Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Altered Bonds
Chapter 10 — Mind Correction
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“Hurry up, you two!” Sky Forme Shaymin called out, her words diluted within the waves of chattering Pokemon in Berrypark Town’s marketplace.
Togetic floated a little behind the excited Mythical. Like we can just float over, thought Lucario, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as he weaved through the flowing crowd, Vulpix hurrying to follow the path he forged. The jackal’s gaze swept around on occasion, checking for signs of Kecleon.
Or Ariados. Well, there was also Mismagius, but she wasn’t important right now.
That spider had upended so many things by her sheer presence yesterday. Again and again, his head cycled over what had happened, how it happened, and how he could’ve stopped it — and again and again, he was forced to admit nothing would have changed the outcome. Teleportation made her appearance too sudden to detect, he grumbled to himself. It’s a darn miracle she’s no longer interested in attacking Vulpix.
He couldn’t understand it. The irrational fear that once consumed Ariados’s aura had all but vanished, replaced by a more careful, ambivalent attitude. She still saw Vulpix as a threat, and yet she wished to talk things out with them. Why the sudden change?
All he understood was that she had found them — in hindsight, staying anywhere near her home was idiotic. Should’ve ran off when we had the chance, he thought. Now I’ve put Vulpix in a bind.
Aurasense quietly flared inside the folds of his clenched fist, Lucario bracing as he filtered out the roar of foreign emotions that bombarded him. He sidestepped a Nidoking before mentally prodding the kid, a feeling of questioning to go with it, along with a throbbing sensation that pulsed at the crux of oneself. Eira the Vulpix gave no outward reaction, but his aurasense picked up her response — a vague discomfort that made her soul uneasy. A shallow sense of wrong that wriggled from deep within.
She had told him about this yesterday. Right after Ariados left, she sensed something off within her. It’d been negligible back then.
To a degree, it still was. But it was still notably worse.
He could sense it within her aura this time, now that he thought of it, Lucario shuddering at the silent touch of unraveling void. That was Ariados’s fault, wasn’t it? Perhaps a way to keep them on a leash, forcing them to have to talk with her?
“It’s starting to scare me,” Vulpix whispered in his direction.
Gah, Ariados having total leverage over them was a nightmare. Lucario assuaged her fears, showing off a confidence he didn’t even remotely feel. Their situation had gotten out of hand. What was he supposed to do this time?
The moment Vulpix looked away, he allowed himself to indulge in a moment of weakness. Playing guardian was hard — unfitting for a mere Pokemon like him. Adam, he moaned, I don’t know what I’m doing.
The image of a roguish-looking boy with dark skin flashed before him, his smile declaring that there wasn’t a problem he couldn’t adapt to. What would you do? thought Lucario.
Shaymin zipped over at that moment, blurring through the image and getting a little too close to his snout. “Sheesh, you two are slow,” she said, positioning herself to look away from a gawking Smeargle and Skitty. “Could you not get lost in the clouds for a sec? Time’s a wastin’, and besides, I’ve got out-of-town folk staring and it’s bothering me.”
An inward sigh left Lucario — he’d have time to fret later. Whatever Ariados wanted, he’d find out.
He and Vulpix soon were out of the crowd, and together with Togetic and Shaymin, they proceeded toward the hilltop where the Dungeon Board resided. Klinklang gave the group a once-over at the lobby, and the scent of flowers wafted through the garden hall, the pitter-patter of the water fountain giving ambience to the currently empty room. Calming for Lucario’s nerves.
“So this’ll be great,” Shaymin cheered as she practically led the group into the room of bulletin boards depicting missions. “Me and Togetic were itching to get a job or two done with you guys.”
Togetic nodded. “We’ll make it a good experience, yes? We might get somewhere with your Extrasensory too, Vulpix.”
Vulpix nodded with anticipation, her and Lucario hanging back as Togetic and Shaymin shifted over to the ‘Local Tasks’ bulletin board and combed through the tasks. “Tallgrass Meadow could be ideal,” the angelic considered, “but that might be too easy for you both.”
“There’s two tasks for Blunder Field,” Shaymin suggested. “Should be manageable between the four of us—”
“But the terrain’s too shifty there and they could get trapped in crevasses. Not to mention the number of Pokespawn there who’ll steal your items or afflict you with bad status conditions. Perhaps they’ve had enough of thieves for a while?”
Nope, definitely didn’t want a repeat of anyone taking away the wristband. Lucario pursed his lips while Vulpix made a noise of disagreement. “Heard ya,” said Shaymin, turning to give them her full attention. “Oh yeah, and we definitely can’t do Stringed Forest.”
“Right, Gabite told us yesterday about Ariados.” Togetic turned too, a disturbed look of pity turning her features bitter. “That must’ve been awful for you two. Vulpix, sweetie, please know you’ll have nothing to fear so long as you’re with us.”
“What she said, we’ve got your back! Nobody’s gonna bother you guys.”
Lucario and Vulpix eyed each other, shaky smiles slashing through their faces. They’d been waiting to bring that topic up, huh? How unfortunate it was that they couldn’t rely on Team Heavendust’s support against Ariados.
As much as they could use the help, fear of any resulting complications made Lucario averse to the thought. Still, a kind gesture wasn’t to be ignored. “We appreciate it,” said Lucario.
“What Lucario said,” Vulpix added quietly.
Togetic acknowledged their words back. “Say, what about Mud Passage?” offered Shaymin, swerving back to the bulletin board. “Cramped and smelly, but filled with Ground and Dragon-types. You bothered by Ground Pokespawn, Lucario?”
A dungeon where Vulpix’s Ice-typing works to her advantage. Lucario approved, and seeing his quick reply, Vulpix nodded too. He could stomach a few super effective moves for her sake.
Togetic agreed as well. “Sounds perfect for our little lesson on Extrasensory,” she said, scanning the board for tasks in the appropriate Mystery Dungeon.
Her eyes went hazy for a moment.
Shaymin yelped as Togetic yanked on her winglike ear, pulling the Mythical over and pointing at a particular task. They both squinted at the text, and a frown overcame Lucario as the two whispered to one another.
“Crud, just our luck. Guys?” Shaymin pulled back, letting him and a worried Vulpix read the task. It made him twitch to see a familiar word on this mission — Abhorrent.
ABHORRENT HIDING IN MUD PASSAGE
Report from Mudstream Village — an Abhorrent Jumpluff was spotted, spooked by antsy villagers on patrol and fleeing into the Mud Passage dungeon. Confirmed feral, and while not aggressive, will attack if provoked. Jumpluff is tannish-red in color with cotton puffs that emit combustible spores. Relationship with mystery skeleton Abhorrent unknown. Explorers are called to capture the Abhorrent with caution and hand him over for the authorities to deal with.
Client: Mudstream Chief Tangela
Goal: Subdue Abhorrent Jumpluff.
