Chapter Text
A demon must change its shape to deceive others.
A demon must grant sweet dreams to deceive others.
A crack appears in the human mind when it is shown the dream it yearns for.
A demon will never miss this chance to bring one to their doom.
“Don’t say such complicated things, don’t say those scary words.”
“I just want to grant people sweet dreams; Grant them the enrapturing dreams they want.”
“Those who’ve had my dreams are destined to come back to me.”
“So, just close your eyes…”
- Void Dream | Lobotomy Corporation
“You may begin, and try not to embarrass yourselves~”
Alan and Morgan scrambled forwards, each grabbing onto their own exam papers as Alan began frantically flipped through the pages. Morgan poked his own paper, staring off into the distance as he waited for the Vulpix to realize his predicament.
“Morgan!” Alan hissed, barely lifting his eyes off the paper. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you– oh.”
“Yeah… Sorry, kiddo. Yer gunna have ter read ‘em out loud fer me.”
Alan sighed deeply. He shuffled closer towards the Jangmo-o, placing his exam paper between where they sat. Each page consisted of a single question, hastily written down in the Zoroark’s scratchy and messy handwriting. Even Necrozma’s blessing struggled to translate the text, stuttering and hesitating as the lines twisted themselves into illegible shapes.
คำถามแรก: ราคาอันไหนใกล้เคียงที่สุดกับราคาเฉลี่ยของไลฟ์ซี๊ด?
ก. 600 ข. 150
ค. 450 ง. 2500
“H-Huh??” Alan shook his head, rubbing his eyes as the text refused to translate properly. “The handwriting! I-I can’t read it!”
The Vulpix’s pleading eyes shifted over towards Igetia, whose hands were clasped over her mouth as she fervently held back her laughter. Dex groaned, pinching the shell armor covering the bridge of his nose.
“I can’t believe you’re testing this… As a member of the guild branch, you are expected to take written orders directly from me or the Guild Leader. It is imperative that you are able to follow the orders we give to you. However…” Dex glared at the Zoroark, giggling away beside him. “The Guild Leader is also known for not having the most… stellar handwriting. She does not plan on improving it either; therefore, you must be able to parse her handwriting quickly and accurately to pass this exam.”
Alan turned back towards the question paper, the text still stubbornly refusing to align themselves properly. He felt his veins pop out as his eyes strained, his vision darkening as he focused on each individual letter. Alan used his paw to cover the question, allowing each letter to slowly manifest one by one. The newly translated text was legible– barely – yet still readable nonetheless.
“I-It worked!” the Vulpix exclaimed, giving a quick celebratory pump of his arms before quickly returning to the text on the page. “Let’s see…”
Question one: Which price is closest to the average price of a Life Seed?
A. 600 B. 150
C. 450 D. 2500
“W-What? I don’t–” Alan scratched his head, turning to Morgan in desperation as he racked his brain for an answer.
Morgan shrugged dispassionately, his calm and rational demeanor further unnerving the already frazzled Vulpix. “Don’t look at me, kiddo. Ain’t never had anywhere near enough money ter even think about affordin’ one. Usually if we really need one we’d just steal ‘em. Ain’t the worst thing I’ve done…”
“Hm? What’s this about stealing I’m hearing about?” Igetia raised an eyebrow, sliding a cautionary arm back onto her blade.
The Jangmo-o recoiled. It had completely crossed his mind who he was talking who, Morgan sputtering out desperate amendment to his previous statement. “I-I mean… err… w-we simply find another way t-ter… uh… procure the item…”
“Much better~”
Alan shook his head, clearing his mind from the conversation going on around him.
Come on… Think! Think! He screamed internally, squeezing his head as he frantically racked through his memories. The paperwork! Documents! Uh… The pricing laws! Yes!
“I got it!” His ears perked up, though the stares of the other three Pokemon quickly dampened his excitement. “I-I remember. Some uh… some things from a while back.”
“Floors all yers, kiddo.”
Alan stepped towards the Zoroark, returning her mocking glare with a determined glare of his own. “O-Okay…! I think the answer is D. Twenty-five hundred gold! I remember seeing that on a form s-somewhere…”
“Good answer, and good that you explained your reasoning as well.” Igetia nodded. She pushed up her glasses, expression darkening. “A solid answer indeed. Unfortunately, it’s still completely and utterly wrong. ”
“W-What?”
“Don’t give me that look, city boy.” she sneered. “Maybe in the capital with their idiotic price minimums, you’d be right, but we aren’t in Krux city anymore! Do better, it’s only the first question and you’re already at risk of failing!”
“B-But the question never mentioned that!” Alan argued, pointing at the exam paper beneath him. “It just asks for the average price! It doesn’t mention the location at all!”
“True, but the location is implied in the question.” Igetia shrugged. She turned away, twirling her hair as she stared off out towards the training field, watching Herminius and Mercurius as they continued to spar off in the distance. “You’re applying at the Ashton branch of this Guild, why would I be asking about prices in Krux city? Have some sense, kid.”
“But ya didn’t say nothin’ about that! It ain’t fair!” Morgan added, his scales raised alongside his voice.
“Nothing’s fair in this business, pinky. You especially of all ‘mon should know the meaning of ‘unfair’ in this kingdom.”
