Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Altered Bonds

  Chapter 24 — Their Eyes on Her

  Mismagius, Eira found, was one to keep up a calm expression on her face, even when something got on her nerves. This was the first time she’d ever seen her appear ruffled.

  “A Missing One, projecting itself through a Pokespawn.” The witch had her brows knit together in thoughtful distress. “Such things are grave to hear.”

  A circle of Pokemon surrounded her in the bright forest clearing they sat in — all the members of Team Heavendust, Elementri, and Seaspell, along with a moody Eevee. Feebas and Hattrem were naturally the most freaked out by the incident with Weavile, while Braixen and Golisopod had managed to keep a small dose of composure. Gabite and Heliolisk had already learned the general story from Lucario, as had Shaymin. Back in her Sky Forme, the reindeer Pokemon clutched her Gracidea tightly, sharing a look with a shaken Togetic. Both shot troubled glances toward Eira, who failed to meet their eyes.

  “It would explain things. Golisopod was rattled by what he felt within floor six of the dungeon’s southern side, claiming it was similar to Stormsoaked Shores,” stated Braixen. “Even I sensed something had gone amiss. Are you fine, Lucario and Miss Vulpix?”

  Eira squirmed at the faces turned upon them. “F-fine,” she stammered.

  “Just another mental scar to my collection,” Lucario muttered, a grouchy look in his eyes.

  An abridged version of the story had been shared with everyone. It was impossible to hide it, what with Golisopod’s dangersense and Heliolisk already being aware that something had transpired with Weavile. He’d caught the thief shouting and freaking out right before using the Escape Orb, and had sensed the gazes too. Only her human nature and Weavile’s discovery of it was left out.

  Her teammates could read between the lines though. As could Mismagius. They understood the story that had gone unspoken.

  He actually took the wristband. Eira felt cold inside, her last embers of spite being snuffed out by the frigid winds of resignation. Why did Weavile have to do that?

  Mismagius took in a long breath. “I cannot consider any other possibilities. You indeed saw a Missing One at play here,” she said. “The other gazes come from its brethren. Judging from Weavile’s abnormal reaction, and his urgent belief that he needed to contact a so-called Frostlord—”

  She gave Heliolisk a questioning look. “He was yelling something like that when I found him and ran over to knock his lights out,” the lizard said. “Gabite and Eevee saw how he skedad*led off, as if finding this lord-person would save the entire world or whatever.”

  He nudged Lucario, insisting he back him up. The jackal gave a stiff hum.

  Mismagius slowly turned back to the rest of the crowd. “Considering the thief’s reaction, the Missing One seems to mean something to him,” she proposed. “Perhaps he has a connection to their kind, and he did something that made one seek to influence the dungeon and make contact with him? Or is this sheer coincidence, related to the odd behavior of Mystery Dungeons in the general world?”

  “Are we sure Lucario and Miss Vulpix’s presence had no effect here?” Braixen asked, before raising his arms as Gabite and Lucario threw him a sharp gaze. “Ah, no offense. I wasn’t sure how to broach the possibility in a more polite way. I simply doubt Weavile on his own would trigger a rare anomaly with Missing Ones, not without another factor at play.”

  And there it was, the question that made everyone stare a little harder at her. No doubt they thought of the ‘ailment’ she had. It made her want to curl up into a ball and hide her face from the world at large.

  Why?

  “If Vulpix’s issues are somehow a factor, I don’t get why,” Gabite said, and bizarrely, Eira sensed he was being honest. “A child with a strange illness shouldn’t attract their interest — it didn’t at Stormsoaked Shores, and they were far more present there.”

  Because I wasn’t outed as a human then? Eira dryly thought, before dwelling on the matter. Wait, why would Missing Ones care about a human? Because I’m an ill omen?

  “It’s possible that proximity to Weavile lured them out.” Braixen frowned, quickly reconsidering this line of thought. “But I cannot see why their pairing would attract them more, if there was little attraction to start when the two were alone. Was there something you did to catch their attention? Your fight, maybe?”

  He seemed to ponder on the matter for a while, veins appearing on his furry forehead. Hattrem groaned out, a ponytail arm squeezing her Treasure Bag in a vice-grip.

  “I’m sorry?” she said, her voice a touch higher than she probably wanted it to be. “Missing Ones? What in the Distortion World are those?”

  “Some do think the strange spirits hail from the home realm of Giratina-kind, though others insist they come from the darker reaches of Ultra Space, or even realms too alien for our world.” Mismagius folded her cloth-arms, her face solemn. “I am not too knowledgeable on them, I confess. Their records are even more scarce than those of humans, to the point of being entirely mythical in nature. But if I must describe them, I’d say they are the dark beasts that live within the walls of Mystery Dungeons, silently observing us. They are far-flung cousins of us Pokemon, their magic too chaotic and warped in nature, as are they.”

  She gave Shaymin a look. The Mythical huffed, not denying it.

  “They are said to lap up and feast on our sufferings, during our time in the dungeons. I have heard theories on them being the true masters of Mystery Dungeons, but I find this inconsistent — in most cases, it is clear they are trapped and unable to normally affect a dungeon itself, using proxies instead. Few are capable and strong enough to seep out into the mazes themselves, and most simply feed on the energy we expend there, be it magic or vitality.”

  “Do they feed on us?” Shaymin asked.

  “Mm, perhaps, perhaps not. Your experiences at Stormsoaked Shores seem to imply it.”

  Winces from Team Heavendust. Eira had been hoping Mismagius would share her knowledge on Missing Ones — clearly Shaymin and Eevee too, judging from their hawkish attention to her words — and goodness, what little she knew still made her queasy inside. They’re haunting, Eira thought.

  “Their appearances can greatly differ,” Mismagius went on. “I have heard that the weaker ones take more common forms, but stronger, older ones can take on unique shapes with their own special set of abilities. They tend to have a unifying trait beyond their bizarreness, however: their swirling, galaxy-like eyes. I believe some of you are familiar with this?”

  Except for Feebas and Hattrem, everyone slowly turned toward Gabite, who grimaced, as if recalling horrible traumas. Then Eevee, the Abhorrent blankly standing there.

  His fur tore off, black ooze and gray static covering it whole. Lucario winced and pulled his feelers, Hattrem’s ponytails tensed, and Golisopod shook in sudden fear, the group staring at the white, galactic void that was Eevee’s spiral-shaped eyes. They were squeezed tight, Eevee resisting the madness of his Distortion Frenzy.

  He turned back to normal a few seconds later, panting as his brown furry body reformed itself. “What did I say about warning me in advance?” Lucario muttered.

  “Forgot.” Eevee stared through Mismagius. “Those eyes?”

  “Those eyes.”

  And like that, no room was left for doubt. Abhorrents really were linked to Missing Ones, in some strange fashion. It brought chills down Eira’s spine.

