn't strong enough to protect you. You got hurt because of it, and now you're dealing with the consequences. Relatively speaking, I got off easy."

"I wouldn't say those scars on your side mean you got off easy." He felt her tail swishing up under the sheets and pressing against the aforementioned area. His upper right hip looked fine now, and thanks to Vincent's abilities there'd be no long lasting wounds or damages, but the scars beneath his fur would remain, both he and Serge had taken a nasty fall and had been the only ones that Vincent had to seriously tend to after the fact.

"I suppose so… Still, I've been letting things get to me too much lately. I need to change my outlook, do a one eighty turn and rethink stuff. Especially if we're going to nearly double the amount of people on the team. I can't let weaknesses slip out…"

"Hey. I'm the co-leader, remember? You don't have to bear all that stuff on your own." Her concern was genuine, but he merely smiled, pinching her cheek slightly and making her puff them out.

"Relax, I'll remember that, I always do, but for now, and as long as you're dealing with the aftermath of… what happened, I want you to let me take point, as it were. At least in things that I'm confident I can do well."

"Yeah, you better. You touch the money books and I swear we'll be in the red in three days tops!" Eric rolled his eyes at her tease, laying down besides her. "Come on under."

"I shouldn't. Slew is downstairs, and the other guests are bound to start showing up soon… We can do plenty of that tonight if we've energy for it." He cuddled and rolled in up and close to her.

"So then why are you cuddling up to me?" He wrapped her up in his paws, sheets and all, bundling her up and immobilizing the Eevee. "And turning me into a burrito?"

"Because you look cute like this. And I want to be closer to you. And care more for you. I cannot put into words where my mind wandered to when you were taken away and…" He hugged her tighter, burying his snout against her neck, taking in her sweet scent. "Point is I feel like I've failed you and…"

"Quit that already." She interjected, looking less than amused with his attitude. "It's not like you to be so down on the dumps. In fact, it borders on the disturbing, and I'm not going to lay here and let you beat yourself up over something you couldn't do anything about. Besides, I'm not made out of glass and you couldn't let that guy get away after what he did to Ferrus. Speaking of which, is he actually coming today?"

"In spite of everything, yeah. When I saw him in that fountain… I thought he was dead." Eric shuddered, the water looked so crimson it'd stained his fur all over his body.

"He was… amazing, despite all those wounds huh?" The sight of Ferrus attacking and swinging so much aura around like it was nothing had been burnt into their minds. Not even Eric, with his innate light magic, had managed to achieve such efficient results. "I'd be surprised if he didn't show up even if Vincent hadn't healed him."

"It was either that or he was going straight back to work. Honestly, I feel like he's dropping by because it's on the way to the ETF. Who knows, this might be his way of taking Vincent's advice about an 'extended vacation'." He laid on his back besides Elly, gripping her paw as she unwrapped herself. "Wonder what that feels like."

"We'll get a taste of it once we put those guys behind bars. This time we're finishing it. For good." Elly gripped his paw back, her resolve was palpable, yet they could both relate to that sentiment. "Why can't it all just end. I'm so…

"Tired?" He didn't even hesitate, it was something that they were both feeling. Despite their age, the amount of action and excitement they'd been through in that half decade of exploring was taking their toll on them.

"Yeah. I expected we'd have a lot of work on our plates when we became a serious team, all those years back, but nothing could've prepared us for what was ahead of us then. Still, with all the sacrifices we made, you'd think that it would've… tied up things with a nice bow."

"Yeah… Sometimes I wish I'd said no on that beach when you asked me if you wanted t- Ow! Elly that's where the scars are… uugh…" She had rightfully smacked him in the side for that one, his groaning fading to give way to chuckling. "Alright alright, don't look at me like that El, you know I'm kidding." Her face relaxed into a knowing smirk. "But yeah, after the time freeze I thought things would improve, like you said, it would've all been perfect, but it's just been problem after problem." He shifted around on his side of the bed and winced. "Damn it El, that actually hurt. Vincent's such an ass…"

"He does raise a valid point about us not overdoing it, you've seen what it does to his body."

"Guy doesn't pull his full weight unless he's getting something out of it, come on. Pure greed, I'm telling you."

"But he's worth every penny. If he cuts down on complaining, his healing might be the edge we need to prevent getting burnt out and exhausted too much."

"Yeah." Mention of that however made Eric suddenly remember something that put a smirk on his face. "Then again, wanna hear something funny Zed told me? Apparently when they were picking things up at the hospital, Zed overheard Vincent and Ferrus talking. Apparently, Ferrus wanted to be back at full capacity straight away, so he could get back to work immediately and sort things out, but Vincent was having none of it, shouting that it was just going to end up with them swapping places. So then Ferrus offered to pay him. A lot. Wanna know what he did?"

"I'd guess he took it, but considering he's not walking in crutches…"

"He told Ferrus to shove it where the sun doesn't shine, then healed him anyways. Just enough to get him out of bed and keep him away from the office.A big middle finger in medical terms, as he himself put it.." Elly broke into a giggling fit imagining the conversation, which made Eric's grin widen. "Bit of a character, eh?"

"Yeah, even if we barely know him, he's nice to have around. I wish he'd taken the money though, we could use it to cover the costs of the food." And with that, she groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose, her headache coming back in full swing. "Just thinking about it is making my head hurt. And yes, I know that Ayame offered to foot the bill, but we said no and still ran it by the numbers and in spite of how much of a hole it's going to burn into the coffers, we arrived at the same conclusion!"

"We deserve it." They both spoke in unison, earning a knowing smirk from each other and a quick kiss to the lips. "Let's just focus on that and ignore the costs, yea? I know they've been on your mind for a while."

"Considering how expensive food is getting now? Yeah they have, that and the fact we're gonna have to feed twice as many people from now on, and…"

"We'll have twice the amount of income too, don't forget that." He poked her nose playfully. "Those guys aren't going to stay here and do nothing, I'll make damn sure of that. Plus, bigger teams means we can take longer and tougher missions. Just a matter of, you know, learning to work together and getting to know each other. Like with Vincent."

"We're gonna have to figure that out in due time. For now, we first and foremost should stop thinking so negatively. We have to come to terms with the idea of there being an "end" to trouble is stupid. Life is just a series of problems we need to solve one after another." She gave him a spry look.

"Ok mister, what's our current problem?"

"Well, getting you to stand first and foremost. C'mon." He sat up on the bed, helping Elly wherever she needed to do the same, then onto her rear legs and shuffled about, no longer wincing for her migraine.

"Well, problem one solved. What's the next problem, hm?" Her tease was met back with a snarky laugh from her mate.

"Fixing your fur, it's all messed up."

