Chapter 2: A Pain in the Grass

Ezera watched in fear as Litleo ran headfirst toward Blipbug. She collided with his body, sending him flying back with a wail. Ezera turned his attention to Oddish.

“Hey there…” he said meekly. “Mind, uh, going a bit easy on me?”

Oddish narrowed her eyes and responded by launching bright orange liquid at him.

Ezera let common sense take over as he dove to his left, letting the Acid splash inches away from him. He got to his feet and tapped his forehead in concentration. ‘Come on, Ezera, think! How do they do it in the anime? There’s no trainer, so do I just say what I want to do?‘

He held out his arms and said the first thing that came to mind. “Uuuh, Dragon Breath!”

Oddish preemptively winced, but the air remained free of any dragonfire. She looked back at Ezera. “Ha! Nice trick,” she sneered. “It won’t save you from us though!” Oddish launched another stream of orange fluid, this time landing on Ezera’s face.

“Aaagh!” Ezera stumbled backward, his skin burning like touching a hot stove. He bumped into fur trying to wipe off the liquid. Which, in turn, started to burn his hands too.

“What are you doing?” Litleo groaned, ducking under a string of webbing. “We need to keep them from teaming up!”

“I told you I don’t know how fighting works! I’m basically fighting blind-“

Litleo shoved Ezera to the ground as yellow spores and black dots soared over their heads. She returned with a fiery burst of embers, yet both opponents swiftly dodged it. “Ugh, I knew you were clueless but I didn’t think you were useless,” Litleo complained. “Just do something. Even a Scratch will work.”

The two separated, going back to their respective opponents.

Ezera hastily pushed himself up. “You try waking up in a different body and being thrust into a battle, then we’ll talk,” he muttered, growing increasingly irritated.

Heat surged in Litleo’s mane. Fire licked the tips of her fangs, and she pounced on her target. Blipbug skittered to his right, but Litleo anticipated the move and connected on top of his head. Blipbug screeched as she bit down hard on his chewy skin. Tendrils of bug-energy released from his body, causing Litleo to yowl as she backed off.

Meanwhile, Ezera desperately sought to close the gap between him and Oddish. No matter which way he approached, she continued to keep him at bay with an onslaught of Acid. The dirt around them was beginning to take on an orange tint from how much she was using it.

“Just let me hit you already!” Ezera shouted in frustration.

“And allow you to continue ruining our home? Not a chance,” Oddish said. She blew some yellow spores in quick succession.

Ezera attempted to dodge them but failed to account for how many there were. The spores stuck to him, dissolving into a yellow powder. His muscles locked up, forcing him to kneel. Numbness spread throughout his body. “Uh L-L-Litleo, I can’t m-m-move!”

A tackle from Oddish sent him reeling to the floor. In the next moment, a powerful roar from Litleo rang across their small battlefield. Oddish and Blipbug flinched at the sound. Litleo sprinted over to Ezera, Headbutting Oddish out of the way and hurriedly opening her satchel.

“You idiot, that’s Stun Spore,” Litleo scolded. “How you get hit by something as lame as that is beyond me.” She took out a red berry and pressed it into Ezera’s mouth.

“Wh-hmmpfh!” Ezera swallowed it whole, unable to get a taste of it. The numbness went away and his limbs felt loose once more. “Wow, that really works.”

Litleo rolled her eyes. “Please, if you’re actually so weak you can’t do anything then just stay safe. I’m pretty sure Blipbug is almost down. With my type advantage it’ll be easy for me to take on both of them.”

Blipbug and Oddish recovered from their moment of fear. Litleo sent an Ember to get their attention.

“Come on weed brains! Even magikarp fight better than you,” Litleo jeered.

Blipbug straightened up. “Take that back!” he squeaked.

“Ignore her Bip! She’s trying to throw us off,” Oddish said.

Anger bubbled in Ezera’s mind. ‘Weak? Well how the hell am I supposed to get close if Oddish keeps shooting stuff at me?‘ He stared at the dirt floor. ‘Hold on…‘

Ezera gathered the moist dirt between his fingers, forming a compact ball. He tossed it in his right hand to make sure it was solid. Assured it was good enough, he called out to Oddish.

