Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Altered Bonds
Chapter 20 — Other Horrors
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Sometimes, Shaymin found herself frustrated with the troubles of trivial, everyday life. Or her place in a world that didn’t really need legendary beings like herself. More recently, she found herself moaning over the problems that came with excitement and danger, and an archipelago that suddenly did need beings like herself. But right now—
“Hit me already!”
She was finding herself fuming at her inability to knock the wind out of Kecleon’s lungs. No thanks to the utterly annoying Stealth Rocks that kept getting in her way, never mind how she’d been freaking banned from using Air Slash.
The wooden dojo room she was in seemed to tremble as she spat Energy Balls at a maniacal rate, trying to tag Kecleon just once. Her mentor never played fair, however — his Aerial Ace let him zoom from Stealth Rock to Stealth Rock, and no sooner did she destroy one of the dumb floating stones, another one would manifest to take its place. Occasionally Kecleon struck back, claws swiping with electric sparks to send Thunder Waves her way, Shaymin holding back a flinch as one nearly grazed her winglike ear.
She prepared another volley, before a moment of anticipation made her Quick Attack to the side, just in time to avoid a lunge from Kecleon’s literal shadow. Hissing, it withdrew back into the ground and reattached itself to the darting Kecleon. “What’s the holdup, miss? Hit me!” he demanded.
Shadow Sneak. A truly devious move. She hated it.
The rules of their exercise had been simple: one tap, and you lost. But where Kecleon elected not to use moves like Substitute or Detect, he’d also barred Shaymin from using her favored Air Slash, putting her at an awkward disadvantage. At least he didn’t say I had to fight in Land Forme, she thought.
Another set of electric volts. Shaymin steered clear, before grumbling upon noticing one of the volts homing on her — A Shock Wave. She pushed a Stealth Rock over to absorb the shock, before taking inspiration and tapping into the core of her soul. Her well of energy, grand and deep, flowed through her mohawk before sprouting into Magical Leaves, enchanted with a purplish glow. They shot out in all directions, weaving around Stealth Rocks to converge on Kecleon.
The chameleon stopped mid-dash, revealing himself, and let loose a monstrous Flamethrower that turned all the leaves into crisps. Shaymin moved as he brought his scorching breath upon her, and the flames battered against a psychic wall of energy that spontaneously appeared at the edges of their sparring zone. Beyond it, at the outer rim of the room, Togetic winced at the fiery display that otherwise would’ve struck her and left the cushion she sat on — and the dojo wall — aflame.
Shaymin had forgotten the angelic was there. She waved, to Togetic’s lack of amusement, before scrambling for escape as Kecleon’s shadow swiped the air beside her. “Face me yourself!” she snapped at her mentor. “Using your shadow’s totally unfair!”
“Nothing’s fair in a real fight! And you use your wind blades like a crutch!” Kecleon launched Shadow Balls from behind Stealth Rocks, forcing Shaymin to destroy them with her Energy Balls while staying out of reach of her mentor's shadow doppelganger. “And for the record—”
She hadn’t expected it. Kecleon himself left the cover of his Stealth Rocks and bolted forward, appearing to merge with his shadow as it melted back into place beside him, and Shaymin barely had enough time to raise her paws up. A green barrier manifested in front of her—
And Kecleon rippled as if he was a mirage, shattering her Protect apart with outstretched, mist-like claws. Just like that, a bewildered Shaymin found herself batted away with a swift strike to her leg.
“I don’t need my shadow,” he stated. “You use Protect like a crutch too, you know, it’s not as foolproof as you’d think. Never seen a Feint before?”
A Feint. Shaymin hadn’t even heard of that move — Kecleon had never used it before. “That’s so busted,” she whispered.
“Busted? It’s only good against shielding and evasive moves. Hardly any more dangerous than a False Swipe otherwise.”
The Stealth Rocks Kecleon had littered the sparring zone with crumbled into pebbles, and then into dust, the training room feeling much roomier in their absence. Kecleon stared down a metallic panel attached to one of the walls, and the prolonged eye contact made the glowing Psychic Gems attached to it lose their luster, the machine’s hum dying out. Shaymin couldn’t see the invisible barriers — keyword, invisible — of their sparring zone fade away, but she knew well enough, dropping toward one of the many cushions adorning the outer edge of the room. To her left were white, half-open sliding doors, and to her right was Togetic, watching with a somber face.
It made her mood worse. Shaymin harrumphed, making herself face her Kecleon mentor. “I’d beat you in a real match,” she said.
“With your raw force?” Kecleon shrugged. “No contest. But strength isn’t everything, young lady.”
A grimace. Aerodactyl’s cackles frosted Shaymin’s soul, the Mythical recalling the brutal power behind his strikes, the way he’d been on par with her own brutish strength. But also how he managed to dominate the battlefield, goading Gabite and Lucario into a mindless frenzy with Taunt, and his careful maneuvering the whole fight. What had saved their team from oblivion? Eira’s Spite.
The memory of it stung her. “You really do know a lot of moves, Teach,” Shaymin said, in an attempt to distract herself.
“All the better to train your lack thereof. And to prepare you against a foe known for their mastery over all moves.”
A vain attempt. The thought of Mew redoubled the sweltering dread in Shaymin, twisting it into a bleak darkness that burned like the coldest nights of a frostbitten winter. The kind where any kind of warmth was too much warmth.
I have to face a mutant Necrozma-Mew.
“You’ll leave soon to face those Abhorrents, won’t you?” Kecleon had his arms behind his back, vacantly gazing at the rafters of the ceiling. “I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on Mew, but I’ve heard of their type. They’re one of the craftiest and most unpredictable foes you could ever face.”
Kecleon had been insistent on training sessions ever since the whole incident with Eira, and he’d made them more grueling than ever before. He was weaker, yes, but cleverness had always been a thing her mentor had been good at. The old merchant was full of tricks.
Mew would be full of tricks.
What would his master be like, then? If he or she’s—?
She had stewed upon it for days, the same troubling thought piercing her mind. Something beyond Legendary. The same impossibility, over and over again.
And then Eevee’s discussion on Rocky Shores breaking down forced her to reconsider it all. Their Highnesses hadn’t helped either, the stinking kings. Had their prying act been just to taunt her, to flaunt what they knew? That they might know of things a bumpkin Mythical like her didn’t?
Missing Ones.
Crud.
For all her intent to live up to the title of a Mythical, it never really dawned on Shaymin how tremendous of a burden it was. She gazed up at the rafters, and stared beyond, wondering if Eira and Mismagius were directly above her.
An ill omen of a human girl and a shifty witch who knows too much. Fun.
Togetic had been pulling at her paw for a while, Shaymin numbly realized. “You alright?” she asked her. “You’re not alone in this all, you know.”
“I know.” The frustration building up in Shaymin leaked out a tiny bit. “But I still have to be better.”
Better at fighting. At her moves. At everything. She was supposed to be a Mythical, after all.
But she hardly felt like one right now. “I haven’t even gotten anywhere with Seed Flare,” she muttered.
A snort from Togetic. “You’re bringing yourself down for no reason.”
“Togetic—”
“It’s bad enough when Eira does it,” said the angelic. “I don’t need you doing the same.”
Kecleon gave a slight nod. “I am not doing these exercises to beat you down,” he stated. “You are capable as you are. I simply poke at your weak points, so that you will learn to patch them when you are gone.”
Self-deprecating thoughts wormed their way onto Shaymin’s tongue, but she held them back. Togetic was right, she really shouldn’t join Eira in Camp Tropical Depression.
Her face probably showed a hint of her inner feelings though. Kecleon took one look, and made a disapproving noise. “Enough training for today,” he said. “Get some fresh air, kiddo, I know you’re in dire need of it. And before I forget—”
There was a Treasure Bag in the far corner, propped against the wall. Kecleon retrieved it, slinging it over his shoulder, and rummaged through its contents. Out came his claw, a crystal in hand.
And not just any crystal. Partially embedded in stone, it had a reddish-pink color, with cut facets reflecting a white shine. Togetic’s eyes ate up its luster, her nubs already reaching out toward the crystal.