Location: Mud Passage dungeon
Danger: B Rank
Reward: 3600 Poke
“Oh boy,” said Lucario, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Vulpix stared on, tails tying themselves into a crisscross of knots.
“Yeah, that’s awkward.” Shaymin shook her head, her gaze hardened. “It’s bad enough that skeletal mutant’s still running amok. Does this mean the Jumpluff’s a victim?”
“I pray not.” Togetic bit her lip as she reread the paper. “I understand you two know about Abhorrents, right? We might be obliged to do this mission.”
Lucario could only imagine the livid reaction Gabite must’ve had when he came to the Dungeon Board ahead of them and saw this. A feral Abhorrent, how sickening. Was Aerodactyl responsible for this? He wasn’t sure how he felt about this task.
Togetic noticed his discomfort, taking in a deep breath. “If you’re worried, this task seems safe enough,” she stated. “No chance of mutation here. A type disadvantage overall if Jumpluff’s part Fire-type, but there’s not much risk if it’s only one of the calmer ferals.”
“Eh, I can handle a little fire. Abhorrent won’t know what hit it,” declared Shaymin, before donning a more serious look. “But hey, your call, Lucario. You and Vulpix okay with handling this Jumpluff? We shouldn’t leave that thing running wild.”
Knowing it was safe for them was only one of Lucario’s concerns. Mudstream Village was the same place where Aerodactyl showed his face, taking interest in the local dungeon. Why? Maybe there was something there that’d offer a clue about his intentions, or maybe his whereabouts too.
Which, as badly as he wanted to know, Togetic and Shaymin would also be curious for their own reasons. They wouldn’t use this as an excuse to follow his trail, right? he thought.
It impressed him that Togetic deduced his train of thought. “We’re not chasing the skeletal Abhorrent, of course, that’s too dangerous,” she stated, before reading Vulpix’s conflicted expression. “And sweetie, we’re not going to hurt Jumpluff if we can. What we do is send ferals like it to a special preserve, to be tamed and live peacefully on their own. Hopefully to cure them all, someday.”
That eliminated another of Lucario’s concerns. “Ah,” Vulpix whispered, before facing Lucario. “That should be fine, I guess?”
Just one thing kept Lucario hesitant now — paranoia. Weavile had seemed like an innocent mission itself, yet it managed to blow itself out of proportion. What if it happened again? What if their encounter with Jumpluff led to something bigger, something that put Vulpix at risk?
But he knew he was being a worrywart. Beyond Ariados, there was only so much that could trouble them. Weavile’s team threw him off because he hadn’t considered such a scenario.
He just needed to take precautions against the worst possible outcomes. “So long as we keep it safe,” he told Togetic.
The angelic nodded. “No worries!” said Shaymin. “You’re in good paws.”
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The road to Mud Passage meant the group ended up passing by Mudstream Village. A cozy and earthly place, Vulpix considered, what with its structures of brick mud and clay that mingled with the forest trees. Hardened paths of dirt intersected the town, and the distant lullaby of a river could be heard from the north side if one strained their ears.
In crossing the area, they ended up with a temporary companion. The Tangela chief, to be precise.
“It’s ho*rid, I tell you!” said the living bush of vines, steering the group toward a well-trod pathway that brought them south from the village and toward the neighboring dungeon. “Ever since that skeletal freak showed up, it’s gotten everyone riled up, and now there’s another! Another! What’ll it take for our home to go back to normal?”
Vulpix couldn’t help but notice the stiffness Lucario and Shaymin showed around the wound-up Pokemon. He seemed a little… much.
Togetic patiently listened to Tangela as he kept going. “I can’t begin to thank you enough for your t*mel*ness. Bless our souls that it’s only an unknown feral — probably drifted in from who knows where. Not to deme*n the poor thing, but it’d be far worse had it been one of us. A true trav*sty that would be, a true nightmare I say!”
An Abhorrent Jumpluff feral. That was the reason they were here. Did she like the idea of having to capture him? No, but if it led to Jumpluff being put somewhere safe from fearful Pokemon, she could work with that.
More worrying at the moment was the sense of wrongness quivering within her spirit. It was slowly worsening, the silent itch making Vulpix shudder. What exactly caused it? Ariados was a likely possibility — maybe something to do with the glowing eyes.
Whatever it was, she was getting apprehensive of this bizarre feeling that shouldn’t be there. At least I can ignore it, she thought.
For now.
The entrance to Mud Passage soon revealed itself, a slanted cavern jutting out from a large forested hill. A sign warning travelers of the dungeon stood on standby, beside the cave. “We chased the Jumpluff in there, as you know,” huffed Tangela. “He’s been hiding there since. You can dispatch him for us, can’t you? The hardiest of my villagers can traverse the dungeon without fearing the St*nfi*k or even the D*ud*igon lurking inside, but—”
“Abhorrents get on their nerves,” Togetic finished, adjusting her Treasure Bag. “We’ll handle it, no worries.”
Tangela nodded, muttering a few words of thanks. Shaymin and Lucario relaxed as he ran off, the latter raising a brow at Togetic. The angelic simply ushered them onward.
By now Vulpix felt used to that strange tingle that shocked her form whenever she entered a dungeon, as was the experience of suddenly being transported to some otherworldly location. The inside of Mud Passage revealed itself as an underground network of tunnels made of brown, rocky earth, dim lanterns interspaced at intervals.
The stench smashed against her nostrils without warning, making Vulpix gag. She frowned at the muddy puddles littering the area, then leapt back as dust, mud, and grime spurted out from a peephole — or a geyser? — bulging out of the stone.
Her tails brushed against Shaymin, Vulpix twirling to meet her smirk. “So?” she asked.
Lucario wrinkled his snout, grimacing at the ickiness of this place. “It’s awful,” he muttered.
Very awful. My fur’s gonna be a mess, Vulpix lamented to herself.
Even the Pokespawn contributed to the mud madness. No sooner did Togetic lead their party, a Kantonian Diglett showed its face, tossing mud around with its mole head. Then a blue Shellos and an orange, large-mouthed Trapinch, spitting out mud.
The Stunfisk were the worst — brown flatfish camouflaged within the mud that fired volts of electricity whenever someone came too close. Vulpix scrambled back when one opened its eyes to blink at her, sparks buzzing over its body, before Togetic fired off a swirling triad of beams its way.
Lucario impulsively fired an Aura Sphere to add to her Tri-Attack, Stunfisk bursting into wisps on impact. “There’s seven of these floors,” stated the angelic. “Lucario, I’ll need you checking each with your aura for Jumpluff. You and Shaymin will also watch for the geys*rs and Pokespawn.”
Shaymin nodded. “Done,” said Lucario, the caves briefly illuminated in the blue light of his eyes as he made a quick check.
Togetic took note of him shaking his head, before turning to Vulpix. “And you, sweetie?”
Here was what kept her spirits high, in spite of the mission and the dungeon it took place in. “Extrasensory?” she asked with anticipation.
