24th Wisdom Moon, 908

With preparations in order and their mission in sight, Jason and Melissa took off for the isolated Arcania Kingdom. Joining them on the mission were Luna and Victoria, the former wishing to learn more of her ancestral kingdom and the latter wishing to visit home.

The group took to the skies, Luna and Victoria riding upon Sir Neil while Melissa and Jason rode upon Galus, the skittish Dragapult now equipped with new clothes and armor.

Neil narrowed his eyes. "We're coming up on the Arcania Kingdom in a few minutes. Prepare for landing."

Victoria squealed. "This is so exciting! I can't wait to see my folks and everyone! Hope they're doing alright these days."

Jason sighed. "It has been a while since I've last been here myself. I've been too caught up with running the Foresters to make the journey."

Melissa grinned. "It's so wonderful getting to see a little bit more of Virdis. What's it like there?"

"Dark, yet…colorful. Lot of lights. Ever since Arcania started losing land, they've had to retreat into the forest."

"Sounds familiar."

He reached around and poked her nose. "Quiet, you."

Victoria giggled. "Aww! You two look so precious!"

Luna smirked. "The girls had fun gossiping about your little date night."

Jason shrugged. "At this point, I'm not surprised." He smirked at Melissa. "You certainly have no room to call them out."

She snickered. "In my defense, I wish nothing but happiness for Adenine and Erasmus when they're finally reunited."

Luna turned serious and asked, "So, what's our strategy for convincing King Kirby to the alliance? With the bad blood between the two kingdoms, you better have composed one heck of a speech."

"…" Jason winced. "Yeah, uh…" He smiled awkwardly at Melissa. "Hey Mels, I know we both agreed to talk to the king, but I wouldn't mind if you wanted to explore the kingdom first."

She tilted her head. "Oh? How come?"

"It's…look, trust me on this, I should be the one to talk to the king. He can be a bit…difficult to negotiate with, and I know how to best handle him."

Though confused, she smiled and nodded. "Alright. I trust your judgment, Jason."

"Thanks…"

Neil glared and started descending. "Arcania Kingdom ahead."

Galus followed Neil's example. "Galus dive!"

"Ooh!" Melissa peered over Jason's shoulder and scanned the land. She frowned. "Huh. Where is the Arcania Kingdom? I mostly see forests and grasslands, but I don't see any buildings."

Jason grabbed her wrist and pointed her hand. Eventually, he had her pointing at a small patch of forest among the pathways and trees, a main road leading into the tiny forest.

Melissa blinked twice. "Wha?"

"Yep. That's the Arcania Kingdom."

"…HUUUUUH?!"

After Neil and Galus landed, the team gathered their supplies and made their way into the forest, the path lit up by a string of glowing lanterns that shined like the nighttime stars. Since Neil and Galus were Umbra Clock and Subterra residents, it was advised they stayed at the main entrance until further notice.

Luna looked upon the pathway of lights in awe. "Incredible. A flameless light source."

Victoria grinned. "Just another of our alchemists' specialties. It's a homegrown moss we've experimented on that produces light. Since the entrance to the kingdom is pointed to where the sun rises—"

"It gathers energy during the day and lights up the closer to nightfall it becomes! Ingenious!" Luna pulled out a small notebook and started making notes. "Dad's going to love this."

Melissa looked around the forest in utter bewilderment. "I…I knew the kingdom lost a lot of land, but this is the entire Arcania Kingdom? This one tiny forest is the whole kingdom?!"

Jason sighed. "Yep."

"This is barely the size of a village! How have they stayed in power for so long?"

"The few remaining clans in power happen to be the strongest line of defense. It helps that the Arcania Kingdom's unfortunate reputation as tricksters makes anyone who does try to invade the forest superstitious."

Melissa rubbed her temples. "This is insane…"

"That's the harsh reality of war. Some places don't even recognize Arcania as a kingdom."

As they furthered their trek down the path, they heard a rustling among the leaves above their heads. Melissa and Luna stopped, reaching for their weapons, but relaxed when Jason stepped forward and crossed his arms.

"From the stars and heavens, the light of the Great One will be our savior."

Silence followed until the leaves rustled. Someone dropped down from the trees and landed in front of the fearless Pikachu. They rose to their feet, draped in a heavy cloak, and looked him in the eyes with a fierce green blaze pulsating from their own eyes.

