Chapter 27: False Pretenses

"Where have you three been?!"

The Yanmega along with his Manectric and Marowak companions flinched from the sound of the snarl reverberating down the narrow, stone-walled alley in the Company's atoll compound. They were sure that they'd be able to easily sneak down these alleys to their unrewarding and tiring job of moving crates around, only for their hopes to be squashed by a churlish Rhydon bobbing out from a blind turn. With a lavender scarf bearing four squares anchored on the corners of a larger square, their accoster was none other than…

"You're supposed to be down at the docks loading crates!"

Their supervisor. A chorus of gulps went about the three ex-pirates, who looked at each other nervously before trying to offer an explanation for their tardiness.

"'sa? It's not our fault!" the Manectric protested. "Our ferrymon was drinking Lansat syrup before we set off!"

"We can't go any faster from Mossaisle Town than that tokage will take us!" the Marowak added. "Alvise and I can't exactly swim, you know!"

The Yanmega took the opportunity to flit and rear up, attempting to join in the Ground-Type's defense with a buzzing protest.

"And if the Company doesn't want us coming late, then what's the big idea of the lodging we got stuck with being across the wa- Gack-!"

The Bug-Type felt pain shoot through the back of his head as he slammed hard against the ground. The dragonfly gagged and coughed, twitching his wings weakly as he looked up at the scowling Rhydon, his fist still pulling back from a downward punch.

"Don't give me that garbage, Valatos! You can fly! And your buddies have been late every day this week!" the rhino bellowed. "All of you better start moving your feet instead of your yaps! If I don't see you at the yards in five minutes, you can forget about getting your day's Thalers!"

"Alright! Alright!" Alvise cried. "We're going!"

The Yanmega got up and uneasily flitted back up into the air, leading his partners down the alley in a hurry. The three came upon a small side door in a stone wall and slipped down it, leaving the Rhydon to disappear from view as he continued down the alley outside. There were crates to be moved, yes, but it didn't take five minutes to reach the docks! Surely it could fit a moment of peace by taking a scenic route.

The trio snuck down a few of less-travelled hallways of the local fort, devoid of all but the occasional fellow grunt to smile and wave at. The three Company Pokémon hurried up a flight of stairs, where an unwatched passage with windows covered by costly metal grating provided a view of the harbor and the ships in the water. A fine enough stretch for the three Pokémon to slacken their pace and their jaws.

"I told you two we shouldn't have lied about the ferrymon being high in the past! The boss would've believed us!" the Manectric grumbled, before shooting a glare at the Marowak. "And thanks for getting us into this mess in the first place, Nori."

"How is it my fault that Maru misinterpreted my advice for getting over being rejected?" the lizard protested. "When I said 'Sleep will help it', I didn't think he'd visit the tapir at Andaku's guild that sells Sang on the side!"

Valatos frowned, and shook his body with an irked buzz. The supervisor's blow still stung his head, along with his pride, prompting the Bug-Type grumble noisily to himself.

"Ugh… when on earth are we going to find a crew to join?"

"Er… as soon as we find one that doesn't hang out in Company waters?" Alvise replied. "I mean, you know what'll happen they caught us deserting to a crew…"

Yes, it was a solid plan. Get far away from the Pokémon who would be in any position to exact revenge for betrayal… Except for the part where a crew that would avoid Company waters would also come by Kenobi about as often as a fire sale at a Kecleon Shop, a matter which drew a displeased grunt from Valatos.

"Well, we certainly picked the right neighborhood to look for tha-"

The Yanmega trailed off and turned back to a worn section of the wall where some trowels and a few wooden buckets filled with water and mortar sat beside the bottom. The Ground-Type and Electric-Type carried on a short way before noticing their companion had stopped to flutter by the damaged section of the wall, which drew consterned puzzlement from them.

"Eh? Valatos?" Nori asked. "Are you coming or what?"

"Yeah, we're already late!" Alvise exclaimed. "What's taking you so long?"

The Yanmega paused and settled his feet against the worn, stone wall, and after a quick glance both ways down the hall to make sure no one was watching, moved his head closer towards a crack in the grouting.

"Koppen dicht, something's going on on the other side…"


On the opposite side of the wall laid a rectangular stone chamber, its high walls bedecked with tapestries of maps and landscapes. Slit-like windows were built near the ceiling to let in light while thwarting eavesdroppers; for night meetings, there were a pair of large torches that could be lit near two large, sturdy wooden doors. A small trail of lavender rugs with square friezes led the way from the door to the chamber, up to a ledge with a low table and ottomans with detachable cushions set around them, obscuring a trap door for hasty exits if needed.

Click click click

Behind the table, the form of a glowering Luxray could be seen perched a detached cushion. Her tail beat impatiently against the stone floor to the rhythm of a set of metal balls threaded with wire clicking against each other from two supporting rails. This space was her office, the room from which she handled much of the administrivia of Kenobi's affairs, and her place for welcoming Pokémon in for correspondence…

Click click click

If one could call a greeting from Administrator Farn a 'welcome'.

At the far end, the doors were pushed open from outside by a keenly watching Chesnaught and Houndoom. A Braixen with a scrunched-up scarf came in, followed quickly by a Samurott and a fluttering Mothim.

At the far end, the doors were pushed open from outside by a keenly watching Chesnaught and Houndoom in dark blue armor with purple rank insignia on their breastplates. The plates would rattle slightly whenever one or the other moved, the tell-tale sign that their cloth armor had been commissioned and built around a layer of metal mail custom-fitted for its wearer. Making anything with that amount of metal was an expensive privilege that few Pokémon in the Cradle could afford, whether for themselves or for honor guards like the Chesnaught and Houndoom at the door.

… Not that Lyn expected the Company to have any problems with such expenses to furnish Pokémon that watched over its leadership.

