Titania hated meeting with the council, and the want to tear out her hair and smash her head into the nearest wall was steadily growing.
"I thought he said this would be important," she thought, glancing towards Pyre as she sunk further into her cushioned seat.
"I'm not the only expert on the city's utilities… I could be working on one of my inventions right now, but noooo."
"I'm sorry, am I boring you?" a voice said, snapping the Tinkaton out of her daze.
"Huh?" Titania questioned, looking up at the cross-looking Dubwool at the podium before her and Pyre.
Sitting up, Titania looked the sheep dead in the eyes. "You want me to give you the nice answer, or the honest one?"
"And here I thought that members of the guild held themselves to certain standards here," Jade remarked as she side-eyed the Tinkaton. "But, I do agree that we should move on to more pressing matters."
Titania watched Pyre's eyes narrow, having a feeling that he knew where this was going.
Watching Jade take the Dubwool's place at the podium, she and Pyre briefly made eye contact before she began. The others took notice of this, as it wasn't a secret that the two pokemon didn't see eye to eye on most things. But while their interactions had remained civil, the tension between them could always be felt whenever they were in the same room.
Clearing her throat, the Gardevoir began to speak. "As most of you are aware, the recent shadow anomaly has caused a great deal of problems for the region. And while Bastion may be equipped to handle this crisis, the same cannot be said for the rest of Northern Diavaircia."
This got a sigh from Pyre, the Arcanine not wanting to hear about this again.
"I do believe it is time to send exploration teams out to quell these disturbances, and potentially, find their source."
Jade looked out at the other members of the council who each had varying looks of uncertainty on their faces. A few glanced at Pyre while the Arcanine was staring Jade down.
"And as I've said the past two times you have brought this up. I am going to have to disagree," Pyre sternly responded.
"There are pokemon dying because of your insistence on keeping the guild here. Protecting Basion over the rest of the region," she argued, pointing at the guildmaster.
Pyre scowled. "Then they should come here," he said, rising to his feet. "If Bastion were to fall due to a lack of guild members present-"
"Do you ever actually step outside the city's walls, Pyre?!" Jade interrupted. "Have you actually seen how dire the situation is?!"
"The shadows are running rampant," she stated, pressing her digits into the podium for emphasis. "I have had word that Sleetpass and Frostwarren were just recently attacked. Hard. The latter of which, need I remind you, holds one of your precious mines." A tense silence hung over the room before Pyre walked up towards the Gardevoir.
"Then reconsider my proposition for the Collar Project."
Jade's eyes narrowed in disdain. "So long as I'm here, we're not allowing that sick experiment of yours to see the light of day."
"You know you're defending criminals, right?" Titania piped up. "Murderers, thieves, and sickos who are in Black Forest for a fucking reason."
Most in the room were taken aback by the Tinkaton's behavior, but Jade remained unfazed.
"Need I remind you of your origins, Titania?"
The Tinkaton flinched before sending a death-glare Jade's way. But before either of the two could say anything, the sound of the wooden door creaking open interrupted them. All heads turned to the side of the room as a small white and blue cat appeared. The Meowstic awkwardly rushed towards Jade before holding out an envelope.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, her eyes glaring down at the smaller pokemon.
"S-Sorry miss, it's… urgent."
Pyre glanced at the letter before calmly taking a step back. "If you require a moment-"
The Gardevoir huffed in annoyance as she tore open the envelope. She then skimmed over the paper inside until all signs of irritation disappeared from her face, a blank expression taking its place as her body grew still. Her hands trembled and her shallow breaths hastened as she tried to choke out a sentence.
"I… I-I need to go," was all she managed to say before she rushed out of the room. A haze of murmurs swept through the room, no one quite sure what the problem was.
However Titania heard a few guesses floating around, from a health scare, to a death in the family. But none of it really interested her, as she didn't even want to be here in the first place.
"Does this mean I can leave now?" Titania flippantly remarked, getting another round of stares from the surrounding pokemon.
… … …
The Tinkaton shook her head, attempting to clear her mind of that particular memory. Leaning against one of the still standing walls of the tavern, she crossed her arms alongside her wrench and watched as more of Ironpost's residents began returning to their wrecked homes, much to her annoyance. But despite this, she found herself staying right where she was as the pokemon around her began to try and piece the things back together
"The shadows are just gonna come back at some point-" Titania thought before she froze. "Oh… right. That's what we're here for… Doesn't change the fact that Bastion's still safer."
Inside the tavern, Jade was watching as well. Swearing under her breath and burying her face in her hands before pulling them down. Slowly walking towards the side of the room, she stopped a few feet away from Aurora, wanting to give the Beartic some degree of space.
But it didn't seem to be enough, as Aurora caught her approaching shadow along the wall.
"What?" the Beartic growled.
There was a long silence between the two until Jade turned back around. "I really did want to help."
The Garevoir was met with heavy, angry breaths on the ice type's part before standing up and taking her leave. "Then you should have done so," she heard Aurora say.
Turning her head, she watched the Beartic sit a table further away, still facing away from her. Jade looked down at her bracelet and sighed. Clenching her hand, she walked towards the gaping hole in the tavern wall. Each step she took was one with purpose, the Gardevior knowing what she had to do.
