o
Season VI: Wish
Chapter 71
Iron Town – Municipal District
How long had it been since Saura had done this? When was the last time he needed to get up so early, practically at the moment the Watchers receded, to get started on some important task? Some… mission?
He didn't remember, but it still felt too familiar. The training was still so natural and ingrained. And his dreams always ended the same way – with an old mantra about a fire that would never die, right before he'd pop awake at the first sliver of dawnlight, his mind already racing with all the focus and discipline of a reliable team leader.
And that was good, because if he had woken up just a minute later than he did that day…
Well, he didn't want to think about it. Apparently when it came to governmental stuff, there was no such thing as getting started too early.
Saura glanced ruefully at the crowds of Pokémon lined up behind him for what seemed like miles. When he arrived at the office that morning, there were already fifty Pokémon in line. But then, after waiting for an hour (during which time the line barely even budged), there were at least a thousand gathered behind him, all with some kind of business or grievance which they hoped to settle with the empire through legal and official means.
And to think only a fraction of these guys call on the resistance teams for help, Saura thought silently. Maybe a lot of them don't know the resistance teams even exist?
"Sauraaaaa! How much longer do you think we'll be here?" whined Saurlee, rolling pitiably onto her side. "I feel like we've been waiting for two years! When's the line going to move? I'm hungry! Can we get breakfast yet?"
"We're staying here as long as it takes to get some help," Saura firmly told her. "The Nidoking said that our family is in danger, and I really don't know what else to do."
Except for maybe one other thing, he thought quietly. I could always send a job request to the Gold Division… but I don't even know what we're up against, and I have nothing to pay them with, anyway. But the Master protects his nature preserves by force of law, so I hope they can do something for us. I really do.
"Really it should be Father who's standing in line," Saurvor muttered by her side. "But somehow I don't think he'd believe us if we told him we've been visited by a time-traveler who's bringing prophecies of our doom. And even then, it'd take him days to lumber all the way here… by that time we'd probably be all dead anyway."
"So then why did you want me to come?" Saurlee asked with a head-tilt. "How am I supposed to help?"
Saura bowed his head as he answered. "Because I need a team. I can't do this alone. If I'm going to try to save our family from whatever the Redeemer tried to warn us about… I need some Pokémon who I know I can trust. So we've got to stick together, the three of us, okay? At least until this is over with and we know we're safe."
It's what I'm used to, he silently told himself, staring at the far-off plateau wall at the edge of Iron Town.
Saurvor shrugged. "My guild is going to hate me for this, but I'm with you. This is a family emergency, as far as I'm concerned. More important."
"Me too," added Saurlee. "We're a team! I'll do whatever you need!"
Saura's heart leaped as the line moved, allowing him a few steps forward. "We're going to need a team name," he quickly considered. "Having a team name makes us more focused and efficient. So what should we call ourselves?"
Saurvor looked like he didn't understand the logic, but he responded anyway. "Since we're protecting our family… maybe Thorns of Grayleaf? Does that sound strong enough?"
"…Team Grayleaf," Saura decided. "Dad is the one who promised to protect us, but I guess he can't protect us this time. We'll have to step up for him."
And if protecting our family means we have to stand in line for six hours, fine. Because I'm not going to stop until I know that we're safe.
"Documents, please," said the strange, smarmy Pokémon standing atop the service counter, something that looked like a pointy red goblin with long black hair.
Wow, that's a Pokémon I've never seen before in my life, Saura said to himself when he finally stepped into the service booth. What even is that? It looks like something from down south…
"Nyyyeh, documents!" it said again, its voice already sounding just as annoyed as it sounded annoying. "No fair to anyone holdin' up the line!"
"Sorry… what documents? I didn't know we had to bring any documents," Saurvor said. "I didn't see any other Pokémon with any – "
"Whatever. What's your business?" it screeched.
Saura was quick to collect his thoughts. "I, uh, I'm – we're from the Grayleaf Reserve! The new one, the one next to Purevine Village? Used to be called the Tiny Plains? We were here because we needed to… request backup. I mean… can you station some guards there to protect us for a few days?"