“Hey blueberry! Bet you don’t mind me going to rip some more leaves off these bushes,” Ezera taunted.

Oddish whirled on him. “Why you little-” A dirt ball smacked her straight in the face, catching her off guard. “Pffft!”

Ezera saw his chance and dashed over clumsily. He didn’t know what he was doing, but a small unconscious urge told him to ready his hands. Tiny white claws formed on the tips of his fingers. He swiped them across Oddish’s face, leaving a bright red mark.

“I- I did it! Whoo!” Ezera celebrated, taking a glimpse at Litleo. “How’d you like my dirt attack?”

Litleo grunted trying to rip Blipbug’s Sticky Web from her legs. “Why are you cheering? She’s not KO’d yet- Look out!”

Ezera turned to find Oddish throwing her body at him. He landed on his back, wincing as his tail was pinned underneath.

“Playing dirty, huh?” Oddish commented. “Then you won’t mind if I’m dirty too!” She jumped onto Ezera’s chest, earning a wheeze from him. Oddish glowed with green energy. Balls of light left Ezera’s body, leaving him feeling weaker than he did a few seconds ago. The light rushed to Oddish and healed her wounds.

“Bite her!” Litleo barked a few feet away. “She’s draining your energy!”

“But that’s so gross! Oh, screw it,” Ezera lamented.

Thanks to Oddish’s lack of arms, Ezera had no trouble grabbing her and biting down on the tips of her leaves. The taste of something similar to bitter melon flooded his mouth. He gagged but held on, intent not to let her use any other move. Oddish wriggled about in pain trying to escape.

“Bip, help me!” Oddish exclaimed.

Her friend rolled to the side, grimacing from the flames of Litleo’s Ember. Seeing Oddish’s predicament, Blipbug feebly shot a burst of black dots at Ezera. The dots peppered his body, instantly attacking him with small pinches. Ezera had no choice but to release Oddish.

“Urgh, what are these things?” Ezera spat, staggering. “I can’t get them off!”

“Duck!” Litleo commanded.

Ezera obliged, covering his head. Litleo inhaled deeply and jumped, breathing out in a wide arc in front of her. Gusts of embers raced along the ground. Oddish leaped up to avoid it, however Blipbug was too weak to move. He cried out as it washed over him and promptly collapsed unconscious.

Oddish ran to Blipbug’s side. “Bip? Buddy? You have to get up!” She glared daggers at Ezera and Litleo. “Grrr, first you hurt our forest and now my friend? You’re evil!”

“You attacked us first!” Ezera countered, still trying to shake off the Infestation. “That argument makes no sense at all.”

“Stop wasting your breath. Let’s finish her and be done with this place,” Litleo said.

Oddish charged at the pair and unleashed another round of spores. Litleo burned them away, creating an opening for Ezera to run in. He swung his tiny claws one after the other. The first Scratch missed as he misjudged the distance, but Oddish stumbled and was struck by the second. She recoiled and gathered herself, a green glow overtaking her body.

Litleo hopped over Ezera holding flames in her mouth. “Oh no you don’t!” She clamped her jaw down firmly on Oddish’s body. The grass-type let out a weak squeal before slumping over. Litleo carried and placed her next to Blipbug.

The hedges surrounding them faded, as did the last of the Infestation attacking Ezera. “Aaaah, relief at last,” he said sitting down. “Wow, we did it. I did it. I actually battled not knowing anything.”

“Only took you how long? Eighteen years,” Litleo mocked, eating an Oran berry.

Ezera summoned his best pout. “Hey, give me some credit here. That was decent wasn’t it?”

She licked her chest fur, trying to smooth it out. “Sure, whatever that dirt ball was.”

“Better than nothing I suppose.” Ezera pointed to their KO’d enemies. “What’s going to happen to them?”

“They’ll wake up in a few minutes and retreat to wherever they live. We should leave while they’re still unconscious. I’d rather not get stuck in another fight.”

“They’d fight again after they just got beat?”

“I wouldn’t put it past them.” Litleo tossed an Oran berry to Ezera. It bounced off his nose and fell to the floor. “Eat that. I can’t have you collapsing on the way to town, cause no way am I dragging you.”

