Chapter 30 – Day 12, Part 4: Clay Figures

Chapter 30 – Day 12, Part 4: Clay Figures

Niniku Cave: 1st Floor

Bleh! Dungeon moisture. Of course.

Ricinus could already tell that Niniku Cave was one of the more peculiar ones. Right off the bat the humidity was high, and the scent was damp like mold or mildew. Furred pokemon like him and Aven were not well suited for such an environment. The moisture in the air was enough to make the Sylveon curl his toes in disgust.

His “companions” did not display the same unease. Shasta was practically glowing and slightly…transparent? To think that Inteleons are capable of becoming invisible under the right conditions…is the air really that wet? Crane was shimmering similarly, what with his body’s gems reflecting the light outpouring from above. His body was swathed in blue.

Speaking of…

Ricinus overlooked a pit near the group’s entry point. There was no way back; that was to be expected. They seemed to have arrived at the top of a grassy cliff, with a mossy stone wall behind them. The grassy cliff coiled downward, creating a sort of natural staircase surrounding the pit. It led far, far down. However, thanks to the light shining down through the ceiling, the bottom of the staircase could be plainly seen—nothing more than a few minutes of walking to reach.

There was nothing particularly unique or even that strange about the pit or the light, but Ricinus knew that there was nothing that could be gained by wondering what was at the very top and very bottom of this pit. It led nowhere—and he knew not to walk too close.

That was just how dungeons worked: tomfoolery and pointless physical anomalies were the norm.

“Ricinus.” Even in a whispery tone, Crane’s voice echoed off the walls of the cave. The Sableye glanced away from Ricinus as he spoke, glancing upward at the ephemeral, blue light. “What kind of pokemon do you expect to see here?”

The question was phrased seriously. A departure from Crane’s common tone. “…This moisture gives me the impression that there are water pokemon here,” Ricinus muttered, glancing back at Shasta before continuing. “There is grass, however. Maybe Weepinbells…no, I do not believe the environment is tropical enough for those. Perhaps ghosts…? Hm.”

If he was being honest with himself, Ricinus was completely at a loss. There was a chance that he was correct, but there was no guarantee. Another reason why Ricinus loathed these places: their ecosystems often changed to the degree of sometimes becoming unrecognizable from their previous forms.

Crane nodded at Ricinus’ presumptions, then scratched his chin. “I believe water is a safe bet. We were not sure which Tapu this location corresponded to…” Ricinus noticed Crane’s frown deepen.

Ricinus did not have more time to contemplate, because Shasta insisted on going down first. “Ugh. You will know if you keep walking!” she lambasted. “Do not sit there and think!”

“…Hehehe.” Crane followed Shasta with his eyes before following her with his legs. “Let’s see what a guardian deity’s realm is really like…”

They both seem so eager to progress…

“…” Ricinus looked up once more at the light, idly following the dust particles as they slowly floated into the depths. For a reason he could not comprehend, Ricinus chose to keep his eyes aimed upward when a familiar presence appeared at his side.

“…”

“…We are being left behind,” Ricinus whispered.

“I’ve got your back,” Aven told him. “You can go.”

Ricinus knew that of course…but he wanted to make sure. His eyes were beginning to water from staring at the light. If possible, Ricinus might have stayed there until the mission was over. But at some point, he needed to loosen the grip his paws had on the grass.

“Yes…I know.” Ricinus turned to the grassy slope.

“…Hold up.”

“Huh?”

The Sylveon had reacted just in time to see the Lycanroc lick his thumb, raise his arm, then lighty drag his thumb across Ricinus’ forward, smoothing down the cowlick that Ricinus had neglected to deal with. “Eugh!” he flinched.

“You told me to-“

“Yes, yes, I’m aware! I am aware!” That sticky, overbearing humidity mixed with the embarrassment of being touched so suddenly caused the Sylveon to stomp down the slope in disgust. He was not just disgusted with the dungeon, but with himself.

Yes, Ricinus told Aven to groom him if there was ever a spot that he missed. But why could he have not done it before entering the humid hellhole?

Needless to say, Ricinus was not looking forward to exploring further.

I am a prince. I…will never have to think about this again once it is complete. And I am still a prince. Yes, that much is true.

---

SPLASH! WHAM!

A Tangella was sent flying after being blasted by a highly concentrated blast of water.

Crane’s eyes glinted at the sight, though his attention fell elsewhere after another moment. “Are you aware of the old nobles, from before the war, Ms. Shasta?” His scratchy voice echoed off of the walls of the mossy corridor they were walking down.

Shasta did not answer immediately, as she was busy checking to make sure that the feral she just blasted between the eyes with water from her fingertip did not get up again. The minuscule amount of ferals they had come across so far were hardly a challenge—to the extent that the four of them resorted to idle chatter as they went.

“Vaguely,” Shasta finally responded. “I know that the castle did not belong to the queen before then. And all of the royals disappeared overnight. Where I come from, they still talk about it as though it just happened.”

“Intriguing!” Crane nodded, channeling ghostly energy into his claws and swiftly bisecting an unsuspecting Venonat in his path in two. “I’m sure you know all about this, don’t you Prince Ricinus? You are a remnant of the days before the war.” The Sableye licked the blood off his claws as he asked that.

Ricinus frowned. He was inclined to say yes; after all, he was a prince. Of course he was a part of the nobility of the only castle on the continent, and someday he would reclaim what belonged to him. “My bloodline extends far back to the castle’s inception as the home for the true rulers of this land,” Ricinus stated. “So yes, I am well aware of ‘the old nobles.'”

As he walked, Ricinus occasionally flicked Swift stars at the ferals directly in his path, which would be enough of a signal for Aven to come in and kick the pest out of the way. The Sylveon was not interested in dealing with the mindless drones these dungeons always threw at him; he needed to maintain proper form in front of Lord Crane.

“…Got that one,” Aven said after kicking away a stray Omanyte, causing it to squeal in pain. Ricinus nodded back at him.

Illuminated by the light of a Luminous Orb previously cracked open, the path ahead was distinctly linear. There were no branching paths or curious physical anomalies after the first chamber. As far as the pokemon in the party were aware, Niniku Cave was just that—a cave. Only weak ferals served to slow them down.

Crane continued from where he left off. “We do not talk about that one detail—how the nobles seemingly…disappeared.”

“You do not?” Shasta wondered with raised eyebrows. “I assumed that was just a failure of my country’s curriculum.”

“It was, but for a different reason,” Crane clarified.

Ricinus had a feeling that he knew where this was going.

Crane held up his bloody claws as he continued. “It’s all a lie, you see. They disappeared? Hardly. More like…they were disposed of.”

Ricinus frowned, then commented, “I never did understand how the queen managed to make so many pokemon forget. That little detail is rarely ever mentioned when talks of her come up.”

“Forget?” Crane chuckled. “They didn’t forget, Prince Ricinus. They simply do not care. Even if it has been thirty years, there hasn’t been a war since. The older generation is happy to be happy after that. It does not matter that she controls everything; she compensates for it well.”

Shasta’s arms were crossed as she scoffed. “I cannot help but commend your queen for being so…proactive in stomping you all into submission.”

Ricinus was about to respond to that and say that it was not her place to make such brazen comments, but instead flinched at a sudden squelching sound ahead of him.

An Anorith that was off to the side of the path was skewered on Crane’s claws, blood dripping onto the grass below. The Sableye grinned maniacally before dropping it like he was discarding a half-eaten apple. “In a way, I can say the same,” Crane muttered. “She really does have us by the neck, doesn’t she?” There was a glimmer in his eyes that caught Ricinus by surprise. And Ricinus’ look of discomfort seemingly did not go unnoticed.

Thankfully, Crane did not mention it, or say much else. He continued to lead the group as though nothing happened.

Ricinus did his best to not let it bother him, but a brief moment of eye contact with Aven filled him with more unease. It was as though the Lycanroc was thinking the same thing.

I did not think that Lord Crane could be so…vicious. Not that Ricinus cared much for the lives of the pests in this Xerneas-forsaken place; the sight of blood tended to make the fairy a bit queasy, that was all.

The remainder of the first floor was much the same after that. More innocuous small talk followed by the disposal of every feral in their path. The path they were taking was essentially just one long, dark hallway. And after some time, it came to an end.