The goblin-thing slapped down some papers onto the table. "You'll need to fill out form theta-thirty-five, request for inquiry. And form theta-thirty-seven, declaration of inquiry. And form theta-thirty-eight, statement of declaration of inquiry. And form theta-thirty-nine, acknowledgment of statement of declaration of inquiry. And form beta-forty-three, declaration of rightful ownership or tenancy, and beta-forty-five, declaration of loss. And form beta-two-beta, description of expected threat – "
"W-wait, hold on a moment… did you say declaration of loss?" Saurvor coughed. "We haven't lost anything… yet. Are you saying we need to have lost something… in order to request help… to protect the thing… that was already lost?"
"A-and what, description of expected threat?!" Saura chimed in. "We don't even know what's going to happen… we don't have anything to describe…"
"So let me get this straight," said the goblin Pokémon, rubbing its forehead beneath its long hair. "You haven't lost anything, you don't know what you're in danger of losing, and you don't know what you're in danger of?"
Saura and his siblings stood speechless, but it only lasted a moment before the Pokémon official raised his voice.
"So I'm assuming you missed the giant sign we have out front, saying 'please ensure you are familiar with all relevant laws before attempting inquiries of mediation'?"
"…Yes, I'm afraid we did," Saurvor admitted. "Doesn't help that we stood in line for five hours before we even got close enough to see it."
"Whelp, you've ain't got no case to make. Can't help you. How about when you've read the laws and you've signed the appropriate paperwork, you come back through the line again? Bye."
Saura tried, "But where do we even get the paperw– "
"I said bye, leafygreen."
As he left the booth, Saura heard the Pokémon mumble under his breath. "I swear, half you midwesterners can't even read…"
Once outside, Saura grit his teeth, glancing forlornly at the standing crowd that was now wrapped around an entire city block.
He winced as a sudden icy breeze struck him in the face, reminding him that autumn wouldn't last forever.
"Well, that was a big giant nothing salad," sighed Saurvor. "What now, brother?"
The Bulbasaur pawed at the ground. "Well, at least we know the Master isn't going to be of any help," he grumbled. "Guess I shouldn't have tried siding with the enemy in the first place. Ah. Now, we go with the second plan."
"Are you going to try bringing back your friends?" Saurlee wondered. "The Charmander and everyone?"
Saura nodded. "Yeah. I'm going to send a message to Team Ember. Maybe they can help. Or maybe they can send someone who can. Ah, I didn't think I'd have to contact them again so soon…"
Saurlee tilted her head. "Why are you sad about it? You can see your friends again."
Saura quickly replied, "Not sad, Saurlee. Just… worried. I'm… worried that… if the Master catches me siding with the resistance again, they'll revoke dad's preservation status or something. Or maybe they're keeping an eye on me and they'll be ready to catch my friends as soon as I meet with them. I've got to be really careful now."
He glanced again at the giant plateau at the edge of town, always looming so tall no matter how far away it seemed. "So we can't use the mail system. But I think I have an idea. I know of a place we could probably get back in contact with the resistance division…"
Saura smirked. "The Cliffside Academy. Saurlee… what would you say about… enrolling in the winter term? Maybe we should take that goblin's suggestion. Maybe we should take some reading lessons."
Division Base
"The uh… Pidgey. The Pidgey. The Pidgey… ate… the tree…? By the nose? No. The Pidgey stood on the tree and ate with his nose. No. The Pidgey stood next to the tree. And smelled. With his nose. And ate – ah. Forget it."
"…Impressive, Char," Eva dryly said. "Not a single word was correct. Not even close. The sentence says, 'I would like to go fishing.'"
Char rested his forehead down on the desk. With some long and deep breaths, he resisted the urge to shred the pages of the textbook. After half a minute of careful meditation, he felt his inner ember subsiding, draining away most of the rage.
"Eva, I'm not making any progress," Char sighed. "Why can't I make any progress? I learned the Resistance Creed. Why can't I learn to read footprints?"
Char felt the Espeon brush against his side. The touch of her fur was always very soothing. "Frankly, your case is something Ambera has rarely ever seen before, if at all," she replied simply. "Most Pokémon grow up reading footprints with no exposure to Unown scripts. And humans never visit Ambera, unless apparently if they're put in the body of a Pokémon first. If you start young, the rest comes naturally."
