Author's note: I'd like to especially thank Gorsecloud (formerly fallingautumnleaves) for her encouragement and support while writing this chapter.
Chapter 38
Char still felt a little loopy as he and Prince returned to the streets of Fort Emerald, but a grin remained frozen across his face. He tried to fight it, but he could never resist the urge to glance back at his tail and at the little yellow-and-red tongue which erupted at the end, right where it was supposed to be, making his smile return in full force. After almost freezing to death, Char was just happy to be alive and aflame.
"I just… I can't believe it… I almost died!" Char gasped for the third time, jumping on Prince's heels. "That cold was awful! It was a nightmare! It crushed me so fast, I couldn't even think! I bet the Master couldn't even find a better way to torture a fire Pokémon than throwing them in a freezer! And then there was that light… I came so close! I saw it! It was like everything was getting drowned in light, then I couldn't see anything… Oh, man, now everything feels so surreal, like this is all just a dream I'm going to wake up from someday. Will this feeling ever go away?"
"You'll get over it soon enough," Prince assured him warmly, amused at Char's hyperactivity. "But even as you do, never forget the lesson you've learned. Pokémon and humans alike fear death because they do not understand it. Now that you have witnessed it for yourself, you've nothing to fear. I've seen too many Pokémon fall in their final moments by blind panic. But you've watched your own fire go out and your life end. Do not let yourself be afraid or confused by the way your fire flickers. Instead, focus with all your might, and find the answer. Find a way to live."
"I… I just cheated death." Char gasped, his eyes widening as if the implications hadn't dawned on him until just now. "I just cheated death! What if I died? Saura! He would have been heartbroken! And Ray would have been devastated! They're all in this just for me! And Scythe… Oh, wow! Scythe! If I would have died… what would Scythe have done?! Oh, man! The Call! I would have just thrown it away just like that, killed everyone's hopes… I would have destroyed him!"
"Indeed," Prince uttered. "Of course, you know not to tell Scythe about this. He would slit my throat the moment he found out. But it was for your own good, Char. Your strength is defined by your mastery of your fire. For the regiment my grandfather commanded, learning to smolder was an inseparable step in training for the fire-types. Some Pokémon even sparred with their flames out, just to learn to battle without the aid of the powerful emotions which they came to count on. It made them better warriors because it would teach the mind to notice things which the heart would miss."
"…I know," Char said. "That it was for my own good, I mean. Prince, thank you for teaching me how to smolder. And everything else. Showing me that painting, and teaching me how to cool down. Thank you for everything. It is scary sometimes being a Charmander. I mean… not knowing about my own nature. Thank you for helping me. I really mean it."
"You're welcome," Prince said, "but do not credit me. I am only passing the flame to a new generation. In such a cold world, we fire-types must help one another out whenever we can, lest our command of the Ember go forgotten. Believe me, Char, given the chance, I would train you to the very best of my ability. I cannot list all the things you are still oblivious to. Endurance techniques. Battle strategies, especially versus certain enemies you are weak against. Knowledge of how fire works on a chemical level. Special diets you must follow during specific parts of the year to retain your internal health. If we had seven years, I would teach you everything I know. But today, we have only an hour together. And that hour is nearly up."
"Oh…" Char said, disappointed. "So… where are we going now?"
"Back to Rayquaza's Clutch," Prince answered. "Scythe's term in the courtyard will be ending shortly. He'll be wanting you back within his sight immediately, I think. But if I'm lucky, I might barter another hour or two with you before the sun sets too far. We will see."
Char took a deep breath, trying to calm the vibrant rush of energy which had filled him after having his life force restored. He looked at the cloudy sky and saw it darkening ever so slightly as the position of the sun shifted.
"Well… at least it got a little warmer out here," Char commented, stretching his arms contently. "I couldn't imagine how you could survive being so cold all the time. It actually feels pleasant now."
"Char… the temperature hasn't changed," Prince chuckled. "That is, if it hasn't gotten a little colder as the afternoon dies away."
"You're kidding!" Char yelped, stopping to look at himself. "It doesn't feel cold at all! It feels like a nice warm spring day! Even the breeze is comfortable!"
"Give your nerves time to return to normal," Prince told him. "After temperatures that cold, everything is going to feel warm for a while. Maybe even for several days depending on how sensitive you are. But the cold still affects you. Like when you were smoldering, only your senses are numbed."
Char couldn't care less. He felt great. And he was still excited, ready for Prince to teach him something else.
"Maybe we can spar!" Char suggested. "I'm full of energy, and I didn't get very much exercise in with Scythe before you came. Maybe you could teach me some more battle moves!"
"That's a possibility, yes," Prince said as they approached the base of the staircase leading up to the rear doorway of the capital building. "Though there are more important things we need to cover before we head into Zerferia. For one thing… we need to find something for you to wear."
"…Wear?" Char echoed, blinking blankly at the suggestion. "What… do you mean? Like clothes? Like… human clothes?"
"Like them, yes," Prince answered. "Although, in your case, on a much smaller and more efficient scale."
Char opened his mouth, but couldn't find anything to say. He could only stare down at himself in bewilderment.
"You look surprised," Prince observed humorously, climbing the final stairstep. "Yes, I know it is an odd concept for you, having lived down in such a temperate climate. But bear with me. It will help…"
When Prince's hand went for the door handle, the door moved for him.
He leapt back, just barely avoiding a knock on the head by the wooden doors as they swung outward.
When Char leapt atop the last step, he beheld the figure of Scythe standing in the doorway, his gaze burning upon Prince.
He was not amused.
"What a coincidence," Scythe uttered sarcastically, stepping forward and practically pressing his face into Prince's, "I was just about to come looking for you. After having asked every passerby in the building if they'd seen you."
Char cringed at the sight of him. He looked exhausted, though not the least bit relieved, from his exercise. Instead, he was clearly furious, perhaps just as furious as when his battle took place. Behind him, Char noticed Ray and Saura slowly emerging from the shadows, though they held their distance; they, too, looked worn out, though not for the same reason. From their frozen expressions, Char knew that Scythe had become enraged in front of him.
And just like that, Char's joy was gone. Put out. It suddenly seemed like a good idea to crawl back into the dark freezer and peacefully die.
"What are you trying to pull?" Scythe demanded in a calm but seething tone, thrusting against Prince's chest with his blades and pushing him back farther. "I granted you permission to come with us to Temporal Tower. I granted you permission to train with Char. Was that not enough? I did not grant you permission to sneak out while my back was turned, to run off somewhere to indoctrinate him!"
Scythe turned his gaze into Char's eyes, sending him a look of harsh disappointment. Char could not help but shirk backward when it struck him.
"I was training him, as you said," Prince replied, keeping his calm. "Not all training can be done at the scourging post. Char hungers for knowledge about his fire-type nature, which apparently the Gold Division did not provide."
"Do not smirk at me and tell me those lies. You are up to the same scheme as last time," Scythe hissed in the Infernape's face, the intensity of his voice escalating. "You kidnap him, take him away and tell him what he wants to hear until he trusts you… Was it not enough the first time? You have already destroyed one generation's future, old friend. Is that not enough? Now you are targeting Char? Well, I've got something for you, Prince. My Charmander trusts me far more than he will ever trust you."
Scythe turned to Char a second time, eyes narrowed in a demanding expression. Char bit his lip and held his breath.
"Char, tell me," Scythe asked, "what did he tell you?"
