Hello everybody, welcome to Chapter 25. We are officially entering territory I didn't think we'd cross. To quote a plankton, "I didn't think we'd get this far." Thank you.
Anywho, let's get back to the chapter my dear friends. :P Thanks for reading, fav'ing, following and reviewing and I'll catch you next chapter!
Chapter 25: Mutual Defeat
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Buoyed up with discomfort at feeling the familiar dirt of the desecrated village underneath her body, Erin scrambled to her feet almost immediately as she landed from the teleportation. Blinking her eyes rapidly in order to readjust to the darkening light, a wave of panic started to crash into her like a powerful attack.
Relief briefly alleviated the feelings she was experiencing as Karl was safely by her side, plenty far from the building that had permanently damaged his mentality.
Well… sort of safely. The poor child was passed out on the ground, sprawled in an unmovable state. Erin rubbed the back of her head sheepishly as she remembered how rough teleportation can be for your first time. The first time she did, she ended up throwing up in front of her whole class, soaking a poor Crawdaunt in her bile. She shuddered at the memory.
Pushing that aside, she whipped her head in the direction of the scouting tower that Axl was now currently being held hostage at. Part of her wanted to sprint back to the tower to save her friend, having to be squashed back by the logical side of her that knew she had Karl to protect.
Thorn has a code about not hurting his own brethren…there's no way he'd do anything to Axl…right?
Then again, he had no qualms about smacking Axl into a wall hard enough to knock the otter out in a blow. Axl was a tough cookie, no doubt, so that was certainly more than a love tap that Thorn gave him.
She placed a palm over her head, splaying her fingers so that one of her eyes were covered. Slumping to the ground, anger washed over herself. At Trager, Thorn, Max and herself for not being able to protect Axl. She really was…
"Unh.."
Karl whimpered softly as he twitched in his sleep, making Erin jump and snap back into reality. Swallowing the pit in her stomach for good, she placed a reassuring hand on Karl's arm, soothing the young child in his state of despair.
I became a guildmember to save those that need saving. Karl needs me to be at my strongest.
Axl was smart, strong, incredibly cunning, imaginative, quick-thinking…. she blinked as all the compliments came to her mind, causing her to shake it in embarrassment. Regardless, her point remained; Axl could take care of himself. At the very least, she trusted him to keep himself alive long enough to get the Guildmaster and the others to help them.
She scratched Karl behind the ears, relaxing him. "Don't worry, Karl…I'll protect you." She murmured softly, not feeling great on the inside.
Reaching into her satchel, she pulled out a phone and found Guildmaster Finnegan's contact. Pressing it almost frantically, she waited for what felt like an eternity for him to answer…
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A silent, awkward air filled the room of the Peridot City Justice Guild's meeting room, with the members from Amethyst City mingling in with Todd and Bendy. The Amethyst group wanted to start heading home due to how late it had gotten, and the Peridot group wanted to unwind and decompress the best a guild dealing with the issues they had could. Damn social expectations, however, stopped either from getting what they wanted.
Todd was sitting next to Ceren, playing with the earrings on the Sandslash's ear, mesmerized by the jewelry. "So cool." He whispered in awe, Ceren humouring him. "Hey Bendy, can we get our ears pierced too?"
Bendy, who was sipping on tea once more underneath his mask, raised a brow. "I don't have ears, you ignoramus." He replied dead toned.
Todd's ears fell back in disappointment very briefly before he was once again easily distracted by the dangly earrings. Ceren still didn't budge an inch but peeked at Todd from the corner of his eye. Mimicking this exact posture with arms crossed and growingly impatient look was Sergei, tapping his claw against his arm.
Nero, who sat away from the antisocial group, sighed. "So, Kameron." He turned his back to the awkward group to give a smile to the Sharpedo that bobbed from the pool. "It's been months since I've seen you, how's it going helping out Filip."
Kameron swam in a circle, happy to break the awkward tension. "Not bad, I'm really happy I transferred here from Sapphire. Although, I think Guildmaster Cascada is a bit friendlier than our Guildmaster."
Nero looked a little surprised. "Hm, really? Kelvin didn't strike me as the friendly type."
