02 - 05
"I'm going to the guild," the Eevee announces as he walks down the steps.
The Miltank blinks. "What about breakfast, dear?"
He says nothing as he opens the door and walks out of the building.
"Wonder what's wrong?" the Miltank asks as the Nickit quickly jumps off of the chair and runs after him.
The Pangoro shrugs and grabs his mug. "Beats me. Probably related to what happened to him last night." He takes a sip of his morning coffee as the Nickit runs out of the building.
"Wait!" she calls.
The Eevee stops and looks back at the approaching Nickit. "Sorry, but I'm in a hurry."
She stops before him and takes a breath. She pulls the badge from her fur and hands it to him. "Here."
He blinks at it, its shiny surface reflecting the soft rays of the rising sun. "Ah, right. Almost forgot about that." He shakes his head. "Keep it for now. I'm just going to the guild to do some research."
"Oh," she says, lifting her gaze from the badge to him, a worried frown on her features. "You sure?"
He nods with a small smile. "Yeah. Don't lose it though."
She reflects his smile with a bigger one. "I wont!" She sticks it back on her fur and waves a paw as he walks away. "Have fun!"
"I doubt it," he mumbles under his breath as he glares at the road ahead.
The Eevee walks through the busy cobblestone street, and reaches the guild just as the sun finally rises from the horizon. He climbs up the wide steps, enters the entrance of the large guild building, heads up the stairs and finally reaches his destination, the library. The blue-ringed Umbreon looks up from the forms he's reading on the desk, and watches the Eevee browsing through the bindings of the many books lined up on the wooden shelves. He returns to his work as the Eevee pulls out a book from one of the shelves, settles on a seat, places the book on the table and opens it to the first page.
He opens his bag, rummages through it, blinks, and frowns. "Shit." Closing his bag, he jumps off of the chair and approaches the Umbreon. "Sorry to bother, but may I borrow a pen and some papers?"
With a grunt, the Umbreon pulls open a drawer, grabs a random amount of blank papers, and tosses it on the side of his desk.
"Thanks," the Eevee says as he grabs the stack of papers, pulls one of the paw-friendly pens from the pen holder on the desk, and returns to his seat.
The seconds turn to minutes, one book turning into three, the Eevee's notes stacking, written in letters the Mew can barely recognize.
"Huh," she quietly says, startling the Eevee.
He throws a glare at the curious Mew levitating behind him. "Don't do that!"
She chuckles. "Sorry, sorry." She turns and stares at the small number of lining Pokémon inside the library. "I'm gonna go help Obie." She looks back at him. "Will you be here a while?"
"Depends," the Eevee mumbles as he continues his research.
With a nod, the Mew floats back to help the Umbreon.
The minutes turn to an hour without the Eevee realizing until his stomach growls, making him stop for a moment. He looks out the window and notices the sun no longer near the horizon.
He frowns as the Mew floats and takes a seat opposite of him.
"It's almost noon," she points out as she places a book on the table before her. She smiles at him. "You should take a break," she says as the Umbreon takes a seat beside her.
"Probably later," the Eevee says as he arranges his notes into a proper pile.
The blue-ringed Umbreon adjusts his glasses, looking at him. "Not a good idea to continue on an empty stomach, my otherworldly friend," he says as he taps his head. "The brain needs the most energy if you want to continue your little research project."
He squints his eyes at him, and then turns to the Mew. "You told him."
She nods. "Of course! I keep no secrets from my husband." She frowns at the Umbreon. "I wish it also works the other way around."
The dark-type smirks at her before opening his book.
A sigh escapes her mouth. She then looks up at the Eevee. "So, I recognize some of the letters you are using. Are they human letters?"
"The English alphabet, at least," the Eevee says. "And I have a theory that me being a Pokémon automatically makes me understand your style of writing." He lifts a book up and shows them a random page. "The human in me is still confused with these pawprints you use as letters."
The Mew chuckles. "Well, the Pokémon in me is amazed how you're able to write ancient text with such ease!"
"You are researching the wilds?" the Umbreon asks without looking up from his book.
The Eevee nods in confirmation. "I am."
"What about them that made you want to research them?" the Mew asks.
The Eevee's expression darkens as he looks out the window. "...Let's just say that I ... had a first-hand experience of what they're being used for."
"I see," the Mew says, nodding. "Quite a shocker, don't you think?" she asks before chuckling.
He frowns at her. "I didn't find it funny."
She sighs. "Like it or not, it's part of our daily life."