“Is it?” she said.
“Shipped in just hours ago. Perfect timing, I’d say.”
Kecleon handed the crystal over, Togetic gingerly taking the item she had paid for in advance. Into her own Treasure Bag it went, the angelic quivering with anticipation. “My last Evolution Crystal,” she whispered.
Shaymin couldn’t help but smirk, though deep down, she shared the quiet, joyous excitement Togetic felt. “I still say finding a Shiny Stone would’ve been easier.”
“So? Does it matter anymore?”
“You need a Luminous Spring too—”
“And we’ll handle that in time.” Togetic composed herself, giving a pleasant nod to Kecleon. “I deeply appreciate doing business with you, and for the speedy retrieval.”
The merchant waved it off with a few words of humility. Soon enough they were leaving the training room, with Kecleon sliding the door shut. A few other doors were open, with a stereotypical Throh and Sawk pair duking it out in one room, and another with a Meinshao and a set of students in a meditative stance. On a whim, Shaymin grabbed the angelic’s arm, pulling her close.
“Congrats,” she whispered.
Togetic stole her arm back, her brief smirk transitioning into a more earnest smile. “Save it for when I evolve, won’t you?”
Shaymin gave a quiet laugh. Long had Togetic planned for evolution, and now she was all but ready for it. It was one nice thing amidst all the troubles going on. “How about I keep congratulating you except at the very moment you evolve, lady?”
“You wouldn’t, princess.”
“Try me.”
Togetic rolled her eyes. Through the quiet hallways of the dojo they went, past trimmed, little bushy plants and azaleas in pots, with Kecleon trailing a distance behind. Shaymin almost failed to notice the abrupt twist in her friend’s lips, the haze that touched her eyes as she glanced her way.
“About earlier,” she whispered.
Shaymin forced herself not to cringe. “I told you, no hard feelings,” she replied. “Had to be said anyway.”
Several months back. That was when she had slipped up and mentioned Missing Ones to her. And now Togetic had done the same this morning, though at least with good reason. The angelic likely understood too — she must’ve made the same connections as her.
“It’s horrifying to think about,” the angelic was now saying. “Don’t know why I never considered it earlier.”
“Didn’t either. It shouldn’t make sense.”
“Nor does Eira.” Togetic hummed. “We did worry she was something else for a short while, you know. Guess we weren’t exactly wrong about that.”
A human was something else, true. But not something else. Not a monster borne of ancient fables. Not some oddly lovable, shy little entity beyond comprehension in a Vulpix body, free from the confines of whatever dungeon it belonged to.
A free Missing One. It was a rather unsettling thought. “It’s more than just the idea of Mew himself that’s scary,” admitted Shaymin. “Togetic, I don’t—”
Togetic gently placed her arm over her mouth, Shaymin stiffening at the touch of soft, tiny feathers against her face. The angelic pressed her lips together, shutting them, and threw her a solemn, reassuring smile. A naive smile, oblivious to the danger likely to come.
But a smile was a smile all the same. And Shaymin couldn’t help but let the little hope it displayed rub off on her.
Kecleon cleared his throat, catching her attention. “I read some of your human’s notes on her world,” he said, unaware of the conversation between her and Togetic. “A lot to take in, I must say. Has she spoken with you about it?”
A lot to take in? Bit of an understatement — Shaymin had only skimmed through the half-finished version of Eira’s notes two nights back, and those had been enough to make her head spin. “Something you wanna hear about?”
“Nah. Not at the moment.” Kecleon stared off into the distance, as if immediately reconsidering his words. “Well, I’ll think of something, I’m sure, but the notes were thorough enough for what it’s worth. Have to appreciate the effort. Girl loves to study up on Legendaries, if anything.”
Speak of the Giratina. At the far end, Shaymin caught Eira the Vulpix stepping down from a flight of stairs, glassy-eyed and lost in thought. Her head snapped up in surprise upon seeing them, and Shaymin waved at her with a grin, Togetic beaming alongside her. Not to be outdone, Eira smiled back.
The human. Not some weird otherworldly creature, for better or worse, but still one of her stranger frustrations. Where did one begin with a cursed human meant to shatter the archipelago against her own will, or the Lugia who sought to snuff her life out? Having a human around was such a nuisance.
But also wicked awesome. She got to learn about human stuff from an actual human, for crying out loud! And it was cooler than she ever thought! All the different regions and their myths, the architecture, the freakishly advanced technology — giant metal aircrafts! Towering buildings that made the dojo look like an insect! Things called radio waves that people used to communicate instantly from faraway distances! — it had made the wandering spirit within her squeal.
And Eira was cool herself, literally and figuratively. Shaymin could talk with her about Legendaries and even Ultra Beasts, and she’d actually understand and follow along! Maybe reciprocate with info Shaymin never heard before too. She was trouble, yes, but it was also nice to have her around.
Hence why Shaymin grinned as Eira bashfully approached their group. At the sight of Mismagius trailing her, however, that grin twisted into something less friendly.
Another frustration, that witch. Shaymin could catch the little twinkle in her eyes, and the intense greed within as she watched over Eira. And more than anything, she felt the murky gratitude that came from her — eternal pleasure at having a human to study and teach, but also a foreboding concern toward her greatest gift.
It confirmed what Shaymin already suspected. Mismagius had said plenty about her feelings toward Eira and the prophecy, but there was so much more she wasn’t saying. That rankled her.
The two groups met together, Eira falling into step beside Togetic. Kecleon followed from the side, and when Mismagius tried to follow, Shaymin held her back with a raised paw. “What’s your deal?” she hissed.
Mismagius stared at the paw, the ridiculous smile on her face growing a tad larger. “She will learn fast, the girl,” she said. “I may yet be able to teach her everything I desire, and more still.”
A Pokemon teaching a human how to use magic. Ludicrous. “How would you know how to teach a human?” Shaymin questioned. “No, forget that — what’s your real deal? You’re hiding things, I know you are.”
The tacky, too-blunt nature of her words made Shaymin crumple inside, but she refused to let it show. When Mismagius’s shaded gaze swept over her, she furrowed her brows in response, insistent on an answer.
“You want something more than just to teach the human magic,” she accused. “She’s more than just some ill omen you’d love to save.”
Mismagius stared a little harder. “Perhaps.”
She phased through her. Shaymin gasped and held back a curse at the twisted cold feeling it left within her bones.
The group had wandered to a side corridor leading to a large set of half-opened wooden doors leading to the courtyard. Mismagius joined Eira and Togetic, the latter flinching for a moment before managing a conversation with the witch — likely about Eira’s training. Shaymin half-listened to her response as she drifted past them and into the courtyard outside, the fresh air and warm breezes managing to tug a smile back onto her face.
Lucario and Gabite had already arrived, the twosome waiting at the far end of the courtyard. Done already with Porygon-Z, as expected, and judging from Gabite’s odd smile, they must’ve met Team Elementri too. Another frustration — the Braixen would surely heap her with questions regarding the affair at Stormsoaked Shores — but a welcome one too.
The odd smile Gabite wore widened as he locked onto Eira. “About time, human,” he said, Shaymin finding a small amount of satisfaction in Mismagius having to cut off whatever she’d been about to say to him. “You’re a real headache, you know. You mind answering something for me? Something about your notes for Porygon-Z?”
Eira took in his words, her paws shifting back. She shrugged.
“Great.” Gabite’s face flipped upside down, his next words coming out sharp and pointed. “Your Galar region had its own Calamitus?”
Shaymin felt the color flake off her body. Especially when Mismagius choked down on a cackle, winking at a frozen Eira. Togetic’s arms shot up toward her lips, Kecleon’s face scrunched up into itself, and Lucario snorted, apparently having done this conversation in advance and frowning at Gabite’s lack of tact.
Eira slowly turned to Shaymin, her expression mangled. The Mythical caressed her forehead, finding herself with yet another mounting frustration. Another Calamitus, in the human regions? When did Eira write notes on an Eternatus of all things?