Char felt the moment freeze in time. He glanced at Prince, whose eyes betrayed worry. He saw how subtly they pleaded for that trust Scythe claimed he would not give him. They pleaded to him not to repay his kindness by backstabbing him. They both knew what would happen if he told the truth.
"Char," Scythe repeated, his command a challenge of Char's loyalty. "what did Prince tell you?"
Char turned to Scythe. His eyes, too, were pleading to him, as though he had made a claim he was not completely sure about, yet hoped it to be true. Like Prince, Scythe's eyes betrayed a deep weakness, a fear of treachery.
Gritting his teeth with regret, Char knew Scythe's words to be true.
"He taught me to smolder," Char replied, spitting the words out before he could hold them back, watching as Prince's eyes widened in defeat.
Scythe blinked. A puzzled expression came over him, lingering there for a moment… for two moments…
*THUMP*
In the blink of an eye, Scythe assaulted Prince with a powerful body slam and pinned him against the rough brick wall. His blade was leveled with the Infernape's throat.
"Give me one good reason I should not destroy you here and now!" Scythe roared. "You took him to the warehouse and you froze him within a hair of his life?! You don't think I know how many Pokémon have died from that 'lesson'?! Do you realize what you have put on the line?! You could have killed him!"
"Just as you would have, in a mere couple of days!" Prince shot back, trying to lift his mouth from the wall. "You would have frozen him to death all the same, by taking him to Zerferia unprepared."
"Char has enough real-life dangers to worry about for you to be adding needless and senseless risks!" Scythe hissed. "At this point, you are a danger to us. I could kill you right now in defense of the Call and the resistance would trust my judgment."
"How am I any different from you?" Prince challenged, struggling only to breathe in the Scyther's grasp. "I know how you have trained your students. They have told me themselves. You taught them everything they know by experience. I'm sure that 'experience' has put their lives at risk at times, has it not? Sending them out into dungeons, pitting them against foes? Yet you've gone through with their training anyway. In trying to help Char, I've done the same. How is that any different?"
"The difference," Scythe spat, thrusting Prince's body brutally against the wall, "is that these are my students. All of your students are either dead, gone, or have learned well enough not to trust your judgment!"
Char couldn't take the sight. His loyalty was to Scythe, but he knew Prince couldn't be as bad as Scythe was judging him to be. He knew that Prince was only trying to help him. He wanted this discrepancy to end.
"Scythe…" Char spoke meekly.
Scythe answered without turning his head. "Char, you should have known better than to follow him," he grunted. "I laid down the rules when we first arrived here, and you have broken the most important of them: not to ask questions. It is for your safety you must not pry into the lives of the Pokémon around here."
"But…"
"Char," Scythe interrupted, turning a reddened eye in his direction. "If you speak one more word, you and I will be going to Temporal Tower alone."
Char's mouth instantly clamped shut.
Tension burned in the air for many seconds as Scythe continued to hold Prince hostage, yet found nothing more to say. Char resigned himself to the unpleasant scene knowing that he couldn't do anything to stop it, yet it kept hurting with such a heart-piercing sting that he begged for it to be over as soon as possible… much like being locked in cold storage. Ray and Saura stood just outside the still-open doorway watching the scene take place. Their eyes were wide and saddened, yet not surprised; Char knew they had been expecting something like this to happen the moment Scythe realized he had left the courtyard.
Char's legs were locked in place. His jaw was sealed in speechlessness. His fire raged in response to the stress, yet he could not do anything with it. This wasn't like the challenge between rivals that had taken place at the scourging post. This fight was dead serious. It was far over his head. And he knew it should not have been taking place.
Then… Scythe's expression changed. A glimmer of shame appeared in his eyes.
Blinking, he stared at the ground for a moment and ignored his hostage. With a slight thrust of his arms, he stepped away and let the Infernape go.
"I'm sorry," he muttered quietly, looking at nobody. "I realize… I am only making this harder on the five of us."
Calmly, quietly, he stepped toward the stairs leading back into the city.
"I begin to lose control of myself," he announced grimly. "I need some time by myself to think. I'm going to take a walk to the western border. Char… Saura… Ray… Prince will be your guardian while I am away. Follow him. Trust him."
Before stepping past Char and descending the staircase, he turned to Prince.
"I know you mean them no harm." Scythe told him. "Do with them what you will. I have no good reason to deny them your company and your words of wisdom. So go, train them. Prepare them. Just… do not consider this as an opportunity to redeem yourself for your past transgressions."
"And why not?" Prince returned.
"Because," Scythe answered solemnly, "you already have."
Scythe turned and began his descent down the staircase.
"I will be back by nightfall," he called from afar. "Do not follow me."
Without saying another word, Scythe just walked away, leaving Char and his friends in the care of the Infernape.
Char heard as the others fell to his side at the edge of the top step, Ray and Saura on his left and Prince on his right, all with their eyes fixed on the Scyther who marched down the city streets, alone.
"Wow…" Ray whispered.
"His anger is righteous," Prince noted. "He… he has a reason to despise me. You see… He stands in the same position I once found myself. Many years ago, the Call came. I was the one to capture the Pokémon who possessed it. But… in my duty to protect the Call… to guide it, to control it… I failed. And now, he has you, Char, and he does not want to fail with you the way I did. He knows that one learns from their mistakes, yet he can't ignore the gravity of mine. And after all these years, neither can I."
Char said nothing, only watching as Scythe became a tiny speck to his vision, approaching the convergence point of the road on which he walked.
"He has every right to be protective of you," Prince continued, sounding dumbfounded. "Yet… that does not completely explain his anger. Why is his anger so intense? There is something else going on here. I don't understand what's wrong with him. He fears this journey. After our battle, he told me that he was not ready for the pain involved on the journey. What… pain? I do not see it… What is he planning that I do not understand?"
"I don't think we should talk about it," Char said. "He's already had enough. Let's not gossip."
"Hmm, agreed," Prince hummed. "In that case… We will do as he says and continue to prepare. Come, the daylight wanes…"
… … …
It was a short walk to the next destination, another gray building about a block west of the capital, but Char knew his enthusiasm was already snuffed out. He tried to tell himself not to worry about Scythe and to just pay attention to whatever Prince was going to tell him next, but the thought of Scythe going mad was more distracting now than ever. For a moment, he even pictured a startling scene with Prince protecting him from a crazed Scythe as insanity set in. He pushed it away with all his might.
But the worst sinking feeling came when he remembered Scythe saying the plan involved him. Whether he understood it or not, he was caught up in this mess. He was possibly even at its core. It chilled him to wonder how he would fit into Scythe's unforeseen problems.
Along the way, Char tried to ignore the somber mood by describing the sensation of smoldering to his astonished friends.
"It was intense," Char admitted, as Saura and Ray both gaped in horror. "It was worse than… everything. Earthquakes are pleasant in comparison. So is being submerged in water. I was… reduced to a broken shell of a Pokémon. I'd rather get smashed by a hundred Gravelers than feel that cold again."
"Char… I think I'm with Scythe on this one," Saura managed to say, his eyes already watering from having witnessed Scythe's outburst. "First you disappeared without a trace, then you almost died? Don't do that! Just… Wow…!"
"In his final moments, as his sanity blurred, he tried to cry out to you, Saura," Prince noted. "His greatest trust is in you."
Saura looked honestly touched at hearing the words. He blinked, causing tears to stream down his face. Char knew he wanted to break down, and admired how he struggled to stay in control.