"Is it?" She would lean over to the mirror and indeed, it was a little ruffled. She didn't need to worry however, as Eric came up from behind her, and would grab her brush and help her straighten out her fur. "Thanks." She purred and looked up to kiss him again, caressing his chin. "Then again, you're at fault, so it's only natural you help me out with it."

"This, and anything else. You have a problem, you ask me for help, ok? And we'll solve all problems, one by one, until we can finally rest easy." She nodded, hopping down from her bed and pondering that last line as they left their bedroom. As she did this and they walked down however, they heard two additional voices, telling them that there were even more guests downstairs. They had a rough idea of who it could be, but they certainly hadn't expected Mick and Milly to show up this early. The Persian and Infernape were chatting away with the newcomers, getting the introductions out of the way and Milly was having an arm wrestling contest with Sam. The latter was obviously winning, but it wasn't a complete wash out like it was with everyone else. "Well now, about time you guys showed up, considering you live halfway down the road!"

The Persian turned to face him once he was downstairs, greeting the Riolu with a forepaw and shaking it with him, before going for a hug. Elly was right behind him, being welcomed by Milly as she winced from losing the contest with Sam, and shook paws with Elly. "I'm so glad you made it. How are you?"

"Enjoying the retirement life, you know how it is." The fire type smiled back, before yanking her friend up into a hug. "I see that you're in full swing here? What, a full twelve members now?"

"That's a massive team. Who would've known that those two little squirts that helped us way back when would become world renowned heroes, and have one of the largest exploration teams out there!"

"Heh… well, most of what we know and do we learned from you guys."

"Wait, seriously?" Those who didn't know these two were in for a bit of a surprise, considering the influence they'd had on Eric and Elly when they were younger and inexperienced. "So you're like, their teachers that made them super duper strong and super duper powerful?" Cherry chimed in as she floated around Milly, Mick slapping Eric's back playfully.

"That's right! We taught these guys everything there was to know!" The Riolu chuckled alongside the feline's hearty laugh, whilst Cherry was quickly becoming starry eyed.

"Don't go putting the wrong ideas in Cherry's head, she's very impressionable. But yeah, these two showed us a lot of the basics and served as a pretty huge inspiration for us way back when." Everyone who didn't already know them stared on in stunned silence, with Maria speaking up first.

"Wow… Anyone else get the feeling they're talking to living legends then?"

"I mean, I wouldn't go THAT far!" Mick bashfully laughed, a light blush on his face. "Seriously, we're not that special, we were just in the right place at the right time and we just so happened to find a pair of snot nosed brats that didn't know the first thing about the world they were getting themselves into. So we stuck around…"

"And the rest is, what they say, history." Milly finished for her mate, giggling. "Mick and I retired a few years ago though, during the drama that got unleashed on the ETF after the time freeze. We just… couldn't handle the pressure at the time, and now getting back in the saddle seems too far fetched, especially at our age, plus other… complications."

"Well I dunno 'bout cha, but your girl's got a fucken' mean grip, like sheesh girl." Sam, despite having won the three rounds they'd gone for, seemed to have a sore hand after that. "Dunno about your arm strength, but you've got one HELL of a grip."

"I used to train pretty regularly! Pretty much the one who beat the idea of constant training and working out for Eric."

"Yeah… that REALLY saved my hide when it came to training under Virkov. Pretty much the only one that was up on time, right Zed?" The Zorua nodded with a chuckle. All the food was pretty much done, so he was having a nice little glass of lemon juice while waiting.

"Yeah. I was always the one up late, you and Rick seemed to be always one upping each other."

"I mean, the guy thought he was my rival… speaking of which, you hear him and his girl move out of town?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, apparently they couldn't handle the amount of people coming in, wanted to find better prospects elsewhere… We were out on a mission when it happened, but they moved to Unova, so we ought to run into them sometime." There was a lot of reminiscing going on, whilst others were just confused as to who they were referring to… Soon after however, another knock came at the door. This time, Jake had some kind of premonition, and practically leapt off the chair he was resting on to open the door, but was disappointed when he found Alakard and a reluctant Ferrus on the other side.

"Hey everyone! Sorry for d- Whoa, ok that's a hell of a look on your face… Jake, was it? You alright?"

"Hm? Oh… apologies I was merely… expecting someone else is all." He was definitely not alright, as anyone who knew him and his past could tell, but unfortunately there was nothing that could be done. It was hard to tackle too, despite Cherry floating over to give him headpats and a hug, it wasn't as effective as she wanted it to be.

"Someone else? Oh." Given his position, he had a hand in Dusknoir's imprisonment and his condition, and he and Jake had spoken in the past. "Yeah… With his record and things as they are, it'd been nothing short of a miracle. Grovyle and Celebi pushed for it quite a lot, but they didn't get anywhere with the Council." Something in the Blaziken's tone of voice betrayed his apparent enthusiasm about the issue.

"And where are they? I thought they would come too." Jake pressed, and the fire type relented, showing much more sincere remorse.

"I tried to get them to come as well, but after what happened in Cunabula, things have been locked down, and all of the known legendaries have been placed under scrutiny and borderline house arrest until the situation is resolved. I tried to make an exception for Celebi, knowing where she was going, and who would be here… But they argued that she could be hit in transit, and that was that. Sorry." He tried to pep himself up though, and hoisted Ferrus forward. "Still though, I managed to get this guy to come along! He was willing to go straight back to work, but I caught him trying to sneak away, and dragged him here!"

"I'm perfectly capable of going back to the Federation by myself, Alakard. Besides, I am fully healed and ready to work once more."

"That's up for your doctor to determine, good sir!" Vincent suddenly spoke up and walked up to the duo and pressed his hand all over his chest and neck, checking his pulse, nodding attentively, before pulling away. "Yes, yes… I hereby diagnose you with an acute case of "workaholism", as well as several pulled tendons and broken bones and skin tears that will heal well with some good ol' R&R."

"And that begins with you taking a day off today and enjoying lunch with us, Ferrus." Elly chimed in, her and Eric greeting him and Alakard with pawshakes. Mick and Milly were fairly starstruck, considering they had only seen the Lucario once or twice in their lives, and they were downright terrified of the prospect of making a bad impression. Meanwhile Sam just strutted past them, almost stepping on Mick's tail, and faced down the Lucario, who had to actually look up at him.

"Yes, Samuel?" The fact that he knew his name already kinda took Sam aback. "I know about you and your criminal record. You have made a name for yourself across Unova, though mostly for petty robbery and aggravated assault." The Krokorok simply scoffed and looked away.

"'ever hit anyone who don't deserve it."

"So you say, but a crime is a crime. We'll consider this community service in order to compensate and call it even, yes?"

