The Doomed Sprout
Chapter 22
«What do you mean they're not waking up?»
Sera's distressed yell was drawing a crowd, though she wasn't worrying about that right now, staring at Noelle's fearful face.
«They just won't wake up! I don't know what else to do, usually the Honorable takes care of the special cases, but...». She looks to the side, sending another Heal Pulse towards the unconscious Zoroark. «I don't understand why his illusions are still holding up, either, but I'm sure it won't last forever»
Sera looked from afar, feeling too conflicted to move. Cylan, Lumin and Fen were all found unconscious inside the cell a few hours ago, and wouldn't wake up despite having no wounds… She wanted to bring in some good news, not to be back at the medical post, but she doesn't have a say in these things. Uncertain of how to proceed, the Eevee walked out the door, with the two Shinxes she had brought in looking at her worriedly.
«Is… this a bad time? Why are there so many injured Pokemon?», asked the shy one.
Sera did her best reassuring smile. «I-it's okay, Megan! They're just, erm, recovering from a big fight that we're still trying to figure out stuff about. And other stuff too, now...»
Lou sighed, unamused. «What's to figure out about being beaten up?What were you guys fighting?»
Sera's smile strained slightly. «A murderous Lurantis who's been destroying half of the forest and who accidentally cut down forty threes during the battle. Are you going to say you'd do better?». Her sharp tone was more than enough indication to the two of them that the Eevee wasn't in the mood to debate.
«Ah… That- yeah, okay, sorry», grumbled Lou, looking down.
Sera began walking again, leading the two towards the gate. «If there's anything you can take pride in, it's that it's your brother who got the job done in the end. Spooked everyone so much they're scared of him, now. Took them long enough...»
Both Shinxes looked at each other, puzzled, before pressing on. «Wait, my brother? I thought you were joking… Is he really here?»
«Yup»
«Then what about the ''no Commons here'' rule that you pointed out?», asked Megan. «And I'm pretty sure I saw a Nidoran too!»
Sera closed her eyes over the mention. Although she hated to admit it, she desperately wanted Fen to wake up and deal with all this newcomer introduction stuff. She's lived so long on her own, all this greeting stuff was out of her depth!
«These two are exceptions. They came with me to the Sprout, and they both had something useful for the town. The fact that they weren't hostile to Shinies also helped, and I vouched for them». She did her best smug expression in saying that last bit, though couldn't keep it for long.
«What's ''vouched''?», asked Megan.
«It means I told the Honorable that I thought they were good Pokemon and that we should have them stay here. He was really happy about it, too. Still tested them though, but Fen's smart, and Lumin listens to him, so they got in»
Sera's more cheerful tone didn't escape the duo's sight, who were hesitating on how to react.
«So… You're friends with Commons? The same ones that keep attacking us?Weird… ». Megan spoke in a low voice, whispering the last part.
Sera, however, heard all of it and sprung up. «Okay, listen, you two, I'm doing my best to try to show you around and answer your questions», she started, lightly shoving them back, «The most you two jerks could do is be polite! We've just had a huge attack, and now everyone I know is either wounded or unconscious. So don't try to push me, because I'm at my LIMIT, here!». As the Eevee yelled that last part, the two fell back down, clutching each other in fear. Sera stared at them for a moment, before taking a deep breath.
«Listen. While they're recovering, I'll show you what little I've learned about scouting, and maybe we can go back and help in the Hidden Grotto too. But I don't want to hear any complaining until you two get to speak with either Fen or Cylan, got it?»
They both nodded, heads hung low. «Who's Cylan? Is that my brother's name?», asked Lou in a whisper.
Sera shook her head, before clarifying. «The Honorable, sorry. Lumin's your brother»
«Brother, eh? I wonder how we'll be able to handle two of these monsters, ahah»
At the new voice, all three of them turned around to see Cedric walking up to them, wincing slightly in pain.
«C-Cedric! You were in the medical center just now, you're not supposed to be here!», Sera stuttered, before jumping to his side to provide support.
