Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pale-blue moonlight seeped through the clouds above and illuminated the stone facilities of R.E.D. Academy: Adstrum’s prestigious Rescue, Exploration, and Defense school. Its halls were mostly empty by that point in the year, however—a lone Flygon remained in his office to deal with overwhelming stacks of last minute paperwork. With the upcoming semester starting in less than a month, Headmaster Zephyr was up to his snout in application forms from across the Kingdom of Adstrum.

Pokémon from coast-to-coast who desired proper team training tried their best to meet Zephyr’s incredibly high standards. At least, it was generally assumed that a famous Headmaster would be extremely selective with his student body. This was… somewhat accurate. Zephyr couldn’t afford to let just anyone into his school, but those dear to him would know the free-hearted dragon was inclined to accept the unique over the exceptional.

Still, it wasn’t easy to sift out the Perfect Apples from the Grimey Food. There were essays upon essays he needed to scan at least somewhat thoroughly, but reading a plethora of papers to find the next handful of students was always such a chore. Every letter ranged in quality, which at least spiced up the reviewing experience, but that wasn’t enough to transform the activity into anything stimulating.

There was a quiet knock on Zephyr’s window, an unfortunate sign that the Headmaster’s job was about to increase in length. The large silhouette of the delivery dragon disturbed the moonlight trickling into the office. Zephyr let out a passive sigh, “Of course he would bring me mail at this hour...”

The Dragonite outside smiled as Zephyr opened the window. “I figured you would still be here,” he laughed while unbuttoning his satchel. “You never get this done when the Prime Minister requests, do you?”

“Hush.” Zephyr closed his claws together like a shutting mouth. “It would be easier if you followed the directions for the cut-off date.” Zephyr smiled back at him. “I’m hoping these are the actual last letters of the season?”

The Dragonite nodded his head. “I was finally able to fly out to the Western Coast. There’s only a few applications from out that far, but we both know they deserve just as much of a chance to get into the school as the capital kids.” Dragonite handed Zephyr the letters and gave the Headmaster a playful salute. “I won’t waste anymore of your time. Great seeing ya, Zeph.”

Zephyr waved goodbye as the delivery dragon went on his way.

Ah, well, I better get back to work.

He set the new letters beside the main pile, and once again felt his eyes haze over from reading repetitive essays. It took hours to pick out even just a couple standouts, which were letters that contained remotely anything that gripped Zephyr’s attention–or were submitted by some Lord or Lady’s child who had finally come-of-age.

Right before the sun peeked the horizon, Zephyr had made it to the final letters of the bunch: the bundle brought in by the late-night delivery. He was almost too tired to even consider reading any of them, but this was the homestretch. Two of the three letters weren’t particularly interesting–not to Zephyr, anyways. However, a smile crept across the dragon's face when he saw that the last letter was addressed from Happy Apple Farm.

Adstrum's western coast was home to the Kingdom's most reliable apple growers, a valuable asset to Mystery Dungeon based operations. Zephyr was well acquainted with Gaius, the Tropius in charge of the farm. While they were required to work with each other for business related reasons, the two of them were good friends well before embracing their respective careers.

The Flygon's smile grew even brighter when he saw the name for the essay: Melrose, Gaius’s pride and joy. That sweet little Pichu was always so excited about exploring. It was a slight punch to the gut that enough time passed for her to be old enough to apply.

Zephyr chuckled quietly to himself. The scrawl was messy, barely even legible at times. Great explorers typically never had neat writings, but the combo of her attempt to make the lettering cute and lack of literacy created quite the eye-sore. Still, his heart was swollen from fondness.

The essay itself was riddled with informal language, and Zephyr snorted from amusement every time the country-bumpkin lingo slipped through. Her enthusiasm had oozed out of every word, and the excessive use of exclamations certainly helped get that across. Zephyr’s tail twitched from side to side as he read each scribble, humming to himself while occasionally mouthing a word he was struggling to understand. This process was infinitely more engaging than the matter-of-fact style essays from before. One sentence in particular really stuck out to the him: "I think every corner of our world has something fascinatin' to find, and I wanna be the first explorer to see true beauty in the mundane!"

The Headmaster finished his readthrough and ran a claw along his chin. There was a gravitational pull beckoning him to place Mel’s letter in the accepted pile—but was that biased? Well, weren’t all of his decisions biased? He may have known Melrose when she was little, but that wasn’t the only reason he wanted her in his school… was it? A great deal of questions similar to those ones ran through his head, but the thought process was interrupted by his sudden need to squint.

The sun was far enough into the sky at this point that light was beaming directly into Zephyr’s eyes. “Ah… morning has come. I should finish up.”

Zephyr’s tail thumped onto the ground a few times as he mulled over the text. It hardly reached most of the requirements for the essay, but everything about it pulled at his heart in ways he both could and couldn’t understand. He failed to fight it any longer. The Flygon nodded his head contently as he placed the last letter in the acceptance pile.

Zephyr was simply so tired and occupied with his thoughts that he didn’t notice the knock on his office door. The Clefairy let herself in and giggled while watching the Headmaster stare into space. She waited a beat before clearing her throat. Zephyr turned to his secretary and felt his face quickly flush over. “Adeline! H-how long have you been standing there?”

Adeline smiled, “long enough.” She made her way over to the desk. “I figured you would be here for the rest of the night. Good morning, by the way.” She adjusted her glasses and tapped Zephyr’s mess of a desk with one of her claws. “I suppose you’re finally finished sifting through the applicants?”

Zephyr nodded his head and sorted the small pile into a stack that he could hand to Adeline. “Correct. Here’s all the approved essays. Sorry to make you write all the acceptance letters at the last minute… again.” The Headmaster said with a sheepish laugh.

Adeline waggled her finger back-and-forth. “Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. For shame, Headmaster Zephyr.” The Clefairy winked and took the letters from her boss. “I’ve told you before, I don’t mind one bit. Working for you keeps me on my toes.” She made her way back to the door, her gentle footsteps barely making a sound. “I’ll have the list sent to the Ministry and the letters mailed out before the afternoon sun peaks the sky!” As Adeline slowly closed the door… she peaked back inside and adjusted her spectacles. “Get some rest, okay?”

Without another word, the Headmaster’s secretary closed the door behind her. Zephyr smiled to himself, knowing full well he would be doomed without Adeline. His quarters weren’t too far from the office, but Zephyr hardly had the energy left to move from his chair; He rested his head on the desk and lulled into a series of Cresselia’s finest dreams.

Prime Minister Aster remained stoic despite the plethora of things on the Gardevoir’s mind. Among the usual stockpile of troubles, Guildmaster Zephyr of R.E.D. Academy had, once again, missed the approval deadline for new students. However, this hardly mattered. Aster was efficient. As long as there were few distractions, the Kingdom of Adstrum would forever run smoothly.

“Aster!” The shrill voice of Adstrum’s Prince screeched through the hall. Aster sighed and turned to face the diminutive Tyrunt. The Prince gave him an upset look, as he usually did, and snarled while stomping his feet on the ground. “I was informed that you haven’t received the list of accepted students yet! This is ridiculous! How am I to have my things packed if we don’t know for certain that I’m going to school?”

“Now, now…” The Gardevoir remained calm, even in the face of adversity. “No need to be concerned, Your Highness. Certainly the Prince of all Adstrum would be administered into the academy without a doubt. Shall I send Jakob to gather your belongings?” He gave a soft smile, but the Prince looked unconvinced.

“Isn’t it your responsibility to ensure these things get done on time?” His tail flicked as he about-faced towards his father’s chamber. “You’re the Prime Minister, after all!” The little Prince’s domineering tone wasn’t enough to hide his sly smirk. Aster could barely see the smug look on his face… the little twerp.

“There’s only so much I can do to ensure Headmaster Zephyr gets his work done on time. I can’t dish out punishment for something so trivial. Adstrum’s Exploration Programs are certainly fundamental to our Kingdom, but it’s ridiculous to get upset at something that’s easy enough to correct.” 

The Gardevoir returned to his walk down the hall, hoping his royal pain-in-the-rear would find someone else to bother–but still the Prince trotted after him. “Zephyr shouldn’t even be in charge of that school. He fails to perform his duties every single semester. You should have gotten rid of him years ago.”

“Unfortunately, My Prince,” Aster turned his head back to leer at him. “That is not your call to make.”

The young Tyrunt scoffed at his underling’s explicit rudeness, and without a word turned tail back towards the King’s chamber. Once he was out of sight, Aster sighed into his hands. He knew he was going to get an earful for this, but His Majesty and his half-pint hatchling were the last of Aster’s concerns.

The Gardevoir made haste towards his observatory. The golden tower stretched into Adstrum’s sky with serene regality, and the interior was just as magnificent. The entire staircase was lined with Aster’s personal library, saving his most adored books for the observatory itself. Once he made it to the top of the tower, a few small, floating Pokémon with singular eyes approached their master. Aster gave them all a contented look, “is the spell ready?”

The X shaped Unown bowed its body before floating towards a glowing crystal sphere, which was propped atop an elegant arcane device. Aster followed, with the two other Unown at his side. “Excellent, retrieve my tome and we shall begin.” The H and C shaped Unown both used their combined Hidden Power to lift a large book that was set upon a lectern. The Prime Minister double checked his telescope to make sure the sun filter was still inside, before gazing up at a hidden starry sky. “Everything is perfect… as it must be.”

Aster used Psychic to retrieve his spell tome from the Unown, and the pages fluttered to a bookmarked inscription. The Gardevoir ran his hand along the words and gazed up at the orb, which was glittering like a nebula. “I’ve been researching these conditions for far too long to fail. You all orbit the sphere and concentrate your hidden potential.”

The three Unown followed Aster’s instructions, all linking their individually meek, but together powerful psychic abilities. The Prime Minister lifted one of his hands towards the starry orb. The sphere levitated, and began spinning on an invisible axis. As it accelerated, darkness started to spread across the sky. The solar eclipse had arrived, bringing with it the intense surge of psychic power needed to perform this feat. “The moon has met the sun! Prepare yourselves!”

Total darkness swept over Adstrum for a mere moment, long enough for arcane-device to absorb the necessary celestial energy to create a compact wormhole in Aster’s study. Books and papers were flung off the shelves, a few documents and trinkets being absorbed into its gaping distortion. The Prime Minister was able to maintain his bearings, but his Unown servants would be sucked in without intervention; Aster held onto his minions with a half-focused psychic.

Once the sunlight had fully returned to the room, the wormhole spat out its prize and closed suddenly. The cluster of living stardust was thrown against a bookshelf, landing upside-down in a pile of parchment. Aster composed himself, checking over his Unown before frantically approaching the chamber’s new resident.

“Could it be?” He kneeled to the floor to inspect the nebulous Pokémon. “You are Cosmog, are you not?”

The Pokémon floated itself back into an upright position, scanning the room before finally meeting the Gardevoir’s gaze. It gave him a perplexed look, parroting Aster’s tone as it spoke. “Are you not? Are you! Not!” The Pokémon giggled and twirled, its voice and movements filtered through the glittering sound of stars.

“It’s adorably infantile… Which is to be expected of a newborn, even when it’s a legendary Pokémon.” Aster reached a hand forward, “hello, Cosmog. I’m Aster. I’m a Gardevoir, and I’m going to protect you from this point forward.”

“Aster! Gardevoir! Cosmog!” It giggled again as it inspected Aster’s hand. The Unown seemed offset by the new Pokémon’s presence in the observatory, but the Cosmog smiled up at them all the same. “You are Aster!” It pointed at the Unown with one of its appendages. “You are Aster!” It smiled as it pointed at the actual Prime Minister himself. “You are Cosmog!” It pointed at itself before spinning again.

The Prime Minister smiled to himself, utterly endeared by the small creature. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the results of the ritual.” He carefully used his Psychic to lift Cosmog closer to him. The little Pokémon squeaked with delight. “Finally… the true heir to the Adstrum Empire has been born.”

Chapter Text

The glittering dew drops lacing the farm grass felt refreshing against Melrose’s bare feet. Happy Apple Farm’s homely aroma, mixed with the morning sun on the Pikachu’s fur, brought her to a place of easy-going peace. She stretched out her body, touching her toes, saluting the sun, et cetera, before taking a deep breath.

Now, she was fully ready to conquer her chores!

“Shoulda been up sooner,” an aged Tropius called down to his daughter, who jumped at the sudden sound of his voice. Gaius was chuckling at Melrose's surprise, and gave an aged smile when she looked up at him. “The sunrise was gorgeous.”

“Sorry, Papa! You know I have a hard time waking up before the sun does.” Melrose returned her father’s laughing with her own giggles, then placed her hands on her hips while tilting her chin up. “At least I’m up before those lazy boys!”

“Hey, we’re as awake as you are, Mel…” a tired voice called from the front door of the farm house. An Aipom was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, followed by a Mudsdale whose yawn was almost bigger than Melrose’s head. “I dunno how you can be so chipper after hardly sleeping a wink.” He looked up at Gaius, giving him an exhausted look. “I swear she was up all night.”

The Pikachu’s cheeks sparked with a small burst of electricity. “I’ve just been so excited about receiving my acceptance letter, it’s makin’ me restless!” Melrose kept her hands on her hips as she turned towards the Aipom. “Once I get to go to school, I won’t have to deal with your intolerable gripin’ all the darn time.”

The Aipom groaned quietly, “and I won’t have to deal with your–” He suddenly became silent, reserving his counterattack teases due to Gaius's intensive stare. The Aipom cleared his throat loudly. “We should just get to work before it gets too hot outside.”

“I hear ya, Nate.” Gaius waved towards the orchard with his leafy wing. “Y’all better start harvestin’.” The Tropius said as he stretched out his legs, wincing as he pushed his body a little too hard. “I’ll go and see if Chile is awake.”

Melrose watched for a moment as Gaius started to walk back to the farm house, frowning when a few of his steps looked pained. There was a guilt she couldn’t quite bury down; if she was accepted into Red Academy, she would be leaving her papa with less hands on the farm. Gaius always insisted that she seek her own path, but what if something bad happened while she was gone?

“C’mon Mel,” Nate nudged the Pikachu with his tail. “Race ya to the orchard!” The Aipom laughed mischievously as he took his fellow farmhand off guard with the challenge. He was already well into scurrying away when Melrose started to chase after him. The Mudsdale followed slowly behind, making sure neither of them got hurt.

Melrose was easily able to rush ahead, darting into the orchard and slamming her paw on the first apple tree along the path. “Haha! Beat ya!”

Nate frowned hard. “Using Quick Attack is no fair!”

“It’s perfectly fair! ‘Sides, you started the race before me! I was just making it even.” Melrose’s cheeks sparked as she crossed her arms. “Just wait ‘till I learn Agility, then you’ll be an even poorer sport when I kick your butt!”

“Hey! Aipoms learn Agility too!” Nate thought for a second. “I’m… pretty sure, anyway. I remember my mama used to say all sorts of things about what moves I can learn as I grow, but I always kinda tuned her out.”

“Of course you did. You don’t listen to anybody.” Melrose stuck her tongue out at Nate, who, of course, returned the gesture.

The Mudsdale approached the both of them, pulling a large cart that was attached to him from behind. The mechanism was similar to a saddle, but was made so that quadrupedal Pokémon could get them on without aid. “Aight, that’s enough, you two. Start picking.”

“Yes sir, Koa sir.” Melrose grabbed one of the baskets from the cart and held the handle in her mouth as she climbed one of the farm’s many large apple trees. Nate followed suit, using his tail to hold the basket as he picked the delicate fruit.

Melrose found it was easy to get work done when she let her mind wonder. Her body ran on autopilot: pick apples, fill basket, dump basket in cart, repeat. Her idle mind imagined what going to school would be like—pondered what kind of Pokémon her fellow students might be.

Melrose had only ever been to the capital once or twice—maybe more, but she would have been much too little to remember. The Pokémon she met on those trips were nice enough, so surely it was a fine place to live. Happy Apple Farm was all she ever knew, but there was this itch to go out into the world she could no longer repress.

Nate dumped the remaining apples from his tree into the cart before collapsing to the ground. “Ain’t it supposed to be Autumn soon? Why’s it still so damn hot?”

“Language.” Koa huffed. “It’s hardly been an hour, Nate. Get it together. We have to at least fill this one cart.”

“Ugh… I can’t go on, Koa. I need a break.”

The Mudsdale was about to shut him down, but Melrose joined her fellow farmhands on the ground after just finishing up her own tree. “Actually, I could really go for a break too. Please, Koa? Just a short one?”

Koa huffed and turned his head to the side—he had a hard time telling Melrose no. The horse Pokémon’s ears flattened against his head, “Rosie, how ‘bout you go get some Oran Berries from the house for us to share.” The Pikachu’s tail swished back and forth happily as she started to run back towards the house. Koa called after her. “But then it’s back to work, ya hear?”

Melrose gave the Mudsdale a short thumbs up before hightailing it to the farm house. She navigated the country furniture scattered about the living room and leapt into the kitchen to search the pantry for Oran Berries. The dry storage held plenty of food, but Melrose struggled to locate any berries. “Shoot, we ain’t out, are we? Didn’t Koa and Pops just go to the market?” She sniffed around the whole kitchen. The berries had to be somewhere.

“Good morning, Melrose.” A stout Lotad entered, blinking slowly as he watched the Pikachu tear the kitchen apart searching for her blue prize. He almost failed to dodge a flying oven mitt while watching his friend dig through cabinets. “You seem… mildly stressed. Can I help you?”

Melrose lifted her head up, only just now noticing the Lotad. “Ah, mornin’ Chile. Where are the Oran Berries? We bought more of them, didn’t we?”

“I thought so?” Chile scratched his chin with one of his nubby hands. “Didn’t they get put in that new-fangled ice box?”

Melrose’s ears perked up. “Oh! Yeah, that’s right! Thank you–” Melrose hustled over to a small room situated by the kitchen, where they kept the very few capital inventions they could afford. Those big-heads were always able to find some way to make things more convenient with magical doohickeys, and Melrose wasn’t exactly used to them having the ice infused storage box in their home. She opened it up and, sure enough, there were all the sweet, sweet Oran Berries! Too preoccupied with having finally found her treasure, she didn’t notice that Chile had waddled in from behind.

“Pass me one, will ya? I haven’t had breakfast yet. Gaius just woke me up.” Chile’s stomach growled, as if on cue, and the Lotad blushed faintly.

Melrose’s ears perked up once more when she heard her friend’s voice. “Well, then you need something more filling. An Oran Berry won’t do ya any good.” Melrose closed the ice box. “I saw some bread while searching the dry storage. Do you want me to get’cha a slice or two and spread some jam on top?”

Chile smiled and nodded his head. “That sounds lovely, but you don’t have to do that for me.”

“Nonsense!” Melrose skipped over her Lotad friend’s body and leapt back into the kitchen. She returned to where she remembered the bread was, pulling apart two slices before setting them down at the table. She called loudly towards Chile. “What jam ya want? Pecha? Rawst?”

“We got Razz still?” Chile waddled his way back into the kitchen. “Razz Berry is my favorite.”

“Let me see…” Melrose scanned the various jars of preserves they had gathered from the farmer’s market, smiling when she spotted the dark pink jam. She unscrewed the lid to give it a good sniff, “sure enough, we got Razz Berry!” The Pikachu returned to the bread, giving it a good slather of jelly on each slice. “Tah-dah!”

Chile giggled to himself as he hopped up on one of the chairs. Furnishings were built to be generally functional for as many Pokémon as possible, but, unfortunately for Chile, the Lotad’s body type was slightly uncommon. “Thanks, Mel. You’re the best.” He started to eat his breakfast, crumbs and fruit spread already getting on his beak. “I appreciate it a lot, but… weren’t you doing something?”

Melrose blinked a few times before jumping up suddenly. “Shucks! The Oran Berries! Ah, man, Koa’s gonna kick me across the country!” She quickly grabbed the three berries before scrambling out towards the front door. “I’ll see you later, Chile!”

Nate was begrudgingly returned to his apple picking tree by the time Melrose got back. “What the hell took you so long?”

“Language.”

Melrose set the berries hurriedly on the ground. “I’m sorry! I got distracted…”

“How hard is it to just go and get some food? And you wanna be an explorer?” Nate laughed cruelly as he hopped down from the branches. His arms were crossed, so he used his tail to pick up a berry. “Don’t explorers need functioning attention spans?”

Melrose’s face flushed over from embarrassment, and electricity sparked around her whole body. “When I go to school, you’ll see! I’ll be the best explorer around!”

"You mean if you go to school.” Nate growled. “You keep acting like you’ve been accepted, but you haven’t. You probably ain’t even gonna get into that fancy-pantsy school.”

“Nathaniel! You cut that out.” Koa glared down at the little Aipom.

“It’s true though, and you can’t tell me it ain’t!” Nate shoved his face closer to the Mudsdale. “All them capital Pokémon and rich kids are guaranteed spots, so why’d they ever bring in some nobody farm girl?”

Nate took a big chomp out of the Oran Berry, as if that strengthened his point. The Aipom relished in his harsh comment for only a moment, snapping out of his bullying mindset only when Melrose started to cry.

“Ah–ah, Mel, come on… Don’t cry, I was just being realistic–”

“I’ll prove it!” Melrose cut the Aipom off with her sudden outburst. “I’ll prove it’s what I’m supposed to do!” The upset Pikachu suddenly ran deeper into the trees, tears streaming down her face.

I’ll show Nate! I’ll show everybody! I’m more than just a farmhand—and I deserve to go to that school just as much as those blue-bloods sittin’ pretty in the capital!

In the blink of an eye, Melrose was out of sight—leaving Koa and Nate shouting after her.

Chapter Text

The deep shade from the canopy of leaves above created the perfect conditions for unconscious snoozing. Unfortunately, going from nothing, to a dull pressure behind the forehead, to a massive headache is usually enough to wake anybody up from comatose. The drowsy newcomer to the murky Mystery Dungeon gripped onto his head with shaky paws; this was the worst migraine he'd ever had in his life, at least… that he could remember. As the Pokémon thought through his pain, he realized it was not just the only migraine he could remember—it was one of the only things he could remember at all.

Standing to his fours, the frazzled insomniac took a series of deep breaths. He was only stranded in the middle of an ivy ridden forest with not a memory to his name, certainly no reason to panic. The Pokémon looked down at his little black paws and flexed them, watching the claws slide in and out of them. They felt unreal—almost everything about this body did.

There was a small pool of water near the Pokémon's resting spot. A drink from the pond would help alleviate the headache; but his tongue was halted by the gaze of his reflection. Big, yellow eyes pierced his soul, ones that both were yet were not his. Whatever he was before, it didn't matter; he was a Litten now.

Litten… That word came to him naturally once he'd seen himself. A few ideas started to click in his mind, but piecing things together at a rapid pace wouldn't do him much good. He needed to take things one realization at a time. He knew what a Litten was and also knew that he wasn't supposed to be one. However, how could he have possibly been anything else?

Of note was also the shining, golden ring that decorated his neck. The Litten tugged at it slightly using one of his forepaws, but the necklace seemed to lack any conceivable way to remove it from his throat. He surmised rather quickly that this piece of jewelry would not be coming off any time soon.

He took a few deep breaths while inspecting the rippled mirror. It was a peculiar feeling—existing in a form that wasn't oneself. However, the dread brought by the surrounding woods was more than enough to shift his priorities. Once the Litten overcame the strange sense of unease, he allowed himself a refreshing drink of pond water. The pain in his head subsided a little, which gave way to the ability of reason. Memories or no memories, it would probably be a good idea to find his way out of this forest.

First, he had to get used to walking on four legs. Letting it come naturally was the way to go, even if it meant he wasn't going very fast. The Litten smiled to himself once he got the hang of it, realizing that his tail was key to balance helped a great deal with his walk.

This is easy!

That was, until, he was toppled over by another Pokémon rushing him. While the Litten made an attempt to scramble back to his feet, a Shroomish with piercing red eyes stared back at him as he flailed.

"H-" This was the first time the Litten attempted to speak, and his voice cracked meekly. He cleared his throat before trying to talk again. "Hey! What's the big deal?"

The Shroomish didn't respond with words, only an angry growl of discontent. The Litten took a step back, feeling his nerves rise again. This other Pokémon wanted to fight, but the Litten made another pathetic attempt at diplomacy.

"I'm sorry, really. Whatever I did, I didn't mean to do it. I have no memory, and I'm very lost. Could you please–"

The Shroomish started to emit a light green glow from its mouth before small orbs of light began to pop out of the Litten. It felt like his energy was being sapped away… if only slightly. Whatever Shroomish was doing, Litten needed it to stop before he was back to being unconscious. He looked around the forest floor and saw a rather large stick. Picking it up clumsily with one paw, he managed to curl his claws around the twig to hold it tight. Pathetically holding his body up with three other legs, Litten chucked it right at the Shroomish's head– making the agitated Pokémon stop the Absorb attack.

"Haha! That'll teach ya!"

The Shroomish shrugged off the damage pretty quickly. Litten's ears flattened against his head, and he decided the best course of action now… was running away. He sprinted the opposite direction, his escape lasting only a few moments before he stumbled over his own feet and tripped into a lush underbrush. The thorns tore and snagged at his fur as he rolled through the thick vines. The downhill tumble ended in a pile of dried leaves.

Litten's bones ached, deterring him from getting back up. However, he also didn't want to risk an even nastier Pokémon finding him in this state. He shakily stood to his feet, listening to the surrounding woods for a moment to make sure there were no other Pokémon around before creeping through the roots and undergrowth.

The stealthier approach seemed to do the trick, as no other weirdly frenzied Pokémon could spot the little cat through the thick shrubbery. Beyond the spikey leaves, he could see other Pokémon strolling about the paths. The Litten watched as a single Rattata marched along, its eyes glazed with that same fury that had possessed the Shroomish from before, bumping into skulking Wurmple. The two creatures hissed at each other briefly, but quickly continued on their separate ways.

I thought these Pokémon were irrationally monstrous, or at least mostly feral… Why are they marching around as if on patrol?

The Litten shook his head and regained his focus, returning to trudging through the darkened woods. As he moved deeper into the Dungeon, everything was getting noticeably more dangerous. The hostile Pokémon around him appeared stronger; evolved Pokémon like Ivysaur and Beedrill roamed about threateningly. Litten figured it was too late to turn back; that, even if he was going the wrong direction, it would be smarter to keep moving forwards.

His ears perked up when he thought he heard someone yell. The Litten crept faster through the forest towards the noise, an innate sense of bravery taking hold. He broke out of a small tunnel of roots and into a larger grotto, spotting a Pikachu engaged in combat with a Tangela. The Tangela had her held in its freaky teal vines, gripping her tightly with Bind.

The Pikachu yelled again, "H-help me! Someone, please!" Hearing the Pikachu speak real words was the perfect reassurance that she wasn't like the other Pokémon he had seen so far, so he rushed in to help!

Tangela was gripping the Pikachu tighter and tighter—there was no more time to waste. But as the Litten searched the grotto frantically for any way to save her, he couldn't come up with anything fast enough. So, without thinking, Litten charged out of the foliage and recklessly threw his body at the opposing Pokémon. The Tangela made an awful shriek as it was toppled over, and dropped the Pikachu to the ground.

Now that she was free to move about, the Pikachu sped towards the already weakened Tangela and slammed it with a Quick Attack. Litten watched as she stood her ground against the frightening Grass-type, hitting it with yet another Quick Attack while she still could. The Tangela made a strange hiss as it got back to its feet.

The Pikachu looked at the Litten and waved her arms frantically. "Don't just stand there! Attack it! Ain't you a Fire-type? Get 'em!"

Litten's eyes widened. "Y-you say that, but…" The Litten took a short moment, attempting to stir some sort of power within him—but it was no use. "I don't know any fire moves!"

"You what?! You're a Litten!" She dodged a sweeping vine by rolling closer to her rescuer. "At least help me fight this thing!"

"Y-yeah, right. Okay." Litten looked back at the rampaging Tangela and racked his brain for any ounce of instinct involving moves. However, he once again couldn't feel anything. The claws wouldn't slide out of his paws, there was no fiery spark within him… nothing. He called out frantically, "I don't think I know any moves!"

The Pikachu's cheeks sparked as she gave an exasperated breath, "How do you not know any moves?!"

"I– I don't know! I don't remember!"

The Pikachu growled to herself as she blasted the Tangela with a Thunder Shock, but the Grass-type absorbed the blow. "Well, if you can think of anything at all, do it!"

Pikachu became fully engaged with the Tangela again, leaving the Litten alone to steep in his shame. She was pretty rude to him considering he had just rescued her from that nasty Bind, but a Pokémon not knowing any moves was peculiar enough to sound like an irritating lie. Tangela slammed Pikachu into a tree using a Vine Whip, making Litten jump vertically in a startled fit. She looked really hurt…

Tangela was getting closer to her, and the Litten recognized that same energy glow Shroomish did while using Absorb. However, this looked much stronger. Pikachu wouldn't be able to resist a nasty Mega Drain like that, and, in another sudden act of bravery, Litten picked up a hefty rock and threw it at the back of Tangela's head. The vine monster turned and growled.

"Leave her alone!" The Litten called as he picked up another rock and chucked it even harder. This time, it hit the Pokémon's face. That rock must have hit it square on the noggin, because it sent the Tangela down to the ground. The grotto went still, the silence only interrupted by a loud sigh of relief.

"It fainted… whew…" The Pikachu got back up to her feet. "Thanks a bunch. You may not know Ember or nothin', but you are pretty clever!" The Pikachu smiled and held out a hand. "My name's Melrose! But, most people call me Mel or Rosie."

The Litten set his own paw in Melrose's hand. "It's nice to meet you. I wish I could introduce myself properly, but I hardly remember anything." His ears tucked back against his head as the Litten realized that hardly sounded believable. "I seriously woke up in this strange place only a little while ago. I don't even remember my name."

Melrose tilted her head. "Huh, that's mighty strange…" She mulled that fact over for a second, and slowly a trace of excitement cracked through her face. "A Litten who don't know no moves, or his name, or anything? Am I right?"

"Yeah, that's… what I've been telling you."

Melrose squealed with delight. "Oh my Arceus, you must be a Human!" She shook Litten's paw even harder. "I can't believe it! I can't believe I'm meeting an actual, real human, like all the legends say!" Her cheeks sparkled excitedly, which accidentally gave the Litten a static shock. "I have to take you back to the farm. This is so unreal! Nate is gonna flip his–"

"Whoa whoa whoa! Slow down!" Litten put a paw up against Melrose's mouth. "You're spitting a lot of information all at once to an amnesiac. Human? I mean. I don't remember anything, and realizing I was a Litten felt super weird, but you're assuming a lot just because I don't have any memories!"

"C'mon, now." The Pikachu rolled her eyes playfully. "Every human in every legend wakes up without any memory. That's like, the whole deal!" Melrose giggled as she finally let go of Litten's paw. "Plus, a human wouldn't really know how to use Pokémon moves, I think." She nodded to herself. "There isn't really a better explanation."

"That doesn't mean it's the right answer." He sighed, watching as the Pikachu's expression refused to fade from excitement.

"We need to get out of this Dungeon so I can introduce you to all my friends and family! I'm sure my papa will assure you that I've got this whole mystery solved!" Melrose announced, paying no attention to her supposedly human friend's misgivings. The Pikachu pointed at a gap in the wall of the grotto, leaking through with light. "I think that's the way out! Let's get going, Human Boy!"

"Hah… Please, don't call me that…"

Melrose was already on her way, unintentionally ignoring the poor Litten. Getting out of this uncomfortable forest was his original plan, and having a partner at his side would be much better than going at it solo. Though, it was a little intimidating that the Pikachu was so insistent on introducing him to more Pokémon so suddenly. He trotted slowly after her, unknowingly leaving a glowing white Tangela behind him.

"So, this here is a Mystery Dungeon." Melrose started to explain. "Specifically, this is Nightshade Grove. The only time us farmers need to come through this place is to chase off frenzied Rattata who encroach on our crop." Melrose smiled to herself.

"So then, what exactly are you doing here?" Litten tilted his head. He could just barely catch Melrose's face start to flush.

"O-oh! Right, yeah, well… about that…" She laughed, covering up her inability to hastily come up with an excuse. Litten raised an eyebrow at her, which made the Pikachu's ears droop. "I ain't so good at lying… I just wanted to prove I could make it to the end." The Litten's confused expression prompted her to continue. "I wanna be an Explorer, so I'm trying to get into our kingdom's best school for training exploration teams! It's kinda hard for Pokémon like me to get in, but I've stayed real optimistic about it! Though, I don't think the rest of the farm folk feel the same way…" Her tail now joined her ears in the drooping process.

"I see." The Litten tried to give her a sympathetic look, " I'm sorry, Melrose. I bet that doubt made you start to feel doubt too, huh?"

The Pikachu nodded her head. "That Tangela would have pummeled me if you didn't show up. Maybe I'm really not cut out for it like I thought I was."

"Don't say that! You did a great job in battle, as far as I'm concerned. Plus, fighting other Pokémon doesn't seem like it has a lot to do with exploring places."

Melrose sighed dejectedly. "You'd be surprised."

The Litten laughed. "Apparently, I don't remember anything! I'm pretty sure I'll be surprised by almost any possible fact you could throw at me." He proposed while gesturing a paw out to the world around them.

Melrose smiled and soon laughed, the pep returning to her step. "I can think of a few things that probably ain't a surprise to ya! Like, how 'bout this. The farm I live on… grows APPLES!"

Litten, making a pretend expression of shock, pointed a trembling paw at the Pikachu's apple patterned scarf before letting out an exaggerated gasp. "No way!"

The two of them laughed amongst themselves, enjoying a moment of bliss before a loud roar erupted from behind them. Both their ears flattened down as they looked back at the terrifyingly large Tangrowth, who was rapidly gaining on them. Melrose grabbed the Litten's whiskers and pulled them down—and looked right into his eyes. "RUN!"

The two Pokémon booked it towards the next section of the Mystery Dungeon, dodging the series of Ancient Powers getting chucked at them. A stray stone slammed into a wild Rattata, knocking it out instantly.

Litten hissed loudly, "Whatever you do, don't get hit by those Ancient Powers!"

"Thanks! I never woulda thought of that!"

The both of them charged into a clearing, which appeared to be a dead end. Backs against a thick tangle of vines and ivy, Melrose and Litten stared up at the approaching monster. The Pikachu attacked it with a Thunder Shock, but the Tangrowth was completely unfazed. Litten trembled as the large, magical rock was lifted into the air above him.

Suddenly, a breeze like no other started to whip up at Tangrowth. The Pokémon shielded itself with its arms, but it was far from enough to keep the beastly mass of plants from blowing away in the Whirlwind. A Tropius flew in from the canopy above, and Melrose's eyes glittered. Before Litten could ask any questions, the Tropius landed in front of the two little Pokémon.

"Girl, you're in a world a’ trouble!" The Tropius gave Melrose a small glare, but was chuckling to himself while watching his daughter rub the back of her head timidly. "Get on my back, darling. Your little friend, too."

Melrose hopped onto the Tropius. "How did you know he was my friend?"

"Hmph, ‘cause there ain't no frenzied Littens in Nightshade Grove."

"Ah-hah! Good point." Melrose looked down at the Litten and smiled. "Don't worry none! This is my papa, Gaius! He'll take us back safely to Happy Apple Farm!"

Litten glanced up at the large Pokémon, craning his neck to get a good look at his face. Tropius motioned with his head towards his back, where Melrose was already sitting, and Litten hesitated before also climbing up onto Gaius. It wasn't as easy for him to hop up onto the Tropius as it was for Melrose, but once he was situated–Litten held on tight to his leaf covered body.

Gaius took off carefully, making sure the two little ones were secure on his back before picking up speed. 

The flying Pokémon was keeping as close to the ground as he could, but Litten's heart was still pounding. He couldn't really tell why; it wasn't like he was scared. It was thrilling to be up in the air like this, to see the top of all these trees and the distant farmhouse. If it wasn't for the all-too-real feeling of the wind on his face, the Litten probably would have thought this was all a dream.

Chapter Text

Gaius waited for both Melrose and the Litten to hop off of him before lowering his head down to their level. The large Tropius gave his Pikachu daughter a strong, stern look, and Melrose was already sinking into herself by the time he spoke. "You shouldn't have run off like that, Mel. You could've gotten seriously injured, or worse. You're lucky the others came and got me before it was too late."

"I know, Papa…" Melrose tucked her head down, keeping her eyes on the blades of grass she was nudging with her feet. "I'm real sorry…"

"That being said," Gaius's expression eased as he brought his head closer to Melrose. "Nightshade Grove isn't a dungeon fit for learning the basics. Don't be hard on yourself over failing to do it alone. That's what going to school is for." Gaius carefully nuzzled the top of her head, but Melrose stayed quiet. The gentle giant let out a smooth chuckle before giving the top of Melrose’s head a soft lick, which forced a happy squeak right out of her—the glum had been sapped away like magic.

As Litten observed the family exchange, it came with a sneaking sense of awkwardness. The intimacy was making him uncomfortable—perhaps a sign that his watching of them was an intrusion on their moment. His eyes quickly trailed off towards the sky.

"I should ground ya, I really should, but I'm just relieved I found you in one piece." Gaius craned his neck back up as he turned to face Litten. "Bet I have you to thank for that, don't I? Well, thank you for watching my daughter's back, kind stranger—but what in Arceus’s name were you doing in Nightshade Grove?"

Being addressed directly so soon after his disengagement took the Litten off guard. He had no idea what to say, and, even when he tried to come up with something—the words got caught in his throat. “I, uh—well…”

He wasn't left to his suspicious stammering for long, though, as Melrose jumped in to save the day. "I can tell you, Papa!” She shouted as if Gaius were miles away. “The Pokémon you see before you is a one-hundred-percent bon… bon-naf… ide… uh, is for sure a tried-and-true human being from another world!"

"Hold on, Rosie. What?" Gaius's voice grew stern once again. "You tryin’ to tell me this boy's a human? Sweetheart, that's ridiculous."

"That's what I've been saying." The Litten's hiss was barely above a whisper, and his tail flicked.

"B-but!–" She glanced back and forth between the doubters, ears down but cheeks crackling with static. "He woke up in the middle of nowhere without any memories! And he can't use no Pokémon moves neither! Sounds like a human, if ya ask me!" Melrose crossed her arms in a disgruntled manner, her nose now twitching. The electricity around her face fizzled out, but she continued to plead her case with a surefire passion. "Oh! And! Another thing! He said somethin' about knowing he ain't a Litten before now! I'm tellin' ya, the whole thing smells like human to m–"

"Mel, please, would ya calm down? I believe you." Gaius gave the stranger a sceptical glance. "At least, I sorta believe you. It's best to avoid makin’ assumptions, if we can help it." The Tropius lifted his head back up high, keeping an inquisitive eye on Litten below. "Stay with us tonight, little one. You helped protect my darling Melrose, so our home is yours… as long as you can do me one little favor."

With nowhere else to go, and hardly a reason to leave, a guaranteed roof over his head sounded perfect to the Litten. Besides that, Gaius hardly seemed like the kind of Pokémon who would demand something unreasonable from him. At this point, there was no reason to deny a helping hand around the farm or some sort of chore to earn his keep.

Litten craned his neck upwards to make eye-contact with the mighty Tropius. "Sure, what is it?"

"Make sure to tell me if you remember anything about yourself, anything at all. Even if it's small, it might help us get to the bottom of things." He turned away from the smaller Pokémon for a moment or two, and blinked slowly at what seemed to be nothing. "And, you ain't lying, right boy?"

"N–" Litten's voice got caught in his throat again. "No sir… I don't know how to assure you that I'm not trying to deceive anyone, but I can promise you that it's my honest truth. The only thing I remember about myself is that I definitely wasn't a Litten before waking up in that forest."

Gaius gave the stranger an unflinching look, mulling something over in his head while Litten waited nervously for him to stop. He finally felt like he could breathe again once the Tropius pulled away. "Hmm, alright, then I'll let the others know it's break time. You two should have a couple Oran berries and a rest. It's about lunch time, anyhow." Gaius looked up at the sky. "I heard rumors about a solar eclipse today, and I was thinking we could all have a picnic and watch the phenomenon."

Melrose's eyes lit up, "A solar eclipse? I've never-ever-ever seen one of those before!" She smiled brightly at Litten. "Today's turning out to be real special! I met a human, now I get to see an Eclipse!" The Pikachu squeaked with delight as her red cheeks cackled from static.

The Tropius walked back to the farm house to herd everyone together, and Melrose sat down on the soft grass to stare up at the clear sky. Litten hesitated before joining her, carefully laying down a few feet away.

An Aipom was the first to come bounding out of the house. "Mel!" He grabbed the Pikachu by the shoulders and shook her. "You dummy! Don't you know how much trouble I would’ve been in if you'd gotten hurt!"

Litten sneered, "By the sound of it, you care more about how you turned out than how she did."

The monkey Pokémon leered hard at him. "And just who the heck are you?"

Melrose pulled Aipom’'s hands off her. "Nate, meet uh… Litten? He's my new friend! I met him in the forest. He helped me fight off a nasty Tangela, and is certainly braver than you'll ever be.~" She huffed, smiling from her little tease. Nate frowned harder.

"Well, when I realized you ran into Nightshade Grove, I wasn't just gonna stupidly rush in after ya!" The Aipom's tail bonked Melrose on the head, which made her cheeks spark. "Seriously though," His voice became much softer. "I wasn't trying to be mean or nothin' about that school stuff. Really…"

Melrose looked up at him, the irritation leaving her gaze. "I know I've been non-stop blabbering about it, so maybe I can see why it might be a little annoying…" Her cheeks sparked again and her nose twitched, "But that ain't no excuse to crush my dreams!"

The two of them tussled for a little bit, which was amusing to watch. It was just like a scuffle between siblings. Litten was trying not to laugh at them, but it seemed like all was well. Still, he felt like he was invading their family moment, so Litten kept his eyes off the bickering Pokémon to better distance himself from this alienating sense of intrusion.

Once everyone was outside and raring to watch the rumored eclipse, Melrose was excitedly introducing everyone to her new companion. Litten nodded despondently each time another farmhand was described to him.

"Workin' a farm takes a lot of teamwork! Nate and I are the harvesters, Koa transports our produce both around and out of the fields, Chile washes the apples and is in charge of all things hy-dro-philic," she smiled after pronouncing such a difficult word. "Oh, and of course, Papa Gaius manages everything!"

"You know, he still hasn't told us his real name." Nate gave a suspicious sniff in the newcomer's direction.

"It's 'cause he don't remember it!" Melrose announced, as if this was a good thing. The Litten's ears flattened slightly—it was becoming apparent that his amnesia was a novelty to Melrose. He took a timid bite out of his Oran Berry snack before looking up at the sky. He could just barely hear Melrose as she leaned over to Nate and whispered excitedly, "isn't he mysterious?"

"I guess so," Nate didn't bother to keep his voice down.

Chile waddled over to the Litten and smiled up at him. "I wanted to thank you personally for keeping Rosie safe." The Lotad's soft, pleasant voice eased Litten's tension, so he smiled back.

"I wasn't going to leave a Pokémon in danger like that. It doesn’t really feel like I deserve all this thanks—just felt like it was the right thing to do."

"Ah, modest too…" He blushed while blinking slowly. "So cool…"

Litten returned the blush and rubbed the back of his head with a paw. He really didn't feel cool, or mysterious, or whatever. This was all very silly, but was probably a product of these Pokémon not getting out much. He realized the Lotad was back to gazing up at him, and, in a moment of playfulness, Litten licked the back of his paw and swept his head fur before winking. "Maybe, it was my heroic instincts kicking in."

Chile's expression brightened even further as he quacked with delight. Nate rolled his eyes at the exchange, but Melrose was giggling to herself.

"Alright, Mister Hero! Don't let Chile give you a big head about it! You weren't even able to use any moves. You saved me with a rock!"

Chile gasped, "you saved Rosie without even using any moves?" His amazement refused to fade.

Litten laughed, "That's not exactly what happened."

"Chile, you know how when you use Water Gun, you don't really even have to think about it? My friend here says that he just can't do that." Melrose shrugged, "which is the big reason I think he's–"

Gaius cleared his throat. "Hey, everyone. Pay attention. I think that the eclipse is starting." At the Tropius's command, everyone glanced up at the sky—careful as to not look directly at the sun.

In an instant, darkness enveloped the farm below. A chill rushed down everyone's spine at the surprisingly sudden drop in temperature. The shine of the sun behind the moon was impossible for anyone to look directly at, which made everyone have to avert their eyes in some way. Everyone, except for Litten, whose eyes were growing as dark as the world around him. The Litten's heart fluttered like a swarm of Vivillon, blood thundered in his ears with the wrath of an Electivire, and the conversation around him soon became faint and incomprehensible.

Something beyond the sheltered sun was calling out to him, and Litten worked hard to keep his front paws planted on the ground. They itched to grasp up towards the sky, as if he wanted to grab something that wasn't really there, and hold onto it so that it couldn't get away from him. The noise rupturing through his whole body halted suddenly, leaving the Litten with a cold feeling of dissatisfaction and longing. Light filtered back over the farm as if it had never left, and the Litten lifted a paw upwards to rub at his own chest. As the sky returned to its natural order, so too did Litten's heartbeat.

Melrose shook her frozen friend and laughed, unaware of his inner turmoil. "What a display, huh! Must be a crazy first day of memories for you!" The Litten was unresponsive, so Melrose shook him again. "Hey silly, are you even listening to m–"

"Xander." The Pokémon responded coolly, his eyes unblinking. "My name is Xander. I just remembered it."

The Litten did not turn his head away from the sky, so he could not have noticed everyone looking amongst themselves. There was a soft murmur, and eventually a scoff.

"We're really to believe he just now remembered his own name? Are you kidding me?" Nate rolled his eyes again. "What a riot, this guy. I'm getting real tired of his schtick."

"No, I'm serious." Xander finally pulled his gaze away from the sky, making direct eye-contact with Nate. "I heard it, as if someone was calling me by that name." He stood up to his fours, now looking up at Gaius, "I wouldn't have any reason to lie about it before." Xander shrugged his shoulders. "It's just my name."

Nate opened his mouth to object, but was quickly cut off by the Tropius above him. "Xander it is, then." He looked down at all his farmhands and nodded his head, "alright crew, break time is over. I don't want a lousy harvest just because we've had an exciting day."

Melrose perked up, "Oh! Xander, you could come and help me and Nate!"

"Sorry, Rosie." Gaius shook his head disapprovingly. "I actually need your new friend's attention. You and Nate hustle along, and no more running into trouble—ya hear?"

Melrose's ears fell and she sighed, "Yes, Papa…"

Koa started to make his way towards the orchard wordlessly, and the two smaller Pokémon giggled at each other before hopping up onto his back. Xander watched them ride off before glancing nervously at the rather imposing farmer staring down at him. "What do you need me for, sir?"

"C'mere." He grumbled before gesturing at the farmhouse. Xander made his way inside, and realized once he had gone through the front entrance that this place was far too small for a Tropius. He turned back towards the door, where Gaius was nowhere to be seen. There was a loud call from the back of the house. "This way! Hurry up!"

Xander skedaddled to the back, where there was a door that led to a garage of sorts. Xander assumed this was where Koa and Gaius lived, considering the larger furniture and a high-rising roof. He couldn't help wondering why a farm owned by a heavyset Pokémon wasn't entirely catered to his stature.

Gaius set a parcel by Xander's feet, causing the Litten to tilt his head. "What is this?"

"Did Melrose tell you about why she went a-runnin' off into the Grove?"

Xander nodded. "Yeah, she talked about the school she wanted to get into before we got attacked by that Tangrowth." The Litten's tail perked up when he took another look at the package. "Wait! Then… this must be–"

"Exactly." Gaius smiled to himself. "I'm waiting until dinner to let her know. It arrived before she even woke up this morning. I wanted to give her a big hoorah about it, ya know?" He nudged the parcel back up against the wall.

"Why are you telling me before everyone else then?" Xander fidgeted with his paw.

"Because, I have another favor to ask of you, and I need to know you're on board with it before I give Rosie the news." He sighed into his chest before looking outside. "At first, I wasn't quite sure what to do. I was thinkin' maybe I'd send Koa to the capital with her, but I can't go long without him. He would have to come right back home." Gaius lowered his head to the ground, going quiet as he locked eyes with Xander. The Litten could see the troubled expression mixed so thoroughly into his fatherly pride, and felt a pang of guilt that had next to nothing to do with him.

"You're a trustworthy sort, that much I can definitely tell. I see it in those big eyes of yours, Xander. Human or not, you have something to ya that’s unlike anyone I've met in a long time."

The praise only made Xander's stomach churn, especially at the mention of that "human-thing" again. What exactly was this Pokémon getting at?

Gaius maintained eye-contact as he finally spilled his request. "Xander, can I ask you to protect my daughter?"

Taken aback by the sudden request, Xander stiffened. "Wh-what? What exactly do you mean by that?"

"It means what you probably think it might mean, son. Stay by her side, keep her company, make sure she's safe…" His voice was pained, making Xander ease up a little. "I need you to go to the Capital with Melrose and watch over her the best you can. She's taken a real shine to you, and I can't afford to lose two farm hands at once, even for a short while."

"I guess I can get behind the reasoning…" Xander sighed into his chest, finally pulling his gaze away from Gaius's pleading eyes. "But, I feel like I'm hardly the Pokémon for the job." Xander admitted. "You just met me, after all…"

"I know, Xander. However, I trust you—more than any Father should I reckon, with the safety of his daughter. But, it's as if Arceus itself sent you from the sky above for this request." The Tropius looked up towards the sky, his eyes meeting with the roof of his house. Xander could tell Gaius truly believed that.

Xander fidgeted with the ring around his neck. He was quick to assume Gaius wasn't going to take no for an answer. It wasn't even worth debating him, though, as there was actually nothing else in the whole world that Xander had to go and do. This left him rather dry in the excuse department.

With a stiff smile, Xander lifted his head back up to look at Gaius. "I'll do my best, sir…" He mumbled sheepishly.

The Tropius's eyes lit up large with hope. "Thank you kindly, Xander." Then, Gaius nodded his head as if to confirm something with himself. "I still plan on announcing everything this evening, in the meantime—I insist you get some rest. Guest room is upstairs, go ahead and get situated." Gaius turned his head away from the Litten to stare outside silently, so Xander took that as his signal to leave. He considered saying thank you, but the hesitation would have made the exchange awkward.

The staircase was near the washroom, presenting Xander with the biggest challenge yet—climbing stairs on all fours without tripping. Taking much longer than any Pokémon naturally should, and thanking that Arceus guy that no one was watching, Xander made it to the top.

The guest room was nice enough. It was decorated with simple floral accents and was occupied by only two pieces of furniture: a rudimentary mattress, and a chair by the window. Being located at the top of the house gave it that triangulated ceiling, which personally made Xander feel a little claustrophobic. Still, he hopped up onto the bed and attempted to get comfortable. The aches in his body insisted that he sleep, but the Litten's mind was racing from thoughts he had no time to dwell on up until now. With a deep sigh, Xander closed his eyes.

Chapter Text

As the sun started to fall below the horizon, Xander’s consciousness returned to him for the second time in one day. He stretched his arms forward and lifted his rear, yawning loudly to himself before hopping off the bed. He could hear noises coming from downstairs—clanging pots and the murmur of voices. Not wanting to be a freeloader, Xander wandered downstairs to see if he could help with anything.

Melrose watched patiently as her friend made his way down the steps head first. Each of Xander's steps grew more confident, but near the staircase's end—he stumbled. Melrose was quick to catch him, and the two laughed a little. “No worries, you’ll get the hang of it!”

“Gosh, I still can’t do stairs.” Chile admitted, his voice coming from the kitchen. “My legs are just two darn short…”

“Maybe it’s about time you evolved?” Melrose tilted her head. “You've surely been more than ready for a while now.”

Xander turned the corner so he could see Chile, and the Lotad’s expression was entirely unsure. He shuffled his feet as he grabbed a wooden spoon for Melrose, holding it carefully in his mouth. Once she took it, he sighed at the floor. “I don’t really know if I like the idea. Having my body change like that sounds kind of scary. Besides, I’m not really a fighter or anything like that.”

Melrose frowned at him. “I guess it’s entirely up to you, but I don’t get it.” She began stirring some sort of broth with the spoon, her tail swishing back and forth happily as she did this. It was a pretty big pot, but Xander still wasn’t sure if it was enough to feed everyone.

“Uhm, hey guys?” Xander approached both of them. “Is there anything I can do to help? You know, with dinner?”

The Pikachu stopped her stirring and thought for a moment, “I don’t really think so? You’re a guest, anyways. So, don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t know if I’m capable of that.” Xander’s tail flicked. “I’ve been sleeping the whole day away while you’ve been hard at work… even after taking on a frightening opponent.” Melrose looked back at him, rather amused. Xander could feel his face get a little heated. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Becaaause, you’re being silly!” She giggled. “But, if you really want to help with something… could you go fetch Nate and Koa? They should be done offloading the apples by now. Check the barn.”

“Okay, I can do that.” Xander turned towards the door and pushed it gently. With a click, the door’s locking mechanism was undone and he could fully push the door open. He smiled to himself—that was a pretty clever way to make sure most Pokémon could use such a door. He trotted along towards the bright red barn.

“Careful, Nate. Don’t bruise the produce.”

“I know what I’m doing! Jeez!”

The apple cart was aligned with a large water trough. Nate undid a metal hinge on the back so that the apples would fall out into the trough and get washed. They were spilling steadily, until the pile became level and needed to be removed by hand. The Aipom used his tail to pull the rest of the apples out, and placed his hands on his hips once he was done.

“Told ya, Koa. Ain’t no trouble at all.”

Xander cleared his throat, and the two farm hands turned to look at him. Nate crossed his arms at the newcomer, but Xander didn’t pay this much mind. “Melrose told me to get you both. I don’t really know why.”

Koa nodded his head. “Dinner’s probably just about ready. Get a move on, Nate.” The large horse Pokémon left the barn, not waiting for the younger farm hand to follow.

Once Koa was gone, Nate scowled at Xander harder. “I don’t trust you.”

“Okay?” Xander sighed. “I don’t really need you to trust me? You aren’t my friend.”

Nate, for some reason, took offense to this. He hopped off of the cart and poked a hand against Xander’s forehead. “You think you’re better than me? Huh?”

“What? No?” Xander sighed. “Listen, I don’t really want to play this game. I have absolutely no reason to fight with you… and, I’m more or less sure I’m on excellent terms with Gaius, Melrose, and even Chile. As far as I’m concerned, I’m absolutely okay with that.” Xander walked past Nate. “Let’s just go see what Melrose wants.”

“Ugh, come on! You are so clearly full of yourself! It’s getting on my nerves!” Nate charged ahead of him and blocked the exit. “You’ve convinced everyone else that you’re the shit!”

“I haven’t–” Xander could feel the fur on his back rise, so he took a deep breath. “Can we just–” Nate shoved Xander, clearly wanting to start something. Xander wobbled back slightly, but was ultimately able to keep upright. “I don’t know what your issue is, dude.”

“My issue is you!” Nate shoved him again. “Tussle! Show me what all the hype is about!” A smile appeared on the Aipom’s face, as he clearly excited himself by challenging Xander like this.

Xander’s ears flattened against his head. This Aipom has the emotional maturity of a toddler, which meant Xander probably wasn’t going to get out of this without a slight scuffle. Xander pounced towards Nate, shoving the Pokémon back with his two front paws. The Aipom fell to the ground.

“There. I tussled , yeah? Let’s go–”

“C’mon! Use Scratch! Ember! Something, you—you liar!”

“Liar? What are you…” Xander thought for a second. “Wait, is this about Melrose saying I can’t use any moves? That was serious. Why would I ever lie about something like that?”

“I don’t know! You’re the one who’s making all this mysterious crap up.” Nate got back up and dusted himself off.

“Listen, kid. I’m going to go back inside the house. You can hate me, like, if that’s really what you want. I’m not going to humor this, okay?” Xander walked past without looking at him. Nate was grumbling to himself, but Xander lacked any further patience for the Aipom.

Leaving Nate in the barn, Xander returned to the kitchen with a dejected expression. Melrose called out loudly as she whacked at the side of the pot with the wooden spoon. “Soup’s on!” Chile excitedly hopped up to the table, and Xander followed suit. She tilted her head when she noticed the missing Aipom. “Where’s Nate?”

“He’ll probably show up soon,” Xander shrugged. “He was throwing a fit about me after Koa left.”

“Oh, maybe he’s just feeling challenged by having another man around the house.” Melrose teased. Chile laughed, but Xander wasn’t feeling quite as amused. Melrose noticed, and stopped the tease by patting Xander on the back. “He’s just weird about things, promise. It’s nothing to make a fuss over.”

“Melrose!” Gaius’s voice boomed from the back of the house. “Can y’all come eat at the table in ‘ere? I wanna talk to everyone!”

“Yes, Papa!”

Chile sighed, having just exerted the effort to make it to the chair. He jumped back down to help Melrose get everything to the garage side of their home. Xander was quick to assist, and the group got the stewpot to Gauis. The Tropius looked down at everyone. “Thank you, Rosie. Chile, Xander—Hey, wait just one second.” He tilted his head. “Where’s Nate?”

“Still in the barn, I guess.” Xander sat by the table. Koa gave him a weird look.

“He didn’t walk with you back to the house?” The Mudsdale huffed, “you kidding me?”

Xander rolled his eyes. “It’s not a big deal, really. He’s probably just sulking–”

“Everyone shut it. I’m here..” Nate entered through the open back entrance and sat at the table. “I was just making sure everything in the barn was in order. Why are we all in here?”

Gaius blinked slowly down at the group, before smiling to himself. “Everybody settle. I have some important news to share.” The Pokémon looked amongst themselves before all sitting down and giving Gaius their full attention. Even though Xander knew what was coming, his stomach was hit with the usual anxiety brought by this level of fanfare.

The Tropius lifted a package away from the wall and set it on the table with his mouth, “Melrose, I want you to open this. This here box is addressed from the capital.”

Melrose’s eyes grew big. “Wait, you don’t mean–” She grabbed the package and pulled it closer to her, eagerly tearing it open without any theatrics. Inside was some sort of badge, a small bag, and a scroll. Melrose squealed with delight as she unrolled the letter.

“Dear Melrose,”

Melrose’s tail already started to swish from excitement, just from reading her name aloud.

“I am excited to inform you of your acceptance into the Rescue, Exploration, and Defense Academy. Report to the main building as soon as you receive this letter. We have provided you with this Academy Badge, which proves your authenticity, and a beginners Treasure Bag. Make haste, and travel safely.

–-Adeline of the R.E.D. Academy staff.”

Melrose took a pause after reading the letter out loud before hugging the closest Pokémon to her, which just happened to be Xander, and squealing with joy. Xander let out an off-put laugh, but Melrose didn’t seem to notice. She was just too thrilled.

“It got here real quick, I must admit.” Gaius chuckled to himself. “Ol’ Zeph must’ve actually submitted everything on time this year. Or, perhaps them Mail-Mon are gettin’ way better at their jobs. Either way,” He smiled fondly at his daughter. “You’ll be heading off for school tomorrow at sunrise.”

“Congrats, Rosie!” Chile smiled up at her. “I’m so proud of you!”

Koa nodded with a smile on his face, “We’re gonna miss you ‘round the farm, but it’s great to see you so darn happy.”

Nate stirred, and everyone looked at him expectantly. The Aipom kept his face away from everyone, before turning towards his foster sister with tears running down his face. “I’m gonna miss you Mel!” He choked back a dramatic sob and joined the Xander-Melrose hug pile, causing everyone aside from a certain Litten to laugh. “Lil' Melrose is growing up without me! Bwaaah!”

It took a few minutes, but eventually the group started to calm down again. As they ate dinner, Gaius began to explain what he had already told Xander in private. Xander himself was mostly just nodding along, the majority of his attention focused on how good the soup was.

Melrose could hardly hold in her emotions, only making an effort as to not spill soup everywhere and/or electrocute everyone. “You’re really trusting Xander and me to get to the capital on our own?”

“Not entirely, since It’s a fairly long way there. Koa will go with you both, then head straight back. I don’t want to lose too many of y’all all at once, especially when we’re already low on farm-hands. Can’t imagine you runnin’ into much trouble on your way there, but I’d rather know you got to the city safe-and-sound.”

“I travel much faster than most Pokémon do, so we’ll make great time.” Koa boasted, puffing his chest out.

Nate hit the table with his paw. “Am I the only one who don’t trust this actual stranger with Melrose?!”

“Yep,” Melrose put simply. “I think you are literally the only one who has a problem with him. So get over it, you knucklehead!” Melrose stuck her tongue out at Nate, but this time the Aipom didn’t return the tease. He just crossed his arms and went quiet.

The rest of dinner went along just fine. Everyone shared their emotions about the whole event as they ate, aside from Xander… who didn’t have much to say at all. From the moment he met Melrose, he had just been going with the flow. There really wasn’t much else he could reasonably do, and a sense of purpose was a great distraction from the existential dread of waking up in an unknown world.

Melrose, Nate, and Chile all carried the dishes back to the kitchen. There was some shouting about whose turn it was to wash everything, but Chile ended up volunteering to save everyone the grief of listening to Melrose and Nate bicker again. Spared from being caught in the crossfire of such an exchange, Xander climbed the stairs and collapsed back onto the bed. Despite waking up from a nap just a couple of hours ago, a belly full of soup created the perfect conditions for drowsiness.

However, just before Xander could doze off, Melrose peaked her head inside of the guest room. “Hey, Xander? Are you still up?” The Litten made a small noise before turning his head towards the noise. “Sorry, I just don’t think I’m tired enough to sleep yet. I can go bother someone else–”

“Nah, nah… It’s fine, Melrose.” Xander sat back up on the bed and pawed the mattress next to him. The Pikachu sat where her friend gestured. “Are you anxious?”

“Hmm, maybe. I think it’s a good anxiety though! I want it to be tomorrow already, so badly that I can't sleep!” She let out a sigh, “but staying awake just makes it take longer!”

“Heh, you say that, but sleeping doesn't make time pass any faster. It’s all based on your perception.” Melrose gave Xander an irritated look, and the Litten rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t trying to be a smartass. I get what you mean.”

Melrose gave him a playful nudge. “I was just playing. I like the way you talk.” She smiled, but it faded after a moment. “Can I ask you something, Xander? How do you feel about all this?”

Melrose’s question took Xander off guard. It had to sink in before he could come up with an answer. “Is it rude for me to say I feel nothing?”

“I don’t think so. I mean, I’d obviously be offended if you knew me for years!” She giggled and kicked her feet back and forth. “What I care more about is whether or not you’re actually okay with going to the capital with me.”

“At first, I was really unsure about it, mostly because it seemed like a great deal of responsibility all at once. When I think about it though… it’s not like I would rather stay here.” He nodded, almost as if he needed to affirm that to himself as much as Melrose. “Traveling with you sounds fun.”

The smile was back on Melrose’s face. “Thanks for telling me that.” She took a deep breath before hopping off the bed. “Alright, I’m gonna try to get some sleep now. Goodnight, Xander!”

Xander watched as Melrose left the room, letting a smile appear on his own face before curling back up on the bed. He mumbled to himself as he tucked his face into the sheets. “Goodnight, Rosie.”

Chapter Text

Melrose hardly got a wink of sleep. Every thirty minutes or so she would roll out of bed to check if the sun was up. The moment light started to peek over the horizon, she started packing everything she thought necessary—both for school and the trip to the capital. Any and all money she had saved up was tucked carefully in a pouch at the bottom of her brand new, school-grade Treasure Bag. She smiled bright before rushing outside.

Koa was already loading a cart with produce for the trip, and Gaius was helping him lift crates and barrels in the back. The Tropius was so occupied that he didn’t notice Melrose run up to him, but the squeak of her voice snapped Gaius back to reality.

“What are you both up to?” The Pikachu said with a curious head tilt. “We takin’ all those with us?”

“Yup. Koa thought it would be smart to run a delivery to the market during this trip. Sort of a ‘kill two birds’ kind of deal. He’s plenty strong enough to take the apples and you kiddos.” Gaius finally glanced down at his daughter, a look of slight surprise on his face. “Oh, is Xander not awake yet?”

“Haven’t checked,” Melrose admitted. “It’s pretty early though, so I doubt it. I’ve been awake for a while, just stayed in bed until a few minutes ago.”

“Well, don’t rush packing or anything. Double check that you’ve got everything with you, especially the stuff sent from Red Academy.” Gaius nudged the Pikachu back inside with his head, and she giggled at how easy it was for him to move her.

“Okay, Papa!”

Once in the house, Melrose listened well to her father’s advice and double checked everything in her bag. While doing this, a very sleepy looking Litten slugged his way down the stairs.

“Hey, Melrose…” Xander spoke through a yawn, taking the steps one paw at a time. “Do you need any help packing?”

“Nah, I’m already done. Papa just wanted me to make absolutely, one-hundred percent sure I had everything. One time, I didn’t pack any snacks for the road…” She shuddered. “That was a bad day at Shimmer Pond.”

Xander blinked slowly before yawning again. “Speaking of… am I allowed to have some breakfast?”

“Of course, Xandy! Lemme make ya something!” Melrose set her stuff down and hurried to the pantry, giving Xander zero time to complain about the nickname. She mumbled to herself while searching. “I reckon he's the type to like a fruit salad in the morning.” Grabbing a selection of fruits from the dry storage, she hastily tossed them on the table before rushing to the ice box to get some more—and Xander watched the energetic display with tired eyes.

Chile left his room, smiling up at Xander as he waddled near. “Good morning, beloved stranger.” The Lotad giggled as he walked past him. “Ready for Mel’s big day?”

Xander nodded his head and scratched behind his ear with his back paw. He did this awkwardly for a second before the movement settled into an instinctual rhythm. “Think so, but I might fall back asleep on the way there. Somehow, I still don’t feel fully rested.”

“Huh, that’s pretty weird.” Chile frowned. “I wonder why that might be.”

Melrose rushed back out with her selection of berries. “Okay, Xander! Pick out your favorites!”

“Melrose…  I have no idea what my favorite berries would be. I’m not even entirely sure I remember what any of those are,” Xander sighed.

“Oh… right, yeah.” Melrose laughed away her embarrassment. “I’ll just try to pick out what I think you might like, then.”

“I’m sure I’ll like whatever you make for me, so try not to stress about it or anything.” Xander laughed quietly as he watched his friend start to cut a few of the berries up. “Make enough for both of us though, okay?”

“Me too, please!” Chile beamed. 

“Heard and heard!” Melrose started to hum to herself as she cut more of the fruit—Xander smiled as he watched, making Melrose feel a little bashful. Once the Pikachu was done chopping, she placed all the little diced pieces into three bowls. To top it off, she ran to the pantry to grab a jar of Combee honey. She happily drizzled a little over each fruit salad with a spoon, and her cheeks sparked with joy when she was finished. “Tah-dah! Enjoy, fellas!”

“Thanks, Rosie.” Chile hopped up onto a chair and started to dig in. Xander was a bit slower with his eating, still afflicted by his drowsiness. “Oh, be careful about the little red bits, Xander. They got a spicy kick to ‘em.”

“Noted,” Xander took a little nibble. A kick must’ve been an understatement—Xander’s eyes grew wide like saucers. The cinnamon-like spice of the fruit put a pep in Xander’s step real quick, and he started devouring the fruit in his bowl.

Once the three were done with the salads, Melrose cleaned up the dishes and set them in the sink. “Nate can just wash these later.”

“What a thoughtful parting gift,” Xander teased. Melrose giggled, which prompted Xander to continue. “It’ll be something to remember you by. Maybe when you come back to visit, they’ll still be there… rotting in the sink.”

“Ew! I sure hope not!” Melrose stuck her tongue out. “Chile, please, for the Love of Arceus, make sure Nate does the dishes. You boys better take care of yourselves while I’m gone…”

“We’re not barbarians, Mel.” Chile scoffed, pretending to be offended. He cracked a small smile afterwards. “You two better finish getting ready now, hmm?”

“I don’t have anything to pack, so I’m just waiting on Melrose.” Xander looked over at the Pikachu, “do you have everything you need?”

“Yep! And, I even double checked. We’re all set!” Melrose bounded out the front door excitedly, and Xander purred as he followed suit. With perfect timing—Koa and Gaius had completed their own preparations, and were joined by a slightly disgruntled looking Nate. Melrose hopped up to them. “I’m ready to go, Papa!”

“Good to hear. Get in this here cart and say your goodbyes.” Gaius stretched his wings out towards the now fully risen sun. He closed his eyes and took in the warmth of its rays. Melrose could only imagine how nice this weather felt to a Grass-Type Pokémon like him.

Melrose easily climbed into the apple cart, but Xander had to hype himself up for the cat-like leap upwards. His tail twitched a few times before he sprung up, but a slight miscalculation led to the Litten grabbing the back of the cart and pulling it down. Xander tumbled to the ground, along with a few stray apples, and tucked his blushing face away as his little audience laughed. He hopped up into the now open cart before Melrose and Nate redid the latch.

“Farewell, Rosie.” Chile sighed sweetly. “Stay safe, ya hear?”

“I will, I promise.” Melrose smiled down at the Lotad.

“Write to us whenever you can.” Gaius nuzzled the top of her head softly. “Eat well, and behave yourself.”

Melrose giggled, trying to prevent her now forming tears from falling. “I will, Papa. I love you…”

“I love you too, sugar.” He pulled away slowly and looked down at Nate, whose arms were crossed tightly. He nudged Nate with his foot, and the little Aipom squeaked as he gave the Tropius an upset glance. They had a silent exchange before the monkey Pokémon softened up.

“Mel… I hope you have a good time. Xander,” He tried to give the Litten a standoffish glace, but he cracked after only a few seconds. “Keep her safe, or you'll be sorry.”

Xander nodded. “I will, don't worry.”

Nate turned his head away. “Good, ‘cause Mel can be a real dummy.”

“Hey!–”

The group shared another honest laugh before Xander and Melrose settled comfortably in the cart with the produce. Koa started to trot down the road, and Melrose didn’t stop waving goodbye until her farmhouse family was out of sight. She wiped her teary eyes and smiled to herself.

Xander put a paw on her arm, tilting his head worriedly. “Are you going to be alright?”

Melrose nodded, lifting her head up towards the morning sky. “It’s not like it’s goodbye forever…”

The travelling party enjoyed the surrounding natural ambiance as Koa pulled their apple filled caravan of adventure onwards. Xander especially appreciated the moment of peace after such a rowdy twenty-four hours. The chirping orchestra from the surrounding bug and bird Pokémon created such a lovely melody that Xander almost fell right back asleep.

However, Xander was only able to get in a few moments of dosing before being shaken by Melrose. The Pikachu was so excited that her fingertips zapped Xander with a mild static. He couldn’t help hissing.

“Sorry, sorry! Look, look quickly!” The Pikachu pointed out past the horizon. Xander sluggishly pulled his head up, but was glad that he did. A large flock of Butterfree were fluttering together in the distant sky. “Where do you think they’re all going?”

“Hmph, it’s migration. A lot of Pokémon do that to avoid the cold.” Koa spoke without looking back at the two Pokémon. “Looks pretty organized. They must be nomads.”

“Whoa…” Melrose watched them for another few seconds, surprising Koa and Xander with her silence. It was actually Xander who broke the quiet moment.

“That reminds me. Why is it that you all act civilized… but some Pokémon don’t? Like that Tangel—err… Tangrowth that attacked us?”

“Huh? Oh! I guess I never thought about why that might be weird to someone who didn’t grow up here.” Melrose smiled at Xander. “The big-time researchers say this pheno… phenom… pheee…”

“Phenomenon.” Koa huffed.

“Yes! Phenomenon. They say this phenomenon is caused by all the Mystery Dungeons.” Xander gave Melrose a confused look, and the Pikachu rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “I don’t really know if I can explain it all that well.”

“Let me give it a go.” Koa said, then cleared his throat before continuing, “it’s pretty well documented that Mystery Dungeons ain’t no normal places. They’re bigger on the inside than on the outside, and they change every time you go into one. Pokémon that are born in ‘em, or stay in one for too long… they lose their sense of sapience, so they act all wild and crazed—like you saw.”

“Okay… and this occurs why? Because Mystery Dungeons aren’t normal places?” Xander cocked his head to one side, even though Koa wasn’t looking at him to see it.

“That’s one way to put it, yeah. The big shots say it’s because Mystery Dungeons are distortions in space and time, which can do some wacky things to a Pokémon’s brain. Even weirder is that they’re all inclined to attack anyone they see, which is probably why most people call ‘em ‘Wild Pokémon’.”

“Wait, ‘distortions in space and time’? That sounds really dangerous! You all go into those dungeons willingly?” Xander recoiled.

“Well, yeah!” Melrose smiled, her eyes shining brightly. “They’re so exciting! Explorers have been trying to unlock all their secrets for centuries!” Her cheeks sparked as she pumped her fists. “I’d do anything to explore an undiscovered Mystery Dungeon!”

“Anything, huh?” Koa chuckled. “Think you could be quiet the whole rest of the way there?”

“Nope!” Melrose giggled, not even hesitating. Koa rolled his eyes playfully, which Xander barely caught.

“Anyhow, I’ve heard a few rumors about wild Pokémon that can snap out of it… but, that’s all the claim is. A rumor.” Koa carefully navigated over some overgrown tree roots. The cart bumped slightly, and the two Pokémon inside it were tossed around. “And, to lose your mind like that, you would have to stay in a dungeon for a real long time. Rescue Teams get to ‘em way before that happens.”