"Indeed, Char could have died," Prince said. "Yet, do not dwell on what could have been, only on what could still be. Char has become stronger and wiser from his lesson. He now knows how to care for himself in the direst of circumstances, which we may encounter in the arctic. Speaking of which, Saura, do you understand how your body reacts to extreme cold?"
"I wilt," Saura replied. "Plant Pokémon turn brown and their leaves start falling off if they stay in the cold for too long…"
"And have you ever experienced this?" Prince asked.
"…No," Saura admitted with a sniffle. "Mom and dad have always taught me how to stay green… they always made sure that I would stay warm and sunbathe and drink plenty of water… I've always kept my seed fed and charged with energy… and it's always stayed healthy…"
"Then Char now has more experience than you," Prince said. "It was the best way I could help him with the time I had. Try to understand."
"Well… okay… yeah," Saura said, picking his head up. "Yeah… you just gave us a scare, there, I guess. That's all. But you knew what you were doing…"
Saura cast an uncertain glance at Char, the tiny streams of tears on his face no longer running. Char nodded in reply, as if to say "I'm alright." Ray watched the two of them, silent and deep in thought. Char knew how worried he was about Scythe, but he knew not to talk about it. Ray was following Scythe's orders to keep his words to himself unless spoken to.
"Now, Char, as I was saying before, we need to find something for you to wear, which is why we are here," Prince declared, arriving at the building's front door. "This facility belongs to Froslass, who manages our division's supply of clothing. Her personality is a bit fickle, but try not to let her bother you. We will probably be done and gone in a few minutes. She does her job very well."
Char felt a shiver of awkwardness fill him to imagine wearing clothes as a Charmander. It just felt… wrong, somehow. The power-imbued scarves and things he wore to missions were scratchy and uncomfortable as it was; he simply couldn't imagine having to lug around a whole outfit wherever he went. He imagined it to be worse than carrying the sack of supplies on a mission. Although, the thought did resurrect a tiny, albeit unreadable, sense of remembrance from his humanity…
With a scowl of uncertainty, Char stepped into the building as Prince held the door open. Inside, it was a very poorly-lit establishment. Dark brown bricks fixed with black concrete lined the floor, Fort Emerald's ubiquitous grey blocks made up the walls, and there were no windows to give light to the dingy color scheme. Only a dull blue light emanated from some unseen source. As Char glanced around to find the light, the building's smell hit him in the face. It was dusty. The air seemed thick with invisible soot, as though the building were abandoned and rarely entered. It was also warmer indoors, Char noticed, even though the outdoors still didn't feel as cold as they once did.
"So, wait… why do I need clothes?" Char wondered in an annoyed tone, this concept still uncomfortable to him. "I've never heard of a Pokémon wearing clothes before… I'm not sure I really want to try it..."
"Don't say it as though it's unnatural," Prince replied, letting the door close after everyone had come inside. "Wearing skins in the cold weather is an integral part of operations for this division. After all, every Pokémon needs protection from the elements. Many, like myself, as well as your friend Ray there, have a fur coat to insulate them. Some have thick fat. Some have bodies covered in steel armor which protects them from danger as well as the cold. Even Saura is in little danger of wilting since his seed is still surrounded by its protective shell. But you, on the other hand… you're small and vulnerable. There's just no other way to put it. You need protection from the weather if we are to go north."
"Hey… heh… I'm surprised you're not looking forward to this," Saura said, attempting some humor to recover from his bad mood. "Wouldn't it be, you know… natural to you?"
Char crossed his arms and sent Saura a "not funny" glare. He let himself slump into the corner to rest while he awaited further instructions.
The lobby room was empty and unspectacular, with only some hallways branching off deeper into the building and two large wooden hatches upon the opposite wall. The only furniture was a big block of wood against the wall which Char assumed to be the business desk, though it was difficult to see how someone could expect to get behind it. Prince glanced down the hallways, puzzled.
"Froslass?" he called down the hall. "Froslass, don't tell me you're busy…"
There was no reply. Char looked at his teammates and shrugged.
"Froslass!" Prince called again, this time down the other hall. "You have visitors!"
Again, no answer. Prince grumbled.
"We should wait for a moment, she could be in back," Prince instructed. "I hope, at least. She usually answers the door as fast as she can. She'd better not be out and about. These are still business hours…"
So, they waited in awkward silence. Not too thrilled of the place, Char occupied himself by tracing paths across the bricks in the floor with his eyes. Saura commented on the stuffy air shortly after breaking into a coughing fit. Ray played with some static charges between his fingertips. Prince leaned against the wall beside the door, tapping his fingers. Still, no Pokémon came to greet them.
"Looks like she might not be here at the moment, for whatever reason," Prince eventually said. "I will try to take her place. Follow me."
After hesitating just once more, Prince waved his arm and ventured down one of the hallways. Char followed.
A few dozen paces down the narrow hall, there was a previously-unnoticed door in the side of the wall. Prince clasped the handle and yanked gently, causing the door to creak open. A waft of sharp fragrance erupted from within.
"Wow… that's… really something," Ray noted, his eyes watering. "I've never smelled that before…"
"Cedar," Char said, having a moment of recollection. "That's Cedar wood. It repels bugs."
"Impressive. You do know some things about humans, it seems," Prince commented, slowly stepping through the door and spreading his light into the shadows. "Yes… this type of wood is good for lining closets. All those little non-Pokémon bugs like to make their home in clothing and eat it… Though, most humans I've met enjoy this fragrance. I find it repulsive… now, step carefully. Follow behind me…"
As the light from Prince's mane spread, Char saw a descending staircase open before him. Cautiously and deliberately, Char lowered himself onto the first stair.
"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
A ghastly, screeching cry rang from absolutely nowhere. Startled, Char slipped and flung himself off the stair. Without even enough time to gasp in shock, he felt the air whoosh past his head as he plummeted down into the dark abyss. Thankfully, Prince caught him by the arm and he was yanked back into motionlessness before he could tumble away.
Catching his breath, Char positioned himself down on the closest flat surface his feet could find and regained his balance.
"Badfire Pokémon! Bad! Bad! AIIEEE! You get out of there this instant! Out! OUT!"
Char turned his attention back to the summit of the staircase, and beheld the figure of a being floating in the doorway. It hung in the air, much like a ghost Pokémon. Its body sparkled like crystals.
"OUToutoutoutout OUT!" it insisted angrily, pointing a finger back the way Char had come.
Unquestioningly, Char followed the Pokémon's orders and started to climb back up the stairs. Prince hung his head in shame as he exited the stairwell, the flustered ghost Pokémon practically yanking him out.
"Guh, fire Pokémon, impatient as usual! Are you deaf? I said I was coming!" the ghost ranted after everyone had cleared out of the stairwell. "For the love of Lucario, stay out of there! Especially you and you with your live flames!"
"I'm sorry, Froslass, but we did not hear your answer," Prince replied honestly. "And we are in a bit of a hurry this evening, so I would have done my best to serve myself…"
"And you'd have gone and burned the whole closet to ash, you would have!" Froslass cried. "Not today, you won't serve yourself. Not today, not ever! I'll be handling things from here. So… what is it you need, Prince?"
"I need… something for the Charmander," Prince explained. "We're going north. Far north. We do not know how long we will be staying…"
"Hmm, so you'll be needing something warm, and fireproof," Froslass considered, turning her attention to Char and inspecting his form.