"I am young," Char grunted at himself. "I'm not even a Charmeleon yet. Do Pokémon who come to Ambera from overseas have this much trouble learning to read?"
Eva telekinetically closed the book and cuddled close against Char, looking him in the eyes. "Well… If I might admit something, I've been through all this before. I was a Pokémon from overseas. I only knew Unown back then, and it was a long struggle before I mastered anything to do with the footprint glyphs."
He met her gaze, and was almost frightened by the powerful fortitude behind it.
"Human. You will learn this. I promise. I'll make sure you do."
But we're out of time, Char wanted to say. High Intelligence wants me to take a literacy test in just two weeks. Maybe if I had a few years…!
Did you hear me, Human? Eva said into his mind. Do you understand what I said? You will learn. Don't think you can just retreat into your daydreams to be miserable by yourself. Not when I'm here.
But how can you promise something when we barely have any time?
There's something different I think I'd like to try, Eva said. How about this: let's put reading aside for now. Today, let's focus on the team tryouts. Come tomorrow, you can send the new members out to do the jobs, and we can spend the rest of the day here. Just you and I.
Char made an awkward chuckle, remembering how Eva suggested reading lessons to take his mind off the team trials in the first place. He stared for a moment at the blue-bound textbook on the table, whose title, he was told, read "Basic Grammar for Beginners" – and he still had no idea how the footprints matched with the grammar sounds in any way, or which Pokémon's footprints half of them were supposed to even resemble. He knew the footprint glyphs had different meanings and sounds depending on how they were rotated or flipped, and it was a nightmare for his tiny lizard-brain to comprehend.
Now the team tryouts were a challenge of their own. Out of the twenty Pokémon he'd interviewed, he'd promised… how many were there? Twelve? Thirteen? He'd promised more than half of them the chance to prove themselves in a surprise mission meant to test their teamwork and ability. They were such a diverse group of Pokémon, all with different strengths and advantages and levels of experience, each which, as far as he was concerned, seemed a great fit for Team Ember.
But, as he discussed with the others… they only wanted four. They'd have to reject all the rest.
(And he wasn't counting Tallie. She decided to skip over the entire interview process, so Char felt it fair that she wouldn't steal a spot from one of the legitimate applicants.)
But could he do that? Could he decide which teammates he wanted, after only just one mission? And it's not like he could draw out the process any longer – the job board outside their door was filling by the day!
Eva said, Although you will have the final say in things, you won't be alone in making these decisions. That's what your team is for.
"Right," said Char, climbing down from the worktable. "I'm not too worried, to be honest. I think we'll all make the right decisions together…"
Char stepped out into his main hallway, noticing for the first time in a while just how empty it always felt. It was a suite meant for the elitist of elite teams, like Scythe's or Prince's teams… one meant to accommodate a hardworking and reliable machine of a resistance team. And not only so, but a team who chose to have more members than most. He noticed that many of the Gold Division's star teams kept themselves small – usually three or four – but this was a place meant for something greater still, a team many times larger, and thus, harder to keep functional unless all the members had a close understanding with one another – Like Flamewheel, who had dwelled in these very rooms some decades in the past.
How elegant it all was. How bright and fire-type. How it still glimmered with the flames of ghost-torches and the shiny golden-steel candlesticks and bright red furnishings and carpets – all which happened to remain reasonably clean and unchanged since Team Stripes and Team Remorse had cleaned and rebuilt the place just for them.
Up the hall he peered. Down the hall. Only a haunting silence settled over everything – even the yellow ghost torches made no sounds as they all faintly wobbled and flickered every now and again. Tallie and Ray were out running an easy mission. Otto was in evolution therapy, still trying to adjust to his new body. Soon they would all return, chasing away the feeling of emptiness. But for now, he could almost see and feel the memories of Team Flamewheel animated within these halls, all busy planning and working on their big, important jobs.
He took note of all the closed doors, some of which had hardly ever been opened since he moved in. Fourteen bedrooms, he had at his disposal. And that didn't count the meeting room, where he just came from, or the office room, or the supply closet, or a few other of the side-rooms he never found much of a use for. And it also didn't count the master bedroom, which proved to accommodate five Pokémon at once.
