- Chapter 5: The Stoneridge Complex -
"You…you're THE Central Headmaster?! Why didn't you tell us sooner?! I…I was so careless and rude! I didn't…I didn't mean…!" Pineno was tripping over his own words. He pulled his quills down to his shoulders as he tried everything in his power to not melt through the ground.
After what Pineno told Krista about the Headmaster, a wave of guilt washed over her as she remembered how her claws sunk into him. She hoped she wasn't impolite the entire time they spoke. At their first meeting, there was absolutely no class.
Slowking laughed, amused by the looks on their faces. "If I had said anything, I would have never seen your true actions. Many tend to act differently when they are aware of who they are up against. So, because of that, I said nothing. I've made my judgment. And now, I am allowing you inside."
Incredible. It was the only way to describe it. Maybe it was why he looked different from other Slowking. That alone should have been obvious, but he carried herself in such a relaxed manner. Krista would expect someone with such a high status to be a pompous person. Were Pokémon royals any different from the likeness of humans?
"I do apologize, Chespin," Slowking said. "I've read your request and knew to answer immediately, but I also didn't wish to give myself away after I heard your story. I was trying to assure that I wasn't being led into some sort of trap. But as it seems, you were being cautious yourself. There's clearly some information you wish to reach my ears and my ears alone. You didn't feel quite comfortable in that mystery dungeon, and I completely understand."
Pineno nodded, his mouth still halfway open.
"Then we should hurry inside."
With the waterfall redirected, it almost felt like they were transported to a different area. The closer they got to the giant slab of rock, the more it grew. Krista realized that it had to be as tall as a house…perhaps even more. She had to crane her neck just for a better look.
The cool feeling of smooth stone under her feet stopped Krista in her tracks. As she looked down, there was a round flat surface of stone that was built into the ground. It had to be five feet all around.
"Yes, yes. Stay there. Do not panic. What you are about to witness is normal." Slowking stood in front of her. Pineno stepped on next to her.
Not even a second later, the platform they stood on was glowing. A translucent, blue cylinder wall enclosed around the edges. The sound of the waterfall muted around them. Krista almost stepped off in fear of being trapped. She looked at Pineno, but he was far more impressed than she was startled.
'B-bADge SigNAl detECTED…'
Krista jumped at the loud and distorted voice inside her thoughts. She didn't think thoughts had a volume—were they supposed to have a volume? It sounded glitchy and broken, so Krista could only assume the communication system had a fault somewhere. The range of pitch would go from being low to high like a wave. It was almost unbearable to listen to.
'InDigO of CenTrAl. BaDge CorEsPondS wiTh FooTpRinT. WElLcOmE bA-aCk, HEAdmAsTeR?'
Pineno squealed in excitement.
'The TwO BEhInd YoU,' the glitchy voice said.
"I am bringing them in, Zee," Slowking said. There was a long pause of silence, so he laughed. "You judge. I understand. Unfortunately, my badge still lacks the energy for multi-transport. It's charged enough for only two. There are three of us, as you can see."
The strange voice hummed in a tone that couldn't be identified.
'IN aLl d-DuE resPECT… YoURRR job sTA-ated a Si-ilnGuLar cLient?'
Krista knew the glitchy voice had a point, but it almost offended her anyway.
"I will explain later. For now, let us through." The Slowking ordered. "These children had a tiresome two days. I don't wish to have them on their feet for much longer."
'AS yoU wIsH H-heAdmaSTer.'
The ground started to shake. Krista was nearly thrown off balance. She held out both arms and staggered.
"The ground!" Pineno gasped. "It feels like it may collapse!"
The tremors carried on as a sheet of transparent blue light appeared in front of the massive boulder. It crumbled and rained down like sand, decorating the ground. The boulder slid off to the side and sunk into the inner wall. Once it stilled, the shaking came to a stop. What it hid a moment before was a cave entrance.
"Whoa…!" the children gasped.
The voice rang in Krista's head again. 'W-WElcome to THe heArt of ReTaAaaALiAtiON CoRpErAaAtIoN!'
Slowking nodded at them both to follow. Pineno skipped ahead, but he looked back to assure Krista was close behind.
Krista followed Slowking inside the cave as Pineno stayed close behind. She was thankful that the ground had no sharp and jagged edges. It felt cool and smooth, almost like marble. She could hear the soft padding of her footsteps. They were strange footsteps, in a rhythm her ears weren't used to hearing.
They entered what looked like a tunnel, but she couldn't see the end of it. As she looked back towards the outside they just left, the sparkles on the ground lifted and merged into the transparent barrier. It vanished, perhaps invisible to their eyes.
The ground shook again.
With a gasp, Pineno staggered, and Krista almost fell.
The boulder. It was sliding back to close the gap. The light from outside was fading. With the shrinking window Krista could see, the waterfall was being directed back to its original location.
KER-LUNK!
Pitch-black darkness. The soft boom from the sealed entrance echoed down the tunnel. Krista waited for her eyes to adjust—she was sure she was supposed to have night-vision—but the darkness remained. She could hear her own unsteady breathing. Damp rock flooded her nose. The distant drop of water stretched through the empty space. For a moment, she had forgotten she wasn't alone as a wave of panic shot through her.
"I…I can't see—!"
Her voice bounced off the walls and carried down the tunnel. Again, she gripped her ears and pressed them against her skull.
"Whooooa this is coooo-oooool!" Pineno's own voice echoed with a positive tone. "Woooooo-oooo! HELLO-OOOOOOO!"
Krista winched against the sharp sounds. Her head was threatening her with a brand-new headache.
"Please, Chespin. Keep your voice down," Slowking's voice bounced from somewhere.
"Oh. Sorry."
"The darkness is merely temporary. Now…where is the—ah. Here it is."
Click-click.
Click.
A few seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
Slowking let out a disappointed sigh.
Click-click-click.
"Out of all the times Dialga chooses—the connection was severed. I'll have to ask Vigor to fix this as soon as possible. But ah-hah…alternatives are always a good thing."
"The lights are out?" Pineno asked. "We can just follow you, right, um, sir? King? Your Grace…?"
Krista could hear the soft hissing from Pineno's direction. He must had summoned his vines for navigation. Krista found one of them and held on to it.
"There is no need for that, Chespin. You can just call me Headmaster. To answer your question, this doesn't often happen. So, in the meantime…"
FWOOSH!
