DECAY — SEGMENT 01
by Shanna
Chapter 34.1
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Decay
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He felt…nothing.
Saw nothing.
All senses were gone.
No dreams came.
No relief or assurance.
Just those final grim thoughts and a haze of utter blackness.
And from there…he only floated. Swimming alone.
He could hear the waves as they rocked and swayed him. The cold feeling in this dark void. A deep weight upon him.
But slowly…slowly…
He felt something else.
Something…warm.
Something…glowed in the dark. Something glowed behind his closed eyes.
…The Sun.
The Sun was shining on you.
Avery’s ears rung…but they picked something up. Something…a sound…no, not just a sound…a voice.
“…up…?”
…
“…wake…”
…
“…Avery…”
[[ CONNECTION LOST]]
“Avery, you okay…?”
He knew that voice…
…Avery stirred.
‘Am I dead? Is this…Paradise? Or something else? Whatever happened after I died…?’
Avery’s eyes twitched. Tried to open – but they felt heavy, like stone slabs. Everything felt like stone. He could barely move, even if he tried.
‘…Who’s there…?’
Avery felt a kick in his shoulder.
“Hey, get up, Avery.”
It…was Vizon’s voice.
He could hear something else…wind…rolling waves.
Avery felt…water. Sloshing up and around his body before receding away. He could feel his body lie heavy in…sand.
“Avery…? C’mon, I see your aura’s alive and well, man.”
The Plusle winced from the kick, trying to will himself to sit up. And…slowly, he did. His eyes were still closed. They still stung. Salty.
And he didn’t want to face his partner yet.
“…are we dead?”
“Nah…” Avery could hear Vizon sigh, his paws crunching in the sand. “…you know as well as I do we don’t seem to go down that easy…”
Vizon’s chipper voice was long gone. But he at least wasn’t outright hostile right now…
A cool breeze blew across Avery’s face. The smell of the ocean filled his lungs.
“But I have no idea where we are…”
In a sad way, it was almost refreshing to hear Vizon like this. Avery curled his knees to his chest, and carefully opened his eyes.
It hurt, but…that was okay. The Plusle stared down at the frothy waves lapping at his feet, his reflection in scattered shards rippling through the foam.
An island, maybe. A beach. Alone. Away.
‘Deep breaths.’
He wasn’t sure they’d help right now.
“…”
He couldn’t look at him. He couldn’t look at Vizon. This person Avery pulled into all of this. From the moment he had said ‘Riolu’ in that void, his fate had been sealed. Avery had done it on a whim. A desperate answer to end the string of questions. A thoughtless answer that took this person who wanted so badly to do good for the world, and pulled him into heartache that he didn’t deserve.
Avery didn’t deserve this either, he was sure. But at least if he hadn’t said anything…if he hadn’t answered that stupid question, he wouldn’t have brought anyone else into it.
Vizon was silent too, but Avery could feel the Riolu’s crimson eyes burrowing into him. He stepped up beside him, standing firm in the sand, looking out at the sea.
That’s when Avery heard the sound of distant thunder.
The Plusle glanced up, out toward the ocean horizon, and saw something notable: far in the distance was a swirling black cloud, flashing occasionally, holding in place.
The storm. The beast’s storm, loomed far, far, far away. Miles out, even.
It was still out there.
Avery averted his eyes to the left…and there on the beach he could see the Peacekeeper…or what was left of it. The ship was mostly in tact but had run aground, with significant damage to the hull and mast. There was no way it’d be able to sail in that condition without hefty repairs.
At last, Vizon’s voice cut the silence.
“The others went on ahead, to make a…camp, I guess. And find a way off the island.” Vizon said, his voice flat. Unenthusiastic. “I opted to stay and watch over you, though.”
“So…so they’re here.”
Avery almost felt…disappointed.
“They aren’t…they aren’t on some other island, they’re…”
The Plusle’s shoulders sagged. He was glad they were okay, he didn’t want anyone to drown.
“Well…now that I’m up…what do you want to do?” Avery finally looked up to Vizon. Avery tried to hold his gaze. He wasn’t very successful. “Now that I’m…now that I’m up.”
Vizon’s gaze…was piercing. Brow knitted. No extreme anger, but just…extremely pointed. His arms were crossed as he looked down at the Plusle.
“Yup…they’re all here. Even…Heynia and Argus…and Diquarni.” Vizon said. His expression didn’t change a bit. “And guess who was the first to suggest they work with and help us?”
The question didn’t need an answer. It was obvious who it was.
His gaze burrowed hard into Avery. He looked as though he could strike at any moment. But he didn’t.
He only stared.
“Avery…there is a lot…a lot I see in other Poke’mon’s auras.” Vizon said. “There’s so much that I see that I keep my mouth shut about…but trust me…I know exactly what you look like when you’re lying.”
A cold wind blew over the sand.
“So.” Vizon said, not even giving Avery a moment. “Jolvia.”
“…Jolvia.” Avery sighed quietly, hugging his knees tighter to his chest.
Avery wanted to tell him. He wanted to tell him everything. Avery was about to ask what Jolvia herself had told him, but…she could probably argue that she didn’t want them to be tied up on a sinking ship when she freed them. And what she did in the camp was also plausibly deniable, needing everyone to work together to get off the island, like they’d done with Quayslaan and Calladin.
But Avery didn’t want to lie to Vizon anymore. It might have been ill-advised, and Jolvia might be mad at Avery for it, but…the Plusle was tired. His team was falling apart. And he didn’t want to fight anymore.
“…I…I’ll tell you everything. But I just…I want you to keep two things in mind, okay?” Avery voice was weak, pleading. “One, I…I never wanted to hide anything from you. This was…it was sprung on me. I was put in a really, really tough spot, and…I didn’t want to keep this from you. I-I’ve been as open as I could be about everything else, from Quayslaan to Olistia. And…and the other is…”
Avery bit his lip.
“…If I tell you this, Vizon…I-I don’t want anyone to die, okay? I-I don’t want anyone being…b-being…being-“
Flash. The gallows. The word escaped Avery’s mouth with an almost terrified reverence.
“…hung.”
Vizon stared down at Avery.
That word…’hung’…
…elicited no reaction from the Riolu. His face remained stony. Neutral, as he stared down at the Plusle, expecting Avery’s explanation.
Something Vizon said a while ago…a long while ago…crept back into Avery’s mind.
‘Bad guys get what’s coming to them.’
“…I don’t trust Olistia,” Avery said quietly. “…I don’t trust her. I’ve…heard her in my dreams, she’s known about me for a while, taken me from my home…I’m a replacement to Rikaerd when he just…died. He died, and she just…gets another human. Like we’re disposable.”
Avery frowned.