As she passed Titania, the two glanced at each other but said nothing, the two fairy types simply letting one another go about their business.
For as much as she disliked the Gardevoir, Titania would be lying if she said she wasn't curious as to what her ward was up to.
"Well she's not dumb enough to try to escape," the Tinkaton thought. Even still, she found herself carefully reaching for the control orb in her bag.
"If I may have everyone's attention!" Jade called out as she stepped out onto the street. Taking a deep breath, she cupped her hands together and lowered them in front of her waist. She had the eyes of most of the surrounding pokemon.
"It's time, Jade," she muttered to herself before taking a deep breath. "My name is Jade Sharpe… former member of the Bastion city council."
What followed was a mixed bunch of reactions from the crowd. Shock, anger, concern… but none of them quelled the sea of murmurs surrounding her.
Titania's jaw dropped. "What is she doing?" Titania loudly whispered as she watched. "Guess I won't need to use the orb after all."
Jade waited a moment for the murmurs and insults to die down a bit before she continued. "I am aware that you likely do not think highly of me after… recent events, as I was never able to do much for those in situations such as yours. But today that changes. As while I may have served Bastion, I am not of it. And… And-"
Trailing off, Jade lowered her head and closed her eyes. "That's enough talk… as I am sure that actions would mean more to you."
She then tapped her hand on her bracelet's mega stone, prompting a spectral flash to envelop her body. With her mega form revealed, Jade took a deep breath and held out her hands. A lavender colored aura spread over much of the debris, levitating it into the air as the crowd of pokemon looked on. Steadily, she began to piece together what she could of the stone house.
The Mega Gardevoir's head was pounding as she held out both hands, continuing to hold up and move around each piece under her telekinetic grasp. Her condition was still worse for wear after facing the Shadow Gyarados, but Jade remained determined.
"Tune out the pain… and focus," she thought, wincing as she watched the house come together before her eyes.
Soon, every piece was gathered to form the outline of a small house for a pokemon around her size. None of them touched, surrounded by a lavender aura as they kept their position.
"Could someone bring some supports?" Jade grunted. To both her surprise and relief, a pair of Rhydon approached carrying a wooden beam each. One by one, more of Ironpost's residents began to join in, seemingly impressed by the Gardevoir's actions.
From the hole in the tavern, Titania watched in utter bewilderment as the work to rebuild began.
"She actually got'em to work with someone from Bastion," she muttered.
"Hic- It's nice, it'nt it…" Blake slurred as he stumbled towards the busted wall. "See'n folks come together like this."
Titania looked up at the drunken badger, who had his claws wrapped around a bottle as he sat on the floor's edge. He then faced a nearby pile of snow sitting against the outside, pointing his claw at it.
"Aurora, was it? You asked about my family, right? I lied… kinda."
"Now what I'm 'bout to tell you, is something I've never told anyone. So you gotta keep this on the hush hush, 'ight?"
Taking a swig of his drink, Blake pointed the bottle's mouth at the large pile of snow, all with a serious expression on his face. However it soon morphed into something more somber.
"I had a brother… and the ol' bastard we called dad trained us both to steal 'n kill."
"We'd always be move'n around since guild 'mons would be up our asses all the time. But anytime we got to rest, it was back to training."
Blake took another few gulps before realizing the bottle was empty. Swearing under his breath, he tossed it into the sheet of snow in front of him.
"Brock was always the better of us two. Bigger, stronger… but he didn't have our pop's heart. Made the old fuck crazy. He'd try finding ways to pit us against each other… never liked us getting along."
Blake stopped, looking away from the pile of snow as a pained look crept onto his face. "But it all changed the day I finally won a spar."
"Dad told me to kill him."
Hearing this, Titania quickly shifted her gaze towards the Obstagoon. Up until this point, she had been silently observing. Finding herself oddly curious with what the drunken mercenary had to say.
Blake flashed his sharp teeth, clenching them and his claws before spotting a stray silver spike in the snow from the fight with the shadow gyarados.
"He gave us each three spikes to do the job… Brock never used one. But I did. Pulled it outta the strap and plunged it down." The Obstagoon sniffed the air and sighed. "But I missed… Leaned down and told him to run the first chance he got."
"And while he was a bastard to the highest degree, our dad wasn't stupid. Figured out what we were pull'n, but Brock got away. That's what mattered." Blake flashed a slight smile. But it quickly faded away, twisting into a toothy scowl.
"Got me the beating of a lifetime after that… But the dear ol' dad made a mistake. He told us to be armed with these spikes at all times."
The Obstagoon swung out his arm, clumsily making a stabbing motion with his claws. "Shoved it in him as far as I could 'till he stopped movin'. Then I ran and never looked back."
It was then that Blake just sat there in silence, only interrupted by the occasional hiccup.
"Kinda jealous of 'em, really," he later said as he looked out at the residents of Ironpost. "Have'n a place to call home with folks who care about 'em and whatever."