A ladylike chuckle. “Extrasensory.”
Shaymin and Lucario flanked the twosome as they traversed the tunnels. Pokespawn ranging from Trapinch to Diglett popped out from the shadows, where the lantern light didn’t shine enough, only to be sent back as Aura Spheres and Energy Balls barraged them. Vulpix pitched in with an occasional Powder Snow, but otherwise, her rapt attention was on Togetic.
The angelic’s forehead would glow at various intervals, before unleashing Extrasensory’s explosive power on the Pokespawn unfortunate enough to evade Lucario and Shaymin’s onslaught. “Psychic moves are about focus and absolute will — an intent from deep inside your head. You imagine a power fueled by your mind, then command it to spill into reality, if you will,” she explained. “Your spirit should do the rest.”
That sounded vague. An awkward moment passed as Vulpix tried to find her words — it would be a first for her to hold a full conversation in Vulpix-speak. “I, uh, don’t know if that helps.”
Togetic smiled, as if finding bliss in her quiet voice. “Just giving you something to think about,” she said. “I know I’ve seen you create the move before. You know how you did it then?”
She had done it before, true. On all those occasions, stress had forced the move to surface, but there was the time when she tried using Disable to jumpstart it. She got close then, her forehead glowing up and all, but she wasn’t able to maintain it long enough to fire the attack.
It was a good thing she had acquired enough words to say as much to Togetic. “Stress?” she said after being told, brows furrowing. “From Ariados?”
Vulpix’s lips twisted at the remainder of that dreadful spider, her gaze running toward the stairway Shaymin and Lucario were leading them toward. Er, sort of? Mostly?
“Sorry, I shouldn’t ask.” Togetic escorted her into the stairs, her tender smile lingering well after the entrance sealed itself and left them in momentary darkness. “But anyway, that won’t do. Wild emotions cause wild Psychic-type powers, often without one’s input.”
Vulpix pursed her lips as the exit opened up, allowing the group to enter the next floor. That explained a lot, actually. If something addled her mind, it could make her Extrasensory go out of control. Like a primal instinct, or a fight or flight reaction.
“Oh, and Disable. That’s not a Psychic move, sweetie.”
It wasn’t? Vulpix gaped, eyeing Lucario for confirmation. Her guardian’s aura gaze swept around the cave, confirming Jumpluff wasn’t here, before throwing her an amused look — one that silently said, did you not know this?
She always assumed it had been, seeing how she used Extrasensory to first form Disable. Yet again, however, Togetic had an explanation. “It’s like the difference between shaking a paw and walking with it,” she pointed out. “Extrasensory does share a supernatural element with Disable and a need for focus, but it takes much more to create Extrasensory.”
Meaning Disable was simpler than Extrasensory. “I’m guessing you haven’t figured out Psychic energy then,” Togetic stated, wearing the pleased smile of someone who had found their way past a great obstacle. “We’ll fix that.”
Thus began the instructing process. First Togetic asked her to call upon her Disable, then shift it toward her head, just as she did before. Satisfied when the resulting pink glow gave a brief tint to the cavern walls before blinking out, Togetic then got to the hard part: creating the other aspects of the move.
“Start by, uh, pushing energy out of my mind?” Vulpix repeated.
Togetic nodded before whirling around, firing a pulse of Extrasensory at a large patch of mud. Lucario and Shaymin jerked as a sparking Stunfisk flew out of the displaced mud puddle, the duo hastily throwing their ranged attacks to knock it out.
“You nearly walked into that one,” Togetic called out, before returning to Vulpix. “It’s no different than drawing from the cold element within you for Ice-type moves. I know, it’s the hardest part when using a type you’re unfamiliar with. If it helps, it should feel like an extension of yourself — like a muscle you never knew you had.”
Vulpix’s six tails straightened at the thought of it, her ears flexing in contemplation. “I could do that,” she said.
She immersed herself in the frigid touch of her inner cold before trying to do the same with her mental power, feeling for some phantom limb she could use. Focus and will, right? That was what Togetic said Psychic moves were based on.
It was mind-wracking — pun intended in every way — trying to find what she wanted. Floors went by as Vulpix searched for the elusive trigger, something that would compel her spirit to offer the energy she sought. How exactly had she been drawing out her stress-powered Extrasensory attacks?
The ordeal soon exhausted her. Her devotion flagging, Vulpix massaged her lost, pounding forehead, just in time to overhear an ongoing conversation between Lucario and Shaymin. “It’s not anything unique, really,” her guardian said.
“Of course aura is!” Shaymin replied, casually flicking an Air Slash to take out a Dugtrio. “Like it’s got it all! X-ray vision, emotion-sensing, mind-reading—”
“And? That’s a general set of powers,” Lucario countered. “Besides, your and Togetic’s abilities to sense gratitude and purity aren’t that different from aura, just more speci*liz*d in their usage.”
Togetic perked her head at this. “In a way,” Shaymin admitted. “But I still think you’re dow*pl*ying how awesome your species is. I know I’ve got a flying form, but you’ve got yourself a Mega Evolution! If anything, it’d be nice if my gratitude sense was better at mind-reading — being only able to sense what somebody’s being thankful for is kinda limiting.”
Vulpix and Lucario batted eyes. A plume of dust erupted somewhere in the distance.
She could what?
“Er,” said Shaymin, fidgeting at their expressions. “Did I not make that clear on day one? I, uh, sense gratitude and the emotions and thoughts behind it.”
Meaning they had to be careful with thoughts of thankfulness. I never gave away anything to her, did I? worried Vulpix, a worn-out sigh leaving her maw. Lucario’s reaction was more expressive, Shaymin withering under his unamused stare.
It was either out of mercy, curiosity, or a mix of both that made Togetic divert Lucario’s attention to her. “It’s interesting you say that aura and purity sensing are similar,” she said, eyes glowing pink. “Even the way I use my power matches yours.”
Her gaze turned and lingered on Vulpix. “Maybe it’s aura I’m seeing when I do this,” she wondered, the flicker of a confused frown morphing into an earnest smile. “Your little one has a brilliant heart, you know that? Her purity is clear as day, but if I look hard enough, I feel like I can sense her res*rved, lovable nature — she’s the kind of person my species can’t help but spread happiness to.”
Such flattering words left Vulpix’s cheeks burning with cozy warmth. Under that context, Togetic’s treatment toward her showed itself in a new light. But no, she couldn’t be that good of a person, that was—!
Ridiculous or not, it gave her newfound energy. She’d been ready to take a break, but now the desire burned anew. Her headache was swiftly forgotten in her zeal.
Togetic’s lessons would prove fruitful, here and now.
Once more with feeling, Vulpix searched for her mental focus. She pushed, she pulled, she pressed against her mind for it — and then stopped.
Realized.
