RECALCULATION

Chapter 47

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Recalculation

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In that moment Avery felt alone. Isolated.

 

Even if Jolvia was still alive…even if she was going to be somewhere he could see her-

 

For a moment, she’d been taken away. And it could happen again, so easily.

 

To her.

 

To anyone.

 

A boundary had been breached. Something Avery thought was impossible had happened, if just for a moment. Something that he’d been taunted with twice – once in word, once in near possibility far underground…

 

Conduit Olistia had made it happen with her own hand.

 

…And the Elites had grinned. Like predators.

 

Avery lifted his head up to look at Olistia on the stage. Wordless.

 

Olistia returned his silence with silence of her own. The final shuffling steps of the retreating guests were exiting the echoing building. Neither guard nor elite remained. Nothing but the cold air between Avery and the woman on the stage.

 

The Gardevoir stood with her hands behind her back, looking as though she wished to keep firm – to look strong and imposing…

 

…in reality she looked simply lost. Like an actor that had forgotten her lines.

 

And she simply stood.

 

Red eyes burrowing into Avery…or perhaps only searching him. Avery could tell her mind was alight in deep, silent thought.

 

Until at last…she simply turned. Without a word spoken, she began to walk off the stage, down the steps to the side, her footsteps loudly tapping, reverberating on the old marble.

 

Without a clue what could be said. Like she simply wanted to escape.

 

…Avery couldn’t let her go that easily. He couldn’t let her go with killing his friend. Spy or not.

 

“…Is that…what you want me to do?” Avery called out, his voice cracking. “…is that why you brought me here? Is…is this what being a Hero of Arceus means, Olistia-?”

 

His limbs were trembling. Avery still hadn’t managed to bring himself to a stand. He could barely see for the tears still welling in his eyes.

 

“…D-did you do this to me? B-before?…Would you? T-to my friends? The guild? Vizon-?”

 

Avery grit his teeth. What was he saying…?

 

“…I…I saw how they looked, Olistia. When you were doing it. I…I saw the…the glee. On their faces. When you…when you killed her. A…and…and I didn’t…I didn’t see it on yours, I- it isn’t…it isn’t…too late…”

 

Avery choked back a sob. The words rang hollow even as he said them.

 

“…nobody has to die…”

 

Olistia’s footsteps stopped.

 

Her hands kept behind her back, tightly gripping one another. Her brow was knitted…and she seemed to do everything she could to not look at him.

 

“…don’t make this harder on me than it is already.” Olistia said. Her voice dully echoed over the marble. “…please.”

 

It sounded as though that’d be her final word.

 

…yet she didn’t move.

 

She only stood there.

 

“You’re here…to help with the pearls. Then you may go home. I can’t ask anything else of you. Not now.” Olistia said. “Everything about you has spiraled out of control and I can’t help the skewed vision with which you see the world…or me.“

 

She turned her head. At last, looking at Avery once more as she stood across the banquet hall.

 

Her gaze held something. Something deep and far-flung from where he stood.

 

“Avery…” She said, a fire slowly rising in her eyes. “You’re wrong, and I’m sorry the world is as such.”

 

“N…no-” Avery choked. “No!! I can’t go home, Olistia!! You know I can’t! Not like this! The…this world made me into this, Olistia-!”

 

Avery finally pushed himself to a stand.

 

“I…I was brought here to be a Hero of Arceus – a light to the people, hope- And…and I refuse-“

 

He took a shaky step forward, to keep himself on his feet.

 

“I refuse to…to be like those….those conniving nobles, m…manipulating people and using lives and livelihoods as bargaining chips. I…refuse to be like the Thieves’ Guild, resigned to the worst option and just…focusing on damage control. I refuse to be like your Elites and…and smile and laugh and celebrate as a fellow Pokemon is tortured to death in front of me-!!”

 

Avery grabbed his arm, trying to stay aloft on wavering legs.

 

“…I’ve…I’ve seen hope, Olistia- I know…that there’s a future that I can work towards…that…we can work towards…b-but this isn’t it. This isn’t…this isn’t it. Please- it’s not too late-“

 

“No, Avery – you listen to me now: The world did make you into what you are now. That’s exactly the problem. And there really is no room in Arcea…” Olistia began with a sigh. “…for a rogue human.”

 

She turned, trying to steel herself more and more.

 

“…Deshuuna and her organizations have already gotten to you, turned you against me. Sarfallinus working behind my back. The noble families hoping to control the Conduit. The Quayoffi government keeping a stranglehold on Arcea.” Olistia said, her brow furrowing more and more. “You worked successfully for one job, and even now I worry if you can see it to completion – whether you’ll flounder or not at Ember Summit.”

 

The Gardevoir paused, her teeth gritting, that fire in her eyes burning hotter and hotter.

 

“I watched Richard grow from a boy of six to a man, right until the day he was taken…in something I very much suspect was no random act.” Olistia said. “When it came time for you, I told myself I wouldn’t get attached. You’d be a tool, you’d do a job and I’d send you home. I made you into what you were when you dropped into Arcea. I hand picked you from dozens and dozens of humans. Four years I spent tweaking and working on you. And yet, despite what I told myself…”

 

She sucked a breath through her teeth.

 

“I failed. Still here I stand and I fret over what you think of me. Like a son? Like a friend? Maybe I see too much of Richard in you, Avery.” Olistia hissed. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself to you, nor feel the need to…and yet…yet…”

 

Olistia stopped herself. She took in a deep breathe, recomposing herself. Her hands returned behind her back.

 

“It’s long too late. ‘Nobody has to die’, you say? Poke’mon are already dead. From beggars in the street, to workers, to soldiers…to Richard. Many more shall follow…and it’s now my job to decide who.”

 

Her eyes narrowed. Her frowned deepened.

 

“There is no hope. I aim to create hope.”

 

…After all that, Avery’s response was simple.

 

He stood up. Wiped at his mouth.

 

“…So do I.”

 

Something changed in the air.

 

 

An electricity that wasn’t there before.

 

Where once Olistia had towered over him…

 

…now Avery stood. He stood tall across the banquet hall from her.

 

So little was said. Yet…

 

 

…she knew what Avery meant.

 

For a long moment, the electrifying atmosphere stayed, crackling, heating the world. Avery could feel the pinpricks running up his back.

 

At last, came Olistia’s response.

 

“I wish things could have been different. In another time. A better time.” She said. “But the world has made us how we are, Avery.”

 

Her gaze broke from him. She turned and began to walk, her tapping footsteps echoing over the the empty building.

 

Two days.

 

In two days, the Guild would be deployed the Ember summit.

 

In two days would come the battle for the final pearl.