Krista jumped back as strings of cyan light filled the darkness. They all flew like ribbons, gathering to the same spot—a glowing, blue, and rhombus-shaped stone of some sort. From the illuminating light, she could make out the focused expression on Slowking's face. His eyes were glowing in the same color as he directed the light in another direction. The trails of it chased after the source, almost like a ghastly flame.
(It's like a torch of some kind…) Krista was drawn to its beauty. The glowing rhombus was attached to something, but Krista couldn't make out the shape of it. Where did it even come from? It hummed the slightest ring, and there was no heat.
That meant it was safe to touch. It wouldn't burn her. Krista wondered, would it keep its luster glow if she were to remove it from its base? Would it…
"I wouldn't recommend it, Meowth."
Slowking's voice spooked her from her thoughts. He hadn't turned around, but the eyes of his crown were looking right at her.
"I…" Krista realized she was reaching. She immediately slipped her paws behind her back.
(What was I about to do just then?! It's just a stupid light!)
A soft chuckle told her the Headmaster found her reaction amusing, a relief for her. He directed the light ahead of him. "This way. Stay close to me."
Pineno gave Krista a silly smile. It didn't make her feel any less embarrassed.
They walked without a word. The sounds of their combined footsteps bounced off the wide tunnel walls.
"This complex has two main entrances," Slowking explained. "As you can guess, they were once part of the main river. However, there's speculation that a massive earthquake shook these lands and split the ground, creating the strange cliffside that we've seen. How the tunnel managed to lift above ground is a mystery that we have not solved yet."
"Maybe this was the first mystery dungeon?" Pineno guessed.
"Perhaps. Although, that theory doesn't seem to be plausible. Never before has a mystery dungeon perished. They spawn, yes, but that's about it. The birth of these tunnels is information that only Dialga would know. We are simply grateful for the existence of this place. While it has been modified to fit our accommodations, we've made sure to preserve its conditions. We have not carved a single stone ever since this place was discovered centuries ago."
"Centuries?" Krista echoed. "You mean, this place was operating for that long?'
"Operation only began about a hundred or so years ago. Before, it was a machicolated fortress that my ancestors commanded to protect this land. This place had never fallen since, and it evolved into a faction where Pokémon could train and harness their abilities to fight back against The Sorcerers and resist The Corruption that plagues this land. Yes, every Pokémon that resides here was affected by them one way or another, just as you two were."
From the brief story Pineno told, Krista knew The Corruption was a huge deal. It was something that Pineno was relieved didn't affect her, if that was even possible. She knew little about how it worked, or why it existed in the first place. However, if the fortress kept it at bay for as long as it did, Pineno certainly fled to the right place.
At least she hoped, if his father directed him there.
"If this place is a stronghold, how has no one ever found it?" Krista wondered aloud, remembering the entrance. "I mean, anyone close enough would see the hidden entrance behind the waterfall. Wouldn't they notice the traffic? This place is right on the path of the river everyone hangs around. Someone would see it."
"Ah-hah-hah. You remind me of Grove," Slowking said. "She is perhaps the most analytical Pokémon I've ever met. But I can assure you, there is little to worry about. If someone noticed the high traffic, it's easily assumed to be because of the trading routes. Pokémon pass by here all the time and never notice anything amiss."
(That…they don't sound very observant.) Krista frowned.
"They are usually careful to stay away from the waterfalls, because they know there is a dungeon lurking near some of them. But let's say they do notice the hidden entrance. That's why we have Pokémon patrolling the area. If something is amiss, they notify Zee. Zee can easily search the unwanted's memories and erase their little discovery. Sleep is a concept that doesn't cross him, so he guards the entrances at all times. The last thing an intruder would want is to encounter a swarm."
"Oh! That makes sense!" Pineno smiled. "That's really cool!"
Krista wasn't so convinced. (Sure. They are being careful, but it feels like there's a flaw in there somewhere. I get that being hidden in plain sight usually works, but it still doesn't feel secure enough.)
She noticed the Shellder studying her again. She looked away.
(But Slowking said this place held up well for centuries. What are they doing right?)
They walked a ways longer, and the Slowking finally stopped.
"Over here."
The two children stood at his side. A pair of black double doors towered before them. The surface was a reflective marble. Krista could make out the slightly warped shapes of Slowking and Pineno—
…and a Meowth that was staring right back at her.
Her heart skipped a beat. It was as if she was staring right at a stranger. It was her, but it wasn't. She was already beginning to accept that she had been transformed, but to see it face to face at last was a gut punch to her spirit. Every movement, even the slightest, was perfectly mirrored. Slit eyes that weren't hers stared back at her.
And that stupid coin was there on her forehead, just as reflective as the wall that mocked her.
"Krista?" Pineno's small voice tore her from her troubled thoughts.
She saw his worried face. Not wanting him to ask any questions, she forced a smile on her face.
Slowking tapped the door's surface with his torch-like object. When he held it up higher, Krista could see the door at full.
It was almost suffocating.
(It's huge! Why are the doors so big?) Krista thought. (It doesn't even have any handles. How does anyone get in? Is there some sort of security thing I'm missing?)
Her eyes landed on where handles would be. But instead, there was a strange dent in its place.
(Did…somebody punch the door? No, it looks too smooth for that. It's a bit strange. Is this how they design things around here?)
Seen under the limited light, Slowking unclipped his badge, and pressed the back of it inside the slot. The center orb glowed brighter than it did before as a low, revibrating hum rumbled from the core.
A series of loud and heavy clacks rattled on both doors. Once it was silenced, the doors started to part, opening slowly, pouring a soft blue light inside. Whatever Slowking was using to see vanished in thin air. It was no longer needed.
They could see the inside. The Slowking removed his badge and urged the children forward.
As the doors slammed shut behind them, Slowking nodded once with acknowledgement. "Hm, yes. Here we are. Welcome to The Stoneridge Complex. Impressive, isn't it?"
Krista and Pineno's mouths hung open.
"THIS is Stoneridge Complex?!"
- THE CENTRAL RETALIATION CORPS -
The tunnel they traversed before was pale in comparison to where they stood. The smooth walls were polished from countless years of water flow. It reflected nearly every image within the vast space. And the ceiling…it had to be taller than a Wailord standing from its tailfin. Krista could see her tiny form staring back down at her. She could see the many backs and heads of busy Pokémon crossing the floor.
Voices, there were so many voices. Animalistic roars, bellows, and shrieks—Krista fought the urge to cover her ears.
"'Xcuse me!"