“Ngh…” Morgan grimaced, turning away. He tugged on Alan’s robe, pulling the Vulpix’s attention back to him. “Let’s just forget about it, kiddo. It ain’t worth the effort ter argue with someone like her. We still gotta finish the rest of the exam.”
Alan nodded, focusing on translating the next page. It still took a great deal of effort, though much less than it took for the first question. He winced slightly, pushing away the low ache in his head that began to resurface.
Question two:
Commonly, you may be unable to return from a mission within the day, and must take rest outside the walls of a town or village. Which of the following is the least favorable option to take shelter?
A. Flooded cave B. Tree canopy
C. In the open D. Mystery Dungeon
“These are all terrible options!” Alan exclaimed. He glanced back just in time to see Dex in the corner of his vision, shifting over to silently smack the Guild Leader in the head, angrily signing a complaint at the Zoroark in reaction to the question that was asked.
“Mmm… slept in worse b’fer…” Morgan said, humming along as past memories flashed through his mind. Sleeping in the woods or on cliff edges. Snuggling into his father’s stomach, the Kommo-o curling his body into a protective ring around him. His father caressing his everstone, his scales, his claws. His mother’s lullabies, then her cries, then her screams, and then her–
The Jangmo-o let out a small whimper, though he quickly shut his beak and shook his head, ridding them of the increasingly painful torrent of memories before it could overwhelm him.
“Ngh… Nevermind…” he relented, sighing. “I think I can work this out. Y’mind if I take this one, kiddo?”
“Yeah… t-that would be good…”
The two examinees traded positions, the pink-scaled dragon taking center stage as he relayed his answer to the Zoroark invigilator he stood before.
“Well, we know flooded caves ain’t the worst option fer all ‘mon. Buncha swimmers ‘n water breathers live in ‘em all the time. Same with tree canopies and fliers. Heck, I even lived in one of them real big treehouse fer a while!” Morgan let out a hearty chuckle, passing a confident wink back towards his partner. “Sleepin’ in the open works well fer big groups ‘n big mon, suck a little when it rains but it also ain’t the worst.”
“Meanin’… the answer is D! Mystery Dungeons!”
Igetia smiled, seemingly satisfied with the Jangmo-o’s answer. “Mhm! That’s more like what I want to see. You’re correct, never sleep in a dungeon if you can afford to. Even if that means staying up for two or three days straight.”
“Actually, I was gunna ask more ‘bout that.” Morgan said. He turned back to Alan, gesturing at him to begin translating the third question as he talked to the Guild Leader. “Ya see, I’ve lived in one of them Mystery Dungeons b’fer. Only fer a couple days as we moved around, but still ain’t nothing happened to any of us. What’s so bad ‘bout em anyway?”
“Intriguing…” Igetia leaned closer, interested in what the dragon type was saying. “Let me ask an unrelated question. Do you know what happens to your memories when you sleep?”
“Uhm… err…”
“Of course you don’t…” she mumbled to herself, though audibly enough for everyone else to hear. “Ahem– I meant, when you sleep, your body is allowed to store information into long-term memory. On the reverse, sleeping in a dungeon siphons your memories bit by bit. Poof! Gone forever! Just like that.”
Memories? Taken away? Alan perked up, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Some say the lost memories are replaced with false ones– or in more extreme cases, hallucinations and visions of… something else entirely. Something more primal. More ancient, apparently.”
“V-Visions…?” the Vulpix asked.
“Visions of a world in flames, or one covered in a thick fog. Some even report hallucinating shadowy monsters, almost resembling the Pokemon they once knew. Watching from afar. Haunting them for the rest of their lives…”
Alan shuddered, quickly lowering his head and back to his question paper.
“I ain’t seein’ none of that.” Morgan shrugged. “...or at least, I don’t remember seein’ any of that…”
“Tch. You’re one lucky bastard, then. Or maybe it’s still in there, waiting for you to let your guard down, striking your weakest point when you least expect it. Be wary, pinky. You may still have some consequences left to suffer.”
“Whatever ya say…” Morgan rolled his eyes, turning around and calling at his partner instead. “Anytime now, kiddo.”
“O-Oh! Right! Sorry… I thought you were still asking her– never mind…”
The two continued forth, working through their stack of questions as the Zoroark sat patiently awaiting their answers. With each question came a flurry of discussion and reactions, some negative and some positive, as the Vulpix and Jangmo-o traded correct and incorrect answers between them.
Before long, the stack of papers was whittled down to one final page. Alan nervously glanced at the sun, now arcing far past its zenith. By his estimation, their time was almost up, him hurriedly turning back to translate the final page of the exam.
Final Question:
Name the other three islands that surround the Krux Continent.
Alan’s eyes lit up. “I-I remember this! From a book I read when I– uh… from a book I’ve read before…” His mind flashed back to the hours he spent in the library, warmly snuggled in Edward’s reading corner as he flipped across books larger than the size of his body.
“Hm? I suppose you do look at least like someone who would be a little educated. Relative to your friend over there, anyway.”
“I mean, she ain’t wrong…” Morgan shrugged as he sighed nonchalantly. “But yeah, go ahead kiddo, one of us would know more ‘bout this and it ain’t me that’s fer sure.”
“I-I think the book was written by you as well, g-guild leader.” Alan said, though the grim stare she returned made the Vulpix almost wish he hadn’t brought it up in the first place.
