Chapter 31
"You're awake too, huh?"
It was some undetermined hour of the early morning when Saura's voice rose from across the room.
For yet another night in a row, Char found himself staring at the ceiling of his chamber. No, he couldn't sleep. How could he? With the Temporal Tower expedition only a day away, and with the looming thought that everything he'd ever known was about to be challenged and overturned, it was impossible to relax. As the flames in his stomach violently churned, Char knew this time that he wasn't ill at all; it was only a manifestation of his repressed fear that was making him nauseas and sleepless. Trying to fight it would be hopeless; there was nothing left to do but lay awake, bearing the agony of his racing mind and pounding heart, until the sunrise would come…
Well, almost. This time, at least he had someone to talk to.
Rolling over in bed, Char turned his attention to the source of the voice which had just called to him. Saura returned his gaze from across the room, his weary yet sympathetic eyes gleaming in the blue firelight. Now that he was awake, Char knew he'd struggle against all odds to stay up as long as it took to keep him company. It was a rule he'd established for himself long ago, and as guilty as it made Char feel to see his friend woozy from exhaustion and fighting to keep his eyes open, he could never turn down this gesture of kindness. He appreciated it far too much.
"Yeah," Char replied quietly, peering over the rim of his large nest-like bed. "How'd you know?"
"You were facing the ceiling" Saura said, not repressing a small, weary smile. "You never sleep on your back."
Grunting softly, Char pulled his body up by the rim of his bed and slung himself over it, burying his face into his claws.
"I need to sleep so bad, but I can't," Char groaned. "It's like I'm too scared to sleep. I feel like I'm about to be thrown off a cliff."
"It's discipline," another voice suddenly said, catching Saura and Char by surprise. They both turned to see Ray lying comfortably on his bed with his eyes closed tight, even though it was obvious he wasn't asleep.
"You're awake, too?" Saura laughed in disbelief. "Wow, I wonder how this happened?"
"This is… what happens… when you sleep during the day too much," Ray mumbled. "You get… bad discipline…"
Char suddenly felt like banging his head against a wall. In his bout of self-pity, he'd completely forgotten that they'd slept most of the previous day away, ironically hoping it'd make the time pass faster. Indeed, his insomnia was no fault but his own.
"Somebody has to go down to storage and get us a few Sleep Seeds," Char joked bitterly. "We could use them right about now."
"Storage isn't open," Ray replied. "Besides, seeds don't cure sleeplessness…"
"Hey, Ray," Char said nonchalantly, in hopes a conversation could bring him comfort, "are you worried at all about going to Temporal Tower? You seem… so happy all the time. You don't seem as afraid as… I don't know… me."
"I'm really afraid," Ray admitted, still not moving any part of his body but his mouth. "But I can't whine about it. It wouldn't help anybody if I complained about it. Best thing to do is to get ready and keep trying to smile."
"Maybe it'd help you feel better," Char suggested. "Sometimes your feelings need to be discharged, you know? Kinda like your electricity, I guess. Sometimes you just need to tell someone else how you feel. I know how much it's helped me."
Ray stirred. He opened his eyes and sat upright in his bed, his gaze shifting from Char to Saura.
"Well, you have a right to do that," Ray said softly, surprising Char a little bit. He wasn't used to the Raichu speaking so calmly and straightforward. "You're Char, after all. When dragons start bothering me in my sleep and showing me Poké Balls, and when everything happens to me that's happened to you, then I can have the right to complain. But I'm the one who's supporting you right now, Char. It wouldn't be proper for me to whine about my own problems when I'm helping you with yours… does that make sense at all?"
A moment of silence followed, the gentle roar of Char's fireplaces the only sound filling the air. Char lifted his head and peered about the room, watching the gentle blue glow of the fire dance across the far walls, almost like a personification of the tension that filled the air and flooded his heart. His eyes eventually rested upon Ray, who was now returning his gaze in the same manner Saura was, his own sleepiness and displeasure apparent in his eyes.
Honestly, Char didn't know how to take the reply he'd been given. He'd made it clear the previous day he wanted to be treated as an equal, not as some kind of king or hero. But now, as Ray's words still echoed a sense of inferiority, he wondered if the handshake they'd shared had truly changed anything.
"You know, Ray, you sure know how to take things seriously," Saura commented, breaking the silence.
"Well, when you put it that way," Char replied, settling upon the words he wished to use, "if you ask me, it would make me feel a lot more comfortable to know that my friends share my fear."
"Wrong," Ray said simply, shaking his head. "It's always better to act courageous with a friend than to be cowardly. Being in the company of the confident makes it easier to be confident yourself, and it makes you feel more secure. Just having company for your cowardice doesn't accomplish anything. That's one of the lessons my brother taught me. Imagine if Scythe acted unsure of himself all the time. Do you think we'd feel even half as comfortable with him?"
Char was going to answer with a reluctant "no," but a disturbing thought struck him: Scythe wasn't acting like himself lately, either. Ever since he'd taken the chance – or, perhaps, was taken by chance – to reveal a little of his weakness to Char, something about him had changed. Some part of him was acting unsure of himself. He wasn't getting sleep. His voice wavered at times when speaking about the upcoming expedition. And that lingering, regret-filled glare never disappeared from his eye. Indeed, it was making Char less comfortable in his company.
Could Scythe be sitting awake right now? Char wondered. Is he sleepless, too? Could he be afraid?
"You could be right," Saura said. "But still, it doesn't hurt to be sympathetic. You know what they say, right? Courage isn't the lack of—Char? What's wrong? Where are you going?"
"I don't know," Char muttered, crossing the room and heading for the door. "Maybe upstairs. I haven't decided yet."
After exchanging a concerned glance, Saura and Ray unenthusiastically climbed from their beds and followed behind.
… … …
"I don't understand," Shander said, fretting his claws against the floor, his voice full of sadness and astonishment. "Scythe… what are you planning?"
Scythe stood at the opposite side of the hall, staring shamefully into space… trying not to look his best friend in the eye. Shander stood behind him, saddened and shaken. It was the middle of the night, and the two had retreated around the corner from their team's front door. It was a dark and secluded corner, with only one tiny torch casting a blue tint upon their forms.
"I can't tell you," Scythe said solemnly, drawing another heavy breath and closing his eyes. "I can't tell anyone. Not even Intelligence. If just one Pokémon knew… it could all come crashing down. And after everything that's happened… and everything that's about to happen… I just can't… afford any mistakes. This has to work. Against all odds… it has to work."
A pause hung in the air. Scythe held his breath, yearning to hear his friend's response… while his friend struggled to produce one. He was speechless.