  Feebas had been silent throughout the whole discussion, taking in everything with a glassy look. It amazed Eira, how she managed to stay composed through it all. The fish Pokemon let out a sigh as the talk fell into a lull, managing to put on a squeamish smile.

  “Guess you all really have your hands full, huh? Didn’t think weird otherworldly monsters would be involved in any of this Abhorrent stuff,” she said. “Is there a reason you’re sharing this with me and Hattrem?”

  “In case a similar event occurs,” Gabite said on Mismagius’s behalf. “Regardless of what triggered Missing Ones to appear, they seem to be interested in us now.” A full-body shudder went through him, the dragon-shark already dreading the thought of it. “They might seek us in other dungeons.”

  “An inconvenient possibility,” agreed Mismagius. “A Missing One could find a way to move between Mystery Dungeons, as far as I’ve been led to believe.”

  Eira, of course, knew the trigger point. Herself. The dungeon shortcut between Grassbranch and Swampblot island probably wasn’t safe anymore. Was she stuck?

  “A-and Weavile?” she said, before going stiff as she unintentionally brought everyone’s attention to her. “I-I mean, what about him? And, um, his teammates?”

  Lucario let out a tiny snarl, knowing the questions she dared not voice in front of Team Elementri and Seaspell. He craned his head to the side, Eira following his gaze. Well into the distance, just out of earshot, an incapacitated Swellow and Golduck shot the group flat looks.

  They coughed and hacked in unison, a rope tying them to a thick tree trunk. This alone wouldn’t be enough to hold them — if not for their Dungeon Plague. They had been knocked out cold in Green Ridge, causing the dungeon to viciously evict them out at the southern entrance with the strange illness. Neither Pokemon could muster the energy to escape.

  They had been positioned so that they couldn’t see Eevee from their vantage point. Lucario strode up to them, and Eira chose to follow along. Heliolisk joined too for some reason, along with Mismagius. They circled around the two thieves, Golduck’s beak contorting into a crooked smirk.

  “My adoring fans,” he joked, before violently coughing. “Come to face the grandeur of the terrible duck-king himself, the chosen one of legend?”

  Swellow too had the gall to be brash toward his captors. “Don’t matter where you send us away,” he said. “If you ain’t got Weavile, you ain’t got us. The big ‘mon can bust us out whenever.”

  “You sure about that?” Heliolisk stepped forward, arms crossed. “Last we saw, your head honcho was running scared and fleeing toward some Frostlord person or whatever.”

  Golduck and Swellow’s taunting faces vanished instantly. Both frowned.

  “Run that back for us?” asked Golduck.

  Lucario harrumphed, leaning in front of Golduck. “The Frostlord,” he said. “Who is that? Some criminal overlord of yours?”

  The two thieves looked at the jackal like he was stupid. Beneath that, however, Eira caught a whiff of something else, akin to concern. Worry for their leader. “Old connection of Weavile’s, I reckon?” said Golduck.

  “Nothing to do with us,” said Swellow, before making a hacking noise, as if he wanted to throw up something poisonous. “Oh, darn this stupid plague. You telling us Weavile got spooked enough to want to flee back to his homeland?”

  Home? He was going home? Eira pressed her lips, failing to make sense of this. Lucario and Heliolisk seemed muddled at Swellow’s words, for each their own reasons, and even Mismagius cocked an eye.

  “Intriiiiiguing,” she said, throwing the thieves a no-nonsense look. “Where?”

  “Oh, neat, they’re bringing out the scary granny,” Swellow muttered. “Since when was there a Mismagius tailing your circus troupe?”

  Mismagius moved dangerously close to Swellow. “Where?”

  “He doesn’t know, ma’am.” Golduck coughed out, folding his arms as best as he could despite the rope restraining them. “Neither of us know, we’re making educated guesses here. If you’re being honest and Weavile’s gotten so freaked out that he’s running off to some lord of his, I’d wager it means he’s headed to whatever secretive society he once lived in, somewhere in the middle of either Cragpeak or Tundrashield Island.”

  “Boss wasn’t exactly chatty about his old life,” Swellow tacked on. “All we know is he’d been cast out of his homeland, and seems to know weird things.”

  “And that he’s afraid of the dark,” Golduck said with a smirk.

  “And that he’s afraid of the dark, ha! Put him in a pitch-black cave dungeon and he’ll scream about monsters in the shadows, it’s the funniest thing!” Swellow’s laughter came out as more of a wheezing cough, a wing thumping his chest. “Probably can’t blame him though, we think he’s got some old traumas in his head. The poor mon’s seen some weird—”

  Swellow abruptly snapped his head up, instantly regretting the motion as he hissed and groaned in pain. A solemn weight entered his eyes.

  “Something unnatural went loose in the dungeon, didn’t it?”

  Golduck too turned grim, scrutinizing the group. Lucario and Eira stood inert, silent, feeling the two thieves’ gazes chip away at them. Then they snapped away, toward Gabite, Braixen, and Golispod.

  The trio had approached them, standing a short distance back. So had the girls, Shaymin, Togetic, Hattrem, and Feebas quietly listening in. “Hey, swamp mercenary bug,” Golduck called, and Golisopod buckled. “I know your kind’s type. There were — Weavile would call them spirits — things in the dungeon, weren’t there? What on Haven Archipelago happened to our boss while the dumb jackal and his kit were with him?”

  Golisopod let out a weary rumble, his gaze listless. Nobody made eye contact with Golduck and Swellow, Lucario and Eira especially. She could feel the pair scrutinizing her for every detail, every last morsel of info they could get on Weavile’s fate.

  Golduck sighed. “Oh, fine, keep your little explorer secrets,” he muttered, a webbed hand caressing his forehead. “Hate to break it to you, Swellow, but I think Weavile’s out of commission for the time being. We’re on our own here.”

  “Well, ain’t that just swell?” came Swellow’s sardonic response. He laid his head against the tree trunk he was tied to, beak upturned in a bitter act of arrogance toward his captors. “Whatever. I ain’t blaming Weavile, you lot obviously did something to scare him senseless and I’m holding it against you. Now are we getting arrested or what?”

  Mismagius made no further inquiries, leaving Braixen to handle the formalities. He took out his explorer badge from the Treasure Bag he had given Heliolisk, pressing a knob on the winged emblem and having it face the twosome. The red bulge flashed, and both were briefly outlined in crimson light.

  They marched, Eevee darting off into the forest to remain out of sight. Golduck and Swellow were given separate bindings, Golisopod keeping Golduck leashed to a rope and Lucario carrying Swellow himself, as his illness, injuries, and bird feet made walking a nightmare for him. Golduck wasn’t given the same luxury, the duck managing to tough it out as he followed in front of Golisopod with slumped shoulders. Noondaisy Town wasn’t far from the southern entrance to Green Ridge, and they would drop off the thieves there.

