The three days after the festival were peaceful, all things considered. With the roads of the Source Hills effectively cleared of Crest presence, George and Blitzer were given time off to do whatever they wanted. Just a few minor errands came their way, all of them related to staying in touch with the locals.

For it was those same locals whose support the Alliance counted on, after all. Now more so than ever. The festival was over, and it was time to strike while the iron was hot. The festival went off without a hitch in the Alliance supporting regions, while news of Rustborough’s suffering had spread far and wide. Chaos ensued, details were fuzzy. All George knew is that a riot had broken out, and Gareda was personally involved in putting it down. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up the more he thought about it.

‘She’s out for blood more than ever. If not mine, then everybody else. ’

The peaceful days grew evermore rife with frustration. George couldn’t do much without his hands bawling up into fists. Not training, not errands, no chats or food, talking or playing games with Blitzer and the locals, nothing. Blitzer alerted Porov about it several times, but what finally got George to drop the attitude was getting back into action. Every day of nothing was another day for the enemy to do as she pleased, after all.

On the fourth day after the festival, Porov woke George and Blitzer up to the news that they were moving out. And not just for any patrolling job, or dungeon busting escapade. At last, the time had come to get what they had come here for. The piece of the Azure Flute.

George’s determination skyrocketed as they went through the teleporters. They ended up in a country hamlet. Wooden houses, dirt roads and dusty hills greeted them upon arrival. No more than thirty Pokemon lived here, and all of them had chosen to spend the day indoors, it seemed. The town looked deserted.

“This is where the flute piece is kept?” said Blitzer as he dragged his eyes down the hills and into a stream. Porov took notice of his tired body language, and gave him a bump on the shoulder.

“Oi now. I told ye exactly where. Or did someone else?”

“Not really,” said George, before clicking his tongue. “I don’t know anymore. Somewhere in the Source Hills, maybe something to do with a temple…”

Porov snapped his fingers. “Close enough. C’mere me boys, lemme show ya” He began to walk up the hill, his feet carelessly pushing through the thick and thorny shrubbery that dotted the slope. George and Blitzer traded a look with each other, then followed.

“He said it wasn’t far from the teleporter, was it?” Blitzer once again looked to George for reassurance. The Dewott had but a shrug to give.

“Yeah. Said a teleporter was specifically set up for it. Plenty of Alliance people who’d be helping out as well.”

Blitzer stroked his chin, his tail swinging around the bushes behind him. “Do you think that’s a precaution? After what went down in Rustborough?”

George nodded. ”I’d be surprised if it wasn’t. Gareda’s been on a rampage… Rioting over limiting the festival? After all the robbery and bullying they’ve put everyone through?” He looked away in disgust; an Absol stood on a hill in the distance, watching for something.

Blitzer shook his head. “I don’t get her. I really don’t.”

“Most people don’t,” George said. “Just the way some people are.”

“But there’s gotta be good in her too, right?” Blitzer said.

George sighed. “Remember what Artanouk said? People aren’t always who they seem to be?” he put forward while brushing his whiskers. ‘Wishful thinking over someone who probably wants me dead. Pokemon must love their second chances. Far from just Blitzer who’d say something like that..’

“Attention! We’re just about there, me boys! Hope yer ready!”

Porov’s joking warning was dismissed with a wave. “Right, a temple you said-”

And right as the two of them reached the top of the hill, Porov revealed the other side. George’s eyes widened, as did Blitzer’s mouth fall open.

Before them, seated at the center of a wide open valley stood a grand building, surrounded by a large moat. The Hall of the Rubyfolk, just as Porov had told of. Its large, red brick walls shone bright in the brownish plains, like a star in the night sky. There wasn’t a speck of dust polluting the sight: All the walls were clean, as were the brick roads leading to the entrance.

“W-wow… It’s like something out of a dream,” Blitzer said under his breath, his tail having flopped onto the ground in amazement. “This, this is unreal!”

George tried measuring the hall from afar, using only his fingers to make a guess. “How old is this building? Doesn’t look that old, or is that just me?”

“Like they finished it yesterday,” Blitzer said, grabbing hold of George’s shoulder with one claw while stretching the other towards the horizon. “I can’t believe it, I really can’t. It’s right in front of me, but-”

“Don’t have to tell me,” George said in a hushed tone. He might not have been showing it openly, but he was as amazed as Blitzer was. So what if the building was finished this year or earlier? Every aspect of the site, from the laying of the bricks to the arrangement of the gardens, to the straightness of the canals and flat brick roads was impressive even for humans to lay down. Nothing in Rustborough came anywhere near the level of skill and knowledge required. Nothing in the rest of Eravate, even.

‘So this is what Pokemon are truly capable of… even though we’re all just animals at the end of the day. Sure, they can speak, and think, but… no! What am I saying!’