Krista stepped aside as a Drednaw stomped past. It dipped its head towards Slowking before continuing down its path. A Mudsdale walked from the other direction, taking a slow stroll as it pulled a heavy cart along. It was filled to the brim with objects Krista had never seen before. It too, acknowledged Slowking with a subtle nod.
Krista turned her body, taking in as many sights as she could. High above in the middle of the room was a massive indigo-painted timber bridge that crossed the open space. It was wide, incredibly wide, enough to carry a large cluster of traveling Pokémon at a time. Higher above, there was another bridge that connected to the walls in the opposite direction. How to get there, Krista could only assume there were stairs somewhere.
A Pelipper soared around the bridges and dove towards the ground. It made a sharp turn before it landed on the ground, and it stood before a large billboard. It slung a backpack to its chest and pulled out a thick sheet of paper before clipping it on the board's surface. Once its bag was secure on its back again, it took off into flight.
Krista wondered if that was where Pineno's request wound up.
A massive, rhombus-shaped platform in front of the billboard glowed a bright yellow. Three large columns of light rained down from the ceiling and broke apart as raining specks of light. A summer-form Sawsbuck, a Fletchinder, and a Thievul stood in its place. The platform's glow faded, along with what was on the circular objects worn on their chests. Sitting on the Thievul's back was a worn-down Pidgey, who appeared to be relieved. The Pokémon were celebrating.
"This is amazing!" Pineno laughed as an Unfezant soared by and disappeared deep in a separate hall ahead. "I never saw so many Pokémon in one place like this! The complex is far bigger than I ever imagined! It looks so cool! How are we able to see underground?"
He was right. Despite being inside of a cave, the place was well illuminated. The source of it didn't take long for Krista to notice.
Blue, gigantic boulders were suspended in the air near the ceiling, glowing ever-so brilliantly. Small blue bolts would occasionally lunge between them. At the very center of the room was a massive blue stone pillar that shared the same likeness. It was the only thing that wasn't floating. Whether or not it was safe was a question Krista almost wanted to ask, but it was immediately answered: A yellow-scarf wearing Machamp entered the space, carrying a pair of gigantic blue-static boulders over its top shoulders. It set them down and wasn't the slightest out of breath.
The Machamp noticed them and waved.
Krista waved back, a bit taken back by the Machamp's warm smile.
"Yes, yes. These chargestones are charged with cycling electricity. It provides a natural light for us," Slowking said. He raised both paws above his head as his eyes started to glow.
The Machamp raised both fists in the air and slammed them down on both boulders, shattering them into flying pieces. Nearby Pokémon scrambled, but the chunks did not fly far. They were suspended in the air, cloaked by the psychic light.
Slowking lowered his paws, directing all the stones to one spot into a small mound. The blue bolts leaped across the surface, which intensified as the physic power released them.
"It's a great energy source as well, that scarcely ever seems to run out," he added.
A few Pokémon cheered. Others ducked as a swarm of Magnemite flew in to collect the stones.
"Where are they taking them?" Krista wondered, watching them pick the mound apart.
"A trade is to be delivered. I'm sure the Eastern Headmistress will be thrilled!"
(There's more than one…?) Krista wondered.
"And…oh. Chespin—" Slowking's smile shrunk. His tone held concern. "Is anything the matter?"
Krista looked at him. She grew concerned. His eyes were seconds away from turning into stars.
"This place is so beautiful." Pineno whispered.
That was when she realized his eyes weren't sparkling. They were glossed with tears. He was already wiping his face just as she opened her mouth. His smile was still there. There was a new wave of confidence.
"Yes! I made the right decision coming here! I just know I did!"
His mood changed so quickly.
Slowking was puzzled, but he didn't ask anything about it. He instead gave two a little push to make them walk again. He led the way once more, with his paws behind his back. "If this is breathtaking enough, then a busy session may leave you light-headed. Since you two will be staying here for some time, it is important that you grow accustomed to it. What you saw so far isn't even a quarter of how big the place is. Yes, you can even go further underground. Tunnels dug by Pokémon centuries ago are still active, as you will soon see."
Krista couldn't believe what she just heard. The organization is that big?! "Wait. You expect us to find our way around this place?"
Slowking laughed. "An unrealistic standard. It will take some time, which is why I myself will give you a proper tour of the common spaces. As of right now, you are in the lobby. It's active now, but wait until the festivities start. It is quite a sight, I can assure you."
Krista's eyes were fixed on the massive bridges again. They were walking for some time, and yet, they didn't seem to end.
"When they said no one really knew where this place was, they weren't kidding!" Pineno exclaimed.
"Try as they might, The Sorcerers were never able to locate this place," Slowking said with a prideful smile. "My forefathers have carried on the work of protecting this country from cruel circumstances, and now, it is my burden. Let anyone threaten The Espilce region, and we will return the forces tenfold."
"So cool…" Pineno pressed his paws against his face. He was going to burst from excitement.
As fascinating as it was, Krista was curious about one thing. "Is anyone allowed outside?"
"It depends on the reason," Slowking said. "Duty? Of course. A transfer? Certainly. But just to merely step outside? I'm afraid that cannot be done. I can understand the desire to see the sun, and that has been arranged. But we can't risk having Pokémon wander around the outside. It could draw some unwanted attention."
Krista frowned. "So you just have everyone locked inside?"
The Slowking gave her a strange look. "You make it sound like I am holding them captive, Meowth. Are you not aware of the dangers in this continent?"
"I'm uh…not from around here."
The truth.
Slowking didn't look entirely convinced, but he answered anyway. "With reports of sky-rifts increasing in number, so are cases of Corruption. And with more Corrupted Pokémon surfacing, it adds more power to The Sorcerers. As a result, there's been an increase of Retaliation Teams."
"Retaliation Teams?" Krista heard that term tossed around enough.
"To put it briefly, they are the Pokémon who protect this continent from, and retaliate against any existing threat that are deemed too dangerous for regular organizations to tackle. May it be The Sorcerers, the Corruption, it's an incredibly dangerous job. It is why the training is oh, so incredibly daunting. It is not for the faint of heart. And because this country is so vast, we've split the corporation into five fractions, all located in their respective regions."
More answers lead to more questions. Krista wanted to know who exactly The Sorcerers were, but she felt that she didn't want to annoy him, especially after he went through the trouble of carrying her.
"All of those places are just as well hidden as this one, huh?" Pineno asked.
Slowking chuckled. "Not unless you're from up north. The Ivory region is shrouded with ruthless mystery dungeons. That's a barricade on its own."