“A book? By me?” the Zoroark scoffed, rolling her eyes in disgust. “Those little guides I wrote for the pompous little know-nothing parasitic nobles? Hah! I suppose they did serve a good purpose in the end, didn’t they?”
“Though…” Igetia continued. “I only ever made a few copies of those books, and I’m sure those greedy little nobles aren’t too keen on sharing their prized books with any lowly peasant…”
Alan broke into a cold sweat, his surroundings seemingly freezing in place as the Zoroark once again glared directly into his eyes. The same tactic as last time, overwhelming him and forcing him to break.
“So tell me, little prince… What really are you? Who is your master? What purpose do you have at my guild?”
“I-I…” Alan was overwhelmed, his mind racing as he struggled to come up with a suitable reply. He couldn’t simply lie; she would see past it immediately. Did he really have no choice but to reveal everything?
He felt his partner’s claws tighten around him. The Jangmo-o sat beside him, though also paralyzed by the ghost-type’s aura.
“S-Stole them…”
“Hm? Say that again?”
“I-I stole them! A-And we ran away!” Alan mustered up the courage to shout, breathing heavily as he pushed the Guild Leader’s pressure back. “I am no one! I work for myself! And I’m here to join your guild!”
“Haha! That’s more like it!” Igetia’s smile lasted little more than a split second, quickly pulling her hand over her mouth and onto her head. “I like your energy, Vulpix. Both of you pass this section.”
“R-Really??” both examinees said, barely able to contain their excitement as they hopped in place. “W-We passed??”
“Well… Just this section, and definitely not with your test scores alone, I’ll say that for sure. You’ve got a lot to learn, but I’ll be sure to cram that knowledge into your heads myself if you pass the other half of the exam~”
The Samurott behind her shook in disappointment, head diving into his hands as he loudly groaned to himself. “Damn it, Igetia! You always pull this sorta thing! Why even drag me here to invigilate if you’re going to do this anyway!”
“Uh… because it’s fun? Wholesome? Enriching?” She shrugged, flicking back her hair without care for the fuming vice Guild Leader beside her. “It’s not like we’ve got anything better to do~”
“We do! We’re already so behind on paperwork! Ugh! You can keep playing your games or whatever. I’m going back and getting some actual work done!”
Dex stormed off, leaving the Zoroark alone with her two Examinees. She stood up, popping her neck and shoulders, revealing the innumerable scars lining her back as she stretched deeply. Alan tried to replicate some of Igetia’s movements, though his body was much too young to creak like hers.
“Haah… That’s Dex for you. No matter, the exam shall continue regardless~”
Alan and Morgan sat patiently, placing their paws atop one another as they absentmindedly leaned onto each other’s heads. The Zoroark had instructed them to wait there on the training ground, speeding off to “catch up with Dex”, allowing the two some much-needed time to rest and mentally prepare for the rest of their entrance exam.
The crowd around Team Frontiers had dispersed long ago, leaving only the Flygon and Noivern piled atop one another, basking in the sunlight as a fatigued, sweaty mass. They gave their compatriots a small wave and a couple words completely lost to the wind before returning to what they were doing beforehand.
“H-Hey Morgan…?”
“Hm? Yer askin’?”
“I-I… I think I know what the next test is going to be…” Alan said, staring at his paws, slightly shaking under the Vulpix’s heightened nerves. “The stuff lying around, and how everyone’s cleared off the training grounds. It’s almost like…
“Our next test has somethin’ ter do with combat?” Morgan finished, shrugging. “Expected as much, honestly. It ain’t guild work without some fightin’, pa used ter say…”
“B-But…” Alan distractedly tapped the ground, mouth paralyzed mid-sentence as he jittered under the prospect of another battle. His loss against the Heatmor just few hours prior rang painfully loud in his head. He inched away, ears folding as he grit his teeth in frustration. “I can’t… I’m not good at fighting…”
The Jangmo-o slid himself over back beside the Vulpix, before turning back to preen his scales once more, offering a few comforting words in between. “Ya know… It ain’t that bad of a loss. An’ even before that ya were plenty strong. Yer even froze that crazy ol’ Sceptile lady solid!”
“I didn’t mean to though! I-I mean I did! B-But… I can’t control it.” Alan sighed, leaning over and putting more of his weight atop Morgan’s side. “That boost, the one Necrozma gave me, I don’t know how to activate it. It just… happens, whether I want it to or not…”
“You’ve seen it… right? That yellow glow around me. O-Or the voices! Whispering about… whatever it is they talk about…” Alan added, noticing the puzzled look on the dragon’s face. “I’m scared, Morgan. The power, it’s too much for me. I can’t control its strength nor its direction. A-And what if it goes wild?”
“...Wild?”
“I-I don’t know how else to describe it…” The Vulpix sighed. He flexed his forelegs, trying to replicate the glow that burned Hikaru all that time ago. “My ice turns into golden fire; instead of freezing, it burns its targets instead. I-It’s scary, Morgan… I-I don’t want to burn anyone alive like that!”
“Relax, kiddo. Yer ain’t gonna do that.” Morgan reassured the Vulpix with a wink. He held up Alan’s paw, carefully scratching off the clumps of dirt and sand in between the pads of his paw. The Vulpix stiffened, trying not to pull away from the Jangmo-o’s grasp. “Seems like that Necrozma guy’s blessing ain’t workin’ like how it’s supposed ter. Yer should like ask ‘em about it.”
