Jaze stood, looking upwards at the entrance. He was finally there, the Guild his father had once been part of. He had found it harder than he thought to take the final steps up the stairs, he had put it off for several days since coming to Treasure Town, but today he would enter. Or at least this is what he told himself, but his paws seemed to have other ideas as they remained frozen to the floor.
He shook his head, `no more hesitating' he thought and with a deep breath he slowly began to pad forward towards the entrance. He found himself walking over the grate in front of the door and almost jumped out of his fur as a loud voice bellowed from below.
``Pokemon Detected! Pokemon Detected!''
``Who's footprint? ``Who's footprint?''
``The Pokemon is Shinx! The Pokemon is Shinx!''
``You may... enter.''
He looked down between his paws but couldn't see anything in the darkness below the grate, so he slowly padded forward and took his first step into the guild. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the somewhat gloomy entranceway. He stood and looked around, the room seemed empty apart from a ladder leading down into main guild. Jaze went to approach it when he saw two ears black ears pop up from below, followed by a face and body. It was an Umbreon, he wore a purple scarf and had deep blue eyes which was unusual for an Umbreon.
Jaze stared at him, he looked strong and Jaze felt a little intimidated. ``Hello there, my name is Gau.''. His soft tone set him at ease and he released the tenseness in his shoulders. ``Uh Hello, I'm Jaze'' he said in a shy mutter.
Gau smiled ``Welcome Jaze, so what brings you to our guild? I don't believe I have seen you around here before.''. Jaze shook his head ``No, I'm new to town I use to live deep in the forest'' he motioned with his tail in the direction he had come. ``I've heard a lot about the guild and I was um..'' he trailed off, his nerves getting to him. But he quickly braced himself, the time for doubt was over. Meeting the Umbreon's eyes he finished ``I would like to join the guild!''.
Gau's eyes widened a little in surprise, but only for a moment as his smile returned ``Oh well if that's the case, I better take you to our Guildmaster, come'' he said with a tilt of his head towards the ladder. Jaze followed, carefully although somewhat clumsily making his way down the ladder.
``This way'' the Umbreon called as he lead the way down one more floor and then to a wooden door surrounded by coloured stones. Gau knocked on the door with a paw ``Guildmaster, do you have a moment, I have a potential new recruit!'' he announced happily. After a moment the door opened and Jaze almost fell back as licks of flames filled the doorway. He looked up at the tall Pokemon, it was a Rapidash. The Guildmaster looked down at him with a strange expression, Jaze thought he read surprise but could swear a note of was it sadness? The towering equine interrupted his thoughts ``A Shinx...'' he murmured ``Very well come in.'' he turned and walked into the room expecting them to follow but Gau turned about himself before saying ``I'll leave you to it, don't worry he's not as intimidating as he looks.'' he then padded off. With a gulp Jaze walked into the room.
The Rapidash motioned for Jaze to sit in front of him, his gaze still studying Jaze curiously.
``My name is Flare, I am the current Guildmaster here. So you are interested in joining us uhh..'' he broke off.
``Jaze, my name is Jaze. I travelled from th..''.
``Jaze..'' The Guildmaster interrupted ``Ah so you finally came..''
Jaze looked up in surprise ``You were expecting me?''
Flare gave a half smile ``Well yes of course, I know why you are really here.''
Jaze tilted his head ``What do you mean?''
The Guildmaster sighed and asked ``You came to ask about your father, no?''.
Jaze looked down at his paws as he remembered his mother's last words.
``I never did tell you how your father died, and I can't now but you should ask a Rapidash called flare, he knew your father well to his very last moments.. I love you son. I'll watch over you always as you become an explorer others will look up to. I love you soo much''.
A tear swelled in one eye and he quickly brushed it away with a forepaw, before meeting the Rapidash's gaze.
``You really knew my father then?''
Flare let out a long sigh, his suspicions confirmed. As Jaze stared at him he began to notice the Guildmaster looked tired and fatigued, he knew the signs all too well. Deep lines etched his face showing the grief and burden he must have suffered, the exact same he had seen in his mother.
``I did, he was my closest friend and the greatest explorer I ever knew.''
Jaze nodded, he had heard much the same from the many stories his mother had told him. Blaze the Pyroar, the legendary explorer.
``How did he die?'' Jaze muttered.
At this Flare looked startled. ``Did your mother never tell you?'' he asked in surprise.
``No.. she didn't, I don't think she could bring herself to relive it.'' He stiffened, trying to keep his composure ``But before she died she told me to find you, she said you were there when he died.'' He finished in a shaky breath.
Flare too looked shaken ``Oh Jaze, I'm so sorry. I should have been there! I left you and your mother alone, I always had wanted to come back..'' he took a breath ``But our guild was in shambles, our Guildmaster was dead and after your father.. well the guild turned to me, I had to help them.''.