  Feebas hopped close to Eira, and Hattrem moved over too, both looking like they wanted to offer condolences for whatever she might have experienced in the dungeon. Eira huffed, shifting her tails and giving the two a give-me-some-space look. They politely respected her request, pulling away.

  Hattrem’s eyes lingered on her, though. Braixen was side-eyeing her too, though his gaze quickly shifted to Lucario a moment later, perplexment etched into his face. It got on Eira’s nerves. Without thinking, she found herself drifting toward Mismagius.

  The witch seemed to have been expecting this. “I did not anticipate that thieves would dare to strike your party,” she said. “My apologies that I was not present to ward them off.”

  “Where were you?” Eira asked aloud. Lucario perked an ear, and Shaymin and Togetic craned their heads over, while Gabite merely raised his head a little. Team Elementri listened as well, along with Feebas and Hattrem, one curious and the other miffed. Eevee, although he had already distanced himself, was surely listening in too.

  Golduck and Swellow put on wondering expressions as they observed the drama, Mismagius putting on a rueful smile for her audience. “Business, dear.”

  “Business?”

  “Perhaps I should’ve mentioned it beforehand. My own ailments are quite bothersome when they flare up.” Mismagius faced Eira, and for a moment, she thought she could see pain in the witch’s eyes. “Perhaps you understand the need to address such things, hm?”

  And she said not a word further.

  Noondaisy Town was strikingly different from Berrypark Town, Lucario had quickly found. It was like someone had gotten their hands on a blueprint for a medieval human town, with its worn brick streets and tightly packed buildings, all organized into small, neatly defined districts. Plaques hung from businesses with images of their wares, lamp posts with inert Electric Gems pointed toward the noon sun, and plots for trees, bushes, and flowers were freely interwoven into the quaint charm of the town. Things were a little more Pokemon-friendly, of course, with low door handles for smaller Pokemon, and staircases and slopes of varying sizes that accommodated for Pokemon of different builds.

  The window of their second-floor room in an inn overlooked the street below, filled with various kinds of Pokemon, from Mareep twins to a family of Grovyles and Treeckos, and even a Noviern with a messenger bag swaying behind his back. Lucario would have been able to appreciate it more, if he hadn’t been busy fretting over the trouble Weavile had left him and Eira with. Never mind that at the current moment—

  “Say that again? You want little ol’ me to help you write your letter for your pals?”

  He had Heliolisk in his face. Lucario threw him a flat stare, pushing the smiling lizard out of his personal space. “I didn’t specify you,” he said, turning to Golisopod.

  Their party had rented rooms in a place called The Snorlax Relax, three to be exact. One for Feebas and Hattrem, one for Togetic, Shaymin, and Eira, and one for the guys to share. Heliolisk handled the arrangements — Gabite and Braixen had split off from the rest of their large group to turn in Golduck and Swellow to the authorities, and to find explorers brave enough to investigate the Abhorrent situation. Lucario currently stood beside one of the desks in the guys’ room, the aforementioned window hanging over it. A piece of paper and a quill rested on the desk, next to an unopened envelope.

  Those also were arranged by Heliolisk. He had pulled them from Braixen’s Treasure Bag at Lucario’s request, well before Togetic could offer her own supplies.

  Their room was reasonably large, with three mattress beds and a large sleeping cushion, a few chairs, two desks, and a table and couch. A bathroom existed off to one side, and even a working kitchen sink and mini-fridge were supplied, complete with Elemental Gems powering them. Electric Gem lamps were conveniently placed as well, to provide appropriate lighting when the daylight shining through the windows couldn’t. Faded green curtains hung over said windows, giving a calm feeling to the room.

  It was almost uncanny to Lucario, how much it resembled the nicer human hotels of the modern-day. Only the rustic look of the furniture and floorboards set it apart. Throw a flatscreen TV on the wall and we’d be set, he idly thought. Adam would be very amused to see something like this.

  His gaze darted to the parchment of paper, a wry smirk crawling onto his face. Banette too. Lanturn would probably just be giddy about the convenience of a sink and fridge. Ah, at least they’re alive and well.

  Golisopod was hunched over on the side of a bed close to Lucario. He slowly pulled himself up, the bed creaking in quiet relief, and politely moved Heliolisk to the side. “Help?” he croaked at Lucario.

  “Just a few words. I’m not the best at writing,” Lucario explained. Golisopod tilted his head to the side, but didn’t question it, taking up the quill in his oversized claw. Lucario dictated the words, and Golisopod wrote them with a swift hand, his handwriting sharp and professional-looking.

  Checking the finished letter, Lucario put on a little smile. He snatched the quill from Golisopod, then added a quick initial to sign it — he knew how to write that at least. ‘L’ for Lucario.

  Heliolisk looked over and made a gagging noise. “Why is your L so crooked?”

  “What part of ‘I’m not the best at writing’ did you not get?” Lucario snapped back.

  Once sealed in its envelope, it was ready for delivery. Lucario’s eyes fell upon the window, staring out at the gray brick streets and the Pokemon pedestrians walking past. Buildings large and small lined the road, giving the place its structured charm. The post office, if he remembered, was just down the road and around the corner. Not too far from here.

  The jailhouse was much further out, from what Gabite had implied to him. He and Braixen must’ve gotten Swellow and Golduck handled by now. A dull frown twisted Lucario’s face at the thought of their leader, the Weavile who’d gotten away. Who’d known and seen too much.

  And not just in terms of Eira. Weavile knew the darned prophecy — of Missing Ones, even. What kind of mythical village did you come from, Weavile? he wondered.

  Golisopod had returned to his bed, looking as if he was in meditation. “So,” Heliolisk said as he sat himself down on a chair, his arm draped over the backrest. “Freaky Graveler possessed by a Missing One. Must have been fun to see.”

  Lucario turned away from the window, snorting. “Yeah. Fun.”

  “Yep. Kinda weird that it made the poor Pokespawn melt into dungeon goop — guess they can’t possess them for long. Dunno if it has to do with the dungeon’s stability or something else, but who knows? At least they didn’t do anything to you or your little lady.”

  “Mm. You heard Weavile mention the Frostlord, yeah?”

  “Or something like that,” was Heliolisk’s response to the probing question. “Barely caught that part when I bolted in, dunno what he was saying before that but he seemed really freaked out.”

  A quiet use of aurasense let Lucario know his words were but the truth. Which meant Heliolisk knew nothing about the wristband. The lizard would’ve acted up by now if he had suspicions, anyway. “He was babbling,” Lucario replied. “Thought Vulpix and I did something to cause a Missing One to show its face.”