"…Heh. There's a face I haven't seen in ages."

The figure pulled their hood back, revealing themselves to be a Thwackey. Melissa and Luna finally eased their guard and looked closer at the newcomer. She was a young grass monkey around their age with an athletic build. Under her cloak, they saw she was dressed only in a loincloth with a belt wrapped around her waist and a brown top wrapped around her chest. Her leafy hair, though partially tied back by a pair of stick, hung over the left side of her face like bangs. They noticed a branding on the back of her right hand: three teal-colored rings that resembled a wave pulsating out.

"Jason Stormbreaker."

"Zana Moonleaf."

Zana hooked her arm around Jason and laughed. "What the hell? You should've told us you were dropping by for a visit!"

Jason rolled his eyes and smirked, hooking his arm around the Thwackey. "Well, this was sort of a last-minute trip we planned. Besides, why not surprise you and the others?"

"Ha! With the way you fight, you're nothing but surprising!"

Melissa stared in bewilderment as the duo shared a laugh together. Hearing Jason actually laugh was strange. Not a cold chuckle or soft huff of air. He was…actually laughing.

These are weird times we're in.

Zana sighed and looked at the rest of the party. "So, who'd you drag along to our little slice of the world—"

Victoria popped up from behind Melissa. "Hi Zana!"

"GAH! TAKE COVER!" Zana leapt back, covering her ears and shivering. However, when nothing happened, she cracked one eye open and saw everyone's bewildered expressions. "Uh…I mean…" She cleared her throat and straightened up. "Victoria. It's you. Hi."

Victoria brushed off the grass ape's reaction and bounced over to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Aww, you do remember me! Oh, we had such great times together back when I was in basic training!"

"Oh yes, you were our most…dynamic recruit," Zana mumbled.

Victoria dropped the knight and giggled. "But you were so right! I learned so much with the Foresters! I'm so happy you recommended them to me several hundred times!"

Zana felt the sideways glances from Jason and the others as she awkwardly laughed it off. "Yeeeeeeeah. Your talents were…certainly being wasted here." She coughed into her fist before moving over to Luna. "And you are…?"

Luna bowed. "Luna Freia, knight of the Verde Kingdom and ally to the Foresters. A pleasure to meet you."

"Freia, huh? You wouldn't happen to be related to that one lord in Verde?"

"My father, Ceran Freia."

"Ah, that's right. That means your Noel's daughter." Zana snickered. "That woman was a nightmare on the battlefield from what I've been told. Try not to destroy anything while you're here."

Luna smirked. "My interests are mainly in the alchemical arts."

"Well, you've come to the right place for that." She finally set her eyes on Melissa. "And who's the cottontail here?"

Melissa glanced at Jason, who smiled and gave her the thumbs up. She sighed and took a deep breath. "Uh, to the rest of Virdis, I'm known as Skill Hunter Harlow. Though, to the people of the Verde Kingdom, I am actually Princess Melissa Penworth."

Zana's eyes widened. "The missing…" She glared at Jason. "Wasn't the princess rescued or something several months ago?"

Jason sighed. "It's a long story. We ask you keep this information to yourself until we settle business here."

"Business, eh?" Zana sighed before smirking at Melissa. "I don't know what a pampered brat like you is doing with the Foresters, but if Jason's willing to share your secret with me, I suppose I'll comply."

Melissa sighed in relief before smiling back. "Thank you, Ms. Zana."

"Oh, none of that crap. It's just Zana." She scratched her chin, looking the Buneary up and down. "Still, I'm surprised. You're the tenth most wanted creature in Virdis? Yeesh, what have you done?"

Melissa laughed awkwardly. "Kind of a long story, that one. But I've gotten a lot stronger thanks to Jason—"

"Her boyfriend~!" Victoria chirped in, instantly turning the couple's faces red.

Zana raised her brow. "Her what now?" She glanced between the Pikachu and Buneary in shock before snickering. "Wow. If you managed to pacify this cold-blooded lightning bolt, you must be tough."

She grinned sheepishly. "Uh, thanks."

Jason, after letting his face cool, cleared his throat and said, "Seriously, we're here on official business. Zana, we need to speak to King Kirby. Is he available?"

