Chapter 15: In Case of Emergency

Radiant Palace’s throne room was silent enough to hear a pin drop on the velvet carpet running from the crystalline double doors to the raised, marble platform holding two thrones. Having passed along everything Yuna had told him, Seifer now stared at the carpet, wondering what was going through the mind of the rapidash standing in front of one of the thrones.

He didn’t dare look anywhere else. Not up at the sunlight filtering in through the glass dome in the ceiling. Not at the walls with their crystal pillars evenly spaced between scarlet and lavender tapestries bearing the kingdom’s sword and shield emblem. And not at the two diamond Zacian statues on either side of the throne platform, staring sternly at the door as if they could somehow guard the room from invaders.

The silence broke when Demerzel spoke up from Seifer’s right. “Well, Your Eminence? What do you think?”

Silence returned for a few seconds. Then a sigh. “We thank you for bringing this to our attention, Seifer.”

The keldeo bit his lip. He’d known Isola long enough to tell the difference between sincere thanks and putting on a front. This was the latter. “Your Eminence?” He looked up. The rapidash pivoted to her left. The bronze shield fastened to her chest shimmered under the sunlight.

“We want to believe you, Commander,” Isola said. “But you must understand, you are passing on the words of a student. One who’s sickly enough to pass for a child.” Her long horn glowed a faint pink. She telekinetically adjusted the diamond crown resting against her silky pink mane.

Seifer’s ears twitched underneath his mane. “I was there,” he whispered.

“You know as well as anyone that pokémon who escape mystery dungeons often do not return the same as how they entered.” Isola looked at the ceiling. “Your report didn’t indicate you used any protective wards.”

“There wasn’t time. The princess—”

“We tasked you with keeping her safe.” Isola lowered her head. “Commander, after the incident with Lord Douglas, there were those who questioned your… mental fitness to serve in your post. You drew up the plans that cost us three of our finest soldiers and led to a distortion outbreak.”

Seifer stiffened. Every fiber of his being told him to bring up Reshiram. To beg Demerzel to sift through his memories to confirm his story. However, Yuna had trusted her to leave that detail out. And he agreed. It was bad enough telling Isola that World Ender was, in fact, still alive.

“We thought that by assigning you to Princess Yuna, we could restore Parliament’s faith in your abilities,” Isola continued. “But not only did you fail to protect her, your approach to handling the new areas of distortion has led to the disappearance of three dozen troops. And that number continues to grow.”

Seifer’s blood ran cold. “I… wasn’t aware things had gotten so bad.” He thought of Rune’s disappearance. Of the masked monstrosity, Xeromus. Was he behind every disappearance? Or was the distortion reacting to another Needle’s destruction… and getting stronger? “But that’s all the more reason to—”

Isola shook her head. “We’re sorry, Commander.” She met his gaze. “In order to secure funding for Icarus, we had to agree to several… concessions.” A pained expression set in. “Parliament wanted you stripped of your title and sacked…”

“No…” Seifer’s eyes slowly widened. Beside him, Demerzel floated back, looking equally shocked.

“… however, we managed to convince Parliament to accept an alternative proposal.” Isola stepped forward, putting a forehoof on the next step down. “You are hereby suspended until further notice. Without pay.”

Isola’s horn lit up. Pink light surrounded Seifer. The stunned keldeo’s clothes tugged at his torso. Tearing fabric echoed in his head. He opened his mouth. Tried to say something. Anything. But all he could do was stare blankly as Isola levitated his torn uniform to her side.

His legs quivered. “Why?” Seifer croaked. “I… I’ve given my life… for this job.”

Isola’s eyes watered. “I know,” she whispered. The rapidash squeezed her eyes shut and looked away. “I wish there was more I could’ve done, but Parliament wouldn’t have it.”

The rational part of Seifer’s head knew this was serious. Isola rarely dropped her royal voice, even in private. However, it didn’t make this any easier. “What about the Radiant Guard?”

