30th Wisdom Moon, 908 – Great Gate Empire

Melissa and Galus soared through the skies until morning, drifting along under the cover of mist. Anticipating the colder climate, Melissa opted to bring heavier jackets for herself and her dragon steed, though Galus continued to shiver from the wind against his face.

Melissa pushed her ear back under her hood before leaning down. "Galus, if you want to take a break—"

"G-Galus fine," he insisted. "Very cold. Not tired. Keep flying."

She sighed. "Please don't push yourself." With a gentle prod to his side with her heel, they descended a bit from the misty cover to get a better look of their surroundings.

Being so high in the air, Melissa got a magnificent view of the empire's land. She saw branching rivers stretched across a vast ocean of green. Further ahead, she saw fields of farmland that had been covered for an impending snowstorm. Many trees with the changing weather had lost most of their leaves, very few holding the unique colors she heard of from her lessons with Theobald. She would've wished to see them in bloom.

They passed over small towns, where she spied on townsfolk escorting wagons to and from on the winding paths. She couldn't tell much of anything with so many buildings and Pokémon mingling together as one, but it felt serene in its simplicity. It reminded her of the cultural whiplash she got when first invading New Chariot.

She had these preconceived beliefs that everyone in the capital were bloodthirsty lunatics. That seemed half-true after her time in the colosseum, but the reports shared between her, Jason, and Lillia confirmed that wasn't the case. On the outside, they were the enemy to the west. But within the walls of Telo Martius, they were a thriving community working together and supporting each other. Despite languages and histories dividing them, they were all Pokémon living the lives they've known.

Melissa reached inside her bag and pulled out one the items she brought along with her: Nero's journal. Since returning to Umbra Clock, she spent many days reviewing the former emperor's thoughts. While his views were as atrocious as ever, being an infamous tyrant, his love for the empire was just as strong. Before he ever has aspirations of taking up the throne, Nero spent many of his off hours exploring the capital and even venturing into other towns. Between him and his brother, he appeared to be the more sociable.

One passage was dedicated to, what Nero described, a fascinating conversation he had with an elder he met in town about a brief famine they endured during a particularly harsh summer. Because the entire empire had suffered the same issues, and that they were one of the towns further out, they weren't immediately prioritized.

"Quite the devastating admission. The elder spoke proudly about how he and his family endured the famine through grit and determination. They banded together as a community, gathering their most talented gardeners, and managed to produce a harvest. He said it took many weeks of trial and error, and many had lost their lives through starvation and exhaustion. That miraculous garden gave them a week of salvation before the drought eventually subsided. I should bring this issue up with Mercurius. If he is to become emperor one day, a plan will need to be set in motion to prevent another incident like this."

Melissa narrowed her eyes. Having seen the way her father taxed the farmlands in the Verde Kingdom, she understood the pain those New Chariot civilians must've gone through. It was the duty of the royal families to protect their citizens, and some misused the power they held, or disregarded others for one reason or another. A heartless thought, the idea of prioritizing other towns instead of helping everyone.

Then again, she may still be naïve. Nero never listed a reason other than the distance the town's distance from the capital. How would she handle a situation like that?

She sighed and placed the book back in her bag. "How would I bring the ten kingdoms together?"

Before she wandered too deep into their thoughts, her eyes skimmed once more over the passing landscape. She spotted a lake surrounded by trees with very few of its leaves remaining. She spotted a couple of Pokémon camping by the lakeside and almost passed them over, but caught herself looking back.

They were too far away to make out their exact species, but something about their shapes scratched at her mind. Curious, she retrieved a telescope from her bag and zoomed in on the duo.

Her eyes widened, instantly recognizing the duo. "Oh my…Galus!"

"Eh?!" Galus gasped

"Take us to that lake! Now!"

"Galus dive!" Galus steered down and dove in the direction of the lake.

Melissa carefully stood up on Galus' back, keeping her feet hooked with his harness, and raised her arms to wave down the pair. They seemed to have noticed her, looking up and seemingly preparing for what looked like an ambush from their perspective. However, their tense stances softened as the Frogadier and Unfezant also recognized the incoming bunny and dragon.

"Well, I'll be!"

"Is that Penworth?"

Melissa waved at them, beaming as brightly as she could. "Shingo! Brooklyn! Hey!"