Zana scratched behind her head and groaned. "Vauquelin's the one watching him, so the old fart likely took his medicine already. Why do you need to speak with him, though?"

"It's better we talk with him before I explain what's going on."

She glared. "Does this have anything to do with what you guys did a couple months ago?"

"…Sort of."

She groaned. "Of course. Fine, I'll take you to the king."

He bowed. "Thank you." He adjusted his bag and continued his way down the path with the others in tow.

Zana lagged behind and caught Melissa's arm, pulling her to her side. "Seriously, how the heck did you convince him to date you?"

Melissa giggled nervously. "Near-death experiences, mostly."

"Yeah, that sounds about right." Zana looked aside. "By the way, uh…about Victoria—"

"I was the one who had to train her."

"I am so sorry."

"You get used to the ringing in your ears after a while."

"Believe me, I know." The girls giggled to themselves as they picked up the pace with the group.

"Newcomers, welcome to the last of the Arcania Kingdom: Midnight Village!"

Entering the heart of the forest, the group found themselves within a community hidden from the light of day with only the alchemical moss lanterns lighting the village in an array of colors. A village that existed across the ground and high in the trees, connected by rope ladders and bridges. Local businesses stood on the ground while the residential community took to the trees above, filled with wicker huts. The community itself was small, barely holding more than a hundred Pokémon by Melissa's count.

The Pokémon dressed primarily in robes, similar to the kimono that were worn in Great Gate, though the designs were far more fantastical, more closely resembling a mage's attire. Some Pokémon even had radically different appearances, such as a passing Crustle with a pyramid-like shell or a Goodra with a mane of water flowing from their neck. To newcomers like Melissa and Luna, they took immediate notice of how a select few Pokémon had unique brandings like that of Zana.

"Wow," they gasped.

Zana smirked. "Stick around a while and make yourselves at home. Since we've had to become independent these days, we've taken to providing for ourselves and perfecting our alchemy."

Victoria bounced over to Melissa's side and tugged her arm. "Oh, you're going to love it here, Master Harlow! I'll show you all the best sights around!"

Melissa grinned. "Sounds fun."

Luna took a step forward, letting herself get lost in the sights. She lifted her nose and took a big whiff of the air. "The scents here are incredible. There must be a myriad of plant species unfamiliar to the west here."

Zana chuckled. "You've got an alchemist's nose. I'll introduce you to some of our best later."

"Heeeeey, Z!"

The group looked up as a fiery streak flew over their heads before landing in front of them. Rising to her feet and posing dramatically was a young Braixen. She dressed in a witch's outfit, complete with a purple dress that went down to her knees, a black cape with a high collar, and a tall, purple conical hat. The tip of her hat was alight with a small flame. On her left cheek was the branding of a small fireball, a red circle surround in an orange flame.

The energetic Braixen bounced toward the group and grinned. "Heeeey, is that Victoria I see? Hey girlfriend!"

"Bella!" Victoria raced over and hugged the fox witch. "Oh my goodness, it's been ages!"

The witch hugged and spun the Azumarill around. "Oh, I missed you so much!" She let Victoria go and gasped. "And new faces!" She raced toward Luna and Melissa, grappling them in tight hugs. "Welcome to our humble abode, new friends!"

"Gah! Too tight!" Luna wheezed.

"I…see a light…!" Melissa gasped.

Zana swiftly chopped the fox on the head, causing her to drop the girls. "Knock that off, Bellatrix."

Bellatrix stuck her tongue out. "Sorry~!" She grinned and bounced over to Jason. "Jason, you're here, too!" She tried to hug him, but the Pikachu effortlessly kept her at bay with one hand.

He sighed. "Harlow, Luna, this is Bellatrix Bonheur, possibly one of the strongest fire wielders you'll ever meet…seconded by her father, at least."

She giggled. "Guilty!"

Melissa dusted herself off and smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Bellatrix. Thank you for that…surprising welcome."

"Of course! All great friendships need to start with love and kindness!" She pulled her wand-like stick from her tail, creating hearts and stars made from flame in the air that crackled like fireworks. "And it's my job to keep up the kingdom's morale!"

Zana sighed. "No one better for the job." She glared at Jason. "I think we've got sidetracked enough. Shall we get down to business?"

He nodded. "Lead the way."