Directly ahead of them was a pit not unlike the one from when they first entered. A mossy stone staircase-like ramp spiraled downward against the wall and ended abruptly in the all encompassing darkness below them. Water droplets fell from a crack in the ceiling, landing in what appeared to be a pool of churning black fog. The water did not fall through the fog but instead spread out across its surface, spinning slowly with the current. Faint sounds of something moving—chittering and distantly screeching—could be heard from within.

Ricinus was ambivalent about seeing the portal to the next floor so soon, and just as conflicted that it was poking out of the ground like a puddle of water. The portals in these dungeons always came in different forms depending on the location or how it was feeling that particular day. Sometimes it was a simple wall of fog at the end of a hallway, or sometimes it was fashioned like a pit in the ground as it is here. Or, in strange cases, the portal would be atop a single out-of-place marble staircase that leads nowhere. Ricinus had never seen something of that nature himself, but he heard the stories.

“Strange places indeed…” Ricinus mumbled to himself.

“Tell me, Ms. Shasta,” Crane started, leaning over the edge of the cliff, “are the mystery dungeons just as peculiar in your country as they are here?”

“I once entered a dungeon with ferals frozen like statues,” Shasta replied. “And that was not even the strangest one. This is child’s play to me.”

Crane snickered. “Ah, I see. Now, the question is, would you rather jump in, or walk in?”

Ricinus blinked and tilted his head. “Jump in? Oh no, no, no. I cannot do such a thing-“

“Whatever gets us down the fastest,” Shasta remarked, shrugging. “This could take us all night. I would rather not sit around and talk about it.” She approached the edge above the darkness and spared a look downward. “Can you believe that I have done worse to progress through these horrid places?” Shasta, without even looking, held out a hand towards Crane.

“Aye,” said Crane, taking her hand in his. “Let us connect and leap to the next domain.”

…I would rather this not become a recurring theme, Ricinus thought with a groan, extending a ribbon towards Aven. The Lycanroc took it before grabbing ahold of one of Crane’s claws. It was clear to Ricinus based on Aven’s disgruntled facial expression that he was uncomfortable with having to touch the Sableye.

One short countdown later and the four of them were in free fall above the encroaching darkness. As he fell, Ricinus could not help but wonder how long this dungeon would be…

---

Niniku Cave: 6th Floor

“Prince Ricinus, do you know what this is?”

Ricinus had to tear his eyes from the absolutely riveting fight ahead of him: a two-on-one assault of a Cradily by Aven and Shasta. They had been in the midst of combat for only a few minutes, but that was enough time for the prince to get bored. Crane as well.

With absolute certainty that the two of them would succeed eventually, he looked over at the Sableye loitering next to him, then glanced down at the strange looking stone in his claw, hanging from his neck. It had an odd, spiral design to it, and a rainbow color scheme. Ricinus was intrigued. After dipping his ribbons into the pond he was sitting at the edge of, Ricinus flicked his ribbons to dry them, then said, “I don’t believe I do. Have you had that on you this whole time, Lord Crane?”

Crane chuckled a bit, pacing next to the Sylveon. “I have!” he declared. “It is perhaps my most prized possession.”

“Prized?” Ricinus wondered with an eyebrow raised. “And you brought it with you? To the other side of the continent?” Ricinus did not doubt his superior’s judgment, but still, his most prized possession? What would happen if he lost it?

“Aye,” Crane replied. “I plan to use it, if I need to.”

Use it? What would he need a stone for? Am I missing some pertinent information? Ricinus prodded further. “Lord Crane, how can you not properly protect what is yours? Are you not afraid of losing it?”

As if to prove his point, Crane stepped over to the side, near the gentle and serene waterfall that produced the pond. He removed the stone from his neck and placed it under the water to clean it. All the while, his grin was growing. “So you do not know, yes Prince Ricinus?”

“I do not. Would you be willing to tell me?”

“A bit surprising,” Crane said. “I had assumed you would be aware of Mega Stones prior.”

Ricinus watched him closely. “The name is not familiar to me.” Then, Ricinus had a slight realization, and his ears perked up. “Does this have something to do with the gem?”

Crane casually removed the stone from the water, rubbed it some, then placed it back around his neck. “Yes…and no.” Ricinus continued to watch the Sableye as he paced. He couldn’t help but notice that the stone was covered in no less grime than before. “A Mega Stone is a powerful artifact—rare in its numbers—originating from the era of the humans.”

As considerably intrigued and excited as Ricinus was to hear more, the Sylveon remained composed. Although, he was definitely as giddy as a lucky Nickit after picking up a forgotten jewel necklace out of the dirt. “And…what does it do?”

Crane did not answer right away. “Some believe that they are so rare in number because they chose their owners by way of destiny…”

…Is there a chance that I could obtain one? With enough capitol, Ricinus could obtain whatever he pleased—that was what he believed. However, that does not mean he had been chosen…

“To explain it simply,” Crane uttered, leaning in so uncomfortably close that Ricinus could detect his acrid stench, “Mega Stones provide power on par with those that refer to themselves as immortal.”

What…? Ricinus could hardly believe what he was hearing. He had to lean back, partially out of shock and partially to distance himself from the gremlin. Though his reaction only displayed his utter discontent. “Preposterous! Lord Crane, I do not appreciate being the subject of a practical prank!”

To Ricinus’ displeasure, Crane leaned in so close that their eyes were near inches apart. And Ricinu felt immensely uncomfortable to see himself so vividly reflected back in Crane’s eyes. “You do not believe me, my dear prince?” Crane asked in a shifty voice.

Ricinus audibly gulped. “…You cannot make such claims without providing evidence,” Ricinus replied in a near whisper.

“Hmm.” Crane chuckled then took a step back, giving Ricinus some much needed room. “Of course! How could I be so careless? Perhaps you will experience the power of Mega Evolution by the end of this excursion.”

Evolution…? Has this Sableye gone mad? Ricinus had done his research, and was confident that Sableye cannot evolve. It was ridiculous to presume otherwise! Ricinus readjusted himself in his sitting position, attempting to ignore the heat growing at the tip of his ears. “Perhaps I shall. Or perhaps it will not be necessary.”

On a whim, Ricinus glanced over at the duo in the midst of combat on the other side of the pond. Judging by its current condition, Ricinus could tell that the Cradily had evidently been beaten. Now in its place was a rabid Armaldo, towering over both Aven and Shasta. From what Ricinus could see, Aven was staying on his toes, more than likely aiming to trip the feral at any given opportunity. Shasta, in contrast, was merely standing at a distance and whittling the feral down with ranged attacks. The combined effort of the two of them was enough to annoy the Armaldo to such a degree that it flailed its limbs out of rage.

Ricinus turned his attention back to Crane, uninterested in watching the display for any longer.

“Perhaps indeed,” said Crane, fiddling with his necklace some more. “I have another question for you, Prince Ricinus?”

More questions, Ricinus thought. Am I being tested? The prince had spent so much time around the imp now that the initial performance anxiety had long since largely diminished. It was still there, but less so. “Yes, Lord Crane?” Being polite was still a necessity though, befitting of a prince.

In one of his claws, Crane held up a small, uninteresting looking seed for Ricinus to see. “Do you know what this is?” he asked.

Now Ricinus wondered if he really was being tested. He tilted his head, trying to see if this was some sort of trick of the light. “…Is that not a seed?” It certainly looked like one.

Crane’s grin grew two sizes after that question, and he said, “A Reviver Seed.”

“A Reviver-” Ricinus’ ribbons went stiff from the shock. Once he let it properly sink in, it was like the Sylveon got hit with a Hyper Beam. “You have a Reviver Seed? How?” The disbelief was so prevalent that Ricinus forgot to remain formal. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.

“A stroke of luck,” Crane remarked, “or destiny?” The Reviver Seed was placed back where it was previously: on the backside of the Mega Stone necklace, within a specially fitted slot. “To think that a lowly Sableye such as myself would come into possession of such valuable artifacts.” He chuckled to himself. “I’m a lucky pokemon, don’t you think?”

Or you are just rich, Ricinus thought scornfully. No god would consider you worthy.

Ricinus’ opinion of Crane had certainly dropped within the past few days. That said, he would not let an eyebrow raise at risk of appearing impolite. So he simply nodded and kept his features as neutral as possible. “Yes, you are quite lucky, Lord Cra-“

Before he could finish, Ricinus found that he was being poked in the side. A chill went up his spine, and he nearly jumped out of his skin. It did not hurt, but it did surprise him. When he looked over, he found that the source of the poking was a small Anorith with it’s mandibles.