“We will take steps to mitigate your absence.” Isola had regained her composure. She tossed the uniform onto her throne. Seifer wanted to ask a follow-up question, but Isola raised a forehoof. “Demerzel, please escort Co— please show Seifer out of the castle.”

It took a few seconds for Demerzel to respond. “O-Of course, Your Eminence.”

Seifer was still numb. He didn’t even realize Demerzel put a hand on his back until the floor fell away, replaced by the smooth pavement of the road that led to the hilltop castle. The keldeo staggered forward and dropped to his knees.

“I don’t understand.”

“That makes two of us.” Demerzel floated in front of Seifer. “I was aware Her Eminence had to make concessions, but she sandbagged me with this news as well.” He frowned. “I guess that’s why she ordered your bank account frozen.”

Seifer’s head shot up. “She what?!“

Demerzel flinched, but immediately regained his composure. “Perhaps it’s better you found out this way.” He rubbed his temple. “I wish I had more to offer. I’m afraid I’m at a loss.”

“You’re at a loss?” Seifer’s horn flickered red. “What am I supposed to do? This job was my life!” He stared at the gravel underneath him. “I… I threw myself into my work. Just like my mother and her mother and—”

He sucked in a sharp breath. “A member of my clan has served the Radiant Guard for centuries! I can’t show my face back home like this. I’ll be disowned!” His legs quivered again. “Her Eminence still has tea with Mother from time to time.”

“I think you can trust her to keep this confidential,” Demerzel assured him. “But perhaps you can stay at a hotel until things settle down?”

“With what money?” Seifer’s face twisted into a grimace. “I never carry radians on me. It’s too risky. Everything I had was in the bank.”

“… ah.”

Seifer tried to take a deep breath. He failed. The keldeo thought Demerzel would take pity on him. Offer to loan him funds for a room. He looked up at the mutant with pleading eyes.

“I can’t give you money.” Demerzel rubbed his shoulder. “Most of my salary goes toward experimental treatments for my… condition.” He gestured to his massive head.

Seifer was struggling to breathe. The logical conclusion was to go home. But he couldn’t face his family now. He’d never get past the humiliation. There had to be something. Someone who’d be willing to help.

A sharp pain clutched his gut. “I have to go back to the academy.”

Demerzel frowned. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I have to!” Seifer’s horn sparked again. “It’s a long shot, but I might be able to make something work out.”

“And when you’re spotted near the Aeon Princess and word reaches Her Eminence?” Demerzel crossed his arms. “I don’t want to see you in hotter water.”

“Please,” Seifer croaked. “There’s someone there… who might be able to help. He’s not related to the Aeons.”

Demerzel sighed. He reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a coin purse. A dozen gold coins dropped onto the road in front of Seifer. “This should be enough for a train ticket,” Demerzel said. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, I hope for your sake it works out.”

Still breathing shakily, Seifer collected the radians with a forehoof. He no longer had pockets to stuff them into, so he was forced to bite down on them. “Thamks.”

Demerzel didn’t respond. He vanished in a flash of pink light. Sighing, Seifer got to his feet and trudged off down the road.

“Unbelievable!” Shimmer stomped down spiral, cobblestone stairs. The lit torches on the wall smoldered from the psionic pulses his horn gave off. “How can they let an incompetent pile of scales like you represent Uncle Benedict? I may as well defend him myself.”

Yuna winced. She glanced at the flygon buzzing ahead of them. His black vest and bowtie clearly didn’t fit. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. But I’m the only public defender with any availability this week.”

“You already told us that, Kain,” Shimmer growled. Yuna swore his mane puffed up in irritation. “What I’m failing to understand here is why he needs a public defender in the first place. Money is hardly an issue for him.”

Kain tapped his claws together nervously. “Well, um, my boss said that every attorney Mr. Benedict tried to hire turned him down.”

Shimmer stopped walking. “What?”

“Hey!” Yuna abruptly hovered left to avoid hitting Shimmer. She squeaked when she instead hit the wall. It was rough and dusty.

“I don’t know anything beyond that.” The flygon scratched the back of his head.