"Scythe…" Shander gasped. "I'm sorry… I don't know what to say. I've always assumed you'd be there. For as long as I've known you, I've always known that you were the only Pokémon who could make this work."
"This team can handle it." Scythe asserted, gritting his teeth and straightening his spine back to its full height. "I did as much as I could. I helped set the stage. Believe me, Shander. If I could have it any different way… I have always factored Basin Canyon into my plans. It was always a top priority. Always. It was my promise. And I never overlook the promises I make."
After listening to his own words, Scythe gathered the courage to meet the Sandslash eye-to-eye. When he did, what he saw pained him. Shander gazed up at him, looking deeply hurt. Betrayed. Lost.
"I trust you," Shander said, clenching his claws and forcing a sincere tone into his voice. "If this is what you say must be done, then I won't stand in your way. You are the greatest Pokémon I've ever known, and there's nothing for me to say, but… thank you. Thank you, for everything you've ever done for my father, and for me. And for the land we both call home."
In reply, Scythe approached him. Then, he lowered his body, until he was kneeling before his friend in a gesture of deep respect.
"Listen to me," Scythe said with tremendous strength, his piercing gaze locked with his friend's. "Today, on the day I have broken my promise to your father, I will make a new one. Shander, by the veins of Ambera, by the sacred plate of Arceus, I promise you that Daemon and the rest of our team will lead you and your people back to your homeland."
"I'm afraid we might not be skilled enough," Shander admitted. "What if something goes wrong?"
"The rest of the team will be there," Scythe said, his voice rumbling in and out of a whisper. "Daemon, Marrow, everyone. Everyone but me. And Team Absolution will be there. All of them have been over the plan dozens of times. They will not let anything go wrong. I would bet my life on it."
"Fine, then," Shander said with a sigh. "Fine. So be it. I trust you."
"Thank you," Scythe hissed. "And tell nobody else about this. Don't imply that I told you anything. Act surprised when I announce I'm not going. Understand?"
"Yes," Shander said. "This talk never happened."
"Thank you for understanding," Scythe said, slowly rising back to his feet. "Believe me, keeping all this from the rest of the team hurts me more than I can tell. It's unbearable. I had to tell you this much. I felt you deserved it."
Scythe turned once again and walked deeper into the shadows, motioning for Shander to leave. The Sandslash gave a final nod of understanding, then plodded off back in the direction of their rooms.
"Shander," Scythe called once more, as they were parting. "I'm sorry. I'm very sorry."
"Scythe," Shander responded, "When I was young, I watched my father murdered before my very eyes. I have since come to terms with the fact that the life we live is not always pleasant, or ideal. There is nothing for me to forgive."
Shander said nothing more, and Scythe hung in the shadows until the last of his footsteps passed beyond the realm of his hearing. In truth, he did not know how to take Shander's last words; he knew, in his heart, that even though it had simply been an unfortunate accident, that the loss of Jahzara was on his own shoulders. He realized that his relationship with Shander had begun with a failure…
…and, perhaps, would end with one as well.
His heart too weary to return, Scythe stood for a while longer in the shadows, staring at nothing but his own thoughts projected into the darkness around him.
Then, he drew a deep breath, and sounded a quiet call down the hallway…
"Char... it's okay. You can come out. Saura, Ray, all of you. Come here."
Char jumped, feeling a powerful jolt of adrenaline rush through his system. It subsided a little as he realized he had nothing to fear, but the feeling of embarrassment at his own stupidity didn't budge. How, he asked himself, did he think he could get away with sneaking up on Scythe, a trained hunter who breathed the tiniest details of his surroundings like the air? In truth, he didn't know why he was eavesdropping, it just sort of happened. For a second time, he felt like banging his head against the nearest wall. Instead, he took a heavy gulp and reluctantly revealed himself in the light of the hallway, his claws still clasped firmly around his tail flame to repress its light.
"It's okay," Scythe said again, his voice exhausted and defeated. "Just come here. I'm not angry."
Saura followed behind Char. His expression was one of exasperation; through his unfaltering dedication to his best friend, he'd been dragged along for this silly and accidental eavesdropping, something he would have voiced his disapproval of if Char had taken the time to ask for his opinion. But Ray was a different story; he cowered behind, last in line, almost looking as hurt and betrayed as Shander had moments ago. He approached his hero with a trembling form and wavering eyes.
"How much did you hear?" Scythe demanded, but gently, as he stepped back out of the shadows.
"Enough to understand," Saura answered for the group.
"I'm sorry, but it really must be asked," Scythe said, approaching the group and shaking his head. "What are you doing awake at this hour? You should be resting for the tasks set ahead of you. All of you should be."
"I was sleepless," Char submitted, just a little bitterly. "Were you?"
Scythe didn't answer right away. He only closed his eyes and bowed his head a little, as if trying to wade through a torrent of emotions for the proper answers. Before he had a chance to respond, though, Ray broke the tense silence.
"Scythe… what's going to happen?" Ray spoke in a broken voice, slowly stepping to the front of the group. "You're going to be okay, right? Everything's going to go as planned… right?"
Scythe opened his eyes to glance at Ray for a few moments before falling closed again. He remained silent.
Finally, with a shallow sigh, he raised a blade to push past the three young Pokémon as he started back to his room.
"Whether or not you trust me is your decision," he finally said as he walked away. "Whatever you decide, it is not something I have the power to change."
"We trust you," Char called to him. "We always have, and we always will. But do we need to worry about you?"
Scythe stopped in his tracks to glance back at the Charmander, giving him an odd gaze for asking such a question, and wondering what kind of answer he expected. Somehow, the gaze gradually melted into a pleased smile, until Scythe was staring fondly at the three Pokémon companions whom he'd trained well enough over the past several weeks.
"Come," Scythe beckoned again, this time in a friendly manner. "Walk with me. I have something I would like to tell you."
So they walked. For a while, Scythe led the three in silence down some hallways on the same floor of the base, leaving Char with no idea where they were headed. But he knew the destination was not important…
"Do you want to know who I am?" Scythe said inquisitively, turning to the three once they were a great deal away from the door of Team Remorse. "Do you want to know who I really am underneath the masks I wear?"
"Who are you?" Char asked without hesitation.
"I am a servant," Scythe declared. "And that which I submit to… is Ambera herself. Everything I've ever done… every war I have ever fought, every… every lie I have ever told… It has been in the service of Ambera. When joined the Master, I did it in service of Ambera. When I made the decision to break from the Master's will, I did it in service of Ambera. When I began Team Remorse, I served Ambera. Everything… It's all for the homeland which I serve. The homeland strangled by such a force that… wishes to destroy it."