Allowed herself to let go, and instead of chasing after the energy, as she’d done so many times before, calmly bade her will to summon it to her. To let her thoughts drift toward her instead, and shape themselves into something greater.
Something clicked, and she felt it, the pulse of something rising from her soul and charging her mind. She let her intent guide its flow, the power reverberating through her forehead.
The slightest of pink glows manifested.
Her happiness was unparalleled. So that was it! It still didn’t make full sense to her, but all this time she’d been trying too hard to force out the energy, trying to replicate what her stress did! Rather, she needed to find her zen — a calm focal point in her mindscape to draw the psychic power toward herself.
Triumphant, Vulpix immediately launched her first successful Extrasensory, letting it fly free.
Her lips fell to the ground at the pathetic, tiny waves of pink that dispersed after a few feet.
The dramatic shift in her emotions made Lucario snort. “Well, you got her somewhere,” he told Togetic. “Stairs ahead by the way. Watch the geyser on the right.”
Shaymin offered an impressed grin as the team sidestepped the plume of dirt spitting out from the ground. “You got ahead of yourself, sweetie,” Togetic assured Vulpix with a kindly wink. “See, you did it! That’s your Psychic power right there, but that’s only the hard part done. Now you need to charge up and shape your energy, so you can create a proper Extrasensory.”
Ah, she launched her attack prematurely. Vulpix put on an awkward smile as the group went down the next set of stairs. “I-I didn’t realize,” she replied.
“Hey, progress is progress,” said Shaymin, floating beside her. “Gotta be proud of that.”
Vulpix nodded as the brief darkness of transitioning between floors settled in, the flying duo at her side. She’d gotten a lot more comfortable with these two, huh? Maybe too comfortable, she considered.
Lucario wore a deep-seated smile as the next floor opened up, before his aura-infused eyes locked on something. “Jumpluff’s here,” he barked.
Everyone went on high alert. Further training would have to wait — the main event had begun.
The tunnels twisted and zigzagged in meandering fashion, but soon enough they found their target. A mid-sized room opened up before them, geysers hacking out wet mud at the sides. In the center of it all floated a reddish spherical Pokemon with two arms and a hair of fluffy cotton balls, the Abhorrent Jumpluff idly watching two Dugtrio below him bump their heads together in confusion. The Pokespawn seemed unable to attack him.
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Lucario’s glowing eyes widened by an uncomfortable amount, Vulpix noticed, as they stared down the Abhorrent. She got no chance to ask about it though as Jumpluff stiffened, sensing their gazes and turning over.
A Zubat-like shriek left his mouth as he bounced onto one of the Dugtrio, leaping away with great agility. “Yep, not hostile,” said Shaymin.
Her guardian frowned. Hard. “Chase him?” he said with a stony voice.
Togetic gave a firm nod. “Chase him.”
In a flash they were off, Vulpix scrambling after the group. The Dugtrio were swept aside as Lucario and Shaymin dashed ahead, while Togetic caught on to her struggle to keep pace. She said something to Lucario, who gazed at Vulpix with hesitance before nodding.
“They’ll go ahead,” Togetic told her as she pulled back. “Just the two of us, Vulpix?”
Sounded like she was spending more time with her. Vulpix eyed Lucario once, who sent a wave of warm, secure emotions before running after Shaymin. “Sure,” she told Togetic.
Being separated from her guardian Pokemon was out of her comfort zone, but it was hard to feel nervous around the kind angelic. “I’ll have to thank Lucario later for that talk about aura,” she said as her eyes glowed pink. “I’ve never thought of it before, but with my ability to sense hearts, I should be able to keep track of Jumpluff. We’ll try to corner him.”
Vulpix agreed with the plan, and so they got moving, Togetic hovering over her right shoulder in almost poetic fashion. The path they used steered away from that which the others took, bringing them past small boulders and muddied stone. Pokespawn kept popping up in the way, and being in a hurry, Togetic fired off Fairy Winds or Tri Attacks to push them back. Once she glowed with white energy and slammed into a group of Trapinch in a dark corridor, bowling over the surprised would-be ambushers and allowing them to run past.
Vulpix chipped in, Disabling a Stunfisk in the way and even using Tail Whip to distract two Dugtrio — speed was of the essence in catching Jumpluff. Powder Snow would take a little too long to charge, she considered. Would be nice if I had a faster attack.
Huh. Wait a minute.
Vulpix’s mind leapt toward a certain Ice-type move Weavile had been fond of using when Lucario fought him yesterday. He liked to throw frozen shards.
Ice Shard.
Ice Shard’s a fast move, right? Vulpix thought as they kept going, Togetic’s glowing eyes looking through the stone walls. And I think Alolan Vulpix can learn those early. Er, at a low Level.
The prospect of learning another move excited her nerves. If she could learn Disable through messing with Extrasensory, surely she could figure out Ice Shard by playing with her Ice-type abilities.
A dragonfly Pokespawn Vulpix recognized as a Vibrava flew over — a perfect target. Vulpix called on her Powder Snow, cold within swirling in response. Before any of the pellets or frigid wind could begin to stir, however, she bade the cold seep through her, conducting it away from her lungs and toward her forepaw instead.
She must’ve done something right, for ice crystalized in the grip of her paw. Her soul glowed with approval, and she tossed the attack without a second thought.
The evolution of Trapinch blinked as half-formed, teeny tiny pieces of ice scattered over its face. A little too hasty, Eira? Vulpix chided herself as Togetic slammed the Pokespawn out of the way too. Vibrava kept buzzing after them, however, giving Vulpix an opportunity to try again.
This time she spent a second letting the ice shape itself fully before throwing, and Vibrava shrieked as pellets of frost struck it out of the air, breaking up into wisps. “You’re learning Ice Shard?” said Togetic, picking up on what she was doing. “Oh Vulpix, I’m speechless!”
Vulpix gave a sheepish smile, finding delight in the little victory. First Extrasensory, then Ice Shard! And here she’d been worried about her slowing progress.
Better not let that distract that though — they still had a Jumpluff to catch.
Togetic’s eyes went through the walls again, putting on a frown. “Jumpluff just disappeared,” she said. “And Lucario and Shaymin too. They must have reached the stairs, somewhere in that direction.”
She turned into a side-corridor, Vulpix scampering after. Lucky for them, the path took them straight to a small hollow with the stairs located to the side, covered by a stone lid that was sliding back open.
Vulpix went to step inside when Togetic blocked her. “That leads to the last floor,” she warned.
In her Extrasensory training, she hadn’t paid close attention to the floors — the fog in her head informed her that this was currently floor B6F of Mud Passage. “Um, meaning?” said Vulpix.
Togetic side-eyed the stairs. “The final floor of Mud Passage is guarded by four Vibrava and a strong Druddigon,” she stated. “The exit won’t open until they’re all knocked out.”
Oh. Yikes.