“W-Well… I don’t like he’d take too kindly to that…”
“Hah!” Morgan snorted, lightly pushing Alan away. “I mean, I wouldn’t be either if I found out my blessings were broken pieces of garbage– n-not ter offend ya or anythin’...”
“None taken.” Alan chuckled, pulled out of his despair by his partner’s attempt to save face. He stared off, a smile freshly adorned on his face. “In case you’re curious, he called the move ‘Light that Burns the Sky’. Crazy name, I know…”
“A bit of a mouthful isn’t it?” Igetia appeared from behind, startling the Vulpix. “Heh, Dex tells me I walk quiet. You two will get used to it over time. If you pass, that is.”
She swept her legs in one long circular motion, brushing away the accumulated dirt beneath the Guild Leader’s feet to reveal wooden boards fastened into the ground. The lines marking them had long faded, sanded down by the elements to create an almost glass-like texture.
“You’re correct, by the way. This section of the exam will indeed test your combat capabilities.”
“Y-you heard?! H-How long have you been back?!” Alan stammered, instinctively dropping into a fighting stance.
“Long enough to hear most of it. But don’t worry, I’ve dealt with enough secrets and confidential agreements for a lifetime. That Necrozma fellow doesn’t concern me in any way. I shall not divulge.”
Igetia stabbed the sharp end of her weapon into a hole between two floorboards, the blade slotting in neatly into the makeshift keyhole hidden beneath the dust. An awkward silence followed, the Zoroark glaring at the arena floor underneath.
“Uhm…”
“Give it time.” Igetia said, rocking her staff back and forth, clicking it into place as she jiggled the mechanism hidden below. The Guild Leader spat out a volley of curses, though a violent shaking cut her off partway through as the floor holding the three Pokemon began to sink below ground level.
“Damned piece of junk… I mean– hey! It works! Now hold on, and I’d recommend staying away from the walls if I were you~”
As soon as Igetia finished her sentence, the area around the wooden floor began to shift, splinters and sparks flying about as the rocky walls scraped against the sinking wooden floor. Alan and Morgan held onto one another, covering each other's heads with their paws as the shaking of the mechanism underneath intensified.
“Pretty cool, don’t you think?” the Zoroark said as the shaking subsided. She stepped in between the two cowering Pokemon, flicking both of them to opposite sides of the newly formed arena. Alan stumbled to his feet, marveling at the intricate engravings on the walls around him, nodes and rings connected through lines interspersed between them and the cracks between the floorboards. It seemed to flow towards the center, and up into the engravings on the Guild Leader’s staff itself.
The Vulpix stretched out his paw, hastily tracing out the pattern as both recognition and dread filled his eyes. He gasped, staring wide-eyed at his examiner.
“I-It’s… Y-You… No…”
“You see it too, don’t you? Smart little thing~” Igetia hummed to herself. She reached into her mane, rustling through the mountain of items hidden within. Fighting the belongings stuffed into her hair, she eventually pulled out a singular translucent orb, thoroughly chipped and scratched yet still maintaining its light blue luster. “Hmm, one should more than suffice for this~”
With a loud grunt the Zoroark jammed her hand onto the blunt end of her staff, the orb barely holding itself together as its color began to melt down the grooves of the staff, before crumbling away into dust. The room glowed the same tint of blue, lines of light racing into the floor, up the walls, and crisscrossing itself into some sort of protective netting across the open ceiling.
“Well, ain’t that a neat lil’ magic trick?” Morgan grinned, inspecting the newly filled-in walls with an inquisitive claw.
Alan, on the other hand, was much less receptive, standing paralyzed on the tips of his paws.
“Y-You… T-That was a ritual, wasn’t it?”
“Correct!” she answered with a proud yet almost mechanical tone. “Designed the entire thing myself! I’m honestly surprised it’s held up this well over the years, though. Perhaps my ritual construction skills aren’t as shitty as I thought they were~”
“I– ngh… nevermind…” Alan looked away, trying his best to hide the sheer disgust on his face. It didn’t matter; the Zoroark noticed anyway. She leaned over, close enough to the Vulpix to send a shudder down his body.
“Hmm? What’s the matter? I hate seeing my future recruits so uncomfortable~”
Alan’s complexion soured even more. He brought a paw over his head, cringing at the Zoroark’s words. “N-Nothing important, Guild Leader…”
“C’mon~ You wouldn’t make a face like that over nothing~” Igetia said, invading further into the Vulpix’s personal space. She gave a smile, though it was more to pressure Alan than anything else. “Again, I will not divulge further than necessary. I’m here to test, not to judge, Vulpix~”
Alan shuddered, lost on how to respond. He bit his tongue, holding back everything he wanted to say, filling the room with an awkward silence as he ruminated over how he could respond. Morgan was all the more oblivious to the ice-type’s plight, happily humming away, completely enthralled in the glowing ritual patterns around him.
“I… I-It’s really nothing… Just some bad experiences, I guess.”
“Aww~ You poor, poor thing!” Igetia replied in her usual mocking tone, though small hints of genuine care managed to slip by. She picked Alan up, softly stroking his head and back, almost as if he were her pet of sorts. “A little ritual like this? It won’t hurt anything, not even the weakest of our recruits~”
“U-Uhm…” Alan shifted uncomfortably, turning his head away from the Zoroark’s hands. “Miss Guild Leader? C-Could you put me down?”