"Hmm… only if ye beat me at an arm wrestlin' match. Fair warnin' though, not even Eric can beat me."

"The hell you will! You'll break the table!" Elly suddenly snapped out as she was busy setting the table, whilst Vincent sighed and shook his head.

"Let alone the fact you'll dislocate his arm. Sam, you blockhead can't you see he's wounded? He should be in bed for crying out loud, and you think he's going to accept the ch-"

"You're on." Vincent immediately glared at Ferrus' stoic face and just threw up his arms in defeat, then walked over and sat on the table, dejected and completely disconnecting from everything this crazy bunch of bastards wanted to do. Elly's fury wasn't satisfied until she provided the table from her own dark matter.

"No way you're making me buy a new table after all the money we had to spend buying today's food AND however much we're going to need for all the new furniture for everyone's rooms! Eric! Tell them!"

"Yeah, seriously… Ferrus, don't do this."

"No no. I was told that I came here to relax and have a soothing day, so if I lose this arm wrestling match then I will accept that."

"Dem's fightin' words! Come on!" Sam let out a boisterous laugh as he stood opposite of the dark matter table, as everyone in the house gathered around or perched wherever they could to watch, which mostly consisted of Serge's head and neck in the case of Nox, everyone else spreading out to watch as Ferrus put out his healthy arm, and grasped Sam's. "Aight then… three… two… one!" And then when he was going to say go… there was a brief moment of struggle and strain in his face, before being replaced by genuine horror when he practically got flipped on his side and tumbled away and onto Serge, throwing him, the Pidgeot, Nox and Maria down on the floor, Serge flailing and gasping for air from the immense weight on top of him.

Everyone else just stared at Ferrus in a mixture of shock and awe, as he simply walked over and sat near the head of the table, where Eric and Elly intended to sit. "Well? Shall we get this party rolling?"

"Yaaay! Partyyyyy!" Cherry's cheer broke everyone out of their stupor, Sam getting himself back on his feet and about to ask for a rematch… but Elly's murderous gaze made him falter.

"Gah… fine, I let ye have that one y'know! Don't feel right kickin' a wounded guys' ass…"

"Yeah that's tauros crap. I find it more believable that you lost fair and square than you having that much of a soft spot."

"Keep fuckin' runnin' that beak o' yours and I'll be showin' you yer soft spots birdbrain!" Sam's retort was immediate, and made Ayame grin as Serge just rolled his eyes and took his seat at the table, everyone scrambling to take whatever spots were closest to their preferred dishes or their partners. Sweet and savory scents had been torturing them since early in the day, with many of their preferred dishes being present, too often had Zed tried to protect the integrity of the feast before them from "preliminary taste tests" from certain third parties.

Hot stews creamy and rich enough to lift their spirits and counter the cold outside, rainbow coloured berry stir fries speckled with spices that turned familiar flavors into exotic bites, vegetables sauteed to a slightly charred and caramelized perfection, two colossal pumpkins stuffed with various nuts, berries and cheese that had been baked in the oven to a point of crunchy bliss, slices of toasted bread arranged in a beautiful flower pattern surrounding four bowls of sauces to dip them into, and many more dishes, all in such large portions that the table itself seemed to overflow with the nearly decadent feast before them. A wave of gratitude crashed onto Zed all at once from all corners of the table, ripping a blush from his cheeks and allowing him to soften the stern exterior he'd put on whilst cooking. Then, the feast began, paws, claws, wings and other limbs reaching forth and taking their pick from the seemingly endless banquet before them.

In the case of Eric and Elly they were sitting at the head of the table with Ferrus on the left, their friends scattered around as the feast proper began. "Still can't believe you took up Sam's challenge and won. How'd you do that?" Eric was genuinely curious, but Ferrus wasn't about to give up his apparent secret, taking a portion of berry salad to nibble on.

"Please, you expect me to be just a figurehead at the ETF? After all this time?" There was a hint of sass in his voice, easing the others into the party even further, though the air of professionalism never left him, and neither did he miss a chance to bring up something of import or work related. "Speaking of which, the newest members of the team have already been authorized and their aura crystals are on their way as they speak. I managed to do some work remotely while I was on the ship, so expect them to arrive in two to three days' time."

"How do you manage to juggle so much stuff, boss? I mean, not that you're our boss anymore so…" Mick was still quite nervous, whilst Milly was mostly staying quiet and poking at her salad awkwardly, the Lucario turning to look at them.

"Team Emberclaw, right? Platinum ranked, I have some faint memories of you two, you were some of the first explorers we got, back when the ETF was in its young days. Juggling isn't the word I would use though. I believe in solid planning and efficient time usage, and attempt to make the most out of any situation that I believe is wasting my time, even if some attempt to disrupt me." He shot a look towards Vincent, who merely rolled his eyes and returned to his conversation with Zed about potential new additions to the team's diet.

"Yeah but considering our line of work, I'm pretty sure most things never go according to plan. The amount of times things went sideways for us while on a mission is more than I can count." Milly leaned back slightly and began to mentally count the amount of times things had gone to hell while they'd worked as explorers, and quickly ran out of fingers to do so.

"Then I merely think about how many of those situations are critical, and decide on an order of priority. You would be shocked how many problems are brought to my office under the impression that they are "incredibly urgent and important", and how few of them turn out to be so impactful. I strongly believe that one must tackle problems as they come, one after the other, as leaving something halfway through can end up causing you more problems than you started with." Eric and Elly looked at each other, sharing a complicit smile. If Ferrus' philosophy was similar to their own, that probably meant they were on the right track. Mick however, had a different outlook.

"Sounds like a whole lot of work to me still. Seriously, sir, I mean, Ferrus, how often do you rest?"

"If you mean sleep then I'm sure you'll relate to the fact that sleeping schedules are a luxury we often can't afford in this line of work. As for doing things that don't involve my job however, I don't do them often. I like to keep myself busy at all times, and you'll also agree that in your line of work rest is often something you can't afford, especially when there are others in need out there." Eric and Elly nodded solemnly. "Why are you asking me this though?"

"I suppose it's an attempt to avoid feeling bad about retiring. As it stands, Milly and I could have continued exploring and contributing, but…"

"Nonsense. You left adventuring for a very good reason: to start a family, yes?" Mick and Milly froze, and Elly opened her mouth to speak up before he made the obvious follow up question, but… "How is it going, by the way?" The bustling and laughing coming from the other side of the table contrasted with the mortified look on Eric and Elly's faces, which Ferrus immediately noticed. "Apologies, I didn't know it had ended up like that."

"No no, it's fine, really. It's… been long enough, we have mostly gotten over it." Milly's fame for detecting lies through corporal heat didn't mean she made a convincing liar, and anyone nearby could tell she'd been hurt by the question. Eric quickly tried to steer the conversation topic.