It was as Togetic stated. Entering the last floor, Vulpix found herself within a hollow arena of grand boulders with stalactites watching from above, an unknown light source illuminating the whole field. A booming roar shook the cavern, a terrible blue dragon with a red scaled head and spiky wings leaping upon one of the boulders, flanked by a Vibrava assistant.
Its eyes were what made Vulpix queasy — a red-purplish hue overlaid its irises, like splotches of watercolor shining in eternal sunlight. A glow of the same color enveloped its frame, flaring out with magical strength. And its size, that thing was huge! That was Druddigon?
A blast of draconic energy burst out of its maw, Vulpix following it to find Lucario strafing out of the way, rocks scattering in the beam’s wake. “Oh hey, guys!” Shaymin hollered, the reindeer throwing wind blades to ward off two other Vibrava who were chasing a screaming Jumpluff. Flaming spores indiscriminately flared out from its cotton balls in an attempt to protect itself. “You gonna help us out here?”
Togetic hummed before spinning on a dime, the flapping of wings making Vulpix scramble to fling Ice Shards behind her. The fourth Vibrava reared back as icicles pinged it, angered that it failed to sneak up on them and screeching out a loud buzz that physically struck them.
Where Vulpix staggered. Togetic resisted the sound waves, taking out the Pokespawn with Fairy Wind. “One down,” she muttered at the dissolving wisps, before spinning yet again with a gasp.
She shoved Vulpix aside, right as Druddigon slammed into the ground beside them with an earth-shattering force that numbed her paws. Alarm struck the vixen as the great dragon raised its claws, burning bright with regal purple energy as it locked eyes with Togetic.
It struck.
And amazingly, the Dragon Claws sputtered on contact, Togetic unfazed as they literally bounced off her. She retaliated with a sweep of her arm, and Druddigon gave a rumbling yelp, flayed by a protective Fairy Wind that stirred concern within its furious eyes. It reared its head, an wicked iron sheen coating it—
But now Vulpix was prepared, eyes flashing in a Disable, and Druddigon rasped as its Iron Head lost its luster. She and Togetic took advantage, the former flinging Ice Shards and the latter unleashing a display of elemental beams that burned, shocked, and froze the scales off the Pokespawn.
It was then that Lucario leapt in, scattering the wisps of a defeated Vibrava in his wake — the one that’d been with Druddigon earlier, most likely — and forming a bone of aura in his right paw. Graceful strikes followed as he hacked away at Druddigon, parrying a flimsy swipe from the Pokespawn before sweeping his free palm against its gut.
An electrifying force of aura burst out, and Druddigon tumbled, kicking up dust. A flying Air Slash sliced into his belly, and the dragon released its dying moan before its red-purplish wisps joined two other clusters melting into the ceiling. “Got rid of Jumpluff’s Vibrava,” Shaymin stated. “That all of them?”
“Should be,” replied Lucario, concern spilling from his face. “Vulpix?”
With Druddigon out, Vulpix found she could breathe air again. “I’m fine,” she said, casting glances at the scorch marks and grime that plastered Shaymin and Lucario. Jumpluff had clearly given them a run for their money, or rather, Poke.
Togetic waved her arms about, casting a Life Dew upon everyone to wash off both dirt and injuries. “You didn’t harm the Jumpluff, did you?” she asked Shaymin.
“Kinda wished I did,” muttered Shaymin, looking upward. “Look at the fiery mess that jerk feral made.”
Indeed, the ceiling was covered in clusters of burning spores, Jumpluff using them like a shield as he warily watched from above. Togetic and Shaymin rose to approach him, and the feral eeped, throwing flames in front as it circled away with primal terror. Lucario and Vulpix watched from below, aura coating her guardian’s eyes.
He frowned. Hard. Not the first time either. “You okay?” Vulpix asked.
Lucario caressed what remained of his burns. “Jumping into the stairs with Jumpluff didn’t go too well,” came his absentminded response. “You were using Ice Shard on Druddigon?”
Vulpix’s tails bent to the side. “It wasn’t too hard to learn.”
“Hm.”
Something was off with her guardian, and it involved Jumpluff. Vulpix squinted at the Abhorrent, catching his eyes twitching toward them, then moving elsewhere. She followed his line of sight to the telltale brick structure of a flight of stairs at the opposite end of the room.
With Druddigon and its allies gone, it must’ve opened. It was planning to escape?
For a terrified, unfortunate feral who found itself in the wrong place, that level of intelligence bugged her. Almost as if—
He’s lucid.
The glimmer of thoughtful focus in its eyes was suddenly obvious, as were the staged movements and noises. “He’s not a feral,” she whispered, “is he?”
Lucario coughed. “Nope.”
Jumpluff was pretending then. At first horror iced her limbs — why didn’t he say something? She’d been warned that thinking Abhorrents were bad news! — but then a complete realization followed. “He’s one of the good ones,” she said, the void of wrongness within her cramping up.
Lucario’s lips curled in an indescribable way.
----------------------------------------
This was a troubling situation, to say the least.
Eira the Vulpix’s conflicted emotions touched Lucario as he observed the careful pink aura of Jumpluff, who continued to ward Togetic and Shaymin off with a deluge of flames. Neither of them noticed their foe was faking his act all along.
He knew though. He and Shaymin had chased him, bounding past mud-lobbing Pokespawn and dodging the flames he left behind. They managed to slip into the stairs with him, at the cost of Jumpluff branding them in fire within the cramped subspace between dungeon floors. They encountered this strange battle arena where, according to Shaymin, its Pokespawn had to be wiped out before they could exit the dungeon.
And all that time? He’d been tracking Jumpluff’s aura. His surface thoughts, his feelings — they had been anything but animalistic.
It triggered alarms in Lucario’s mind. His original thoughts had been to warn the others, but then questions arose, and he chose to double-check the Abhorrent’s motives. Why the act? Did he come here for malicious reasons? Maybe he had something to do with Aerodactyl?
Instead, he came across the thoughts of an innocent soul. Fear that the explorers pursuing him would steal his freedom, along with a pleading hope that perhaps this meant there weren’t any Pokemon patrolling the entrance and he could safely leave this awful dungeon. He likely had entered Mud Passage in the first place to hide from the villagers.
Far from being one of the maddened Abhorrents or the evil sane ones, Jumpluff was only a timid soul fending for himself. Not once did Lucario sleuth out a trace of malice — and he’d been double-checking.
He shut off his aurasense as Togetic slowly drifted toward Jumpluff. The Abhorrent cowered, however, bouncing against the floor before springing toward the stairs. “Hey, don’t do that!” said Shaymin, blurring with Quick Attack’s speed to block the way.
His escape foiled, Jumpluff scampered back, waving his cotton puffs threateningly. “Easy now,” Togetic said as she joined Shaymin, placing her arms in front of her in a disarming manner. “We won’t hurt you.”
Lucario and Vulpix came over, sticking to the sidelines as Jumpluff tilted his head, though he kept his fire-spitting puffs raised. “Shouldn’t we do something? We can’t capture him,” whispered Vulpix.