“I-I s-see,” Xander’s voice shook as the cart did. “G-good to know I-I g-guess.”

“My turn for questions!” Melrose poked at Xander’s chest. “Got any clue what this gold ring around your neck is about? It looks fancy!”

“Hmm?” Xander looked down at the necklace. “Weird, I didn’t even think to question it before now.”

“Well, there were much more mysterious things about you beforehand! I was kinda hoping bringing it up might spark some memories in that noggin of yours.” Melrose giggled mischievously. “Did it work?”

“No.” Xander put it bluntly. “It doesn’t make me feel any sort of way, aside from maybe… confused?”

“Confused? How?” Melrose looked away from the golden glitz and back at her friend's face.

“Look at the size of the necklace, then at the rest of my body. Notice anything off about it?” Xander watched Melrose squint at the ring before shaking her head no. “Melrose, I can’t take it off. My head is too big, and there’s no way it could slide down past my shoulders.”

“Gasp!” Melrose exclaimed, actually saying the word ‘gasp’. “You’re right! It’s as if it was welded right on your body! That’s… yeah, that’s really weird.”

Xander nudged at it a few times with his paw. “At least that means no one will be stealing it.” He gave a sheepish laugh before curling back up in the cart. His mouth stretched into a wide yawn. “Sorry, but I think I need another cat nap.”

"Aww… Alright, sleepyhead.” Melrose sighed. “I’ll try not to wake you up next time I see somethin’ exciting.”

“Heh… Thanks, Rosie.” Xander’s eyelids fell as he tucked his nose closer to his belly. He could hear a hushed whisper come from Melrose.

“That just means I get to bother you all morning, Koa! Hehehee!”

The Mudsdale sighed playfully. “Arceus, have mercy on my soul.”

Chapter Text

The apple cart slowed to a halt once the capital city came into view. “Look ahead, kiddos.” Koa’s booming voice jolted Xander awake. “We ain’t too far from Constella now.”

Xander peaked his head over the side of the cart. Despite being described to him as the capital of an entire kingdom, Xander still found himself amazed by the large castles and the massive, sturdy wall surrounding the whole city. Even at a distance, the Constella’s grand aura didn’t falter.

Koa started to walk again without warning, causing Xander to stumble and fall against one of the crates. Melrose giggled as she helped the Litten back up. “Hey, sleepy-head!”

“Eugh, hey…” Xander rubbed his face with his paw. “How long was I out? Did I somehow manage to sleep through the whole trip?” 

"If it gives you any idea, it’s past noon.” Melrose removed an apple from one of the carts. “Are you hungry? I had a snack a lil’ bit ago.”

“Past noon!?” Xander ignored the food offer and gazed up at the sky. Sure enough, the sun was encroaching on the horizon. Xander’s ears flattened against his head, feeling ashamed. All he ever seemed to do since first becoming conscious—was sleep.

Melrose nudged an apple into Xander’s cheek. “They’re farm freshhh.” The Pikachu sang with a giggle. “Crisper than a clean sheet of snow on a grassy field!”

Xander rolled his eyes playfully. “You don’t have to sell the idea of an apple to me, Melrose.” He pawed the fruit away from his face. “But, no thank you. I’m still full from breakfast.”

Melrose frowned. “Alrighty then, Mister, but I better not hear you complain about how hungry you are once we get to the city!”

Both Pokémon watched the scenery roll by as Koa pulled them closer to their destination. Now that the group was only a few miles out, they could see far more Pokémon on the road than just themselves. The drawbridge to enter the city was down, letting anyone leave and enter, and was guarded by a set of horse Pokémon in shining silver armor. As Koa approached the gate, he gave a stern look back at Melrose and Xander.

“Now, since we’re bringing this here cart into town, those guards are going to want to inspect it. Be on your best behavior, ya hear.”

“Yes sir.” Xander nodded his head.

“Koa, c’mon! We aren’t trouble makers!” Melrose’s cheeks sparked as she pitched the miniature fit.

“Mhmm, sure. Sure.” Koa trotted forwards. As he predicted, the two Rapidash variants stopped him in his tracks. “Afternoon, gentlemen. Got a fresh stock of apples for y’all.”

“Of course, of course. We trust you, but it’s standard procedure for us to check. Hope you don’t mind.” The gallant Rapidash with colorful hair spoke with a snobbish tone that put Xander off. His sarcasm was cleverly disguised by his accent, but Xander could see right through it.

The Rapidash with a flaming mane also approached the cart. He gave a few sniffs of the air, and nudged the produce barrel to shake it a little. “Don’t sense any explosives. Everything checks out to me, Edgeworth.”

“Hmm… very well then. Welcome to Constella.” The Psychic Rapidash bowed his head, signaling Koa to advance into the city walls.

Melrose’s eyes shone brightly once she could see the city streets, and Xander felt himself get similarly dazzled. The castle town was made from stone-brick, medieval architecture. The side paths that weaved between alleyways and storefronts were marked with dirt, but the main road carved through Constella was made from beautifully laid out cobblestone.

Pokémon were populating every corner, each going about their day as usual. Street vendors beckoned towards passing ‘mon, trying to entice them with goods by shouting over the clamour. A small band made of two different looking Toxtricity played at the street corner, amassing a small crowd that occasionally dropped coins in a hat for them. Several Pokémon navigated the bustling space by crawling under legs or scaling the sides of buildings. It was fantastical to watch the flying Pokémon above navigate the towers and tall businesses, avoiding the traffic below them altogether. Xander watched as a Peliper perched atop a roof to hand deliver a parcel to a Mienfoo waiting up there for him.

“It’s pretty impressive,” Xander admitted out loud. “It almost makes me feel sort of… small.”

“Well, you are small.” Koa laughed. “I get whatcha mean, though. Even a big guy like me has to crane his neck to look up at the buildings ‘round here. I’ll drop y’all off in front of the academy… Soon as I figure out where the heck it is.”

“I think…” Melrose started to glance around, climbing onto Koa’s back to get a better view. “If we follow the main road, then we should be able to find it. Right?”

“Worth a shot.” Koa trudged forward, occasionally slowing as to not trample over any Pokémon nearby. The Mudsdale’s impressive size became evermore apparent each time someone tried to pass in front of him. Once Koa made it to the central plaza, it was even harder for him to get around. Koa had to be extremely mindful of his hooves and where they were going, mostly as to not crush someone’s market goods.

Koa stuttered to a halt when the back wheel of the cart nicked the corner of a clothing stall. “Damn it… alright kids, change of plans. Dragging this cart along is turning into a big hassle. I need to set up in the market, and you two will have to walk to school.”

“Aww… okaaay.” Melrose sighed, crossing her arms with a playful smile. “Darn, I liked being escorted around town.”

Koa, now being even more careful, walked slowly over to a large tent stationed near the middle of the square. It was beside a large fountain adorned with an impressive marble statue of an Aurorus—the market’s true centerpiece. Koa glanced down at a Kecleon who was standing just outside its entrance.

“Excuse me, sir. I need to rent a stall.”

The Kecleon looked up from his clipboard and squinted at Koa. “Hmm, righto. One moment, one moment.” He scribbled something down before flipping a few pages down. “Booth 116 is open, just hand over the thirty-thousand Pokécoins, please.”

“Thirty–” Koa’s nostrils flared. “Last time it was only twenty!”

“Sorry, sorry. The Merchant Guildmaster had to raise the prices. If you want the booth, you’ll have to pay the new price.”

Koa huffed. “Fine then. Thirty-thousand it is. Mel, can you give this nice Kecleon the absurd amount of money he’s askin’ for?”

Melrose nodded and reached into Koa’s personal satchel, grabbing three bags that Xander assumed were full of whatever money this world used. She handed the Kecleon the pouches from atop Koa, and the chameleon Pokémon nodded his head. “We’ll give these a quick count, yes? Then, I’ll be back with your permit. Yes, yes.”

The Kecleon entered the tent and closed the flap behind him. Koa mumbled something to himself before the Pokémon returned with a yellow-tinted paper. “Here is your permit.” He handed it to Melrose, as she was the closest Pokémon with hands, and adjusted his spectacles. “By the way, you’re the Happy Apple folk, aren’t you?”

“Yes sir!” Melrose answered eagerly.

“Ah, then, you will be returning soon with the direct delivery to the merchant’s guild as scheduled, won’t you? So, what's with all this?” He gestured a clawed hand towards the cart.

“Oh, I’m here to attend Red Academy!” Melrose tilted her head up with pride, “but we figured it’d be worth earning some Farmer’s Market cash if we were makin’ the trip here anyways!”

Kecleon nodded along, clearly not caring that much about what Melrose was saying to him. “Very well then. Booth 116 is just over there,” He pointed a claw at an empty booth. “May fortune shine upon you, and whatnot.” He looked back down at the clipboard.

“Wait, can you maybe tell us which way the academy is?” Melrose gave the Kecleon pleading eyes, but the Pokémon didn’t bother looking up from his papers. He did, however, slowly raise a hand up to point towards one of the paved roads. “Thank you, kindly!” The Pikachu smiled down at him, even if the merchant still wasn’t looking at her.

“Are you two feeling confident enough to start heading that way?” Koa looked back at Melrose, though he seemed to already know the answer. “You better get a move on. I can handle offloading all by myself.”

“If you say so, Koa!” The little Pikachu hugged the much larger Mudsdale by the neck before hopping off his back. Xander carefully climbed out of the cart before bowing his head towards Koa, and Koa bowed back. “C’mon Xander, let’s go!” Melrose sprinted off in the direction Kecleon pointed, without waiting for Xander to follow. 

Xander sighed, getting ready to take off as well, but Koa clearing his throat behind him made the Litten hesitate. “Make sure Mel knows she can always come home if things don’t work out, alright?” He blinked sadly as he turned himself and the cart around, not waiting for Xander to respond. Xander watched him for a moment before shaking his head and chasing after Melrose.

Once he was able to catch up to Melrose, the Pikachu had already made it to the front gate of the academy grounds. She was staring in awe at the castle. “I can hardly believe it… Oh, Arceus, it feels like a dream! Pinch me!” Melrose turned as she commanded her friend, pointing to her face with both hands.

“No way! If I pinch your cheek, I’ll get electrocuted!” Xander’s tail lashed. “I’d rather not need an Oran Berry all because my only friend is nuts!”

“You don't need to be so rude about it!” Melrose’s nose twitched as she turned back towards the academy. “It’s just… I’m finally, truly on my way to becoming an explorer…”

Xander eased up, nudging the Pikachu with his paw. “Well, don’t just stand here all star-struck then! Let’s go inside!” Making the first move, Xander started to run down the path. Melrose quickly overtook him, and it didn’t take long before both Pokémon made it inside the castle.

The interior was just as, if not even more, impressive than the outside. Blazing red tapestries with golden accents, beautiful dark-wood railings alongside massive sets of stone stairs, and masterfully crafted archways that led into each hall. Xander held his breath.

“Alright, sooo… I wonder who I’m supposed to show this letter of approval to?” Melrose scratched the back of her head. “There don’t seem to be any directions for the new students anywhere–”

“Rosie! What a pleasant surprise!” A dragon Pokémon flew from an upper balcony down to the floor Melrose and Xander were on, knocking up some dust as he did. Xander sneezed so strongly that it sent him up in the air an inch or two. “Well, I suppose it’s not entirely a surprise…” The Flygon tilted his head. “What’s with the look? Don’t you remember me? I’m Uncle Zephyr!”

Melrose was already rather stunned from such a large Pokémon flying at her from several floors above, that it took a very long and awkward pause before she could muster up an answer. “I’m sorry sir, I don’t think I recognize you… If I’ve met’cha, I must’ve been real little.”

“Aww… Well, that’s alright. How’s Gaius? The ol’ lout!” Zephyr smiled brightly, mirroring Melrose’s usual pep.

“Oh! He’s goo—Wait! Zephyr? You’re Headmaster Zephyr?!” Melrose’s eyes grew wide like full moons, and her cheeks flushed a harsh shade of pink. “Oh my goodness, and here I was talkin’ to you all casual like—ah! I’m still doing it. Oh my gosh–”

Zephyr laughed loudly. “Hey! Calm down! I don’t mind at all, even if you weren’t my pal’s daughter.” His wings stopped fluttering as he finally set himself onto the ground. “You’re impressively early for living so far away! School registration isn’t really supposed to start for another couple days. Damn, the mail service must’ve been fast!”

“A little too fast, if you ask me.” Another Pokémon approached the group, this one was a slightly aged Clefairy spotting a cute pair of glasses. “Zephyr, you gave me the list of accepted essays yesterday morning. I got everything done just before the eclipse, so I could watch it, and then I sent the letters to the post and the list to the Prime Minister.” She adjusted her spectacles before giving Zephyr a sly look. “I shouldn’t expect you of foul play, should I Uncle Zephyr?”

“Wha—nonsense! I would never meddle with academy affairs!” Zephyr scoffed, holding a hand against his chest. “Anyways, it doesn’t matter that much, does it?” Zephyr frowned. “You do have all your stuff, right Melrose?”

Melrose nodded, digging through her bag to take out the badge.

The Clefairy sighed, “Well, that certainly proves it’s official.” She gave a sweet smile, “My name is Adeline, I’m the secretary here at R.E.D. Academy. I mostly handle record keeping, but if you need something, and can’t find the Headmaster or another instructor—feel free to come see me!” Her voice ended the sentence in song before she waddled back the direction she came from.

Zephyr flew back up into the air and hovered in place, knocking around more dust. Xander sneezed again. “I’ll show you to the student quarters! Since you got here so early, you’ll get to acquaint yourself with life here at Red Academy before almost anyone else does!”

“Almost anyone else?” Melrose slanted her head.

“Oh, yeah, you weren’t the first student to arrive. Close though!” He started to fly back up to the balcony, and Melrose followed by charging up the stairs.

Xander hesitated, feeling… awkward. Here he was just standing around and saying nothing while Melrose’s life was unfolding in front of him. Though it’s not like he was being told to buzz off or anything. It took another few seconds of hesitation before he followed after them.

Although the others were much faster than him, Xander didn’t fall too far behind. Zephyr glanced back on occasion to make sure Melrose was still there, and stopped moving only once he reached the center hall of the third floor. “The West Wing is where the student rooms are, and they’re all connected to your common room.” He flew down the hall, only a little slower this time. “You’ll all be given a proper tour once the semester actually starts, but feel free to explore if you’re feeling a little cooped up!” Zephyr grinned as he pushed the door to the common room open. “I’ll fetch you and the other student for dinner in a few hours, so hang tight until then—okay?”

“Yes, Zephyr sir!” Melrose gave a little salute before running into the room. “See ya later, Xander!” She waved as her Headmaster shut the door, and her friend waved sheepishly back.

Melrose could hardly contain her excitement, jumping up into the air and letting her whole body burst with a little electricity! And yet it still wasn’t enough to tire her energy, so she spun—doing a slight sway and shimmy in the process. It was only after the impromptu dance routine was finished that Melrose realized she wasn’t the only Pokémon in the room. A Tyrunt was staring her down, expressing some varied level of disgust.

“Oh, hello! My name is Melrose!” She looked up at him, peering at her distorted reflection in the Dragon Pokémon’s crown. “I’m gonna be your fellow student here at Red Academy! It’s great to meet ya!” The Pikachu stuck out one of her paws for a handshake, but the Tyrunt didn't return the friendly gesture. Instead, he snarled down at her, and the Pikachu’s ears fell back against her head.

“What the hell is a Pokémon like you doing here?”

Chapter Text

Once the door was closed, Headmaster Zephyr glanced down at the Litten below him. Xander avoided eye-contact, opting instead to make an embarrassing clacking noise from his mouth using his tongue to fill the air. The Flygon blinked a few times before clearing his throat awkwardly. “So uh, what’s your deal?”

“Ex… excuse me?” Xander finally looked up at the Headmaster. An important Pokémon speaking to him in such a casual manner was significantly more off putting now that Xander was alone.

“You clearly know Melrose, but I don’t want to make any assumptions. Would you mind telling me what’s going on?” The Flygon laughed as he rubbed the back of his head with his claws. “I feel completely out of the loop.”

Xander felt a twinge of guilt. Of course Headmaster Zephyr would have zero clue what to think of him—a Pokémon around Melrose’s age who’s just tailing along and has hardly spoken a word. Actually, now that Xander was being forced to think about it, he realized he hadn’t said anything up until this point.

Xander tucked his head down into his chest. “I’m sorry, sir. My name is Xander. I came with Melrose because Gaius wanted someone to keep her safe while she’s living in Constella. We’re friends.”

“Ah! That makes a great deal of sense, actually!” Zephyr smiled fondly. “Oh Gaius, still so protective and touchy after all this time. Hmm… but that means you aren’t a student.” Zephyr frowned down at Xander. “I hate to say it, but you can’t be housed in the Academy while staying here. At least, not at this present time.”

Xander’s ears drooped. A part of him expected this, but was still really hoping Gaius wasn’t planning on sending him to an unfamiliar city, with no money, leaving him to figure it out on his own.

Zephyr rubbed a claw against his chin. “There’s just a few things I can’t budge on here at Red Academy. I’m sorry, Xander.”

“No, don’t be sorry.” Xander’s tail lashed. “It was entirely on a whim that I’d be coming to Constella, anyways. This is negligence on Gaius’s part, if anything.”

“Hey! Don’t say that.” Zephyr crossed his arms, but was also laughing. “Gaius knows I wouldn’t let a kid just run off into the streets with nowhere to go—especially not a friend of Melrose’s. I just can’t let you stay here. So, worry not!” Zephyr pumped his fist before starting to fly back the way he came. “Follow me, Xander!”

Xander did as he was told and ran after Zephyr. It was nice to finally have a decent feel for his limbs, but his mortal enemy was right around the corner… stairs. The Litten grumbled to himself as he watched Zephyr fly effortlessly down to the lower levels of the Academy. Must be nice, being able to hover around like that.

Who truly had the last laugh was up to debate, as Zephyr was just going to have to wait patiently for Xander to carefully climb down the large steps.

Once Xander had caught up to the Headmaster, Zephyr held a claw up. “Wait right here, I need to fetch something from Ms. Adeline.” The Flygon fluttered over to the room Xander last saw the Clefairy go into, and Zephyr soon returned with a large pouch. “It isn’t a permanent solution, and I’ll do my best to situate you with something better as soon as I can, but here–”

The pouch was set in front of Xander, making the very distinct sound of coins clanging together. “Wait, is this money?”

“Yep! Ten-thousand Pokécoins! That should easily secure you a week or so at a nice hotel.”

Xander didn’t know what to say. Sure, this Pokémon knew Xander was with Melrose, and that he was sent by Gaius, but was it really okay to give him this much? A ten-thousand Pokécoin difference was enough to make Koa throw a fit. “This doesn’t feel right. I’ll find a way to pay you back as soon as I can, sir.”

“C’mon, don’t worry about it!” Zephyr cheered as he started to hover back up towards the balcony. “You should go get situated, but feel free to stop by after sunset! The semester hasn’t started yet, and I don’t mind letting you eat at the Academy!” He flew off, not even waiting for a response from Xander. “Later, Feraligatr!”

Xander could hardly budge from the spot he was standing. A Pokémon he knew for all of 30 minutes just gave him a bunch of money and their full confidence that he would spend it right. Although Xander wasn’t planning on doing anything stupid with such a generous sum, surely the Headmaster had been deceived before in his lifetime? Why were all these Pokémon trusting him so easily?

The Litten stared back down at the pouch. It seemed small for 10k, but that probably meant the Pokémon of this land had some higher value coins. Finally composing himself, Xander picked up the pouch with his mouth and began his long walk to wherever the nearest inn was.

Returning to the streets was considerably more unpleasant when you weren’t being carried around on a cart. Plus, his housing was being guaranteed by a bag that was only secured to his person by teeth. His ears flattened as he shoved through a few slow-moving crowds. He was in desperate need of directions, but loathed the idea of asking for some. If only Melrose was with him. Surely she wouldn’t hesitate to ask a complete stranger where she needed to go.

Without warning, Xander felt something collide at full force into him. The Litten was sent tumbling into the street, and the world started to spin once he was flat on his back.

“Ah, shit. I’m sorry.” A Pokémon with a cloak draped over his head was staring down at the now roughed up Litten. “I didn’t realize how fast I was going.” As the Pokémon helped him to his feet, Xander was able to get a much better look at him. He was a small fox Pokémon with silvery gray fur and large, blue ears that stuck out of his navy hood.

“Augh… Don’t worry about it.” Xander shook his head, trying to get his vision straight. “It was an accident.” While regaining his bearings, Xander realized this would be a decent opportunity to ask for navigational aid. “Say, uhm, do you know where the nearest hotel is?”

“Hotel? Sure. If you turn left down that path over there, I believe there’s a place.” The Pokémon made a quick gesture, raising his paw towards the road he was talking about. “Anyways, I’m in a bit of a hurry. Sorry again.” Without another word, the fox Pokémon took off once again.

“Huh. Weird.” Xander shrugged his shoulders heading down the road he was pointed towards. If that Pokémon was right, then the nearest hotel was right around the corner. After Xander was properly oriented, he made his way down the path.

Along the new road was a building that looked promising, ‘The Drowsy Munna.’ Xander carefully crossed the street and pushed the door open, being immediately greeted by a large, yellow Pokémon sweeping the floor.

“Mmm? Oh, hello dearie.” The old Hypno smiled and gave a soft wave. “Can I help you?”

“Erm, yes. Is this a hotel? I need a place to stay for a few nights.”

“Oh? Why yes, we are a hotel! You must not be from around here…” The Hypno propped the broom against the wall and made her way slowly to the front desk. “We don’t get a lot of business these days, what with those fancy new age hotels popping up… Gosh darn the new-fangled appliances.” She chuckled to herself.

The Hypno went on, but it wasn’t really anything Xander knew a lick about. So, he just watched as her old bones carried her around the counter. She opened up a book and adjusted a pair of glasses on her face. “Blast it… these are so dirty, I can’t see a thing. REMMY!” Her sudden yell made the fur on Xander’s back spike upwards. “REMMY! I CAN’T READ THE BOOKS! CAN YOU COME HERE, LOVE?”

There was a loud sound of something being knocked over, then a quiet mumble, before another old Pokémon entered the room. He floated slowly over to the Hypno, “what was that, dear? I couldn’t hear you…” The Musharna chuckled softly. The Hypno opened her mouth wide, but was quickly silenced by the Musharna placing a hand against her mouth. “I was just joshin’ you, honey.” He let out another mischievous chuckle before looking down at the book. “Dear… All these Pokémon have checked out already. You forgot to mark it.”

“I did? I could have sworn I’ve been keeping good with the books.” The Hypno let out a cackle. “Maybe, I’ve just been dreaming that I have.”

“Anyhow, that means our total guests right now are… zero.” The Musharna looked over at Xander and smiled. “Ah, will you be staying with us, young man?”

Xander nodded his head. “How much for a week's stay?”

“A week, huh? That should be…” He looked up at the ceiling, attempting to do the math in his head. After an extended period of silence, the Musharna looked down at his wife. “Dear, how much would that be?”

“For what?” The Hypno glanced up at her husband.

“For a week’s stay. How much would that be? I’ve completely forgotten the new price we set for the rooms…” The Musharna laughed with a snort.

Xander’s tail flicked, “Hey, uh, don’t worry about it. How does 7,000 sound? That’s 1,000 a night, yeah?”

Both Pokémon’s eyes widened, and they looked at each other before squinting down at Xander. The Litten tucked his head slightly, worrying he had somehow offended them.

“Young man, we could never make you pay that much to stay at our little place. That's a big-shot hotel price!” The Hypno frowned at Xander, but hearing her say this just tugged at Xander’s heart.

“It’s settled then, I’ll pay you 7,000.” Xander smiled up at both of them. “This money was a gift, so let me share that gift with you two.” He purred with a sense of delight before his heart skipped several beats. “Wait, I’ve been talking this whole time—I’ve been–” Xander’s pupils turned to slits. He spun in a circle, searching the floor around him while panicking. “The money! It’s gone!”

The Hypno and Musharna glanced worriedly between themselves. “Oh dear…” The Hypno mumbled, “Young man, do you think you were robbed?”

Xander recoiled. “ Robbed! I feel so stupid! How could I have lost all that money—It was just given to me!” Xander felt his claws unsheath and sheath over and over, and he couldn’t help hissing at the ground.

“Calm down… You may have just dropped it.” The Musharna floated over to Xander. “Though, if you dropped it on the streets… there’s no way someone didn’t pick it up for themselves already.”

Xander pressed his forehead against the floorboards and clawed at his scalp as he growled. What was he supposed to do now? If he walked back to the academy, he would look like a total idiot to the Headmaster. Or, worse, Zephyr would think Xander was trying to steal more money from him. What worried him even more was his memory failing him—how had he not noticed the money was gone the second he had dropped it?

“Ugh! If this city had maps or something, I wouldn’t have had to duck and shove through all those Pokémon! I was so occupied with the thought of finding the hotel, and the idea of asking directions, that I–” Xander went still. That’s right. That Pokémon–

Musharna extended a reassuring hand out to Xander, but gasped when the Litten booked it at full speed out the door. “Goodness gracious!”

Xander’s ears tucked back against his head as he ran swiftly through the streets. The city may be full of Pokémon moving around at all times, but that thief’s distinct article of clothing surely had to make him stand out in a crowd. Right now, he didn’t care about getting lost in Constella. All he wanted was to get the Headmaster’s money back.

Something about the mission was driving Xander to move in ways he thought impossible a day ago. He was ducking under large Pokémon, jumping over crates, and dodging incoming passer-bys. He assumed that the criminal would’ve been heading towards the plaza, since he was going the opposite direction as Xander. Once he got there, he put his front paws up on the nearest stall and shouted. “Did you happen to see a Pokémon wearing a blue hood pass this way!?”

“Whoa kid!” The Furret running the stand squeaked. “Chill out, would ya! I ain’t seen no Pokémon like that, m’kay?” Xander hissed and hit the counter, toppling a few things over. Before he could get angrier, the Furret smacked her lips. “Actually… Ya know what? I think I did see a guy in a hood. He ran through the market all in a hurry. I wasn’t paying that much attention but, I think he went…” She pointed towards an unkept path that led into an alleyway. “That-a-way?”

“Thank you, miss.” Xander didn’t hesitate to go the way she pointed. The Furret let out a “Ha-rumph” before fixing everything at her stand back to the way it was.

Xander slipped into the gloomy alleyway, too focused to feel the unease he reasonably should. His nose twitched as he tried to get the scent of any other Pokémon, and he pressed close to the ground while taking careful steps. Where’d you go, you bastard…?

“Aww, so cute.~”

Xander whipped around to see that the thief had somehow made it behind him. Without thinking, Xander made an attempt to pounce on him, only to end up crashing into a wall. The outlaw grinned a sharp toothed smile while removing the hood from his head, which revealed the pleasured look in the shiny Nickit’s eyes.

“You want to know something really funny?” He licked the back of his paw and used it to slick the hair on his head back. “I actually ran into this alley a long while ago. When I saw you running down the streets like a crazy Pokémon, I just knew I had to follow you.”

Xander growled, “where’s my pouch? The one you stole from me!”

“You’re making some pretty nasty assumptions about a stranger, aren’t you?” The Nickit pouted, as if he was actually hurt by Xander’s words. Xander yowled and made another attempt at a wild attack, which the thief easily evaded. However, this time Xander was able to watch him use the Quick Attack to leap out of the way.

“My, my.~ Temper, temper.” He held a paw below his chin and smirked playfully. “Feisty. I love it.”

“Ugh! Stop talking to me like that!” Xander’s tail lashed.

“You know, you could have alerted the authorities.” The Nickit ignored Xander’s demand. “Send the guards after me. It is their job, after all. But no… you wanted to apprehend me all by yourself.” This time, the Nickit attacked him first. He slammed the Litten against a stone wall with a well aimed Quick Attack, which winded Xander enough to make him easy to pin to the ground. The Nickit whispered in his ear, “ I wonder why that is?”

Xander tried to squirm out of his opponent’s grip, but he just wasn’t strong enough.

“Even if you could beat me, I don’t have your money. In fact, I wasn’t even the one who ran off with it.”

He just had to catch his breath… and wait for an opening.

“I’m sure you can afford to lose a measly few Pokécoins.” The Nickit used one of his paws to tug harshly at Xander’s necklace. “You’ve got this glitzy accessory ‘round that pretty neck of yours. Why don’t I try and pry this off ya too?”

The fox Pokémon grinned as he stared into Xander’s eyes, enjoying the fear on the Litten’s face. However,  Xander knew that look was exactly what the thief wanted, and now that his guard was down—he was able to use his back legs to kick his opponent off. The Nickit yelped like a hurt puppy once his stomach was struck, but he was able to scramble to his feet much faster than Xander. Both Pokémon stared across the alley at each other.

“Even if you don’t have it, you clearly know where my money went! Spill it, or else I’ll knock you out and drag you to the authorities myself!” Xander knew in his heart that this was mostly a bluff. There was no way he’d be able to knock out an opponent without any moves to use… or rocks to throw. However, he wasn’t scared of this fiend, not even a little, and he refused to back down now!

“Augh, please. Do all the Academy kids pretend to be heroes?” The Nickit rolled his eyes. “It’s sickening what wealth does to someone’s mind.”

“What–” Xander bit his tongue, then chuckled slightly. “You’re making some pretty nasty assumptions about a stranger, aren’t you?”

The Nickit tilted his head upwards slightly… and smiled, amused by the parroting of his remark. “Touche. You aren’t a student, then? Interesting. What have you been up to around Red Academy then, little kitty?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Xander puffed out his chest. “Now, tell me where my money is, or else!”

“Or else what?” The Nickit tilted his head. “You gonna rip me to shreds, little mystery?”

“Or else…” Xander snarled, bearing his fangs. “I’m gonna bite your head off that pretty neck of yours. ”

“Oooh.” The Nickit crouched down, readying another Quick Attack. “I think… I like you.~”

Chapter Text

Melrose recoiled slightly. The Tyrunt’s comment stung, but she wasn’t about to let him bully the excitement out of her. Her cheeks cackled with electricity as her hands balled into fists.“What? You think a Pokémon from outside Constella can’t learn with the best?”

The Tyrunt’s nostrils flared. “How dare you speak to me like that! Do you know who I am, worm?!”

“I know you’re some sorta snob, that’s for sure!” Melrose jabbed the Tyrunt’s chest with her hand, which pushed him back a little bit. “Don’t think you can pick on me just ‘cause I came from a farm! I can talk all big like you city folk too, ya know!”

“HA!” The Tyrunt shoved Melrose with his head, knocking the Pikachu to the floor. It was rough, but slightly reserved. Melrose honestly didn’t expect a jerk like him to hold back. “It’s clear your ignorance precedes you, Pikachu! Let me make my position clear then.” The Tyrunt cleared his throat and cocked his head towards the ceiling. “I am Prince Icarus Excaliburn Drakkenburg The II, Heir to the Adstronian Empire!”

Melrose blinked a few times, staring up at the Prince from the floor. “Wait, really?” She couldn’t hold back her giggles as she got back up from the floor. “You? You’re King Drakkenburg’s son?”

Icarus growled. “Yes! What’s so entertaining about that?” He stomped his foot against the stone floor as Melrose continued to laugh. “Answer me, peasant!”

“It’s just… I imagined the Prince of our Kingdom to be more…” Melrose gave him a full body glance before laughing again. This led to a full set of Tyrunt teeth being snapped inches away from her face, scaring a few sparks of electricity out of her.

“Whatever it is I fall short on in your eyes won’t matter if you're buried six feet under!” Icarus snarled, the feathers around his neck standing straight up. Melrose was shaking, but was determined to stand her ground. Icarus and Melrose were locked into a staring contest, neither side willing to admit defeat.

The two Pokémon maintained eye contact for a while, long enough for it to stop being intense and start being awkward. Melrose sighed and pulled away. “This is silly. You got me actin’ all immature, and I can’t even figure out why.”

Icarus leered down at her before also pulling his head away from their faceoff. “Whatever.”

Melrose went quiet again. This exchange was unpleasant, for sure, but it was hardly her fault. This guy’s first words to her were insults. Still, it was clear that it fell on Melrose to be the bigger Pokémon.

“Anyhow, my name is Melrose.”

“I don’t remember asking,” Icarus growled. Melrose’s cheeks sparked again, but she bit her tongue and held back. “Though I suppose I should get more accustomed to the lower class, and perhaps the bottom of the barrel is the best place to start.” The Prince turned his head back towards Melrose, and the Pikachu quickly tried to wipe the scowl forming on her face away. “So, Melrose, you arrived here quickly. When did you receive your letter? I wasn’t alerted until late afternoon yesterday.”

“See, that’s the real weird thing I picked up on earlier.” Melrose frowned. “Everyone’s saying the packages weren’t sent out until late yesterday… but that’s when my Papa was telling me I got into the school.”

“What?!” Icarus growled, as if this was somehow offensive. “You’re surely joking!” His tail twitched before shoving his big head back towards Melrose, and his tone turned accusatory. “Or, more abhorrently, you forged your letter! I knew you didn–”

“Whoa! Slow down, Princy boy!”

“Princy b–”

Melrose dug through her Wonder Bag and took out the scroll, smacking Icarus lightly on the snout with it. The Tyrunt snorted before investigating the acceptance letter. He opened his mouth, likely to throw out another accusation, but was quick to close it without muttering a word. Instead, he turned away to face an adjacent wall.

“Trust me, going to this school is a dream of mine—and being here feels like a fantasy. But, I would never-ever-ever lie to get in!” She put the scroll back into her bag and mumbled, “Plus, you’d have to have some pretty low faith in the staff to think they couldn’t catch some forged documents.”

“You’re right, I spoke too soon. You would’ve also had to get your name on the list of accepted students somehow. I sincerely doubt a country rat like you would be able to pull off such a feat.” Icarus looked back at the Pikachu. “Still, this is preposterously suspicious. The fact that the Academy isn’t looking into this phenomenon is clear negligence.”

Melrose rubbed her arm, realizing how uncomfortable she was starting to feel that her acceptance into the school was becoming even more of a special case. “Well, it’s probably not a big deal then… The adults know what they’re doing.”

“Hmph, sure, you would think that.” Icarus growled to himself.

Melrose fidgeted with her bag, fresh out of things to say about the situation. She wished Xander was here. He was much more fun to talk to, and would probably assure her that this wasn’t worth getting paranoid about.

“...Peasant Pikachu, I’m going to retreat to my room.” Icarus announced before walking towards the hall connected to the common area.

Melrose perked up slightly, “Oh! Can you–” Icarus didn’t turn around when she started to talk. The Pikachu groaned before running ahead of him.

“Gah! You’re fast–”

“Can you PLEASE–” Melrose blushed hard once she realized she was yelling. “Can you, eh-heh, please show me which of these rooms are mine?”

Icarus growled. “Don’t be dense. All the rooms are labeled.” He gestured a claw towards one of the doors, which had the outline of an Axew head engraved onto a plaque—along with the name “Xavian.” He rolled his eyes before pushing open his door, which was the singular room at the end of the hall—clearly the nicest room of the bunch.

Melrose took a look at each of the doors, spotting one marked with a Pikachu head. However, the name wasn’t hers. “Oh! Look at that! Our class is gonna have two Pikachu in it!”

Icarus said nothing, his only response being an irritated expression as he slammed his door shut. Melrose jumped slightly, but eased up after a few seconds. A muffled roar could be heard from the Prince’s room.

Melrose shrugged as she gave the doors another look over, now spotting the room that had to be hers. Unless there were somehow three Pikachu and two named Melrose, this was her new home-sweet-home for the semester!

Melrose entered the living space and smiled to herself upon realizing just how nice it was. The Pikachu ran over to her bed and jumped onto it, bouncing into the air. A good bounce was the sign of a great mattress! At least, Melrose felt that was the case. The linens were soft, too. If Melrose wasn’t about to burst from excitement, she might’ve taken a nap right then and there.

The room also came with its own desk and a few other arcane appliances. Adstrum’s greatest scholars and inventors were finding new ways to utilize infinity energy every day, but Melrose had hardly seen the new gadgets the big-heads were manufacturing! Melrose recognized the icebox, even in miniature form, but the heating and cooling devices looked out of this world. Almost any Pokémon could be comfortable in this room, from a desert dwelling Trapinch to an icicle prone Cubchoo!

Melrose’s favorite of the appliances was the noise box. Although, it was a bit of a mystery to her how the box actually functioned. Melrose could generally wrap her head around the ways that washers, coolers, and a few other appliances were able to work. It was something about the raw, innate energy in all Pokémon being utilized outside of moves. However, the noise box’s function relied on external sound waves broadcasted from select conduits. Nothing about it made any sense to a farm hand like her.

Melrose had asked Gaius countless times over for her own noise box, but always got the same answers:

“Melrose, I can’t afford that new-fangled garbage.”

“What exactly would that do to help the farm?”

“Oh, so you and Nate can disturb the peace even more?”

Melrose ran excitedly over to the box and smiled. It didn’t matter what Gaius thought now—Melrose could finally try one of these bad boys out!

The noise boxes the academy provided appeared to be rudimentary models, even for the usually simplistic nature of the device. It had one switch and two knobs. One nob was marked with musical notes and the other with numbers, while the switch was just for on and off. Melrose turned one of the nobs to the number 1, but nothing happened. She laughed, realizing she hadn’t even turned it on, but once it was powered on—the box still didn’t produce any sound. Melrose scratched her chin, fidgeting with the only other nob on the device.

Slowly as she turned it, a voice started to be audible. “Gooood evening residents of Constella! Today was a lovely day, as per usual in the capital. Tomorrow should be just as lovely, as the weather facility has predicted a full day of sunshine!”

Melrose squeaked with delight! Even the idea of hearing the boring news spill from this box made the Pikachu’s cheeks light up from joy. She adjusted the volume to the perfect level before continuing to marvel at her room.

It was starting to get a little dark, but the last beams of sunlight filtering through her curtains signified that it was sunset. Melrose opened the curtains all the way so she could gaze at the sky… and it was worth it. Her window was placed towards the back of the castle, meaning the academy’s garden was in sight as the sun lowered in the sky.

Melrose once again found herself wishing that Xander was there with her. It wouldn’t bother her to share the room with him, but that probably violated some sort of academy rule she didn’t know about. A tug of worry started to form in her chest. Where exactly did Xander go? He stayed back with the Headmaster, sure, but the fact that Melrose had no idea what he was doing bothered her slightly.

“In other news, theft reports have been increasing since the season started. When interviewed, all the royal guard had to say was ‘avoid traveling alone, and come forward about any suspicious activity.’ Actually helpful, or just a load of nonsense? I guess the only way to know is if the crime rate goes back down, huh folks?” The newscaster laughed, and the sound of shuffling papers picked up through the conduit they were speaking through.

It was disheartening to hear that bandit activity was present even inside the capital’s walls. Constella was shrouded in praise and mystique by Pokémon all over the continent, but Melrose supposed that no place was perfect.

“Rumor has it that most, if not all the crimes, are connected to Team Outlier to some extent. Honestly, I’m inclined to believe it, but feel free to send any personal accounts to us E.B.S. folks. I’d love to hear ‘em!”

Team Outlier… They certainly sounded like a bunch of crooks. “What would a Pokémon even get from being a criminal! I don’t get it.” Melrose mumbled aloud, despite no one being there to hear it.

“Hey Melrose! Prince Icarus! Can you two hear me?” Zephyr’s voice was calling through the main door connected to the student common area. “A small dinner has been prepared! Feel free to join Adeline and me!”

Melrose’s stomach growled, as if it were trying to respond to the Headmaster itself. Melrose giggled and scampered out of her room, accidentally bumping into Icarus who was also walking towards Zephyr’s call. The Tyrunt growled at her, but just kept walking without a word. Melrose figured he must be too hungry to bother scolding her.

Zephyr smiled at his two students once they had joined him in the main hallway. The Headmaster guided the both of them to the dining hall, which was just as elegantly decorated as the rest of the academy. The long, rectangular table was grand enough to fit a great deal of Pokémon, illustrating just how many new faces Melrose was going to become acquainted with.

Adeline was already sitting in her designated spot, conversing with three Pokémon unfamiliar to Melrose. They reminded Melrose of Nate, if Nate was a Fire, Water, and Grass-Type.

“The Sous Chef should be here in time for the semester… Hopefully, anyways.” The Pansage laughed their nerves about the situation off, making their tea pour ever so slightly unstable. “W-we should be able to handle the workload if he doesn’t though, right guys?”

“Ugh. This is just like him, you know?” The Pansear growled at the ceiling, trying not to show the ugly face she was making to her friends. “When I signed up to be his apprentice, I was personally expecting one of the highest rated chefs in all of Adstrum to be a bit more responsible with his time.”

“Relax, hun.” The Panpour smiled as he began dishing up salads. “Remember what they taught us in ‘Basics of Butlery’? Worry about what you can do, not what you can’t.”

“That’s nonsense and you know it.” The Pansear growled, but composed herself when she noticed the students and Headmaster were now in the room. “Good evening, all!” She sang, her tone of voice making a complete one-eighty.

“Heya!” Melrose smiled as she took a seat.

“Good evening, subjects.” Icarus huffed as he also found a place to sit.

Zephyr took his place at the end of the table and smiled. “I’m starving! I hardly got to eat yesterday, or even the day before that!” Adeline shot him a look, but he didn’t notice. “Let’s eat!”

“Hold on, Headmaster.” Adeline held up a claw. “Wait for them to finish plating everyone. You do still know table etiquette after all these years, don’t you?” She teased, bowing her head as a thank you once her tea was poured.

“Of course I do…” Zephyr pouted.

Melrose watched as the Pansage very nervously poured the tea for their Prince. The Tyrunt watched, revealing no particular emotion through his facial expression. Once they were done, the Pansage pulled away and bowed. “There you are, your m-magesty… enjoy!”

Icarus sniffed the tea, closing his eyes and mulling over the scent. The Tyrunt didn’t even taste it before snorting loudly and declaring, “I hate Aguav tea.”

The Pansage looked on the verge of fainting. “My apologies! L-let me just–” They grabbed the cup to take it away, but dropped it out of their shaking hands. The hot liquid not only splashed all over the table, and was now dripping to the floor, but some managed to get on the Prince’s lap. Icarus snarled loudly and stood.

“You fool! Have you received no culinary training at all! What’s wrong with you!” His fangs started to blaze with a red fire, making the Grass Pokémon panic as they scrambled to start cleaning the tea. “Your lack of butlery skills is embarrassing! Have you no shame in yourself?”

“Hey! Leave them alone!” Melrose growled from across the table. Icarus snarled at her, but Melrose didn’t back down. Instead, both Pokémon readied themselves to fight. As Melrose felt the electricity surge from her, her attention was suddenly and forcefully shifted. Melrose and Icarus couldn’t help turning towards Secretary Adeline, who had a magical glow about her as she waved her finger.

“Calm down, both of you. This behavior is extremely unbecoming of Academy students, and especially of a Prince.” She sighed, and slowly released them from her Follow Me. “Deep breaths, yes?”

Melrose bowed her head. “I’m sorry, ma’am…”

Icarus growled something to himself, but remained quiet otherwise. He didn’t even watch as the Panpour served him up a glass of regular water, before helping his friend clean up the mess they made.

Zephyr, who was still smiling and completely unbothered by the argument, clapped happily now that the whole table had drinks and salads. “Come on, Pokémon! Let’s eat–” The Flygon was ready to take a bite of his salad, but was interrupted by Adeline clearing her throat. He whined again, “What now, Addy?”

“Haven’t you realized, Headmaster? We’re missing someone.” Adeline gestured out to everyone at the table, and Zephyr gave a perplexed look at her. She refused to elaborate, waiting for the Headmaster to come to the conclusion on his own. He made a sort of thinking face, pondering for a solid minute before snapping his claws.

“I invited Melrose’s friend! Xander! Huh… I wonder where he is?” Zephyr frowned slightly, “maybe he rejected my invitation?”

Melrose fidgeted slightly. Xander was invited to come eat dinner with them, and he didn’t show up? Why? Paranoid thoughts started to creep up on her. She knew some ideas were irrational, but what if Xander didn’t like her and wanted nothing to do with her? Or, even worse, what if something bad happened to him? The Pikachu shot the Headmaster a worried glance.

“I told him to come at sundown, and enough time has surely passed for his arrival.” Zephyr looked back at Adeline. “You all eat. I’m going to make sure everything is alright.” Responsibility and focus returned to the Flygon as he flew out of the room. Adeline frowned, but didn’t object to him leaving despite the fact that he was abandoning his only chance at a meal in ages.

Melrose watched as the Headmaster excused himself, the pit in her stomach growing. The Pikachu no longer wanted to eat, much more concerned with knowing her friend was okay. Melrose stood, planning on following Zephyr, but was stopped by Adeline lifting her hand.

“The Headmaster can take care of it, okay dear? I’m sure everything is fine.” She gave the student a sweet smile before gesturing at the plates, signaling everyone that it was okay to eat. This didn’t matter much, as Icarus was already stuffing his face.

Melrose slumped back down and began picking at her own salad. She wanted to be confident in what Adeline was telling her, but the comment Icarus made earlier about the adults started to haunt her.

Chapter Text

“Wh-what the… What the hell is wrong with you?”

The Pokécoin thief was breathing hard, blood dripping down the side of his head and across his cheek. He was snarling, trying hard to enforce his threatening facade. However, it was a struggle to keep his composure while his ear stung with such a searing pain.

The Litten staring across the alleyway at him was still holding the rusted metal spike in his mouth, which was now glazed with crimson. His eyes were blazing, and he looked just about ready to take another strike.

When you’re an outlaw, you can’t exactly scream for help. Risks like that had to be extremely calculated, and the Nickit was in no state to consider roping in other Pokémon. He needed to either book it or knock this guy out, and the sliced cartilage above his head was beckoning him towards a getaway.

Without a second thought, the thief lept to the closest windowsill and scrambled for the roof of the nearest building. 

“Hey! Get back here!” The Litten below him growled through the iron spike. 

The Nickit could hear the sound of his claws scratching the bricks, but it seemed like this particular Litten had no idea how to jump—or even climb. The thief took this opportunity to continue his ascension of the building, and as soon as he was at the top, he ran as fast as he could towards home base.

“What a piece of work…” The Nickit grumbled to himself between tired breaths. He could feel the blood start to cake to his fur, which was more annoying than anything else. The whole situation was mildly annoying, actually. It was peculiar to witness the typical town dweller resorting to such dirty tactics, and what the hell kind of Litten doesn’t use Ember or Scratch for Arceus’s sake? It pissed the thief off how unpredictable that guy was. That was the sort of thing he liked to pride himself on.

Oh well, the guy wasn’t going to be a further problem for him that evening—not anymore. That nutcase couldn’t catch up to him even if he somehow sprouted wings.

By navigating the city from top down, the Nickit was able to slip pretty easily into Obsidian Alley. Hopping down from the shortest roof onto a stack of potato sacks, he safely made it to the ground. One of the few businesses down this path was The Autumn Leaf, a small tea and coffee shop with a shiny Trevanant logo. Despite the “CLOSED” sign hanging by the window, the Nickit slipped inside.

“Ey! Can’tcha read! It says—Oh, Lune. It’s just you.” The Audino behind the counter gave him a glare as she put the dishes she was just cleaning away, but Lun just smiled in response. “The Guards have been patrolling like crazy lately. You scared the shit out of me.”

“The door should have been locked, Chamomile. You can’t get mad at me for your own personal negligence.” Lune gave her a smug look as he trotted over to a dislodged bookshelf.

“I sure as hell can get mad at you f–” The Audino’s eyes widened when she saw Lune’s blood now dripping to the floor. “Honey, your ear! What happened?” Her focus lost, the illusion flickered away as the revealed Zoroark hurried over to the injured Nickit. She grabbed his chin carefully and tilted his head so she could look at it better. 

Lune growled slightly, a small blush peppering his face below his fur. “It really isn’t anything to worry about. It’s just a couple cuts.”

“Cuts lead to infections.” Camomile released his head and started walking to the back. “Get your ass over here and let me treat it.”

“I really should just report to Boss though.” Lune turned back towards the bookcase, but was suddenly grabbed by his front paw. He yelped as he was dragged to the shop’s washroom.

Chamomile released him, making zero conversation once she started to run hot water over a cloth. As soon as it was wet, Chamomile began to scrub softly at the blood already drying to Lune’s fur, working her way up to the wound. Lune winced, failing to hold back a whine as he was being nursed.

“You better not have gotten in a scuffle with the cops. I swear to Arceus above, if you lead ‘em straight here, I’m gonna kick your ass.” Chamomile grumbled as she rinsed out the cloth and soaked it this time with soapy water. Lune kept still as she placed the rag back along the cut, which was hard to do. Why did it have to sting so much?

“It wasn’t the cops, you worrywart.” Lune grumbled. “I was just messing with some kid Boss told me to rob, but he had a lot more… spunk… than I thought he would. Everything I expected he would do, he didn’t. It threw me off a bit.” He winced, this time not from the water.

“Well, maybe this is a sign that you should stop playing with your food, Lune. You ain’t strong enough to get away with it like the others are.” Chamomile opened a cabinet, and smiled when she located the last of the adhesive bandages. “I thought we were out. You guys better not get hurt until I can pick up some more.”

“It isn’t about being strong. It’s all about being smart. I knew when to quit, didn’t I?” Lune’s tail twitched when Chamomile gave him another irritated look. “Quit treating me like a baby.”

“I’m not treating you like a baby, I’m treating you like a friend. ” Chamomile growled.

Lune growled back. “Oh yeah? Then stop doing that. I don’t need you to fret over me.”

Chamomile gave the ugliest look yet as she stood up straight, towering over Lune. “Fine then.” She dropped the bandages and left the washroom. “Lune doesn’t need anyone, so he can apply his own damn bandages.”

Lune huffed as she left, making an ugly face and gesture that she didn’t even see, before looking down at the bandages. There was literally no way he was going to get those on with his stubby paws, but he didn’t care. He didn’t even want to put bandages on in the first place. The Nickit slipped out of the bathroom, refusing to look at whatever Chamomile was doing as he pulled one of the books in such a way to trigger the switch. The bookshelf swung inwards, revealing the passageway down into Team Outlier’s base. Lune walked down the steps, and soon the secret door closed behind him.

 “Hey! Get back here!” Xander snarled up at the fleeing thief, his make-shift weapon muffling the sound of his voice. He charged at the wall and attempted to leap up after him, but it was no use. Xander’s limbs failed to carry him all the way up, and his claws slid uncomfortably against the brick. He spat the metal spike out from his mouth before yelling, “Coward!” But by then, the Nickit was already long gone. 

Once the fury had left, all Xander was left with was disappointment. His own mental shortcomings led to him losing the money, and now it was his physical shortcomings that let the thief get away. Xander stood still, wallowing in the silence before finally resigning himself to admitting his failings to Headmaster Zephyr.

Xander’s tail dropped low as he slugged his way out of the alley. With his snout pointed at the ground, he didn’t even notice the Hypno in front of him until bumping into her. “Ack! Excuse me–” He looked up at her and tilted his head. “Wait a second, what are you doing here? Did you… follow me?”

The Musharna and Hypno both had sympathetic smiles on their faces. “We were trying to find you… but young people are so fast! We’re lucky that lovely Furret knew which way you went.” The Hypno cackled to herself, “we’ve got your room all ready, so how ‘bout you come with us back to the inn?”

“Oh… no ma’am… I can’t. I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t stop the thief who had my money.” His ears fell down and against his head. “Maybe if the Headmaster grants me some more funds, I can, but I wouldn’t count on it. I better just figure something else out.”

“Don’t be silly,” the Musharna beckoned Xander forward with a hand. “We have a special deal going on! There’s no way you won’t be able to afford a stay with us.”

“You don’t understand. I don’t have any money at all–”

“Hush now, kiddo! Come back with us, won’t ya?” Hypno looked at her husband and nodded her head. Before Xander could object again, he was lifted into the air.

“Wha–” Xander couldn’t move, and was being held in the air by Musharna’s Psychic.

“If you really, really don’t like it, we can let you do whatever it is you're rattling on about. But, can’t you at least see the room for yourself before you decide?” Hypno tilted her head sweetly, and started to walk slowly back towards the Drowsy Munna.

Xander let out an irritated sigh, feeling that there was no hope of getting through to these old folks. If they really wanted him to go see the hotel room, then it looked like that’s what he would have to do before inevitably breaking their hearts with reality. He glanced down at the ground below him as Musharna hovered him along. At first, Xander wanted to complain, and request he at least be put down, but after such a long day…

It took longer than usual to make it down the street and around the corner, but the three of them made it back to the hotel through the darkness of twilight. Musharna set Xander down and bowed thankfully at his wife, who was holding open the door. Xander followed him inside, and turned his head to watch the other host enter the warm building.

“First one on the right!” Musharna levitated a key over to Xander, who took it with his mouth. The elderly couple watched him expectantly as he walked over to the door, which was mildly unnerving. The uneasiness faded into embarrassment as he fumbled with the key for a hot minute, but as soon as he opened the door–

It… was a staff room. Xander walked inside, giving curious glances at everything around him. It was more or less a regular hotel room, but with cleaning supplies and tools stocked up for easy access. Xander placed the key on the ground in front of him before turning around.

“Hey… Can you guys please explain to me what’s going on?” Xander gave the couple an exasperated look, but they still seemed thoroughly jubilant.

“Of course we can, sweetheart. It would be silly to rent out a room for free, but it’s even sillier to not give a kind young Pokémon like yourself a place to stay.” The Hypno picked the key to the room up and placed it on the nightstand. “So, we’re having a special deal! Any young Litten who needs someplace to rest can book this room any day he needs to.”

“I couldn’t possibly take advantage of your kindness like that.” Xander frowned. “I haven’t done a single thing to deserve this.”

“Well, it’s the thought that counts, innit?” Musharna chuckled as he floated into the room. “We sorta knew you’d feel like this, though. Don’t worry, the room ain’t free.” Xander gave him an increasingly puzzled look during his coughing fit. Only afterwards could he continue, “every night stay here, all we request is a little bit of help in return. We can’t afford a staff… which means we can’t really afford upkeep, and Gloria and I are only getting older and older.” The Musharna sighed. “I can’t do work like I used to, you know.”

“You don’t have to accept our terms, dear…” The Hypno gave Xander a sad look, “but, I thought we would at least make the offer. We got real worried ‘boutcha after you ran out the door…”

Xander glanced around at the room once more, feeling mildly overwhelmed by the whole thing. “I don’t… I don’t know if I…” He felt his throat tighten.

Tears suddenly formed in his eyes, and his emotional willpower faltered. He didn’t understand why these Pokémon were being so nice to him. Everyone he’d met these past couple days were complete strangers, who seemingly, on a whim, extended severe gratitude towards him that he didn’t even deserve. 

Remmy and Gloria drew back slightly, worried they had done something wrong as the Litten started to choke back tears. Gloria’s voice quivered as she tried to get closer again. “We didn’t mean to make you feel bad, sweetheart. Please don’t cry…”

Xander didn’t hear her. He was pulled too deep into his own head. Everyone was treating him as if he was special somehow, giving his mere existence negative and positive reactions and for why? Did it have something to do with this “human” thing, or whatever?

No, it wasn’t “whatever.” Xander’s vision started to go dark. He didn’t want to be special, and he didn’t want to be treated like he was special. Darkness started to cloud his vision. There was something wrong with him, and everyone around him insisted it was a good thing. Xander tried to grip the floor below him, but there was nothing to hold him still.

Xander suddenly grew cold as violent imagination took hold of him. He could no longer escape his own head as everything from the past couple of days started to hit him all at once.

Tears hit the floorboards as the Litten began shaking and shivering. Gloria mumbled something, which Xander still couldn’t hear, before her eyes started to glow a beautiful shade of violet. She placed her hand on his head gently, and her mouth gaped open slightly as vague, glowing forms seemed to be sapped from Xander’s mind. His head started to clear along with his overwhelming doubts, and the Hypno’s eyes returned to normal as she pulled away.

“Yuck! Nightmares always taste the worst.” Gloria stuck her tongue out, and her husband laughed fondly.

“N…nightmare? How—What…”

“Don’t worry, Dearie, I just used Dream Eater! Us Hypno have the power to consume dreams, don’cha know!”

“Okay, but I was wide awake!” Xander frowned up at her, and the Hypno gave him a knowing look.

“Well, it’s not super common… But, some Pokémon can daydream so hard that it pulls them straight out of reality. Either way… I was able to consume it. Sorry if that’s pushing your boundaries, I just couldn’t keep watching you shake and cry like that…” Gloria stood up. “Maybe, we’ve been really pushing it…”

“No, no. I’m sorry. I don’t really know why I…” Xander clammed up before he could continue, shaking his head and making a quick attempt for everyone to look past the subject. “I’m exhausted beyond belief. I think I might just have to take you up on this special offer.” Xander smiled as the old Pokémon lit up. “However, I have just one more condition.”

“Sure, what is it?” Remmy tilted his head, which made his whole body sort of tip.

“I can only do this for ten days, just like I wanted to pay for before. If I’m not out of here by then, charge me!” Xander smiled confidently, wiping his remaining tears away with his paw.

“Hmm… Deal!” Gloria giggled. “Don’t worry about taking care of anything else for the night, though. Like you said, it’s been a long one. Us old timers really need some Z’s.” Gloria and Remmy left the room together, and Gloria gave a final glance back. “Feel free to get us if you need anything, okay dear?” She waited for the Litten to nod before closing the door.

Xander was frozen in the middle of the room, any feeling of relief being stunted by everything else. He knew he needed to get some sleep, but the Litten could no longer tolerate the dirt packed into his fur—which was suddenly making him very physically sensitive. Xander pushed himself to enter the washroom, running the faucet and waiting for the water to get warm. He knew that a Fire-Type like him couldn’t take a full bath, but a little bit of water couldn’t hurt.

He waited for the wash basin to fill an inch or two before shutting it off and carefully climbing inside. The hot water felt great against his worn out paw pads, and he started to carefully scrub at his fur. Xander was making great strides to relax, but it felt as though something was looming over him, like a foreboding storm beyond the horizon. As he cleaned the dirt from his fur, speckles of Lune’s blood were unknowingly being washed away.

Chapter Text

Melrose couldn’t get a lick of sleep. Her arms were crossed beneath her chin as she gazed out the window, the silvery moon staring back at her. Ms. Adeline had instructed the Pikachu not to worry, but that was hardly something a Pokémon could be commanded to do. It would be easier if she knew Headmaster Zephyr had returned, especially if he had some good news, but there was no way she could know anything from the confines of her room.

She also couldn’t help thinking some pretty nasty things about herself, imagining worlds where anything to blame about the situation fell onto her. Xander was her first friend, her first real friend, not just some member of her family she learned to love by growing up around.

The stars all glared down at her, and the pit in her stomach grew.

The longing glances up at the sky soon turned into pacing about the room. Thoughts of what exactly she needed to do raced inside of the Pikachu’s head, and they weren’t going to ease unless she could pinpoint something, anything, that would be a good plan of action. Melrose growled to herself, feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty. She couldn’t do this on her own, but her options were extremely slim. Xander couldn’t exactly help her find Xander, and all of the staff within the academy would just send Melrose back to bed. Her ears fell flat against her head. Melrose knew who she needed to ask for help, but he wasn’t exactly going to be pleased about it.

Melrose stood and stared at His Majesty’s door for a few minutes, occasionally mustering something close to enough confidence to knock… before quickly backing down. Melrose didn’t usually have so much difficulty with this sort of thing—asking for favors was commonplace on the farm. This… was different, but Melrose couldn’t exactly place why. Sure, Icarus was of an entirely different social status than her—the HIGHEST, in fact. However, that wasn’t what was shaking the Pikachu up so much. She didn’t really care that he was a Prince, so what was the big deal?

Exactly. No big deal.

The Pikachu took a long, deep, composing breath and held it in her cheeks as she finally knocked on the door. There was a long silence, signifying that perhaps he had not heard her or was fast asleep. Melrose went to knock again, but her fist merely grazed the door. It was opening! The Tyrunt glared down at her, extremely displeased that he had to answer for someone this late into the night. “What is it, Pikachu? You better not be wasting my precious time.”

“Look, I know we just met–” Melrose choked out, realizing that her breath was still being held. She had to gag on her words before she could continue, and Icarus already looked irritated. “Xander, that Pokémon the Headmaster was talking about, I’m really worried about him. I want to go and find him! I need to make sure he’s okay…”

“Ugh, are you serious?” Prince Icarus growled and turned his body away, readying himself to slam the door in Melrose’s face. “There is absolutely no reason I would ever be inclined to help you. Searching the massive network of Constella’s streets late at night is guaranteed to serve fruitless. Besides, you sound prepared to sneak out of the academy! Do you know how much trouble we might get into if we did something like that? I can’t let my reputation or good standing with my father be ruined by some commoner's misgivings concerning a lost friend.”

“But–!” Melrose quickly stuck a paw against the door as Icarus went to shut it. She gave him a wide-eyed look, not exactly certain what she was going to say, just sure that she needed to stop him from closing her out. The two Pokémon remained quiet, and the silence was only to be interrupted by Icarus’s sigh. The Prince looked back at his classmate and blinked slowly, encouraging Melrose to actually present some sort of argument. Melrose felt her eyes water up slightly, “Your Highness… please. I can’t do this by myself. I need your help…”

It wasn’t exactly an argument, but the Prince’s look of agitated conviction was starting to soften. He glanced back inside his room, at his warm and comfortable bed, before his nostrils twitched—and he swung his head back to face Melrose. “Fine. I’ll help you, okay? But so help me, if we get caught–”

Melrose hugged Icarus without thinking, and pulled away quickly. “Thank you!” Her nose wiggled as she tried not to cry. “Hurry! He could be in danger!” The Pikachu scampered off, avoiding scorn from the flustered royal dragon.

The two students slipped out of their wing of the castle quietly. Melrose started to walk towards the front entrance, but Prince Icarus grabbed her tail softly with his jaw and yanked her back.

“Don’t be stupid! They’ll see us if we go that way.” Icarus looked around before spotting a separate set of stairs. “There, if we go that way… it will lead to the back gardens. It will be much easier to escape the grounds that way.”

“Oh! Yeah, good point…”

Melrose and Icarus crept as quietly as they could towards the optimal exit. There weren't many guards patrolling the area, which Icarus assumed was because the semester hadn’t started yet… Though, it was infuriating to know they weren’t immediately inclined to increase security with his presence at the academy. He didn’t have time to think about how foolish that was, considering it was extremely convenient for what the current situation called for. However, he would still be reporting this to his Father.

The garden was lit only by the moon and stars above, and the daylight accustomed Pokémon were struggling to navigate it efficiently. It wasn’t impossible for them to see, but it was very easy for the both of them to get lost. Hedges and displays of exotic flowers were difficult to look over, and keeping close to the castle itself would likely get them caught. Icarus cleared his throat quietly, and looked down at his rodent companion. “Stick close to me, and try not to make a sound! Got it?”

Melrose nodded her head and pretended to zip her mouth shut like a Banette. Icarus hunched his body over, keeping close to the ground and ensuring he could feel the Pikachu’s breathing near his tail. He needed to listen for any sign of movement aside from his own that couldn’t be chalked down to Melrose, which would only be made difficult if she randomly decided not to behave herself.

The stealth mission was proving to be rather successful, as the only signs of other Pokémon were from those way up in the air. Icarus knew the distinct sounds made by certain Flying-Types, like the calls of bird Pokémon or the hovering buzzes produced by Yanma and Yanmega. Using his knowledge of those Pokémon, combined with what he knew about the R.E.D. Academy’s staff, Icarus could remain calm. Which, in turn, helped Melrose stay calm.

That was until the Pikachu’s cheeks sparked suddenly, which accidentally electrocuted the end of Icarus’ tail. The dinosaur Pokémon swung around sharply and growled, but was silenced by Melrose grabbing his snout and pointing wildly towards the center of the garden. At first Icarus was much too angry to care, but he quickly recognized the Gardevoir present there—even from a distance. The Prince shoved past Melrose and tucked himself within a bush to watch. Melrose crept into the plant beside him.

“Brother, it’s good to see you.” The other Pokémon, a Gallade dressed in royal armor, was giving Aster a small smile as a greeting. It faded quickly. “You don’t usually ask to meet up on such short notice. Is something the matter?”

Melrose whispered. “Princey, who are those two?”

“Don’t you fucking call me–” Icarus shook his head quickly. “Princey is unbecoming. If you insist on nicknaming me, choose something more official and elite sounding.” The Tyrunt took a sharp breath before looking at the two other Pokémon. “That Gardevoir is the Prime Minister. Surely, you know of him?” Icarus laughed quietly. “Though, you didn’t even know I was the Prince.”

“That’s Prime Minister Aster?” Melrose tilted her head. “I guess that makes sense… He looks way more like I envisioned than you did.”

Icarus growled again, “silence! I’m trying to hear what they're saying.”

Melrose gave a hushed apology as the two of them tried to once again pay attention to the mysterious meeting.

“I apologize, Rosaline. You know how it is around this time of year. Everything seems to fall on my shoulders.” Aster moved closer and whispered something, which Icarus couldn’t even hope to hear. Whatever it was, Rosaline seemed taken aback.

“It’s time?...” Melrose’s large ears twitched. “Prince Icarus, what does that mean?”

“Hell if I should know!” He grumbled. “Wait, you could hear that? I can hardly hear a damn thing they’re saying.”

“No, Aster, you didn’t…” Rosaline stared down at the ground, but her brother moved closer and placed a hand beneath her chin—pointing her head towards the sky. “I just, I can’t believe this. You…”

“I know, and I was certain it would be a shock to you. I need your support, Rosaline.” The Prime Minister placed both his hands on his sister’s shoulders, and the Gallade slowly looked back at his face. “I hardly ask anything of you. Please, do this one thing for your older brother.”

“I… I can’t!” The Gallade pulled away, a grimace on her face. “Dammit, Aster, I knew your ambitions would get the better of you! Red Academy, the royal army, hell—Adstrum itself matters too much to me!” She grabbed her spear from its holster on her back, pointing it at her brother. The Prime Minister didn’t react much, shaking his head in disappointment as his own flesh and blood looked just about ready to spike him through the throat.

Icarus was extremely perplexed, too lost in his own curiosity to realize he had stepped out of the bush to hear better. A twig beneath his massive claws cracked in half, sending a sharp noise through the hushed gardens. Melrose pulled the Prince quickly back into the plants with her as the Gardevoir and Gallade turned quickly towards the sound.

“Someone is here with us.” Aster sighed. “We will talk about this another time.”

“There is no ‘another time’ Ast–”

But before Rosaline could finish her remark, the Prime Minister had already Teleported away. She tightened up her fists in a rage, gripping her spear. The Gallade was quick to pursue wherever the sound came from, clearly wanting to release her fury on some trespassers.

Melrose squeaked, “we need to get out of here!”

“No! She’ll see us if we run. We need to be still and hide!”

“But–”

“No buts! That’s a royal order!” Icarus tucked against the ground. “If we shuffle over to that bush, maybe we can–”

Melrose grabbed Icarus’s stubby hand and used Quick Attack to send them at top speed out of the plant. Adstrum’s Prince was far too startled at such a bold action to struggle, and Melrose was trying her best to pull the heavy Pokémon towards the nearest cover. Rosaline could easily see the commotion, and was rushing towards the assumed trouble-makers. Melrose continued to use Quick Attack to get her and Icarus from bush to bush, and didn’t seem to mind how much noise she was making on the way.

When the both of them had reached a bush close to the garden’s exit, Icarus finally used the entirety of his body weight to stop the Pikachu dragging him. Rosaline was gaining on them, hardly a few meters from their current hiding spot. Melrose gave the Prince a desperate look, but the Tyrunt gave her a confident look thanks to his silent decision. A rock was pulled from the earth below them, something Melrose could actually recognize thanks to her encounter with Tangrowth—Ancient Power. The Prince sent the rock hurtling towards a nearby bush to create a diversion, which worked. Rosaline was hurrying over to the bush she thought the mysterious garden goers were skulking away in, but was genuinely surprised when no one was there.

Icarus covered Melrose’s mouth with his hand and held his own breath as the armored Gallade continued to search the premises. He watched the puzzling expression on her face turn to one of  irritation, and Rosaline hurried out the gate to see if she could catch the Pokémon escaping. Once she was far enough away, Icarus released Melrose’s mouth.

“Whoa… that was some smart thinkin’!” Melrose smiled up at him.

“We need to go back to our rooms.” The Tyrunt declared.

“Wh-what?” Melrose started to pout immediately. “But you said—We can’t—What about–”

“If they can’t catch what they presume to be intruders, that Pokémon is going to report to the rest of the staff. They will check the entire Academy, and that includes making sure the students haven’t been harmed in any way.” Icarus peaked out of the bush, and started to make the walk back towards the building. “They will know something is up, Melrose.”

Melrose looked like she wanted to argue, but everything Icarus said clearly made a lot of sense to her. So, she slowly walked up beside him, carrying a heavy rain cloud above her. The Tyrunt avoided eye-contact. He would not let guilt force him to make a rash decision twice in one night.

The two of them carefully made it back to the common area, paying particular attention to leaving little to no evidence they even left the room to begin with.

“I’m going back to sleep. Do not bother me again tonight.”

The Prince walked over to the hallway, but stopped when Melrose started to cry. Aggressive remarks formed at his lips, but he couldn’t seem to bring himself to say any of them. His tail flicked, and his claws twitched slightly as he glanced back over his shoulder.

Melrose was at the door still. If her tail and ears could droop any lower, they would. Tears fell to her paws as she stared down at them, and Melrose’s quiet sniffling was just embarrassing her. The Pikachu could feel Icarus’ eyes on her, but she couldn’t muster up the energy to make it back to her room.

Her attention was suddenly drawn by an agitated scoff.

“You shouldn’t worry so much about another Pokémon like this.” The Tyrunt’s gaze was cold, but the target of his sentiment was vague. “Go to bed. It will do you no good to trouble yourself all night with this.”

Icarus finally turned tail and returned to his room, the door closing softly this time. Melrose used her hands to wipe away her tears. Icarus was right, and it made her feel even more stupid. The Pikachu slowly made her way to her Academy room, walking on her fours to stabilize herself. It took her quite a while to make it to her bed, and she could no longer feel excited about how nice the mattress was. She laid down in the complete silence of the night and shivered from anxiety, wrapped up in a cycle of feeling bad… then feeling worse for even feeling bad.

“You telling me some lousy nobody Pokémon shedded your ear like this? What a joke!” The Nidorina laughed as she hit the table. “The boss had you snatch up those coins like it was nothing, but then you go back and get your ass kicked?”

The Nidorina laughed harder, and harder, until Lune could hardly stand it anymore. His claws started to glow, becoming longer and sharper, before the Nickit lunged at his teammate. Both of them snarled as they entered their scuffle, while the Cinccino at the table with them just rolled her eyes.

“You two wonder why we’re the lowest rung of Team Outlier, then go on behaving like this?” Her tail swished back and forth as she used a paw to brush some dust that had been kicked up out of her fur.

“Jessie, you're a riot! Actin’ all snobby like that when you’re on Outlier C just like Lune and I are!” The Nidorina cackled as she used a Double Kick to send Lune against a wall. The super effective move took a lot out of him, so the little fox Pokémon stayed curled on the floor for a moment.

“That’s Jessabelle Von Opalescence to you, pointy!” The Cinccino scoffed and brushed the fluff on her head down with a paw. “And, I behave in a more dignified manner than you both because I am more dignified.”

The Nidorina leered at her teammate, readying a Poison Sting to get her back for such a statement, but was suddenly shoved aside by a blur of silver and blue. Lune’s Quick Attack took her completely off guard, and she toppled to the floor. Jessabelle couldn’t help laughing at the Nidorina’s failings.

“Why I outta–!” The Nidorina scrambled to her feet and got ready to attack Lune again, but was interrupted by a door opening up from behind her. “Ah—Boss… We was just–”

“Shut it. I got some new intel, so you losers better listen up.” The Pokémon tossed a handful of polaroids onto the table, each showing a crown bearing Tyrunt in various locations outside of the palace. Most notably was the one of him being escorted to the esteemed  R.E.D. Academy. Each member of Outlier Team C inspected the pictures, then looked up at their chuckling boss.

“Looks like the little birdie has left the nest.”

Chapter Text

Icarus awoke from his slumber with a startle—nightmare still fresh on His Highness’s mind. The garden encounter with Prime Minister Aster and the Captain of the Royal Guard the night before must’ve been taxing his consciousness far more than he was willing to admit. Unanswered questions were not something Icarus was particularly used to.

The Tyrunt rolled off of his mattress, accidentally sending his Dialga doll to the floor with his sweeping tail. Icarus yelped quietly as he carefully picked it up with his mouth and set it back on his bed.

The sound box was still playing the low-volume music station Icarus left on for white noise, so he walked over to the device to shut it off. Adjusting the nobs was slightly uncomfortable for the Tyrunt, given his short arms and clawed hands, but it wasn’t tiresome enough to consider a real bother. He glanced back at his unset bed and frowned. Without his butler, Jakob, around, he was going to have to tidy up his own room…

Did he really, though? No one else was going to see his room other than him. Jakob only cleaned it so he could stay busy, anyways. Such chores were not befitting of a Prince, and Icarus would only assign himself peasant work if it was absolutely, one-hundred percent necessary.