And this Anorith was gazing right into Ricinus’ eyes. Spellbound. Entranced. Infatuated. It’s eyes were positively sparkling, wide with wonder…or perhaps something else.

Ricinus’ face contorted into one of pure disgust.

“HAHAHAHA!” Crane pointed and laughed. “It seems you found yourself an admirer, Prince Ricinus! One of your subjects perhaps?”

“…” Ricinus grimaced at the bug so infatuated that it did nothing more than stare. Anger boiled in his stomach. Any pretense of remaining polite or composed was eliminated all because of this little Anorith. Ricinus could kill a pokemon right then and there.

How could it get worse? A quick glance upward gave Ricinus a good look at Aven and Shasta as they approached, presumably finished with dealing with the Armaldo.

“Give it a treat, Prince Ricinus,” Crane mocked. “It might follow you around and carry your bag for you.”

Ricinus was red in the face, infuriated. So much so that he could not speak. He would have ripped his own ribbons off if it meant escaping this torture. But instead of doing that, Ricinus took his anger out on the Anorith. He would not withstand this humiliation any longer.

The aggravated Sylveon wound back a ribbon and slapped the feral across the face, sending it tumbling into the pond.

---

Niniku Cave: 10th Floor

The remainder of Niniku Cave was not worth describing. The layout was linear with the same mossy corridors and walkways. The ferals were simple, aggressive, but not challenging for a party of four experienced fighters. And most importantly, nothing important was discussed.

By the time Ricinus and the others reached the final chamber, he was unimpressed and ready to leave.

What a disappointing mystery dungeon, he thought.

However…they weren’t done yet, not by a long shot.

“Wonderful work!” Crane said loudly, his voice echoing off of the cavernous walls. “I could not have asked for a smoother trek through this mystery dungeon!”

The final chamber of Niniku Cave was stunning to say the least. Rainbow colored geodes glittered in the light shining from the hole in the ceiling, neatly placed around a small island in the center of the chamber. A shallow bed of water circled around the island, granting the area a symmetrical layout. On the opposite side of the spacious room was another exit—presumably one that would lead them out of the dungeon.

However, what caught Ricinus’ eye was not the island but rather what sparkled upon it. Not the geodes, no. The gold. The jewels, the trinkets, the oddities. So many that Ricinus could hardly believe his eyes.

“And a reward for our efforts!” Crane laughed. “A treasure trove!”

“Mon Suicune!” Shasta exclaimed, holding up her hand to her mouth in shock. “I have never seen so much wealth in one place!”

Ricinus scoffed, taking the chance to walk past her. “I’m not surprised. I never took you as one to have ever seen much wealth at all.”

“Ha! The prince is calling me a peasant! How can I possibly recover?” The Inteleon brought her hand to her forehead in an exaggerated manner, as though she were about to faint.

He ignored her. As someone of his status, he felt that it was his obligation to have the first pickings at the treasure. Ricinus lacked the proper funds despite his self-serving attitude. But the others did not need to know that.

The water was still when Rinius approached. No more than two paws deep. The air, similarly, was bereft of condensation now. For the final chamber of such a humid dungeon, it is awfully dry here.

No matter. Ricinus did not mind. All he needed to do was-

“…You want me to carry you?”

Aven’s deep voice touched Ricinus’ eardrums, and made a shiver go up his spine; he got quite close and his breath was hot on Ricinus’ fur. The fairy had not forgotten that Aven was there, but the suddenness caused him to flinch.

As Ricinus stopped to glance over his shoulder, he took a moment to consider Aven’s proposal. He did need to display his status…and Shasta was watching…and getting more wet was not ideal…hmm….

“Yes,” Ricinus eventually said. “Carry me, Aven! Do not let a single drop touch my delicate fur!” To better sell the act, he placed a ribbon on his forehead and leaned his head back in exaggeration. He made sure all of the pokemon in the room could hear him clearly, too.

“Mmkay,” Aven simply said, then scooped Ricinus up like a baby.

It was a long, three second walk from one side of the water to the other, but Ricinus managed to stave off the ensuing embarrassment long enough to handle the journey. He was set down gently, and only stumbled onto his feet a little bit. “Good work, my servant,” Ricinus said, his cheeks a light crimson.

Aven nodded silently.

Crane and Shasta followed soon after. Crane in particular thought it would be appropriate to offer up a round of applause. “Good work on crossing the river, my prince.”

“Ugh,” was all Shasta had to say about that.

The abundance and sheer volume of valuable trinkets was downright overwhelming for the prince. So many jeweled, golden goblets, fancy crowns and tiaras, scepters, and even diamond rings fit for small hands. It was a dragon’s hoard—untouched for generations. Or perhaps…just one.

It was so magnificent that it made Ricinus grit his teeth in anger. Who was the greedy bastard that left all of this here unattended? How could they? And to think the queen did what she could to discourage others from coming out here…

He approached the treasure trove and reached for a gold bangle in the grass with his ribbon. But before he could even touch it, a ghostly black claw grabbed ahold of his ribbon, stopping it in place. Ricinus turned to face the owner of the claw in surprise, as well as annoyance. “Lord Crane?”

The Sableye chuckled deviously, gripping Ricinus’ appendage tight. “My prince…do not touch these riches.”

“What…?” Ricinus tilted his head in confusion. “I do not…understand. Is this not our reward?”

“No,” Crane answered. “We won’t need any of this. This treasure is not our treasure.”

Something about that really got to Ricinus. Here was an opportunity to increase his wealth and further his status as an aristocrat. But no, he had to leave it alone. For what reason? “Lord Crane, why must we leave this here? There is no one here that would miss it,” he argued.

“No one?” Crane’s eyes shimmered. “Are you sure about that?” With his other claw, he pointed to something behind Ricinus.

Reluctantly, the Sylveon turned to view what was being pointed out to him. What he saw perplexed him, primarily because he had not noticed it until now.

A large, shell-like purple capsule sat on the corner of the island. Fins protruded from its sides and center, and a sharp point jutted out from the top. An odd design coated it’s surface, granting it enough contrast to make it stick out amongst the shining gold all around it. The object was dull, cracked, and almost had a wooden look to it.

Again, Ricinus did not know how he managed to not see it beforehand. Perhaps he was just too distracted by the treasure to notice. “…What is that?” he asked, as he did not know. At this point, the other two members of the party were nearby and listening to the conversation.

“That is the guardian,” Crane said in a serious tone. “In its slumber.”

“That?” Shasta raised her eyebrows incredulously. “That is a piece of furniture, Monsieur Crane. And an ugly one at that.”

Crane grinned over his shoulder. “You say that, but speak any louder and you just might wake them.”

Whether it was because she was too afraid to or because she did not want to risk it, Shasta did not respond.

Ricinus stared in shock. He had entered a deity’s domain and walked right past them! He would have balked at the sinking in his stomach had he not become keenly aware of the fact that Crane was still gripping his ribbon at the same time. Still, he kept his eyes locked on the shell.

“So…” Ricinus started. “We are not here to steal the treasure and we are not here to fight the deity, presumably.” This whole venture suddenly appeared quite pointless to Ricinus.

“Did you forget?” Crane wondered. “We are looking for a specific gem. The previous deity had one amongst a treasure trove of their own. Yellow, and the shape of a rhombus. The one we find here…will be similar.”

…Regrettably, Ricinus did forget. That small detail must have soared over his head. Or perhaps too much time had passed and he had focused on other matters. Regardless, he understood.

He nodded. “Yes, indeed,” the prince said. And his eyes unintentionally trailed down to the ribbon Crane was gripping.

For a split moment, Crane’s grin grew. Then he let go of Ricinus’ ribbon, and turned around. “Start looking. This could take us some time…”

Shasta groaned before following behind Crane. “I was expecting a more exciting conclusion…” she muttered.

Aven, who had been standing there with nothing to say for the past few minutes, approached Ricinus with his shoulders slumped. “…So what are we doing?” he asked quietly.

Ricinus, meanwhile, was too busy staring in disgust at the black residue left over on his ribbon. “…We’re looking for a rhombus shaped gemstone,” he mumbled. “Go…look for it. I am going to go and wash this off right now.” It was a good thing that Ricinus remembered to bring some soap. He did not want to think about whether it would stain or not. Or…smell. Ricinus pointedly never got close enough to determine if that was the case and he was not about to do it now.

So, Ricinus took the additional time to wash himself off in the surrounding pond while the others searched the pile. Along the way, he saw this absolutely beautiful diamond studded bracelet. Just his size too. It would have been so easy to-

He took it. Stuffed it into his side pack without a second thought.