“I found out she lied to me about my memories. She gave me an excuse that she wanted me to have a new life here, free of all that. I didn’t even know if my old life was something I wanted to leave. Just that I left people behind. I know that the guild covers up deaths. I know that Quayslaan hasn’t touched his room since he left, and there was some brainwashing going on in there.”
Desperation slowly crept into his voice.
“And I know that because…b-because…because look at how few people knew about Ganisus. Look at how they’re treating Nivanee…! We have to use code to get in there, there’s no saying her name, because they don’t want people knowing that guild members can be hurt, let alone die. The elites are…they’re weird, there’s something off about them, and all the teams you seem to like just kind of broke off once they got up there.”
Avery shook his head.
“I trust Sarfallinus. And the guild. Just…not the Conduicy, not fully. And I don’t trust the Thieves Guild either. Olistia made the map, but Xamao stole it. They both want the pearls to awaken the birds or something. And…for a long time, I thought that nobody should have that amount of power.”
Vizon’s face didn’t change. Avery took the stony silence to continue, rambling, babbling, trying to get it all out.
“…And then…on our day off…Jolvia asked me to let her go see Janus. She wasn’t guild, I was, so…I let her in. And then she just…she confessed something to me. Jolvia said she’s…kind of Thieves Guild. Apparently there’s two of them. One is with Xamao, and wants him to get all three pearls. And one…is with…this other person, and thinks that they should be stalemated, forever, so nobody can ever use all three. Jolvia is part of that. They wanted Xamao to get the first pearl…and us to get the second. By any means necessary. And that way, it wouldn’t matter who got the third, because the world would be safe. No more birds. No more pearls. She’s…she seems convinced that no matter what, she’s going to be executed, but…she’s just…doing what she thinks is right.”
Avery looked up to Vizon, crawling a little towards him, hoping to make him see.
“…I only knew about this after the Thunder Pearl thing. And I’ve only known about it since yesterday. A-and it’s been tearing me apart. I-I keep…I keep…having these horrible thoughts of the gallows, of…of everyone just…b-being executed. A-and…and I was worried that if I said anything…w-with the investigations going on, I’d…I’d be killed. And maybe you’d be killed. And Jolvia and Janus would be killed, and…”
Avery’s head returned to his knees.
“…I-I don’t want anyone to die, Vizon.”
Vizon’s head tilted back, a pained, straining smile on his face. Like every word was a painful prank played on him. That every sentence uttered was a great practical joke that only he didn’t find funny.
“Kind of…Thieves Guild…?” Vizon muttered, his hands on his hips as he turned away. His hand lifted as he wiped his face, sniffed…a curt chuckle escaping his lips. “Kind of Thieves Guild…is she or is she not Thieves Guild? Arceus…right in my own team…there really was a mole and I let myself think it impossible when it was staring me in the face the whole time…”
The tide rushed up the beach, splashing against his ankles before receding.
“It all makes sense…we told her about our trip to Dovve Fo Uddjo, she had plenty of time to warn Xamao of our intentions…so the Thieves Guild could move all those camps and make the heat map useless…” Vizon shook his head. “She probably knew Xamao was coming the whole time back in Lightning Wastes. Heck, just this mission, when Team Fottupebe duped us with that meeting with the High Captain, there’s no way Jolvia didn’t recognize Heynia and Argus and Diquarni in disguise and she didn’t say one single word.”
Vizon chuckled again, cradling his head in his hand.
“Now you tell me…brainwashing? The Conduit being evil? I just…” Vizon grunted, running his fingers along his forehead. “The elites, yeah, they were being jerks back at the port, but…even they, at least, serve the Conduit. Meanwhile I…”
Vizon perked up, pausing a moment.
“So why is Jolvia still here, huh?” Vizon said, his head turning to side-eye Avery. “You know she’s a back-stabbing traitor and you still let her come with?”
Avery sank further.
“…She promised me she’d do whatever it takes to get the pearl, and then she’d quit the team. It made sense with what she wanted. A stalemate. You saw what she did to Diquarni. She…she said she wouldn’t be part of the team past this, she knows I can’t trust her past this anymore.”
That…wasn’t entirely right. It was true, but…it wasn’t right.
“…And she was my friend. Even…even though she confessed…e-everything to me, I still…I still wanted to believe that she was a good person.”
“SHE’S your friend?!” Vizon spat, spinning around. “She’s THIEVES GUILD, Avery! You know?! The bad guys?! The bad guys we’ve been fighting the entire time we’ve been at the guild, yeah? Those guys?! Getting the pearls, stalemating – I don’t CARE what their little nuanced divisions are! They’re ALL Thieves Guild! They are all CRIMINALS.”
Vizon took a step forward.
“Is that?? Getting through to you? Is any of what I’m saying making sense? Cr-Mi-NALS. Opposite of the guild! We, the guild, that’s us, go out, on a mission, to stop, that is obstruct, the cri-min–als!”
Vizon stopped himself, lifting his hands, cradling his head.
“I just-! Oh, Arceus…! What does it matter anymore? What does any of it matter!? We were duped!” Vizon, spun on his heel. “Jolvia just…played us for idiots, easily! Used us for whatever it is she wanted just to immediately run off!”
Vizon stopped again, looking down at his satchel. He lowered a hand, undoing the clasp and reaching inside.
There, in his hand, was the glowing Water Pearl. Its light shimmered on his scowling face.
“I don’t care what Jolvia wants.” Vizon said with an air of finality. “I am Arceali guild. I’m here for Nivanee, for Kipuuna…for Lahnae and Ganisus and Loshjno…for Sarfallinus…for Estaloni…”
He glanced back at Avery, his brow knitted.
“…and for Olistia. And if she wants all the Pearls…then I’m going to try my hardest.” Vizon said, his crimson eyes returning to the Pearl. “…just like Nivanee taught me.”
Avery’s shoulders shrugged half-heartedly.
“…I mean…you’re right. Jolvia tricked me. I don’t think Rikzyod knows.” Avery explained. “I was just…still attached to her from the rest of our missions. When I didn’t know. When I thought she was completely on our side.”
Avery was silent a moment, stewing on what Vizon had said. Avery’s eyes traced the horizon towards the water. Towards the storm.
“But…that’s good that you know why you’re here…” Avery sighed. “It’s good to have something to fight for.”
Vizon was quiet, looking out toward the other end of the beach, not looking toward Avery at all anymore.
A chill wind blew. Vizon held the Water Pearl close to his chest.
Mission accomplished. Almost. So very close to getting one of the pearls.
“I really…thought this guild stuff would go different. I had it all…in my head. I knew exactly what kind of guild member I’d be, I…”
He trailed off. He almost hugged the pearl to his chest as he spoke his next piece.
“One last question, Avery…” Vizon growled.
Avery was scared, sure. He still cared about Vizon.
But…this felt…final.
The Plusle nodded. A non-verbal sign to go ahead with the question.