 

Even after Olistia was gone and Avery was the only one left in the banquet hall, standing there with ice in his throat, with the sound of Jolvia’s corpse collapsing onto the stage echoing in his mind…Avery felt a new coat of steel covering himself.

 

“…It’s not too late, Olistia,” He said quietly, uncaring if she’d somehow be able to hear it. She didn’t need to.

 

It was a promise to himself.

 

---

 

Nighttime had come. With it, a deep, cold wind.

 

The scene outside the Arkinon Vo Cenur Vort was chaotic. Nobles screamed indignantly as they were loaded onto carts like cattle under escort by the guard and soldiers. A sizeable crowd had begun to watch from afar.

 

Avery could see the fear in their eyes as they watched the Conveytion be wheeled off back to their homes for house arrest.

 

The electric atmosphere between he and Olistia felt as though it now permeated the entire city.

 

Elites moved quickly, their billowing white cloaks flowing behind them as they kept the streets clear just behind wherever Olistia was going tonight. The guards were on high alert, marching up and down the streets in two by two formations. The windows of different apartments and buildings closed and the lights within were snuffed out. Every beggar and tramp was wise to make themselves scarce in the market district tonight.

 

The Plusle’s gaze was focused.

 

Normally, he’d stop to talk to someone in the crowd. Try and allay their fears. Tell them that things weren’t as bad as they seemed.

 

…But now, he couldn’t do that. He wanted them to see what they were doing – Elites, loading these screaming people into carts. Elites, acting like…like gleeful opportunists.

 

Elites that had been hanging around Vizon day in and day out recently.

 

‘I have to save him.’

 

Avery made eye contact with a few people in the crowd, though at this point he wasn’t sure what kind of emotion he wanted to convey to them. Just…that he wasn’t with them. He wasn’t part of the Elite. He didn’t want this.

 

The road to the Arceali Guild was short. Naught but a few streets from the Arkinon Vo Cenur Vort.

 

Even here, in front of the guild hall, there was an unusual presence of guards stood here, monitoring the bridge leading up to Castle Arceali. Multiple carriages were converging on the castle, elites and soldiers and others returning…and likely one of those carriages held Jolvia.

 

Just outside the guild, Avery could see two figures stood outside, watching the carriages and guards curiously – An Eevee and a Piplup. Avery arrived at the front, and stopped in front of Nivanee and Kipuuna.

 

Nivanee watched the passing elites with perked ears. The line of fluttering cape-clad Poke’mon marched seemingly endlessly toward the castle, with carriages in tow.

 

Kipuuna was the first to see the Plusle as he approached.

 

“Avery-??” The Piplup’s voice squeaked. He ran up to Avery at once. “We heard a big commotion from somewhere like…people yelling. Now all of a sudden there’s a bunch of elites and soldiers on the move-“

 

“Something is really wrong…” Nivanee muttered, her eyes tracing the crowd. Her eyes then fell to Avery…looking more that a little relieved. “Avery, thank goodness you’re back. I was getting a little worried after not seeing you all day. Vizon said he saw you but…then we heard…”

 

“All that.” Kipuuna said, waving his flipper.

 

Indeed, Avery could hear echoing shouts coming from the direction he had just came. The Piplup sighed again.

 

“Did you see anything? Where’ve you been all night??” Kipuuna asked hurriedly.

 

The Plusle took a breath, looking them over.

 

“… Olistia killed Jolvia and started a civil war,” Avery said simply. “There’s… More to it than that, but… We should get inside.”

 

He looked to the white robes around.

 

“… It isn’t safe out here.”

 

“Wh-what…?” Kipuuna stammered. He seemed to go pale. Meanwhile…Nivanee’s brow only furrowed and a look of disbelief crossed her face.

 

“What do you mean she killed Jolvia-!?” Nivanee snapped, nearly shoving Kipuuna aside and getting up in front of Avery. “Jolvia? Our Jolvia is-!?”

 

She stopped. Her eyebrows raised. Kipuuna backed up. There was a fluttering noise behind Avery. Powerful footsteps.

 

“Golly, whatcha talkin’ about, buddy?” A familiar, chipper voice cooed. “The streets couldn’t possibly be safer!”

 

Avery knew who it was.

 

 

The Whimsicott loomed behind him.

 

Avery flinched. The look of fear on his face upon hearing that voice was…Hopefully noticeable.

 

‘SHE. WAS. THERE.’ Avery managed to silently mouth to Kipuuna and Nivanee. Nivanee’s eyebrows furrowed, reading the Plusle’s lips. Her expression twisted into some mix of dumbfounded horror and confusion.

 

Avery didn’t waste any time turning around to face the Elite.

 

“It’s just… A little unnerving seeing so many guards around.” The Plusle replied to Vinae with a little waver in his voice. “I’m… Just shaken. After tonight. A-a lot happened.”

 

Avery could feel Vinae’s hand rest on his shoulder. Grip it tightly. Almost painfully. The Whimsicott elite looked down at him with a wide smile.

 

“Whatcha so shaken for? The big, strong elites have eeeverything taken care of! We made the Conduit happy, bagged the bad guy, and all in time for dinner!” She said merrily.

 

She squeezed Avery’s shoulder again.

 

“V-Vinae?” Kipuuna stammered, looking more and more shaken as he looked out towards the passing guards. Nivanee, however, only kept her hardened stare at the elite. “What’s…what’s happening? Something bad’s happened to Jo-“

 

“Nothing you need to worry about, Kipuuna.” Vinae said at once. Her attention turned to the Eevee, the Whimsicott’s smile widening. “Heeyy…what’s with the long face, sourpuss?”

 

Nivanee remained silent. The elite took no notice.

 

“Well hey, gang! What’s say we get inside the Guild. I got some big news to share with everybody!” Vinae cheered, lightly shoving Avery towards the guild entrance. Avery yelped at the sudden push, stumbling from the strike towards the stairs. He tried to connect eyes with Nivanee and Kipuuna – he had hoped to tell them the rest of the story on his own terms, but…

 

…it seemed that that wasn’t going to happen.

 

This guild wasn’t safe anymore.

 

Nivanee frowned…but complied. Kipuuna was stammering, the weight of what Avery had said starting to crash on him with no help or explanation given, he could only waddle after Avery and Nivanee, with Vinae following behind the three of them.

 

“Let’s go see Sarfallinus.” Vinae said…commanded…in her chipper tone.

 

The Elite’s footsteps thundered behind the three as they entered and descended the stairs. The air was tense, though Kipuuna didn’t seem to notice. Nivanee was silent, her eyes cast downwards and her brow furrowed.

 

Vinae pounced.

 

“What’s up, Nivi?” The Whimsicott’s oily voice cooed. “You’re usually so hap-hap-happy seeing your old guildie, Vinae. Golly, ain’t it nice to see family?”