“Oh! Right! How overzealous of me~” she replied, tossing the Vulpix aside without a second thought. “Never mind that then. Let us instead begin the second part of your entrance examination.”
“Ahem! You are now under exam conditions. Do not leave the examination area under any circumstance, unless permitted by an Invigilator to do so.” said Igetia, reciting from the same exact script as she had at the start of the previous section of the exam. Her tone was overly professional and restrained, a stark difference to the whimsical yet devious style she presented herself as just moments prior. “You are here to take the Krux Guild, Ashton Branch entrance examination. Section Two - Physical Combat.”
She pulled her weapon out of its slot in the ground, using it to nudge Morgan away to the opposite side of the room to Alan. “The purpose of this section of the exam is to test your maximum combat capabilities. As such, the arena is purpose-built to withstand any and all combat damage inflicted by the examinees. Be aware that the ritual’s protective netting can deflect stray projectiles back towards the attacker~”
Ah… there she goes again… Alan thought. Seeing the silence that had now once again taken hold of the room, the Vulpix piped up. “S-So… what do you want us to do, exactly?”
“Ah, right! Rules! Let’s see…” Igetia stared at the translucent ceiling, pretending to be in thought. In truth, she had already come prepared, seemingly only acting in this manner for dramatic effect, if anything. “One versus one, no items or outside preparation, battle until one or both sides are incapacitated.”
“I-Incapacitated!?”
“You heard me right~” she flashed her devious grin, both Pokemon cringing at her display of reckless negligence. “You will fight until you drop. This is not a spar; this is your opportunity to go all out. Think of it as a preview, a taste of what it’s going to be like working for this guild. Don't worry about injuring one another; the infirmary is right there. And I seriously doubt either of you has the strength to kill at this point~”
“E-Er… Yeh, r-right…”
The Zoroark bounced away, passing neatly through the ceiling and out into the training ground above. She took up a position directly in between the two combatants, peering down at them as if they were her test subjects. “C’mon, chop chop! We don’t have all day now!”
“I don’t– Is this even necessary?!” Alan stared up at Igetia, looking down on them with her cold, uncaring eyes. “I-I mean… we’re partners, right? When would we ever need to fight one another?”
“It’s an exam, Vulpix. I simply need to gauge your skill in real combat. Besides, we’re the only three here, and I presume the two of you would rather fight each other than me, correct?”
“I suppose… fine…”
Alan’s eyes locked onto the Jangmo-o, carefully studying each minute movement as he prepared himself for Morgan’s inevitable attack. He counted his opponent’s breaths, using the time between each to map out his plan of attack. He knew little of Morgan’s combat capabilities, only from what little he saw in their encounter with Celeste and at the markets earlier that day.
He’s only capable of close-ranged combat. And in a room like this… as long as I keep him in my sights and step back when he approaches I should be–
Alan was so lost in his train of thought that he failed to notice that the Jangmo-o had moved, rushing in from the left to attack. The Vulpix barely managed to turn away in time, Morgan’s outstretched claws harmlessly bouncing off his reinforced cloak, sending both Pokemon off in opposite directions.
Alan braced for a follow-up attack, but Morgan simply stood by, observing him. He prepared a volley of ice shards in his mouth in response, though he was wary of the effects of his ice on someone like Morgan. His retaliatory strike came out as more of a pitiful, slow-moving shower of ice cubes instead, the Jangmo-o easily able to swat them away with his tail.
“Oh come on! Neither of you are even trying to hit each other! I meant every word when I said to ‘Go all out’ dammit!”
Morgan rushed in once more, this time in full view of the Vulpix. Alan replied with a blast of snow to his opponent’s face, sending the blinded dragon crashing straight into a wall.
The dragon type wasted no time counterattacking, not even stopping to wipe the snow off of his face. He kicked off the wall, pouncing directly atop Alan, launching another flurry of claw attacks at his exposed face.
“Ya think I need ter see ter beat yer ass?!” he taunted through his attacks, keeping Alan pinned with his hind legs. He headbutted the struggling Vulpix, his claws breaking past Alan’s guard and digging into flesh.
“Argh! Get! Off me!” Alan thrashed about in an attempt to throw his opponent off. Though in practice it only served to further injure the Vulpix, Morgan’s claws digging even deeper and tearing through even more layers of skin and muscle. Eventually Alan relentened, allowing Morgan a few undefended swipes to the back of his neck as he concentrated his effort into a few powerful kicks to the dragon’s stomach.
“Ghrk! Ya got some real force behind those legs, kiddo. But I ain’t gunna—”
A large ice shard drove into his underside, vulnerable and unguarded, unprotected by hardened scales unlike the top half of his torso. Morgan curled up, finally releasing Alan from his grip and rolling away, stemming the bleeding from the newly formed hole in his stomach.
“Haah… Ya little… Augh…”
Alan watched his partner struggle for a while,but eventually his guilt won out. He ran up to Morgan, fearing the worst for him as he listened to the Jangmo-o’s staggered breaths.
“M-Morgan! Are you okay?! Guild Leader! D-Do something!”