Forget dumb prophecies, the human was cursed with the passive power of obliterating boredom wherever she dared walk. “Wouldn’t have minded hearing about this a day ago,” grumbled Shaymin.
“I-I’d been meaning to tell you?” whispered Eira.
A long sigh.
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Two books and a pile of her own notes. It’d been hours since her time at the dojo, and Eira the Vulpix had her paws resting upon the table in the middle of the cottage living room, nose deep into the pages of Haven Archipelago’s general history. Her eyes occasionally wandered to the side, toward the book of Legendaries and Mythicals, snout wrinkling at the depiction of a massive serpentine being of hues ranging from neon red to dark blue. Its length was like that of an oversized spinal cord, complete with thin decorative wings, spindly legs and arms ending in claws, a ribcage with a glowing pink core that possibly served as its undead heart, and a large visor-like head with six white eyes filled with indifference. Or curiosity.
The curiosity of an alien being in a realm not its own. ‘Calamitus’ Eternatus: a monster that crash-landed from space and proceeded to stir a storm of chaos — literally and figuratively — as it scoured the archipelago, feeding off the lifeforce of unfortunate Pokemon. And the herald of the Jade Age’s decline into the Diamond Age.
It made her squeamish, just looking at it. Her toddler self had grown up hearing Father’s stories of what Eternatus was like, and well, it was hard to look straight at the spitting image of a monster that had been roused from its slumber and attacked Galar, six years ago. During the Spacetime Pandemic.
Lucario sat to her right, with a still Eevee atop the table and listlessly reading up on Eira’s notes. “Their Highnesses in Berrypark Town, and a second Calamitus existing in the human world,” he muttered. “The crazy just keeps going with you two around, doesn’t it?”
Crazy’s probably normal when you have a human and an outsider Pokemon around. Glaceon had manifested to Eira’s left while she hadn’t been looking, the vixen holding back a twitch when she floated right up to her. Hey, by the way, Eira. Was learning magic fun?
The quiet enthusiasm in her mind-voice brought back a little color to Eevee’s face. “It was nice,” Eira said. “Mismagius taught me a lot.”
“Witch gave me an earful about me teaching the kid wrong,” muttered Lucario, his arms crossed in front of him. “Not my fault I used the simple explanation about Pokemon growing stronger with Levels.”
Eira’s lips curled on their own accord. Poor Lucario. “You want me to show you what I learned?” She asked Glaceon.
Glaceon clearly, clearly wanted to, but she held herself with no small amount of restraint. After Team Elementri’s visit, please, she said.
Much of Eira’s time since the dojo had been spent discussing Eternatus and history with Togetic, Shaymin, Gabite, and Lucario. Afterward, the flying duo had returned to their room to take a breather, while Gabite had gone outside to wait for Team Elementri. Togetic had offered her the book she was now reading, and as dry as it was, Eira found herself intrigued at the general topics mentioned. Various ages, different kings and governances, and other miscellaneous tidbits caught her fancy. Lucario too couldn’t help but peek a little.
Eevee had showed up not too long ago, Lucario having updated him on their affairs at Berrypark Town. Eira couldn’t quite tell what had left him more spent: the sheer weight of what he’d been forced to catch up on, or the dread of having to confront Team Elementri, who planned to visit after their scouting of Stormsoaked Shores. To discuss the Abhorrent situation, naturally.
Lucario and Gabite had finally met up with the explorer trio, after speaking with Porygon-Z. Who apparently had old ties with Their Highnesses, and had some bad run-in at Solaceon Ruins that supposedly didn’t have to do with Unown themselves, yet still got him thrown across spacetime and dropped into Haven Archipelago. Odd, really, especially the idea of him failing to scan any Unown in Solaceon Ruins. Eira had been there with Mother during their trip to Sinnoh just before the shipwreck, and it was a struggle not to bump into the enigmatic Pokemon, so numerous were they. What made them disappear after the Spacetime Pandemic? she wondered.
Eevee had been flipping through the book on Legendaries and Mythicals, going all the way to the end before stopping upon two huge canines of regal bearing. One with a cyan cloak-like form with pink braids running down the side of its body, and the other with magenta fur, along with deep blue accents and a mane that gave it an armored appearance. His eyes darted back to Eira’s notes, focused on the Legendaries of Galar.
“Zacian and Zamazenta,” he said. “Huh.”
They counter Eternatus, don’t they? Leafeon manifested, the tan Pokemon lying upon — and partially phasing through — the wooden table. It’s what I’ve heard, anyway. The Jade Hounds resist Eternatus’s Dynamax thing, and its poisons.
Dynamax? asked Glaceon.
The human term for the Calamitus’s spacetime warping energy that turns Pokemon into crazed giants, I guess. Leafeon pointed toward Eira’s brief description on Eternatus, where the term ‘Dynamax’ was mentioned. Apparently Galar’s coated in that energy? And you humans somehow learned to control it for, uh, sport? For your weird Pokemon Trainer battles?
Sport. Double meaning there with the way Galar’s Gym Challenge was structured. “Well, uh—”
Are humans immune to Dynamax too, by the way? How did humans stop the Calamitus anyway if they don’t have magic? Did they have not just the Jade Hounds, but the King too? Did anyone of the Continuum Quartet intervene? Or other Legendaries? Were fancy human weapons used? No, wait, what powers did your Calamitus have other than the spacetime-bending ones? Were there storms of poison rain too? Or—
Eevee and Glaceon harrumphed, and Eira had the strange impression their inert siblings were doing the same, Leafeon growing sheepish as he realized he’d been blurting out questions and archipelago-specific terms. Well, not the Continuum Quartet, that was a known Sinnohan term for any and all Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, and Arceus in existence, but the Jade Hounds and King weren’t phrases Eira had heard for Zacian, Zamazenta, and the fabled Calyrex.
Calyrex. The name cast whimsy upon Eira, her paws flipping — without permission from herself, nor a startled Eevee’s — through the book on Legendaries and Mythicals. All the way back to Eternatus, Eira staring it down for a brief moment, before flipping further still. A notable number of pages later, she found the image of a deer-faced fairy with a bud-shaped jade crown attached to its head and a small cloak. A set of colorful beads ringed its neck, its gaze filled with impassive dignity.
The King Pokemon.
Father had told stories about the Calyrex species too — of their power of growth and producing harvests, and their fallen kingdom in the Crown Tundra of Galar. “We didn’t have any Calyrex to help us, just a Zacian and a Zamazenta,” Eira told Eevee. “They’re all just old fairy tales to us. W-well, Calyrex still is, but the other two—”
It was a story she already recounted to the others, and now she recounted it to Eevee too. The Legendary dogs had been just, well, legends for a long time, just like Calyrex. Even Eternatus, the nightmare that had torn up Galar three thousand years ago. Father had given her and Mother a few tall tales about the threesome being linked, but the true events of the original Darkest Day had always been a matter of speculation amongst historians.
At least, until the Spacetime Pandemic, which forced Galar to contend with the reality of an Eternatus that had been awakened by the distortions. By extension, the destruction it caused at the city of Stow-on-Side had led to the rediscovery of old, hidden away statues, hinting at two youth who’d been crowned as Galar’s rulers after working with the two Legendaries to take down Eternatus. That forgotten piece of history had repeated itself during the Spacetime Pandemic, when the offspring of the Zacian and Zamazenta duo came to defeat the reborn dragon alongside Champion Leon, and two trainers participating in Galar's annual Champion Cup.
No Calyrex involved. The last time Eira visited the Crown Tundra, there’d been rumors of a sighting, but nothing more. Their kind had faded into near-total obscurity.
But people remember Calyrex in the archipelago.
Back to the history book Eira the Vulpix turned, with narrations of an age just as forgotten as the old kingdom in the Crown Tundra. The Jade Age had been the age of the Calyrex lineage, supposedly the first rulers of the archipelago some centuries ago. An age of prosperity that had met its unusual decline when the Calamitus appeared, a force of nature somehow more terrible than Galar’s Eternatus.