"Well, they always have us here to hang out and chat with. We're all basically family here." Mick nodded, patting and comforting his mate, who was trying so hard not to break down in tears. Ferrus couldn't help but feel miserable about it, and Elly could tell.

"It happened not long after the time freeze… It was news in town, but I suppose it never reached you. One of the first stillbirths." Ferrus was still feeling dejected and disappointed, and Vincent could tell something was going over on that end, and elbowed Sam's side as he was stuffing himself full, and handed him the bottle of wine. The Krokorok just looked at it, and uncorked it and prepared to take a nice long gulp… only to get properly kicked by Ayame by his side, making him grunt out.

"The fuck, Ayame!?" She only motioned to her side of the table, and once Sam the situation... Well, he first poured himself a nice glass of wine, then he handed them the bottle, with Elly serving everyone a glass and having them toast towards a brighter future to bury all that pain behind them. Sam was still confused though, and turned his annoyance to the water type. "Seriously, the hell?"

"Are you not paying attention, you pig?"

"I am. Just don't wanna think about it, shit's depressing enough as is." Sam was surprisingly sensible enough to speak softly, which at least kept them out of it, but Zed, Lucy and Maria in front of them were in the know. "Talking about this shit makes the wine taste like shit… And I'd never tasted it before, so I'd rather get a good first impression."

"Pffft. Really? What, this the first time you're eating proper food?" Lucy's tongue was as quick as her legs when it came to teasing, and Sam's tail quickly found her legs, jabbing her. "Ow!"

"Pardon me, I cannot hear what's going on but judging by her expression… they are talking about stillbirths, aren't they?" Maria's polite question was met with another grunt from Sam, who returned to eating whilst Vincent nodded.

"Surprised you could infer that from just looking at her."

"I've seen and spoken with a great deal of grieving mothers. They come to pray and speak of their problems, their fears, their nightmares, and those who have truly gone through that hell… well, they speak about many things, some that you can imagine would upset your stomachs."

"Yeah no, I'll take a pass on that." Lucy followed Sam's example to just ignore everything, but Zed did stop eating for just a second, sighing.

"As if food shortages and famines weren't already enough, there's also that. I don't even want to imagine going through something like that, or you, Lucy…" That got her to choke on her food, drinking the clump down and turning to her mate with a nervous glance, then full on ahead and giving her panic away to Ayame, Vincent and Sam.

"Y-yeah! I mean, it's just… Well, that's why we are gonna have to wait, Zed. I'm sure when we sort this current stuff out, everything'll go back to normal. And then we can… y'know." A long, awkward silence followed her words, with Zed silently gripping her paw and giving her a sincere smile. And all she could do was smile nervously.

"That's not exactly a tasteful topic nowadays… specially for us females. Long ago I had entertained the idea of having children one day but… What about you?" She asked the trio in front of them, with Vincent chuckling and shaking his head.

"Thanks, but children would just be a bit of a drag if I'm honest. I much prefer the bachelor lifestyle~"

"The path of a warrior and swordswoman, like the one I have chosen, leaves very little room for those filial pursuits. I have never once given it thought, and don't think I ever will." Maria couldn't help but feel dejected and quieted down… until Sam spoke up.

"Fuckin' hell what's the deal with everyone talking about depressing shit today? We're supposed to be having a party and celebrating, but we keep bringin' the fuckin' mood down. I don't give a shit if people can't afford food somewhere else, it isn't going to make me enjoy it any less, and kids… well, I ain't given it much thought, aight, so I cannot say yes or no. Probably nah though, don't see myself pushing out kids into this shithole."

"Well I don't think you'll be doing much pushing of all people Sam." Vincent teased the male Krokorok, who realized the error in his words and swiftly punched his elbow.

"Fuck! Ow, Arceus, you'll dislocate it with your strength!"

"Then heal it up so I can fucken' do it again, dickweed!"

"Huh?! What'd I do?! Ow, hey, hey!" He got punched a little softer the following times, clearly Sam was playing around, though the first punch had hurt, it hadn't broken anything, and quickly it was lightening up the mood both on their end of the table, and over where Eric and Elly were, thankful that the others were having fun. Serge, who was sitting besides Maria, quickly leaned in to ask what was up, and the Absol gave him a short summary.

"Kids, huh? Hmmm… I think I'm with Vincent here, but not because I like being a bachelor… kinda?"

"What do you mean "kinda", hm?" Maria was quite interested, and the Pidgeot's cheeks were stained crimson as he tried to explain himself.

"Well it's… not that I dislike kids, mind you, I like them, it's just that… well I'm no good with them. They scare me." He actually made her laugh when he said that. "Hey, I'm being serious here!" He couldn't help but chuckle along though, not only was her laugh adorable, but it seemed honest, unlike previous times. "You need to lay off the wine girl, you're actually being cheerful for once."

Her eyes widened, and a blush overtook her face, which ended with them chuckling together. "You might be right about that, I don't exactly drink often… But really? Why scared?"

"I dunno. They just do. Small, weak, I'm too careless and aloof, too irresponsible, y'know? I barely stay in one place for that long anyways, knowing me I'd want to fly the coop before they did. Aww, don't look at me like that. You seriously think I'm father material? And no, I'm not saying that if it happened, and I had a kid, I would just run immediately… But I know myself and I know that at some point I might do it, or think about doing it… and that's enough for me."

"I see… It sounds to me that you're less scared about kids, and more so scared of yourself, though." Maria's observation cut deep, but Serge didn't let it show. "Of responsibility." She looked straight at her plate, and remained quiet for a while, until Serge broke that silence with a bitter chuckle.

"Y'know, maybe you're right… but you're old enough, like I am, to know that being an adult means carrying and taking responsibility. Just being here, working like this… it's already a pretty big one."

"So… you think you've changed? That you can take responsibilities that big?" Her question gave him pause, and he thought, and looked around. At his friends, at his leaders, at his companions, and at Nox, then back at Maria, who seemed very invested and serious about this question… he only responded with a smile.

"I hope so." He immediately changed gears and turned to poke Nox. "Hey kiddo, you've barely touched your food, what's up?"

"Eh?" He seemed to be in a funk, poking his food with his paw and sometimes taking a bite out of it, but not really committing, instead locked up in his head and tormented by his thoughts.

"Whoa. Nox, c'mon, this isn't like you."

"Yeah yeah, I know… it's just…"

"Hey!" He nearly jumped out of his seat when Alakard burst into the conversation. He'd been distracted by a conversation with Jake about Cherry and her powers, trying to wrap his head around the many diverse abilities everyone on this team, and equally wide fan of powers they all had access to. "Sorry, but I've seen you wear nothing but a frown ever since I sat down. So what gives? What's on your mind?"