Well, it wasn’t like anyone saw him. And who would even care? There were so many trinkets here that no one would notice. Right?

Right?

Either way, Ricinus returned to the group after a few minutes, the black residue successfully cleaned off. Just as soon as he returned, Aven walked over to him, something in the palm of his paw, and a thoughtful look on his face.

“Hey, Riz…is this a rhombus?” Aven queried, scratching his scalp with one paw and holding an item for Ricinus to see with the other.

Ricinus smiled at the Lycanroc’s question. It was easy to answer, of course, but Ricinus did not mind doing so. He was well aware of Aven’s tendency to…be behind the curve, as they say.

Using a ribbon, Ricinus took the gem out of Aven’s paw and held it up so that he could examine it. Smooth and distinctly pristine with hardly any smudging or blemishes. A deep blue sparkle and yes—it was in the shape of a rhombus.

“Heh,” Ricinus smirked, snorting under his breath. “You found what we were looking for and you did not even know it.” He didn’t actually know that for certain yet, but Aven deserved the praise.

Aven scratched his chin. “Did I? I just thought it looked kinda weird around the other ones. More blue and less…gold.”

Again, Ricinus chuckled, and smiled up at the wolf. “Good work either way, Aven. I will find a way to reward you later.”

“…Thanks, Riz,” Aven mumbled bashfully.

With the presumed true treasure wrapped in his ribbon, Ricinus approached Crane as he was sifting through the piles with good news. And he used the opportunity to flaunt his success, assuming that Aven had found the right gem. If he didn’t…Ricinus would be embarrassing himself. But he did not consider that at that moment. “Oh, it seems that I am the true victor here,” Ricinus announced with a smug look on his face. “The Count will give me all of the riches!”

Almost immediately, Crane turned around and zipped across the island with an unnatural speed. It was so sudden and so fast that Ricinus blinked and he was there. There was a certain bright glow to Crane’s eyes Ricinus had never seen before, and his body crackled with ghostly flames. Not to mention, the imp was incredibly focused on Ricinus, to the extent that he thought that Crane was gazing past him somehow. When he spoke, the Sableye’s voice was faster paced, and it lacked that mischievous tone he was known for. “You found it? Show it to me.”

“…I expect to be compensated for this.” Ricinus might have pushed his luck…

Crane drew closer, the light shining down from above casting a dark shadow over his grotesque facial features. “Ricinus,” Crane hissed, “show it to me. Now.”

What right does this putrid excuse of a lord have to boss ME- …fine. Ricinus furrowed his brow in discontent. As much as he wanted to be treated like the prince he was, pushing any further was a frightening prospect for him. Something about the way Crane was looking at him sent an uncomfortable shiver up his spine.

Ricinus did what was asked of him. His ribbon was extended, unraveled, then leveled before Crane’s eyes. The gem sat at the edge, sparkling brilliantly.

Within the span of a heartbeat, Crane snatched up the gem into his own claw. Once again, Ricinus blinked and Crane moved. How did Crane do that and not slice Ricinus’ ribbon off in the process? At least when he flexed the appendage it was still attached. Thank Xerneas, too. It can take weeks for them to grow back!

Ricinus watched as Crane closely examined the gemstone, turning it around in his claws, giggling to himself in delight. “Hehehehe…yesssss…this is it. What we came looking for…is right here.”

That was it? Ricinus could hardly believe it. After all, the room was filled with priceless trinkets. What made this one specific piece of treasure so special?

“Are you disappointed?” Crane wondered seemingly out of nowhere. “You look unsatisfied.”

Am I- oh. Ricinus hadn’t realized that he was tilting his head, or peering with a perplexed expression. That was purely unintentional. “No,” he answered. “Confused, yes. I was never told exactly why this specific gem is so coveted.”

“It is beyond your understanding.”

Ricinus blinked. “Excuse me?”

Crane invaded Ricinus’ personal space and placed a claw on his shoulder. “Ohohoho!” Crane chuckled. “It’s nothing you should concern yourself with, my prince. Focus on your kingdom and your subjects. Leave this to your superiors.”

“…” Ricinus could only glare.

“Ms. Shasta!” Crane called out, turning back around and taking his claw off Ricinus’ shoulder. “We found the gem we were looking for! We can leave!”

“Oh, good,” the Inteleon said on the other side of the island, stretching out her back. “The gold stopped being exciting minutes ago.”

“The exit is there,” Crane noted with a point of a finger. “Come. Let us return to Rabuta.” He and Shasta headed towards the exit, not waiting for Ricinus and Aven to follow.

For a short moment, Ricinus stood there, in the middle of the island. He watched Crane walk off, the true spoils of the journey with him and not in Ricinus’ possession.

…If it was really that valuable, then I should have kept it to myself. Stupid Ricinus! Stupid!

He was so frustrated that he didn’t bother to clean the black residue off of his shoulder. The mask came off for a short period, and the once elegant prince could do nothing more than grit his teeth and mentally kick himself for even bothering. Why did he accept this mission in the first place?

Luckily, his mental beating was halted by the only other pokemon with him at that moment.

“…Riz.”

Immediately, Ricinus’ shoulders slumped. A breath followed, and the fairy was tempted to let it all out right there. “This was all a waste of time, Aven,” he growled, seething. “A fucking waste of time.”

The large Lycanroc didn’t respond with words; all he did was take out a rag from his backpack, and cleaned the muck off of Ricinus’ shoulder. “…Let’s get going,” Aven whispered, his voice hoarse but soothing.

Ricinus hated the fact that his eyes were so moist. He hated that he was trembling. His claws were unsheathing and sheathing over and over again—he hated that too.

He wanted one thing to go his way for once, dammit.

Eventually, Ricinus found the energy to nod and walk after Crane and Shasta. Aven followed closely behind, careful not to let Ricinus leave his side.

…

Meanwhile, after they were gone, a single pebble fell from the ceiling, and clunked against the purple shell on the corner of the island…

…

---

A warm, orange radiance coated the surface of the gentle waves and the dormant sands when the party of four left Niniku Cave. It had only been a few hours, but by that point, the sun had almost set. The dungeon was so forgettable and uncomplicated that Ricinus forgot most of it already.

Though that might have more to do with the fact that his mind was elsewhere at the moment.

“That was easier than expected,” Crane remarked, fiddling with the gem in his claw, a wide, toothy grin on his face. He led the group in the direction of the tree line. “That deity should feel lucky that it decided to sleep in today.”

“How humble of you, Monsieur Crane,” Shasta said. “Are the lucky ones not us for leaving without a scratch? Regardless, if that puny little rock is worth so much, I expect to be paid in exactly half its value. Potentially more, no less.”

Crane waved, chuckling with a sense of good humor. “You will be paid accordingly,” he told her. “But do be patient. There’s an awful lot of paperwork that goes into these things.”

“Maybe if I treat you to a few good drinks, you might organize something else? Perhaps we can skip all of that nonsense?”

That made Crane full-on laugh. “You act as though I can’t afford my own. But fine. I’ll entertain you for a bit, and we’ll see what we can come up with.”

Ricinus had long since stopped listening. Their conversations were nothing he cared enough to pay attention to. As he walked, his ears drooped, his ribbons hung lazily over his shoulders, and his eyes were on his shifting paws in front of him. He had been expecting more during that whole journey. Be it the glory of defeating an opponent single handedly, coming home with a chest full of treasure after reaching that final chamber, or at least having something to brag about.

None of that ended up being the case. None of it was worth it; it was not even worth talking about. Within a week’s time, no one would know who had so valiantly found the true treasure.

He must have looked quite miserable at that moment—sand stuck between his paws and his head down like he had just been rejected for a profitable job opportunity. Aven had noticed, and did his best to console the Sylveon. “…You alright?” Aven whispered, lowering himself to be closer to Ricinus’ ears.

Ricinus nodded.

“…” It was clear that Aven wanted to inquire more, but he was hesitant. And that hesitation was never circumvented, however. Before he even had the chance to say more, a splashing sounded out up ahead.

Ricinus nearly bumped into Crane’s back before coming to a stop. In fact, all four of them came to a stop.

There, standing in the sand, their crown glistening in the evening sun, water dripping from their feathers, was an Empoleon. They stared.