 

Nivanee’s eyes flared. Her mouth snarled but still she remained silent.

 

The Whimsicott only chuckled behind Avery as they reached the Guild hall. The lights were dimmed, only the candles from the walls shone any light.

 

Sarfallinus stood there with the other guild members. In the room were yet more white-cloaked Poke’mon. And among them buzzed Estaloni who seemed to be talking to the guild master…harshly.

 

“Heeeey everybody!” Vinae’s voice called from behind Avery. “We’re baaack~!”

 

The Infernape guildmaster lifted his head. His look of anger and confusion was clear on his face. Avery looked up at the guildmaster.

 

Sarfallinus…someone who Avery had hated at first, but…then had come to respect just as quickly. Someone who he desired greatly to speak with – in private, now. Avery hoped that was still possible.

 

Beside the Guildmaster, Loshjno, Ganisus, and Lahnae stood close.

 

But not Vizon.

 

“Vinae? What now?” Sarfallinus demanded sharply. “You’d best explain why the elites’r rounding up my guildmembers at this hour-“

 

“Correction – Olistia’s guildmembers.” Vinae said, snappy but still laced with faux-chipperness. “And you would do well to remember such, Guildmaster.”

 

Avery felt another push to urge him up by the Guildmaster. Nivanee grit her teeth, bounding forward as though to protect her guild. Kipuuna was right up on Ganisus, clinging to the Shinx for dear life. Avery stumbled forwards, almost tripping over himself to stand next to Sarfallinus. Sarfallinus’s hand was next to rest on Avery’s shoulder at once.

 

The Infernape’s grip was strong and protective…even as it shook.

 

“Alrighty~!” Vinae said, clapping her hands together. At her sides came Shantai the Chandelure and Equiros the Archeops. Tall, imposing Poke’mon in white surrounded the whole guild. “We’re ready to start briefing.”

 

“Briefing?” Sarfallinus growled. “A mission? Weren’t we-“

 

“Ah, ah!  No interrupting!” Vinae said, waggling her finger as though a parent scolding a child. “If you were wanting us to go over the normal planning and briefing procedures – so-rryyyy~! The elites are heading this and further operations until further notice. I’m afraid there’s been questions from a bunch of Elite higher-ups about your competency, Guildmaster. Y’don’t mind taking a backseat for this one, do ya~?”

 

“Do I mi-?!”

 

“Greeeat~!” Vinae interrupted again with a clap of her hands.

 

“Vinae, please-” Sarfallinus pleaded, though kept his voice strong as he towered over his guild members. “I trained you and your team! I was your guild master for years-“

 

“I graduated under you, Sarfallinus.” Vinae snapped, her voice harsh and smile unmoving. “I trained under your father. And you will never be half the Poke’mon Karniqus was.”

 

Sarfallinus fell silent. The Whimsicott’s smile widened.

 

“Okie dokie, everybody~! I’m sure we’re going to have a swell bunch of missions together!” Vinae said, taking out a stack of cards to read from. “Is everybody ready to start~?”

 

Avery brought a hand up, and grasped Sarfallinus’s fingers on his shoulder. The Plusle’s gaze stayed stony, forward.

 

But he squeezed ever so slightly. Avery just hoped that the message was clear.

 

‘I’m loyal to you.’

 

…Avery didn’t respond to Vinae.

 

…but Nivanee did.

 

“Wait.”

 

Vinae’s eyes lifted from her cards slowly. Her smile, though it hadn’t moved an inch, seemed all the more menacing…but the Eevee did not back down.

 

“Where’s Vizon?” Nivanee demanded.

 

“…Vizon?” Vinae tilted her head.

 

The Whimsicott was quiet, only smiling at the question. Her smile grew wider. For the first time ever Avery saw a different smile on her, briefly, one malicious and ugly as it seem to revel in the question before receding back to her normal faux-pleasant smile.

 

“He’s with us.” Vinae replied. “Being briefed separately.”

 

“What is he, like…not coming?” Ganisus drawled suspiciously, though Kipuuna silently hushed him out of fear.

 

“Of course not, silly billy.” Vinae said. “Team Ganusi and all you guys are off to Ember Summit…Vizon’s going with the other Elites to Crumbling Shrine for the Thunder Pearl.”

 

“Wait what?! Ember Summit??” Lahnae shouted. “The Thunder Pearl?! We’re still on about that Pearl stuff?? I thought we were safe and stalemated.”

 

“Oh oopsie, I said stuff out of order~!” The Whimsicott giggled to her teammates who laughed with her.

 

“…Olistia…recovered…information of where the Thunder Pearl is,” Avery said, his eyes shooting to Kipuuna and Nivanee, “…during Deshuuna’s banquet. Through Jolvia.”

 

‘I’d have to explain that later. Everything. Later.’

 

“Olistia was not satisfied with a stalemate. With the pearls. Or with the nobles.” Avery finished.

 

“Yep-a-rooni~! Olistia wants the pearls so we’re gunna get the pearls!” Vinae cheered! “And we always wanna do what makes Olistia happy, riiight?”

 

“I-I…?” Kipuuna stammered, looking to the others. Lahnae and Nivanee only squinted their eyes hatefully at the elite.

 

“Aw, c’mon guys, I need a lil more pep than that! C’mon, show some guild spirit! Yaaay~!”

 

A deathly silence permeated the room. Vinae’s smile thinned a little.

 

“Sheesh, Sarfallinus, you run an awful guild here. Look what’s happened to these kids – I remember back when I was in the guild…if a big, cool Elite asked that question we’d all jump for joy and say ‘yeah we sure do wanna make Olistia happy!!”. Vinae’s gaze fell down onto Nivanee. “You remember that, Nivi~? Janus used to shout it louder than aaaanyone else~! That girl was so cute.”

 

Nivanee sneered. Vinae ignored it.

 

“So~! That’s the plan: Bunch of elites are going out to Crumbling Shrine with Vizon.” Vinae said, flipping a card. “Aaaand the rest of the guild is going with…us! Team Ganusi~! Up to Ember Summit with the rest of the Army to lock down the Fire Pearl.”

 

Lahnae hissed.

 

“Then the good guys will finally have all the Pearls! Won’t that be nice?” Vinae gave another ‘encouraging’ cheer, once again met with silence.

 

“…Why is Vizon not going with the rest of the guild?” Avery asked, knowing the spirit of what the answer would be already. “He’s part of Team Azure, still. Isn’t he?”

 

“Why else~?” Vinae wasted no time in answering. “Because he’s special, Avery. Just like you~!”

 

The other guild members glanced in Avery’s direction before looking back to the Whimsicott who was already flipping to the next card…and the next talking point.