While pushing his door open with his head, Icarus wondered if any other students had arrived. Enough time had passed for all the accepted Pokémon to get their letters by now, surely. He could detect no new smells in the common area, and Melrose’s was still stale. The Pikachu was probably still sulking in her room, an assumption Icarus wasn't inclined to prove correct. That would require showing an ounce of care for the pathetic little farm girl.

…Besides, she would be fine either way.

The Prince’s stomach growled up at him for a proper breakfast, and Icarus knew the academy would be compelled to feed him on command. The Tyrunt left the student quarters and strolled through the castle, enjoying the ambiance the Academy brought with it. Red Academy’s architecture wasn’t too unlike Castle Drakkenburg’s, but it was just different enough to be a breath of fresh air. It was even nicer to get a moment to walk it alone, without the noisy Headmaster or that irritating Melrose.

The dining area was just as empty as the rest of the academy seemed, which was a little off putting to the Prince. Thankfully, that meant no one was around to see him jump out of his scales when a loud crash echoed from the kitchen. Icarus’s tail flicked as he hurried over to where the sound came from. Unsurprisingly, it was those ditzy waiters.

The Pansear was hopping up onto a counter as water from an oversized cauldron spilled all over the floor. “Ugh, this is a disaster!” She cried out, picking up her tail with her hands so it didn’t get wet. “How did we even manage to screw this up so bad?”

The Panpour sighed as he began cleaning the water, grabbing a mop and pushing the liquid into the surrounding drains. “Relax, Pepper… It was just an accident.” He gave her a dopey smile as he mopped, but the agitated Fire-Type was having none of it. She sent an Incinerate towards her friend's face, and he barely dodged the swirling flame. “Aww… C’mon, don’t be like that…”

“I’ll be however I want to be, thank you!” Pepper growled as she started to punch the counter below her, throwing a monkey-style tantrum. “You and Basil just screw around and make us seem like culinary catastrophes!” The Pansear spat another Incinerate, this time at the floor. Some of the water instantaneously evaporated from the heat.

The Pansage, who up to this point had stayed completely quiet, started to break down into tears. “I-it’s m-my fault… I sp-spilled the tea! N-now, I’ve spilled the s-s-soup starter… What’s wrong w-with me!” They covered their eyes and cried out, wailing even while the Panpour placed his hand on their back. The other two watched as their leafy friend collapsed to the floor in the fetal position, laying in a puddle of their own kitchen accident.

“Dammit, Mint, do something!” Pepper gestured wildly at Basil. “How are the two of you supposed to get this mess cleaned up when they’re sobbing and you work at the pace of a Slugma?!”

“Ya know… you could help out…” Mint frowned up at her while helping Basil back to their feet.

“What? And risk getting WET? Not a chance.”

Icarus finally cleared his throat loud enough to get everyone’s attention. Each Pokémon freaked out in their own unique way: Pepper shrieked, Mint dropped the mop, and Basil knees wobbled as if they were standing in an Earthquake—before they all stood at attention. The little Prince gave a perplexed expression before shrugging it off. “I suppose the Sous Chef still hasn’t arrived yet, hmm?”

Basil sniffled slightly as they attempted to answer, but the words got stuck in their throat. As he watched his friend struggle, Mint sighed, then responded for them. “Yes Sir, you’re right.”

“It’s easy to tell. You’re all complete disasters without a head of the kitchen.” Icarus gave a particular look to the water on the floor. “I’m not exactly surprised.”

Pepper growled, “what’s that supposed to mean, you little punk!?”

Mint and Basil both gasped up at their counter-bound friend, whose face grew completely flushed over once she realized what she just said. The Pansear covered her mouth and bowed her head.

“I’m so sorry, your majesty!” She uncovered her mouth to speak sweetly, her tone sounding nothing like before. It was as if she transformed into a little girl, or some playful damsel. “Please, forgive me…”

“I’m not in the mood to correct your behavior. I just want to know when I can expect to be served breakfast.” Icarus grumbled, and the three Pokémon looked amongst themselves.

“Tee-hee! Don’t worry, I can make you something. What would you like to be served, my liege?” Pepper giggled as she clapped her hands together. “Anything to make up for my ungrateful outburst from before!”

The façade was palpable, but the shift in attitude was appreciated by the peckish Prince. “I’m craving a Tamato Berry omelet. You couldn't possibly mess that up, could you?” Tryunt gave a sly smile, enjoying the look on Pepper’s face as her eye twitched.

“Hehehe! Nope, no way! I’ll have that right up!” Pepper looked down at the floor to try and avoid splashing into the still present puddle. After some searching she found a route, and Icarus watched as she left to retrieve the ingredients. With Basil now distracted from his misery, they and Mint were able to get back to mopping up the kitchen.

The Prince watched them work for a few seconds before stepping through the puddle to look down at the Pansage. They squeaked and tucked their face away, and Icarus couldn’t help but laugh. “At ease, butler. I was actually wondering if you could prepare me some tea with my breakfast.” They looked up at him, completely surprised by the request. “This time, I’ll let you know what tea I desire. That way, you couldn’t possibly screw it up. Cheri Berry is my favorite.” Basil blinked a few times—“Quickly, now!”

The Pansage nodded as soon as Icarus had barked the order at them. “Y-yes, your highness!” They hurried over to the dry storage with an excited smile on their face, eager to redeem themself. Icarus couldn’t help smiling to himself, but when Mint gave him a coy look—the Dragon Pokémon growled and stormed out of the kitchen with a dignified huff.

The large dining table was still completely empty, which Icarus was decently used to. It was rare for him to eat with anyone other than his Father, and the two of them usually spoke very little—especially after the Queen passed away.

Icarus sat upon the same chair as the night before, sitting in solemn silence. Without anyone to talk to, thoughts of the nightmare encroached on him. Truthfully, the worst part about the dream was none of it made any sense—all the parts failed to connect in any meaningful way. The clearest segment he could recall was the very moment that startled him awake, which was… hardly that scary. He was looking up at the sun, right at its blinding light, before it suddenly disappeared. The darkness didn’t appear at once, though. It almost seemed to crawl towards him, and once Icarus was grabbed by shadows…

“L-Lord Icarus,” Basil approached the table with a kettle and tea cup. They placed everything down carefully, but were still shaking badly. They reached for the kettle to pour, but Icarus stopped him.

“Don’t do it until you’re ready.” Icarus commanded. “You’re shaking like a leaf, which means you’re likely just going to spill it again.” The Tyrunt watched as the Pansage slowly backed away from the table, looking ashamed once again. “Do you always tremble like that?”

Basil opened their mouth, hesitated, then closed it again. Icarus turned away from them, inspecting the tea set to give Basil some peace from his stares. It was very ornate, replicating the vintage cups that Sinistea were drawn towards. Now that his eyes were away from the butler, Basil started to speak.

“I don’t want to bother you with my humble backstory…” Basil attempted to laugh their nerves away, but hushed up when Icarus looked at them. That’s when the Prince realized something, and desired to prove his hypothesis.

“It’s alright, you can tell me.” Icarus removed his gaze from the Pansage once again. “I asked about it, didn't I?”

Basil took a moment, “M-my father was always so insistent that I get on well with the upper class.” They sighed quietly into their chest before continuing. “That’s why I trained to be a butler, so I could bring my father the wealth he was always so adamant he deserved… However…” Basil reached for the kettle and started to pour the hot water into one of the cups. Their hands were steady. “The day after I graduated training, Father brought me to a party filled with aristocratic Pokémon. To make a long story short, I made a complete fool of myself in front of everyone.” They grabbed the tea bag and gently placed it in the hot water. “Sugar?”

“Yes.” Icarus nodded his head, still avoiding eye-contact with Basil. “Three spoonfuls, please.”

Basil did as they were told, adding the sugar to the steeping elixir. “Personally, I prefer honey. Though, it’s a bit harder to get these days…” Basil laughed quietly, now enjoying the conversation. “The cost of everything seems to be going up. Even the academy is struggling to hire and keep sufficient staff.”

“Not to remain pessimistic, but I’ve noticed.” Icarus growled. “That wasn’t a jab at you and your friends, by the way. It just feels like nothing is being taken seriously around here.”

“It is rather unfortunate that all these issues seem to be taking place the year you’re admitted into the school.” Basil sighed. Despite the frown in their tone, it was nice to hear them speak without that nervous stutter every few words. The Pansage removed the sufficiently steeped tea bag and placed it on the tray. “Careful, Sire, it’s still hot.” Their tail swished happily as Basil picked up the tray and returned to the kitchen with all the supplies.

Icarus looked down at the cup. “There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” The Tyrunt mumbled to himself.

It wasn’t much longer before Pepper left the kitchen with the Prince’s omelet. It smelled delicious, urging the Tyrunt’s stomach to howl once again. “Bon appétit!" Pepper sang as she twirled into position, placing the plate on the table. “It was an honor to make it for you!”

“Sure it was,” Icarus grumbled as he started to gobble up the food. He could feel Pepper giving him the stink eye, but the amount the Prince cared was slim at most.

“Don’t expect personal breakfasts like this when the semester starts, m’kay?” A bit of her actual personality started to slip through again. “Once all the students are present, things are going to be seriously different around here.”

“Would you buzz off? I’m trying to eat.” Icarus snorted. Pepper balled her hands into little fists before scurrying off.

Icarus was quick to finish the omelet, and it was as delicious as it was perfectly spicy. The Tyrunt burped while he was still alone in the room, and slowly started to drink his now cool-enough-to-consume Cheri tea. Such a pleasant morning was welcome after last night’s shenanigans.

“WHOA! I can’t believe we’re really here, Xavian!”

Well, it was pleasant.

A Pikachu burst into the dining hall, an Axew trailing behind him. “A fated hero arrives on the scene. A new chapter of his life is beckoning, and this Academy is the ideal setting for adventure! New friends! Challenges–”

The Axew nudged their very excited friend and pointed towards the Tyrunt glaring at them from across the room. The Pikachu gasped and hurried over to him.

“I see we weren’t the first to arrive! Good morning, fellow Seeker of Education!”

The Axew blushed and hurried over, bowing their head. “My sincerest apologies, Your Majesty.”

The Pikachu’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Your Majesty? Xavian–” He leaned in close to his friend. He was speaking in a hushed tone, as if he was trying to whisper, but his volume was exactly the same as his speaking voice. “So, this is that Prince you were telling me about?”

“Yes, this is The Prince Icarus Excaliburn Drakkenburg The II, Heir to the Adstronian Empire.” Xavian grumbled. They were actually speaking quietly, but the two of them were so close to Icarus that it hardly mattered how loudly they were actually talking. “So, could you please behave yourself for five minutes?”

“Hello, Prince Icarus Drakkenborn! I am Owin Thunderstrike! Chosen Hero of Lightning!” The Pikachu laughed and held his paw out for a handshake. Icarus didn’t return the gesture, so the Pikachu… very awkwardly placed his hand behind his head.

“It’s Drakkenburg.”

“Right! Right… of course.” Owin smiled bashfully, turning to his friend—whose face was in their hands. ”Drakkenburg… That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

“Ah! There you two are!” Zephyr flew into the dining room after them. “Adeline told me she sent you this way!”

“Good morning, Headmaster Zephyr.” Xavian bowed their head again, this time towards the Flygon. “We arrived just a few minutes ago. Miss Adeline said we could wait here for some breakfast.”

Zephyr nodded his head, “I’ll ask the chefs to make you both something! It shouldn’t take long–” The Headmaster started to fly towards the kitchen, but was halted by Icarus standing suddenly.

“For F—Headmaster! You can’t just fly in here like everything is–” Icarus took a deep breath, composing himself quickly. “What of that Litten you were so worried about last night?”

“Oh, Xander? Yeah, he’s fine.” Zephyr laughed. “I learned about his whereabouts last night. He’s safe and sound in one of Constealla’s many fine inns!” He turned back towards the kitchen, but stopped again when he heard the Prince snarl.

“And you haven’t bothered telling his friend that everything is okay?! She was worried sick last night, you imbecile!” His tail lashed from rage. “Have you no sense of urgency when it comes to the mental and physical safety of your student body–”

“Hey hey hey! Calm down, Icarus! Of course I told Melrose!” Zephyr laughed nervously. “I let her know this morning, before you woke up. She’s at the hotel with him right now, hanging out. Weren’t you wondering where she had gone?”

Icarus felt his stomach sink to his feet and his face heat up like the very tea kettle Basil poured their hot water from. The room went silent, and every Pokémon inside it was now staring at him. The Tyrunt could hardly take it. Without another word, he rushed out of the dining hall—his heavy footsteps trailing off as he sprinted for his room.

Owin blinked a few times. “Haha! That was weird!”

Zephyr rubbed the back of his head and chuckled softly to himself, the smile on his face growing ever so slightly. “Yeah, it was… wasn’t it?”

Chapter Text

“I still can’t believe you sent a bandit like that packing!” Melrose smiled at Xander as the both of them walked through Constella’s streets. “You’re chock full of surprises, aren’t you?” The Pikachu giggled at her now blushing friend.

“Well, I’m still upset I didn’t get the money back.” Xander sighed. “Plus, it wasn’t that impressive. He seemed like quite the petty low life.”

“Don’t be silly! Taking on a Pokémon like that is no joke. Sure, most of us are used to having to fight off the occasional wild Pokémon, but they’re easy to outsmart. In a real fight, you have to stay on your toes! Plus, from the sound of it, you really messed the guy up!” Melrose grinned from ear to ear, punching at the air as she participated in an imaginary fight with her own thief.

Xander laughed. “Focus a second for me, would you? You mentioned hearing something on the news about a ‘Team Outlier.’ Do you know anything else about that?”

Melrose’s fists fell, “Oh! No, I’m sorry. The only thing I know is that they exist, and that some of the city dwellers think they’re the reason the crime rate is so high. I think the particular station I was listening to was more concerned about the gossip of it all.”

Xander stopped when they approached the market. “Hold that thought. Can you read to me everything Mrs. Gloria wrote on that list she gave us?”

“Mhmm!” Melrose removed the parchment from her Treasure Bag and gave it a look over. “Oh my goodness, her handwriting is so, so, so bad.”

“Give her a break, she’s like… ten trillion years old.” Xander laughed. “Do your best, though. I’m sure they won’t get too mad if I mess something up.”

“Alright, sooo, it looks like she needs fresh bread, coffee beans, tea leaves… I think that says ‘any kind,’ and sugar.” Melrose looked around at all the different stalls populating the market square. “It shouldn’t be hard for us to find all those things, right?”

“You tell me,” Xander nudged Melrose with his paw. “You’re the one with the memories and the know-how, aren’t you?”

Melrose blushed and rubbed her cheek. “Heh! Let’s start looking then, ‘cause I got no clue where to start!”

The twosome started to stroll through the market square, keeping close and taking their time. Being a smaller Pokémon had its advantages, since it made slipping around and squeezing passed others take very little effort. However, it came with the caveat of much bigger Pokémon being able to accidentally crush you. Though after some careful observation, it seemed that responsibility to not cause an accident fell upon the larger Pokémon, so Xander tried to relax a little.

Melrose tugged Xander towards a stall that had an adorable display of fresh baked goods. The Pikachu removed two pouches from her Treasure Bag, one with the money Gloria and Remmy gave Xander (which Xander insisted Melrose carry), and the other filled with her personal funds.

“We need a loaf of bread, please.” Xander glanced up at the Alcremie running the stand.

“And can we get two of those little sweetbreads shaped like Psyducks?” Melrose smiled brightly, removing her own money from the pouch for the personal purchase.

“Of course, you two! One moment,” the Alcremie reached for a paper sack to place the bread in. She was humming happily to herself, and Melrose started to hum too—it seemed to be a tune they were both familiar with. “Here you go, dears.” Alcremie took the money from Melrose’s hand and exchanged it for the bag of bread. “Enjoy it now!”

“We will!” Melrose called back as she started to walk away with Xander. She placed the paper sack in her Treasure Bag before reaching inside and pulling out the sweetbreads. ”Let’s go sit down in the shade over there. I want to try these!”

Xander sat against one of the buildings nearby and watched as Melrose placed the Psyduck bread in one of his paws. The Litten sniffed it and purred quietly—the sugary scent making his tastebuds water.

Melrose didn’t hesitate to start eating hers, and her mouth was full of bread when she turned to speak. “Go on—mmph! Take a bite!”

Xander bit the little head of the design off, his purr growing loud enough for his friend to hear. Melrose only smiled, letting the Litten eat in silence. Once Xander was finished, he started to clean the crumbs out of his fur with his tongue. “Thank you for buying those Mel, it was really good.”

“I knew you’d like ‘em.” Melrose winked, then stood up to also dust the crumbs off her chest. “I thought a snack like that would do us some good. Now, back to shopping!”

The sugar was the next easiest grocery to find, since it was at a really big stall with various spices and powders. The tea leaves and coffee were sold fairly close by, but there were way more types of coffee roasts than Xander could have ever imagined. The stand owner’s eye twitched when he asked for “the most normal one,” but they were able to make their purchases without too much trouble.

Melrose glanced at the stall that, just yesterday, Koa was using to sell apples—deflating a little. She flipped back to her usual self when Xander nudged at her arm with his paw.

“Hey, do you think you could come to the police station with me? I wanted to report the robbery from last night. It seems like one of those things you’re supposed to do when this kind of stuff happens.”

Melrose nodded her head. “You have my full attention until the semester starts, Xandy! Of course I’ll come with you.”

Xander winced when she used the nickname again, but shrugged it off—opting to just get to the point. “Would I be lucky enough to find out you just so happen to know where the police station is?”

“Nope! But, I can ask for ya.” Melrose turned her head back towards the owner of the coffee stand and poked his shoulder as he was talking to another customer. “Excuse me, sir! Could you tell me and my friend which way the police station is? We’re new to town!”

The Pignite huffed as his attention was pulled away from his current buyer, but he tried to feign at least a semblance of politeness as he pointed the right way. “If you walk down that street and take a left by the fabric store there, you’ll see the station at the end of that road. Got it?”

“I do. Thank you, mister!” Melrose turned back towards the Litten and smiled down at him. Xander nodded his head, and the two started their walk to the police. It was a little further than the instructions made it sound, but with a stomach full of sweets and a friend by your side, the walk was rather enjoyable.

As they stepped through the door, they saw an Arcanine sitting at a desk and a Machop standing beside her. A few Magnemite were flying around, exporting documents from one side of the room to another. The Machop waved as the policemon were joined by two civilians, and Arcanine looked up from her work.

“Mornin’, folks.” The Officer said with a smile.

“Hiya!” Melrose sang as she skipped inside. Xander’s ear flicked as he gave the Pikachu a side-eye, but she, of course, didn’t notice it.

“Give me just one moment, I’ll be with you in a second.” The Arcanine continued to read the document on her desk and growled. Xander tried to get a peak at it. Whatever it was, it looked very official. Actually, it looked a lot like the acceptance letter Melrose received from R.E.D. Academy…

One of the Magnemite zipped by and floated in front of Melrose. “SCANNING PROCEDURE INITIATED. DO NOT BE ALARMED.” Its singular eye glowed brightly as it investigated the Pikachu from head to toe. It paid very specific attention to her bag, taking much longer in comparison to finish observing it. Afterwards, it quickly glanced over Xander. The Magnemite’s eye returned to normal once it was done. “SCAN COMPLETE. LOG OF ITEMS HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL MAGNEMITE. THANK YOU, AND HAVE A NICE DAY.” The Pokémon floated away, and Melrose watched as it did with confusion.

“Sorry about that,” the Arcanine finally stood up from her desk, scooting the letter she was reading under a stack of other papers. Xander could have sworn she gave Machop an unseen look of guilt for a moment. “Any Pokémon that enters the police station has to be scanned, so we know what moves and items they have at their disposal. So, how can I help you two?”

“I was wondering if this is where I needed to go to report a robbery?” Xander tilted his head.

Arcanine gave him a slightly suspicious look. “You came here? And not the E.B.S.?”

Xander tucked into himself. “Well, I–”

“Thank you.” The Arcanine laughed. “Seriously. Everyone has been moaning and griping about the crimes happening around town, but then they keep going to that damn radio station instead of actually telling the police anything. How the hell are we supposed to help anyone if we can’t sufficiently log any of the incidents.” She looked over at the Machop. “Percy, do you think you could help them out?”

“R-really?” The Machop stood up straight, “I’ve never recorded a crime before, Ma’am!”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything. You’ll need to learn some day, yeah? GIZMO–!” She roared loudly, and the Magnemite from before floated over. “Retrieve the Crime Log and bring it over here, would ya? Oh, and an investigation slip.”

The Magnemite hurried over to a large set of filing cabinets and used magnetic pulses to open them. The papers were held in metal baskets, so that it could easily move them around without the need for hands. Just as it was instructed, Gizmo set the basket with the Crime Log, and another basket with a great many slips of paper in it, down on the front desk.

Percy hurried to his spot behind the desk and grabbed the log from the basket, opening it to the current page. “Okay, you should know how to do some of this already.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Percy grabbed a pen and started to fill in the current date.

“So, What’s your full name?” Arcanine looked down at Xander.

“Xander,” the Litten spoke clearly.

“Alright, so leave the last name box blank. You know what kind of Pokémon he is, right?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Percy kept filling in the parts of the log that he knew how to do. The officer smiled down at him. “Can you ask this question? I always get embarrassed…”

“Okay, but you need to learn to get over it. I’ll do it for you this time though.” Arcanine looked back at Xander. “Gender?”

Xander stood there for a second, surprised by his own silence. For some reason, he really didn’t have an immediate and confident answer to this question. Melrose gave him a perplexed look, but Arcanine seemed a bit more understanding.

“There are a few boxes we can check, and it doesn’t have to be just one of them. In the log we have ‘Male, Female, Genderless, Nonbinary, Unlisted.’ Do any of those sound okay?”

Xander fidgeted, for some reason Melrose’s stare was tearing into him. He barely muttered a whisper. “G…Genderless.”

“Check the Genderless box, Percy.”

Xander looked down at his paws and avoided revealing whatever reaction Melrose was having to himself. It wasn’t that he thought she would hate him over something like this, Xander was just already removed from his comfort zone by having to answer such a personal question. The worst part was it happened in front of both someone he knew and complete strangers.

“Alright, so, now that you’ve done all that, we need to fill out this larger section over here. This is when the civilian will give you their account. You don’t have to write down everything they say, just the important stuff.” Arcanine nodded her head as she spoke, but her trainee looked up at her with a mildly stressed expression.

“But, how will I know what’s important and what I should leave out?”

Arcanine slanted her head. “Yeah, that’s the hard part. You need to use your police intuition, which takes a lot of practice. That’s why I’m here, okay? I’ll let you know if you missed something. You just write everything you think you need to write.” She patted the top of his head carefully with her massive paw, and the confidence returned to the Machop’s face.

“Mr. Xander, can you tell me when the robbery took place?”

“Right, yeah.” Xander was snapped out of his internal crisis. “It was yesterday, right around sundown I think. I didn’t notice my money had been stolen until a few minutes later.”

Percy scribbled something down, occasionally glancing up at his mentor for approval—who just kept motioning for him to continue. “Where did the robbery take place?”

“The Pokémon who robbed me stole the money after we bumped into each other down that main road near the market. I’m new in town, so I don’t know the exact location…” Xander’s tail flicked as he thought back on it. “I chased after him later, finding him in an alleyway connected to the Market Square. By then, he didn’t have my money on his person.”

“Right, and what did the thief look like? Were you able to distinguish any of his features?”

“He was a blue and silver Pokémon who walked on all fours, like I do.” Xander rubbed his chin with his paw. “Oh, and he wore a dark blue hood.”

Percy’s eyes widened from recognition, “Hey! Miss Jen, I’ve been hearing lots of pretty crime reports based around that Pokémon. Nickit, wasn’t it?”

Arcanine nodded, “Yes. He’s one of the troublesome goons that belong to Team Outlier. We’ve actually arrested him once, but he managed to slip away before we could get him to the station.” The Arcanine grimaced. “Actually, the only reason he was able to get away was because the royal guards started throwing a really big hissy fit about who got to bring him in–”

As if right on cue, the door to the police station swung open. It was pushed by a large set of hooves, hitting the wall its hinges were connected to. A stack of papers in the back of the room fell off a shelf, and all the Magnemite stared down at the mess before glaring at the door.

The flaming Rapidash and his fantastical counterpart stormed into the station. The Fairy-Type turned his head sharply to flip his hair dramatically. “We’ve got a bone to pick with you, Jennifer!”

Chapter Text

Jennifer gave the two royal guards a very sarcastic glance. "Oh, hello gentlemen. How can I help you?" She scooted the crime log Percy was writing on closer to her with a paw. "I hope you don't mind waiting, though. I'm very busy right now."

"Don't be coy with us, Jennifer!" The Fairy-Type Rapidash, Edgeworth, stomped past Xander and Melrose before slamming a hoof onto the desk. "The police have been purposefully withholding information from the Knights of Silver! Admit it!"

Jennifer raised an eyebrow and laughed. "You can't be serious." She laughed a little harder, but Edgeworth's accusatory expression didn't shift. The Arcanine stopped laughing, and her face contorted into a frown. "Holy shit, you are serious."

"There have been numerous reports on the news about Team Outlier, and hardly any civilians have come to us with the news." The other Rapidash approached the desk, muttering an "excuse me" as he passed by the smaller pair of Pokémon. "Now, I'm not accusing you of anything nasty, Jen. However, you aren't holding anything against us for the Nickit incident… are you?"

"What? How insecure could the both of you possibly be?" Jennifer rolled her eyes and pointed towards the book below her paw. "All the records in this log get passed along to Captain Rosaline." Melrose's ears flicked at the name. "You can check through it yourself, but it would take very little sleuthing just to find I'm telling the truth." The Arcanine took a moment, letting out a low growl. "The law is above some petty nonsense about an escaped convict. If you two respected that, he wouldn't have gotten away in the first place."

The fiery Rapidash mumbled, just loud enough for everyone to hear. "You do hold the incident against us… I knew it."

"I don't hold it against you, Phoenix, for fuck's sake. A lady can be angry about a botched arrest, can't she?" Her snout curled into a snarl. "Anyways, it's the citizens themselves that are causing issues. I knew they were going to the radio station before the police, but it looks like they're avoiding the knights as well."

"Preposterous!" Edgeworth scoffed and trotted across the room. "The Knights of Silver are the respected royal guard of Constella! Heroes of the populace for generations!" He placed a hoof pridefully against his chest. "We're far more popular than some crummy news broadcast, and we are certainly more beloved than the police!"

Jennifer's ears fell. "If you feel that way, why did you think I could have possibly been hiding something from you? As always, your logic is stunning."

Edgeworth hid his flustered face by turning his back to the officer. "The idea that you were acting out of line was our only lead! Of course I had to make sure you weren't up to something nefarious."

"Lead?" The Arcanine snarled and bared her fangs at the Rapidash. "It was a random assumption based on your unchecked prejudices against me, you lousy excuse for a–"

"H-hey now!" Melrose finally spoke up. "Everyone should just ease up, okay? Something real weird is going on… and here y'all are—yelling at each other!" Her cheeks sparked as she hopped up onto the desk, pointing her finger at Jennifer. "So, cool it!"

The cop gave her a disgruntled look, but eased up when her intern nodded. "She's right." Percy crossed his arms. "No one is getting any work done like this."

Phoenix nudged Edgeworth with his shoulder, and the glitzy knight gave a resigned sigh. "Fine, we shall leave you be and investigate elsewhere. Come, Phoenix." The Rapidash stuck his snout in the air as he stomped out of the police station. Phoenix tipped his head towards everyone as a farewell before following his partner. Their departure left an uncomfortable silence before the Magnemite started to clean up.

Jennifer glanced down at Xander, "so sorry about that." She opened the log again and scanned over the details Percy recorded. "Everything seems to be in order, so let's get the actual investigation underway." She cued Percy to remove one of the slips from the basket, which he did. He also took out a small tray of ink. "Can I get your signature, please?"

Xander lifted himself up against the desk to look at the slip. It wasn't much, it just seemed to keep record of when the bystander submitted the log and gave permission for the police to begin taking action. Xander looked up at the Arcanine, giving her a head tilt. "Why do you need something like this?"

"It's not super streamlined to explain, aside from just saying 'it's what we've always done,' or something. But, the main reason is that Adstrum has three major enforcers of law: The Royal Guard, Adstrum Police, and Defense specialists on Dungeoneering Teams. It's very important that we distinguish how we take clients and handle public affairs, at least that's what the Prime Minister insists."

Xander supposed it made some amount of sense, but was still mildly unsure. Signing the slip was straightforward enough, but he couldn't figure out what the point was. Still, Xander dipped his paw in the ink and set it on the paper, leaving an imprint. Once it was signed, Percy picked it up and gently blew on the ink to make sure it was dry, before setting it inside the log and closing it in like a bookmark.

"Not yet, Percy." The Acanine looked at the Machop, who looked entirely unsure at this point. "Unless you want to go scrambling around the city for this young Pokémon, that is."

Percy facepalmed, "right, of course. Sorry, Ma'am." He opened the book again, setting it open faced on the desk, then raced over to another drawer. He set it on the desk for Xander to see. "We need your residency."

"Oh—I…" Xander's ears tucked anxiously against his head. "I actually don't live in Constella."

Melrose jumped in, still on the desk. "He's my escort!" She smiled, "my papa asked him to keep me safe while I stayed here in the big city during my time at Red Academy! Right now, he'll be staying at the Drowsy Munna."

"Alright, no problem then." Jennifer smiled. "I know where that is. I'll fill in the contact stuff myself, if you'd like–"

"Wowie! You're going to Red?" Percy's eyes lit up. "Maybe we'll be classmates! I've been waiting for my acceptance letter."

"Really! Ohmygosh!" Melrose hopped off the desk to gleefully nudge the Machop.

The two of them started a conversation about being excited to go to school, but Xander couldn't help looking at Jennifer again. He could still see that hint of guilt, and after catching a glimpse of that letter she was reading when they walked in—Xander was pretty confident he had pieced together the truth.

"Well, come on Melrose, let's get back to the inn. We need to deliver these groceries." Xander started to leave the police station without waiting for his friend. He had a feeling that, if he didn't, it would be a very long wait for Melrose to finish her conversation with Percy.

"Aww, alright! Bye, Percy! Thank you Miss Jennifer!" Melrose waved goodbye as she followed her friend out of the building. The Machop returned the wave, and the Arcanine nodded with a smile. Once the door was closed, Melrose hurried so she could catch up to Xander.

As the two began their walk to the Drowsy Munna, Xander slipped deep into his thoughts. Melrose would have been crushed if she wasn't admitted into R.E.D. Academy. What was going to happen to that other Pokémon? He seemed just as excited as Melrose did, and they would probably become good friends if they were in school together. But, they weren't, and now his stomach was twisting.

Melrose shook the Litten out of his daze, a worried frown on her face. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." Xander mustered a nod. "I think being in that police station overwhelmed me a tad. I feel like I could use a nap."

Melrose's expression shifted to a teasing smile. "You always want a nap, sleepyhead!" She giggled, but eased up when Xander seemed insecure about it. "Sorry, I don't want you to think that's a bad thing…"

The two of them stayed quiet for a while, an unfortunate state caused by Melrose's silence in particular. Her eyes got a little misty, which snapped Xander to attention. "Hey—Hey! I'm not mad at you. Don't cry, please…"

"It's not that…" She mumbled. "I just feel like a real jerk. Why didn't you tell me you were trans!" She frowned hard at him. "I know I don't know a lot about those types of things, but–"

Xander put a paw to Melrose's mouth. "I wasn't really super sure about it. I'm… still not. You didn't do anything wrong, and it's not like you were making me uncomfortable on purpose."

"I knew it!" Melrose pushed his paw out of the way. "I knew I was making you uncomfortable! Dammit all…" The mist in her eyes started to pool.

"It's not like you can read my–"

Xander tried to keep a straight face, but he started to laugh. "Hnk—mind…" He snorted.

Melrose growled slightly. "What's so funny, huh?!"

Xander pointed a paw towards a nearby window, one that gave off a faint reflection. Melrose turned to look, and saw the Xander's-paw-shaped splotch of ink on her mouth. It was faint from being mostly dried out, but it was just visible enough to look silly.

Melrose couldn't help it, she also started to laugh. The Pikachu's laughing made Xander laugh harder, and soon—both of them were cracking up so hard that they had to lean against a wall to stay upright. The fit of amusement lasted a good few minutes, and, once they had started to simmer down, Melrose placed a hand on Xander's head.

"I'm sorry. I've been a little emotional lately! Papa says jolly Pokémon like me bounce so hard between tears and laughter that it's hard to keep up!" She gave her friend a little pat before pulling away.

Xander gave her a soft smile. "It's been a wild couple of days for you. I've been a little emotional myself."

"Ha! I can't imagine you being all that emotional for some reason… You seem so reserved!"

The Litten wasn't sure how to feel about that, but he kept the smile on his face for Melrose's sake.

"We've taken long enough to run a couple chores, huh?" Melrose giggled. "Let's get back on track. And, get that paw of yours washed!" She teased before sticking her tongue out.

Xander was rinsing his paw in the kitchen sink as Melrose helped the elderly Psychic Pokémon put the new goods for the inn away. "You're such a helpful dear, Rosie." Gloria sang as the Pikachu placed the bread in the bread box.

"Don't worry about it, ma'am!" Melrose chirped as she removed the tea, coffee, and sugar from her Treasure Bag. "Where do you want all this stuff?"

"Remmy and I plan on having a little breakfast-beverage station near the front for tenants! Hohoho!" Gloria pointed towards the front desk. "For now, let's just set it all over there. I need to see if our kettle still works!"

"Has business really been so bad that you don't even know if you have functioning appliances?" Xander pulled his paw out of the sink and shook it hard, trying to get all the water off. It didn't hurt, but it was still mildly uncomfortable for the little Fire-Type.

"Don't be such a sourpuss, Xander!" Gloria cooed, waving her hand dismissively. "The Drowsy Munna does just fine, we just don't pull in the cash like we used to… that's all."

Xander shot her a look of disbelief, but the old Hypno didn't notice. She instead helped carry the sugar over to the front, Melrose walking beside her with the tea and coffee. While they were doing that, Xander inspected the tea kettle Gloria had left out. It probably still worked, right? He picked it up by its handle and carried it over to the sink, filling it with water. He winced when the faucet splashed at his nose, letting out an involuntary hiss. Gloria and Melrose laughed at him as they walked back into the kitchen.

Once it was filled with water, Gloria put it over the stove top and tried to ignite the flame. It made some clicking noises as the gas activated, but the fire was struggling. "Darn thing… Always giving me a rough time." She looked down at Xander. "Think you could give me a hand?"

Xander looked at the stove, and when Gloria didn't move her hand from the nob—he realized what she meant by that. "Sorry, ma'am. I don't know Ember."

"Oh? That's a real shame." Gloria gave him a frown at first, but it shifted to a look of reassurance as she rested a hand on his head. She scratched him softly behind the ears, and Xander couldn't help purring. He sort of hated that he liked it so much. "Don't worry young'n. Some Pokémon are just slow learners! I'll keep budging with this."

Gloria pulled her hand away and kept patiently flicking the heat on and off until the small fire formed. The water in the kettle started to heat despite the rusted bottom, and everyone in the room became rather pleased about it. "It might take a hot minute, but it'll heat the water just the same!" Gloria cackled at her own pun and stepped away from the stove.

Xander really started to notice how run down this place was… yet, Gloria and Remmy seemed totally unbothered. He was almost jealous of their contentment.

Once the hot water was ready, Gloria made her husband and the two guests some fresh tea. Xander remained mostly quiet as the three of them chatted, Melrose being eager to tell the two elderly Pokémon about her day.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back to the academy for lunch? I'm sure Headmaster Zephyr wouldn't mind at all." Melrose gave Xander pleading eyes, but the Litten shook his head no.

"I have a few more chores to do today, and I wouldn't want to make you stay and help me with those." Xander shrugged his shoulders, and sighed when the upset look didn't leave his friend's face. "I'll swing by for dinner, okay?"

Melrose perked up and nodded her head happily. "I'll hold you to that! You better fear a massive beat down if I don't see you there!" She punched at the air like she did earlier that same day as she walked over to the front door. "Bye, Mrs. Gloria! Bye, Mr. Remmy!"

"Goodbye, dearie." Gloria smiled as she waved. Her husband gave a subtle wave at the Pikachu as well.

After Melrose left, Xander stood up and stretched. "Would it be too much trouble to ask if I can take a nap? I promise I'll do some work afterwards. I just need like… 30 minutes?"

"Oh, Xander, it's no trouble at all." Remmy floated the tea set into the air and started to carry it back to the kitchen. "Trust me, Gloria and I understand the importance of sleep! Oh-hohoho—HACK—!" Remmy's laugh turned into a cough, and Gloria rubbed his back carefully. Xander could spot the worry in her eyes this time.

Still, he tried to give them a grateful smile. "Feel free to wake me if I'm out for too long." His tail swished as he scampered along to his guest room. He closed the door gently behind him, but his face became gloomy the second no other Pokémon's eyes were on him. Today had felt so long, and it was only just the afternoon.

Wasting not a single second longer to crawl into bed, Xander tried to get cozy enough for his catnap. He tucked his nose into his belly, using the blankets more like a nest than an actual covering.

If I really am a human, it's pretty weird that I find sleeping like this so comfortable. I wonder if that comes with turning into a Pokémon? I haven't given it much thought…

Xander continued to think about this possibility, having been too distracted before now to attempt piecing anything together. His memory still failed him—there wasn't a single clue as to what happened to him before waking up in Nightshade Grove. Melrose treated the occurrence like a fairy tale, but also believed it to be true with some form of confidence. And, Gaius… He treated Xander so differently after Melrose brought it up. His stomach suddenly sank. Was she telling Pokémon at the school that she was friends with a human? That sounded like something she would absolutely do without considering Xander's feelings about it. While the thought pulled him into his own irritation, his tail lashed and slapped at Xander's face. The Litten bit at it out of shock, and the sudden self inflicted pain sent him jumping into the air and yowling.

Gloria opened the door, having heard the sudden cat-screech. "Is everything alright, Dear?"

Xander was standing on his bed with an embarrassed blush swamping his face through his fur. "Y-yep! Nothing is wrong! Sorry!"

Gloria gave him a weird look before closing the door. Xander sighed into his chest before attempting to get comfortable again.

He tried to regain focus on his own mysteries, but all his thoughts cycled back to how little he knew. Xander couldn't even make educated assumptions, as the knowledge he possessed of this world was so barren… aside from details surrounding the Pokémon themselves. It felt a little selfish with everything going on for him to think about himself so much, but having amnesia was frustrating—and hardly a soul could relate to Xander's turmoil. His brain struggled for something to settle on, a thought that could help lull him to sleep, but his breathing found peace when Xander picked out a first step to uncovering… anything.

The Pokémon of this Kingdom, especially the capital, seemed keen on keeping records. So, first things first, Xander needed to find if there was any trace of him in Adstrum before he woke up with no memories.

Chapter Text

Once she returned to the academy, checking the student common area for Icarus, Melrose was greeted by two unfamiliar faces. It took milliseconds for a yellow blur to leap over the couch and grab Melrose's paw—staring upon her with starry eyes and a wide smile as the two of them shook hands. Melrose was given zero time to process the surprise of another Pikachu being in front of her.

"So! You're this 'Melrose' the Prince has told us so much about!" He said, cheeks sparking excitedly. Electricity traveled between them.

"I mentioned her once," Icarus's tail flicked.

The Pikachu let go of Melrose's hand so he could strike a pose, one that he must have thought was cool. He was the only one who thought this. "I am Owin, humble hero of our realm! It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

Melrose smiled back, but was still slightly shaken, and sparking, from his introduction. "It's very nice to meet more students!" She glanced over at the Axew who was timidly tucking themself away. "And, what's your name?"

"Oh? Yes, well…" The Axew bowed their head. "I am Xavian Lefevre, of House Lefevre. It's very nice to meet you, mon amie." They gave Melrose a faint smile before tucking away again.

Icarus cleared his throat loudly. "Now that we've taken care of introductions, might I suggest we go request something to eat?" The Tyrunt spoke sternly, clearly not taking any alternate ideas.

Xavian bowed towards him. "Oui, yes, Your Majesty. That sounds like a splendid idea." Xavian hurried over to the door so they could open it for the Prince. Icarus grinned while he marched out the door, carrying himself in a dignified manner that Melrose wasn't quite accustomed to. Maybe she brought something out in the Prince that made him act a little less… like that.

Owin nudged Melrose. "Come forth, my same-species-associate! Let's fill our bellies!" Owin ran forwards, keeping on his two back feet as he sprinted. Melrose scurried after him, excited to have someone around with as much energy as her!

Once the crew accumulated into the dinning hall, they were all shocked to see another unfamiliar face. This Pokémon was huge, and Melrose knew huge! The large and in-charge Pokémon was dictating the three monkey-butlers, barking orders at them faster than any of the three could keep up with. The Snorlax's demeanor changed the moment he realized there were children present. "Oh-ho ho? I didn't know we already had students here! I suppose that's what I get for running a little behind, non?"

"You must be the Sous Chef, then?" Icarus huffed. "A little behind is an understatement. We may all be early, but you were considerably late compared to the rest of the staff."

"Haa…" The Snorlax almost frowned, but it quickly fixed itself back into the jolly expression he'd put on for them. "Yes, I'm Chef Gourmand. Do not let my apparent tardiness fool you into thinking I shall underperform!" He gave a hardy laugh from his belly before wandering back into the kitchen. "By the way, lunch will be ready soon!" The chef called back over his shoulder.

"Huh… how did he know that's what we came here for?" Owin tilted his head.

"Because it's obvious." Xavian shot their friend a look. "It's the middle of the day. He was likely already making lunch for the staff…"

"Oh. That makes sense, yeah." Owin rubbed the back of his head.

Icarus was already sitting at his usual spot, and Melrose took hers from the night before. Xavian made their way over to the Prince, bowing once again out of respect. "May I sit next to you, Your Grace?"

"Hmm." Icarus eyed them over. "I see no reason why not. You have my permission."

"Thank you, Prince Drakkenburg." The Axew hopped into the chair next to him and took a deep breath. Melrose wondered if the other students were going to behave like this around Icarus. Sure, he was royalty—but, he was also their peer, wasn't he?

Owin sat next to Melrose and waved at the waiters as they all came to pour the kids some water. Mint handled the two Pikachus' glasses, Pepper served Xavian, and Basil waited on the Prince. Melrose tensed up slightly as she watched the water fall into the glass, but was able to relax once she noticed the Pansage was more confident serving Icarus than they were last night.

"Thank you, Basil." The Prince nodded in thanks without making eye-contact with the butler.

Melrose huffed quietly. What, is he too good to look at the people serving him? Rude.

Yet, the Pansage smiled. "Certainly, Your Majesty."

The three monkey Pokémon hurried back to the kitchen. While Melrose was hyperfocusing on Icarus's interaction with Basil, the Pikachu realized she'd failed to say thanks to her own waiter. A blush snuck its way onto her face, and she could only hope that Mint didn't think less of her now.

Pepper danced back out of the kitchen with a tray full of food. There were four sandwiches, two of them distinguishable by the fine cuts of meat inside. "Only the best for our little early birds!" The Pansear sang as she placed the platter down at the center of them all. "Cheese and Veggies for the 'Chus and grilled Taurus for the Dragons. Enjoy!" She twirled before leaving the room once again.

Icarus almost purred at the sight. "Finally, some flesh! I was getting sick of how many berries and salads were being thrown my way." He waited not even a second longer before digging in, and Xavian followed suit—opting to use their claws instead of slamming their face into the plate like His Majesty.

Melrose started nibbling at her sandwich, but Owin seemed a little perturbed. She looked up at him, getting ready to ask what was wrong as soon as she had swallowed her current bite, but Xavian beat her to it. "Owin, surely you're used to watching me eat meat by now?"

All three of the other Pokémon were now looking at Owin, which made him stir. "Of course I'm used to it! Why wouldn't I be?" He laughed nervously before taking a big chomp out of his lunch.

Xavian sighed, "you've lived at House Lefevre for months. Father made that amazing seafood banquet for my birthday… You've watched blood drip down his jaw." They took another delicate bite out of their sandwich, but now even Melrose was starting to feel a tad uneasy. "It's the way of life for predatory Pokémon. Don't be so rude in front of our Crowned Prince."

"It's—I'm not being rude! This is nothing like that one time."

"Yes, and you have yet to explain to me why eating a feral Taillow from the Lefevre family hunting trip made you cry so hard that I, overwhelmed by guilt, couldn't stomach bird Pokémon for weeks."

Owin crossed his arms, sandwich still in hand, and turned away from his friend. A few of the lettuce leaves from Owin's lunch fell to the floor. "I did explain! I told you it was personal!"

"Ugh, don't mind him." Xavian gave Icarus an exasperated look, but the Prince was already back to enjoying his very meaty sandwich.

Melrose gave the other Pikachu a soft pat on the back. Owin glanced at her with puffed out cheeks, but she shot him a sweet smile that appeared to cheer him back up. Everyone went back to eating their lunches, all of them too hungry to bother making any conversation after that.

Xander blinked awake once light started to peak around the curtain. The Litten was able to assess by the sun's position that it was late into the afternoon, which meant he really needed to get some chores done soon. He stretched his body out and yawned loudly before hopping off his bed and nudging the door open.

The elderly Psychic Pokémon were near the front desk, enjoying each other's silent company as Gloria organized the bookshelf and Remmy continued to set up the brewing station. The old Hypno glanced down at him with her usual, cheerie-grandma smile. "How was your nap, Xander?"

"Eh, it was alright." He scratched an itch behind his ear with a back paw. "I don't remember having any dreams though."

Remmy burped, and Gloria covered the sound with a loud laugh. "How peculiar! Hope that's not too troublesome?"

"Nah, it's fine. Dreams are a mixed bag for me, anyways. I'd rather have no dream over a nightmare." The Litten stood back up. "So, what would you like for me to do this afternoon, ma'am?"

"No need to be so formal, dear!" Gloria cackled as she turned towards her spouse. "Did you have something in mind, Love?"

Remmy stopped hiding his face away and floated over to the both of them. "I had a few ideas… but, erm, Gloria told me you don't know any Fire-Type moves…" Xander tucked into himself slightly, which made Remmy frantically wave his nubby hands. "Which is alright! I just had to brainstorm some other ideas until then. Would you mind helping me dust the rooms? It gives me such a nasty cough when I do it."

"Sure, that doesn't sound hard at all." Xander smiled.

"Great, I'll get the feather duster and some rags… Oh! And, a little mask for your nose., of course." Remmy floated off, returning quickly with the necessary cleaning supplies. He used Psychic to help Xander tie the cloth over his snout, and the Litten picked the duster up with his mouth. "Righto, kiddo! Let me unlock all the rooms, and you can get to work."

The Drowsy Munna wasn't a particularly large inn. It had one downstairs hall of rooms and a singular hall of rooms upstairs. Xander spent the rest of his early evening cleaning up the rooms on the lower hall. Xander thought the guest rooms were decorated rather strangely. It's as if Remmy and Gloria conspired together to not pick anything that went together, constructing the rooms like distorted scenes. Perhaps they intentionally resembled dreamscapes? Xander couldn't be sure.

The Litten's eyes started to water once he finished the last downstairs room, signifying that he needed to be done. The rooms upstairs were going to have to wait, and Xander didn't want to worry Melrose by being late to dinner. He returned all the cleaning tools to his own room before locating Gloria at the front of the inn again. "Hey, are you cool with me leaving for the rest of the night?"

"You've done more than enough for tonight, sweetheart. Go have some fun." Gloria smiled and waved him away towards the door. Xander bowed his head in thanks before leaving quietly, the Hypno laughing to herself when she noticed the bits of dust clinging to the Litten's tail.

Xander glanced up at the sky to spot the slowly setting sun. If his walk went uninterrupted, Xander would likely arrive at the academy early—or at the very least, right on time. He didn't want to jinx it by thinking too much about it, though, so he just started walking like it was business as usual.

However, he couldn't help being distracted by the very large Arcanine across the street clearly interrogating a vendor. Xander pointed his ears towards her. He figured snooping wouldn't be that rude if it had something to do with him, right?

"Yea, I watched the lil' pickpocket bump into 'em right there. He swept 'da coin pouch under his tail, 'den booked it. Wasn't any of my business." The Nuzleaf crossed his arms and leaned against his stall, "t’ought it was pretty funny though."

"Hpmh. You’ve got a lot of nerve talking to an officer of the law like that, sir." Jennifer's ear flicked.

"I tink what you meant to say was 'Thank You,' he-heh." The Nuzleaf gave the Arcanine an even more smug look somehow, which just pissed her off more.

"Can you tell me which way he went after the robbery?"

The Nuzleaf shrugged slightly. "Eh, sure. I watched him run towards dah market. But, he like, doubled back once he realized the dumbass Litten hadn't even noticed he'd been robbed."

Xander's nose twitched. He'd done enough eavesdropping for one evening. Turning his back on the conversation, Xander returned to his stroll to the academy. Curiosity was simply not itching at him hard enough to continue listening to that jerkwad.

Still, something was really irking him about their conversation. That Pokémon had watched him get robbed, yet didn't do anything about it? Was fetching a royal guard really that out of the way for him? Other city Pokémon have been varying levels of kind, so far. What was this guy's deal? Maybe he wasn't even the only Pokémon who watched Xander get mugged…

Xander tried to shake the feeling away. If something was really wrong with that guy, Officer Jennifer would handle it.

It was now Xander's second time walking down the main path to the grand, fortress-like Red Academy. Going down the road alone felt a bit strange, like every onlooker would see this weirdo-Litten waltzing up to the Academy like a dunce. Thankfully, the shadow above him was not a judgemental Pidgeotto or snooty Unfeazant– it was Headmaster Zephyr. The Dragon Type descended in front of Xander and beamed brightly. "It's great to see you here and not at that drabby inn!"

Xander's tail lashed. Why did that rile him up a little bit?

"Melrose gave me a heads-up that you would be making it this evening. Hopefully you don't mind the table being a little populated! A couple other students and staff arrived this afternoon, and I maybe went a little overboard when inviting everyone at the castle to sit at dinner with us." Zephyr laughed as he took back off into the air. "I'm gonna fly in through my office! Adeline can guide you to the dining hall!"

Before Xander could even get a word in, Zephyr took flight. The Litten watched him fly towards his tower, sighed into his chest, and walked through the front door of the academy.

Once inside, Xander saw Adeline speaking with a Pokémon he didn't recognize. The Clefairy was looking up at a very valiant green Pokémon clad in various pieces of shining armor, who, after glancing over at Xander, gave him a reserved smile. "Is that another student?"

Adeline turned to see Xander, giggling. "No! But, I get the feeling you'll be seeing him a great deal despite that." The Clefairy motioned for Xander to join them, and he reluctantly walked over to the imposing pair of Pokémon. "Captain Rosaline, this is Xander. He's a dear friend of that Pikachu you saw earlier, Melrose. Xander, this is Captain Rosaline. She's our Academy's combat instructor, and, of course, Head of Adstrum’s Royal Guard!"

Rosaline nodded, and as Xander inspected her—he realized the name had sounded vaguely familiar. He thought back on it… but his memory failed him. Again.

"Shame I won't be teaching you this year. You've got an energy about you." Rosaline kneeled slightly and held a hand out, which Xander politely shook with a front paw. "You interested in Dungeoneering at all?"

Not sure of the answer, Xander shrugged his shoulders and laughed the uncertainty away. "Melrose makes it sound really exciting, but I don't really know if school is for me. Besides, it would only be fun if I could do it with her."

"No worries, I get ya. I wasn't great in school, either. It was more my brother's thing." She thought back on something fondly for a moment, before Xander could catch her eyes starting to cloud over with worry. The Gallade, just as Xander did, laughed her own uncertainty away. "Instead, I picked up a spear and trained my butt off! Everyone's got their own path, so don't feel obligated to be something you aren't. Especially not for other Pokémon."

Adeline giggled, "teaching already, Rosaline?" She shook her finger back and forth. "Save the words of wisdom for when the semester starts, won't you?"

Rosaline blushed a bit as she giggled along with her friend. "I guess you're right, Addy. I can't waste all my best material while speaking to an audience of two, especially when neither of them are actually my students!"

Xander cleared his throat. "Think you could take me to the dining hall, Miss Adeline?"

"Of course, darling! We should all get going now, shouldn't we?" Adeline chirped. "This way, you two!"

Rosaline motioned for Xander to go first as the Clefairy started to walk, and he went ahead and obliged—not wanting to be disrespectful.

The dining hall was already full of Pokémon, only two of which Xander recognized. Melrose, of course, who waved him down and called across the room for Xander to sit next to her. The Headmaster had beat the small group to the hall, though it didn't seem like he had for long—since he was hovering around the room as opposed to sitting in his chair at the end of the table.

Xander hurried over to Melrose and smiled up at her, hopping up into the chair. "I didn't get mugged this time, are you impressed?" Xander gave his friend a sarcastic smile, which made Melrose giggle. "It's pretty hectic in here right now–"

"Yeah, and I don't even think this is all the staff. It's far from all the students!" Melrose made a motion towards the three other present classmates. The Tyrunt across the table was giving Xander a rather aggressive look, which made the Litten shuffle from discomfort. "Let me introduce you to everyone!" Melrose pointed at the Tyrunt giving the stink-eye. "That over there is Icarus!"

"Eh-HEM. It's Prince Icarus Drakkenburg. The Second. Crowned Prince of Adstrum. You're Melrose's friend, which is why I assume you have no idea who I am." He titled his snout upwards and huffed, flaring his nostrils.

"Don't let that hosh-posh stuff fool you," Melrose whispered to Xander in amusement. "He's real easy to rile up. It's hilarious!" She then pointed to the Axew next to Icarus, who was chatting with another Pikachu. "That's Xavian! They're from some sort of Noble House? I don't really know a lot about the Lords and Ladies of Adstrum. Their friend there is–"

The second Pikachu jumped to his feet upon finally realizing Xander was there. He stood up in his chair and stanced up into some sort of action pose. "I am Owin! Owin Thunderstrike! Hero of Realms! And, I am at your humble service, Xander the Mysterious!" He tucked his head behind one of his paws, which he almost definitely thought looked cool. Though, when Xander gave him an odd look… he faltered.

Melrose blushed. "I may have told him just a little, itty-bitty-bit about you already."

Xander worried for a moment that she was implying a conversation about the Litten being a human, but her comforting expression eased him slightly. Perhaps Melrose understood Xander's boundaries more than he originally thought.

"We're still missing a couple of instructors, and potentially some other staff I wouldn't know about, but we still have the rest of the week before school actually starts." Melrose settled back down in her seat.

"Yes, but they really should have been here ages ago." Xavian sighed while fidgeting with one of their tusks. "It's customary for the entire staff to be present before the student body, and the Headmaster was late with his duties—giving the teachers and staff ample time to arrive on schedule." They frowned at the adults who were all off in their own conversation. "I hope nothing bad has happened to them."

"I wouldn't worry about it." Icarus growled quietly. "The Sous Chef arrived today, hardly worried about being tardy. We should not expect this place to be as prestigious as we once believed." The Prince's tail flicked, and Xavian responded with a tail twitch of their own.

Once the wait staff started to bring out food, the other Pokémon started to settle. Everyone watched as Pepper, Mint, and Basil dressed the table with entrees, sides, and deserts. Xander was focused on the Pansear, twirling and humming as she served the table. She made sure to give him a playful wink as she passed by. Melrose's cheeks sparked slightly, which accidentally zapped Xander's whiskers. The Litten squeaked and felt the fur on his back spike out, and Melrose fell into a rushed series of embarrassed apologies.

Basil shakily served the older Pokémon. The Pansage’s tea pouring was rather sloppy, but the talkative staff didn't seem to mind all that much. When Basil made it to Xavian and Icarus, Xander watched as the Tyrunt whispered something to the nervous monkey. Basil took a deep breath, and continued to pour drinks—suddenly much calmer.

Once all the food was out, the Snorlax in charge of them bowed. "Enjoy!" He called out loudly before taking his own seat. The three waiters took that as their signal to also sit, and everyone turned towards the now flying Headmaster.

"I'll try to be quick so we can all dig in, but I'd like to tell you all how excited I am to see some of my lovely staff and so many early students here with me today. Without further adieu—”

“Let's eat!" Everyone shouted together.

Zephyr landed back down into his seat chair and all the Pokémon around Xander began eating. The Litten was starving, but couldn't help feeling awkward as the others started serving themselves. Much like the farm, Xander felt completely out of place.

Melrose glanced at Xander and motioned towards the food. Xander outstretched a paw and gripped some of the roasted berries, placing them on his plate. Once he had gathered a few helpings, he started to nibble delicately at the fruit. Aside from maybe Adeline and Xavian, he was the most polite eater at that table.

Everyone around him was chatting amongst themselves once again. Melrose would try to bring Xander into the occasional conversation, and he would respond with a nod or despondent sentence fragment. However, his intrusive thoughts grew loud enough to drown out the surrounding merriment.

He really didn't belong here.

As Xander stared out one of the castle windows, his eyes met with another Pokémon. Xander's ear twitched as the trespasser slunk back into the shadows. The Litten finished up the small amount of food he put on his plate and gave a small bow. "Excuse me," he mumbled, mostly to Melrose, as he hopped out of the chair.

"Hang on, where are you going?" Melrose frowned, preparing to get up herself.

"I'll be right back, I just want to visit the washroom. I really dislike the way leftover food feels on my paws and face." Xander kept walking away, relying on his fib to calm his friend down.

It seemed to work, because Melrose sat back down. "Alright, you snob! Just don't keep me waitin' too long, okay? I wanted to show you around a little bit before you go back to the inn!"

"Mhmm." Xander gave her an assuring glance before leaving the dining hall. He could feel Icarus's eyes digging into him, but the feeling eased once he was far out of the Dragon Pokémon's sightline.

Xander wandered, lost for a minute, before he was able to find the door that led to the courtyard. He sniffed at the air, trying to let his nose locate the familiar scent carried by the wind. His eyes glowed from the sliver of moonlight above, and he found himself easily able to navigate the darkness surrounding him. Despite the knowledge that a foe was ever present, the silence was soothing compared to the bustling dining hall.

Xander's eyes darted towards a shuffling bush, and his ears flattened against his head as his tail lashed aggressively. "Come out! I know you're there…"

"Don't worry, I wasn't really trying to stay hidden anymore."

Just as Xander thought, the silvery Nickit revealed himself. The ear Xander had torn was no longer bleeding, but the partially healed scars still looked pretty nasty. The fox Pokémon snarled quietly, "this is a weird move. Why didn't you just tell the Headmaster you thought you saw some low-life skulking around?"

"They were having a lovely dinner, and I didn't want to ruin their night." Xander shrugged his shoulders. He actually didn't have much of a real answer to the criminal's question, but that sounded right enough.

"I was somehow wrong about you being a student, right? Even though you're here with everyone else Academy-bound, and have this moronic sense of self-justice about you." The Nickit smirked. "You want to fight me again. I can tell."

Xander leered at him, "I want my money back."

"Oh, you mean, this?" The Nickit revealed the pouch, which was now tied around his neck, beneath his cloak. Xander's eyes widened, and he wasted no time before lunging at the thief. The Nickit used Quick Attack to get out of the way, but didn't counter. "Hah, there's that temper again.~ Tell me, was that really necessary?"

Xander wiped off some of the dirt on his face as he turned around. It wasn't fair. He wanted to use Quick Attack, or Ember, or Something .

"Don't look so glum, kitty. I actually brought it with me so I could give it back." The Nickit grabbed the pouch and pulled it off of him, holding it out to Xander with one paw. Xander didn't stop leering at him, which made the bandit laugh. "C'mon, I'm being serious. It's all yours… I just have a teeny-tiny request to ask you in return." The shiny Nickit smirked mischievously.

"I don't do favors for pick-pockets." Xander snarled. "I'd rather tear the pouch out of your limp paws after I smack you down."

"Don't make me blush," the outlaw teased. "Aren't you even just a little bit curious as to what I want you to do for me?"

Xander glanced off to the side, "you can tell it to me since you're so eager, but I know it won't change my answer from a resounding no."

"Just hear me out," The Nickit set the money down on the ground. "My boss requested I scout the academy so we can pull a heist. The school is holding quite the treasure in it right now… worth millions. Actually, it's probably worth way more than even that. Boss told me to offer up your own money as barter… but, I'd be willing to share an even bigger part of the prize with you. If you followed through, that is."

The Nickit removed a large, blue orb from his hood. It reflected the starry night above through its glassy surface, and Xander found himself rather mystified by it. "This is a Slumber Orb. For our heist to go as planned, we need you to place this under the pillow of a certain student's room. It'll knock 'em out, even if we make a whole bunch of noise."

Xander pulled his gaze away from the Slumber Orb and unsheathed his claws, trying to fein menace. "You can't tempt me with riches."

"I can't, huh? Do you even know what that much money can do? That sort of fortune could get you anywhere, let you do anything… even repair a rundown inn…" He gave Xander a malicious smirk. "Or, save any ol' business, of course. That was merely an example."

Xander's tail lashed again. It was bad news that this crook knew where he was staying.

"If you don't comply, my boss might be compelled to run them further into the ground. But, who knows?"

There it was. Xander hunched down and pounced towards the cocky outlaw, but was suddenly pounded in the side by a powerful kick. The Litten was sent hurtling into a bundle of hedges, and was now staring at an upside-down Nidorina.

"Such a tragedy… I really didn't want it to come to this." The Nickit smiled using his voice, clearly enjoying the sight of Xander. "I kind of like you. I think you would make a great member of Team Outlier." A trace of sincerity laced the Nickit's words as a glamorous Cinccino also revealed herself, and Xander now realized it was one versus three. Xander could handle the Nickit, but who knew how strong these other Pokémon were.

"Enough with the stupid monologue, Lune." The Nidorina growled. "Let's rough this weakling up!"

"With pleasure ." Lune purred, swiping the pouch of Pokécoins back into his hidden satchel. His paws started to glow as the fox Pokémon used Hone Claws, and Xander was unable to stop him from gaining the stat buffs once the Nidorina gave him another swift kick to the face.

Xander was sent tumbling once again through the garden, but this time he was able to scramble to his feet. These crooks fought dirty, so he was going to need to fight dirtier. As the Nidorina rushed towards him, Xander grabbed a pawful of soil and chucked it at her face. The Nidorina yelled in shock from the surprise maneuver, trying to get the dirt out of her eyes before Xander could get the upper hand on her.

The Litten suddenly pushed the Nidorina, knocking her over during the confusion, but was left no time to do much else as a star-shaped projectile suddenly hit him in the gut. Winded, but still amped to fight, Xander tried to leap over the second Swift—but it merely followed him up into the air and slammed his body once more. Lune was about to slam Xander with a powered up Quick Attack, and the poor Litten resigned himself to an unstoppable knock out.

That was, until, a rock came flying out of nowhere.

The Ancient Power surged right into Lune, making the fox yelp pathetically. The Cinccino gasped as she turned towards Prince Icarus, who had more floating stones at the ready. "There's the Prince! If we just grab him now, then we won't even need to perform the heis–"

The Cinccino was hit in the side of the head with an Ancient Power, and Icarus's fangs started to glow with a bright fire. Xander watched in both jealousy and amazement as the Tyrunt leaped into combat, chomping his Fire Fang down hard on the Cinccino's tail. She wailed in pain, yanking her singed tail away, before scurrying off in a panic. "Never mind, never mind—I'm OUT OF HERE."

"What!? But, it's still three against two, get back here you cowar–"

The Nidorina's snarling was interrupted by an Ancient Power to the back. She whipped around to face the Prince, but his movements were somehow even faster than before. The brigand's poisonous spikes on her back started to glow as she launched a Poison Sting, but it practically deflected right off Icarus's scales. Flustered, she readied another series of Double Kicks, but Icarus used Bite on her leg as she stuck it out. It must have hurt, because the Nidorina's eyes watered from the pain.

"Shit–! Shit—Let go! Let go of me!"

Icarus did just that, but immediately used Roar to send the Nidorina flying. The Poison-Type was sent smashing into the metal fence of the garden before she hurriedly climbed it to flee with her associate.

Finally, Icarus turned towards Lune—whose nose was bleeding. Xander thought that was strange, given that the Nickit was never struck in the face.

"The academy staff may be inefficient at protecting our grounds from convicts, but I'm not!" The Prince snarled loudly. "Shall I make an example of you as well, or will you go crawling back to your disgusting crevice with your little friends?"

Lune remained motionless, though he eventually glanced back at Xander and took a step back. The Nickit's bleeding nose twitched slightly.

"Well? Get going!" Icarus snarled again.

Lune looked back up at the Tyrunt before him and bowed his head quietly before scampering into the shadows. He twisted his head to peak behind him at the two Pokémon, then dropped something as he rushed out of sight.

After a brief moment of pause, Xander took a deep breath. "Thank you. I was in some serious trouble there."

"Yes, and you wouldn't have been if you didn't go wandering off alone. Isn't there an expression about cats and curiosity?" Icarus huffed.

"Curiosity killed the cat?" Xander laughed slightly, "actually, there's a lesser known second part of that phrase."

"Really? And, what might that be?"

"But satisfaction brought it back." Xander gave the Prince a coy smile, and the Dragon glanced off to the side.

"Huh, I actually didn't know that." He shook his head. "Whatever, that's completely irrelevant to the fact that you put yourself in serious danger for no reason." Icarus glanced over at where Lune ran off to, spotting whatever it is the thief dropped. The Tyrunt tilted his head, walking over to pick up the satchel. "Interesting. There appears to be money in this."

Xander perked up. "Really? May I see? That very thief stole money from me yesterday."

"Knock yourself out. I have all the funds I could ever ask for. Whatever is in this is surely pocket change to one such as myself." Icarus handed Xander the sack, which was the same one Zephyr had given him the day before. The Litten purred happily to himself, but was Lune really so roughed up that he left this behind? Xander didn't have enough emotional energy to consider any alternate possibilities aside from dumb luck.

"Try to straighten out your fur. At least, I'm assuming you didn't want anyone to know of this encounter?" Icarus gave Xander the now all too familiar judgemental look.

Xander felt a little called out by the Prince's correct assumption, but tried to retaliate with a deliberate inquiry. "Why did you even follow me?"

Icarus answered fast, as if he had rehearsed this. "Melrose may have been fooled by your juvenile 'I have to use the restroom' slip, but I could see the face you made while looking out the window behind me." A touch of anger intercepted his tone. "Melrose has been worried sick about you, yet you still poke your muzzle into danger when you actively had the power to avoid it? It fell onto me to ensure you didn't get hurt."

Xander paused. "What, for her sake?"

Icarus also paused, but he returned the question with a glare this time around. "Let us return to the dining hall, shall we? The longer we are gone, the more suspicious they will be."

"Yeah, right." Xander tried to shake all the debris from his fur as the two Pokémon walked back towards Red Academy’s interior.

Aster ran a hand across several of his mystical tomes and books. It was much easier for him to locate the manuscript he was searching for with a finger tracing the first letter of every visible title. His focus was robbed by a large clatter of falling metal tools, and Aster sighed as he turned around.

The Cosmog was chirping excitedly as it chased after Aster’s Unown servants, who were all trying their best to make sure the little cluster of stardust didn't get herself hurt. Aster cleared his throat, which made the Cosmog stop in her tracks.

"Celeste, what did I say about playing tag?"

"Mmm…" Its glittering form flickered slightly as it looked down at the floor. "Not… to?"

"Precisely. I have too many valuables in here for you to behave like a brute." Aster used Psychic from across the room to fix the arcane devices it had knocked to the floor. "Maybe someday you can play tag, but that day is not today. Why don't you play something else? Something less…" He rubbed at his forehead, "destructive."

Celeste frowned and looked around the room for something else to do. She floated over to a stack of papers, pulling one out from the middle, and grabbed a pen that was laying on the floor. The Cosmog giggled as it started to draw.

Aster smiled, "there you go. That's a significantly calmer childhood activity. Now then, where was I…" Aster turned back towards the bookshelf. "Ah, here we are."

The Gardevoir used Psychic to pull the book out of the shelf, bringing it with him over to one of his many desks in the Observatory. " Forgotten Realms and Distant Dimensions , a classic among astrologists and the like. Celeste, my little moon drop, can you come here for a second?"

Celeste looked up from her drawing, "Can… uhh… float me?" She giggled. "Float, floated!"

Aster sighed, "It's 'levitated,' my dear. If you say it properly, then I'll levitate you over to me."

Celeste puffed out its cheeks. "Aster… Can you… Levitia… lev… leverate…" She growled.

"It's alright, Celeste, just say it slowly."

"...Lev…itate?"

"Yes, good girl." Aster picked the little Cosmog up using Psychic, setting her carefully on the desk ahead of him. "I wanted to show you a few things in this book, so pay attention." Aster flipped through the pages, and Celeste watched as the limited pictures appeared and disappeared. "I told you before that you were from space, which, simply put, is anywhere that isn't the planet you live on now."

"Like, the sky!"

"Hmm, yes, I suppose to a child that would be the easiest way to explain that. However, you aren't just from the sky—you, Celeste, are from another plane of existence all together."

Celeste nodded her head, but she clearly had no idea what Aster was talking about. The Gardevoir couldn't be frustrated with her, as she was doing very well for an infant. Aster could hardly imagine what being a parent for a non-legendary Pokémon would be like, but it sounded dreadful.

"You shouldn't pretend to know, starshine. If someone tells you something, and you don't understand, the correct thing to do is ask them to explain." Aster gave the Cosmog a slight smile. "Would you like for me to explain what I was talking about?"

The Cosmog nodded its head, which produced a jingling noise. Aster levitated the piece of paper Celeste was drawing on and flipped it over, using a pen to draw a diagram. He drew a line, "this is the plane of existence we live in. It has this planet, but it also has everything around this planet. Does that make sense?"

Celeste nodded her head again, which prompted Aster to draw another line—this once was above the first. "This plane isn't the only one that exists. In fact, there are a great many." Aster drew another line below the first. "Now, some of these realms are connected to others. Since they all exist, all it takes is one way or another to connect them for the realms to start to blur." The Gardevoir connected the top and middle lines with a short vertical line. "I was able to fetch you from this line–" He pointed to the above line, "by using a portal." Aster pointed at the vertical line.

"Portal…" Celeste glanced up at the contraption she remembered bursting out of.

Aster flipped back through the book and opened to one of the few pages with an illustration, that one being a diagram of a human being. "Long ago, Legendary Pokémon would bring beings from other worlds to save us from catastrophes. Some of those beings would go home, but others would stay and continue to improve our communities. A great deal of our technological advancements wouldn't have been possible without them."

"And, they look…?" Celeste pointed at the picture.

"I actually wouldn't know for certain, but that is what we suppose they look like… based on the humans' description of, well, themselves. I've never seen one myself," Aster looked off to the side, smiling to himself. "But, I would like to. Apparently, humans can bring out the innate potential in Pokémon! It's extremely fascinating to me, and I would do anything to see that phenomenon in real time."

Celeste glanced back at the drawing Aster made of all the lines. She giggled and grabbed the pen so she could start drawing again. "These lines look… book-shelfy!"

Aster watched as his adopted apprentice distracted itself with frivolous nonsense. He shook his head quietly before sitting down to read his book, scanning paragraphs for what he thought might be present in its pages. Retrieving Cosmog was only the first step to restoring the Adstrum he envisioned, but there were faintly any records of what Adstrum was like all that time ago. History always started with the lineage of their false king.

The Prime Minister searched through the sections, finding a page decorated with gears and an ancient interpretation of the Legendary Dialga. The smile returned to his face as he read. The way to the truth was not by traveling through space and dimensions, but was instead paved by time. If there was anyone who held the answers he sought, the power Aster needed to create a new history…

It was Celebi.

-END OF ACT ONE-

Chapter Text

The R.E.D. Academy homeroom was buzzing with conversation, everyone bursting with anticipation from the first real day of school. While a few of the students were already acquainted about a week prior, several among them were seeing each other for the very first time.

Headmaster Zephyr could hardly hide his own excitement. The Flygon’s wings buzzed at double-time as he hovered by the teacher’s desk. “Attention! Attention, everyone!” The Headmaster clapped his hands together as he shouted over the noise, but the energized chatter did not cease. Zephyr couldn’t even be mad at the class. Such chit-chat was warranted, and it was fun seeing everyone be so rowdy! “Your attention—Please!” He called once again, but still had no luck at turning any heads.

Zephyr giggled to himself, knowing exactly what needed to be done to get the young Pokémon to listen to him. The Flygon flew upwards and into a spin, performing a dazzling display of draconic energy, aura circling his body as he moved. The students were impressed into silence by the Headmaster’s Dragon Dance.

“Haha! There we go,” Zephyr said as he lowered closer to the ground. “It’s great to see everyone so jazzed, but let’s not get carried away by all our thrills and chills—hmm?” He glanced over the entire class, still unable to wipe the smile from his face. “There’s a lot we need to get done on our first day, and I’m certain my staff would prefer it if we stay on schedule.”