Immediately, the air grew tense. Everyone stopped what they were doing to glare the stranger down. Ricinus was caught by surprise. There were not meant to be many pokemon out here, let alone ones that could put up a fight. That was what he was led to believe, but this Empoleon was here—now. And they looked quite powerful.

Ricinus had a bad feeling about this.

“You there!” Crane pointed. “Leave us be! Go about your business and we will not harm you!”

Are we resorting to threats? Ricinus thought, biting his lip anxiously. Not even a lie? Hm.

The Empoleon said nothing in response. Their stoic expression along with the steady steps they took from the water only served to make Ricinus bite his lip harder.

“Do you value your life, Empoleon!” Crane shouted bluntly. “If you do, I suggest you jump back into the ocean and forget you saw us here!”

Still no response. The water type’s steps were slow…and he seemed to be pacing around the group.

“He has a death wish…” Crane said, turning to the party. “Well then—it’s time we-“

“Trespassers. Return what you stole.”

WHAT? ANOTHER ONE- Ricinus spun around, kicking up sand in the process. There were many creatures that Ricinus expected to see. Judging by the womanly voice, he was expecting something recognizable. Maybe a Nidoqueen or a Blastoise.

What he saw was almost alien to him.

The shell that had been present inside the cave was floating off the ground, open, and on its side. Something…or someone was peering out from the interior. Ricinus’ initial reaction was to tilt his head at the figure, as it did not resemble anything that he had come to know during his life. The pokemon, if it even was one, had a black, fish-like body, long, light blue hair flowing over its shoulders, and spindly arms. Webbed hands tipped with claws, fins extending out of it’s lower half, and purple rings around its shoulders. It had two mesmerizingly beautiful eyes, but no mouth.

And yet, words were formed. They were in the same voice as that distinctly womanly sounding character from before. Ricinus almost found the pokemon to be quite elegant, perhaps even attractive. But he was unsettled by its strange appearance above all else.

“Thieves,” the strange pokemon said in a booming manner. “Koko warned of your arrival.”

Koko…? Wait…

Crane stepped forward, past Ricinus. Something was off about Crane, Ricinus had noticed for a split second. Was he…trembling? “Hehehe!” the Sableye laughed, a claw around his necklace. “A pleasure to meet you, Tapu Fini. Decided to wait until we were already gone to ambush us?”

The Tapu’s shoulders rose and fell in a sigh. She then said, “I do not entertain the prospect of harming those that pass through my domain. I am not my brother. For you, though, I will make an exception.”

Something moved on Ricinus’ right, back behind him. Something in the sand. He vaguely heard Shasta let out of curse or two, and Aven inched closer to Ricinus’ backside. A distant splash was heard on Ricinus’ left, also behind him. Aven was the one to curse this time. However, the fairy did not dare take his eyes off the now apparent deity. Knowing that this was a pokemon of great power and prestige left him in an awkward position. The chance of getting out of here unharmed was dwindling fast.

“You sneaky Tapu!” Crane gnashed his teeth at her. “You invited guests! Anemone had a hand in this, didn’t she?”

“Silence imp!” the Tapu bellowed. “Do not flash your fangs at me; I will rip what is mine from your disease-ridden claws in due time! You there! Sylveon!”

Ricinus recoiled in shock. He was not expecting to be addressed directly. “What?” he cried. “I am but a prince—I have done nothing to you!” Ricinus was hopeful that his status would offer him some protection here. Also, he was finding it difficult to decide on how to address a pokemon even he did not consider himself to be above.

Tapu Fini narrowed her eyes at Ricinus, glaring daggers at him. “You stole from me! The voices, they have told me so.”

How did she…Voices…? Ricinus’ eyes trailed down to his side pack, to where the trinket was stored. At no point did he even come close to taking it out, and he made it certain that no one saw him when he snatched it. If…what she is saying is true…then…

“You bastard prince!” Crane howled, his gemstone eyes flaring with a brilliant shimmer over his shoulder. “You didn’t follow my orders, did you?”

“I…well…” Ricinus’ ears dropped. He felt a horrible sinking feeling in his stomach.

“You should have expected this, Monsieur!” Shasta said in a slightly panicked sounding voice. “From the moment I saw him, I knew. I knew he could not contain his urges. He is a brat, through and through!”

Ricinus so desperately wanted to scream.

“You as well, Inteleon,” Fini added, still pointing. “Return what you stole.”

Shasta had no choice but to sigh at that. “Do you know how hard it is to find jewelry that fits my wrist?”

…That made Ricinus feel a little better about himself at that moment.

“And you-“

“You’ve already made your point,” Crane interrupted Fini before she could finish. “If you want your treasure back, then here.” Suddenly, a series of clinks and clanks resounded from Crane’s body. A moment later, a small amount of gold items fell from his outstretched arms, torso, and legs. They fell onto the sand, forming into a pile below him. The Sableye grinned mischievously. “A shame, but if that is what it takes to avoid conflict…”

Ricinus’ jaw dropped.

Tapu Fini did not even break eye contact with Crane. “All of it,” she stated unambiguously. “Including the one in your claw.”

Ricinus had never seen Crane lose his smile that quickly.

“Hehe…” the imp uttered. A sudden burst of wind swirled around the group of four once Crane reached for the stone around his neck.

Ricinus’ ribbons whipped wildly. He had to shield his eyes from the sand flowing around him. What is this? Where did this wind come from? And Crane…what is happening to him?

More wind, a strange glow coming from the Sableye. “This is your grave you are digging here, great Tapu…”

A loud boom crashed, almost like a thunderstrike. The sand, burning into glass in front of the prince’s very eyes. Awestruck faces, both within Ricinus’ party and out. And Crane’s laughter. “How lucky it is for you that I aimed to send a message…”

Crack. Crack. Crack! The stone around his neck, the sharp teeth in his mouth, his very own eyes…they audibly cracked. Ricinus could hardly believe his ears. Crane, on the other hand, was relishing in the attention—in the fear. “My prince, you wanted a demonstration, didn’t you?”

“W-what?” Ricinus balked, hardly able to keep himself on the ground. Luckily, Aven was there to act as an anchor. “What are you talking about- what is this!?”

The trinkets and the gold in front of Crane began to melt, their surfaces growing a consistency of lava, seeping into the ground as a liquid. Crane himself started to glow a deep pink, and the stone around his neck bled light like a star. A star close to bursting. “Ehehehehe! Ahahahaha!”

Is this…Mega Evolution? The power emanating from the pokemon he once knew…all he could do was lean into Aven’s embrace, and stare in disbelief as Crane was transformed.

“You should have stayed in your little cave!” Crane screamed. His entire body was shaking uncontrollably. More light flowed in as the wind reached its apex. And the melted gold conjoined as one viscous, gooey substance, floating before the imp. All the while, he laughed. “AhahahaHAHAHAHA!”

And then…the light exploded into something brighter than the sun.

CRAKA BOOM!

That was what it took for Ricinus to avert his eyes. It was so loud that his ears were ringing. This is…this is insane! What kind of insane god allowed this to exist-

It was only then, after he dared to crack open his eyes, that Ricinus saw Crane as he was then.

Blood red gems for eyes, yellowed teeth, a sleeker, more respectable physique, and claws sharper than deadly knives.

SLAM!

There was also the giant, beautifully polished, pink gemstone propped against Crane, as a sort of shield. Ricinus could not help but shiver at the sight of Crane’s enlarged grin through the transparency of the gem.

When Crane spoke after all of that, he was almost unrecognizable from what he was before. Still mischievous and vile in his demeanor and tone, but infinitely more confident yet deranged. “Ehehehe…I have to thank you for the juice, kind Tapu,” Crane giggled. “As a reward, I’ll make this slaughter a fun one. Hehehe…” He flashed one clawed hand that still had the blue gem and held up his shield with the other.

“…This changes nothing,” the Tapu said, remarkably unphased. “You are still outmatched.”

Ricinus’ ears swiveled towards the ocean.

WHOOSH!

“Down!” Aven shouted in Ricinus’ ear. In a moment of pure panic, Ricinus was pushed into the sand fast enough to evade a soaring spear over their heads. Now on the ground, Aven muttered, “You alright?”

“Y-yes,” Ricinus managed to get out, his fur now covered in sand. He was still reeling over Crane’s transformation, and now he was being attacked? Already? “Give me a moment. I will-“

Ricinus’ ears swiveled to the ocean a second time.

CLANG!

Before he even knew what was happening, Crane was there, in front of the Sylveon. The incoming spear bounced off of the shield with sparks flying. The impact was strong enough to make Crane slide backwards, but his protection still held.