By the gleam in his eye, and the power of the statements he made, Char knew that Scythe could not have sounded more honest than he was now. He was speaking from the heart.
"You must understand something," Scythe said, taking turns looking deep into the eyes of the three Pokémon who listened. "Listen well, understand well, because this is important. This is the most important lesson I will teach to you. The nature of being a servant… when one is a servant, it is not their own well-being which matters, but that of which… whom… he chooses to serve."
Scythe stopped the procession in front of a small balcony which overlooked the spacious main chamber of the base. But Char never bothered to take notice of his surroundings, as the true purpose of the lecture began to dawn upon him.
"When you are a servant… you own nothing," Scythe continued. "Everything you own belongs to that which you serve. And everything… when the time comes, you must be prepared to sacrifice everything. In the end, a servant who is not willing to sacrifice everything… is worth nothing."
"What are you planning to sacrifice?!" Char blurted. "You sound as if you're headed off to your death! If something bad is about to happen, why do—"
"No!" Scythe snapped. "No, not me. What I am planning to sacrifice should be no concern of yours. The real question is: what are you willing to sacrifice… human?"
"You expect me to know that?!" Char snapped back. "You know who you are under your masks. But me? I don't even know who I am! I don't even know why I'm here! How am I supposed to know what I have to do?!"
"It is my hope that Dialga will be able to clear that up for all of us," Scythe muttered. "Pray to him, that we will reach him safely, and when we do, that he will have good news for us. At this point… It's all we can hope for. Let us hope that Dialga will have the answer to all of our problems."
After that, Scythe sent the bewildered team back to their rooms, while he himself stood at the balcony to the base's main chamber and watched the darkness below for some time.
… … …
"Who am I?" Char muttered out loud, staring at the ceiling again from atop his bed.
It was a question that bugged him every now and then, and one that most deeply mattered to him. Now, more than ever, as his confrontation with his destiny grew closer, he wondered about this soul that was trapped within these little red claws, this tiny yellow belly in which an endless fire burned, this little round head… these tiny confines he came to know as his body. Who was this human he had been? What kind of life did he have? Did anybody miss him? Where did he belong?
What, if anything, should he be willing to sacrifice? Or… had he already sacrificed everything he had?
"You're Char, the kindhearted Charmander. You're sensitive. You have a heart of gold, but sometimes you lose your temper when something bothers you. But even when you're angry, you always seem to make the right decision. You're not too brave and you're not too cowardly, your courage is about just right. You really hate doing things alone, so your friends mean a lot to you. You're learning about this world for the first time, so you feel lost almost all the time, but everything's better when you're with your friends. Um… Your favorite things in life are enjoying the beauty of nature, fire, and getting your reward for hard work. You hate the cold, you hate conspiracies and dishonesty, you… hate the idea of letting people down. And you hate peanut butter, even though you try to pretend you like it."
Char winced, and almost laughed at Saura's response. He sat up in bed and found himself in the same position he'd been in before visiting with Scythe; Saura's bright red eye gleamed at him again, a well-deserved smirk stretched across his face.
"I think that sums you up. Did I miss anything, Ray?"
"You're important," Ray, laying on his belly with his eyes closed. "You mean a lot to a lot of Pokémon. You're special. You're learning to be a very determined leader of our team. Um… I'm done. I think Saura covered it."
"Well, is that what you wanted to know?" Saura said, still grinning widely. "That's who you are. But, if you want to know who you were, I have no idea. But if you were anything like you are now, I bet you were a very good human."
"Then why'd I end up here?" Char wondered. "If I was a good human, why didn't I stay a good human? Why'd I have to turn into a Charmander? Was this some sort of punishment? Or maybe… maybe I made a big mistake."
"Or maybe you chose this," Saura offered. "If you did, I bet your human self would be very proud of you right now."
"There are a lot of legends and stories about people turning into Pokémon," Ray said thoughtfully. "Most of them were made up so we can just tell fun stories around the fireplace. I don't remember very many, but there is one that sticks out in my mind… It's about a Pokémon trainer who was so horrible to his Pokémon that Arceus turned him into a Pokémon himself, so he'd get some perspective."
"Hey, come on," Saura said with a scowl. "That doesn't help things at all."
"Hey, I'm just brainstorming," Ray said, offering a shrug even while collapsed on his bed. "But hey, even if that was Char's story… I think it worked well, don't you?"
"Well, I don't like it," Saura returned. "Hey, another idea: what if you came from the future? You don't have any memories because they haven't happened yet! Maybe you found out you had the Call, so you turned yourself into a Charmander and then came back to save the world from the Master so that your future could be better?"
"Wow, if that's what I did, I must have been a brave one," Char said. "I don't feel that brave. Besides, if I had the choice to turn myself into a Pokémon, I'd become a Lucario or… I don't know, something else. Why a Charmander?"
"Well, if you're going to learn how to be a Pokémon from scratch, maybe you thought it was best to start small and learn things just like everyone else," Saura said with a shrug. "You are going to be a big strong Charizard one day, you know. Maybe you had that in mind."
They were all very fun theories, but not one of them rang a bell. Char's memories were still as blank as ever, except for the recurring visage which haunted his dreams from time to time. And the Poké Ball. Why a Poké Ball? The question tugged at him endlessly. How could his destiny revolve around an object he had yet to see with his own eyes in the world of Pokémon civilization? His theories were endless. Was he supposed to find the Poké Ball? Was he supposed to capture someone with it? The Master, maybe? Where would he even find such a thing?
"I think we should sleep," Ray moaned. "Char, you should try to feel better. It's like Scythe said. Don't worry about things. We're going to Dialga. He'll have the answers for us. Try to go back to sleep. So that I can sleep. I know I'm supposed to keep you company, but… it's getting tiring."
Char flopped back onto his bed and tried to relax. Thankfully, in due time, sleep came.
… … …
When morning came, it seemed way too soon.
"Char, time to get up!" Ray called. "The torches are already orange. We're running late!"
"Ugh… I'm coming," Char moaned, barely moving. "Please, just don't zap me."
"Well, are you going to get up?" Ray insisted. "C'mon. We have a mission to run."
"Tired…" Char said, rolling over.
"Hey, that's your own fault, you know!" Ray said accusingly. "You're the one who decided to go and bug Scythe last night. But hey. No more sleeping in! This is our LAST DAY!"
Char's eyes popped open. He was right. It was the very last day at the Gold Division's base. He didn't want to waste a minute of it.