Jaze didn't reply but just sat silently, thoughtful.
``Even after things settled down, I wanted to visit you.. but in truth I was scared. I know your mother must hate us.. and rightfully so, we stole Blaze from her...''
Jaze shook his head ``No, you didn't.'' he said firmly. ``It is true my mother held resentment for the guild, but she knew deep down it was not your fault. My father made his own decision.''
Flare slowly nodded before quietly asking ``How did she....''? He broke off unable to finish the question but Jaze got the gist.
``She never truly got over the loss of my father, but she had me. I think in a way I saved her, I gave her a purpose. I think without it the grief would have destroyed her.'' He said a little bluntly.
Flare just stared guiltily and Jaze shook his head.
``No maybe I didn't save her.. maybe she would have been better off had she..'' he broke off not wanting to finish the thought.
``Jaze...'' Flare muttered, but Jaze interrupted him.
``We lived happily though, of course she always longed for my father, but she didn't let it affect her. She raised me well and I am proud to call her my mother.''
Flare smiled ``I'd expect no less than one who won Blaze's heart.''.
Jaze smiled back at the comment and continued ``It was a few years later when she started to decline. She caught an illness and spent most of her time resting. I did my best to help her, but as time went by I could see her slipping away from me.'' Jaze shook his head again preventing any tears from forming.
``That was until a few weeks ago. I was curled up next to her, her body was already feeling cold and despite what I told myself I knew the truth, she was dying.''
Jaze stopped for a moment and silence filled the room.
``Of course she knew it too, so she gave me her blessing. She told me to follow my dream of becoming an explorer. And of course she mentioned to find you, who knew of my father's death.''
Flare looked at Jaze, not even making an effort to hide the tears that glistened under his eyes.
``Jaze, I'm so sorry, I should have been there for you.''
Jaze once again shook his head ``No, you had your own responsibilities, you were never at fault. In truth I think she only lasted as long as she did for my sake. The moment she thought I was ready to make my own way the last of her strength left her and she gave in to her illness, it was out of either of our control. She is with my father now, I buried her, sat vigil and then made my way here. I have made my peace with everything, you do not need to worry or feel guilt.'' Jaze took a breath.
``I am here because I want to join the guild, I hold no grudges but..'' Jaze met the Rapidash's eyes with a fierce gaze.
``I would like to hear how my father died''.
Flare met his gaze unblinking ``You have grown Jaze, I see that your mother has raised you well, you are mature beyond your years. I am sure you will make a fine explorer just like your father. But yes I at least owe you that much, so let me explain how your... father saved us all.''
The air grew thick and silent for a moment before Flare began.
``It began shortly after your father retired from the guild, we began hearing rumours. We ignored them at first as they didn't sound possible, but it began to spread more and more until we couldn't ignore it''
He paused and looked at Jaze.
``Did you mother ever tell you about Darkrai?''
Jaze blinked thoughtfully.
``Yes, mostly when I was younger she told me the legends about him... but he was defeated, you can't mean.. he came back?''
Flare shook his head ``Not exactly, but at the time we didn't know what to think as, yes the rumours we were hearing were that Darkrai had been spotted''.
``But how is that poss'' Jaze began, but Flare rose a foreleg to silence him ``I'll get to that.''
``Now'' he continued ``That wasn't the only concerning thing, we also heard he was looking for Jirachi.''
``Jirachi? The wish Pokemon??'' Jaze exclaimed.
``Just the one, the idea of Darkrai receiving a wish from Jirachi was a terrifying prospect. At the very lease we wanted to warn Jirachi, but they didn't exactly show themselves to everyone. In fact there was only one Pokemon we knew who had met even Jirachi.''
``Was it my father'' Jaze asked.
Flare smiled ``Perceptive, yes it was and that was why I came to ask for his help. You may not remember as you were young. I hadn't intended to force him to come, but I needed to ask where Jirachi resided as he had never shared the location before by Jirachi's request. But he was stubborn and despite your mother's protests she eventually agreed to let him go.''
Jaze nodded, he vaguely remembered it, his mother was so worried after he left.
``Once we reached Treasure Town, we called a meeting and set out at once led by your father. Much to our surprise he led us to Luminous Spring.''
``The place you go to evolve?'' Jaze asked.
``The very same, there are many places like it around the grass continent, the land there is strange, a mysterious light glows, I don't personally understand it but somehow it allows us to evolve, but Luminious Springs was unique for whenever a Pokemon went to evolve there was a voice.''
Flare cleared his throat and started doing his impression of the strange voice.
``Those that seek awakening, this is Luminious Spring, Do you seek to evolve?''
He coughed and looked a bit embarrassed by his poor impression.