“Get up and fight, you worthless pieces of shit!” Crane angrily shouted over his shoulder. “I will draw fire! Tell your servant to keep that Empoleon occupied!”

A little ways away, Shasta was blasting hoards of Palossands with jets of water and keeping them from advancing any closer. Not only that, but she was evading attacks from the Empoleon as well. “I am being harassed!” she shouted. “Get this bastard off of me!”

Even still, Ricinus was having a hard time deciphering what was going on. Everything changed so quickly…

…No.

Ricinus scrunched up his face. Being confused and helpless was less than ideal. He had to act.

A good prince adapts. I am more powerful than all of these fools! I will not be left in the dirt!

“Aven,” the fairy said firmly through clenched teeth, “get off of me and go fight that Empoleon. Now!”

“…Riz…” Aven hesitated for a moment.

“Do it now!”

That was enough to get Aven moving. He was up and gone in a heartbeat.

Steadily, Ricinus rose to his feet. His fur was an absolute mess, and he had a pounding headache. But there was no time to address either his comfort or image at that moment. On the other side of the beach, Ricinus could see the other pokemon he had been with up to this point fighting for their lives.

Shasta was blasting Pallosand after Pallosand with her water attacks. Aven was going one-on-one with the Empoleon, kicking and launching rocks at the water type. And Crane was still drawing fire from what looked like a Cloyster far out past the coastline. That just left-

“You there. What is your name?”

Ricinus almost felt honored to be the one to engage in combat with the deity. In a sense, that was what he had always dreamed of during his playtime with the clay figures. The dashing prince, saving his kingdom from invaders and wicked beasts.

He had earnestly hoped it would not have happened under circumstances such as these.

When he turned to face Tapu Fini, his first response was almost a scoff. “My name?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “I see no reason to tell you.”

If the Tapu had a mouth, she would undoubtedly frown after hearing that. “I simply wish to know the name of the one I will fight in combat,” Fini said. “It was common courtesy in my time. Is the same not true of this age?”

Ricinus honestly had no clue if it was. Nor did he particularly care. Giving this pokemon his name could lead to potential repercussions. That said, Ricinus had no real qualms with this pokemon, and he would rather not be seen as a thieving fox that did not value politeness. So…

“Great Tapu,” Ricinus started, “I apologize for trespassing in your home, but I have a mission to complete. You may call me Riz.” Then, he lowered himself into a combat position, his ribbons primed and his muscles tensed. “En garde!”

Tapu Fini repeated his supposed name back to him calmly. “Riz…” She nodded. “Yes, I will remember that name. May the strongest succeed, Riz. Let us begin.”

Before they even started fighting, Ricinus was caught off guard. The Tapu glowed a deep pink, her eyes in particular gazing off into the distance in concentration. She then waved one of her arms in front of her, slowly, as if gesturing to the land around her. That glow that stuck to her form cascaded downwards into the sand with the gesture. Ricinus could only watch in amazement as the glow turned into mist, and painted the very ground he stood on.

Louder shouting behind him followed, alongside the telltale noises of a struggle. Strangely however, Ricinus somehow became less nervous as a result. He was more nimble—lighter. His muscles loosened in tandem. There was a sense of clarity that rushed through his mind as well at that moment. All of a sudden, Ricinus regained the confidence needed to glare in the face of a legendary pokemon. And he knew exactly how he would go about this.

Tapu Fini bowed her head slightly. “Apologies for that. I feel that I am owed an advantage in my own domain. Though in this case, I suppose this puts us both on equal footing.”

Ricinus snorted, his lips pulled back in a sneer, “Do not apologize to me! A prince such as myself does not NEED your concern!”

Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Ricinus wasted no time flicking off Swift stars at his opponent. The golden projectiles would be weak but unavoidable. That would give him enough time to close the distance.

Slam! Fini’s response to Ricinus’ assault was to slam her outer shell shut and let it protect her. By all accounts, the attack did nothing.

But dealing damage would come later. The additional time it took for Fini to close and open her shell was enough time for Ricinus to rush to a more advantageous position. The Sylveon was more proficient at a medium range so that his Shadow Balls had a higher chance to hit.

Speaking of, the ghostly malice he felt for the pokemon that embarrassed him a few minutes ago was enough to form a ball of shadowy energy in his heart. The blackness and pure contempt congealed into a sphere of spectral energy. The Shadow Ball was spat at his enemy.

Even at the ideal distance, the Shadow Ball was not launched fast enough to catch the Tapu. The mist was providing her with the speed she needed to float to the side and dodge just in time.

“Damn!” Ricinus cursed under his breath, ghostly residue still leaking down his chin. He needed to get closer! He was not the only one benefiting from the rush of the mist.

Unfortunately for him, Fini was on the offensive now. A liquid barrage of Pulsing Water flew through the air towards Ricinus. Taking damage to any degree would have been deadly for him, so he focused on backpedaling for the sake of avoiding the strike.

The move missed, but the droplets that landed on his fur nipped at his skin and made him grit his teeth. Even a tiny taste of this lengendary’s power hurt like distortion.

Tapu Fini did not let up. Water Pulse after Water Pulse was fired at Ricinus with such speed and frequency that he found no openings to counter attack. The worst part about it was that he could not get in close enough to do more than flick the occasional Swift star in retaliation. But even those were destroyed before they reached the Tapu.

Dammit, I need a new tactic!

For now, Ricinus hastened his pace with a Quick Attack, utilizing his momentum to leap past the assault and approach from the side. If he got in close enough, he could potentially latch on and fire off a Shadow Ball at point blank. But most importantly, he needed to overwhelm Tapu Fini before she overwhelmed him.

One more dodge landed Ricinus closer to the shoreline than he intended, and the splash of the water caused him to wince. He thought for a split second that he had taken damage—he didn’t—but that was enough time for Fini to land her mark.

“GAH!” Ricinus cried, rolling back into the sand, stunned. The concentrated Pulse of Water stung his chest while the impact knocked the wind out of him for a moment. Soaking in water, Ricinus was grateful that the attack was clearly not meant to be Fini at her strongest, despite completely knocking him off his feet.

He panted. “Ha…don’t patronize me…” Ricinus growled through gritted teeth. The Sylveon stood back on four legs as fast as he could, the pain in his chest still lingering.

“Patronize?” the Tapu parroted back at him. “That is awfully presumptuous of you. Are you certain you are not weak in your own right?”

For one reason or another, those words actually gave Ricinus confidence. Of course I am not weak; it has just been a long day. I have not had a proper fight in a while either. Ricinus truly believed that he was just having a bad start. No, he had more to offer than speed and mid-range projectiles.

He just needed to find an opening…

Ricinus offered no response in return. Instead, he made himself lighter on his paws once more. His Quick Attack was aimed towards the opposite side of Tapu, where the rocks and treeline were. While this maneuver was functionally the same as his last tactic, failing to get close last time was merely a fluke. Now he was more alert, nimble. He could dodge anything Fini threw at him.

“AIIIEEEEHHH!“

Ricinus was wrong.

Just as he was about to leap in and Bite down, a shrill scream filled his ears. Once again the attack made him wince, and his eyes slammed shut because of the pain it caused him.

A Disarming Voice! Ricinus thought in a panic. I should have known!

It was at that moment that Ricinus realized that he was not only at a disadvantage power-wise, but knowledge-wise as well.

Another Water Pulse just barely missed the fairy after he leapt out of the way. His thoughts were all jumbled and rushing about at a mile a minute. The ringing in his ears did not help in this regard.

What do I do here? I have never researched this pokemon before, let alone fought one. Finding a way to counter that Disarming Voice should have been at the forefront of my mind!

An unbearable heat rushed through Ricinus’ ears as he continued to dodge Water Pulses. The frustration of knowing just how woefully unprepared he was had been starting to get to him, but now it was especially agonizing.

I need to buy myself time to think of a strategy…

Ricinus skidded to a halt, just barely evading the last blast of water. From there he stood his ground opposite of the Tapu, only sidestepping the next few attacks. It took concentration, and he was lucky to avoid them correctly. Undoubtedly, he would have been sent flying back after Fini recognized his movement patterns. However, the ideal situation occurred instead: she stopped attacking for a moment.

Her arm remained outstretched. “Do you have something to say?” she asked impatiently.

There we go. This should give me time. “I do, yes,” Ricinus announced, feigning confidence.