Vizon turned his head, slowly…slowly.
Avery could see it in his eye. Vizon was looking at the Plusle’s aura.
Only now it dawned on Avery…Vizon was always looking at his aura. Even when Avery didn’t speak, his aura spoke for him, loudly clearly, even beyond what Avery would ever say.
Always seeing it.
Always listening to it.
Yet he always kept his mouth shut about it.
But not now. No. He asked now.
“What’s going on between you and Lahnae, huh? Buddy?”
“…”
It was what Avery wanted. On some level, he was glad it was all coming out.
No more secrets. No more hiding.
Vizon knew. He always knew. And now…and now, Avery got to tell him. Everything. As much as he knew.
“…She’s a friend. A close friend. Rival, like she says.” Avery laughed wryly. “…I can’t help the way that my heart feels when I’m with her if that’s what you mean. But I wouldn’t abandon you. You’re still my partner, Vizon. And I still love you, even if…even if things have been hard recently. She’s comforted me when things were hard, the same way you have. I’ve told her a lot less than I’ve told you.”
Avery’s gaze returned from Vizon to the horizon. He thought out his next words carefully.
“…But I’m your partner, Vizon. Not hers. Yours. I’ll be by your side…for as long as you want me there.”
Vizon’s gaze was steely, unchanging.
It made Avery wonder…
What…was he seeing now? What did Avery’s aura look like?
“Just a friend…huh?” Vizon said, almost muttered, hugging the Water Pearl tightly to his chest…stroking it.
He let out a long sigh.
“Funny you say all that that…considering how often I feel abandoned. Left behind. In the dark.” Vizon growled. “But, then, every time I’m clued in on things it’s just…so uncomplicated. The answer is always so obvious. None of it’s difficult to parse…I hardly find any of this stuff a dilemma…but that never seems to satisfy, so I’m kept in the dark again…like with Jolvia.”
He clutched the water pearl hard.
From the jungle just off the beach, a bush began to rustle. Someone was approaching quickly.
Vizon then, at last…gave a quiet mutter.
“Whatever…bad guys’ll get what’s coming to them…”
The words stuck through Avery like he was shot in the back by an arrow. But this time, Avery didn’t flinch. He didn’t wince.
Whatever happened next…he’d take it. He felt broken. Defeated. Though…those were too negative.
Resolute, maybe.
Avery didn’t turn to look at the bush. He just…kept staring out at the storm. His hand came to his chest, and he pulled off the Team Azure badge, fingers idly tracing along the engraved letters.
Avery could hear someone step out of the bushes, onto the beach, their footsteps crunching on the sand. Vizon turned his head to look at the newcomer, his gaze turning harsh.
“You…” The Riolu growled.
The newcomer stopped, standing a ways from you both.
“Is Avery awake yet?” The Plusle heard her voice speak. That Nidorina. “We have a camp set up, some shelter for tonight.”
“…I’m awake,” Avery said quietly. He didn’t turn around. “I’m just…tired.”
The words, like the last ones he’d spoken, were carefully chosen.
He heard her footsteps again as she stepped closer, paws crunching in the sand to come up next to him.
“I was relieved to see you alright.” She sighed, crouching down a little to look at Avery, even if he still didn’t look at her face. “There’s plenty of food on the island, we’ve found. If we work together, we can get back out to sea and take on the Yahneri cave beast again and-“
“Who’s all there?” Vizon asked, cutting off Jolvia. The Nidorina perked up.
“Everyone that was on the Peacekeeper, of course?”
“Your little Thieves Guild pals having fun seeing their best friend Jolvia around again?”
Avery heard Jolvia give an exasperated huff.
“Vizon, I get it, but I implore you save the heroic upbraiding for when we’re not stranded on an island.”
There was a brief silence…and in it, Avery just took the chance to answer the Nidorina.
“…Sorry, Jolvia,” Avery said, that same quiet level voice. “I’m…not hungry at the moment. I’ll help with efforts soon, I just…”
Deep breath.
“…I need to think about…what I’m doing. Going forward.”
Jolvia lowered her gaze to Avery…and sighed again, looking between him and Vizon. The Riolu still held the Water Pearl like a precious child.
“And you, Vizon? Going to eat?”
“Not with BAD GUYS.”
“Alright…going to bed?”
“NOT WITH BAD GUYS.”
Jolvia let out a long, drawl-out, dreary sigh.
“Going to help with repairing the Peacekeeper?”
“NOT WITH BAD GUYS.”
“Gathering supplies?”
“Nope, bad guys.”
“At the very least staying out of the way-“
“Let me think about it oh yeah BAD GUYS.“
Jolvia’s frowned deepened. Avery would be hard pressed to recall any point he saw the Nidorina so exhausted and annoyed.
“I’ll, um…be up soon,” Avery said quietly. He took a breath to say more, but…his mouth just hung open for a moment before he shut it again.
Avery wasn’t really sure his opinion mattered much to anyone present, anyway.
Jolvia sighed and nodded, patting Avery’s shoulder.
“DON’T TOUCH HIM!!” Vizon hissed, making the Nidorina recoil. “Your corrupting aura has POISONED him!!”
“You’re unhinged.” Jolvia grumbled, patting Avery’s shoulder now in sheer defiance. She stood, shaking her head. “I’ll leave you be, Avery.”
She lifted her head, backing off from the Plusle, eyes affixed to Vizon.
“And what about you?” She asked, a hand on her hip. “You’re going to have to grow up eventually and come help us if you want to get off this island.”
“Ohhhh no. No more of that.” Vizon said. “Between Quayslaan and Janus planting seeds of doubt and Diquarni being a two-faced jerk, I think I’m done capitulating and working with you Thieves Guild mooks. Yeah, I know all about you, your affiliation, how you used us!!”
Jolvia folded her arms, unfazed.
“Well?!” Vizon shot. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Nothing that’d matter.” Jolvia retorted. “We’ll be in the center of the island when you’re quite done making a fool of yourself.”
“Nu-uh! Ain’t happening! Not this time and never again!” Vizon said, turning at once. Without another word, he bolted, his sprint kicking up sand as he bolted down the beach, slowly disappearing from sight.
Jolvia didn’t even make a vague gesture at going after him.
“Hm…how in the world have you put up with him this long? I swear.” Jolvia muttered, both to Avery and herself. “It was hard enough at first back after River Delta. Now? I’ve had about enough of that boy.”
“I’ve put up with him because he’s my partner,” Avery said softly. No change in tone, no hint of annoyance or indignation. “He’s my friend. Like you are.”
Avery’s ear twitched. He wasn’t sure if either of those things were true at the moment. But at the end of the day, that was up to Vizon and Jolvia.
Jolvia glanced down the beach, the Riolu now completely out of sight.