"Now… CHAR! WHY DO WE RISE?" Ray shouted at the top of his lungs.
Char squinted back at him. "So that he—uh…"
"Oh… wait. Sorry," Ray laughed, shaking his head. "Wrong motto! I just woke up from a dream that I was on Team Remorse… What I mean is… until the LAST EMBER FADES…"
"The fire will NEVER DIE!" Char shouted back excitedly, jumping up into a victorious pose. His grin turned into a frown, though, when he saw Saura's form still sprawled out across his bed.
"Oh, yeah, Saura's not up yet," Ray said, twiddling with his paws. "He's still out. I tried to zap him already, but it didn't do anything. Maybe you could help?"
… … …
Once Char managed to rattle Saura awake, the three grabbed their barely-stocked bag (there would be no Mystery Dungeons on the mission, so a few snacks would cut it for supplies), and headed upstairs to summon their overseer. Char was anxious to see if Scythe's condition had worsened or gotten better after the previous night's events, and hoped that letting him sleep in rather than getting him up on their usual schedule, an hour before the all-clear, would have helped him…
But as soon as Scythe emerged from his doorway, it became painfully clear to Char that his condition had worsened. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, and his posture was slouched. But, he greeted the team with a nod of the head, and came with them as if nothing was wrong.
"So, what's the mission for today?" Scythe asked, succeeding at sounding reasonably enthusiastic, as they made for the main floor and south-eastern exit of the base.
"A fun one," Char replied, trying not to sound worried. "We have to help build a house in Iron Town. We picked it because the job had a big reward."
"Sounds reasonable," Scythe said with a nod. "But how do you plan to help? We aren't exactly the best construction Pokémon…"
"Oh, the house is actually a burrow. And underground den, for some Phanpy, to be exact. Two of them, brother and sister. They hired some Pokémon to dig their den and help them move in, and we're included."
"Ahhhhh," Scythe said oddly, nodding his head. "Preparing an underground home for its inhabitants. I think I can help you with this. It has been my job for several years now…"
Char cringed. Completely on accident, he'd created an unsettling reference to Scythe's problem, and deeply regretted it. Indeed, he was right: their job that day would involve preparing a den for Pokémon settlement.
"Hey, who's hungry?" Saura quickly shouted. "Anybody want breakfast?"
… … …
After braving the impossibly long staircase once more, Char and his friends approached Slaking for admission to the Cliffside Academy, unaware that a disturbing bit of news awaited them…
"Eehhh, late start today, huh?" Slaking said warmly. "At least by your standards. Have a good 'un. I mean… hey! Wait!"
Just as they were about to leave, Slaking called them back. Char obeyed, turning to the gate guard in surprise.
"Uh, you should know something, before you go out today," Slaking told them in a concerned tone. "If you go to Iron Town… they uh… well, last night we found out what Adiel told the Iron Town council. Or at least part of it."
"What's the news?" Scythe demanded, his voice turning serious.
"Well, as it turns out, there's a new law, or something, a summons, I guess you would call it," Slaking explained. "There's an order that any Bulbasaur found in Iron Town should be arrested and thrown in prison. We don't know why. Arceus knows what they have against the poor things, hopefully they're just asking questions or something. But since this is that Adiel's doing, it can't be good for us, so just lettin' you know, especially since you've got one of 'em with you anyway. I can't believe I almost missed that. So yeah. I hear they already have some locked up."
Char didn't have to wait for the lump to form in his throat. His horrible suspicion had been right all along… Adiel was still looking for Saura!
"I see…" Scythe said. "Char, it seems that you now have a couple of decisions to make. What do you say to this?"
"Saura stays," Char said without hesitation. "Saura, you stay back at the base. If there's anything we can get done before the trip, do it. But I don't want you to get captured."
"Fine by me," Saura said, shrugging it off. "That's actually a little bit scary. I wonder what they're doing to all those Bulbasaur? I hope they're alright."
Saura nodded and turned to head back, his only regret being that Char would have one less helping hand with his task.
Iron Town
Char kept a wary eye to the townsfolk around him as he followed the directions to the site of construction. He spotted no less than three Growlithe actively patrolling the streets amidst the early morning workers who were all headed for their jobs. The order must have been issued very recently, he determined, for the city's guards to be so vigilant, even in the first waking hours of sunrise. He did his best to ignore their presence; as long as Saura wasn't there, they didn't matter.
After navigating the sprawling city for almost a half hour, they located their destination: a city park, of sorts, where the quantities of steel structures parted to reveal a more serene landscape of green grass dotted with small trees and lakes. Char knew that it was not a city park at all, but a habitat for the type of Pokémon who dwelled in grasslands…
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
Char knocked on the door of a small, dome-shaped dwelling which sat in the middle of the grassy region next to a little pond.
"It's the right place," Ray confirmed, checking the directions from the job listing. "But I don't see anyone."
"They're probably not awake yet," Scythe grumbled.
Char sighed. Sometimes, no matter how many missions he ran or clients he served, he forgot that civilian Pokémon were ten times lazier than the division ever let itself be.
"Just let me in there," Ray joked evilly, letting his cheeks sizzle with yellow electricity. "I'll wake them up. Just watch."
"Good idea," Scythe said, laughing along and positioning his blades as if he were about to violently pounce at the house. "They don't need their door. They're getting a new house anyway, right?"
As Scythe and Ray joked around with each other, Char wandered around to the back of the house. Sure enough, there was already a trench dug at the lakeside where the new den would be. Char knew right away that it would be much more open and spacious than their current residence… but, as of right now, it was only about one foot deep. There was a lot of work to be done.
A lot of boring, back-breaking work.
Char rebuked his pride this time. It's worth it, he told himself. The reward is amazing. Twenty-five thousand Poké for just a day's worth of work, compliments of the client. We'd be stupid not to take this opportunity.
"Oh! … … … … … Hi?"
A new voice arose, and Char realized that the Phanpy had opened their door. He hurried back around to the front of the house.
"You're here to help with the burrow?" the Phanpy said groggily. "Wow. You're… … … … … really early."
"If you provide us with directions, we can get started any time," Scythe said. "By the time the others arrive, we might have it half complete."
"Uh… … I don't think you should," the elephant replied, yawning. "We can't do anything anyway until the Diglett get here. They're doing most of the digging. You guys have to help with the rest."
Ah… I get it now, Char realized. No wonder they can pay us so much. Diglett have no use for money!
"Come back in a few hours… when there's more sun… then we can… do stuff," the Phanpy said. "Sorry…"
With that, it shut the door and left Char and his team standing on the doorstep.
"What now?" Char wondered. "What do we do for a few hours?"