He swallowed hard, knowing it wasn't going to be empty for much longer. He hoped it wouldn't prove as chaotic as the lower-level training teams, or the cafeteria two hours after sun-up.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but… we could almost hire them all," Char said to himself, appraising the place. "Thirteen applicants. Five of us. Six if Saura comes back. So if we put five beds in the master room, like we had it before Saura left… we'd have enough room to give all thirteen of them a place to stay. And I'd almost want to do that... we'd get the bulletin board cleared off very quick that way. But I don't know if my brain can handle managing a team that big. I only just learned how to manage a team of five. And Tallie's the only other real leader-type here."
He glanced back to the attentive Espeon who hung onto his every word with the sparkle of sunlight always in her eyes. He touched his chin as he thought for a moment, and said, "If we had more co-leaders, we maybe could have made this work. Maybe. I kind of wish Marrow would have stayed. Any ideas?"
"Yes, I think I have one," said Eva with friendly smile. "Maybe the interview can last longer than a single mission. Hear me out: you could hire them all as apprentice members, watch how they work with us over the next few weeks, and fire them as you see fit until you whittle them down to four. Or not, if they prove reliable."
"Hmm, I don't think the team would like this," Char considered. "We agreed on four. Also, we can't just borrow all these Pokémon away from their teams for two weeks! What if we fire them, would they even be able to go back? Saura's already costing us a lot as a ghost member, and I'm considering just dropping him already. I wouldn't want to do that to all those teams for two whole weeks."
"There are ways to make it work," Eva said with a swivel of her tail. "Hire them as contractors, perhaps. You would have to pay them for their time. That way, the interview becomes their job for the next few weeks, and they'd be serving their original teams, technically. When you fire them, their contract is over, and things go back to normal."
Char shrugged and walked towards the front door. "It makes sense… but it still doesn't solve the problem of leadership," he replied. "I'll have to talk it over with Ray and Tallie and Otto when they come back…"
But when Char opened the door, he found… not three, but four Pokémon standing right outside. The first was a Raichu with his paw raised, about to have knocked on the door.
"Oh! Hey, Char!" he said with some surprise. "We would have been back half an hour ago, but Team Remorse caught us in the hall, and… we've got some news for you."
The Raichu pointed at the Pokémon standing next to Tallie: A very familiar Umbreon.
"Hey there," said Raon with a sly grin. "Nice to see you, Char. I come to you bringing orders straight from the big bug: turns out I'm your mentor for the week! I bet we're going to have some real fun."
The Umbreon only grinned brighter, nearly a sneer, as he noticed the Espeon staring blankly at him. Eva said nothing, but Char could feel the jumble of conflicted and dumbfounded thoughts coming from her.
"Eva. I remember you. I was starting to think you ran off," Raon said, sounding unfazed. "What's with that look you're giving me?"
Eva turned her head in a huff. "Can't do anything to me now, I'm afraid," she said flippantly. "So it doesn't matter what Scythe may have told you about me. Now I'm rightfully registered to Char's team."
"On the contrary, that means I can do quite a lot to you," grinned the Umbreon. "Like boss you around. Which is what I'm planning on doing all week. Do you like night missions? I certainly hope so, because that's my specialty."
Night mission…? That's actually perfect, Char realized. I think I know how we can give all the tryouts at once, without technically making our teams too big…
Char stepped in front of Raon, quickly breaking the tension between the Eons. "Sounds good! But I'm curious: did Marrow tell you what our plans are for today?"
"Not one bit," said Raon. "But whatever it is, I'm tagging along now."
"Today, we're hiring new team members!" Ray explained. "Think you can handle ten of us at once? Because that's how big our team's about to get!"
"Well… about that," said Char pensively. "I was thinking… want to hire more than just four? Or maybe… turn this into a temporary apprenticeship, instead of just a single tryout?"
Ray looked surprised more than anything. Tallie looked slightly displeased. Otto looked blank (and Char still couldn't get used to seeing him as a Pidgeotto.) Overall, favorable responses.
"I thought we decided on four because we can only lead four," Tallie replied flatly. "How do you expect to keep a whole kindergarten of Pokémon children in line? Because I'm not doing it. The training teams can barely do it."
"I thought you could do anything?" teased Eva.