 

“…He…he sure is, isn’t he…?” Avery said, almost mournfully. His ears dipped.

 

‘Olistia’s a definite maybe, Avery. These Elites are too far gone. But…you can still save Vizon. It’s not going to be easy. It’s not going to be guaranteed. But you can save him from this machine.

 

Don’t give up.’

 

“Now, next up, some new orders for you, Estaloni.” Vinae said next. The Ledian didn’t look surprised, merely fluttering up.

 

“Go on, new quota from Olistia?” Estaloni said to the Whimsicott.

 

“You got it! Sarfallinus officially has until the end of next month to sign on a minimum five more teams~! Elites need the fresh blood, after all!” Vinae said cheerfully, handing the Ledian a card. “You just keep Sarfallinus on track and report back to Olistia if he starts acting up again, ‘kay~?”

 

“Of course. Give Olistia my regards.” Estaloni said with a nod.

 

Just behind Avery…his could feel Sarfallinus’s body heat flare up at the news.

 

“Alrighty, and to cap it all off…guess what guys~?” Vinae threw her hands up in another faux-cheer. “You all got new roommates~!”

 

“…You don’t mean…?” Ganisus huffed.

 

“Yuppers~! We’re gunna be staying in the guild for a while!! Ain’t it swell?” Vinae grinned excitedly. “That way you all can be nice n’ close to your favorite Guildie-Graduates, Vinae, Shantai and Equiros~!”

 

The guild members shifted uncomfortably.

 

…Avery gave another little squeeze of Sarfallinus’s hands at the news.

 

‘We are guild. We are together.

 

We won’t let anyone else slip through the cracks. Not anymore.’

 

“Okie dokes, gang! We move out day after tomorrow, soooo-” Vinae clapped her hands together once more. “Get lots of rest, wake up bright and early…and remember-!

 

The Whimsicott leaned forward, her smile growing into a big toothy grin.

 

“Biiiiig smiles~!” She cheered merrily.

 

Nobody responded.

 

Vinae leaned back, lifting her head to look at the other elites that surrounded the group. She flicked her head, likely signaling for the others to head back to the castle to prepare for the assault on the Crumbling Shrine.

 

But the guild members couldn’t breathe easy, for Team Ganusi stayed behind. The Whimsicott leader looked to her team.

 

“Alriiight~! Shantai, you mind staying here? Equiros, grab the bags. I’m gunna go pick us out a room!”

 

“Yeah, whatever.” The Chandelure shrugged, doing a little spin in place before floating off to stand watch over the guild by the stairs. The Archeops followed, vanishing up the stairs while Vinae passed by the huddled group of guild members.

 

“How about…fourth door on the left~?” Vinae said, glancing over at Sarfallinus. “I’m sure whoever was in there before won’t mind if I clean it up a bit.”

 

She didn’t wait for a reply. With a swing of her white cape Vinae moved towards the dorms and once she vanished from sight…

 

…the guild members had a brief moment alone.

 

Avery stayed silent.

 

His hand fell from Sarfallinus’s.

 

“…We’re guild, right?” Avery said quietly, looking to the others. To Sarfallinus and his guildmates. They all looked back silently. “…and guild sticks together.”

 

Avery couldn’t speak freely, not here. This was the best he could do.

 

Nivanee pressed into the Plusle immediately.

 

Then Lahnae.

 

Kipuuna looked on in confusion as Loshjno stepped in next but followed as Ganisus closed in as well.

 

A warmth wrapped around them all.

 

The Infernape knelt down. Sarfallinus silently put his arms around the tiny guild.

 

No words were spoken.

 

But the promise was made.

 

“…I’ll fill you in when I can,” Avery said quietly. “Niv…if I don’t get the chance soon, you should…tell Sarfallinus about me. Everything. Everyone else is on the same page, he should be, too.”

 

Avery cast a glance up to the Guildmaster.

 

“…I just…haven’t had the chance to tell you myself yet.”

 

Avery took a breath, casting a quick look at the Elite standing guard. He had to be quick. They could interrupt any minute.

 

“Something happened at that banquet,” Avery hissed. “Olistia’s waging war.”

 

And with that, the Plusle leaned back, to standing at attention.

 

Sarfallinus nodded solemnly.

 

“I figured…” The Infernape whispered quietly. “…I wondered when she’d go and do it…”

 

At once he stood as well, everyone looking up at their Guildmaster for guidance. And he did everything he could to provide it.

 

“Guild…we have our orders and we’ll need to perform it to the best of our ability.” He said, hands behind his back. “Imposition or not, let’s do our best to accommodate our…guests…and my office door is always open. To any of you.”

 

Everyone nodded. The Infernape cast Avery a glance specifically for a moment before returning it to the others.

 

“…Vizon…is special,” Avery said, casting a look to the others. “Like Vinae said….Almost…as special…as I am-“

 

The rest of the guild knew about him. Lahnae knew everything.

 

Avery was stressed beyond belief, and he couldn’t speak freely.

 

Lahnae nodded, understanding fully. The others looked to each other, seemingly confused. Lahnae seemed to have not said a word to any of them yet.

 

Nivanee was the first to speak.

 

“Don’t worry, Avery.” The Eevee said. “We’ll be sure to talk to him, tonight or tomorrow, whenever we can get ahold of him. He’s gunna be okay.”

 

“Yeah, he’s-” Lahnae’s voice tripped…but she recovered. “No matter what else…he’s still guild. Always.”

 

“I don’t get it, what have we missed??” Kipuuna hissed quietly, looking over his shoulder. “All of a sudden, out of nowhere, elites start showing up and taking the place over, guards on the move…Jolvia dead, I-?!”

 

“…what?” Lahnae’s voice got real low. Loshjno put a hand on her shoulder.

 

“Sh, not here.” The Squirtle said. “Jolvia is fine. Probably dazed but fine.”

 

“Avery said she’s dead-” The Eevee was interrupted.

 

“Avery exaggerates.” Loshjno hissed, motioning for Nivanee to keep her voice down. “Now’s not the time…”

 

He paused, looking around the guild.

 

“…We need a Group Therapy Session.” The Squirtle said, definitively.

 

“…Loshjno’s right…on both counts,” Avery said carefully, looking to Nivanee. “…I’m sorry-“

 

‘Control your voice. Keep it down.’

 

…thump.

 

“I’m sorry I…exaggerated-” Avery sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve just been through a lot. A therapy session should do me some wonders-“

 

He paused.

 

‘What about Sarfallinus…? Would we be able to get him in? If we were in this together, he should…probably be on the same page as us, right…?’

 

The Infernape, however, lifted his head to look across the guild hall, towards Shantai, then back down to the group.