The Obstagoon began to sway in place, trying to keep himself upright and resist the urge to sleep. "Sounds nice," Blake mumbled before slumping over against the edge of the wall, drifting off into a heavy slumber.
Sitting down, Titania stared out at the town for the next hour as Jade managed to reshape some of the nearby houses, holding the stone pieces in place while other pokemon were putting up logs to use as a frame. The Tinkaton then craned her head to look around the hole in the wall that surrounded her. Standing up and grabbing her wrench, she poked Blake's side with it until the Obstagoon began to stir.
He batted it away with claws. "Piss off, ya fucking-" Titania only jabbed harder this time around, narrowing her eyes as she pushed him into the pile of snow he had watched him drunkenly converse with.
"The hell?!" he spat, shaking himself awake as he glanced around, looking for the cause of his faceful of snow.
"Wakey wakey," Titania said as she gave one more rough jab.
"The hell was that for?!" Blake growled before recoiling with a flinch. He pinched his temple and glared at the Tinkaton.
"Fun," Titania replied. "Now grab Obsidian and Aurora. There's something I want you to do."
'You broke it, you fix it.' Those were the words Titania uttered before walking off.
"I am getting really tired of her tone," Aurora thought. While she wasn't against what they were doing for Ironpost, her body was still painfully sore from the group's fight with the Shadow Gyarados.
'Clearly none of you are in good enough shape to head to the mine. But I don't wanna just let you sit on your asses.' The Tinkaton's words echoed in her mind as she caught a glimpse of Titania speaking to a Rypherior and Coalossal.
Walking towards where she had initially found the Sneasel, Aurora surveyed the wreckage before her. It wasn't as bad as some of the other surrounding houses, or rather what was left of them. Parts were missing from the walls, and the roof had caved in. But overall still appeared to be salvageable.
"Similar to what we have in Sleetpas," she thought. "Shouldn't be too hard…"
"Ya keep frowning it'll freeze like that," she heard a familiar, grating voice say.
Refusing to acknowledge it, Aurora walked towards one of the growing piles of wood sitting throughout the town. However the voice continued to follow her.
"I'm just saying, I don't think I've seen you smile once since we met."
Aurora quietly growled as her ear flicked in irritation. "Yes… the one whole day we've known each other."
Obsidian grinned. "No reason to let that stop us from bein' friends."
"I can think of at least five," Aurora huffed, picking up a pair of sharpened logs.
"Hey, I've made some of my best friends in only a day!"
The Beartic rolled her eyes and groaned.
"What, did some of that wood slip up your-"
A loud, beastail snarl escaped Aurora's bared teeth, cutting him off.
"Or… maybe it's cause the one friend you made here did somethin' to piss you off."
The Beartic scowled as he smirked. "Bet you thought I was sleeping through that, right? You'd be real surprised the things folks say when they think you're sleeping."
Aurora said nothing as she made her way back to the house. "Come on, you guys were sharin' a tent on the way here," the Lycanroc said before crossing his shadowy arms. "Heard no complaints about it either…"
Aurora dropped the armful of wood while staring at the house. "If you're not going to be useful, at the very least stop talking."
"Is that a challenge?" Obsidian childishly scoffed as darkness spread from his arms to his chest. His claws grew out as his already wide grin grew with them.
"Nice to see… you're actually being helpful for once," Jade remarked between breaths as she floated the lumber out of Blake's claws.
The Obstagoon rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna choose to ignore that. 'Sides, you and Ice Queen are the reason we're even doing this."
"You would rather be in the mines?"
Blake looked up at the Mega Gardevoir and scoffed. "Believe it or not, I'd rather be back in my cell. At least there they weren't using me as shadow bait."
"The last I checked… you went along with that plan," Jade remarked as she turned her attention to the house in front of her, the components being held in place with Psychic while she waited for the supports.
"You know, 'mons like you and the Pink Menace really piss me off. Standing around and acting like you're better than everyone."
"Do not compare me to that-" Jade was interrupted by a loud grunt and a thud.
Turning around, the two saw Obsidian laying face first in the snow before he pulled himself up. A few echoing thuds followed as Aurora stomped towards them.
"You," she growled, stopping as she pointed at Blake. "Come here."
The Obstagoon glared and crossed his arms. "The fuck did you say-"
Aurora's glare intensified as she pointed her claw towards the ground beside her. Blake silently shrunk down and walked towards the annoyed Beartic, watching as she turned around and stomped away.
Jade sighed, eyeing the two, feeling an amalgam of relief and sight regret. At least until she saw something unwanted in her peripheral vision. Looking up at the pieces of house she had in her psychic grasp, her eyes narrowed once Obsidian came into view. The Lycanroc having scaled up the unfinished structure and was dangling over the edge.
"Get down from there," she demanded.
"No can do, princess!" he shouted back. "I wanna see if this thing is shadow proof!"
Jade tensed up as her already sharp gaze narrowed. "Arceus, it's like speaking to a fucking child," she thought.
"Get down from there now… or I'll-"
"Or what? You're gonna try and kill me too? Or is that only reserved for guildies?"
The Mega Gardevoir felt her eye twitch, but did her best to retrain herself, not wanting to ruin the house she was trying to fix.