Tallie ruffled her feathers and replied, "Oh! Well! If we're putting things that way… yes. Yes I can. But this is my first time leading anything, so I'm going to need some practice before you can expect me to work miracles!" And with a flare of her wings she added, "Also, I can do it, but I don't have to like it!"
"Well, it seems now we have a Pokémon here who can help keep the newcomers in line," said Char. "And maybe train our leadership skills while we're at it. How about that, Raon? We'll even let you come to the tryouts and give your input on who we recruit. And… I think it could involve a night mission."
"I'll be honest, that sounds more interesting than what I had planned," Raon said with a shrug. "But this doesn't mean you're getting out of my training. I told Scythe I'm going to teach you how to fight the Watchers. That alone is going to double your productivity. Not to mention your survival rate. Okay, what's with that look on your face, Char?"
Char thought he'd contained his evil little smile, but Raon was too perceptive. "You'll see. I hope," he said mysteriously.
So there they were, all thirteen applicants, right on time. All dutifully waiting in the lobby near the south-eastern to Iron Town. They were all chattering to one another, not noticing Char as he approached. In just a moment, they would all see him, snap to silent attention, and then… things would need to be different.
The fire inside Char flickered with a strange cocktail of emotions. He knew that, starting now, he'd have to assume the role of the leader for the new recruits. He could never let that image falter, not for the entire duration of this tryout.
But he remembered that he was a different kind of leader now. The thief mission had taught him something important. Leading a team wasn't about being right all the time, or memorizing everything, or always talking loudly and confidently. He was done relying on his ego to fuel his flame.
That was lesson one, and that was over with. It was time to do things a better way.
He learned that leading a team wasn't about winning, obsessing over success. It was about being a servant. It was about trusting in your teammates, doing whatever it would take to make sure that nothing stands in their way. And if you've chosen the right teammates, understood their talents, and assigned them to the right positions… the team would be strong, and victory would come.
Time to see if I can choose the right teammates, he told himself.
At the front of the row was Leo the Shinx from Team Stripes. Char was familiar with this Pokémon, as they'd crossed paths several times before, both on and outside of missions. Such a spirited, ambitious little kitty he was, always overjoyed to work his hardest! Almost like Ray, except extra energetic! And with that cute little high-pitched voice that always made Char want to give him a hug every time he spoke.
Maybe it's the nature of all electric-types to be so bouncy, Char considered. We'd get along well, I think, but now it's time to see if I can rely on him to do his job.
Next, standing close beside the Shinx, was Evan the Eevee, also from Team Stripes. A pleasant and dutiful little fellow, he always seemed. Char knew he secretly wanted to be a Vaporeon (if Eva was to be believed), but he never admitted to it for some reason.
I can't judge an Eevee by who they will be later, Char told himself. That's unfair. That's like judging a Zangoose based only on their rivalry with Seviper. I have to judge Evan based on who he is now. Because, whether I realize it or not, his evolution is only going to be an extension of who he is now. It's always going to be Evan. It's up to me to learn who Evan is and what he can do.
Speaking of Zangoose, Char noticed Zachel standing near the back of the group, acting all shifty, as though trying to listen in on other conversations. Char was already familiar with Zachel – gruff, quiet, down-to-earth, adept as a bag-holder thanks to Team Carrier, and probably had some impressive battling skills she could show off. That is, if she could be kept from crossing paths with a certain snake from Team X.
I see someone reliable when I look at her, Char thought. Reliable and strong. Willing to do her job. And we do need more bag carriers if we want to split the team for multiple missions. I don't know if she'd get along well with everyone, but I like the idea of working with her. I have a weird feeling she could make good friends with Otto.
Speaking of Otto, the fourth Pokémon in line was an old friend of his: a Pidgey named Brace, all ready to graduate from Team Silverwing. He seemed like a plain and unremarkable little bird, but Char knew he was more than that – he knew that birds needed flocks, and would grow stronger as the flock grows larger. Alongside Char's other two birds, Brace might show his true nature in the role of an avian soldier, the same way that Otto and Tallie often did.
Three birds. Three professional birds in our service, all experts at the signs and signals and everything, Char imagined. Or… two, if Otto isn't ready to battle yet. Well, I mean, if Otto can't battle yet, having a spare bird around is just what we might need.