Glowering, Shimmer pushed past Flygon. “A dragon like you shouldn’t even be allowed in the Crowne Court as a custodian.”

Kain dropped to his feet and folded his wings. “That’s not nice, sir. I passed the bar like everyone else.”

“Please.” Shimmer rolled his eyes. “I could sit for the bar today and pass it. Think about the jury. One look at you and the Princess and they’ll be ready to send Uncle Benedict to prison.”

“… sheesh. These people can’t hate dragons that much, can they?” Reshiram huffed. “Bahamut always preached cooperation. Prejudice will only blind you to the truth.”

Yuna caught up to Shimmer. “Look. The situation is what it is. You can give up or try and help us. Wouldn’t you rather do your best to help your uncle?”

Shimmer swished his mane over his shoulder. “Of course I’m going to do my best. But you two better not mess anything up.” The ponyta approached an oak door with massive metal locks. A pair of seismitoad guards blocked Shimmer’s path.

“Identification,” one said.

Kain stepped forward and held up his gold attorney’s badge and a piece of parchment. “We’re the defense team for the Benedict case.”

The seismitoad leaned forward. “Aye. The omnibus is in evidence bay C. Second on the left.” Both seismitoad stepped to the side. The one on the left pressed an ID card to a metal box. A klaxon blared as both metal locks receded toward the walls and the door swung outward.

“Three coming in! His Majesty and two dragons,” the other seismitoad shouted. “Evidence bay C!”

An arcanine in a black vest approached them. After staring Kain over for a solid minute, he gestured for the group to follow him. The floor abruptly shifted from stone to gray steel. There were signs hanging from the grated metal ceiling, each depicting a different letter. Yuna glanced at a set of black glass doors next to the first sign.

“Why glass? Wouldn’t they want something sturdier to stop potential intruders?” Reshiram wondered.

I don’t know. Maybe that’s what the big door we just went through is for, Yuna responded. Arcanine had stopped in front of a second set of glass doors. He pressed the ID badge on his vest to a scanner. A light above the door shifted from red to green and the door slid open.

“Here you are. You’re free to look, but don’t you dare touch anything.” Arcanine sat down in the doorway, looking sternly into the room.

“Thanks.” Kain pulled a notepad and pen out of the satchel slung over his shoulder as he glided into the room. Yuna followed him. Four spotlights positioned in each corner shined directly on the omnibus sitting in the middle of the bay.

The wood was painted blue with white boarders around the carriage’s circular windows and single square door. “The carriage in there is for all the passengers?” Yuna asked. She floated to the head of the omnibus, where there was a wooden seat with a worn pink cushion for the driver and a rectangular glass window that was too hazy for Yuna to look through.

“That’s the spot where Benedict and the victim were,” Kain responded. He flew up toward the top of the omnibus. “However, there’s additional seating on the roof here. Two rows of benches.” He pointed a claw forward.

Yuna hovered higher and saw the white benches surrounded by metal guardrails. A wooden placard proudly displayed “Fledgling Omnibus Company: Locally Owned Since 881.”

“Hey, look at that.” Reshiram’s presence tried to direct Yuna’s attention toward the roof. “There’s a glass pane in the ceiling.”

Huh. Yuna got a closer look at the glass. “Looks like you can see inside the carriage if you sit on the roof.” She recalled Shimmer mentioning witnesses in this case. “Does this mean the witnesses were sitting up here? Or in the carriage?”

“They were up here.” Kain hovered to Yuna’s side, also inspecting the glass. He hastily scribbled something in his notebook. “Seems like you can only see the back row of the carriage, however. That’s a good factoid to note in case someone talks about this at the trial.”

Down on the ground, Shimmer snorted. “If you two are done gawking at trivial details, can we get to the important stuff?”

Yuna resisted the urge to glare at Shimmer. Who was he to say what was important? She peeked her head over the railing on her left to find Shimmer pacing in front of the open carriage door and a metal step she guessed was meant to help smaller passengers get on.