“Ehe~” Igetia remained watching from above, her glare all but softened into a more contented smile now that the two began to fight more vigorously. “And why would I do that? Seems like your friend still has a little more fighting spirit left in him~”
“W-What? But he’s–”
A pink claw entered his vision, followed by the rest of Morgan’s body as he rammed the Vulpix from beneath. The Jangmo-o had done the exact same back to Alan, targeting his exposed underside as his claws clasped tightly over Alan’s neck. A dirty trick, overexaggerating his injuries such that Alan would drop his guard, but one he was extremely well-versed in, nonetheless.
Both sides tumbled as Alan desperately fought back with what little power he could muster. The battle devolved into a series of weak, scrappy attacks, both quickly succumbing to their injuries and fatigue. Yet they refused to fall, fighting until the very ends of their consciousness.
“Enough!”
At the Zoroark’s command, both parties released one another, reduced to ragged, barely conscious messes. Alan bled profusely from his neck, staining the white fluff around his robe’s collar a deep crimson, while Morgan gripped his stomach tightly, covering the hole Alan had pierced into him with his now bloodied claws.
Igetia returned from her perch above, slotting her staff back into its place in the center of the room. She placed a single Sitrus berry on top, allowing its color to drain along with its juices down the room’s grooves in the same manner as the orb had done.
“A second, much more powerful effect of this ritual is that it offers the ability to reverse the effects of any injury that occurs within its bounds. Of course, your fatigue will remain, but that’s much preferable over bleeding out, wouldn’t you say?”
As the ritual took effect, Alan felt his body rapidly regenerating. Every drop of his blood seeped back off the ground, sliding up and back into the cuts across his belly and neck, before the wounds themselves were sealed off without scarring. It was almost as if time itself had rewound to before their battle.
“Ngh… What did–”
“Enjoy it while you can~” said Igetia. “You won’t be afforded this luxury in a real dungeon~”
The Zoroark watched as the two struggled back to their feet, bodies back in pristine condition yet tired to almost the point of collapse. They leaned upon one another, using the other’s body as a crutch to help them remain standing.
“So… haah… think we good ‘nuff fer yet guild?” The Jangmo-o asked between labored breaths. “By the look on yer face… that ain’t enough… was it?”
“No, no~” Igetia waved Morgan’s concern away, eliciting a relieved sigh from the two examinees. “You’re still on track. I’m pretty impressed, honestly. You fight real dirty, Jangmo-o~”
Morgan turned away, hiding his blushed face from the others. Distracted by the Zoroark’s compliments, he forgot about his partner, Alan slipping off and stumbling face first back onto the floor.
“O-Ow…”
“Remember this feeling, you two. For this is how it will be after every mission you take. Working under me will hurt, I will push you further and harder than you can withstand. You will break. You will hate me. You will want to quit. But I won’t allow it! Not until you’ve proven that you’re strong enough to stand on your own!”
She raised her arm over her chest, striking a motivational pose of sorts, Alan guessed. He was much too tired to make sense of the Zoroark’s words anyway.
“This is it, ladies and gentlemon!” Igetia boomed with an announcer-like voice. What audience was she even announcing to? Alan looked above, noticing a small crowd of guildmembers gathered above them, watching their exam with great interest. The Vulpix shuddered, reminded of the crowd of nobles that had watched his disastrous battle against Hikaru.
Alan steeled himself. Surely this time will be different.
“Like any dungeon dive, you will expend most of your energy and resources simply reaching your goal. But with any treasure, there will always be someone to guard it.”
Igetia crouched into a fighting stance, swinging around her weapon like a fan. Her glare turned intense, exuding a level of pressure not unlike what Necrozma had subjected him to inside his mental realm. He felt the same mix of fear and excitement, the adrenaline rush giving him the strength to stand up and fight one more time.
She pointed her staff towards the two, a formal challenge to battle.
“Now, I am no longer your Guild Leader, but your final obstacle. Land a single hit on me, and you pass. I incapacitate both of you, and you fail. No more rewinds, no items, no help, and no second chances.”
“W-Wait!” Alan interrupted. “But you said you weren’t going to fight us!”
“I did? I don’t recall saying anything more than that you wouldn’t want to fight me~”
“I– yeah…” As much as part of Alan wanted to refuse and run, he couldn’t. All that was left for them was to give it their best shot.
“W-Welp… Here goes…” Alan sighed dejectedly.
Both he and Morgan knew their roles in battle, even with their almost nonexistent experience fighting as a team. As the Jangmo-o rushed in, Alan remained behind, shouting his plans across the room.
“You keep her distracted! I’ll stay on her flank! We just need one hit!”
Alan darted off to the side, preparing a volley of ice attacks. The Zoroark was seemingly ignoring him –perhaps she had missed what Alan said? Either way, all he could do was watch as Morgan closed in on Igetia and began his attack.
The Jangmo-o lunged forward, claws fully extended as he sliced in her general direction. Igetia dodged each attack effortlessly, occasionally parrying with her staff to break Morgan’s rhythm. She continuously zipped back and forth, sending her attacker into a dizzying spin as he struggled to keep up with her sheer levels of agility.
Alan spat out his ice shards as rapidly as he could, though she also dodged each shard with terrifying ease, reflecting a small number of shards back towards Alan, aimed perfectly such that they would strike him on his face or chest, scattering any remaining ice in his mouth.
“G-Gah! How the–”
“Come on now~” Igetia taunted, seemingly unfazed by the volume of attacks from both sides. “Jangmo-o! Put some more speed into those stubby legs, will ya? Vulpix! Come help out your little friend over here! You’re worse than useless back there!”