Standing farthest behind the crowd was Kerzek the Sableye from Team Cog. Quite a deadpan creature, stuck at her duties on her current team and bored beyond her limits. She seemed preoccupied with staring at the nearest wall. Char wondered if she were staring through the wall, possibly at some other ghost. He knew Team Cog was the large ghost-team who kept all the energy-magic flowing throughout the base. They kept the ghost-torches running, the memory-wipes at the entryways working, and most importantly, the force-barriers which kept ghosts from entering the base through any wall they wanted.
Eva telepathically answered Char's question before he asked it. She noticed a ghost-torch flickering wrong, she informed him. That's all. She seems distracted by such things.
Isn't she a dark-type? How did you read her mind? Char asked.
Who says I read her mind? Eva returned. I've told you before, I rely on body-language as much as mind-reading.
Oh, my mistake, you must have read her expressionless gemstone eyes, Char teased.
I've brushed with Team Cog before, multiple times, Eva reassured. They are obsessed with all the faults and glitches in the ghost-tech. All perfectionists.
So… A meticulous, hyper-obsessive perfectionist, willing to do boring things as long as she gets to see the sunlight every once in a while… Char wondered. And someone who can wall-phase without a mobile scarf! How does that sound as a teammate? I wouldn't mind someone like her.
Hire her at your own risk, master, Eva said. I cannot be of much help with any dark-types.
Char noticed it when Eva cast a nervous glance at Raon, then at Asunder.
Asunder – the little Poochyena from Team Stripes. Char had to admit there was something he just liked about the fuzzy little guy. He seemed to have the energy of Leo, but the patience of Otto. There was a smile on his face and a dark-fire of loyalty in his eyes. Oh, but he was so young! Was he ready to graduate? Or did he need more training on Team Stripes?
I certainly see a heart in him, Char thought. I just have to wonder if he could be trusted with important tasks. I guess that's what the tryout is for.
Char only just noticed that nearly half the applicants were quadrupeds! It could pose a problem if we just hire quadrupeds, Char realized. We need some more teammates with actual hands, too. At least Saura had vines. Do any of these guys have something like Saura's vines? I wonder.
Another of the four-legged Pokémon, sitting somewhat next to his Stripes teammates, was Zona the Vulpix. Char had very high expectations set on this particular Pokémon. If Zona and Ray and the rest of Team Stripes were to be believed, Zona boasted an incredible power – a hidden power, as it was called, of the psychic-type. He claimed that he could use this power to chase the Watchers away.
I'll believe it when I see it, Char decided. That's what the night mission is for. I want to see if Zona can do what he claims. Because if he can… I'm hiring him, simple as that. Especially since he can use the Frozen Flame too. Then – heheh – we'd have no use for Raon's night-hunting lessons, I guess!
Gemstone, from Team Chasm, was a shiny Pokémon – a girl Nidoran with boy colors. Char found that pretty fitting, because she already seemed like a tomboy, always braggy and overconfident about her powers and seemed willing to pick fights with anyone who disagreed. But was her self-confidence deserved? Team Chasm held very high expectations, and she was the daughter of the famous and powerful Nidoroch of Team Remorse…
This one, I'm fairly confident I can deal with, Eva bragged, nearly as cocky as the Nidoran. I know this personality type. I dare you, master. Hire her. Give me two days and I'll have her perfectly walking in line.
We'll see. Maybe we need her confidence, Char considered. I won't judge just yet.
Pah. You have enough confidence from your firebird over there, scoffed Eva. At least her aptitude is deserving of her pride, something I am not ashamed to admit. But that rabbit is just a show-off child. She won't be useful until she's tamed.
The final quadruped in the crowd was a Skitty who called himself Dragonbane. He came from a team called Team Slayers – Dragonslayers, obviously – and envisioned himself as the world's greatest dragon slayer, despite Skitty having no natural powers to counter them with. It was a silly yet infectious kind of optimism, reminding Char of the determination of one certain Furret to become a world-class thief – determination that had ultimately served her well.
Does team Slayer even have any other members? Eva wondered. I'm not sure I recall them on the rosters. I'll have to ask them about Rufus later.