“Hm…that’s fair…I suppose. In some respect there’s something to be said in that adventurous spirit, the uncomplicated sense of justice…there’s just a time and place for it…”
Another awkward silence. Avery, again, was the one to fill the void.
“…Sorry about losing nerve. On the boat. I think that’s when he caught on…fully. And…” Avery’s shoulders sunk as he exhaled through his nose. “…And for falling for Diquarni’s trick and losing the pearl in the first place. I was being…”
Too trusting?
“Too trusting.”
Too naive?
“Too naive, I guess.”
Something like that.
A sad look of realization came over Jolvia, hearing that.
“Ah…so that’s what happned.” The Nidorina sighed, scratching the back of her head. “Diquarni’s fake tears.”
She was quiet for a moment, then laughed a little.
“I can see why you were so angry. Having you good nature exploited is a disgusting feeling, isn’t it?”
Avery hugged his knees a little closer to himself. His gaze traced the storm clouds far in the horizon.
“…It’s not the first time it happened, I think. It’s just…the first time someone admitted it.”
A bright flash of lightning cascaded across the swirling storm cloud far in the distance. Several seconds later came the thunder, rumbling quietly. Jolvia, was quiet. Avery could feel her staring at him, the atmosphere between the two a little more…sad.
“Most likely. Many Poke’mon see profit in another Poke’mon’s kindness. But I’ve seen first hand how other Poke’mon find relief and comfort in it, too…” Jolvia sighed. “The answer, I suppose…isn’t callousness…just judiciousness. Even then, there will be mistakes and errors…”
Avery could hear her…shift. It was a wonder how she looked. If her body language and facial expression changed when he wasn’t looking, when she wasn’t being actively observed.
“Do you need a moment, Avery?”
It was almost nice, giving her that freedom. Having this little bit of distance between them. Even as they spoke, Avery felt…half-present, half in his own mind.
“We’re going to be here a while,” Avery murmured. “I’ll have plenty of time for moments, I think. Do you all need help with anything?”
Avery could hear Jolvia sigh, maybe in relief.
“Right at the moment? Maybe just setting up the last of the shelters.” Jolvia said. “Apparently Captain Manikas is already forging plans to repair the Peacekeeper. ‘Fifth time run aground on a deserted island’, he says. He’s, ah…certainly an eccentric one.”
The Nidorina chuckled good-naturedly, stepping closer. She crouched, offering a hand to Avery.
The Plusle took one last look at the ocean. He suddenly felt lethargic, his body unwilling to move after sitting there for as long as he had. But wallowing in one spot wasn’t going to do much for him. He could think and work at the same time.
Avery took Jolvia’s hand, pulled himself up to standing, and finally allowed himself to look at her. Her crimson eyes were friendly, a smile across her face as the Plusle finally stood from the sand.
Avery’s eyes felt empty. He still felt hollow. But that was okay. He’d have time to recover.
Jolvia gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder, nodding.
“There, that’s better.” She said warmly, flicking her head toward the jungle. She began making tracks for it, not even waving to follow. “We’re just about finished our set up, mostly thanks to Manikas.”
She stepped to the underbrush, lifting a fern, letting Avery step upon the path of crushed foliage and grass that weaved between the palm trees.
“The island thankfully isn’t that large. Unfortunately, it is totally devoid of any other Poke’mon.”
“I’d count that as good, I think,” Avery said, taking a breath to steady himself as he followed her. “At least we don’t have to deal with loyalties right now. That’s all…a bit precarious at the moment.”
Jolvia looked back at the Plusle, flashing a small smile.
“You and I both, Avery.” Jolvia laughed, though she didn’t elaborate.
Because, well, she didn’t need to.
“Ah! I think I hear the TRAITOR now!!”
Jolvia rolled her eyes, huffing quietly and pulling back another bush.
There, just in front of her, Avery could see a sizeable clearing in the jungle. Much of the foliage had been crushed or uprooted, the dirt patted down with a fire pit built with stones in the center.
Around the camp, Avery could see a few small structures made of sticks and palm branches, the bare minimum of shelter, with leaves and grass spread under each shelter…bedding.
Around the camp he could see other Poke’mon, all of them familiar faces. Manikas, the massive Pangoro captain, was finishing tying off the last of the shelters while Rikzyod held stacks of firewood in each arm.
There, off to the side, he saw Heynia, using her talons and beak to weave the cut plant fibers into string and Argus uprooting a few more plants to give her plenty to work with.
And there…in the center of camp, carrying a stack of crates…
…she towered. The dark-furred Poke’mon, her enormous hair bouncing behind her. Her eyes were closed and her pointed nose was turned up and away from Jolvia.
“Hello to you, too, Diquarni.” Jolvia said, unfazed as she stepped into the camp.
Avery looked to all of them for a moment, accounting for everyone that was on the Peacekeeper in his head. With Vizon, having rushed off, that was everyone. He gave Diquarni a blank look, and turned to Jolvia.
“So what should I help with?”
“Well, to start, we’ve been moving boxes from the Peacekeeper t-“
“YOOOOOOUUU!!!”
The crates in Diquarni’s hands DROPPED to the ground, TUMBLING. Jolvia winced as the Zoroark JUMPED the gap, landing with a thud in front of Avery.
The Zoroark bent, coiled, twisted like a snake, her pointed snout getting right up next to Avery, her crimson eyes STARING into his blank eyes.
Diqaurni whipped her head toward Jolvia, aggressively jabbing a finger on the top of Avery’s head.
“JOLVIA! What is…this doing here?!”
“Er…” Jolvia blinked, frowning. “He washed up with us, remember?”
“First you KNOCK ME UPSIDE THE HEAD, which, by the way, OW.” Diquarni shouted, spit spraying on Avery and Jolvia. “Then you lead the guild RIGHT TO OUR DOORSTEP!?”
“Uh…yes, that was the plan.”
“HEYNIA!!” Diquarni shouted, gesturing to you and Jolvia harshly. “Can you believe this?! Can you fathom it?! Can you comprehend what’s TRANSPIRING HERE?!”
Heynia glanced up, eyebrows cocked, a faux smile upon her beak.
“Oh, Diquarrni…honey…sweetie…darrling…” The Mandibuzz cooed in her thick Illaminian accent. “I do imporre you do not be stupid.”
Argus snorted, looking away.
One second passed.
Two seconds.
Avery looked up at the Zoroark, her fiery expression, her jabbed finger poking into his head.
He turned to Jolvia.
“The Peacekeeper is back on the beach, isn’t it? I’ll head over there and get some crates.”
Without another word, Avery began to walk to where he’d seen the wreckage, barely giving Diquarni a glance past that.
“Whatdjuh-?! HEY!! Come back here!!” Diquarni shouted as Avery left, stamping her feet, waving her arms. “That first epic showdown didn’t count!!! There was outside interference!!! I demand a rematch!”