Char turned to Scythe for ideas, trying to ignore his burning, stress-filled eyes. Scythe looked thoughtful, and glanced around the field.
"Maybe we could find another mission?" Ray suggested. "If it's an easy one that we can get done in a few hours, we could do two in one day!"
Scythe didn't reply. He trudged around to the back of the house, just as Char did, and inspected the pathetic attempt at starting the trench.
"Hmmmmm," he sighed softly.
"What are you planning?" Ray asked. "You want to dig without them? Even without their permission?"
"No," Scythe replied simply, continuing to pace around the dent in the ground.
"Then what?" Char asked. "What are we going to do with it?"
"Nothing," Scythe replied. "Nothing. We'll do nothing. Just like they told us."
"Well, let's go find another mission, then," Char decided. "If we can get even more money today, great…"
"I have an idea," Scythe finally said. "I know of a mission we could do."
"Awesome!" Ray cheered. "What is it? What's the plan?"
"Well, it's not the kind of mission you might be expecting," Scythe replied. "There wouldn't be any reward. And we couldn't get it done in time to come back and help with this ditch. It'd take us all day to finish. And we might need more help than what we have now. But, if you'd like to do something more exciting than building a ditch, I do have an idea you could consider."
"Wait, you want us to neglect the job we signed up for?" Char asked. "Are we allowed to do that? I don't think the division would like us very much for that…"
"I think the division would agree that these are extenuating circumstances," Scythe said. "Besides, you don't have to if you don't want. If you want to stay here and dig, fine. Nothing wrong with that. I'm just saying…"
"Well…" Char said warily, "what do you have in mind?"
"Char," Scythe said, wearing his favorite smirk, "would you like to help me break the Bulbasaur out of captivity?"
… … …
Char felt absolutely elated. He didn't give a second thought about helping the Phanpy—his last mission with the Gold Division would be thrilling, substantial, and… perhaps best of all… worthy of Team Remorse. The threesome made a few visits around Iron Town to gather information, send some messengers back to the base, and plot their plan. All the while, Char eagerly did whatever was asked of him, and waited for the opportunity to witness Scythe's brilliance firsthand.
"A little quick to act, are we?" Markov laughed as he listened to Scythe's idea. "We just saw the report in the news this morning. Alakazam made sure to let everyone know as soon as he found out."
"Nothing wrong with catching 'em by surprise, especially this soon," Marrow remarked.
After summoning a few of his team members, Scythe called a huddle with them in an alleyway to discuss his plans. Char listened intently, and Ray also seemed very pleased at the sudden swerve the day had taken.
"Exactly," Scythe said. "The more I think about it, the more I'm sure that Adiel doesn't even care about the Bulbasaur he's locking up. I think he's just trying to direct a gesture of insolence at me. Perhaps tug on the heart strings of Char here for stealing his recruit."
"Besides, there's no way we'd just walk into something like that," Marrow said. "News like this spreads quick around the base. We're the first to know everything. Adiel couldn't have thought he could actually capture Saura like this. And even if he did, we could bust him outta trouble in two seconds!"
"Exactly, which is why I think this is nothing but an inconvenience, to us and any Bulbasaur that happen to get caught up in this," Scythe said. "Obviously in a few hours there won't be any more left to pick off the streets, and if the messenger guild does its job, Clefaria and Fort Loyal and all the other surrounding cities will know not to send their Bulbasaur to Iron Town. There'll be nothing left but a bunch of Bulbasaur senselessly locked up in some cells."
"All the more reason they deserve to be free," Marrow said.
"Wait, so Adiel really isn't still after Saura?" Char asked. "He's just trying to make fun of us?"
"If my instinct is correct, then yes," Scythe said. "I'm sure that he's still a little bitter over Saura getting away."
"Aye, and when Scythe has a gut feeling about Adiel, I tend to trust it," Marrow added. "Sometimes I think their minds are one in the same."
"Now… I'm certain that's not all he accomplished when he was here the other day," Scythe affirmed. "Odds are that part was only an afterthought. His primary goal has yet to be seen. But for now… we can throw the joke back in Adiel's face by blowing it open mere hours after it has begun. What do you say?"
"Sounds great," Markov said. "What's going to be our plan?"
"Well, from what I've garnered, the Bulbasaur are being kept in Iron Town's holding facility, which is positioned literally on the back doorstep of city hall," Scythe explained. "It's heavily guarded, both by Pokémon and technology, but most of the security is on the inside, rather than the outside."
"More concerned with keeping Pokémon in than out, I see," Marrow said. "Sounds like we can launch a good insertion with some effort… But how do we get the Bulbasaur out?"
"That's the hard part," Scythe said. "The Bulbasaur are being kept down in the third floor below the ground, one of their halls with weaker security. I'm thinking… we're going to need, for one thing, an electric Pokémon. Ray… how do you feel today? Think you can take a few hundred volts to your body?"
"Pah, that's nothing!" Ray scoffed. "I've taken whole lightning bolts before."
"Good. Also, we'll need a civilian Pokémon," Scythe continued. "We'll need to pull someone off the street. There are a few of our operatives already in this city, but they won't do. We need someone with no connection whatsoever to the resistance."
"Char and I might be able to help with that," Ray said. "We know of somebody. I think she'd be happy to help us out."
"Fair enough," Scythe said. "Char… I think I'm going to have a very special role for you to play. You'll need to come with me. Understand?"
"Whatever you say," Char said, drawing a heavy breath in excitement.
"Well," Scythe said, drawing a deep breath of his own, "I think we have all the resources on hand we need to accomplish this, so… here's our plan."
… … …
In the late hours of the morning, before the sun had reached its peak in the sky, the streets of Iron Town were filled with Pokémon going about their daily errands. The town was already abuzz about the strange proclamation which had gone into effect that morning; it was posted on every bulletin board and street corner that any and all Bublasaur should be turned in, no questions asked. It was a strange law, indeed, but there wasn't a Pokémon in all of Iron Town who was ready for their city council to openly defy the will of the Master...
In the streets, a figure quickly dashed behind the cover of a building.
Keeping a careful eye on the steady stream of pedestrians, the scared little Bulbasaur cowered in the shadows and waited for an opportunity to hide himself in a crowd and progress further into the city. Using its vines, it held a small white pouch secure onto its back.
"Just stay calm," a voice seemed to whisper into its ear, making the Bulbasaur wonder if it was just its own mind talking. "Stay focused. You'll be fine."
Taking the voice's advice, the Bulbasaur swallowed hard and emerged back onto the streets, quickly darting through the surprised crowds and into the next safe haven.