Zana looked over at Bellatrix and said, "Bella, why don't you and Victoria give the girls a tour of the village while Jason and I speak with the king?"

Bellatrix saluted. "Right-o, Miss Bossy Pants!" She paused. "Or is it Miss Bossy No-Pants? Though, I suppose you wear a loincloth everywhere—"

Zana facepalmed. "We are not having this discussion again." She grabbed Jason's wrist and dragged him along while trying to hide her flushed face.

Bellatrix giggled, then glanced at the girls. "Oh, she's so much fun to tease~."

Melissa laughed awkwardly. "So, she's the only one who dresses like that?"

"Hmm. Well, most of the Moonleaf Clan dresses like that, I guess. Mostly so they don't get sensory overload."

"Sensory what now—"

"Anyway—" She pushed the girls along. "Let's take a tour!"

"…And over here is our local tea shop!" Bellatrix exclaimed, gesturing to the wooden hut with a tea kettle sign hanging above the door. "We have some of the most exotic teas in all of Virdis due to the plants that only grow in this area. So, it's something of a delicacy around here."

Melissa smiled. "Oooh, I do like tea."

"I drink about ten cups of our special Sunrise Tea each day! It's delicious!"

"Ooh, that does sound good!"

Victoria leaned over and whispered, "And it's basically a shot of coffee for each cup."

"…That explains why she has so much energy."

Luna tapped her chin. "Do you use any of the tea leaves for alchemical purposes?"

Bellatrix laughed. "Sure, we do! We use everything in the forest! Heck, my fur is used to make our explosives!" She plucked a few hairs off her cheek and rubbed them together, creating a spark. "That's what happens when you change your biochemistry through alchemy after so many years."

Melissa winced. "That sounds…wrong."

Luna shrugged. "It's part of Arcania's culture. They view alchemy as an extension of the soul, thus it's seen as perfectly normal…when done correctly, of course."

Bellatrix tapped Luna's nose. "You're one smart cookie, LuLu! I'll get us some drinks!" She kicked the door open and marched inside. "Joesph, four of your finest Sunrises, please!"

"Stop kicking my door open, Bellatrix! You're putting a dent in the wall again!"

The girls laughed awkwardly as they were about to enter. However, before they set foot inside, they heard a voice beckoning for their attention. They stopped and looked to a nearby stall a few spaces away from the tea shop, spotting an old Golduck with a cane, red robes, and a red fez sitting askew on his head. The left side of his face seemed warped with a scar cutting across his beak and over his eye.

"Young ladies, if I can have a moment of your time…!" the old duck greeted.

Melissa and Luna shared a look while Victoria seemed…weirdly exasperated. "Oh boy…"

"Closer, closer!" he exclaimed, gesturing them to the stall. "You! I can see it in your eyes! The adventurous types! Striving for greatness and possibilities, correct?"

Luna tilted her head. "…Eh?"

Melissa giggled. "Um, I suppose?"

"But no good adventurer can journey without this absolute necessity! It is a vital component to any successful trip across Virdis! You wouldn't know what to do with yourselves without this fine, one-of-a-kind piece of equipment!"

She clapped excitedly. "Oooh, one-of-a-kind? What is it?"

The old Golduck stepped back and reached for something hidden under a tarp. "Presenting…this!" He pulled the tarp away and gestured to the grand, amazing, spectacular—

Armchair.

It was an armchair.

"…Eh?" Melissa and Luna gasped.

"You're stunned with brilliance! I understand! You're asking yourselves how such a luxurious item could be afforded! Well, just for you, we're having a special discount! Half off! Only five hundred gol, and it's yours!"

Melissa blinked twice. "That is, uh…huh."

Luna grimaced. "Why is it so expensive in the first place?"

"I'm glad you asked! This chair was blessed by the gods with good fortune!"

"Uh huh…"

"Yes! They say the last person who sat in it…was struck dead by lightning—"

"HOW IS THAT GOOD FORTUNE?!" Melissa and Luna snapped.

"Well, I didn't say it was lucky for him. Someone found him and got five gol off his corpse. Pretty neat, huh?"

Melissa's eye twitched. "Uh…sure—WAH!" She and Luna suddenly recoiled as Bellatrix pulled on their hoods.

"Oh, would you look at the time?! Time for the next part of our tour!" She pushed the girls along with Victoria in tow. "Uh, please ignore that man!"