"I'll consider… making an exception."
Obsidian chuckled at her remark. "You know, I had a feeling deep down in that pale, funless shell you were like me," he said before leaping off the wall.
"Is your sole purpose for being in this world just to be a nuisance?"
Obsidian's face twisted into an overly dramatic frown. "You know it may not look like it, but I have feelings too," he whimpered.
However Jade remained stone-faced as she got some of the house's pieces back in order.
The Midnight Lycanroc perked back up. "You're no fun."
"I guess we're not so similar after all," Jade hissed, almost releasing her grasp and turning around.
"You still tried to kill someone who pissed you off, right?" Obsidian said in an oddly sober tone.
This made Jade pause and glance back at him. Granted his manner of speech was still juvenile and provocative, but for the first time she felt he wasn't just trying to spout off nonsense.
"You ever think about what would've happened if you actually killed them? 'Cause it always starts with one."
"I never said that I-"
"Eh, it was implied," the Lycanroc said with a shrug. "If I remember, you were insulting so-and-so back at the tavern, then said they 'should have died the day-', and then short, pink, and overcompensating told you to shut up."
"He heard all of that?" Jade thought as she crossed her arms. "I thought he was asleep… I suppose some things are too good to be true."
Obsidian grinned. "And judging by the look on your face, I'd say I win!" His smile then turned into a thoughtful stare as he lifted a claw to his chin.
"Also I think you jogged my memory about my mom saying something like that about my dad… And-"
As the supports for the house arrived, Jade kept using Psychic on the structure to keep it together. All while trying to tune out Obsidian's blathering and her worsening headache.
"At least he's actually doing something useful," she thought while watching the Lycanroc slice up logs with his claws. "But if he doesn't stop talking, I might consider wringing out his neck."
"You know, not sure if it's just me, but you seem kinda tense," Blake said as Aurora rammed the end of a sharpened log into the ground.
"What was your first clue?" she uttered, lifting up a second log. "I could say you seem too calm."
"Nah," the Obstagoon said with a dismissive wave. "I was drinkin' earlier. And I was havin' a good snooze before Pinky put us to work."
He kicked a piece of wood into a nearby pile, making it topple to the ground. "I don't see what the big deal is. Even like this, it's still nicer than my last house."
Aurora said nothing in response, simply sending a side glare Blake's way.
He let out a quiet groan before picking up two of the felled pieces. "Pine or Maple?"
As the two continued to work, Blake found things growing increasingly dull. He slowed down his progress, looking over towards Aurora to see that she hadn't slowed down in the slightest. From that point on, their partnership amounted to the Obstagoon passing her the things she needed until the major repairs to the house were almost done.
"You know, if I didn't know better I'd say you've done this before," Blake remarked.
Aurora stopped and glared at the Obstagoon.
He shrugged. "What? That's all I've got. You're not really making this easy."
"Have you considered that I don't like you?" Aurora flatly said.
Blake rolled his eyes. "You and everyone else," he said with a dismissive wave, sitting down as a Braviary landed on the roof, telling the two that they could take it from there.
With that, Aurora and Blake moved onto the next cabin. It was in considerably worse shape than the first one, but the Beartic was undeterred.
As she got started, and was surprised to see Blake actually put in some effort this time. However he now seemed to be a little less lively, his motions more practiced as he mindlessly worked away. Dragging his feet as his ears flattened out, the Obstagoon grabbed hold of a log and shoved it towards the site.
"You know, I'm still a little curious about that deal you made with Pyre," Blake remarked as he pushed the log into a standing position.
This caused the Beartic to stop and tense up, only to flinch as pain shot through her right arm. Rubbing her large paw over the bandaged surface, she emitted a low growl. "What about it?"
Blake's gaze trailed away for a moment before moving towards another log. "Well for starters… How'd you get him to do it?"
There was a bout of silence between the two before Aurora looked towards the snow-laden ground. "…He came to me."
"Damn, "Blake spat as he gritted his teeth.
Aurora sighed and turned her attention back to the house. "I don't know what else to tell you."
"Forget it," the Obstagoon huffed. "Just thought since I'm not some psycho like certain folks around here, I could-"
"That you could get one too," Aurora interrupted.
Blake looked down, rubbing the back of his head. "I was… thinking about what you asked me. At least before spilling my guts to a pile of snow I thought was you."
The Beartic gave him a look of such bewilderment that it was though he had said the dumbest thing anyone had ever admitted.
Blake groaned and rolled his eyes. "Cut me some slack, I was coming down from the greatest cider binge of my life."
"Where is any of this going?"
Blake buried his face in his claws before dragging them down. "Look. You have a chance of getting outta this. And while I get you're probably not a fan of the guild… If- no, when we get out of this, can I ask you to do something for me?"
Aurora's gaze narrowed as she leaned towards him, growing somewhat curious as to what he had to say.
"I have a brother. Brock," the Obstagoon solemnly said with his back to her.
"We haven't seen each other in a long time. But we've sent each other letters here and there, just to see how the other's doing." Blake bent down to grab the log he had been standing over and dragged it towards the cabin. "Last I heard from him, he'd joined the guild."