"Ayame talked him down earlier. At least, I think that's why he's like this."

"No! I mean… yes! But… Ugh…" The Houndour covered his head as he rested it on the table. "It's complicated."

"What'd she say? Did you propose and she crushed your heart? She looks like that kind of female." Serge gave him a short summary, but the situation wasn't too far off all things considered. "Hmmm… You're nineteen, right?" The smaller fire type nodded. "On the one hand, you have to understand that your backgrounds are very different, though I know nothing about ya, I know who she is and what she inherited from her family. She basically had a blessed start."

"So then why become a mercenary?" Alakard shrugged, having no answer to that. "Besides, that still doesn't mean she's not wrong about me…"

"That's because she isn't, kiddo. But there is merit in the fact that you took her words to heart." He turned his chair to face him. "It bothered you, and you can feel those things she said: that you could be doing more, and want to do more. She's older than you are, that means you have plenty of room to improve, grow and become stronger. I'm telling you that it's never too late, but you're getting an early start. I'm jealous, honestly." He exchanged a knowing look with Serge, though the latter pretended he didn't know what was up, instead getting into a quiet conversation with Maria as they ate. "Hell, someone like you? You'll overcome Serge and myself in no time."

"Serge is pretty damn strong. But you're a legend already man! No way in hell I could become someone like that overnight."

"That way of thinking is wrong. It's not about getting famous overnight kid. That only happens through acting in extremely bad situations. But that's still not the point." He leaned forward and dropped the cheery attitude. "You know what people call me, right?"

"Yea, the Phoenix."

"I got that title during the aftermath of Time Freeze. The riots and civil unrest, and about seven out of the ten council members becoming ferals or murdered during the Time Freeze left the entirety of Cunabula in chaos. I was an upstart guard back then, skilled and had barely gotten used to ordering around a few rookies… then in the blink of an eye, everything had gone to shit, and one of our boys had gone feral. Had to put him down before he grabbed a weapon and hurt someone. The worst thing was seeing them go from a young lad to a twenty year older beast. Picture that, then multiply it by about twenty percent of Cunabula, and you can get a clearer picture."

"Arceus…"

"It wasn't pretty. But someone had to do it. Still, despite it all, we were overwhelmed quickly, though some of my boys gave it their all to save me. I got left for dead during the third day of the riots… then on the fourth I was walking back to the castle with hundreds of refugees tailing behind me. All on my own." He sighed, leaning back on his chair. "I'll be honest, I barely remember what happened. I read up on it, talked with some psychics. Something about the brain repressing traumatic memories, honestly I've no desire to fully go back to them. My point though, is that after that I kept going, I kept working and contributing, establishing the order and peace that the city enjoys now, and helping however I can. Once you do one thing, that's not enough, you've got to keep growing and evolving. You can't become static, complacent."

"Complacent… Ow!" He got his forehead flicked.

"Listen kiddo, I know you're strong. This team is full of monsters, some of them big, some of them small, but monsters all the same. Eric and Elly are pretty much legends nowadays, and would be enjoying as much fame as I do in the public eye if they hadn't taken that time off work. Though I don't blame them, that's not the path for you." He pointed upward. "You reach higher. You burn brighter. Only you know your limits, and how much you can push them. Start overreaching. You won't get anywhere if you just meet expectations."

"I won't get anywhere if I just… sit around huh… Thank you." Those words sank to Nox's marrow, and he remained quiet for the remainder of the lunch. He didn't speak much for the rest of the lunch, bar some nodding or gesturing when conversation topics drifted to something he was familiar with. Jake and Cherry were mostly quiet, though the Espurr would sometimes lean in to whisper something into his ear… and more often than not earning him a chuckle and an explanation. Slew seemed to catch on to this, and chimed in.

"I didn't expect to see her taking a liking to you so quickly, Jake."

"I do have to admit, I did not expect it either, but she does not leave my side. She is a great listener and learner however."

"Jake spends most of his time reading, so he's quiet, but he lets me rummage through his books 'n stuff! There's so much interesting stuff in them too… but none of it lines up with what I know."

"What you know?" Slew's eyebrows rose, and searched Jake's eyes for answers.

"For the most part they are misconceptions, I will not lie: she speaks of illnesses I have never read about, machines stemming from an overactive imagination, and all manner of strange and frankly delirious other things… but simultaneously I have found her to be an extremely agreeable listener and gives vivid descriptions of said things. So I have been drawing them alongside her for the past week while we rested and moved things around the house. Perhaps you would be interested in such things?" The Slowpoke was practically at the edge of his seat, and that was as good a confirmation as the Sneasel needed. Seemed like those two had the afternoon all sorted out.

Group conversations soon began to lead off to more private conversations or other far more casual topics: life in a house with twelve pokémon was hectic to say the least, but they'd managed to figure out a system, or at least that was the impression they gave to their friends, neglecting to mention the fact they'd been discussing last minute bedroom arrangements that very morning. Stories and conversations about the events that had led up to this however, soon began to crop up: Vincent caught wind of what had happened in Evergreen, shocked that he had been to that village around that same time, and saddened to hear about its fate.

"They were nice folk. Reserved, secluded, and perhaps suffering from slight bigotry, but at the end of the day that's all part of living in a secluded location." Lunch was done, most everyone was sitting around the table and enjoying tea, coffee or other liquors, Vincent himself enjoying a malt.

"Sounds like you liked it there. Shoulda stayed there instead of Cunabula, huh?" Lucy's jab was met with a bitter chuckle.

"Still mad about that, but nah, I don't really like living in villages. The aesthetic, the people, the nature, all that stuff's great, but having to wait for a caravan to bring food every other week, being unable to get fancy clothes, furniture… Too inconvenient for someone of my taste."

"Wow, look at this posh prick." Sam blurted out after downing a big jug of beer. "What, not good enough for ya?"

"Well, I'd be lying if I said that living in a penthouse overlooking the largest and wealthiest city in the world doesn't make waking up in the early morning just that little bit better… But I think a reclining chair, a cup of coffee and a good book while overlooking the sea from the edge of the bluff might just beat it out. I digress. No, it's mostly because of the style of life villagers have. Too close. They know each other too well. Trusting. Kind too."

"Sounds like a dream." Maria replied.

"It's a nightmare. Least, to me it is, opening your door to find the old lady next door bringing you something she cooked? It's always made me feel dirty."

"Sounds like you may have a problem then, because to most of us here living like that sounds like a dream." Peace, quiet and nothing to worry about, no wonder Serge was against the idea.