Zephyr’s tail swayed back and forth as he grabbed a large stack of scrolls off the desk. “Those of you who have only recently arrived at the academy—Welcome! I hope everyone who got here early helped you get settled in. Finding your rooms was hopefully simple enough, but I’m sure you were rushed out before being able to unpack! Don’t fret, though. You’ll have plenty of time before lights-out to deal with your belongings!” The Headmaster hovered once again to hand out the rolled up papers with swift ease.

“The ancient castle Red Academy is situated inside creates a fairly large campus, so I understand if you’re feeling a bit intimidated. But, worry not! For the first week of classes, you will be escorted around the grounds at all times. This should give you plenty of time to get familiar with both the castle and your classmates! Just in case, though…” Zephyr placed the final paper on the last of the desks. “My lovely secretary, Miss Adeline, has generously produced maps of the academy for each of you! Please, don’t lose them!”

As everyone checked out their gifted maps, Zephyr flew back to the front of the class. “Just like our Wonderific-Wonder maps while exploring Mystery Dungeons, these maps show your personal location at any given time. If any of you ever form or join a team, then it will display the locations of your partners as well. Pretty neat, right?”

A few Pokémon muttered amongst themselves, one of them being inclined to raise a hand. Zephyr looked over at them, tilting his head curiously. “Yes?”

The whole class was now looking at their fellow student, a Porygon who was shuffling awkwardly thanks to everyone’s stares. “I don’t mean to sound suspicious of your intentions, Headmaster Zephyr—sir. However, there isn’t perhaps a map that shows you or any other member of the staff all our locations… is there?”

“Now, why would you ask something like that…?” Zephyr frowned, then shook his head. “No. As much as it would have some serious security benefits, we value your privacy. I personally trust you all not to be up to anything mischievous in the middle of the night!” The Flygon gave his student a reassuring smile, and that seemed to calm the Porygon enough to get him settled back in his seat. “Any more questions about the maps?”

The silence answered Zephyr’s question perfectly, and so the Headmaster continued on. “As each of you should know, this school prides itself in Mystery Dungeon based education. During your first semester, you will all run through a general studies program to learn the basics of Rescue, Exploration, and Defense. Any good Dungeoneering Team dabbles in all three, but after the first semester, you will all be expected to choose a specialty. Each branch of Mystery Dungeoneering will be taught by a specific instructor, of whom I have personally hand selected, just as I did with you all! Which reminds me…” Zephyr smirked, playing as if he had actually forgotten. “Who’s ready to meet your instructors?”

Obeying her que, the classroom door was swung open by Rosaline. The Gallade smiled at everyone as she made her way to the front of the room, and positioned herself at attention for a heartbeat as everyone’s eyes were on her. “Good morning, children. My name is Captain Rosaline. Those of you who live in or around the capital might know of me already. I’m–”

“Captain of the Royal Guard! The Knights of Silver!” A Charcadet practically leaped out of his seat as the captain spoke. “Rosaline! Ma’am!” He stood next to his desk and gave a salute. “My name is Sabre, Ma’am. I’m Épée’s little brother!”

“Oh?” Rosaline gave the Charcadet a small smile. “Épée is one of my best. I expect great things from you, Sabre.”

Sabre, who was clearly struggling to compose himself, happily saluted at his older brother’s commander before sitting back down. “Thank you, Captain!”

Rosaline resisted her urge to giggle as she turned her head back towards the rest of the class. “I’m going to be your combat instructor, which means all of you will be taught by me no matter which branch you feel inclined towards. It doesn’t matter what you wish to specialize in—you will always need to know how to fight.” The Gallade bowed her head while resting a hand on her chest. “I’ll do everything I can to shape you into your best selves.”

After a short pause, the next instructor made their way into the room. A handful of students gasped as they entered, and there was a faint murmuring over the whole class. The Luxray’s right ear flicked as he picked up on all their rumor spouting and speculation. “Hmm, I see my reputation precedes me. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Yes, you would be correct,” He eyed Melrose specifically—and the Pikachu’s face lit up from being called out so sternly. “My name is Lucien, and I will be your exploration instructor.”

“I knew it!” Melrose burst out despite still being flustered. She turned to Icarus next to her, “Lucien is a Legendary Explorer! He’s the one and only Pokémon to make it to the top of Celestial Summit!” The Pikachu’s voice was hushed, as if she was trying to whisper, though that didn’t stop the entire class from being able to hear her. Icarus gave Melrose an agitated growl, but she paid little mind to it.

“Now please, don’t think of me as a celebrity. At Red Academy, I am merely your teacher.” The explorer’s voice was smooth. Although rather young, he sounded aged by his experience. “I may have accumulated a great deal of fame from my adventures, but I do hope that isn’t the reason you all wish to traverse Mystery Dungeons.”

Before anyone could comment on their personal motivations, the next Pokémon made their way into the room. An elderly Stoutland with graying fur around his muzzle and belly trotted his merry way to the front of the class to join his fellow instructors. Unlike the other two, the Stoutland didn’t create a massive fuss from the students. “Oi you lot, the name’s Bernard. I specialize in Search and Rescue. Bah! I bet you can guess what I’ll be teachin’ then, hmm?” The old timer let out a hearty laugh, which made Zephyr and Rosaline both smile.

“It’s pretty unlikely that any of you have heard of Mr. Bernard, but I can assure you he is just as legendary as your other instructors!” Zephyr’s tail flicked excitedly. “In fact, he saved two novice explorers many, many years ago from a wicked avalanche! The two of them would have surely DIED if the Great Rescuer hadn’t arrived in the nick of time!” The Headmaster pumped his fists excitedly. “It was all over the news back then, you know!”

“Ha! Don’t gas me up too much, kiddo.” Bernard laughed at the Flygon. “I only knew to make my way there ‘cause everyone in town was gossiping aboutta Dragon/Ground and a Grass/Flying type trying to take on Frozen Ascent.”

Zephyr blushed and rubbed the back of his head…

“Still, I’m glad yer ol’ Headmaster asked me to teach you youngsters. I bet each and every one of your bottoms I can show you how important rescue missions are.”

Zephyr composed himself as Bernard finished his introduction, and cleared his throat loudly to get everyone’s attention again. “Last, but not least, we have–”

The final instructor couldn’t wait a second longer. The Pokémon charged into the room with an Aqua Jet, sprinkling the front row of students with a heavy mist. They upstaged the rest of the instructors with the bright glow of the horn atop its head, and he cocked his head up with a smile as everyone’s eyes were now on him. A few students had their jaws dropping to the floor once they had realized who exactly this was. Everyone was star struck, even those among them who wouldn’t usually be caught up in idolizing other Pokémon. The instructor stuck a pose, one that put all of Owin’s to shame. “Greetings, Red Academy!”

“No… way,” Xavian spoke. “Y-you’re the Mythical Pokémon Keldeo! The fourth member of the Swords of Justice!” The Axew spat out.

“Haha! That’s right!” The Keldeo flipped his mane as he adjusted his pose. “My name is D’artagnan! If that’s too much of a mouthful, Keldeo is just fine!” He settled out of his dazzling display. “I will be your Defence teacher. I’m gonna show you all how to stop bad Pokémon like it’s nothing! Hya!” Keldeo kicked the air, almost hitting the very disgruntled Luxray next to him in the face.

Zephyr waited for the students to finish gawking at Keldeo before gesturing towards himself. “Students who can’t decide or don’t wish to specialize will be placed in continued General Studies, with me!” Zephyr beamed brightly at the class. “But, don’t worry about that now. You all have plenty of time to decide, and I won’t be too lonely if I go another year without a General Studies class. Instructors—you’re excused!”

Each of the teachers left the room in an orderly fashion, exiting in reverse order to which they were introduced. Since Rosaline was last, she closed the door on her way out. 

“Now then… onto our next order of business!”

The first day at R.E.D. Academy was typical going forwards. After Headmaster Zephyr finished giving a broad summary of their curriculum, the students were given a tour around campus by both the Headmaster and Adeline. Zephyr’s enthusiasm kept the group engaged, but Adeline helped maintain focus—covering specific locations on the castle grounds that would matter to new students. The smarter Pokémon of the class would be watching their maps as they strolled the facilities, while others continued to chat amongst themselves.

“I don’t know about you guys… but I’m stuffed!” A Minccino held onto her belly as everyone returned to the student common room. “I haven’t eaten like that in… Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten like that! Will every meal at the academy be like that one?”

“The chef easily made enough dinner for twice the amount of Pokémon we have at the facility.” The Porygon stated it as if it was an exaggeration, but had certainly run the calculation for it in his head. “I suspect the rather rotund chef prefers to consume all our leftovers. It’s typical of Snorlax to eat more than what was even served to us.”

“A meal like that makes me sleepy…” The Minccino patted her stomach and giggled. “I’m feeling ever so inclined to hit the hay early.”

“Wait!” Melrose shouted, “you can’t turn in now! We all need to properly introduce ourselves!”

A few members of the group started to complain, but it was a Roselia who would speak above all of them. “I say, that’s a magnificent idea! With all this talking about the school, we've hardly learned a thing about one another.”

Everyone still hesitated, so Melrose ran to the center of their living space and sparked with joy. “I’ll go first, then!” With no complaints loud enough to stop her, Melrose hopped up onto the coffee table to give her introduction. “So! My name is Melrose. I spent my whole life on my Father’s farm, and this is my first real time being in the capital while being old enough to remember!”

A blue Frilish who was floating near the back of the room squinted at the overexcited Pikachu. “Hmph, a farm? How… charming.”

“Not just any ol’ farm!” Melrose’s cheeks sparked. She was already prepared for this sort of reaction thanks to Icarus’s first impression of her, but it still got her fired up. “I’ll have you know I was raised in Happy Apple Farm.”

“Wait, really?” The Minccino tilted her head. “Don’t most explorers get their supply from Happy Apple? That’s some pretty prestigious growers, right there.” Despite Melrose’s credentials, the Frilish still looked unconvinced. So, the Minccino continued. “Pretty sure if it weren’t for farms like that, we wouldn’t be able to supply adequate amounts of food for explorations. Maybe you could learn a thing or two from her?”

With both rodent Pokémon now giving him smug looks, the Frilish turned his head away and crossed his tendrils like arms. “Whatever.”

Since no one was jumping up at the opportunity to go next, Sabre marched over to Melrose and tried to stand proudly. Melrose understood this as him taking his turn, and she jumped off the table to allow him center stage. “You probably all remember my introduction to Captain Roseline–”

“Hmph, how could we not.” The same Frilish grumbled to himself, and Icarus laughed.

“But, like I said before, my name is Sabre. I live just outside of Constella’s walls with my family. We actually all moved when my big brother started his knight training, that way we could still see and support him in person!”

“Aww, that’s so sweet!” Melrose chimed in. “I bet your folks are real proud that you’re in Red Academy!”

Sabre nodded his head. “My mother was thrilled. Épée visited when we got the good news about it—we had a party, and everything.”

Icarus cleared his throat. “If we continue to give personal anecdotes, this is going to take forever.”

“Aww, c’mon you grouch! Where’s all the fun in just saying our names?” Melrose giggled at the Tyrunt, but the Prince kept a very stern look. Sabre was already dejectedly walking away from the middle of the room, obeying Icarus’s notion to get things moving. No longer amused, Melrose shot a dirty look back at the Tyrunt as her cheeks sparked. Icarus just rolled his eyes.

“I suppose I shall take my turn now.” The Frilish didn’t budge from his spot in the room, instead forcing everyone to turn around and face him. The ghostly jellyfish caught their attention by clearing his throat loudly and floating a bit higher up into the air. “I am Duke Neptune Atlantis, of House Atlantis. It’s a pleasure to make some of your acquaintances.”

“I didn’t want to assume, but I thought you might be Lord Odyssey’s son.” Xavian bowed their head towards him. “We met once before, I believe. However, we were both very little.”

“Oh? Then, you must be Lefevre?” Neptune smiled, and for the first time it was fairly genuine. “Your name… I could have sworn that I knew it.”

“It’s Xavian.” The Roselia spoke up. “Haha! Why don’t we make a whole union of us blue-bloods then, hmm?”

Xavian recoiled before giving the Roselia a glare. “F… Florence.” They spoke as if uttering his name would curse them for an eternity.

“Oui? What is it, ma flamme?” The Roselia spun, and bright leaves fluttered around him. “It’s been such a long time since we’ve seen one another, let me flaunt what I know about my beloved! And, whatever happened to your little nickname for me?”

Xavian turned their head away, “Arceus, help me…”

“To everyone else, I am Florence Virion, of House Virion—bien sûr!”

“And, If you haven’t already put it together…” The blushing Axew lifted their face back up. “I’m Xavian Lefevre, of House Lefevre. It’s very nice to meet you all.”

Neptune floated back down closer to the ground. “Ah, but we are missing one beloved Noble of Adstrum, are we not?” He lifted a tentacle to point at Icarus, but was interrupted by a Buizel jumping up onto the table just like Melrose had. The frown on his face grew once more.

“My name is Delta!” The Buizel put her hands beside her body, standing at attention whilst perched atop the furniture. “It’s an honor to be here with you, milords! I will do my best to protect you! That’s a promise!” She gave a salute.

A Flechinder laughed to himself, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. “What are you, like, a member of the army or something?”

“My Father is a part of the Marine division of the army, yes sir!” Her military act faltered a bit as she looked down at the bird Pokémon. “How’d you know that?”

The Flechinder gave her an unamused glance. “Lucky guess.”

Owin, now thrilled by the energy these other Pokémon were bringing, joined Delta by leaping across one of the couches and onto the table. “I am Owin Thunderstrike! Hero of Thunder and Lightning! Defender of all Pokémon! Warrior of FATE!” He lifted an arm up, pointing at the air as his finger tip sparked. “And!” He lowered the same finger to point at a very distressed Axew. Owin smiled brightly, “Xavian is my best friend! I’ve been living at House Lefevre for many moons now!”

Xavian’s face lit up once again, and the Axew completely buried their head into their claws. “Owin…”

Almost everyone in the room was snickering now, and Xavian felt like they were about to die of embarrassment. Even Duke Neptune was snickering at the little dragon’s dismay. The Axew hurried over to the table to pull Owin down harshly, and the Pikachu started to whine.

“What? Whaaat? What did I do?!”

Since Owin’s display fizzled out any chance of someone’s introduction being more embarrassing, the Minccino made her way to the center of the room and waited for Delta to hop down before speaking. However, her voice got caught in her throat once everyone was looking at her. The Pokémon timidly tucked herself behind her tail, clamming up pretty tightly, but relaxed once Melrose gave her a thumbs up.

“H-hi… My name is Ashe. I live here in Constella with my big sister.” She sighed. “I’m really not all that remarkable.”

“I’ll say.” Icarus snorted. Melrose shot him another dirty look, but the Prince completely ignored her this time.

“I would like to go next, if no one has a problem with that.” The Porygon floated over the makeshift stage and hovered above the table the occasional student was choosing to stand on. “Greetings. My designation is FL-1-K3E.” Everyone exchanged awkwards glances before looking back up at the Porygon, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to confuse you all. Most Pokémon who are not from Upsilon Station call me Flick, or Flicky. It’s sort of a play on how my designation looks when you write it down. I can show you all, if that is necessary.”

“I think we get it.” The Fletchinder remarked. “Me next, yeah?” The bird Pokémon flew up and over to where Flick was, but unlike the Normal-Type, he landed on the table. “The name’s Blitz. Since we’ve all been giving little blurbs, I’ll let you all know that I’m from Dust-Devil Valley.”

“Wait–” Melrose jumped up. “That’s not far from where I live!”

“Yeah? West Coast buddies?” The Flechinder’s beak turned to a smile.

“Isn’t Double D Valley, like, super dangerous though?” Ashe mumbled just loud enough for Blitz to hear, and the Flying-Type nodded.

“Oh yeah, it’s super fuc–” His eyes darted to the several nobles in the room. “It’s CRAZY dangerous. Me and my pops don’t care, though. We’re stunt fliers .”

“Whoa… epic…” Owin muttered while being held in one spot by his tail thanks to Xavian.

“Ha, I know. My pops makes it look super easy, but admittedly I still have a bit of trouble flying through all that wind and debris.” He gestured with his wing, motioning as if his feather tips were how he wished he looked soaring through the air.

The room went a little quiet as everyone looked around to see who hadn’t introduced themselves yet. Icarus cleared his throat, and anyone that was in his way cleared out of it quickly. Icarus took his place at the center of the room. Xavian, Florence, Neptune, Sabre and Delta all gave their Prince the show of respect by bowing, and the other other students either watched awkwardly—or were Melrose and Owin.

“Finally, the best for last. Though, I suppose I hardly warrant an introduction.” The Tyrunt tilted his head up towards the ceiling, and the feathers around his neck puffed out in a show of pride. “I am Prince Icarus Drakkenburg II, Heir to our realm—and head of our class.” The regal Pokémon smirked. “Though, do not be fooled into thinking I was merely selected for this duty thanks to my status as your Prince. Just like you all, I submitted an essay to our Headmaster.” The Prince’s tail flicked. “And, he thought it most suitable for me to lead this year’s students.

Neptune smiled. “Well said. Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m sure with you to guide us, this will be the most successful graduating class R.E.D. Academy has seen in years.”

“Agreed!” Florence sang.

As the nobles and miniature soldiers fawned on their Prince, Melrose simply grew agitated again. Why did being around all of these other Pokémon make Icarus act like such… such a…

“Hey, Melrose?” Ashe poked the Pikachu’s shoulder softly. “You okay? I only make faces like that when I have bellyaches.”

“Oh, wha–” Melrose shook the grumpy expression away. “Sorry! I’m fine! Promise.”

“Ah, okay. That’s good…” Ashe smiled softly. “Anyhow, I think I need to go to bed now. Thanks for getting everyone to introduce themselves…” The Minccino looked back at a few of their chatting classmates. “I don’t think I—I mean… we—would have done this unless you forced us to.” Ashe blushed. “Not that—! You were forcing us in a mean way! I just meant–”

Melrose giggled. “It’s okay, I getcha!” She smiled at the Minccino and patted her on the back softly. “Goodnight, Ashe!”

Ashe eased up and smiled back. “Goodnight, Melrose.” The Minccino scurried over to her room and hurried quietly inside of it, going mostly unnoticed by everyone else. Florence was one of the only Pokémon to catch her leaving, and the Roselia waved his rose appendages around to get more eyes on him.

“I need my beauty rest!” Florence chimed. “Goodnight all! And, especially goodnight to the beautiful dragon of House Lefevre!” The Roselia twirled with a spell of Magical Leaf as he danced to his door, laughing jovially as he sealed himself away inside of his room. Xavian sighed.

Owin blinked a few times… “So, uhm, Xav… you know that guy? I’ve never seen him show up at your place before.” Owin looked at the Axew. “He keeps calling you those strange things… and being—weird.”

Xavian sighed, their eyes still on the Roselia’s closed door. “When we were very young, my Father and his Mother played with the idea of uniting our Houses. I suppose Florence never let that idea go.”

“Why would putting your big estates together make him flirt with you?” Owin tilted his head.

“They were to be married, you twit.” Neptune rolled his eyes.

“...Ohhh. Yeah, that makes way more sense.” Owin rubbed the back of his head.

“However, things didn’t quite work out that way. I was never exactly told why.” Xavian shrugged their shoulders dismissively. “Not that I really care. I wasn’t exactly a big fan of the whole arranged marriage idea, and I believe Father didn’t actually have much interest in unifying families. After a while, Lady Virion stopped coming over… and, I stopped having playdates with Florence.”

“He acts mighty romantic for y’all just being childhood friends.” Melrose giggled.

“We played house… a lot.” Xavian let out a tired laugh. 

Melrose held back any comments about how cute that sounded, and steered her commentary in a much more platonic direction. “Well, don’cha miss him at all? Sounds like you both used to be pretty close friends!”

“It would be much nicer to see him if he wasn’t being so…” Xavian made a vague gesture with their claws. “Florence.”

Owin, now being satisfied by that answer, broke off to try and help the new arrivals unpack. Melrose did the same, but most of the group insisted they were fine and slowly started to make their separate ways to their rooms. Xavian sat on the couch with their Pikachu friend, looking more than a little emotionally exhausted. Owin gave them a soft pat on the back and a bright smile, and the Axew eased up and gave their friend a small grin in return.

Melrose watched quietly as Icarus made his own leave, just barely stopping herself from going after him. Melrose wanted to chew him out for being such a jerk, but she also didn’t really want to have a conversation with him at all. Both Xavian and Owin looked over at her, and Xavian lifted their claws out towards her. “Is everything okay, Melrose?”

The Pikachu stayed quiet for a second, not sure if she could really tell Xavian of all Pokémon what was wrong. She worked a smile back onto her face before laughing. “Yep! I just think I need to get used to sharing Icarus now, haha! He’s so popular.”

“Well, he is our Prince.” Xavian smiled. “Not only will everyone want to get on well with him, but he also has to pay careful attention to the way he is perceived.”

Melrose tilted her head. “What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Hmm… I suppose a commoner wouldn’t exactly get it. Okay. So, imagine if everything you said or did made people judge not only just you… but both your farm and your own father.” Xavian watched as Melrose’s face changed once she was given the thought exercise. The Pikachu rubbed her arm and turned away from her classmates. “Nobles have to be very particular about things, and selective about who they spend time with.”

Her emotions suddenly took hold, and Melrose’s face went red as she shot an angry glance at Xavian. “What’s that supposed to mean?!”

Xavian squeaked. “Ah! Pardon! I didn’t mean it like that…” Xavian frowned. “I was only–”

“I’m so tired of y’all looking down on me! Ugh.” Melrose’s cheeks sparked as she hurried over to her room. “I’m going to bed.”

“Melrose, wait!” Owin called after her, but the other Pikachu didn’t stop. It took everything in her not to slam the door. Melrose could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought them back by pulling down her ears in frustration.

Chapter Text

Xander couldn't stop pacing back and forth in front of the police station. The Litten was lost in his own doubts for much longer than anyone reasonably should be, and would second guess himself every time he stopped in front of the door. If any Pokémon happened to look at him—Xander would quickly pretend to be on his merry way, walking to nowhere in particular until he had the chance to swivel back around to the station.

Xander knew he'd have to confess some pretty serious personal information if he wanted any help digging up his past. Discussing one's own amnesia was a distressing enough activity in its own right, but Xander had no idea how the police would react to this type of information. And since Melrose’s classes had started, he was tasked with doing it alone.

With nowhere else to turn, Xander knew his personal quest started with opening that door. If Xander didn't take care of this today, he would just psyche himself out until the end of time. The Litten took a deep breath in—then slowly let it out.

"Alright, here goes nothing," Xander muttered to himself as he finally nudged the door open with a hesitant paw. He slowly made his way inside and met the gaze of Officer Jennifer, who looked up from her paperwork and smiled.

"Ah, Xander. Good morning." The Aranine stopped reading the documents below her and scooted the small stack of papers to the side. "How can I help you today? Everything alright?"

Xander mustered a smile for her as he made his way to the front desk. It was comforting to know Jennifer had remembered his name, and also didn't ask why he was pacing around outside. Xander hoped she just failed to notice him out there. "Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to let you know I got my money back from that Nickit."

"Wait, what?" The Arcanine stood up from her seat, and Xander placed the bag of coins on the desk as proof. Jennifer's eyes widened. "I'd be impressed, but I'm more-so concerned."

"Don't worry, everything turned out fine. The thief snuck in with a few others to steal something from Red Academy. I drove them off with the help of another Pokémon, and the thief dropped the bag after he turned-tail and ran. I've already opened it up and counted—money's all there." That was a half truth, Xander wasn't exactly sure what each coin was worth… so Icarus had to help him count. He would have asked Melrose, or even Gloria, but Xander wasn't exactly sure who he was ready to talk about the encounter with.

Jennifer grabbed the crime log, which Xander recognized from his last visit, and started to write a few things down in a new entry. "Thanks for letting me know, kid. I trust you, but I'll also have to run an investigation on the matter. I especially need to bring this up to R.E.D.'s Headmaster and Captain Rosaline. Thieves like that shouldn't have even been able to sneak so easily onto the property…" Jennifer sighed as she rubbed her forehead with a paw. "This adds a whole new chapter to what was just a little mugging."

Xander's ears flattened against his head. The Litten really didn't want the Headmaster to find out about this, but Xander supposed Zephyr needed to know about a breach in security whether he liked it or not. Xander rubbed the back of his head as he watched Jennifer continue to massage her own scalp.

"Would it be out of line for you to imply Red Academy needs upgraded security?"

Jennifer sighed as she turned her head towards an adjacent wall. "Believe it or not, this same band of thieves were reported to have broken into Castle Drakkenburg itself. As you can imagine, the Castle of His Majesty is guarded pretty tightly. We suspect Team Outlier has methods to get into places undetected…" She huffed to herself. "But, don't worry too much about it. Seems they never actually get away with anything." The Arcanine laughed dryly.

"If you say so…" Xander mumbled while looking up at the officer with a frown.

Jennifer closed the log book before giving Xander a coy look. "But, I can't imagine this sort of thing being what made you look so anxious when entering the station. That's not the only reason you came here, is it?"

To avoid showing how stricken he was by being called out like that, Xander grabbed his money off the counter and placed it back in the satchel Gloria and Remmy lended to him. "Yes, you're right. I just don't know how to talk about it, I guess."

The police officer gave Xander a motherly smile, a strangely soft expression for an officer of the law to be making at him. "I'm all ears if you have something you want to tell me. It's my job to help out folks, after all."

The kind expression on her face helped Xander feel a little better, but the Litten still tucked his head into his chest. The golden necklace around his throat choked him slightly, but Xander didn't care—he just wanted to hide his face away. This was a mistake. I should just leave. There's no way she'll believe me. "Actually, nevermind, I should just–"

"Xander," Jennifer sat back down in her chair. "If you can face a band of thieves, then you can work up the courage to tell me what else is going on. Can't you?"

Xander looked back up at the large Fire-Type, and the both of them briefly connected through eye-contact. The Litten shrunk back into himself. What was it that made talking to Jennifer so intimidating, but not facing that Nickit on his own? Or, what about jumping into action when Melrose was in danger—when they met at Nightshade Grove? Xander performed the same breathing exercise as before, then braced himself for the reveal.

"About a week ago now, I woke up in the middle of a Mystery Dungeon with amnesia." Jennifer's eyes widened, but she stayed quiet—allowing Xander to continue. "A few things came fairly naturally to me, but I don't remember anything about this kingdom… or even myself."

"I see." Jennifer nodded her head succinctly.

"So, when you started to talk about record keeping the other day, it made me think that maybe… there could be records of me somewhere? I haven't told this to many Pokémon, but I really need help. I don't want to keep feeling like a mystery."

Jennifer mulled things over for a second, tracing a claw along her desk. As Xander started to worry that she was doubting him, the Arcanine gave a slow nod. "It certainly isn't impossible, just difficult." Her ear flicked as she stood back up and walked over to one of the cabinets, opening it carefully and grabbing the metal basket with her mouth. She placed the paper filled basin on the desk and skimmed it over, searching for a particular document. "Sorry, give me a second. None of the Magnemite are here right now."

Xander tilted his head to the side. "How come?"

"I sent Percy out to practice patrols, but I can't let him do it on his own quite yet. Ah—here it is." Jennifer pulled out a paper from the middle of the pile. "This is sort of like a permission slip. The two of us will fill this out, then I'll mail it to the Prime Minister. It's necessary to request special business with him."

Xander's stomach tightened. "The Prime Minister? Hold on—it's not that important!"

Jennifer gave the little Pokémon a stern glare coupled by a playful smirk. "Uh, actually, it's a pretty big deal. What if you're an outlaw on the run, who just so happened to get bonked on the head and forget everything?" She held her leer for a few moments, but let up when Xander actually started to tremble. "Sorry, sorry! I was joking! Took that one a bit too far, yeah? Noted."

Xander exhaled slowly. "It's fine…"

"Anyways, important or not, Prime Minister Aster has the biggest collection of records in all Constella. If there's something that shows who you were before you forgot everything out there, it would be in Aster's possession."

"Still, that makes me pretty nervous…"

"I can specify in the letter that the two of us should go through the records together? Aster's a pretty stand out Prime Minister, but I can see why you might be uncomfortable with going alone."

"I'd… like that a lot, actually. Thank you." Xander smiled once again at the Arcanine. She smiled back before starting to fill out the document, and Xander peered over the desk to see if he could read the upside down text. "Anything I need to sign or fill out?"

"Yeah, one sec–" Jennifer used her claw tip dipped in ink to write a few things down and check a few boxes. She then dipped a few of her paw pads into the ink to leave a signature at the bottom of it. "There we go," the Arcanine turned the paper around so that Xander could sign it.

Xander could now get a better look at the document, and tilted his head when seeing what Jennifer had just signed. "Uh, it says that your signature is to confirm I left mine."

"Pfft, yeah. It's fine, I know you're gonna sign it." Jennifer chuckled. "Don't worry about it."

Xander shrugged and dipped his paw in the ink before pressing it down on the paper.

"All set then. I'll write a letter and get this delivered A.S.A.P., okay? And, don't worry about coming to the station. I'll go fetch you when I receive a letter back." Jennifer slid the paper to the other side of the desk and shook her paw so the ink on it would dry and not make a mess. "Can I ask you a few questions about this?"

Xander smiled sheepishly, "I was sort of expecting you to question me already, so go ahead."

"Well, you said you woke up in a Mystery Dungeon. This creates a possibility that you were a wild or corrupted Pokémon… However, if you were a wild Pokémon, you would remember being one. Same goes for if you were civilized before and then twisted by the distortion… so, be honest with me. You don't remember anything at all?"

Xander shook his head no, even if that was technically a lie. He did know one thing about himself, but Xander really wasn't feeling confident enough to share with Officer Jennifer that he was certain he wasn't a Litten. "I don't remember anything about myself before I woke up. It even took me a while to recall my own name."

"Alright then. One more question, just so I can make sure. You woke up in the Mystery Dungeon, and you were alone?" Xander nodded his head this time, and Jennifer clicked her tongue. "Okay, then I'm almost entirely sure you weren't a wild Pokémon. Usually, you have to be snapped out of a feral state like that by another Pokémon who isn't frenzied. Still, that makes you pretty mysterious."

Trying not to mope in front of the police officer, Xander glanced back down at the floor sheepishly. The Litten's eyes were drawn back up to Jennifer when the Arcanine cleared her throat. "Did you need anything else, Xander?"

Xander thought for a second, then shook his head no once again. "That's everything. Thank you… so much."

"Of course." Jennifer smiled, her sharp teeth making such a sweet face slightly frightening. "Have a good day, alright?"

The Litten waved goodbye before making his way out of the station. Despite still not having answers, he felt a huge weight lift off his chest. Finally, some sort of direction he could go—a direct investigation into who he is. However, the anticipation was already killing him. How long would it take for the Prime Minister to get their notice? Would he even help Xander? The short-lived relief was already starting to fade, and a dull headache began taking its place.

As the Litten started aimlessly walking on auto pilot back to the Drowsy Munna, his ear flicked at the sound of someone falling onto the stone road. He turned his head towards the vaguely familiar sounding mischievous laugh, and wasn't too surprised to see it came from Nuzleaf. The Pokémon on the ground was Percy, and the three Magnemite accompanying him helped the Machop back to his feet. Percy growled. "What was that for?!"

"Hmm? I have no idea what you're talking about." The Nuzleaf kept laughing. "You're the one who ran over my extended leg."

Percy balled his hands into fists, and all the Magnemite were giving the sales-Pokémon the stink eye, but none of them did anything otherwise. Xander huffed to himself. What was this guy's problem? Without giving it much thought, Xander crossed the road and stood next to Percy. "You okay?"

"Oh, hey… Xander?" The Machop gave him a sheepish smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. We Machop have really tough skin. It takes more than being tripped to scrape my knees."

The Nuzleaf gave both of them a weird look before rolling his eyes. "Alright, you bozos are cramping the style of my stall. Scram."

"You're the one who tripped a Pokémon right in front of your market stand." Xander's tail lashed. "So, deal with it."

"Pfft, I ain't taking flack from some dumbass kid who got robbed in broad daylight." Nuzleaf laughed.

The fur on the back of Xander's neck spiked out as he started to growl, but Percy interrupted him before he could give Nuzleaf his selection of choice words. "Don't talk to him like that." The Machop placed his hands on his hips. "Or else I'll make this a police matter, good sir!"

"Oh Arceus! No! Anything but that!" Nuzleaf pretended to tremble for a moment, before laughing so hard that he had to lean against his stall. "Kid, you can't arrest me on account of hurtin' your feelings."

Percy pouted and looked down at the ground. "Hmph, you aren't worth my time." He pulled his head back up to look at Xander. "I'm heading back to the station. Don't waste your breath on this guy." The Machop sighed before continuing his walk, all the Magnemite following him.

Xander started to turn away from the laughing jerk, but stopped when he caught a glimpse of what the Pokémon was actually selling. His wares looked… odd, to say the least. They were large, colored disks that glimmered with a strange power. Xander moved closer to the counter to get a better look.

Nuzleaf crossed his arms and raised a brow. "What? You ain't ever seen TMs before?"

Xander stayed quiet for a second, but gave the Nuzleaf a genuine look of curiosity. "That means Technical Machine, right? I…" Xander huffed, his head starting to hurt a little more now. When the Nuzleaf gave him a skeptical look, Xander played it off by waving one of his paws downwards. "Don't be stupid, of course I've seen TMs before."

"Hmph, well then. Can you tell me what they actually do?" Nuzleaf smirked.

"Yes. They teach Pokémon new moves." Xander paused for a second before his tail suddenly stood on end. "Wait, yeah! They can teach Pokémon moves!" Xander hopped up excitedly and placed his paws on the counter. "Do you have any Fire-Type TMs?"

"Pfft. Maybe. But, they aint cheap." The Nuzleaf reached under the stand and took out a box that had red tinted TMs inside. "Nobody has figured out how to make them, not even the bigheads. The only place you can get these bad-boys is inside Mystery Dungeons."

Xander leered at him, "then how did you get your hands on them?"

"Trade secret." Nuzleaf's smirk widened. "Anyhow, I got some pretty good ones. This one is Burning Jealousy, here's Sunny Day, Fire Punch–" Nuzleaf laughed. "You definitely can't learn that one."

"Well… what do you have that I can learn?"

"I ain't ever had a Litten customer before, but my best guess would be–" He dug through the box carefully for a moment. "These two: Will-O-Wisp and Fire Fang. But, you probably already know Fire Fa–"

"I want it. How much?"

Nuzleaf held back a laugh. "You can't be serious. Kid, let me tell you something about TMs. Sensible Pokémon use them to learn moves that aren't a natural part of their Learnset. If you ain't know Fire Fang now, you will soon enough."

Xander's tail lashed again. He didn't want to have to explain himself to this guy. "I don't care. I want it, alright. Just tell me how much it is."

"Fine, whatever. Sixty-five hundred Pokécoins for Fire Fang."

Xander winced upon hearing the price. Nuzleaf was right, that was really expensive. Xander glanced down at his bag. inside was the ten thousand the Headmaster had given him—the money he had only recently recovered. The money meant to secure him a roof over his head. The money he hadn't told Gloria and Remmy that he got back…

Xander sighed. "Thanks, but you were right. I can't afford that right now."

"What the hell? You bust my chops about getting a move you can learn already, then chicken out of buying it?" Nuzleaf leaned closer, and leered down at the Litten below him. The smarmy vendor started to growl, and practically spit in the Litten's face. "Quit wasting my time!"

Xander failed to hold back his hiss. This must have startled Nuzleaf slightly, because the Pokémon suddenly stanced up to engage in combat. Nuzleaf's finger-tips glowed as he readied an attack, but before the Grass-Type could unleash his move—a wave of electrical energy flew at him. Nuzleaf suddenly locked up, only able to occasionally spasm, as a Magnemite rushed over to the scene.

"W-w-what th-the…" Nuzleaf growled through his stiff teeth.

"RELAX, CITIZEN. THE EFFECTS OF THUNDERWAVE WILL WEAR OFF MOMENTARILY." The Magnemite turned down to look at Xander. "STREET FIGHTS IN CONSTELLA ARE STRICTLY ILLEGAL."

"I wasn't going to fight him! I was just on my way–"

"BZZT. I KNOW. WHY DO YOU THINK I PARALYZED HIM AND NOT YOU?" Magnemite looked back at the Nuzleaf. "I AM LETTING YOU OFF WITH A WARNING, BUT DON'T THINK I COULDN'T RECOGNIZE THE MOVE 'THIEF' FROM A BLOCK AWAY."

Nuzleaf grumbled something, but Xander couldn't quite catch it. The Magnemite rolled its singular eye before giving Xander a small nod—which was done by bowing its whole body. "BETTER BE ON YOUR WAY. GOODBYE ONCE AGAIN."

The Magnemite floated away, back towards the direction Percy left, and Xander waved despite it not being able to see him anymore. The Litten stuck his tongue out aggressively at the paralyzed Nuzleaf before returning on his walk back to the inn. I'll just find someone else who sells TMs. Hmph.

"D-don't think you've w-won, Litten." Nuzleaf snarled through his still paralyzed teeth. "All of C-Constella's underground knows you're easy p-p-pickings…" He mustered a laugh. "G-good luck when you ain't got nobody t-to save ya…"

Xander's ears flattened against his head as he picked up the pace, refusing to look back. This guy was obviously full of it.

When Xander made it back to the Drowsy Munna, the inn was even more quiet than usual. The elderly owners could usually be found near the front or in the kitchen, but Gloria and Remmy were nowhere to be found. Xander started to worry, but while he inspected the front desk, the Litten found a "be back soon!" note left by Gloria. Now much less concerned, Xander figured he should start on some of his daily chores before the two of them got back.

As Xander was filling the watering can in the sink, the bell at the front door jingled—signifying that someone had entered the inn. Xander almost splashed himself with water as he got startled by the noise. It was strangely the same reaction he would have as if he was doing something naughty… when he absolutely wasn't. An unfamiliar voice called from the entrance. "Hello? Is anybody there?"

"One moment!" Xander called back. Of course Pokémon he didn't know would waltz in here while the owners were gone. The Litten shut the sink off and brought the watering can with him to the lobby, setting it down on the ground before finally taking a look at the strangers. Staring down at him was a very polite looking Girafarig—and a very grouchy looking Skarmory. The Girafarig smiled, but looked nervous to start making inquiries. Xander sighed quietly to himself; the two of them were at a socially awkward impasse.

The dull headache forming in the back of Xander's head made him much too impatient to continue humoring the stand-still, so the Litten mustered a customer service smile and parked himself behind the front desk. "Can I help you?"

The Girafarig blinked a few times, a blush peppering his face. "Sorry! I tend to overthink these things. I don't want to ask… the wrong way? That probably doesn't make any sense–" He laughed, clearly embarrassed that he confessed that. "My partner and I are looking for a place to stay. This is an inn, yeah?"

For some reason, Xander hadn't yet considered that these were possible tenants to the inn, and the Litten suddenly perked up. "YES–" He cleared his throat and lowered his voice, "Sorry, yes. This is an inn. Welcome to the Drowsy Munna!" Litten shuffled around some documents on the desk, digging around until he located the book the owners kept track of their check-ins. "How long will you and your boyfriend be staying in Constella?"

The Skarmory snapped his head towards Xander while the Girafarig blushed even harder. "O-oh! Uh– We're not–" He was trying to laugh away the awkwardness, but that left him unable to speak. The Skarmory grumbled quietly before stepping up closer to the counter.

"You're mistaken. The two of us aren't romantic partners. We're an Exploration Team."

"Oooh…" Xander rubbed the back of his head. "My mistake. I'm sorry about that. Glad you told me. I might have accidentally booked you both a room with one bed…" Xander laughed at himself, trying not to crumble under the weight of his own embarrassment. "Let's try that again: how many days will the both of you be staying in Constella?"

"Probably four…" The Girafarig finally spoke again. "However, we should only need three nights."

"Sounds good… That will be 350 Pokécoins a night. So…" Xander tried to do the math quickly in his head. "1,050 Pokécoins for a three night stay."

"See!" The Girafarig looked back at his teammate. "I told you this place would be cheaper."

"Yeah, yeah." The Skarmory growled as he started digging through his Treasure Bag for the money.

Xander dipped his claw in the ink bottle, just as he watched Jennifer do. "Can I get your names, please?"

"Mirror," the Girafarig pointed a hoof towards himself, "and Silver–" he said with a smile as he pointed at Skarmory. "Team Reflection!"

Xander nodded his head as he filled out everything in the book, taking his time to make sure he did things just as Gloria and Remmy did. It did make the Litten write pretty slowly though, and Silver gave him an impatient stare after setting down the team's payment. Xander shook the ink off by flailing his paw. "Let me go fetch your key."

The little Fire-Type hurried into the office to locate the room keys, which were all hung up neatly on the wall. It was surely much easier to get the keys off their hooks with telekinetic powers… but Team Reflection was just going to have to be okay with one that was easiest for him to grab. Room 3A? Sure.

Xander maneuvered a desk chair over to the keys, hopping onto it once it was against the wall. The Litten still had to stretch his arms out to snatch room 3A's key, but as he removed it from the hook—one of the rickety chair's legs gave way and snapped. Xander didn't fall far, but it was definitely enough of a tumble to hurt his backside.

After such a loud clamor of broken furniture and falling Pokemon, Mirror called towards the office from the lobby. "Are you alright in there?"

"Y-yeah! Everything is fine!" Xander called back, trying to hide the pain in his voice with a laugh. These are their first guests in ages… I can't screw this up!

Xander hurried back to the front desk despite his aching muscles and placed the key down using his mouth. Mirror was giving him a concerned look, but Xander mostly ignored it "Third room down the hall, on your left. Tug the rope by the door if you need anything." Xander gave them a smile before collecting the money, sliding his arm across the counter to collect it all into his satchel. The Litten had no idea where they kept the inn's earnings, so Xander figured he would just give all the money to Gloria when they got back.

"Thank you so, so much!" Mirror chimed as he started to trot towards the hall. Silver grabbed the key with his beak only moments before his Girafarig teammate tripped over the watering can Xander had left on the floor—spilling water everywhere. "Sorry! Sorry sorry sorry–"

Xander's claws dug into the floor as the fur on his back spiked and his tail lashed. The Litten then took a deep breath in and slowly let it out… for the third time that day. This time, it really didn't help him calm down much. The headache was starting to pound against the back of his skull. "I'll clean it up. Don't worry about it, ha-hah…"

Mirror frowned hard, "B-but…"

"It's his job, Mirror. C'mon, I want to put all this crap down." Silver spoke while the key still hung from his beak. The Girafarig seemed ready to keep pouting about fixing the mess himself, but was shoved by Silver over to their room. Once the both of them were out of sight, Xander growled to himself.

It's not a big deal. Gloria and Remmy will be back soon, anyways. Then, I can just go back to my chores… and the two of them can deal with all the social stuff.

Xander re-dipped his claw in the ink so he could finish writing down the details that needed logged, then shut the book with a huff. He needed to find a towel or something to clean up all the water, but the only towels he knew they had were the nice ones for tenants. Xander's ear twitched—those would have to do.

As Xander hurried along to the back where the laundry room was located, his ear picked up the sound of the room service bell. The Litten scrambled to a halt. Already? What the heck could they need? Xander grumbled as he turned around quickly, trotting to the guests' room and knocking—already prepared with his fake smile. "You call?"

Mirror opened the door. "Yes, sorry… I just had a question. Does the Drowsy Munna have complimentary meals?"

Xander tried to withhold his irritation as he shook his head no. "We have complimentary teas, coffee and biscuits at breakfast time. Other than that, no."

"Oh… okay." Mirror turned back to look at Silver. "We should go make dinner reservations somewhere! I was thinking the restaurant over by–"

Xander tuned Mirror out as he about-faced back towards the end of the hall. Thankfully, there were clean towels (that needed to be properly folded and put away) already awaiting the one-man-staff. Xander grabbed a fresh towel from the pile and carried it along with him to the puddle.

It was easy enough to clean, especially thanks to the inn's hardwood floors not absorbing the liquid. Xander figured the water was clean enough for the plants, so he just squeezed it out back into the watering can. The damp towel and the process of wringing out the water was very uncomfortable on the Fire-Type's paws, though.

As Xander was taking the damp towel back to the laundry room, he could hear the bell ring again. You've GOT to be kidding me. The Litten let out a frustrated huff as he picked up the pace, chucking the dirty towel onto the floor of the laundry room before rushing back down the hall to the guests.

Silver was the one to open the door this time. "The King of Spills drenched his linens with a Max Elixir. Think we could get new sheets?"

"Haha yep! Nooo problem!" Xander sang, but when he turned… the Litten was gritting his teeth. The mental exhaustion was already cumbersome, but the slowly exploding migraine wasn't helping much either. Xander marched his way back to the laundry room and grabbed a fresh set of tacky bedding. It was hard for the little Pokémon to carry it all, especially when his lower back still hurt, but he somehow managed to keep everything piled on his shoulders as he walked back to room 3A. Mirror sheepishly took the new bedsheets from Xander while giving a plethora of apologies, but Xander just kept insisting it was fine.

It was fine.

Freed from room service, Xander grabbed the watering can with his mouth and carefully approached the closest of the potted plants. The Litten took a calming breath before tilting his head enough to sprinkle water on the little tree. There we go… all nice and watered…

Then, the bell chimed once again. Xander growled, yelling out "WHAT–"

This, of course, made the Litten drop the watering can. It hit Xander's front paws and spilled water everywhere once again, including his sensitive fur. Xander lost it—yowling and shrieking with a mix of rage and surprise. The Litten felt his whole body warm with an intense heat, especially his head and chest. Just breathe, just breathe, just breathe–

But, he couldn't. Xander felt extremely angry, irrationally so, and it sent his body into a state of hyperventilation. The room closed in on him, and Xander felt like he was suddenly choking on smoke as everything became dark.

What's happening to me?! Xander's thoughts pounded against his skull like a hammer. There was a sensation of burning in his mouth that, no matter how hard he tried, would not stop. It was as if he was vomiting his guts out, but instead of puke it was searing gas. The Litten's body was shrinking in on itself painfully, a sensation Xander considered to be similar to a star about to combust.

When Mirror peaked around the corner to see what was wrong, all he saw was a blinding ball of fire staring back at him.

Chapter Text

The evening sky above Adstrum was a pleasant shade of burnt orange, and such a lovely sight made Gloria struggle to keep her eyes on the road ahead. The Hypno wandered into a series of colorful daydreams, each of them sweeter than the last: a bakery filled with golden crusted pastries, Combee honeycombs crisp against her teeth, getting sherbert or shaved ice on a hot Autumn day… All with Remmy at her side, of course.

However, her fantasies soon started to sour. Gloria's nose twitched at the choking scent of smoke invading her senses. It took a stern nudge from Remmy to fully snap Gloria back to reality. The old Hypno's eyes fell on a small crowd of Pokémon gawking at something she couldn't quite see, but her husband's trembling told Gloria right away that it was something dreadful.

Remmy hovered speedily around the corner, and Gloria attempted to keep up while also pulling her glasses up over her eyes. The Hypno's aching joints cried at her to stop running, but once she could actually see what was going on—Gloria pushed them even harder.

Inside the Drowsy Munna was a blazing fire. Flames clawed at the glassy windows from within, and the smoke was desperate to escape through the few gaps between the walls. Remmy levitated in place to look on in horror, transfixed on the dancing embers.

"Gloria…" The Musharna's voice was barely above a whisper. He did not have any suggestions, a call to action, or even words to express his distress. The Psychic-Type could only float there, his old heart pounding against his chest.

Gloria turned to her husband and placed a gentle hand on the top of his head. Both Pokémon slowly locked gazes, taking their eyes off of their suffering inn. Remmy could see the light in his wife's eyes– the drive to do what she thought was necessary, and he blinked slowly in response to her growing intensity. The Musharna could hear his spouse's voice in his mind: Xander…

Remmy slowly turned back towards the flashing reds and yellows inside his home, his gut twisting so hard that he needed to lower himself to the ground. He's seen quite a few adolescent Fire-Types causing accidental house burnings. Their young helper could very well be trapped in the frightening blaze.

Gloria took a hurried step towards the building, only to be yanked back by Remmy's Psychic. The couple locked eyes once again. "D-don't… Gloria… What if something happens? You can't just run off–" His plea was interrupted by a series of deep coughs. The smoke was making its way down the street, and Pokémon were starting to disperse at the actual encroaching danger. The fumes invading his lungs made Remmy lose focus on his psychic grip, and Gloria faltered slightly.

"Remus!…" Gloria whimpered, kneeling down by her husband to rest a hand on his face. "You need to get away from here. The smoke…" The Hypno shook her head despairingly before planting a small kiss on Remmy's snout. "But, I can't just do nothing. Not again…" Without a moment to lose, Gloria hurried as fast as her joints could take her towards the inn. Remmy cried out as the elderly Hypno hurried inside, reaching one of his hands out towards her, but he couldn't stop her now.

The Musharna reeled back and held his breath for a moment. He couldn't go after her, but he wasn't going to just sit there and be useless. Remmy needed to go find help. He mustered the energy to float back up into the air and find any Pokémon who could put out this fire.

Meanwhile, Gloria was making a quick assessment of her surroundings. The houseplants, furniture, and hardwood floors were being torn apart by the flames. The Hypno navigated carefully through the ignited lobby, holding a hand over her mouth and nose to protect her lungs from the smoke. "Xander! Dearie! Where are you?" Gloria called, her hoarse voice drowned out by the cackling fire.

An unfamiliar voice called back to her, it was a desperate plea for help.

Gloria focused her mind on the kitchen. The sink, the water… She would need a bucket, those were in the housekeeper's room. Using Psychic, Gloria managed to switch the faucet on and retrieve a bucket through layers of steam and smoke. The Hypno's focus was interrupted by a stray flame snagging her leg fur. As Gloria recoiled, the metal bucket could be heard falling to the floor.

It didn't matter how hard this inferno tried to stop her. After about half a second of recovering, Gloria hurried into the hallway to retrieve the bucket. However, Gloria suddenly stumbled backwards as a sharp pain shot through her head. It disappeared within a moment, but Gloria had to hold herself up against a wall in an attempt to remain steady. The Hypno tucked into her neck fur while taking a series of sharp breaths. It was too piercing for the heat to have done it—Gloria's Forewarn was compelling her to stay far away from that room.

The old Hypno had no time to process such an eerie presence. Pushing herself off the wall, Gloria decided to forget the bucket and rush into where she heard the cry: room 3A. Two Pokémon, a Girafarig and Skarmory, were pressed against the back wall as an intense ball of fire was devouring the beds with its flames. The Girafarig was keeping his Skarmory friend behind him, protecting the Steel-Type from the attack. Something within the flames screeched with fury.

"What do you want… WHAT do you WANT!?"

The voice was disguised by the burning air, but Gloria could still hear him… Xander.

What had sent him into such a fury, Gloria couldn't have possibly known, but such a lovely young Pokémon would never attack guests unprovoked. Gloria dismissed her analysis of the poor boy for now—she had located the source of the flames and needed to extinguish them before it was too late.

A stream of flames shot from Xander's overwhelming fire shield at the two guests cowering against the wall. Skarmory screeched as he shoved the Girafarig out of the way, his metal body getting battered with fire. His friend shrieked, "Silver, no!"

"Grr–" Silver grit his beak tightly as he shook the attack away. The Skarmory growled as his wings started to glow with energy. "I've had enough!"

Gloria recognized a Wing Attack when she saw one, and held her hands outwards towards Silver. "Don't hurt him! He doesn't know what he's doing!" A gleam of light flickered from the Hypno's fingertips, and Silver stopped mid-attack as his body trembled from Gloria's Disable.

Gloria leered at the fireball as she made an attempt to Disable it, but that move in particular didn't work so well when she used it in rapid succession. The toxic fume induced headache wasn't helping her focus much either.

"Wh-what are you–" Girafarig blinked a few times to gather what was happening, assessing that Gloria was only trying to protect her friend. He shook the doubt away before leaping into action, quickly hobbling back in front of his paralyzed friend to push him back up against the wall. He then shot Gloria an uneasy glance. "I was trying to open it earlier, but the window won't budge!"

"Don't fumble with the faulty latch, just smash it!" Gloria shouted as she pointed her hands now at Xander. "There isn't any use in preserving it now!"

Girafarig was hesitant, but another look towards his suffering friend solidified his resolve. He turned around and kicked as hard as he could at the glass, shattering it instantly. The piercing sound caused Xander to recoil and cover his ears with his paws, halting the violent fire. Girafarig took advantage of the limited peace to shove his partner out the broken window, forcing the struggling Skarmory to escape whether he liked it or not. "Come on!" Girafarig beckoned Gloria towards him with a swing of his head, "We need to get out of here!"

"I'm not leaving my Drowsy Munna." Gloria coughed on some smoke. "This Overheat will leave him weakened soon. Then, I can splash his body with water, and the flames will end."

The Girafarig turned back towards Xander, "O-overheat? No way…" He muttered as he took a shaky step back, but was met only with the wall. "It couldn't be–!"

Gloria didn't care about what was or was not possible, only that she knew what to do to make Xander stop. The blazing Fire-Type was taking threatening steps in Girafarig's direction, and Gloria waved her arms towards the hole in her wall. "Just get out of here! Join your friend outside—I can handle this."

"Not a chance! An explorer never leaves another Pokémon behin—WHOA!" Girafarig had to duck as a small burst of fire came his way. In a panic, he ran over to Gloria through the incinerating room. "Just tell me what I need to do!"

Gloria hesitated. The last thing she wanted was an extra Pokémon to be in danger, but such a spry young Girafarig could be great help. "Alright, fine! Quickly fill the bucket laying on the ground out there with water. I'm going to distract Litten, and you're going to dunk all that water on him! Got it?"

The Giraffe Pokémon gave her a short nod before hurrying out of the room, dancing around the spreading fire. His slick black tail gave Gloria a worried frown as the Psychic-Type fled towards the kitchen. Gloria turned back towards Xander, whose Overheat was already dying out— Thank goodness.

Gloria wasn't scared. Well actually, she was terrified—but not of Xander. She wanted to hold him, to somehow smother the fire out in her arms, but Gloria fought back her emotions as she slowly approached the little Litten. "Xander, dearie… can you hear me?"

The ferocious flames turned towards her, the flickering embers disguising Xander's real eyes. That sharp pain burst through Gloria's mind as the two Pokémon made eye contact. The elderly Hypno held onto her head while desperately recovering her bearings. However, all that hyperventilating was escalating Gloria's smoke intake. "Listen to me, sweetheart… you need to take a deep breath–"

"NO!" Xander roared. " SHUT UP! IT DOESN'T WORK!"

Xander snarled as even more fire surged out from his hardly visible mouth and nostrils. Flames caught onto the fur of Gloria's left shoulder and started to singe her flesh, and the Hypno gasped in pain as she grabbed the injury—frantically attempting to pat out the fire.

One hand gripping her shoulder and the other at her scalp, Gloria still shuffled closer to Xander. The Hypno released her head and twirled her fingers, using a thumb to pull off one of her rings—this specific ring actually being her hypnotizer. If Disable wasn't going to work, Hypnosis had to. "Shh… It's okay, Xander…"

As Gloria started to swing the metal piece back and forth, Xander's growling came to a short pause. The Litten's eyes fixated on the hypnotizer. He tried to pull away, but couldn't, and the flames clinging to his body started to slow. Gloria smiled. "That's right, easy now… Shh…" The Hypno muttered before coughing. She was running out of time.

Xander's fixation on the metal washer didn't last much longer. The flames erupted once again, and Gloria had to squint at the blinding light. Lord Arceus above, why isn't it working? He should be falling asleep! Wait—Unless…

Gloria's body finally collapsed in on itself, forcing her to kneel on the floor. She could no longer efficiently get oxygen to her aching lungs, but a smile was still her face as she hacked up smoke and flem. She could only be thankful a fire like this didn't happen while Remmy was in the building. Gloria knew she would be okay—she had to be. But Remmy… his cough…

The fading fires allowed Gloria to look up at Xander as he was closing in on her, but the Hypno shut her eyes. Gloria's old bones couldn't fight away the encroaching unconsciousness, and she braced herself for Xander's fiery assault.

But, it never came.

SPLOOOOSH—SSSsss…

Suddenly, it was not smoke, but steam that was filling the room. A bucket of water had been dumped on the blazing fireball just in time, and Xander appeared to be knocked out cold. The Girafarig looked on in utter dismay at the thought that he might have taken too long, but Gloria's eyes slowly flickered back open.

"G-good job… young ‘mon…"

A loud Roar echoed through the Drowsy Munna, accompanied by the sound of vaporizing water. The two floor-bound Pokémon and Girafarig were soon joined by a large Arcanine and a vest-wearing Wartortle. "Hurricane! Get those two on my back!"

"Right! Yes, ma'am!" The Wartortle called as she swiftly helped Gloria to her feet. "We'll get you out of here, just hang tight—okay?"

The Hypno could only nod weakly as she was helped onto the police officer. Her gaze didn't leave the limp Litten on the ground, feeling as though she had failed him somehow. Hurricane grabbed Xander and handed him off to Gloria, "he's safe to touch. Keep him close!"

That was one thing Gloria knew she could do. The Hypno practically smothered the unconscious Fire-Type with her neck fur.

"I'll keep the path clear!" Hurricane rushed back out of the room to immediately start spraying the furnishings with Water Gun.

The police Arcanine looked down at Girafarig. "Stay close! You'll be safe with me!"

The small group carefully escaped the burning building, navigating around lingering flames and smoldering ash. Once they were in the clear, the Girafarig hurried to where he saw his Skarmory friend—while Remmy rushed over to his wife.

"Gloria!"

"I'm alright…" The old Hypno croaked. Her eyes were still on the young Pokémon she was holding. The Arcanine kneeled so Gloria could carefully slide off her back, and Remmy used Psychic to float her and Xander down gently. Once the Musharna got a good look at the condition Xander was in, he audibly gasped and hovered closer.

"What on Earth happened?" Remmy mumbled.

"I'll tell you what happened. " The Skarmory snarled, approaching the group with an accusatory wing. "That clerk of yours nearly killed us!"

"Silver, please…" The Girafarig pouted. "He was distressed. I could sense it… and I should have told you–"

"That's no excuse to light everything in his path ablaze!" Silver squawked. "I want my money back!"

Girafarig frowned at his partner, and even the Psychic-Type's tail grimaced at Silver. "Okay, you need to calm down. These Pokémon are experiencing a fire in their place of business, and all you can think about is getting a refund?"

"Don't you get snappy at me, Mirror!"

As the two other Pokémon bickered, Gloria gave her husband a worried glance. The Hypno whispered to avoid the other Pokémon overhearing. "I think he was having a bad daydream again. That glazed look in his eyes… the loss of all sense… It's the only possibility for a Pokémon like Xander to do something like this."

Remmy glanced over at the smoke and steam expelling from the door and windows, before turning back to his wife. "Are you sure?"

She nodded slowly, before revealing her hypnotizer clutched tightly in her hand. "You can't put an already sleeping Pokémon to sleep."

"Jennifer, ma'am. We've taken care of the active fires." The Wartortle from before approached the group. "The smoke should clear out in a few hours… but I recommend booking a stay somewhere else for the night."

Remmy sighed tiredly. "Ironic…"

"Only the room, parts of the hall, and the entrance seem to have been mangled by the flames. Thankfully, there aren't any structural problems or major damages to the walls. I hope you don't mind me asking, but how did something like this even happen?"

Gloria didn't even hesitate, glancing back at the arguing strangers before blinking slowly at Wartortle. "Just the old case of a Pokémon learning their first Fire-Type move. Stray Ember must've startled him into producing more Embers. I'm sure you know how it is."

Remmy then added, "poor little guy must've tried to put it out himself—considering his fur is drenched."

Jennifer looked down at Xander, not entirely convinced by the old couple's story. It did seem to appease Wartortle, though. "I'm sure you know what that's like, Officer." The turtle Pokémon remarked as she looked up at the Arcanine in charge.

Jennifer gave a nervous glance back at the smoking building before looking back down at the extinguished Litten in Gloria's arms. "Yeah…"

"Well, with all the fires put out and everyone safe, that's my que to split." Hurricane gave the chief of police a polite bow before making her way through the remaining crowd. "Get a move on! Return home! The disaster is over!" She shouted while waving her arms.

Everyone dispersing finally drew Silver and Mirror's attention away from each other. Mirror gave Silver a huff as he hurried back over to Gloria's side. "It's our fault for overwhelming him. Please, let me help in any way I can.

Gloria gave the Girafarig a kind smile. "Don't worry too much about it, sweetheart…" She looked back down at Xander, the frown returning to her withered face. "It's just a family emergency… We'll figure it out. We always do."

Mirror shook his head. "We're Team Reflection, and I'm its leader. I couldn't live with myself if we left you both to deal with the aftermath."

"An Exploration team, ey?" Jennifer finally tore her eyes off of Xander. "Can I trust you both to watch over these three for the rest of the evening, then?"

"Of course! Just leave it to us, Officer!" Mirror chimed as his tail chattered its teeth in agreement. "I'll escort them to the nearest inn!"

Silver huffed as he wearily approached the group. "How do you expect to pay for another three-night stay somewhere else… when we specifically came here for something cheaper and you don't want our money back?"

This time, Mirror couldn't think of anything to say. Arcanine gave the nasty Skarmory a huff. "I'll go with you and provide the rooms, so don't even worry about spending a single coin."

Gloria could feel tears start to form, but a quick sniffle pulled them back. "Thank you so much, Miss Jennifer…"

"Don't thank me," Jennifer gave Gloria a soft smile. "It's my job, after all."

Remmy lifted his wife back onto Jennifer's back with Psychic before floating up and settling himself on the Arcanine alongside her. Gloria was carefully brushing soot and ash out of Xander's fur as the group of them started making their way down the street. After a while, Gloria stopped grooming the Litten to fidget with the carrier bag she had recently gifted him. It was hardly a satchel anymore in its flame-torn state, but she still took it off his limp body to see if the contents inside had survived.

It was almost entirely Pokécoins. The small bits of metal were hot to the touch, but they didn't hurt to hold. The cold water must've returned them to a more manageable temperature. Gloria tried to do a quick count, but her aged brain mixed with the fatigue made it difficult. Ten one-hundred value coins… one fifty value coin… That added up to three nights, or at least Gloria was pretty sure it did, so she assumed this must have been the money Mirror and Silver had paid for their room.

The only other thing inside was a small pouch, and when Gloria grabbed it—she could tell immediately that this also held money. She opened it to check on its contents, and wasn't surprised to see the coins inside… but was surprised to see that each one was a one-hundred value coin. "Why, this…"

"What is it, dear?" Remmy asked while tilting his head. "Something the matter?"

"This is… ten thousand Pokécoins."

Chapter Text

Lune rested his head atop one of the few dirty Autumn Leaf tables that Chamomile had yet to wipe down. Sure, the café had plenty of clean space to offer, but the sticky residue of spilt tea and pastry crumbs provided the perfect spot to sulk.

A verbal lashing from the Boss was a guaranteed Sucker Punch to the ego, but Lune was already feeling like a massive idiot for returning the stolen coins. The Nickit cursed Giratina for compelling him to do such a thing, but in his heart Lune knew this was no act of devilish intervention. For the first time in his life, Lune had rested his eyes on the Prince.

Lune's ears fell back against his head. What did the boss want with Prince Icarus, anyways? Team Outlier C was always left out of everything—brought along to do the dirty work and nothing else. They were the organization's dedicated scape-Gogoats.

No. Lune was the organization's dedicated scape-Gogoat.

Camomile assured Lune the foul play was a side effect of being Team Outlier's freshest meat, but Spike and Jessie never had any stories about being ditched at the first sign of trouble. There was something different about the way they treated Lune, like during the Castle Drakkenburg break-in…

The idea of kidnapping a Prince sounded like such a grandiose adventure to a street urchin like him. All three of Outlier's teams were in on the assignment, and warping everyone into the castle was surprisingly a breeze. But when all the guards started piling into the hall, the entire team was teleported back out of the castle. Everyone, except for…

"Lune," Chamomile's voice broke through the Nickit's train of thought. "Quit looking like such a sad sap. You're ruining the atmosphere." The still Audino-disguised Zoroark sauntered over to the brooding bandit to pick up some of the dirty dishes on the table in front of him. "Whatever the Boss said to you couldn't possibly justify this level of patheticness."

"Why are you still under your illusion?" Lune deflected. "Shop's closed. There's no point."

"Eh, I like cleaning up like this. Makes me feel like a cute little waitress closing up shop instead of a wanted outlaw with a bounty on her head. Playing pretend is fun, you should try it sometime." Chamomile giggled as she stacked the cups one on top of another. The illusion's puffy white tail swished happily as she walked back towards the kitchen.

"What, like roleplaying? No thanks." Lune laughed dryly. "All that wishing I was somebody else can stay in my head, where it belongs."

Chamomile walked back into the dining area to pick up more dishware. "Think of it less like roleplaying and more like… acting! Putting on a show!" Chamomile smiled to herself. "When I was little, I always wanted to be in plays. Musicals, even. My mom told me only Zorua with pretty little voices could be actresses." The disguised Zoroark growled. "That bitch."

"I mean, your voice is a little gruff," Lune picked his head back up off the table. "But, that doesn't mean it's not pretty. I'm sure you could still perform if you wanted to." The Nickit smirked, gesturing outward with a paw. "C'mon, why not give me your best musical number?"

"It's a little awkward when you put me on the spot like that. Hmm, maybe a different character would have an easier time with your attention?" The disguise flickered for a second, and Chamomile looked down at her Primarina illusion. "Hmm, nah, too gaudy. Something else…" The illusion flickered again, and this time—Chamomile appeared before Lune as a Salazzle. She slid her faux claws down the sides of her body and smirked. "Ooh, yes. Much better."

"Dammit, Chamomile…" Lune grumbled with a sultry smile. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry," the illusory Salazzle giggled into her hand. "I totally forgot you have an affinity for reptile Pokémon."

Lune gave her a coy look. He knew damn well that she didn't forget. The two stared at each other teasingly for a few moments before breaking into laughter.

"Still want me to sing?" The disguised Zoroark cooed.

"Of course, show the audience what you've got." Lune said with a smile. "Can't be any worse than what they've been broadcasting to noise boxes these days."

"Lune!" Chamomile pretended to be horrified. "It's like you WANT to get in trouble with the Boss!"

Lune let out a hearty laugh. "Just sing already, for Arceus's sake!"

Chamomile rolled her eyes playfully, warming up her voice with a few hums before starting to sing. It wasn't an original number, but it would be pretty ridiculous for Lune to expect the Zoroark to come up with something on the spot. The fake Salazzle did an impromptu dance performance as she sang, moving her body in a way that Lune tried not to stare at for too long. He knew this was the exact reaction the Zoroark wanted from him, and the Nickit just shook his head in a pretend disbelief. Though even without the display, her voice was very lovely.

"Let us join together, so that we may sing,

Up above–to the stars in the sky.

Of our King, Holy Sun. To our Queen, Blessed Moon.

Voices Loud—So they may hear our cry."

Despite the way Chamomile was moving, the lyrics were telling a very different story. This was an ancient song, a number that Lune could remember well even though he was certain he hadn't heard it in ages. Lune wondered why Chamomile chose a song like this, especially considering how much it contrasted with her dance.

Still, it wasn’t too unlike one of those poems scholars picked apart endlessly for no real reason. Like yeah, sure, the lyrics could have some super secret subtext that once unveiled could shake the way everyone perceives the world—or, it's just a pretty, albeit cheesy, song about Adstrum and Stars.

"Pray with me, Pray for Love,

The home in our hearts—the stars in the sky.

May the All Mother come to us,

Help our King, Dying Sun. And our Queen, Shrieking Moon.

From the Past. Hear our cries,

To the stars in the sky."

The illusion slowly approached Lune and carefully ran a soft claw along the back of the Nickit's ear. Lune's breath hitched and he blushed slightly, unable to help fluttering his eyes closed from the attention. Before Chamomile could go too far with her teasing, Lune huffed loudly and pulled away.

"Alright, alright, alright. When I requested a performance, I didn't think it would come with the caveat of you flirting with me." Lune waved his paw in an attempt to dismiss her. "You've had your fun, Chamomile. Stop with the torture."

"Aww, but I've hardly started." The Salazzle illusion stuck out her tongue, but Lune refused to look at it. Chamomile sighed—and resigned herself back to her usual, Zoroark self. "You're no fun." She said with a soft giggle.

Lune shot her a look. "See, that. That was definitely roleplaying."

After a moment or two of quiet, the both of them shared another laugh. "You want me so bad, it makes you look stupid." Chamomile punched Lune gently on the shoulder.

"Pfft. You wish. Got some sort of thing for Pokémon you can cradle in your arms like a baby?" The Nickit said with a satisfied smirk. "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but twenty-four year olds can't be milfs."

Chamomile laughed harder– "Oh shut up , Lune!"

The two delinquents were interrupted by the sound of the secret entrance sliding open. A Lucario walked out of the basement with his jet-black Greninja companion, re-sealing the hidden door once they were both in the café. "Evening, Cammy."

Lune's amusement came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Team Outlier A. The Nickit pulled his hood over his head to avoid having to look at either of them.

"Damios." Camilla nodded in greeting. "Where the hell are you two going?"

"The Boss is frustrated," Damios gave a knowing glance towards the hiding Nickit, returning his gaze to Chamomile before continuing. "Kioshi and I have been assigned to take on a couple Outlaw Contracts—some easy work to get money for team Outlier." The Greninja beside him gave a short, silent nod. "Want to come with us? I'm sure someone else could make themselves useful and clean up the Autumn Leaf in your stead."

"Eh, thanks but no thanks." The Zoroark turned away as she started to pick up more leftover plates and teacups. "I'd just slow you both down. Plus, I don't really like taking missions anymore."

"Eh, suit yourself." The Lucario shook his head disapprovingly. "It's hard to watch you waste yourself like this, Cam. You're a skilled assassin, not a dishwasher."

Chamomile growled this time, "Okay—First off, you ain't got a single right in this Arceus forsaken world to tell me who I am. Second of all, if Boss needed me to go on missions—he would send me on some. Right now? I ain't leaving this café if I don't want to." The Zoroark hastily marched to the kitchen to cut the conversation short, but Damios didn't leave. The Lucario crossed his arms over his chest and watched the Zoroark work.

"I just call it like I see it, Chamomile. You have serious potential to be promoted, and instead you act out your little Audino fantasy all day—every day."

Lune huffed and finally looked up at Damios, his eyes darkened by the hood. "Just piss off already, won't you? Chamomile said no, and very clearly wants you to shut the fuck up."

"Oh? Kioshi? Did you hear something?" The Lucario looked at his Greninja teammate, who was snickering into his webbed hand. "Perhaps a lowly wild Pokémon has made its way into the café. Chamomile better get an exterminator to take care of it." Damios's eyes gleamed as he turned to look at Lune, his smug smirk making Lune's tail lash.

However, Lune quickly eased up—a smirk of his own forming on the Nickit's muzzle. "Talk down to me all you want, Damios. Whatever helps heal the blue-balls you get whenever you talk to Chamomile." Lune's grin widened. "Poor, poor Damios."

The Lucario's smirk turned into a scowl as a large bone made of energy materialized in his right paw. He swung it next to Lune's head, only barely not hitting the Nickit with it.

"How dare you talk to me like that! You better apologize, Lockheart, or else Chamomile will have more than pastry crumbs and tea stains to scrub off the tables."

Lune's smirk didn't falter, and the Nickit rubbed a paw under his chin. "Don't threaten me with a good time, hot-stuff." Damios growled at him, and the Bone Rush disappeared as the Lucario scoffed. Lune took a moment to quietly celebrate his agitation tactics, but doing so lowered the Nickit's guard—leaving him defenseless against the Lucario suddenly grabbing him and tossing him to the floor. The fox Pokémon yelped in pain, trembling slightly once Damios was standing over him.

"You're lucky I have places to be." Damios snarled as he pointed a paw down at Lune. He stood up straight and turned to the silent Greninja behind him. "Come on, Kioshi. Let's go. " Damios gave one final glare in Lune's direction before storming out of the Autumn Leaf. He didn't even wait for Kioshi to follow, but once the Greninja lifted the ninja mask over his face—he was quick to join his teammate outside. Lune watched their shadows leap up onto the rooftops of Constella.

"Shit–" Chamomile hurried back into the dining area and kneeled by Lune's side. "You okay, Lune?" The Zoroark asked as she carefully helped the little Nickit to his feet.

"Pssh, yeah. I'm fine." Lune's stomach was twisted in knots from the sudden attack, but it was nothing he couldn't recover from. The Nickit could feel Chamomile's worried glance burrowing into him now, but he mumbled one more "I'm fine," before hopping back up into his seat. "Damios just has some seriously unchecked anger issues." Lune said with a laugh.

"Well, I did hear what you said, you're lucky I didn't attack you too." The Zoroark chuckled softly. "But, thanks. For standing up for me, I mean. I don't know what's gotten into him. Damios used to be a pretty cool Pokémon…"

As Chamomile lamented, she approached the table Lune was sitting at with a cleaning rag. Once the Zoroark started wiping it down, her eyes widened at the sight of a pretty nasty looking bruise right below Lune's fur. "Ugh, idiot. You aren't fine. Give me a second, I'll be right back."