Kameron sweatdropped. "...he's not." He replied. He shook his head to brighten it. "Hopefully, though, I can go out to start helping on missions. I love my pool, but I'd also like to go for a…walk."
Ceren cocked his head. "You know, I've always wondered with water types is how you get around in the cities without water. Sapphire at least rests on a lake so it's easier, but the next body of water is so far away from everywhere else."
Kameron swam to the edge of his pool, fumbling around for something around the stone edge. "Oh, did none of you see the new invention Silph released for water types?" He called back, sounding excited. "I'll show you, then. Guildmaster Finnegan got me a set for my birthday. I'm still training with them, so bear with me."
The three guests gave each other confused glances and exchanged shrugs as they had no clue what Kameron was talking about. Kameron, meanwhile, had grabbed a metallic bundle and unfolded it into a pair of legs. Jumping from the water, he landed on it and a brief shock got the legs moving a bit.
Kameron also reached down to grab an object that looked like a massive pair of headphones made of glass. He cupped a bunch of water from his pool and hooked it around the top of his head and over his gills.
He did a couple laps around the room, almost knocking the Pokemon over because of his size. He stood almost as tall as Sergei with the mechanic legs.
Ceren blinked at the terrifying sight. "Sweet Arceus, how horrifying." He said, dead panned.
Kameron didn't seem to notice. "It runs on electric signals sent through my nerves. I'm still kind of grasping the handle of it, but once I do, I'll be ready!" He tried to strike a pose, but the legs suddenly caved away underneath him. He wildly flailed for a moment, smashing the table, knocking over chairs, and accidentally sending Ceren and Todd through a wall. The other three sat unmoving from their activities, somehow unsurprised at the chain of events.
That's the scene Guildmaster Finnegan and his guest, a Salazzle, were introduced to as the door to his office opened. Kameron gave one last heave and thrust himself back into the water, sinking down into the tunnels that were woven in the building.
The Salazzle chuckled. "Well, I'll leave you to it then." She said, sounding fairly young. The others shot her a look, each getting an equally uneasy feeling about her. "Well, I hope you consider taking up my offer, Guildmaster. You'd be a wonderful candidate."
Guldmaster Finnegan was trying to open a bottle of booze. "Tha's nice and all, bu' de problem is ye a feckin' loon." His slurred speech informed the others that the bottle was most likely not his first.
The Salazzle chuckled before her pupils reduced to pinpoints as she glared at the Bisharp. "You better watch yourself, young man." She rasped in a retort, meeting his eyes before exiting the building.
The Guildmaster didn't lose his concentration on her as she left, only letting his emotion simmer to a light confusion. "Tha' was bizarre…" He muttered, half to himself.
Bendy nodded, holding his cup in his hands now that the table was destroyed. "I'd say, she either must be blind or older than dirt itself if she's calling you a young man." He told him, earning his Guildmasters disapproving glare.
The Guildmaster was going to say something, but a ringing from the satchel around him made him consider destroying more stuff as he placed his now open but still full bottle of booze on the table.
As he stepped away to take the phone call, Nero kept his eyes on where the Salazzle had left. She had been waiting with Kameron when they arrived back, wanting to speak with Guildmaster Finnegan regarding a 'proposal'. Until the bizarre farewell they had just witnessed, she hadn't seemed all that hostile, but definitely a little weird.
Nero couldn't pinpoint it, but something about her certainly felt familiar. Nothing significant from his past stuck out, however, but he made a mental note to keep an eye out for her.
His attention shifted as Guildmaster Finnegan had snapped his phone shut, a stunned look on his face. "Erin jus' called. She found Karl…and Thorn." He sounded a bit impressed. Everyone had a look of surprise as he said this. "They're south of S'ormdrain, somethin' abou' an old scou' house."
Nero grinned, pushing himself up. "Well, well, not bad for a new recruit, eh?" He said, teasing his old friend. "Especially working with that little shrimp."
Guildmaster Finnegan's eyes darkened. "Abou' tha'...she says he's been caugh'." He told him, sucking the joy out of the room. Nero in particular looked like he had the wind knocked out of him as the news settled in.