  “I mean, maybe your situation at Stormsoaked Shores had something to do with it. You did enter that dungeon while it was under collapse after all, they probably took interest in you there. Though I would’ve thought Gabite would be more interesting to them.” Heliolisk tilted his head. “Not sure where Weavile fits into things either, and unless your kid’s ailment has to do with her being secretly injected with Missing One energies or being a Missing One herself—”

  Heliolisk looked at Lucario. Golisopod grunted, throwing the lizard a dull look, but Lucario waved him away. That was the conclusion Heliolisk leapt to? Funny, that wasn’t far from what Togetic and Shaymin had assumed.

  He kept his face stony, making Heliolisk shrug. “Just a stupid thought, you would’ve been hounded at Stormsoaked Shores if it was true,” he said. “I’ll bet you that your surprise encounter was just a side-effect of dungeons going cuckoo these days, nothing else. That, or maybe Missing Ones really like Fallers or something?”

  Silence. Lucario kept his stony face. Heliolisk let his lips widen a little.

  “Cause like, you’re a Faller, man.”

  Golisopod nearly got up at the lizard’s accusation, looking as if he meant to scold him. Yet again, Lucario waved him down, even giving a polite little push to the armored bug. He side-eyed the letter he had written, directed to his old teammates.

  Someone really wants a standing ovation for having an average level of intelligence.

  “Yeah, I am. What else?”

  Lucario’s casual admission made Heliolisk’s smile fall into a comical pout. “Eh?” he said. “Hey, hold on! Follow the script, pal, you’re supposed to play dumb first! You can’t just—”

  “Yeah I can.” Lucario sat himself down on the bed opposite Golisopod’s, legs crossed. “You were saying something?”

  Heliolisk made a show of fuming at him, very unhappy with the nonchalant response he’d been given. Soon enough he dropped the attitude, however, taking on a rather serious air.

  “It was kinda obvious, mate.”

  “You think I can’t tell?”

  It had taken him a bit to realize, but he wasn’t so dense as to ignore how condemning Lanturn and Banette’s letter was. That alone gave away the whole story. “Terrible timing to get a message,” groused Lucario.

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  “Your face lit up so much I could’ve sunbathed in it,” Heliolisk stated. “A Pokemon that excited to get a letter when he firmly believes nobody from the entire archipelago would contact him? To phrase it in what I believe is modern human slang — that’s sus.”

  “Never mind how you keep trying to use human terms to bait me,” Lucario said, half-accusing. “You wouldn’t be hounding me like a shadow unless you believed I could be Faller material.”

  “You were on rather great terms with Porygon-Z, for a newcomer to Berrypark Town. Not a typical thing to see. And Gabite must’ve confided in you about his captors for a reason. Oh, and did I mention your L’s crooked?”

  Lucario shot Heliolisk a death glare.

  “Learn to write, buddy, it’ll help you better maintain your cover.” Heliolisk lazily lounged against the arm of his chair. “Now, trust me when I say this — it’s been far too long since I got my claws on a genuine Faller that isn’t an amnesiac or a wild Pokemon. I mean, you look like you’re human-raised, eh? Fought and trained under one?”

  “How—”

  “You just admitted it,” Heliolisk said, much to Lucario’s ire. “But you’re also a pretty capable fighter, you wouldn’t have gotten on Gabite’s team otherwise. Your kiddo, meanwhile, Gabite likely disapproved of her but caved in afterward — seems like you’re teaching her well on self-defense. A Faller and sheltered low-Level Pokemon under a different human’s care, yeah? It’d explain her closeness to you and why you’re both headed to your super mysterious benefactor who might be able to get you back home or whatever, eh?”

  Lucario could feel his face burn. The details about him and Eira being Fallers were another one of Gabite’s contingency cover stories, in the somewhat likely case that Braixen puzzled that part out — but good grief, even Heliolisk had the wits to pay such close attention? His gaze snapped to Golisopod, solemn as ever, a reproving stare fixed on Heliolisk.

  Golisopod briefly turned to the jackal. “Had thoughts,” he rumbled. “Left them aside though. For politeness’s sake.”

  “Like I said, been a bit since I’ve met Fallers that had actual relationships with humans,” Heliolisk went on, a painful yearning hidden behind his face. “And dang it, knowing there’s multiple of you is making my heart pump like there’s no tomorrow, cause you folks are the juicy ones I very badly need for my research! But I also know I’ve been a bum about this, so I’ll do you a solid. How’s a grace period sound? Team Elementri’s splitting off soon to hit other towns and recruit explorers — we can save the Faller chit-chat when we meet up next time in, I don’t know, Aquamush Town? I bet you’ll stay a bit there with your Faller pals before going onward, yeah?”

  Overly relaxed as Heliolisk was, Lucario could sense it physically hurt him to do this. No wonder he’d outed his Faller nature now. Heliolisk feared he’d lose his big opportunity if he didn’t reach out sooner. How high were the chances that Team Elementri and Team Heavendust would meet up again prior to reaching Kabutops?

  Lucario sighed, feeling far more pity for the lizard than he deserved. “We’ll talk tomorrow before you leave, you jerk,” he muttered, Heliolisk shooting a brow at him. “And I’ll give you one free question now, because one of us has to show some proper courtesy around here.”

  Golisopod snorted. Heliolisk made a noise and pursed his lips, thinking rapidly. Lucario raised a paw.

  “Five seconds before I rescind that offer.”

  “Ranseian?” blurted Heliolisk.

  Lucario blinked. That was, well, a strange first choice for a question.

  “Sinnohan. The kid’s Alolan though.”

  Heliolisk hummed as if he’d expected the denial, a tinge of worn disappointment in his tune. Lucario creased his brows at him, then stood up.

  “You’re free to punch him for me, by the way,” he told Golisopod.

  “You sadist,” said Heliolisk. Golisopod got up as well, and the lizard instantly leapt out of his chair, darting to the corner of the hotel. “Woah, hold on! Golisopod, be reasonable with me—”

  Lucario left them there, walking out the door with his letter in hand and closing it shut, to keep the noise out. A cozy hallway with smooth floorboards and lightly-colored wood panels for the walls spread out in either direction, doors lining them. His lips quirked as he caught Hattrem out in the halls, the witch staring past him and through the door where Heliolisk and Golisopod were maybe, just maybe, playing a game of cat-and-mouse. A ponytail caressed her forehead to soothe the emotional migraine Heliolisk’s panic was likely giving her.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have given Golisopod permission to hit him, it would stink if Braixen had to pay damages to the room.

  Feebas was also out, in front of an open door where a blushing Eira the Vulpix stood. “And so my point is, a young lady like you shouldn’t have to risk your neck against a crook like Weavile,” she said in a low voice. “And it means a lot that you did, getting my Prism Scale back! It would’ve stunk to lose the evolutionary item I paid a pretty Poke for, and I can’t even imagine how Togetic or Shaymin would’ve taken their own losses. So thanks for that, and sorry that you got in a bad situation because of it.”