"Agree to disagree then." They toasted and drank, and the afternoon stretched on. Ferrus was quiet for the most part, though the more sociable members of the team and their guests managed to include him in conversation: his favorite foods, a good book he'd read recently, or some stories about the earlier days of the federation. "You know, I really have to wonder, because I cannot imagine the Federation and Exploration Teams as a whole were profitable business ventures at first."

"They weren't meant to be. Though I suppose that even then, it was quite a preposterous proposal." He noticed many curious glances were landing upon him, and he resigned himself. "It seems like you are all quite curious. You do realize you can read up on this stuff if you want, we have pamphlets and booklets. Mandatory at that."

"Ain't got time for that shit man. s too long too, and it feels like it loops back to the same stuff over 'n over!" Sam was onto something, and it seemed Ayame agreed.

"I am not a literary critic, but I also agree that it is poorly composed. Critically though, hearing of the origins of the organization we now work for from the mouth of its own creator is certain to give us the kind of perspective and details unavailable in the history books."

"There is little to say about its founding or its conditions: it was created with the intention of creating a more organized mercenary work system that simultaneously aided existing law enforcement while also approaching certain situations from a much more palatable angle. I am sure you of all pokémon would be well aware of such differences." Most were, and she nodded, but Cherry began to poke Jake's side, asking for clarification, which he provided.

"Mercenaries abide by the specifications of the contract or the bounty they are taking, and are allowed to do whatever they wish with their quarry. In other words, if the job allows it, most opted for the lethal option, as it was usually safer."

"There was more to it: while it was a safer and faster alternative, there was also the judicial system to take into account. Sentences were much stricter and harsher back then, separated by national barriers, committing a crime in a country that would land one in prison could end with their head lopped off in another, or vice versa. It always depended on where they were caught by law enforcement, so many criminals did their dirty work in one region, moved to another when things got too heated to lay low or outright get caught by guards. Combine the complications that would doubtlessly arise from any of the three great nations interacting with one another, and the system was clogged up with so much bureaucracy they consistently ran out of space and men to keep those most dangerous in check."

"Then of course, there was also the matter of redundancy. If most of them were to be executed regardless, then what stopped these mercenaries from taking justice into their own and passing that judgment? Vivid memories from the many arguments I had with experienced mercenaries on these very issues are still brought up to me to this very day, more now than before. Regardless, that is perhaps the key difference between mercenary work and exploration or rescue operations. There are many more of course: syndicalism became a viable strategy in order to better the conditions many lower end mercenaries were exposed to on a daily basis. Pension funds became available, economic compensation for injuries or loss of life, and then of course proper organization and structure in many guilds."

"But those are all the benefits of the ETF's founding. We want to know the real story behind it, the reason." Mick finally spoke up for everyone else. Though the lecture was interesting for most and at the very least illuminating for all, that was the real question at hand here. Ferrus paused for a few seconds, glanced at the fireplace in front of them, freshly kindled by Nox. He contemplated the glimmering embers and wriggling flames, shuddering under his gaze. The others thought he was just ignoring them and refused to comment further, opting to leave them with more questions than answers.

Then, he spoke.

"Is anyone here unfamiliar with the Aura Knights?" His question was met with a few shrugs, and Cherry just looked to Jake and opened her mouth to ask that very question to her friend, but Ferrus cut ahead. "My father was one of their strongest members, and forthose unaware, they were a military organization located in south Kanto. They coexisted with the Readers of Arceus, but did not directly involve themselves with them, so historians consider them to be the result of an early schism in their faith. They were far more militant than their counterparts, for one, and were involved in many conflicts. Some well known, others not so much. The latter kind were often against their sworn enemies, the Dark Eons." Elly shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, and Eric wrapped his arm around her to provide some encouragement. Ferrus however, was well aware of the Eevee's sensibilities. "In truth, I don't know much about the latter group, most records were destroyed along with the organization itself, but the Aura Knights persisted. And in persisting, they ended up destroying themselves. By that time though, I had long since left them, for reasons that I don't believe are pertinent to what you wish to know, bar one: I was not alone. I was accompanied by my wife, Tima."

"Tima was a Gardevoir, and…" He looked upward, closed his eyes and the beginnings of a bitter smile seemed to creep upon his muzzle. "Her eyes were like pearls of amber, shining in the sun. Her hair, longer than most, and a firm body that coupled her spirit. She was the more driven of the two, though I was the one who had first suggested we leave, she immediately agreed, having long since grown disenchanted with the knights in a similar way." His face slowly lowered as he returned to the present. To reality. "But it wasn't meant to be. Things could never work out, not with the way I was. Even when our son was born, I was always haunted by some of the things I'd learnt. That I'd seen. In spite of their façade, the knights were cruel and had only vile intentions and desires, having lost their way as quickly as they did their enemy. Not five years after my son's birth, the village we were quietly living in was raided while I was away. I found only ashes and bones when I returned home. Later I discovered the perpetrators were remnants of the Dark Eons, seeking revenge." He couldn't lie to Elly, who could infer where this was going. "Ten years later, they would become Uncario." Silence followed that revelation, and he poured himself another glass of liquor.

"I'm sorry." Was all Elly could muster, but the Lucario shook his head.

"Don't be. At that point, you were an infant, and if memory serves right, already separated from your family. Nothing could be done at that point. The events of that night however, were what tipped me over the edge. As I stared upon the pile of charred wood and dreams that had become my home, as I mourned the loss of those precious few I held dear, and uncontrollably wailed into the sky for an answer that never came. I understood that it was my fault. I've never been a religious pokémon. Never could be after the atrocities I had heard and seen be committed in the name of Arceus. But that night, I truly felt like I was being punished for my inaction, but my desire to run away, to turn my back on the world. I knew that somewhere out there, someone had seen that hell, and that soon, someone else would be haunted by the same demons I was. And I decided that it was enough. Though my march from the knights was abrupt, I could trail and find some of them. Some had met similar fates to my family, further cementing my guilt, others feared for their own safety, but relished in what little influence they had managed to maintain after the collapse of the organization. Their funds, connections and pleas for safety set the foundations for the Exploration Team Federation, and even though some of them have long since died from old age, I remain in order to continue our collective work."

Not a soul dared speak after that tale. Those who did not know him well could now see the reasons why he sat there, tired and old, but undefeated, whilst those in the know came to realize the many ways in which the tragedies he had described haunted him still. Regardless, they were equal parts sympathetic and impressed by his tale: the former for the heartbreak that had shaped him, the latter for the resolve he'd found through it all. Yet something now troubled Eric. They discussed his tale and the implications, the older team members further complimenting their own timeline of the events with what they had experienced, further helping the newer members catch up. Whilst they did this, Ferrus excused himself to get some fresh air, and Eric followed after him after asking his mate for some time with the Lucario.