“OI, LASS.” Manikas bellowed. Diquarni’s body froze, the Zoroark going stiff as a board. “Are you moving the boxes or JABBERIN’ USELESSLY?!”
“-aye sir.” Diquarni meekly muttered, gathering the boxes back up, face going flush. Argus was snickering again. Heynia, too, couldn’t stifle her quiet giggles.
Jolvia grunted, hissing something to Rikzyod, the Geodude nodding at once, floating over to follow Avery as Jolvia stayed behind.
“Ah, good to see you still yet live, boss!” Rikzyod said merrily as he floated beside you. “Did the stupid one come back with you? I did not see him.”
Avery gave the Geodude a glance as he settled at the Plusle’s side.
“Yeah. He ran off. Down the beach. He didn’t want to work with Jolvia.”
Avery’s eyes wandered up for a moment in thought.
“…or with me, possibly.”
“Huagh…ran off?” Rikzyod repeated thoughtfully, a cocking an eyebrow. “How odd. I enjoy the quiet one, eehh…Jolvia. She hits very hard, uh?”
He chuckled in his deep, guttural voice, swiping a hand to clear away some foliage.
“Well, do not worry. You and I more than enough for this job! Puny boxes stand no chance against Poke’mon like us!”
His encouragement…was rather divorced from the context.
Rikzyod swiped his hand again, the bright sun shining on the pair as the beach came back into view.
This end of the beach was much more rocky, with large boulders rising from the water. There, tilted and smashed against the rocks, was the Peacekeeper. The hull was filthy and splintered, its sails hanging limply upon broken poles, and the inside was clearly fill with far too much water rushing in from massive incursions. Several barrels and crates were already extracted from the wreckage and placed on the beach.
“I’m glad that everyone made it here okay,” Avery said, moving towards the wreckage, and picking up a couple of boxes he could manage. “…This is…a little bit like the ruins, isn’t it? Just…less injury up front.”
“The ruins? Bah, nothing like the ruins.” Rikzyod scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. “The water stung but nothing more. The loud, tall one looked as though she were trounced soundly. Nothing to write home about, very disappointing.”
He didn’t seem to catch on to Avery’s meaning, lifting a few crates into his arms, humming a merry tune. He glanced at the Plusle, cocking an eyebrow.
“Though perhaps I am just unlucky? Tell, Avery! Where is your most grievous injury? Though I’m unscathed, as you seem to be…you act as though you weathered a massive blow! Hah! Broken arm? Another shattered rib? I’ve seen you walk off what would break weaker fools, uh?!”
He gave a hearty laugh, the chatter encouraging him to take even more boxes, his floating now sagging as he perhaps bit off more than he could chew, inspired as he was.
“I think my injury was more, uh…up here,” Avery said, pointing to his head before picking up another box. “…Mentally, I mean. Not…physical injuries. I’m sore, but that’s all.”
“Hm! An injury in the brain…what a thought…” Rikzyod mused, swaying to keep the crates he held balanced. “Is that what it is? These strange times when I see you writhing in pain yet I find neither gash nor bruise upon your body?”
He laughed, shaking his head.
“What incredible strength! A pain like that and you whether it all the same!” Rikzyod laughed a bellowing laugh, looking at the Plusle almost excitedly. “Were it I could hurt more in the head like you! THAT is the strength I have promised follow into Oblivion, Avery!! The very same you showed me all that time ago in Rocky Hills shows itself here again!”
Another little smile.
“I’m not sure this is the kind of pain you’d be a fan of, Rik.” Avery said. “And…that’s saying a lot. It’s not the kind of pain that you can power through with physique. But then…”
He hoisted one last box into his hands, and began walking back.
“You’ve always been one for being challenged, so…hey, maybe you’d like coming up against a new kind of wall you don’t know how to overcome. Figuring that out could be a fun process.”
“And perhaps you can show me how it’s done, boss!” Rikzyod said with a song, barreling through the foliage. “With how often you face this pain…the number of things you fear must grow smaller every day.”
He flashed Avery a wide smile.
‘He’s a lot like Vizon. Uncomplicated, but in such a different way. Grounded…so disconnected from the drama…not from ignorance, only disinterest.’
“Nevermind the rest, Avery!” Rikzyod cheered with a nod. “We will get through this little ordeal as we have the others, then on to the great adventure, grander and more dangerous. What is a spat and a few harsh words compared to felling a god of storms, hm?”
Avery could hear shuffling just beyond the brush as they both approached camp again…and the sound of raised voices.
‘…Oh boy.’
Avery retreated a little bit into himself, and stepped into the clearing – hanging back, so as not to interrupt too much.
Rikzyod stopped, looking back at the Plusle, an eyebrow raised.
“Hm? Why do you shrink back so, boss?”
Instead of responding right away, Avery nodded to the edge of the clearing, peering past some leaves at the campsite.
“Seems like there’s something loud going on over there.”
“Feh, more shouting. Weak.” Rikzyod scoffed with a smirk to Avery. “Again and again with the shouting and the arguing. Such weak mental damage should hardly even scratch your brain at this point, yes? What’s say we face it head-on, like we would any limp punch or half-hearted kick we face on adventures?”
There it was. A determined, wild glint in the geodude’s eye, that hard-headed attitude he carried from all the way back at Rocky Hills.
“What do we have to fear?!”
Avery paused and…pondered that a moment…
He gave a little nod. No sense in eavesdropping.
With a quiet…well, Avery wasn’t sure if he’d call it ‘confidence’, but he walked into the clearing, setting down some of the boxes.
“There’s only a few boxes left. Shouldn’t take more than one or two trips.”
“YUAH-HAH!” Rikzyod cheerily grunted, TOSSING the boxes up and over to the center of the camp. It was a stack that towered over the pair. Manikas whistled, a large grin on his face.
“Atta, boys! That’s what I want to see! We-“
The Pangoro was cut off by Jolvia.
“Diquarni, as the Intelligence Officer for your bloc I’ve always tried to be patient with you.” The Nidorina said, glowering up at the Zoroark who had her arms folded, looking away. “But going rogue with Xamao? Getting these pearls against the Guild Master’s wishes? Not to mention all the downright foolish moves you renegades pull. Who put the Onyx Brothers up to that debacle at the Rocky Hills, hm? Don’t tell me that was your plan.”
“Blah blah blah, I don’t listen to double-crossers!” Diquarni said, stone-walling the Nidorina like a child would.
“Hm…how funny.” Jolvia said, folding her own arms.
“If the guild master doesn’t wanna listen to Xamao that’s not our problem!”
“Even if we did agree with Xamao’s theory, which is only a theory, mind you, the way you’re going about it is…!”