"Well… I do not believe fireproofing is necessary in this case," Prince replied. "The temperatures will be too cold for the fur to catch on fire, and if it does we can put it out right away…I was thinking… Linoone, perhaps? It has worked well in the past…"
"What, and put burn marks in it?" Froslass returned with disgust, floating around Char. "Rips, tears, I can repair. Well… not me. Spinarak does that. But burn marks… you can't get those out! It would be ruined. Utterly… completely ruined… Not a chance I'd let you have one of my Linoone coats, not over my living body… No, little Char here is going to need something totally fireproof… hmm…"
Char tried to hold still and stand up straight as the sparkling ghost Pokémon circled around him, eerily floating over his head and breathing on him as she performed her inspection. She reached down and touched a finger to the back of Char's head, causing a shiver to jolt his body; even though his nerves were still numb, her touch felt cold.
"Hmm… I was thinking Flareon, but… hmm… might be too big…"
"Wait… you actually kill Flareon for their skins?" Char spewed suddenly, his eyes widened.
"Oh, no no no, dear," Froslass laughed. "Flareon, we shave. They have so much puffy fur, they don't know what to do with it all! So then we can weave it into nice fireproof fabric… Only problem is they have a little bit of an overheating problem as they're growing it back, but it isn't a problem… at least, most of the time it isn't…"
Char released his breath and relaxed at hearing the explanation.
"Flareon are lucky in that regard," Froslass continued, a silky yet disturbing ring to her voice. "We don't have to harm them to take their coats. Unlike most other Pokémon… Spheal, Mamoswine, Linoone… nope, those Pokémon we've gotta skin if we want to make any use of their fur. That way we can take their meat, too, and feed all the carnivores. And maybe toss a bone or two to a Cubone. But, ah, yes, they make the best coats…"
"…We never slaughter Pokémon for their skins," Prince quickly added. "We only use the skins of wilds, and that's only after they've been defeated for other reasons, such as for food… or in battle…"
"Most of the time, yes," Froslass replied with a gleeful little grin. "Most of the time…"
Char decided to just shove out all the mental pictures he'd just received. He rolled his eyes. Froslass was being a typical ghost Pokémon.
"… Well, now, I think I might have something for you, Char," Froslass announced, making a final circle around her subject. "I'll be right back. Do not follow me!"
The ghost wasted no time, zipping past Prince and down into the dark staircase. Char sat back down on the floor, wondering unenthusiastically what sort of Pokémon skin the ghost would try to attach to him, and imagining how silly he would look in a poofy, striped fur coat…
But before he had too much time to picture it, Froslass returned brandishing something truly hideous: it looked like a scratchy brown burlap sack, modified to take the form of an ugly vest.
"Here!" she yelled. "This! This is just your size! This'll do perfectly!"
"Heh… w-what kind of Pokémon fur is that?" Char wondered, shuddering as he stared at the thing.
"Oh, this isn't fur!" Froslass cried. "This is a stringweed tunic, made from a very hearty species of vine that lives up north and likes to run across the ground and strangle other plants. Very tight-knit, very durable. Fireproof! And very cold-resistant! You'll overheat the moment you put it on, I swear! Here, try it!"
Without waiting for Char's approval, the ghost invaded and shoved the vest onto his back and over his arms.
At first, Char wasn't so displeased. It did fit him like a glove. But… within just a few seconds of trying to move his limbs and grow accustomed to the cloth hanging from him… the itch set in.
Char convulsed as a disgusting shiver washed over his skin. The vest was so prickly, so abrasive… it felt like a tingling, crawling swarm of insects covering his body. He emitted a moan as Froslass hooked a button into place, sealing him within this torturous prison.
"There," Froslass said satisfactorily. "Perfect fit. And fireproof, too! You could battle in that and it wouldn't sustain a scratch!"
"Very good," Prince said, nodding. "That'll work well. How's it feel, Char?"
Then, it got worse. Just as Froslass promised, the vest began to trap in his own body heat, covering his skin with a broiling sensation in mere seconds. The heat itself wasn't so bad, but this was itchy heat!
"I hate it!" Char said outright, holding his hands at arm's length to keep the horrible prickly fabric from rubbing against his skin. "It itches! I… I can't wear this! Please, take it off. Please…"
"What?! Come now, what's wrong with you?!" Froslass said, sounding offended. "That is a very respectable tunic! Masterfully crafted, and expensive! It was made for you!"
"Char… please, just give it a chance," Prince said quickly, stepping in. "I know, it feels a bit strange the first time, but… you will get used to it. Didn't you say that you would rather be crushed by Graveler than suffer in freezing cold again?"
"This… this is… worse!" Char insisted through gritted teeth. "At least in the freezer, I had death to look forward to! This… ugh, No! I can't… I can't wear this."
"You ungrateful little child," Froslass scolded. "If you're going to be leaving Ambera and going that far up north, you'll be thanking me for this! Especially in this time of year! Grow up a little, will you?"
Char snapped. He couldn't take it. Grunting from the constant friction of the vest against his skin, Char's hands scrambled for the button on his belly that Froslass had done. He yanked, pulled, and finally slipped the awkwardly-shaped hunk of metal through the slit in the flap and tore the horrible rag from his body, slamming it on the floor in front of him.
FWOOOSH!
By total reflex, a wave of flames poured out from Char's mouth and engulfed the crumpled vest. Char wasn't even sure how it happened, but he didn't disagree with it. He was, however, disappointed as the fire failed to so much as catch on the fabric, dissipating weakly as smoke into the already-stuffy room.
Surprised at his action, though not too embarrassed, Char quickly glanced around at his onlookers. Ray looked like he was about to laugh. Saura looked surprised. Prince did not look amused one bit. And Froslass… she looked smug.
"See?!" Froslass yelped, floating before Prince and getting in his face. "See? See? That is why we outfit fire Pokémon with fire-proof gear! Because you fire Pokémon like to burn everything you touch!"
SLAM!
Everyone in the room jumped as the front door was noisily thrown open.
In walked a procession of large, bulky Pokémon. A massive Blastoise stepped into the shop, shaking the ground with his steps, followed by a sleek-looking Blaziken, a smug Glaceon, A muscular Machamp, and finally, a large, winged, dark-skinned Pokémon that Char didn't recognize. The group was yammering among themselves despite their weariness, as if back from a successful journey and happy to be home again. Char and his friends quickly parted from the center of the room to give the newcomers space.
"Team Homeless," Froslass addressed, quickly ignoring Prince and floating before them. "Back from a triumphant raid, I see…"
"Heck yeh," boomed the Blastoise. "But I swear, I don't care what Lucario says, I'm not going that far south again. Over my dead body. Enough with these six-month ventures…"
The elite team managed to totally ignore Team Ember as they filed into the place. Froslass looked pleased to see them. Char watched as the Blastoise, whom he assumed to be the team leader, Dropped a large chunk of metal next to the wooden desk. It hit the brick floor with a resounding clang. Froslass rushed over to inspect it. It was a heavy steel helmet.
"Ah, no rust, hopefully? Hmm?" Froslass rambled, picking it up and turning it over. "Augh, you did. You let it rust. But not too bad I see… that can polish out."
"You can thank Caron for that, there," the Blastoise grunted. "Lady had me trapped at the bottom of Greenrift Lake for a day. I told her we shouldn't have moved in ahead of schedule. Almost got caught."
"How else were we supposed to get into the city, Turq? Fly over?!" the Blaziken returned. "And nobody asked you to take your armor with you into the lake. You can thank yourself for that."
Plunk! Another metallic object hit the floor, this one a great, riveted gauntlet which the Machamp added to the pile.
"Good glove," the Machamp told Froslass. "Sturdy."