“Hey, what are those pink splotches on the metal?” Reshiram asked. “Seems like someone spilled some paint on them.”

As Yuna flew down toward Shimmer, she repeated Reshiram’s question. Shimmer faced the omnibus door. “I’m pretty sure it’s the victim’s blood.”

“… oh.” Yuna’s tail scrunched up. “But wait… who ever heard of pink blood?

“I can answer that one.” Kain dropped to the ground behind Shimmer. The ponyta jumped in surprise and whirled on Kain with annoyed huff. “It’s pink because of a special reagent that Stoutland Yard uses to test surfaces for blood.”

Yuna tilted her head. “Stoutland Yard?”

Groaning, Shimmer stepped in Yuna’s path. “The policing unit of the Radiant Guard. Named for the species of its first commissioner. Didn’t you come across that while you were studying?”

“I, uh, might’ve skipped that particular part.” Yuna laughed nervously.

Shimmer rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He looked at Kain. “Continue, dragon.”

“Yessir.” The flygon saluted. “So, pokémon that can bleed have certain chemicals in their bloodstream based on their typing. The reagent responds to the chemicals and changes colors. This helps Stoutland Yard identify potential species the blood belongs to.” His tail thumped excitedly against the ground, only to slow up when Kain saw Shimmer glowering at him. “Sorry. I find this stuff interesting, sir.”

“Then go work in a morgue,” Shimmer deadpanned. “What type of pokémon gets a pink reaction?”

“A pure fire-type.” Kain flipped through his notepad. “Which makes sense, since the victim’s a magmar.”

“Hold on.” Yuna raised her arm. “Um, there are quite a few pokémon that are pure fire-types. How do we know the blood’s from a magmar? Maybe there was another fire-type there that night?”

Frowning, Kain flipped to another page. “Afraid not. The victim was the only fire-type to use this particular omnibus that night, according to a statement from Stoutland Yard. I got a copy of the passenger listing with the case file.”

“… oh.” Yuna’s expression deflated.

“Hey, it was worth a shot,” Reshiram said. “Besides, how do we know the blood is from the night of the crime? Maybe some clumsy fire-type tripped and scraped their knee. Or stubbed their toe. Stars above, I always hated when I stubbed my claws. Hurt like the dickens.”

“And, um, how does Stoutland Yard know this blood wasn’t already there when the crime happened?” Yuna asked.

Shimmer pointed his forehoof toward the open door. “That’s how.”

“Eh?” Yuna floated closer and tensed when she saw pink splotches on the carriage’s black carpet. There were pink flecks on one of the back row’s black, velvet cushions. “Ah.” She fidgeted nervously with the Soul Dew. “That’s a lot of blood.”

“The case report I received states the victim got up and made his way toward the door before losing consciousness and falling out of the omnibus,” Kain explained. He stepped to Yuna’s side. “The walls and ceiling are just as black as the floors. Odd.”

“They’re probably dark to keep passengers warm in the winter,” Shimmer said. “What does it matter?”

“If the interior was brighter, we might’ve been able to tell if there are blood traces that Stoutland Yard missed.” Kain scribbled away in his notepad.

“Oi!” Arcanine barked from the front of the room. “You suggesting we don’t know how to do our jobs, mate?”

Kain stiffened. “No, sir!”

“Then keep your filthy dragon mouth shut or I’ll report ya!”

Shimmer shook his head. “Honestly. Maybe I really should petition to defend Uncle Benedict myself.”

Yuna wasn’t sure what to say other than, “Is there anything else here that could be of use to us?”

“I don’t think so.” Kain closed his notepad and put it back into his bag. “The rest of the evidence is with the inquisitor, so we’ll see it at the trial.”

“I see.” Yuna looked toward the doorway. “Then I guess we should head back?”

Shimmer walked past her without saying a word. Yuna gulped and tried to avoid looking at the Soul Dew. I don’t suppose you have, like, a gut feeling about this, do you?