Jolvia stopped herself, glancing in Avery and Rikzyod’s direction as they both deposited their crates. Diquarni glanced over as well, her scowl returning in full force as she looked at the Plusle.
“More than anything, though-” Diquarni said, turning her head away haughtily. “I’m not going to be consorting with a bunch of bad guys like Azure. You can’t make me!”
“Diquarrni…” Heynia’s voice came.
“No!”
“Diquarrni, sweetie-“
“NnnnnnNO.”
“Diquarrn-“
“nnnnnnNNNNNNNNNO.”
Avery looked at the Zoroark curiously, leaning up against one of the crates. He tilted his head to the side, studying her.
And a faint smile played on his lips.
“You’re a little like Vizon, Diquarni.”
“WHAT?!“
Diquarni recoiled at once, jumping in the air as though she had just been shocked. She leaned forward, eyes furious, scowling like a kid having a tantrum.
“I’m nothing like that guy!!” Diquarni insisted. Jolvia looked away, trying to not show her laughing face. The Zoroark looked most offended. “I’m not!!”
“And what makes you say that…?” Jolvia said behind her hand, trying to keep herself composed.
“Because…! I’m in the Santurini Guild and he isn’t! I don’t go around hurting Poke’mon and then laughing about it later!”
Heynia and Argus glanced to one another but said nothing.
“…I remember you laughing a lot after that routine in the cave,” Avery said, keeping his tone level. “You know the one.”
Part of him was a little confused at himself. Avery figured he should be boiling mad at her. He was before!
But right now…he just didn’t have the energy to be.
“Yeah well who cares what happens to you jerks!!” The Zoroark said combatively.
“Diquarrni!!” Heynia gasped in horror, furrowing her brow. “The show-boating afterr ourr rroutine was rrude enough but surrely you can have the decency to say sorrry for it?”
“Buh-?? Wh-…” Diquarni deflated, sagging her shoulders, her face like a hurt puppy. “Why’re you guys taking his side…??? Azure’s the enemy, remember…?”
“Mmm…it seems…they have the Pearrl now, hehe.” Argus snickered. “So…allies now. Otherrwise, this will be the final rresting place of the Waterr Pearrl!”
“I know there’s some subjectivity to it all,” Avery said, prying open one of the crates to start unpacking it. “…But I think that taking advantage of how I feel about a group that’s…in a really hard spot in Arceliaze…that’s a bad guy move. Especially when you have an Illaminian on your team. Two, even.”
“Well to be fairr we actually had been prracticing that rroutine forr a while beforrehand.” Argus snickered, stepping over to help Avery pry open some boxes. The Krookodile looked over his shoulder. “And Heynia, my love, the way you so pathetically currled up to Diquarrni was magnificently done.”
“Oh, Arrgus, you sweet~” Heynia giggled with a blush. “But who could forget the way you looked upon Diquarrni with so much adorration, almost looking as though she should nit speak.”
“And I would say yourr sleight of hand with the oran berrry while prretending to stifle a cry, I was awed.”
“Oh Argus~!”
Diquarni huffed, turning away and refusing to help.
“S’not a bad guy move when you’re on the good guy side.” The Zoroark muttered.
“You’re using Illamini op Arceali as game pieces, though.” Avery didn’t look up at Team Fottupebe. Just continued with his task. “…They’ve been through a lot. Gambling with their reputation isn’t good.”
“Maybe if we did that forr any ol Arrcean.” Argus snickered. “But you arre harrdly any ol’ Arcean, hehe.”
“I feel as though if we did it forr ‘any ol Arrcean’ they would not even bat an eye at the routine.” Heynia sighed with a roll of her eyes. “They care little for the borrderr-hopperrs already.”
Jolvia had stepped over, taking some of the lids off the crates as well, setting them aside, Rikzyod doing the same. Manikas, meanwhile, was building watch looked like a hatchet from stone and wood.
“Thbbb, as if you’d care about Illamini op Arceali anyway…” Diquarni scoffed, sticking her tongue out at you. She turned away, taking a few steps towards the edge of the camp. “All talk, talk, talk! Poke’mon like you want to just not feel like a bad Poke’mon while still letting yourself be in The Arceali Guild!! Oh how very CONVENIENT for you!!!”
“Convenient?” Avery frowned. He felt a pang of anger in his heart at that. “I’m trying to make things better, working to help everyone I care about…”
He nodded slowly.
“…and all you accomplished was making me feel stupid for trusting you.”
Avery fixed them with a stare.
“…If I hadn’t trusted Quayslaan and Calladin down in the ruins, we all would have died down there. If I met you three first, I don’t know if I would have trusted them them.”
“Hmph! Sure love how conditional you are.” Diquarni huffed. Avery broke eye contact, going back to his task.
“Mean-spirited schemes just might not have an outcome you’d like…could just make things worse.” Avery replied simply. “…That’s all.”
“Hehe, well when next we hatch a scheme we will be sure to run it by you for approval first!” Argus snickered, giving Avery another good-natured nudge.
“Arrgus, honey, do not instigate. You know yourr jokes rrarrely land.” Heynia advised as Diquarni disappeared into the brush.
“Hehe, I suppose…and where is ourr brrave and stalwarrt team captain going?”
“AWAY FROM THE ARCEALI GUILD STENCH!!” Diquarni’s muffled voice echoed from the underbrush.
Avery didn’t really react to the joke or nudge nor Diquarni leaving, continuing on with his work.
He still felt upset about it, thankfully. So that part of him wasn’t dead. But it was clear that he and Fottupebe were in disagreement about the scheme they pulled, and he probably wasn’t going to be able to convince them.
‘Choosing my battles might be wise.’
“Sorry Vizon isn’t here. He didn’t want to associate with bad guys.”
‘…It feels nice not having to argue, though.’
“Pfffff!!” Argus could barely contain his laughter. “In anotherr life he could have been Diquarrni’s best friend…!”
Heynia giggled softly.
“Quite an understatement…” Jolvia muttered, rolling her eyes as she undid a few more crate lids. “As long as neither he nor Diquarni get in the way we can leave them to their tantrums and fetch them when we’re finished.”
Everyone nodded, the atmosphere…casual. So strangely casual. Despite being ‘the bad guys’, Argus and Heynia and even Jolvia mingled so casually with what was supposed to be their enemy.
The work continued. Collecting crates, taking the wood and supplies. Manikas managed to fell a few trees already, testing their bark.
Vizon didn’t come back. Neither did Diquarni.
In short time, nighttime fell upon the island.
The Darkness was absolute, every corner of the island utterly, utterly pitch black…
That is…except for one little clearing in the center.
In the clearing the group camped out at, the fire pit was alight with a bright and brilliant fire that lit the entire clearing in a warm and soothing light. With nobody else on the island, there was hardly any danger. Nothing but the sound of waves and the cool ocean breeze flowing betwixt the trees.