30th Wisdom Moon, 908 – Arcania Kingdom

"…"

The silence was uncomfortably tense in the guest hut. When Jason realized Melissa hadn't come out for breakfast or lunch, he went to check on her to see if she was feeling well. After a moment of whispering and quiet pleading, Jason eventually threw the covers off Melissa's bed to find a bundle of pillows in her place.

The tired scowl he wore was telling for Zana, Luna, and Victoria, standing awkwardly by the doorway.

He pinched between his eyes and sighed deeply. "Why…Why am I even surprised?"

Zana winced. "Is this a normal occurrence for her?"

"Saying yes seems to raise my blood pressure, so…"

Victoria sighed. "Master Melissa has a tendency to do things without telling anyone." She winced at Jason's glare, looking away with an innocent whistle. "It's, uh…infectious."

Luna procured the letter that was left behind and quickly skimmed it over. She glared. "Well, she was at least kind enough to outline where and why she left." She handed the letter to Jason, who immediately snatched it away.

After a quick glance, his scowl deepened. "She's going to Great Gate."

Zana tensed up slightly, but brushed it off. "Great Gate, eh? Why would she go there?"

"Apparently, she has a hunch that's where Basil's going. Based on the way he and Marie have been acting up until recently, there's a certain bit of sense those two may have been colluding with each other." He groaned, burning the note with a spark of electricity. "Of course she made this decision without telling me. She thinks with her heart before her head, I swear…"

Zana scratched her nape awkwardly. "So, what are you going to do?"

"Follow after her, obviously. Great Gate is one of the last places I want her to be in right now. With the emperor's granddaughter being set up to take the seat of power, not to mention the presence of the Takigawa Clan and this whole debacle revolving around Marie, going there is a death sentence without the proper knowhow."

Luna glared. "Didn't you also go to the Great Gate Empire before the Foresters became a thing?"

"…" Jason glanced over his shoulder, casting an emotionless stare shrouded in a heavy shadow.

"…I retract my former statement," the Snivy quietly mumbled before shuffling back.

Zana groaned. "Jason, I have to agree with Dame Freia on this. The Takigawa Clan was directly responsible for the Arcanian Massacre. We have firsthand experience to the kind of harm they can do, and I personally don't recommend jumping into action without a plan."

"My idiot of a girlfriend just jumped into action without a plan, and you expect me to just stand by?"

"…Point taken, but still—"

He groaned, slapping himself on the forehead. "I'm wasting time talking about this."

Luna stepped forward hesitantly. "Hey, hey, let's not jump to conclusions. Melissa's a little reckless, but she's not stupid. I'm positive she put some forethought into this. At least, it can't be as bad as…running away the day before your marriage and hoping to start your life over with little to no life experience being a formerly sheltered and spoiled Buneary."

"…Point taken," Jason grumbled.

Victoria raised her hand. "Still, is it wise for us to be going to the empire?"

"Not us. Just me." Jason pointed at Luna and Victoria. "You two are staying here while I get this mess sorted out. I can't drag everyone into the empire knowing full well what we're up against."

"What about the others back in Umbra Clock?" Luna pointed out.

"You'll have to pen them a letter to explain what's happening. With Blitz out of commission, I can't afford for someone else to recklessly charge into action if word of this gets out. The plan as of now is to work out an alliance with Arcania and Algus, and our efforts should be solely on that until further notice." He glanced at Zana. "I'm sorry to say we won't be proceeding with negotiations anytime soon."

"…" She hugged herself, glancing at her feet. "It's…fine. At least allow me to prepare a travel kit before your departure. It's the least I can do."

"…" He nodded. "Thank you." He nodded at the girls. "Luna, I'm leaving you in charge of negotiations. You are to assist with details to the treaty, but nothing will be finalized until King Foirbeis and I oversee proceedings. Understood?"

She saluted. "I'll do what I can."

"Good." Jason followed Zana out the door.

Luna sighed once they were gone. "Well, this just gets better and better."

Victoria picked up one of the pillows. "Do you really think Master Melissa had a plan in mind?"

"I might just be covering for her. Truth be told, in my time working closely with the princess, I've found her to be a compassionate, but ultimately reckless idealist who still has a lot to learn about being a leader. Her heart is in the right place, I suppose."

Victoria frowned. "The letter mentioned going after Basil. Do you think that's wise?"

"…" Luna groaned. "My opinion on both Marie and Basil isn't…substantial, to put it nicely. Truth be told, I have little to say about Marie…other than some comments about how she welcomes her teammates. Can't say I have a better opinion of Basil given he was my warden for some time." She glared. "The facts are, both of them were tied to the poisoning incident and had some role to play with the Senbo Gala debacle. Add on to the fact one is the daughter to a notorious assassin clan and the other was the former apprentice of a dangerous cultist, the details don't look favorably upon them."