Ezera rubbed his nose tenderly. “You didn’t need to give it like that. And now there’s germs all over it, blegh.”

“Just eat it, it’s not going to kill you.”

He sniffed it and took a bite, doing his best to ignore the extra earthy taste. “Sorry for being concerned about my hygiene, though I wonder if you even have to worry about that here.”

Litleo closed her bag and started heading for town. Ezera trailed behind her, taking in the green view. His little tail wagged slowly.

‘I still can’t believe I’m here. To pokémon, no less.’ Unease gnawed at him as his thoughts drifted about home and his parents. If this was real, and he was still here after going to sleep for the night- ‘No, why am I thinking about this? I can’t stress it. There’s no college, no job to worry about. I have freedom, and a chance to prove that I’m not weak. I’ll just think of this as a realistic game.” Ezera nodded at the thought. That would work. He ran up beside Litleo as Kaiyo Town appeared in the distance.

“I hope you have a good excuse for destroying that area,” Litleo said. “The townsmon and wildmon have their disagreements, but wildmon never jump straight to battle unless something provokes them. Whatever you did is going to cause some problems.”

“I already told you I didn’t do that.”

“It doesn’t dismiss the fact you were there. And you conveniently can’t remember how you got there.”

Crap. Ezera couldn’t deny the truth to it. “Did battling with me gain some trust between us at least?”

“An egg would’ve done better in battle, so no,” Litleo replied.

‘Ouch. She’s all bite,’ Ezera thought, wincing. The two resumed silence, almost nearing the town fence. A question popped up in Ezera’s mind.

“Can I ask what you were doing when you found me?”

Litleo halted. “That’s, uh… I was, no, am doing a job for somemon. Which reminds me that I need to report back to her.”

“Look who’s acting suspicious now,” Ezera said, folding his arms.

“How is that suspicious? It’s true. She asked me to look into the area.”

“Then you wouldn’t hesitate to answer, would you?”

Apprehension spread through Litleo. Her tail curled inward. “So you can read social cues but can’t fight, cool. Am I not allowed to trip on my own words from time to time?”

“Well you can, but-“

“But nothing. That’s all I was doing.” Litleo stormed off into town, ending any further discussion.

Ezera decided not to push the subject. Angering her wouldn’t bode well in a world he knew nothing about. He followed her past the different shop stalls, their awnings each a vibrant color designed to catch attention. Ezera couldn’t stare too long though, or else he risked getting hurt by the likes of large pokémon passing through.

Litleo led them to Passimian’s building, head craned as she searched for Pidove’s grey feathers among the busy plaza. Pidove found them first and squawked as she glided down from the pub’s roof.

“Sweet combee, you’re back!” Pidove greeted them. She examined the dirt and dust tacked on Litleo’s fur. “Oh, but you look so weary! What happened while you were there?”

“It was just a scuffle with some wildmon on the way back. Nothing serious,” Litleo responded, flicking her tail.

“Ah… Any news about the area my flock rested in?”

“It’s a bad mess, unfortunately. You’ll need to be careful of wildmon if you decide to look for another home. They aren’t too happy at the moment.”

“Oh, that’s a shame… Really, miss, thank you for doing this. But now I feel even more terrible about asking you to do this with no reward…” Pidove plucked at her feathers guiltily.

“It’s fine, ma’am. How about you do me a favor instead?” Litleo leaned in and whispered something Ezera didn’t catch. “Can you do that?”

Pidove nodded fervently. “Oh yes, I can definitely do that. Should be no trouble at all.” She stared directly at Ezera. “Who’s this you brought back? An axew?”

“Hi,” Ezera said shyly.

“I’ve never seen one so far from Bladed Peaks. What brings you out here?”

Ezera looked at her in confusion. “I’m sorry, what? I’m not familiar with the geography. I was a hu-“

“He’s just traveling, seeing the world and all,” Litleo cut in. “I’m taking him to the guild so he can get acquainted with the land.”

“Oh I see,” Pidove acknowledged. “Don’t let me take up more of your time then. I need to go relay the news to my flock. You have my thanks, miss. Good luck to both of you!” She flapped her wings and flew off into the sky.