 

“Well, I know how your group meetings are between ya’ll…” Sarfallinus said to the guild members, keeping his voice casual with a pat on Avery’s shoulder. It was clear what he meant – the guild master being a part of it would raise suspicion. It would likely already be a monitored session of some kind. “Just remember: My door is open”

 

“Of course, Guild master.” Loshjno said with a smile. “We know where to find you if we need you…”

 

Nivanee took a deep breath, pressing herself into Sarfallinus’s leg, her tail curling around it. The Infernape did his best to keep his composure as the guild began to break.

 

Loshjno nodded to Avery, Lahnae and Kipuuna.

 

“Alright, guys. Chairs and table. No food this time, we’re doing an off-the-cuff meeting. That fine?” The Squirtle asked. His eyes glanced to the Shinx. “Ganisus. You and Kipuuna have any paper in your room?”

 

“Huh? Uh, I guess.”

 

“Alright. Let’s just meet up and…gather our thoughts.” Loshjno said.

 

Avery nodded slowly.

 

‘This might be the only time that we’ll really have to get everything going. This…this really was starting to feel like we’re falling down that bottomless pit again.

 

And we’re only picking up speed.’

 

Avery followed the others to the storage room and took one chair in each hand. As he walked for the meeting room….Avery cast a final look to the fourth door on the left. He could see it was propped wide open…and, no doubt conveniently for Vinae, across the hall from Aquashock’s room where the meeting was being held.

 

‘I’ll remember you, Richard. I promise.’

 

No change in routine. Keep it casual.

 

Looking at that room…Team Infinity’s Room…was strange in that it was fully lit now. All the candles and lanterns were alight with life that seemed so alien for the forgotten room.

 

From glancing at the inside Avery could see the drawer was opened and everything was taken out and on the bed which was already made. The desk was moved…the brick was removed, unsurprisingly, and everything within taken and also on the bed.

 

And there, sitting in a chair, feet kicked up on a stool…

 

The Whimsicott sat, staring out the open door, smiling and watching as Avery passed.

 

Listening intently.

 

‘Why even keep up appearances?’ Avery thought bitterly. ‘We know what you’re doing.

 

I just…have to hope that Loshjno has thought of something for this. He’s smart. He knows that the fourth door on the left was opposite Aquashock’s.

 

…If not, we’ll have to keep talking in code. Which I am not looking forward to.’

 

But Avery brought the chairs into Aquashock’s room, set them up, and waited for everyone else.

 

…Just out of view of the door. He didn’t want to feel Vinae watching him-

 

Loshjno arrived next and propped open Aquashock’s door, making no attempt at privacy. The Squirtle kept a neutral expression as he willingly gave Vinae a front-row seat to their therapy session.

 

Lahnae and Kipuuna came in with the chairs whilst Nivanee and Ganisus helped with the table, getting everything into Aquashock’s bedroom and moving everything out of the way to make space.

 

Soon, the room was set up. The circle of chairs surrounded the table. Everyone began nestling into their chairs while Loshjno lingered by one of the bookshelves.

 

Then, as everyone sat down, Loshjno approached the table, his hands clasped calmly together as he sat down. The Squirtle’s chair was opposite the door – he’d be the one looking Vinae dead in the face.

 

In the center of the table he had placed a pitcher of water, wood cups and napkins…

 

“Alright…shall we began?” Loshjno said, getting comfortable. “Sorry I couldn’t sprig for anything besides water. And, ah, make sure you use your napkins – I don’t want this table to get ruined since we just bought it.”

 

Everyone watched Loshjno as he reached forward and grabbed two napkins, setting them both on the table in front of him. He then grabbed a cup…

 

…and tipped it over one of the napkins. A small piece of black graphite fell out and silently landed on the napkin. Wordlessly, he was already reaching for the pitcher of water to fill his cup.

 

The others only looked for a second…before also grabbing their own napkins and cups, each dumping a piece of graphite out from the cups – one piece for each attendee.

 

“So, I know it hasn’t been too long but a lot has happened and I feel like we need to get some feelings off our chests.” Loshjno said as he handed the pitcher over to Lahnae. He paused, taking a sip of water with his left hand as his right hand quickly wrote on the second napkin, deftly passing it to Avery.

 

---

Write here – Lahnae will burn and swallow ashes after meeting. Pass along.

---

 

Avery looked down at the note.

 

His eyes bulged. This-

 

This was his plan. He…

 

“So let’s go around the table and see what we’ve been up to.” The Squirtle said, glancing across the table. “Lahnae? How was the camping trip?”

 

Avery looked up to Loshjno, eyes wide with mild panic.

 

‘I don’t know how to write-‘ the Plusle managed to mouth towards him.

 

Avery shook his head, and began trying to draw.

 

A basic picture of… What Avery tried to make a young Vizon. A No-sign over two stick figures standing over a small one.

 

He… hoped that’d be mean ‘parents’.

 

Then, a drawing of Olistia extending hands, wiggly lines… to a Vizon with swirled eyes, with thought bubbles of the guild with hearts, and angels and demons – good guy/bad guy stuff.

 

‘…there’s other stuff but I’ll… Have to tell them about that later.

 

What…Jolvia taught me.’

 

The drawings were very, very cartoony. But… It’d have to do. Lahnae would have to fill in the blanks.

 

Discreetly, Avery tried to pass it on, giving a cringing expression of apology as he did.

 

 

Kipuuna took the note with a nod…and began writing with his free hand, swirling the glass of water with his off-hand.

 

“Oh it went good!” Lahnae said, trying to keep her eyes off the paper being passed around. “Aves and I went up through tall woods to get to Rocky Hills.”

 

“Mmm…and did you get into any trouble on the way there~?” Loshjno poked cheekily. “You did watch out for Meowth trees, didn’t you?”

 

“Yeah I…hit one trying to climb up an abandoned building.”

 

Nivanee was scribbling idly with a paw, which proved very difficult due to being a quadruped, but she wanted to make sure she kept talking.

 

“Oh no way, did you come across one of those old villages out there?” Nivanee asked, subtly passing the paper to Ganisus.

 

“Yeah! Still had the furniture in it and everything!” Lahnae’s eyes flicked down as the paper was passed to her. It was clear she wouldn’t be able to focus on writing and talking at the same time. She looked back up at Avery, starting him off to give herself enough breathing room to write. “Ain’t that right, Aves? Remember all the stuff we did on the way there?”

 

“Yeah, I do,” Avery said, trying his best to recall the memory, and…bring his mood back up. He looked to the others. “We had a race to get to the top of one of the buildings, she almost won, but…she hit a branch and fell down at the last second.”

 

He laughed a little.

 

“… It was a really nice trip, though. After everything that…that Vizon and I went through on the island, it… It was refreshing.”

 

He looked out the window.