George couldn’t help but show the biggest smile to the world while eyeing the halls. And it hadn’t gone unnoticed, either.

“Heheh… impressed, me boys? I think they’re impressed, whaddye say?”

“Damn straight they are… one’s from the country, other’s not even from here. Must be quite the shock, hah!”

Blitzer and George’s attention was stolen from the building when a familiar voice came stomping their way. Quite literally, the dirt squelched in pain with every step he took. Given how heavy Aggron were, let alone this particular Aggron, you couldn’t exactly be surprised.

“Skal! You’re back!” Blitzer ran up to the Aggron with an excited flareup of his tail; Skal put his claws up in response.

“Oi, easy there, laddie. Ya know Steelies like me don’t like large fires that much, right?”

Blitzer braked to a stop, sending splotches of dirt flying all over the blackscarf’s feet. “Oh. Right.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

George buried his grinning face under a hand. ‘Typical Blitzer.’

“Don’t sweat it,” Skal said. “Can’t say I was any different at yer age! Hah!” His tail thumped on the ground behind him in a funky rhythm. Mere dirt turned into a musical instrument. Or dance floor. “Aah… now, before we get all ahead of ourselves, congratulations on evolvin’, George! When did that happen, eh?”

George had but a simple wave to give. “About a week ago. And thanks.” ‘I thought Porov would’ve told him.’

“Well well, movin’ on up in the world, hah!”

Blitzer stuck his tongue out. ”You know, if you weren’t here, I’d say you’ve been living under a rock! Where have you been?”

“Been dealin’ with business, that’s what.” Porov dangled his pendant in between his fingers. “Ain’t that right?”

Skal tilted his head upwards. “Sure did. Been tryin’ to organise somethin’ big, ya know? Ain’t every day that we get a chance to take out a big Crest bastard, ye know that. This one was biiig, and I needed some time to prep it properly… but eh, ain’t gone so good.”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

George waddled his way into the fray. “Let me guess, the target escaped?” A half annoyed, half cringing stare came back his way.

“Somethin’ like that, yeh. Sucks too, ‘cause I had big hopes for this. Woulda been good practice for somethin’ bigger. Instead I got to apologise to Artanouk for squanderin’ an opportunity like that. Gave him nothin’ but losses, really horrible.” Skal sighed, then fluffed up his face with several half hearted punches to the side. “But ‘nuff about that. You’ve been doin’ great, haven’t ya, Georgie? Been getting all that support with Porov over here, and Blizzie too. Ain’t that right?”

“Sure is,” George said with a slow blink. “We wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case.”

“Hahahah! ‘Course!” Skal roared.

“Hit the nail on the head there,” Porov said with a wink and snap of his fingers. “Anyway, let’s not wait out here for that long, yeh? Ain’t got the time to jus’ sit around idlin’. Didn’t get people waitin’ on us for no reason, after all. Let’s go.”

They all traversed down the slope and into the valley, through gardens of flowers and berries. Most of the flowers were red, like tulips, almost. The berries were somewhat more diverse, though all of them had to have been on the menu during the festival. All locally grown; perhaps the locals here had even sampled the garden’s berries during their celebrations.

Next was the moat. Built from pearly white bricks, crystalline water flowed from the nearby hills and into the canal-like structure. It was some two Golurk lengths in diameter, some six meters or so in total. It wasn’t used to fuel the garden, nor any of the plants on the hall. The moat served as a defence line for the hall, and another element of beauty, to which it contributed with such grace.

Finally, they walked over the brick roads, and up the steps leading into the hall. Various Pokemon wearing local red garbs stood tall and proud. The garbs jingled much like a Kommo-o’s scales. Red chainmail, in George’s view, similar to what knights wore throughout history. And much like knights, the Pokemon standing guard were completely devoted to their duty. They didn’t acknowledge their guests as they climbed the steps, nor did they show any emotion. Just iron gazes at the hills and skies, searching for anything that resembled a threat.

“Heheh… ‘s a lot nicer to visit a place like this when it ain’t run by the baddies, eh?” Skal said to George and Blitzer once they were all at the top of the steps.

Blitzer was panting a little from the climb. “Yeah… sure is. You did say we’d be welcomed now, right?”

“Yup,” Porov said. “Got ‘nuff people vouchin’ for us that they’ll let us up. People who trust us now, me boys. Remember, we ain’t just takin’ one of their old treasures here ‘cause we want a shiny artifact for our mantlepiece, or anythin’ silly like that. Oh no no no no no, this is for the ol’ Ruby Hills just as much as it is for us. Means even more to all of Eravate! And we ain’t lettin’ ‘em down here, are we?”