  Eira the Vulpix pawed the floor, abashed. “I-it’s fine,” she said. “Happens sometimes.”

  “Oh, don’t be that way! I can’t even imagine what you went through with Weavile and the Missing One-thingy that showed up, and I owe you one. Just holler if you ever need anything! A friend, a helping fin, a fishy face to confide in — anything for you.” Feebas beamed at her, before hopping away, giving a thankful nod to Lucario as she spotted him. “Oh, and same for you! Whatever you two need, just say it, I swear I’ll more than make up for what you went through for me if I get the chance.”

  Hattrem’s brow shifted at how Feebas acted like the pair had saved her very life. She muttered a thanks of her own, before moving ahead of her friend, a ponytail moving to pull the door handle to their room and let Feebas inside. She slipped in right after.

  The door closed. Eira sighed, giving Lucario a little wave with her tails. “Really, I’m fine,” she said.

  Lucario spied Togetic and Shaymin further inside the room, sitting upon a plush cushion and throwing flat expressions behind Eira’s back. “How many novels have you read where someone says ‘I’m fine’ and actually means it?” he asked.

  “I can and will invoke tropes for ironic effect, so help me,” deadpanned Eira. She quickly changed the topic before Lucario could bat an eye at her sense of humor. “Was Heliolisk yelling?”

  Lucario huffed. “He knows we’re Fallers.”

  Behind Eira, Togetic and Shaymin muttered words of annoyance. Eira herself took the news better, shrugging it off as if the exposure was only to be expected in the wake of recent events. “Braixen can tell too, then,” she thought aloud.

  “They’ll be traveling separately from us for the near future, if it helps.”

  “Mm.” Eira gestured toward Togetic. “She thinks Weavile might be a Pickpocket.”

  Pickpocket? Was that some kind of Ability? That didn’t sound right to Lucario, the Weavile species were generally understood to have Pressure as their Ability, the same as Lugia’s. The effect was weaker than a Legendary’s, of course—

  Wait. But Weavile never had applied Pressure on them before. And he definitely would’ve used it if he could. “A Hidden Ability,” Lucario deduced.

  “From the story Eira gave us, Weavile seemed to relate to her due to having darker instincts,” Togetic said, flying over to join the conversation. “He implied that he can’t help but be a thief. That implies kleptomania, a side effect of having the Pickpocket Ability.”

  Shaymin still held her Gracidea close to her. “It’s how he keeps taking things from under our noses,” she muttered from her spot. “They’re basically magic thieves.”

  “Pickpocket’s a rather rare Ability for certain Pokemon, it only appears as an odd mutation, or sometimes when it’s passed down from one’s lineage. I take it that ‘Hidden Ability’ is the Faller term for it?”

  Lucario vacantly nodded. Small wonder Eira lost her wristband — from his perspective, it seemed to phase through her arm. His sense of guardianship smoldered at the thought of it, but really, what could he have done? He’d done his best, but the sly weasel had outmatched him with items and cunning. Weavile had only taken the wristband as an insult to injury, but had he wanted to, he could’ve stolen it from the very beginning.

  But that was all tangential to the real issue. Weavile knew of humans. He knew Eira was an omen. And because of his actions, there were now Missing Ones interested in her. He couldn’t warn the authorities, of course, but he could warn his so-called Frostlord, which could lead to later issues.

  “The Weavile is of trifling concern.”

  Eira and Togetic tried hard not to flinch, Lucario snorting as his eyes flicked toward the Mismagius who’d suddenly appeared beside them. Never mind, he was completely wrong and the Frostlord was a harmless duckling on a popsicle throne. He’d been vaguely aware of Mismagius’s aura lingering around here a good while, for all that he struggled to pinpoint exactly where in the inn she’d been eavesdropping.

  Her face remained neutral, though the corners of her lips tugged upward at the annoyed frown Shaymin shot her. “I’ve reflected on it, and while Weavile’s unusual origins and knowledge say dangerous things about his hometown, it also implies a high level of secrecy. His Frostlord might be a powerful figure, perhaps even a Legendary, but he is also a recluse. He would hesitate to threaten us.”

  To someone with Lucario’s string of bad fortune, that was hardly reassuring. “Sounds like wishful thinking.”

  Mismagius’s eyes went half-lidded. “A title of Frostlord implies a ruler from Tundrashield Island. It will take Weavile time to reach there, and more still for his master to choose to dispatch himself or others to track us down. If, of course, he feels he can afford to do so. I would wager that such a figure may choose to bide time first, to figure out the omen that Weavile believes would concern him, and prepare defensive measures against the fallout that a prophecy can bring. That will give us more than enough time to bring you to Kabutops.”

  “A-and if he does send Pokemon after me?” asked Eira.

  Mismagius put on a ghastly expression, as if tickled at such an idea. Almost eager, even, for such an inconvenience to come their way. It was ironic, the ominous mood she imposed on the area, for it dispelled a good chunk of Lucario’s fear.

  Fair enough. How dangerous would a Frostlord and his minions be against the freaky witch, after all?

  “In any case,” Mismagius went on, “Missing Ones concern me faaaaar more. If we are to travel between islands via Mystery Dungeon, their interference will be unpleasant. Warping between dungeons would strike me as an ideal point for them to exert maximum influence, should they wish to act maliciously.”

  Togetic pressed her lips, subconsciously rubbing the spot where she’d been struck by a presumed Missing One in Stormsoaked Shores, while Shaymin groaned. “Would they?” she asked.

  Mismagius gave a strange smile. “Out of maliciousness? Perhaps not. I am more fearful of their curiosity.”

  Ah. Typical eldritch monster behavior, being far too invested in poking at anything that moved and causing unfathomable horrors out of sheer novelty. Lucario felt the need to let out a morbid chuckle, though he swallowed it down for Eira’s sake. The girl looked very uncomfortable at being threatened by otherworldly monsters just because her human nature was interesting to them.

  “I don’t suppose,” she whispered, “you have a way to deal with them?”

  “Not necessarily. They are a foe I am acquainted with in stories and listless dreams, not in my waking life,” was Mismagius’s response. “Regardless, I will safeguard you as much as possible. They can only apply so much pressure from within the confines of dungeons, anyhow. Under normal circumstances, their influence should threaten us little.”

  Heads turned upon Mismagius. She tsked.

  “I assure you, fate does not conspire against those who speak ill-chosen words.”

  Shaymin huffed, Gracidea in hand as she leapt off her cushion and floated beside Eira. “Don’t forget that we got your back too,” she told her, giving her a playful smack. “Ain’t no troublemaker gonna snatch you up under my watch.”