Before Lune could object, the Zoroark hopped behind the counter and started mixing a drink. It took her a minute or two, but soon Chamomile was walking back to the half-clean table with a small, iced cup of tea. Lune looked up at her quizzically, but the Dark-Type rolled her eyes and mumbled "Oran Berry" before continuing to wash the table.

"Oh, thanks." Lune sighed as he looked down at the beverage brought to him. Truth was… Lune really didn't like the taste of Oran berries, which was really inconvenient when it was the world's most common natural medicine. Still, Lune drank it knowing it would put Chamomile's worries to ease.

Eugh. Still tastes like sugary syrup being regurgitated straight into my mouth.

Lune wasn't even half finished with the tea by the time Chamomile was done cleaning up the shop. She shot him a mildly agitated look as she sat down with him, but didn't comment on it otherwise. Instead, the Zoroark sat in silence for a few seconds before letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"Pfft. What?" Lunes asked as he cocked his head to one side. "What is it, Drama Queen?"

"Ha. Nothing, really. One just needs to let out a big ol' sigh every once in a while, know what I mean?"

Lune didn't answer with words. Instead, the Nickit took in a big breath and let out an even larger, more exaggerated sigh than Chamomile's. The Dark-Type Pokémon laughed together, and, once the humor dissipated, sat in silence together. Chamomile drank the rest of Lune's iced tea, and the Nickit let her. He wasn’t going to finish it, anyway.

After a few minutes of both foxes enjoying each other's quiet company, Lune stood up and started to walk towards the secret base. "I'm going to try and get some sleep."

"Hmm, alright Lune." Chamomile looked over at him. "Actually, before you turn in… I have a question."

The Nickit turned his head back. "Yeah? What is it?"

The Zoroark rested her head on top of her hand, her face not revealing any of her emotions. "Lune, you didn't just accidentally drop those Pokécoins, did you?"

Lune stared at Chamomile for a few seconds, shell shocked that he was pulled back into that train of thought. The Nickit blinked slowly—then turned his head towards the bookcase, his tail twitching back and forth.

"Goodnight, Chamomile." Was all Lune said before slipping into the dark basement.

Icarus gazed upon the half lit moon just beyond his window. Its reflective silver was illuminating the garden below—the very garden Icarus was sneaking around in with Melrose the night they had met. Alone in his room with no other student to judge him, Icarus let his eyes cloud over with worry. "What on Earth was Aster doing here? What the hell was he talking about with Captain Rosaline?…" The Prince kept grumbling quietly to himself, his belly tightening with each passing hypothetical.

The Tyrunt strolled slowly back to his desk and frowned at the letter addressed to his father, barely written and with claw-writing that was hardly up to snuff. What he had already written was complete hogwash, and the little Prince could handle looking at it no longer. Icarus's body shook as he snatched the parchment up into his hands and started tearing it apart. The little Prince let the scraps of his unfinished letter fall to the ground. He hissed down at the ripped up paper, " Why is it so hard to talk to you!?"

In a snarling fit, Icarus left the mess on his floor and stormed to his bed, collapsing into the velvety sheets and screeching into his pillow. It was very likely the others nearby could hear his tantrum, but the emotions at play hardly left room for Icarus to care. Let them hear it! Let them know that I struggle to address the King of all Adstrum, even when He is my own Father!

After a good scream and a half, Icarus sat back up in his bed and grabbed the Dialga plush beside him—propping it up in a sitting position and looking down at it. "Perhaps you can help me with my predicament. Tell me if this sounds stupid… ahem ."

"Dear Father,

The semester has only just begun and I already have so much to tell you. Ugh, no it should be 'so much to report…' that sounds much better. Okay… I already have so much to report. For starters, I have adjusted quite well to academy life. However, a great few details have failed to meet my expectations."

The Tyrunt blinked a few times as he stared down at the felted fabrication of the temporal dragon.

 "Should I even mention all that crap about the late staff and Headmaster Zephyr? What if Father removes me from school?" Icarus whimpered and held his big head the best he could in his claws. "Father said he learned about exploration when he was my age… I don't want to ruin my chance to do the same! Maybe that means I simply have to let him know things aren't to our standards? Grr!" Icarus gripped harder at his tough scales. "And, how in Arceus's name do I tell him I saw Prime Minister Aster skulking around in the academy gardens?!"

Icarus looked back down at the unmoving, unblinking, unthinking plush toy.

"…Ugh. What's wrong with me…?" The Tyrunt sighed sadly as he lifted the little Dialga up and held it in his arms. "I'm talking to a bloody doll…"

A knock at the Prince's door startled him into a yelp, and the Tyrunt quickly buried the plush toy under his blankets before marching over to answer. Icarus peaked through a small crack before opening the door all the way. "Lefevre? What in blazes are you doing awake at this hour?"

The Axew stirred nervously. "Apologies, Your Majesty. I… couldn't sleep." They were looking up at him with tired eyes, and Icarus could evaluate fairly quickly that this was no lie. "Forgive my disturbance, I just thought I heard you… and you sounded distressed."

The Tyrunt's blush of embarrassment was thankfully hidden by the surrounding darkness of the hall, but Icarus still couldn't help feeling like a fool. A few lies crossed his mind, but none of them sounded like reasonable excuses for the outburst. Instead, Prince Icarus resigned himself to the truth with a sigh. "I'm trying to write a letter to my Father. It isn't going as easily as I'd hoped."

"Oh… I see. I'm dreadfully sorry…" Xavian looked down at the floor, then back up at Icarus with a slight brightness to their eyes. "P-perhaps I could be of some assistance? I like to think I'm awfully good at prose!"

"No—!" Icarus was quick to shut Xavian down, but felt a little guilty once the Axew shrunk into themself. "I mean… No, no thank you. I both can and should handle this task myself. I do appreciate the offer. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful."

"You didn't, sire." Xavian gave a weak smile before bowing. "If I'm not of any use to you, then I shall head back to my quarters and attempt to sleep."

"Wait–" Icarus reached towards the Axew as they turned to leave. "Is… something ailing you?"

"…Your concern is quite the blessing, but it's nothing that can be pinned down to specifics. Perhaps I am just anxious over the school year starting? Hah, yes, yes… That must be it." The way the Axew turned to look at the floor and rub the back of their head, this time Icarus knew the truth was being kept from him.

The Prince didn't probe further. Instead, he simply kept looking down at the other Dragon-Type with skepticism. Xavian faltered once they glanced back up at the Prince. "It's… well… I believe I may have accidentally upset Melrose. I couldn't apologize properly before she stormed off…"

Icarus looked over at the Pikachu's closed door before glancing back down at Xavian. "May I ask what happened?"

"It really isn't anything you should concern yourself with." The Axew answered quickly. "I'm sure it will no longer be a big deal in the morning. I really should be off to bed." They bowed once again towards Icarus and scampered back into their room. Icarus watched as the Axew hastily closed the door, and he couldn't help staring for a few moments before retreating back to his own quarters.

That was… Odd. Icarus snorted as he sat back down at his desk and prepared a new sheet of parchment. Perhaps I will investigate that ordeal in the morning. For now…

Icarus dipped his claw into the black ink and started to carefully draft a new message to the King.

"Dear Father," Icarus narrated to himself as he wrote. "The semester has only just begun, and I already have much to report. I have adjusted quite well to academy life, and find myself enjoying the company of the other students." The Tyrunt smiled to himself, finding it easier to write once he thought about his classmates. "I wasn't quite expecting such a variety in Pokémon. A great many of them aren't even from the capital. Still though, I am accompanied by three budding Lords: one of House Lefevre, House Virion, and House Atlantis. Most of the students are a bit younger than me, and their maturity reflects this, but I've never met so many Pokémon that are all so…" Icarus thought on the word for a second, but he nodded his head contently when the perfect word came to mind.

"Incomparable."

Chapter Text

There was nothing below him, nothing above him, and nothing around him. Any effort spent to twitch his claws or lash his tail proved fruitless, as he couldn't even feel the world around him—let alone the very body he existed in.

All this darkness. Are my eyes closed, or is there just nothing to see? What's wrong with my… head…? And my body, it's… heavy. I feel like my lungs are being… crushed. What is this? Why can't I move…? Why can't I…

There was a vast echo around him every time the Pokémon thought. It was as if he was suspended in water, and his internal monologue was calling to him—compelling him to sink deeper.

Am I… dying? Is this what dying feels like? I can't die—I'd be letting so many Pokémon down if I did. But, I'm so cold. And, I can't do anything. Am I even breathing? If this isn't dying, then what else could it even be—?

An impish voice called from beyond the silence, piercing through the echo of his thoughts. "Relax… Focus your mind."

Huh?

But, there was nothing. There was no one. Still, it continued to speak.

"Do you remember anything? Anything at all?"

Remember? I—What are you talking about? Of course I remember. I remember today. I went to the police station to talk to Officer Jennifer. She's going to help me contact the Prime Minister. I think his name is Aster? She said he might have records about who I am.

"Oh! So, you do remember!” The voice became very cheerful, “that's wonderful! Do you, perhaps, remember anything else—things about your day?"

Well, yeah. After that I saw Percy getting harassed by that Nuzleaf guy. I went over to see if he was okay…

A tingling sensation was forming in his toes and tail-tip, similar to that feeling one gets as your limbs are about to fall asleep. The static began to crawl through the Pokémon's body.

He's a real piece of work, that Nuzleaf. I'm never going to ask to buy TMs from him again. After we almost got into a fight, and Magnemite broke us up, I made my way back to the Drowsy Munna. Gloria and Remmy weren't there… But, I found a note that said they would be right back. I figured I would get a start on my chores…

A deep breath returned to his chest.

Then, those Pokémon showed up—the Exploration Team. Team Reflection, I think? They kept needing my attention, so I—I got mad and–

His heartbeat quickened. Full feeling had returned to the Pokémon's body, but opening his eyes revealed that his form was glowing with a brilliant light. Despite it still being an empty void, Xander could suddenly feel ground below him.

I was going to keep helping them, even if it hurt!

"So, you remember getting angry at these Pokémon, but do you have any recollection of what happened after that?" The voice probed, still speaking from beyond Xander’s sight.

I helped them! I checked on the guests! Even though the water got spilt, again.

A pause.

… Wait, no, the Girafarig came to me. I remember the look on his face—it was as if he had seen a ghost!

"And, you asked him what he needed?"

Yes! Well… sort of. I don't think I did it very politely. I'm pretty sure I snapped at him, actually. My throat… it hurts… Oh, jeez—I yelled at him, didn't I? The first tenants we've gotten since my arrival, and I yell at them! They'll never want to stay at the Drowsy Munna again!

"Your throat hurts? You must have yelled pretty hard, then."

Ugh, yeah. I'm such a…

Xander's body no longer felt cold. It grew warmer, rapidly so, and soon was unbearably hot. He started to hyperventilate as the inferno raged to life. The light engulfing his body turned to flames—fiery tendrils grabbing onto separate parts of Xander's body and yanking him in every direction.

Gah! What's happening to me! Make it stop!

"I… can't—I'm sorry! You are the only one who can make it stop."

Xander tried flailing around, forcing his limbs to contract back into his torso, but the flaming amalgamation had too tight of a grip on him. He yowled as intense fire lashed at his underside, and tears welled up in his eyes as the heat became utterly volcanic.

Please! Please help me! I can't get out. I can't escape. This feels like a–

"Nightmare?" The impish voice sighed. "It's a pretty nasty one, too… I'm so, so sorry. There really is nothing I can do. You have to push it away!"

Xander tried to keep fighting at it, but his fur felt like it was melting off and the oxygen kept escaping his lungs. He had no idea how to make a dream stop being a nightmare. The only way out was usually by waking up, but Xander hadn't dreamt in days! He was thoroughly untrained in the act of forcing himself awake during a bad dream.

"Try thinking about something that calms you down… like a pleasant memory!"

A pleasant memory? It was worth a shot, but Xander could hardly think properly while being torn apart by flames. Still, he thought hard, and came up with… 

Nothing.

Xander struggled to think of a single pleasant memory—certainly not something pleasant enough to distract him from the blaze.

Maybe… just a mildly nice memory would do? Xander thought hard again, but was interrupted by the feeling of smoke crawling down into his throat. He trembled, coughing as hard as he could while nothing came back out.

Think! Think! Think! What about Melrose? Meeting Melrose? That was sort of a disaster. She was in the middle of being attacked! She's a sweet Pikachu, and I like hanging out with her, but we hardly got a chance to really even just sit down and talk! Was that my fault? In the cart ride to Constella, all I did was sleep! What's wrong with me? Melrose told me she was in tears not knowing if I was okay, and I didn't even ask if I could stop by the school to check in with her! She spent all night worrying!

Ugh, not the time to think about this! Pleasant memory! Good times! The sweetbread she bought me… that was nice! Nice enough?

Embers lashed once again at Xander's belly as a new tendril slicked its way around the Pokémon's torso.

Okay! Okay! I get it! Not nice enough, fine! Just let go of me! I don't have anything! You win! You win…!

"Come on! Don't give up! You have to remember something!"

Well, I don't! I couldn't even remember my name straight away! How do you expect me to—remember…

The Eclipse.

Xander saw once again with his own eyes the bright ring of light surrounding the shadow casted down by the moon. A stellar display no other Pokémon could look upon with their bare eyes, yet, here he was, staring at it once again. His heart rate slowed, the heat was escaping him, and the vortex of fire disintegrated into nothingness. Xander's eyes could not be torn from even the fabrication of the celestial event—leading him to miss the glittering light show beside him.

A Pokémon appeared in Xander's dreamscape—a pale green fairy with a nervous smile. The little Pokémon floated a bit closer, waving a tiny hand in front of Xander's face. This finally removed Xander from his trance, and he turned to see the Mythical Pokémon Celebi staring expectantly at him. Though, it had striking ruby eyes that felt… familiar, yet peculiar all the same.

"Just my luck that the first time you have a dream I can channel myself through… it's a spiraling, horrific  nightmare. Sigh … why couldn't I be a Cresselia? When she does this… I bet it's so much easier." Celebi rubbed the back of its head while chuckling softly. Xander remained quiet—having far too many questions to select only one to ask. "You worked through it though! I'm so proud of you!"

Uh… Thanks, whoever you are.

"Sorry for putting you through all that… N-not the fire stuff! I didn't do that! I meant…" Celebi fidgeted before gesturing with its free hand outwardly towards the vast expanse of nothingness, which was now shifting colors melodically. It was oddly serene. "I meant asking you all those questions about remembering. I needed to make sure you were semi-aware of yourself before talking to you. Otherwise, you might not remember me!"

Yeah, uh… I think I remember everything clearly now. Unfortunately…

"...Let's not talk about that right now! It doesn't matter!" The Mythical Pokémon caught itself, and started fumbling even harder with their words. "Uh, wait! It does matter! Just, not—not right now! Sorry…" Celebi did not remove its hand from the back of its head. "I'm not particularly eloquent. I mess up while I'm talking, like, a lot." It sighed.

Hey, it's fine. As unpleasant as this has all been, I'm pretty sure this nightmare would have gone a lot worse if you weren't here.

Celebi perked up. "Really? You mean that?" Its nervous smile turned into a genuine one, and its red eyes sparkled brightly. After a moment or two, it blushed and tucked away. "Eep! Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to get all weird there. I just don't get a lot of compliments!"

But… wait. You're Celebi, aren't you? As in, the Mythical and Legendary Pokémon Celebi? Wouldn't being a partial deity get you loads of compliments?

"Oh, uhm, it's…" The Celebi shook their head. "Nevermind, yep! You're totally right! People praise me all the time! I just don't hear it, you know? It's nice to have someone say it right to my face! That's what I meant."

Right…

The Celebi floated awkwardly in silence for a few seconds before clearing their throat. "Anyways! I'm not very good at doing this all proper-like. Giving sort of vague, legendary speeches while projecting into someone's subconscious—acting all mysterious and stuff. I just… I can't take it seriously. And, I’ve had like… no practice. So, I'm going to be as upfront and casual as I'm allowed to be. Is that okay?

Xander nodded his head.

"Phew! Okay, good. My name is Celebi, but it looks like you already knew that. Between you and me… I much prefer to be called Minute. It's a little nickname I came up with myself! Pretty cute, right?" They giggled into their hands and fluttered a little higher into the empty space. "No one… actually calls me by it… but, I call myself 'Minute' in my head! That should count for something."

Well uh, my name is Xander. It's… nice to meet you?

"Xander… so, that's what you're calling yourself. Weird… but, okay! Xander it is!"

Weird? Can I ask why that's weird? It's not what I'm calling myself, like what you mean with Minute. Xander is my name.

"Oh! Uh—maybe it isn't weird? I'm just being silly! I mean, it's perfectly normal to know multiple people named Xander."

Minute's eyes widened slightly, and they covered their mouth.

"Oh, no… Wait—yes…! Maybe?" Minute shook their head. "Nah, it doesn't matter. Sorry! Your name isn't weird, I promise. It's nice to meet you too! I've been wanting to for maybe a week now… but, I just couldn't."

Why not? Does it have something to do with me not remembering any of my dreams?

"Yes, actually! Right on the money! I couldn't project into any of your dreams because you weren't having any ."

Xander was about to ask how that was possible, but something occurred to him that put his question on halt. He would have to ask Gloria something when he woke up—if he even remembered to.

"Okay, I need to stop getting side-tracked. If you wake up soon, then all of this will be for nought." Minute flew closer to Xander's face, its ruby eyes becoming serious. "Xander… Prime Minister Aster is not a good Pokémon. He wants to make the world a super bad and terrible place!"

Wh… What?

Minute frowned hard as it nodded its head. "Aster has this big, crazy, especially evil plan to usurp the throne and change EVERYTHING. He wants to shape the world in his image… and send everything into madness! If he isn't stopped, Adstrum will fall into darkness."

Okay, okay—wait! Even if this is true, because sure—I'm inclined to believe what a Mythical Pokémon has to say, why would you tell me about this? I'm not–

"You ARE special, Xander! You have the power to stop him! I know exactly how the timeline has to go, how the cards have to be played, yada yada and all that! But! Don't worry, okay? I'm not just expecting you to hear all this, leap into action, and save the day." Minute placed a hand on Xander's shoulder, which he could hardly feel. "Aster isn't very far along in his plan yet. In fact, he actually knows super-duper little about what he actually needs to do to succeed. However!" The Celebi shoved its face even closer to Xander's "He's smart, and will figure it out soon… unless…"

Xander braced himself for Minute's "unless."

"Unless… you steal something from him."

Xander recoiled, pulling away from the Mythical Pokémon.

No way! I am not stealing something from the Prime Minister! From one of the only Pokémon who might hold information on who I am!

Celebi bit their lip hard. They clenched their fists up into little balls and bonked their own head a few times, as if they were trying to keep something in that was killing them not to say. "Listen! This is way more important than that! Fate of the Kingdom? Hello!"

Yeah? I would probably get executed, or something!

"I haven't even told you what you need to steal! And, you wouldn't get executed! You won't—you won't even be doing it on your own!" Minute flew close to Xander again. "Please, Xander! You can trust me! I know what needs to happen, and you're the one Pokémon who can put everything in motion."

Xander growled quietly, but softened once he was forced to look into Celebi's pleading eyes.

"If I could do it… I would. But, I can't… Aster can't find me—and he absolutely would if I got directly involved." Minute floated closer to Xander's glowing, corporeal form once again. "Time travel is a dangerous business. Imagine if that power fell into the wrong hands?"

… I'm not getting out of this, am I?

"Nope! Uh—hold on, I mean…" Minute frowned. "I didn't mean for that to sound… Ugh! Stupid! Stupid!" Minute bonked itself in the head a few times before turning its back to Xander and slouching in on itself. "Maybe I'm not doing this the right way…" They sighed pathetically while hovering back around. "I didn't want it to be like I'm forcing you! I thought you would be… excited about saving the world!"

Xander felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps it was weird that the idea didn't fill him with a grand sense of purpose? However…

Celebi, I don't like not having any agency. Waking up in Adstrum has been nothing but being told what to do by other Pokémon. There are few things I'm actually really happy with right now, and those things were decided by me! I actually really like working in the Drowsy Munna, and I'm choosing to look into my existence before the amnesia. I'm confident in those actions because they're the only things I–

Xander's stomach sank. He actually wasn't the one to decide to work for Gloria and Remmy—they made the offer to him… and then he hid the fact that he could start paying them for a room. Minute watched as the Pokémon shrank into himself quietly.

"Oh…" Minute thought for a few seconds. The little fairy shook their head as they landed on the solid force that acted as a floor, then they placed a gentle hand on Xander's head. "Okay. I understand. The world is in danger… and I need your help to stop it. But, I'm not going to make you."

… What? Really? But–

"I mean it. It's entirely your choice! When that choice is made… I'll uhm… well, whatever you want—I can… it'll be fine!" Minute felt around before finding Xander's ear and petting it softly. Xander could hardly feel it, but still… It was soothing. "I'll contact you again, in another dream, and when I do you can tell me what you want to do. Help me save the world from Aster, or don't. I want you to pick! It will even give you time to think about if what I'm saying is even the truth." The Celebi smiled as it slowly pulled away.

Xander slowly uncurled from his fetal position and smiled back at the Mythical Pokémon. Before he could say anything, the rainbow light around them started to dull.

"Oh dear! You're waking up–" Minute frowned. "I guess this is goodbye for now. But, there's so much I still wanted to talk abou–…"

Minute's voice dulled—becoming nothing but muffled sounds and a dull memory in a matter of seconds. Xander could feel his limbs shift, and they were cuddled snuggly into the warm blankets around him. The comfort of his bed didn’t last long, however—because strange scents suddenly struck his nostrils. The Litten had woken up in a completely unfamiliar room.

Chapter Text

Despite the urgency one might usually feel when waking up in an unfamiliar room, Xander's whole body was under the gravitational pull of his bed. A dull ache had taken hold of the Litten's muscles, as if he'd spent the entire day before working himself to the bone.

Xander's nose twitched, his ears flicked, and his eyes skimmed the room for any signs of familiarity, but was met instead with a cacophony of uncertainty. The Litten forced his head up from the heavenly cushion of pillows to see if getting a better look would be any help. Still, there was nothing—not even another Pokémon accompanied Xander in this mysterious set of circumstances.

Despite his bones begging the Litten to lay back down, Xander pushed himself upwards and forced himself into a sitting position. The tip of his tail thumped up and down, up and down, up and down as he continued to scan the room. The Litten reached a paw up towards the golden ring around his neck and felt the smooth metal—finding an odd comfort in the one consistency he could rely on. Though, now that he was thinking about it, where were the rest of his belongings?

Panic finally started to settle in.

Wait a second—the messenger bag! Where is it?!

Xander frantically shuffled the sheets around, shoving some of the blankets off the bed, all to search for the missing satchel—even if it hardly made a lick of sense for it to be on his person while he slept. His heartbeat pounded against his eardrums.

Where the hell did I leave it? There's no way I could have possibly lost all that money AGAIN, right?!

In his panicked frenzy, Xander hopped clumsily off the bed—his limbs faltering and sending him crashing to the floor. Once on the ground, he spotted a familiar draw-string bag on the nightstand above him. Relief washed over as Xander pulled himself back up and nudged the pouch with a paw, and the quiet clink of metal coins greeted him. With that mystery solved, Xander's face contorted back into a frown. The Litten swiped his own ear with a paw.

Priorities, dumbass! Where the hell am I?

The Litten slowly made his way to the door and opened it quietly, looking down the lavished hallway. Clean carpets, neat wallpaper, rather mundane modernist art, all this was enough to make him realize that, for some reason or another, he was in a hotel. Xander frowned. "Why can't I… remember. Ugh."

Xander backed his way back into the room and returned to his investigation. He considered roaming this inn for more information, but the dull pains in his body argued against that idea. For now, Xander hoped that all the answers he needed were present inside this very room.

Aside from the entrance into the hallway, there were two other doors connecting the room Xander was in to elsewhere. Approaching one of the doors, Xander pushed it open with a paw and was immediately met with a bathroom. "I guess that shouldn't be surprising. But…" Xander slowly made his way to the other door and nudged it open. It was… another room.

On the big bed were two sleeping tapir Pokémon snuggled close to one another. Xander's heart swelled fondly, and a wave of relief washed over him. Whatever had happened, at least Gloria and Remmy were also here—and safe.

His stomach sunk at the sight of a tattered, burnt messenger bag by the foot of their bed. A sharp pain shot through his head from the sight of it, and Xander wobbled backward while holding a paw to his mouth. The Litten didn't want to wake the couple up from their well deserved rest, so he kept himself from exclaiming his distress. He carefully pulled the door and clicked it back into place before settling back onto his own bed, face first into the pillow until his headache went away.

Once the pain and nausea faded, Xander sat back up on his bed. "I know I can piece this all together. My memory can't be that bad, can it?" The Litten laughed in an attempt to ease himself, but the fact that it was entirely possible his memory could be that horrendous lingered in the back of his mind. "I just… need to think."

Xander closed his eyes and attempted to focus. He needed to grasp onto something, anything, that could link events together in his mind—like some sort of chain. Even if it was a random memory to start out with, Xander just needed something to connect everything to. The Litten mulled over a few things in his mind, and eventually landed on his very first puzzle piece. Did I ever water the plants yesterday?

I must have, right? It was the first chore I wanted to get done after going to see Officer Jennifer. I know I got home safely… Well, mostly. I did have that conversation with Nuzleaf. Ugh… I can't believe Fire Fang was so expensive. The Litten's tail twitched from irritation. I thought maybe I could finally learn how to use moves that way–

A sharp pain pierced through Xander's brain once again, and the Litten recoiled backwards with a jolt. The sudden movement made Xander slam his head into the mattress's backboard, and he gripped his skull with an intense might—as if this would cure the throbbing pain.

Apparently, this series of events was loud enough to beckon a very concerned Gloria into the room. "Oh my goodness—Xander! Dearie, are you okay?" The Hypno rushed to the bedside and reached a hand out to the little Pokémon, who let out a loud hiss in response. Gloria pulled back, but she didn't take it personally. "My my… it's okay, dear. Do I need to get you some ice?"

" No." Xander hissed through his teeth. "I'm fine. " He took a series of rushed breaths before hesitantly letting go of his head. "I'm fine…"

"Are you sure?" Gloria slowly reached a hand back out to him again. The Litten looked up at her with tears of pain welling up in his eyes. "Oh… Xander…" The old Pokémon frowned hard. "I'll be right back, okay? Keep still and take deep breaths."

Xander sniffled as he watched Gloria return to her room for a spell. He tried to follow her instructions… but he couldn't possibly keep his composure while fighting his crying eyes so hard. The Litten glanced down at his paws… his claw tips being laced with traces of blood. The Fire-Type trembled. Was he really gripping his scalp that hard?

Gloria hurried back inside Xander's room with two berries in her hand. One of them Xander knew was an Oran berry, the other was a weird and lumpy piece of fruit with a sort of salmon coloration.

"Alright, Xander. Nibble at these… The Oran berry will heal that nasty head bump, and the Persim berry will cure the headache."

Xander slowly nodded before taking small bites of the fruit Gloria offered to him. Xander winced slightly once the Persim berry's juice hit his tongue. It was nasty levels of bitter, but just one bite was already helping the ringing in his brain go away. The sweet old Pokémon just watched him worriedly as Xander ate, not speaking a word until he had finished consuming both of them.

"Any better?…" Gloria spoke quietly.

"Much better… thank you." Xander mustered a tiny smile, but it faded fast. "Gloria, what's going on? Why aren't we at the Drowsy Munna?"

Gloria withdrew herself. "You don't remember, then… I shouldn't be surprised. It was all so much."

Xander's stomach twisted into knots. Despite knowing the likely answer, he still asked– "Is everything okay?"

The Hypno stayed quiet as she kept her eyes off of Xander. After a heartbeat, Gloria sat down on the bed next to Xander and held her own hands. A small smile worked its way onto her face, but her eyes were clouded with worry. "Everything is okay, dear. No one is hurt… Everything is fixable."

Xander tucked into himself, ears flattening backwards. "Then… Why can't I…" He looked back up at her face. "Please tell me what happened…"

Gloria hesitated. "You really want to know? You want to remember?"

"Of course I–" Xander froze, a realization sinking in. "Why… wouldn't I?"

Gloria closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she removed a metal ring from around one of her fingers. Moving herself further onto the bed, the Hypno crossed her legs and patted the mattress in front of her. Xander understood the gesture and positioned himself across from her. "I need you to focus on the hypnotizer. Keep your eyes on it, and try not to blink, understand?"

After Xander had given her a quiet nod, Gloria began to swing the pendulum back and forth. The Litten did as he was instructed and kept his eyes on the little washer. "Take a deep breath." Gloria's voice broke the silence, and Xander did what he was told without giving it much thought. "Hold it… now, slowly, release."

Gloria commanded Xander to do this a couple of times before moving on. "You're at the Drowsy Munna. You've just gotten back, and you see a note from the innkeepers."

"They'll be back soon…" Xander mumbled while in a haze.

"You decide to do your chores until you are interrupted by two guests. One is a Girafarig, the other is a Skarmory."

"I gave them room 3A…" Xander mumbled once again. "They kept causing problems… but that's okay. I needed to help them… If I drove guests away… that would be bad for business. Gloria and Remmy might kick me out…"

Gloria winced, clearly wanting to reassure him—but couldn't risk jeopardizing the session. Xander needed to continue existing in the past for a little longer. "You remember the fire."

"The… Fire…"

Xander's pupils followed the hypnotizer as it flicked back and forth, back and forth, back and forth as he felt the pull of the fiery tendrils once again. Flashes of the nightmare returned to him.

"The fire… It was trying to consume me. I… had to think of something happy to make it go away… but I couldn't." The dream was returning to Xander in a sudden wave. The flames, The Eclipse, Celebi, and what they told him about Aster. A pain shot through his head, but this one was duller than the last. "No, no… the fire. I remember the fire."

" I'm sorry! Did I make you spill the water again? Augh… D-don't worry! Please, I insist on helping you clean it up this time. H-hey, whoa… Are you… Are you okay? Litten…?"

Xander could feel the flaming tendrils latching onto his limbs once again. Only this time, they couldn't try and pull Xander apart. Gloria—the hypnotizer, it was keeping him still. It was keeping him safe from the fire.

" Xander, dearie… can you hear me?"

" Listen to me, sweetheart… You need to take a deep breath–"

Xander took in air through his nose, then breathed out slowly with his mouth. "I remember… you. I… Remember… I…"

The pain shot through Xander's head for a third time, this time worse than ever before. The Litten gasped so hard and so suddenly that it broke him from the hypnotism spell—his eyes snapped to Gloria's left shoulder. Xander could no longer keep his breathing calm as he looked on in terror at the Hypno's singed fur and flesh.

"I hurt you!" The Litten screamed, tearing his eyes away from the injury to stare in horror at his paws. "No, no no no! No no no! I–" Xander's breathing turned into choking hyperventilation, and the sudden emotion from the memories flooding back overtook him. "The inn! The fire! Those tenants—you!" Xander coughed, gagging on his own snot. Only now was the little Fire-Type realizing he had been sobbing.

"X-Xander, honey, breathe!" Gloria placed both her hands on the Litten's shoulders, taking a gentle but stern hold. "Everything is okay, I promise–"

"No! No it isn't! What's WRONG WITH ME?!" Xander screamed again, this time bringing Remmy into the room. The extra set of eyes only made Xander panic more. "I'm a bad Pokémon!"

Remmy looked on in horror at the scene before him, but only for a moment. The Musharna levitated as quickly as he could over to the both of them, reaching one of his nubby hands out to pet Xander on the head. However, Xander snarled and pulled away from the both of them.

"Don't touch me! D-don't–" Xander coughed and sputtered from his crying fit. "Stay away from me!"

Against the will of his trembling body, Xander springed off the bed and booked it towards the door. As his paw reached out to shove it open, his body forcefully froze. The cat Pokémon yowled as he struggled against the force of the Psychic. Screeching, hissing, flailing, nonsense demands to let him go–

" FOR ARCEUS'S SAKE, EZEKIEL, STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM US!"

The Litten came to an abrupt stop once Gloria yelled. His sobs suppressed into quiet sniffles as he turned to see Gloria's own crying face. Everyone was quiet, even while the Hypno slowly lowered Xander back down and released him from her telekinetic hold.

"P…please… No more running. Please…"

Quiet conquered the room. It took everyone a long time to move, but Xander was the first—slowly making his way back towards the bed. Remmy followed Xander's example and floated closer to his wife, placing a hand under each of her eyes to wipe the tears away. Xander didn't bother climbing back up the mattress, he only looked up at the elderly couple from the floor. The Litten bit his lips, unsure if it would be a mistake to ask–

"Who's… Ezekiel?"

Remmy looked down at Xander, a deep sadness in his aged eyes. "Ezekiel was… our little boy."

"I'm so sorry, Xander." Gloria interrupted quickly, wiping the snot from her nose onto her furred arm. "I didn't mean to… I…" The old Hypno broke into tears again, and Remmy continued to comfort her. "It's a long story… but, I lost my composure there… You didn't deserve to be yelled at like that."

Xander looked down at the floor. His stomach was churning, and he both wanted to be anywhere but there… and have the strength to comfort Gloria. But, there was nothing the Litten could think to say. Slowly turning, Xander looked back at the door he almost crashed through. What would running away have solved? Where would he have even gone? There was nowhere he could go. Xander laid down on the floor, his body getting comfortable by becoming a compact loaf-shape.

No one said anything for what felt like hours.

It took a knock on the door to get everyone out of their haze.

"Uhh… Hey! Mister and Missus Dreamer? It's me, Mirror. I knocked on the other door but uh… no answer. Are you in there? I just wanted to check on you all."

Xander watched as Remmy's eyes glowed, using Psychic to open the door for the Girafarig. Mirror was there alone, a basket of goodies being held to his person by the Girafarig's tail. "I hope you're all doing alright…" He said with a nervous smile.

Although everyone's tears had long since dried, Mirror could obviously tell the three of them were not, in fact, doing alright. He carefully trotted past the floor-bound Xander and set the basket down on the nightstand. It looked to mostly be an assortment of fruits and berries. Xander thought perhaps there were also some candies, but those could also very well be soaps or candles instead. He couldn't tell all that well from the ground.

"We're doing as well as we can…" Remmy spoke for them all.

"Well, uh, our checkout is soon. I figured we could all leave for your inn and… assess the damages. Silver and I will be in town for a few days, so I wouldn't mind helping you try to rebuild. The only thing I'll be busy with is tomorrow."

"You don't have to, young man." Remmy mustered a weak smile and levitated the gift basket over to him and Gloria. "You've already done quite enough. An escort back to the inn would be plenty good for today."

"Nonsense… It was all my fault that this even–"

"No it wasn't."

Xander's cold voice put a halt to any pleasant facade the room had going. All three of the other Pokémon turned their heads toward the Fire-Type without a word. Xander didn't look back at any of them, he just slowly stood to his feet.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Mirror. Neither did Silver. Even if I don't understand why it happened, I still did it." He finally returned Mirror's stare. "It's okay that you want to help, we probably need it more than anyone wants to admit it or risk inconveniencing you, but don't take the blame. Please." Xander closed his eyes to take a slow breath before letting himself look at Gloria and Remmy again. "I need to step out for a while… is that okay?"

The elderly couple exchanged tired glances, and Remmy pursed his lips to speak—but his wife interrupted him. "Sure, dear. Just meet us back at the Drowsy Munna before sunset… okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Xander grabbed the coin pouch off the nightstand and turned around to take his leave, but was stopped by Gloria's pleading voice.

"Promise…?"

Xander stood in place, feeling the stare of all three Pokémon upon him once again. His heart tugged the floor below him, as if Gloria's simple words were a hex to keep him in place. Xander strained the tears forming to stay put as he turned his head back to look at Gloria, but his gaze couldn't quite make it all the way. "Yeah… I promise."

With that, Xander pushed open the door and moped his way out of the unfamiliar hotel. Turns out it was called the Golden Peliper, and wasn't all that far from Constella's entrance. Walking down the road would lead him back to mainstreet, and, with nowhere else to go, Xander started to make his way to the market square.

The late-morning sun felt wonderful on Dimitri's chlorophyllic fur. Such a pleasant warmth was almost enough to distract the Sprigatito from how weird of a day he was already having. There were a lot of emotions he didn't even feel like bothering with, but it wasn't exactly easy to just ignore them. Today would have been Dimitri's second day of school, if the Sprigatito was actually accepted into R.E.D. Academy. He didn't feel that perturbed by not being admitted, but it was hard to just write it off after he had been memorizing the starting date for so long.

The next oddity of his day was a lingering scent of smoke and ash. That offput dream-therapy inn located near Dimitri's boarding house looked like it had been through a catastrophe of sorts—at least one that left the front entrance looking like a burnt Tepig-roast. The Sprigatito stopped and tilted his head. How could such an unassuming place catch fire?

After giving himself a moment to ponder a few possibilities, Dimitri continued on his way to work. He was already late, after all, and there was no way Dimitri's boss was going to be happy about that. Still, as if the Sprigatito's day couldn't get any weirder, a Pokémon he hadn't seen in ages was calling to him from a nearby alleyway. The hooded figure gave the Grass-Type a coy wave before slipping back into the shadows. Dimitri sighed.

Following the Nickit into the darkness, Dimitri's tail flicked in a display of mild irritation. "I swear if you're trying to wrap me up in something outlandish, forget it. I really don't have time for Outlier shenanigans today, Lunar."

"Aww, c'mon Dimitri, don't be like that." Lune teased while pulling his hood down. "We haven't chatted in weeks, and that's the first thing you say to me? I should be hurt." The fox Pokémon laughed as he placed a paw on his chest and posed dramatically against the brick wall in supposed heartbreak, which only made Dimitri roll his eyes. Lune settled back into a normal position with a bit of a frown. "Also, don't call me Lunar. I've told you, it's just Lune now."

"Yeah, yeah… can you please hurry up? I really need to get to work. Rent is already hard enough to pay without you getting me into ill-tidings with my boss."

"Alright, jeez. What happened to the chill, 'gives no shits' Dimitri I'm used to?" Lune set his satchel on the ground to start digging through it. "Don't worry, though. This will only take a second."

Dimitri watched as the Nicket shuffled around through his things. "Now… where did I put it? I know I grabbed it before I left the base… Ah-ha!" Lune smiled as he snatched a large, green candy from his bag. The Sprigatito raised an eyebrow at him as the fox presented it towards him. "For you." Lune said with a wink.

"…You stop me on my way to work, when I'm already running late, to give me a Grass Gummi?"

"Uh, yeah!" The Nickit laughed. "C'mon! I know how much you love these things."

Dimitri looked down at the candy in Lune's paws before giving him a skeptical glance. "You're buttering me up for something. Don't lie."

"Sweet and chewy… puts a pep in your step… like consuming straight sunshineee…~" The Nickit smirked as Dimitri's eyes fell back on the Gummi. It took half a second before it was swiped from Lune's hold and already in the Sprigatito's mouth. "See! I knew you couldn't resist."

"Mphh… alright, alright." Dimitri grumbled with a mouth full of candy. "What do you want, Lune?"

"I have a small favor to ask of you, little kitty." Lune said while pulling his satchel back over his shoulder. "We need to smuggle something into Red Academy–"

"Stop. Nope. Absolutely not. No way." Dimitri growled.

"Not even after I very generously spent my own money to buy you that absolutely delicious Grass Gummi?"

"You are so full of it, Lunar. I know you stole it."

"But you ate it anyway, didn't 'cha?"

Dimitri swallowed the rest of the chewed up sweet in his mouth so he could properly sigh. He fell right into Lune's devious trap practically willingly. Without confirming that he would actually do it, the Sprigatito motioned his paw to signal Lune to continue his request.

"Boss got intel that the academy staff put in an order for more teas from your stall. When you make your delivery, we need you to drop this off somewhere inconspicuous." Lune reached into his cloak's inner pocket to take out a shining blue Wonder Orb.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but, what exactly is that?"

"I thought you were in a hurry? Do you want me to explain our whole plan to you, or are you actually in a rush to get to work?" The Nickit smirked teasingly, but had to duck out of the way from a playful paw swipe at his head. "Ha! It's a Warp Orb. Normally using one in a dungeon leads to you ending up in a random place somewhere else on the same floor, but we've synced this one to a second Warp Orb. I don't exactly get it, but that means that once we smash that orb—it will bring us to the other orb's location. Easy security bypass."

"Whatever. I guess I can do that. But, I expect more than just a Gummi after I do." Dimitri smirked slightly. "You also better hope I don't get connected to your stupid operation."

"You won't, on my honor as a pick-pocket." Lune lifted his paw like he was making some sort of pledge, before handing the Wonder Orb to Dimitri. "I trust you'll get this done. You know I'll take the fall if you don't though, right?"

"Pfft. Maybe I'll purposefully find a way to set it in front of security, just to fuck with you." Dimitri smirked. "No worries, though. I wouldn't want 'Mr. Outlier' to kick you to the curb."

"Thanks, Dimi." Lune pulled his hood back over his head. "I'll see you later. Get your ass to work." The Nickit blew a teasing kiss at the Sprigatito before scampering off deeper into the alleyway and hopping onto a rooftop. Dimitri blushed slightly as he watched him.

"Heh… Asshole. I wonder if his flirting has an off button."

As much as Dimitri was already expecting it, being yelled at by your boss is never exactly a sought after experience. Especially when your boss was a Pignite.

"Where the hell have you been, Dimitri? You know it stopped being sunrise hours ago , right? This isn't the first time you've been late. You really are a no good, lousy slacker! I should have fired you tens of times already. You're the luckiest Pokémon alive considering I practically have to keep you around. Congratulations on your docked pay, Dimitri! If this happens again, I swear to Lord Arceus above that I'll–"

It was the same speech Dimitri had heard a dozen times before. The Sprigatito simply ignored him while dressing up in his apron, giving the occasional "no, sir" or "yes, sir" or even "thank you, sir" whenever appropriate.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bao Zhong. It won't happen again."

"I'm holding you to that this time, Dimitri!" The Pignite snorted out embers before turning around with a fake smile on his face to greet a passerby.

Dimitri stuck his tongue out at his boss once he wasn't being looked at, which made an Igglybuff in a baby stroller giggle as she was being pushed along by her father. This put a smile back on Dimitri's face as he got to work organizing the types of teas and bags of coffee beans. He was generally expected to beckon passing Pokémon over to Mr. Bao Zhong's stall to promote sales, but the Pignite was usually so caught up in his own shouting to notice Dimitri not doing the same. Yet even with his lack of shouting, a potential customer was strolling slowly towards the side of the stall Dimitri was working on. As he drew closer to the counter, Dimitri could tell he was noticeably worse for wear.

Dimitri wore his typical customer service smile as the Litten glanced tiredly back at him. "Hello there! How can I help you?"

"Uh, yeah… can, uhm… I get one bag of mixed breakfast teas and another of Eastern Coast coffee beans?"

"Can do! Give me a second." Dimitri about-faced to grab a couple paper bags with his mouth. Since he was on the side with most of the coffee types, he planned to fill that one first. It was a bit tricky for quadrupeds to unfold the bags, but Dimitri had done it enough times to make it look like a breeze. Grabbing the scoop with his mouth, he started to shovel East-Roast beans into the sack.

Once the Sprigatito was done with one part of the order, his eyes fell back on the Litten in front of him. The way he was staring emptily forward was starting to freak him out… "Hey, sir? Are you okay?"

"Oh–" This seemed to snap the Litten momentarily out of his funk. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm fine. I've just had a rough morning."

"Ah, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to pry." Dimitri set up the second bag to scoop Litten's order into. "I've had kind of a weird morning too, actually. Must be one of those days?"

Dimitri chuckled slightly to try and lighten things up, but the Litten's stormcloud remained. He was no longer weirded out by this guy… He wanted to cheer him up.

"Dude, my boss chewed me the hell out for being late again. You'd think a Grass-Type like me would be more careful around him, but–" The Sprigatito lowered his voice. "He's all bark and no bite. He threatens to fire me like every day! And still hasn't! I've worked here for two months!"

A small smile appeared on the Litten's face as he let out a soft laugh. Success! It occurred to Dimitri that maybe the guy was faking it to be polite, but something about it must have worked—because there was this slight shine in his eyes that wasn't there before.

"I actually stopped by this stall about a week ago. My friend and I needed directions, and your boss looked super pissed at us for even asking."

"Sounds like Mr. Bao Zhong! Haha!" Dimitri picked the scoop back up and filled the tea order within a few seconds. He continued speaking once the tool was out of his mouth. "I must've been off that day. I would've remembered a face like yours." The Sprigatito beamed, and the Litten blushed slightly in return. The two of them shared a quiet moment of just looking at each other before Dimitri's eyes widened. "Oh yeah! That'll be a hundred seventy-five Pokécoins all together."

The Litten pulled a small satchel of coins off from around his neck and placed it on the counter, the blush not leaving his face. "I only have hundred-value coins. Do you have change?"

"We should. I can ask Mr. Bao Zhong to break a hundred."

"Thank you." The Litten took two coins out of the little drawstring bag and slid them closer to Dimitri.

Dimitri snatched up the coins and walked them over to his boss, who gave him a dirty look until he realized the Sprigatito was holding money. Dimitri handed both the coins to him, "I need two tens and a five."

The Pignite walked over to a small chest under one of the counters and opened it up to toss the new coins in and take a few out. He actually seemed to be in a much better mood now, which Dimitri assumed meant he must've made a good few sales while he wasn't paying attention. After a quick coin hand-off, Dimitri returned to the counter to give Litten his change.

The Litten put the coins back in the little sack and tightened it. Afterwards, he struggled for a second to get the string back over his neck. Dimitri couldn't help but laugh, and the Litten did not look too happy about that.

"Sorry, sorry. I just… Pfft. I know your pain, bud."

"It really shouldn't be so hard… but it's better than the way I was carrying this around before."

"It's never a good idea to carry money in your mouth." Dimitri snickered again when Litten's eyes widened. "It wasn't hard to guess, don't look too shocked. When I was little, my mom sent me to our local farmer's market to get some milk. I must've made it like, half a mile from home at best before I dropped the money somewhere."

Something about that little anecdote brought a lot of ease to Litten, and the Pokémon gave Dimitri a very earnest smile. Dimitri smiled back.

After Litten grabbed the two paper sacks off the counter with his mouth, he hesitated to leave the stall. Setting both bags on the ground, he gave a slight sigh. "I hate to be a bother, but is there any chance you have some sort of bag I could carry these in?"

Dimitri frowned. "Hmm… not that I could just give to you. I'm sorry."

"Heh… It was worth a shot. Thanks anyway." The Litten stretched his neck back down to pick up the bags—but Dimitri felt something overtake him as he outstretched a paw over the counter.

"D-Dimitri!" The Sprigatito blushed hard and blinked a few times. "Erm—I mean. My name's Dimitri." The smile returned to his muzzle.

The Litten blinked a few times before smiling again as well. He pressed his own paw against Dimitri's. "I'm Xander."

"DIMITRI!" Mr. Bao Zhong called loudly, suddenly enough to make Dimitri's tail puff out. The Sprigatito turned his head and saw a Messenger Pidove perched on the counter beside his boss, who was holding an unrolled parchment.. "I need you to pack and run a delivery."

"Oh, okay." Dimitri said while the paper was being shoved into his arms.

"Assemble all those teas and take the order to Red Academy. I trust you can handle that?" The Pignite growled as he gestured for the delivery bird to leave. The Pidove cooed and tipped her hat before flying off.

There it was, the Red Academy order. Looks like whatever intel Team Outlier got was on the money.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll get right on it, Mr. Bao Zhong." Turning back around, Dimitri's eyes widened at the sight of Xander still standing there. "Oh, uh… Did you need something else?"

Xander looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be weird about it. Would it be awkward to ask if… I could accompany you while you make that delivery? I have a friend that goes to Red Academy. It… might be a nice excuse to see her today. I could even help out, if that's okay."

Dimitri perked up slightly, his happily raised tail revealing his feelings about Xander's request before his words could. "I don't really see a problem with that. But, are you sure? You wouldn't get, like, paid or anything."

"I don't care about that. I think using you as my logical reason for popping into the school unprompted is payment enough." Xander laughed, his tail joining Dimiti's in happily swishing.

"Heh, suit yourself. Let me get this order ready and you can help me carry it all."

Dimitri continued having moderately pleasant conversation with Xander as he prepared the order for the school. For whatever reason, they needed a LOT of tea. Usually it was the sort of thing Dimitri imagined one person brewing for themselves, so it was hard to picture an entire meal spread of academy students drinking tea every single day. Dimitri probably would have packed everything up faster if he and Xander weren't chatting it up so much, but this was the first time in a while that the Sprigatito was having a pleasant shift.

"Okay, so I put all these little boxes of tea into these carrier bags. If I were going alone, we actually have these wheeled carts to get big orders around. But, since you're offering an extra set of paws, just the two of us and our backs should get the job done."

The delivery bags had straps that went over a Pokémon's back and belt loops to secure them that swung under one's belly. There were actually two bags that hugged both sides of the Pokémon's body, meaning there were four full satchels of tea between both the cats. Dimitri had to help Xander get his on, and placed the Litten's own tea order in the left bag on his person. When he was sure no one was watching, Dimitri slipped the Warp Orb from his personal satchel into the delivery bag.

"All set and ready to roll. Let's go, Xander!" Dimitri beamed at his new pal before slowly making his way to the academy. "I'll be right back, Mr. Bao Zhong!"

The Pignite huffed, grumbling something Dimitri's Sprigatito ears could barely catch. " Damn slacker recruits some random Pokémon off the street so he doesn't have to work as hard. Lousy, no good–"

Dimitri didn't bother listening in on the rest. He instead shifted his attention to watching Xander slowly adjust to carrying the extra weight.

"Let me know if you need any help, 'kay?"

"I've got it, I've got it…" The Litten insisted.

"Just making sure. Don't be afraid to ask me for help. It's a lot for an untrained tea-transporter to handle." Both Pokémon laughed as they walked, but Dimitri soon shifted to a more sympathetic glance. "Bummer your friend made it into the Academy, but you didn't."

"Oh—uh. It's not that big of a deal." Xander looked off to the side. "Actually… I should be real with you. I didn't apply. It's her dream, not mine."

"Oh? Sorry for assuming, then. I only brought it up 'cause I didn't get admitted into the school. I was banking on us having that in common."

Dimitri let out a soft chuckle, but now it was Xander's turn to give him a sympathetic glance.

"Aww, man, don't look at me like that. I'm okay with it." Dimitri went quiet for a bit. He at least… thought he was okay with it. "Free room and food would have been nice, though. Guess it just wasn't in the cards."

"Do you really want to be an explorer?" Xander asked with a tilted head.

"It really wasn't about exploring as much as it was about making something out of my life. Pfft, but you don't need to hear about all that crap." Dimitri waved one of his paws like he was pushing the topic of conversation away. "I live in the great city of Constella. I'll find a calling eventually. No rush, right?"

"…Yeah, right." Xander looked away from Dimitri. "No rush."

The two Pokémon continued down the road in casual silence. As the academy's front gate came into view, Dimitri's smile faltered. He looked up at the imposing fortress ahead of him…

No rush.

Chapter Text

After the two cat Pokémon made it inside Red Academy, Xander began dragging his feet. The joyful conversation had come to an end the second they'd passed through the gate, and Xander worried if he'd completely soiled the mood with his general… Xanderness.

I wonder if Gloria and Remmy are back at the inn by now. I hope that Girafarig is helping them out… I'm sure he's way more useful to them than I could ever be.

Xander glanced up from the ground to watch Dimitri approach the front desk, which was (of course…) currently unstaffed. "Huh, weird." The Sprigatito checked around, even glancing behind the desk as if a Pokémon was hiding from him. "Hellooo? Anybody there?" Dimitri called out, receiving no answer.

"Ha! You're acting like the secretary is playing hide-and-seek with you." Xander snickered while Dimitri gave him a playful look. "Actually, I know where the kitchen is. If you wanted, we could just take the order there directly."

"Hmm, that would be pretty unorthodox. But…" Dimitri shrugged his shoulders. "Fuck it, sure. It's on them for not being ready to receive their delivery."

Xander led the way towards the dining hall, one of the few places he could navigate to for certain within the massive castle. As they drew nearer, the Litten's ears perked up at the loud clamor of Pokémon speaking to each other. His pace started to slow, "Oh, duh. It's lunch time. No wonder the front was a ghost town."

"Well, that doesn't mean we should have to wait around for them to finish. Come on, let's crash their party!" Before Xander could object, Dimitri pushed open the large door to the dining hall.

There were so many Pokémon at the table Xander didn't recognize, which made the Litten suddenly hesitant to follow Dimitri inside. Most of them turned their heads to look at the lunch-time intruders, and the murmuring of happy chit-chat dulled. The lull was short-lived though, as soon Melrose's voice broke the silence.

"XANDER!"

The jubilant Pikachu practically flew out of her seat, sprinting towards her friend at breakneck speeds and only barely skidding to a halt before potentially crashing into him. "Ohmygosh, Xandy! What are you doing here? Who's this with you? Did you make a new friend? What's with the bags? Are you both carrying treasures for the school? Goodies? Are they presents?" Melrose kept asking similar questions at a pace impossible to answer at. In between her onslaught, Xander very quietly slipped in a "nice to see you too, Melrose" that she likely didn't even hear.

"Oh! You're the delivery boy. Goodness, you got here quick!" Secretary Adeline hopped out of her seat and hurried over to Dimitri. "I'm very sorry I wasn't at the front when you arrived."

"Eh, it's no big deal. Sorry I kinda barged into your school. My new friend here told me he knew where the kitchen was, so we just came to you." Dimitri flashed the secretary a smile, and she giggled in response.

"Let me go retrieve your payment. Since you're already here, feel free to drop everything off by the kitchen door!" The Clefairy sang as she scampered into the hall.

"Uh… Yes, ma'am!" Dimitri called after Adeline despite the Clefairy already being long gone. The Sprigatito shrugged his shoulders as he turned to Xander. "I'm gonna go set these teas down. You can keep talking to your friend, if you want."

As Dimitri padded off towards the kitchen, the Panpour working inside approached the Sprigatito and met him halfway. Xander didn't realize he was staring at the Grass-Type until Melrose started snapping her fingers in front of his face.

"Hellooo! Earth to Xander!" Melrose giggled. "What's with you, spacey? You still haven't told me what you're doing here yet."

"Oh, I–" Xander glanced back at Melrose, finally giving the Pikachu his full attention. "I was out buying some tea and coffee when they received the delivery for the school. I thought I might offer a paw and help out, seemed like a good enough reason to pop by and see you."

"Aww!" Melrose held her paws against her own cheeks and giggled as they sparked. "You're so sweet! Once you're done with all that, you should join us for lunch! Classes don't start again for another fifteen minutes, after all!"

"Ah, well, I'd like to. Uhm, but, I mean, is that even–"

Before Xander could continue, a Frilish who was staring daggers at the both of them loudly cleared his throat. " Excuse me. I'm sorry, but who is this exactly?"

"That's Xander." Icarus answered before Melrose could, eyes still on his plate. "He is Melrose's friend from the country."

The Frillish cocked his head upwards. "A Litten from the countryside? How peculiar." A small smirk started to form at the tips of his lips. "Although, last I checked, being peculiar didn't mean you were allowed to eat academy lunch when you yourself aren't a student."

Melrose's cheeks sparked as she scowled at the ghostly Water-Type, but Xander placed a paw on the Pikachu's shoulder. "Eh, he's right, Rosie. I probably shouldn't eat lunch with you."

"But…" Melrose's ears drooped. "You've gotten to eat dinner with us before! What makes this time any different? I'm sure the Headmaster would let you if we asked him…"

Xander glanced back up at all the students who were now staring. All their eyes on him—it was starting to make the Litten feel… sick. He shook his head and started to walk towards the kitchen with his own chunk of the delivery. "It's just a little different now, Rosie. School's started."

The Pikachu stayed quiet, which made Xander' tail droop from guilt. It's not like he didn't want to have lunch with Melrose, but even if an exception was made in his favor—how would that make Dimitri feel?

Xander unclipped the delivery bag from his person without assistance this time and set it down on the floor—next to where Dimitri put his. The Sprigatito and Panpour were already removing the small boxes and taking them into some sort of pantry. Now with Xander's help, the three of them got the job done in no time flat.

Mint reached into one of the bags and pulled out a peculiar blue sphere. Dimitri visually panicked, snatching the orb quickly out of the monkey Pokémon's hand. "Ah—That's mine!" The Sprigatito shoved it hastily back into his bag. If Sprigatito could sweat, Dimitri would've been dripping with perspiration. "D-don't know how that got in there… hahaha!"

Xander titled his head at him curiously, but the exchange reminded him of his own personal purchase inside one of the bags. Xander pointed a paw at the delivery satchel he brought in. "The paper sacks in this one are also personal stuff. Sorry about that."

"Hey, it's chill." Mint gave the both of them a soft smile. "Thanks for making the delivery. We were already running pretty low…" The Panpour sighed. "I really appreciate it."

"Eh, it's my job." Dimitri gave a nervous smile as he picked the bags back up. This time, he strapped both of them loosely to himself.

"Why were you carrying your own stuff in that delivery bag?" Melrose's voice startled Xander, and the cat Pokémon made a quick turn to face her.

"Oh, uh… I lost the satchel Gloria lended to me." Xander's ears flattened against his head. "It's no big deal, I'll just carry the paper sacks in my mouth again on the way home."

"You're really good at losing things, huh?" Melrose teased with a smile, but Xander failed in pretending to be humored by her. The Pikachu frowned as she started to take her own satchel off from around her shoulder. "Here, borrow my Treasure Bag. After last time, I don't want you bagless ever again."

"Wh-what? No, Melrose, I couldn't do that–"

"Take it." Melrose insisted with a stern expression. "I shouldn't need it for a while, anyways."

The Pikachu shoved the Treasure Bag closer to Xander, who pushed it away with a paw. This back and forth occurred for… a while, before Icarus had enough and roared at the both of them. The sudden loud sound startled Xander into yowling, which in turn caused Melrose to accidentally discharge enough electricity to zap Xander's whole body. A great deal of the other students started to laugh.

"F-f-fine I'll t-take it…" Xander huffed as he swung the Treasure Bag over his shoulder, still jittering from the shock. "B-but I'm returning it tomorrow, no exceptions–"

"Here I am!" Adeline cooed as she returned to the dining hall. The Clefairy handed a large satchel of coins to Dimitri, who slipped the money into one of the delivery bag pockets. "That should cover everything and then some, a little tip for you and Xander." Adeline smiled. "two-hundred and fifty Pokécoins for each of you. I hope that's enough to brighten your days?"

Dimitri smiled with shining eyes. "Y-yes, ma'am!"

"Well, that should be all. Have a good rest of your–"

"Uh actually…" Dimitri fidgeted. "Where's the bathroom?"

"Oh! Teehee! There's a bathroom down the hall and to the right. If you can't find it, there's another closer to the entrance hall!"

"Thank you." Dimitri started to walk that way, and Xander started to follow—before stopping and looking back at Melrose. "Sorry I can't eat lunch with you. But…" He smiled faintly. "I really needed to see your face today. You have no idea."

That seemed to perk Melrose back up, and the Pikachu suddenly hugged her friend tight. Xander squeaked quietly—not sure if he liked the sudden embrace, but still he let Melrose continue until she eventually pulled away. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

"Yep, tomorrow. I'll have your bag in just the condition you lent it to me in."

Melrose giggled sweetly, "Promise?"

Xander's blood ran cold. The drawn out lack of response made Melrose frown.

"X-Xander–?"

"Y-yep! Promise! See you tomorrow!" The words fell from Xander's mouth as the Litten turned quickly towards the door and rushed out. His heart was pounding in his chest as he hurried to the bathroom nearby, expecting to find Dimitri there.

The school's bathroom was unfortunately lacking in the Sprigatito department, but it did have a plethora of different sized and structured toilets—along with dividers and sinks. Each stall had a nice door to keep other Pokémon out, and the porcelain sinks were all lined up on the opposing wall. As Xander trotted into the bathroom to subtly check the stalls, he caught a glimpse of his own reflection in the mirrors above the sinks.

Locking gazes with himself reminded Xander of his perplexing predicament. The Litten that looked back at him with those piercing yellow eyes was indeed him, even if it didn't feel right. Xander drew closer to himself, voice barely above a whisper. " What even are you? If you're a human—you're a pretty lousy one."

The Litten traced a paw along his necklace while watching himself in the mirror. No one around him knew how hard it was to have such little sense of self. Working at the Drowsy Munna was all Xander had in the realm of living a normal life, and it suddenly hit him that he was abusing the couple's generosity and repurposing it as a superficial distraction from his own lack of purpose. He tore his eyes away from the reflection and down at his paws, lifting his right paw and unsheathing his claws… dried blood.

"Xander…?"

Melrose's voice froze Xander in place.

"Xander, I know we haven't been pals for very long—but I can tell when a Pokémon isn't feeling like themselves. What's wrong…?"

A small croak escaped the Litten's throat as he tried to talk, but just couldn't. Confiding in Melrose would just make her needlessly worry, and she had enough on her plate as an academy student.

"Before you ran off… it was like you had seen a ghost! Did I say something troubling?"

Xander finally looked up at his friend, stomach churning at the sight of her concerned expression. Still, something overcame him, and a weak smile dressed Xander's face. "I'm okay, Rosie. You really don't need to worry so much about me… I'm supposed to be the one watching your back!"

At first, Melrose continued to look unsure—but with Xander holding the smile, she eventually eased up. "Okay, if you say so. Just… you can tell me if something is wrong."

Xander nodded his head softly.

Can I really, though?

"Class is about to start, so I better get going if you're really okay." Melrose hugged Xander again, but this time it was much softer. Xander's throat tightened as he held back an emotional reaction to an embrace like this—one that he actually found pleasant…

When Melrose pulled away, Xander reset his pathetic smile. The Pikachu smiled back at him, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Melrose hurried out after that, leaving Xander alone once again in the bathroom. The Litten's ears fell as his head drooped downwards. Is it really that obvious that I'm troubled…? Maybe I'm making it obvious without realizing. Xander forced a bigger smile onto his face. I refuse to trouble anyone else with this. Better go find Dimitri.

Xander padded his way out of the restroom, sniffing the air quietly to figure out where his new friend had snuck off to. Without much to go off of, Xander wandered back towards the front to see if Dimitri used the bathroom near the front lobby. As he walked, the Litten's ears perked up at the sound of footsteps behind him.

"H-hey! Sorry, I got a little lost." Dimitri called from across the hall. The Sprigatito hurried his way over to Xander, panting slightly after his impromptu sprint. "I know this place is a castle, but maybe I'm ill equipped to navigate such a huge building." Dimitri said with a laugh, rubbing the back of his head with a paw. "So, Xander-mander, what's the plan?"

Xander tilted his head with a slight laugh. "Xander-mander?"

Dimitri blushed as he turned away. "Y-you know… like… Charmander? Ah-hah…" The Sprigatito mumbled to himself. "Sorry, that's stupid."

"Heh, I mean, stupid doesn't always mean bad. But, I'm clearly not a Charmander." Xander chuckled. "Do all Fire-Type Pokémon look the same to you?"

"Wh-what? No! Of course not–! It just rhymed–" As Dimitri started his frantic explanation, he finally looked back at Xander's sly smile. "Oh… You're fucking with me."

"Yes! Of course I'm fucking with you!" Xander laughed, and he laughed pretty hard. Perhaps laughter really was the best medicine, because Xander was feeling much better than he was a few minutes ago.

Dimitri sighed, but a smile was working its way back to his face. "Anyways, I have to get back to work. Mr. Bao Zhong will throw a fit if I'm not back soon. But, uh…" The Sprigatito took a deep breath to compose himself before giving Xander an uncertain glance. "Would you… maybe be interested in hanging out later? Like, once I'm off work?"

It was Xander's turn to blush, and the Litten had no idea what to say. Was—was this guy asking him on a date? Xander stood in place silently long enough for Dimitri to get fidgety.

"Ah–! Not—Not today." Xander finally spit out so that maybe the Sprigatito would stop looking so panicked. "I'm sorry… I want to! I really do—But…" Xander took a deep breath of his own. "I really need to get back to something I've been avoiding all day. I don't want my prior obligation to think I'm…" Xander's ears flattened involuntarily. "Avoiding them…"

"Oh…" Dimitri looked down at the ground for a moment, then back up at Xander with a smile. "That's okay. How about we make plans for tomorrow? Or later, that's fine with me too."

Xander thought about this before smiling back, "Yeah, I think that would be alright."

"Great–!" Dimitri lit up, but then coughed into his paw. "I mean, cool. There's a really nice and quiet café I like to go to from time to time aside from making deliveries there. It's called the Autumn Leaf." Dimitri purred as he described it, which gave Xander a good feeling about it being a nice place. "Not a lot of Pokémon go there, but I actually know the owner. So, if we wanted the whole place to ourselves, we could totally hang out there around sunset. Up to you! Sorry if this comes off as rude, but you seem like the kind of Pokémon who'd rather not be surrounded by others. That's just the vibe I get."

"That sounds really nice, actually." Xander's tail swished in the air happily. Date or no date, this at least seemed like a good time.

Dimitri's tail matched Xander's. "I get off work around sunfall! If you meet me at the stand, we can walk there together."

Xander nodded his head. "Sounds like a plan!"

The two cat Pokémon purred for a good while before finally making their way to the front of the school. Xander felt a little light on his feet, but couldn't fight away the anxiety that came with making plans like this. He also knew this feeling wouldn't last much longer—as he needed to go check on Gloria and Remmy, and that had a whole slew of emotions tied to it that Xander had to face whether he was ready or not.

For now, Xander could let himself live in this moment a little longer—Dimitri's purrs were contagious.

Chapter Text

Melrose sat back down at the dining table with about five minutes left for lunch. She didn't really feel like eating any more, but the grilled Pinap berry remaining on her plate just smelled so darn good that she couldn't resist getting in a few more nibbles.

Ashe glanced up at Melrose from her own empty plate and frowned, "are you okay, Rose?"

"Mm? Yeah! I'm fine." Melrose gave her new friend a quick smile. "I'm just a little bummed Xander couldn't join us for lunch, but it's not the end of the world!"

Melrose wished it was as simple as that, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she was failing her friend somehow. Perhaps she could talk the Headmaster into admitting Xander into the school? Then, maybe everything wouldn't be so complicated…

Ashe's frown didn't fade, but she didn't press Melrose any further.

With a clap of her hands, soon everyone's attention was on Miss Adeline. "Okay, everyone! Let's wrap things up and get back to class!"

The Pokémon were quick to start following Adeline's instructions—some students neatly cleaned up their areas while others stuffed the rest of their food in their mouths. Melrose herself just pushed the plate away and hopped out of her seat, watching as Ashe did the same. The mini parade of Pokémon followed Secretary Adeline out of the dining hall and back out into the castle proper.

Melrose no longer dwelled on her worries as they approached the Exploration classroom. This would be her first real lesson with Famous Explorer, Lucien—the exploration prodigy! Lucian was the kind of Pokémon Melrose aspired to be like more than anything. Just breathing the same air as him had the potential of making Melrose a better explorer—she was sure of it!

Adeline opened the door for everyone with a cheery hum, giving Lucien a polite nod as the two made eye contact. "Enjoy your next class, everyone!" Giving her departing words, she allowed the rest of the students to file into the classroom at their own pace.

Melrose practically leaped into her desk. The electric sparks were no longer confined to her cheeks, and the discharge was actually strong enough to arc between her and Owin. This practically super-charged him—and soon both Pikachu were bouncing off the walls.

"Woo-hoo!" Owin pumped his fists excitedly as he collided with his own chair. "I am so PSYCHED to LEARN!" Other students were giving him glares from across the room, but Melrose turned her backside towards Owin in preparation for a tail slap. The male Pikachu gave her an awkward head tilt, before realizing what was happening and turning to slap his own tail against hers—like a high-five!

Lucien waited for everyone to take a seat and settle down, at least as much as possible, before clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. "Good afternoon, students. I'm sure you all remember me from yesterday. But, just in case, my name is Lucien—and I will be your Exploration Professor."

The Luxray walked out from behind his teaching desk and sat in front of the entire class.

"I don't wish to toot my own horn, but personally I believe my class is the most important of the three core subjects taught at Red Academy. Exploration is the key to all types of Dungeoneering, and no class will be better at teaching you the fundamentals than mine."

Lucien gave everyone in the room a once over before smiling. "I'd like to start things off fairly easy for you all today, so… how about I learn what everyone already knows? Who here can tell me what a Mystery Dungeon is? Raise your paws—or other appendages."

Almost everyone's hands shot up into the air, aside from Ashe's—who likely kept it down out of timidness rather than a lack of knowledge. Melrose's hand was waving back and forth, desperate to be chosen by the instructor so she could belt out the answer. Lucien did not call on anyone yet, but he did seem pleased that his class was a confident bunch. His eyes scanned the small sea of students before pointing a paw at Xavian. Melrose visibly deflated as her classmate was chosen.

"Mystery Dungeons are distortions in space and time that create miniature realms. Thanks to the distortion, these places are very dangerous—filled with wild Pokémon that will attack adventurers on sight. However, they are also filled with treasure and lead to new locations once you make it all the way through one."

"Excellent, Young Master Lefevre. You're precisely right." Lucien's tail twitched happily. "Mystery Dungeons come in all sorts of varieties—no two dungeons are exactly the same. This is accentuated by the fact that there are two variants. Does anyone know what these variants are?"

Less hands rose to the sky this time around, but Melrose was still shaking her little yellow paw as excitedly as possible. Please call on me! Please, please, please! I know it! I know it!

Flick beeped happily when the teacher called on him to answer the question. "In the simplest of terms, Mystery Dungeons can be distinguished into two categories: Horizontal and Vertical. Vertical Dungeons go up or down, and are usually scaled by staircases. Horizontal Dungeons are traversed by continuing forward. They are occasionally divided by passageways that lead out of the Dungeon proper, allowing for Pokémon to interact with it at those vantage points."

Melrose thought back to when Gaius saved her and Xander from Nightshade Grove. That felt like ages ago now…

"Feral Pokémon can still dwell in those vantage areas, but it is much easier to perform a Rescue when the clients are able to rest there."

"Very good, FL-1-K3E. Mystery Dungeons are all over the continent, and Horizontal Dungeons are common enough for Pokémon to just wander right in. However, if you aren't prepared, even a low-level dungeon can be a tough time." Lucien maneuvered back behind his desk and placed some miscellaneous items atop it for everyone to see. "Every explorer should always have one of each of these on them at any given time. I'm sure you all know what an Oran Berry is, but can anybody recognize what else I've got?"

If Melrose's paw could rocket off of her body and into space, it would do so just to be chosen by the instructor. Lucien's eyes finally fell on her, and the Luxray nodded his head. "Go on, Melrose."

"That Wonder Orb there is an Escape Orb!" The Pikachu blurted out in one breath. Once some of the adrenaline faded from actually being called upon by her hero, Melrose kept going. "Using it will take the user and their team, if they have one, to the entrance of the dungeon. In that there vial is an Elixir! Drinking it heals up any fatigue from using your moves too many times! And—I'm pretty sure the last item is a Heal Seed. Those can help you recover from any status ailment!"

"Very good. You really know your stuff." Lucien's words sent Melrose's heart soaring.

"However–" And then it came crashing down.

"This isn't a Heal Seed. This item is much more important than even that. This unassuming little seed is a Reviver Seed. Just having one of these in your Treasure Bag will revive you the second after you faint. But afterwards, it's left an empty husk of its once amazing power. There are a few theories as to how this phenomenon occurs, but there's still a lot of debate on which of them is accurate."

Melrose's ears fell in absolute shame. How did she not know that it was a Reviver Seed? Lucien probably thought she was a dumb nobody now. Stupid, stupid!

"I'm glad to see you weren't all chosen for this school for no reason. I'm a pretty lucky teacher to have such smart young Pokémon to educate." Lucien snatched the items back up and placed them on various student desks. "Go ahead and pass these around so everyone can get a good look. Just be extra careful with the Escape Orb, alright?" The Luxray said with a chuckle.

Once the Reviver Seed was passed along to Melrose, the Pikachu felt its firm yellow shell solemnly. It's as if it was somehow mocking her, and Melrose's cheeks sparked. I accept your challenge, you puny seed! I'll never mix you up with another item ever again! Melrose huffed. Who even needs a stinky Reviver Seed anyways?!

"Uhh… Melrose?" Delta cleared her throat. "You gonna give me my turn with that?"

"Oh! Right—sorry!" Melrose blushed hard as she passed the Reviver Seed to the Buizel next to her.

"Items are integral to an explorer's success. That's why Mystery Dungeons like Celestial Summit are so difficult. For whatever reason, the dungeon itself prohibits Pokémon from bringing any items into it. Hah, perhaps it prefers a fair fight."

"I'm sorry," Neptune glared at the teacher from across the room, a frown souring his face. "Are you suggesting that the dungeon has some sort of consciousness? Please tell me you're joking."

"Hmm, well." Lucien looked up at the ceiling in thought. "I don't personally believe Mystery Dungeons are alive, but there is something quite odd about them that makes them feel that way. When you've been in as many as I have, perhaps you'll understand what I mean."