He hauled the log up into a standing position as well, then dug his claws into the wood before turning his head. "If you find him… tell him I said-"
Blake stopped himself, quickly changing his position so that he leaned his palm against the surface. "Better not fuck up what he's doing," he said with forced grin.
"You two are going too slow," Titania said as she walked over with her massive wrench in hand.
"Well not all of us are gifted with having Psychic typing and a mega stone," Blake said, holding out a claw towards Jade in the distance.
"Which is why I want you to get as much done as you can," Titania said. "We're not staying here long."
Her gaze shifts to Aurora. "Got it?"
"I don't see you doing anything." the Beartic bluntly said.
"Thought I'd leave things in your capable paws for a while," she shot back before they were joined by a group of Carkol and Rhydon, with a Coalossal leading them forth.
"Well thanks to Jade, we got saved a good chunk of work," the large rock type said. "And given your condition, I'd say you should probably call it. Especially after hearing some new things about this shadow situation."
Aurora looked down at Titania before turning her gaze back to the Coalossal.
One of the Rhydon walked towards her and smiled. "Besides, we saw what you guys did before, so trust us when we say we can take things from here. Not exactly the first time stuff's fallen apart around town."
Aurora turned her head to look at the house and then down at her arm. "Fine."
"This mean we're done here?" Blake asked, placing his claws behind his head as he arched back. " 'Cause there's a drink callin' me as we speak."
Watching the two leave towards the tavern, Titania could feel the Coalossal step closer.
"I wasn't gonna say anything before, but is there a reason you're the only redscarf they sent here without any fancy neckwear?"
The Tinkaton said nothing for a moment, until she relaxed the grip on her wrench. "You guys wanted a new trade deal with Bastion, right? I might be able to work something out with them if you stop asking."
The Colaossal shot her a look of suspicion, but ultimately turned away as he muttered something under his breath.
On their way to the tavern, Aurora and Blake were soon stopped by Frost. The Weavile quickly walked towards the former as she waved a claw at her. In her other claw was a familiar blue vest, folded up and tucked under her arm.
"There you are!" she beamed. "Just as I promised, good as new."
Taking the vest from the Weavile, Aurora held it up in her paws as her lips curved into a soft smile. "Thank you."
"It still doesn't compare to what you've done for us, but-"
"No," Aurora cut in. "I promise you've done plenty."
Blake stepped away as the two ice types spoke, crossing his arms as he leaned back against a stone wall. A small grin crept onto his face. "Maybe that drink can wait a little…"
As the sun was on the cusp of setting, Blake and Aurora arrived at the tavern just as an exhausted Jade approached in her normal form with a rope-bound Obsidian in tow. Her steps were uneven and wobbly, but she was otherwise keeping her balance.
The Beartic and Gardivor then caught each other's eye and stared at each other for a while, at least until the former's sharp gaze softened ever so slightly.
"So you two gonna kiss, or what? Obsidian blurted out.
Jade's eye twitched as she tensed up. "I will crush that collar into your neck."
In response, the Lycanroc simply chuckled. "Fine then… Do it. Show the good 'mons of this town who you really are."
Jade glared down at the Lycanroc before she flinched and grasped her temple. "Pests like you aren't worth it."
The smile on Obsidian's face quickly faded. "You know… I've behaved so far 'cause picking off the folks here would be too easy, and no fun. But these shadows, they're the most excitement I've had in a long time."
It was then that he paused, his face twisting into a wide, unnatural smile as he puffed out his chest.
"So unless you wanna play a game with me-"
"Do us all a favor, and kindly shut your mouth," Jade spat. "All you have ever been since the beginning is a nuisanc-"
Obsidian lunged for Jade before she could finish, his teeth bared as he let out a guttural growl.
However rather than feeling the Lycanroc's fangs sink into her, Jade felt herself get pushed onto the snow covered ground. Looking up, she saw Aurora standing in her place as Obsidian was hanging from her thick, white-furred arm by his teeth.
"No more games, Lycanroc," she said coldly before bringing her free, clenched paw down on his head. But instead of the thud one might expect, there was an echoing clang as Aurora winced in pain.
A silver sheen formed over the Lycanroc's mane, stopping the strike before thrusting his feet into her side and dropping to the ground. A sickening chuckle escaped Obsidian's lips as he laid there, causing the others to back away.
"What the hell's going on here?" Titania asked as she walked towards the scene outside the tavern.
"Ah, nothing," Blake remarked. "Just wondering why we have to work with this complete and utter lunatic."
The Tinkaton glanced down at a chuckling Obsidian. "I didn't pick the team… Now get inside. We're staying here for the night, and I don't want you doing… this."
"Then you take him," Aurora said, before walking past the Tinkaton and shoving past Blake to get inside.
He and Jade followed, leaving Titania with the tied up Lycanroc.
Looking down at Obsidian, she sighed and grabbed the rope. "Why'd you have to sack me with these weirdos, Pyre?"