Victoria shook her head. "But Master Melissa doesn't see it that way."

Luna scratched her chin. "Her empathy is astronomical, true." She shook her head. "Even so, we don't know what they're motives are. Plus, there's still the matter of Basil shooting Blitz."

Victoria squeezed the pillow tightly. "Maybe…it was an accident."

Luna scoffed. "I highly doubt that." She sighed, stuffing her hands inside her pockets. "But the situation is out of our control." She glared over her shoulder. "There is one other matter that requires my attention."

The Azumarill's eyes widened. "Oh? What do you mean?"

"…Victoria, I may need your help with something."

Meanwhile, in the Great Gate Empire…

Melissa chugged from her canteen, letting out a sigh of content. "That really hits the spot~." She smiled at Shingo and Brooklyn. "It was lucky of us to be flying over you two."

Shingo, meditating atop a rock, opened one eye and said, "We had to take a break from our search for Basil. We tracked him all the way here before eventually losing sight."

She frowned. "So, my hunch was correct. He was making his way to Great Gate to meet up with Marie." She glanced at Galus, who was sleeping by the lake after being tuckered out from their flight. She patted his head, which made his tail wag.

"It's a little early to make that assumption, but the circumstances do point to that possibility."

Brooklyn crossed her wings. "Forget that for a moment. What are you even doing this far out in Great Gate territory? Weren't you assisting with negotiations in Arcania?"

"…" Melissa looked away awkwardly, chugging on her canteen again.

Brooklyn pouted. "No. Don't tell me. You heard about what happened and immediately came flying this way?"

"…Maybe?"

"Oh my goodness…"

Shingo sighed. "Stormbreaker is not going to be happy when he discovers your absence."

"I can practically hear him screaming in my ear," Melissa admittedly sheepishly. She shook her head. "Yes, yes, what I did was wrong. I just…" She clenched her canteen between her hands, letting out a heavy sigh. "This is personal. I care about Marie and Basil. I love them both dearly. I felt so betrayed when I discovered what they'd been up to. I just want to get to the bottom of this. They're my friends…"

"…" Shingo shook his head. "You have a heart as strong as steel, Penworth."

"Thanks…" She sniffled, withholding some tears, and asked, "You said you eventually lost sight of Basil? So, that means you were able to tail him for a while?"

Brooklyn shook her head. "It wasn't easy. He kept lobbing explosions at us whenever we got too close. Didn't seem in his usual chatty mood, probably because he was getting exhausted. His illusions didn't slow us down, but…" She shifted her wings and partially lifted her uniform, showing off the burns on her side. "He got me good. That's why we had to rest here."

"Oh. I'm so sorry."

"Eh, not the worst damage I've taken."

Shingo crossed his arms. "Penworth, I strongly suggest you return to Arcania. Great Gate is a relatively peaceful empire, but if your deduction of Basil's movements is true, he's definitely heading for Osorekaku."

Melissa frowned. "The home territory of the Takigawa Clan."

Brooklyn nodded. "They're a scary bunch. Before the Mochizuki Clan was banished, we've actually had the opportunity to talk to some of them in the past." She winced. "They're raised from eggs to be killers. Can you imagine an entire town where even the children that roam the streets project a potent bloodlust? It's not a normal place."

"That's why my family worked in secret against the emperor," Shingo continued. "My father used to work as a palace guard. He despised Emperor Amano when he killed Emperor Kazuyuki. Though Great Gate itself isn't in any great strife, there was controversy over bringing the Takigawa Clan into power. There are countless stories of Takigawa Hidekage being a ruthless monster even back when he was a young Sneasel. And when word got out about raising an army of his own children, outrage followed. They served as the emperor's hounds to keep rebellions at bay."

Melissa glared. "How exactly did the Takigawa Clan get so powerful? What's so special about them?"

Brooklyn raised her wing. "It's actually fairly documented. See, the Takigawa Clan existed a long time ago, but they weren't anything special at the time. They were still an assassin clan and were considered very dangerous. However, there was something called the Assassin Wars. I don't remember all the details, but something happened that started a war between some of the noble assassin families."

"That's normal?" Melissa asked. "Just…you had families dedicated to assassination?"