“Out with it then.” She clearly did not want to waste any more time.

The Sylveon let out a deep, groaning sigh. He tilted his head to the side and slightly up, then puffed out his chest to make himself appear more relaxed. “I must say…you are more graceful than I could have anticipated,” he told her. “I am in awe, truly.”

“…Is this your attempt at flattery?” Fini did not seem perturbed or even particularly interested. In fact, she seemed to just be getting annoyed.

“Not flattery, no,” the fairy type specified. “You will have to forgive me; I find it difficult to focus when I am engaged in combat with a lovely woman such as you. I cannot help myself—so I wanted to let you know for the sake of it.”

Tapu Fini looked downward for a moment, as if contemplating something very briefly. Her arm lowered a small bit as well. Internally, Ricinus was grinning like a madmon. While small, he was making her think. More thoughts meant a clouded mind. And all of this talking had given him ample time to think of a proper strategy.

Tapu Fini admitting that “…for the sake of fairness, I will say that you are quite Charming…” was a nice bonus. Ricinus could not prevent the grin from forming on his face after hearing that.

“Why, thank you-“

WHOOSH—CLANG!

All of that bravado and confidence was shattered at the sound of a spear hitting Crane’s shield on Ricinus’ left. Panic coursed up his spine all over again.

“Do not stand in place, Ricinus!” Crane shouted, still recovering from the brutal impact of the Cloyster’s strike. “I cannot protect you from everything! Keep the Tapu distracted!”

And just like that, the battle raged on. A Water Pulse was narrowly avoided at just the right moment. The fur on the back of Ricinus’ back stood on end.

“We are still in the midst of combat…Ricinus.” Fini was back on the offensive, a glare pointed in Ricinus’ direction and her arm outstretched like before. “A liar, a thief, and a seducer. You are no different than any of the other opportunistic pokemon that have found themselves here before. Sit still and accept your beating.”

Ricinus did not, in fact, sit still. A mere second later, and he was back on his feet, sprinting through the sand at wicked fast speeds. While he did have a plan that encompassed more than just running at his enemy, he was too annoyed to think about implementing it yet.

From his Charm essentially being useless, the Tapu now knowing his name, and having to run around more—Ricinus was not interested in playing games anymore. He wanted it to be over. And that does not even take into account what Crane said last.

A distraction? Is that all they expect from me?

Another narrow dodge. The water slid across his tail, causing it to burn. The inciting scream he let out hurt his own ears—it was so loud.

Gah! No! I will destroy this so-called deity and show them what a proper prince is capable of!

And so, Ricinus set his plan in motion.

He had not been firing off Swift stars before. He was now, but not at his opponent. Swift is a move that detects and seeks out an aura signature when channeled correctly. All pokemon have one. However, an untrained Swift user tends to neglect to account for the seeking element of the technique.

Normally, that is not ideal. But, more trained users soon come to realize that while the seeking aspect can be useful, it limits creativity. They target a pokemon—not any specific part of that pokemon, though.

Ricinus was not aiming for Tapu Fini with attacks. He was aiming for the cliff side behind her.

In between each attack delivered by Fini, Ricinus would flick a star upwards above her head. Each time, they would hit their mark.

Already, he could tell that his tactic was working.

Fini’s attacks became slightly less frequent and less accurate. Her head jerked a bit to the side every once in a while, as though she wanted to know why he was doing this—what he was trying to accomplish.

While he still was not able to get close, he was starting to find more openings. More chances to get in and potentially fire off another Shadow Ball. But at this point, he had a better idea. They could do this dance all day, but…Ricinus never was one to share with others. Not like this.

Eventually, it happened. Fini took the bait.

A small rock was dislodged thanks to Ricinus’ Swift star barrage, and it fell to the sand near the deity. Panic flashed across her face, the first true emotive expression he had seen from her. In the end, all it really did was make Fini float to the side in reaction to the thought of an avalanche coming down upon her, but that was all Ricinus needed. One second to breathe, one second to go in, one second to destroy.

Ricinus glowed a deep pink.

The moon often offered the fairy type solace on quiet nights. It was like a companion that listened, understood, but did not judge. A true friend—nay, a partner in more ways than one. Ricinus could depend on the moon to be there for him. Like now…he needed the moon. He needed it now.

In his mind, he pleaded. I beseech you, wondrous visage of a fantastical divine being, grant me your power! I require assistance!

On the outside, Ricinus was sparkling like he was covered in glitter. The pink swirled around him, snaking up his legs and up his torso. The glowing Sylveon formed his ribbons into that of an ‘O’ shape in front of him. The pink joined at the center, quickly forming into something shapeless yet representative of something greater.

Great Lunala! Destroy this wretch and free me from her torture!

The energy Ricinus had been building up was released and fired at Tapu Fini just as she halted in place.

“Moonblast!” Ricinus shouted out.

This was his strongest technique yet. Months of training and self-discipline granted him the patience and inner fortitude to be able to produce such a powerful weapon. But it was worth it. Even now, the brilliant Moonblast zoomed through the air to-

…Wait. Why was Tapu Fini glowing pink as well…? When did she-

KABOOM!

A cloud of mist exploded in Ricinus’ face, forcing him to shield his eyes. There was an instant of momentary confusion that prevented him from thinking clearly. Why the explosion was so close, why the Tapu was glowing, and if his attack landed were all concerns fighting for Ricinus’ attention. But he could not focus on any of them—he was stunned. What’s more, he could not see through the pink cloud. Even when he squinted his eyes…

It was at that moment that Ricinus regretted taking this job in the first place.

A concentrated, incredibly powerful jet of intense liquid shot through the misty cloud. By the time Ricinus’ eyes were halfway to being open, it was mere feet from him.

Time seemed to slow as three actions were taken. One: Ricinus lifted a front paw and a back paw, the telltale sign that he was moving to run. Two: his mouth fell agape. A sound could not escape in time, though. And three: a single thought flowed from one end of his brain to the other…

NOOOOOOOO!

An impact to the side. Searing pain.

Something popped. From where?

Severe whiplash. His body turned awkwardly with the momentum.

The scarf around his neck flew off. It’s purpose proved to be negligible.

A shrill scream. Pure agony.

The world spun one and a half times. What was once an angle of the battlefield was now an angle of the ocean.

It took Ricinus a considerable amount of time to realize it, but he was in the sand, on his side—the one which hurt immensely.

He was having trouble breathing. And processing. What…happened…?

Before he could even think of answering that question for himself, a voice emerged from the cloud of mist. “You did well. For a moment, I felt my pulse quicken. It has been many years since I have experienced that sensation.”

Painfully, Ricinus glanced away from the ocean. A tightness filled his throat—the downward angle quickly proving to be anything but comfortable. It took him effort, and that was not a good sign.

Tapu Fini was unharmed. Not once did Ricinus deal damage in any meaningful way. All he had to show for his efforts was the look of discontent on his opponent’s face. “You nearly struck me, Ricinus,” Fini said, floating close but keeping her distance still. “Now, I do not wish to harm you any more. Remain still…”

Ricinus had no choice in the matter. Truly, he was hopeless. Defeated. Beaten. He had failed.

Failed…

…Why did that word hurt more than the bruising of his ribs? For the first time today…Ricinus had nothing to say. He just wanted to curl up and cry. But a prince never cries, or shows any weakness to the commoners.

…Why is this so difficult? Ricinus thought, blinking tears out of his eyes. I was born for this. I…know I…I am not good enough…but why can’t I just take the defeat WITH SOME DAMN DIGNITY- STOP LOOKING AT ME!

All of it seemed to rush to Ricinus’ head at that moment. Combined with the deity’s irritatingly sympathetic gaze, he was earnestly hanging by a thread. One more push was all he needed to break down entirely.

It’s not fair….it’s not fair…it’s not fair…it’s not fair…

Over and over again. What did Ricinus do to deserve such humiliation? He could not even form the words needed to insult this pokemon.

Ricinus could only seethe internally as Fini took one final glance at his mangled body then floated off, presumably to deal with the other pokemon Ricinus arrived with.

But then the Tapu froze in place.

“Ah,” she sighed, “you saved me the effort.”

She was speaking to someone out of Ricinus’ line of sight. Whoever it was, they did not respond to Fini’s statement. They did not say anything…at all. That alone spiked Ricinus’ intrigue just as much as it made the pit of dread in his stomach more prominent.

Tapu Fini continued, albeit with some hesitation. “…I did not acknowledge you, I apologize. My interest was with the thieves, and the ones you clearly follow.”