"Oh, I don't stock bad equipment, dear," she said, setting the helmet onto the table and picking up the steel glove. "You should know that by now! Good, good… Not a dent, not one… "
Char watched silently as the resistance team conversed, thanking Froslass for their items and bragging about their experiences on the assignment. They were all very noisy and celebratory… all except for the dark-colored Pokémon, who looked content to simply stand and wait impatiently next to the door. Char eyed this creature, still not quite sure what it was, and found his gaze soon returned condescendingly by the Pokémon's large red eyes…
But then, just as soon, the Pokémon diverted its gaze to stare past him. Char looked back over his shoulder and saw that it was locked with Prince's eyes.
"Naxi…" Prince spoke, crossing to room to meet with the Pokémon. "A surprise to meet you here. I was unaware that you were… currently employed with Lucario."
Char noticed that there was tension in Prince's voice, as though he was trying his hardest to speak without disrespect, but couldn't quite do it. The Pokémon Naxi's expression suggested a similar disposition.
"Prince," Naxi addressed simply. "I don't blame you for not concerning yourself in the affairs of other Pokémon. Though, likewise, I'm surprised to see you here. I was not aware that you were… planning to return from retirement."
Retirement? Char wondered. …Huh? Prince is… retired?
Char felt uncomfortable. There was resent of some sort between Prince and Naxi, which he felt he did not want to get caught up in. They held a forced tone of politeness in their voices. Char caught a glint of displeasure in Prince's eye, suggesting that perhaps Naxi's comment about his retirement was not completely truthful.
"Will you be saying long, or moving on down south?" Prince asked. "I understand Team Shardrune might be interested in your business."
"After acting as a deadweight chaperone for these misguided Pokémon for half a year, I foresee that I might retreat from the resistance and work my own schedule for a time," Naxi responded, a hint of disgust in his manner. "I do not have the same luxuries as your team, Prince. I sometimes forget the appeal of working for no client, or no master…"
Blinking, the dark Pokémon's eyes returned to Char.
"Who are those children?" he wondered. "I assume those children are in your care, Prince? What are you doing looking after hatchlings?"
"What do you care?" Prince returned.
"I do not," Naxi answered. "Simply curious… May I remind you that you started this conversation, and you are free to end it at any point you desire. I was merely attempting politely to continue it."
Prince grumbled quietly to himself before responding. "They are… trainees, of sorts, from the Gold Division," he explained, nodding to them. "Scythe has brought them here on assignment."
"Hmm…" Naxi hummed. "Odd decision for Scythe to make… unless…"
Naxi winced. He shook his head.
"I have heard these rumors of Temporal tower," Naxi considered. "In fact, I have been bombarded with them ever since returning to the fortress the other day. And considering Scythe is one of the watchers of the call…"
Prince said nothing. Char froze in place, a little bit afraid, as the strange Pokémon's gaze shifted over his friends, and then finally to him. A hint of recognition appeared in the dark Pokémon's eyes as it locked gazes with Char, immediately reading his fear…
"So… it begins again," Naxi said, almost indifferently. "But you realize, Prince Distragnatia… if it goes wrong a second time, we will have to make steps to prevent it from happening a third… Lucario would place a bounty on your corpse. And I would gladly be the one to accept the assignment."
Prince diverted his gaze, already tiring of the conversation. Naxi's eyes remained locked with Char's.
"Charmander," the dark Pokémon said to him, "always remember, the power you have was given to you, and alone, to you. It belongs to no one else. Be wary of those who try to take it for themselves, to manipulate you. Such is the same corruption and greed of the Master in their hearts. It will only end in ruin. Serve nobody. Instead, make the world to serve you."
"Oddly profound words for someone who does not care," Prince replied sarcastically.
"Unlike the rest of this division, I choose to learn from the events of the past, and not endeavor to forget them," Naxi said. "What happened to the girl was a mistake this division cannot handle to be repeated. I would have told the same thing to her. Now, if you will excuse me… I must choke payment from my clients before nightfall comes…"
Buzzing his wings, Naxi fluttered back over to the opposite side of the resistance team. Prince eyed the dark Pokémon for a moment more before motioning for Char and his friends to follow him out the door. Ray collected the fabric scrap from the ground on the way out.
… … …
"Just curious… who was that?" Saura wondered as he followed Prince back down the street. "He seemed… I don't know…"
"Naxi, the dark Flygon, as he is called," Prince mumbled, as if reluctant to answer the question. "He answers to nobody except those he feels like listening to. He floats between divisions and helps the resistance teams on his own terms. He's not always the easiest character to get along with, either… but he is one of the most competent."
Char had some other questions to ask, but he could tell by Prince's voice that he would not be thrilled to answer them.
"Anyway, Char… now that we have your coat…"
"I'm not wearing it," Char said quickly. "I… I can't. It's too horrible."
"Perhaps you will think differently when you're being frozen alive," Prince said. "You are too quick to forget what I have shown you? Have you blotted it out of your memory?"
"It itches. It's almost as bad as being cold."
"When you're numbed enough from the cold, you won't feel the itch. It's easy to ignore."
"Says the one who has never worn a coat…"
Prince scowled and turned around to confront Char.
"Has Naxi's attitude already rubbed off on you?" Prince replied in frustration. "I'll make you a deal. You won't have to wear the coat until the final leg of the trip through Zerferia. But you must wear it when I tell you that you must. Until then, fine, be stubborn."
Char folded his arms in defiance, but nodded his reluctant agreement. In truth, he figured it would give him more time to contemplate ways to keep from wearing the coat.
"Then… as I was saying…" Prince grunted, "Char, since we've gotten that done… you wanted sparring tips. Now is probably the best time and place. Any later and we would miss the opportunity to attend Legend's story like you wanted."
"Um… alright…" Char said, checking his surroundings. It was a deserted street corner, certainly spacious enough for some movement.
Saura and Ray both asked to be counted out, having already practiced their hearts out with Scythe and quite beat. They retired to the sidewalk to watch. Char started to feel ashamed that he hadn't been able to share much attention with the rest of his team lately. He also found it weird that Prince's attitude had changed slightly, as though this sparring exercise would be a chore for him, which he was only doing because Char had requested it. Char wondered if his meeting with Naxi had bothered him more than he showed. He also wondered if the Infernape was still tired from his duel with Scythe.
Nevertheless, Char readied himself for the lesson.
"Now, when you know you must fight, you assume the battle stance, and you ready your Ember," Prince spoke. "Do so."
Char positioned his stance accordingly and crouched forward. In his mind, he imagined himself as a Charmander whose trainer was barking orders to him.
"Go! Char!" the trainer said. "This is it! Get ready to fight…"
"Char, that is not a battle stance," Prince sighed. "When you're preparing to fight, never remain on your hind legs. Always drop to all fours. You must be able to dodge in any direction at a moment's notice, and you can't do that on two legs. Understand?"
Nodding, Char threw himself forward and landed on his front claws. He didn't often battle in this stance, so it felt very awkward, but he was willing to learn if Prince claimed it was the best way. He noticed that Prince had done something similar, crouching down close to a crawling stance, ready to use all four of his limbs for motion. After bringing his fire up to a respectable level, Char stood ready for further instructions.
"Good, now… from what I've seen, you know of your basic fire attacks. Certainly the most important, sustaining a stream of flames. But have you learned anything more?"