"Great Gate had a lot of territory disputes in the early years of its rise to power," Shingo explained. "Naturally, some families made a business out of it, and the tradition was kept up." He gestured at Brooklyn to continue.

"Anyway, during those wars, the Takigawa Clan was wiped out. Young Hidekage was the only survivor." She glared. "According to the records on him, he was unnaturally strong for his age. Difficult to kill. When put in the most extreme situations, it's like a miracle is bestowed upon him."

Shingo sighed. "Certain doctors believe Hidekage has some rare bloodline trait that granted him these enhancements. They referred to it as False Evolution. It's a similar phenomenon to when we evolve into our next state, but it seems to boost his natural abilities."

"And it was discovered to be hereditary," Brooklyn added. "That's why the Takigawa Clan looks for those with special bloodline traits of their own. Through trial and error, he'll eventually create a child that has both traits."

Melissa scratched her chin. "So…hypothetically speaking, if he were to have access to an Inherited Will, his bloodline would make it stronger when put under great stress."

"Exactly," Shingo said. "Word has it he even experiments on his children before they hatch to get the most out of his bloodline trait. I've heard stories of countless eggs dying in those experiments. Those that survive are…well, not normal."

Melissa winced. "I never thought I'd see the day someone was even crueler than Darby, and that's already a high bar to get over." She clenched her fists. "That's awful. What kind of parent would do that? Experimenting on his own children? And are any of the mothers okay with this?"

"Why do you think the Takigawa Clan is so powerful?" Shingo asked. "Some clans sell off their daughters to appease Lord Takigawa. They provide their own natural resources and wealth to benefit each other. As long as you're loyal to the Takigawa Clan, good fortune follows."

"…" Melissa clutched her sleeve angrily. "That Pachirisu back in New Chariot was Marie's sister, right? So, Lord Takigawa even got Nero as his ally."

"I'd argue it was more of a peace offering," Shingo said. "After all, even the Takigawa Clan wasn't stupid enough to cross New Chariot under Nero's command. I'd say they're celebrating his death."

"And this is just a normal thing he does? Turning his children into weapons to bolster his own strength? Making them unfeeling monsters who'll kill without mercy? What kind of life is that?"

Brooklyn frowned. "That's always been the dark side of Great Gate's hierarchy. Power reigns supreme. As long as everyone remembers their place in the hierarchy, and as long as no one steps out of line—"

"That's wrong."

"It's exactly why the Mochizuki Clan has been rebelling in secret," Shingo said. "It's the exact thing Emperor Kazuyuki wanted to change when he took power. Amano Orochi wanted to keep the power in the hands of the powerful. And it's that exact mindset that started this blood truce between Basil and Marie. After all, her family was responsible for the massacre of his own."

"…" Melissa looked down. She wanted to cry for her dear friends, but wanted to save those tears until she confronted them in person. For now, she had to stay strong and focus on the objective. "I can't go back to Arcania. I need to save Basil and Marie."

"…" Shingo sighed. "We had a feeling you would say that."

"Hmm?"

Brooklyn stretched her wings. "Truth is, there's another reason we've been camping out here. There's a town an hour's journey away from here."

Melissa blinked. "Huh?"

Shingo glared. "Penworth. If you're serious about venturing into the heart of Great Gate to save them, I suggest you come with us. We have a lot to talk about."

Arcania Kingdom

Zana made the finishing touches on Jason's travel kit while the Pikachu waited by her bedroom door. His eyes wandered a bit, observing the bareness of the room. It reminded him of his own back in Fort Lucus, even containing a bookshelf as one of the few amenities. It was likely filled with books on alchemy, along with a few novels and such for the Thwackey's enjoyment.

It was a wonder the two gravitated to each other upon first meeting. They were practically related in spirit.

"…Zana."

"Hmm?" she hummed, strapping the travel bag shut.

"I know you're worrying about me. You don't hide it very well."

"…" She sighed and picked up the travel case. "Jason, I'm aware of how strong you are, but…I don't know. When it comes to the Takigawa Clan, I just can't shake this discomfort. Why wouldn't I? Those monsters took a lot from us." She glanced at her branded hand. "I shouldn't even be the successor to the Moonleaf magic. My brother gave his life to protect me. It's…a lot of responsibility to uphold."

"Tradition matters a lot to you all, I imagine."