Luna frowned. "Who was that—"

"Crazy old hermit! Every town has one!"

Victoria laughed forcefully. "Uh, hey! Let's go see the potion shop next!"

"Great idea, Vicky!"

Melissa chuckled nervously. "Uh, okay."

Luna narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Oooookay…

"So, how has the whole seeking revenge against the Penworths thing working out for you?" Zana asked as she and Jason climbed up to the upper half of the village and walked across the connecting trees.

Jason sighed. "Yeah, that kind of…dissolved after a certain point."

"Did you guys really kidnap the princess?"

"Things sort of just happened and spiraled out of control."

"Pfft. Clearly."

"I tried to get rid of her, but…I don't know, she has this natural talent to get people to like her."

"It's called being a decent creature, Jason. You should try it some time. Might improve that resting scowl of yours."

He rolled his eyes. "Well, I haven't been scowling as much as before."

She smirked. "You had your moments when we used to hang out, but you definitely seem more relaxed these days. She's a good influence on you."

He smiled softly. "Yeah, I suppose."

"…" Zana narrowed her eyes. "How serious are you about this, though?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well, if she's really the princess, and if you two ever plan on making this a long-term thing…"

"…" He looked away.

"Does she ever plan to return to Verde and become queen?"

"Yes."

"So, where does that leave you?"

"…"

"I know you pretty well, Jason. Is there a future where I have to address you as Your Majesty?"

"…" He sighed. "It's complicated."

"You better not be leading her on—"

"I'm not! I just…" He groaned and scratched his head vigorously. "Look, I'm new to the whole relationship thing. Her status and my lifestyle do make things a bit…problematic."

"Look, I'm not exactly a relationship expert myself. I tried dating myself, and it didn't work out. I do believe there's the right person for everyone." She jabbed Jason's shoulder. "I just don't want you hurting that poor girl because you're being indecisive about a future."

He sighed. "It's nothing too serious right now. We just feel…comfortable with each other. Affectionate. Stuff like that. This is the first time I've really opened myself up to someone and didn't feel so…weak."

"…" Zana looked aside briefly. "I know that feeling."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing. Just…be mindful, alright?"

"I'll try, yeah—"

A flash of teal light appeared before the duo. From the light came a Magmar who hovered a few inches of the ground. He dressed in a gray sweater and gray trousers with large side pockets. He wore a large blue coat that flapped in an invisible wind and a long, teal stole that draped over his shoulders. The palms of his hands were branded with gray circles containing purple arrows: the right pointing outward and the left pointing toward his wrist.

He crossed his arms and glared down at Zana. "…"

"…" Zana glared back. "What happened?"

"Before you get mad at me—"

"Where is he, Vauquelin?"

He groaned. "I…may have lost the king."

Zana facepalmed. "For Xerneas' sake, you had one job!"

"He had to use the bathroom! I took my eyes off him for like a few minutes!"

"Why weren't you keeping an eye on him then?!"

"I'm not watching an old man drop his trousers as he takes a leak!"

"Weren't you supposed to give him his medication?"

Vauquelin pulled an empty vial from inside his jacket. "I did. He held it in his mouth for half an hour and spat it out when I left him alone."

Zana winced. "Uuuuugh, this sucks…"

Jason groaned. "So, where is he?"

Vauquelin glanced at the Pikachu. "Oh, Jason. You're here." He shook his head and sighed. "Thankfully, he doesn't wander too far out, so he should still be in the village."

"We better split up before he does something stupid," Zana said.

"I'll help look, too," Jason volunteered.

"Please and thank you." She and Jason leapt out of the trees while Vauquelin teleported away.

Bellatrix and Victoria led their group to the village potion shop, taking in the many wares sitting on the shelves. A myriad of different colored bottles stood before them, each giving off a warm glow that made the shop feel like the inside of a kaleidoscope.

Luna took a bottle off the shelf and read the label. "A potion to give Grass-Types' skin more luster." She placed the bottle back and traced her finger along the labels. "Better blood circulation for Fire-Types. Hair renewal formula. Poison-detection formula." She looked to the Kabutops manning the front counter. "You must have a potion for everything in here."

The old fossil laughed, blowing smoke from his pipe. "Everyone needs something, and I'm the man to provide, lass."