A Braixen with a scrunched-up scarf came in, followed quickly by a Samurott and a fluttering Mothim. As the guards slid the doors shut, the fox darted off to the side, leaving Lyn and Ellsberg to lock eyes with the waiting Luxray at the opposite side of the room.

Click click cl-

The Electric-Type stuck a paw out, stopping a metal ball mid-swing and guiding it down to rest. With the balls in the cradle now stilled, a tense silence filled the room as the Samurott and the Luxray stared speechlessly at each other. The Mothim took it upon himself to try and get the meeting rolling.

"Good afternoon, Administrator Farn," the moth offered, only to be answered with the sound of a quiet, but fierce growl. The Electric-Type narrowed her red eyes and sparks danced on her pelt, yes… pleasantries wouldn't be enough to take the edge off of this Administrator.

"Er… right," the Bug-Type sheepishly responded. "I suppose we should start as soon as Administrator Elilan comes in-"

"Oh, there's no need to wait," their guide suddenly answered. Lyn and Ellsberg turned their heads just in time to catch the Braixen's form get enveloped in a magenta-colored flash, giving way to a gray and red form with sharp claws. A creature with a spry, bipedal stance emerged from the dissipating light, a thick mane tied down around a bead hanging from its head. When the light cleared away, all that was left was the unmistakeable form of a Zoroark wearing a scarf with the four-layered design of a Company Administrator, much to Ellsberg's buzzing surprise.

"Ah!" the Mothim recoiled, as he fluttered back from the sudden appearance of the Administrator's true form.

"With all due respect, was that really necessary to start a meeting, Administrator Elilan?" Lyn asked. The Samurott grunted irkedly, locking eyes with the Zoroark's almost taunting gaze.

"I've never been a fan of dragging things out longer than they need to be," the fox scoffed.

With that, the Dark-Type made his way to the table and pulled out an ottoman to sit on. He traded a brief glance with Farn as he neared her, before turning back to face the Commissioner and Notary at the other end of the desk. "Do you have anything further to add before we start, Farn?"

"If I recall my scheduling, there might be some wall repairs just outside this chamber starting in a bit," the Luxray harrumphed, as a weak crackle of static crossed her mane just above her brow. "But aside from my obvious feelings right now, I don't think they'd pick up anything important through those little cracks."

"Well then, why don't you start us off?" Elilan offered. Farn bared her teeth and focused her glare on the Samurott. Her muscles tensed as if she was ready to leap and pounce at a moment's notice, as was custom when the Luxray was displeased.

"Lyn, where is the bird?" she growled. "I received word that you captured the Protector of Tromba and were en route back to port for an inspection, four days ago."

The last few words came out with a particularly venomous enunciation that echoed around the room. For a moment Ellsberg wondered if he couldn't see little droplets of water form just below Lyn's keratinous helmet.

"Yes, well," the Samurott began, his words coming out tense and guarded. "Things didn't go quite to plan-"

"I know they didn't!" the Luxray roared in interruption, slamming her paws against the table's surface. "What I want to know is why you don't have that bird in your paws this moment!"

The Samurott's muscles began to tense during the exchange, much as when staring down an impending battle. The Commissioner carefully mulled his words, before offering a guarded response back to the Administrator.

"The Guardian was stronger than I thought it would be," Lyn answered. "It broke free, got loose in my hold, and invoked its power to slip away while crippling my own ship."

"Slip away how? It's a bird!" she cried. "If its wings are clipped, it can't go anywhere at sea without swimming!"

The Samurott paused and for a fleeting moment, sported an expression like that of a Graveler about to be thrown off a ship. The Water-Type steeled himself, shook his head, and begrudgingly answered Farn's inquiry.

"I… didn't clip them, Administrator."

"WHAT?!"

The room was filled with an outraged roar, making Lyn subconsciously lift one of his paws up by reflex, as he would in an ambush. The Samurott suppressed his instinct and stood his ground with a stoic gaze flecked by latent hints of unease. The cacophony gave way to a tense silence, punctuated by the seething breaths of a glaring Luxray.

"Gods, preserve me," Ellsberg muttered to himself.

"Nice candidate you and Zorn picked there, Farn," Elilan grumbled under his breath. The lion folded her ears back and gritted her teeth, her audible seething giving way to a heated question.

"What do you mean you didn't clip his wings?!" she demanded.

"Administrator Farn, as you know, as part of the mission debriefing, my crew had to be made privy to certain… sensitive details about the Guardian's nature," the Samurott answered in a defensive, protesting tone, as his head lowered begrudgingly. "I was worried that things would get out of hand if he were handled too roughly-"

"Lyn, we didn't pick you for this mission so that you could get hung up over potential sacrilege!" Farn bellowed. "We picked you because of your track record of getting the job done by any means necessary!"

"Need I remind you, Farn…" the Zoroark prodded. "I just drew up the protocol for responding to events like this in the wake of our past missed opportunities. It can't exactly deliver if the extractor is too wary to damage some feathers that would grow back in what? A week?"

Lyn screwed his eyes shut in frustration. Yes, it would've been trivial to cut the Lugia's flight feathers. But with a creature that was supposed to be frail in the time after hatching, it should've also been trivial to foil his attempts to get away! Alas, in the face of the Protector's powers awakening when it did, all those 'should've's were moot.

"I understand that. It was an underestimation," the Samurott replied with a gruff, but apologetic tone. "I will remedy that as soon as the Guardian is back in my grasp."

"Well then, that settles it, doesn't it?" Elilan answered nonchalantly as he picked at some grains of dirt that had caught themselves between his claws. "Assuming that you know where the bird is, all that's left is to recapture him and do your job right this time."

It was hard to tell whether or not the Zoroark really seemed to pay mind to the proceedings, until he suddenly cast a glance over at the Mothim fluttering beside Lyn.

"So then, Ellsberg. What's your excuse for why you two haven't found a solitary bird yet?"

"Erm… you 'two'?" the moth squeaked, flitting up out of surprise.