"Captured…does that mean-?"
Guildmaster Finnegan gave him a look. "She said 'cap'ured', no' killed. Apparen'ly there's more surrounin' i'."
Bendy placed his cup on the ground, stretching himself from his chair. "Stormdrain is a pretty far trek, Guildmaster. We need to move now while he's stuck in that corner of the territory." He advised, walking to his Guildmaster. "I doubt even Thorn is crazy enough to go wandering in the 'Ghost Territory' by himself."
Nero met his old friend's gaze, a fierce spirit blazing in his eyes. "We will come as well. Axl may not be an official member of the Guild anymore, but he is always a part of our family." The rage of parent's undying love radiated off of Nero and he turned his head towards his Guild. "Right, you two?"
Sergei kept his gaze steadily downwards but didn't betray his thoughts with even a flicker of movement. "Yes, sir." He replied simply.
Ceren was a lot less discreet, amplified by the fact that he tried to sound more nonchalant. "Hmph, that idiot still needs our help. So much for being a 'Phenom'." His voice was sharp, but the intense scratching that was leaving marks on his upper arm gave away the anxiety that was gnawing at him from the inside. He looked the readiest to burst through the door.
Guildmaster Finnegan dipped his head in respect. "My thanks, Nero. Felix is correc' in sayin' we need 'o leave now. We may no' make i' as is."
He rustled into his satchel and rummaged for a few items. He picked out a light blue Teleportation Stone and set it on the table. Sticking his hand back in, he looked confused as he was having difficulty locating the second one. Blinking in surprise, he opened his bag more and peeked inside, pulling out a hastily scribbled note.
He peered down at the note, having to reread it a few times as he couldn't believe its contents. "When did he…" Then suddenly a memory struck him. Earlier in the battle when Axl had struck him, he didn't notice through the attack, hot water and the otter's unbelievable sleight of hand that he had made the switch in the Guildmaster's bag.
He couldn't contain the laughter that burst out of him, startling everyone in the room with its unexpectedness. The Guildmaster was clutching his side from the excitement that course through his veins.
He took a massive swig of his bottle, a wild look in his eyes. "Tha' feckin' Axl…how far ahead is he plannin'?" His voice was almost demonic as he placed on the blue stone on the table. "Grab on, everyone. Le's go save ourselves a coward.."
The others slowly sifted around the stone, not wanting to question the manic Bisharp. As they did, the note that had caught Guildmaster Finnegan's eye floated to the floor slowly, gently landing on the wooden floor so that its scribbled message faced upwards.
"Hey Old Man,
I'm taking one of these just so your brittle bones don't have to catch up to us, hopefully you'll figure out when to use this.
Your Favorite Coward
Axl"
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Meanwhile, the dust had settled where Erin and Karl had teleported from, leaving the others in a bit of a tense state.
Max padded up to the body of Axl, looking embarrassed. "Well, that went swimmingly." He muttered, flicking his ear.
Thorn glowered at him. "Heh, you two certainly haven't been carrying your weight. You let a weak attack like that startle you?" He growled, shaking his head.
Max sweatdropped. "I wasn't trying to get a haircut." He replied, looking away sheepishly.
Thorn clicked his tongue. "Hmph, pretty boy…" He said pointedly, flicking his tail.
As they remained silent, Gurbo had walked in through the front door, looking cheerier than before as he smacked on a berry. Max looked exasperated while Thorn's face didn't shift as their eyes followed the Octillery that was skipping clumsily in the tower.
Max sighed. "Gurbo, what job did we give to you?" He asked slowly, trying to make sure his partner understood him.
Gurbo thought for a moment as he took another bite. "I was supposed to watch the two prisoners and beat them up if they escaped." He said through the chewing.
Thorn retained a calm composure as well. "Correct…and those two didn't happen to, I don't know, escape under your watch, did they?' He asked, talking as slowly as Max.
Gurbo flexed, looking focused. "Hell no! Like I'd let those two escape underneath my watch!" He squealed. "I would've beat those two to a pulp. Especially that ungrateful Oshawott, I haven't cried that much in a long while."