A few of the ship rations cooked in a stew over the fire which Manikas stirred, the scent welcome after going so long without a meal. Argus and Heynia sat snuggled together by the fire. Jolvia drew idly in the sand while Rikzyod busied himself by sitting much too close to the blazing fire, basking in the licking hot ashes.
And all the while…all was calm.
Avery knew he was outnumbered here. Manikas and Rikzyod were at most unaligned. Vizon was gone. And everyone else was, in some way, loyal to the Thieves’ Guild. Or an offshoot of it.
And somewhere in the back of Avery’s mind was the worry of what happened at the end of this when the Peacekeeper was fixed.
But for now, the Plusle was seated around the campfire, knees curled to his chest, letting himself quietly enjoy the warmth of the fire and the experience of company.
“Alright, alrright, how about another joke?” Argus said.
“Shoot.” Jolvia replied, sketching a picture of the island in the sand.
“What do you get when you combine the Duke of Souljraan with the High Captain of Yahneri Port?”
“What?”
“Nothing done!!” Argus belted out a hearty laugh at his own joke. Even Manikas huffed a laugh as he stirred the stew. Avery’s hand idly traced letters in the soft dirt, wiping his palm over them to clean them away before starting again. Just as an idle fidget while he thought, and listened.
“Alrright, alrright, tell me if you heart this one. A machop goes to a fighting type convention trrying to hone his skill…”
“Uh-huh…?” Jolvia said half-heartedly as Manikas lifted a ladle to her bowl, pouring in some stew.
“…so get gets a ticket frrom the frront window. Now, the thing is that he does not have enough money to get the ticket, comes up just short. Poorr guy, it has been his drream to actually attend one of these.”
“Uh-huh…” Jolvia said again. Manikas reached over, filling Avery’s bowl next. The strew certainly looked nice, filled with onions, mushrooms and a thick savory broth. He even included a cooked biscuit.
“The ticket taker tells him ‘that is alrright, we accept anyone if they can prrove they arre a tough guy.’ So the Machop says ‘oh? How do I prove that?’. The ticket takerr tells him what he tells everyone looking to take the test to get in free: ‘you have to surrvive a serries of the strrongest attacks by the masterrs of marrtial arrts. A kick to the chest by a hitmonlee, a harrsh CHOP to the side by a Sawk and an earrth-shatterring one-fist STRRIKE to the face by a Lucarrio.’“
“Uh-huh…” Jolvia said once again. With everyone’s bowls filled, Manikas lounged back, looking up at the sky. Even now, his pipe was in his mouth, a deep look of thought on his face.
“The machop agrrees, thinking to himself that if enough people arre trrying to get in frree then therre is prrobably a bunch of otherrs ahead of him. That means he would not need to take all thrree attacks one afterr anotherr, he could take one, then queue forr the next one and rrecoverr.”
“Uh-huh…” Jolvia didn’t seem entirely interested, but Argus continued regardless.
“So up the machop goes behind a long queue of Poke’mon. One afterr anotherr, they each get a KICK to the stomach. Poke’mon are doubling overr in pain, one even coughs up blood. Soon enough, it is the Machop’s turn. Surre as can be, the Hitmonlee’s kick winds him. Utterly brreaks him, its devastation as an attack can not be underrstated.”
“Uh-huh…”
“So the machop, in intense pain, steps up to the back of the queue of Poke’mon rready to take the CHOP of a Sawk, a move said to be able to split mountains. Now, the Poke’mon ahead of the machop, one by one, are utterrly cut down. The ones in the frront are swept aside, still rreeling frrom the Hitmonlee, they have no time to rrecoverr and arre decimated and thrrown out. The ones in the middle of the line farre better. They take the hit, staggerr, then fall over, and get thrrown out. Howeverr, the machop, having waited so long, has been able to rrecoverr to 100%. So, when his turn comes, the Sawk RREARRS back and deliverrs an earth-shatterring CHOP to the Machop’s side. The poorr guy feels something brreak, it is a doozy, but by Arrceus he holds on.”
“Uh-huh…”
“Howeverr, it’s hetre the machop’s luck had rrun out. He was the only one to surrvive the Sawk’s chop. Brroken and brruised, he looked towarrd the Lucarrio, his final challenge, the most powerrful of strrikes to the face. To his utterr horror, he rrealized…”
Argus smiled wide, pausing, as though utterly ecstatic about his next words:
“…therre is no punchline.”
“Ugh.”
Avery smiled a bit at that, and leaned back.
“That’s good, that’s a good one.” He said softly.
Avery took a sip of the stew from the bowl, and looked upwards at the sky. He hoped Vizon and Diquarni were alright. They both knew where the camp was, so if they were hungry they could come and eat.
“I wish I knew more jokes. I like to think I used to be a funny guy. You’re a funny guy, Argus.”
“Hehe!! You think I am funny?” Argus snickered, hugging Heynia close. “You would be one of a verry few! Most think it annoying but, eh, I have not made a habit of strressing over the crriticism of otherrs on petty things that make me happy.”
“And I.” Heynia concurred, nuzzling in.
Jolvia smiled to herself, watching as Rikzyod downed his entire bowl of stew in one gulp. She turned her head, looking over at Manikas as the Pangoro stared at the stars in thought.
“Something bothering you, Captain?”
“Feh…” The old Pangoro grunted. “Feel tired, wish I weren’t. But these old bones can’t grind out ship repairs in a fortnight of straight work like I could back when I was younger.”
“You’ve done a lot today.”
“Aye but not enough. Peacekeeper…the ship me wife an’ little ones loved so…still sits on the beach and the beast still yet roams the waters.” Manikas grumbled. “An’ every second this old man has to spend recuperating is another moment that foul creature gets to continue drawing breath.”
“You’re quite dedicated.” Jolvia said, eliciting only a grunt from Manikas. “Do you mean for us younger Poke’mon to get back to work at once?”
The Pangoro was silent..then shook his head.
“Nay, you lot rest. You all plunged into the briny deep with me in pursuit of the beast of Yahneri cave. Faced death once fer me…and I won’t forget that.” He said, plainly and firmly. “That said…the sooner we’re off the island, the better…I think the beast’s not just returned…but it’s come back fiercely angrier than ever before, even when I first faced it. Seems it don’tlike being disturbed a second time.”
“How do you figure?”
Manikas’s lowered his gaze to Avery and Jolvia, his one good eye shimmering in the fire.
“The storm cloud. All morning, evening, afternoon, whenever I stood at the shore…I’ve seen it gettin’ bigger.”
“Bigger…?” Jolvia asked. “You don’t mean…”
“Aye…s’just a matter of time a’fore the storm reaches far beyond the cave…might engulf Yahneri Port itself.”