"Are Mystery Dungeons really that… s-scary?" Ashe whimpered as she mumbled to herself.

"Sometimes they can be pretty frightening, but not always. Some dungeons are actually extremely beautiful and serene, but you still must respect them and their challenges. Fainting in a dungeon is the last thing any explorer wants. Although it doesn't guarantee certain doom, prolonged exposure to the Mystery Dungeon while also being unconscious around wild Pokémon is never good." Lucien padded over to his students to pick up the items that had been passed out. "That's why I always recommend exploring with a partner or teammate."

"Aren't you a solo explorer?" Neptune scoffed.

"Well, yes, but that was after years and years of learning the basics and honing my skills. Rookies should always have another Pokémon around to save their hides in a tricky spot." Lucien smiled to himself, "and that just so happens to be the perfect segue into my first assignment for you all. Before we take on any practice dungeons, I would like all of you to make groups of at least two, three, or no more than four. These won't be permanent teams by any means, and could change further along in the semester, but I think it's only fair that I let you all choose who you'd like to learn about exploration with."

There was a murmuring amongst the class as everyone was dismissed to start creating their groups. Melrose's ears perked up at the sounds of everyone's voices, and quickly turned her head over to Icarus, who was already surrounded by other Pokémon. The Pikachu's ears fell downwards.

"Us Lords and Royalty should make a team, don't you agree?" Florence sang as he twirled.

Xavian scratched the back of their head. "Actually, I want to be on a team with Owin."

"Yes–! Uh, I mean… I had no doubt you would!" Owin puffed out his chest.

For once, the Roselia deflated. "Ah, I see… very well then. I suppose you two plan on working as a duo, then?"

Xavian covered Owin's mouth with their hand. "Yes."

Florence sighed and turned to Neptune and Icarus, "are you both still interested in us three becoming one?"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly phrase it like that." Neptune grumbled. "However, I have no qualms with it. My Liege?"

Before Icarus could say anything, Sabre and Delta pushed past the row of desks. "Wait! Milords!" Sabre huffed and puffed, before standing at attention. "How ever could your subjects and soldiers protect you if you're all clustered into one team?!"

"Sirs! Let us protect you!" Delta gave a solute. "It would be an honor!"

Neptune couldn't fight back the slick grin from forming on his face, which made Melrose's blood boil. "Honorable and valiant knights running to our aid? Hmph, I couldn't possibly justify denying the help, so long as you don't hold us back."

Sabre shook his head feverishly. "I would never allow myself to become a burden to His Highness or his Lords!"

"Mhmm! Me neither! No sir!" Delta chimed in.

"How about this then. Delta forms a team with Young Virion, and Sabre accompanies myself and our Prince." Neptune glanced down at the Tyrunt beside him. "If that is alright with His Majesty, of course."

Icarus's eyes flicked off to the side at Melrose, who hadn't stopped staring at him since she started listening in. The Tyrunt's expression was almost impossible to read, and with a quick glance back at Neptune–

"Very well."

–Melrose's heart sank like a rock. Tearing her eyes away from the Royal Rumpus, she took a glance around the room to see who hadn't decided on a team yet. Blitz asked to be with Owin and Xavian, but the Axew had to politely tell him no. Flick appeared to be analyzing the room, waiting for everyone to finish so he could pick the optimal team to join.

"Want to be on a team with me, Rose?" Ashe's sweet voice came from right behind Melrose's head.

Melrose glanced one last time at Icarus before giving Ashe a dejected sigh. "Yeah, we can be a team together…"

Ashe's tail twitched. "Well, don't sound too excited about it…"

Melrose immediately froze up as guilt slapped her in the face. "S-sorry! I didn't–! I—I'm not disappointed or nothing! I'm sorry, Ashe…" The Pikachu's cheeks sparked.

"Heh, no, it's okay… I know I'm not particularly remarkable…"

"Wh–! No! I didn't mean it like–"

"Eyy, you girls cool with me joining your team?" Blitz chirped as he hovered over the two rodent Pokémon, flapping his wings hard enough to stir up a little dust.

Melrose swung her arm to compensate for her lack of enthusiasm with Ashe. "The more, the merrier!"

"Sick." Blitz remarked as he landed on the desk beside them.

Flick took a second before floating over to Florence and Delta, who both appeared to welcome the digital Pokémon into their group. Now that everyone was sorted, Lucien took out a piece of paper and dipped his claw-tip in ink.

"Humor me if you would, please. Now that everybody is sorted, I'd love it if you all came up with mock team names. Make them good—who knows how long you'll be keeping them!" The Luxray laughed as he gestured a paw out towards Melrose and her new friends, who just so happened to be the closest group to the front.

The three of them stuttered over each other for a bit.
"Inferno?"
"Mountain?"
"Orchard?"

They all giggled, clear that each of them just said the first word that came to mind.

"Maybe we could mix all those words somehow, y'know?" Blitz tilted his head. "Something like… Fiery Stone-Apple, or something."

"That's pretty bad…" Ashe snickered, "but I think you're on the right track."

"I got it!" Melrose looked at the Exploration Instructor. "Team Rising!"

As Lucien wrote the name down, Blitz and Ashe both gave Melrose peculiar looks. Melrose just smiled back. "Smoke, mountains, trees, they all grow upwards towards the sky! So, team Rising!"

The Pikachu's explanation made the other two Pokémon smile in return, and Melrose was feeling pretty pleased with herself to come up with something so clever as quickly as she did. The other mockup teams were called on one at a time to give Lucien their names, and Melrose was entirely sure no one could match hers.

Florence, Delta, and Flick decided on Team Elegance (Delta and Flick just let the Blue-blood pick the name for them), Xavian and Owin rather quickly came up with Team Destiny, and Icarus and his teammates picked the name Diamond.

"Thank you, it's much easier to write these down than scribbling down each and every student's name in my notes. Now then," Lucien shook the ink off his paw. "Let's run a few hypothetical exploration scenarios, shall we?"

Chapter Text

Xander adjusted the strap of Melrose's Treasure Bag. Not because it was uncomfortable—rather, his paws couldn't keep from fidgeting as he stared at the charred Drowsy Munna. Each time his brain commanded his legs to take him across the street, they refused to comply. The guilt of avoidance was significantly more unpleasant when it involved Gloria and Remmy, but at least it kept the Litten from anxiously pacing up and down the road.

The late afternoon sky was unpleasantly warm for an autumn day, suggesting they would get a blast of heat before the cold months truly settled in. Even on Xander's Fire-Type fur that sounded uncomfortable. If Litten could sweat, Xander knew he would be drenched, and it wouldn't even be the sun's fault.

Alright… Here goes nothing.

Outstretching his front paw, Xander finally took a half-step forward. He almost retracted it immediately, but the Litten fought back the urge by adjusting another leg forward. Once he had started, it was much harder to stop—and soon enough Xander was across the street and in front of the door. Now, all he had to do was push it open. Any second now. One paw on the door…

Before Xander could move a muscle, the door swung open and bashed him in the face. The Litten yowled in pain as he recoiled backwards, and a very anxious looking Girafarig started to desperately apologize to him. Mirror surely felt even worse once he realized who exactly he just struck with the door.

"Oh my–! X-Xander! Gosh, are you–" The Giraffe Pokémon bent downwards to look at the Litten's muzzle. Xander, who was already rubbing his snout, checked his paw and saw the crimson beads peppering his fur. "Your nose is bleeding! I d-didn't mean to–! Agh…"

Xander sighed quietly, tail lashing, as he looked back up at Mirror with a tired smile. "Don't worry, it was an accident."

Mirror's ears drooped. "I was just on my way out, but if you need me to stick around and nurse your nose, I coul–"

"It's alright, seriously." Xander's ears flattened against his head as he pushed past Mirror. "You've helped enough, I'm sure." Xander didn't want to come off as sarcastic, but he realized he accidentally did once the Girafarig apologized quietly and sulked away.

Xander sighed harshly to himself, shoving that unfortunate interaction in the back of his mind to take in the damages surrounding him. It had been clearly touched up a little, some of the furniture that was likely destroyed already tossed out… leaving the foyer eerily empty. Xander stepped forward, the scent of ash hitting his nose through the metal smell of his own blood, and lifted a piece of obsidian debris. He rubbed at the crisp, burnt exterior of what was likely once a piece of a chair.

"Xander?" Remmy's voice called from the office, and the Musharna poked his head out to see him dropping the woodchip suddenly from being surprised. Remmy paid no mind to it, though. "Good to see you, little fella… how're ya holding up?"

"Better, I think." Xander approached Remmy slowly, sitting down once he was near and reaching into his borrowed bag. "I bought some new tea and coffee. Figured we would need a fresh supply."

Remmy smiled softly, floating closer to the ground to no longer tower over Xander. Before he could thank him, however, the old Musharna saw the blood dripping from his snout. "How'd you go and get yourself hurt like that, bud?"

"I just ran into the door—it's not that bad." Xander said while a droplet or two fell to the hardwood floor. Remmy glanced down at it with a frown before levitating over a tissue and holding it against Xander's nose. The Litten lifted a paw and held the tissue to his face so the Musharna no longer had to. "Thanks…"

Remmy nodded his head, hovering back inside the office and motioning for Xander to follow him. "Come here for a sec, would ya? I've got something to show you."

Xander hesitated a second, mostly because he needed to figure out how to walk with only one front leg—some sort of combination between hopping and sliding seemed to work well enough. When he made it inside the office, which much to his relief was entirely undamaged by the flames, Remmy used Psychic to show the little Litten a framed picture that he pulled off of their desk.

Xander inspected the picture. It depicted a less wrinkly Gloria and Remmy with a slender Espurr standing between them. Despite being contained within a pictograph, the Espurr's wide eyes pierced right into Xander's soul. Xander couldn't look at him for long without getting uncomfortable, so he glanced back up at Remmy with a head tilt.

"The young boy in the middle there is Ezekiel." Remmy said plainly before Xander could ask any questions, a weak smile dressing his face. "Gloria and I adopted him after about five or six years of us being married."

"Why did you guys adopt?"

"Ah, Gloria…" Remmy peaked sadly at the open door before looking back down at Xander. "She… Well, she can't…"

"Oh," Xander's ears fell down against his head, and his eyes dodged Remmy's by looking down at the floor. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have–"

"Don't be sorry, Xander. It's just one of those life things." Remmy set the picture back down on the desk. "She wasn't too hung up on it, anyways. When I suggested adoption, her face lit up real bright like that was the best idea I ever had–" Remmy coughed hard into his hand, taking the wind out of him, so he floated himself down into a chair to take it easy. "Ezekiel was the oldest kid at the orphanage, and Gloria… her heart was too big to let someone live any longer without parents. We loved him very much."

Remmy went quiet, and Xander refrained from asking what happened to him—feeling that all it would do is stir uncomfortable feelings. But, he didn't have to. Remmy looked back up from his hands and blinked a sad tear out of his eye.

"Maybe we weren't ready to be parents, but gosh darn it we wanted to prove to everyone that an Espurr wasn't too much for us. Ezekiel didn't talk much, always threw things around with his mind when he didn't get what he wanted… would Teleport away and out of our sight—used to send Gloria into panics, it did. But, he always turned back up–" Remmy went stone quiet for a moment…

"Until, he didn't."

Xander watched in silence as Remmy sniffled to himself, unable to move his body to offer support—again feeling stuck in place. The Musharna wiped a tear away with one of his nubby hands, shaking his head sadly. Xander's heart felt heavy in his chest, and finally the words fell from his mouth.

"Why are you telling me this?…"

Remmy looked up at Xander with sad eyes, but a guilty smile crept onto his face. "Because, I think Gloria and I have been taking advantage of you."

"What? What do you mean by–"

"Ezekiel left a hole in our hearts, and well… you…" The smile grew as tears welled up in Remmy's eyes. "I think you remind Gloria an awful lot of Ezzy."

Xander's silence haunted the room, leaving Remmy frowning down at the Litten. Remmy rubbed his hands together anxiously as the Fire-Type continued not to say anything—or even move, for that matter. The Musharna's mouth gaped open, but he was interrupted by Gloria's voice just beyond the office door.

"It's true." Gloria had muttered just loud enough for the others to hear, and she made her way inside with tears forming in her own eyes. "I've been selfishly keeping you around, Xander. It's not fair to you–"

"No! You're wrong! Both of you are wrong!" Xander shouted abruptly. "I've been the one taking advantage of you and all your kindness towards me."

Gloria and Remmy glanced at each other, both elderly Pokémon struggling to find something to say. Xander was approached by Gloria, who kneeled down to get closer to him. "Dearie, you haven't done anything wrong by staying here and accepting our offer–"

"It's not that! It's… Ugh, I don't know how to…" Xander stirred uncomfortably, removing the tissue from his nose and looking down at the dried blood. Gloria gently took the tissue from him and placed it in the closest waste-bin, before using Psychic to bring over a fresh one. Xander held it tightly against his snout and whimpered quietly.

Gloria tilted her head up towards the desk, her eyes resting on the picture of herself, her husband and her son. The Hypno stared at it for a moment, blinking wistfully. "Xander, if there's anything you want to tell us… you should never be scared to say." Then, she looked back at Xander– "I'm not your mother, heck, I'm not even your grandmother. But, I would like to be your friend if I haven't ruined my chance at that yet."

"Gloria, I…"

Xander removed the second tissue from his nose, which was already drowned in blood. The Litten sighed as he turned the paper over to a clean section to hold against his muzzle again.

"You two have done a lot for me, more than I feel I reasonably deserve. I should have been honest with you both from the start, but right now… I have absolutely no idea what I should and shouldn't keep to myself."

Xander started to tremble, and soon—words rushed from his mouth like a busted dam.

"But, I've kept so much from the both of you! I—I recovered my money–! All ten thousand Pokécoins! And, I felt like I couldn't tell you because… because I was terrified of telling you! If you didn't assume I was deceiving you, then I would just start paying for a room… like, I promised I would! Everything would become a business exchange, but—I don't want to just become an ordinary tenant. I would have to find some place else to stay, something else to do— and I don't have anything like that! Even with Melrose, like, what the hell did Gaius expect me to–"

"Xander, Xander please—slow down…" Gloria lifted a hand, and the Litten ceased his rambling. "I know you got the money back. I found it in the bag, after the fire… I shouldn't have snooped through your belongings, but I did. I got worried, started over-thinking things, but I know I can trust you. I realized that you don't owe me any information. If you have a reason not to tell us something, then…"

Mr. and Mrs. Dreamer, I have amnesia. I woke up in the middle of a Mystery Dungeon with no memories, and even still Melrose's father trusted me to come into town with her and keep a watchful eye. Offering to let me work here—it felt like another peculiar exception was being made for me. It's why I freaked out so bad, but it's also why I'm so scared of losing it. Gaius asked me to help when I didn't really have any other options, and so did you both. Since I can't remember anything, all these Pokémon assigning purpose to me… Guardian, Best Friend, Innkeeper… I need it—or else, I'm nobody. At the same time, I haven't had a single say in what I want to do.

At least, that's what Xander wished he had the strength to say. Instead, he removed the coin pouch from around his neck and tossed it up on Gloria's desk. The coins clinked loudly against the wood even through the fabric.

"I want to work at the Drowsy Munna." Xander looked up at the both of them with a determined gleam in his eyes. "You guys still deserve all the money—at least, what's left of it. I did sorta spend some of it on some new coffee and tea. But, all of it should go into repairing the damages I did to your hotel. Even if I don't know how or why I did it…"

Gloria and Remmy both stared at the pouch in unison before turning their heads towards Xander. At first, their lack of a verbal response gave Xander a bit of unrest, but that quickly faded as Gloria's face was dressed in a smile. "Dearie, we would be more than happy to hire you—especially if you're certain that's what you want."

"We won't be able to pay all that well, though…" Remmy lamented, floating slowly over to be beside his wife. "And, the place will probably be closed for a good while for repairs… so, with no new income–"

"It's not about money, so I'm not worried." Xander's tail lifted high while swishing pleasantly from side to side.

Gloria's eyes couldn't help watering up again. "Such a kind young man…"

Xander felt a blush pepper his face, he could hardly imagine the two of them being this happy about all this.

Remmy took a deep breath. "We can deal with all the paperwork later… All this drama has tuckered me out. I say we do a bit more cleaning up before dinner and bed ."

Xander watched as Gloria and Remmy left the office before following them out, slipping past the both of them to drop Melrose's Treasure Bag in his room. The outside of the door was lightly charred, and the reminder of his explosion did not go unnoticed as he set the bag on the floor inside. Carefully grabbing the tea and coffee, Xander returned to his bosses to hand off the supplies. Though, seeing the selected brews reminded him…

"I uh, also have something else…" Gloria raised an eyebrow at him, a sweet smile still on her face—and Xander quickly clarified. "Nothing bad! Or, even that serious. But, umm, this guy I met at the market wants to hang out with me tomorrow at a café? It would be in the evening, so after a full day of work, but… I still figured I would ask if that's okay? To go with him, I mean."

"I think you deserve a stress free evening tomorrow, Xander." Gloria returned her broom to her hands after setting the tea leaves and coffee beans down on the remains of her front desk.

Remmy was holding the side of his face with a hand. "Sounds like a date to me. Is he cute?"

Xander lit up like a candle while his tail lashed feverishly. "It–" The Litten's voice got caught in his throat, and the surprise made him cough at the floor. "It's not a date—err, well… Actually, maybe it is. But—I'm not making any assumptions about his intentions!" Xander stomped on the floor with his back-right leg. "He just seems like a really nice Pokémon, and I think he has the potential of being a really cool friend."

Remmy gave Xander a sly smirk. "You didn't answer my question, though."

Xander sat and held his face in both of his paws. Gloria gave a jolly laugh before nudging her husband in the side lightly with her elbow. "Aww, leave him alone! I told you, no teasing!" The both of them shared a hearty laugh together, and after a second or two of continued sulking… Xander couldn't help joining in.

The rest of their day went about as expected, with all three of them continuing to float or carry discardable furniture out of the lobby and room A3. The guest room was completely destroyed, almost nothing salvageable in there, and the lobby didn't fare much better after Xander's wrath. The Litten dumped the dustpan full of glass shards and debris into the disposal outside by twisting his head—holding something like that in his mouth was not exactly the most pleasant experience, and he really wished he could float things around like Gloria and Remmy could. Oh well, it had to be done.

Handing the dustpan back to Gloria, Xander glanced around at his still ever present destruction. When his gaze fell, Gloria placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Plenty of Fire-Type Pokémon lose control of their flames at least once in their lives. You're no monster for this. Anger comes at a price for Pokémon like you, but it's nothing you can't work on." The Hypno gave Xander a soft petting behind his ear before lifting the burnt bedside table up into the air with her mind.

"…I still don't understand how I even did it. It doesn't feel real."

"I did want to talk to you about it, but a Litten using Overheat was the least of my concerns these past couple days."

"O-Overheat…" Xander stuttered, feeling at his chest with a paw.

"I'm nearly one-hundred percent sure that's what you did, but that was certainly no Ember…" Gloria started to take the levitating furniture with her to the dumpster, Xander tailing behind. "You're a mystery, Xander. But, at least I know I'm not the only one stumped by you."

Xander growled into his chest. "Yeah, it just sucks when you're also stumped by you."

Gloria set the nightstand down carefully in the bin, wincing a little when her Psychic ended, and started making her way back inside. Xander couldn't help noticing this, and his face grew worried again.

"You okay?"

"Oh? Yes dear, I'm fine."

Gloria left it at that, not explaining why she had winced or if something was bothering her. For some reason, it worried Xander more than it relaxed him. It didn't help that when the both of them walked back inside, Remmy was coughing up a storm. The elderly Musharna couldn't hold himself up in the air any longer, and, without a chair nearby, he just set himself on the ash coated floor to take a breather. Gloria hurried to his side and rested a hand on him as Remmy continued hacking up his lungs.

Xander's tail drooped, neither of them should be doing work like this.

When Remmy's coughing finally calmed down, Gloria helped him back up into the air. "Perhaps it's time we stopped for the night. How about I cook us up some dinner?"

"I'll help!" Xander offered immediately.

Chapter Text

Celeste's eyes flickered open once sunbeams started slipping through the observatory's curtains. The little Cosmog let out a big yawn as she sat up in her bed, looking up, down, and all around for any other Pokémon. Her gaze was met by a singular Unown, the one shaped like the letter 'H', and Celeste smiled at it as she hovered off her mattress.

"Mmm, good morning!" She said with a small jingle in her voice.

The Unown could produce no sound, but it bobbed its little body forward in a bow before levitating a Pecha Berry over to Celeste. The cluster of stardust gasped with joy before taking a big chomp out of the soft fruit. Unown H kept it hovering in place for her as it continued to sort Aster's library.

Once the Pecha Berry was nothing but a pit, Celeste attempted to levitate itself over to the Unown. The Cosmog couldn't quite get up from the floor like the other Psychic-Type Pokémon she knew could, but it still tried as hard as possible to be like them. Unown tossed the remains of the Pecha Berry into the waste bin as it turned to watch Celeste.

"Where is everybody?" Celeste squeaked while getting closer. "Why’s it just you?"

Multitasking once more, Unown H floated a small piece of paper over to Celeste while also opening up some of the windows to let in more light. Celeste took the scrap in her own psychic hold and squinted her eyes while reading the simple note aloud.

"Hello, Starshine. I am very busy today, but I will return later. Please do some reading, that would make me smile. From, Aster." Celeste nodded her head proudly once the note was read. "Okay!" The little nebula looked up at Unown H. "Hmm… Let's play a game!"

Instead of a proper answer, the Unown just floated a small novella over to her. The Cosmog frowned and pushed it out of her face. "But, I don't want to read 'The Last Wish' right now! I want to play!" Celeste puffed out its cheeks and crossed its little appendages. "Reading is boring. I hate sitting still…"

Unown H closed its eye and tilted its body down towards the floor. There would be no pleasing this child while following its master's desires. When it reopened its eye—Celeste was no longer in the same place she was before. With a slightly frantic glance around the room, it found her over by one of the glass windows. The Cosmog was staring down at the castle courtyard below.

Her gaze was set on distant blobs—children playing in the garden.

The Unown's gaze softened slightly… Perhaps it wouldn't hurt for them to do something other than read. H grabbed one of Celeste's dolls with its telekinesis and hovered next to her, watching the Cosmog's face brighten when she saw it waving the toy. "Yay! Let's play! Let's play!"

Celeste hurried over to her toy box and picked out her favorite stuffed toy—a fabric Skitty with button eyes. "This is… Mr. Teacup!" Celeste smiled as she came up with such a creative name on the spot. "And… you're his wife!" Celeste pointed to the plush toy H was holding, which was a little Phanpy doll, and giggled. "Mrs. Applebum!" Celeste giggled even harder. "She kept the last name 'cause she's very, very smart."

Unown H nodded along to pretty much anything this child's imagination could conjure, all while puppeting the Phanpy doll when Celeste said it was talking or doing something. The narrative of this married couple's life was pretty intense, all things considered. Unown were generally unfamiliar with infancy, but even H found it odd that this kid was making a story about two Pokémon "going on romantic dates and making smoochy faces at each other." Though, H surmised that romance as a mere concept was beyond Unown as well.

"Mr. Teacup likes to stay at home and clean." Celeste announced. "His wife goes to work in the market! She shells seashells." Celeste blinked a few times, giggling at itself. "She sells seashells." Celeste glanced around the observatory, finding a stack of parchment scraps. Floating a few of them over, she gave the pieces of paper to Unown. "Here! These can be the sea shells. She finds them in Mystery Dungeons." Celeste snickered as she held 'Mr. Teacup' closer to her. "The husband is very scared of Mystery Dungeons. In the book Pap–Ah–! Aster," She hugged the little doll. "In the book Aster read to me, it said Mystery Dungeons have bad Pokémon in them that hurt others…" Celeste glanced up at H with a big frown. "Is that real life?"

Unown H nodded its body, hovering the Phanpy doll back into the box before bringing the novella back over to the both of them. Celeste looked back at the book and thought for a second. "B-but! We aren't done playing!" H shoved the book a little closer to Celeste, but she smacked it hard and sped away as fast as she could from its dreaded pages. As Celeste closed in on the stairs, Unown H held her in place with a swift telekinetic grasp. The little Cosmog sniffled. "It's not fair!"

The Unown kept Celeste in a stern hold despite her whining. A part of it wanted to let go, but Celeste was under strict orders to stay inside the observatory. Celeste struggled for a moment or two before giving up and resigning herself to a quiet fit. "It's not… fair…"

H slowly floated Celeste back over to the bed and sat it down carefully, doing so while also wedging the book in between the Cosmog's starry arms. Celeste blinked a few bubbly tears out from her eyes. "I don't want to. I'm not going to… You can't make me!"

When Celeste looked back up, she saw that the Unown had also levitated her Skitty doll back over to the bed. H gave it a little jiggle with his telekinesis before puppeting the plush toy like it was opening the book back up for Celeste. This put a small smile on the little one's face. "Do you like to read, Mr. Teacup?" Unown made the doll give a little nod. "I don't like it that much… but, I don't hate it either. I just like it more when Aster reads to me. He's been making me read all on my own now, though…"

Unown H thought for a second. It couldn't exactly read to Celeste, and his Master did really want the little Cosmog to develop its reading comprehension. There had to be something it could do to help…

An idea sparked to life as Unown H floated the doll's hand beside the first word of the bookmarked page. Celeste tilted her head, but after a few seconds—she understood well enough. "You're going to help me read, Mr. Teacup? How very polite of you!" Celeste's tears fully dried as she entered a new giggling fit. H felt content and relieved all at once—they could get at least an hour of reading done like this.

'The Last Wish' was a decently simple story, which was good considering it was designed for young readers. Children tend to enjoy adventure stories that involve a hero making it to a destination and receiving something for their hard work. Sometimes they dip into borderline darker, more complex themes—but it was best to leave it at mere suggestion. All the crops are dead, and Pokémon have nothing to eat, but you don't exactly have to mention the famine leading to death. Some kids are ready to figure that out, some aren't, and that was okay.

Lumity the Marill lives in a cold world, one where the sun never rises, the wind never blows, and Pokémon don't get along like they used to. When she learns of the Mythical Pokémon Jirachi, Lumity leaves her hometown to find them and make a wish to save the world. A wicked Haunter named Sombra tries to stop her, but is vanquished in some not-directly-killing sort of way during the climax. If Unown H was remembering the story correctly, it was pretty sure Sombra gets petrified and turned to stone.

"I'm sorry, Grandma." Celeste read aloud. "But, I have to go. If I don't, then the world will never know sunshine. I will never know sunshine." Celeste frowned and looked up at Unown H. "Why does Lumity have to be the one to make the wish? Wouldn't it be better if a stronger Pokémon left to find Jirachi?"

H didn't really have an answer, it was just how these sorts of stories went. A young Pokémon proves themself by going on a quest and saving everyone. If a stronger force came along to solve everything, then there would be no story.

Celeste continued to read passages from her book, occasionally stopping so she could ask the Unown questions about what was going on. It obviously couldn't answer them very well, but it tried its best to keep Celeste engaged. After they had been reading together well into the early afternoon, Aster made his way up the stairs—a plethora of documents in hand and the two other Unown by his side. H set the Skitty doll down and hurriedly floated up and over to its friends. They each gave one another happy blinks.

"Ah, little starlight. It's good to see you reading." Aster gave his protege a little smile as he set everything down on one of his many desks. "How are you enjoying 'The Last Wish,' my dear?"

"It's kinda confusing…" Celeste frowned, but that frown quickly turned to a smile. "But, I really like Lumity! She's so smart!" Celeste twirled around on her bed. "I want to be smart! And brave! Like Lumity!" The little Cosmog kept twirling, which made a delightful glittering sound.

"Ah, yes. Lumity is a very good character. I remember my little sister particularly liking her."

Celeste gasped excitedly, "You have a little sister?!"

Aster laughed, "hah, well, she isn't exactly 'little' anymore, starshine. However, yes, I have a sister. I was actually planning on introducing her to you soon. Would you like to meet your Aunt, Celeste?"

"Yes! Yes yes yes!" Celeste spun so quickly that she made herself dizzy. Aster levitated the baby legendary over to him and set her down gently on his desk. "I want to be friends with her!"

Aster's smile grew a little more solemn, the night in the garden weighing on his mind. Celeste was able to catch onto the clouding worry and frowned up at her guardian. The Gardevoir stayed silent, mulling over the possibility that…

No. Aster shook his head. Rosaline will see reason.

"Aster?…" Celeste whimpered.

"Oh? Sorry, star-bright. I was thinking about something." Aster's eyes lit back up as he paid greater attention to the little Cosmog. "You'll get to meet her soon enough, I promise."

Celeste perked back up. "Yay!"

"For now…" Aster grabbed one of the documents from the pile on his desk. "How about you help me with all this boring adult work?"

Celeste's frown returned. "…Do I have to?"

Aster laughed into his hand. "No, no. You don't have to. You can keep reading, or play with my assistants if you prefer. However, I wasn't going to make you actually do any of the boring stuff. I was just hoping you could do the ever important job of keeping me company."

Celeste giggled, now bouncing up and down in place. "I can do that!"

"Brilliant, little star. Let's take a look at all of my responsibilities today, shall we?"

Aster scanned through document after document, organizing them by their priorities and sorting out which of them deserved a call to action. Nothing much was actually happening in Constella, or even all of Adstrum, that required a great deal of Aster's current attention. The Gardevoir would occasionally try to explain what he was looking over to Celeste, but for the most part, everything seemed to go over the Cosmog's head. Aster didn't mind—it was a good way to get her exposed to these sorts of responsibilities early on.

"Ah, Celeste, look at this. See the wax seal on the front?" Aster turned the letter towards his protege, and she poked the front of it with her celestial appendage. "The design can show you where the letter came from before you even open it. This seal in particular belongs to the Constella police force. I wonder what Ms. Jennifer needs…"

Celeste watched as Aster silently read the letter to himself. The Gardevoir's face shifted from its usual neutrality to a state of concern—his eyes widening as he read further.

"Impossible… It—it couldn't be."

"What is it?" Celeste tilted her head, which was her whole body, as she worriedly glanced up at Aster.

Aster couldn't answer her. A Pokémon with amnesia… not a feral… If this is a human— The Prime Minister steadied himself. I must see this child in person. I cannot be too safe.

"Asterrr…" Celeste jingled her appendages up at the Gardevoir's face.

"It's nothing, my dear. Only a young Pokémon who wishes to see if I hold any records of his forgotten past. Absolutely nothing for you to worry about." Aster floated over his pen and dipped it in ink, already constructing his reply letter. "I'm going to try and help him figure out who he is."

"Really! That's so nice!" Celeste cheered.

"Indeed it is." Aster mumbled.

Icarus sat up suddenly in his bed, taking a series of panicked breaths.

Another nightmare.

Holding on tightly to his chest with his claws, the Prince scanned the state of his bed. Sheets were kicked all over, his blanket was now spread on the floor, and the Dialga plush had somehow ended up tossed all the way across the room.

Icarus released himself and saw the bed frame had deep claw marks now engraved in the wood. He would be embarrassed if he wasn't so viscerally horrified.

Still shaking, Icarus hopped off his mattress to begin tidying things. Though, he wasn't feeling particularly inclined to neatly tuck his linens… so tossing everything onto his bed was going to have to do for now. It only took a moment or two, and he saved retrieving his doll for last. Scooping the plush toy carefully into his claws, Icarus stared into its beady eyes and let himself whimper quietly in the sanctum of his dorm.

They're getting worse. Perhaps it would be worth speaking to someone about this…

A sudden knock on the already rattled Prince's door sent a sick shiver down Icarus's spine. His head whipped around as a growl escaped the Tyrunt's snout. "What?!" He asked harsher than intended, but was far too shaken to kick himself about it.

Xavian's timid voice came from the other side of the door. "A-apologies, Milord. You m-might want to come out here! There's a bit of a situa–"

The distinct sound of shattering porcelain cut the Axew's voice short, and Icarus could feel his self involved panic contort immediately into inquisitive fury. The young Prince tossed his doll haphazardly towards his bed before shoving through the door, and the Axew noble below him motioned frantically with their claws towards the common area.

Icarus asked no questions as he stormed his way across the hall. Shouting, snarling, hissing, and other sounds more befitting of ferals than a class of the kingdom's best reached the Prince's ear drums—the vile spitting didn't stop even as Icarus reached the scene.

Melrose, who could be mistaken for a swirling thunderstorm, was hunched on her four paws atop the central coffee table. The static electricity charging through her fur made the mouse Pokémon look ravenous and twice her actual size. Her eyes were dead set on Neptune, who floated idly across the room with his tendril arms crossed.

"You ain't nothing but a whole-lotta big talk!" Melrose snarled through gritted teeth, her tail lashing and sending sparks from its tip. "Take everything you said back right now, or I'll zap you into next week!"

"You're a barbarian." Neptune stated plainly, glancing towards the shattered vase on the floor below him. "It would do you good to learn your place, commoner! You're the one who owes me an apology for the clear lack of respect and blatant hostilities. It's as if you were raised in a barn." A sly smirk crept onto the corners of his translucent lips. "Oh, wait. That's right."

Melrose's foot tensed up as she readied herself for a powerful leap. Ashe gave her a terrified look, shouting as her fluffy tail stood up on its end. The Minccino reached her paw out towards her friend, but couldn't break through the intense electricity in the air. Everyone watched as Melrose lunged at the ghostly Water-Type, yowling with a wild might. Neptune's eyes widened, but the Frilish did not move from Melrose's frenzied path. Instead of the fragile jellyfish Pokémon being struck by lightning, a fast-acting Icarus threw himself in the way—absorbing the attack with his stone scales.

Silence overtook the room as Melrose tumbled to the ground, freezing in place once she realized what had just happened. A Tyrunt snarling loudly at her before turning his head up at the crowd. Icarus roared, electricity still bouncing off of his rough hide.

"What in Arceus's name is GOING ON HERE?!"

Everyone kept quiet. Eyes were dodging interlocked gazes, and nobody dared move a muscle. Once Icarus turned his head back down towards Melrose, the little Pikachu's nose twitched and static bounced around her cheeks. Neptune was the next victim of the Prince's scorn, but his expression remained calm.

"Your Grace, I was enjoying a pleasant conversation with Florence about our class teams, when all of a sudden this country rat interrupted and began screaming at me."

Melrose clenched her fists and jumped to her feet. "That's not–"

The feathers around Icarus's neck puffed out wildly, but even as his flaming eyes struck Melrose—the Pikachu did not stop.

"That snotty—no good—pompous–!" Melrose's cheeks sparked. Her accent was now growing thicker and thicker as she rambled. "His Lordship was sayin' all sorts-o-things 'bout how commoners don't belong in this here school! Gabbin' 'bout how his mock-team was the best, and that Team Rising was gonna fail! But, I told him—mah team's a goodun! And… and, I told 'im you and I were a great team!" Melrose stomped forward. "But, he said you and I ain't even friends!"

Neptune scoffed, floating past Icarus to point an accusatory tendril at the Pikachu below him. "A Prince such as Icarus would have no reason to associate with a commoner like–"

" Enough ." Icarus cut Neptune off, tail lashing. "Did you say all those things, Atlantis?"

The Jellicent stirred, turning his head away from the Prince. "More or less. I used significantly more intelligent language than this country bumpkin did. However, Your Highness, Melrose assaulted me. You just saw how she made a second attempt!"

Icarus glanced back down at Melrose. "Is this true?"

"Milord, you can see for yourself if you–"

"I asked Melrose." Icarus grew stern. "Is what Young Atlantis said true?"

Melrose clammed up, looking down at the floor and avoiding Icarus's eyes. Her mouth opened slightly. "He…"

A quiet pause as Melrose patted the frizzled fur on her arm down.

"…But, he was the one–"

"That's not what I asked , Melrose! As your Prince, I expect you to be honest with me. However, you're blame shifting!"

Melrose trembled, tears forming in her eyes as she stared up at Icarus. She clenched her fists tightly, nose twitching, and cheeks sparking brightly as she could no longer hold herself together. "You–"

"I what , Melrose? Go on! Tell me!"

"You–! You're–!" Melrose dimmed, sinking into herself. "My friend… aren't you…?"

Icarus stopped growling… and slowly pulled away. He was now cripplingly aware of how everyone was staring at him. Suddenly, he was frozen.

"I—As Prince, I'm expected to attempt to get along with many types of Pokémon–"

"That's not what I asked ." Melrose sniffled.

At first, Icarus took a shocked step back… but then, a deep growl erupted from his throat. "How, Fucking, DARE YOU!" Icarus roared at a deafening volume. "YOU CANNOT TURN THIS ON ME, PIKACHU! All I'm trying to do is MEDIATE. I'm sure things are different in the countryside , but you cannot just get into dangerous physical altercations with other Pokémon! With your classmates!" His tail lashed and his nostrils flared. "You want people to stop insulting your heritage? Then, stop behaving like a FERAL !"

Melrose broke into a sob as Icarus kept yelling at her, but the Dragon-Type stopped scolding her to take a break and point his aggression towards Neptune. "A Lord should know better than to behave like this. Don't let it happen again, Atlantis."

Neptune didn't say anything, he just blinked slowly.

Icarus glanced at everyone else while clearing his throat loudly. "Breakfast starts soon. Compose yourselves and be ready to leave in ten minutes. Have I made myself clear?" After no verbal objections, Icarus stormed back to his room. Slamming the door behind him, the Prince slid his back against the wall and fell to the floor—thumping onto his rear end.

What just… happened?

Chapter Text

Icarus pushed himself off the ground. It took everything in him not to erupt into endless roars of frustration. He suppressed the urge by digging his claws deeply into the wooden bed frame, gritting his teeth tightly. It had only been three days of classes. Three days—and Pokémon were already at each other's throats.

Unbeknownst to him, however, was how the rest of the Pokémon reacted to the Prince suddenly storming off to his room. Melrose's fur was being smoothed down by Owin, the only other Electric-Type of the group. Small bolts of static jumped between them, but the two Pikachu seemed unbothered.

Meanwhile, Xavian would usher everyone to return to their rooms and get ready for the day. There was uncomfortable glancing, anxiety and fury all mixing between Pokémon, but soon enough the group was forced to get on with their day whether they liked it or not.

As Adeline guided everyone to the dining hall for breakfast, the heavy silence was carried by nearly every student. It was even more obvious that something was wrong when everyone ate with such limited energy. Despite the sour mood, none of the adults wanted to get involved with the grievances of teenagers. So, embittered they would remain.

Icarus glanced up from his meal every once in a while, seeing Melrose completely avoiding his gaze. He didn't feel guilty, not even a little, for raising his voice or putting his foot down. She was in the wrong, after all. Still, it was unpleasant that this was somehow everyone's issue—and navigating the situation was going to be difficult.

She'll get over it once the day is over, surely. Icarus thought to himself as he gobbled down another mouthful of porridge. Melrose always finds something to be overly chipper about.

The first class of the day was combat training, so once breakfast was over Adeline led everyone outside to the practice yard. Captain Rosaline was already setting up training dummies, and flashed everyone a warm smile as they drew close enough to see. The Gallade approached the students, placing a hand over her heart and bowing her head. Adeline waved goodbye as she made her way back to the castle, leaving Rosaline alone with the young group.

"Good morning, everyone. Nothing like a spot of training after breakfast, hmm?" There was a dull murmur over the class, one of a deflated sense of energy, that gave Rosaline a sincere frown. "Tough crowd? Okay then, maybe this will hype you all up!"

Rosaline grabbed her spear and started to spin in, using both hands to circle it like a fan before suddenly stopping to throw it, sending it straight for the center of a target. The bull's-eye split the target down the middle, and sent both wooden pieces collapsing to the ground.

This impressive maneuver was enough to get the students cheering, buzzing with excitement and wagging tails. Rosaline's smile returned to her. "That's the spirit! Alright, today I'd like to teach you all about basic attacks. Sometimes, we don't have time in the middle of combat to prepare our moves, so a swift punch in the jaw or strong kick to the groin has to suffice!"

Rosaline demonstrated on a training dummy, slamming the blades of her arms into the lifeless mannequin's sides. The leather almost sliced open from the sheer force, and the dummy toppled to the ground.

"A basic attack is sometimes just enough to get us out of danger, or the last strike we need to K.O. an opponent. Using a great deal of our moves can lead to over-exhaustion, but basic attacks are much easier for Pokémon to muster." Rosaline placed her hands on her hips and looked back down at her pupils. "I would like everyone to stand in front of a dummy and try it out!"

There were enough punching bags in the yard for each of the Academy’s students to pair up with one, and Icarus stood firmly in front of the biggest Rosaline had. The instructor watched as each of the students attacked their dummy, all eleven of them going about it in different ways. Icarus couldn't help peeking at Melrose, who turned heel and kicked the dummy down with her two back legs.

Pretty good. Her form needs work, but that's nothing practice won't fix.

"Great job, Melrose!" Rosaline called from across the court. "Your form needs a little work, but that's nothing practice won't fix!" The Pikachu shot her instructor an unsure smile, but quickly went back to battering her stationary foe.

Ha, see. Told you. Icarus laughed to himself.

The Prince watched a few of his other classmates fight their immobile opponents. Ashe seemed to struggle greatly with mustering up enough force for an attack, Xavian was using their tusks to wail on the mannequin's side, and Blitz was just raking the stuffing and sand out with his talons. They were all amateurs in the ways of combat, but that was to be expected.

Icarus ruffled his feathers and charged his dummy, leaping into the air and spinning 360 degrees before slamming it with his tail. The mannequin was sent practically flying, and Icarus gave himself a proud smirk.

"Wow! Very impressive, my liege." Rosaline approached the Tyrunt. "But, try to take it down a notch? We're practicing basic attacks. There's no need for all that dazzle."

Icarus held himself back from gawking, an embarrassed blush making it past his scales. He turned away from everyone, but could still hear faint giggling from… Melrose, for certain. There were other Pokémon mocking him, but Icarus knew the sound of Melrose's laugh all too well.

Whatever. It's better to be too much than too little. They're just jealous they can't keep up.

Rosaline lifted one of her arms and whistled, signaling everyone to stop. "These attacks are looking really good, as far as newcomers go. Glad to see we've already got a great foundation for strong warriors ahead of us." The Gallade gestured out to the whole group with both her arms. "Next up, I'd like everyone to partner up with a Pokémon to spar."

The class glanced amongst themselves with varying emotions, and Rosaline crossed her arms. "Well, don't get too excited." A few students rubbed the backs of their heads sheepishly, while others turned away and shrugged. The Captain sighed. "It will be basic attacks only, and the winner is just the first one to land a blow. I mostly want you all to practice dodging and identifying opportunities." Rosaline looked around, counting in her head. "Oh, and since there are an odd number of you… someone will be going twice."

"I will spar twice." Icarus volunteered immediately.

"Excellent. Thank you, Your Grace. Everyone, find a partner then."

The others scrambled about to find pairs, but Icarus waited to see who would come to him. The Tyrunt watched as Florence and Neptune paired up, then Xavian and Owin, Blitz and Delta, Melrose and Ashe, and finally Flick and Sabre. The Pokémon that was left alone was–

Himself.

Rosaline stayed quiet for a moment, likely doing more mental math, before clearing her throat loudly. "Nice work everyone, but I need a pair to each fight Icarus once instead of each other."

"It's fine, Lady Rosaline. I can just sit this out, if necessary." Icarus's tail twitched. If they don't want to pair up with me, then I don't want to pair up with them either.

"No no, I want everyone to spar. How about… Ashe and Melrose?"

The Pikachu's ears dropped, and she clearly wanted to object, but Icarus huffed loudly to cut off any chance she had. "That is acceptable." Was all Icarus said before walking over to the both of them.

"Great! Now that everything is settled, let's start with… Blitz and Delta!"

Each bout went decently similar—a minute or so of the Pokémon dodging each other nervously before one of them finally landed a blow. Blitz looked confident—being able to fly in the air and avoid Delta's punches and kicks. But when he swooped down for a hit, he was knocked in the face by two spinning tails. Neptune and Florence practically danced around one another, but it would be Neptune and his longer limbs that would claim victory. Up next, Rosaline called for Icarus and Melrose.

The two of them took their places at the opposite ends of the court. Rosaline lifted her arm, then slammed it downwards in the air to signal both of them to start. Melrose rushed in quickly, which Icarus was prepared for. You have the patience of a hungry hatchling. Let's see if you can handle a tactical mind!

Icarus remained still, only moving when Melrose was hardly a few feet away. The Tyrunt smirked before taking a step and jumping clean over the Pikachu's head. When she turned around to see what had happened, she was met with a brutal head swing—much stronger than his light tussling when they had first met. Icarus cleanly knocked her to the ground, and Melrose did not look happy about it.

"Great work, both of you. Xavian, Owin, your tur–" Rosaline was interrupted by Melrose coughing and gagging, the wind knocked clean out of her. The Pikachu was struggling to breathe. Icarus's eyes widened. He didn't hit her that hard, did he? Rosaline hurried to Melrose's side. "You're alright, dear. You're alright…"

Rosaline helped the Pikachu up and instructed her to take deep breaths, her watery eyes looked panicked… but, Icarus knew she would be fine. Ashe, however, was trembling at the sight.

"Delta, go retrieve an Oran Berry and some water from that box over there." Rosaline said while glancing up at the Buizel.

"Yes, ma'am!" Delta rushed over to the ice box sitting in the training room, scampering back as quickly as she could with a waterskin and Oran Berry. Rosaline gently placed them in the Pikachu's hands. "Nibble on this and drink some water when you can. You'll feel better in no time." Melrose nodded her head, still taking loud heaves as her body tried to force oxygen in.

"Now, uh… where were we? Xavian and Owin, right?"

"C-Captain Rosaline…" Ashe whimpered, tugging slightly on her instructor's arm. "D-do I have to fight Icarus?"

"Well–" The question seemed to seriously take Rosaline off guard, and she struggled for a few moments to think of anything to say. "I mean… I guess you don't… have to, but, Ashe—You'll be fine." Rosaline declared assuringly. "It was just an accident. They happen when sparring."

Ashe looked up at Icarus, still trembling. Icarus felt something stir inside of him, and—unsure what to do, he just stood there and stared back.

Rosaline laughed it all off and returned to urging Xavian and Owin to get in their places. Both of them hesitated, but got in gear after Owin gave his friend a playful punch.

"I, the Hero of Legend Owin Thunderstrike, am gonna kick your butt—Xavian the Crimson Axe!"

Xavian blushed, but instead of how they usually shut Owin down—laughed in playful mocking. "A little known hero is no match for a noble such as myself. En Guarde!"

Neptune sneered slightly when Xavian played pretend back at their friend, but the Axew wouldn't have time to notice—as their instructor signaled them to start. Owin sped towards Xavian, aiming to get behind them. Xavian made great strides to keep their eyes on him as much as possible, but the Pikachu really was quick. Owin suddenly lunged from the Axew's left side, but they were able to tuck and roll out of the way.

Owin wiped the dirt off of his face, "excellent move, Crimson Axe! But, are you ready for this?" The Pikachu kicked himself off of the ground and began swiping his paws at the air, which was one of the least coordinated moves Owin had ever done. Xavian was hopping back, trying to analyze the perfect time to strike…

Xavian smirked when their friend went for an uppercut, leaving his torso unguarded. The Axew rammed one of their tusks into Owin's stomach, sending the Pikachu tumbling back against the dirt.

As Owin tilted his head back up, slowly processing his defeat, Xavian bowed towards him. "Très bien, mon amie. However, it seems Owin Thunderstrike has met his match." The Axew giggled into their claws as they walked over to Owin, reaching down to help him up. "Perhaps he should learn that Pikachu aren't built to fight with their front paws, hmm?"

Owin blushed, smiling as he took his friend's hand so he could get helped back up to his feet. For the first time, the Electric-Type was speechless.

"Very good, both of you! Flicky, Sabre, are you both ready?" Rosaline turned towards the saluting Charcadet and bowing Porygon.

"Yes, Captain!"

"Affirmative, Miss Rosaline."

It was hard to discern much emotion from their polygonal classmate, but it was pretty clear to everyone that Flicky was not much of a fighter. Still, the Porygon took his place at the far side of the training grounds and watched as Sabre rushed him the second Rosaline gave her signal. Flicky floated out of the way to avoid meeting the Charcadet's flaming fists, but didn't do much in the way of actually attacking back. It was an entertaining pattern of hovering around in the air just out of reach from each kick and punch until Sabre suddenly lunged into the air to strike Flicky in the beak.

"Hmm, alright. That was some great leg work, you two." Rosaline rubbed the back of her head before glancing back at Icarus. "Are you able to fight again, Your Highness?"

The Tyrunt nodded his head, already taking his place at the far end of the training grounds. He watched as Ashe timidly approached the other side. The Minccino looked… terrified of him. Icarus had that feeling from before stirring in him once again. It was… uncomfortable, but he didn't give himself time to process it.

I'll have to go easy on her. Ashe clearly isn't a fighter.

"Three… two… one… Begin!"

Upon Rosaline's shout, Icarus began walking quickly towards the cowering Normal-Type. He tried not to rush her, but was still planning on ending this quickly. As he drew near, Ashe's eyes grew wider and more terrified. Icarus raised one of his claws towards the sky, he would just slam her into the ground and relieve the Minccino of this battle—however, as their eyes met…

That look of fear, the way Ashe's face contorted at the sight of his wrath, it gave Icarus an overwhelming feeling of deja vu.

Unable to handle his stare any longer, Ashe turned her haunches towards Icarus and brushed a large amount of dirt right into the dragon's face with her tail. Icarus snarled with rage as he was drawn out of his thoughts, and swung his claws wildly in the direction the Minccino was. Icarus struck nothing, which surprised him enough to trip him slightly.

Ashe was now behind Icarus, and she lept onto his back in an attempt to best him. Though, this revealed her location to the Tyrunt, and he fell onto his back to crush the little Pokémon. Ashe was easily incapacitated by his sheer weight, and Icarus rolled off of her once the Minccino stopped moving. Everyone's eyes were now on the little patch of gray fur… who was completely knocked out.

Melrose, coughing up some of her water, gasped in shock at the sight of her friend. "Ashe!" The Pikachu hurried over with her half eaten berry, holding it up to the unmoving Minccino's mouth. After a few seconds of trying to get a fainted Pokémon to consume an Oran Berry, she snarled up at Icarus and pointed an accusatory finger up at him. "What's wrong with you?!"

Icarus's nose twitched, "it was a spar!"

"You could have let her win!"

"Why would I do that?!"

"So you wouldn't hurt another Pokémon!" Melrose growled. "Who am I kidding—I bet you like hurting Pokémon!"

"What?!"

"I thought 'you can't just get into dangerous physical alt-er-ca-tions with your classmates!' She’s fainted!" Melrose's cheeks sparked wildly. Icarus felt something overcome him, and fire started to lace the tips of his fangs—however, Rosaline shoved past both of them to pick Ashe up from the ground.

"Enough! Everyone, calm down!" The Gallade glared once at Melrose, then at Icarus, before turning back towards the rest of the class. Her face was calm, but there was an aura of worry to the Captain that wasn't there before. "You're all dismissed. I'm going to take Ashe to the nurse. I need you all to return to your common area. Prince Icarus, lead them there."

Rosaline didn't wait for an answer as she took the beaten up Minccino back inside of the castle. Icarus watched, a pang of guilt almost able to overtake him—but it was interrupted swiftly by another growl from the Pikachu below him.

Icarus closed his eyes and turned away from her, "let us return to our dorms."

"Good idea…" Xavian mumbled while fidgeting with their bowtie. "Quickly, everyone!" The Axew ushered everyone to follow as Icarus led the group of classmates to their common area. No one dared utter a word, whether it be from fear or shere awkwardness, so the entire trip was silent once again. Not even Owin opened his mouth to comment on anything, which would normally be a peaceful respite—but Icarus found himself missing it, if only just a tad. Anything to save him from this… feeling.

How am I supposed to fix this? What would Father do?…

Once they had made it back to the student quarters, everyone slugged their ways onto couches or into corners. Melrose was the sole exception, who quickly stormed off to her room. Icarus's tail twitched as he watched the Pikachu slam her door, but he didn't want to snap in front of everyone again. Instead, he turned to Xavian, who still had their claws entangled in their accessory.

"Lefevre, do you think you can handle watching everyone for a while? I wish to go find Rosaline."

"It should be no trouble, Milord. But…" Xavian glanced at Melrose's door before looking up at their Prince. "Are you sure?"

Icarus scowled. "What do you mean?"

Xavian rubbed their arm, eyes shifting, and shook their head solemnly. "Nevermind. It was inappropriate for me to question you. I shall watch our classmates."

"Thank you." Icarus grumbled before turning tail on his peers. Once the door had closed behind him, the Tyrunt dug through his Treasure Bag and retrieved the school map. The directions to the medical wing would surely be easy to remember after all of Miss Adeline's ramblings, but the map made it so that Icarus could be sure.

Icarus hadn't walked through the castle alone in what felt like ages—now always moving in swarms of classmates. The Tyrunt's large claws clicked and clacked against the stone floor, but the sounds of his footsteps weren't enough to drown out his thoughts. Icarus's pace slowed as he mindlessly watched his mark on the map move.

I wasn't trying to hurt her.

Icarus took a shallow breath–his own stomach twisting surprised him.

It isn't my fault I'm so strong.

Ashe's eyes flashed in his mind, and Melrose's words ran louder in his ears.

"What's wrong with you?"

Icarus started to shake. From anxiety? Anger? He wasn't exactly sure. The Tyrunt gripped his map hard enough to puncture it, and couldn't bother caring.

"What is her deal?!" Icarus couldn't help shouting to himself. "Ever since school started, she's been—she's–!"

"We are friends… aren't we?"

Icarus dropped his map on the ground and stared at the wall in silence. Why was she doing this to him? Why was Melrose treating him like he had burnt all her crops and tore down her house? The Pikachu's company was actually rather pleasant until all their classmates had arrived. Icarus usually felt able to keep up with everyone's expectations, but he couldn't possibly do that when he had no idea what Melrose's expectations of him actually were.

"Your Highness? Everything… okay?"

Icarus didn't realize his fangs were blazing until Basil's voice snapped him out of his state. The young Prince shook his head to blow away the heat in his mouth and let out a loud sigh, bending down to pick up his map. "I'm fine, truly. It's only that… this morning hasn't exactly gone my way."

Basil moved faster than Icarus, retrieving the map and reaching up to hand it to their Prince.

"Breakfast was off this morning. You were all so… quiet. Mint, Pepper and I got a little…" their eyes met Icarus's before suddenly pulling away. "W-worried…"

Icarus wanted to assure the little butler that everything was alright. But, it wasn't—and that was clear as day. So instead, the Dragon Pokémon let his head fall to his hands. Basil's eyes widened, and the Pansage would reach a shaky paw towards the Tyrunt that they would quickly yank away with a yelp once Icarus began his verbal tirade.

"Royals don't have friends! We have… close associates! For example, my Father and Prime Minister Aster. Or—or myself and my help at home, Jakob. He's a Pokémon that I like—I enjoy his company! But I would never call him… or, anyone, for that matter—my friend."

Icarus tore his head away from his claws and started to pace back and forth within the hall. Basil reached their arm back out towards him, but there was no stopping the Tyrunt now.

"Is there something I'm missing here? Some reason that I'm being sent to the slaughterhouse and executed by a dull, undignified blade of guilt?! Peasants are beneath my status, I wasn't even aware commoners were allowed to attend this school—yet, I still designate precious moments of my emotional time to wondering how I'm somehow making one of them upset? How is that fair to me? What does she gain by spitting in my face? How does she not understand that I can't shove all my classmates aside to shower her in some royal attention whenever she wants?!"

Icarus ended his pacing with a rough stomp on the hard floor, taking in deep breaths as he tried not to lose himself further to his rant. The Tyrunt kept his eyes on the floor, and it was all too tempting to keep rambling on and on. Instead, his own embarrassment caught up with him. "My apologies. This is extremely unbecoming of a Prince."

"Milord, I…" Basil took a deep breath. "I must admit—I have no idea what y-you're talking about. However…" The monkey Pokémon gave him a sheepish smile, eyes closed and hiding from the world. "Is there anything I can help you with? Anything at all? Even if it's just talking, I don't mind listening. In school, I was taught to always cater to my master's needs. As Prince of all Adstrum, it's obviously my sworn duty to aid you—Plus…" The Pansage blinked their eyes open, genuine fondness radiating from him. "You've already done the same for me. L-listen, I mean…"

Basil's words sapped bits of gloom through the Tyrunt's scales as if they were a literal antidote for sour stomachs. Icarus eyed the hospital room from across the hall, walking past the polite Grass-Type as he returned to his quest. "You've done more than enough for one early afternoon, Basil. Return to your regular duties. I… think I can handle this drama on my own." His tail twitched slightly. "I am a Prince, after all. Father insisted I study diplomacy, you know."

Once Icarus let himself have a little laugh, Basil giggled quietly behind him. Allowing himself a touch of humor seemed to calm the Dragon-Type down quite a bit.

Basil gave their Prince another bow, their tail swishing calmly behind them. "I believe you can handle anything, My Liege. Good luck all the same."

As both Pokémon returned on their ways, silence gripped the hall. Icarus's smile faded back into neutrality, and nearing the hospital wing required a great deal of fast-paced mental preparation. The Tyrunt could hear muffled conversation in the nurse's office, and quietly approached the door with apprehension. A slight bit of eavesdropping would do no harm, surely.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have thrown them all into this. Or, maybe I should have picked everyone's partner…"

"Oh, Rosaline." A soft, male voice accompanied her. "You teach a very rigorous class! I'm well prepared to see a lot of students coming here after learning a thing or two from you. Try not to beat yourself up about it. Besides, you train full grown knights! How are you not used to this?"

"It's different when it's kids!" Rosaline could be heard standing up. "I'm directly responsible for their safety."

"Hah, yes. That is true. However, these things happen. Although, Ashe probably isn't the only student we need to make sure is okay."

Both adults went quiet, and Icarus took this as a good opportunity to knock on the door. The Prince cleared his throat loudly, trying to act like he wasn't just listening in on their conversation. "Captain Rosaline, it's Icarus. I would like to see Ashe, if that is alright?"

"Ah, Icarus—My Prince–! I don't know. That's really up to–"

"Come right in, dear Drakkenburg!" The nurse sang as he opened the door, fluttering in the air by the handle. The Togetic flashed the Dragon-Type below him with a shining smile as Icarus awkwardly shuffled his way inside.

On one of the bleach white medical beds was Ashe, still knocked out but breathing steadily. Icarus felt his stomach twisting again. Maybe this was a bad idea, after all.

"She's going to be just fine, little Prince." The nurse rested a hand on Icarus from the air. "It was a light K.O., really. Reviver Seed oil isn't even necessary. She'll be fit as a fiddle in an hour, tops."

"That's good to hear," Icarus sighed into his chest. "I wasn't trying to–"

"I know…" Rosaline glanced down at His Highness with a sheepish smile. "I should have considered that this might happen. You're ahead of the other students in terms of combat skill, and I trusted you to know how to handle your own strength."

The Prince's nostrils flared. "I do know how to handle my strength! How dare you–?!"

Rosaline pulled back slightly, "I didn't mean to upset you, Milord! I was merely–"

Icarus interrupted her with a loud sigh. "Save it. I'm just in a bitter mood. I thought I would be the perfect fit for Class Leader, but now I'm not so sure."

Rosaline softened, and the Gallade tilted her head to one side. "My Prince, what makes you say that?"

"Everyone hates me." Icarus growled bluntly. "The nobles are beginning to lack respect for me, and the commoners think I'm a malevolent villain. I'm either a joke or a monster to them after everything that's happened today."

Rosaline shook her head, "Icarus, no one would dare think those things about you. Though, what do you mean by 'after everything that's happened?’ Would you like to tell me what's going on?"

"I really shouldn't," Icarus snarled quietly.

"Well, I suppose I can't make you." Rosaline looked towards the sleeping Minccino next to them and sighed. "But, you guys can trust us… okay? If there is anything any of you needs to tell us, the whole staff is here for you."

The nurse nodded his head. "Especially myself! I'm a trained counselor, I'll have you know! I've dealt with far worse than a bit of school turmoil."

Rosaline laughed, "it probably would be wiser to visit Doctor Mira than it would be to come to me. But, I'm still here if you ever need it. As a teacher and a sworn knight to you and the King, I promise to do whatever I can for you and your class, Icarus."

Icarus blinked up at his instructor, grateful but unsure of how to express that properly to her. He looked back at Ashe, stepping closer to the little Normal-Type and becoming eye-level with her face. Mira and Rosaline watched as the Prince closed his eyes and bowed his head. His voice was barely above a whisper as he apologized.

"I'm sorry, Ashe. I hope you can forgive me. However, I would understand if you didn't."

The two adults stayed quiet as Icarus turned around and began walking back to his room. Rosaline opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when Mira shook his head. Once Icarus was out of their sight, he gripped his arm with tight force—piercing his scales with his own claws.

Chapter Text

Xavian's eyes timidly trailed away from His Majesty to look at the rest of their class, who were all sulking or muttering amongst themselves. The Axew's tail drooped downwards, and the little noble let out a short sigh. This was, in polite terms, a right mess.

The Heir of House Lefevre would not be deterred by a little discomfort though, that much was certain. Prince Icarus entrusted them to watch over everyone, and Xavian knew who else they would count on for assistance.

The scruffy Pikachu they had in mind was pacing back and forth by one of the lounge's very large windows, thinking aloud and miming with his hands. Xavian cleared their throat as they approached, but Owin remained engaged with his monologue.

"Could this be the end of peace among classmates?" Owin's dramatic declaration was barely above a whisper, "or, will our heroes join together and rediscover what's most important: the Power of Frie–"

"Owin?" Xavian tapped their companion's shoulder.

"AH!" Static bristled along the Pikachu's spine as he sharply turned towards the Axew beside him. Owin rubbed the back of his head sheepishly once he realized it was just Xavian. "Oh, sorry. How long were you trying to get my attention this time?"

"Not long," Xavian put simply. "Listen, Prince Icarus put me in a temporary position of authority while he goes to, I assume, speak with Lady Rosaline. I'd like your help with something, if you wouldn't mind."

Owin saluted, a bright smile on his face. "Anything for you! Whaddya need, Milady-lord?"

Xavian's heart swelled with a bit of fondness, but they kept their expression plain. "Nothing too difficult—I just need to speak with Melrose… who has, as everyone noticed, locked herself in her room. You keep an eye on everyone out here, and tell them that if they need anything—to come and see me."

"Owin Thunderstrike, at your service!" The Electric Pokémon hopped onto one of lovely velvet chairs and stood on its back, now literally looking over everyone. Xavian figured this would do just fine, and gave their friend a small smile before hurrying along to Melrose's private quarters.

It took quite a few knocks before the Pikachu even remotely answered, and it was hardly more than a muffled "go away."

"Please let me in, Melrose. I'd like to speak with you—and, keeping the rest of us out isn't going to do you any good." Xavian jostled the door handle slightly. Obviously, it was locked, but they figured it was worth a shot anyways.

"I'm not keeping anyone out…" Melrose's pout was barely audible through the door. "Everyone else is pushing me away."

"Melrose…" Xavian thought for a moment, choosing their next words carefully. "That may be true, or feel like it is true, but right now I'm trying not to let that happen."

Both Pokémon went quiet for a moment, and Xavian worried that perhaps they were being a touch too dramatic. However, after another beat and a slight bit of shuffling, there was a click—The door unlocked, and Melrose's small yellow snout poked through. Her puffy red eyes were visible under a make-shift blanket hood. Xavian frowned, nuzzling their way inside the room and closing the door behind them. The two stood at the door for a moment, only for tears to start bubbling out of Melrose's eyes.

All Xavian could think to do was pat her gently on the shoulder. Words would come when Melrose calmed back down.

The Pikachu let out a long, hard cry as she hugged herself with the blanket. "I miss my Papa!" She blurted out suddenly, clenching the bits of sheets in her paws tight. "I miss my family, and my farm… I never should'ah come to this here school!"

Xavian placed a hand over Melrose's, trying to pull her fingers off the blanket so she wouldn't hurt herself from gripping it so tightly. "I'm sorry… You know, I miss my father as well." The little Axew sighed, slowly taking the tearstained blanket off of their classmate and draping it back over her mattress. "I'm sure this is the most time almost all of us have spent away from our families." Xavian thought for a moment, "Except, perhaps, Owin…"

Melrose sniffled, wiping a bit of snot away with her arm. "Whaddaya mean?…"

"Oh, well… Owin doesn't exactly have a family. That's why he was living at House Lefevre."

Melrose still looked a tad confused. "Really? I mean—he's so chipper for a… well, an…"

"Orphan?" Xavian shrugged their shoulders. "Oui, yes, I suppose he is. Don't worry much about it, though. House Lefevre has been a great home to Owin, and… Honestly, I don't really know what I would do without him."

Melrose whimpered quietly as she plopped herself down on the floor. "I thought I was making a pal like that. But, I hardly see Xander. And, Icarus…"

Xavian raised a claw. "I don't want to sound harsh, but I'll risk it. A best friend isn't always made in a few days, Melrose. Bonds take time."

"I know that!" Melrose huffed as her cheeks crackled with static. "It's just–" The Pikachu deflated once again. "Nothin' is going the way I thought it would, lately…"

"You grew up very sheltered, oui? I can't say my upbringing was much different." Xavian looked out of Melrose's window, enjoying the view of the garden in the afternoon sun. It reminded them of their own yard and greenhouse, and the pathway leading to the nearby Mystery Dungeon Xavian's father hunted in. The very Mystery Dungeon Xavian had met Owin in months prior.

"You know, when I found Owin all alone, we didn't exactly become instant friends. I took him for a raging lunatic. However, even while he accused me of being a foul minion of evil…" Xavian rubbed their hands together, slowly sitting down on the floor next to Melrose. "I could see the bruises from the ferals who had gotten to him before me. In his eyes… I saw what was only a scared kid. Even the most annoying Pokémon deserve help." Xavian chuckled softly, thinking back on the whole experience fondly.

Melrose glanced back at Xavian. "Xander and I sorta found each other like that… only, he was the one to save me from ferals. I felt like we really clicked, and I still consider him my best friend even—if we only met about a week ago." The Pikachu tugged at her scarf. "Maybe that's just plain silly…"

Xavian gave Melrose a soft smile, "as much as Owin is my best friend now, I really didn't want to admit it for what felt like ages. As someone who didn't have many friends outside of noble obligations, I wasn't exactly inclined to open my heart like that. I thought it was all kiddy-stuff." Xavian took a small breath. "What I'm trying to say is… these things take time."

Melrose stirred uncomfortably.

"…And, they're hard to get right." Xavian placed a hand on Melrose's shoulder, her fur being much coarser than Owin's, and gave the Pikachu a small massage. "I should apologize for what I said to you before, about Icarus needing to watch who he associates with. I didn't mean to come across the way I did, but it still upset you. I'm worried it stuck with you all this time."

Melrose sniffled and rubbed her nose again before turning to the Axew close to her and smiling slightly. "It's alright. I did scurry before you could really say anything else… I maybe just wanted an excuse to be mad."

Xavian tilted their head, curious of the Pikachu's confession. Melrose hardly seemed the type to like being upset, to be granted catharsis by fury, but then again– "Is that why you keep stirring up trouble?"

"Wh–" Melrose casted an angry glance at Xavian, making the Dragon-Type flinch, but… she would soften hardly a second later. "I am stirring up trouble, aren't I?…"

"I wouldn't call attacking classmates, storming off suddenly, and shouting at the Prince anything else, Melrose." Xavian said with a trace of amusement. "You've had a rough time since arriving at the academy, haven't you?"

It took Melrose a moment or two before nodding, her sulking ears bouncing with her head.

"I know what would help," Xavian said while squeezing the Pikachu's shoulder gently. When Melrose looked back up at them, Xavian gave them a sweet smile and gestured towards the door. "I know it hasn't been very long, but there are Pokémon out there who really like you—for you. That's more than I can say about myself."

Melrose frowned. "I can't think of a single one of 'em who don't like you."

"Are you kidding me?" The Axew giggled as they stood back up, bowing towards Melrose as they would any other noble. "They like Lady Xavian Lefevre, darling heir to House Lefevre ." Xavian's tail twitched with amusement. They stood back up straight to adjust their bowtie. "Every noble has a 'presentable' version of themselves, one that must hardly ever falter. Childhoods are cut short to instill etiquette into us as early as possible. A few years ago, sitting by my father at a dinner, I realized I would never feel like a kid ever again."

Xavian glanced back at the door, thinking of Owin likely still standing up on that chair. Perhaps he had fallen off by now, inciting laughter from his crestfallen classmates. He would just pick himself back up and walk it off…

Melrose had stood up behind Xavian, nudging them with her paw. Xavian looked back at her, frowning at the sight of more bubbly tears pouring down her cheeks.

"I wasn't the one to upset you… was I?"

Melrose shook her head no before planting it against Xavian's shoulder, letting tears roll down the Axew's scales. Xavian reached up to pet at her ears, not sure what else to do as they quietly stood in the room together.

"I ain't used to bein' around Pokémon who are just allowed to hate me if they wanna." Melrose mumbled, almost too quiet to hear. "Everyone back home… if we got inna fight… there wasn't any hate, not really– even if you said it, you never ever meant it. Papa would always make sure we talked it out. Papa would… P-papa…"

Melrose hugged Xavian, which took the Axew by surprise. Electric-Types always moved so quickly, even during little things like hugs and handshakes. Xavian hugged the Pikachu back once they had fully adjusted to her surprise embrace.

"I don't wanna be a farm girl. I wanna be an explorer. But, what if I—I'm not–"

"Hey now—Deep breaths." Xavian inhaled slowly, waiting for Melrose to do the same before both of them let it out. "One problem at a time, oui?"

The Axew would carefully pull themself away from Melrose, making sure she didn't feel Xavian was leaving her behind. "Let's go join our classmates. Together, okay?"

Melrose's eyes locked onto Xavian's extended hand—slowly, she would take it in her own paw.

Melrose couldn't help looking solemn as she was guided back out to the common area to the rest of her classmates. Her eyes stung from crying and her nose was caked in a small crust of snot. The Pikachu felt like she looked the ugliest she ever had, and the feeling got worse when everyone stopped what they were doing to look at her.

"Mel!" Owin shouted from across the room, hopping off of his furniture perch and rushing over to his friends. He gave Xavian a playful salute. "Nothing to report, Milordy! Everyone mostly just sat there in silence. It was… really starting to bum me out, actually."

Melrose glanced back at Xavian, who was chatting happily with the very Pokémon they were talking about just a minute ago. Seeing the smiles on both their faces… Melrose glanced down at the floor and rubbed her arm.

Then, a small idea popped into her head—her ears bouncing upwards as if they were inflated by it. "Hey, Xavian? Think ya could… maybe get everyone's full attention for a moment? I kinda want to try somethin'."

"Oh? Alright, Melrose." Xavian shuffled to the middle of the room and cleared their throat. With how quiet it was, they caught everyone's attention in an instant. "Excusez-moi, mes amies. Melrose has something she wishes to say to everyone."

The sniffling Pikachu made her way over to Xavian, who bowed out of the way once Melrose had everyone's attention.

"Uh… hey, y'all…" Her voice croaked, a side effect from all that wallowing—however, she kept going. "I just—I wanted everyone to know that I'm real sorry about all the messes I keep makin'." Neptune audibly scoffed, which made Melrose bite her lip, but she wouldn't let this stop her. "I've been a jerk."

"Pfft, no you haven't!" Blitz waved his wing dismissively.

"Yeah, I have…" Melrose said while shooting a side glance at her avian classmate. "I tried to beat up Neptune, I keep snappin' at our class leader—things like that. And, y'know what, even if you're also a real jerk–" The Pikachu's head swung towards the ghostly noble who was casting his judgemental glance intensely. "That ain't no excuse to try and zap you into next week. So, Neptune, I'm sorry."

Eyes now all on the snobby Frillish, young Atlantis kept all his snark to himself. Instead, he would scoff one more time as he turned his head away. "Just don't let it happen again, peasant."

Xavian cleared their throat loudly, casting a glare at Neptune as they walked back over to Melrose's side. "That's enough of that. Lower class than us or not, we're all students at Red Academy. In these walls, we're equals."

Melrose's smile returned as she looked at the Axew beside her… but it faded once Neptune's voice pitched in yet again.

"You're only saying that because you got in with a commoner at your heels." The Frillish waved a tendril at Owin, who was holding back sparks of his own. " We got into this school because we deserve to be here."

Blitz fluttered from his perch across the room and landed next to Melrose. " We got into this school because we earned it. "

Silence again. Blitz and Neptune were staring daggers into each other, but Xavian wedged themself in between their invisible lasers. "Enough, no more othering! We all belong in this academy." Xavian glanced at Melrose with smiling eyes before continuing. "Our year is the most diverse class yet, and we should celebrate that!"

"Affirmative!" Flick trilled as his polygonal limbs twirled. "Lord Lefevre is both statistically accurate and pleasantly optimistic."

There was some jubilant chatter starting to shroud the room, but before it could go on for too long—Melrose waved her arms around to regain everyone's attention.

"Saying sorry wasn't the only thing I wanted to do! I, uhh…" As everyone quieted down, Melrose had to swallow back a bit of anxiety. "I know this might sound kinda stupid… like, one of those things they do in stories that no one ever does in real life… but, I would like to start over–"

Melrose stood up on the table that was the centerpiece of everyone's introductions on the first day of school.