"Sure. Is something wrong?"

"Just… something I want to ask him about is all. I'll be back in just a sec, ok L?" He planted a kiss on her head and walked after the Lucario, who he found standing to the far right, overlooking the sea and the jagged rocks down below, the sun setting in the horizon. The Riolu adjusted his scarf to counteract the cold and walked up to him, thinking how to start a conversation with the larger fighting type.

"I'd be careful. Plenty of people have fallen over that cliff." A bit of dark humor, considering exactly who had done so, but a joke that even Ferrus couldn't help but let out a bitter chuckle to.

"Don't worry, I am not a young teen with a bleeding heart ready to throw everything away because his loved one isn't beside him."

"Yowch. That one hit a little too close." The Riolu stood besides him, grinning. "But I suppose I deserved it. I just wanted to check on you. Knowing what I did about Virkov, what he told me I th-"

"You mean to say that I shouldn't feel guilty about what happened to my family? That turning away from what the knights did was the right thing to do." He'd read him like a book, and had left the Riolu with little to add. "Don't misunderstand me, it's sage advice, especially from someone so young, but I've long since thought and reflected upon that night. It isn't my running away from the knights and my father that fills me with guilt, but rather the twenty years I spent running and moving and thinking all would be fine if Tima and I worked a little harder to erase our tracks. There are, of course, other reasons that I feel troubled to this very day." Eric felt inclined to inquire, but something told me he wouldn't get anything else out of the Lucario.

"I understand." He stood beside him for a while. "If you want to know my opinion though, if what happened was truly some kind of divine retribution, then I believe you've done more than enough to compensate. I don't know where I stand on the question of faith. All the things that we've been through, and the fact that my friends and I are still all here, in one piece… Sometimes it feels like a miracle."

"Maybe it is. Institutions like the Readers of Arceus exist for a reason, pokémon place their faith on their god to cope with the problems and miseries of our lives, but also to explain the unexplainable. Some are not content with simply having off coincidence and want to direct their gratitude towards something or someone. Fortune and calamity are both forces that drive us to seek refuge in the shade of others stronger than ourselves, and for some, that figure happens to be the figure that created this world."

"I know. But that wasn't what I was getting at. You've done a lot of good, Ferrus, and to many, you've become that figure, there are many who decided to choose and follow you, that placed their faith in you. And you answered to that faith and have done a lot of good. I think that having faith in a god is not inherently a bad thing, but I think it's much more symbolic and powerful to place that amount of faith into a living pokémon." His words had the Lucario turn his head to face him. "What's wrong?"

"...You know, long ago, a close friend of mine said those exact same words when referring to the Aura Knights."

"Really?"

"Yes, many many years ago…" His face contorted into one of grief as he looked away though, but Eric managed to glimpse it before he could hide it, as well as read his lips:

How far you've fallen…

The rest was out of view for Eric, but it was clear it was something Ferrus let slip unintentionally, as he coughed and corrected himself. "Regardless, I agree with the sentiment, and I thank you for the words. Though I think that there is still much to be done, and that I have betrayed that trust." Eric bit his lower lip, as he couldn't lie and tell him everything was ok, given the way things had panned out for the ETF after their victory over Blake.

"Trust is hard to gain, easy to lose, and even more difficult to recover." He at least owed it to him to be blunt and truthful. "But I know that you can regain it. And if you cannot, then whoever follows in your footsteps will." The matter of an heir was something Ferrus never spoke clearly about, with a great deal of speculation surrounding the topic. Eric had full faith that he already knew exactly who would follow in his footsteps after he inevitably had to step down. In truth, a part of him was hoping that he would confide this secret to him, since he held Team Star in such high esteem.

To his dismay however, he didn't seem to have any plans of doing that, instead quietly staring ahead, seemingly deep in thought. More troubling though was that other part inside of Eric, one that had been holding back a creeping sense of dread and doubt, a growing, burning question within his chest that he just had to know. He had to ask. "Speaking of that, and heirs, Ferrus. Earlier. When you spoke of your family, and of Tima. And your son." Silence. Dread filled his body. "You weren't there when it happened, right? You said you found only ashes, right?" Deafening silence. He could feel his breath trembling. "I just wanted to ask, are you sure that th-"

"When I arrived that night." His voice sliced through his words like a knife, making Eric choke on them. "I found ashes. Embers. Still warm under my feet and feeding off my family, sharp pain burning into my soles like laughter mocking me. Black soot crawling under my claws as I dug through the wreckage of my former life. The moon was fading by the time I stopped, sore, pained, face drenched in tears. I only found ashes. Ashes and bones. Ashes, bones, and dreams that were never meant to be." He turned his face slightly to him. "They did not survive."

In truth, Eric knew his question was a foolish one. Born of a foolish hope. Desperate for a connection, something to provide not just to himself, but the emotionally crippled Lucario before him. Yet he knew full well that all he'd done was feed the agony that had weaved itself into his very being. With that answer weighing heavily on his mind, he could only look downward as Ferrus stared off into the distance. The word that left his muzzle felt less like a response, and more like a meager whimper full of regret and pain.

"Sorry."

---

The night slowed down to a crawl after Eric and Ferrus returned. Despite his best attempts to act as if nothing had happened, Elly knew her mate far too well. She could tell he wasn't ok. Night cast its veil over the city, and as expected Ferrus and Alakard were the first to leave, the Lucario grateful for their company and taking his mind off work for a few hours, and Alakard trying to plan out another meeting soon as he was dragged out the door by the jackal's insistence. Not long after, Mick and Milly excused themselves, having spent a much needed day with their friends, both to catch up with the ones they'd known for a long time, and get to know the newest additions to the team. Granted, they were practically neighbors, so they were bound to bump into them from time to time on their free days, so their goodbye didn't feel as heavy as the former did. Slew, Jake and Cherry however, seeing the time but refusing to give in to their exhaustion, decided to leave the house and head to Slew's to continue their conversations regarding Cherry's dreams and other oddities.

Afterwards, there was cleaning, sweeping, dish washing and showering to be done. Everyone was spent, and there was a certain calmness over the house. It was actually rather pleasant not to hear Sam flying off the handle or snarky remarks, and everyone helped without complaint and went through things in an orderly fashion. Clearly, most were eager to get to bed and finally rest up, with not a single complaint regarding the much controversial bedroom pairings that had been discussed prior that morning.

Elly of course, was first to finish, excused from all duties except taking a bath and relaxing before heading straight to bed. Her migraine had faded, then returned, then faded again throughout the day, and although it seemed to diminish in intensity overall, it was very much a painful annoyance. Thankfully, Vincent had anticipated this, and handed her something curious, what seemed to be small dried grass pills. "These are analgesics. I know that it's not a physical ailment, but they'll help dull the pain and let you get some much needed rest. But don't overuse them, only when you go to bed and the pain is really bad, ok?" She thanked him, downed one with a glass of water, as per his instructions, and finally went upstairs. The relief didn't come instantly, but by the time Eric came in through the door, tired and battered, she was feeling a lot better.