“Three human trainers and two Legendaries.” Eevee gave out a dry spit. “And they took down a Calamitus? We needed a literal Arceus and several other Legendaries just to keep our Eternatus at bay.”
Lucario stirred at that. “Two elite trainers and a Champion aren’t pushovers, mind you,” he said. “They’re the commanders of extremely skilled Pokemon teams with great synergy and battle experience. Worth a couple Legendaries altogether, I would say.”
Of course, the Eternatus of Galar might’ve had a weaker spirit, added Leafeon, scanning Eira’s notes yet again with a curiosity that matched Glaceon’s for human magic. And it couldn’t drain Pokemon energy from miles around it.
No, it couldn’t. Haven Archipelago’s description of Eternatus was much nastier than the force of nature that had shown up in Galar. The Darkest Day had its Dynamax storms, but giant poison rain showers and mass energy leeching were among the few confirmed abilities of the archipelago’s Calamitus, with rumors of other, more insidious powers leaving several spine-wracking shivers down Eira’s body. The discovery of Zacian and Zamazenta’s resistances to his powers had been a giant turning point in the battle to contain the Calamitus, but the rule of the Calyrex would never be the same.
And the wizard humans disappeared not long after.
Mismagius had hinted as such. Eira could only imagine what it must’ve been like — wizard humans and a Calyrex ruler, living in harmony. What ruined everything? she wondered. The Calamitus? But why?
Lucario had been mulling over the same thing for a while. “Humans from a jaded age,” he deadpanned. “Mismagius just loves leaving cryptic tidbits around, doesn’t she? You ought to grill her for details, kid.”
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Eevee and his siblings perked an ear. “Uh, grill her?” said Eevee.
“Press her, make her talk, whatever.” Lucario made a bothered face at the Abhorrent. “I’ve heard you archipelago folk use all sorts of human figurative speech, and you’re telling me that’s one of the expressions that never made it across?”
Lucario was right, she should question Mismagius further. With her unusual knowledge of magic and her interest in human archipelago history, surely she knew more, right?
A matter for later. Right now, it was waiting time for Braixen and his team. A quiet anxiety buzzed within Eira as she kept flipping through her history book, drinking in the general lore of the archipelago. Eevee kindly helped Leafeon go through her notes of the human world, his fascination rubbing off on Glaceon as she joined in beside him. Lucario sat with his eyes shut, an Aura Sphere suspended over an open palm as he moved it around, the exercise almost resembling her own with Mismagius. She had shown him and Team Heavendust a bit of her magic well before Eevee arrived, and it seemed the wonder of it had rubbed off on her guardian, his lips quirking as he played with his sphere.
Sky Forme Shaymin and Togetic had joined them at some point, the former pausing her complaints about Team Elementri being tardy as she took in the scenery of Eira and Eevee’s siblings, engrossed in their information grab. “Enjoying the history?” she spoke into Eira’s ear.
The false vixen smiled a little. “It’s, uh, kind of boring.”
A scoff. “I’d kill for a week as half as dull as that book right now, you know. Dumb Calamitus — honestly, can you just warn me now if you’ve got any other massive piles of junk I might wanna know about?”
“If it helps,” Lucario said, his focus never leaving his floating Aura Sphere, “I never knew she was half-Galarian until just the other day.”
Half-Galarian? Wait, humans can be a mix of two regional forms at once?
Eira felt her forehead burn up as a baffled Glaceon floated right into her face, Eevee and Leafeon equally as puzzled. Togetic and Shaymin wore unreadable expressions, while Lucario, being Lucario, had the gall to snicker at her expense. Seriously? What was with Pokemon in Haven Archipelago thinking that humans had regional forms like them?
Bothersome as it was to re-explain how human genetics worked, however, Eira almost felt grateful for such a distraction. Anticipation was a killer, after all. Gabite would show any minute with Braixen, and the longer time went by, the worse the butterflies — Butterfree? Beautifly? — in her stomach got. What would Team Elementri be like? Would they be a problem for her?
Eevee shared that stress, and the others hid their own varying shares of discomfort. They waited there, Eira talking about human stuff and Eevee and his siblings asking questions, all quietly worrying to themselves. Until—
“They’re here,” blurted Lucario and Eevee, before both blinked at each other. One with glowing blue eyes, dispelling his Aura Sphere, and the other most certainly tipped off by Espeon. All eyes fell upon the door, Lucario wisely handing over Eira’s notes to Shaymin. She briefly darted off to stuff them in her room, while Togetic scooped up the books to do the same. Eira steadied herself with a deep breath.
Lucario had described the trio, and his evaluations had been spot on. The door opened, Gabite stepping in, and she got glimpses of his explorer friends. Heliolisk, a sun lizard with a rascal’s face that was jabbing Gabite’s arm. Golisopod, a hulking bug-beast well known in Alola as the fearsome evolutions of the cowardly Wimpod, with the stoic demeanor she’d come to expect from their kind. And Braixen, the fire fox leader, clearly a gentleman with his posture and courteous smile.
All three broke character when they saw Eevee, then the Leafeon and Glaceon floating by his side. The two specters glanced at each other, Eira holding her breath as Eevee took in Team Elementri’s expressions. Golisopod’s six arms quivered.
“Gestalt?” he rasped in uncertain wonder. “Many threats.”
Braixen grimaced, Eevee proving to be something beyond what he and his team expected. “My psychic sense does give me that impression,” he said. “Gabite, might you have forgotten to explain how your ‘few Abhorrent pals’ are a hivemind entity?”
“You didn’t tell them?” Eira blinked as Eevee’s inner discomfort rocketed off into space, the Abhorrent lying down with his paws propping up his head and a sleazy laugh leaving his throat. “Oh, now that’s priceless. Guess I better handle introductions myself — had a fine afternoon swimming with the fish Pokespawn in Stormsoaked Shores, gents? I’m Eevee, the nine-tailed fox who accidentally exorcized the other eight tails out of their bodies and anchored them to myself as undead ghosts who repay me by never shutting up in my head. Also a full-time hater of Aerodactyl and other mutagen-wielding Abhorrent sickos, though unfortunately I’m stuck as an unpaid apprentice until I can reverse my condition and society decides I’m eligible for pay and social benefits again. Well?”
He stuck his paw out. Team Elementri stared at each other, before Heliolisk grinned.
“Brother, where have you been all my life?” He darted over, the two vigorously shaking paws, much to Braixen’s stupefaction. Eira felt a twinge of secondhand pain as he covered his face, Gabite growing awkward beside him.
Having seen more of Eevee’s irritated side, Togetic and Shaymin had their own twin bafflement at his sassy behavior. “Uh, was Eevee—?” asked Togetic.
“Often like this? You have no idea,” Lucario said, putting on an amused smirk. “You have no idea at all.”
----------------------------------------
To say the least, Team Elementri’s reaction to Eevee had gone way smoother than Lucario expected. Heliolisk hitting it off with the Abhorrent probably helped a lot.
The guys had clumped together at one side of the table, Lucario finding himself on the far corner with Golisopod and Eevee, with Heliolisk next to the Abhorrent and Gabite and Braixen taking the other corner. Eira the Vulpix, Togetic, and Shaymin were on the opposite end, with Leafeon and Glaceon floating a short distance away from the group.
More than once had Braixen appraised Eira, the girl fidgeting under his intense gaze that remarkably resembled Gabite’s. “A shy, thoughtful sort of youth,” he remarked. “I wouldn’t peg her as the kind to have fought much, I admit.”
“She saved our lives against Aerodactyl,” said Gabite.
Lucario found mirth in how Eira’s cheeks reddened. “Did she now?” Braixen said, reassessing the false vixen with a raised brow. “Then I clearly underestimate her. You have my deepest thanks, miss Vulpix, for protecting my friend and his comrades.”
Eira opened her mouth, only to close it, unable to get any words out. “And then there’s you,” Braixen said, throwing Eevee a frown. “I don’t know what to make of you, or your familial spirits.”
“They saved us too,” said Gabite. “After Vulpix helped them escape Aerodactyl’s mind control, anyway.”