"Yes, both Lyn and you," the fox pressed. "He seems to have gotten help in his search lately, unless you have some other explanation for why you came into port today with a broken tiller."

Ellsberg began to fumble for words, stammering and searching his mind for an acceptable excuse to feed the two Administrators.

"Er… that's- W-Well…"

A smug grin spread over the Zoroark's muzzle as Lyn shot a glare at the Dark-Type. The bug and otter both expected the fox to open his mouth to say something, but he never did. There was no need for him to do so…

"Lyn. You're hiding something from me. Spit it out. Now."

Farn's growling tone indicated that the Luxray had already pieced together that something was amiss about the Commissioner's tale. Lyn exhaled through gritted teeth and reluctantly amended his story.

"There was an extraction team from Tromba that infiltrated my ship… and turned the Protector's powers against us," he conceded.

Lyn carefully chose to neglect mentioning that the team had consisted of a pair of whelps, but even with the limited details he provided, Farn's response came as loud as it was swift.

"Why didn't you say this earlier?!" she demanded. "And what did Ellsberg have to do with this?! He was here two nights ago!"

"We followed the team to Boisocéan, where Ellsberg helped me enter an aggressive negotiation with the local leadership yesterday," the otter answered reluctantly. "But we were caught off guard by unexpected resistance when the Guardian flew off."

The Luxray was bristling now, deeply displeased at the new revelations that the Commissioner had brought to light. With her ears folded back, and sparks arcing off her hide, Farn gritted her teeth and snarled out her frustrations.

"How on earth do you get bested by a bunch of untrained peasants?!" she hissed. "Twice?!"

The otter opened his muzzle to protest that it was the Protector, and then a meddlesome dragon, that had allowed the group to get away, only to be halted by a smug, taunting voice.

"It seems like it was a bit much to be expecting results from the pup of a former employee dismissed for insubor-" Elilan began, his snide words cut off by the sound of keratinous blade scraping against sheath. The Zoroark shifted his gaze and caught the sight of a Samurott hunched up on his hind legs, blade in his left paw, and ready to spring at him.

"Well now, have I hit a nerve, Lyn?" Elilan asked, a satisfied smile creeping over his pointed muzzle. "Best not do anything too rash. The Company might not give out a reward for an attempted capture, but it certainly will hand down a sentence for attempted murder."

"Administrator Elilan, I was perfectly aware that this was going to be a delicate mission!" the Samurott bellowed, his words not bothering to hide a bubbling hatred for everything the fox had done to undermine him in front of Farn. "Everything that I've done for this mission, I've done because it seemed to be what was best for delivering the results that were needed. There was nothing in my debriefing that suggested I'd have to deal with a Protector that could invoke its powers!"

"That's wonderful, but we're not letting you take Darzin's position for the first hamlet that Guardian pacifies without results," Farn snapped. "Surely your little bird's flown back to his nest. Head back to Bluewhorl, go door-to-door if you must, but make sure that bird comes back with you!"

The Samurott calmed himself, begrudgingly returned his seamitar to its sheath, and turned to the Luxray, shaking his head.

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Administrator. After the extraction team broke out of our cordon around Seahive, we saw them flying along the direction of Spiral Steam, not against it," he explained. "Based off of the sightings we were able to piece together on the way over, they seemed to have charted a course that would take him near, if not directly through Kenobi."

"Are you telling us that the Protector might be here on this very island right now?!" Farn exclaimed.

"That is correct, Administrator."

"Well then, how do you propose that we find a god without letting the world know, Lyn?" Farn demanded. "In case you've forgotten, sea fog is very common on this island. Any cordon after it's rolled would already be porous at best, and that's assuming the Pokémon here stay ignorant of what's going on."

"Also, there's the matter of the interior as well," Elilan added. "The less we know about where they are on this island, the more likely they'll be able to slip past a cordon."

"We can have the locals help our work. We'll put up bounties for the extraction team and post them in the local guilds," Lyn answered, his voice coming out calm and controlled. "The extractors helped themselves to some of my cargo when they fled. I believe 'stealing Company assets' is grounds for a piracy charge, isn't it? And getting them is bound to either turn up the Protector, or leave him vulnerable for capture."

There was a long pause as both Farn and Elilan stared at the Samurott. Everyone was left to try and divine each other's thoughts in the unmoving silence, until Farn broke it with words that came out business-like, but surprisingly calm.

"Ellsberg, I will need you to pass word to Mengir and the Capital of the Guardian's presence in our territory, along with these bounties," she finally responded.

"B-But my ship is still-!" the moth began, only to be cut off by a growl from the Luxray.

"Your sea escorts are still able-bodied. Pick some of them and form a caravan to bring the news!" she snapped. "By the time you get back, both your and Commissioner Lyn's ships should be repaired!"

The Luxray shifted her balance as the Mothim shut up and reluctantly flitted back, before turning her attention to Lyn.

"As for me, I'll have my Commander get the bounty notices you need printed and distributed on my island by the end of tomorrow," she said. "As soon as you're done giving him a description, I want you and your crew to go with the local Rangers along the shoreline and start searching the interior."

The Samurott exhaled in relief as he realized that there was a way to disguise his loss of the Protector to a pair of fluffballs. As long as he fed descriptions of one or two more imposing Pokémon along with the team, who would question if a pair of peasant pups drug along?

"I understand," Lyn replied. "And I'll be sure to dispatch a team for Seahi-"

"Immediately, Lyn," she growled. The Luxray's eyes narrowed into a glare as a weak current flickered down her pelt and her tail batted impatiently back and forth. "No distractions. You can settle any scores you have there after you do your job."

The moth and otter shifted their glance over to Elilan, who had returned to dispassionately picking at his claws. No comments from him, it seemed.

"Understood, Administrator," Lyn grunted. "I'll take my leave now. Come on, Ellsberg."