"You could say that the wilds make up a portion of the region's economy," the Umbreon comments as he flips to the next page. "To be quite frank, I don't see why anyone should be upset about it. It's not like they have a conscience like us."
"That's part of the problem," the Eevee says, glaring at him. "They're still Pokémon like you."
"Are they?"
The Mew sighs and shakes her head. "Here we go again..." She frowns at the Eevee. "Best to drop it. Obie and I had this argument before."
"I'm not just gonna drop it." The Eevee glares at his notes. "I did my research not to just throw it in the trash."
"Then answer this one question," Obie asks. "Why are you so concerned with them?"
"...what?"
He finally looks up from his book, giving the Eevee a calm look. "Shouldn't you be focusing on returning home? Why concern yourself with something that has nothing to do with you?"
The Eevee glares at him. "It's just wrong, okay?"
"That's subjective," the Umbreon says as he returns to his reading.
The Eevee opens his mouth to protest, but finds himself unable to say a word.
"What you find wrong is fine in another's point of view," the Umbreon calmly says.
The Mew sighs and looks at the seething Eevee.
Clenching his eyes shut, he violently shakes his head before jumping off of his seat and walking toward the exit.
"Obie..."
"I didn't say anything wrong," the Umbreon says as he flips to the next page.
She sighs and rubs her head.
As the Eevee approaches the open door, he hears voices from outside. He stops by the door, and soon enough, a yellow Shinx and a Cyndaquil walks in the library with a lively conversation going. He steps out—
—and bumps into a fluffy white Vulpix.
"Sorry," the Eevee grunts as he walks around her.
She blinks and looks over her shoulder. "His scent..."
"Vixie?" the Cyndaquil calls as she steps outside. "What's up?" she asks as she looks at the retreating Eevee.
Vixie looks at her friend. "Wasn't he the Eevee we rescued?"
"Really?" the fire-type asks. She cups her paws around her mouth and shouts, "Oi! Hold up!"
But the Eevee has already turned around the corner, walking down the stairs.
"Damn it," Cindy says as she chases after him. "Get back here!"
"Cindy, wait!" Vixie runs after her as the Shinx walks out of the library.
He looks at his two retreating friends in confusion. "What the heck as gotten into them?"
The Eevee is looking at the many posts on the bulletin board, scanning them, until he finally finds one. He points at it and looks at the Kirlia standing by. "I'll take that one," he says with a frown.
She nods. "Of course, but please present your badge first."
He groans. "Goddamnit."
"Hey!" the Cyndaquil says, finally catching up to him. "We need to talk."
He turns to her. "Who are you?"
"Cindy," the Vulpix says as she stops beside her friend with a frown.
The fire-type turns to her. "He's the guy, right?"
The white fox looks him up and down, and nods. "Yeah."
The Eevee arches a non-existent eyebrow. "Am I wanted or something?"
The fire-type points at him. "We rescued you! So pay up!"
He glares at her. "I don't remember asking you to rescue me," he counters as the yellow Shinx arrives.
"What's going on?" the Shinx asks, and blinks at the Eevee. "Wait... I've seen you before."
"You're probably confusing me with another Eevee."
"Bullshit," Cindy says. "We recognize your scent!" She turns to the Vulpix. "Right?"
Vixie frowns at her, but nods regardless as she turns to the Eevee. "We found you being chased by a Sandshrew and a Scyther in Greenleaf Forest."
"More like getting murdered by them," the Eevee mumbles under his breath.
"So it WAS you!" the Cyndaquil says. "You owe us!"
"I have no time for this bullshit," the Eevee growls, turns his back on them and walks toward the exit.
The Cyndaquil runs and stops in front of him, blocking his path. "Not so fast, buster."
He walks around her, but she grabs his shoulder, stopping him. He glares at her. "Hands off."
"Make me." An intense pause. "...Also I have paws, not hands."
"Okay okay," Shino says as he grabs her paw and tries but fails to make her let go of him. "Let's all just calm down."
"Cindy, please?" Vixie asks as her friend finally let's go, albeit reluctantly. She smiles an apologetic smile at the glaring Eevee. "Sorry about her."
"I can't believe you guys," Cindy groans, making the Shinx frown at her. She glares at him. "Don't give me that look. You want the reward money as much as I do."
"For fuck's sake, fine!" The Eevee grabs one of his two money pouches from his bag and throws it on the ground. "There! Now leave me alone!" He walks away with angry steps.
The trio stare at the money pouch on the ground, ignorant of the glances they are getting from other Pokémon in the guild.