The Darmanitan added a wink at the end before awaiting a response. Blitzer affirmed with a wink of his own, while George’s eyes went past Porov, into the hall itself.

‘You know… all of this still feels fishy. I’m a complete stranger still, not even from the same world, ran a few errands and now I’m let in here to take their treasure. And not just any treasure either…’ He bit his lip, then winked affirmative as well, despite what he was telling himself. ‘I’m not the only one here, though… This is for the entire Alliance. And besides. Asking the why’s just unnecessary trouble now, isn’t it.’

One of the garbed Pokemon guided them inside. The hall was dimly lit, and smelled dusty. George sighed as he waved it away. That the hall existed at all was enough of an achievement. Making it pleasant to be in was a whole different matter.

Nevertheless, dust was no excuse to turn back. They followed the torchlit chandeliers through the center of the hall, avoiding the many side corridors leading to other treasure chambers. Nor did they stop to marvel at any of the paintings, trinkets and other gifts on display. Some were laid bare to the touch, others were covered with a layer of glass. Any attempt to touch would be fiercely put down, George imagined.

At the tail end of the main hall, Skal and Porov stopped dead in their tracks, just in front of a gold adorned doorway arch. Past the two garbed Durant who were keeping an eye on their guests, faint edges of light shone down on the floor from high above, but the source remained obscured. Before either George or Blitzer could ask what what happening, they turned in sync with each other, as if they had rehearsed their entire walk here in advance.

“Well, ‘ere we are,” Porov said. “Before we go in, we gotta introduce the two of ye to some folk. Local Rubyfolk who’ve decided to vouch for ye here. Ye might recognise ‘em. Might not.”

George raised an eye at that. “Two people? Why just two? Or-”

“Two’s a thousand times better than one, for starters,” Skal explained, ducking down until the horns on his head were almost poking George through his ears. “And ‘ey. How many folks ye think gotta vouch for ye to get trusted? Ain’t nothin’ ever gonna get done unless everyone agrees to it. Which basically means that nothin’ ever gets done, hah! So, two people. ‘Tis good enough.”

“Alright then,” George said, biting his lip. ‘Not sure about that-’

His entire body jolted up as a warm claw grabbed him by the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, George,” Blitzer said. “You know what the people here are like, they’re very warm and friendly! It’s no surprise that extends to even their treasure. Especially given what we want to do with it!”

“Aye!” Porov said. “Me boys, there ain’t any doubt ‘bout yer intentions. Yer names are no small things out in Ruby country any longer! Yer good folk. Good folk who wanna do good things. And that’s all there is to it.” His eyebrows flared up as he grinned, his teeth shining in the orange light. “Right right! Guys! C’mon out, ‘tis time!”

“Heard!”

Out of the shadows stepped three figures, two tall felines front and center, one green and lithe who waved with a short trill, the other red and muscular; he looked as if he were showing off. George didn’t know him, and instead passed him over for the former. She needed no introduction, after all.

“Minos!”

“Surprise!” the Meowscareda purred. “What, you didn’t expect to see me here?”

“What?” George rapidly shook his head. “No, not that, it’s just… well. We’ve only known each other for what, a week or so? Maybe two?” ‘Maybe two? What?’ “Wasn’t expecting to have you vouching for us after such a short time.”

Minos cracked up upon hearing George’s explanation, her ears oscillating back and forth. “Oh, shut it, you. Àfter all the help you’ve been, did you seriously think I’d just leave you hanging like that? I literally promised to help you out if you showed up to the festival. And honestly? Even if you didn’t show up, I still would’ve helped. Just something to do when you owe someone a favour. There’s a good chance me and my dad would’ve been homeless if not for you.”

George nodded along. “Right... Well, it’s a pleasure. And I would’ve done it even if you weren’t interested in vouching at all, you know.”

Minos raised a paw. “Don’t sweat it. This is the least I could do.”

“Well, we’re grateful anyway!” Blitzer piped up with a light growl in his voice. He sounded as if he were trying to sound older than he was. Cooler, in his mind.

“Heh, ain’t that right…” the Incineroar murmured under his breath, scratching himself by his whiskers. “Don’t think we met before, did we?”

“No,” George said. “No we haven’t.”

Blitzer’s growling dissipated. “Uh, no…” he said in a far meeker, more teenage tone. “You… uh, I think you… might’ve been in Flamehollow… uh…”

“Might’ve been?” the Incineroar raised an eye, then leaned right over Blitzer’s head. The Charmeleon gulped. “Might’ve been, you say?”

“Y-yes…?”

Suddenly, the Incineroar roared right into laughter. “Bwahahahaha! Kid, I literally run Flamehollow! I’m the mayor!... well, I was the mayor anyway. Mayor Lon, of Flamehollow… miss it already.”