The two Pokémon turned and headed back for the door which, after a sharp rap from one of Lyn's paws, swung open as the waiting guards on the other side of the wall pulled them agape. After the pair left the room, the sound of the doors sealing shut reverberated in the room. With that, Elilan stopped fiddling with his claws, got up from the ottoman he was seated on, and shook his head.

"I can't believe that Inler consented to putting this mission in his paws," he sighed.

"Again, Elilan? We already settled this debate!" Farn interjected. "We can't afford the potential blowback of anyone on the Board getting directly involved in this, and we need the extraction to go off without a hitch. I know the selection process obviously didn't go how you wanted, but didn't you think the rest of us would prefer a candidate with more experience at moving around? Lyn was the best candidate when we got the news and you know it!"

"Just like Darzin was the Board's best candidate for taking over Tromba's Administratorship ten years ago?" the Zoroark accused. "The instinctive focus on self-preservation, the inability to consider possibilities without living through them, the defaulting to brute force when faced with a difficult problem…"

"He's a little cutthroat and single-minded, sure," the Luxray began. "But it's a fine set of tools for getting the job done. Exactly what we'd need from a new colleague…"

"Farn. That's the thought process of a feral that hasn't fully left the wilds!" the Zoroark exclaimed. "It's why Darzin was able to claw his way to Administratorship from that soggy sea dungeon he used to live in but be utterly blind to the rebellion brewing under his feet on Tromba!"

"Hrmph, don't be daft, Elilan," the Luxray scolded. "I know Lyn's background well enough, and you ought to as well considering the island you administer. In spite of it, he's demonstrated himself to be a loyal and effective operative. Besides…"

The Luxray gave a nonchalant flick of her tail as a smirk crept up over her muzzle, and a look like that of a veteran card player pouncing upon an obvious novice came over her eyes.

"If something goes wrong, Lyn's our insulation," she explained. "Would anyone really care about the fate of a disgraced rising star's child following his father's footsteps for carrying out instructions that officially don't exist?"

The Zoroark paused and glared back at the Luxray, before relenting with a sigh. This matter had been chosen already, and by the Director of the Company no less!

"I should have expected as much from someone whose idea of fighting pirates is letting them run wild in a local district," he grumbled. "But I'm telling you, I don't trust that otter…"

"Well now, Elilan. I must say that I never expected you to object at bending a few rules to ensnare some greedy fools. Kettle calling the pot black, much?" Farn chided. "And this is a business, you aren't supposed to trust Lyn! After all, isn't that why you snuck your own little plant aboard Lyn's cre-?"

The Luxray trailed off as from the corner of her eye, she noticed bones and chitinous plates past one of the walls. They belonged to three creatures that were pressed up against the wall… without the trowels she expected. Farn glowered before turning to her counterpart to ask for his patience with a "One moment…"

The Luxray crouched low and crept silently towards the wall. She was evidently quietly enough for the lazy bones on the other end not to hear her, as the three Pokémon did not budge much beyond the occasional shift of limbs or heads as they loafed around. The Electric-Type reached the place where the bones were all pressed up, sat down and tidied her fur… before she roared through the cracks in the grouting with the loudest voice she could muster.

"You behind the wall! For a repair crew, I don't see many tools in your paws! Stop dozing off and get back to work!"


On the other end of the wall, the three former pirates leapt back in a panic from their listening place, and came to a tumbling stop in a heap along the other wall of the hallway. The three flinched and waited for their worlds to collapse into the Apricorns they knew were used for exile sentences to the Wastes… when they suddenly realized their fortune was better than they thought.

Farn thought they were sleeping on the job!

"E-Erk! Sorry, Administrator!" Valatos squeaked.

"Y-Yeah! We've got the tools!" Alvise yelped. "We were just inspecting this damage here!"

"W-We'll fix it right away!" Nori stammered, as the three quickly scooped up the trowels along the wall, slathered some mortar on them, and set to work repairing the cracked grout… Or at least pretending to.

After all, they'd only need to keep at it for as long as Farn was on the other end… But… they were already running late for their work at the docks… and when would they know if she had left or not?

"The boss is gonna withhold our pay today, isn't he?" the Marowak whined, much to the Valatos' buzzing displeasure.

"Not helping, Nori!"


The sun had already peaked over the narrow alleyways of Mossaisle Town, and slowly but surely was beginning its descent. Elty led Pleo and Nida down a narrow and twisty street whose shadows had already shifted from leaning westwards to eastwards. The team passed the scavver's shop with bones displayed openly on the counter as a brown lizard and vulture haggled over them, a shop with an Audino offering to build up stamina for battle with just "three easy sessions!", and an unsavory-looking three-story shack with firmly barred windows and red glass lanterns hung from the eaves. All the while, Elty continued to ply Pleo with chatter about this 'bokuya' the team was headed for, much to Pleo's curious delight.

"So what sort of food do they serve at 'bokuya, Elty?" he asked. "Is it like the mess hall back home?"

"It's a little different- as long as you've got a way to pay, you can eat and drink as much as you want," the Growlithe explained. "No rations, either! You get to pick from a menu! Just read it and say what you want!"

The Growlithe kept up a cheery demeanor with the bird and the rabbit, as he lead them down a blind alley in between a den with Pokémon gathered about a roulette wheel and a dingy apothecary. If one could call the teeny gap just wide enough to accommodate Pleo's body an "alley", but given the puzzled stares and "what's with the bleached Swanna?" the team had earned on the way over, a little privacy wasn't the end of the world. All that was left now was the intersection with the perpendicular gap of another alley, and then a left turn to head to 'bokuya.

If all went well, over the next couple hours, he'd have food in his stomach, be able to force the spike ball to take a hike and give his bag back, and be free to return to the old business of hit-or-miss attempts at lighting things afire with the Iron Fleet. The explanation he fed the mewa seemed to sit well enough with the bird, except for one small problem that Pleo thought of as he rounded the corner…

"But… I can't read, though," he chirped, tilting his head quizzically. The young Protector's unease drew a small chuckle from Nida as she followed Elty around the bend.