Cindy picks it up and frowns. "..." She opens Vixie's bag. "..." She sighs and closes the bag, the pouch still on her paws. "...why do I not want it anymore?"
Vixie frowns at her. "Probably because we don't deserve it."
Cindy glares at Shino. "I blame you for this."
"What the heck? Why me?"
"It's your fault for making me all lovey-dovey," she growls, and sighs.
Shino blinks. "I have no idea how to respond to that."
She hands the pouch to the white Vulpix. "Wanna return this to him?"
She glares at her. "You took it from him, so you return it to him."
The Cyndaquil groans. "Ugh... I'm not supposed to be like this." She sighs. "Fine. Let's go after him."
"I somehow got the feeling that he wouldn't like that," Shino comments.
Minutes later, they catch up to the Eevee after Shino told them where he thinks he is heading.
The Eevee frowns at the trio. "I told you three to leave me alone."
"Oh, shut," Cindy glares at him as she hands him the pouch. "Here. Take it back. We don't want it anymore."
"Take it to somewhere where wilds can service you." The Eevee walks around them. "That's what they are to all of you anyway. Slaves. Tools."
"Excuse me?" the Cyndaquil growls and glares at the retreating normal-type. "Hey! Get back here!"
As Vixie tries to calm her friend down, Shino sits down, pulls his badge and stares at it. "...slaves, huh?"
"Whatever," the fire-type says, finally calm enough to be reasoned with. She turns to her friends and groans. "He doesn't want it, right? So let's just keep it then."
"Let's just return to the guild," Vixie offers.
Minutes later, the Eevee enters the restaurant and sees the Nickit happily humming to herself as she sweeps the floor with her tail. He looks around and sees barely any customers eating.
"You're back!" the Nickit says, finally noticing him. She smiles and waves at him, which he halfheartedly returns. "Welcome back. So how did it go?"
He frowns. "I need the badge after all."
"Oh." She carefully pulls the badge off of her and hands it to him. "Here you go."
"Thanks." He manages a small smile. "Don't worry, I'm just going to use it to register a mission."
"Whoa...!" the Nickit says with sparkling eyes. "You're picking your first mission?" she says as she tails him walking out of the restaurant. "What kind of mission?"
He stops when he realizes she's following him. He looks at her genuine excited smile, which calms the anger within him, if only slightly. He smiles back. "You remind me of my sister," he says, chuckling as he pets her head, making her blush and pout a bit. "It's an exploration mission."
"Isn't that the new thing the guild has created or something?"
He nods. "Yeah." He turns toward the direction of the guild with a frown. "I'm gonna be researching something."
"That sounds cool." She says, nodding. "Good luck with your mission!"
He looks at her and chuckles. "I'm not doing it today. Maybe tomorrow." He pats her head once again. "And I'll try to get another badge for you."
She frowns as she tries to fix her messy fur on her head. "But I'm too young to be a member of a rescue team..."
"Maybe." He winks at her. "But I never read that all members have to go to missions together. Anyway, I better go."
She nods her head. "Good luck!"
He returns to the guild, presents his badge to the Kirlia, but she rejects her request.
"Why the fuck not?"
"You're registered as a rescuer, not an explorer."
"For fuck's sake," the Eevee groans as he goes to the registration office.
"You can't become an explorer yet," the Bellossom says without looking up from her work.
"And why the fuck not?"
"Language, boy," the grass-type scolds him. "And you need to be at least Bronze rank to accept explorer missions."
"Goddamnit," the Eevee grumbles as he walks out of the office, climbs up the stairs, and returns to his seat in the library.
The Mew chuckles after he explains what he went through in the past hour or two. "That's how things work, unfortunately," she says. She then looks at him with a concerned frown. "You're really invested with the whole wild situation, huh?"
"It's just wrong and I don't like it," he says, planting his face on the table, unaware of three sets of eavesdropping ears.
The Mew sighs. "I agree with you, but it's just how things are here." She shakes her head. "Nothing we can do, really. It has already rooted deep into society that we can't just easily pull it out without facing the large cracks it leaves behind."
"I feel like it's also wrong to just leave things as is..."
"Trust me on this," the Mew says, making the Eevee lift his gaze enough to look at her. "It is not being ignored. It is still a hot debate in the region and there are even rallies going." She smiles. "There are Pokémon who think the same as you do." She then winks at him. "Like me!"
He sighs as he stares at his notes. "That's...a little comforting to hear, at least."