“Liches love commanding their monsters against their will, what can I say?” Eevee said. “You’d know a thing or two about that, Gabite.”
Gabite huffed, Heliolisk and Golisopod sharing a wince. Whatever discomfort Braixen had for Eevee, it fizzled away upon learning of Aerodactyl’s powers, replaced by a sense of deep sympathy. “A despicable foe,” he growled. “I suppose I understand how you’ve come to find common ground then. It was worse than how the papers described it, wasn’t it? It makes me all the more curious on how this situation came about, and the struggle you went through.”
That opened up the floor for discussion. Gabite relayed the story at once, starting from when they had originally learned about Lugia’s pillar and later on the Silver Wing, before narrating their experience of rushing to Stormsoaked Shores and what happened there. The others pitched in, with Togetic painfully recalling how the dungeon had swallowed them up and what they experienced during its brief fall into madness, Lucario noting how the inability to use orbs had forced them to escape the reformed dungeon the long way, and Shaymin detailing the threat Aerodactyl had presented as a deadly, Yveltal-like Abhorrent.
Eevee gave his own commentary, bringing up how he’d been hunting Aerodactyl on his own, how he’d seen firsthand the warping of the dungeon, and the torture of having the skeletal lich putting him and his siblings under his cruel control. It was an abridged narration, of course — details like Lugia attacking them, or Eevee’s connection with Lucario and Eira, were left unsaid. “A small fortune that you made it out unscathed,” Braixen said at the end. “And this Necrozma-like Mew? Where did he fit into this all?”
Eevee was the one who spoke up, responding to the touchy question. “I’m told the official statement is that he was found somewhere remote, yeah?”
“You’re the one who found him?” asked Heliolisk.
“A bit after the Lugia affair. We all spread out to look for where Aerodactyl had fled,” Eevee fibbed. “I stumbled upon Mew first, berating his undead dino pet for nearly causing a disaster the Abhorrents couldn’t afford to have. Oddly sympathetic to my family’s plights, that one, but he’s trouble all the same.”
“He makes the Z-Crystals for storing mutagens,” muttered Lucario.
Team Elementri put on disgusted faces. “Yes, the task directly stated as such,” Braixen said. “And Aerodactyl would be the likely supplier of altering Mega Stones, yes? What a wretched combination from the Distortion World itself. But one minute, Lucario — neither your words, nor that of the task seeking his arrest, directly accuse Mew as the creator of the mutagen itself. Do I follow correctly?”
Sharp-eyed and sharp-eared. A good match for Gabite, most certainly. Lucario simply pressed his lips together, the lack of response a silent confirmation of Braixen’s intuition. Heliolisk frowned, worry infecting his otherwise goofy disposition, and Golisopod made a disturbed rumble.
“Fiends stir,” he hissed to Braixen.
“Easy, Golisopod.” Braixen shut his eyes, keeping the twisted images they saw locked in his head. “Gabite, if you’d please finish your story. The Silver Wing and the pillar it’s suspended on, they serve as a key to Lugia’s domain, do they not?”
Gabite nodded. “There’s two more the Abhorrents need to activate. I—” he furrowed his brows “—we need to stop them first.”
“You’ve found no help from other explorers, I presume?”
“Best I have is an eccentric Mismagius. A powerhouse, that one, but no idea if she’d make for reliable help. One other thing, though, the Ariados matriarch showed us the tool letting her control her dungeon, a shard that—”
“She did?”
The words flew from both Braixen and Heliolisk’s mouths, Golisopod settling for a mumble. Whatever curiosity any of them had shown at Mismagius, it was discarded at the mention of Ariados’s shard, Braixen sitting erect and Heliolisk leaning his head over the table. They took in every word Gabite spoke about the shard, mesmerized.
Braixen had begun furiously sketching halfway through, Lucario blinking at the notepad and writing utensil he whipped out of his Treasure Bag. The fox soon showed the others the image he made, a mockup of Ariados’s shard with ripples and shadows that decently captured its distorting nature. “More or less what you’ve got there,” said Gabite.
Eira appraised the sketch with awe, Lucario impressed at Braixen’s artistic talent. “So I see,” commented Braixen. “And her reason for showing it?”
“She feared it had something to do with Aerodactyl and the mutagens,” Shaymin said. “We think she’s onto something. The greater Legendaries’ powers to alter dungeons, it—”
“It likely stems from more powerful shards,” Heliolisk blurted, catching on to what she wanted to say. “Braixen, we’re crashing headfirst into a gold mine of mysteries here.”
Braixen held up a paw to appease the excited sun lizard. He gave a half-smile at his sketch of Ariados’s shard, before tucking his supplies back into his Treasure Bag. “That certainly isn’t a power we can afford to let the Abhorrents gain,” he stated. “Is that all then?”
Shaymin and Togetic solemnly looked at one another. “One other thing,” The latter quietly said. “How familiar is your team with anomalous dungeon monsters?”
A heaving noise left Golisopod in response, his claws digging into the gaps in the wooden floorboard. His eyes glazed over, Heliolisk moving aside to whisper placating words to him. Gabite, Togetic, and Shaymin’s faces darkened at once, much to Lucario’s wonder, as if seeing an ominous warning in his odd behavior.
Braixen gave a long, airy huff. “If I am correct, Miss Shaymin, the general term would be ‘Missing Ones’, yes?”
“You’ve heard of them?” asked Shaymin.
“We stumbled upon the phrase during our research and travels.” Braixen threw Golisopod a pitying look. “I see why you told him of the tentacles, Gabite. It’s rare these days for anything to terrify him on such a fundamental level.”
At once Eira raised her vulpine head. “Dangersense,” she whispered, and many things clicked into place in Lucario’s head. He had heard about that quality of Golisopod before. Their evolutionary line was extremely sensitive to threats.
The tentacles were a threat.
Eevee grimaced, catching on to what made everyone else on edge. “Indeed, Miss Vulpix,” Braixen said, a tiny glimmer in his eye — respect for the girl’s insight, Lucario sensed. “For better or worse, my teammate is particularly gifted in that field. Normally he can keep it in control, but Stormsoaked Shores proved to be a Dungeon-Plagued nightmare for him, I’m afraid.”
“Big ol’ nightmare for us all,” Heliolisk said with a bitter tone. “Kept getting swarmed by Pokespawn trying to throw us in the water and get our heads dunked under. The tentacles too — a few grabbed me by the leg once. There were these freaky eyes beneath them in the water, Golisopod and I saw it. Big lug had a minor seizure when he came to pull me free, nearly got himself drowned.”
“They saw us,” mumbled Golisopod, huddling into his bulky form. “They craved us.”
The room seemed to dim at their words, as if speaking of the strange dungeon fiends had inadvertently allowed them to slither into the shadows of Gabite’s cottage. Surprise after surprise had been hurled at Braixen and his team, and now Lucario saw the pendulum beginning to swing back.
“You mentioned being grabbed by shadows,” said Braixen, gesturing toward Shaymin. “I assume these too were some form of Missing One-type entity?”
“Might be.” Shaymin pressed Golisopod, her eyes alight with burning need. “The tentacles? You sensed danger from them? What was it like?”
Golisopod shook his head with what almost seemed like aggression. “Tentacles?” he rasped. “Not them. Not the danger. Just dungeon tools, puppets for things deeper. The eyes that watched — not of us! Unnatural. Void that stares back.”
The pendulum brushed past. Lucario heard the deeper implications. They all did.
“The eyes were controlling dungeon tentacles?” said Togetic.
“The eyes are alive?” said Eevee.
Braixen let out a dreadful huff. “Despite Stormsoaked Shores’s reformation, it seems otherworldly entities still remain within its dungeon floors. They appear unable to directly touch us, but they can make use of proxies to make up for it.”
The thought of it pumped dread into Lucario’s veins. Gabite looked rattled, like something had jumped out at him and touched his draconic soul with a bladed, frosty finger. “Never seen that happen before,” he mumbled.
Braixen offered him a few consoling words. His head tilted toward Shaymin, and everyone else did the same. The Mythical harrumphed in expectancy.