The towering ceiling suddenly ended. Krista found that they were walking through another hallway. There were a few other Pokémon, and they each greeted Slowking with a brief dip of the head. It was a wonder how many times Slowking saw it, or if he bothered to keep track.
In no time, they found themselves in a massive space again. It wasn't as impressive, perhaps half the size, but there were still bridges that filled the space high above.
In the area, the space was packed with even more Pokémon. It was lined with shops along the walls. Stands made of stone held their own unique shape and structure. They seemed to be modeled after Pokémon.
A Sneasel exchanged gold coins with a Kecleon, and it was handed what looked like a…jar? For a second, they met eyes before the mustelidae went off to its business.
Slowking hummed in delight. "This is the marketing zone of Stoneridge Complex. You'll find it to be especially busy during this time of day."
It looked terribly busy already. What was the worst it could get?
"Down that hall…" Slowking pointed at a hall never noticed before. "…are the commons. That room is where you will eat, but it is also the room linked with the most hallways, so many travel through there. If you desire a quieter place to eat, we can have that arranged for you."
A cafeteria did sound nice, but what did Pokémon food taste like?
A low and rumbling growl shook through Krista's core. The ground was vibrating beneath her feet. She turned, and her jaw hung open at the sight of a gigantic, metallic, and snake-like body sliding out of one hall, making a wide turn to another. Pokémon near it jumped aside, wary of its presence.
"Whoa! That's a Steelix!" Pineno was practically bouncing on his feet. "No wonder why those doors were so tall!"
"Not a common sight, is it?" Slowking smiled. "You'll see her around quite a bit. She does a lot of work around here in keeping the place stable."
There was a line of Pokémon waiting at a green and brown stand. It was the third largest seen, just behind the storage and market compared to the others. It looked like an office, but there were no windows. What decorated the top were a pair of gigantic and gray horns.
"That's the registration office, someplace you and your friend will head to very soon. We will need to account for how many Pokémon live here. But, that is for later."
There were a few other tiny stands, but they were run by Pokémon who simply wanted to make a little extra. As it seemed, their business wasn't allowed. Once they spotted Slowking, they took down the stands and made a run for it.
Lastly, in the furthest end of the room was a tall and ragged stone tower that nearly reached the ceiling. Slowking explained that it was a training dojo to help Pokémon harness their skills, but it had been placed on restricted access due to the sensei being missing for a year.
"That's terrible!" Pineno gasped at the news. "Does anyone know what happened to the sensei?!"
"She went missing one night when she was trying to stock up supplies for the dojo. We sent a search party to locate her, but there has been no signs. The chances of anyone finding someone missing for so long decreases with time. It wouldn't surprise me if she was wandering lost somewhere due to The Corruption taking hold of her. But if I had to choose between that being a possibility, or he being captured by one of The Sorcerers…terrible. Both fates are terrible."
Krista hoped that the head of the dojo never crossed paths with anything related to such evil. Either outcome didn't sound better.
Slowking exhaled a heavy breath. "Let's go."
Krista and Pineno followed him as he navigated his way through the crowd. They never had to stop once as each Pokémon that was ahead of them stepped out of the way to give the Slowking breathing room. Krista felt like countless eyes were watching them. She was sure many were on her. Every time she took a quick glance at the passing Pokémon, she would catch one or two meeting her eyes.
There was no hostility, but it was still creepy. She decided to focus her attention on Slowking's swaying cape.
But that was when she heard the whispers. It was almost easy to miss.
"That is so strange. How is that Meowth even walking like that?"
"I don't know. She's weird."
"Humph! She thinks she is so high and mighty for being able to walk on two legs! What a show off!"
(You're crazy if you think I'm going to drop on the ground.) Krista shot her angry thoughts towards the voices. To stay upright only felt natural to her.
"Ye' ain't made of glass, kitty!"
Krista yelped as red claws slammed on the ground in front of her. They belonged to an arm, an arm attached to a large leathery wing. The wing was connected to…a collar of white fur instead of feathers? She looked up and met eyes with a gigantic black and purple bat.
A Noivern.
Why did it wear a pair of goggles on its head? Did Noivern even need them? Maybe it was fashion? The striped scarf it wore around its neck was red and purple, styled in a way that reminded her of a pilot. It would be funny, if she wasn't shaken by its sudden appearance.
The Noivern sniffed at her, its lips parting into a sinister grin.
A terrible sinking feeling took hold of her. She felt her fur rising.
"Oh! Sorry!" She jump aside, not wanting to upset it at all.
Thankfully, it moved on, crawling on all fours. She expected it to fly, but perhaps it had other plans that involved staying grounded. As it traveled its way down, passing Pokémon were quick to move out the way. They were just as frightened. Krista wasn't overreacting.
(That Pokémon scared me near death! Who was that?)
She felt a light brush on her arm.
Pineno held Krista's arm with a paw. He gave Krista a smile. It was likely he sensed her discomfort. It was a simple gesture, but Krista did feel a little better.
They left the market area as they walked through another small tunnel. It brought them into a huge room, which was about the same size as the market. Several flattened boulders were like tables, lines in near-perfect rows. A cluster of blue stones were arranged like a flower, high in the middle of the ceiling.
She realized they were inside the cafeteria, or at least what Slowking called "the commons". There were several hallways on the other side. One led to a spiraling staircase that took travelers to a higher floor.
"These hallways lead to the barracks. Over here," Slowking said.
It was apparently too busy for anyone to pay them any mind. They crossed the cafeteria and stood before the many hallways. There were at least ten separate corridors presented before them.
"We have quite a number of Retaliators," Slowking said. "And with every tenth hall, the hall is labeled with a star. You should have no problem navigating this part of the complex."
Krista looked at one. One glowing star-shaped stone, and four circular ones.
"So… this one is fourteen?" Krista asked.
"There you go." Slowking nodded. "Now, the way I usually go requires a long trek up a flight of stairs, but being a high-ranking Retaliator has its quirks. Both of you, hold on to my cape and don't let go."
They did as instructed. For what reason they had to, Krista was nervous to find out.
Slowking pressed a single claw against the centerpiece of his badge. It held a slight glow as he spoke. "Zee. I need a transfer to the third floor. Do be careful. I have a pair of Pokémon I am bringing with me."
The badge blinked twice, and the glow extended past the centerpiece, swallowing the three in a strong blanket of light. It was blinding. Krista squeezed her eyes shut in response.
The ground wasn't beneath her feet. She felt the pit of her stomach—she was floating! Was she floating? Her grip on the cape tightened as she felt her entire body spinning. It felt like she was being sucked into the unknown.