She floats to his side and puts a reassuring paw on his shoulder. "Like Obie said, maybe you shouldn't dwell too much on this. After all..." She levitates a form from the desk, startling the blue-ringed Umbreon a bit, and presents it to the Eevee. "Tahdah~"
The Eevee reads it, his interest growing as he continues reading. "Holy shit."
"I know, right?" she says, and chuckles. "I'm gonna reserve this mission for you, so all you have to do is to rank up to at least Bronze and I'll assign you this mission directly!"
"Can't you just do some magic mumbo-jumbo to bump my ranking?"
"Ah ah ah," she says, booping his nose. "That's cheating, and besides, even if I wanted to, I don't have that power." She smiles. "I'm sure there are rescue missions that you can take that aren't too difficult."
"Probably," he says, smiling at her. "Thanks. I really appreciate the help."
"No problem! Anyway, I should go help Obie."
"Alright." He watches her float away, and once she's gone, he starts putting his notes in his bag, but stops as a Pokémon sits on a chair beside him and two more opposite of him. He looks at them and frowns. "You guys again."
"Yep," Shino says with a smile. "It's us again."
"And we couldn't help but overhear your conversation with that pink floating blob," Cindy says, smiling as well.
He frowns at her. "You three need to learn to mind your goddamn business."
"Hear us out, bud," Shino says as he places his badge on the table. "We're bronze ranks, see? And we're curious as to what this secret mission Mew is keeping for you."
He glares at him. "First off, I'm not your bud, and second, it's none of your business."
All his notes in his bag, he closes it, jumps off of his chair and starts to leave.
"Is it about wilds?" Vixie asks with a frown, making him stop. "Because we think the same thing, too."
"I mean, I don't really," Cindy says, ignorant of her two friends glaring at her. "What can I say? They taste great, but," she shivers, before continuing, "even I can't stomach eating something like a Machop."
He looks over his shoulder, glaring at them. "What's your point?"
Shino smiles a genuine one. "If that mission is about wilds, we want in, too." He frowns at him. "What you said back there? Us using them as slaves?" He shakes his head. "I at least make sure to take good care of them."
"You only have one, though," Cindy points out.
"Hush, you."
She flashes him a sly smile. "And you take care of them how, exactly?"
He blushes. "Not like that, you sicko!"
"You are losing me here," the Eevee says, frowning.
Vixie sighs. "What we're trying to say is that if this mission can help us liberate the use of wilds in the city, then we're willing to help." She smiles. "We may still be bronze rank, but four is better than one, right?"
The Eevee sighs. "The mission Mew's holding for me is not about wilds. It's about..." he trails off, and shakes his head. "Nevermind. Like I said, it's none of your business." He turns to the exit, but doesn't take a step towards it. "But there is an exploration mission downstairs about wilds that I'm interested to look into."
"There was?" Shino asks.
He turns back to them. "I can't accept it for obvious reasons," he says, showing them his badge. "So if what you said just now really is true, then go accept it and take me with you." He turns and glares at the busy Umbreon. "It may not be my business, but I just can't sit here, ignoring what I've...seen."
Shino smiles and turns to his two other friends. "Sounds like we have a new mission, team!"
The Eevee turns to them. "It's obvious what mission I'm talking about. Let's meet tomorrow morning at the western gate." After seeing them nod, he turns and leaves the library.
"Weird guy," Cindy says. "But he's not too bad, actually." She turns to the Vulpix and elbows her. "What do you think?"
She glares at her. "Let's just register ourselves as explorers and then take the mission."
"Someone's excited," the fire-type teases her. "Can't wait to see him again?"
"I barely even know him!"
Shino chuckles as he tails behind his two arguing friends.
"I forgot to ask another badge, sorry," the Eevee says as the Nickit delivers a set of dirty dishes.
She smiles at him. "It's okay." She looks down at the pink badge he bought for her from a store while he was on the way back. "You gave me this, and it looks cute," she looks up to him with a sweet smile. "So thank you!"
"Aww," the Miltank aww's as she leans down and hugs her daughter, who nuzzles her back. "You're so cute, dear." She lets her go and watches her daughter go out of the kitchen. She then turns to the Eevee, who is grumbling as he washes the dishes. "Thank you, too, dear."
"I'm not washing these dishes with a thank you as payment," he grumbles without looking at her.
She chuckles and hugs him from behind, startling him a bit. "I've just been too busy with work that I barely have time for my daughter, so thank you. I have not seen her smile like that ever since she became conscious of her actions."
He blinks as she let's him go and returns to her cooking.