Thorn had his arms crossed. "You mean this Oshawott?" He picked up Axl by the ankle, the otter still not moving.
A moment of silence passed over the Pokemon as the gears slowly started turning on Gurbo's face. Horror slowly started creeping on his face as he realized his blunder.
"I MESSED UP!" He screamed comedically, his eyes wide in shock, earning disapproving looks from the other two.
Trager had gotten up and was rubbing the spot Axl had smacked him. "You dumbass, what is even your purpose here?" He snarled, sounding murderous.
Max glared at the draconic Pokemon. "He's with me, we come as a package." He shot back, sounding more annoyed than before.
Trager didn't back down. "He's scum, we should've killed him and the girl when we had the chance." He snapped, a light blue aura surrounding his claws. "Something that needs rectifying immediately."
Gurbo moved back in fear. "W-wait, Mr. Thorn said I could help."
Trager ignored him and took a menacing step towards the Octillery. However, Max stepped in between, a snarl forming on his face and his eyes a blazing golden. "Back off, you're the one that butted himself into our plan." He was in Trager's face, and although the Fraxure's eyes had blazed their golden hue as well, he looked a little more tense than the Ninetails.
He did refuse to back down. "You were working with a buffoon in my father, he couldn't formulate a plan if you locked him in a room for two days." He spit.
Max sneered. "We were doing just fine with him. What did you manage to do, get your ass kicked twice by an Oshawott that didn't use his mark?" He loomed over Trager and for a moment it appeared the two were going to have a go at it.
However, a joyous cackle resonated in the small room, breaking the two's attention from one another and stare at the otter that had recovered enough from the attack to laugh at his captors. Thorn, who still clutched the younger Pokemon by the ankle, seemed impressed by his courage while Max and Trager both gave him murderous looks.
Axl met their eyes. "Man, we really have nothing to worry about with you jokers, huh? To think I thought you boneheads had a fool-proof plan as well." He taunted, angering them further. "The old guy is going to have a field day sending your asses to jail."
Trager snapped, his eyes almost looking feral as he lunged at Axl. "You little-" Before he could get close, Thorn shooed him away with his arm in order to protect Axl. Trager had a pronounced vein at this point forming in his head. "Why are we continuing to let these pests live? One after another they continue to get in our way."
Thorn looked less impressed with him. "We will not harm any of our kind no matter what." He growled, breath coming through his strained grin.
Axl narrowed his eyes at him. "Guess hurling me into a wall at Mach 2 doesn't classify as 'harming' to you." He mumbled sarcastically.
Thorn pulled him to eye level, chuckling. "You hush, we both know that wasn't enough to seriously harm you." He replied before turning back to the other two. "Tell me, what is the end goal for you two? What do you think happens when our plan succeeds?"
Max's eyes had returned to their amber. "Well, I figured we'd beat them into submission and build a society where we could live…freely." He said this hesitantly, almost sounding embarrassed.
Trager's eyes still blazed but he seemed more controlled. "It can't end in peace; we need to subjugate them to the same suffering our kind have had for generations. We will seize every ounce of control starting with this city and as our strength grows, so will our hold over this region. We are naturally a stronger species, to still be judged by insects is insulting." His voice was still emotional, and his claw twitched in their hunger for blood. "Wouldn't you agree?"
Thorn shook his head, clicking his tongue. "...not quite." He said.
He dropped Axl on the ground, knowing that the otter wasn't going to make any effort to try and get back up. Axl was flat on his back now, and his scalchop still laid far out of reach for the shorter Pokemon, not that it would matter as he had no ability to move.
Thorn studied him for a moment, his face unreadable. "So, you're the 'coward' that was supposed to be a deputy." He said this almost to himself, pacing around his body. "Intriguing…"
Trager had a nasty look on his face. "He's lowered himself to helping worthless trash like that Snivy. You are betraying your own kind, Axl." He snarled, standing next to Thorn. Max sniffed crossly at the comment but didn't say anything as Trager continued. "How pathetic."