"I can help you out a bit, Pleo," she offered. "Heh, maybe we could even teach you a littl- Aah!"

Nida's words gave way to the abrupt sound of a cry and the sound of blows landing on hided flesh. Elty and Pleo whirled around and saw that Nida had been knocked down onto the lane, kicking back wildly at air as a Scraggy with a lined blue scarf with a red arrow design attempted to tear the satchel along her back free from behind.

"Eyaaah! Stop!" the Nidoran squealed. The Poison-Type thrashed about, her kicks connecting with empty air, and her barbs sailing uselessly away from her assailant. "Let go! You're pulling out my barbs!"

"Stop squirming and give me that bag, you lousy-!"

Elty lowered his ears and ran for the Dark-Type, only for a squawking cry to ring out.

"G-Get off of her!"

And a glowing ball to sail past the little dog's face, prompting him to skid to a stop as it carried along, and slammed into the Scraggy, sending him tumbling along the ground. The lizard righted himself and brushed some dirt off his scales, snarling back at the group.

"Ow! Oh, you're gonna pa-a-aah…"

Only for his aggression to melt away and become replaced with wide-eyed stammering. Team Traveller looked up at the Pokémon's forehead and saw that on it, in between scuff marks from a headbutt, there was a five-tailed blotch. So their attacker was a Marked, and that meant that to him, the white bird with them was a…

"AAAAAAH! Monster! Monster!"

The reptile turned and dashed down the alley, upending a pile of broken-up planks along the way in his mad dash to escape the group. Elty spat a cone of cinders down after the would-be mugger, frowned, and turned back to Nida getting back to her feet. The Nidoran twitched her whiskers irately as she pawed at a bruise on her flank where the reptile headbutted her.

"Elty, do we really have to take a mission from this hole?" she growled. On closer inspection, it seemed that the scuffle with the Scraggy had torn out some barbs after all. Elty frowned as he noticed little blotches on the straps and back, likely poison that would have to be neutralized with fire after he got away. The little spike ball really was going to make these last couple hours stuck with her a pain, wasn't she?

"What are you complaining about?" Elty huffed. "Normally I have to fight to shake off a rabunek like that! Besides, that's 'bokuya right there!"

Sure enough, just past the next intersection on the corner sat a tile-roofed shack with orangish wood that seemed as worn and pitted as driftwood and a slitted cloth over the entrance with red runes in a circle. Much to Nida's surprise, the glyphs seemed to read "Driftwood House"… 'bokuya' was the local way of saying it perhaps?

The cloth over the entrance suddenly parted as a dark purple serpent with a bladed tail and fresh scrapes slithered out grumbling "next time, that spot won't just be on paper!" to herself. As the Seviper headed off, Elty saw a wave of skepticism flush over the faces of the Nidoran and Lugia, only for them to look back down the blind alley and shake their heads. Nothing like a good old-fashioned mugging to remove the skepticism from food and a roof over one's head.

"Fine," Nida sighed, flattening out her ears. "Let's just go inside before something else happens here!"

The three passed through the cloth, Pleo pushing the partition aside with his beak as the three pushed open a creaky door behind it, and were immediately overcome by the smell of cheaply-made spirits. The pressed on and let the door close behind them as their eyes adjusted to the light. Much like the exterior, the room's flooring and walls were made of an orangish worn wood, dotted with funny-smelling stains. There was a simple, low round table next to the door, with stumps for shorter patrons to sit on, with other tables further in hosting parties of obviously unsavory characters.

"Hey, you!"

The team froze and whirled about to see a Granbull, a Lucario, and a Stoutland at a table on the other side of the entrance with cards depicting flowers and Pokémon spread out in the middle. The lot of them scowling and growling at the newcomers.

"We're in the middle of something here!" the Stoutland snarled. "So stop hovering over our game!"

Before Pleo could ask questions, he was yanked away by the others. The team hurried along, keen to find a table where the team wouldn't fall afoul of the regulars. Nida reared up on her hind legs, and sniffed the rum-laden air around her…

"Ah! There!"

There was one unclaimed table in a corner that seemed to be away from any neighbors, a perfect place to lie low and not attract attention as the three ate. Nida motioned for her teammates to follow her, and they made their way past the other tables, reaching the last one when they chanced upon a party consisting of a Banette rubbing his brow, an exasperated Flareon, and a freshly-scuffed Zangoose.

"Travellers Above, Scian," the Banette sighed. "How many times have you gotten black spots from those snakes by now?"

The Ghost-Type flicked an unfolded piece of paper with a black dot at its center across the table to the Zangoose on the other side. He glanced over it disinterestedly before crumpling it up and flicking it into a corner, returning his attention to the contents of a rude clay cup on the table.

"Only 87 times," the Zangoose, evidently 'Scian' grunted back. "Not my fault that I'm unpopular with Seviper."

The Flareon with the group lowered his ears and narrowed his eyes, shaking his head in annoyance

"You'd get fewer if you didn't constantly pick fights with them, you know!" he cried. "Could you at least try not to get us thrown out? It gets old having to constantly bail you out of trouble!"

"Hey, I didn't start anything this time!" Scian shot back. "That péist stuck her tongue out at me after giving that spot!"

As the three Pokémon continued arguing with each other and the subject drifted to whether to search for a rumored stash of loot some rivals were said to have buried near the barrier, Nida froze until Pleo suddenly roused her back to attention.

"Psst! Nida?" he asked. "What's a black spot? Didn't we hear Pokémon at the docks talking about them?"

The Nidoran noticed that all this time, she had been stuck in one place due to anxiety, and that while the corner table was a nice place to hide, that it would also be a good place to be waylaid without being seen, and-

"Daj spokój! Are we taking this table or not?!" Elty demanded.