 

“… I’m…I’m worried though. I still want to stay close with him, you know…? But… But I’m afraid I’m losing him.”

 

‘Have to keep this therapy session normal sounding…’

 

“I understand, Avery…but he does still seem to like you.” Nivanee said warmly.

 

Avery heard a creak come from Team Infinity’s room. Vinae whispering to Equiros.

 

“He told me about that birthday party you both went to~!” The Eevee cooed. “You two sound like you had so much fun. Glad to hear you two are doing better as friends…”

 

At last, the paper came back to Avery:

 

---

???

 

𝑮𝒖𝒚𝒔, 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 – 𝑵𝒊𝒗

 

𝚗𝚘 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚟𝚒𝚣𝚘𝚗. 𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝚗𝚘 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎

 

𝘕𝘰: 𝘈 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘷𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦. 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺. 𝘯𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦.

 

Empty? Empty like absolutely nothing in it?

---

 

“Yeah, man, I think Vizon’ll be fine.” Ganisus hummed whilst Avery read the paper. “…sorta seems like breaking up’s the best thing that’s happened to you two.”

 

“… Yeah” Avery said, frowning as he began looking at the words.

 

He couldn’t even copy the ones he knew to make sentences because they morphed into English-

 

“… Yeah. He and I weren’t good as… Boyfriends. But- he and I…we’re still meant for each other in some way or another. I…I wish he could have come to Ember Summit with us.”

 

Avery started drawing again, circling ‘fake’. Crossing out ’empty’.

 

‘I’d… Have to come back to it. Another drawing.’

 

Jolvia with a stereotypical Thieves’ guild schism sigil, being levitated in front of Olistia, and a formless crowd.

 

There was… More nuance to that, but he couldn’t draw it.

 

Then… Jolvia collapsed. Dead.

 

And a small seed, leaving Jolvia alive and caged.

 

With the same swirled eyes.

 

…Avery was starting to think he knew why she killed Jolvia.

 

 

As Avery passed the napkin to Kipuuna he could see the Piplup give a silent sigh of deep relief before he began scribbling, taking another sip of water at the same time.

 

“Well, hey!” Nivanee said encouragingly. “I’m sure he’s super excited. After all, working with the elites must be a dream come true for him. Moving up so fast from being starstruck working with us, huh?”

 

“Honestly…? I hope he’s alright by himself.” Kipuuna sighed, shuffling the paper over to Nivanee. “I mean I guess he’s with the elites – that’s probably safer than being with us since they’re more experienced.”

 

“And he’s going over to…Crumbling Shrine, yeah??” Lahnae said with a puff of embers. “For the Thunder Pearl? They found it??”

 

“Lucky you, Lahnae.” Ganisus drawled as he wrote on the napkin next. “I wonder if they’ll count it as a delayed mission accomplished for Team Spade.”

 

“Oh shut up, jerk.” Lahnae laughed, punching the shinx in the arm…which made him mess up a letter. Ganisus passed the note, and Lahnae looked up again. “So what do you know about where we’re going, Avery?”

 

“Ember Summit?” The Plusle sighed, shaking his head. “Nothing but the name. From the sound of it…it’s… Tall. And hot.”

 

He grimaced a bit.

 

“… Right?”

 

Lahnae was concentrating on writing and couldn’t reply. Nivanee jumped in to answer immediately, quickly swallowing the water she was drinking and narrowly avoiding coughing on it.

 

“Tall and hot – yes! But also home to a lot of Kessi ruins, too, like in the Lightning Wastes!” Nivanee quickly informed, letting her infodump buy Lahnae precious time to write. “You have Shade Valley, named because it’s under a constant cover of darkness from the smoke plume from Ember Summit. Then you also have Steeljag Bluff, and from there the cozy little canyon city of Steeljag! There’s a bunch of little businesses there, the biggest of which being a steel mill that’s been running for well over a century, can you believe it?”

 

There was more muttering coming from Team Infinity’s room as Vinae and Equiros talked silently…but still clearly listening close to the group’s every word.

 

Lahnae huffed a breath, passing the note.

 

“Yeah, I’ve been there once or twice.” Lahnae said at last. “Actually I was just there like a week ago, the day Aves and Vizon went to Yahneri, remember Loshjno?”

 

“Oh yes, I certainly do.” The Squirtle replied, scribbling with one hand and propping his head with the other as if reminiscing. “We were to go to the Steeljag Money Market Trading company to get approval to search the town for suspected Thieves Guild activity.”

 

“They were so rude, but I guess it makes sense considering what we were asking.” The Torchic shrugged.

 

“Well, Olistia has her search warrant either way so I suppose we’ll be collecting on that in two days time.” Loshjno hummed, passing Avery the note:

 

---

𝒪𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝒜𝑅𝒞𝐸𝒰𝒮 𝐼 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝒹???

 

𝑶-𝑲 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅…𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍 𝒊𝒔… -𝑵𝒊𝒗

 

𝚓𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚊 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍. 𝚟𝚒𝚣𝚘𝚗 Y a𝚗d 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚔𝚎. 𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊 𝚑𝚢𝚙𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐?

 

𝘈 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮: 𝘝 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 & 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘠𝘢𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵. 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘝 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘦𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮.

 

I have a theory —

---

 

That was Loshjno’s handwriting.

 

What was written was…

 

---

Do you think Vizon is also a human? Avery, thoughts.

---

 

“She was talking a bit about that at the banquet,” Avery said, taking a small breath of hesitation as he…remembered everything that happened there. He realized he hadn’t been talking. “…It was kind of hard to understand – she was sending a lot of battalions out. I remember her mentioning Steeljag Bluff. A…a lot of stuff going out there. I guess she really wants to be sure we get the Fire Pearl.”

 

Avery looked down at the paper, and circled ‘hypnotism’.

 

Another picture. Him and Jolvia talking about Vizon. Jolvia talking about Vizon and Souljraan’s tower with a checkmark – but with a simple absol and lucario behind him, with a ‘no’ sign around them.

 

‘How do I draw him being a orphan??’

 

Avery checked to make sure he was out of view of the door, and mouthed to Kipuuna again. ‘Orphan’. As clearly as he could.

 

 

Kipuuna squinted at Avery, not understanding what he was trying to mouth. Thankfully Nivanee glanced over just in time and caught it, nodding understandingly. The Piplup shrugged, scribbling on the paper.

 

“Yyyyup, sure sounds like Yahneri Port all over again.” Lahnae huffed with a small laugh. “Can’t believe she’s being allowed to spend so much money on the military.”

 

There was a polite cough from Team Infinity’s room. Lahnae frowned, stopping at once.

 

“Well…this time I’m sure the army is there primarily to immediately take down the monster that’ll come up from the Pearl.” Nivanee posited. “The last two times we were caught off guard by the monster showing up but this time maybe we’ll be able to knock it down before it even fires a shot anywhere near Steeljag.”