Ezera stepped in front of Litleo. “Mind telling me what that was about? I have a perfectly working mouth.”

“You can’t just go telling random pokémon that you’re a human,” Litleo whispered.

“Well why not?”

“Because for one, that’s asking for trouble. And two, I believe it’s a sensitive subject.” She pawed at the ground. “I don’t exactly remember why, but I feel it might be better keeping it to yourself for now.”

“Does that mean I shouldn’t say anything to your guild?”

“No, you should at least tell the Guildmaster and Vicemaster. It’s the whole reason I’m bringing you there, since they might know what to do.”

“I’m not so sure I trust you anymore,” Ezera said.

Litleo looked at him skeptically. “The feeling’s mutual. Let’s go. The sooner we get to the guild the more time we have to explain your situation.”

---

“I just realized something,” Ezera said, twiddling his fingers.

The time was well past midday now. Softer sunlight covered the grassy landscape, and no breeze blew either, making it feel warmer than it was. So far the pair had been quiet, listening only to the crunch of their footsteps as they walked on the cobble road. Litleo sighed.

“You talk a lot, don’t you?” she said, not hiding her annoyance.

“What can I say?” He gave her a friendly grin. “I hate silence.”

An image of Rockruff’s smile appeared in Litleo’s head. She instantly pushed it aside.

“What did you realize?” Litleo prompted, hoping he’d only have one thing to say and then be quiet.

“Okay first, that oddish. I have never seen one with a yellow leaf before,” Ezera said, scratching his head.

‘He said first,’ Litleo thought, mentally groaning. ‘Here we go…’ She took a deep breath. “And?”

“That’s the reaction? Are yellow leaved oddish normal around here or something?”

Litleo ignored the irony of that statement. Even if his human claim was true, she wasn’t going to explain everything to him. A few more questions and then she’d tell him to shut up. “Not among townsmon. Wildmon vary a lot more in appearance.”

“So, are you different from any other litleo?” Ezera asked, stretching his neck to look at her features. A poor attempt at subtlety checking her out.

“If you count my mane being longer than most, I guess,” Litleo responded. She swiped the tip so it didn’t hang over her eye.

Ezera let her answer hang in the air for a couple moments, then glanced at himself. “I don’t think I have any unusual features.”

“I’ve heard things about axew before but I’ve never seen one in detail.” She eyed him over for anything distinguishing. “You look ordinary. In fact, too ordinary.”

“Uh, well, I’m gonna take that as a good sign.” Ezera stared into the sky. “And then earlier you were talking about ‘Kin’ names. They’re only for special people, blah blah. I was wondering, should I go by plain axew?”

“Why would you do that?”

“I should blend in, no? You said it yourself I can’t say I’m human,” he went on, crossing his arms.

‘Geez, this is ridiculous.’ “Assuming that human part is true, saying you’re wild would still make sense for your name.”

“Now I’m confused. Why?”

Litleo slowed her pace, trying to recall the guild’s history lessons. How could she simplify this? ‘Last question before I lose it…‘ “It’s a whole complicated mess, to say the least. Blame the townsmon and their belief with personal names.”

Ezera looked at her quizzically. “What do you mean?”

“The wildmon follow the permanent name custom. Do you remember the oddish calling the blipbug, ‘Bip’?”

“Hm. That’s right, she did call the caterpillar something else.”

“It has something to do with an event that happened a long time ago. The Days of Ruination, I think it’s called,” she said, scrunching her eyebrows. She checked to make sure Ezera was actually listening.

“That’s not ominous or creepy at all,” Ezera said, going wide-eyed.

“Yup. Dynamax energy was running all around the continent, and pokémon from all over were feuding about how to solve the problem. When the Days of Ruination ended, they separated into the wild and civilized ‘mon you see today. It’s why the naming cultures are different, because townsmon think going by species name is more civil and makes them better.”

Ezera frowned. “That has to be the worst retelling of something I’ve ever heard. There’s so many holes in the story. Like how did the problem start? How did they end it? How long ago is ‘long’? And what in the heck is dino hacks?” he blabbed, holding out four fingers.

“Look, I didn’t really pay attention to this when I learned it. If it interests you that much you can ask Reuniclus about it. She’d love to have someone to gush all her knowledge onto.”