…Rufus?
There was a burst of shame from Eva. My apologies. You were not supposed to hear that name. That is Dragonbane's true name, which, as far as I can tell, he's never told anyone. If you'd like, I can erase it from your memory later.
Lyre the Mawile, another recruit from Team Chasm, was a confusing one even to Eva. She spoke her sentences all roundabout, and her silent thoughts were not much different. When asked her name, she'd replied "Lyre is what you need. Call on the expert." When asked about her experience on Team Chasm, her reply was "All I will say. I was very fortunate in the last one. Destructive."
Destructive, we like that, Eva had told Char. I've got a hunch with this one. Trust me here. Bring her to the tryout.
Scarlet the Quilava was from Team Shadeling. She was a graduate of Team Stripes, and Ray had met her once or twice. Despite Team Shadeling being a solid and respectable mid-tier team, she jumped at the chance to abandon them for Team Ember. She was very shy, yet very pleasant and well-mannered to speak with, and Char was quite pleased at the prospect of another teammate who could use the Frozen Flame… but it turned out there was a reason for her behavior. She was absolutely, terribly smitten with Char. She admitted so in front of all of Team Stripes before Ray even joined Team Ember.
I mean, she looks competent enough, Char considered. Seems like she'd follow orders just fine… I wish I wouldn't have invited her, though.
That mere comment got a very pleased mind-wave from Eva. The Espeon, obviously, was highly protective of her master, and doubly obviously, just as smitten with him. With no offense to the hopeful Quilava, Char saw no way that adding her to the team could end well… and yet he still had the strangest feeling that he would be foolish to disregard her so quickly.
Give her a chance, grumbled Eva begrudgingly, bowing to her master's will. But one. Just one. And if she gives one single, solitary indication that she's emotionally compromised by you… she's absolutely gone.
Then there was Nincada. Just Nincada, as he wanted to be called. And that was fine; some Pokémon just didn't like having nicknames. He applied to Team Ember because he badly wanted to escape Team Spider – a team crawling with bugs. Somehow, he'd grown absolutely sick and disgusted with bugs, always being surrounded by them, and wanted to feel like he was worth more than just a silent, mindless drone in a swarm of bugs. Though overwhelmingly shy and perhaps a little insecure about his powers, Char liked him quite a lot, and only wanted a good excuse to add him to the team.
And lastly, there was the Hoothoot named Glower, another potential graduate from Team Silverwing. She boasted some incredible claims – that she was the most patient Pokémon in the world, and that she was an expert at blending in with the feral birds, so much that even the Watchers couldn't tell she was civilized. She claimed she could keep watch-duty for eighteen days straight if she was so instructed – no eating, drinking, or blinking.
I'm sensing a split-personality with this one, Eva warned. I think… she doesn't just act like a feral. I think she can actually turn into one. I don't know how, but… her memories are quite vivid. I've never seen such vivid memories of… nothing… before. She watches nothing, and she remembers all of it.
Those don't sound like terribly bad traits to have, Char considered. With a memory like that, it would be like having Seviper on our team. I just hope she's easier to talk with than Otto used to be, when he first came back from the daycare…
And that was all of them. All thirteen potential new recruits for Team Ember. So many potential new friends. Potential new team assets. But also potential mistakes, burdens, and problems.
And it was going to be Char's job to tell the difference. Of course he had the valuable input from Tallie, Ray, Otto, and especially Eva… but Char knew he, alone, would always have the final say.
"Squwaaaak! Hey, you! Recruits! Hup-hup, at attention!" Tallie called. All the Pokémon stopped in mid-sentence and stood still.
Char took a long, simmering breath, then stepped away from his teammates to address the interviewees.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he said proudly. "You're right on time. We like that. So… I suppose today's the day we'll find out who joins Team Ember, won't we?"
"OOOOH ME! PICK ME!" loudly shouted the little Shinx. "Hey, Ray! Hi! You're going to pick me, right?"
A deadly glare from the nearby Talonflame, and Leo was silent again.
"Now… originally, we only wanted four of you," explained Char. "But after some consideration… I think we've underestimated the urgency of our situation. High Intelligence is giving us some tight deadlines, Team Remorse is still training us hard…" – he motioned at Raon – "And right now we've got more than forty jobs posted on our board. We need as much help as we can get, as fast as we can get it."