No, they shouldn’t — but that was where the complication kicked in. “How would Togetic and Shaymin react if we told them?” asked Lucario.
Vulpix flattened her ears at the sobering words. “T-they might not believe us,” she admitted.
Indeed. Pokemon on this archipelago saw thinking Abhorrents as vile scum — they shouldn’t assume Shaymin and Togetic would be exceptions. We’ll only look suspicious if we help Jumpluff, Lucario dryly noted.
It was best not to interfere. If they kept quiet, Jumpluff would only be sent to a feral preserve. Then he could either blend in with the actual ferals, or make a quiet escape.
Jumpluff was still acting wary of Togetic. “I could calm him with Aromatherapy,” said Shaymin, a pensive look on her face. “It’s weird, though — dude’s been acting like a scaredy-Delcatty the whole time. Yet now that we’re between him and the dungeon exit, he’s not budging. If I didn’t know better, I would say—”
A pause. Sweat coated Jumpluff’s brows as he bore witness to Shaymin’s death stare. Her eyes narrowed, then became slits, slicing through his facade.
“Shaymin?” said Togetic, before putting a similarly scrutinizing look.
Vulpix went stiff. Lucario resisted the all-consuming urge to caress his impending headache. Chaos cackled with sadistic glee.
Jumpluff lunged.
Shaymin’s smaller size and floatiness meant his surprise attack sent her tumbling a good several feet, leaving the Abhorrent free to dive into the stairs. “It’s a trick, he’s faking!” yelled the Mythical as she uprighted herself and flew after, only to be pushed back by a gorge of flames erupting out of the stairway passage. “Lucario, why didn’t you say something?”
Well, so much for keeping silent. “Excuse me?” said the jackal.
“You saw his aura, Lucario! You knew!” Shaymin again tried to barge into the stairway, but Jumpluff was persistent, a continuous wave of fire and burning cotton spores roaring out of the entrance. “D-do you sympathize with thinking Abhorrents?”
The accusation floored him. The what? Did she actually jump to that conclusion?
He barely had a chance to speak when a stone lid began to seal off the entrance. This only drove Shaymin further, her paws placed in front as a green shield materialized in front. The sealing stone groaned as she wedged the Protect against it, then pushed past, breaking through the fire and slipping inside.
Jumpluff’s startled croak and sounds of fighting echoed back, before the stairway entrance shut itself with a grinding halt, one that slapped Vulpix out of her stupor. Togetic blinked, then pivoted to Lucario, her expression morphing from sheer shock to something sterner.
“He’s not a feral,” she said.
This would be such a pain to clean up, even more so than everything that went down with Weavile. “Look, this is going to sound crazy, but—”
“You knew that and told Vulpix. Neither of you spoke.”
Being lumped into the address, Vulpix’s face burned up. “I-I-I didn’t—” she stammered.
“I don’t know how to feel about this.” A strained patience soured Togetic’s voice of honey. “Why weren’t Shaymin and I warned we were dealing with a deceptive outlaw ahead of time? He could’ve been armed with mutation items or something.”
“No, see, that’s the thing.” Lucario took a deep breath. “He’s not an outlaw. He’s sinless.”
Togetic narrowed her eyes. “Lucario, good Abhorrents don’t exist.”
It’d been quite cold in the caverns, come to think of it, yet Lucario found himself feeling unbearably hot. Those were the very condemning words he didn’t want to hear, especially from Togetic.
And they were just a sample. “All known encounters with rational Abhorrents show as much,” she went on. “There’s no reports saying otherwise. As far as we’re concerned, the mutation always leaves victims with dark tendencies that overwhelm them — even passive ferals will rampage if provoked, never mind what goes on with the rational ones.”
Though Vulpix somehow kept a level face, Lucario could see her heart-wrenching pain at the firm statement. Just perfect — even Togetic, the calmest and most understanding member of Team Heavendust, would have trouble being convinced otherwise. “Meaning you don’t trust my judgment?” he questioned.
“Are you perfectly sure Jumpluff is innocent?”
“Togetic—”
“I apologize, Lucario, but I believe your ability only reads surface thoughts.” Togetic floated a little closer, her face softening with concern. “You may have read Jumpluff’s will to be safe and free, but that doesn’t mean you’ve seen his future plans, or his past. For all we know, he might be here to help that skeletal Abhorrent and keep a low profile. So again — are you perfectly sure Jumpluff is innocent?”
Lucario opened his lips, then hesitated. Shadows crawled under his skin, shrouding him in doubt. Was he?
Togetic technically had a point, after all. All he knew was Jumpluff’s desire for freedom, not what he’d do with said freedom. It was just like how he knew Ariados had lost interest in harming Vulpix, but didn’t know when that could change, or what she truly wanted with her.
Could Jumpluff have ulterior motives he never read?
The possibility broke him for a moment, leaving him at a loss, and it rattled Vulpix. “Lucario?” she whispered, her high pitch matching with the way her paws shook. “I thought— you said—”
“I’m not sure.” The admission slipped out without his input — why would he say such a thing? Did he, a Lucario, truly have this little faith in his judgment of character? Yet he spoke the words anyway, confused and uncertain. “I’m not sure.”
For a long moment, Vulpix just stared, refusing to believe him. It was Togetic’s sigh that made her snap her head over, the angelic flashing a pitying look. “I just don’t get why anyone would defend an Abhorrent,” she said. “I know you’re not bad ‘mons, so I can only assume it’s out of ignorance of their kind—”
“Can’t you tell?”
Lucario’s mind rebooted as Vulpix blurted the words. A piece of his uncertainty detached from him, taking its time to slither over to Togetic as she processed the meaning behind Vulpix’s words. Soon it claimed her as its new vessel, the angelic putting an arm over her mouth.
The trio eyed the stairs. Its entrance had already opened up, impatiently waiting.
The forest outside looked a little worn for wear when Vulpix exited the Mud Passage dungeon. Leaves strewn about, new branches littering the floor, a few charred marks on the trees and some burned-up grass — all signs of a scuffle.
One that Shaymin had won in a landslide victory, the Mythical casually pinning down a groaning Jumpluff with only a few burns as casualties. Disgusted winds swirled around her the instant she noticed Lucario, the jackal raising his paws as she pointed an Air Slash blade at him. “Shaymin?” yelled Togetic.
“What do you expect, Togetic?” Shaymin spat back. “Jumpluff’s one of the rational ones, and Lucario never said a word! Is someone gonna explain that to me?”
Togetic positioned herself in between the swirling wind-blade and Lucario. Lowering her gaze to Jumpluff, her eyes flashed, the pink hue of purity sense kicking in.
Unable to trust his own judgment, she judged him herself.