Within the walls of the Bastion, Pyre stood before a large half circle window, a web of iron holding each frosted pane in place. He stared out at the expanse of black stone and white snow beneath him before his gaze cast out beyond the city's walls. However it was brief, as nothing seemed to catch the Arcanine's eye. He turned around before walking back to the curved iron desk situated in the middle of the large, dark gray room.
Aside from the empty fireplace on one side, and the wooden shelves holding books and scrolls on the other, the space was kept as sparse as possible. His desk was another story, as most of it was covered in various papers and notebooks in relatively neat piles… aside from a haphazard pile of papers that caught his eye.
"Thought I put these away," he grumbled.
Placing a paw over the top one, he stared intently as the sketches of different pokemon in the corners of each one stared back at him.
"Leaving sensitive documents out in the open," he thought. "You're better than this…"
Propping himself onto the desk, Pyre started sliding the papers into a neater pile in preparation to store them.
"Blake Walton… Obsidian Wilde… Aurora Fortis-"
He pushed the Beartic's profile aside before looking it over. There were a few prominent points written down, but 'Has been involved in prior conflicts with guild personnel' and 'charged with the deaths of two guild personnel and resisting arrest' were the ones to stick out at him.
Eyeing the latter made the Arcanine start digging through his desk. However, his ears soon perked up and he craned his neck. Muffled, loud voices of what he assumed was an argument battled outside the iron door of his office.
"No, Guildmaster Pyre is busy, you can't-"
"I don't care. Get out of my way!"
The Arcanine huffed in annoyance before pulling out a folder and letting it drop on the desk. "Let him in, Moore!"
"You heard him. Let me in," one of the voices said with a hint of smugness.
There was a brief moment of tense silence until the door let out a click before creaking open, revealing an angry Obstagoon standing beside a concerned looking Corviknight.
The Obstagoon bore his teeth as he stepped inside. "Moore, close the door."
The Corviknight winced. "But-"
"Now," Pyre coldly said, staring at the bird until he saw that the door was shut.
As an echoing clang reverberated throughout the room, the two stared at each other until surrounded by a deafening silence.
"Well?" Prye asked, his face displaying a look of utter disinterest.
"Is it true?" the Obstagoon coldly asked, staring daggers at the guildmaster.
"So your parents taught you to fight, but not to specify your questions?"
Tensing his claws, the Obstagoon stepped forward, trying to retain his composure. "You know… there have been rumors floatin' about the guild 'mons. About you doing some new program with the prisoners."
Pyre narrowed his eyes. "Where is this going, Walton?"
"Heard some of 'em say I look an awful lot like one of them," the dark type choked out, his throat burning as he tried to breathe. "Even has my last name… How 'bout that?
"So I wanna know, did you use Blake? Did you put my brother into your little experiment?!"
Pyre calmly stepped away from his desk, turning its side to approach the Obstagoon. "And what would you do if I did? Brock."
Brock looked up at the Arcanine, who stood a head taller than himself, allowing his almost regal presence to bear down upon him.
The Obstagoon found himself backing down, turning away his head as he tried to avoid looking Pyre in the eyes.
"You know… he's the only reason I'm probably not in there with him."
"No," the Arcanine said as he turned around, walking back behind his desk. "You're here because you're skilled, and because I wanted you here."
Pushing a few papers aside, he continued to speak. "You see when we found Blake, he was drunk. And he wouldn't stop talking either. Said a whole bunch about all the things he and his big brother would do back in the day."
"Dammit Blake," Brock hissed as he glanced away from the Arcanine.
"The problem is, a whole bunch of those things were crimes," Pyre went on.
The Obstagoon clenched his claws and groaned. "What do you want…?"
"I want you to keep doing your job," Pyre ordered. "You're good at it, and I'd hate to have to organize a family reunion."
The Obstagoon's breaths became heavy as the air grew thick with tension. His throat was dry, and his flushed face was heating up by the second.
"They warned me about you… when I first came here," Brock said. "I thought they were just exaggerating. But after what you pulled with that Beartic from Sleetpass-"
"Choose your next words very carefully, Walton," Pyre interrupted, showing only the slightest hint of anger in his already gruff voice.
Brock, recognizing the veiled threat, tensed his shaking arm and pointed towards the door. "There are plenty of pokemon in this guild, who are strong enough to deal with the more powerful shadows."
"And yet, you're the only surviving member of Team Umbra. One of our top teams." Pyre then pulled out a folder from his desk, sifting through the papers inside before finding one labeled 'Arrest Report: Fortis, Aurora'.
"However, it took just as many of you to restrain the 'Guardian of Sleetpass' and bring her here."
The Arecanine stared down Brock, who bore a sad, defeated expression. "You made me lie, Pyre," Brock said, his head bowed as he started tearing up. "Luna and Nero didn't die so you could-"
"Do you know what would happen if Bastion were to fall?" Pyre asked. "Northern Diavaircia is a collection of small towns and villages amongst a sea of snow, ice, and stone. Now tell me. Where would the displaced pokemon of a city this size go?"
Brock remained silent.
"I have no doubt my explorers would find a way to survive, but they only make up a fraction of the city's population. The rest…"
Pyre looked as if he was about to say something but sighed.