Bellatrix twirled around the shop and winked. "Mr. Daarkston is the head alchemist of Midnight Village. I sometimes volunteer when I'm off-guard duty. I get free drinks!"

Daarkson smirked, pulling a vial out from behind the counter. "Something I made during my travels to Unova years ago."

Melissa approached the counter curiously. "That's a drink?"

He pried the cork off with his sickle hand and pushed it toward her. It made a strange sizzling sound with bubbles rumbling on the surface. "Have a sip."

She took the concoction delicately and sipped it. Her eyes widened as something akin to tiny explosions went off across her tongue followed by a strong sweetness. "W-Whoa!"

"They're a handful to make, but I make them for the youngsters to cheer them up. That one's lemon flavored."

"It's really good!" She gulped down the rest of the bottle.

Bellatrix whined. "Aww, I wanted one!"

Daarkston rolled his eyes. "I'll give you some tomorrow, lass. Don't be greedy."

Victoria prodded at the potion shelves, gathering a select few into a basket. "I could use some of these. My fur is going to look so…uh…" She found a bottle containing a familiar pink liquid, casting a wary glance at Melissa. "Just…going to put this one back."

Melissa noticed the Azumarill's behavior and walked over to investigate the bottle. Her blood turned cold as she read the label: love potion. "Uhhhhh…"

Daarkston smirked. "That one catch your fancy? Couples traditionally drink those whenever we throw festivals. Nowadays, it's mostly used to lighten up an evening."

"Heh…is that right?" She gently placed the bottle back on the shelf.

Luna frowned. "Uh, you'll have to forgive her, Mr. Daarkston. She has a bad history with love potions."

Daarkston raised his brow. "How come? They're perfectly harmless as long as…oh!" He groaned in realization. "Oh lass, please don't tell me you drank that under the effects of Attract."

"…" Melissa looked away.

"Yeeeeeah, we have a strict policy above combining love potions with Attract. Back when they were first made, whenever someone abused them, we would have them arrested. Younglings are taught early on to drink those responsibly before they're of age."

"I…see." She rubbed her arm, glancing at the bottle again. "I always saw them as vile concoctions. I didn't think they had so a positive reception in Arcania."

"Alchemy is everything to us. It's part of our culture, thus we must respect what we create from nature. Even medicine can be used as a poison."

"…" She sighed, giving the alchemist a weak smile. "Right."

The Kabutops smirked. "If you're interested, I have some potions more worth your attention. I have one that should soften up your fur or improve eyesight."

"I do like feeling soft and cuddly~." She giggled, forgetting the love potion, and approached the counter. "Alright, show me what you got—"

RING, RING!

The entrance bell rang at the arrival of a customer. However, much to Melissa and Luna's surprise, it was the Golduck salesman from early, easily distinguished by his gruesome scar. However, he was now wearing an eyepatch over his scarred side and carrying his cane like a sheathed sword.

"Alchemist!" the salesman exclaimed, slamming his hand down on the counter. Even his voice sounded different. No longer speaking like an eccentric old man, he spoke with a heavy accent akin to those found in the Galar region. "I require your finest poisons for my hunt!"

Melissa and Luna looked around, noticing the disgruntled looks coming from Bellatrix, Victoria, and especially Mr. Daarkston. The old Kabutops was hardly fazed by the strange man, more irritated than anything.

"For the hundredth time, I don't sell poisons," Daarkston explained slowly. "Now, I think it would be best if you step out of my shop and take a walk—"

"I will not be impeded on my quest, good sir!" the Golduck exclaimed. "I have concocted the perfect scheme to finally capture and kill King Mortimer Kirby!"

Melissa and Luna's eyes widened. He's here to do what?!

And yet again, Bellatrix and Victoria reacted with nothing more than annoyance and mild embarrassment. Were they not listening to the same thing they were?!

Daarkston took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the counter, gently pushing the Golduck to the entrance. "Look, I'm going to be taking my lunch break in a moment. Why don't you take a walk and we'll discuss this afterwards? Okay?"

"Hmmm…very well!" The Golduck stopped and pointed his cane around the store, addressing its patrons. "But be warned! All of you! Mortimer Kirby is a most elusive man! I've been hunting him down for years in this village, and I will not be denied my quarry! He will meet his end soon enough!" With that, with a flick of his robe, he exited the shop.