But it was over just as she was about to scream.
She gasped once her feet were on solid ground again. The light faded as she opened her eyes. As she took a step forward, the world spun in a violent blur. She hit the ground, and her head held the slightest buzz. Were her ears ringing?
Slowking chuckled. "Easy. I know it feels frightening, but I can assure you that nothing is wrong. It's just the side-effect from teleportation. Your body's balance is scrambled. Give it some time to adjust. You'll learn how to stabilize yourself better in the future."
Krista got to her knees. Despite her vision shifting, she could make out Pineno, who was in no better shape than her. He was wobbling on all fours as he tried to get a firm grip on the floor. He found it hilarious.
Slowking was patient with their recovery. Once they were both back on their feet, he pointed towards the halls, which held more stars than the last. Krista could make out that they stood in front of the 60th hall. It was the largest of them all, spaced out further from the rest.
Slowking led them down, and it was lined with a few large doors. Krista was expecting a lot more. The length of the hallway didn't look all too impressive. It was completely barren, as they were the only three Pokémon present.
"The rooms are sealed off?" Pineno asked.
Slowking smiled. "I said this place was a fortress, didn't I?"
That explained why the doors had no handles. They were all sunk into the wall. Perhaps they opened from the inside so they wouldn't be so easily pushed in. But how did Pokémon get in?
Krista counted four doors on each side. Eight? It didn't seem to be enough to hold a lot of Pokémon in each hall.
"This hall is for the associates that run this place," Slowking explained, as if he sensed her confusion. "And down there is where I reside."
"Oh, wow! We get to see your room?!" Pineno gasped.
They reached one end where a massive door greeted them. It was not as impressive as the entrance, but it was still quite intimidating.
Slowking unclipped his badge from his frill, and he inserted it into a slot where a door handle would be. After the centerpiece responded, the door slid open.
Krista felt her breath leaving her body. The room was massive for one Pokémon, but that was not what impressed her the most.
Sunlight was spilling from the large circular window that was carved through the back wall. Vines were acting as curtains to conceal it from the outside. Krista could make out traces of Riverside Path: the dirt pathways, the distant rivers, and the small mountains…Slowking practically had a live painting in his room.
There were no floating stones. Instead, a pair of massive braziers hung on the left and right walls. They were both lacking any fire, since it was not needed. In front of the window was a huge flat rock that Krista could assume was a bed. Straw coated the surface to act as cushioning. A decorative red and white striped mat was spread out at the foot of it. It was perhaps the only decoration within the space, aside the many vines that hung on the walls.
At one corner of the room, there was a large dip in the ground. Water was trickling in from the outside. Krista looked at the other side. And she almost jumped at the sight of a gigantic Arcanine sitting proudly at the corner. It took her a second to realize it wasn't moving. A realistic statue?
Memory served her; Arcanine were naturally massive, but this one wasn't normal. Despite her shrunken size, it had to be near twice the average size of its real-life counterpart. Staring at it made her feel dizzy. It made Slowking look small. It made Krista feel like an insect.
How did anyone bring it in the room?
It was facing the door as it looked forward, but at nothing at the same time. Its neck was decorated by an orange and black striped scarf. At the center was a replica of a badge, one that was shaped exactly like the Headmaster's. The only difference was the colors. Instead of the base being a deep purple color, it was a shining silver. The four-pointed star was evening red. The only thing that didn't change, was the golden color of the wings, and the dark orb that made up the centerpiece.
"Howler. That will do for today," Slowking said.
What Krista thought was a statue stood in response.
(It's…it's real!)
It turned to face the Slowking and dipped its head, which made its great mane shake.
"Quiet guard today."
His voice was at a deeper octave than Slowking's. It held the slightest growl behind every word that boomed through Krista's ears and reverberated through her chest. She felt chills.
Slowking smiled. "Good to hear. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Headmaster." Howler strutted past them all, his steps heavy, but he stopped just before he could step out the door. He peered over his shoulder. "Headmaster. May I ask who are the two accompanying you?"
Krista shook, feeling the volume of his voice again. The Arcanine's gaze was beginning to crush her, so she turned her eyes elsewhere.
"These are the clients from the escort request," Slowking explained. "If you don't mind, do tell Grove that the request has been fulfilled."
"Hnn…" Howler growled low in acknowledgement. "I believe I recall that there was only one client." He turned his body and stepped towards the pair, who fought the urge to step back. He lowered his massive head and sniffed Krista, ignoring her flinching. "This one…the Scratch-cat? Is she to be trusted?"
(Why does he have to get too close? His voice is so strong!)
She just registered his words.
(Scratch-cat? What was that supposed to mean?!) Krista didn't want to move and risk offending him, but she felt like he was mocking her somewhat. The constant sniffing was making her fur rise. She had to swallow down the growl that tried to surface from her chest.
"There is no cause to be alarmed," Slowking said. "Please be on your way. The day was long. Inform Dusk that he is taking a night shift. Also, inform Boomer of the two new residents. I don't want any unnecessary meetings tonight."
Unnecessary meetings…?
Howler bowed his head. "As you wish, Headmaster."
Slowking walked to one side of the room. "Ah-hah, one more thing: The braziers need to be lit. You don't mind showing these two your best flamethrower?"
"Whoa, whoa! He knows The Flamethrower?!" Pineno scrambled for shelter behind Slowking, and Krista decided to join him.
Howler noticed their fears, but his face never changed. He held his head high and spoke proud. "My fire is to only be used in battle, but welcoming new residents is always an exception. You will only see this once, so do watch carefully if you desire to know the true meaning of power."
Howler walked to the center of the room. His nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath. Flames licked the corners of his mouth before he snapped it open. It shot out and grew massive in size as it traveled through the room, which it illuminated in brilliant, orange light.
The flames bathed one torch. Howler snapped his head around and ignited the other. He closed his mouth, his flames were no-longer needed. Tendrils of smoke rose from his nostrils as the only remaining evidence of his demonstration.
Krista was awe-struck by the powerful display. However, from the corner of her eye, she could see that Pineno kept his eyes squeezed shut. He had turned his body away.
His slightly charred body.
Krista abandoned her shield as she approached Pineno. "Hey…are you…?"
Pineno jumped the second her paw touched his shoulder. Once he saw her, he relaxed. "I'm okay. I just got a little scared. That's all."
(A little…?) Krista casted a glare towards Slowking. Surely he knew, especially after what Pineno told him.