  “Our watch,” Togetic amended. “You need not fret so much, sweetheart. Jumping at shadows won’t do us any good.”

  “Yep! If trouble comes, we’ll pulverize it, same as always!”

  It was uplifting, Lucario found, that despite their situation growing more dire with each day, the company of Team Heavendust put them in a much better position too. It was certainly doing something for Eira, having steadfast allies flanking her against the constant threats coiling around them. He just wished, really, that the little smile forming on her face would reach her tired eyes.

  A little chuckle left Mismagius. “In any case, you are in fine hands, little one. I assure you, I’d fight tooth and nail even for an ill omen — why, I’d fight all the more because of it, hee!”

  She melted away into the floor. Lucario opened his mouth, then shut it, scowling at her sudden departure. Of course she would do that. She loved being a pest like that, saying weird cryptic things, refusing to elaborate, and then leaving with little notice.

  Like her ailments, Lucario muttered to himself, recalling her words earlier in the morning. She spoke of herself as having ailments, like Eira does.

  A tiny part of him felt bitter about it. He understood her not explaining in front of Team Elementri, but why hadn’t she elaborated now about the reason that kept her from interfering with Weavile’s theft and subsequent actions? Or was that the point? he wondered. If Eira’s ailment is something we can’t trust Team Elementri and others to know about, then hers might be something she’s leery of telling us about. Something related to her spirit that Golisopod and Their Highnesses sensed? Tethered, with power behind power?

  Shaymin had a scowl of her own, staring where Mismagius had been. The two briefly exchanged glances, as if thinking the same thing. “That witch better explain herself soon enough,” she muttered aloud for Togetic and Eira to hear. “I’m getting real sick of her mysterious act and her ambiguous attitude toward her precious human.”

  “Antagonizing her isn’t worth it for now, Shaymin, leave it,” Togetic told her. The reindeer scoffed but kept silent.

  Eira shifted toward Lucario, smiling as she finally noticed the letter in his paw. Two more allies his human could have, if they endured a little longer. Lucario smiled back, soothing her with feelings of tranquility and a looming period of peace and security. Then turned to make his way to the post office.

  But not before noticing her ears flatten suddenly, thoughtfulness clouding the false vixen’s face. “Braixen knows too much now, doesn’t he?” she said, as if it was just the weather she was discussing. “Enough to figure me out?”

  Lucario, Togetic, and Shaymin shared dour looks.

  “And that’s the last group. I’m afraid we turned up empty-handed this time.”

  “No surprise, Braixen. Most explorers just don’t have it in them to deal with Abhorrents.”

  The Explorer Board visit had gone exactly as Gabite expected. It was a nice, cozy place with polished wooden floors and a cheery atmosphere, the lobby a large space with several seating arrangements and tables. The back side had two receptionists, both Scrafty, that handled mission tasks and various matters of paperwork. An explorer team of a Ratticate and a Pikachu were currently passing over a task for a nearby dungeon, apparently for gathering the Blast Seeds it constantly produced. Basic labor. A more common task when civilians weren’t getting into dangerous situations and outlaws were doing their dirty business elsewhere.

  They had stopped by after letting the local officers take Golduck and Swellow into custody, hoping to find someone who’d help look into the Abhorrent crisis. And as expected? Nobody dared to pitch in. Noondaisy Town had at least triple the number of active explorers compared to quiet ol’ Berrypark Town, and they were all too afraid to take the risk.

  Or to put in the hard work. Traveling was frankly strenuous at times, Gabite wouldn’t berate anyone for that, but still.

  The two of them sat in a corner of the lobby, watching a trio of Liepard stride out of a side hallway leading to the Tasks Board. Rude ones, those three. They’d scarcely said a word when they snapped at them to ‘mind your own business’ and ‘keep your Abhorrent fearmongering to yourself.’

  Maybe Braixen would have better luck elsewhere. “You mean to split off from our group after this, right? Tomorrow morning?” Gabite said, Braixen giving a stiff nod. “Dunno if you’ll find much of anyone in the towns you’ll visit, but it’s worth a try.”

  “Always is. Though I do have little faith in wasting time here,” Braixen admitted. “I can’t help but suspect Lugia wouldn’t leave multiple pillars on the same island, but would spread them across adjacent ones — Swampblot Island would have multiple good places to hide one, certainly. And perhaps Cragpeak or even Tumbledust is the third island.”

  Adjacent islands, in case Lugia needed to quickly reach one of the pillars. By that logic, his dungeon home would be nearby too, perhaps in the ocean waters between the islands and the shimmering distortion field that wrapped around the archipelago. It felt thematic.

  Gabite considered it heavily. “Might be on to something there.”

  “Mm. Recruiting in Swampblot might go better anyway, their locals did strike me as the more fearless sort.”

  “Pun intended?”

  “Plenty of Ghost types out there. Though if you meant Golisopod, then I suppose there’s a paradox there,” Braixen said with a little smile. “His kin are quite brave fighters, molded as they are by their instinctual fear.”

  Their mercenaries were certainly something, Gabite wouldn’t argue against that. Maybe Golisopod could call for a few favors from his old brotherhood? “Well, no need to burn daylight. Back to the inn then? Hopefully Heliolisk hasn’t driven Lucario insane by now.”

  “Golisopod’s there, he would keep him in check.” Braixen propped an arm against his chain, eyeing the Explorer Board exit. “I do have a letter to send back home, if that isn’t a bother. It relates to Their Highnesses.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’ve been dwelling on the hint they gave me, since our encounter at Berrypark’s Explorer Board. It’s a strange hunch, but I’ve begun to wonder if they were incriminating my extended family over some act of political malice, perhaps even rebellion.”

  Gabite made a face at the thought. Braixen had a noble heritage — his ancestry had served the Calyrex line in the Jade Age, and the Diancie queen of the Diamond Age, before stepping away during the turmoil of the Forbidden Age. Even then they remained relevant, basing themselves in Tumbledust Island during the Scattered Age and becoming its rulers over time.

  Out of all the governors of the various islands, only they could claim service to the old monarchs. They were not exactly obstinate toward Their Highnesses, but they were certainly one to criticize any faults they saw in them. “Rebellion seems a bit much for them,” Gabite noted.

  “It may be a rogue faction from the family tree. Rebellion seems the only reasonable thing, if it’s enough to make Their Highnesses consider it a threat to their power. I hope to inquire with my folks if something has come up.” Braixen gave a long sigh, before shooting Gabite an awkward smile. “Ah, family politics, my least favorite conversation. Which reminds me, I did hope to have a little discussion between the two of us.”

  Gabite raised a brow. Then leaned harder against his armrest, his back-fin nestled atop it. “Same, actually.”