He wordlessly drew the blinds and closed the curtains, blew out the candle on his bedside table and slipped inside and threw the sheets over the two of them, feeling his mate's paws cuddling and wrapping around his arm. He turned to lay on his side and face her, barely making out her figure in the darkness. "Eric? Did something happen earlier, with Ferrus?"

"No. I tried to cheer him up, but I feel I did more harm than good." He sighed, nuzzling and lightly pressing his forehead against hers. "Does it still hurt?" She shook her head and licked his muzzle.

"No. Once Vincent gets serious, his medicine works wonders. And I'm sure that you helped him, Eric. You're a great speaker, and you know what to say when the situation calls for it."

"Well, I wouldn't be the one the team leaders if I couldn't do that at least." He threw his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her in close for a kiss, closing his eyes and just letting the exhaustion wash over the two of them. They held each other like this for a while, moving their muzzles once they felt tiredness overwhelming them. "Despite it all, I think today was amazing."

"Mhm. It felt like we were all a family and friends, laughing, talking, having fun." She held him close, and breathed in. "When Dementia captured me, I thought about all of you constantly. I was so afraid, and I felt… lonely. I truly felt like I was going to die alone and without any of the people I loved around me."

"Hey, come on, don't think about that stuff anymore. It's behind us now. We'll put that guy behind bars before you know it, and we'll be able to enjoy a family." He paused, and she felt his left paw trailing down and moving to her belly. "One of our own." Elly's cheeks became flushed with embarrassment. "You weren't the only one that felt like that today, enjoying everyone's company, being close to them, sharing a beautiful moment."

"Yeah but." She sighed, and shuffled onto her back. "I feel uncomfortable thinking about that."

"Milly?"

"Mhm. It's haunting to think about. I mean, what if that also happened to us, Eric? She isn't the only one either. You barely see any cubs or kits out in the streets anymore, even when it's daytime." He gently grasped her paw and caressed her cheek, nuzzling her neck.

"I push you if you don't feel ready for it, Elly. But we've talked about this, and we've discussed it before. I thought you would be more excited to hear me consider it more seriously." She chuckled and kissed him.

"Of course I'm excited, dummy. It's just that today… Today I feel it just hit a little too close to home."

"Fair enough. But I still mean it. What happened to them doesn't have to happen to us Elly. I don't want us to live in fear and scared of those things. I want us to be happy."

"Looks like today also hit close home to you, huh. Is that why you and Ferrus came back quiet?"

"...more or less." It wasn't the whole truth, but it was related. They cuddled quietly and got comfortable. "We have time to think about all this. It won't happen until this is all over. And this time, we'll close this book for good, Elly."

"Yeah. For good." They exchanged one more kiss, and smiled warmly. "Good night, Eric."

"Good night Elly." He leaned in to whisper into her ear. "I love you."

"I love you too." They embraced, chest to chest, tails laying on their sides and brushing together under the bed sheets. Sleep claimed them swiftly after that, peaceful, calm and happy dreams that had been hard earned by the pair.

Dreams they would come to relish, yet desperately pine for in the coming months.

---

Tharmius sat in a comfortable armchair, opposite to his friend, both of them sharing a quiet, calm moment after the plentiful dinner they'd just shared, with all they had just discussed weighing over them as took a sip from his glass of pecha juice. "I believe we ended up pushing them too far, my friend."

"Perhaps so… yet it is beneficial to us that we forced their hand this early. We now have a clearer picture, and can infer their plans."

"So this does not feel like a victory to you either?"

"We were caught by surprise. The many lives that were lost in Cunabula, despite our efforts and connections are proof of our defeat. Furthermore, I kept our new companion for far too long during our negotiations. By the time he could join the fray, the battle was nearly over."

"It would've been far more dire if not for Ferrus… Despite his age, he is as formidable as he always was."

"He was the strongest of us. Stronger than you, even." Tharmius couldn't help but chuckle. "What?"

"He'd disagree with you if he heard you." His friend chuckled back.

"Perhaps. I merely speak what I believe in. And you know that long ago I chose to put my faith in you, my friend. Just as you told us."

"Hmmm… Still, there is something else to all this that upsets me."

"The Umbreon?"

"The Umbreon." He looked at his glass, slowly emptying as he sipped from it as he ruminated. "If the reports are to be believed, then there is only one who could fit that description. And the damage too…" He paused, looking at the figure sitting across from him. "If it truly is him, then his return could spell trouble."

"His only interest is Elizabeth, of that I am sure. Why else, and why now? Think, my friend, of the circumstances that lead to his appearance, and the aftermath he's left in his wake. An entire forest devastated, the surrounding downs sundered and demolished. He appeared out of thin air and wielded deep seeded rage against Dementia and his people. If what you told me is true, he lifted those trunks high into the sky, and a maelstrom of debris and psychic energy punched through the very clouds. And then… He was gone. Swallowed by the very earth, no trace left behind. Truly fitting for a ghost."

"A vengeful specter… demented terrorists… holy warriors…" He glanced sideways and out the window, the thick black sky dotted with tiny white pearls greeting him. "And stars caught in between all of them."

"We cannot show mercy, but we must show restraint. We have uses for them yet, my friend." Tharmius closed his eyes and leaned back. He laid his glass on the table and looked at his friend.

He was beyond regret at this point. The path they had chosen was one they intended to walk to the end.

A dark present for a bright future.

He shuffled in his seat, crossing his right leg over his left. Despite the sweet ambrosia that stuck to his lips, he only tasted bitter.

To bury the sins of the past.

He rested his right elbow on the armrest and leaned his head towards his fist.

To save the world.

He opened his eyes and stared at the night sky again. The candle had gone out.

Still…

"I pity them."

---

END OF BOOK 1

Been a while huh? Then it might be a longer while still, I am afraid, but for good reason. Life has gotten complicated around here, and many things have changed since I last posted. I've always felt that my previous work was detrimental to my newer stuff, mostly because of how it was written and presented, which made it difficult to read… so I've decided that I'm going to go back and re-edit everything. The whole first fic. Nothing will be changed or rewritten, but the awful spacing and lack of speech marks and other stylistic crimes will be taken care of.

Beyond that, I just want to sincerely thank anyone who is still here today, reading this and giving me feedback in some way. You are all the reason I started doing this and I don't want to stop, even if life forces me to step away more often than it ought to.

Thank you, and I will see you all again sometime in the future.