"Hey, what's this now?"
As soon as the Bulbasaur had ducked into the next dark alley and focused his sights on the streets, a voice suddenly arose from behind it, causing it to jump halfway out of its wits. The Bulbasaur turned in fright, meeting a large Raticate who'd been lounging in the alley.
"Bulbasaur, huh?" the big rat said. "I take it you know the new law today? I guess you do, why else would you be so sneaky?"
The Bulbasaur gulped even harder, his thoughts flashing wildly through several possibilities of an escape route.
"Hey, don't worry, I'm not gonna turn you in," the Raticate said, still lounging in its spot. "Why don't you just get outta town while you can? Why risk getting caught?"
"I… need medicine… for my mommy…" the Bulbasaur said. "We live in the outskirts… she needs medicine fast… I have to go to the store…"
"Whoa, poor little you," the Raticate said indifferently. "I wouldn't want to be in your place today, that's all I can say. My advice? Get someone to buy the medicine for you. It's not gonna be me, though. They'd never sell medicine to a dirty street rat like me… 'Course, if you ask somebody, you risk them turning you in… hmm… tough one. I'd say you're better off just praying to Arceus…"
In a flash, the Bulbasaur was gone again, quickly taking the first window of opportunity it found.
"Ehhh," the Raticate grumbled when he realized the Bulbasaur was gone. "Fine. Be that way. Leave a guy while he's trying to give you advice. See if I care…"
… … …
"Um… are you sure I can do this?"
"Just keep that tail close. Don't burn my wings. That's all I ask."
"How can I hold my tail when I'm trying to hold on?"
Char and Scythe were inside of a small abandoned building not too far from the holding facility where the Bulbasaur were being held. Char was wrestling with himself, trying to position his body securely on Scythe's back in a manner suitable for riding. It wasn't happening easily. Char tried holding his tail in one hand and holding onto Scythe's shoulder with the other, but he simply slipped off. He tried to hold his tail in his mouth, but it wouldn't reach in any manner that wasn't quite painful…
"You've got to stay perfectly centered," Scythe reminded him, kneeling on the floor as Char repeatedly attempted to mount him. "My wings move faster than the speed of sound. They could potentially slice you open if you came in contact with them from the wrong angle."
Char shuddered at the thought of being torn to ribbons at the slightest slip of his position.
"Scythe, I don't know. I don't think this will work," Char said, jumping down to the ground again.
"There's a way," Scythe insisted. "We can find it. We still have some time to figure this out. But now do you understand why I don't appreciate taking passengers? Even then, we won't be able to stay in the air for too long. I can't take the weight."
Char looked over Scythe's form once more, wondering if there was anything he was missing. No wonder Scythers are never trained to carry people, he realized. There's no easy way to do this! I'm smaller than a person, and I can't even figure this out…
Scythe peered around the room, analyzing it, as he would usually do when puzzled. He glanced out the window toward the far-away portal which was his ultimate destination—several floors above ground level.
"Char, try this," Scythe instructed. "Face me from the front. Hold my neck."
Scythe knelt down to Char's level again, and Char did as directed, hugging his short little arms tightly around the Scyther's neck.
"Good, now hold on with your legs," Scythe instructed.
Leaping up from the floor, Char tucked his miniature legs around behind Scythe's lowest body segment. To his relief, his grip was secure, even as the weight of gravity was constantly tugging down on him. As Scythe stood up, Char's flaming tail hung harmlessly out of the way.
The air seemed to fill with the sound of hundreds of angry Beedrills as Scythe suddenly opened his wings. Char cringed, hoping that his claws or feet wouldn't accidentally collide with the transparent field of motoring membranes that covered Scythe's back.
With a forceful grunt, Scythe thrust himself upward and succeeded in hanging in midair for a moment.
"I think this will work," he reported.
… … …
"Hey! You!" a voice barked. "Hey! Stop!"
At the sound of the voice, the Bulbasaur didn't waste a moment breaking into an all-out run.
The chase didn't last very long; the Arcanine pounced blindingly fast, and in just a matter of seconds, it caught up with the fleeing Bulbasaur and cut off its escape route.
"Hey there, little guy," the Arcanine said kindly, but forcefully. "You know I have to take you in, right? By order of the council…"
"Please!" the Bulbasaur pleaded. "Please… I just need to get some medicine for my family… that's all I want… I'll get out of here, I promise! Please, just let me go!"
"I'm sorry, little guy" the Arcanine said, approaching the cornered Bulbasaur. "Rules are rules. I'm sure we'll let you go in no time, but right now—"
The great dog paused for a moment, a puzzled expression dawning over her face. The Bulbasaur held its breath.
"Hmm," the Arcanine grunted, repeatedly sniffing the air. "Weird…"
"What is it?" the Bulbasaur asked oddly.
"I don't know…" the patrol dog admitted. "You don't smell right… You don't smell… like a Bulbasaur…"
"Uh… some Cubone live with me in my den," the Bulbasaur offered. "Maybe that's why?"
"Hmm, well, whatever," the Arcanine said. "Anyway, you'll have to come with me, sweetie. I won't detain you if you want to come peacefully…"
… … …
Knock, knock, knock…
A Furret opened her front door, and was suddenly face-to-face with a rather menacing Feraligar.
"Hello…" the Feraligatr said cordially. "Are you Fern?"
"Yeah," the Furret replied. "Why? Who are you?"
"Do you, by chance, remember meeting a small group of Pokémon, specifically, a Charmander, a Bulbasaur, and a Raichu?"
"I'd never forget them," Fern replied. "Why?"
"I'm here on behalf of their team," the gator said. "They want your help."
… … …
The containment facility was a very strange place compared to most of the other Pokémon architecture in the vicinity. While most houses in Iron Town, like the majority of Pokémon civilization, were lit using live torches or open windows, Iron Town employed a very human technology: actual electric wiring and circuitry which ran through the walls and powered things like florescent light bulbs and elevators. To Pokémon who were not used to technology, the glowing bulbs in the ceiling and the walls were a real spectacle…
As the Bulbasaur waited in the lobby of the prison to be checked into a cell, it gaped at the building's electrical system and wondered how many lightning bolts—or Pokémon—it took to sustain the entire facility.
The Bulbasaur nervously sighed as a burly Primeape confiscated his little pouch, which was revealed to contain nothing but a couple of coins.
"What's going to happen to mommy…?" it wondered out loud, appearing devastated. "Can somebody send her the medicine? Please?"