Melissa and Luna watched him leave in utter bewilderment, then looked back at the others as they just…went on with their day like nothing happened. Bellatrix and Daarkston were even talking about the former's schedule for the week.

"Is…Is this just a joke I'm missing?" Melissa mumbled.

"I don't know…" Luna glared over her shoulder. Though, now I'm curious. She nudged Melissa and whispered, "I'm going to follow him. You just continue touring the village."

"You sure that's a good idea?"

"I'll be fine. Just want to see what's that guy's deal around here." She pulled the door open and let herself outside.

Melissa sighed and dragged herself over to the counter. Is it wrong of me to think everyone in this village seems slightly unhinged?

"…And this is where we tend to the gardens," Bellatrix said, showing Melissa the clearing outside the village perimeter. A plethora of fields with a variety of plants and foliage stood proudly before them with a patch of sunlight made within the trees to give the plants their much-needed sunlight.

Melissa approached the garden, guiding her hand along the leaves and bushes in awe. "Beautiful…"

Victoria grinned. "There's all kinds of plants and stuff you won't find anywhere else. Some of these plants were even created through experimentation, so they're one of a kind!"

"Incredible." Melissa glanced back at Bellatrix. "Imagine the good you could do across Virdis with this kind of knowledge. It's a shame your kingdom had to retreat so deep into seclusion."

Bellatrix shrugged. "Eh. Guess everyone was jealous of how awesome we were." She winked. "Ah, but don't look at us with such pitiful eyes. We're getting by just fine!"

Melissa smiled. "Yes, indeed." She walked deeper into the garden, taking in the wonderful aromas and colors.

The more she got to explore outside the Verde Kingdom, the more she came to appreciate the people that made up Virdis' ten territories. Divided they may be, each kingdom seemed to bring a little something different that made it special, even if she didn't have the highest praise for the Wick Kingdom. Imagining how strong Virdis would become if all kingdoms worked together in harmony.

Thinking back to how small Arcania looked from the sky, it saddened her to think so much suffering was brought upon the east. Compared to the west with its tense relations over the years, the east seemed like a hostile area to live in. The worst the west had to offer was the Outlands, an area she dared not imagine the life of for the average resident.

She wondered if there was a way to help the Arcania Kingdom should negotiations go smoothly. Some of Umbra Clock's territory had to have been Arcania's at some point. Would it be wrong not to spare some of their land to help revitalize the devastated kingdom? Then again, even if introduced with more land, the entirety of Arcania's culture was this one village. There wasn't much left of the old Arcania Kingdom, not enough to say things would go back to normal.

Her mind wandered back to New Chariot for a moment, thinking about how badly they left Telo Martius and the rest of the empire with the death of Nero. The Umbra Forest Alliance agreed to use the devastation as a way to persuade Lord Martius into an alliance as he seemed the more agreeable of the Martius family. However, even with the methods they first employed, Melissa felt sick to her stomach. They flooded an entire city, brought a war to their doorstep, and ended up leaving their emperor for death even if by unforeseen circumstances.

It all just felt…malicious.

In war, you had to do things that felt cruel to get results. War wasn't fair, but…was peace itself truly fair? One man's peace can be another man's war. New Chariot lived in peace while the rest of the region was left at war. An endless cycle of suffering to stay on top.

How do you break a cycle that has lasted since the days of savages?

Before Melissa could dwell deeper on her inner turmoil, she ended up bumping into someone and falling back on her rear. "Oof…" She shook her head and looked up at the tall Pokémon in front of her. "Um, sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."

The figure audibly sighed and rose for a kneeling stance. A long, slender tail slithered out from under their cloak, grabbing the Buneary's arm and pulling her to her feet. The tail pulled away and picked up a basket of leaves and unusual fruits.

"Try and be more careful," they said, a voice belonging to a stoic, mature woman.

Melissa dusted herself off and smiled. "Right, of course. Sorry about—" Her eyes widened as she finally looked up, gazing upon the woman in awe.

In the sunlight peering through the trees, Melissa got a good view of the woman, who was an illustrious Salazzle dressed in fine purple robes. She held herself up with grace and renown, effortlessly balancing her basket with just her tail. The sleeves of her robe swayed emptily at her sides. As Melissa focused on her face, she noticed the aged dark circles under them. However, her right eye had a touch more color. Her eyelid was colored in purple, and a trail of fire waved behind it. In the brief moment she saw the lizard close her eyes, the brand depicted a swirling ball of smoke surrounded in fire.