“And all of you up there! Make some noise for these challengers, will you? They’re going to need all the luck they can get!”
The crowd roared to life, drowning out anything else the Zoroark had to say. Guild members, most likely. Alan could barely make out the tips of the Noivern’s and Flygon’s ear, though their hoots and hollers cut through the other’s cheering much better. Enough for his nerves to kick in, and for his focus to break entirely.
Igetia riled up the crowd even more with her taunting words, much to Alan’s dismay. She was toying with them, that enough was clear. Her sinister grin had only widened since they started their battle, and there wasn’t a single drop of sweaton her fur either. She simply looked down upon them, not even expending the effort to return any attack of her own.
Still the two were nearly entirely worn out already. Morgan struggled to lift his claws, while Alan had almost succumbed to the many attacks reflected back towards him.
Igetia yawned, connecting the blunt end of her weapon onto the Jangmo-o’s scales, sending him flying back towards Alan.
“That’s not all you’ve got, is it? Try something else, I beg of you. You’re boring me already~”
“She’s… too fast…” Morgan said, panting heavily. Even with the time and space Igetia so graciously offered the two, they still struggled to come up with any reasonable plan to defeat her. “If what yer sayin’ before was true… We’re gonna need ter see that glow of yers again pretty damn soon…”
“I-I’ll try my best. I can’t control when it happens but… I’ll try to make it happen…” Alan held a paw over his partner’s shoulder, his other paw remained clutched over where the reflected ice had struck him the hardest. “G-Give me time… I’ll figure it out…”
“Sure can do, kiddo. Though, if yer could be so kinda ter freeze the floor ‘round her, that’ll be a nice help s’well.”
“Y-Yeah, I can– Look out!”
Alan pushed the Jangmo-o away just as a shadow ball whizzed by, barely threading between the two Pokemon. Igetia stood proudly as she watched the two scramble back into position, her snout held up in her signature devious smirk.
“Alright! Times up!”
Morgan rushed forward once more, this time better supported by the Vulpix’s ice attacks. He was much more conservative this time, the combination of fatigue and a change of plans resulted in a much slower and methodical pace from the dragon. Igetia still parried the blows with ease, however, sneaking in extra jabs onto the Jangmo-o between each of his attacks.
Alan focused his strength onto the floor, drowning out the clattering of claws on wood as his partner battled. He tried to call upon Necrozma’s strength, or Edward’s, or at least anything more than what his pitiful body could normally generate.
Nothing.
He tried once more.
Still nothing.
Why now of all times?? Alan screamed internally. When I don’t want it to happen, it shows up to ruin everything, and when I need it, it refuses to come out?? Is this all that your blessing can do, Necrozma?!
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was no use anyway, begging to these higher powers. All he could do was to try his absolute best with what he’s got.
“Kiddo!” Morgan yelled over the commotion. “Kinda needin’ yer ice here!”
Alan snapped out of his trance, quickly peppering the floor with his icy breath. The wooden flooring slowed the spread of his ice significantly, barely able to spread to where Morgan and Igetia were fighting from Alan’s position. He kept up the barrage of ice, only able to counteract the melting at the edges of his pool once it had spread to its maximum amount.
“Oh?” Igetia said between parries, feeling the sudden drop in temperature by her feet. The wooden boards also provided her with much more grip than Alan expected, though it was still enough to break the Zoroark off her rhythm. “Good to finally see some measurable action from you! But still, not enough~”
Igetia bashed Morgan with her arm as he lunged, pushing him away with enough force to send him crashing into the wall opposite her.
“With that distraction out the way…”
Before Alan could react, the Zoroark had already closed the space between them, blinking across the entire pool of ice in milliseconds. She grabbed the Vulpix by his snout, forcefully shutting off his stream of ice.
Igetia gave him a teasing look as she watched him squirm, curling both hands inward with enough force to crush his muzzle. She reveled in Alan’s pained whimpers, a large sadistic grin plasted atop the smug expression she continued to display.
“Mmph!”
“Hm? Something the matter?” Igetia said, pausing for a moment to listen to Alan’s cries. “Guild Leader got your tongue?”
“Git yer dirty hands off him ya little shit!”
Morgan lunged at the Zoroark once more, bleeding profusely from his chest, yet remaining unwavering and just as docile. The surprise attack was enough for the Zoroark to release Alan, picking her weapon back up and turning her attention back towards toying with the pink dragon.
Alan crumpled to the ground, angling his head just enough to watch the two fight through his blurred vision. He felt warmth pooling around his broken snout– just his blood, assumedly.
“You’ve got a half decent idea of teamwork, I must admit.” said Igetia, plucking Morgan out the air before slamming him into the ground. “But… I think it’s time to end this~”
Alan’s eyes went wide as the dust settled. Morgan lay struggling on the ground, gasping for air as a foot stood squarely atop his neck. The Vulpix tried to scream, though only faint pleas arose from his bloodied mouth.
“Ghk!”
“He’s decently competent, all things considered. You’re pretty lucky to have him as your partner, you know? Huhu~” Igetia held the Jangmo-o down, long enough for Alan to watch his partner helplessly flail around, before blacking out completely. “One down, one left~”
As the Zoroark approached, Alan’s despair turned into desperation. A familiar warmth grew from the tips of his paws, morphing into a roaring fiery rage. He cried out, reminded of the last time he glowed in this manner. The desperate, uncontrollable release of his anger, the fear in both his and Hikaru’s faces, the aftermath of their battle.