  The two of them sized each other up, waiting for the other to say something. All the while, Gabite’s mind whirred into action, planning how to tackle the heavy conversation they were about to have. If this was going where Gabite thought it was going, then Braixen had decided to make his move.

  Which meant it might be time. He’d have to fire back with a move that would throw his friend completely off his feet.

  “About what happened with Weavile and the Missing One incident.” Braixen kept his voice low, casually watching for Pokemon walking past. “I’ve thought about it, and the entire thing makes little sense to me. It could be a side effect of dungeons acting irregularly these days, but I find it unreasonable to chalk things up to that alone. More than that, I would’ve expected such incidents to have happened at Stormsoaked Shores, where the barrier between us and the eldritch was weaker. And based on Weavile’s unusual reaction, this was an event of major significance to him.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Which I find curious. Why does he feel a need to warn his Frostlord, whom Golduck and Swellow implied he had strained relations with? If it is due to dungeon irregularities, then we’d hear of more such incidents elsewhere, and his Frostlord would learn on his own. No, Weavile acted as if there was something unique about the encounter. Either that means that the Missing One itself was unique — an unlikely story, I’d say — or the reason it showed up was unique enough to spook Weavile.”

  Gabite let out a drawn out hum. Eevee had to be tearing his fur out over this. Or rather the Flareon, figuratively speaking. Braixen was just too sharp, too analytic, to have around. Combined with Lucario’s bad luck, it was unfeasible to keep Eira’s secret safe against him.

  Which was fine. Gabite had always expected the worst outcome after all. “What are you accusing Vulpix of?”

  Braixen pressed his lips. “You said you learned of her ailment. And that it caused unwanted strife with your group.”

  He could do it now, Gabite supposed. He could rip this stupid game to shreds right now. Lucario would hate him, Eira would feel betrayed by him, the others would berate him — but it was the smartest thing he could do.

  He could just tell Braixen the entire truth.

  “Yeah. Strife. Not a happy time.”

  It still felt too early though. He preferred Braixen to be exposed to Eira for a longer time, to get to know her himself. But Braixen was working himself up, mulling over Lucario and the girl, and it was only a matter of time before he deduced she was human. He surely had by now, if the Stringed Forest rumors had reached his ears. And if Gabite left him to stew on his own, his fears and dark thoughts would prevail, and he’d confront her, assuming she had done something to Gabite and his entire explorer team.

  “You think I might cause similar problems if I knew, don’t you?” Braixen’s face became distressed. “Don’t tell me, by the way, I think I would be happier if I stayed in blissful ignorance. I just wanted to make sure — is she okay? Did others learn of her problems? Goodness, the matriarch Ariados didn’t learn of her, did she? Was her ailment an issue even before her guardian fell here?”

  Gabite cocked an eye at Braixen. Fell.

  The fox’s ears flattened a little. “Ah, apologies. The letter that Lucario got, his joyous reaction to it — it gave away his nature as a Faller. He was split from his fellows, undoubtedly. I assume Vulpix is a Faller too? Or perhaps their close relationship has more to do with Lucario’s treatment of her, despite her ailment? Don’t answer if it’s a sensitive matter though.”

  Lucario being a Faller was an extremely easy secret to uncover, Gabite knew that. That Eira was one too, it was a simple conclusion to make. “Faller,” he freely said. “Not that it’s my place to admit that.”

  “No.” Braixen nodded, his brows raised a little in surprise. He hadn’t expected Gabite to admit it without hesitation — no, he had been waiting for him to deny it, or refuse to talk. What kind of a deduction had the noble fox already made about the girl? “And I won’t bring it up with them, I respect a Faller’s privacy. Though Heliolisk might not.”

  Gabite and Braixen stared at each other for a solid moment. The latter hissed, covering his face.

  “And I left him with Lucario, the poor jackal. Golisopod can’t save him there, good grief.”

  Gabite harrumphed. Lucario and Eira being Fallers had always been a backup cover story. The jackal would handle Heliolisk just fine. And besides, it wouldn’t matter — once he told Braixen everything.

  He had to confront him first. Needed to. With Braixen’s poor impressions toward humans, he would expect one to mess up Gabite in the head, to brainwash him. For Gabite to admit to the human’s existence this suddenly would shatter his expectations, and convince him to hold back and keep observing. Confessing that he had deliberately not warned Lucario or his girl about him planning to spill the beans would throw Braixen off even further, and ironically lead him to be more open to reason.

  Blast, but doing this behind their backs is the slimiest thing I can do. Do I even have to? Gabite wondered. I’d rather play this out a little longer.

  “Maybe Heliolisk’s brashness is a good thing though,” Braixen considered. “I could speak with Lucario directly about his homeland then, about humans even.” A strange expression twisted his muzzle as he regarded Gabite. “Did he have interactions with them?”

  The tiniest smile touched Gabite’s face, as he swiftly reconsidered his plans. Curse himself, what was he doing? Lucario’s Faller nature and human knowledge would temper Braixen, he could ease him up with that — he had a better solution dangling right in front of his nose this whole time! “He’s lived with several. Said they showed respect to him, for the most part.” A dark laugh left his throat. “Not sure how much I believe that.”

  “A Faller so well-acquainted with mankind? Heliolisk would be beyond ecstatic.” Braixen himself had a starry look in his eyes. “They lugged him around in their PokeBall gizmos, I take it?”

  “Says it was nowhere as bad as you’d think.”

  “Hmph. Sounds like he’s conditioned to think that way,” Braixen said, before letting his face soften. “But perhaps I ought to hear it from him first. See if Heliolisk had a point about me being too judgemental because of your captors. Ah, how does he feel about those, anyway?”

  Gabite put on a queasy smirk. “He hates them. Jackal was floored by the idea of humans with magic, you should’ve seen it. They’re supposedly a huge rarity where he’s from.”

  The words planted a little seed in his friend, he could see it. “Really?” he said in disbelief. “What region? Not Ransei, I take it?”

  Ransei? “He’s from Sinnoh.”

  “Huh. Porygon-Z’s homeland. Heliolisk always insisted magic had to be a thing, but he apparently only ever met one Faller who claimed it was a somewhat common practice, and for an isolated region called Ransei.” Braixen left his chair and paced in a circle, pondering hard over the matter. “Human sorcery couldn’t have died out in favor of advanced technologies, could it? Or do wizards mostly keep to themselves now? Porygon-Z disbelieved in human magic himself, perhaps Sinnoh isn’t known for such things?”

  “His kid,” Gabite added, “would tell you none of the regions had magic.”

  Braixen stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “No,” he slowly said. “No. I’m afraid I don’t believe that.”

  “Ask them.”

  “You’re awfully calm about the matter.”