"I'm sure we can arrange something," the Primeape told it. "Besides, you'll be out in no time. I think that Adiel just wants to come back and look you all over…"
The Primeape led the Bulbasaur down a short staircase and into a long hallway. The gray bricks which made up the walls seemed to emanate a ghastly purple aura as the weird blue light from the ceiling reflected from it.
Near the end of the hallway, several doors began to appear in the walls. Using a rusty, mutilated-looking key, the Primeape opened the door and directed the Bulbasaur to enter.
The following room was a very frightening sight: it was a long, long corridor lined with steel panels for walls. Each panel had a small window, a hefty latch, and a keyhole. They were the holding cells. The Bulbasaur nervously peered into the tiny little glass peepholes, and his breath caught at the sight—staring back at him were several of his own kind, all looking distraught…
With a loud creaking noise, the Primeape opened the door of an empty cell.
"In yah go," it said. "You'll be number eight, I think. Hold tight in there…"
And the cell door closed, locking the Bulbasaur in the rather dark chamber, completely alone. The only light source was the tiny window in the huge metallic door.
The Bulbasaur blinked. Moments passed. Finally, the distant sound of a door slamming rose from down the hall. The Bulbasaur crept up to the door and peered out the window.
"Alright, he's gone," a voice reported. "You alright in there, Saura?"
"I'm fine, yeah," Saura replied. "It's kinda stuffy in here, though. What about you?"
"Almost didn't get to the bag before they did," the disembodied voice replied. "But we're good to go, I think."
"Hey, Marrow?" Saura called. "How do we know when to go? Is there a sign?"
"Oh yes, there's going to be a signal," the voice replied. "Just wait. Until then, might as well get these guys ready…"
The voice cleared its throat.
"HEY! LISTEN UP!" it blasted down the hall. "Yeah! Listen to me, the invisible Marowak! Believe it or not, we're about to bust every last one of you out of here, alright?"
Saura listened intently, and he could hear the faint, muffled voices of the other Bulbasaur as they voiced their surprise.
"But you've got to do exactly as I say," the Marowak said. "We only have one shot at this. Well, two, actually, but hopefully I won't get sloppy. But you've got to listen! Alright?"
"What do you want us to do?" a Bulbasaur called back. "Do you have a key?"
"Are you going to let us out?" another asked eagerly.
"No, no key," Marrow answered. "Afraid it's not that easy. But I want you to position yourself exactly as I tell you, and, just to let you all know, this might sting…"
… … …
It was a couple hours past noon as Fern approached the front entrance to the Iron Town city hall. She paused for a moment, taking in the gorgeous spring weather and the gentle breeze as it filtered through the city; she needed to calm down, her chest she was bursting with nervous excitement. She knew that nobody would believe a word she said if she didn't look like she meant it.
Once she thought she was ready, she held her breath and burst into the front door.
"Somebody! Anybody!" she screamed. "I need help! Police! Anybody!"
"What's the matter? Calm down!" a Growlithe on duty cried, quickly approaching her. "What's wrong, ma'am?"
"I just heard something horrible," the Furret gasped. "I was in my house, and then this Feraligatr came, and told me that a bunch of Pokémon were plotting to burst all the Bulbasaur out of jail!"
"I'm sorry, what?!" the Growlithe responded. "Slow down! What are you talking about?"
"The Bulbasaur that all the police hounds have been capturing today," she repeated. "They're going to bust them out of jail, unless you do something! You have to be quick, I think they're going to act quickly…"
"Ma'am… you're not making a shred of sense," the Growlithe grumbled. "What… why would a Feraligatr tell you this?"
"Because… a long time ago, I did some business with some Pokémon, and he… he wanted me to help them!" she rambled, jumping around in front of the dog. "But… I couldn't. It's not right. I don't want to be a criminal! I have to do my civic duty! I have to turn them in! You've got to stop them before they get away with it!"
The exchange went on for another few minutes, and as it went on, the Growlithe became more convinced that the Furret had simply gone nuts… until a Poochyena burst in the door, looking horrified.
"Something's going on at the prison," it said between gasps of breath. "Something knocked out the power generator! All the lights went out! We think there are intruders in the building… get backup over there, now!"
The Growlithe's eyes widened.
… … …
"Move! Move!" Barked an Arcanine to his pack of dogs as they pushed through the dark halls of the prison complex. "Third basement floor! We've just been tipped off that there are intruders trying to free the Bulbasaur. Guard that hall! Pack three, guard the rear entrance. No Pokémon enter or leave! Pack five and six, split up and search the entire floor for any signs of intrusion. Pack Alpha, guard the cells. As long as the Bulbasaur are still in there, we've got nothing to worry about."
Through the complete darkness, the hounds scattered to take their stations. In less than a minute, the alpha pack navigated down the stairs and into the hall where the Bulbasaur were held.
When they arrived, the lights flickered back on.
"Thank Arceus, I can see again," a Poochyena muttered under its breath.
"I heard it was a short," a Growlithe answered. "Something crossed the electrical cords. Live electrical cords. What could do that but an Electivire? Glad they fixed it…"
"Torturous human technology, so confusing…" the Poochyena said.
"Now, get to those doors and make sure nothing touches those Bulbasaur!" the Arcanine ordered. "Obviously, the intruders tried to shut off the lights so they could get down here without being seen. But it looks like they're too late."
The pack viciously guarded the Bulbasaur for a whole, minute, then two, then three… until the Arcanine, the leader of the pack, started to become uneasy. Something didn't smell right…
And then it hit him.
On an odd inkling, the Arcanine ordered all the cells checked, and to his horror, he found there were no Bulbasaur inside any of them. They had underestimated their enemy. They had been too late.
Their tracking skills were of no use; the scent of Bulbasaur still lingered all around the room, the same trail they'd followed to get in for the first time. After all, several of the creatures had traversed the same halls all morning long, leaving a powerful trail of the same smell all the way from the entrance to the hall in which they stood.
The Arcanine roared in fury, not able to believe his prison had been compromised so quickly and easily by unknown, unseen enemies…
And then, when it seemed things couldn't get any more confusing, a Growlithe found something strange inside one of the cells. A hole, about an inch and a half in diameter, had been drilled into the side of the solid steel, all the way through to the next cell. Upon further inspection, there were holes in just about every cell wall…
… … …
With a thrust of his feet, Scythe leapt from the open window of the building, Char hanging from his chest for dear life. Their target was an equally tall tower, several hundred yards ahead. Their flight would last for less than a minute.
"We Pokémon have a saying when we're first learning to fly," Scythe said. "Don't look down."
"We have that saying, too," Char muttered, feeling his arm muscles starting to cramp with terror just after ten seconds. He knew that if he fell, Scythe would have no chance to catch him.