“If that’s your resident history person, I definitely will do that. But what is dino hacks?”

“Dynamax,” Litleo corrected, now picking up her pace. She really needed to be rid of him. “And that’s all I’m answering, unless you want another Ember to the face.”

“According to you, don’t I enjoy those?” Ezera replied. He put his hands on his hips and smirked.

“Seriously?” she said, rolling her eyes.

“What? Not even a smile?”

“That wasn’t exactly funny.”

“Hmmm… just wait. I’m gonna break that cold- Woooaaah! What is that?” Ezera ran ahead excitedly. “It’s like a mixture between a castle and a grand library!”

“That, Ezera, is the Kaiyo Adventurers Guild,” Litleo proclaimed.

The guild’s silver paint gleamed as they crossed the wooden bridge into the courtyard. A few pokémon were moving about, entering and exiting the structure on the right. In front of them the guild emblem rippled proudly in the wind.

Ezera took it all in, mouth agape and trying to wrap his mind at how such a building could exist. “I didn’t think this kind of architecture was possible here.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Litleo asked, guiding him inward.

“I don’t know. I just thought pokémon were… uh, forget I said anything. If you ask me, this almost looks like humans built this.” A second passed before he hastily added, “Which is a compliment.”

Ezera did a double take as he stepped foot onto the maroon carpet of the lobby. The area was quite large, boasting enough space to fit an onix. Its walls were a deep blue, with streaks of orange lining it in a zigzag pattern. Straight ahead, a small stage with a podium was set up against the wall. Two statues of pokémon who resembled wolves stood on either side of it.

“And two more go on the list of pokémon I’ve never seen. I really should’ve kept up to date with the series. Are they… dog knights?” Ezera mumbled to himself.

Litleo took Ezera into the west hallway, ignoring the stairs and passing by a room filled with white beds. A curved, wooden door greeted them when they reached the end.

“Who are these two?” Ezera asked, pointing to the wall where a miniature painting hung of a couple more pokémon he didn’t recognize.

Litleo’s paw hovered inches from the door. “The pokémon you’re about to meet. Guildmaster Sirfetch’d and Vicemaster Rapidash.”

“Huh. I don’t remember ever seeing them look like that.” Litleo opened her mouth to answer until he continued, “Oh wait. This is those regional variants I heard about one time, isn’t it?”

Having satisfied his own question, Litleo tapped on the door.

“Come in,” a voice called from the other side.

She pushed on the door, revealing a dark green chamber illuminated by Luminous Orbs perched on the wall. The two edged around the clutter of used documents and chests. Sirfetch’d and Rapidash were seated at a desk in the center, the former snoring away on a chair. Rapidash watched the pair walk in, particularly interested in Ezera.

“I see you’ve returned, dear. And with an axew too,” Rapidash noted. “But why are you positively filthy? Don’t tell me you decided to play in mud to relax.”

“Are you kidding? He would,” Litleo responded, tail pointed at Ezera. “Wake the Guildmaster, you both need to hear this.”

Rapidash nudged Sirfetch’d with a hoof. “Wake up, celery brain.”

Sirfetch’d jolted into a defensive position. “You’ll never catch me alive spearow! I’ll spear you first!”

Litleo and Rapidash groaned while Ezera held an amused smirk. Sirfetch’d blinked in recognition of where he was.

“Oh. Eh-hrm.” He squinted at Litleo and Ezera. “Is that Lileep? And who else?”

The name made Ezera wish he had an eyebrow to raise. He poked Litleo. “Did he just call you Lileep?”

“Yes he did,” Litleo whispered.

“You’re not gonna correct him?”

“Trust me, I’ve tried.”

“Oy, no chattering in my office,” Sirfetch’d chided, switching glances between the two. “I’ll ask again, who is that next to you, Lileep?”

Ezera wondered why Sirfetch’d couldn’t tell who he was until he glimpsed the duck’s milky white eyes.

“It’s an axew, Guildmaster,” Litleo replied.

“I prefer to go by Ezera actually,” he added, tapping two fingers together.