"Our entire culture was built on the bonds between us and nature. Alchemy has always been the gateway to uniting us as one." She walked over and handed him his travel case. "It's why we're so adamant on protecting it, and why we're scared of forging an alliance with old enemies." She glared softly. "After all, you can never really tell what someone's thinking behind pleasant smiles and false treaties…"

"…True." Jason slung the bag over his shoulder and sighed. "Well, you don't have to worry about me. I'm not too worried about the Takigawa. I just want to make sure Melissa is safe."

"I'm more worried about your unwillingness to fight them," Zana said. "Jason, even you've admitted some people in this world need to be killed. With your speed and strength, you could…" She looked away unsurely. "Well…"

"That's precisely why I always hold back," Jason muttered. "I nearly lost control of myself months ago. If I started killing on a whim, I don't think I'd ever stop." He clutched his travel bag tightly. "If I had lost my way sooner than that, I…sometimes wonder if I would've killed Melissa on the spot."

Zana's eyes widened. "What?"

"That's how much I hated her father. I was blind to my own rage. If I allowed myself no restraint, I would've just cut her down for wasting my time. She has a good heart. She's willing to look into someone's true character before passing judgment onto them. I would've regretted every second of my life if I was that kind of person."

"…I see."

"Believe me when I say this, Zana: there are very few in this world that have seen me go all out. Even I'm not entirely sure what I'm capable of."

"…" Zana breathed a sigh before pushing him forward. "Come on. I'll walk you to the entrance."

He nodded softly, allowing the Thwackey to lead him out. His mind drifted briefly, shaken by his own admission. He hated to think such vile claims, but…he knew in the back of his mind he was one bad day away from becoming the monster festering in his soul.

"So, you and Victoria will be staying with us for a little while longer?"

Luna laughed awkwardly as Daarkston arranged his collection of potions in the back of the shop. "Yeah. Jason will be heading out to fetch Harlow, so negotiations will be handled by me for the time being."

The elderly Kabutops nodded. "Well, you seem fit for the job. Ah, can you hand me that crate over there?"

She nodded, using her Vine Whip to lift the crate over. Daarkston pulled up a rolling ladder and climbed to the upper shelves. After she handed the crate off, she glanced warily over her shoulder, wondering what was taking Victoria so long with her end of the plan.

She entrusted the Azumarill to create a distraction that would leave Daarkston unavailable for the next hour or so. That would not only keep him and his apprentices occupied, it would give her free reign to explore that hidden lab deep in the woods. She needed to get a closer look at whatever he was working on. She recalled he had instructions on the project somewhere at the lab. It might give her a clue to what those weird headbands' true purpose is.

"Mr. Daarkston," Luna spoke up, buying herself some time, "I just wanted to say that I really admire your dedication to alchemy, and I am most grateful for you allowing me to conduct research in the field of personal magic."

Daarkston smiled wearily. "You are technically Arcanian, so it's the least I can do. Besides, with our dwindling numbers, a few more to carry on the tradition would do us some good."

She frowned. "With the current population of the village, would it even be possible to return to those times?"

"…Hard to say," he admitted. "We've been hanging on by grit alone. Perhaps we should've died out far sooner. That's how it goes, as they say. A shame, really. I've been around for a long time. I've seen the subtle decline in our power, yet I held onto hope that everything would turn out for the better."

"…"

He laughed and waved it off. "Ah, but why worry over the past? We may look like we're struggling, but I believe we'll turn our luck around soon enough."

"…Yeah." Luna scratched her nape awkwardly. Mom's side of the family is from Arcania. I wonder if my grandparents knew Arcania's power was waning and left everything behind. I almost don't want to see what would've pushed these people to secrecy—

BOOOOOM!

Luna and Daarkston jumped in alarm as something went off just outside the shop. The elderly Kabutops leapt from his ladder and ran out front with Luna tailing close behind.

They stumbled out the door, gasping as a fire broke out near the right side of the shop. Victoria, standing by the growing inferno, noticed their staring and looked back with a puzzled expression.

"Uh…it was like this when I found it?"

"Not again!" Daarkston exclaimed. "Confound it!" He raced back inside his shop and whistled for his apprentices in the back. "You lot! Drop what you're doing and grab the extinguisher potions!"

FWOOSH!

He poked his head back outside and saw the fire only growing bigger. He groaned and shouted back, "All of the extinguisher potions!"

Luna stared at Victoria in disbelief while the Azumarill shot her a confident thumbs up, her eyes twinkling with pride at a job well done. Luna's expression shifted to irritation, withholding the twitch in her eye.

Victoria, when I said create a distraction, I didn't mean become an arsonist.