“Look, they’re termed Missing Ones for a reason. Don’t know squat about them,” she said. “Elders said little too, didn’t know much themselves.”
“But?” said Gabite.
“But they’re old. Stuff from folk tales that nobody sees anymore. Haven Archipelago being a place of distortion and all, it kinda attracted weird stuff like the dungeon monsters back in the day.”
Chaos seeks chaos, Leafeon murmured.
Fits with the stories we heard, Glaceon added.
Lucario had almost forgotten the two ghosts had been lurking around. “Er, yes,” said Braixen, him and Team Elementri frowning at their mind-voices. “The stories. Things that frequented dungeons to torment Pokemon.”
“Yup. Mostly just constructs, though. And the actual, living ones — well, my elders say they wouldn’t escape into our world. Atmosphere’s not suited for their nonsensical nature or whatever.”
Eira pursed her lips in wonder, and Gabite breathed a little easier, as if thanking the earth’s atmosphere for being intolerable to nightmare fuel creatures. The twitch from Shaymin certainly hinted at his gratitude. “Curious, if true,” Braixen said, making brief eye contact with his solemn teammates. “And an advantage we might need. I will be blunt, Miss Shaymin — ever since we heard of the possibility of unknown entities, ever since we faced those tentacles, we’ve been having concerns.”
“Your story about the dungeon, the Abhorrents, and the altering shards kinda paints a pretty ugly picture,” butted in Heliolisk. “Never mind a Mew serving as a freaking lackey for some mutagen-making maniac. You picking up on what we’re saying?”
Lucario already saw the question, and felt the taste of poison burning his mouth. It wasn’t a matter of aurasense, only common sense. A linking of connections leading to a natural conclusion.
Gabite caught on just as swiftly. “Oh, just say it out loud,” he muttered. “The Abhorrents have a Missing One, don’t they?”
It was almost ironic, how nobody batted an eye at that. How everyone swallowed those words at face value, as if they were all too accustomed to this kind of thing. Golisopod’s quiet huff was the only notable reaction in the room — that, and the way Togetic shifted closer to Shaymin, who politely pushed her back.
“It shouldn’t be possible,” she said, putting an irritated emphasis on the last word, “but the more I look at it, the more I think something’s up. The mutagen? I don’t know how anyone makes something like that unless they’re some Legendary or some master of arcane crafting, but a Missing One could make sense. The Abhorrents probably found one to help make their mutagens. Might even be their leader, if it’s a particularly intelligent one. Or maybe the leader’s a Legendary that caged the Missing One, or maybe said Legendary’s possessed by the Missing One. Or they have a symbiotic relationship, like Their Highness. Point is—”
“The Abhorrents could have a dungeon monster around to make their mutagens.” Gabite pressed a claw against his chin. “Dungeons started acting up several months back, and Abhorrents became active around that time.”
“Perhaps they caught one around then,” mused Braixen. “Perhaps Missing Ones hold a greater significance to their goals.”
“Their Highnesses said Aerodactyl and Mew’s names were similar to those of Missing Ones,” added Shaymin, making the fire fox purse his lips. “Honestly, I never considered there might be old dungeon monsters linked to the mutagen. If not for Stormsoaked Shores, I wouldn’t believe it.”
Lots of conjecture. But Lucario couldn’t help but feel there was a nugget of truth to it all. It was more than just dungeons and altering shards that held the Abhorrents’ attention — the monsters within were important too, in some way or form. There was something going on here, a bigger picture they couldn’t see from their vantage point.
It almost made him jump when Gabite, of all people, cackled at it all. Not out of self-deprecation, but an earnest, weirdly gleeful cackle. “Well, too bad they won’t surprise us if any of that junk ends up being true,” he said. “Anything else that needs to be said? Cause if not, then I say we quit wringing our hands over what these blasted freaks are up to, and start figuring out how we can ruin their fun.”
And like that, the dark, heavy air in the room lost its chokehold. The gaunt looks, the worried faces, they all faded away as a shared sense of determination took their place. “We’re all in on that, pal,” Heliolisk said with a grin, Golisopod managing to form what could’ve passed for a tiny buglike smile with his mandibles. “Team Elementi’s got your back.”
“Ours as well,” Eevee said, his siblings nodding with enthusiasm. “What’s another weird monster to us, anyway? If it means getting my family back in the flesh, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Togetic and Shaymin gave their own quiet agreements. “Suffice to say, we do not fear the risks involved,” Braixen said. “We would be glad to assist your team, Gabite, in these perilous times.”
Lucario felt their energy seep into himself for a moment, his fist clenching in defiance. Courage seizing his heart. And then Braixen’s gaze shifted toward Lucario, and the jackal felt it fade into the background. “And you?” asked Braixen, looking almost apologetic. “You are not bound to this, nor your young lady. As great as a boon you both must’ve been against Aerodactyl, I understand your circumstances are different from ours.”
The reminder stung. It stung him and Eira alike, the girl silently eyeing the ground. “Lucario and Vulpix were in a bind of sorts,” Gabite informed them, “when I came upon them. They’ve got somebody to meet in Swampblot Island who’ll help them better than we can — my team will take a detour to drop them off, before joining up with your team to track down the Abhorrents.”
Braixen nodded in sympathy. “May your matters be sorted in your favor then, Lucario and Miss Vulpix. For what you have done for my friend Gabite, and for what you might do in your remaining time in his team, you have—” his lips curled upward as Shaymin shifted her posture “—my gratitude.”
He pulled out a map of Haven Archipelago from his Treasure Bag, spreading it across the table. Unlike Eevee’s, it was marked up with various symbols, with places circled and labels written all over it. His notepad came out as well, Braixen flipping through it until he found the pages he wanted. “You’ve seen my personal master list of dungeons before, yes?” he told Gabite. “I suggest we pinpoint likely locations for the other two Lugia pillars. Locating them first may be an essential advantage in crushing the Abhorrents.”
Gabite nodded along, the two rummaging through different dungeons and the notes Braixen had written down about them. Heliolisk, Eevee, Togetic, and Shaymin lended an ear, giving their own occasional comments. Eira too listened a little, though much of their talk appeared to go in one ear and out the other, and Leafeon and Glaceon had retreated back to let the others do their thing.
Lucario scooted away, not bothering to pretend to listen in. Golisopod’s quiet rumble made him freeze, but the bug made no chastisement. He seemed too out of it, the poor guy. The eye-things must’ve shook him to his core.
Eira grew more and more listless as time went by, her mood infecting Lucario. The desire to fight gnawed at him yet again, and Lucario pushed it away, reminding himself of how dangerous Abhorrents were, of his actual priorities. He couldn’t risk a possible encounter with Aerodactyl or Mew, or their leader, or whatever was making their mutagens. Kabutops’s protection from Lugia was also protection from the Abhorrents — a protection Eira badly needed.
And yet his inner sense of justice kept refusing to be quelled by such things, knowing too well how valuable his skills were, that he had to be there despite the danger. And judging from Eira’s muddled face, she seemed no different. The Vulpix girl peered at him, expressing both queasy fear, yet quiet longing. A wish for change.
A wish to help. To avert disaster.
Lucario shut his eyes and looked away. Aura flowed from his paw and to his protege, and with it, a sense of unfulfilled justice wrapped in a layer of firm, unconditional guardianship.
Not our fight.
Unfortunately.
Eira dipped her head in reluctant acknowledgement, the twosome living in their own muted bubble. They would’ve stayed that way for the rest of the meeting, perhaps — if not for a sudden jerk from Eevee that interrupted everything. The Abhorrent’s eyes grew wild, Leafeon and Glaceon mimicking his frazzled look.
“You’re kidding,” whispered Eevee.
“Something wrong?” Lucario had spoken over Heliolisk, the jackal catching the way Eevee tilted his head toward the cottage wall, seeing past it. His own eyes flashed with aura—
Ah. Complications, my beloved.
The auras of two familiar figures had paused briefly in the middle of the cottage grounds, a fish and a witch-like Pokemon. The latter, Lucario could’ve sworn, was staring back at Eevee, despite the cottage blocking both from view. Aurasense alerted him to bits of stilted conversation flowing between the two.