“Emerald? That’s certainly a name I’ve never heard of, even with the wildmons’ naming conventions,” Sirfetch’d commented.

“That’s the thing. Axew isn’t wild OR from a town. He claims he’s a human,” Litleo said.

Rapidash and Sirfetch’d turned to each other in astonishment. Litleo recalled the events of the day, leaving out the part where she talked to Passimian. She did her best to describe the ravaged forest spot and what Pidove saw in the night. Everyone in the room was quiet when she finished.

“It seems your gut was right,” Rapidash said to Sirfetch’d. “And now I owe you Alcremie’s special…”

“When am I ever wrong?” Sirfetch’d puffed out his chest.

Litleo’s mane flared up. “Did you two even listen to what I said?”

“Yes we did, dear. Calm down.” Rapidash cantered over to Ezera. “May I?”

Ezera made brief eye contact with her but couldn’t hold it. “Um, may you what?” he asked as his shoulders tensed up.

“Read your mind. I just want to verify this story. I promise I won’t go in too deep.”

“You can read minds?”

“It is something most psychic-types can do.”

Ezera awkwardly laughed. “Then what do you need my permission for? I assume you can read it even if I say no.”

“Not quite. I require, in plain terms, for you to allow a connection with me. Without it, it would be like reading a rock. So once again, may I?” she explained, tilting her head downward.

Ezera hesitantly nodded.

“Please clear your mind for me.” Rapidash’s eyes glowed pink with psychic energy. Ezera didn’t move an inch, afraid that if he did it would somehow break her concentration. Rapidash gasped as her eyes returned to normal.

“What? What’s wrong?” Sirfetch’d asked, leaning forward.

“They’re… telling the truth,” Rapidash said, taking in large gulps of air.

“Then why are you acting like you ran a marathon?” Litleo said.

“I managed to get to the point where you two met… and stumbled across a wall or hole of some sort. Almost like being inflicted with Disable, except for your memory.” A shudder traveled across her body. “I tried to bypass it but something kicked me out. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

“I swear I wasn’t resisting you in there,” Ezera explained, unconsciously rubbing his fingers together. “If I barely figured out fighting, I doubt I could figure out mind tricks.”

“And I believe you, dear. Tell me, how intact are your other memories?”

“Other memories of my old self? If you exclude how I got here, fine, I guess.”

“Strange…” Rapidash directed a troubled glance at the Guildmaster. “It seems we have to take Ezera’s word on being a human. What shall we do?”

“Nothing,” Sirfetch’d stated plainly.

Rapidash tilted her head. “Pardon?”

“There is nothing to do. Aside from the mess in Verdan Forest, trouble hasn’t befallen us, and it would be unwise to start a panic and create a fraxure within our ranks.”

“One day I’m going to explode listening to your puns…” Rapidash muttered.

“Panic? Why would there be a panic?” Ezera asked, stopping his fiddling.

“Historically, humans have a tendency to appear during times of crisis,” Rapidash replied. “The last one to show up was more than three-hundred years ago, to stop Dark Matter. Things have been quiet since then.”

Sirfetch’d scratched his chin with his sword. “And you can imagine what would happen if word got out another human landed in our world.”

‘Is that what I didn’t remember?‘ Litleo thought. ‘No, there’s something else…‘ Her vision grew fuzzy. The ringing from earlier returned, and she brought both paws to her head to dull it. ‘Ugh, not this again!‘

Rapidash lowered her head to Litleo’s height. “Is something the matter, dear?”

“No, no I’m fine.” The ringing subsided. “I might have neglected to eat the whole day.”

“Goodness, but it’s almost evening! Applin should be in the mess hall, he can get you two fed.”

“Two?” Ezera piped up. “I’m going with her?”

“Not like you have any other place to be,” Litleo said.

“Oh. Right.”

“Then it is settled!” Sirfetch’d announced, standing up on his chair. “We will notify the teams tomorrow to look out for anything strange. As for you, Abra, if anymon is to ask about your origins, tell them you are a wildmon from Bladed Peaks staying with us. Capiche?”

It took Ezera a few seconds to register that was addressed to him. “Oh, yes sir,” he said.

“When the both of you finish, go ahead and retire for the day. Lileep, Abra will stay in your quarters.”