The Gurdurr nodded in appreciation. «Mighty thanks, lass. I'm close to done healing, and with no one to call the shots, figured someone ought to call Freya to fill in the gaps, even if she hates it»
The Eevee appeared surprised. «Freya? I thought she was dead, with how I've never seen her once...»
«You'd think that, but nay. Oldie's simply wanting to rest at home now, with how much she's given for the Sprout». Cedric scratched his head, before continuing. «Probably gonna shoo me off, honestly, but can't say I didn't try at least!»
«Emh… Can we get filled in?», tentatively asked Lou, suddenly much more polite when talking to a pile of muscles. «We're new here»
«Aaah… Yeah, so you're the one, right? The hero's sister! Gotta say, mighty encouraging to have ya here, we need the safety of strong Pokemon around here, especially for now». Sera was surprised to see a genuine smile grow on the Pokemon's face, before slowly turning to confusion. «What? What're ya looking at me like that for?»
«What hero?», asked the Shinx.
«I think they mean your brother, Lou. The Eevee said he'd beaten a strong Pokemon, right?». Megan looked at Sera questioningly, who quickly nodded.
«I thought you said he was a monster?», retorted Lou, eliciting a laugh from the Gurdurr.
«Hah, well, one can be both! Your brother's a true menace in combat, but he's a menace that's on our side, s'far as I know!»
Sera continued. «And as far as I know, too. It took me a while to get used to him, but he's really not bad. Nothing like Fen, but he makes himself useful whenever he can. He also kept trying to find you!»
Lou froze over the last part, shivering slightly. «...To finish me off?», she asked pitifully.
Both Sera and Cedric realized their mistake, quickly clarifying the situation.
«He'd never!»
«The lil guy's been worried sick for you is all!»
«He was crying over you, too!»
«And he's been living with us Shinies for a while, that boy's clearly not hostile to us anymore… Even if I don't know why!»
Sera sighed, agreeing with her instructor. Even if she's gotten used to the sight of the Shinx sleeping peacefully on a leaf bed, she's still unsure as to why he's so docile. Unlike Fen, who's obviously smart enough to have simply decided on his own accord not to attack Pokemon based on them being Outcasts, Lumin clearly still has his instincts and was hunting them just like anyone else not that long ago. She couldn't figure out yet what had made him change, though she was certain that strange Nidoran was at the center of it all.
Per the Gurdurr's suggestion, the trio went with him to find Freya, having been enticed to learn more about her past as a scout as well as a fighter. Sera was surprised to see them stopping at a strange house, made entirely of leaves and twigs, as opposed to the planks and trunks like all the other constructions out here. It seemed like this was made ages ago, and they had just never bothered to improve it.
«Well, the oldie's got style, I'll give her that», said Lou, «Almost feels like she's ready to bury herself», continued the Shinx, shocking her friend and Sera. Cedric didn't seem fussed, however.
«Ayup. She's fought long and hard, and she's just waiting for her time now, but it ain't here just yet. Don't insult her home though, unless you want to meet our graveyard next »
Lou seemed to prepare an answer, though Megan quickly pressed her paw against her mouth, appearing apologetic.
«I see you're still quick at making friends, Cedric. To what do I owe the pleasure?». The voice came from the right wall, surprising the group, before Freya made herself visible, separating herself from the walls and shaking off all the leaves from herself, carefully controlling their movement and placing them in a pile.
«Aaah, still off to your old tricks, I see. I'm sorry to bring in bad news, but Cylan hasn't woken up yet, and we need someone to lead us. You're the one that most Pokemon won't argue against… Or at least not twice, bwahahah!». Cedric's laugh shook the nearby leaves, making the Leavanny sigh as she added them to the pile.
«Of course… I don't suppose that was one of his ''Emergency Procedures'', either?». Seeing him nod, Freya stood up, before leaving the tent. «I suppose I'll do what I'm asked. Please regard to clean my house in the meantime». Walking a few more steps, she turned around and added «This is an order!»
Feeling satisfied, Freya left towards the meeting hall, leaving the four of them silent.