"Do you?" Scythe said in surprise. "Then why are you looking down?"
Far below, Char saw the base of the prison compound, the building they'd just leapt from… it was absolute madness. Hundreds of Pokémon surrounded the building, frantically guarding it, ready to nab the intruders. He knew that somewhere inside, Saura and the other Bulbasaur were making their escape…
"Do you think any of them will see us?" Char wondered.
"You'd be surprised how many Pokémon fail to look up," Scythe replied. "Now, get ready…"
CRASH!
With a swing of his bade, Scythe shattered the glass window of the seventh floor of the city hall building. He ducked his head and zipped inside, setting Char down as soon as possible.
"Here we are," Scythe said, "This is the private room of Ervin the Arcanine, the head of security. Guess where he is right now?"
"Down in the prison, trying to figure out what the heck just happened," Char nervously laughed, glancing out the broken window. "Look at them all down there."
"Now do you know why Vanish Seeds are illegal in most of the known world?" Scythe laughed. "Because they're unfair, in every sense of the word. Oh, look. The cavalry has arrived."
Char looked up into the sky to see a flock of birds descending down to the entrance of the complex. The police force would notice them, but they'd be able to swoop down and capture the invisible Bulbasaur in their talons before anybody would suspect anything. They were, after all, the city's messenger guild, who secretly worked for the Gold Division. They were expected to arrive at the scene at the slightest hint of an incident and carry the news to the rest of the surrounding area—to the city's police force, they would simply be doing their jobs.
"Ah," Scythe sighed, smiling wide at the scene down below. "It is done. We got away with it, and everyone involved has a proper alibi. There is nothing more pleasing in this world than seeing a plan fall into place just as intended."
"That was brilliant," Char said. "I can't believe it. You did it just with a Pierce Band and… what, three Invisify seeds? Four? I had no idea Pierce Bands worked like that!"
"Ah, hah," Scythe said happily. "Yes, they're very useful, especially if you don't have as many supplies as you'd like. Just line up your targets, and throw something right through them all… If you've got good aim, multiplies the effects to every teammate. Granted, sometimes it's painful, but it works… You might want to consider investing in one sometime in the future. Very useful tool."
"Think Ray will make it out safely?" Char said, not worrying too much. "He had a dangerous job. That generator was, what, eight floors down?"
"Hah. Hahah. But he had Markov with him," Scythe laughed even more heartily. "Markov is what you would call a juggernaut when it comes to battling. Ever find it funny how the dog Pokémon who make up the police force in this place are all fire Pokémon? Heh, heh, heh, heh…"
"Wow, didn't think about that," Char said, returning a laugh of his own. "But wait… where are they going to take the Bulbasaur? To the academy?"
"No, that would actually be the worst place to take them," Scythe explained. "It would draw unwanted attention to us. No, we're taking them to a city about ten miles away called Clefaria. They can spend the night here safe and sound, and we can assign missions back at the division tomorrow to have them escorted back to their homes."
After watching the messenger guild fly away safely, Scythe and Char turned their attention to the room they'd just broken into. It was a rather prestigious room, reminding Char of his own in many ways. There was a large crimson-colored rug underfoot, several pieces of gold-plated furniture, a brick fireplace next to the outside wall, and a quite spacious worktable—which was currently covered with important papers.
"So," Scythe said, exploring the room and setting his sights upon the cluttered desk, "I brought you here because I need a pair of hands to work. Ervin is a member of the city council, the circle of Pokémon responsible for making laws in this place. In fact, just a few days ago, he, along with the other members of the council, met with Adiel himself and were forced into complying with his demands. I was hoping… to find… what those demands were. Char, if you please?"
Scythe motioned toward the desk, and Char jumped up onto the edge to wade through the papers. He began to individually present each one to Scythe…
"No," Scythe said, as he observed the papers and scrolls which passed before his face. "No, not that. No, no. Useless. Useless. THERE! That one! Show me!"
It was a shiny black book which had been sitting open on the desk. Char clutched the book and stood tall on the tabletop, careful to keep his fiery tail from touching the desk covered in flammables. He held the open book up to Scythe to read.
Scythe squinted at the page.
"This is it," he confirmed. "This is the council chamber log, conveniently opened to the last entry! Now, we will see… what he was up to…"
Char struggled to keep the book aloft for long, as it was quite heavy. After a minute, Scythe asked Char to turn back a page, and his eyes continued to scan across its lines…
And then, Scythe released a prolonged breath and bowed his head in shame.
"W—what?" Char asked concernedly, bringing the book to his eye level and trying, without the slightest hope in the world, to decipher the runes himself.
Rather than answering, Scythe walked past the desk and over to the solid brick wall, where he proceeded to slam his spiked forehead onto the hard surface.
Thump.
Char cringed.
"What? What happened?" Char cried, dropping the book back to the desk.
Thump.
"Scythe, I'm pretty sure that's not healthy for you to do!"
"I'm sorry," Scythe said, shaking his head in what seemed like humiliation. "I couldn't help myself. Adiel is… well, I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. You see… when he was here… he proclaimed that he'd return in… three weeks from now… to begin working on building his newest military fortress… right here in Iron Town."
"Oh, you're kidding!" Char cried. "That's horrible! What would happen to our base? How would we operate with the Master living next door?"
"No, it's not horrible," Scythe chuckled. "It's ridiculous. It's a joke. All of this was just one, big… It's a beggar's diversion. What do you do when you know your opponent is too smart to fall for a cheap trick? You throw their allies into confusion. You throw a stunt like this…"
"I don't get it," Char said. "How do you know it's a joke?"
"A base could never be built here!" Scythe squeaked, still completely incredulous, "For one thing, the Master could not lay the cornerstone without us sabotaging it. And for another thing… it's not about what, it's about when. You see, if we had remained clueless to this whole farce, and didn't have three weeks to realize that it was a farce, we might have found out about it, what, three days in advance? And then we'd be much more likely to fall for it. Then we'd be all up in arms, ready to defend Iron Town from Adiel's return, when in reality, there would be none…"
"And you're sure there's none?" Char said. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"Absolutely sure. Positively sure. In all the ways it would be possible to be sure, I am sure," Scythe said, his voice beginning to sound like an insane person's rambling. "Because if, if we would have fallen for this, it means Adiel would have just spread me thinner than I already am… because… three weeks… is when… Basin Canyon… settlement… is planned!"
Scythe sat down on the floor, looking both amused and distraught.
"Adiel," he muttered. "I don't believe you… Hah… you're going to be the end of me, yet…"