"Let's… keep moving," Nida grumbled. The Nidoran lead the team off away from the corner table as a "What's their problem anyways?" came from the Banette back at the three ne'er-do-wells' table. The three made their way around and around the eatery, every vacant table being similarly unfriendly-looking. Why did this horrid dive have to be so popular with awful Pokémon anyways-?

"Hmm? Haven't seen you three around before. Not that you'd be hard to forget wandering around like that."

The three looked up and saw that they were passing by a raised counter with stools, and shelves lined with jugs, berries, and herbs behind it. On the other end, a Throh cracked his knuckles and shot a glare off in the direction of the entrance before turning to address Team Traveller,.

"You know, if you were waiting on these stools, you're not going to get a better chance than now to have them," the ruddy fighter said, casting an icy glare at a bruised Beartic and Exploud hastily ducking out of the door. "It's not often that I get customers boneheaded enough to try funny business right in front of me, and these are pretty popular seats here."

Nida looked back at the entrance and saw that there was a clear shot to the exit from the counter. Knowing the duo that had just made themselves scarce, this barkeep clearly was able to keep things in line here… in a manner of speaking. So then, as long as they paid their bill… this was probably the safest spot in 'bokuya they could hope for.

"Well, I'm usually more of a corner guy myself, but I know your mug just fine. You're Shuho!" Elty barked as he hopped atop one of the stools. "Let's get that 'local flavors' menu of yours! I'm treating some company to a taste of Aisle Town here!"

The Throh shifted his glance down below the counter before turning and grabbing an object from a counter behind that clattered. After bringing it up into view, the object was revealed to be a set of small, wooden panels held together by string with rune-riddled cloth glued to the sides.

"Knock yourselves out, then," the Throh replied, sliding the menu over. "You must've had a tiring stint out there, pick what you like and unwind a bit."

Elty cast a glance over to his partners as Pleo began to inspect the the wooden menu along with Nida. A content look crept over his eyes as the spike ball prattled on reading the items on it aloud to Pleo before he turned back to Shuho.

"I don't think I'll have any trouble with that at all."


Crom's encounter on the deck with Ander faded away into uneasy memories with the call for food. Breakfast that day was a simple meal of gummis, with a few more Royal Gummis than normal to reflect the chefs' tastes. A little over-heavy on flavoring, but still decent… or at least edible.

The crates repurposed into tables and seats near the steerage were only big enough for groups at a time. The setup inevitably leading to a rotating cast of crewmates bedecked in lavender to come by and trade gossip between nibbles, only to then head back for work and to bring portions to their seabound companions.

After the deck hands stopped coming, it came time to wrap breakfast up. Pladur and Crom ate their fill of leftover gummis and gathered up the dishes to be cleaned before deck work. Eventually, the ruddy lizard made his way down the orlop deck along with his father for the last cleanup task; namely to return a sack of Gummi base back to the cargo hold.

"Ack!"

Only for the ship to suddenly jolt underneath their feet. The two dragons flailed and fought to retain their balance, giving relieved sighs as the ship settled down…

"Watch it! You almost hit the pier!"

Along with muffled, exasperated cries filtering through the timbers overhead. Some more shouts went up and the sounds of footsteps rang out, the realization of what caused them dawning upon the two galley hands from their place in the hull.

"Ehehe, well, I guess that's one way of announcing that we're in port!" Pladur sheepishly offered. The Fraxure's words made Crom's eyes light up, and the Druddigon quickly climbed up the stairs to the deck. Upon reaching the top, he saw a harbor surrounded by huts nestled in the branches of tall mangroves. The scene was a riot of color: there were the other ships at dock, Pokémon milling about, and creeping vines with their flowers gracing huts and walkways here and there.

"Wow, it really is pretty!" Crom cried. The sound of footsteps behind him quickly revealed themselves to belong to none other than Pladur, who sidled up alongside his son.

"Heh, I knew you would like it," the Fraxure chuckled. "There's not another town this side of the Cradle quite like it."

The young Druddigon ran up to the railing and took in the sight of the harbor. The customary complex of wharves, warehouses, and sea shanties were anchored at the base of a cluster of mangroves that stretched across two banks astride an island between forks of a river emptying out into the harbor and up into the branches. The skies were abuzz with Bug and Flying-Types flitting between treetops, though the sea Pokémon passing up the river seemed to be constrained by rocky channels built into the river's forks. Off in the distance, there was the form of a great tree with a small shack dangling from a branch, all marvelous sights…

"You there!"

Except it sure seemed like there were an awful lot of sea-green scarved Pokémon near their ship. Down at the gangplank, a glaring Durant and Masquerain blocked a Timburr and Hitmontop as they tried to make tried to make their ways onto the dock.

"Where do you think you're going?" the Masquerain demanded, gesturing at the First-Rank scarf about the Fighting-Types' neck.

"Er," the Hitmontop murmured uneasily. "We were just docking?"

"Yeah, well casse-toi!" the Durant chittered. "You Company sods can't honestly expect to be welcome after what your friends did to us yesterday-!"

"That's quite enough, you two," a voice interrupted, cutting off the metal-plated ant. "I believe I know why they're here."

All eyes turned to see a Leavanny approaching the ship, who looked about the vessel's crewmembers, her eyes eventually settling upon an Illumise flitting above the railing and her Second-Rank company scarf.

"The name's Maranda, I'm la Mairesse of this town. We have who you're looking for," she told the Illumise. "If you want them back, prepare a negotiating team. We'll continue this matter somewhere more privately in a few hours after my shift at the medic's hut."

Captain Beatrix flitted back and buzzed out of surprise. The firefly paused, and after taking a moment to mull things over, spoke back to the Leavanny.

"Er… right, give me a moment to pick some help," she said. The Illumise turned her attention up to the flying escorts who were perched among the tops of the masts and their crow's nests, her attention settling on a certain Swellow. "Kiran, it's your team, right? Can you give me a wing?"