"Thank you kindly, Howler," Slowking said with a smile. "If I need anything else, I will contact you.'
The Arcanine gave him a small nod. Again, his eyes fell on Krista as he spoke. "I will see you two soon. A pleasure to meet you…both."
Krista felt her fur prickle again.
He left the room and disappeared the moment he turned a corner in the hall. Seconds had passed since his departure, and his footsteps remained strong, as if he was right outside the door.
Krista rubbed her chest, where the power of his voice lingered. (Howler. What a strange name. Doesn't sound very nice to use on anyone, really.)
She tried to shake away the uneasy feeling that kept rising. Surely, the giant was merely studying her.
"Wow…" Pineno breathed. He fell on his rear, needing a seat to gather his nerves perhaps. "That…that was intense."
"Howler is one of my many associates. He takes great pride in his fire," Slowking said. "I knew he had a lot of potential with his flames. Back when he was a mere Growlithe, he could hardly control his own power."
"He's huge! What did you feed him?!"
"Ah-hah-hah…" Slowking laughed at Pineno's bewilderment. "Impressive, isn't it? All the new recruits are always taken aback by his appearance. He has strong blood in his veins, and he takes great pride in it. You'll be seeing him frequently, so in time, you'll grow accustomed to his company."
Krista shivered. She was already dreading their next meeting.
Pineno took notice of her discomfort. "He didn't seem to like Krista very much."
"Howler doesn't like anyone new that comes through these walls," Slowking explained. "Although I believe he's suspicious of Meowth because he had never seen one like her before. I hope you can ignore the curious eyes. This may carry on for the first couple of weeks you reside here."
Krista figured as much. But still, she couldn't quite shake off the feeling that she was being watched a little too closely.
"You sure do have an amazing room, Headmaster," Pineno said. "Are we really allowed in here?"
"Temporarily. We will need to register you two before you can be given your own quarters." Slowking said.
Pineno smiled. He was fine with that. "Okay. Thank you so much for escorting us here—oh, yeah! The poké! Let me just—"
"You can keep your poké, Chespin."
"Wha?" Pineno had his paws around the bag. "Are you sure?! You went through all the trouble of helping the both of us! It just wouldn't be fair!"
"I have plenty of poké as is. Consider this as a little boost. I will send someone to teach you how to open your bank by the morrow."
"Oh…! Oh thank you so much, sir! Truly!"
"It is nothing." Slowking said as he headed for the doors. "Dinner will be served to you tonight, but don't grow accustomed to it. You will be feeding yourselves as soon as you are assigned rooms."
He was gone as the door sealed shut behind him. There was only a brief moment of silence.
"WOO-HOO!"
Pineno sprung high from the ground with a paw pumping above his head. As soon as he landed, he spun and danced in one spot.
"We did it, Krista! We actually did it! We made it! We're safe!"
Krista was happy for him. She couldn't imagine what he had witnessed, so to hear him finally feel that he was far from the dangers brought her a sense of relief.
"Now all we have to do is figure out your own mystery, Krista."
She didn't expect to hear that. "Huh?"
"You lost your memories. There must be a reason for it, right?" Pineno asked. "And from the way you lost them, it couldn't have anything to do with the Corruption or anything! But uh…"
He seemed to have calmed down as he checked his surroundings.
"But, just to be safe, I don't think we should mention that to anyone. Some Pokémon are really, really scared of it, you see? So if anyone learns about what happened to you, they might think you are evil or something. I don't want anyone to try to hurt you."
"Yeah. That does make sense." Krista hated it, but he had a point.
"Maybe once we have our own bank open and our own rooms to live in, we can start investigating on our own, somehow," Pineno said. "It probably won't be for a while, though. The Headmaster said he would send another Pokémon to help us learn about this place. I don't think it's going to be Howler."
"I hope not." Krista knew she sounded rude, but he scared her well enough.
"Well, I guess we are stuck here for the rest of the day."
Perhaps they were. They were never given any proper instruction on what else to do. Krista could only guess that Slowking had his hands full with other things. The flow of traffic was almost overwhelming to see.
She glanced towards the window, staring out into the stretching lands of Riverside Path. It was a strange hilly place. It was hiding the fortress in plain sight.
"Today was really intense, huh?" Pineno chuckled. "I mean, we both had a bad morning! I'm just glad we found each other. It's the best thing that has ever happened to me yet!"
Krista was a bit surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah! I really thought I was going to be here all alone, you see? But now that we are together, it's going to be a lot more fun! What other powerful Pokémon are we going to meet? Oooo I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight! I am just so ready for tomorrow to be here already! Come on, Krista! Aren't you at least a little excited?"
"I don't know," Krista answered honestly. "A lot has happened to me…it's a lot to take in."
"And that's why we are here, right? To help each other out! This complex is our new home! We can start a new life now!"
He balled his paws and tapped his feet on the ground.
"Hahaha yes! And I have my very first friend with me! This is so awesome! I'm going to burst! I've never had a friend before! Hahahaha!"
(A friend….) Krista watched the Chespin bounce around. (How do you already see me as a friend?)
… … …
Later, there was a knock on the door. A Nidorina chef introduced herself as Highness. She set a pair of bowls down before the pair of Pokémon before she made her way back out.
Krista wasn't sure what she was expecting from Pokémon food, but it didn't look like the worst thing in the world. She actually recognized some of the food. There were some oran berries and sliced apples. What she couldn't recognize didn't smell like anything mouth-watering.
Pineno was already halfway done with his food by the time he noticed her poking at it. "Not hungry?"
"Oh, no. I am. I just…needed a moment to adjust." It wasn't a lie. Krista had no idea how long it would take for her to adapt to the new lifestyle she was shoved into. She had to live like a Pokémon now. She knew it from the back of her head, but it took for her to sit on a cold floor within a tunnel filled with countless Pokémon, with Pokémon food, for her mind to finally process it.
She remembered her reflection at the door. It still felt surreal.
"I know it's rough now, but I promise, no matter how long it takes, I will help you get your memories back, Krista. That's what friends are for, right? We help each other out!"
(There he goes again,) Krista thought. (Do Pokémon make friends that easily, or does he trust me that much? It seems…pretty reckless.)
Krista turned her gaze back to her food. She stabbed an apple slice with a claw, lifting it from the bowl. After inspecting it for any possible speck of grime, she popped the apple in her mouth. It tasted quite nice, just as an apple should. She didn't know what she was expecting.