"Hi y'all! My name is Melrose! I was raised by my Pa, Gaius, in Happy Apple Farm. I miss my family a mighty ton, but… I'm sure y'all miss yours too. It's very nice to meet everyone, and I can't wait to be a student here at Red Academy!"

Enough silence passed to make Melrose's ears droop, but soon—Owin rushed over and shook his fellow Pikachu's paw.

"Nice to meet you, Melrose! My name's Owin Thunderstrike!" Owin struck a pose, and a spark of static left his fingertip as he did so. Melrose giggled.

"I am Xavian Lefevre, of House Lefevre. However, just Xav is fine." Xavian gave Melrose an amused smile and a short bow of their head. "I'm Owin's best friend, and I would get used to the posing if I were you."

Melrose giggled again, a bit louder this time, and soon other students started to join in their game. The little Pikachu's eyes started to fill with tears again, but this time it was different. Overwhelmed with emotion, Melrose let herself laugh and laugh as almost everyone poorly pretended to meet her for the first time.

There was a knock at the door before it cracked open slowly. Ms. Adeline was standing beside a cloudy-eyed Icarus, and the laughing quickly came to a halt.

"Aww, don't stop having fun on my account." The Clefairy gave everyone an exaggerated frown before opening the door wider. "It is time to come back to class, however. Best not to keep your instructor waiting, hmm?"

Melrose hopped down from the table and followed everyone as they filed into the hall. She couldn't help casting a glance up at Icarus, who looked… tired.

Adeline took her usual position ahead of everyone and steered the students to Keldeo's classroom. The Mythical Pokémon beamed brightly once everyone had arrived, waiting for them to all take their seats before giving Adeline an affirmative nod. The Clefairy closed the door on her way out, not paying any mind to the Keldeo's wink.

"Good afternoon, students! I hear you've all had a fairly eventful morning!"

Melrose watched as Icarus sunk into his seat.

"I've been told to let you know that Ashe is going to be just fine, but we're gonna keep her under close watch for the rest of the day. Combat isn't an easy thing to practice. Trust me, hah, I know." D'artagnan jostled his mane with a flip of his head. "You'll get used to it. And, I bet my class will help!"

It was difficult to pay attention to Keldeo's lecture when all Melrose could think about was Icarus. She ran all sorts of hypothetical conversations and apologies in her head, but none of them seemed right. There was no way Icarus even wanted to talk to her, especially from the look on his face. And still, Melrose couldn't completely combat that feeling that she was wronged—that Icarus should say sorry first. But, the Pikachu doubted that was ever going to happen. Something about Icarus being the one to ask for forgiveness first seemed implausible.

Keldeo's voice started to fade back into Melrose's focus. "Most E and D rank outlaws are complete jokers. Nothing to really worry about, even as a civilian. The ones that do slip off with someone's cash or valuables are usually apprehended within hours. I've even found a petty crook knocked out in the very Mystery Dungeon they ran off to hide in."

"Mister D'artagnan?" Sabre said while raising his hand. "What rank is Team Outlier?"

"Team Outlier?" The Keldeo scoffed. "A bunch of over-hyped nonsense echoing out from our sound boxes reaching the minds of our youth. They're hardly more than a bunch of jokesters themselves."

"But…" Sabre looked displeased with his instructor's answer. "My big brother said they've managed to break into Castle Drakkenburg–"

"Yeah, maybe for like, a few seconds!" Keldeo took a sharp breath before regaining his already minimal professionalism. "Team Outlier is made up of several small-time bandits. They're only able to stir up trouble because their leader is S rank. S rank and… unidentified."

"It sounds to me like you have something personal against them." Icarus spoke, his tone drier than Adstrum's arid desert region. "A failed arrest, Sword of Justice?"

Keldeo's nostrils flared, but he responded to his Prince with a hearty laugh.

"The Outliers are all bark and no bite. They pop up, give a little media scare, then go back into hiding. If Captain Rosaline, the Police, or the Guild Association actually thought finding them would be worth the resources—we would have bothered digging them out by now. But, they aren't."

"Then, shouldn't there be no trouble arresting them?" Icarus almost smirked, but it faded fast. "The Swords of Justice are a Master Rank Team, am I not mistaken? Your irritation at their status and creation of civil unrest suggest more than enough reason to–"

"ANYWAYS," Keldeo laughed louder as he marched towards his desk. "C and B rank outlaws are when experienced Defense Teams get deployed. They usually have true bounties on their heads, and receive more than a slap on the wrist upon arrest–"

Melrose stopped listening again, watching as Icarus's tail flicked to-and-fro. Frustration suited His Highness much more than apathy did, but there was a glint of something else in the Tyrunt's eyes that Melrose couldn't help but notice. He clearly wanted to say something, but couldn't bring himself to for whatever reason…

Chapter Text

Xander's paws were clammy against Constella's stone brick path. He felt a little silly with the small red bow pinned just beside his left ear, but the Litten smiled as he nudged it with his paw. Gloria insisted he borrow it for his "little meet-up," and deep down Xander thought it made him look cute.

The sun wasn't quite setting yet, but the last thing Xander wanted was to be late and make Dimitri think he was blowing him off. Worst case scenario would be him waiting around the tea stand for a few extra minutes, which was no big deal.

The little Fire-Type glanced around at the Pokémon passing by as he got closer to where his new friend worked. No one was paying much mind to him, even that lousy TM merchant had better things to do than give Xander dirty looks, yet still—it felt like someone was staring. No amount of crowd searching gave the Litten ease of mind.

Upon entering the large central square, Xander began feeling a lot better. The nerves were still tugging at his fur, but even yards away—the sight of lime fur adjusting bags of coffee beans made Xander purr. The Litten subconsciously picked up his pace, waving at Dimitri as the Sprigatito worked.

"Hey—Sorry that I'm early. I just, you know, didn't want to be late."

Dimitri's ears perked up at the sound of Xander's voice. He lifted his head up and spotted his friend waving a paw and smiling at him, which got Dimitri to smile back. "No worries, my shift is almost over anyways. Just hang tight for a minute." The Grass-Type glanced over at his boss, still hard at work haggling with a customer, and shrugged his shoulders. "Actually, I probably shouldn't interrupt him. I'll just start getting ready."

The Sprigatito slid his apron off over his head and folded it neatly into a little cubby, trading it for a cherry red bowtie. He purred just loud enough for Xander to hear as he dressed himself up. "I don't have any time to groom, so hopefully I don't stink." Dimitri teased as he slipped out of his boss's sight.

"Honestly, you just smell like alfalfa and coffee." Xander chuckled quietly. "I've certainly smelled worse."

While on the subject, Dimitri's nose twitched a little as he caught Xander's scent. A smirk traced his muzzle. "Is that… old people cologne?" The Sprigatito held back a laugh with a paw against his mouth. Xander blushed hard.

"Uh… Well, when I told my employers that I was going to hang out with you today—they went a little…" Xander exhaled as he gestured to all of him with one sweeping paw motion. "...Overboard."

Dimiri's humored snickering shifted to a kind sigh. "Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. That's really sweet of them. You clean up really nice, too. Love the lil' bow." A blush peppered Dimitri's cheeks as his tail swished happily from side to side.

Xander eased up again, face bright from his own blush. "Yeah. Heh… A-anyways. You wanted to take us to a café?"

Dimitri nodded his head, "follow me! It's a little tricky to get there, but we have plenty of time. I wanted to get there around closing."

Xander waited for Dimitri to take the lead, admiring how skilled the Sprigatito was at maneuvering around other citizens strolling the square. Keeping close, Xander followed Dimitri down a path that appeared seldom traveled. Moss clung to the cobblestone, trash littered the ground, and the sun's rays no longer broke through to light their way.

"Welcome to Obsidian Alley," Dimitri said with a cheery tone.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you were going to mug me." Xander said while padding up closer to Dimitri.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that part of the plan." Dimitri gave Xander a side glance, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Up ahead is where I bring cute, innocent Pokémon and rob 'em for everything they've got. Hopefully you don't mind."

Xander felt his face get hotter, though lack of verbal response seemed to make Dimitri nervous.

"Sorry, that wasn't very funny."

"No—no, no it was. I just… you…" Xander let out a nervous laugh. "Cute Pokémon?"

Dimitri stopped walking for a second, blinking a few times before his own blush became more obvious. "Huh, yeah, I guess I did say that–" The Sprigatito rubbed the back of his head with a paw. "Sorry, I don't do subtlety well. I've been making my thoughts about you kind of obvious. Is it making you uncomfortable? I can try to cut it out."

There was no denying it for Xander any longer—this was a date.

Yet somehow, it didn't freak the Litten out. In fact, having the air cleared like that relaxed him. "I don't mind, really. It just might take me a second to get used to it."

"Whew, that's a relief. 'Cause, I seriously have no idea if it has an off button. My ex sort of trained me in the art of constant flirtation—never quite shook the habit away."

"Aren't you supposed to avoid bringing up past relationships on dates?" Xander smirked. "You're blowing it, champ."

Dimitri playfully swiped at Xander's ears, crouching down in a pouncing stance as his tail twitched happily. Xander instinctively mirrored the pose, and now both cat Pokémon looked ready to wrestle. Suddenly, Dimitri booked it down the path—and Xander didn't hesitate to chase him.

"You're going to make me sweat off this cologne!"

"Good! You smell like a musty couch!"

The two of them laughed as they ran down the street, hardly another Pokémon in the way of their game. Xander's heart pounded in his chest as his legs carried him as fast as they could after Dimitri. Running on fours like this used to take so much thought, but it was becoming so natural to him. Still, running started to suck after a little while.

Dimitri hopped atop a pile of rugged potato sacks, pointing a condescending claw down at Xander. "You're slower than a Muk after a meal!"

Xander caught up to Dimitri, heaving slightly. "I didn't want… my bow… to fall out." The Litten had to sit, letting himself pant even if it felt unflattering.

"Whoa, you look tuckered out. Must not be big into cardio." Dimitri hopped back down. "That's okay. Luckily for you, this little shop here is our destination."

Xander turned his head up towards the building next to him: The Autumn Leaf. The sign for the café had a Trevanent logo, and the curtains were down—hiding the room inside. As he looked at it, Xander started getting a weird feeling about the place.

Dimitri pushed open the door and poked his head in. "Chamomile?"

Xander could hear a feminine, yet stern voice call to him. "Dimitri? What the hell—it's been forever since I've seen your mug around here! You know it's closing, right?"

"I was betting on it! Listen, I uh… I brought a friend. Think we could hang out? I'll tip you extra." Dimitri said with a wink.

"A friend, huh? Is he cool?"

"Yeah, he's cool."

"You've met my incredibly high standards, then. Come on in."

Dimitri looked back at Xander and motioned for the Litten to follow him inside. The both of them entered the shop, and now Xander could place a face to the voice calling to them. Chamomile was a tired looking Audino who was wiping down cups behind a counter. She gave Dimitri a warm smile, but her gaze grew a little colder when her eyes set on Xander. Xander stiffened slightly.

"Sorry, I know you're probably exhausted, but how could I resist coming to my favorite café in town?"

Chamomile softened again and rolled her eyes. "Showering me in compliments isn't going to make your drinks free. Sit down anywhere you like. I already wiped down all the tables, so no matter where you make a mess I'll have to clean it again."

Dimitri trotted over to the booth closest to the window, motioning with a tail flick for Xander to follow. The Fire-Type hesitated before taking a seat across from his Sprigatito companion.

"Chamomile is a bit of a sass machine, but she's really sweet once you get to know her."

After a moment or two, the busy-body Audino strolled over to the table and set a bowl of water down in front of Dimitri, along with a small cup with an aroma that made Xander's nose sting a little. Dimitri laughed, "what if I didn't want a ginger shot this time?"

"Don't fuck with me, Dimi. The world would sooner end than for you to not ask me for a ginger shot." Her tail wiggled. "What else can I get for you and your friend here?"

"Ya like cheesecake?" Dimitri glanced back at Xander. The Litten wasn't sure, but it wasn't like he actually knew what he wanted. He simply nodded his head. "Then we'll get two slices of whatever you have left after today."

Chamomile made eye-contact with Xander. "Something to drink, hun?"

Xander fidgeted slightly, not having a single clue what he would like to drink. He could just ask for water, but… Dimitri brought him to a cafe. "What uhm… kinds of tea do you have?"

"Pretty much any berry you can think of, I have." Chamomile responded plainly. This didn't help Xander much, considering he didn't exactly have a favorite berry.

So, he just picked one he knew. "I'll have Oran Berry tea, then…"

"Oran? Pshh." Dimitri waved a hand teasingly. "Want a vanilla wafer or plain biscuit with that?"

"Iced or hot?" Chamomile asked, not skipping a beat.

"Hot, please." Xander smiled sheepishly up at the barista, who nodded her head before walking away. Xander felt a weight lift off of him once Chamomile's gaze was no longer on him.

Apparently, though, he was still looking pretty anxious—because Dimitri frowned hard at him. "Sorry, did I hurt your feelings? I was just playing around…"

"No, it's okay, I probably sound like a pretty boring Pokémon ordering something like that when you've got…?"

"Never had a ginger shot before? It's ginger, Tamato Berry flakes, and Nemol Berry juice. Kinda spicy, but it makes me feel a lot better after I drink it. Not really for everyone, though." Dimitri lapped up everything in the little cup quickly before chasing it with the cold water. His fur seemed to stand on end for a second or two before settling. "Whew! Love it."

Xander giggled quietly into his paw.

"Alright, here you both are." Chamomile set two little plates of cheese cake down, and a hot cup with blue liquid inside in front of Xander. "Don't burn your tongue, 'k young mon?" The Audino's expression was much softer as she spoke to Xander this time, but he still felt some sort of lingering scrutiny.

"You're the best, Cam." Dimitri bowed his head, opening up a small satchel by nuzzling it with his snout. "Might as well pay you now. How much?"

"Please, don't worry about it. I was kidding around earlier. Honestly, I'm just happy to see you." Chamomile sighed tiredly. "It's been tense around here. Boss wants to… get a lot done tonight."

Dimitri's face shifted. If Sprigatito could go pale, he would be whiter than a ghost.

"I'm just waiting to see them off." Chamomile gave a side-eye to Xander before shrugging her shoulders.

Xander watched as Dimitri squirmed in his seat and unease started setting in again. Xander liked to think he wasn't stupid—something clearly wasn't right here, but he didn't want to pry much either. The Litten simply looked up at the Audino beside him and tilted his head. "Everything alright? This sounds serious."

"Aww, don't worry your cute little head about it. It wouldn't be right of me to ruin your fun with all my adult stuff. I'll let you both get some time alone. Shout if you need anything."

Chamomile wandered back to the kitchen without saying another word, leaving the two cat Pokémon to their date. Dimitri still looked uncomfortable, and Xander wasn't sure how to brighten the mood back up—especially since he didn't understand what was wrong. The Litten turned to his hot beverage and gave it a blow before licking the top. The tea was… delicious! It was just sweet enough and refreshed Xander the moment he tasted it and-

"Wow, this is really good!" Xander smiled up at his date. "Is all Oran Berry tea this nice?"

Dimitri's ears perked back up, and he gave Xander a smile in return. "Probably not. Chamomile is an excellent barista. I'd bet money on her tea being the best in Constella. Heck, maybe even all of Adstrum." The Grass-Type giggled before taking a small bite of his cheesecake. Xander did the same, his purr loud enough to wake the neighbors.

"Did she make this cheesecake too?"

Dimitri nodded his head. "Every last bite and sip in this place is Chamomile certified!"

Both Pokémon purred and trilled with delight as they continued enjoying their café meal. Dimitri gulped down some water before speaking again. "So, tell me a bit more about Xander. Like, where are you from?"

Unsure on how to answer that question, Xander's mouth fell slightly agape as he considered his words. But he didn't even need to come up with something, his thoughts were interrupted by the bookshelf against the wall pushing outwards like a door. Dimitri turned his gaze to the sound, and Xander's eyes followed.

Slipping out from behind the secret passage was a shiny Nickit wearing a navy blue hood. Xander's whole world froze for a moment–

He was snapped right out of it by the joyful tone in Dimitri's voice. "Luna–err, Lune! Hey!"

Lune shut the passageway behind him and looked up at the two Pokémon sitting alone in the Autumn Leaf. "Oh, Dimitri. What the hell are you doing–"

Then, Xander's eyes met with his. Silence.

The flame inside Xander burned brightly, compelling the Litten to stand suddenly. " You." He spat, claws unsheathing as he hopped from his seat.

"Hi." Lune said with a smile. "It's been a little while, hasn't it. How have you been?" The Nickit tilted his head, a smug smile stretched across his muzzle.

Xander yowled with fury, arching his back and hissing.

"H-hold on–" Dimitri also hopped out of his seat. "Lune, you know Xander?"

" He robbed me!" Xander growled.

"You got that money back." Lune said with a shrug. "Don't know why you're still so mad at me."

"Oh, jeez, uh…" Dimitri scrambled in front of Xander. "Please don't fight—I'm sure this is all, like, a huge misunderstanding or something–"

"I could not possibly misunderstand being—wait. You know him ?" Xander was now glaring at Dimitri.

"Y-yeah, uh, he's my uh…" Dimitri rubbed at his neck with a paw. "Yeah, I know Lunar…"

"Lune, love." The Nickit chuckled softly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just looking for Chamomile." His eyes gleamed with mischief as he looked back at Xander. "Funny seeing you here tonight of all nights, though."

Xander refused to look back at Lune. His gaze was fixated on Dimitri now. "Why do you know an outlaw? Why do you know this outlaw?!"

"C-calm down." Dimitri's tail tucked closer to his hind quarters.

"Litten, relax." Lune's tail twitched, but the mischief didn't leave his gaze. "Dimitri is my good pal. We go wayyy back." The Nickit's smirk widened as he slipped over to the Sprigatito and nuzzled under his chin. Xander had enough. Lifting a paw and swiping it as hard as he could at Lune's face, Xander trembled with anger. The emotionally fueled blow only grazed Lune's fur as he quickly stepped back.

"You want to fight, fireball? Even when you don't have your little prince to protect you?"

"I bested you just fine on my own, given the state I left your ear in! You're the one who ran away with his tail tucked between his legs!"

Lune just laughed, "and you couldn't climb after me. Who's ever heard of a Litten who can't climb?"

"Shut the HELL UP!" Xander lunged at Lune, but ended up colliding face first with the table he and Dimitri were sitting at.

"What the fuck is going on in there?!" Chamomile turned the corner and quickly processed the scene, grumbling to herself before rushing over to tidy up Xander's clamor. "How many fights are you going to start on my café floor this week, Lune?"

Fur bristling, Xander scurried away from the Audino and backed himself up against a different wall. Dimitri hobbled over to him, but his fear scent was starting to piss Xander off even more.

"I just… happen to know him. We were really close but—but I'm not a–"

"WHY would you bring me to an OUTLAW DEN?!" Xander's tail lashed.

"I d-didn't know you of all people had an Outlier run-in! Th-they're really chill when they aren't–"

"You did NOT just tell me wanted criminals were 'really chill,' Dimitri."

Dimitri's ears fell flat against his head. "But—but they are! Chamomile and Lune especially! I'm sure you just… got off on the wrong paw with him."

"This boss guy—this plan stuff!" Xander glared up at the Audino frowning at him. "I've caught wind of all this. Lune even asked me to work with you and plant some sort of orb under the Prince's pillow! That all has something to do with this, doesn't it!?" Xander's furious glare returned to Dimitri. "I bet you're trying to get me wrapped up in all this! I can't believe I trusted a random Pokémon just because he was nice to me! I'm so stupid– "

"I hate to put this lover's quarrel to a short end." A new voice joined the room. Xander turned his head up and saw a Lucario grinning down at him.

Lune, Chamomile, and Dimitri all went quiet as they turned to face the new Team Outlier member in the room. The Lucario approached Xander, cracking his own neck as he drew near. "You're the little failed vigilante Spike and Jessie were bitching about, aren'tcha?" The Lucario flashed his sharp teeth. "Why don't you come downstairs and stay awhile. The night's still young after all." A deep chuckle escaped his muzzle as he leaned closer. "We wouldn't want to ruin your little date, now would we?"

Even though Xander's legs were shaking, he growled up at his new foe. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Oh? Kitty-cat, there wasn't a choice in the matter."

Before Xander could come up with another cool way to say no, another Pokémon dropped from the ceiling above him and snatched his small Litten body up into their arms. Xander could struggle for only a moment before a Water Shuriken was held up to his throat.

"H-hey! Leave him alone!" Dimitri hissed.

"Aww, don't worry Dimi. We'll play nice with your little friend." The Lucario gave Dimitri a condescending pat on the head before walking back over to the secret passage. "Chamomile, Lune, come with us." His ear flicked as he slipped behind the shelf. "Boss wants to see everyone."

Chapter Text

Lune started to get a little sheepish as he trailed behind Damios and the others. The Lucario was dragging Xander by his scruff, forcing him down the stairs and into their base. Lune flinched as the Litten was slammed against one of their wooden stools.

"Spike, Jessie, you two tie him up. Use chains , not rope. You got that?"

"Actually, I wouldn't worry about that." Lune spoke up. "Xander doesn't know any Fire-Type moves."

"Better safe than sorry," Damios growled. "I've seen Fire-Types pull off catastrophic feats while under stress." He turned to look at the Nidorina and Cinccino beside him, motioning with his head towards the Litten on the floor. The both of them shared an uneasy glance before approaching their prisoner.

Spike was grumbling as she pressed Xander against the stool. Jessie grabbed some metal chains from against the wall and tightly looped them around the Litten to keep him pinned. Lune noticed that he was hardly struggling, but that didn't stop him from hissing and snarling—and shooting Dimitri dirty looks.

The Sprigatito's ears were flattened against his head. "P-please, be careful…" Dimitri whimpered, voice trembling. His fur stood on end as Xander snapped his teeth towards Spike, and the Nidorina snapped her sharp beak back. "Don't hurt him–"

Dimitri took a step closer to his date, but was stopped in his tracks by Damios sticking his leg out to block his path.

"Once you're done, tie Dimitri up next to him." The Lucario said with a stern growl. Dimitri's ears shot up in alarm, and he quickly turned back to look at Lune—eyes fearful and round.

"That hardly seems necessary." Lune said, feigning a calm and collected aura. "Why don't we just let Dimitri leave? There's no harm done if Boss doesn't even know he was here."

Damios snarled, materializing a Bone Club and pointing it down at Lune's head—making him flinch hard. Chamomile quickly held a hand out in front of Lune, glaring hard at Damios. The Lucario didn't back down.

"Do not question my authority! Tie Dimitri up, now ."

There was a stiff quiet to the room as Lune slowly trudged over to Dimitri and pushed him gently towards another stool. Xander's gaze burned into Lune's fur as the Nickit gingerly wrapped rope around the Sprigatito. When Lune side-eyed the Litten, he could see his tail lashing with fury.

Once both cat Pokémon had been securely incapacitated, Damios locked eyes with everyone in the room before giving a short, confident nod. "Now—everyone keep their mouth shut and don't speak a word unless spoken to." He turned to his Greninja teammate, "That goes for us, as well. Understood?"

Kioshi nodded his head, arms crossed.

Without another word, Damios crossed the room and slowly pushed the door to the Boss's office open. He didn't leave much room for peeking inside, but it was clear to Lune by the way the Litten was craning his neck that he was trying to get a look. The shadowy silhouette of the Pokémon within stirred once light was leaking in from their meeting room. Standing up and slipping past the Lucario at his door, the Boss made his grand appearance with a nonchalant cross of his arms.

"Yo, Outliers. What's shaking?" The shiny Scrafty said with a chill daze. He held a curled up hand up for Damios to fist-bump, and the Lucario didn't hesitate to smack their knuckles together. "Y'all ready for tonight?"

"I was born ready!" Spike said while giving her leader a salute. The Nidorina's tail was wagging like crazy behind her.

"Fuck yeah. I'm lovin' the attitude." The Boss now had a slick smile, his hands comfortably filling his hoodie's massive pockets. "I don't want a massive screw up like last time, you dig it? The last time we were caught, the Prime Minister put up that psychic shield that prevents anyone from just teleporting into the castle." The Scrafty huffed, his smile fading for a moment. He quickly shook it off and kept up the chill persona. "They don't know we're after Princy-Boy yet. The moment King Fuck-face catches wind of this, he'll probably yank his precious baby boy right out of school."

Damios bowed his head, giving Lune a dodgy look. "We won't mess up this time, sir."

"Lune planted the Warp Orb, yeah?" The Scrafty was now also looking at Lune, but Lune was unfortunately already shooting a glance at Dimitri. The Boss leered hard while snapping his fingers. "Ey, Earth to Lockheart. The Orb? You plant it? Yes?"

Lune's eyes darted between Dimitri and Xander—fear and fury. Telling the Boss it was Dimitri who handled it probably wasn't a good idea. Letting his leader in on their little secret mission would likely get the Sprigatito untied, given he could properly explain that Dimitri was more or less a surrogate member of Team Outlier. However…

It probably would make things a lot worse between Dimitri and Xander.

"Yes, I planted it." Lune said as he finally turned to look at his boss. "It's securely hidden in the academy."

"Good to hear," the Boss said with a smile. Finally, he gave the two prisoners a full on glance. "Now, anybody gonna tell me what the deal with these two furballs is?"

Damios opened his mouth to speak, but Chamomile swiftly cut him off. "They're just two late night customers who accidentally overheard a few too many things. We can take care of it tomorrow."

The Boss's expression was cold as he approached Xander and Dimitri, his eyes locked on Xander specifically as the Litten was loudly growling at him. Once he was close to the prisoners, he kneeled. "Exactly how much do they know?"

"Not sure," Damios said as he crossed his arms. "Why don't we ask th–"

"Hardly anything." Lune spat out quickly. "They were only in the café when we were planning on starting the mission. Wrong place, wrong time sort of deal."

The Boss stared back at Lune for a second, rubbing his chin. It was difficult to read the emotion behind the Scrafty's cold gaze. Lune grew tense when the Boss turned back towards Xander and suddenly grabbed the golden ring around his neck, yanking it slightly. The Litten tried to hiss, but ended up coughing instead thanks to being choked.

"Relax, lil' kitty. We'll ransom you to your hosh-posh, rich city parents tomorrow." The Boss pulled the ring a little harder. "For now, you're gonna be a good boy and stay here."

Xander was released as the Boss stood back up. Tears welled in his eyes, but that was probably just from his oxygen being cut off.

Dimitri looked utterly horrified…

"Jessie, you stay here with Amber and watch the prisoners. I can't trust them to not fall asleep on their own. Besides, it's probably best you stay out of this heist anyways."

Jessie's massive Cinccino ears fell, but she held her head high. "Yes, sir. I'll keep a diligent eye on them. You can count on me."

"Speaking of the narcoleptic," the Boss made his way to the door straight across from the secret entrance to the base and knocked on it hard. "Amber! Yo! It's time! Wake your ass up!"

After a few moments of silence, an Abra teleported next to the Boss. "So loud…" They mumbled while rubbing their perpetually closed eyes. "Why must you be so loud…?"

"You know as well as I do that being loud is the only way to get your attention." The Boss laughed. "We need you to link us between the Warp Orbs, remember? Be a pal and get us into Red Academy."

"Mmm… okay." Amber said with a small yawn. "Now, both Wonder Orbs will be used up once I Teleport you all. If you get caught–"

"We won't." Damios said with confidence.

"Well… Alright then. Sorry for wanting to warn you. It's just, we all got caught last time. And, Lune–"

Damios growled at the little Abra, cutting them off. Amber shrugged, then sighed sleepily.

"Everyone group up, please."

The Boss waved his arms, ushering everyone in Team Outlier who was leaving to cluster together. Lune tucked by Chamomile's leg, away from everyone else but still close enough to be a part of the group. Amber raised their arms upwards and towards the party.

"Ready…? Okay, here goes nothing."

A Warp Orb suddenly appeared in front of Amber, floating inches away from his fingertips. Its glassy surface began glowing with an intense and mysterious light, which took no time at all to envelope Lune and the rest of his Outlier associates. Before they disappeared completely, Lune cast one last worrying glance at Dimitri… but, the Sprigatito's gaze was locked onto Xander.

The last thing Lune heard before being warped away was a loud shattering noise.

The room went quiet as the broken Wonder Orb dissolved into nothingness. Amber held a hand in front of their mouth as they yawned once again. "Okay, I'm going back to bed–"

"Oh, no you aren't ." Jessie spat. "The Boss tasked you with helping me watch these prisoners."

"Aww, what…? He did…?" Amber sighed as they floated over to the wooden table in the center of the room and sat on top of it. "But I was having such wonderful dreams…"

"Really?" Jessie glanced up at them, curiosity genuinely expressed by her tone. "What ever were they about?"

"I was sleeping peacefully under a massive willow tree…" Amber smiled to themself. "And, I was surrounded by a bunch of calm little Volbeat… It was amazing."

Jessie's expression dropped as her left ear flicked. "You were dreaming… about sleeping." The Cinccino sighed into her paws. "Why am I not surprised?"

"So, are you clowns just going to keep us tied up until you're done with your Prince kidnapping?" Xander growled. "Because, that's pretty stupid. I know where your base is now, meaning I could just tell the police where you rotten lot are hiding."

Jessie appeared to perk back up at all of Xander's big-talk. "Darling, you think we don't have measures to prevent something like that? Please." The Cinccino let out a hardy laugh as she pulled up a stool in front of him and sat down. "But, whatever helps you feel like a cute little vigilante, dear."

"Ugh, stop picking on him." Dimitri huffed. "I really thought you guys would be cool about this."

Xander's ears flattened against his head. "You really thought outlaws would be cool about anything ?"

"Xander–" Dimitri sighed. "Look, I'm really sorry that I brought you here. I had no idea you had personal beef with anyone on Team Outlier, let alone one of the two Pokémon who are my friends. I'm not a thief, but my friends are—and I really wasn't expecting you to learn that tonight. I especially wasn't expecting this to happen." Dimitri gestured a paw out towards the rest of the room.

The Sprigatito's eyes were bursting with guilt, and for the first time in a good while… Xander softened his gaze.

"I think you're really cool and… I also want you to be my friend. But, I totally blew it…"

"Yeah, you did. You blew it pretty hard." Xander said bluntly, but couldn't keep his teasing smile away for long. "This is easily the worst date I have ever been on. But, I'll cut you some slack. It's also the best date I've ever been on."

"Really?" Dimitri tilted his head, thought for a second, then deflated. "Oh, I get it. Haha."

"Awww!" Jessie giggled sweetly into her paws. "Look at the little teenagers with their little teenager problems! I could just pinch both of your cheeks right now."

Dimitri blushed hard and tucked his head down, "Ah, Jessie, c'mon…"

"I'm sorry, you're just reminding me so much of my little sister right now. You know, she told me that she already has a crush at school! Can you believe it?"

"Look, Dimitri. I'm honestly still really pissed off at you. But, right now, I care way more about getting out of this shitty situation than getting into a fight about your intentions." Xander glared up at the Cinccino giving him goo-goo eyes. "I don't have rich parents. I don't even have parents. Ransoming me is a waste of everyone's time."

"Don't be ridiculous." Jessie scoffed. "There's bound to be someone who cares enough about you to hand over piles of Pokécoins. Lune let it spill that you leave with some elderly innkeepers, isn't that right?"

Xander let out a low growl. He completely forgot Lune knew about that. The Litten gave Dimitri another irritated look. "Fun fact, your friend is also a stalker."

Dimitri sighed hard before casting an upset glance at Jessie. "Come on, Jessie, you can at least untie me—can't you? We all know Chamomile's just going to pretend to ransom me and let me go about my business. Just tie me back up when your boss comes back.”

"Darling, that's a terrible idea." Jessie said as she crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "I do not wish to get in trouble just because you're a little uncomfortable."

Dimitri stirred… "What if I told you I really had to pee?"

Jessie frowned hard at the Sprigatito in front of her. "Are you serious right now?"

"I drank a ginger shot and a bowl of water. Yes, I'm serious!"

Jessie groaned as she stood up and began untying the Sprigatito. "Fine, but Amber is going with you. And, you better be right back in a couple of minutes."

"Aww man… Do I have to…?" Amber slumped their head.

"Quit your whining!" Jessie huffed as she finished freeing Dimitri. "There. Now hurry up."

Xander rolled his eyes. "I feel like someone is getting preferential treatment here."

Dimitri shook out his fur once he was untied, then started making his way towards the secret entrance to the base. Jessie nudged Amber with her paw, and the sleepy Abra siiighed as they floated after Dimitri. Xander watched them both leave before looking up at Jessie.

"You're really bad at this whole 'hardened criminal' thing, aren't you? Weren't you the first to turn tail when Prince Icarus was kicking your ass, or am I misremembering?"

The Cinccino's face got heated, and she stomped her foot on the ground. "You keep quiet before I deal with you myself, you little twerp! I'll have Amber wipe more than just your memory of this secret base!"

Xander's heart sunk into his chest and he suddenly grew very quiet, leaving Jessie looking very pleased with herself.

"And, for the record—I'm not some ruffian . I am a sophisticated aristocrat who just happens to participate in criminal activity to make ends meet." Jessie turned her nose up at Xander. "It's hard taking care of my little sister all on my own."

But, Xander wasn't really listening to the Minccino any more. She was giving him a peculiar look because of this, but Xander didn't care. Wipe my memory? There are Pokémon that can just… do that?! Xander could feel his stomach turning on him. Is that why I can't remember anything?

Xander was snapped from his thoughts by a loud yowl of surprise coming from outside of the room. Jessie's big ears perked up as she turned her head towards the noise.

"What's going on out there?!" The Cinccino growled, standing up and rushing out to go see what was going on for herself. Once she was out, Dimitri's body flickered into the room. All the fur on Xander's body stood on end.

"H-how did you–"

Dimitri was already rushing to shut the door tightly and lock it. "Copycat," he said with a cheeky smile. "We don't have long. Do you know how to fight?"

"Well, yeah…"

"That's great news, because I can't take Jessie and Amber on at once." Dimitri scrambled over to Xander and started undoing the chains. Once they were loose enough, Xander wiggled free and stood up on four trembling legs.

"Damn, you look like you've seen a Ghost-Type…"

"Why are you doing this?" Xander asked, not being able to hold in the twinge of hostility. "Aren't these your pals?"

"I…" Dimitri took a deep breath. "Look, don't make me doubt myself now."

Amber, who looked like he had taken quite the disorienting hit from Dimitri, managed to Teleport Jessie and themself back into the room. Jessie looked just about ready to explode with fury.

"Dimitri, you little bastard! No way you're going to get me fired all because you suddenly want to play the hero! Boss will have my head if you two break out on my watch!"

Jessie lept forwards and swung her tails down at Dimitri, who barely dodged the incoming Tail Slap. In response, Dimitri formed what looked to be a large, round seed in his right paw—which he tossed at Jessie's face. The Seed Bomb exploded into floral energy, and Jessie stumbled back onto the floor. The Cinccino recovered quickly though, and shrouded at the sluggish Abra nearby. "Hey, Amber! A little help, please!"

"A-ah! Sorry!" Amber held both his hands out toward Dimitri, and started levitating him into the air with Telekinesis. Dimitri tried to struggle free of the Psychic-Type's grip, but it didn't look like that would be possible on his own.

Luckily, Xander had pushed away his anxieties and was now thinking fast. The Litten had grabbed the very chain that was tying him down earlier with his mouth and was charging towards Amber with it. He swung his head—whacking the Abra with the heavy metal. Amber yelped in pain, losing his focus and dropping Dimitri. The Grass-Type landed on his feet.

"Like always," The Sprigatito said with a purr. "Thanks, Xander!"

"Don't thank me yet!" Xander said with a mouth full of chains, so it did not sound as cool as he hoped it would. Still, he rushed at Jessie next.

The Cinccino would not let herself be an easy target, jumping out of the way right as Xander tried to hit her with the chain. Xander recognized the bright stars that shot from her body as the Swift that pummeled him last time. He dropped the chain to try and run from it–

"Hah! Think you can avoid what can never be avoided, you brat!" Jessie jeered.

"Nope!" Xander shouted as he tackled suddenly into Amber. Jessie's eyes widened as her attack assaulted not only her Litten target, but her Abra teammate as well.

Amber, bruised and upset, shoved Xander off of them. "I– I–..." The Abra trembled, perhaps seething with rage? They balled both of their hands up, squeezing them tightly. Xander prepared himself for the worst—bracing his body for a close ranged Psychic onslaught of some kind.

However, after a moment or two, the Abra was snoring quietly.

Jessie gripped her silky fur by both her ears. "Are you KIDDING ME?!"

A surge of glowing leaves materialized around Dimitri and assaulted Jessie en masse. The Cinccino shrieked as she attempted to swat the Magical Leaf away from her with her paws and tail. Dimitri showed no sign of stopping—it was completely relentless.

Not wanting to be useless, Xander rushed at Jessie and picked the chain back up on his way over to her. The Litten ducked through the leaves and looped around his opponent's legs. Then, he gave the chain a tight pull. The distracted Cinccino was tripped and sent falling to the floor—knocked unconscious.

"Xander, that was awesome ! I've never seen a Pokémon fight like that!" The Sprigatito gave him a bright, admiring smile.

Even though Xander's adrenaline was still pumping, he rubbed the back of his head with a paw. "You really think so?"

"Yeah, I do!" Dimitri walked over to him. "You're so… resourceful! Knowing you'd get hit by the Swift, so you made sure it hit one of them as well? You were like one of those action heroes in a stage play!"

"Ah, c'mon… it wasn't that cool–" Xander turned to look at the unconscious criminals. He couldn't hold it back anymore—with all of Dimitri's compliments, Xander let himself swell with pride. He really did help take those two down. It was nothing like his experience in the Red Academy garden.

"So, what now?" Dimitri's head tilted to one side. "I only really worked out the 'help Xander escape' part."

Xander thought for a moment. "One of us should go to Red Academy and try to warn the Headmaster, or pretty much anyone they can. That should probably be me. They're way more likely to let me onto the grounds this late at night, for… reasons. I also… know that certain Pokémon might be inclined to try and protect Prince Icarus. I don't want them to get hurt, but if she—I mean they—do, I want to be there to help."

"Okay… then, what should I do?"

Xander placed a paw on Dimitri's shoulder. "You should go to the police. You need to not only tell them where Team Outlier has been hiding, but you also need to let them know about what's happening at the academy tonight."

Dimitri turned to look down at the floor. That was probably the exact thing he didn't want to hear, but knew Xander was going to say. After a moment or two, his eyes filled with a certain resolve. "I can only do that if you can promise me something."

Dimitri took a deep breath before continuing.

"Xander, please, convince Lune and Chamomile to leave Team Outlier. They're my friends, Lune especially—and Chamomile has been like a big sister to me. They both… they've been through a lot. I couldn't live with myself if they got thrown in jail because of me." Dimitri's ears fell flat against his head. "They're good Pokémon and I'm… not just saying that…"

Xander could feel a pressure crushing him from all angles as the Sprigatito looked back up at him. The two of them held gazes for a second—and those begging, pleading eyes… they were doing something to Xander that he didn't quite understand.

"I'll try…" Xander mumbled quietly. "If the two of them can look me in the eyes, tell me they'll give up crime forever, and listen to me when I tell them it's for you… then, I'll protect them. If they don't, I can't assure you that they won't get punished like the rest of them."

Dimitri deflated a little. "That's… fair. Just, please give them a chance, then. I know reporting them to the police is the right thing to do, and that I probably should have done it a long time ago, but–"

"I understand." Xander said as he started to walk towards the exit. At least, he thought he understood. "You were just protecting your friends."

Dimitri nodded, "and, right now, you're trying to protect yours."

Both cat Pokémon walked out of the café together, but the moment the both of them gave a parting glance at one another—Xander booked it as fast as he could down the shady alleyway and towards Red Academy.

I'm coming, Melrose. Don't do anything stupid!

Chapter Text

The luxurious sheets of Melrose’s academy bed should have been the soothing remedy to her restlessness, but the little Pikachu was stuck staring at the dark ceiling high above her. Melrose’s foot tapped in tandem with the frantic rhythm of her thoughts, and her full tummy from dinner gurgled in small fits of anxiety. Each breath came with a crackle of static from her cheeks. There was no hope for a good night’s rest at that rate, thus Melrose unceremoniously rolled out from under her covers and shuffled over to the door. Nothing left to do but occupy her mind until sleep came easy.

Dim moonlight illuminated the living space through the castle windows, which, when paired with the eerie quiet, made for an enchanting scene straight out of a story-book. Melrose caressed the stone wall with a paw as she walked, trailing the beam of celestial light with her thumb. The gray brick was icy to the touch, but Melrose continued to trace the ridged grooves. There was an untold story to each crevasse, mementos lost to time that gave Red Academy its pulse.

What kinda things would this castle say if it could talk, I wonder…

Melrose only removed her paw once she reached the end of the hall, fixating her gaze on the chamber now furthest from her—the little Tyrunt carved into the bronze nameplate staring back at her blankly.

Melrose’s heart sank in sync with her ears, and the Pikachu sighed quietly to herself as her eyelids fluttered shut.

Unfortunately for her guilty conscience, Icarus was tomorrow's problem. Melrose kept her eyes shut until she was fully turned around, taking a deep breath before resigning herself to the common room.

The castle decor and furnishings, combined with a little imagination, took the form of a make-shift labyrinth as Melrose paced the floor. She weaved around the room as if it were a Mystery Dungeon, mapping out Nightshade Grove in her mind—turning the chairs and couches into twisted trees. Imaginary feral Pokémon attacked her from all sides, but Melrose quickly sent them packing with several punches and kicks at the air.

“Take that! And that!” She shouted in a hushed whisper—her tail wiggled with delight at the thought of how easy that dungeon would be now that she was learning all about how to traverse them. “Don’t you ever trample my crop ever again! Hyah !”

After a few more excited swings, Melrose had to take a breather. It was a real shame she hadn’t been able to put her new skills to good use, but the academy had yet to send them on any real expeditions.

Hopefully we go on one soon , she thought to herself while scratching softly at her chin. I wonder how close the nearest dungeon is, anyhow… Surely it wouldn’t be that long of a trip, right?

A subtle tap on Melrose’s shoulder sent a jolt of electricity down her spine. The Pikachu spun around quickly, paws primed for karate chopping the source of surprise.

“Whoa–!” Owin held his hands up over his head in surrender. “S-sorry, Mel! I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Although Melrose craved giving a good thrashing, she mellowed out after realizing it was just her classmate and fellow Pikachu. She took a deep, playful breath of relief. “Well, you better have a good excuse for sneakin’ up on a pretty lady, Owin!” She said with an accusatory leer, but couldn’t hold back a cheeky smile.

“I heard one of the doors open, thought maybe someone else was just as restless as I am.” Owin rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish paw. “I can’t sleep a wink.”

“Mm… Neither can I—but I’m guessin’ you figured that.” Melrose sighed, sneaking in a glance out at the pale moon before returning her attention to Owin. “Feels like can't stop thinkin’ about pretty much everything in the whole wide world.”

“Ah, I see! It’s your mind that torments you.” Owin crossed his arms and bowed his head. “For me, it’s my body. I can’t command my feet to stop tapping, even as I lay still in bed. Ugh, and my tail won’t stop twitching no matter how hard I try.”

Owin spun his body around to showcase its jittering, which prompted Melrose to hold a paw over her mouth and giggle. Owin blushed, and began pouting. “What’s so funny about my body’s active disobedience, hmm ?”

“Sorry, sorry! You just reminded me of my foster brother. Nate can’t keep still and has a tail with grippers to boot! Smacks me by accident with it sometimes.” Melrose laughed again for a moment, but it shifted into a small scowl. “Actually, I wonder… Was he telling the truth ‘bout–”

“ Yaaaaaawn… What are you two still doing awake…?”

The quiet voice coming from the dorms belonged to Ashe—the door at the end of the hallway was wide open with the very sleepy looking Minccino standing in it. Melrose felt warmth rise to her cheeks. The two Pikachu were being louder than they thought, weren’t they?

“Can’t sleep–” Owin declared without hesitation. “I caught Melrose pacing, and we’ve been chatting since—hey!”

Melrose, her blush almost visible through the darkness, had given Owin a harsh shove with her elbow. “Real sorry if we’re being too loud. We can pipe down, if ya like…”

“Heh… don’t worry about it.” Ashe rubbed her tired eyes as she made a slow approach through the dimly lit room. “You’re not what woke me. Mind if I join you?”

“Not at all!” Melrose decided for the both of them, but it’s not like Owin objected. “Not sure if there’s much to join in on, though… Should we think of something to do together?”

Ashe took her place next to Melrose and stifled a second yawn by covering her mouth with a cute little paw. “I always tidy around my home when I can’t sleep.”

Owin glanced around the room. Even in the dark, it was clear that the castle was kept in tip-top shape by the butlers. “I don’t think we’re gonna find a mess anywhere around here—unless we plan on making one first.”

Melrose giggled, and Ashe joined her. That was a funny idea—dirtying the place up just so they could put it back the way it was right after. Melrose was even more tickled when she imagined the three of them sneaking outdoors just to track dirt throughout the hall.

It was wild to her that, the first night at the castle, she was able to get Icarus of all Pokémon to traverse the academy under a veil of shadows just to try and help Xander. Would Owin and Ashe have done the same for her? An impish smile stretched across her muzzle.

“Wanna go find something to do… not in the common area?” Melrose gave a mischievous wave of her paws in the direction of the door. “Sneak out and cause… chaos!”

Owin gasped, ”Melrose! You can’t be serious. Honorable students such as ourselves know better than to break academy rules.” The Pikachu crossed his arms tightly across his chest, smiling back at her. “However, Owin Thunderstrike gets the feeling that his dear friend was joking.”

Melrose’s evil cackling slipped back into joyful giggling. “Everytime you react to something, Owin, it’s always so funny!”

Owin’s cool character melted and his arms fell back to his sides. “I’m not trying to be funny… I’m being coy and observant!”

Ashe held a paw up to her mouth again, this time to cover a laugh. “Oh, Owin… You just have a way about you that makes it hard not to smile.”

Unsure of how to respond, Owin placed a finger beneath his chin to tap it and think. The two girls next to him looked at each other and beamed brightly—amused and endeared.

“Actually, I wasn’t entirely joking,” Melrose said, ending the silence. “I mean, I don’t think we should go out and cause trouble or nothing. I was just wondering about maybe going to the castle library.”

“The library?” Ashe tilted her head. “Why?”

“I was thinking—before Owin so rudely interrupted me, it’s kinda odd we haven’t gone on any trips to a real Mystery Dungeon. Everything we’ve been through is all hypo… hy-poth… hypothetisies.”

“Hypothetical–” Owin mumbled.

“Yeah, that. And like, the closest one to Constella can’t be that far, can it?” Melrose hopped a few steps closer to the door. “I want to look at a map! And learn more about it! Then we’ll be ahead of the curve!”

“Huh, that’s not a bad idea.” Owin nodded his head. “I’m sure our professors would be impressed if we were already well read on the subject.”

“But–” Ashe glanced worriedly at her friends. “It’s still against the rules to go sneaking about the castle at night. And, well… as commoners…” Ashe sighed, ears and tails drooping as she spoke. “It would be much harder for us to get out of trouble. That’s all.”

Melrose was speechless for a second. Huh? What about being a commoner would… ”Hang on. What exactly are ya tryin’ to say?”

“Come on, Rose… If you were an instructor, and one of your students was going to be King some day–”

Melrose’s cheeks sparked, lighting her face and revealing her cold expression. “Ain’t nobody gettin’ any special treatment! ‘Sides, if we don’t want ‘em to look down on us, then we can’t be talking bad about them either. Okay?”

Ashe’s eyes widened, but they returned to normal quickly as the Minccino turned sheepishly to the floor. “Sorry—you’re right. Forget I said anything…”

Loosening up quickly, Melrose’s fur smoothed back down. Her cheery demeanor returned so fast—she almost took herself by surprise. “No worries! Still, I don’t think you should trouble yourself so much. Who in their right mind would punish us for being in the library of all places? Probably not a good look for the teachers to tell us not to read!”

In response to the optimism, Ashe cast a worried glance at Owin. The second Pikachu gave her a confident smile—clearing up quickly that both Electric-Types were in agreement. Ashe sighed quietly, rubbing her arm and looking towards the exit. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try…”

“Great, then it’s settled!” Melrose finished her walk to the door and pushed it open carefully. She stared out into the torchlit hall for a beat. Blinked—and turned her head back inside. “Erm… either of y’all remember where exactly the library is?”

Down the hall next to the nearest staircase was the library entrance. It actually wasn’t too far from the dormitory, and, thanks to Ashe’s recollection of Ms. Adeline’s tour, was an easy find. All three of them had to give the hefty door a strong push to get it open. Once revealed, the library was a pool of darkness that swallowed any and all light whole.

“That’s no good. We can’t see a darn thing! How are we supposed to look for the book we need—let alone stay upright!” Melrose’s cheeks sparked as she crossed her arms tight, the bits of static illuminating their path for but a split second. Gears turned in the Pikachu’s head before she slipped into the abyss of shadows.

“Melrose?” Owin tilted his head. “What are you–”

She was tugging on the cute little electric sacks on her cheeks, sending out jolts that worked just about as well as a flickering, wind blown torch. The Pikachu was pleased enough with her idea, though, and marched forward with little to no fear. Owin shrugged, a big grin on his face, and started to follow her.

Ashe, once again, was hesitant. Melrose turned around to see the Minccino had hardly budged, and hurried over to her while still poking at her own face. Her zig-zag tail intertwined with Ashe’s. Once they were side-by-side, it was much easier to coax her inside.

Owin, prodding at his own cheeks, was searching around a messy desk. Despite the flickering light of his face, it didn’t take him long to find a candlestick. With a confident grin, Owin stopped messing with his cheeks and flicked a spark of electricity out of his fingertip. The wick caught fire, and now the group had a lit candle. Melrose’s mouth gaped slightly.

“Whoa! Where’d you learn to do that?”

“A hero from darkness always knows best how to summon the light!” Owin spoke with a puffed out chest. Both his friends giggled into their paws, prompting Owin to clear his throat. “Eh-heh… I used quick thinking to figure my own electricity would generate enough heat to ignite the candle. Pretty clever, right?”

“Beats tuggin’ on my face all night long.” Melrose laughed and started to make her way further in, now able to hold Ashe’s paw instead of guiding the Minccino with her tail. Ashe squeaked as she was pulled forward.

“Just b-be careful with that, okay? We are surrounded by parchment, paper, and wood…”

“Not to fear, milady! Owin Thunderstrike is as careful as he is brave.” Owin held the candlestick out towards one of the bookshelves, squinting in the dim light to read their spines. “Now, how do you suppose these books are sort–”

“SCREE!”

The sudden shriek from above froze the Pokémon right in their tracks. Three Zubat swooped down from the cavernous ceiling and right for everyone’s heads, gnashing their fangs wildly by their necks. In a panic, Owin waved his candle frantically at his attacker in an attempt to shoo it away. The Zubat persisted, however, and its fellow ferals were hardly perturbed by Ashe’s flailing paws. In the midst of the chaos, Owin’s candlestick was dropped to the floor. The metal hit the stone with a loud clang , and the noise sensitive Zubat all screeched with fury. Their clamor would be cut short by a rapid-fire Thunder Shock from Melrose—one that fried all three wild Pokémon to a crisp, and flew towards Owin like a magnet.

The static surged around his fur for a moment, invigorating him even though there was nothing left to fight. Melrose, now worried that she had struck her friend, hurriedly helped Owin smooth his fur down.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! It was an accident!”

“H-hey, it’s okay.” Owin said through deep breaths as he picked the (thankfully) still lit candle back up and nudged one of the charred Zubat with his feet. It twitched slightly. “That was weird, though… The last thing I would expect in Red Academy is wild Pokémon. Looks like you knocked them fully unconscious, though. Thanks, Melrose–”

Melrose gave her arm a bashful rub. “I wasn’t trying to be brave… they just ain’t that strong I guess. Scared me half to death, is all.” Her own embarrassed laugh got her friends to join in, and soon all of them were giggling about how frazzled they were.

“It’s a good thing these floors aren’t carpeted, hmm?” An unfamiliar voice joined from the shadows. “Otherwise, we might have had a fire on our hands.”

“Indeed,” cackled another voice from above. “You children suuure lucked out. Kekeke!”

“Yeah, no kidding—that would have been a disas…ter…” Owin’s fur stood completely on end. Melrose and Ashe quickly tucked close to him as he held the candle out towards the voices. All of them trembled as an upside-down Misdreavus materialized in front of them, a wide grin on her face as Owin swung the candle at her. “Back! Stay back, you fiend!”

“Hohoho! Fiend?” Flying just above their heads was the source of the second voice, a Murkrow missing patches of feathers all over his body. He landed on the desk Owin retrieved the candle from. “That’s no way to talk to your librarian, you know.”

“Y-you’re the librarian?” Ashe poked her head out from behind Owin, but when she made eye-contact with the Misdreavus—she quickly hid her face again.

The floating ghost righted her upside-down pose. “Oh my, there’s no need to be so spooked.” She said with a giggle, levitating the candle out of Owin’s paws. The Pikachu tried to grab it out of mid-air, but it was already just out of his reach. “Unless, perhaps, I’ve caught you all doing something you aren’t supposed to.~”

All three students remained trembling, and Melrose felt as though her throat was drier than a desert. No words came out as her mouth fell agape. The Misdreavus and Murkrow gave each other a cheeky look before the both of them burst into laughter.

“Relax, would you? I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Or worse,” the Murkrow piped in, “tell Ms. Adeline on you.”

The duo laughed again, and slowly the group finally realized there was no danger. They watched as several whisps danced like fairies away from the Misdreavus’s body—floating delicately to the torches lining the walls and igniting them. At first everyone had to squint, but once they adjusted to the light…

“Wow!” Melrose said with a big ol’ smile. “This place is huge!”

Sure enough, the library was a sight to behold. The ceiling was perhaps even higher than they had all assumed while it was still under a veil of darkness—the distance between it and them being four separate balconies that all hosted their own collection of book shelves. Ladders connected each of them, but of course the easiest way up would be levitation or flight.

Ashe, after giving the whole room a wide glance, turned to face the two strangers. She gave them a skeptical look. “You said you’re the librarian… but, how come Ms. Adeline never mentioned you on our tour?”

“Yeah! And, we haven’t seen either of you attend a meal.” Owin added, crossing his arms and tapping his foot.

The supposed librarian levitated the candle back over to the desk, where her Murkrow companion then blew it out. “You must be some of the new students, is that right? I’m dreadfully sorry for not making your acquaintance sooner. It’s just, you see, my beloved Devereux and I prefer to sleep the day away and work all night.”

The Misdreavus floated closer to the ground, becoming eye-level with the young Pokémon.

“My name is Hilda Noctula. I am… The Ghost of Red Academy.~ ”

“The Ghost of Red Academy?” Melrose parroted. “The heck does that mean?”

“Oh, just that I’m a little lady they haven’t been able to rid of for the last fifty years !” Umbra cackled, doing a little spin in the air as she reveled in her mischief. Melrose, Owin and Ashe all looked amongst themselves as she did so. “Even as a young relic of this castle’s history, I still do my best to earn my keep around here.” She smiled up at the rafters. “Spent so long tending to these books that everyone just started calling me a librarian.”

“Uh huh…” Ashe mumbled, clearly uncertain still.

“You think you could help us, Ms. Noctula?” Melrose hopped closer to the Misdreavus and smiled at her. “We’re looking for geography books. I wanna research the nearest Mystery Dungeons!”

“Geography? Hardly any trouble at all.~” Hilda twirled in the air before floating her body straight into the balcony floors above her, hovering through two layers before scanning one of the book shelves, mouthing some of the titles as she went. It took only a moment or two of searching before she returned with the book levitating beside her: a large red tome with bronze writing on the cover— Adstrum Integrum . “Page 86 contains the whole map of Adstrum, whilst the Mystery Dungeon Index is on page 94.”

As the book levitated closer to Melrose, Owin quickly flung his body in between the group of students and peculiar staff. “Nice try, wicked specter! But we won’t be falling for your deceptive act of generosity!” Sparks of electricity crackled around his fists. “Stay back! Or else I’ll have to send you to the dark realm from whence you came!”

“Wicked?” Hilda cackled. “Mischievous, maybe. Being a little naughty is hardly a crime, no?”

“Little rascal thinks he’s a hero,” Deveroux said with a shrill squawk. “It’s kind of cute.”

Owin blushed hard and slowly backed down a little. The embarrassed look on his face only made the shadowy Pokémon laugh more. Melrose gently pushed by him and snatched the book out of the air, surprised by its weight and stumbling hard enough to have her backside thud to the floor. Owin snapped out of his flustered state and helped Melrose up.

“You okay?”

“Yep!” Melrose smiled at him. “I’ve taken tumbles way worse than that, believe me!”

“You children are utterly adorable,” Hilda cooed, “and so sweet. I could watch your antics all night long.” She floated a little closer to the two Pikachu, which frazzled Owin, and cackled softly. “But, it’s probably best that you three return to your dorms. We wouldn’t want a certain secretary wandering in here and finding several of her students breaking the rules, would we?”

“No, ma’am,” Melrose said with a bright smile. She hugged the book close to her chest as she walked back over to Ashe. “C’mon guys! Let’s hurry!”

“Right–” Owin said as he tore his suspicious gaze away from Hilda. Ashe nodded her head.

The three little Pokémon made their way to the door, Hilda and Deveroux’s eyes following them as they departed. The librarians glanced at one another before looking down at the three crispy ferals their late-night guests had left behind. Deveroux sighed as he took flight.

“I’ll go get the broom.”

Of course.

Why wouldn’t Dimitri place the Warp Orb in the bathroom ?

Once the gang was finished lambasting Lune for such an unflattering break-in location, or rather were told to “can it” by the Boss to preserve stealth, it was time to get serious.

Kioshi and Damios slipped out of the room to scout for a bit, and their return with an unconscious Pokémon was unsettlingly quick. Damios dragged the Pansage on the ground and tossed their body towards Camomile, who used her illusion ability to disguise herself as the young butler. She looked up and down her own body with a frown.

“Y’know, I think this is my first Pansage. Can’t say I’ll ever be inclined to make illusions of this one in my spare time.” Her monkey tail flicked with displeasure. “I feel stupid.”

“My bad. Next time I’ll find a more handsome staff member.” Damios said with a scowl and a cross of his arms.

“Shut.” Boss said as he puppeteered one of his hands like a closing mouth. “Now, the best way to do this is to lure the runt away from the rest of his little academy friends. Damios, where did you two find this posh little helper at?”

“The kitchen—they were alone. Given this wimp probably works there, it would probably be the perfect place to lure Princy-boy to.” Damios smirked. “This‘ll be a piece of cake.”

“The kitchen isn’t far from the garden, either,” Spike added. “We could slip right out with the Slumber Orbed snob and no one would be the wiser!”

The Boss nodded his head. “Perfect. Chamomile, go and trick the Prince into coming with you to the kitchen. Damios, Lune, follow Chamomile to make sure things go withoutta hitch. Report to me if they don’t, so Chamomile can keep acting and evacuate to someplace this butler might go. Kioshi, Spike, you two come with me to the Kitchen. We’ll wait there.” He turned to the Pansage on the floor, “but first, someone help me tie this loser up.”

Lune didn’t feel all that good about leaving the Pansage unconscious inside a bathroom stall, but he wasn’t about to suggest they prop him up with a fluffy castle pillow either. Once Boss was sure the coast was clear, he dismissed everyone with a sharp hand signal. Lune didn’t hesitate to enact his part of the plan–after all, watching a master actress at work was the easiest job he could’ve gotten. Still, he remained alert as he navigated the shadows surrounding Chamomile, his ears flicking and twisting towards any little sound.

For the most part, it was dead quiet. Everyone’s paws were soft against the floor, and the torches lining the walls only held gentle flames that didn’t crackle. There was no wind outside, no rustling of trees beyond the window. The moon’s light cast motionless shadows of tree limbs into the hall that sprawled like carnivorous claws—they were a dormant, sleeping beast.

Clop. Clop. Clop. Clop.

The distant sound of hooves walking on stone was getting louder by the second. Lune’s whole body tensed, and before he could hide himself better—Damios yanked him hard by his cloak into the darkness.

Lune let out a small yelp, but his mouth was quickly smothered by Damios’s paw. Holding back his growl was the most restraint Lune ever had in his life. The Lucario was lucky Lune didn’t instinctively bite.

Chamomile’s eyes were wide as saucers as she was approached by Keldeo—The youngest Sword of Justice himself—who was quietly mulling something over. He looked up from the floor at Chamomile and quickly wore an overbearingly wide smile. The mere sight of this Pokémon always gave Lune a headache.

“Oh, hello there! Wonderful evening, isn’t it… Buh… Basssss…” Keldeo clicked his tongue a few times. “Bastillo? Bas…ster? Stop me when I’m close–” Keldeo waved his hoof in circles as he continued to guess the Pansage’s name. Chamomile stood there awkwardly until the Legendary finally gave up. “What are you doing up at this hour, might I ask?”

“Err… Late night inventory check.” Chamomile muttered with a soft, boyish tone. “I’ll be in bed soon.”

“Ah, sounds like fun.” Keldeo said dryly. “Well, while you’re awake, keep your eyes peeled, would ya?” Keldeo’s smile shifted to a frown. “Captain Rosaline told me she detected a psychic disturbance not too long ago. Best to stay on guard—could mean trouble.”

Camomile’s Pansage tail curled. “Do you… mean to suggest there might be thieves within the castle?” 

“Maybe, maybe not. It’s not impossible, but I haven’t caught wind of anything else tonight. She asked me to patrol the halls for her, since she has to go speak with her bro—The Prime Minister, I mean.”  Keldeo sighed, but his ego ridden smile soon returned and filled his face. “However, you can count on me to hold down the fort. The Swords of Justice strike fear into criminals with our name alone!”

Lune could feel the hot breath of Damios’s quiet laugh on his fur.

Chamomile smiled, giving Keldeo a polite bow. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be on my way now.”

And, without waiting for a response, Chamomile returned to her objective. Keldeo watched the illusion for a moment or two before continuing on his own way. The Sword of Justice didn’t even so much as give Damios and Lune’s hiding spot behind the corner a passing glance as he walked by.

“What a tool…” Lune mumbled once the sound of hooves long faded. Both he and Damios could slip back out into the hall, each on their own terms but one soon after the other. Far enough behind Chamomile’s tail, they both oversaw their teammate diligently.

Before long, the trio had made it to the dormitories. Lune watched as Chamomile approached the door to the common room, giving it an unsure knock before stepping away. She waited, rather patiently, before giving it another knock.

Can any of the students hear her from their rooms? Maybe she should just barge in–

Lune was, once again, yanked by his cloak to be fully encased in shadows. The two of them silently tussled for a moment before Lune saw the cause of Damios’s sudden act—three students, two Pikachu and a Minccino, were approaching their common room from behind Chamomile. He shoved hard to get the Lucario off of him, but after exchanging leers, the two remained quiet as they watched the scene play out.

“What could Basil want at this time of night?” The Minccino asked her friends. “Should we ask them?”

One of the Pikachu rubbed her chin in thought, “ I mean, they’re just a butler right? I don’t think we’re gonna get into any trouble with them .” She started walking over to Chamomile, “ Besides, maybe they need our help!”

Waddling over while carrying a large, impractical book, the Pikachu made her way over to Chamomile’s illusion. The fake Pansage turned to look back at her, and Lune noticed her grimace swiftly shift to a polite smile.

“Good evening…” Chamomile bowed her head. “May I ask what you all are doing out of bed at this hour?”

“We just got back from the library!” The Pikachu beamed, shuffling the book in her arms as to show it off better. “Wanted to do some late night studying on account of bein’ unable to sleep!”

“Adstrum Integrum, huh? Not so much a light read…” Chamomile gave them a soft laugh. The Pikachu laughed in turn, reaching up to rub the back of her head. However, this loosened her grip on the book, and the thick set of pages went hurtling towards the ground. Chamomile was quick to grab it out of the air, which made her spindly little Pansage arms look uncharacteristically graceful. Lune could see her confidence falter for a moment, but the Pikachu’s smile didn’t drop.

Perhaps it was only obvious to the trained eye…

It was the other Pikachu, the male one, who hurried over to take the book from the both of them. “Owin Thunderstrike will hold onto this!” He said with an overbearing confidence before fumbling similarly with the tome’s heft. “Erk—heh… uh, by the way, why is it that you’re knocking on the door to the student quarters? Are you needing something?”

Chamomile tucked her arms behind her back, “if you wouldn’t mind, could you retrieve Lord Icarus for me? I need to speak with him–”

“There’s no need,” a strong voice called from the other side of the door. The Tyrunt carefully made his way out into the hall, looking down at Chamomile before giving his fellow students a hard leer. Lune wondered how long the Prince had been listening in. “You better have a good explanation for being out at night, Melrose.”

“Uh, well, I…” The Pikachu glanced at the book, then back at the Prince, and then once again at the book. “I was just—we were–”

“It was my idea.” The Minccino finally spoke up. “I roped Melrose and Owin into coming with me to the library… I couldn’t sleep, and thought studying would be a more efficient use of our time.” Her ears tucked back and her tail swept over her feet. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty…”

Prince Icarus clearly didn’t believe the Minccino’s story, but didn’t probe further. He just used a motion with his snout to beckon the three of them to go back into the common room. They all silently complied, sulking with every step, and Icarus closed the door once they were all inside.

“So, what exactly is it that you need me for, Basil?”

“There was an issue I was hoping you could assist me with in the kitchen.” Chamomile said with a small smile. “Nothing catastrophic, but it would be better if we dealt with it now.”

Lune’s stomach twisted in knots as he watched the Prince stare blankly in thought at the illusion. He looked Chamomile up, then down, before taking a few steps out into the hall. “Make it quick, then.”

Prince Icarus was already headed back the way Chamomile came before she could even react. Her character hardly faltered, but it did take her a moment before she hurried after him. Lune already planned on waiting, to create distance between him and the suspecting party, but… it was hard for him not to watch the Tyrunt’s movements with great attention. His energy was… intense. He was watching a Pokémon who not only knew exactly how to hold himself, but that carried an aura of strength Lune could never hope to replicate.

He’s lived nothing but a life of luxury the day he hatched. I bet he gets anything and everything he desires—anyone he desires. He has no idea what the real world is like. Pokémon like him make me sick!

Lune believed he was immune to the allure of nobles and noble life. Every ‘mon who wasn’t one dreamt of such a comfortable existence. Being rich, famous, well respected… all without lifting a claw—surely anyone would want that. Not Lune, though. Spending his life as a blue-blooded fox would have created a Pokémon that barely resembled Lune as he was—A Pokémon that Lune would despise…

The Nickit wanted to believe that his upbringing really could give him such conviction and hatred. However, if all that were really true—how come Lune’s breath hitched whenever he saw him? Or what about the heart pounding and bloody nose after they met in the academy garden?

Why don’t I hate him as much as I should? Is it because he spared me? That can’t be right. I’m much harder to win over that.

Lune slipped back into the hall, taking quick, quiet, careful steps in the darkness. His ears pointed forward to try and listen in on the Pokémon ahead, but neither of them spoke a word on their way to the kitchen.

What is he thinking so intensely about? I wonder if his thoughts are as eloquent as his speech.

Access to the kitchen was directly through the dining hall, and Icarus practically led the group of them there. Since he was still ahead of Chamomile by several feet, the Tyrunt placed a pointed claw on the door leading to the kitchen before she could even catch up. His hand lingered.

Chamomile slowly came to a stop despite still being so far from the door, and tilted her head in confusion. Before she could even think to ask the Prince what was wrong, he suddenly shot her an icy look. It was so chilling that Lune’s blood ran cold. The words that Icarus spoke next may as well have turned Lune into a Nickit-popsicle.

“You aren’t Basil.”

He had said it so pointedly, so… without question. He caught on the moment he set eyes on her illusion, hadn’t he? Icarus knew, and still accompanied Chamomile to the kitchen. Lune leaned in—heart racing and body twitching with anticipation.

This wasn’t fear or anxiety—Lune was excited.

Chamomile stared at the Prince with wide-eyed surprise. She suddenly lacked any of her usual confidence in a role, and stammered as if she’d forgotten her lines. A Zoroarks disguise is a matter of pride to them—so, it was entirely possible she was much more concerned about her failed performance than coming up with an excuse.

The Prince’s bright white fangs ignited with flames. “What kind of fool do you take me for, impost–”

The Lucario who dropped from the ceiling lunged like a wildmon, bone-club already in hand as he swung it hard at the back of Prince Icarus’s head. The Tyrunt was unprepared for the blow, thus his body was sent crashing into the dining room table. Although unset, the centerpieces still clanged and crashed loudly as they struck the floor.

Chamomile’s illusion faded, revealing her twisted snarl. “Damios, what the hell are you doing–?!”

The kitchen door swung wide open from Boss’s kick. He and the rest of Team Outlier hurried in, and Boss hardly looked pleased. “Why don’cha go and wake the whole castle up, ey knucklehead?”

“Sorry, Boss, but the runt was on to us. Early ambush became necessary, but we better get out of here fast.” Damios lept to the table and grabbed Icarus by his neck feathers. The Tyrunt growled at him, but hardly had the energy to do much else.

Or, so Lune thought, because the flames on his teeth reignited right as his massive jaw clamped onto Damios’s arm. The Lucario snarled loudly and tossed the dragon away quick.

“You little–!”

Icarus pulled himself up from the ground, fury blazing brighter than his Fire Fang. Everyone other than Lune, and a trembling Spike, steeled themselves for a fight.

He was smashed into a table with a Ground-Type move, yet he’s still able to fend us off. What is this kid made out of?

“Your odds ain’t lookin’ good, Your Highness. Best to come calmly and quietly.” The Boss said as he crept closer, balling up a fist and punching his own hand with it repeatedly. “Maybe then we’ll go easy on ya.”

Icarus snarled, and his gaze shifted to Lune for a moment. They locked eyes, and suddenly the Tyrunt was smirking. “I demolished three of your weaklings all on my own the first time. What’s a few more goons?”

“Huh, and here I was thinkin’ you might be smart.” Boss smirked, placing both hands behind his head and leaning back comfortably. “This ain’t gonna end well for ya, Junior.”

Right as he said that, Kioshi disappeared. The Greninja had slipped into the surrounding darkness, and emerged behind a frantic Icarus to attack him with Shadow Sneak. Though such a quick blow lacked strength behind it—and Icarus was able to toss the Greninja away with a swing of his heavy head. Koishi rolled against the floor, but was able to fling himself back up with a strong kick against the ground. In the following motion, Kioshi slid his left hand against his right wrist repetitively and furiously—summoning a Water Shuriken each time. The worn down Tyrunt took every hit, and each subsequent one brought the Prince further to his knees. Kioshi readied what seemed to be a final blow, but the Boss raised his hand.

The Boss had a wide smirk as he drew closer to Icarus. “Last chance, little man.”

The Prince trembled as he pushed himself up from the ground once again. Lune held his breath as he watched the beads of water on his scales drip down to the floor, each droplet splashing against the floor of the dining hall just loud enough for Lune’s giant ears to pick up. The solid rock embedded within him had such a pleasant, earthy smell when it was damp.

Despite appearing worn well past his worth, Icarus held his head up high. “You… dare… make a continuous mockery of the royal house. Every last one of you miscreants will pay for your ridiculous crime monopoly!” With a stomp of his foot on the ground, several large rocks erupted from the stone floor and flung themselves towards Boss.

As each chunk of Ancient Power flew towards him, the Boss slid, jumped, spun, and danced himself out of the way. In the same motion, he lept into the air and came soaring down at high velocity. Too tired to move, Icarus braced himself for the High Jump Kick the best he could–

“Leave ‘Rus alone!”

The Quick Attack from the small yellow body was just enough force to send the Boss off course and crashing into the floor. Dust kicked up around him and the flying rat, but once it settled—Boss had the Pikachu gripped by her scarf. She was squirming, electricity crackling around her cheeks, but the Boss kept her held despite getting zapped.

“Look what we got ‘ere, folks. A lil’ Pikachu thinkin’ she can save the Prince, huh? How cute.”

“Lemme go, lemme go, let me go!” Melrose’s cheek sparks rapidly became a surge of Thunder Shocks. Boss gritted his teeth hard, but it was all while keeping his smile. Fighting through the attack, Boss slammed the Pikachu into the floor and kicked her tiny body as hard as he could. As Melrose slid down the wall, her gaping mouth produced no sound. And, with a quiet thud against the ground… she went completely limp.

“M…Melrose…” Icarus’s pupils shrunk to the size of pins as he stared down at her unmoving body. His whole chest started to heave. “You… you bastards–!”

As his growl deepened, the Tyrunt shook with rage. Lune had to squint, but he could have sworn he saw flecks of light gathering by Icarus’s mouth. It was almost as if gravity itself was shifting strangely around him.

“I’ll kill you… I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!”

Lune was certain he was seeing things right. All that energy collecting near the Prince’s fangs—it looked like a star. A star on the verge of exploding. It was… beautiful. Mesmerizing, even. If Lune dared to look for a second longer, he might have gone blind.