No! I can’t! I must-
The memories grounded him. His vision clarified, though the glow spread across his body remained. Alan’s insides felt cooler, in a way. More calm and collected, more in control, as if the light had stripped most of his emotions temporarily.
I must solve this. I’m in control.
“Guild Leader.” he said, the uncertainty and fear in his tone fully washed away. “How about we end this with a little deal?”
“Ohoho! Trying to bargain for your spot already?” Igetia answered. She shifted her stance slightly, aware of the change in the Vulpix’s demeanor. “You know, begging for your life against a dungeon ‘mon isn’t quite the best idea~”
“I’m aware, Guild Leader. However, I believe I have a proposition you would like to at least consider first.”
Alan shined even brighter, his golden eyes brightening over his white pupils into a single flat color.
No Necrozma, No Edward. These are my powers to use.
“You are in a winning position. You were always going to win. This battle was set up from the beginning to end that way. You, defeating two clueless and desperate guild examinees, to inspire the rest of the guild and uphold your reputation.”
Igetia grinned, pridefully puffing her chest. She played along, a hand teasingly placed across her forehead as if she was admitting to a crime. “I’ve been caught! Whatever will I do now?”
“Your true intentions have always been to judge our maximum potential, correct?” Alan began to rise slightly off the ground. “I can show you my maximum potential. When I am unburdened, when I have nothing to lose.”
The Zoroark narrowed her eyes, skeptical of Alan’s intentions.
“Take a singular hit. My strongest attack. Give me time to prepare it. And in return, if I were still to fail, you are free to do whatever you like to me and Morgan. Beat us to within an inch of our lives, arrest us, kill us even.”
If this isn’t enough, I don’t deserve Necrozma’s blessing anyway.
“...well, well, well! The little Vulpix learned to negotiate, huh? Hmmm~” Igetia pretended to consider, though she had already made up her mind since the beginning. “Yeah! Seems fair enough! Hit me, Vulpix! Give it your all!”
She readied herself, her weapon beginning to emanate a dark purple shadow. Alan’s light clashed against it, sending powerful reverberations across the arena and up towards where the crowd stood.
“Light… My strength…”
The voices in his head echoed loudly, Alan parroting each verse like a ritualistic chant. A sphere of light formed above him, growing rapidly as he floated higher and higher into the air.
“Use his Light… My soul overpowers…”
Igetia’s smile evolved into a manic, feverish expression. She nudged the unconscious Jangmo-o by her foot, sliding him away from the blast zone. The Zoroark let out a crazed laugh, pushing more of her strength to defend against the attack.
“My strength shall rule supreme!”
“Light That Burns the Sky!”
Alan recoiled backwards, head first into the wall behind him as the ball of light shot in the opposite direction, right towards the stanced Zoroark. It streaked across in a perfect arc downwards, continuing to grow in size as Igetia prepared to parry the attack.
It was like watching Hikaru all over again. Their stances, their screams of pain, their woefully overconfident smiles melting as the light began to overpower them.
“Ngh! Aaaah! It’s… not over! U-Until I… say it is!”
Igetia pushed back, holding the ball in place, then slowly moving it back towards Alan. For a moment, even through Alan’s stoic mask, he despaired. However, a loud snap returned the Vulpix’s mind to peace immediately, the Zoroark having lost her stance and becoming engulfed within the fiery explosion that followed.
“N-NO! AAAAAAAARGH!”
Silence, darkness, stillness.
Everyone waited with bated breath for a moment as their senses returned to them. Alan, sagged against the opposite wall and bleeding profusely, but still alive. Igetia, stood in the same position as before the attack, eyes widened in shock. In front of her lay her weapon, charred and in pieces. She remained relatively unharmed, save for a small burn mark across her cheek, and the tips of her hair burned a crispy black charcoal hue.
“I… won…?”
The crowd roared, loudly cheering the Vulpix’s name as they celebrated his victory. Igetia’s expression turned sour, before twisting into one more akin to mild curiosity and admiration. She inspected her injured body, releasing a long-winded sigh of defeat.
“...crap.”
Alan sat paralyzed in front of the Zoroark, fighting with all his remaining might to stay conscious. He felt his light quickly draining away, leaving him a shivering, barely breathing mess for the crowd above to see.
“I… hit you…”
“Welp, a deal’s a deal, I suppose.” the Guild Leader sighed. She gestured for the crowd to disperse, the cheering above quietening down as they scattered back to their duties. Daphnis and the Blissey remained, rushing to the sides of the two injured Pokemon.
“Daph, Thera, get them to the infirmary. Vulpix’s got a broken snout, as well as a rib or two. Jangmo-o’s busted up everywhere. Report to me when they wake again.”
Ah… It’s getting dark so fast…
Alan felt his mind droop, eyelids shuttering as he flickered in and out of consciousness. His senses numbed, the pain and noises around him mixing into a muddled mess of sensations. Relief washed over him, his labored breathing slowing as darkness and fog overtook him completely. He managed to crack a weak smile, turning to Igetia one last time.
“We… did it…?”
“Yes, Alan. You did it.”