“…” Still, no response. Though now that Ricinus had recovered a small amount and his thoughts were less muddled, he could hear one thing behind him: faint, heavy breathing.

“Indentured servant, the voices have told me that you are not like those that keep you in chains. You are…new. Different. Primal.”

Slow, heavy footsteps…getting closer…

Ricinus wanted to scream.

“While I do not consider myself to be as charitable as my sister, I can grant you a home among those that recognize your true value.”

“…” The footsteps were getting closer…

“…If you come nearer, I will be forced to take action against you.” Fini was gradually floating backwards to the entrance of the cave. “Do not waste this chance. I can help you.” Her voice became disarmingly soft during that last sentence. For a brief moment, Ricinus caught a glimpse at what was meant to be a being of pure heart and immense power.

It did not last long. A moment later, something, or someone, touched Ricinus’ neck. There was a shadow cast across the sand just on the corner of Ricinus’ vision, and a recognizable, deep voice spoke softly into his ear. Had Ricinus not been intensely seething at that moment, and essentially paralyzed, he might have started sobbing. For what reason he was still not entirely sure.

“…I’ll handle this.”

And that was it. What happened next, Ricinus could not fully understand. His head was still in an awkward position in the sand so he could not get a proper angle at the action as it happened. All he knew was that the Lycanroc went too far.

It started with Aven’s pace quickening—briefly Ricinus saw him charging, on all four legs. He was a mere blur from where Ricinus was. In response, Fini attempted to backpedal, firing off blasts of water while screeching like a banshee. Aven powered through it.

There was a struggle, Ricinus knew that. And from what Ricinus knew of Aven, that struggle was brutal. The sound of impacts and yelling filled his ears. Grunting, shouting…Clawing, punching, kicking, biting, elemental attacks…Ricinus could only imagine it.

Eventually, it all seemed to come to a stop. The screaming became quieter, the impacts less frequent, and the heartbeat in Ricinus’ ears overpowered all of it. The sun set as it all winded down. The surrounding pink was overtaken by the imposing gloom of dusk, and the mist soon dissipated on its own. A chill threatened to freeze Ricinus where he lied.

Warmth was not far away, though. Before Ricinus knew it, Aven’s heavy footsteps were nearby. He could only see Aven’s legs when the wolf came into view as well as Ricinus’ dirtied scarf trailing behind him, but that was more than enough.

It was over. Ricinus did not need to be told what happened. Judging by Aven’s limp, his drenched fur, and his labored breathing, the Sylveon was able to discern that Aven succeeded in one way or another. Perhaps the Tapu could not properly fight at close range—Aven was quite deadly when it came to that. Or perhaps Aven just got a lucky hit and stunned her.

Speculating would get him nowhere regardless. The tears were flowing into the sand now. Ricinus’ body shook with his sobs.

Aven knelt down in front of the fairy with some difficulty—the pain was evident on his face. “…Riz…” he said, the simple word coming out as a half growl, half whisper.

“I…couldn’t do it…Aven.” Ricinus had a hard time getting the words out through the sobs. Each syllable was accentuated with pained breath. “F…fail…failure…I…f-failed…”

Carefully, Aven picked Ricinus up into his arms, cradling him. A sharp pain coursed through Ricinus’ chest, and he whimpered pathetically. Aven attempted to calm him down. “Shhh…you didn’t fail…”

“W-what am I—ah—d…oing?” Ricinus’ voice broke. “I’m no…prince…”

“Yes, you are,” Aven said quietly. “You can have the praise…I don’t care.”

“N-no-“

“Ricinius!”

That was Crane’s voice. He sounded chipper, almost elated. It was a struggle to properly get an angle on the Sableye, but he managed to glance over in his direction.

Crane was missing that giant gemstone from earlier. He seemed to be back to normal, and once again wearing that toothy grin of his. “Well done!” he congratulated, clapping his hands. “You defeated a guardian. Impressive. I thought that I would have had to step in, but you had it under control.”

He is talking to me. Not Aven- why? He deserves the praise! Not me!

“L-lord C-Crane, plea…se-“

Ricinus was not able to finish his sentence. He was interrupted by the wolf carrying him pulling him closer and snarling at Crane. It was obvious even from where Ricinus was located. As if the claws digging into his flank was not any indication, Aven’s fur was standing on end, his lips pulled back to expose his fangs. And he saw Crane as a threat, hence the deep growling.

No…no…stop it, Aven! Stop it! Not now!

If Crane had an eyebrow, he would have raised it. Instead, his eyes shimmered faintly in the dark of dusk. “Ricinus, is your pet not properly trained? He should know better than to bare his fangs at his superiors.”

Now is not the TIME! Ricinus did not need Crane to judge him for this; this never should have come to this point. Usually, in times like these, Ricinus would have the means to calm Aven down. But now, with his body limp and hopeless, there was nothing he could do.

Aven continued to growl and pace in a circle, his muscles becoming progressively more tense. Crane just stared, his arms now crossed.

Dammit, Aven! You and your- GAH!

With the last remaining inklings of strength within him, Ricinus channeled his frustration into one ear-piercing scream, aiming to Disarm Aven with his Voice. “AAEEEEIIIHHHH!”

“Ngh-” Aven stumbled back, his growling soon being replaced by whimpers of pain. Ricinus could feel the wolf’s arms shake as he dropped to one knee.

Meanwhile, Crane was unamused. “Next time,” he berated, “don’t let your servant bare his fangs at me, my prince. I’ll slit his throat myself if I have to.”

Ricinus was too exhausted to respond. Thankfully, a distraction came quickly. There was a splash up ahead. An Inteleon calmly strolled out of the ocean.

“Yoohoo!” Shasta called out. “I dealt with the Cloyster. I believe that is all of them?”

Crane turned and gave Shasta a round of applause as well. “Excellent work, Shasta. That’s all of them.”

Shasta’s tall and nearly transparent body came into view. When she looked upon Ricinus and Aven, the look of disgust was evident on her face. “Is one of them dead?” she asked.

“No,” Crane answered plainly. “Both of them got close, but they’re still alive.”

“Fair enough. I’m ready to leave if you are.”

Crane paused for a moment to stare at Ricinus and Aven. But he did not say anything to either of them. He cast a glance down at the gem in his claw, then nodded with a masochistic grin. “Yes. The Count will be most pleased.” He looked back at Aven and Ricinus. “You two. Eat an Oran Berry each then meet us back at the carriage. I know you have them. Hurry up.”

Ricinus had nothing to respond with.

The Sableye and Inteleon walked away after that, leaving the Sylveon and Lycanroc to themselves.

They were bruised, battered, and very distraught. Aven hung his head for a few moments longer, and continued to breath heavily. His eyes were slitted and sharp as well. But eventually he dug into his backpack and pulled out two Oran Berries. He quickly chomped one down before coaxing Ricinus to eat the other.

Ricinus looked up at him incredulously, blinking tears out of his eyes. “A-Aven-“

“…Eat it,” he murmured gruffly. “Grraa…” The Lycanroc shut his eyes tight.

Ricinus hated seeing Aven like this. Every single time—it never got easier to watch. “Have…did you eat a gummi this morning?” Ricinus wondered in concern. He could not believe that he forgot to remind him.

Aven shook his head through his growling. “…Almost out. Wanted to…save it for the return trip.”

This is ridiculous…Aven, you should not have to deal with this.

That was what Ricinus wanted to say. At this point, there was no reason to keep up a facade. He was tired, hurt, and stressed. All he wanted was to go back to Rabuta and relax. It did not matter to him if this mission was a success or not.

His only response was to lift a ribbon and caress Aven’s cheek. “I…will get you as many…gummi’s as you need…when we get back,” Ricinus muttered. “All of the money we get from this…I promise.”

That seemed to calm Aven down a bit. His eyes were downcast, but there was a sense of recognition and appreciation deep within. In between the fragments of aggression still present, Aven found it in him to smile faintly. “Thanks…Riz…”

As Aven carried Ricinus back to the carriage, the Sylveon ate the Oran Berry greedily. His tears had since dried—and while the feelings of apprehension still remained, the warmth of Aven’s arms was a pleasant distraction. The trip back would be long and boring, but prince Ricinus could sleep well knowing that it was all over.

Along the way, he caught a glimpse of the Empoleon that Aven had managed to defeat, lying on the ground. He regretted looking immediately. He could only imagine the state the Tapu was in…