"Of course," Char said. "I can't use fire against every enemy. Some aren't too hurt by it. I know Metal Claw, for one thing… and smoke screening… and if that doesn't work, I can always just try beating up the enemy…"
"As you may or may not know already, humans have titles for the different types of attacks which Pokémon perform. When you 'beat up' an enemy with your bare claws, they call it a 'normal' attack."
"I've heard that before, I think," Char said. "Domo used that term before… for when you just bite or scratch or hit the enemy, without using fire… or whatever other power a Pokémon has…"
"It is important to learn how to properly melee," Prince said. "Even if you master your fire, you can tilt the balance of a battle with good melee skills. See, some Pokémon have evolved to repel the elemental powers of their rivals and predators. If you were to breathe fire onto a Blastoise, it would have little effect, since a water elemental repels your fire. Likewise, if Saura were to hit you with a stray leaf, it would do little to you, since you naturally repel plant-based attacks."
"Yeah, I know the weakness web already," Char told him. "Domo taught us that in the first days of training."
"But this is where 'normal' attacks come in," Prince continued. "While a water Pokémon may be able to repel your fire, they cannot repel a good old knock to the head, or a deep scratch to the skin which draws blood. With enough skill, you could overpower them with brute strength. Fighting like a berserker is dangerous, but effective, if you can master it."
"What are you saying?" Char wondered. "That if my fire doesn't work…"
"It is good that you know your weakness web, and which Pokémon to be wary of in the wild," Prince said, nodding. "But if you try, for a moment, to picture 'normalcy' as its own element within the web, you could say that no Pokémon is especially vulnerable to it, and no Pokémon resists it. It is a reliable fallback if your enemy has a strong immunity to your element."
Char looked at the ground, contemplating this idea. It was an odd concept. "No element" is, itself, an element?
"Now… once you understand that concept, try to learn this useful battle technique," Prince instructed, motioning with his hands. "Have you ever set a foe on fire?"
"Burned them? Yeah, a whole lot," Char answered. "Happens all the time. Especially with wild plant Pokémon…"
"You would not know this, but sustaining a burn is very painful," Prince said. "It is different than other forms of pain. If an enemy's body is set on fire and it sears the flesh, it stings constantly for hours until it is healed, whether gradually or with medicine. The burned flesh becomes super-sensitive. Every touch feels like hundreds of knives cutting into the surface."
Char knew this all too well, but he wasn't going to mention that.
"And such, if you manage to burn your foe in a battle, you gain an advantage," Prince continued. "The pain is distracting. The foe will not be able to think clearly, and will become vulnerable to silly tricks and traps that it would have otherwise found obvious. Especially in regard to these 'normal' moves."
Prince approached Char, as if to test an attack against him. Char readied himself to dodge.
"In this case, you may find it effective to put on a façade," Prince said. "Mislead the enemy into expecting an attack, then change your mind at the last minute. Since the burn eats away at your enemy's attention, it will probably fall for your guise, and right into your trap. Use the opportunity to hit them hard. For instance, a common maneuver I tend to perform by instinct is to drop down to the floor to duck the enemy's assault, then counter with a rotating kick. Like so…"
Prince demonstrated this move, though in a slow and deliberate fashion. He ended with his foot practically in Char's face.
"But if I were to play a façade, I would second-guess myself," Prince said, withdrawing back to his battle stance. "Likely my enemy is already used to my favorite moves, so it would have already readied counters for them. I could do this same, distinct motion, but instead…"
Prince dropped to the ground, but instead of launching the kick at Char's face, he used his foot to catapult himself into a cartwheel past Char's left side. Char flinched in surprise and tried to leap forward, but the attack came and smacked him from behind, flipping him over and causing him to skid a few feet forward. He shook it off and flipped back up into his four-legged stance.
Char smiled. Maybe he could get into this a little bit, after all.
"Surprised?" Prince laughed. "Most of my enemies are, too. If you noticed, I got Scythe not once, but twice with that move during our battle. And he's one to usually predict an enemy's actions five moves in advance! But if you mix up your attacks well enough, the enemy will have to spend more time thinking about it than reacting… and if they are distracted from a burn, or perhaps something else, such as poison... they simply stand no chance. Now, it's your turn, Char. See if you can throw me off. Try to surprise me."
Char prowled forward on his four legs. He knew he couldn't surprise the old warrior, especially not with the first attack. That wasn't the point. He first had to make Prince expect something, and then quickly subvert that expectation. He considered his points of entry. He was small and agile compared to the primate. A pounce to the head was viable. Or perhaps a back-attack, if he was quick enough.
He lunged, motoring his feet as fast as they could go, closing the already small gap between him and his trainer. He watched for the inevitable counter-attack, a roundabout kick, which he deftly leapt over. Unfortunately, he did not keep an eye on Prince's other foot, which slammed him in the face as soon as the first one came back to rest. Char fell backward and scrambled to his feet, prepared to try something else.
I'd use a smoke screen if I could, Char told himself as he shook off the hit, but not now. This isn't about my fire techniques. This is about the 'normal' attacks. How… how do I get past his defenses? What wouldn't he be expecting?
Again, Char lunged, keeping a careful eye on Prince's counter. Unfortunately, Prince attacked from the opposite side this time, swatting him away with ease. As he recovered from the hit, he felt a bit ashamed for not suspecting it, but he wasn't going to give up. He looked again, carefully considering the patterns Prince had displayed. This was a mind game.
And finally, without thinking too hard about it, Char lunged for the third time… making a small misstep to the side as he ran, but righting it in no time, and attacking in the same direction as his first two attempts. Prince jerked in amusement as his first counter sailed harmlessly past Char's head.
THWAP. Char once again went sailing face-first into the ground. A few stars appeared before his eyes for a moment.
"Good, good!" Prince congratulated. "Very good maneuver, there! See? Sometimes if the enemy is reading into the battle too much, you can outsmart them simply by making them expect something different… while you repeat the same thing!"
"But… I didn't hit you," Char mumbled in frustration, climbing back to his stance.
"I never asked you to hit me," Prince laughed. "I only asked you to surprise me, which you did. Well done. But if you want to hit me, it's going to take a lot more effort than that!"
"I doubt that!" Char shouted back at him, playing cocky. "Just watch!"
He grinned. He was having fun now. Fired up and full of energy, he knew he wanted to try landing a hit on the legendary Prince, even if it meant getting pummeled. Poised like a primal Luxray, Char bared his teeth and prepared to put up an intense fight…
…Until he caught something out of the corner of his eye.
He looked back at his friends. Ray was squinting, staring somewhere far-off. And Saura…
…Saura was fast asleep.
He paused for a few moments, just looking at them. Wondering something, though he didn't know what.
… … …
Char sparred with Prince for about twenty minutes, though it turned out to be much less exciting and more forced than he wanted it to be. Somehow, Char just couldn't put his heart into it. Something was bothering him. Something. It was as if his mind had been absently piecing together a big puzzle, though none of the pieces had any sort of labels. He knew it had been happening not just that day, but all week. Ever since he first learned of the Tower. His mind was churning something, digesting something. But now, due to recent events, it seemed to be nearing completion, and it was unbearable to not know.
He knew it was true. Something… Something required his attention. His thoughts. His decision. But… what?
It was something he heard earlier that day. Or was it? Or was it a combination of things he had been told? By Naxi? Lucario? Prince? Scythe? Zahira? All of them at once?
It bugged him. It bugged him like a raw stringweed rag tied around his head.