Still, the deed was done. Daarkston and his apprentices ran out of the shop and started spraying potions to calm the raging flames. An entire crowd soon gathered, some shouting to get Bellatrix to snuff out the flames for them.

With everyone's attention away from her, Luna quietly shuffled away from the commotion before booking it toward the forest. That should keep them occupied. Now, let's see what Dr. Daarkston's been working on. And for who.

Shimabiro-machi, Great Gate Empire

Donning straw hats and cloaks to keep themselves concealed, the party of four made their way into town, blending in with the crowd during the busy hours. Wagons rolled by carrying supplies, shop owners swept the front of their stores, and armored guards performed their patrols. The Foresters and Galus were quick to keep their faces covered passing by them specifically.

As they traveled deeper into town, Melissa whispered, "So, your family is planning a revolution against the emperor?"

Shingo nodded. "Precisely. It's happening on the day of her ascension, and they requested me home to partake in it. My mother gave instructions on who to speak with to sneak me into the mountains."

"What exactly are you doing?"

"That part's a bit complicated," Brooklyn admitted. "We'll explain it some other time."

Shingo continued, "The point I'm getting to is that we'll also be attended to by allies joining in on the cause. Since it would be unwise to have you searching for Marie or Basil unguarded, and since I would probably be singled out if any Takigawa saw me, one of our allies might be able to escort you through Osorekaku."

Melissa tapped her chin. "That does make sense. But is it wise for them to be there, too?"

"Unlike the Mochizuki, our allies are still within the good graces of the emperor. One of them will definitely keep you safe while you're searching for Basil and Marie."

"Do you know who's joining the ambush?"

"I know a few clans that would probably have it out for the emperor, but no one specific."

Brooklyn sighed cheerfully. "It'll be nice to see everyone again. Especially Purin. I'm hoping she can make some modifications to my eye scope."

Melissa smiled. "I'm looking forward to meeting your family, Shingo. What are they like?"

Shingo laughed bitterly. "Eccentric."

"Uh? Hehe, not looking forward to seeing them?"

"Do not confuse my reluctance with disdain. I love my brother and cousins dearly. I've always been the more reserved of the family, and they tend to drag me into whatever shenanigans they're up to."

Melissa giggled. "Must be nice having a big family."

"It has its ups and downs." He sighed. "I'm a bit nervous about seeing my father, though. It's a long story."

Melissa smiled brightly. "Hey, whatever it is, I'm sure he still loves you."

"…" Shingo smiled. "Thank you, Pen…Melissa. Thank you."

Galus looked around nervously. "When arrive?"

"Hmm?" Shingo looked around a bit before spotting a knickknack shop that was looking a little worn down. "Ah, there it is."

Melissa squinted at the unfamiliar characters hanging above the door. "What's it called?"

"The Trash Haven," Brooklyn quipped.

"Brooklyn, that's mean. Just because it looks a little rundown doesn't mean you should—"

"Oh no, that's the actual name of the place," Shingo corrected.

"…" Melissa groaned. "Well, that's lovely."

A bell rang as they made their way inside. Around them, there were shelves filled with all sorts of trinkets and knickknacks. Melissa found herself browsing some shelves, taking interest in the straw dolls, barrel of parasols, and wood carvings. Nothing in the shop was particularly lavish, but it had a welcoming enough atmosphere.

At the sound of the front bell ringing, a Victreebel hopped out from the back, holding a smoking pipe in his mouth. He blew a stack of smoke from his gaping mouth, flooding the ceiling above him. Melissa coughed and fanned her face. Galus nearly vomited, clamping his hands over his mouth.

"Galus sick…"

The pitcher plant huffed another puff of smoke before asking, "[What can I do for you all today? We've gone a fine stock of repurposed board games in the back if you're interested. Smuggled straight out of the west.]"

Shingo stepped forward and took a deep breath, unbothered by the man's smoking. "[We seek the dragon's light to venture into the heart of the true mountain's tale.]"

To anyone else, the Frogadier would've sounded like he was speaking nonsense. However, after a moment of contemplation, the Victreebel's expression hardened. He huffed another stack of smoke before hopping out from behind the counter. Melissa was nervous something went wrong at first, especially as the store owner drew back the curtains and placed a bar over the front door.

After a moment of silence, the Victreebel sighed before glaring at Shingo. "[I was wondering if you were ever going to show up, kid. You and your group need passage to the mountain, yeah?]"

Shingo nodded. "[We appreciate the help.]"