Togetic had flashed her eyes too, pink light streaming out and a frown on her face. “Since when do you get regular visitors?” Eevee complained to Gabite, elaborating before anyone could ask. “There’s a Feebas and Hattrem out there. Espeon felt her, and well, she felt us. All nine members of our hivemind.”
In a flash, the two newcomers were hurrying up the hillside. Psychic force pushed the door open, Hattrem taking in the many blank stares facing her as she stopped right outside. Strange bits of emotion leaked out of her, warping her face into a flummoxed expression as she faced the Abhorrent Eevee among them. Then Leafeon and Glaceon, the ghostly pair making her tighten her grip around the Treasure Bag hung around one of her bulbous ponytails.
“What?” she said.
“I could ask the same,” Eevee said.
If awkwardness could take the form of mist, the entire cottage would’ve been swallowed whole in it. Heliolisk held in a wheezy laugh, earning him an elbow from Braixen, and Gabite clutched his forehead with an inscrutable look. Was this a problem? Lucario couldn’t tell. It felt much more like a goofy situation, the kind one would chuckle at a day later. After all the nonsense we’ve been through, something like this is rather tame, he surmised.
Feebas had hopped over to join Hattrem, taking in the presence of Eevee and his siblings with a hint of confusion. Then Team Elementri. “We’re not interrupting something, are we?” she said. “You, uh, have a couple Abhorrents with you.”
Togetic quickly took charge, floating over to the duo. “It’s been a week,” she muttered. “Eevee saved us against Aerodactyl and his mutagens — he and his siblings are against the Abhorrent cause and are helping us with taking them down. It’s weird, I know, but you can trust them.”
Feebas digested her words, taking in the room again, before shrugging. Hattrem made a face at her rather swift acceptance of the situation, to which Feebas whispered something in her ear, making the witch ease a little.
“Fine.” Hattrem shot Eevee one more probing look, the Abhorrent shrugging at her, before returning to Togetic. “The others are Team Elementri, correct? You’re discussing the Abhorrent situation?”
“It’s a little confidential. But yes, we’re planning to chase after them. We’ll be off-island for a bit.”
Feebas and Hattrem shot each other looks, before Feebas spoke onward. “You’re traveling to other islands?” she said. “Cause I’ve got myself a favor to ask. We, uh, need to get to Swampblot Island.”
Oh. That wasn’t quite as tame of a problem.
“Bit of a weird story, honestly. I got a letter today, you see. Apparently from my uncle in Aquamush Town.” Feebas’s eyes drifted into some faraway place. “Didn’t know I had one. He didn’t know I existed either, until news spread about Lugia and Stormsoaked Shores.”
Braixen snapped his fingers at that, scrutinizing her and Hattrem with a pinch of respect. “I wondered why you struck me as familiar,” he said. “You must be the pair who discovered Lugia’s pillar in Rocky Shores. I must congratulate you on that.”
The duo grew sheepish at his acknowledgement. “Thank you?” Feebas said. “Since you guys are busy, I’ll just get to the point. See, we’re wondering if you know anyone traveling to Swampblot Island, since we’d appreciate having an escort who can help me meet up with my uncle. Don’t quite fancy the idea of just us two going anywhere when Abhorrents are doing their thing, you know? And in case of thieves too. But I mean, if you’re also headed that way—”
She let her words dangle for a moment, expressions of uncertainty flashing amongst Team Heavendust. Feebas’s concerns were reasonable, and they did have to go to Swampblot Island anyway, considering Kabutops was there. Why not bring them along? To Lucario, it also felt like a way to make up for the Weavile incident. Considering the duo had not freaked out too much at Eevee either, him being around shouldn’t be that big of a deal either.
No, the Abhorrent wasn’t the dealbreaker here. But a human who needed to spend nights as her normal self, getting potentially spotted by the duo?
Lucario could already see Eira biting her lip at the thought. “I’m not sure if we’re the ones you want to be escorted by,” Togetic said. “Not when we’re going after Abhorrents and all—”
“Hey, aren’t Lucario and Vulpix already your escorts though?” Heliolisk interrupted, making the angelic flush. “You’re taking them to Swampblot Island first before going Abhorrent-hunting, didn’t you just say that? Why not bring another two along?”
“Don’t know if I can tend to that many escorts,” Gabite said, covering for Togetic. “Perhaps your team could handle some of the burden?”
Braixen politely shook his head. “I fear us men wouldn’t be as accommodating as your team — considering they came straight to you first for help, you must’ve already struck a solid relationship with them.” The fox suddenly shifted a brow, glancing about. “Is something amiss? You’re all high-strung for some reason. I can practically feel it in the air around me.”
Fledgling Psychic. Gabite had warned Lucario of that aspect of Braixen — he wasn’t just seeing the tension in their faces, but likely hearing it too. For Hattrem, the level of emotional disturbance was even more suffocating, the witch rubbing her head with squinted, scrutinizing eyes. The jackal felt himself sweat, cursing his body for betraying him.
Gabite sighed. His gaze ever so briefly swept over Eira, her nervousness poorly hidden behind a facade of a frozen mask, before landing upon an anxious Eevee. As if to implicate him as the source of their group’s worries. “I do think it’d be better for you to find another group to escort you,” he carefully said. “The Explorer Board could help you via a formal request.”
“Gabite?” Braixen questioned.
“Not the time, old friend.” Gabite turned back to Feebas and Hattrem. “I’m not turning down your request, however. If you insist on tagging along with us, come to the Explorer Board early tomorrow morning.”
Feebas and Hattrem stewed on it for a moment, before nodding in agreement. Lucario inwardly huffed to himself.
There’s no way this can work out, is there?
“Sorry again for interrupting,” Feebas said. “And thanks for helping on short notice, it means a lot to me. We’ll leave you to your things now.” She spied a glance at Eevee, as did Hattrem, the witch glaring ever so slightly at him, before they made their departure.
Braixen seemed to take that as his cue to leave too, standing up. “Already? We’ve still got plenty of locations to consider,” Gabite said.
“And we can surely discuss those later, yes?” Braixen replied, adopting a tired smile. “Forgive me, Gabite, but today has been wearing away at me. There’s many things I’d like to discuss, some in private, but I do think we’ll need some rest if my team is to set out so soon after our last trip.”
Heliolisk grinned in apology, getting up too, Golisopod silently joining them. “It’s good to have touched bases with you, however,” Braixen went on, “and I’ll see to it that we work out proper travel plans with you tomorrow before heading off. Frankly, I’m delighted to work with you again, Gabite, even if the circumstances are of a nature most dire. Do take care, will you all?”
He walked out, but not before sparing a glance at Eevee, the Abhorrent throwing a smirk his way. “I suppose that goes even for you, Abhorrent,” Braixen made himself say. “Though my eye remains on you.”
“I’m hardly the Abhorrent you need to be watching out for,” said Eevee.
“May time prove you to be truthful, strange Eevee.” And with that, Team Elementri took their glance, Golisopod giving a quiet farewell to Gabite and Heliolisk throwing Eevee a don’t-worry-about-my-boss look behind Braixen’s back. Eevee good-naturedly rolled his eyes back, earning a quiet chortle for it.
They left. Togetic closed the door, and for a good several seconds, time was as frozen as the group’s faces. All was silent, and not a lip dared twitch.
What is wrong with you?
Flareon had the loophole of having no lips. The fiery ghost — literally and metaphorically — had poofed right in front of Gabite, Lucario wincing at the heat flaring out from his body. You allowed them to tag along with us, knowing full well the consequences? he spat. Are you out of your mind?
Gabite scowled. “Look—”
We already had a near-fiasco with you! Flareon spoke over him. We’ll likely have another with the Braixen and his compatriots! And you decide to let two random civilians get mixed into our affairs too?
Eevee tsked. “That’s enough, Flareon.”
Don’t you argue on his behalf, Eevee! It’s criminal enough that we put up with these explorers!