Blitzer gulped again, keeping his arms flat against his belly. “W-well, what happened?” he asked. The Incineroar sighed.

“Crest happened, that’s what. Showed up after that raid to try and rake me over the coals… but I wasn’t gonna let myself get raked over the coals. Didn’t even work for the Alliance or anything, yet that bastardly Garchomp all but accused me of it right then and there.”

George frowned. ‘Gareda.’

“Few days later, I got arrested,” Lon continued. “And well, that was the end of mayor Lon. If it wasn’t for Cerben suddenly pardonin’ me, I’d have been screwed.” He let out a soft hiss. “Wish that oversized toad of an Arcanine actually stood up for himself. Guy’s been lettin’ himself get walked all over… people’s Lord my keester.”

Minos nervously licked his lips. “To be honest, I don’t know what to think about him. I know he cares deep down, it’s just-”

“Well, ye can consider me jaded, in that case,” Lon continued. “If ye ask me, he needs to get out. Someone stronger out to take the reigns. Someone who can actually get these Crest goons to run with their tails between their legs, I say!” He spat at the ground beside him.

“Darn straight!” Skal said. “Welcome aboard, Lon. ‘tis a crazy and dangerous ship we’re on, but I’d be damned if it ain’t fun to be one. Feels great to be free, doesn’t it?”

Lon grinned. “Couldn’t have said it better myself,” he said, his tail whipping behind him.

Finally, the two felines were casually nudged out of the limelight by the third figure with them. A Lilligant with an extra flowery dress, visibly aged though not showing any signs of slowing down.

“Well, look at what we have here! Haven’t the two of ye been through some misadventures, eh? Glad to see ye here though!”

The Lilligant waved at them. George bit his lip at the way she fumbled her words. “You say that like you’re surprised you even have to be here, Venusa. Or that you secretly dislike us.” ‘I can’t get a feel for her at all, I swear.’

Venusa shook her head. “No, no, not in the slightest! That wouldn’t be right. Everything has been very hectic recently, ya know. Between Rustborough, more pressure, and recruiting this handsome fellow here, we got our hands full!” she said while patting Lon just above the belt. The Íncineroar smugly grinned.

“You’re here now!” Blitzer said. “That’s what matters.”

“Exactly!” Venusa replied.

Porov then clapped his hands loudly to grab everyone’s attention. “Right! Well folks, think it’s time at last. We’re gonna go get ourselves that flute piece, whaddye say?”

“Let’s do it!”

“For Artanouk! For the Alliance!”

George took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.”

The six of them stepped through the golden archway, into the main treasure chamber. Immediately, they were confronted by a tall pyramid-like staircase at the other end. It rose way up into the sky, seemingly higher than the building was on the outside. If one squinted, it looked as if little was separating the ceiling from space.

“Well well, there it is… just a ‘lil walk to the top, and we’ll have what’s rightfully… Eravate’s!” Skal rubbed his claws. “Go on then, George. Go get it!”

“Yeah, George. What are you waiting for?” Minos said with a wink. Blitzer chuckled.

“Yeah George, hurry up!”

“Well, George? Ya gonna?” Lon asked, twirling a whisker around with a claw.

“Go on, Georgie!”

“Georgie, me boy!”

“George!”

Ears flat against his head, and hands helping keep those ears down much to everyone else’s amusement, George made the long climb up the stairs. His footfalls echoed across the chamber with each step, unspoiled by dust or other noises. He went on for a minute, as each individual step didn’t bring him much higher. The builders must’ve wanted Pokemon of various sizes to have access to the top.

But after that minute, he finally got to lay eyes on the prize. Sitting on a ruby red pillow atop a marble pedestal was another piece of the Azure Flute. It shone nicely in the light from nearby candles. George picked it up with both hands, then cradled it like it was a baby. An object of unparalleled beauty and power, all in his hands.

‘He__ _e.’

George’s eyes shot towards the ceiling. ‘What am I hearing?’

‘He__ _e. He__ __u. Y __ ___ ___n_ ___d t_.’

Fragments of a voice sounded nearby, though there was no real source. First it came from the ceiling, then the pedestal, then George’s feet, before his whiskers ended up making the noise. George shrugged.

‘It’s like doing homework in that dusty old ceiling again. I swear those rats talked. Couldn’t even go in there for some alone time or drawing without hearing them.’

Matters of rats aside, George made his way down the steps, much to the cheers and roars of the others. Porov was strangely absent, however.

“Theeere it is! C’mon down, faster, faster!” Skal growled. George sneered at him.

“You’d be crankier if I dropped it by accident. Hold on.” And I don’t want to break my neck.’

“Oi! OI!!!!”

The smug smiles faded as Porov came dashing into the chamber, eyebrows flaring wildly.

“They’re here! They’re HERE!!!”