"Well there's a reason they aren't in the guild. The shadows might kill them, but the prolonged cold is an element that won't do anyone who isn't a fire or ice type any favors."
"Then there's the matter of Black Forest," Pyre stated, prompting the silent Obstagoon to look up. "The worst of the worst gaining the chance to freely roam the land once more. So if being a bit dishonest to help prevent the collapse of the only-"
"I understand, sir," Brock curtly replied with a strained look on his face, rubbing his arm as he turned his gaze to the stone floor.
The Arcanine could see that Brock was visibly uncomfortable at this point, clearly wanting the conversation to end. "I've wasted enough time anyway," he thought, glancing down at the papers on his desk.
"Leave my office, Walton." Brock let out the breath he had been holding before turning around.
Approaching the door, he pulled it open as it creaked. He found himself briefly stopping, turning back his head before slipping into the hall.
"At least if Black Forest goes down, I could see Blake again," the Obstagoon thought.
Hearing the door shut with an echoing clang, Pyre started putting everything back in its place, Pyre was left with a single paper with a Gardevoir's face staring back at him. Breathing a hot puff of air that lightly singed the page, he quickly placed his paw over it to prevent any more damage.
"Why must other pokemon be so difficult?"
As night fell over Ironpost, Aurora sat just outside of the tavern with her gaze focused on the surrounding darkness. Her fur bristed in the wind as her eyes scanned over the lantern-lit town.
"Where are you?" the Beartic thought as she kept an eye out for anything resembling a shadow.
There were a few audible growls over the course of her self imposed 'night watch', but Aurora ignored them. If it wasn't a shadow pokemon, she would pay no mind to it. But even still, her paw would repeatedly find its way to her stomach of its own accord.
"If you don't come inside, then Blake will eat the rest of the food," Jade said from behind her.
"The shadows are at their most dangerous at night," Aurora grumbled. "I figured you would know that."
Turning around, Jade sighed and stepped back inside. Aurora could hear faint complaining coming from Blake before a metallic clang rang out from the ground beside her.
"Eat," Jade said, lifting a hand to her head. "I refuse to die tomorrow because you decided to starve yourself."
Aurora said nothing, remaining as still as before as if the Gardevoir wasn't there. However her eyes soon landed on the pot Jade lowered.
"I saw what you did," Aurora said, acknowledging Jade's presence. However her back remained facing the Gardevoir. "Your… speech. Or rather, your choice to try and fix things here."
"But I have to ask," Aurora pried, her glare intensifying as she stared out into the town. "What made you do something now?"
"I-"
Jade trailed off and bowed her head, looking away and took a deep breath.
"Because I fear this may be my last chance. Either I'll die in this town's mine, or spend the rest of my life within Black Forest's walls-"
'You still tried to kill someone who pissed you off, right?'
Jade tensed up as Obsidian's words came to mind.
'-you ever think about what would've happened if you actually killed them? 'Cause it always starts with one.'
Jade felt dryness in her throat as a chill ran down her back. "-for an action that I had only perceived as justice, the more I look back on it."
Aurora let out a small grunt of acknowledgement before silence fell over the two again.
"When did you first join the council?" the Beartic asked.
Jade lifted her hand to her chin. "A little over two years ago.
Aurora looked away as her face tightened. She appeared to still be upset, but seemed directed towards something else.
"So you weren't around for that," she muttered.
The Gardevoir gave her a curious look. "Around for what?"
Aurora paused before slowly sitting up. "Five years ago. That is when Sleetpass' issues with the guild truly began to show."
"The guild had no issue sending teams around before, but their poor behavior was the main reason for our dislike towards them. But one day, there was an incident that only worsened things. The guild… the counsel… The pokemon of Sleetpass already didn't like them. But there was still something there."
Aurora sighed an icy breath. "Not so much trust, but a boundary that everyone seemed to understand."
"In the hills beside Sleetpass, there is a space that is sacred to us. And per the legends of the town, we are not to step foot there except for the elders, or those permitted by them… But one day guild pokemon began marching towards it."
"The town elders sent me to stop them, but I was… unsuccessful."
Aurora leaned forward, slouching as she sat. "I don't know what they did, but the elders believe it to be the cause of the shadows. A punishment for defiling sacred land."
Jade walked up beside the Beartic and stared out into the town. "Do you believe that?"
"I don't," the Beartic stated, her ear twitching before another frost-laiden sigh escaped her maw. "But it was then I truly realized Bastion did not have our interest in mind."
Jade sighed. "They screwed us both over pretty badly, didn't they?"
"Yes… they did," Aurora solemnly replied. "But that still doesn't change whatever you did to end up here. Now we are both stuck while others suffer."
The Beartic stood up and grabbed the pot Jade had brought. "So if you want to help, then don't die tomorrow."
She walked past Jade as she stepped inside, leaving the Gardevoir to stew in her thoughts.
Jade held out her arm, looking down at her golden bracelet and the mega stone within it.
"What would you do in this situation?" she muttered before a strong wind blew at her side, threatening to snatch away her warm cloak.
As the wind died down, Jade let go of her cloak as she sat on the steps, taking Aurora's place.