Seldom had Lucario seen any of Eevee’s siblings injecting their own opinions into a conversation. With Eevee serving as their collective voice, Flareon lashing out like this was a startling change of pace. Does nobody else see this? he went on. How idiotic this whole thing is? We take a dumb ‘gamble’ on these people, and they’re trying to bury us deeper—
Watch your words.
Flareon bristled, throwing his head over as Umbreon formed into being beside him, the Dark-type staring back with indifferent eyes. Oh, look at who wants to lecture me today! said Flareon. Did Sylveon feel like taking a vacation? Butt your head somewhere else, little brother, I know you’re as disgusted as I am.
I am giving advice. Hot-headed statements will burn the tongue that speaks—
I know very well what I said, and I’m ashamed that I took this long to say it! You’re all pretending our entire debacle with our village home never occurred in the first place, all for the sake of having a few hours of companionship with explorers who’d discard us at the first chance—
Flareon’s mind-voice abruptly cut off, much to his rage. He spun toward Eevee, only to shrink back at the seething Vaporeon who had poofed into existence beside him. Eevee himself was resting on his forelegs, putting on an air of boredom.
“And you used to think Umbreon would be the problem child of the family,” he said.
Espeon shouldn’t have let him speak his mind, hissed Vaporeon.
“Eh, let him yell at the explorers a little. I’d lash out at you too, Gabite,” Eevee said with a tiny frown, “but with your Braixen friend and an Hattrem empath around, I’m not sure if flat out denying the escort would have worked.”
“Not an excuse for me to cave in like that. Braixen’s going to bother me regardless,” Gabite grumbled to himself. “Darn it, if Lugia makes any moves with those two around—”
Perhaps Lugia will balk at the idea of revealing himself to civilians unaware of Eira’s nature. Perhaps he will not care. Vaporeon shook her head with slow, deliberate movements. Regardless, there is little good in denying the Feebas and Hattrem now. Nor is there in letting this mistake devolve into something else. They must never lay eyes on the human.
“Already considered that — I thought Braixen might join us on occasion, and planned to keep the girl separate whenever she needs to sleep undisguised. Togetic and Lucario will spend night shifts with her, they’ll detect anyone coming her way.” Gabite gave Lucario a significant look, the jackal scoffing but nodding along. In what world would he not do such a thing for his girl?
Togetic had no reservations either, ready to assist Eira however possible. Espeon is yours as well, said Vaporeon. This inconvenience irks me, but at least you show some prudence, explorers. And Flareon, you’ll find there are ways to punish even intangible ghosts, should you speak so crassly again. Am I done here?
Flareon glared a little, but acted no further, breaking up into mist that retreated into Eevee. Umbreon and Vaporeon did the same, leaving Leafeon and Glaceon to stick around. The latter slowly hovered over the table to reach Eira, sheepishness radiating from her eyes.
So, uh, magic?
It made Lucario warm inside that Eira could still, despite the addition of more complications for their journey, perk up at the little things in life. Shaymin grew cheerful too, eagerly nudging the false vixen, and the threesome headed toward the ladies’ quarters. Togetic slowly followed with a faint smile.
“I’ll keep her safe, as best as I can,” she promised Lucario.
That also made the jackal warm inside. He gave his thanks, letting her be off to join the others. A tap on the shoulder made Lucario spin around to face Gabite, Eevee and Leafeon resting on the side. “Sorry about that,” said the dragon-shark. “Same as what Togetic said, I’ll do what I can to get this sorted out.”
“It’s fine.” A wry part of Lucario considered how funny it would be if Feebas and Hattrem did find out about Eira’s humanity, only to take it in stride — and then dismissed the likelihood of such a situation. Better safe than sorry. “Good to know, though, that even the crazy human-hating dragon can find it within himself to care so much for—”
“Oh, quit teasing me about it already, would you?” Gabite squeezed his eyes. “Your girl has magic now.”
So she did. Their group, minus Eevee and his siblings, had got to see her conjure little spheres of ice and snow pellets, moving them around with some degree of precision. Even Gabite, as much as it seemed to torment him, had dared to observe the girl as her human self, playing with her cantrips.
It had strangely entranced him. As it had Lucario. The jackal couldn’t help but project an Aura Sphere again, having it bob over his palm. Control exercises — not something he was used to. A good start for a foundation, especially considering the oddities of human magic.
A form of magic where you have to be a control freak about how your powers work.
His own abilities weren’t quite like that. They were shaped, molded by the soul’s instinct, and learning how to break the mold was the tricky part. It was how Pokemon modified their moves and made new ones.
“A human mage under my employ,” Gabite went on, making a crooked grin. “Hah. Sounds weirdly appealing. My own secret weapon, a disguised horror to unleash upon other horrors. Pity she’ll be long gone before she ever becomes a real threat.”
“Can’t settle for the nine-in-one nightmare deal sitting over here?” said Eevee. “C’mon, pity me, being an unpaid apprentice stinks.”
Leafeon made a chuffing noise. “Eh, fair enough,” said Gabite. “Two thousand Poke as a starting bonus for working under me, how’s that?”
Eevee’s sleazy smile froze. “Wait, hold on, I wasn’t—”
“If you’re gonna help against the Abhorrents, can’t see no reason to pay you a little something. Don’t spend it all in one place, yeah?”
“I-I don’t need money! Abhorrents can’t go into towns—”
“Oh, come on, you keep your siblings fed with that attitude? You don’t expect them to fend for themselves, do you?”
Leafeon was now chortling out loud, and Lucario could’ve sworn he heard the quiet laughter of Sylveon, a snicker from Umbreon, and an involuntary snort from Flareon. Lucario himself couldn’t help but join in at Eevee’s detriment, Gabite settling for a taunting look.
He leaned over the table. “I’ll admit,” he said, “I’m almost looking forward to this madcap adventure. Don’t think I’ll ever get a better chance to uncover all the secrets I’ve been dying to shred apart, you know? Been too long since I traveled too.”
Lucario could relate to the latter part. There was this quiet exhilaration inside him, an eagerness to hit the road again. Being cooped up around Berrypark Town had been an interesting change of pace, but darn it, traveling so much with humans — with Adam — had given him a bad case of wanderlust.
Eevee, though, related more to the former. “Secrets,” he said with a chuckle. “It does feel like we’re in a candy store full of those, doesn’t it?” He crept across the table, lying down right in front of Gabite. “You know, you’ve got some juicy, dirty secrets hidden in that heart of yours. Did I ever tell you about how I’ve been collecting human rumors over the last few months?”
Gabite’s face warped into something foul. “The less said about my enslavers, the better,” he said, before pressing his lips for a moment. “Though I suppose I could tolerate a question or two, if you’re willing to trade?”
Eevee’s ears perked at the thought of it. “Anything you’re fishing for that Lucario or our dear human couldn’t explain better?”
“I don’t care about debunking your stash of rumors, Abhorrent, I’m interested in you. In who you are.”
Now Eevee was fully invested in the conversation. His and Gabite’s gazes pressed against each other, their eyes slitlike, and Lucario had to resist a sigh at their theatrics. Wherever this talk was going, though, it did pique his curiosity. It would be nice, getting to know his two companions better.
Uh, a moment? Leafeon stepped into the meager space between Gabite and Eevee, making the former jerk back. I think it’s only fair to rope Lucario into this too. I’ve been hoping to ask a few questions myself.
Oh? Lucario cocked an eye at the Grass Eeveelution ghost, palms resting on the table. “Fire away,” he quickly decided. “Ask whatever you like.”
Anything?
A casual shrug was Lucario’s response. What would Leafeon be interested in, his life under humankind? What it was like being in a Pokeball? Whatever it was, Lucario didn’t see a reason to mind. It wasn’t like he had any bad memories locked away in his head like Gabite—
Cause I don’t want to be rude, but I’m kinda curious about your experience with the Spacetime Ruptures. You faced Unown and stuff, right?
Lucario twitched as warbling cries invaded his head, the little Riolu within him huddling into himself. A grumble left him.
Okay. Small correction. Maybe, just maybe, there was one group of memories he’d rather keep locked away.