"[With the payment your mother's giving me, help is an understatement. My neck's already on the line as is. Wait here.]" He bounced back around the counter and disappeared into the back.

Melissa glanced at Shingo. "What was that about?"

Shingo explained, "Remember that conversation we had about the Assassin Wars? My mother's from an assassin clan of her own, and she did quite a few odd jobs before marrying into the Mochizuki Clan. This is one of her contacts, and he'll be taking us to one of his contacts to sneak us through the mountains."

"Sneak us through?" Melissa questioned.

Brooklyn nodded. "If anyone saw several clans moving to some unmarked location in the mountains, people will get suspicious and alert the emperor. With all the preparations going into Lady Amano's ascension—"

"There would be more suspicion for this sort of event," Melissa guessed, now understanding. "Wow, you guys think ahead of everything."

Shingo winked. "We shinobi make it a policy to stay one step ahead."

The Victreebel returned, slipping into a heavy coat. "[Alright. I'm all set.]" He gestured them around the counter before prying open a hidden trapdoor. "[This passage will take us to my contact. They'll be able to take you to the mountains unseen. One at a time, come on.]"

Shingo nodded, leaping down the trapdoor first. Brooklyn followed suit, along with Melissa. Galus struggled to get through the trapdoor, his horns getting stuck on the edges. After a quick blurb from Melissa that he was a Ghost-Type, Galus bashfully phased his horns through the floor.

The Victreebel shuffled into the hidden passage, grappling the other end of the door with his vine. After peeking once over the counter to make sure they were unseen, he slammed the door shut behind him.

Arcania Kingdom

Zana took Jason halfway down the main forest road, signaling to the guards hiding up in the trees to grant them passage. Jason glanced back, noting the seriousness in her expression. He knew the Thwackey as a bit of a no-nonsense soldier, and he imagined traversing the forest made her uneasy of potential invaders.

Upon reaching the halfway marker, they stopped. Zana bowed to Jason and said, "It was great seeing you again. Shame you have to leave so soon."

"I wish we could've gotten the matters with Umbra Clock sorted out sooner."

She glared at the ground bitterly. "Well, I wasn't looking forward to it to begin with."

"…Zana, you have my word, King Foirbeis wants what's best for Arcania—" He stopped himself at her grimace in response. He sighed. "This wasn't an easy decision for the Foresters either, but…we've been doing fine with our arrangement."

"These days, it seems to be nothing but difficult decisions," Zana admitted, wringing her hands together. "I'm grateful to still have my parents, but…I worry one day I'll lose them, too, you know?"

"…" Jason closed his eyes and sighed. "Just please work with Luna so that we can all come to a consensus. I can't exactly guarantee your request for the king groveling for forgiveness, but I will work with him to make sure your culture continues to thrive."

"…" Zana glared. "Yeah…" She sighed and turned her back to him. "I should get ready for my shift later. Good luck, Jason. Please…be careful."

He nodded. "Always."

Zana, taking a deep breath, headed on back toward the village. Jason lingered for a moment as the Thwackey made her way back before turning around and continuing down the road.

She seems bothered by something, Jason thought. Despite her warnings, she also didn't put up much of a fight convincing me to stay. I would've thought she'd be a bit more apprehensive, especially with the Takigawa Clan involved—

"Jason Stormbreaker."

He stopped, glancing to one of the trees and noticing someone hiding behind it. He cautiously reached for his sword, but stopped when the cloaked Salazzle stepped out of the shadows.

"…Ms. Dawnblite?"

She shook her head. "Wisteria is just fine. Greetings, Jason. I believe we haven't had the chance to properly speak since your arrival."

Jason bowed. "It's no trouble. I beg your pardon, but I don't have much time to speak. I—"

"This concerns Harlow's disappearance, doesn't it?"

He paused, narrowing his eyes at the lizard. "Why are you out here?"

She sighed. "A confession, if you will. I was aware of Harlow's disappearance last night."

"Excuse me?" Jason's brow furrowed. "You do understand where she intended to go, right?"

"Do you honestly believe my interference would've dissuaded her?"

"…" He sighed and pinched between his eyes. "Why didn't you inform me of this beforehand?"

"…" Wisteria frowned. "Truth be told, I was worried about my son, and she promised to look into the matter. I…figured I'd help her pack for the trip and give her a head start."

"Unbelievable." He groaned and dropped onto all fours. "Well, now I definitely need to get a move on. Even at my top speed, it's going to take a while to get to Great Gate from here—"

"You may want to postpone your trip for a moment."