 

“Oh well HECK YEAH!!” Lahnae fluttered her wings. “With all of us there that thing ain’t gunna know what HIT EM.”

 

“But uhhh…if they refused a Thieves Guild inspection…wouldn’t that mean they have Thieves Guild already there?” Ganisus asked simply. “So they got a headstart on us…cuz they’re right there.”

 

“Ohhh, I wouldn’t worry about that.” Loshjno chimed in as Ganisus passed the slip. “From what I understand it’s only Xamao’s little band of hooligans that’s after the Pearls and the rest of the Thieves Guild isn’t on board. If Steeljag is housing shell companies loyal to the Thieves Guild, well…they certainly wouldn’t have anything to do with Xamao. Yaja trading and some Poke’mon trafficking sure, but not a crusade for magical artifacts – Xamao is a muscle, not a business man.”

 

“Yeah, I don’t think we’ll need to worry about that,” Avery said, a sad smile on his face.

 

Jolvia…she was for the Santurini Guild.

 

Avery wanted to visit her really badly, but…unfortunately, with the city swarming with guards, he wasn’t sure when the next chance he would get would be…

 

He just had to be patient.

 

“Now, I’m sure we’re all prepared for that.” Loshjno continued, taking the note as it was passed to him and writing quickly as he spoke. “And just so we air out our feelings and don’t bottle anything in: how do we feel about our guild guests?”

 

It was a dangerous topic. Avery could hear the little shift from Team Infinity’s room. But it was clear Loshjno didn’t want the discussion to seem too casual and too much of exactly what Vinae would want to hear – mask deception with uncomfortable honesty to make Vinae think her brazen spying was paying off.

 

Nivanee caught it immediately, sighing and glancing back out the door.

 

“If I have to be honest…” Nivanee said as Loshjno passed Avery the note. “I’m uncomfortable. And not just because it feels like the guild’s been taken over – Team Ganusi were my friends and…it hurts seeing them act like this, somewhat.”

 

---

𝒜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝑒. 𝐼𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝒶𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒱𝒾𝓏𝑜𝓃 𝒾𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝒮𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒿𝓇𝒶𝒶𝓃?

 

𝑯𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒅 ‘𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒏’. 𝑱𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝑽𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒋𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒏 – 𝑵𝒊𝒗

 

𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚛𝚙𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚓𝚛𝚊𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍? 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚢𝚙𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚖?

 

𝘺𝘦𝘴. 𝘈 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 ‘𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦’.

 

ok – let’s figure out how to tell him & what we’re doing tomorrow. Ganusi will watch us in the guild if together. Write meetings for tomorrow. Place + time.

---

 

‘God I wish I could write-‘ Avery thought to himself.

 

He didn’t like the word ‘fake’. Made it sound like Vizon was fooling then. Like he was lying.

 

‘…he’s more of a victim than we are.’

 

Avery furrowed his brow, trying to think. He wanted to talk to Vizon, see if…if he could help at all. But not only did Avery have to dance around the new ‘guildies’, he also had to figure out how to make all this information palatable to Vizon.

 

Avery shook his head and just passed it along. He couldn’t really specify time and date with his pictures very easy anyway.

 

“It doesn’t feel good. And that quota on new teams… She put it like ‘fresh new blood’. Isn’t that…doesn’t that unnerve anyone?” Avery sighed. “Maybe I’m just paranoid.”

 

Avery didn’t know if he could say it out loud. But…he was sure they were all on the same page. Even if five new teams get added, they wouldn’t leave a single one behind.

 

…Avery just…hoped they wouldn’t leave Vizon, too.

 

He looked to Lahnae.

 

“You got a new subordinate recently, right? Do you think that counts…?”

 

“Subordinates don’t count~!” Vinae’s voice merrily trilled from Team Infinity’s room, making Lahnae wince.

 

Loshjno heaved a sigh, one mirrored by Kipuuna who raked his flipper through his head fluff.

 

“I mean…’fresh blood’ is just an expression, right?” Ganisus cocked an eyebrow, looking to Nivanee.

 

“It has been awhile since there were any new teams…” Nivanee sighed…though it was a fake sigh, she didn’t concede anything as she deftly wrote. “I just don’t like the idea of a quota for new members…I thought Sarfallinus accepted based on quality, not just quantity…you know?”

 

“What, you gunna be jealous if a bunch of teams get in free when we all had to earn it?” Ganisus asked bluntly, to which Nivanee shot him a little glare.

 

“No, that’s not it, of course-!” Nivanee snapped as Ganisus wrote on the parchment.

 

“Woah, Nivanee…” Loshjno cooed, as though trying to calm her down.

 

“Well-! I just didn’t like the assertion on my character…!!” Nivanee said sharply…but Avery could hear it in her voice: it was an act. A fake fight. A theater of disorder among the guild. “I love my guildmates, however they got in! Did I get angry that you and Lahnae got in after failing most of your tests?!”

 

“Hey-!” Lahnae took the lead in, nodding at Nivanee’s wink. “I take offense to that! Loshjno and I worked really hard to get where we are!”

 

“And you’ve still nothing to show for it.” Kipuuna seethed though Avery could see him trying to suppress a smile.

 

“Kipuuna, that was a bit out of line.” Loshjno retorted, his brow knitting. Being the one directly facing Vinae, he put on the best show of all, even as he was passed the note.

 

“Come on, guys,” Avery said, pumping his hands a little as he tried to soothe them. This time he purposefully put on a more holier-than-thou tone. “We all got in of our own good merits-“

 

This was bait. It was a huge hoopla that both Avery and Vizon were here ordained by Olistia. Sure, the two had earned their place after their first mission. But Avery hoped someone would catch on.

 

…Avery kind of wanted in.

 

“This time is already stressful,” The Plusle sighed. “I don’t want to have to break up another fight between you guys. It, heh, gets a little exhausting after a while~!”

 

A little, purposeful, passive-aggressive sing song lilt at the end. Hopefully that was enough.

 

“Uhh, you’re one to talk, Avery.” Ganisus cocked an eyebrow. “Last I checked you got in scott-free without taking any of the tests.”

 

Nivanee flicked her nose in the air.

 

“Avery, I appreciate the effort but now is not the time for the smug attitutde.” She gave a fake huff. “It’s not funny. It’s not cute. And it’s not helping.”

 

“Nivanee, cut it out-! Why’re you always like this at the slightest little HICCUP, girl, C’MON-!” Lahnae said in a raised voice, clearly coming to her boyfriend’s ‘defense’.

 

“Lahnae, we talked about this: antagonizing doesn’t help anything.” Loshjno tried to act as the mediator on top of Avery’s ‘mediation’.