Lucario’s brows furrowed the longer Togetic kept still, Jumpluff blinking in wonder. Purity sense was more suited to seeing one’s goodness — it ashamed him that Vulpix had to be the one to point this out — but it wasn’t guaranteed that Jumpluff was the guiltless soul she believed he was. And what if he was clean, yet Togetic refused to believe it?
The pendulum of time swung back and forth, until Togetic shut her eyes, her verdict falling like a hammer. “Release him.”
Shaymin’s brutish appearance cracked, her wind blade losing cohesion until it broke into dumbstruck breezes that galloped into the woods. “Togetic?” she questioned.
“There’s no blemish on his soul, Shaymin.” An ugly mess of distress and self-disgust warped Togetic’s face. “I-I’m speechless, Lucario and Vulpix, you’re right. Jumpluff’s rational, yet his purity is unstained. We’re capturing an innocent.”
Burgeoning relief uplifted Lucario’s body, Vulpix letting out an exhausted sigh. His judgment wasn’t wrong after all.
“Are you for real?” cried Shaymin, although she was already releasing Jumpluff, the Abhorrent in a state of unadulterated disbelief. “There’s no such thing as good Abhorrents, everyone knows that! You can’t— Lucario still should’ve—”
And then she hovered back. Her eyes swept over grass blades as if to count them. Her lips folded.
“You’re sure?” she quietly asked Togetic.
Togetic rubbed her face. “Believe me, Shaymin, I’m just as stunned as you are.”
“Crud.” Shaymin let herself drop to the ground, struggling to swallow the pill of truth she’d been handed. “Good Abhorrents? Those really exist?”
It’d take some time for the twosome to digest this, Lucario reasoned. He hung back, letting the two converse to each other in hushed, lost tones. Jumpluff rose at the same time, recognizing the ones responsible for his aid. He took a step forward before clutching a gash on his leg.
At this Lucario fired a pink orb, Jumpluff startled as it made contact, before being amazed as Heal Pulse stitched up his injuries. His mouth opened and closed as he tried to say something, before settling for a grateful nod — one worth a thousand words. For a twitching Shaymin, twice the amount.
Vulpix smiled toward the jackal. “See? You were right about Jumpluff,” she lightly chided him.
Lucario hummed. Even though there had been a chance he misjudged Jumpluff, it was still unlike him to doubt himself that easily. What had gotten into him back there?
Maybe it was stress. He had been building up a lot of it lately, and he could use something to rid himself of it. All this worrying over Vulpix’s safety was taking its toll on him.
It was during this reflection that something tickled the back of Lucario’s mind. A familiar psychic tingle followed, Vulpix stirring as he felt her get roped into its grasp. Before either could move, however, the tingle morphed into a signal, an urge to stay put. Keep quiet and relax. Pretend nothing odd was going on. Speak with their minds if need be.
Then came the words. I have no words for this.
Lucario and Vulpix turned their backs and distanced themselves from an idle Jumpluff, as if to have a private conversation — which they were indeed having. Eevee? Vulpix called in Pokemon-speak within the shared psychic link.
A discreet use of aurasense informed Lucario of the multi-aura lying in the foliage of a nearby tree. Espeon sensed you while I was snooping around for Aerodactyl’s whereabouts, Eevee answered, disgruntlement in his mind-voice. What part of ‘stay out of trouble’ do you continue to not understand? You’re starting to worry me sick.
How convenient that Eevee was in time to catch the tail-end of today’s dilemma. I did what I had to, Lucario defended. It’s not our fault that this job turned out to—
I know, I know, I overheard enough to put the pieces together. Bad series of coincidences and whatnot. Eevee’s sigh could’ve been mistaken for a quiet wind. Really, we’re just in shock — me and my siblings altogether. You get yourself accused of sympathy with Abhorrents, and somehow, someway, you do the unthinkable: make two Pokemon recognize there’s good guys even among us mutants.
But all the same? I can’t have you getting into more of these kinds of jams. Your Gabite leader will surely watch you like a hawk after this incident.
Any sense of relief the twosome had in overcoming the ordeal with Jumpluff cracked in that moment. What about Gabite? Convincing Togetic and Shaymin was one thing, but Lucario doubted he could get the dragon-shark out of his Abhorrent prejudice. He’d go bonkers when he found out about Jumpluff.
Point being, it’s not safe to stay put, Eevee concluded. We really should get plans underway to meet Kabutops.
The mention of the scientist left a pit gnawing at Lucario’s stomach, disquiet leaving him mute. Oh, moaned Eevee. Oh my goodness, Lucario, what—
Ariados f-found me, Vulpix mumbled in his stead. She wants something from me. We couldn’t do anything about it.
Now Eevee was the silent one. Of all topics, this had been the one Lucario wished he didn’t have to explain to the Abhorrent. He was bound to have a freak-out over this.
But it didn’t come. No explosions. No yelling. Not even a shard of rage.
Just condensed disappointment. One job, said Eevee, stretching out the words. We gave you one job. You mind if I take a moment?
A psychic prod and Lucario and Vulpix found themselves spinning around, a distraction unfolding before them. Togetic had split off from Shaymin, Jumpluff clasping his cotton puffs as she approached him. “Excuse me?” she said. “On everyone’s behalf, I apologize for the trouble we’ve put you through. It’s just—”
She took a moment to collect her thoughts. “No one’s reported a friendly Abhorrent before,” she said with an abashed face. “Everyone’s heard of the corrupted items used to make Abhorrents, but there’s still so little we understand of the situation. Can you tell us what happened to you? Are there others like you out there? Is there anything you could share about what’s going on?”
The loaded questions left Jumpluff shuffling on his feet. “I—” he croaked, before clearing his wispy voice. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
A shrug. “It’s fuzzy,” he said. “There was a weird Pokemon — I-I can’t remember — she looked like a fiery ghost though. She offered me a cursed power, and I accepted.” Embers wriggled out of his cotton balls. “This happened.”
The flames died out. “Never met others,” he continued, speaking so quietly everyone had to lean forward. “All in hiding like me, I’d think, scared of prejudice. Scared of what they are, scared to be arrested. They probably don’t want trouble too, just like me. S-sorry I don’t know much.”
He lowered his head, before jolting right back up as something occurred to him. “The village people, they’re all on edge,” he murmured. “It’s not just about me, is it?”
Lucario’s fur prickled at his tone, Vulpix shuddering beside him. “Uh, yeah,” Shaymin told him. “There was a skeletal Abhorrent who—”
“Aerodactyl.”
Horror and revile were the logs and dried grass that ignited the biting fire Jumpluff spoke with. Vulpix winced as its burning wind scraped against her cold skin, while Lucario hissed as it branded the metal spikes on his chest and the back of his paws.
The effect was subdued for Togetic and Shaymin, but the message left its mark regardless. “You met the ‘mon?” the latter asked.
Jumpluff dropped his feral, meek posture, leaving behind only the weariness. “Near a different dungeon. Creep thought it was great I was like him, said I should enjoy my gift more. I saw through him though — just a monster with a twisted mind, one who’d watch the world burn with a smile.”