Well… of course Scythe bugged me, Char wondered, looking through his memories for the answer. But… but that's not it… not like that. Or… or is it? I'm sure it has something to do with him…
"Vitamins," Prince announced, breaking his reflection. "I'm sure back at the Gold Division, they put you on a healthy diet of vitamin supplements…"
No, no… Char told himself, withdrawing back into his own thoughts. No, I can't lose focus now. I'm onto something. Something… about Saura? That's when it ruined my flare, when I saw him… but…
"This journey could last for months, you realize? Before we embark, we should get some vital vitamins into you…"
Something… something about the way Prince was talking to Naxi… But that has nothing to do with Saura… or does it? Gah, I don't know! What is my instinct trying to tell me?! What's so important that I just can't see?!
"I'm… really not all that hungry," Saura groggily confessed. "Scythe fed us a gold apple before we came…"
"This has nothing to do with hunger or thirst, but health," Prince told him. "Supplements invigorate and strengthen your internal systems."
Annoyed at the voices distracting him, Char decided to snap to attention. They were somewhere else now, in some other building…
It was a shop, with polished wooden seats and tables positioned atop a marble floor around the lobby. It almost reminded Char of a human café, but no… the architecture more resembled a doctor's office. It was deserted; there were no other guests, or any managers, at this time.
"Kecleon didn't sell too many vitamin supplements at the Gold Division," Ray admitted. "There were some, but they were really expensive… Kecleon sells gummis sometimes, though…"
"Gummis help you to open your mind, but vitamins boost your strength," Prince said, turning to inspect the front counter. "Hmm… Gardevoir decided to take the day off early, I see… Well, then, I will have to help myself and pay him back later…"
Char watched absently as Prince jumped the counter and began scrounging around in the cupboards behind. He wondered if the Pokémon in charge would jump out from somewhere just like Froslass had, scorning him from trespassing upon business property, but then again, he got the impression that Prince had some sort of a right to do so.
Before long, Char and his friends had stationed themselves around a table. Prince plunked down a few small, brown bottles in front of them.
"Here, Char," Prince said. "Protein elixir. Drink. It'll help strengthen your muscles, help with those melee moves you've just learned. You too, Saura, Ray. Drink."
Char looked oddly at the blank-surfaced bottle and the liquid that sat within it. He picked it up and wrung off the stubborn cap, smelling its contents. It smelled faintly of oil. He slid the elixir across the table, trading it with Saura who'd been staring blankly at the bottle and wondering how to open it. Sighing, he chugged it down as instructed. It was bearable, tasting only slightly vile, and mostly just annoying his internal fire as all liquid drinks would do.
Plunk! Plunk! More, similarly-colored bottles were placed before him.
"And Calcium, to help energize your elemental strengths," he insisted. "Drink this, too… And then we can give it overnight to digest and soak into your system."
"This will actually make us stronger?" Saura wondered, staring hopelessly at the second capped bottle.
"Not noticeably," Prince answered. "Ideally you should be drinking supplements on a weekly basis. And, yes, you would start to notice a significant increase in your body's capabilities after a while. Like any good habit, each little dose counts."
Ray opened the bottle for Saura this time, and the three of them slammed it down. This one tasted powdery, leaving residue all along the inside of Char's mouth.
Plunk. Finally, Prince emptied his arms by dropping a big green, flat bottle onto the table.
"Ginseng," Prince said. "I could only find one, so you'll have to share it. It stimulates the nervous system. Unlike Chesto berries, which just block your ability to tire, this will really energize your-"
The door creaked open, and in walked a striking green-and-white Pokémon who looked genuinely surprised to see visitors. Prince nodded to the Pokémon.
"Good evening, Gardevoir," he said quickly. "I hope you do not mind that we helped ourselves. We were in a hurry, and these Pokémon needed—"
"Not a problem," Gardevoir quickly dismissed with a wave of his hand. "But… why are you here, Prince? Haven't you heard?"
"Heard what?" he replied, scowling in confusion.
"The weather report?" Gardevoir replied, making his way to the back of the house and eying the stolen goods with some annoyance.
"I… thought I did, why?" Prince responded. "There was nothing significant…"
"Nothing significant but the blizzard of the century…" Gardevoir returned, with what looked like a smirk. "all of the division is flocking for cover now in case it blows in early. Wasn't it Legend's night at the assembly hall anyway? I do believe most of the Pokémon attending are already there…"
Prince twitched in uncertainty. Char's stomach turned when he saw the Infernape's surprised gaze. Had something gone wrong?
"I… I have to check something," he muttered. "I did not hear of a storm front all week. I… I will be right back… You… stay seated right there, and drink your Ginseng. I will be back shortly."
Prince darted out. Char's mouth hung open, unable to say anything before the Infernape had vanished altogether.
"A storm?!" Saura cried. "That can't be good! What if it hits tomorrow afternoon when we're supposed to leave?!"
"I should have known," Ray added. "The sky's so dark today! You can just tell something was brewing… Maybe we'll get a taste of Zerferia before we even get there…"
Gardevoir reached a long, green hand down and snagged the bottle of Ginseng from the table. Team Ember turned in his direction.
"You needn't worry about a storm, children," Gardevoir said smoothly, walking away with the bottle. "The storm is only in Prince's head."
"Wait…" Ray stammered, looking confused. "You… you were…"
"Lying, yes," Gardevoir responded, turning a pleased grin in the Raichu's direction. "It is a small price for the high-and-mighty Prince to pay for his reputation that lets him walk among the fortress as though he owns it and everything inside. I figure I must be entitled to at least a small measure of retaliation for robbing my bar…"
Char didn't know whether to laugh or to feel disrespect for the fair-formed Pokémon. He chose to simply smile a little, watching as the Gardevoir worked behind the counter to clean up the disorder Prince had caused. He heard the gentle click-clacking of glass touching glass, and then he heard the sound of pouring water.
Gardevoir returned with three medium-sized glasses of a dark orange liquid, each with a colorful, leafed berry floating at the top. He gently placed them on the table before Char and his companions.
"Here," he said, "you might find that this goes down much more smoothly."
… … …
Char sat quietly with his friends, nursing his Ginseng cocktail (or whatever it was) while he waited for Prince to return. The flavor was pleasant and fitting for the powerful, almost repugnant bitterness of the elixir that it tried to mask, but he slowed down near halfway and couldn't quite finish. After a time, he found that his glass and the glasses of his friends were down to about half full, and that Prince showed no signs of coming back despite having been at least twenty minutes. Gardevoir had left the room, working somewhere in the back of the house.
"So… some trip so far, huh?" Char spoke to Ray and Saura, his first words to them in hours. "Prince seems overly interested in me… how are you guys doing?"
"I'm having fun," Ray answered cheerily, though Char guessed that at least part of the cheeriness was forced. "This place is really mysterious-like. I have to respect this place and all the Pokémon who work here. They seem to have a hard life. I don't think I'd want to live here, though. It'd be scary. I don't think I could do it."
"Me neither," Saura mumbled. "It's really harsh here. And I don't just mean the cold. All the Pokémon here… wow."
"Yeah… the resistance is sure serious up here," Ray sighed. "I mean, I always thought Team Remorse was the real deal. But up here, it's like that's how good you're expected to be just to make due. I can tell these teams have given up all their comforts and everything they have to keep the resistance going strong."
Char winced. He heard something in Ray's voice, just a subtle little wobble, as he mentioned Team Remorse. And he knew exactly why. Ray was putting his heart into pretending there was nothing wrong with Scythe. He was forcing it out of his mind.