In a flash, the Boss ran forward—grappling Icarus into a headlock. The Prince swallowed whatever catastrophe was forming at his lips and fought hard to get away, but just didn’t have enough fight left in him. That, and Boss’s body was surging with strength ever since he knocked out that Pikachu.

“I’ve had enough. Defeating him out the old fashion way is takin’ too damn long.” Said the Boss as he pulled one glistening Slumber Orb from his hoodie pocket. He caressed it with his nubby fingers. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, kiddo, I’ll give ya that. But it’s about time we get you outta this up-tight snob factory.”

But as the Boss held it up towards the castle ceiling, a small piece of rubble was sent flying at the orb. The little rock not only knocked it right out of the Boss’s hand, but cracked it against the floor–rendering it completely useless. Boss growled and turned his head towards the source, and everyone’s gaze followed. Lune’s eyes widened at the sight of the lone Litten.

“What the—how the fuck did you–?” The Boss dropped Icarus and started stomping towards Xander. “The next time I see those two slackers, I swear–”

“Don’t sweat it, Boss.” Damios said with a gruff growl. “I’ll take care of this pest.” And with that, the Lucario was already rushing towards Xander with his bone club at the ready.

“Ah, ah ah!” Spoke a feminine voice from behind the dining room door. With a waggle of her finger, Damios couldn’t control the trajectory of his rage—this Clefairy was the one going to take the hit. However, his bone club met with a force of impenetrable energy. The Clefairy smirked from behind her Protect. “You aren’t to lay another finger on these dear children as long as we’re around. Isn’t that right, Headmaster?”

“Right.”

Both dining room doors flung open with a burst of wind from the Headmaster’s powerful wings. His gaze was obscured by the lenses over his eyes, but Lune could still feel its intensity. With such a famously powerful dragon in the room now, it was Outlier’s odds that were starting to seem grim.

Frustrated that his first attack failed, Metal Claws had ripped from Damios’s paws, and he swung them at the Clefairy in a frenzy. However, the little Fairy-Type was a surprisingly adept dodger—which only made Damios more angry.

“Grrah–! Stay… still!”

Kioshi on the other hand was trying his best to hit the Headmaster with Water Shurikens, but each one seemed to bounce right off his scales as the dragon began dancing through the air. Energy was surging around the Flygon with each graceful move that he made. If Team Outlier didn’t act fast, Lune was sure they’d all be goners.

While everyone else’s eyes were on the action—a bright light erupted from the Boss’s direction. It stole everyone’s attention, but the flash-bang was hardly something anyone could actually look at. Once the light had cleared, Boss was nowhere to be seen.

Lune’s heart sank. For a moment, it felt as though the whole world went quiet. Time stood still.

No… No way…

All of Team Outlier stared for what felt like an eternity at where their boss just was. The air was thinning. Lune could barely breathe.

“Every ‘mon for themselves!” Spike shouted before bolting as fast as she could towards the academy’s back exit into the garden. Massive rocks shot up in front of her as the Headmaster raised an arm, and the Nidorina shrieked with terror as she turned tail to run the opposite way.

He just… up and abandoned us.

Lune’s eyes darted around the room.

Spike was now smashing one of the windows to create an escape. She was bashing at it in a frenzy, but the reinforced glass was giving her resistance.

The A-list members of Outlier were still locked in on just trying to land a single good hit on the academy staff.

Xander was already tending to his Pikachu friend beside the trembling Prince. They had managed to pick her head up, and she was mumbling something while looking at Icarus.

Finally, Lune spotted Chamomile… who cast Lune a disparaging look for a moment before disappearing into an illusion.

Wait! Come back! Don’t leave me here!

The Headmaster’s eyes gleamed red through his lenses as draconic energy started surrounding him. With a shrill cry, he broke into an Outrage. The Flygon flew fast and swung hard, and Damios was unable to slip away from the barrage of attacks coming his way. Lune had never seen the Lucario take such a beating, and under any other circumstance he might have even been satisfied by such a sight. It was horrific how little the Headmaster seemed to care for the castle as he tore into his opponent, and Lune could only dread what was going to happen if he didn’t get out of there. He needed to run, but his legs weren’t listening to his brain.

“Hey, Lune!”

Hearing his name was like a Fire Lash to the face. Lune turned to face Xander, who was staring at him with some sort of resolve. The Nickit snarled and took a step back. “You…this is all your fault!”

“You don’t want to do this,” Xander grumbled, ears flat against his head.

What the hell did he mean by that?! 

“Don’t act like you know me!” Lune spat–honing his claws and readying a strike. If he was going to jail, he was going after he shredded that punk’s face off.

“Prince Icarus told me you haven’t moved an inch,” Xander said with a leer.

Wh-what? Why would… Why was the Prince taking note of me?!

“You stood there, unmoving. Non-violent. Without purpose.” The Litten took a careful step forward, repeating himself slowly. “You don’t want to do this.”

“How can a Pokémon so unsure about everything be so certain of my intentions?” Lune snapped as he dug his claws into the stone below him. Even though they were sharper than daggers, Lune still couldn’t move. He was completely petrified. As Xander stared at him, the walls around Lune started to shift. He choked on his breath as he tried to spit out more comebacks. “What’s your deal, huh? What right do you have to look down on me ?!”

Xander was saying something, but Lune could no longer hear over the pounding. His head, his ears, his chest—there was a non-stop pumping of blood that drowned out everything. The Litten before him faded from view along with the rest of Red Academy, and in its place was the great hall of Castle Drakkenburg. He was all alone.

“Ch-Chamomile? Spike? B-Boss…?” He spun in circles. “N-no… no, no no no!” He whipped his head around—they were all gone without a trace.

Lune’s large ears could pick up the sound of every guard running towards him from every corner of the castle. He ran, harder than he ever had in his life. There had to be a way out—he just had to find it before it was too late.

He sped his way through the massive castle. Being warped inside meant he had no idea which way to turn. Left, right, left again… Nothing but cavernous hallways. The guards, they were getting closer, and Lune’s final hope was to dive into whatever room was nearest. Unfortunately, Lune’s paws carried him directly to the last place he should’ve hid: the throne room.

King Icarus Excaliburn Drakkenburg is one titan of a Pokémon. He would tower over almost every living creature in his kingdom, and that kind of power is impossible to scoff at. The mighty Tyrantrum was sitting in the dark chamber all by himself, his gaze torn from the full moon to see the Nickit below him.

Lune slid against the floor as he tried to come to a complete stop—every single follicle of fluff was standing on end as if he were rubbed against hundreds of balloons. Not only had the petty thief who came to steal something from his castle rush right into his quarters, but he was before the king looking like an unkempt Jolteon. If Lune wasn’t terrified out of his mind, he’d surely have died on the spot from embarrassment.

However, as the King stared down at him, the royal Tyrantrum’s stoic gaze never held even a shred of anger. In fact, Lune thought the King had looked rather sad—-remorseful even. Silently, His Majesty pointed his massive snout to the stained-glass window to his right. A small portion of the design was shattered, broken open and leading into the palace garden behind him. Lune wasn’t getting it. Actually, he was still stuck staring at the King. His legs wouldn’t start working again until his ears picked up the sound of the guards once more. Regaining his composure, Lune saw the broken window.

He hurried to it, gauging how hard and fast he would have to jump to make it through. Before making the leap, Lune took one final glance into the King’s glossy eyes. The Nickit held the gaze for as long as he could get away with before disappearing into the night.

The memory had lost its tight grip once the earth around him started to shake feverishly. Lune had only just snapped out of his state as a large body collided with his. Where Lune was moments ago now existed a chunk from the ceiling above them. Lune panted, as did the massive weight on top of him. For a moment, there was only breathing and shaking.

“We need to get out of here!” Shouted Xander as he tried to help both Lune and Icarus to their feet. “The Headmaster’s gone berserk!”

Sure enough, Xander was right. The Flygon above them seemed to have no idea who he was supposed to be attacking anymore. Even the Clefairy he had for a lackey was trying to disarm him. Maybe, with all the commotion, Lune had a chance to escape after all.

That idea was squashed right away as Prince Icarus snatched Lune up in his arms, joining him with the barely conscious Melrose. The Tyrunt then roared loudly as he charged with a great deal of adrenaline towards the door—Xander right on his tail as the room continued to crumble around them.

Dimitri was clinging for dear life to Officer Jennifer’s back. Arcanine ran fast , like really fast . Faster than any Pokémon Dimitri had ever been on, that’s for sure.

Honestly, everything felt like it was moving fast. First it was rushing to the police, hurriedly telling them about Team Outlier’s base at the Autumn Leaf, and now the race to help the commotion at the castle—Dimitri barely had a moment to breathe, let alone consider if he was doing the right thing. The wind rushing over his ears made it hard to think.

Once they passed the front gate, Jennifer skidded to a halt. Dimitri would have flung right off of her if it wasn’t for his claws’ tight grip. Her mouth fell agape.

“What the—how the heck did Outlier manage to take out such a huge chunk of the castle?!”

Dimitri steadied his spinning vision by holding his head still—then locked his sights on the academy. The destruction was centralized around a ground-floor room, one without any structures above it aside from its own, cavernous roof. It was as if a bomb went off inside.

Wasn’t that where the kitchen was? For Arceus’s sake—what did they do?!

Jennifer kicked back into action without warning, and Dimitri barely gripped back onto her fur in time to not be launched backwards. The two of them barged into Red Academy—and the police officer’s keen sense of smell brought her right to the scene of the crime.

Headmaster Zephyr was craned over the familiar black Greninja like a wild beast, both of their chests rising and falling rapidly. Kioshi was holding the Flygon’s foot with shaking hands—keeping the weight of it off his fragile throat. The only other Outlier member Dimitri could spot was Spike, who was completely unconscious beside the academy secretary.

Jennifer’s alerted expression shifted quickly to one of annoyance. “Zephyr, are you kidding me?!” She yelled across the rubble. “Dammit, you promised you wouldn’t do things like this ever again! Don’t you remember how long the repairs took last time?”

The Flygon’s head snapped upwards, and the glossy sheen over his lenses disappeared the moment he saw the fluffy police-mon. He lifted a bashful hand to the back of his neck and scratched at it.

“Whoops! Guess I went a little overboard, huh? My bad!” Zephyr glanced back down at Kioshi, sliding his foot over the Greninja’s chest and applying gentle pressure to keep him pinned. “You and your friends got me really mad, huh? Sorry about that! But, we’re going to take you to jail now.”

Kioshi just stared up at him, unable to do anything but breathe.

Dimitri decided to hop off Jennifer’s back, starting his own investigation of the scene. There was no trace of his friends, as far as he could tell, and the sinking feeling in his gut was starting to get the best of him.

“A few of them escaped,” Secretary Adeline reported as she dragged the Nidorina over to Jennifer. “The Scrafty, the Zoroark, and the Lucario all managed to slip off. They might still be nearby, so I’ll report to the staff to stay on guard.” She inspected the room for a moment, rubbing her chin with a claw. “Wait, I think there was a Nickit as well…”

“Scrafty? That’s a new one. Maybe that’s the leader we’ve been looking for…” Jennifer huffed. “Well, I sent all the Magnemite and Percy with some of the Guard to where Dimitri here reported their base is. Hopefully we’ve managed to arrest most of their ranks.”

Dimitri was only barely listening in now as he searched the space for clues. A few sniffs of the air only clogged his nostrils with debris, and he sneezed hard enough to send even more dust clouding around him. Unable to stand the sights and smells of the dining room any longer, Dimitri took a step out into the hall. He wasn’t going to be much help in there, anyway.

Worry made Dimitri’s head swarm with thoughts of Xander, Lune and Chamomile. He needed to calm down, so he sat and watched one of the lit torches along the academy walls flicker and sway.

Finally, a moment to just… process everything.

The flame was soothing. Not many Grass-Types could say that about a fire, but Dimitri always found comfort in the vivid colors and all encompassing warmth. Sure, he had to be a little extra careful around them, but it was worth it every time.

Maybe Lune got away? Could Xander be chasing him right now? What about everyone else? Did they get hurt?

There were nothing but uncomfortable questions that lacked answers. Dimitri’s half of the mission was done, but what was he supposed to do now? Just wait until one of his friends turns up?

“I’m… fine… really…”

Dimitri’s ear flicked at the sound of a distant voice. His head turned towards the sound, but there wasn’t anyone in sight…

“Melrose, you’re seriously hurt! What were you thinking, rushing into a guy like that!”

That was Xander! Dimitri scrambled to his paws and booked it down the hall. He was sprinting so hard that he actually passed where he heard the sound—and his claws skidded against the tile as he about-faced towards the castle passage Xander was in.

As Dimitri hurried around the corner, he was met with several intense gazes. The most intense of them all was that of Adstrum’s Prince himself, and Dimitri held his tongue at the sight of him. Xander was smiling, but it was actually the utterly exhausted Lune who broke the ice.

“You’re a little late to the party, Dimi.” He gave a faint smirk that failed to cover the sadness in his eyes. “Everyone else already left.”

“What happened…?” Dimitri padded over to his friend, giving him a soft lick on the ear before continuing. “I’ve never seen you look so worse for wear…”

“His little thief team tried to ambush me in the kitchen, but I sniffed out their Zoroark from a mile away.” The Prince scoffed, turning his snout up from the floor. “Her impression of Basil was a complete embarrassment.”

Lune’s tail lashed, “cut her some slack. We weren’t expecting you to actually give enough of a shit about the Pokémon around you to notice.” Prince Icarus snarled in response, but Lune continued without pause. “Damios went full dumbass mode, getting everyone to ambush right then instead of letting Chamomile try to handle it–”

“That was the smartest choice any of you made all night!” The Prince said with a dry laugh. “Your illusionist would’ve merely dug herself into a bigger hole.”

The two of them glanced at one another for a moment. Dimitri expected Lune to bite back, but… he uncharacteristically receded. Instead, he gestured a paw towards Melrose. The Pikachu looked the worst out of the bunch—sat up against the wall with bruises showing through her fur.

“After a bit of a scuffle, Miss Vigilante showed up and blocked one of the Boss’s kicks.”

“Well, actually…” Melrose spoke through a small cough. “I started following y’all the moment Icarus left. I uh…” She gave a guilty glance at the floor, ears drooping sadly. “I just wanted to know what was going on.”

“You’re… joking.” Lune said with a snide laugh. “Be serious. You’re telling me you avoided both Damios and my detection as we all followed them, and somehow didn’t see either of us?”

Melrose puffed out her cheeks and huffed. “I didn’t go the way y’all went! I was worried Icarus would see me and get mad… so I went the long way ‘round. I know how to get to the kitchen in all sorts ‘ah ways! Our maps make it easy.”

After riling herself up so much, Melrose winced and had to sink further against the wall. As she wheezed, Xander placed a gentle paw on her shoulder.

“As you can see, Boss kicked her ass,” Lune spat, ignoring the scorn from the Pokémon around him. “That made Princey-boy mad.”

“Don’t call me that–”

“Boss was about ready to use the Slumber Orb, but then–”

“I arrived,” Xander said as he turned to look at Dimitri again. His eyes were shining with pride, and the smile on the Litten’s face gave Dimitri Butterfree in his stomach. “I made it just in time, and it’s all thanks to you. Nice one!”

Dimitri purred, and not quietly either. “I would’ve been here sooner, but Officer Jennifer needed to dispatch Pokémon over to the Autumn Leaf. She brought me here as quickly as she could.”

Nothing could make him feel more like he made the right choice than seeing the way Xander looked at him.

…And nothing could make him feel guiltier about it like the way Lune was looking at him. Or rather, the way Lune wasn’t looking at him. Dimitri’s purr dropped in an instant, which everyone noticed—because the silence right after was deafening.

Xander glanced at everyone before letting out a dramatic exhale. “There’s a lot to sort out now, isn’t there?”

“Hardly,” Lune rolled his eyes with a huff. “I get dragged to jail by the police after you hand me over, and all the happy little Pokémon get to go back to their perfect little lives! Hurray!” The Nickit glanced up at Dimitri, and the two of them made eye-contact before he sharply pulled his gaze away. He then turned to look at the Prince, and his expression… softened. “What I don’t get is… Why the hell did you save me?”

“Ugh, can’t you just be grateful?” Prince Icarus growled, refusing to return the Nickit’s stare. “Listen, I would have saved any Pokémon in your position. No citizen of Adstrum should suffer a senseless death. It’s my responsibility to protect all my citizens, no matter their walk of life.”

“Hmph… that’s the exact sort of pretentious answer I was expecting.” Lune tilted his head up and glanced at the wall beside him. “I guess I should be thankful, but for some reason I just can’t find the words.”

“Alright, alright. Cut it out.” Xander’s tail flicked. “Lune, there’s a chance we won’t be sending you to jail. However, it’s entirely up to you.”

Both Prince Icarus and Lune cast the Litten skeptical looks.

“I’m serious. Dimitri got us free, but he only helped me afterwards because I agreed to try and get you and Chamomile out of this. I promised to give you a chance, and I like to think I’m a Pokémon of my word—even if I really think you belong in prison.” Xander approached Lune slowly, extending a paw towards him. “If you promise to quit being a thief, forever, and turn a new leaf–”

“No deal.” Lune blurted out—cutting Xander’s dramatics off suddenly. “I don’t have anywhere to go, or anyone to help me. At least prison gives a roof over my head and guarantees a meal every day.”

“You don’t mean that!” Dimitri batted Lune’s side with a paw. “You have me! And Chamomile! We can all work something out!”

“I’m not intruding on your life again, Dimitri.” Lune sighed into his chest. “It means a lot to me, really. But, I’m not worth the effort. I wasn’t even worth sticking around for.”

“What are you talking about…?”

As Lune stared quietly at the floor, Xander placed a paw on Dimitri’s shoulder. “Maybe it’s best we focus on just Lune, alright? Chamomile can probably handle herself.”

Dimitri tilted his head, unable to gather what exactly he was missing here. The two cat Pokémon locked gazes for a second, but after a while of staring—Xander gave up and pulled away.

“Lune, listen. I have somewhere you could not only stay, but work too if you made the right promises–”

“Shut up!” Lune snarled, making everyone but Icarus flinch. His fur was bristling. “What does any of this matter? I’m a wanted ‘mon! I skulk in the shadows and steal from others to live . After all, it’s the only thing I’m good at. I robbed you blind, and you’re helping me out because a cute boy is telling you to? I don’t want your pity!” The Nickit started to spit as he growled, “I don’t want your–”

“Lune! Enough!”

From the shadows of the hall emerged Chamomile… or at least, it sounded like Chamomile. Once everyone could see her, it was not her normal Zoroark form or even an illusion from her cast of usual disguises. She was a Zorua, plain and simple, and her eyes were round with sadness.

“Ch-Chamomile…?” Lune took a shaky step away from her. “You… I thought…”

“I’m sorry… I almost did.” The Zorua looked down at the floor. “I saw the Arcanine, and I… I just couldn’t leave without knowing…” She took a deep breath. “Lune, you don’t have to walk this path. You are capable of being so much more than a thief. Change the course of your life now, while you…”

Her body flickered, and quickly shifted, as the illusion cleared. The Zoroark looking down at them was tired, withered away by stress and fear. She kneeled, placing a few claws softly beneath Lune’s chin to guide his head upwards to look at her. Lune didn’t say anything.

“While you… still can.”

“Children? Is that you? Is everything alright?”

At the sound of Adeline’s voice, Chamomile disappeared once again. Lune held out a paw towards where she once was—and kept his gaze on the darkness even after the Clefairy turned the corner. Dimitri stared into the shadows alongside him…

Adeline smiled sweetly as she hurried over and started inspecting everyone. “Oh good, there you all are. No one is badly hurt, I hope? The Headmaster sure made a mess of things, but at least Officer Jennifer is here now.”

Icarus stepped forward. “Despite his reckless behavior, we’re mostly fine. Melrose is in the most dire straits. She should be taken to the nurse right away.”

“You ain’t so good either, Icarus…” Melrose said with a frown.

“Don’t worry about me. I may have taken a lot of hits, but my scales are stronger than stone.” Icarus glanced back at Melrose, blinking slowly at her. “Not taking that High Jump Kick kept me on my feet.”

The two of them shared a silent moment, Melrose smiling while Icarus stared at her—but they broke when suddenly Adeline gasped. “That’s one of those Outlier members, isn’t it!” She squeaked while pointing at Lune. “What are you children doing with him! I should call Jennifer at once–”

In a bout of panic, Adeline frantically raised a finger and readied an attack. Dimitri, Xander and Melrose started trying to explain all at once, however Icarus sprung forward and spread his arms out wide—which made everyone go quiet.

“Miss Adeline, please relax. This Pokémon has my royal pardon.”

Adeline lowered her claw. “He… does?”

“I do?” Lune added.

“After hearing his story, I’ve passed my judgment.” Icarus glanced back at Lune, leered so hard that the Nickit’s open jaw snapped shut, then returned his gaze to Adeline. “Team Outlier has been using and manipulating Lune here for a long time. I suspect that he’s been cast aside and forced to do their dirty work to guarantee his safety. He’s to be watched under the close supervision of Xander and Dimitri, and if he is to act out of line—I will take the personal responsibility of prolonging his arrest.”

Dimitri looked at Xander, and Xander returned his glance. The two of them both rubbed the backs of their necks—seemed like everything was being decided for them.

Adeline kept her worried expression, but once again lowered her guard. “If you’re sure, Your Majesty, then it’s not my place to question you.”

The Clefairy took a deep breath, turning back towards the dining hall before waddling over to Melrose. She helped the Pikachu to her feet and held her paw as she started walking away. “Let’s get you two to the nurse, shall we?”

“Very well,” Icarus huffed, taking a moment before he started following. He looked over his shoulder at the remaining Pokémon. “I trust you all know what to do.”

And with that, Xander, Lune and Dimitri were all left alone in the hall. The three of them were quiet and unmoving for a long time.

“Do we… know what to do?” Dimitri asked as he turned to his two dearest friends. Lune’s eyes were vacant, but Xander’s were full of light.

“Let’s get out of this castle for now,” the Litten said as he started to walk away. “We don’t exactly belong here, do we?”

“No… I guess not.” Dimitri padded to Xander’s side, keeping next to him as they made their way towards the entrance. He glanced periodically at Lune—who followed them despite his previous rejection of reform.

The sun was already rising by the time they left. As each of their ears perked at the sound of bird and bug Pokémon, Lune chuckled softly. Xander and Dimitri turned to look at him, both perplexed by his sudden smile. Dimitri could tell that it wasn’t a fake or sarcastic one, either. His dark eyes glimmered with the orange hues of the sunrise. After a deep breath, he spoke.

“That felt like the longest night of my life. I’m surprised it’s finally over.”

-END OF ACT TWO-

Chapter Text

The Drowsy Munna’s front window spent most hours of the day overcast in shade, what with the castle town’s alleyways blocking out any sunshine. However, right as the sun peaked in the sky, beams of warmth could reach their hands right through the glass. When these exact conditions were met, Xander could nap peacefully on the windowsill—sleeping soundly until the sunshine went away.

Sure, there were a great deal of things to be worried about—things that weighed on Xander’s mind like a ton of crumpled academy bricks. But, all those tumultuous things seemed to melt away with the heat of the sun. Xander was purring, and he didn’t care if all of Adstrum could hear it.

Unfortunately, Xander’s break would not go undisturbed. His ears peaked up at the sound of chatter behind him. They twisted around to get a better listen, but, being half asleep, it took him a second to understand anything the Pokémon were saying.

“Thank you so much, dearie. Why, I’ve never seen a floor swept so spotlessly,” was spoken from Gloria’s sweet old voice.

“Eh. Think nothing of it. Nickit tails are made for this sort of thing.” Lune bragged. “Better than any broom they’ve got on the market.~”

“Oh-hoho! I’ll say. Why don’t you relax for a moment? I can make you boys some tea.”

“You’re too kind. Really…” Lune’s voice hit a sour note, one that was perhaps too faint to be detected by such a big hearted Pokémon like Gloria. “I’ll take you up on that break, though. My haunches are sore.”

From the sound of their steps alone, Xander was able to imagine Gloria’s walk to the kitchen and Lune’s walk over to… him. The Litten let out a quiet snort, flattening his ears and keeping his eyes shut in hopes that Lune would believe him to be fast asleep—and leave him alone.

“Wake up, sleepyhead. You owe me a chat.”

“I secured you a home and a job—I’m pretty sure I don’t owe you anything.” Xander tucked his muzzle closer to his belly and covered his face beneath his tail.

“Come on, please?” Lune sighed.

It actually surprised Xander how genuine the Nickit sounded, and that surprise was enough to make Xander curious. The Litten lifted his head up, making eye contact with Lune. “Fine, what do you want?”

“Well, it’s sort of… about the home and job. Seriously, you don’t gain a single thing from welcoming me to bum around here. So, what gives?” Lune hopped up onto the windowsill, pupils shrinking from the direct sunlight illuminating his face-fur. His silver fur looked beautiful in the light, admittedly—and Xander could actually read his expression without that musty hood on. “Tell it to me straight, kitty. What’s your aim?”

“This again…?” Xander said through a yawn, arching his back into a stretch as he stood. “Dimitri seems like a good Pokémon, and he believes in your value, so I trusted him. It’s really not that complicated.” Xander jumped to the floor, leaving Lune behind. The sunbeam had been tainted by serious conversation. Withholding irritation, Xander added, “the Prince of your whole country or whatever pardoned you. Just take the clean slate, already.”

“I just can’t wrap my head around–”

“Dude, just, for fuck’s sake–” Xander glared back at him, tail lashing. “You really don’t have faith in anyone’s intentions, do you? I’ve watched you give even the sweetest old timers in Constella a glance of distrust. And Lune, believe me, they really are just that generous. I should know.”

Lune sighed again, this time sadder and with slumped shoulders. “My life is getting flipped on its head for just about the third time in my whole life. Can’t you grant me just a sliver of patience while I try to work this out?”

“Well, you did rob me. Assault me–” Xander lifted a paw to start counting with his digits. “Demean me. Ruin my date. Lead me into getting tied up–” He ran out of toes, so he lifted his other paw. “Not to mention, you were a member of a team directly responsible for harming and attempting to kidnap my friends—”

“Fuck off,” Lune growled, but the small smirk on his snout betrayed him.

“After all that, I decided that you’d be worth extending a little kindness to. There doesn’t always have to be a reason to be kind, some secret motivation to do the right thing, okay? Just do me a favor and take that sentiment at face value.”

“I can try. But, I make no promises.” Lune turned his gaze back towards where Gloria went, and sighed once more. A wistful sigh. “I suppose I should be thankful. To his highness, to Dimitri. To you.”

Xander watched him for a second, keeping a pensive expression while working through his own thoughts. It had actually only been maybe thirty-six or so hours since the whole Team Outlier kidnapping bust, but Xander wasn’t finding any reason to grant the Nickit any slack.

What still bugged Xander was—the morning of—Gloria and Remmy hardly asked a single question when he brought Lune to their inn. Xander supposed when part of your business was burnt to a crisp and customers were already low that the couple would be inclined to take all the help they could get. Did they trust him because Xander trusted him? Xander didn’t trust him.

“Tea is ready!” Gloria called from the kitchen. Both Xander and Lune’s ears perked at the sound of her voice, and the two of them glanced at each other before Xander took the first steps toward their boss. Gloria smiled at the sight of them.

“It’s Pecha Berry. I lightly sweetened each of your cups, but there’s more sugar on the counter if either of you need it.” The Hypno crouched down to set the tray on the ground. “Careful! It’s still hot.”

Xander sat by the tray and carefully scooped the cup into his paws. It was a little hard to hold it like that, but Xander wasn’t quite in the mood to crane his neck down and lap out of the cup like a bowl. His tongue hit the tea with quick dips, spooning it into his mouth. Gloria had sweetened it perfectly—avoiding that nasty flavor that came with putting too much sugar in a beverage. Xander enjoyed being able to actually taste the berry the tea was made from. In fact, from the start of his life in Adstrum, Xander noticed he just plain loved the taste of berries. Sure, that was a very common sentiment to be had by Pokémon, but that’s exactly what made Xander so happy to know that about himself. Pokémon enjoyed berries, and… Xander enjoyed berries, too.

Xander lifted his gaze from his tea only to notice from the corner of his eyes that Lune was… watching him. He tried to conceal his discomfort, but his twitching tail must’ve been a dead giveaway that he hated the Nickit’s prying eyes. After a few more sips, he betrayed the image he was gathering in his peripherals and glanced at Lune—who was, embarrassingly, not staring at Xander. The Nickit was staring at the tea in his paws.

“How are you… drinking that?”

Oh, right. Another thing Xander noticed about himself was that—no matter how fresh the boiling water was out of the kettle, the Litten could drink it straight away. “You should, uh, probably wait. Or, blow on it.” Xander tucked his face back into the cup.

“Actually, I was… trying to be polite earlier, but I’ll pass on the tea.”

Xander’s embarrassment subsided as he pulled the cup away from his mouth. “C’mon, Lune, you should give it a chance. Gloria is really good at making tea.”

“Oh! I wouldn’t say that. It’s hardly a chore to put a kettle of water on the stove and steep dried berries and leaves in it. That Pignite at the teastand just knows what he’s doing when it comes to his product! The quality of the tea itself does most of the heavy lifting.” Gloria was pouring another cup as she spoke. “Let’s just hope Pecha does the trick…”

Before Xander could ask what she meant by that, her husband floated his way into the kitchen. He coughed into his nubby hand for an awkwardly long moment, taking a while to smile endearingly at Gloria. “Don’t be silly, dearest. It takes a lot of know-how to get brewing tea just right. I always end up over-steeping it…”

Gloria made her way over to Remmy, giving him a kiss on his wrinkled cheek “I love the way you make it, dear…”

Xander watched as Gloria held the cup out to her husband, who took it in a levitating grip up towards his Musharna trunk. The old ‘mon gave the warm liquid a gentle blow before taking a sip. “ Mmm… that’s nice…”

Lune, still avoiding his offering, joined Xander in watching them. His nose twitched, which Xander assumed meant he was keeping something to himself. Even more peculiar was the way he glanced at Xander afterwards.

What? Why are you looking at me like that?

While the two of them were locked in their staring match, Remmy suddenly burst into a loud, spluttering cough. Hot tea fell from his mouth and flew from his cup, splashing against the floor—which the tea cup would have also shattered against if Gloria wasn’t so quick to catch it with her own telekinetic hold. She rubbed her husband’s back as he continued to cough, a misty pink bursting from his head with each wheeze and hack.

Remmy took a bit to catch his breath, but once he did he looked rather ashamed. “I’m sorry, Gloria… I almost broke part of your favorite set.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. How about you go sit back down? I’ll make another cup and just bring it to you…”

“Hmm? Nonsense. I’ve been sitting down all day. There’s chores to be done if we want to open back up soon.”

“You really should take it easy, though… Besides, that’s what we have these two boys for. You don’t have to do all the handy work anymore.”

“Yes, but–”

Gloria wasn’t having it. She placed a firm, but loving, hand on his side and started to push his floating body back into the hall. “We’ll get it done, sweetheart. How about you read? Or, if you have to work, go through our log book again and make sure all the math is right?”

Their squabbling was taken out of the kitchen, and soon Xander and Lune were left alone again. To avoid conversation or worse, awkward silence, Xander started to drink his tea again.

“I’ve seen a cough like that before.”

Xander paused mid sip. ”What do you–”

“If it doesn’t go away in a few days, it’s usually not a good sign. How long has he been like that for?”

“I–”

Xander gripped the tea cup hard, accidentally unsheathing his claws as he squeezed. Xander couldn’t recall a moment he’d known Remmy where the Musharna wasn’t coughing. But, surely he was fine… right? Was Xander just assuming this whole time it was some regular old ‘mon mannerism he had?

The lack of an answer seemed to be enough for Lune. The Nickit shook his head and started making his exit. “I guess the old timer probably doesn’t have long left.”

“Hey! Don’t say things like th–” Xander’s body had shot up involuntarily, ready to pounce on Lune without hesitation, but this had rocketed the tea cup out of his paw-grip. The Litten lunged for it, outstretching his front limbs in a desperate attempt to catch the fragile porcelain. Lune watched with wide eyes as the cup was just beyond Xander’s grasp—

But, there was no crash. No loud shatter. Not even a clink against the wood grain kitchen floor. Xander had closed his eyes to avoid watching the inevitable catastrophe, so he had to force them open to find out what had actually happened.

A mere couple centimeters off the ground, the tea cup was held floating in space.

Lune and Xander couldn’t take their eyes off the miracle before them. Neither dare break the silence, or move, or even breathe—or else risk the cup somehow resuming its descent. The two of them felt frozen in time, and Xander, with little guess as to what was going on, considered for a moment that perhaps that was the explanation.

“Goodness!”

Gloria’s voice snapped them out of it. She levitated the cup towards herself, taking a deep breath once it was safely in her hands. “Seems like everyone is trying to break my grandmother’s wedding gift today, hmm?” She said with an exasperated, but still amused chuckle. “Perhaps instead of new carpeting, we should invest in some gelatin floors!”

Xander was too relieved by Gloria’s sudden appearance to have a well humored laugh at his clumsiness. Of course one of the two Psychic-Type Pokémon living there had caught the cup before it hit the floor. Xander had no idea what had gotten him so freaked out.

“If you uh… don’t mind, I’d like to get back to work.” Lune spoke through his still shaken tone of voice. “All that… burnt wall paper won’t tear itself off.”

Lune slipped into the hall, this time leaving Xander alone with Gloria.

“...Want me to go help him?” Xander said with a tilt of his head. “I’ve been lounging about for a good while. I’m due to earn my own keep.”

“Please, don’t worry about it, Xander.” Gloria set the cup she had saved in the sink. “We’re actually due for a visit. Your police officer friend is coming to pick you up soon.”

Oh?

OH!

Xander’s tail stuck straight up. “That’s right! My meeting with the Prime Minister! With the fire and… Dimitri—and the whole situation at Red Academy—I completely pushed it to the back of my mind.” His heart pounded in his chest. He didn’t feel ready. Eager for answers, sure, but he was about to have an audience with the kingdom’s highest ranking politician. And, given his lack of memories, he quite literally could only imagine the gravity of such a meeting. Xander knew so little about this Pokémon. Without a doubt he was going to make a fool of himself somehow.

Gloria chuckled as she started to gently wash her tea set, levitating the tray with Lune’s untouched cup under the faucet. “I hardly blame you, dearie. Life sure has been busy.” She reached over to grab a small washcloth. “Would you like me to spruce you up again? I had a lot of fun making you even more handsome for your little date.~”

“Sh-should I? I mean, regular grooming can’t be enough, right?” Xander was panickedly smoothing the fur on his head down. “Do I need accessories? Is that bow you lended to me too cutesy? How am I even supposed to address this guy?!”

“Deep breaths, deep breaths!” Gloria hurriedly chimed in with a sweet laugh. “Adstrum’s Prime Minister is a kind, educated Pokémon. I’m certain he’ll be an understanding set of ears when speaking to Adstrum’s subjects. As long as you smell and look decent, I’m sure you’ll pass his standards. And, as far as I’m concerned, you already meet those conditions, young ‘mon.”

Xander was still frantically licking the back of his paw and smothering his fur with it. He was so focused on grooming that he almost hissed when he felt Gloria’s freshly damp hand caress the underside of his face. He relaxed when he met the Hypno’s soothingly maternal gaze.

“You have nothing to worry about, sweetie… I can hardly name a Pokémon who hasn’t adored you the second they’ve met you.”

Xander wanted to dispute such an outrageous claim, but… with the way it was told to him—he just couldn’t bring himself to disagree. The pounding within his chest slowed, and Xander could finally take a deep breath.

Before he could thank Gloria for helping calm him down, with suspiciously impeccable timing—the front door’s bell jingled its call and took their attention. Loud steps followed. “Hello? It’s Officer Jennifer! Anybody here?”

Gloria released Xander from her gentle touch and stood, beginning her usual hobble towards the lobby. Xander followed close behind, but soon overtook her at his regular walking speed. When the Arcanine at the door saw him, her tail started to wag.

“There you are. Good afternoon! Are you ready to meet with the Prime Minister?”

“As ready as I’m going to be…” Xander muttered sheepishly. He didn’t like the way Jennifer tilted her head at that, so he tried to perk himself up. “Heh, just a little nervous! I feel slightly underprepared.”

“Try not to worry, then. Remember, I’m going with you—and I’ve talked with Prime Minister Aster before. Less than I have with his sister, to be sure, but I promise it’s a lot more laid back than the idea of chatting with a Prime Minister sounds.”

Easy for you to say… Xander’s tail flicked. You’re the Chief of Police… he already has a reason to respect you.

“Though… The one thing he can’t stand is tardiness. So! We should really get going–” Jennifer crouched down, pointing a paw towards her back. “Hop on! I’ll get us to the castle in a flash.”

Xander started to approach her, but leapt straight up in a startled fit when she suddenly snapped upwards. “WAIT! I forgot. Where’s the… pardoned criminal? I needed to check in with him.”

“Right here,” Lune snarked as he turned the corner. Jennifer shot him a look, but the Nickit came prepared with a snide remark. “What? It’s hard not to eavesdrop on such a loudmouth police ‘mon.~”

“Alright, wise guy. Just because The Prince pardoned your past transgressions doesn’t mean I can’t arrest you for future ones, so watch it.” Jennifer turned to Gloria. “He hasn’t caused you any trouble, has he?”

“Not a bit,” Gloria said in earnest. “He’s been a hard worker, and everything of mine has stayed in its place. I’m lucky to have him.”

Lune sat, placing a front paw beneath his chin and tilting his snout cheekily towards the ceiling. “See? She’s lucky to have me.~”

Officer Jennifer stifled a growl. “Well, keep an eye on him.” She crouched once again, wordlessly beckoning Xander to actually get on this time. Xander hesitantly returned to what he was doing, and with a great leap landed square on the Arcanine’s back. He only had a second to wave goodbye as the grouchy officer hurried her way back out the front door. Once she was out on the street—she booked it! Such a blazing speed made it difficult for Xander to cling on, but at least Jennifer didn’t seem to mind his sharp claws digging into her fur.

Xander watched as Pokémon turned to see the police ‘mon speeding by, each with their own impressed expressions as Jennifer dodged the strolling pedestrians effortlessly. Xander was similarly in awe, and it took him a while to stop bracing for impact every time someone was in their path. He tore his eyes from the road and turned up towards the mountain beyond Constella’s walls, which was where Castle Drakkenburg perched to watch its city. The bustling streets around him turned to blurs, and his heart started racing…

This was it. He was finally going to get some answers… right?

Chapter Text

Constella’s northern gate led to a beautiful stretch of meadow, one that extended a short, though impressive, distance all the way to Castle Drakkenburg. If it wasn’t for the massive stone wall enclosing the entire plains, along with the worn down cobble road connecting the two places, Xander might not have believed Constella was supposed to even be a castle-town.

As Officer Jennifer lunged out into the sea of lush grass, the two guards stationed at the exit called out for her to stop. The Arcanine was moving so fast that skidding to a halt almost caused Xander to be flung clear off her back—thankfully, her fluffy coat made an excellent grip. Even as his body shook and his eyes struggled to adjust to the suddenly unmoving world around him, Xander could recognize the two Rapidash knights who loved to butt heads with the police. 

Jennifer huffed as she about-faced, not exactly pleased to see who hailed her. “Can’t you two tell I’m on official police business?” The Arcanine growled.

“You could have fooled me,” Edgeworth snorted, colorful mane flickering with light, as he tilted his head up indignantly. Phoenix, his blazing fire-mane somehow more relaxed, shoved him with his shoulder in response. The two of them glanced at each other for a moment before Edgeworth caved. “Hngh… What I mean to say is, are you off to the castle?”

“What’s it look like?” Jennifer grumbled while rolling her eyes. “Yes, obviously. And neither of you are owed the reason as to why.” As she turned back around, Xander could tell by the shifting in her haunches that she was already getting ready to sprint again. “Now boys, if you’ll excuse us. We don’t exactly have a moment to waste—”

Edgeworth tried to anchor her back with a snort and a scoff. “I suppose that leaves me to believe this is a personal affair regarding that citizen you’re carrying—and that I should avoid operating under the assumption that you’re purposefully leaving us in the dark concerning a royal issue.” He tossed his head back to straighten out his mane. “So, fine! Run along, then.”

Edgeworth turned away, his disappointment from her answer being soothed by Phoenix nudging him again—this time with his hip. Sure, the bump made the Rapidash snort again, but something about the way the two looked at each other afterwards seemed to calm the snobbish soldier down. As Jennifer kicked back into a sprint, Edgeworth shouted again—this time in a more jovial tone.

“However, you owe us some castle gossip! Or, at the very least an ETA on when the Prime Minister wishes to converse with the Knights of Silver again!”

Even as the rolling field blurred past him, Xander tried to get a good look at the well kept grounds stretching ahead. The autumn grass danced in the wind like ocean waves—the impact of Jennifer’s heavy steps sending out ripples. The sun was lowering, but the sky was still a beautiful sapphire blue with few clouds to cover it. Xander watched the silhouettes of bird Pokémon flying high above as they cleared the mountain, guiding his eyes to the castle.

Castle Drakkenburg overlooked the world from its awe inspiring perch—a sturdy peak that towered its kingdom below. The castle’s dark, stone walls were embedded seamlessly with the summit behind it, as if the castle were part of the mountain itself. When the castle was a far away sight, it was much harder for its significance to weigh on Xander at all—but as Jennifer brought him closer and closer, the intimidating stature of it all put Red Academy to shame.

Xander was most curious about the large observatory tower that crested the castle. It was ornate—the sort of place a knight might rescue a princess from in a fairy-tale. But then, at the top, there was a rather fantastical telescope situated on the roof. The highly advanced piece of astronomy equipment blended surprisingly well with the structure it was attached to.

A massive set of stairs bridged the ground to the castle doors. It would’ve been a long way up for a Pokémon of Xander’s size, but to an Arcanine—it was hardly more than a short bound. Jennifer steadied and slowed her pace to make the climb, once again taking great care of Xander as he rode on her back. The Litten wondered if she often carried Pokémon this way.

Once at the top, Xander couldn’t have been more perplexed by what he saw. There was a giant pitfall, covered by a shifty metal grate. Jennifer crouched closer to the ground—allowing Xander to slide carefully off her back and get a better look at the strange hole. His obvious confusion made Jennifer laugh.

“I’m guessing you’ve never seen a sentry post before?”

Xander looked up at her and tilted his head. “Sentry post…?”

“Basically, you’re going to need to step carefully onto that grating with me.” Jennifer gestured a paw towards the pit. “Don’t worry, it won’t break. Those steel rods could handle a Pokémon three times our combined weight and then some.”

“Okay, but…” Xander padded closer to the pit. “Would it be a stupid question to ask why we have to stand on this thing?”

“Pfft, not at all! Even Pokémon who remember living here their whole lives rarely need to cross a classic sentry system. Castle Drakkenburg has maintained this specific security measure mostly for tradition’s sake.” Jennifer looked up towards the castle. “It’s Prime Minister Aster’s psychic barrier that actually prevents most intruders from getting in.”

Xander glanced at the sky around them. He sure didn’t see any barrier. But he wasn’t given much time to look, as Jennifer was already nudging him onto the grate with one of her massive paws. As she corralled him on, she stepped forward to match—so they both stood over the pitfall together. Xander couldn’t help feeling a little nervous, but he felt a lot better when the metal didn’t so much as even creak under their heft.

After a moment or two of awkward silence, suddenly—a very loud shout came from underneath them.

“POKÉMON DETECTED! POKÉMON DETECTED!”

The fur on Xander’s back spiked up. Another voice, this one from the other side of the door, answered the call with “WHOSE FOOTPRINT? WHOSE FOOTPRINT?”

“THE FOOTPRINTS ARE… ARCANINE AND LITTEN! THE FOOTPRINTS ARE ARCANINE AND LITTEN!”

After a pause, the shouting continued.

“VISITATION REQUEST HAS A MATCH! Officer Jenneifer and Xander of Constella! Hold tight! One moment!”

A loud mechanism clicked, and soon the heavy doors were slowly dragged open by a long series of moving chains. The two of them were waved inside by a smiling Duruladon—his silvery exterior decorated in dark metal armor that was similar to all the knights Xander had seen before. Next to him was a stoic Indeedee, who expressed no particular emotion as he bowed in their direction.

“Welcome to Castle Drakkenburg.” The Indeedee said as he straightened back out. “I can take you both to the Prime Minister straight away.”

Xander oftentimes found himself feeling small around the Pokémon and buildings of Adstrum, but Castle Drakkenburg made the little Litten feel microscopic . The halls, the doors, the stairs… even the windows all seemed to have a titanic stature in mind.

It left Xander wondering—just how big of a Pokémon was Prince Icarus’s father?

Aside from the sheer size, a lot of the architecture was very similar to Red Academy. Both castles loved their tapestries, that was for sure. On each side of the hallway were red weaves of Tyrantrum and blue weaves of Aurorus, each with details engraved with a golden yellow.

Although the structure itself was similar, the vibe of the royal castle could not be more different. Busybody staff made their way through the halls with a clear sense of duty. Xander watched a group of Sinistea float overhead to meet with a Polteageist waiting for them by the kitchen. They all giggled before flying inside. A Delphox, Braixen and Fenniken were all studying together at a table Xander could see from the open library entrance, all of them occasionally looking up from their tomes to discuss. A Bisharp and Armorogue dressed in knightly gear were having a pleasant conversation as they passed by, smiling and laughing as if they were the funniest Pokémon alive. A Mr. Mime was practicing some sort of routine just around the corner, juggling jingling balls with his feet as he stood on his hands.

It was so… lively.

The Indeedee touring them through the castle brought Xander and Jennifer to a more secluded part of the estate. He opened the door to a small, comfortable room with sofas, cushioned chairs, and bookshelves all around a regal fireplace. He motioned for both castle guests to head inside, and Xander slipped inside to take a better look.

“Prime Minister Aster will be right with you. I’m going to make sure he knows you have arrived, though I doubt he doesn’t already know.”

The Indeedee gave a another bow before closing the door behind him. Jennifer shouted a “thank you!” at him through the walls before hopping up onto one of the larger couches—comfortable for a Pokémon her size. Once she sat down and got cozy, the Arcanine looked down at Xander with bright, excited eyes.

“Sooo, what do you think of the castle?”

Xander laughed and rubbed the back of his head. “It’s… uh, big?” 

“Hah! Yeah, it is, isn’t it? Anywhere the King is expected to be able to go needs to be pretty big, after all.” Jennifer patted the spot next to her, so Xander took that as his cue to leap up onto the seat. Once he was settled, the Arcanine continued. “When I was just a Growlithe, I always felt like this place was going to swallow me whole! My grandpa had a good laugh when I told him I had nightmares about it.” She said as she smiled fondly to herself. “Good times…”

Xander tilted his head. “Did you live in the castle, or…?”

Jennifer shook her head no. “When Queen Calamity was still alive, folks would often spend time at the castle recreationally. My grandpa just liked taking me here to play. Much more room for me to run around!” She glanced up at the unlit fireplace and sighed. “Feels like just yesterday…”

Xander suddenly felt awkward as Jennifer reminisced. She thankfully didn’t seem sad or upset, but with nothing to add… Xander also looked at the fireplace.

“Nowadays the security has been a little more tight. They try to keep careful tabs on everyone who comes in and goes out…” Jennifer shrugged. “I hope things can maybe go back to the way they were someday.”

And with that came the full, stilted silence. Jennifer’s gaze became one of longing as she stared into space, and Xander wasn’t quite sure if anything he could say would do any good. Still, he gave her an awkward smile. “That day might come sooner than you think. Who knows, right…?”

“...Yeah.” Jennifer’s tail gave a subtle wag.

Not a moment too soon, the Indeedee from before returned. He gently opened the door and gestured behind him, clearing his throat.

“Presenting the wise and intellectual Prime Minister of Adstrum, Sir Aster Galileo Zodia.”

“Thank you, Jakob.”

The Indeedee quietly shut the door on his way out as Aster entered the room, leaving the three Pokémon alone—and suddenly, it felt as though Xander couldn’t breathe. The sight of Prime Minister Aster made the Litten’s blood run cold, and he could feel himself tremble as he stared.

Aster was beautiful. A jeweled headband crowned his soft, green head. Delicate fabric sleeves covered his long, slender arms. His pastel red eyes were deep in contemplation, and shone like a freshly tumbled mineral. If Xander didn’t know any better, he would’ve assumed Aster was a prince, or even a princess.

Xander’s pulse raced, his head convulsed, and his breath was shallow. If he wasn’t already sitting, he knew he very well would have collapsed on the floor. The voice replaying in his head was loud in his ear.

"Xander… Prime Minister Aster is not a good Pokémon. He wants to make the world a super bad and terrible place!"

That Celebi… Minute? It’s ruby red, pleading eyes flashed in Xander’s mind. He could remember, although faintly, what the Mythical Pokémon had requested of him…

"Aster isn't very far along in his plan yet. In fact, he actually knows super-duper little about what he actually needs to do to succeed. However! He's smart, and will figure it out soon… unless…”

Xander’s stomach twisted all over again.

“…you steal something from him."

Xander had done his best to push that nightmare, then turned prolific destiny dream, out of his thoughts for quite some time. But, pressures of the upcoming path ahead sunk their teeth in and took hold. He had been told Aster was not to be trusted—and here Xander was, beneath the Gardevoir’s expectant gaze.

This was a bad idea.

Aster glided along the ground, movements so graceful that Xander couldn’t tell if the Gardevoir was actually levitating or just seemed to be. He turned to Jennifer, mouth never smiling but tone surprisingly warm. “It’s been too long since we’ve spoken face to face, Officer Jennifer. My apologies. I’ve been far too busy with other matters to schedule a council with you.” Aster placed a hand on his chest, closed his eyes, and tucked in his head. “Still, it’s wonderful to see you, even if we won’t be chatting much this evening.”

Xander turned, with perhaps way too much panic, to the Arcanine beside him. Was Aster implying Jennifer wasn’t going to be around as they talked? She was supposed to protect him from any extended periods of awkward stress—!

Jennifer took Xander by surprise as she spoke up, “actually, Xander requested I accompany him during this meeting—so I assume he might want me to stick around. He’s a bit anxious, y’know?”

Xander’s ears flattened against his head.

“Hmm,” the Prime Minister shifted glances between the two Fire-Types sitting before him. “I suppose if young Xander would feel more comfortable that way, then I personally see no issue with it. However…” Aster’s gaze settled on Xander, and the Litten involuntarily held his breath. “We will be disclosing a great deal of personal matters concerning you and your identity. Surely you’ve realized why I of all Pokémon allocated time for this matter, have you not?”

Xander looked down at the floor. He wanted to get a word in, but his muzzle was glued shut.

Aster continued. “You have no memories, and you woke up in a Mystery Dungeon. By now you certainly understand the implications of this?”

Xander’s tail flicked, but he still wasn’t sure if he was allowed to speak freely—so he continued to keep quiet.

“Xander, a leader of any country catching wind of these such comeuppances has to take it very seriously. Jennifer specified you wanted to know if Adstrum possessed any records of you or your past. I decided to spare both of you a tedious trip and disgusting waste of time by taking the liberty of checking the records myself. However, once again, before I disclose any more details…”

Aster stepped closer to Xander. The Litten pulled his gaze from off the floor and titled his head up at the Gardevoir looking down at him.

“Exactly how much of this do you want anyone else to know?”

Xander was surprisingly unprepared for a question like that. A fresh wound had been opened in regards to his own concerns involving the truth of his background. Adstrum’s leading political figure was telling him, to his face, that this was serious. This whole thing wasn’t just about meeting the Prime Minister, who may or may not be some sort of villain, anymore. This Pokémon knew something about him, something Xander didn’t know about himself.

What was he willing to let others hear?

Xander slowly turned and gave Officer Jennifer a timid glance. She had been more than extremely kind to him up to this point, and more than a little helpful. This Pokémon had saved him and those he cared about, which Xander was undeniably and overwhelmingly grateful for, so it made him feel pretty crummy to realize… that it would be for the best if she left.

Miss Jennifer probably already has her own assumptions about the whole thing anyways, like how Melrose was so quick to come to the conclusion that I’m a human. Xander swallowed the lump forming in his throat. If she’s right, then so be it, but if she’s wrong… I want to be the one who makes the judgment call on whether or not she gets to know for sure.

Xander must’ve been guiltily staring at Jennifer for a lot longer than was comfortable, because the Arcanine once again spoke up for him—this time to him. “I’m not upset if you’ve changed your mind. Escorting you here was the most important part, and I’ll gladly be on my way if you don’t need me here anymore.” She smiled, first at him and then to Aster, “If it was something the police needed to know, the Prime Minister would tell me.

“Of course,” Aster said while bowing his head again. “So, Xander? What say you?”

“I–” Xander coughed, his dry throat punishing his new found courage to speak. He rushed out an answer before he had any more time to be embarrassed. “I’d like to speak with the Prime Minister alone, please.”

“Very well then,” Aster used his telekinesis to open the door Xander and Jennifer entered from. “Pleasure seeing you, Officer. I’ll arrange another meeting with you sooner rather than later.”

“I’d like that!” Jennifer said with a bark. “Oh wait—before I go. Xander, do you need me to stick around Castle Drakkenburg? It’s getting late, so I wouldn’t mind taking you home when the time comes.”

Xander couldn’t think clearly at the time, so planning ahead was more stressful than it should have been. He shook his head, not wanting to trouble the Arcanine any more than he already had. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.” Jennifer stepped out of the room, calling some repeated goodbyes before kicking it shut with a swift kick.

Silence.

Xander took a deep breath, but then immediately wished he hadn’t. Aster’s eyes were piercing right through him, far too knowingly. Xander dreaded the safety of the secrets he needed to keep from this Pokémon—as he was sincerely considering spilling the whole world to Aster if it meant sparing him from the Gardevoir’s intense gaze.

After clearing his throat, Aster wasted no time. “Now then, as I was saying, I investigated birth records and citizenship logs already. Believe me, you missed out on very little. My search ended fruitless. There are no recordings of a Litten named Xander living in Adstrum. Not now, nor ever.”

Xander instantly deflated. He expected to hear those words, but that didn’t make them any easier to swallow.

“I know that answer would have made things much simpler for you. From your expression, I can imagine you were hoping to be a run-of-the-mill amnesiac. I apologize that this wasn’t the case.”

“Ah, don’t—don’t be sorry!” Xander shook both his paws frantically. “You’ve done so much for me, already!”

“Oh? I truly haven’t, though. Not yet, anyways.”

Aster sat down adjacent to Xander, delicately placing his hands on his lap.

“I’m sure you know already what the next answer could be, but just to be sure we’re on the same page—have you any suspicion that you may be a human from another world?”

Xander’s mouth was sandpaper dry. He thoughtlessly caressed the golden ring hung around his neck, anxiously fidgeting with it. “The Pokémon who found me—well, who I first met, that’s what she instantly assumed I was. She’s pretty stubborn about it, too. But, I don’t know, from the get-go I’ve been seriously doubtful of that.”

As Xander spoke, Aster was carefully listening. The Gardevoir’s eyes still held an immeasurable power over him, but his gaze was… far gentler than before. Xander took, for the first time in several minutes, a steady breath in. While he slowly let it out, Aster in turn closed his eyes.

“I see. Then, you are just as much in the dark as I am.”

Xander tucked his head down. “I’m sorry… I just—I don’t know.”

Opening his eyes, Aster didn’t miss a beat. “I have a way that we can find out.”

Xander’s ears perked up, and he eagerly exclaimed “you do—?!” before tucking into himself again. “My apologies, it’s just that…” The Litten exhaled a deep sigh. “My identity being such a mystery is so…”

“I understand, Xander. Or, at the very least, I can empathize with your plight.” Aster glanced up at the ceiling, tapping his fingers together. “With your consent and cooperation, I could perform an aura reading. After doing so, we could determine with utmost certainty what you are.”

Xander stood up in his seat, heart racing—but all thanks to adrenaline now. Blood pounded in his ears. He was light headed. He felt like he might just start floating away. “R-really? You can really do that?”

Aster nodded, turning to look at Xander once again. “However, the process is very meditative. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d rather we perform the aura reading up in my observatory.”

“A-anything!” Xander spat out, immune to shame this time. “Anything to know what I am—!”

Aster covered his mouth with one of his hands, poorly hiding his encroaching smile. “You best steady yourself, young ‘mon. If you don’t take some deep breaths and slow down, I might be concerned you’ll lose consciousness.”

Xander felt his face get hot, but still tried to follow the Prime Minister’s instructions and relax himself. “I… I’m sorry. I’m probably making some sort of fool of myself…”

“I cannot judge you. This is clearly a matter of great importance to you. Your transparency with me is comforting. Wherever you are from, I am glad my world has instilled a sense of trust.” Aster stood. “My tower is prefaced by quite an impressive set of stairs. Would you rather we Teleport?”

Teleport… Xander’s mouth fell agape. The Prime Minister was throwing new abilities and amazing feats at Xander left and right. After being dumbfounded for another second or two, the Litten nodded his head.

Aster’s eyes quickly flashed a bright white as the world blinked out of sight. It didn’t feel as though Xander had moved—it felt like the room was brought to him. After a short moment, though, the motion struck. Xander had to fall to his knees for a second as everything caught up to him.

Given a moment to steady himself, Xander took in the absolutely stunning space surrounding him. There were golden alchemical machines, shelves of books lined the walls, and celestial themed rugs and curtains. Xander loved the low-light of the room. He was convinced he could nap in there forever… which was even more true when Aster closed the curtains all the way. The room only remained illuminated by crystals lining the ceiling.

Aster levitated two cushions from the nearby living space over to where the both of them were standing, placing them on the floor and sitting calmly on the one closer to him. Xander followed his lead and sat on the other cushion, accidentally staring expectantly at him.

“Try to follow my instructions as closely as you can,” Aster whispered, “but let me know if at any point you are uncomfortable.”

Xander nodded.

“Take a deep breath in, and hold it until I say release.”

Xander took a deep breath, and held it. One. Two. Three. Four…

“Breath out.”

Xander took a slow breath out.

“Close your eyes, and try your best to clear your mind. It’s alright if it isn’t perfect.”

Xander closed his eyes, and did his best not to think of anything—which was difficult. He was so excited. The anticipation was prickling at each and every strand of his fur. Perhaps he just needed to focus on Aster’s words.

“Keep breathing, but slowly. Extend your paw out to me, either one is fine.”

Xander took another deep breath and lifted his right paw. Despite expecting it, his breath still hitched as the Gardevoir in front of him clasped it in his hands. At first, Xander was certain he was shaking… but it also felt as though perhaps the Prime Minister was trembling. That couldn’t be right, though.

Xander exhaled.

“Do you see darkness, or colors?”

“Darkness…” Xander answered.

“What is your favorite color, young Xander?”

Xander had never thought about that before. The question felt oddly personal, as if Xander was being asked once again about his gender. If it were anyone other than the Prime Minister, Xander might have been pressed to ask why.

“Red—no. That’s wrong, sorry.” Xander took a deep breath. “That was just the first color I thought of.”

“No worries,” Aster spoke calmly. “What’s the true answer?”

Xander hated that he had to think so hard about this. Did he not know? He thought through his memories, every new experience since he woke up in Nightshade Grove. His tail flicked rhythmically behind him. There was a light in the vacant distance of his close-eyed darkness. It was a soothing, gentle…

“Pink. It’s pink. My favorite color is pink.”

“You see it, don’t you?”

“I do,” Xander nodded gently.

“Focus on it. The colors might start shifting, but that’s normal.”

“Okay.”

Xander did as he was told—enjoying the hues of pink that shifted around him. He could start to smell something… and it was pleasant. Sweet. His mouth gaped slightly so it could hit his scent glands. He felt the gentle touch of a slender hand on his head—on that caressed his ears and scratched under his chin. Xander purred. Pink shifted to yellow. Yellow shifted to green. Green shifted to blue…

What’s… happening to me? And, why don’t I want it to stop?

Aster turned Xander’s paw in his hands, tracing the small pad located at the palm. Xander knew for sure this time that he was the one shivering. He instinctively turned down towards where he was being touched, but was still wise enough not to open his eyes.

Despite that,  he could… see?

His form was incomprehensible—cloaked in a brilliantly bright and colorless light. If his memory was serving him right, and he prayed that it was, Xander had seen himself like this before.

“Hmm… I can see you, but something’s not quite right.” Aster clicked his tongue a few times. His statement lingered just long enough for Xander to get anxious about it, but he went on soon after. “Your form is amorphous—you have no shape. However, the more you focus… the more we should be able to make you out. Simply an extra hurdle for those who are uncertain of themselves. It’s nothing we cannot overcome.”

Nothing… we cannot overcome…

The force caressing his scalp affectionately, whatever it was, became increasingly tangible. Xander failed to restrain his purr, allowing himself to relax despite the circumstances.

“Xander, do you remember anything from before you awoke in Adstrum?”

“No. I didn’t even remember the name Xander. Not until…”

In an instant, the world around Xander returned to darkness. He gasped, jolting back—anchored only by Aster’s hold of his arm. The snuffed out sunlight from behind the moon’s celestial mass formed a solitary glowing ring outstretching above him—The Eclipse. Xander stared upon it.

“As I watched the eclipse that day, I heard someone calling that name. Xander…”

“Are you—” Aster paused, his own voice uneasy now. “Are you certain this is your name, then?”

…

…

…

That warmth and comfort from before had been sapped away from Xander in an instant, being quickly replaced by a numb, icy sensation. His heart was heavy and cold, sinking into his frozen blood and shivering limbs. His eyes stung as if they were being lashed with saltwater, and painful tears formed and subsequently rolled down his cheeks. His dry-heaving gave way to frigid breaths and uncomfortable panting.

The hands over his paw gripped Xander tight. Aster said something—it was firm and resolute, but Xander didn’t hear it. Maybe he couldn’t hear it. Or, maybe he refused to hear it.

The Litten grit his teeth hard, as if he were trying to bite through his own jaw. “It—it has to be!” He snarled and spat, suddenly insulted by the doubt but still wallowing in the possibility. Xander being his name—that was the one thing he’d been convinced he was certain of. The question he could answer without hesitation when he was asked.

The ice swimming all throughout Xander had completely overtaken him. He could feel himself choking—drowning in the suffocating air. He needed to yell—he needed to scream! He needed everything around him to just—!

“H-hey, are you okay?”

Xander stopped. A voice that wasn’t Aster’s broke through to him. When he turned, he actually saw a cluster of shifting, glittering hues glowing beside him. It twinkled as it nudged him. Sudden confusion was a surprisingly grounding experience, and Xander had become far too perplexed to continue spiraling.

“Mister…?”

“Oh—uh, y-yeah! Yeah. I’m… I’m okay.” Xander glanced down at his paws, which were still glowing white. “I uh… I just—I freak out sometimes.” And having said that, he laughed a little. It honestly  sounded really silly and pathetic when he phrased it like that.

Maybe it was—pathetic, that is. After all, it wasn’t anyone’s fault that—

“You’re Xandy, right?” The glowing ball tilted inquisitively, interrupting Xander’s train of thought.

He winced. “X-Xander, actually. And I… I thought so.” He swallowed a lump. “I thought I heard someone calling me by that name, so I kind of told everyone that’s what my name is.”

“Whoa! That happened to me, too!”

“R…really?” It was Xander’s turn to tilt his head.

“Mhmm! One day, I was playing, and Aster called to me from across the room. He said ‘Celeste,’ and ‘cause he was—I mean, because he was looking at me, and talking to me, I knew he meant me when he said Celeste ..”

Although it wasn’t quite the same, Xander gave the little creature a smile. “Celeste is a very pretty name.”

“Thank you!”

“Celeste? I thought I told you… ah, nevermind.”

Aster’s voice finally managed to reach Xander again, leading him to realize the flowing colors of the dreamscape had returned. 

“I would scold you, but you managed to resolve the shutdown. I was deeply concerned for a moment there.” Aster took a moment to breathe and compose himself. “I’m tremendously sorry for inciting such a dreadful reaction. I should have taken more care when addressing something so sensitive. Please, forgive me.”

Feeling and warmth had well enough returned to Xander at this point, so he could tell he was flushed from shame again. Aster didn’t need to apologize. Xander was the one to freak out over nothing.

“Fear not, however, as a moment of considerable vulnerability like that can be extremely valuable to us. Your psychic will is commendable. I could not break free of the spiritual and mental connection no matter how hard I tried.”

Xander could feel Aster tracing his paw again.

“The mind is a beautiful, but volatile place—one that’s easily influenced by emotion. Psychic-Types tend to have greater control over their own, and sometimes other Pokémon’s, mindspace. Hence why Celeste here was able to invade our session so easily.” Aster said with a soft chuckle.

Xander glanced back at Celeste, who was still happily staring up at him. “I was having my nap, like you wanted, but then it got really chilly… and I woke up.”

This seemed to give Aster pause for a moment. “Well, that’s alright. I already wasn’t upset with you, but I suppose that does explain why you’re up. Either way, could you leave us alone for a bit, dear? We need to focus.”

“Aw… okay…” Celeste pouted, but after a moment or two… Xander could no longer sense her nearby. The ball of colorful hues, potentially her aura, had dissipated.

“Let’s re-center ourselves.” Aster sighed. “Easier said than done, I’m afraid.”

“It’s okay, I can do this.” Xander felt his claws flex. “I can’t blunder this chance.”

“Don’t think of it that way. You’ll only stress yourself out further. I know I’m a busy ‘mon, but I’m willing to allocate however much time is necessary to help you with this.”

Xander stiffened slightly… “Why?”

“Perhaps you still don’t understand the gravity of this situation. Humans are usually brought to our world in times of great need or disaster. Forces beyond our understanding have consistently done this. So much so, that Pokémon now expect it and remain on high alert. Our last human arrived quite some time ago. A Shinx.”

“And… if I’m not a human?”

“Then not only do we have much less to worry about, but clearly you will recover some security and peace of mind. I witnessed you falter at the idea that you weren’t even certain of your name. I feel inclined to aid you in never feeling that way ever again.”

Xander’s muzzle twisted into a harsh frown. “W-why…?”

“Hmm, why do you think so? Do you believe as though you don’t deserve my concern?”

“Truthfully? I don’t. You’re a prestigious leader of an entire kingdom! Kindness shown to me by simple strangers twists me up inside!” Xander huffed, tensing the paw still being read by Aster. “This mystery of who I am makes me a nobody, but because of it everyone treats me like I’m special! At first, I thought it was under the presumption that I was a human. But then… everyone just kept…”

“Hold on. I get the feeling that you do not want to be a human. And, because there is a small chance that you are… you are hiding your aura from anyone with the chance to see it.”

Xander grimaced.

“I don’t believe you are doing this on purpose, however… we will never find out the truth if you cannot risk an answer you do not want to hear. You desire the feeling of catharsis at an answer that proves you correct, not an answer that proves you wrong.”

“I… I want to know… who I am…”

“ I cannot tell you who you are. Only you know that.”

“B-but—!”

“I can tell you what you are.” Aster clarified sternly. “The reason we are in your mind, the reason I’ve been prompting you to think about yourself… is because I cannot simply let myself into your personhood. We cannot make progress if you would rather live in a world where you can deny being human. I cannot force you to leave the safety of uncertainty. But, I do believe both of us would be of sound mind to know the truth. So, which road will you take?”

Xander—if he could even call himself that anymore, but what else was there, was being crushed by the weight of what Aster was asking of him. Although the Prime Minister hadn’t said it directly, likely as to avoid using guilt to coerce Xander into doing what was necessary, he certainly made it clear that he was concerned for the fate of his world. At this point, it was rather difficult to believe that this Pokémon was scheming to end the world, or whatever that Celebi said. Still, if Aster was a villain—knowing that Xander was supposed to be the one to thwart his plan would be just as valuable to him.

There was a selfish itch in the back of his mind, one that cared more about solving his personal mysteries than defending Adstrum from an ambiguous and unclear threat. But at the same time, it wouldn’t answer the real questions Xander had about himself. He’d put so much on this whole human, Pokémon, or whatever he was if not Litten affair that it was easy to pretend knowing the real answer would make him feel whole. He craved purpose—yet the answer that gave him the clearest direction was the most terrifying to him. 

“I lied before,” Xander spoke finally. “There was one thing I knew for absolute certain when I first woke up in Adstrum. When I saw my body, my reflection—the Litten staring back at me was not what I was just moments before. There is nothing about myself that I am more confident about.” Xander could see orbs of light dissolving off of him. He steeled his resolve. “Please, help me find the answer. I’ll try not to shut you out anymore. The one kindness I’ll extend to myself is finally bringing this mystery to an end. Human, Pokémon, or whatever I may be.”

“If you are certain, then you have my sincere gratitude. Let us begin once more.” Aster slowly released the Litten paw from his gentle grasp. “Deep breath in.”

Xander took in a long, steady breath, and he held it.

“Out.”

Xander exhaled calmly.

As they returned to the introspective questioning, Aster steadied his tone of voice back to the meditative rhythms it was at before—helping Xander relax. “You said your favorite color is pink. Do you know why?”

“Well, I know I’m fond of red. That’s why I said it first, after all. But pink… I like the idea of it. It feels soft, and cute, and when I think about it—it just seems like the right answer.” Xander smiled to himself. “Green is close, though. I like yellow quite a bit, as well.”

“Do you have a favorite food?”

“I didn’t remember much about the kinds of food I might enjoy, but I’ve found myself enjoying Oran Berry things a lot. I also had this wonderful cheesecake while on my first date… but, if I think about it, that sweetbread I ate with my friend Melrose was even better. Maybe not taste wise, but the thought of it makes me… happy.”

Xander felt tears well up in his eyes again, but this time they were warm and soft. He smiled a bittersweet smile to himself.

“I can tell that I’m missing someone…” The words spilled from Xander’s mouth. “And that, no matter how many Pokémon I meet, that hole will never be filled. But, whoever this is, I’ve forgotten them. What if I find them, and it’s not the same as it was? Is this making me subconsciously cherish the friends I have here less?” Xander choked back a sob. “Is this why I’m a bad Pokémon…?”

“Do you believe that, truly?” Aster asked. “That you’re a bad Pokémon?”

“Well I… feel like a bad Pokémon.”

The light around him shifted. It was… red.

But then, it was yellow. And sooner than that, blue.

Was he bad? Would being a human make him good? What if he was truly nothing special? He hated being an exception, but why? Wait… what if… he was actually just being treated as any other Pokémon? Had he never even considered that perhaps… this is just how everyone in Adstrum treated each other?

Xander could feel the hands on his ears again—the gentle embrace from a force attempting to sooth him, one that was not there. Or at least, was from a presence that couldn’t simply be detected. The delicate touch was distinctive—furless, boney fingers with nails that perfectly brushed at his scalp.

“I-I… I knew… a human—!” Xander stuttered through short gasps.

A blinding light surged through Xander’s mindscape that was paired with an ear splitting ring. Xander’s paws flew to his skull and gripped it tight as the world around him was torn away. Aster’s own hand was clenching his head—and the two of them were breathing heavily as they stared wide-eyed at each other.

After a moment, Aster started to laugh. His eyes hazed over in disbelief. “Great Arceus above…”

Xander felt sick to his stomach, which was being made so much worse by floating several feet in the air. He held a paw to his mouth. “P-put… put me down! Stop levitating me—!”

“Xander, I’m not…”

That ear splitting ringing returned, and Xander started trying to tear at his head—but for some reason, his claws weren’t unsheathing. Why couldn’t he feel his fur? As he coiled into himself, Xander’s whole body felt wrong. “Make it stop, make it stop!”

Aster pulled himself up from off the ground and started hastily digging through drawers. He grabbed a vial of dull, pink liquid and floated it up to Xander. “It’s Persim juice! Drink it, quickly!”

Xander didn’t need to be told twice. He tore the cork out and chugged the juice through his gags and tears. The medicine was fact acting, but once the pain had left him—he fell to the floor with a thud . The world was spinning. Another flash of white, during which Xander felt that his whole body was shifting and contorting. His limbs felt like jelly.

The Prime Minister was staring down at him as if he had seen a ghost.

“W-well… I can tell you for certain… You are… no human.” Aster mumbled while catching his breath. “However, if you recall them… then, you are not of this world, either.”

“Wh-what… happened…” Xander reached for the cushion next to him, and Aster kindly levitated it closer. Xander gripped it tightly against his stomach, his claws sheathing effortlessly into the fabric. “Did I do all that…? I’m s-sorry…”

“N-no…” Aster cleared his throat. “No. Something else violently banished us from your mind.”

The Gardevoir looked down at the floor, deliberating something very carefully. As he mulled whatever it was over, Xander glanced up, down, and around at the still spinning room. Frost was coating the windows… and the weird metal devices also appeared icy.

“H… how?” Xander whimpered.

“I… don’t know, young ‘mon… I—”

“N-no… how… is the room so… cold…”

Aster slowly glanced back up at Xander. For the first time, he seemed completely unsure of what to say. He quietly dug through the same drawer as before and grabbed a vial of blue liquid—uncorking it and drinking it himself. After a deep breath, he made eye-contact with Xander.

“Icy Wind.”

“I-Icy Wind? Did… who—?”

“Tell me.”

Aster approached him, extending a hand down to help Xander up. When their eyes met, Aster’s gaze had been restored to its usual frigid intensity.

“What do you know of the Mythical Pokémon, Mew?”