Jason glared at her. "I can't waste any more time. Not while Harlow—"

"This is important. I'm afraid your acquaintances, Luna and Victoria, will be in grave danger soon."

Jason stood up, raising his brow in confusion. "In danger? From who?"

"…" She sighed.

Luna sprinted through the uncharted forest before making her way to the secret lab she discovered beforehand. As she hoped, it was currently unattended. Checking over her shoulder a couple more times to ensure she was alone, she approached the setup.

Immediately, she went for the crate containing the headbands. Pulling one out, she examined the strange contraption. For the most part, it appeared no differently than a standard headwear, almost resembling a ring-shaped crown. However, the inner lining of the metal displayed strange lines running to the centerpiece of the headband.

Turning it around, she examined the red, glowing jewel embedded in the center. She dug her fingers around the edges, wondering if she could pry out a sample, but it was wedged tight. She looked around again before sighing hesitantly.

"Please don't be deadly, please don't be deadly…" She rummaged around for one close to her head shape before placing it on. She clenched her eyes shut, waiting for something to happen.

Nothing did.

Curious, she tapped the jewel, wondering if it acted as some sort of switch. Nothing happened again, making her frustrated.

"This has to do something. I can't possibly be worrying over fashion accessories." She knocked on the side of her head, trying to recall anything Daarkston said before. "They something about stabilizing the flame, but…what flames?" She narrowed her eyes. "He…called these things controllers."

Curious, she closed her eyes and concentrated. If they were called controllers, did that mean they were part of a set? She imagined a Snivy-shaped doll in her mind, willing it to raise its arms.

She felt the front of the band heating up. She opened her eyes and saw the jewel glowing brighter. She immediately took it off, and the jewel cooled back to its normal glow.

"It responded to that." She looked around the forest. "I don't see anything out of place, so…it's not linked to anything yet?" She scratched her chin before glancing up at the workstation, catching a glimpse of a journal. "Hmm…" She set the headband aside and plucked the journal down with her vines.

She leaned back against the table and flipped through the pages, hoping to find something on the headbands. Something about all of this was still bugging her. Even so far out in the forest, the lab wasn't off-limits or well-guarded. How could the rest of the village not know about this?

She put those thoughts aside as she found a section of pages dedicated to the headbands. Daarkston was kind enough to have a detailed listing of the experiments performed on the bands. He went over several prototypes, failed experiments, and adjustments made over the course of the project. Luna mostly skipped over these parts, searching for the bands' primary function.

She found a promising passage.

"The headbands run under a similar principle to mass telepathy. The practice allows multiple talented psychics to transmit their thoughts across great distances, often with a lead officer acting as the medium between the transmitters and the receivers. The proposal offered to me was to construct a device that can send these signals to a non-living source. It seemed out of my field of expertise, even with the alchemical theories I proposed. However, they were able to offer me a medium of sorts that would bridge the gap between the headbands and the intended targets. They call it the Scarlet Flame."

Luna's eyes widened. "Scarlet…Flame?" She looked back at the headbands, noting that their red coloring did seem off-putting the more she looked at it. She recalled what Melissa, Jason, and others experienced back in Echo Bell and the terror that flame brought to the people. She shook her head, now reading with a worried grimace.

"The unnatural link this flame shares acts as a conduit to transmit thoughts through. If the specifications are correct, then the other half of Project Talos will see promising results. With that, Last Autumn will have an army of inexhaustible soldiers, and Arcania will be spared from the fire that'll come."

The book slipped from Luna's trembling hands, terror radiating from her eyes. Last…Autumn? Oh no…

A memory of that random note Amon acquired last year from some mysterious traveler suddenly echoed through her mind. That warning about Arcania. They were trying to warn someone of this.

Daarkston wasn't working with Last Autumn.

All of Arcania was.

"No, no, no, no, no!" She placed the book back on the workstation and booked it back to the village. "I need to find Jason and tell him what's going on—"

Her body suddenly locked up. Before she could react, she was lifted off the ground and thrown against a tree, cracking the bark. Her eyes glazed over, words sputtering off her lips, before falling unconscious.

Floating out of the shadows, Vauquelin raised his right hand and telekinetically lifted the Snivy to him. With a wave of his index, he glared as an unconscious Victoria also floated into view.

"Tch. This might be a problem."

He snapped his fingers, and all three of them disappeared from the site.