Avery let out a small sigh, nodding his head as he took another sip of stew, feeling the warmth spread through him.
“There’s the stakes I’m familiar with,” he said with a little chuckle. “Wouldn’t be a Team Azure mission without at least one town immediately at stake.”
He looked down at the bowl.
“Though I guess it’s a Team Fottupebe mission too, isn’t it? You guys faced off against any Thunder God Avatars or Deep Dimensions lately? Or…things like it. I guess I’m just curious about the sort of hazard risk normal teams are used to.”
“Hehe, not norrmally. I mean, unless you wish to count me when I am hungrry! No thunderr god could comparre then!” Argus laughed. “But, yes, we have been in ourr sharre of kerrfuffles and caperrs, nothing like what we have faced the past week, though.”
“How harrowing. Oh, drreadful.” Heynia said with an air of theatrics. “I miss the simple worrk of manning food lines, but I suppose therre’s morre than one way to help Poke’mon.”
“Either way…” Manikas continued, chewing on his pipe. “We need the ship back in the water as soon as we can get ‘er seaworthy, lest the beast of the Black Hoard bring its horror to the poor Poke’mon of Yahneri Port.”
“So, what then?” Jolvia asked. “Shall we start cutting trees?”
“Nay. Many of the palm trees here…their bark is serviceable but wouldn’t survive the first rogue wave to crash to the hull.” Manikas pondered. “There’s a precious few oak trees that have managed to grow just up north o’ camp. First come daylight we march up there, fell each of the trees, get cutting and mend the damages to me pride n’ joy.”
“Then we pound the face of another god with a hundred thousand fiery shots to the face!” Rikzyod bellowed, cracking his knuckles. “Yes…I like this plan.”
Avery nodded, finishing off his stew. There was still part of him wondering what would happen after that. After they got off, if they did vanquish the Black Hoard’s Beast…what would happen to Jolvia? Vizon? Team Azure? Himself?
“Do we have enough cannonballs for that?” Avery asked, turning to the captain.
Manikas huffed, lighting his Yaja pipe with a burning stick from the fire.
“Avery, my boy, if we run out of artillery then I’ll jump upon the beast’s back and tear it apart myself.”
Rikzyod nodded, impressed, which Avery mirrored in response, putting the soup bowl down. The old Pangoro was nothing if not determined.
Avery’s gaze fell back to the forest that led to the beach. To Vizon.
‘… I wonder how he’s doing. If he’s okay…
He…isn’t stubborn enough to starve out there, is he?’
A brief hush fell over the group, the only thing between them all being the crackle of the fire and the occasional sound of happy eating (Argus, naturally, fed Heynia, seeming to treat this all as a romantic holiday).
Manikas huffed, his eyes glazed over as the smoke of the Yaja in his pipe slowly took effect.
“Ai, well…in either case, lads, I’m none too worried about ifs.” The Pangoro said, roughly dipping his spoon into the pot to take a little extra soup, the captain’s portion. “There’s no ‘if’ about whether we’ll fell that foul creature.”
“Oh my, what confidence.” Heynia complimented. “Why, I should trry morre positivity like that, myself.”
Argus snickered to himself.
Jolvia and Rikzyod nodded, the Geodude also taking a second helping of soup. The Nidorina glanced at Avery, noting his silence…and looked out to the other end of the clearing…toward the beach no doubt on the other side of the island.
Likely she was thinking of Diquarni just as Avery did of Vizon.
Next to them, Rikzyod glanced over, grinning.
“Avery, you are so quiet and meek tonight! What is bouncing around in that head of yours?” He asked, nudging the Plusle. “More of your brain pain, uh?”
Jumping slightly in place, Avery turned to Rikzyod.
“In a way, yeah.” Avery answered quickly, trying to not seem to awkard. “Though… It’s a little funny. I know it’s all still there. But it’s just…numb right now. Like it’s far away, or behind a wall.”
It was a different kind of broken down than what he was used to. Whether it was better in the long run was yet to be seen, but…for now, it felt a lot less apocalyptic.
…or maybe it was that it was more apocalyptic that made it so comforting.
“I think I need to form diamonds. Like you do.”
“Mmm…numb?” Rikzyod rumbled, sipping his soup as though it were a drink. “I know this feeling, numb. When the body has taken so much there is little else it can take, so it takes no more.”
He folded his arms in thought. Avery sighed, looking down at the ground, thinking with the Geodude.
“I think I need to form diamonds. Like you do.” The Plusle mused softly.
“Diamonds…yes! The pain itself does not make you stronger, rather what it teaches, hm?! How the healing makes it STRONGER.” The Geodude said with a slap on Avery’s back and a smile on his face. “Were it we could live life with all the wisdom and none of the scars…and I see you bare many of them.”
Rikzyod tapped a finger on the top of his head, tracing the outline of his sparkling geode scar.
“And those scars shine quite brightly, Avery. It should be no wonder I call you ‘boss’, uh?”
The Plusle was quiet. His mind went back to Rocky Hills. The first time that he met Rikzyod. Their battle. Where, one way or another, he’d proved his conviction to Rikzyod. That Avery was…determined? Strong? True to himself?
‘…What’s happened to me since then? How have I changed so drastically? Even so, even as I’ve gotten weaker and more brittle in my mind, Rikzyod still follows me, still has faith in me.
Is he delusional?… Well, yes. But about this?
…hm.’
“Im glad you’re here, Rikzyod,” Avery said, finally. “…and I’d hate to deprive you of the opportunity to slay another god.”
“Bah, I can slay nobles and gods on my own time.” Rikzyod’s eyes flashed with a fire, a wicked smile on his face. “But I would be remiss if it were not we both who slayed a god. Showed it who we really are.”
He let out a loud, rumbling chuckle, a sound a mixed with the dull, distant thunder of the Yahneri Cave Thunderstorm way off in the far distance.
Jolvia glanced back at Avery and Rikzyod, smiling warmly as the Plusle talked, even looking relieved a bit. Argus and Heynia meanwhile kept each other entertained with quite jokes to one another. Manikas lied on his side, scratching his stomach. His face looked as though going to sleep was the last thing he wanted to do…but, alas, he was a still an old man, and after all the excitement and straight hours of no sleep they’d been through, his eyelids must have weighted heavier than all the oceans.
Just as well, as the fire was beginning to die down, soon nothing but smoke and ashes. Everyone said their good-nights, crawling onto their leaves in their own shelters.
The jungle was dark, but they were lulled by the sound of the wind…the sound of the ocean, deep in the night under the beautiful array of stars and Sanshiyad high above.
Though as Avery drifted off…he could have sworn he heard something…in the distance…strange noises…
A crack…a banging…dragging…but it was all so faint…but it was easy to groggily convince himself it was just his imagination as he drifted to sleep.
…
…
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Chapter 34.1
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Decay
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