"I, uh…"

"…" The Salazzle sighed and walked around the Buneary. "If you'll excuse me…"

Melissa watched her walk toward the garden entrance, conflicted. There's no way…is that perhaps…?

"Um, excuse me?"

The Salazzle stopped, peeking tiredly over her shoulder. "Yes?"

"Um…" Melissa tapped her fingers together awkwardly. "I'm terribly sorry if I'm just assuming things, but would you happen to know anyone named Basil?"

The Salazzle's eyes widened. "B…Basil?"

"Y-Yeah. Basil Dawnblite."

"…" The Salazzle turned around and approached Melissa, her stoic expression fading ever so slightly. "Who are you?"

Melissa gulped. "I'm…a friend of Basil's. I'm Skill Hunter Harlow."

"…" The woman closed her eyes and sighed. "A friend of Basil's…"

"Are you his…?"

"…" She narrowed her eyes sadly and nodded. "I'm Basil's mother. Wisteria Dawnblite."

Luna only took her eyes off the bounty hunter for a second, and he somehow managed to give her the slip. She walked up and down the village, searching the trees and ground, for the Golduck. For someone who has been hunting the king for supposedly years and failing to find him in a tiny village, he was remarkably elusive.

Luna scratched her chin. Strange. The way Bellatrix and Victoria reacted, this seems to happen on a regular basis. Why would they be so casual about someone aiming to assassinate their king? Something weird is going on around here.

She peered down from the trees again, scanning out the grounds for the bounty hunter. As she looked around, her eye caught sight of Mr. Daarkston's shop, and she noticed him hanging out in the back.

"Hmm…?"

She craned her neck around to get a better look, squinting as the old Kabutops was handing off a small crate to three cloaked figures. They weren't doing anything in secret either, standing out in plain view of passing Arcanian's, yet Daarkston still seemed to be checking over his shoulder before shooing the men off.

"What the…?"

"Come one, come all!"

Before she could ponder a new mystery, her attention immediately shot the extravagant announcement, spotting the Golduck trying to sell a broken barstool to passing Arcanians, all of which doing their best to ignore him. She glared, unraveling her Vine Whip.

"Folks, this is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve greatness! What I have in my possession could change your life forev—AAHH!" Luna's vines snapped down, binding the old duck's limbs together, and pulled him to the upper level of the village.

Luna held him to eye level, clutching his robe. "Alright, what's your angle? Why are you after the king?"

The Golduck huffed. "My mission is my own. I was hired to assassinate King Kirby, and I shall do so without having my mission impeded."

"Why has everyone around the village been ignoring you? What's going on?"

"What you should be asking, young lady…is why you don't have this amazing barstool in your life!" Still gripping to the broken piece of furniture, he raised it to her to the best of his ability. "Let me tell you, you haven't lived until you've—"

"Quit messing with me, old man!" Luna snapped, twisting his collar. "What's your game here—"

"Luna! Let him go!" The Snivy yelped as Jason suddenly grabbed her from behind, throwing her onto the bridge and pulling the Golduck loose from her vines. He gently sat the Golduck down and sighed. "Good grief…"

Luna sat up in bewilderment. "J-Jason?!"

Zana and Vauquelin teleported onto the bridge, the latter floating over to the Golduck's side. "For Xerneas' sake, don't run off like that!"

The Golduck coughed as the Magmar lifted him to his feet. "Ah. Young Vauquelin. Is it time for my dinner yet?"

Zana facepalmed. "Good grief…"

Luna looked at everyone in utter bewilderment. "I…I…what the heck is going on?! Who is this guy?!"

"…" Jason sighed, pinching between his eyes. "I was hoping you and Harlow didn't find out like this."

"Find out what?"

"…" Jason huffed and gestured to the shambling old duck. "Luna, I would like to introduce you to the king of the Arcania Kingdom: King Mortimer Kirby."

The Golduck smiled. "Greetings, young lady."

Luna blinked once. Then twice. Then thrice. Then her jaw dropped.

"…Huh? Huh? HUUUUUUUH?!"