“Wait, why mine?” Litleo glared angrily at the Guildmaster. “I barely know him.”

Sirfetch’d sat back down, unfazed by her temper. “And he barely knows anymon. You found and fought beside him, is that not enough to judge a character?”

“I think the company would be good for you too, dear,” Rapidash continued. “Your demeanor is already an improvement compared to the past few days, and that’s saying something.”

Litleo’s anger melted away. She laid a paw over her satchel, clutching it tighter. “I don’t…” She bowed her head. “I can’t exactly decline, can I? Fine.”

“Good! Scurry along now. Rapidash has a special to get me,” Sirfetch’d said with a smirk.

“You wish,” Rapidash scoffed.

---

Ezera and Litleo left the office, leaving the leaders to their friendly bickering. Litleo led them into the east hallway this time, making a left halfway through into a large room. Tables varying in height and size laid scattered about. Cushioned stools accompanied the taller tables, and windows were installed on the right wall to provide a view of the lake. Litleo motioned Ezera to sit at one of the smaller stools, then went to the arch at the far end of the room. She peeked her head in the kitchen.

“Applin? You there?” Litleo called.

A round, red fruit bounced up to her. “Litleo? You’re here early,” Applin said. “Is there something you need?”

“Yes, could I ask you to cook a quick meal for two?”

“Two?” Applin’s eyes perked up. “Did you find Rockruff?”

Litleo instinctively flinched. She shook her head softly, not glancing at him. “No, it’s not… him. It’s an axew. He’s staying with us for a bit.”

“Oh my Sweet Scent, I am so sorry for jumping to that conclusion. I just assumed it was him since you-” A little yip sounded inside his apple. “You know what, I’ll be quiet.”

“It’s okay, Applin. I’m sure he would love to hear how excited you are to see him.”

“Ye-yeah. He would. I’ll get on the food. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.” Applin faced back to the kitchen. “Dewott, prep for two Oran combos!”

Litleo headed to the table Ezera was sitting at. She set her bag down and sat on the opposite side of him. Her eyelids drooped as weariness crept in. “Food will be here shortly,” she said, laying her head on the table.

Ezera rested his chin on his hands. “Tired, I see. You sure you’re gonna be able to make it back to wherever you sleep? I could carry you.”

“Pft. Please. You can’t carry yourself, and you don’t even know where to go.”

“Well, where do those stairs we passed by lead to? I’m gonna guess your rooms.”

“Ok, but you don’t know what floor I’m on, genius,” Litleo pointed out, lifting her head.

“Then… I would have to uh, check all of them wouldn’t I?” Ezera stammered. “How many are there exactly?”

“Four, if you don’t include the spires. We’re on the first, obviously. The second floor is for adventurers under the Fledgling rank, which is the lowest. The next floor is for Apprentice ranks, the middle rank. And the fourth floor is reserved for Veterans, the highest rank.”

“That’s not too bad then. What rank are you?”

Litleo looked down to her bag. “Apprentice.”

“Ooooh nice. Did you get there all by yourself?”

“No… I had some help.”

Sensing the shift in her tone, Ezera tried to steer the conversation another direction. “No offense, but I’m surprised Sirfetch’d is the leader around here. He’s pretty… exotic I would say. Although I noticed something, is he blind?”

“He might as well be. His vision is terrible, but it doesn’t stop him from beating the top guild members in a fight. We all trust his judgment, even if it seems he’s under Confusion all the time.”

“I think that’s the first nice thing I’ve heard leave your mouth since I’ve met you,” Ezera said.

Litleo wanted to issue a retort when Applin arrived with Dewott carrying their food. The roasted berry scent made her stomach growl in anticipation as they set the plates down in front of them.

“Thanks for this, Applin,” Litleo said. “And you too, Dewott.”

“Not a problem! We pride ourselves on having all the guild’s gratitude, isn’t that right, Dewott?” Applin beamed.

Dewott offered a small smile and nodded, tapping his singular scalchop in embarrassment.

Applin focused his eyes onto Ezera. “It’s a pleasure to have you here. I hope you enjoy our cooking!”

“Pleasure to be here,” Ezera replied. “I definitely will.”