  “I didn’t freaking say I agree with everything they say,” Gabite retorted. “But look, what do I know? I’m already coping with friendly Abhorrents, why not the idea of magic-less humans? My captors were unusual, how do I know what normal humans can do?”

  A long, strange silence settled between the twosome. Braixen placed a palm over his chest, then brought himself back onto his seat, his eyes staring through him. Gabite weathered it.

  “I never told you this yet.” A morbid smile took over Braixen’s face. “We found a Mystery Dungeon in our recent trek to Junglebush Island, one that had consumed the ruins of an ancient village that existed until slightly after the Calamitus’s defeat. Seemingly a Mythical’s old home, a Zarude — they’re dark baboons gifted in healing and savagery alike. There were a few worn-out slates with faded text in very well-hidden chambers, seemingly written by said Zarude.

  “They spoke a little about a faction of banished human wizards. Traitors to the crown, the lot of them. They conspired against Calyrex during his struggle against the threat of Eternatus.” Venom laced Braixen’s words, his disgust laid bare in full. The fox had always been rather reverent toward the Calyrex kings. “I wager it may be related to the towers warding our home. Perhaps even the eventual disappearance of other humans.”

  An interesting piece of history, that. Lucario’s kid would chew on that for a while, Gabite figured. For him, however, he found little interest in the little story he otherwise should’ve been deeply invested in. “Why do I get the feeling this was the tangential part?” Gabite asked.

  The anger in Braixen’s eyes dimmed, replaced with a reluctance. He rested his arms against his lap, as if to steady himself.

  “There was also a snippet of a prophecy about a human’s coming.”

  Gabite’s lips slowly curved into a stony frown. His eyes bore into Braixen’s face.

  The fox didn’t meet his gaze. “I know, it’s absurd. Something I heard many months back from Matriarch Ariados and a Rabsca elder of her village, when looking into humans on your behalf. But the slates had words that matched Ariados’s own narration.” Braixen took a breath, before reciting the lines. “‘A human transfigured that doesn’t belong. Its naive wish to do good—’”

  “‘Gone terribly wrong.’” Gabite’s recitation made Braixen snap his head, the dragon-shark hunching his shoulders. “I know. Heard of it too.”

  Braixen knew of the prophecy. Bah, of course he knew. His plans adjusted further, way further, Gabite listening very intently for what Braixen would say next.

  Keep talking, brother, blast it. Tell me what I need to know.

  “I see.” Braixen appraised him for a moment, before sighing. “Supposedly, the human’s coming is meant to cause great destruction to our archipelago. It may even be related to the ongoing crisis with the Abhorrents and the dungeons. And you know the curious thing about it all? It’s that the human’s implied to be a well-wisher.”

  Gabite kept his glassy gaze pressed upon Braixen. “Not that it changes the harm it’ll cause though,” the fox rambled. “Is it a particularly kind human, manipulated by its viler kin? Or perhaps, it has a grossly warped idea of doing good. Perhaps it’s some foul crusader that doesn’t even recognize its wrongdoings, given its naivety, the sort that’s convinced itself that it’ll be ‘helping’ us through destructive actions. The latter seems more reasonable, given the cold and aloof nature—”

  He paused, seeing the madness, the fear, that began to expose itself from Gabite’s still form. “But I’m going too far, perhaps,” he said. “I apologize, I know the Abhorrents are more than enough of a weight on your mind, but I thought you should be warned. We have bad blood with humans, and the idea of one coming to destroy us for good, intentionally or not, it concerns me greatly. I can’t begin to figure out how to handle such a matter, and I’m worried. For myself, and for you.”

  Gabite’s arms quivered, his throat tight. His feet clawed a little into the floor, leaving the barest of scratches. He breathed, sucking up a mouthful of air, then exhaled, forcing himself to stay still.

  In his head, however, he had been analyzing every word that left Braixen’s mouth. And he’d found what he needed to know. “Thanks for ruining my day, I guess,” said Gabite. “Gonna have a fun time processing how Ariados was right about one of her crazed conspiracies for the next week.”

  If Braixen saw through his acting, he made no comment on it. He simply put on his own act, shame and pity in his expression as he rose from his seat. Gabite raised a claw.

  “Vulpix’s been scared that you’d pry too deep into her ailment and cause her harm. Like I did,” he said, and Braixen recoiled at the confession. “She’s been hurt more than any child should be, it’s arguably more unsettling than the kid herself. Sometimes I think she only forgives me because she knows of my messed up childhood.”

  He put on a broken smirk. “Weavile scared her too, if for somewhat different reasons. I’m surprised she went out of her way to stop him from escaping Green Ridge. The girl’s never even fought a day in her life, up until she ended up on these islands.”

  Braixen seemed to silently fidget in place, his eyes clouded, wavering, and yet thoughtful. He shook himself.

  “She surprises me a lot too, I admit.”

  “It’s a long shot, but I’m hoping Lucario’s contact will find them a way to go back home. It’d do the girl a world of good.”

  A moment of hesitance. “It would, indeed.”

  Braixen moved away. Gabite got up after him, leaving their quiet little corner in the Explorer Board. All the while, a quiet peace began to disperse the chaos in his mind.

  He should’ve realized this from the very beginning, really. Braixen had more than just a hunch of what was happening. He already believed he knew the exact situation, and was simply fishing for evidence that fit his beliefs. And that evidence kept confusing him, forcing him to re-analyze.

  On the surface, Braixen simply had a concerned discussion with his friend. Deep down, however, he’d been treating Gabite like something had tampered with his mind, that he wasn’t fully himself, and yet not too far gone that he couldn’t reach out to him. Mentioning the prophecy had been rash, and Gabite wondered if it was a message. To warn him, or the imaginary mastermind that had control over him? The whole discussion, really, could’ve been a message. Something that would elicit a response back that Braixen could further analyze and take action on.

  Or maybe I’m reading too much into this. Though then again, Braixen’s clearly doing the same. Intelligent idiots, the both of us.

  Either way, Gabite sensed Braixen needed time to process things on his own. To keep observing the girl and make his own decisions, as Gabite would’ve preferred for him to do. Being too straightforward with him might’ve gone poorly after all — Braixen would see it as a sign of danger and act recklessly.

  And it would’ve been scummy of him anyway, telling Braixen everything behind the others’ backs. He might not believe it anyway, seeing it as the human’s attempt to indirectly influence him. No, Gabite preferred this route far more. He’d keep the game going, and he’d keep giving Braixen the little hints and clues that would help him correct his misguided opinion.

  Braixen could tell he was playing along, of course. But then again, that would be in character. They both knew the Weavile incident had ripped the whole affair open in front of Braixen’s eyes. The prophecy only made things all the more obvious.

  The fox had already convinced himself into thinking that Eira was a transfigured human.

  He just couldn’t figure out if she was his enemy.