 

Meanwhile…Kipuuna was trying to not laugh at Avery’s comment that it was ‘exhausting’.

 

The note, at last, came back to Avery:

 

---

𝒢𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓈𝓊𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝑜𝑔𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓃𝑜𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓁. 𝒲𝑒’𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓎 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇 𝐵𝒶𝓏𝒶𝒶𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓅𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝐸𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒾𝓉 – 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝒹𝒶𝓎

 

𝑮𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝑱𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘 — 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒐𝒏. 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆 & 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆. – 𝑵𝒊𝒗

 

𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙺𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚞𝚗𝚊. 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚎’𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕.

 

𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘫𝘰. 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 + 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦. 𝘕𝘰𝘰𝘯, 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵.

 

I’m going to be information gathering at rumor mills in the Lower Market. Will try to find Vizon which will likely put me under heavy supervision once I find him. Come to Lower Market anytime from Noon to Evening – I’ll find you.

---

 

Avery looked up at everyone and nodded, folding up the napkin and passing it along so the others could see where everyone would be.

 

“Okay, we obviously aren’t getting anywhere-” Avery leaned forward so the side of his head could be viewable from the door. He pinched the bridge of his nose and massaged it, as if nursing a headache. “You’re all very stressed, and saying things you don’t mean -“

 

The Plusle gave Ganisus a huff.

 

“I forgive you, by the way-” Avery said. The Shinx gave a small smile, his own facade cracking as Kipuuna struggled to hold his laugh in. “So… Why don’t we just…Adjourn this for now, come back when we’re a little more used to this…”

 

Avery glanced to the room across for a moment.

 

Back to the group.

 

“…Occupation…? Unless there’s anything anyone else wants to say?”

 

“I think we’ve said enough.” Kipuuna grumbled, having finally composed himself. He glanced down at all the dates and times on the note and passed it to Nivanee.

 

“Yeah, I…I dunno what happened to us. We used to…-” Nivanee released a choking sob, lowering her head and giving a shuddering sigh – the perfect cover to scan her eyes over the places and times before passing the note.

 

“Just drop it already, Arceus.” Ganisus gruffly said, rolling his eyes until they came to rest on the napkin in front of him. “Avery’s right. We’re not getting anywhere. We never get anywhere.”

 

“I’m not going to give up-!!” Lahnae shot as she got the note. She furrowed her brow…and puffed a little ember on the paper. It didn’t create an open flame, only a small, controlled burning that ate away at the paper. She quickly put a cup over the flame, tilted to let oxygen in but to control the smoke. “I don’t want to give up on any of you guys, but-!”

 

“But we’re just stressed.” Loshjno grumbled, shaking his head. “We can say our apologies tomorrow but for now let’s just give each other a wide berth…and try not to trip over one another when the time comes and we have to work together.”

 

The napkin finished burning. Lahnae tipped the cup and subtly brushed the ashes into it. She filled the cup with water and took a long drink at once, the evidence gone.

 

“Okay?” The Squirtle said, trying to give an encouraging smile.

 

“Alright…” Kipuuna said, smiling at Avery.

 

“Fine.” Nivanee huffed, a smile of her own.

 

“Whatever…” Ganisus said, not smiling but certainly the same sentiment.

 

“Yeah…” Lahnae huffed with a nod.

 

Avery flopped back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling in mock exasperation.

 

“Go teaaaaaaam…” He drawled, even as he couldn’t stop his own smile from creeping onto his face.

 

‘…We’re still in this.

 

Even if I really need to learn how to write.’

 

“Alright then.” Loshjno said with a curt, solemn nod. “Then the meeting is ajourned.”

 

Everyone nodded, slowly getting up from the chairs.

 

The room was warm. Avery felt the buring aura that flowed betwixt them all as they began to exit the room.

 

And there, as they all began to walk out…Avery could see Vinae.

 

The Whimsicott was sitting in that once-empty room across from Aquashock’s – ankles crossed and hands behind her head as she watched the group with a smirk on her face.

 

Equiros stood by her, whispering softly, such that only trained ears could hear

 

“Well well…seems they’re as broken as ever, ey?” The Archeops whispered. Vinae chuckled, leaning over.

 

“That’ll make this easier, huh? Just a dumb bunch of kids as they ever were.”

 

As everyone began to break for their rooms, Avery could see each of the doors were propped open. Nobody would be afforded a closed door tonight.

 

But that didn’t matter.

 

Vinae got up and, followed by Equiros, entered Aquashock’s room as everyone left, starting an inspection immediately, to which Kipuuna and Ganisus only stood aside, pretending to give each other the stink eye.

 

Avery walked a little faster to his own room – lightly shoulder-checking Nivanee as he went. He looked back towards the Eevee, checked to make sure no elites were in the hall.

 

“We can do this,” Avery said, his voice barely a whisper.

 

“A year ago I’d have never’d believed you.” She whispered back with a warm smile on her face.

 

She followed the Plusle closely.

 

The room was empty. No Vizon, he was likely being isolated from them still.

 

Nivanee set her bag on the nightstand, doing her best to still seem casual but haughty at the ‘fight’ that just occured.

 

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Nivanee said aloud, just to seal the act.

 

With the door propped open, Avery could hear everyone else as they shuffled in their rooms, getting ready for bed…

 

…as though they all shared one room.

 

Nivanee hopped onto the bed, snuggling in, opting to face tomorrow as soon as possible.

 

As Avery sat down on the edge of the bed, and let his back flop onto it…despite everything, despite the fear, the memory of Jolvia hitting the stage-

 

There was something new. Or something old. A feeling that returned to Avery, fired through his chest and made him feel warm from his fingers to his paws.

 

‘Seems they’re as broken as ever, ey?

 

Just a dumb bunch of kids.’

 

As Avery drifted off to sleep, he smiled.

 

“… Shows what you know.”

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

[STATE CHECK]

 

>> STAGE: RECALCULATION

>> DESC: ARRTS – ALL REASONING REROUTED TO SELF. [[PRIORITIES / GOALS AND SUCCESS STATES FULLY DISCARDED AND REORGANIZED/REASSESSED]]

 

FAULT AREA:

STAGE: “FAMILY”

> CASCADES TO: “SOCIOCIDE”

> CASCADES TO: “CONSPIRACY”

> CASCADES TO: “INSTABILITY”

 

RECALCULATION OF STAGE CONNECTIONS:

VOID

COMPANIONSHIP

PURPOSE

INAUGURATION

OBSTRUCTION

OBSERVATION

SCHISM

CONCEALMENT

DIVISION

ENCAPSULATION

BONDS

REWARD

WARMTH

RECESSION

 

CURRENT LONG TERM VIABILITY: DESTABLIZED

 

Chapter 47

~

Recalculation

~

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