"What am I saying? You wouldn't have wound up like this to begin with."
Inside the tavern, Blake and Titania looked up from their hands of playing cards as he heard heavy footsteps approaching their table. Turning towards the source, they saw Aurora as she walked in with a metal pot in hand.
"Oh, so that's why she took it," Blake muttered as he set his cards beside an emptied bowl.
"Did you think she'd dump it in the street or something?" Titania snidely asked.
The Obstagoon scoffed. "If you've worked with the kind of 'mons I have, you wouldn't put it past 'em," he then scowled. " 'Sides, I wasn't done."
Whether it was because Aurora was already in a bad mood, or the extent of her hunger finally hitting her, the Beartic lifted the pot to her frosted muzzle before tilting its contents into her mouth.
Blake's hope of getting any more dwindled with each loud gulp Aurora took. However all was said and done by the time she placed it on a free part of the wooden table, with the resulting clang signaling its emptiness. Giving a slight pout, Blake soon sighed and looked up at the Beartic.
"Not gonna lie… I'm kinda impressed."
Rather than answer, Aurora glanced around. "Where is the Lycanroc?"
"Over there," Titania dismissively said, pointing her thumb at a nearby wooden pillar.
There was Obsidian, his limp body tied to it with a chain. His eyes were wide open, unfocused and unblinking as his tongue hung out of his mouth.
Aurora grimaced, pulling back her head. "Is he-"
"A-Ack… h-hah…"
Seeing the rise and fall of the Lycanroc's chest, the Beartic felt a bit of relief. "He's sleeping?" she thought. "If I didn't know better, I'd think he was dead…"
"I say we ditch him first thing tomorrow," Blake proposed before looking at Titania. "Or you could, you know… put him outta his misery now."
He pretended to tug at his collar before closing his eyes and flopping out his tongue. The Obstagoon smugly grinned, snickering as he grabbed a half drunk bottle off the table. Aurora however gave a slight growl, not finding the joke funny. Even if it was Obsidian.
Titania however just rolled her eyes. "Look, if we're not gonna continue the game, I'm just gonna go."
"Alright, alright, fine," Blake complained before taking a swig of drink. Pointing the bottle at Aurora, he smiled. "Hey, what about you, Frosty? You play?"
The Beartic looked closer at the table, seeing the cards and colored circular chips. "Someone needs to watch for shadows."
"Come on, love. Just one round," Blake said as he picked up and waved a card.
Aurora rolled her eyes. "No one plays just one round."
"Well I'm going outside," Titania said before grabbing her wrench. "We'll take turns watching."
Blake leaned in his seat, smirking as he pointed towards the door. "I think Jade beat you to it."
The other two looked to see the cloak-wearing Gardevoir sitting on the steps outside.
"Guess that means we're all playing a round," Blake jeered.
Titania rolled her eyes. "You're just lucky I'm bored."
The Obstagoon then looked Aurora's way with the same smug grin. "Fine," she sighed before sitting down, jostling the table for the two pokemon.
"Hey, easy," Titania said. "I don't wanna be held responsible for anything else breaking."
The Beartic let out a low growl in response, flashing a few pointed teeth.
"Ladies, come on," Blake said, holding up his claws. "Let's just play a nice game of cards, yeah?"
As the game began, Blake looked down at the chips on the table and chuckled before turning his gaze towards Aurora. "You bet really low, you know that? Come on, we're not betting anything important."
However his grin soon faltered, and the Obstagoon bowed his head. "Not like I'd have much to lose anyway."
"Wonder who's fault that is?" Titania remarked as she tossed down a card.
Aurora watched as Blake sunk down before grabbing the drink at his side.
"You know, sometimes I think I should've just joined my brother at the guild," Blake said after a swig from his bottle.
Titania shrugged. "Well he's one of the highest ranking members there. Though having two of you there would be a pain."
"Speaking of pain," Blake piped up while pointing at his collar. "How does someone like you wind up making stuff like this for the guild?"
The Tinkaton flinched, seemingly caught off guard by Blake's question. "None of your business."
"Bet it's something sketchy," the Obstagoon teased, leaning over the table. He looked towards Aurora. "Heh, I'm right aren't I?"
"Well at least I've made something of my life," Titania snapped, slamming down her cards and storming off. "Jade! Move your ass, I'm taking watch!"
"Guess it's my turn," Blake said. Eyeing his cards, he snickers.
"Good hand?" Aurora questioned.
"Better than hers," he said, placing down a clawful of cards. "Ha! Nineteen!"
With a slight hiss, Aurora tossed down her cards. "I never understood why others like this game. There's no skill involved."
"Sometimes it's just fun to flash your luck," Blake retorted. "Like this one time, Brock and me, we-" the Obstagoon's smile faded as he slumped in his seat. "Two of us used to play all the time. Con jobs mostly, but… we had fun."
Aurora took a deep breath, tapping her claws against the table before looking the dejected Obstagoon in the eye.
"Set up another round."
A small smile graced his black and white face as he rubbed his eye with his wrist. "What happened to just one round?" he smugly asked.
"Like I said, nobody plays just one."