As she plucked her second apple, she noticed how the Chespin waited patiently for her response, with his eyes wide and full of endless hope.
Krista gave him the smallest of smiles. "Yeah. I guess we can help each other out, huh?"
… … …
When night came, they realized Slowking probably wouldn't return anytime soon. If he did, it probably would be while they slept.
Krista couldn't get comfortable on the stone floor, no matter what she did. She tried turning to the other side. She tried resting on her stomach. She opted out of that quickly, realizing it wasn't ideal after eating. Slowking's bed wasn't anything grand—just covered with straw. It looked terribly itchy to lay on. But, compared to the ground, it had to be a luxury.
"Today was pretty wild, huh?" Pineno asked suddenly. "We went through two mystery dungeons in one day. And that Staravia…that was scary, wasn't it?"
"It was a giant bird," Krista said as her mind replayed how it crashed through the branches. "of course it would be scary?"
Pineno chuckled. "Giant? What are you talking about? Staravia are always that tall. Now if it were the size of a Staraptor, that would be bad."
Krista mentally hit herself. Of course Staravia didn't seem like a giant to him. She was the one who shrunk. Everything looked giant to her.
Pineno stretched his arms. "Well, I made it to where I need to be. Now all I have to do is reach my dad somehow. He promised that he would meet me, but I guess when you work such an important job, it's hard to know when for sure, huh?"
"I guess so," Krista agreed. "But I'm sure he will be happy to know you are here."
"Yeah. He will be! And, you know, Mr. Slowking is really nice. Actually, I guess I should call him Headmaster, huh? He doesn't seem to like being called a king much, even though he is one."
Krista was curious about that too. Maybe he liked to be casual? "It's a bit weird though. For someone who is said to come from a line of kings, he doesn't seem like one."
"Seem like one?" Pineno cocked his head in thought. "Oh, right. You don't remember. It would be good to tell you then."
"Tell me…what?" Krista wondered.
"Well, the main reason the royals exist is not only because they are the strongest in the land, but because their ancestors are said to have worked together with humans. Slowking has The Scepter of Wisdom, and that's proof enough that he's king!"
(His scepter?) Krista pondered. (That torch was actually a scepter? I didn't really get a good look at it…but it seemed pretty old—)
(Wait! They know about humans!)
"I guess you don't know too much about humans either," Pineno said.
(A lie!) Krista wanted to blurt out.
"I mean, I want to think they are real, but my dad always said they are just twisted stories. No one really knows where the artifact really came from, but it does make the one who uses it a lot stronger. I guess…knowing how strong the royals can be, it would be kinda lame if we had a mean king, huh?"
Pineno was giving her time to respond, but she didn't know how.
(The scepter. If the stories say they came from humans, did it really? Why doesn't it sound familiar to me? Ugh! It would be nice to remember a tiny bit of something!)
(What happened to the other humans anyway? Pineno makes it sound like they just all vanished a long time ago. Not everyone believes they are real, but I know for sure that I am real. But, I can't just tell him that!)
"Are you okay, Krista?" Pineno asked.
"Huh?!"
"You look kinda spooked. I promise that the royals are very nice. They aren't cruel. Not at all."
Krista stiffened. (Uh-oh. I guess I was thinking too hard.)
"Krista?" Pineno called.
"It's just, I always thought monarchs were like…feared, I guess?"
Her defense wasn't even a lie. It felt like something she was sure she believed before.
"Like whenever they entered a room, everyone would bow to the ground. And if anyone upset them, they would be tossed in a dungeon somewhere…"
Pineno laughed.
Krista didn't see what was so funny. She felt pretty confident about that one.
"Wow, Krista! A dungeon? You're making them sound like they are legendary Pokémon or something! Now they are the type you would want to bow on the ground to! If you make them mad, then that's really bad! You must have the stories confused! Once, it was said a legendary was so mad, that he crashed inside someone's house in the middle of the night! Then he kidnapped everyone who lived inside and threw them inside a mystery dungeon!"
He paused.
"Actually that story isn't really funny. I don't think they made it out."
Krista hoped that story wasn't real.
"But yeah. You don't have to worry about the royals doing anything like that. We have nothing to fear for as long as we are here, right?"
"Guess you have a point if your dad sent you here," Krista said.
"Yep. Now I can relax without worrying about that horrible Houndoom."
Pineno yawned.
"Geez. I'm beat. I guess we should try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is probably going to be busy. Oooo I'm still excited! But if I think too much about it, I might be up all night!"
Krista watched as he moved, probably to find a more comfortable spot on the ground. Confusion grew as he got closer. It was when he got too close that she moved back.
"What are you doing?" she asked him, a paw pushed out.
"Huh?" He was just as lost. "Trying to sleep? Is something wrong? Are you hurting still?"
"No?" Krista stood. "Why are you getting so close? There's plenty of room to sleep in."
"I promise my quills won't hurt you or anything, if that is what worries you."
"No! Why are you trying to sleep so close to me?"
"Why…? Is that not normal?" Pineno gave her a strange look. It softened after some time. "Oh, right. That was rude of me. Your memories…"
"I…I'm confused."
"Well…" Pineno sat up. "It's kinda hard to sleep isolated, you see?"
"But…we are in the same room?"
"I know but…aren't you cold?"
Krista didn't feel that she was. But even if she was, the question was odd. Why would anyone want to sleep so close to someone else? They hardly knew each other. It was weird.
"Don't they have blankets?" Krista asked. "If I was cold, I would just ask for that…"
"Blanket?" Pineno's face held confusion. "Like snow? But doesn't that make you colder? Why would you want snow? It would just melt, anyway."
"That's not what I—" She dropped her arms and sighed. "Listen. I'm just…not comfortable with the idea of anyone touching me when I sleep, okay? It's not…it's not that I don't trust you. It's just…I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay," Pineno said as he stepped back. "I never really had a roommate before. I guess I'm so used to someone else's company being with me…like my mom or dad. Even when the den got cold, it was always warm…"
He shook his head.
"No. I won't think about that. Mom is safe…and Dad is working hard. Everyone is fine."
He returned to his previous spot. In no time, he curled his body into a tight ball.
"Goodnight, Krista. Try to get some sleep, okay?"
"Um…" Krista couldn't tell if she hurt his feelings or not. He seemed understanding, but all she did was remind him of the comfort of his home. A part of her felt guilty. He was probably going to have a harder time sleeping—
Pineno was snoring.
(Wow… He…sure does know how to fall asleep.)