“It’s always nice to have visitors stay at the guild. I can’t remember when we last had a non-member eat here. Why, it reminds me of the time there was a never ending stream of pokémon coming to taste my dishes and mind you, I didn’t have my trusty helper here so I was all by my lone-” Dewott tapped Applin on the side of his apple. “Whoops, there I go running my flap again. We’ve got to prepare dinner for all the other members. Enjoy, you two!”

He bounced toward the kitchen. Dewott bowed, then followed suit. Litleo blew a light fire over her plate to give the berries a slight crisp, then dived right into her plate like a Munchlax finding a reserve of Perfect Apples. Ezera on the other hand took a calmer approach. He ate the contents one by one and savored the flavors, eventually combining them to see what new taste he would get.

Litleo finished her plate and leaned back, belly content. Seeing Ezera wasn’t going to be done anytime soon, she grabbed her bag to take stock of the items she used for the day. It was on her fourth time checking that Ezera finally spoke.

“Man, that was great,” Ezera said.

“There’s a reason Applin is in charge of the kitchen,” Litleo responded, relieved he was done.

“I see that now. We should really give pokémon more credit in the shows…”

“You’re talking nonsense again.”

Ezera picked up the plate. “Any idea what to do with these?”

“There’s a rack in the corner.” Litleo pointed her tail to the northeast.

Ezera leaned over and took her plate, stacking it onto his. He went to the rack and placed it, then returned.

“What a gentlemon you are,” Litleo remarked, slipping on her satchel. “Thanks.”

He placed a hand on his hip. “And here I was thinking you were incapable of courtesy. You’re welcome.”

They left the mess hall and traveled back to the west hallway, ascending the stairs to the second floor. Square archways stretched along the left side of the corridor, acting as the entry for each room. On the right was a large opening where the flooring changed to tile.

“Left sides are the lodges, right side is the showers,” Litleo explained as they walked. She stopped at the sixth archway. “And here’s mine.”

Her room was shaped like a half circle, the same design of all the other living quarters. However, one difference the apprentice room had was a counter that jutted out from the purple wall. Multiple deep blue pillows bordered the inside edge, almost making a makeshift couch. A window had been carved in the back. Beneath it were two gray cushions with sword icons woven into the seams.

“Not gonna lie, the color scheme is a bit depressing. But pretty cozy nonetheless,” Ezera said. “This is the ultimate place to hang out.”

Litleo jumped onto the left cushion and took off her bag. “I don’t spend much time here so it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Why not?” He clambered onto the other pillow.

“There are just… other things I’d rather be doing.” She curled around herself, inching away from Ezera.

“Mhm… you’re kinda mysterious.”

“Good. You don’t need to know me. We’re not working together. You’ve got your problem and I’ve got mi-” She caught herself. “My responsibilities as a guild member.”

“Problem? I don’t think I’ve got any problem, besides the whole disaster talk earlier. I’d say this is one of the best things to happen to me.”

Litleo waved her paw dismissively as she laid down, sleep setting in. “Good for you, then. Have fun doing whatever tomorrow.” A yawn left her mouth. “You can shower if you want to clean up. I’m going straight to sleep…”

Ezera traced the sword outline on the pillow. “Can I ask you one more thing?”

“You just did.”

“I- ha, that’s very funny. But seriously, is it possible for anyone to join the guild?”

“Provided you pass the exam, sure. The guild doesn’t discriminate,” she said, voice lowering.

“I see… cool, that’s all I wanted to know. Sleep well.”

She peeked an eye open, then shifted her head toward the wall. “You better not try anything.”

“Jeez, I’m not a creep,” Ezera said, hands raised in the air. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

He looked out the window and listened to the quiet air. The night sky was settling in, mixing with the orange from the sunset. Ezera adjusted the pillows on the wall so they created a bed of sorts. He leaned into them, having to be mindful of his tusks.

‘This might get annoying real soon,‘ Ezera sighed. He shut his eyes and relaxed. ‘Seeing as I’ve got nothing better to do, I guess I could join the guild. It’s how most start an adventure anyway.‘ He mentally nodded at that. ‘I’ll see what I can do in the morning… Elessedil, this is for both of us.‘