Axl met his eyes and a serious look had returned to his face, not breaking contact for a microsecond. Both were a healed body away from going back at each other.
Thorn continued, seeming more excited than usual. "Hmm…you truly were fighting in the face of oblivion earlier, weren't you? All for a species that has done things you couldn't even fathom?"
Axl chuckled at this. "Kind of preaching to the choir on that one buddy, how many of you actually lived at Hisui Bay?" He asked them, causing their eyes to widen in shock. "Go on though, please tell me what I didn't live for most of my life."
Trager's eyes had also returned to their color now and he looked taken aback. "You've lived that hell firsthand…and still side with these Pokemon? After seeing what they're capable of doing? After seeing what they gleefully put us through?" He shouted, stuck in disbelief.
Axl had a look on his face as he blew air through his nose. "Yeah… I've seen everything they're capable of, good and bad." He said, numerous faces passing behind his eyes. "Life's too boring to have a specific species in charge, earth seems pretty big enough for the lot of us."
Max, stuck in the back, listened to Axl's words with almost a look of approval on his face while Gurbo still hid behind him, terrified by the last five minutes. Trager had looked lost for words; almost as what Axl was saying didn't make any sense whatsoever.
Thorn, though, had something to say "How curious…" He still seemed lost in thought. "You know, kid, the Pokemon I've met in my life have all been weak things, no more significant than mosquitos. Even the stories my mother could tell me about Hisui Bay without breaking down were enough for me to develop a hatred so fierce, I'd become the scariest nightmare they've ever met.
Now they scream and run at the mere mention of my name, yet no different than they would've had I not killed anyone in my life. They're a disgusting, vile, worthless species. Yet even they had managed to begot some Pokemon that have earned my respect."
Axl finally broke his attention from Trager to give Thorn a bewildered look, unaware of where he was going with this.
Thorn looked crazier than normal. "Tell me, Axl, do you know what those fascinating Pokemon all have in common?" Before Axl could retort with an answer, Thorn continued. "They were deputies for these so-called Justice Guilds. That Leavanny still fascinates me, I never imagined I'd meet an unmarked Pokemon that would stand against me in battle."
Axl found a pause to finally respond. "That's what happens when you spend most of your time targeting unprotected women and children. You aren't going to last three turns against the Guildmaster." He taunted.
Thorn took a breath, looked away as though he was considering something, then turned back. "Very well, then." He said after a moment's pause as both Max and Trager were looking at him expectantly. "If you claim this 'Guildmaster' is the savior you're looking for, then it will be my pleasure to show you how much you've misplaced your value. We will wait for him here, kill him, and take away the last of this city's hope."
Max stepped up. "Hey, didn't we agree to wait on this?" He sounded a little hesitant as Thorn swung his massive head towards him. "The census isn't going to go through for a week, how are we supposed to take care of a corpse until then?"
"What, you mean feeding and cleaning the corpse? Oh no, whatever will we do?" Thorn mocked him, lashing his tail. "For a scientist, you say pretty some stupid crap."
Max shut up and looked away awkwardly, not wanting to speak further. Trager looked outraged but didn't speak as well in fear of the stronger Nidoking. Gurbo was still shaking too much in fear to speak to any of them.
Thorn looked satisfied. "Well, if everyone has no objections…"
Axl weakly raised his hand. "I may have a couple…"
Thorn once again lifted Axl up by the ankle, bringing hm to eye level once more. "You're going back to your cell and this time Trager will be your guard since we can't trust that walking yakitori ball." Axl didn't flinch as Thorn brought him an inch away from his face, his mouth big enough to swallow him whole. "Let's hope your precious Pokemon friends have made their peace, because soon they will never know a world with it again. Your Guildmaster's corpse will be the harbinger of the destruction and chaos that will last for eons to come…"
Axl had remained steady this entire time, staring back without blinking. He had his full confidence back now, and while he knew he wasn't strong enough to defeat them by himself, he had Pokémon he trusted more than anything on their way to save not only him, but the city itself. Thorn was a problem. He was very strong, perhaps almost as much as Scourge. But…
Axl grinned in the face of Thorn. "They're ready for the challenge…"