After she rolled to her back, she gave up trying to get comfortable and stared at the ceiling. The soft crackling of fire, and Pineno's soft breathing filled the silence of the room. She watched the shadows dance along with the brazier flames.
On her back again, her mind finally clicked on why everything felt so uncomfortable. The pressure against her spine was not elevated. She reached down to remove it, but her paws grasped around something that was too flexible to be an arm. She rolled off her back for just a second, and she saw the limb fly across her vision.
A tail.
She forgot she had a tail. Again.
If she was angry, it was an emotion that dissolved as she held it in front of her vision again. It was almost as sturdy as her arms. She expected it to be rather flimsy, but even as the vertebrae thinned at the curl of her tail, it was still sturdy.
Out of curiosity, she pulled at the curl to unravel it, ignoring the claws that tried to pierce her. She wasn't sure what she was expecting. It required far more pressure than she would have liked, and it was strong. As soon as she let it go, the brown portion tightened into a ball again. She tried to unravel it by command, but it didn't budge. No matter how hard she focused, there was a disconnection between her mind and her tail.
She gave up and dropped her arms across the floor.
It brought a grim feeling. A looming fog in her mind. In the very back of her mind, she knew there was a reason for her transformation. The memories of yesterday still did not exist. It felt as if she just spawned into the world, but she knew that wasn't true.
Worrying about it wasn't going to do anything but keep her awake all night. So, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Tomorrow was going to be different. The answers would come. Maybe not right away, but they would come.
For Pineno's sake, she hoped that Houndoom wouldn't make himself known anytime soon.
- 0000 -
The moon was full and brilliant, surrounded by countless stars in the twilight sky. It casted its light towards the clearing of a dense and overgrown evergreen forest. But despite its beauty, not a single Hoothoot made a sound. There wasn't a single note sung from a Kricketune. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the sounds of steel sharpening steel filling the air.
Crouched on the ground was a Staravia. Its wings were unfurled as it struggled to do as much as walk. It collapsed on the ground after missing a step. It remained there, exhausted.
The sharpening sound only stopped as a figure approached from the shadows. Its arrow-tipped tail slung to one side as it dipped its head, with half a horn missing.
"So this is where we lost him," the voice with the blades said. "It's unlike you to fumble a mission, Commander Skullzer. What happened?"
"He was right within my reach," the Houndoom said through a subtle growl. "The sky faltered before my eyes."
"And your response was to run away?"
The Staravia tried to stand again. It collapsed once more.
Skullzer turned his head away with a more audible growl. "It was no mere crack that time. I've witnessed a great rift in the sky, and an unidentified something fell out. It could have been any wild beast. I did not want to stand by and challenge my chances. We both know what occured to the last individual who did."
"Ah yes. Such a shame on what happened to Legend," the voice said as it resumed sharpening its blades. "But he never lost his loyalty to us."
"He was repurposed, Knight. He is not the same as he was before. He never will be. He remembers nothing of what he is."
With a frustrated cry, the Staravia collapsed again. Its feeble efforts caught Skullzer's attention.
"But he still gets his work done," Knight said. "Something that you failed to do, even while conscious. But, don't worry. I'm not mad at you or anything. You rarely ever do fail. Nobody is perfect. I hate to remember all of my own failures."
"I did not request your sympathy." Skullzer watched the Staravia's will crumble.
"I was merely trying to lighten the mood, Commander. But alright. You came to me, so this must be important. What do you need my help with that goes so far beyond your skill-set?"
Skullzer raised his head. "My scouts have sent reports to me, that the fifth son of Zypher has been spotted near Riverside Path."
"So what? He found the Riverside Path. It's not like he could find the so-called sanctuary on his own. No one knows where it is except anyone who works for that king."
"He wasn't alone."
The figure stopped his craft. "I'm sorry?"
"My scouts informed me that there was a feline Pokémon accompanying him. A Meowth. A Meowth that isn't of this land. It carried the embodiment of luck and wealth."
"Why couldn't you just say it was the common species?" Knight sighed. "But this is quite interesting. What is a Meowth like that doing here? They usually reside across the sea. Could it have been from the grass continent, perhaps? That would be quite bothersome. All the Pokémon from there are."
Skullzer huffed.
"Alright, alright. What more is there you need to tell me?"
"My sources have informed me that they both were seen traveling with the king."
"WHAT?!"
Skullzer stepped back as an iron thorn stabbed the ground between his feet. He looked at Knight's shadow, unphased by the outburst.
"You let him get to him?! It was your job to keep that from happening!" Knight scolded him. "What am I supposed to tell our boss?!"
"A step back we can adjust to. He cannot hide forever," Skullzer said. "My scouts will continue to search for him. The Chespin has been marked. When the time comes, it may be necessary to call for reinforcements."
"Can't do the work with the numbers you already have, Skullzer?"
Skullzer pointed his nose towards the wounded starling.
"Ho. That is unfortunate. At least for you."
"By the morrow, it would be likely the king becomes familiar with the Chespin's identity. I will not have the element of surprise required to neutralize this Pokémon," Skullzer said. "It won't be the morrow, it likely won't be the next fortnight, but he will soon present himself. There will not be a second failure."
"...Alright. Fine. I'll fetch you more scouts, but only because I want that Chespin out of the picture," Knight said. "And if he truly has what you claim, he will be dealt with quickly."
Skullzer dipped his head. "A thousand thanks." With a whip of his tail, he made his way for the exit.
"Ah, Commander. What are you going to do with this…clipped bird?" Knight asked. "Looks like it can't do as much as fly anymore. It's becoming such an eyesore to watch it struggle. Go do something about that."
Skullzer glanced back at the Staravia, who stared at him with hopeful eyes. "The king is cruel. It will take weeks for its wings to heal."
"Then I will just find another."
Skullzer whipped his head towards the voice, mouth partially hung open. "That won't be necessary—"
"What will the boss say if your failure becomes known?"
Skullzer pressed his lips. A tongue swept across the muzzle as he averted his eyes. He turned his body towards the Staravia and stared down with pity.
"Forgive me, little bird," he said, his gentle tone somber. "I assure you. You will not feel a thing."
Knight's scoff from the shadows radiated impatience.
A single clawed paw pressed down a blue, glass sphere on the ground. The core within held a menacing glow that illuminated the Staravia's horrified expression.
With a deep breath, Skullzer let the words out of his mouth.
"Itemizer orb, activate."
The air was sliced. A bright flash swallowed the clearing like lightning.
To be Continued in Chapter 6.