A few silent seconds past before Reshiram responded. “I’m sorry, but I think this guy’s probably guilty. The fact that so many people turned the offer to represent him down suggests they know he’s guilty as sin and he’s not worth the money.”

Then do you think Kain’s bosses gave him this case because they want to see him fail? Yuna asked.

Reshiram sighed. “I can’t say for certain, but it’s a possibility.”

“Hey.” Kain waved to Yuna from the doorway. “You coming?”

Yuna floated after him with a sinking feeling in her chest.

The same arcanine that escorted the trio to the evidence bay led them back into the Crowne Court’s entryway. Shimmer’s hooves plinked against the marble floor as he stared at the carpeted, double-helix staircase leading to multiple sets of hallways flanked by stone columns. A silver statue of Queen Zacian gazed upon the hallway from between the staircases. Scales rested on her back, with a shield in one basin and a gavel in the other. The gavel alone was easily three times Yuna’s size.

Talk about intimidating. The dreepy gulped.

“Perhaps it’s meant to unnerve the accused?” Reshiram pondered. “A nervous soul is prone to slips of the tongue. What better way to catch a crook then get them to fess up with some mind games?”

Yuna’s brow furrowed. That hardly sounded like a virtuous way to find the truth; certainly nothing that Saint Reshiram would do.

“So, um, where are we staying tonight?” Yuna turned to Shimmer. “You said there are lodgings for us so we don’t have to go back to school, right?”

“Hmm?” Shimmer blinked several times. “Oh, right. Yeah, follow me.” He walked toward a long, gray carpet stretching across the hall and leading to a high-arched door. Yuna said a brief farewell to Kain before floating after him.

The moment Yuna floated through the door and onto the large, stone staircase leading to a circular road, her head pounded. “Nngh.” She put her arm on her chest but quickly pulled it away. The Soul Dew was as hot as a lit stove.

Reshiram? What’s going on? Yuna almost grabbed the Soul Dew, but managed to stop herself. She feared that, despite being a spirit, something bad happened to him. Could he feel pain in his current form?

“It’s Ray. He’s close by.”

Huh?

“Rayquaza. The Soul Dew’s reacting to his presence,” Reshiram elaborated. “There’s faint wind inside of it. It must be Ray.”

Faint? I feel like someone smooshed a tamato berry against my chest, Yuna growled.

“Hey! Are you going to follow me or float there gawking?”

Yuna stiffened. Shimmer was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

“Ah, sorry,” she called. But when she tried to float forward, an unseen force stopped her in her tracks. She squealed, thinking it would attract Shimmer’s attention. To her complete shock, however, the pontya was frozen in place. His mane was paused in the midst of fluttering in the breeze.

“What the—” Yuna tried to float forward, but ran into an invisible barrier. She stuck her right arm out. It touched what felt like the surface of a body of water. Circular ripples spread out from her hand.

She pressed harder. More ripples. Reshiram?

… no response. That wasn’t good. “What’s going on here?”

Yuna turned around and screamed.

“How wonderful to see you again! Yuna, isn’t it?”

It was Xeromus. No, that wasn’t quite right. He wasn’t solid. But his voice carried its usual rasping tone. Was he the one restraining her? And why was everything around her frozen?

“Natus’ love works in ways you could only imagine,” Xeromus said.

“Why are you here?” Yuna growled.

“You, of course.” Xeromus gestured to her with a wispy foreleg. “You resisted the Qliphoth’s pull… and now the chains of fate are tugging upon you once more.” His gray eyes shimmered from inside his mask. “Isn’t it interesting? Energizing? Exhilarating?” He panted until he descended into a coughing fit.

“Nothing about this is interesting,” Yuna hissed. She concentrated on the Soul Dew. The dreepy had yet to try using Reshiram’s power, but this was as good a first time as any. “Either get to the point or leave me alone.”

“Yes, yes.” Xeromus bobbed his head. “A lowly omen like me deserves such bitterness. Get it all out of your system so you’ll be ready to welcome Natus with open arms.”