Shaymin gritted her teeth. “A different dungeon, huh?” she said, nudging a pale Togetic. “I’m getting the feeling this guy could have mutagens.”
“Um, maybe not mutagens.”
The group turned back to Jumpluff. “Didn’t get a good look,” he said, “but he had something when we met — was hiding it in his claw. Shone like a bright metal in sunlight, but not a crystal or something. Had a feathery look to it.”
Everything Jumpluff had said was what Lucario expected to hear, except for this one perplexing thing. A feathery metal thing? He eyed Vulpix, whose face scrunched up in confusion. Togetic and Shaymin were equally as stumped, not knowing the meaning of such an odd item.
A certain eavesdropper, however, had a far different response. Oh, Eevee whispered with a gravity of mesmerized dread. Oh.
You know something? asked Lucario.
Good news, this might be a lead. His tone shifted, returning to indignation. Bad news, since you’ve put us on a time limit by failing to do your duty, Lucario, I only get one last shot at catching Aerodactyl.
Excuse him? Eevee—
I gave you the freedom to figure out how best to help your human. And you know what? Letting you join your explorer team in the first place might’ve been a mistake.
The biting words upended Lucario, the jackal unable to formulate any response. Wasn’t that the very thing he’d been scolding himself about in the morning, anyway? That he’d been sticking around Team Heavendust for too long, when he should’ve fled far away from Ariados’s location?
Vulpix for her part kept silent, any pained emotions she had being buried within her. Listen, Ariados is a major threat to everything, and for your safety, we need to reach Kabutops as soon as possible, Eevee insisted. Talk to you later about that. Right now I’ve got to see if this metal feather thing will help me find Aerodactyl.
Having seen no further reason to occupy Jumpluff, Togetic thanked him, and the Abhorrent took it as his cue to leave. He leapt into the air, letting his cotton puffs catch a breeze and whisk him away. Oh, and thanks for helping Jumpluff, maybe? added Eevee. Speaking in defense of an Abhorrent was foolish, but I may as well show gratitude regardless.
Gratitude.
Er.
Lucario eyed Shaymin, the reindeer stiffening up before looking wildly around. Togetic noticed her activity, her gaze sharpening in turn, then glowing up pink.
Vulpix went taut as her gaze flung itself toward Eevee’s location in the trees. What, Lucario heard him say with all the dryness he could muster.
In a flash Shaymin bolted, crashing into the foliage. Vulpix went further rigid as Eevee’s yelp resounded, the little fox-like Abhorrent being tossed out for the world to point fingers and laugh at him. “A-another one?” said Togetic. “An Eevee?”
Eevee rolled his eyes at the obvious statement, crystal-spikes glittering in synchronization. Before Shaymin could react, he swiped a seed out of his pouch and bit on it.
In a flash he vanished. “Wait!” hollered Togetic. “We only want to talk!”
Normally, Eevee getting revealed like this would’ve been a nightmare scenario. In the wake of Jumpluff? It was no more than an inconvenience.
Hence why the Abhorrent’s actions left Lucario dumbfounded. Why are you running? he called to Eevee, eyes glowing up and spotting him — he’d warped to a location not far away, blitzing from tree to tree. You know they won’t see you as an enemy!
All Eevee had in response was a bitter scoff. Stay out of my affairs, Lucario. I told you, I didn’t even approve of Kecleon knowing of me — you think I’d get all chummy with your teammates? I don’t take such silly risks.
What risks? He was acting more suspicious by fleeing instead of explaining himself! Lucario tried to reach out again, only to swallow back a snarl as the mental link between him and Eevee severed. Not too long after, the Abhorrent’s aura faded, going out of range.
Vulpix’s transformation into a statue was complete as the duo absorbed what just transpired. Unbelievable. What was Eevee thinking? Did his siblings even have a say in the matter?
Shaymin hadn’t bothered to give chase, huffing as she watched Lucario’s eyes return to their normal red. “Guess that hooligan’s gone,” she said, before rubbing her snout. “Two of these guys at once? It’s almost too coincidental.”
Togetic shook herself. “A friend of Jumpluff?”
“With the way he was acting, he can’t be. More than that, he was giving off gratitude.” Shaymin pointed at Lucario. “Directly toward you.”
Lines creased Lucario’s forehead as she and Togetic gave him twin stares, each with somewhat casual scrutiny. Vulpix — well, it wasn’t like she could get any stiffer, the way she stood.
The full meaning of the Mythical’s words weren’t lost on him. More than simply being grateful for Lucario’s fair treatment of Jumpluff, Eevee had addressed him in specific. Almost as if there was some kind of secret aura communication between them. After all, there was a difference between feeling thankful and saying it to someone.
Truly unbelievable. Lucky for him, their encounter with Jumpluff was softening the blow Eevee caused, but still, why did he bail on him and Vulpix?
Togetic sighed, placing a hand on Shaymin’s flank. “It’s been a messy day,” she stated. “Goodness, I can’t fathom how I’ll explain this to Tangela or the Explorer Board. How about we leave this for now, wash off at the local stream, and then return to Berrypark Town?”
Shaymin scratched her ear in tacit agreement. Her gaze lingered on Lucario for a moment longer, before she grew shamefaced and drifted off. The angelic followed, but not before offering him and Vulpix a strained smile.
“I’m sorry this mission didn’t work out as we hoped,” she said. “If there is something you do want to share, Lucario, I’m all ears.”
With the flying duo moving ahead, Lucario and Vulpix were left trailing behind them. The vixen loosened up from her rocky posture as she stepped into line with him. Her tails pressed against her side.
“Why didn’t you tell them about Eevee?” she asked. “They already know of him—”
“No.” A scowl pressed against Lucario’s lips. It was one thing if Eevee introduced himself as just another friendly Abhorrent to the pair, one who was chasing down the Aerodactyl who’d been hiding around this part of Grassbranch Island. For Lucario to bring up their relationship, however? “It’ll bring unwanted attention to us. There’ll only be more questions, until your human nature gets involved.”
Vulpix batted an eye. “Isn’t that a little— um, a little far-fetched?”
“Don’t patronize me, kid.”
His harsh voice left Vulpix submitting to his will, but not without her offering a few worried looks. Lucario ignored them, hyperfocused on the path ahead.
There was always something going wrong in this accursed archipelago. Weavile, Ariados, even Eevee had caused them some form of trouble. As it was, the Abhorrent seemed bent on hastening their journey to Kabutops.
Which would surely infuriate Ariados. For crying out loud, there was still that void spell she casted on Vulpix, a piece of leverage held against them. What to do?
The jackal heaved, paws clenching and unclenching. The quiet solemnity of the forest did little to assuage his building stress. He couldn’t stand to take more of these complications.
But hey, maybe he should look on the bright side. Count his blessings.
At least he didn’t have to deal with Aerodactyl.