"I can do that, yes," he chirped, fluttering down beside the captain as she tried to settle on a second Pokémon for this "negotiating party".

"And, for the other-"

"Right here!"

The Servine from the crew shot up a leafy hand, only to be shoved out of the way by a beaming Raichu. Then came the other deck hands, and the fliers, and even the sea escorts! After watching the proud crew of the Siglo Swellow devolve into behavior fitting for children in a ballgame, Beatrix screwed her eyes shut and shook her head.

"Okay seriously, guys?" the Illumise buzzed, putting a tarsus over her brow.

"What?" the Servine asked. "It's a big occasion!"

"Fine, fine, whatever," she grumbled. "Let's go with… Pladur."

The Fraxure immediately stiffened up at attention, and darted out in front of the rest of his crewmates as a few disappointed groans rang out.

"Mrph! R-Right!" he cried. "It'll be an hon-"

Pladur's words trailed off as he saw that his son looked a bit downcast. The Fraxure wondered why his son's spirits seemed to have sunk as abruptly they did, when it occurred to him…

This was his friend that the bug had. The one that he'd gone so far as to try and sneak aboard a Company ship to try and free from Lyn. Then…

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to let his child catch up with him a bit sooner.

"Oh… er… actually, can I let my son stand in, Beatrix?" Pladur asked. "He could use some more experience and all…"

Crom's eyes brightened and his tail wagged a bit expectantly as the Illumise turned and stared, mulling before she finally came to a conclusion.

"Fine, he's on."

"Oh!"

"Heh," Pladur tittered. "Just make sure that our Pro-OUCH!"

The Fraxure was cut off by his son pouncing upon him, pulling the flailing tusked dragon into an eager hug.

"Thank you, dad!" Crom cried. "I won't let you down, I promise!"

"You really are a softie, Pladur," the Bug-Type chuckled, shaking her head.

"Just wish that my armor was a bit less so," he winced back as Crom relaxed his embrace and turned to face the Illumise and the Leavanny beyond.

"Anyhow," Beatrix answered. "Let's get to business."


Plate after plate, the peckish travelers eagerly made up for their skipped meals. They started with some Gummis, to take the edge off their hunger and start their stomachs on something easy. Afterwards, they ordered a small bowl of local produce, and some battered vegetables and mushrooms that were apparently called 'tempura'. Elty hoped to get the pair to discover a taste for Kenobi's famous Lum Wine, but the two seemed to be repelled by the strong flavor. Oh well, more for him!

Elty occasionally looked back at the windows by the door to watch the shadows shift with the moving sun. As Nida and Pleo munched on an order of star-shaped sugar clumps the mewa dubbed 'sweet seeds', he saw that the sun only seemed to be about an hour or so off from sunset.

Just another hour until sweet freedom-

"Oi, Gardie," the Throh gruffly prodded. "I need to take a break to eat dinner before the evening crush, you and your friends going to pay or what?"

The three looked around as Pleo wondered aloud what a "Gardie" was, and saw that the seats had cleared out, leaving them behind as the only customers. The wooden sign propped up against the window had been flipped so that the runes that read "Open" were visible from inside rather than out. So Shuho here didn't like leaving things unattended while eating, though it was hard to fault him considering the neighborhood. As for the matter of the bill…

"Er… put it on my tab!" Elty answered. The Throh raised a brow skeptically, clearly not liking where the little Fire-Type was taking the conversation.

"Yeah right," the barkeep scoffed. "If you've got a tab, show me your crew's colors. I don't keep tabs that I don't know I can collect."

Elty froze as he realized that the scarf around his neck was still the blue and white scarf of the spike ball's team. The Growlithe then remembered that his old golden-threaded ones were still with the guards back in Bluewhorl…

"Er… I can get you them by sundown!" he replied.

"Huh?" Pleo chirped. "What's at sundown, Elty?"

"Elty, just how do you expect us to get pirate scarves by sundown?" Nida hissed quietly. "We're only three Pokémon!"

The Growlithe was about to reflexively explain that the Iron Fleet would surely cover the tab of one of its own, when he suddenly remembered that the spike ball and the mewa were still right there and bit down on his tongue.

"Uh…"

The Growlithe fumbled in his mind for something to feed the barkeep, but… just what was he supposed to say? What explanation would Fighting-Type would buy that wouldn't get Nida and Pleo tanning his hide?

WHUMP

The three watched as Shuho suddenly hopped the counter and came to a rest behind them. As Team Traveller whirled around, they saw the barkeep was now standing between them and the exit, glaring and cracking his knuckles.

"If you don't have a tab, I'm gonna need you to fork over coins for your bill," he snarled. "Ima sugu!"

"B-But we have any Poké!" Pleo stammered. "We haven't even picked a mission yet!"

As the little Lugia's words left his beak, Elty folded his ears back and pulled his tail against his legs as he stared up at the glaring fighter.

"Uhm… W-Will you take berries and orbs?" he stammered. "Our team leader's got some! Ask her!"

"Elty, you said that you had a tab for us!" the Nidoran hissed, glaring daggers of her own at the Growlithe.

"Er… I was mistaken?" he offered.

"Oh you're mistaken, alright!" Shuho shouted. "Mistaken if you think I'm not going to take your bill out of your hides for this-!"

Just then, the sound of the tavern's door creaking open could be heard, as a familiar squeaking Sentret voice cried out inside.

"Hey! Has anyone here seen a Snorunt?" it asked. "Short, a little scruffy, and-"

"Scout?!"

Sure enough, after poking their heads past the Throh, the three saw that Scout really was at the door. The Sentret for his part seemed equally surprised to see Team Traveller in a dive like this, the brown creature springing back with a start.

"Eh?! You three are here too?!" he cried. "And before you ask- Don't worry, I got your letter back home before I moved on."