“I mean it!” Yuna pressed her arms to the Soul Dew. She withstood the heat. It raced along her arms.

“Aha ha. Haaa ha ha ha haaaaa!” Xeromus shucked in a sharp breath. “Such a spark of defiance. Is this the hope you’ve made for yourself?”

He pivoted to face the Crowne Court’s entrance. “One of this planet’s old guard accepted Natus’ love while in his stasis long ago. But the peddlers of false hope ignored such a gesture and constructed this… insulting eyesore over the site where he once rested.

“The ether pawns pass judgement within these halls, but their judgements are hollow. Meaningless!” Xeromus stomped a foreleg on the ground. “Natus loves all, no matter what flaws they possess. What sins they’ve committed.” He paced in front of Yuna. “Those blinded by the ether refuse to see that.”

Xeromus looked at the door again, his fish tail wagging. “But now… their days of bringing false judgements are over.”

Yuna didn’t like the sound of that. Was Xeromus suggesting something was going to destroy the courthouse?

“Come dawn tomorrow, Natus will tear down these discordant walls and offer His eternal love to all those in its vicinity!” Xeromus declared. “They will be freed of the ether’s iron chains!” He stepped toward Yuna, panting heavily. “Isn’t it wonderful? Yes, even a worthless monster like me can be giddy at the mere thought of hundreds of souls finding salvation!”

Yuna’s ectoplasm quivered. Benedict’s trial was supposed to be a big deal. Shimmer made it clear plenty would be attendance.

Oh, God… Shimmer!

He was Radiance’s future. If Xeromus sent the courthouse into the Qliphoth, he’d be taken there, too!

She had to do something. Even if she didn’t like Shimmer, Yuna couldn’t let this freak cause any more problems. She focused on the warmth in her arms. “C’mon… c’mon…”

Before she could call up any attack, however, Xeromus disappeared.

“You still don’t get it?”

“Ah!” Yuna shot forward, only to hit another barrier. Xeromus now stood— or, rather, his image floated where Yuna had just been.

“The choices you make don’t really matter.” Xeromus chuckled. “All roads lead back to Natus. His love is inescapable.”

He vanished again, then reappeared to Yuna’s right. “You will do as the ether desires and try to stop the events I’ve foretold. I can see it in your eyes.”

A second Xeromus popped up on Yuna’s left. “And I welcome such a decision! The Qliphoth reacts to your presence. Natus is sending you His love, even if you don’t realize it.”

Both Xeromus pointed their forelegs toward Shimmer’s frozen form. “So go… try and stop the salvation of these souls!” they said in tandem. “Show me if you possess a true hope for the future of this planet!”

A pulse of purple energy encased Yuna. She fell to the ground with a startled squeak.

“What’s the matter?”

A forehoof stomp prompted Yuna to pick her head up. Shimmer was moving again, as was a mudsdale-drawn carriage pulling into the circular road.

“I, uh…” Yuna quickly got off the ground. “Give me one second, okay?”

Shimmer rolled his eyes. “Whatever it is, hurry up.” He turned and stomped off to his left.

Breath coming in short gasps, Yuna fumbled through her bag with trembling arms. Seifer had given her a strange, gemstone-based communication device. How had he told her to use it again?

“Press it to your forehead and think of Seifer’s number.” Reshiram rifled off five numbers.

Right. Thanks. Yuna wanted to talk about what had just happened, but she needed to call Seifer first. “Um, why is nothing happening?”

“The device number you’ve reached is no longer in service. Good-bye.”

The gem abruptly stopped glowing while Yuna’s eyes widened. “No, no, no, no.” She shook the gem around. This was a mistake. It must’ve been an error. She tried the number again and got the same line. Yuna stared at the gem, then pressed it against her forehead one more time. She used her other arm to grab a torn piece of paper out of her satchel and read allowed five numbers hastily scribbled on it.

The gem pulsated with light, then a familiar voice said, “Yuna? I just got out of class. What’s up?”

She sighed in relief. “We’ve got a huge problem, Chiaki…”