"You doing alright, Saura?" Char asked tenderly. "I can't believe you fell asleep on the sidewalk…"
"Uh… yeah… sorry about that, heheh," Saura chuckled ashamedly. "I was trying to keep my eyes open. Prince was saying some things about fighting that I really wanted to hear. But I guess Scythe really wore me out."
"Saura… is something bothering you?" Char wondered, noticing something in the Bulbasaur's expression that seemed to have slipped out by accident.
"Oh, no, no…" Saura reassured, shaking his head and trying to smile. "Nah… I'm fine. I just… sometimes I keep thinking about my family. It's distracting sometimes. But I know I shouldn't worry…"
"Thank you," Char said warmly. "I don't know how many times I've said this already, but thanks for being here with me… I know that you're only here because I wanted you to come. Maybe I even made you come. You could have stayed back. But…I just keep imagining being here all alone…"
"Eh, what are friends for?" Ray said brightly.
"Just… don't run off and get yourself frozen to death again," Saura grumbled. "And no, for the last time, you didn't make me come. This was my decision. I made it back in Gravelerock Cave. Remember?"
Char was about to respond, but the words halted on the edge of his tongue and refused to come out.
He froze, wide-eyed, in revelation.
The world stopped turning. His ears heard no sound but his own heartbeat.
"Whoa, Char…?" Ray cried, noticing his friend's impossibly-wide eyes. "Char, you alright?"
"Y-you're not having another… vision, are you?" Saura gasped. "Char?"
Char ignored them, his gaze pinned into space.
It hit him.
As clear as day, as clear as the Articuno painting, as clear as the Poké Ball in his dream…
He saw it.
Moments were flashing before his eyes. Moments from that night outside of Alakazam's lair, when Scythe cried. Moments of that night he spied on Scythe talking to Shander, and telling him something about the nature of being a servant.
Moments of talking to Eva, and learning that Scythe had something dark hidden from him… but refusing to learn it for himself…
Moments of watching the sunset as Scythe told of Ambera's beauty…
The moment of dread when he saw Scythe's glare, burning into his eyes, for betraying his simple promise, on the walk to the fortress.
The moment of horror when Scythe first lost his temper. His forthcoming mixed fear and respect for Prince.
The moment when Lucario tossed him across the room, scorning him for being so weak, even though he himself was a powerless, aura-less leader…
The moment of revelation when Scythe threatened Prince's life, then walked off… The words he said… the threats he made…
The words of the strange dark Pokémon, telling him that his power was his own… that nobody should be allowed to manipulate him…
That point on the street. Saura… he fell asleep. He wasn't supposed to fall asleep. Thoughts of his family kept bothering him…
And finally…
The words of Ray, just moments before, still echoing in his mind.
"What are friends for?"
The last piece of the puzzle clicked into place, and the picture was spread before his eyes. Terrible. Beautiful. Final.
Just like that, Char knew the answer. He knew what he had to do.
"I… uh…" Char struggled to say. "I… I have something to say."
"What?!" Saura pleaded. "You're scaring me, Char! It's like you're having a seizure or something. What is it?!"
"I… I think…" Char stuttered, fear in his voice. "We need to have a talk."
… … …
The outer walls of Fort Emerald rose high across the land, a mighty wall of metallic-plated blocks, barring access from every sort of ground-crawling animal or intruder.
A Scyther sat upon the wall, his eyes fixed upon the western sky. The sun was not ready to give up just yet, but it was falling, fading, subtly shifting in color, and lowering itself beneath the eternally-clouded sky to show its face across the land. Seeing it warmed his heart, like it always did, for it still meant something to him. Ambera, his land, was still alive. In the face of his troubles, the beauty of the land caused everything to make sense, letting all of his entwined thoughts even themselves out, spelling clear goals and answers. Nothing in the world was more comforting.
He watched, motionlessly, ignoring everything else but the light of the sky. He saw not the Pokémon overhead which patrolled the airways and kept watch for the division's enemies across a distance. He saw not the resistance teams which traversed the roads far below, or the silhouettes of District Three and District Four on the faraway land. All he saw was the sky. His sky. The sky above his garden.
He prayed to it, asking it what he should do. How he should settle his problems.
Asking himself how he could come to accomplish the impossible and get away with it.
"Scythe?" a voice called from beside him.
Scythe turned quickly. He had not expected anyone to come. He had blocked his surroundings from his mind, ignoring those coming and going in the vicinity. And so, he was surprised to see the figure of a Charmander approaching him across the bridge-like surface of the fortress wall.
"Char," Scythe uttered. "I told you not to follow me. Why have you come!?"
Char ignored his comment. He walked forward, coming to the Scyther's side and taking an appreciative glance at the sunset along the way.
"What do you want, Char?" Scythe asked, though in a humble voice.
"I have something to ask you," Char replied, sitting down at his side.
Scythe bowed his head and closed his eyes. "Char, not this again…" he sighed in exasperation. "I thought we had a promise…"
"No… not that," Char said. "Something else… I had this idea. I wanted to know what you thought of it."
"Yes?" Scythe said simply, opening his eyes again and turning to him.
"I… I realize… that you're trying your hardest," Char began, mustering his courage to say what he wanted. "And I feel guilty because… I've made a lot of mistakes. And one in particular that… that I was… hoping to fix."
Scythe's eyes narrowed upon Char, but he kept silent. Char looked up to him, his eyes gleaming with respect and appreciation. He opened his mouth and spoke with total honesty, and even then, barely believing his own words:
"Scythe… how would you like it if you and I went to Temporal Tower all alone? Just you and me?"
The Scyther blinked, his head reeling back for a moment like he'd taken a punch to the face.
"Is that so wise?" he answered. "Your friends…"
"I talked to my friends just now," Char assured him. "They understand perfectly. They think it's a good idea. Look, Scythe… I know we're all in this together. But… it was a big mistake for me to force Saura and Ray to come here. I was being selfish. And so I brought them, and… and… well… I just thought it would help you feel better. Focus, you know. If you had less Pokémon to watch after…"
Scythe was silent.
He stared at the sunset for the longest time, totally silent. His breathing turned heavy, his eyes watched nothing in particular, focused only on his internal thoughts.
"Char…" he finally said, his quiet voice practically a whisper. "Those… are the most beautiful words anyone has spoken to me all week."
A smile was born on Scythe's face. It started tiny and wry, but it grew into a full, uncontained grin. Before long, Char beheld true joy upon the Scyther's face.
"How are we going to ditch Prince?!" Scythe said quickly, excitedly.
"I was thinking we could just leave first thing in the morning," Char answered, reflecting Scythe's beaming smile. "Saura and Ray could help to confuse Prince into thinking we didn't leave yet. When he realizes what's wrong, we'd be long gone."
"We'd have to go west first," Scythe determined. "West or south-west. He wouldn't think to track us in that direction. Wow… we'd have to move quickly in the morning, right on the heels of the Watchers, while the sentries are still taking their stations… Char…! This means… if we can pull this off… you might be able to help me with my mission! Only time will tell, but if things go absolutely perfect… Maybe… just… just maybe I wouldn't have to play these games with you anymore..."
And that was it. It was decided. Char felt such a profound peace in his heart, knowing that he'd finally done something truly, unquestionably right. It was his first action, he felt, as a true, mature leader of Team Ember, rather than the coward he always was before. And as he saw Scythe's beaming smile as his mind spun with possibilities and plans, as he saw the setting sun reflect from his eyes, he knew that he had truly helped the old warrior in some way that really mattered.
For a few fleeting moments, they sat side-by-side atop that high wall, human and servant, neither one regretting a thing.