"Oh, er… that's great, but," Nida began, before shaking her head. "Could you help us out here? We kinda need to pay off a bill…"

There was an awkward silence, Nida, Pleo, and Elty giving sheepish, pleading grins from one end. And on the other, the frown of a Sentret who saw Team Traveller's smiles, the unpleased Fighting-Type standing over them, and the pile of what were surely unpaid dishes on the counter.

"Whelp, enjoy your dishwashing, kids!" he exclaimed, as the next sounds that rang out were Scout ducking out of the tavern and slamming the door behind him.

"Grr…"

And a fist being punched into an open palm, and the low growling of Shuho still glowering at the three non-paying runts before him.

"Ahehehe," Elty offered. "U-Uhm… A-About that bill-"

CLUNK

"Sorry we're late, the money's right there," a voice suddenly answered. "Lucky break we saw you through the windows, huh?"

Team Traveller and the white-garbed fighter looked at the counter, where sure enough, a bag full of glistening golden-colored Poké sat on the counter.

"Huh?" Shuho began, as he turned around. He saw that at in front of a pair of just-opened doors were the forms of an Archen, a Marshtomp, a Tropius, and a Nidorino in red scarves with a white design that looked vaguely like an opened book with a horizontally divided circle in it. The fossil bird of the group hopped up on the counter by the bag of Poké and waved at the Throh.

"Yeah, we hired these three for an urgent mission in the Mystery Dungeon," he squawked. "They were in a bit of a rush so they walked out without their advance!"

"Yeah, Scholls and the rest of us just wanted to make sure that we were in agreement about what needed to be done," the mudskipper added, before turning to Pleo. "Isn't that right?"

"Wait, what's an 'adv'-?" Pleo began, only to be cut off as Elty stuffed a paw over his beak.

"That's right!" the Growlithe over-eagerly replied. "Sorry about the misunderstanding!"

"Wait just a minute!" the Fighting-Type demanded. "Your friend just said you hadn't picked a mission yet!"

"Uhm… well… we hadn't picked one for today…" Nida sheepishly offered. "I don't like to spend money without a couple missions in the pipeline, it leads to trouble like this!"

The Throh glared, and then looked at the bag of coins on the counter. After picking it up and finding that its weight seemed to be enough to cover the bill and a generous tip, the thick-browed Pokémon rifled through the bag and decided that even if the explanation wasn't adding up, the money certainly was, and that would be more than sufficient.

"Hrmph. You oughta be more careful next time," the Fighting-Type growled, as he stuffed the bag of coins into a satchel he wore around his waist. The Archen hopped back to the floor and the leafy sauropod motioned to Team Traveller to join them.

"Come along, we remembered there were some details that we missed out from that debrief earlier."

"Garth," the Nidorino whispered to his Marshtomp partner. "And how did we let Wally talk us into trusting three delincuentes juveniles to get back our field notes?"

"Machalí, we tried the normal guild! They said they wouldn't get our listing up until tomorrow!" the Marshtomp whispered back. "Desperate times call for desperate measures!"

Shuho cast a glance at the two parties before ducking behind the counter, and loitered at the edge of a back room ready to make itself a long-deserved meal once these last stubborn customers left, leaving Pleo to raise the long-pending question…

"Who are you all?"

"The name's Team Taxonomy," the rabbit replied, following with a gesture of his paw relaxedly pointing to the rest of the group, "El equipo de incansables buscadores de las verdades perdidas."

The other three Pokémon of this 'Team Taxonomy' rolled their eyes at the Nidorino's boast. Even so, Nida's ears pricked up out of surprise as she realized...

"Ah! Eres Trombense!" Nida cried.

"… Trombense?" The Nidorino lowered his paw and stared at Nida quizzically. He then let his ears down and smiled. "Alas, the truth's more complicated than that," the Poison-Type answered. "I've never been there outside of field work, but my family has roots from there, yes."

"We saw you three were in a bit of a pinch. So how about a trade?" the Archen offered. "We got you out of your jam there, now we need the favor repaid a bit…"

Favor? No way! Hess and the Iron Fleet were going to be here in a couple of hours! The team couldn't just go off dungeoneering right now!

"Er, yeah, about tha-" Elty began. The Growlithe then felt a pricking sensation along his left hip and turned to see a glaring Nidoran prodding him with her barbs. From the back room, he could also hear Shuho growling, evidently irked at the team holding him up from his meal.

"Bogowie..."

Gah… this wasn't supposed to happen! But still, as long as they were quick about this mission, he could still catch up with the rest of his crew when they came back to rest at night, right?

"What do you need us to do?" the Fire-Type sighed.

"We've got a place at a hostel outside this hive," the Tropius answered. "We'll talk when we get there."

That seemed fair enough to Nida and Pleo, even if the idea seemed to make Elty a bit agitated. It was a little riskier than they'd like, but these four did help them out in their trouble earlier…

And with that, Team Traveller exited the sordid little shack, leaving its barkeep to tend to his food, and the three to wonder just what was getting back these "field notes" this "Team Taxonomy" lost going to entail?


Author's Notes:

- tokage (蜥蜴) - Japanese: "lizard" (Hepburn Romanization)
- Sleep (スリープ) - Japanese: "Drowzee", used here as a pun/double entendre. (Official Romanization)
- Koppen dicht - Dutch: "Shut up" (plural subject). Compare "Kop dicht" for singular subjects. lit. "heads closed"
- rabunek - Polish: "mugging", "robbery"
- péist - Irish: "worm"
- casse-toi! - French: "get lost!", "get out!"
- Gardie (ガーディ) - Japanese: "Growlithe" (Official Romanization)
- Ima sugu! (今すぐ!) - Japanese: "Right now!", "Immediately!" (Hepburn Romanization)
- El equipo de incansables buscadores de las verdades perdidas. - Spanish: "The team of tireless seekers of lost truths." Ordering of adjective and noun is convention in romantic descriptions in Spanish.
- (¡)Eres Trombense! - Spanish: "You're Tromban!"