«...What about learning about her past ?», asked the Eevee, turning towards Cedric.
He seemed uncomfortable, scratching his head. «Well… Freya tends to be serious, and it looks like she's already gone to do her job. Sorry kids, it seems like it'll be for a next time». As Sera began protesting, the Gurdurr lifted a hand, before continuing. «Hang on. While we can't learn her story from her mouth, I can still tell what I've been hearin' of her. Tis only fair if you guys are stuck doing a chore cause of me»
«You're stuck doing the chore too- ow!»Megan yelped, having her ear tugged by Lou.
«You can still tell us!», Lou quickly spoke up, eliciting another laugh from Cedric, causing even more leaves to fall.
«Heh, I like ya. But no, I ain't doing no chores. My back's still feeling like a bent twig, I can't bend down to pick up anything, so this task's all on you folks!». His large grin made it clear how he was feeling about dodging a menial chore, but the trio couldn't object, and soon they started picking up the leaves, arranging multiple small piles.
«Ermh… So, Freya...». Cedric has posed himself against the neighbor's wall, rubbing his chin. «She's been here from the beginning, helping the Honorable. Back then, the two of them were pretty weak, heads full of ideas and no muscles to make them a reality. The gal had found me wandering the forest, but I had… other responsibilities at the time». He sighed, slumping down. «Told them that strength was important if they wanted to make a change, and so they've trained. Can't say how exactly, though I'll chalk that up to the Honorable knowing stuff he shouldn't, like usual»
Sera nodded along, understanding what Cedric meant. Both the Honorable and Fen had this strange knowledge and mindset, perhaps that is part of being a human?
«In a few months, there started to be a change in the jungle. Pokemon were systematically disappearing from an area, and an awful aura was spreading around it. Most Pokemon would just hunt for food, and leave, but the amount of Pokemon disappearing was climbing up to the hundreds in a few months»
Lou interrupted the story, shining her tail brightly to get Cedric's attention. «Was… Was that Freya? How would she go from weak to strong in a few months?»
He chuckled in response. «She hadn't. But she made every Common think so. The reality is that she learned to hunt in a way where strength no longer mattered. They had found a cage… Right, you've not seen it yet. Newbie?»
Sera glared at him, pride wounded, but answered. «It's a place... thing where you cannot move out of it. There is a way out, but you need to use something specific and Commons won't do that». After a pause, she added to it. «Most of them, anyway. The cage was the test that Lumin and Fen had to go through»
Megan nodded while forcing Lou's head to do the same. The image of Sera's furious expression kept them from delving deeper. Cedric, rasping his throat, continued.
«That's correct. Most Commons do not know how to get out. So what Freya would do was sneaking up on a Pokemon, putting them to sleep thanks to her ability to generate sleeping powder, placing them in the cage, and applying a different powder to poison them». Remembering the scene, he shook his head. «It ain't a pretty way to fight, but it worked. Only issue was some Pokemon were immune to these powders, those, she had to fight head-on or starve them within these cages»
Sera felt uncomfortable with Freya's methods, though she couldn't understand why. A detail struck her, though. «Wait, cages? I thought there was only one, wasn't that why the jails are just holes?»
Cedric nodded, before replying somberly. «They used to have thirty of them. Cages don't last long if you keep using 'em. So, in the end, the lass became a proper fighter to not rely on them, and got her arms sliced off for it»
Seeing everyone's silent expression, he continued. «Y'all need to get used to thinking like that. Cause we don't hold a candle to Commons in terms of fighting spirit. All my work's only to make sure y'all don't crumble at the first fight, but what you need to win is your brain. Cause that's what we have over them. Ever wondered why there are no Pecha Berries near this place? We took them all so only we can cure poison, that's why». Looking at Sera, he added. «Y'er a scout, and that's what you're all about. Learning what's going on so we can control the area by making it unbearable for 'em»
The Eevee sighed, the uncomfortable feeling growing in her chest. Uncertain what to do about it, she continued picking leaves, soon followed by the two Shinxes.