There was a noticeable wince from several of the recruits – especially the flustered Quilava, the rambunctious Shinx, and the purple Nidoran. The rest watched silently and expectantly. Even the most deadpanned of them, like Kerzek and Glower, clearly waited in suspense.
"So… therefore…"
Char sighed whimsically, then watched for the delicious reactions he knew would come in response to his next words:
"Everyone is hired."
The crowd exploded in confusion. Repeated cries of "What?!" and "Wow, really?!" sounded from half of them. Several toppled to the ground in surprise.
Char didn't forget to check the reactions of his own team. Tallie gave a very nervous glare, as though terrified of something and trying desperately to hide it. Ray looked just as shocked as all of his former Stripes teammates. Eva had a deliciously evil grin, and Otto stared more blankly than ever.
"Now! Everyone!" Shouted Char, somehow cutting through the cacophony of Pokémon cries he'd caused. "As of now, you're all on Team Ember. And as our new recruits, here's your mission: you have two days to stay on Team Ember. We're about to all have an overnight field trip, where we'll be doing a very special task. I'll have you all signed as temporary apprenticeships – "
"That is impossible," said Otto suddenly, "unless we register Team Ember as an official training team. But such process takes nearly three years."
"Shh! Whatever! We'll think of something," Char awkwardly laughed, quickly reassuring everyone. "But the point is… whoever's still on the team when we come back tomorrow… you're here to stay! Got that? So if you're all well-behaved and you all prove that you can work quickly and reliably on the difficult tasks I'm about to give you… there's a chance you'll all be living in our hall tomorrow! That would be awesome, wouldn't it? But we're also not going to go easy on you. You'll split into four teams: I'll lead one, Tallie will lead one, Raon will lead one, and you'll have to elect someone from your group to lead the rest. If you slip up and your team leader doesn't like it, you're gone. Even the one you're appointing for yourselves can fire you; I want to test their leadership skills too."
"Oof. Brutal," whispered Zachel, shifting her eyes at the other Pokémon in the group. "Okay, who here's a leader? Because none of you look like it."
"Me. I'm a leader," declared Gemstone.
"I might be able to do it," said Scarlet, nibbling nervously on her forepaws. "I mean, if nobody else wants to."
Then Char turned towards the long hall that led to the Cliffside Academy entrance, a path he and his friends had walked dozens of times.
But never with so many Pokémon in tow. He almost felt like Scythe must have felt, that long-ago day when he led such a large group of adventurers to the Etcher Ravine. He remembered Leo and Zachel being there, too. He chuckled to himself as he realized how little they'd changed. Leo still wore the same beaming grin as always, and Zachel still had her gruff-and-serious glare.
Now it was his turn to play the role Scythe played that day. Team Ember had to guide and protect them all. For as much safety came in numbers, there was just as much responsibility.
"Otto, do you want to stay behind?" Char said to the Pidgeotto. "If you think you need an extra day of rest, I can't force you to go anywhere. Maybe you can figure out all the paperwork for these guys while we're gone. You were always good with the rules."
"Thank you," Otto sighed quietly. "I'm – I am learning to fly again. Making fast progress and almost ready. I can glide and I can nearly hover. But yes, I will ensure that your training exercise is recorded correctly. And I could use the rest."
"Good! Thank you," Char said, bowing to his dutiful teammate before turning to the newcomers. "Now, as for the rest of us… I hope you're ready. We're going on a night mission."
Author's note:
Yes, after two years, it actually lives! Hope this chapter brought back a lot of memories for you, as it did for me.
I wanted to thank everyone who came to the Twitch reading of the chapter! I think that was the most fun I've ever had on a stream before. I think I might do that on a regular basis with all my new chapters, so I invite anyone reading this to come join next time. I won't link to my Twitch channel here because that'd be against the site rules, but it's easy enough to find if you're looking for it.
Also, seeing that DA is pretty much dead, I won't be posting there very often anymore. So if you want to check on my status or ask me questions, you can join my Discord server, which is linked on my Twitch page.
See you next update! I look forward to providing you a very eventful and entertaining season 6.