``Uh yes, anyway the locals here never really gave it much thought, there are many things that we cannot explain and this was simply one of them. But as it turns out while the very nature of evolution is still very much a mystery to us, the voice is not as apparently it wasn't always there.''
``So it was Jirachi?'' Jaze wondered.
``Again you are perceptive, yes Jaze it was Jirachi and no it was not Jirachi's power that allowed Pokemon to evolve, it seems he just liked living there and playing the role of the `mysterious voice' amused him'' Flare shook his head disapprovingly.
``So was Jirachi's power a myth?'' Jaze asked.
``Well yes and no. It seems Jirachi has the power to grant wishes, but he can't grant them from nothing. For example if you wished for `a life time supply of berries' he could grant it, but the berries would have to come from somewhere, and you would probably leave a lot of Pokemon very hungry.''
Jaze nodded ``Ahh I suppose that makes sense.''
``Yes, but anyway of course we didn't know that and it seems the only reason your father even knew where Jirachi resided was because he had caught him sleeping behind a rock when his curiosity had gotten the better of him, see most found the place too creepy to stay there long.''
Jaze laughed ``Surges always said he was often too curious for his own good''.
Flare laughed too ``That he was.''
``So he led us to Luminous Springs, but it was not empty. The usually quiet was chamber was full of the shouts of various Pokemon, the loudest of which was deep and menacing `Keep looking, I know Jirachi is here somewhere!''' This time he didn't try to do an impression.
``Was it Darkrai?'' Jaze asked with a curious expression.
``Well it certainly looked like it at least. As we entered the cave, your father, myself, our Guild leader and 7 others, the other Pokemon stopped and stared at us, they counted about 20 in total which was poor odds if it came to a fight. Then of course was their leader, undoubtable it was Darkrai.''
``But you said..'' Jaze started to say before he was cut off again.
``I'll get to that, just wait. Now we faced off with each group on one side of the small cavern, Blaze and Darkrai leading each respectively. Eyes met and silence returned to the cavern for a few moments before Darkrai spoke.''
Jaze just blinked not interrupting this time.
``He laughed and then said `I guess you finally found me, welcome welcome! I had truly hoped to make my wish first, but I guess we have a change of plans.. .' Again there was silence until your father spoke `Darkrai.. I have heard many tales about you but you were supposed to be gone, how have you returned?'''
``Wasn't he afraid?'' Jaze interrupted.
``Oh I am sure he was, we all were but he would never show it, he was always the shining example of power and pride, and it seemed Darkrai knew that too as he addressed your father by name when he said `Ahhh Blaze, how I have wanted to meet you, the legendary explorer! You ask how I returned. You really think I could be so easily defeated by a couple of Guild rookies? No, I have just been biding my time.'''
Flare pondered for a moment before continuing.
``So as you can imagine we were a more than a little shocked. We all stood there dumb founded, well all apart from Blaze who kept his composure and further challenged Darkrai with a bellow `What do you plan to do Darkrai?'. Darkrai laughed again and then said `Well I have many plans, destroying your puny little Guild chief among them. So I thank you for giving me this opportunity to take out your strongest fighters all at once!' He then signalled to his followers to attack. One of which was a Sneasel who must have been waiting eagerly for the signal as he leaped straight at our Guildmaster. He was a strong Pokemon, our strongest second only to Blaze, but the attack caught him off caught and the Sneasel hit him with a blow that killed him instantly.''
Jaze gasped in shock, He had prepared himself for a bloody story, but the dirty, dishonourable way the former Guildleader died disgusted him.
``It took us a moment to realize what had happened but when we did we let out a roar of rage in unison, but above it all was that of your fathers, his roar shook the cave's very walls in its ferocity. He didn't hesitate, he pounced at Darkrai his claws unsheathed, he wanted blood.''
Jaze now sat stiff and silent, this was what he had been waiting to hear.
``Darkrai was caught off guard at his ferocity, but not entirely as he avoided the worst of the attack but he took a nasty blow to his side. He let out a yowl of pain and then his entire body shimmered and contorted. Everyone else in the cave that had also started at each other ready for a bloody fight had stopped, every eye was on the Darkrai.''
Jaze opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again, he needed to know how it ended.
``The glowing subsided and where Darkrai stood, now stood a Zoroark clutching his bleeding side. It seems his followers were as surprised as we were as they all stared dumbfounded as he screamed out, his former menacing facade lost through the pain `You and your atrocious Guild, you think you can win that easily?' when he finished, his form started to glow again and this time instead of a Zoroark, stood well..'' Flare hesitated ``Your mother Jaze.''
Jaze choked back a gasp.
``The dirty, fowl, disgusting creature used your mother's image against your father. For a moment your father stood there frozen, but it was only a moment. He shook himself and then opened his jaws and let out a huge wall of flame straight at the illusion, the heat of the flames was overwhelming.''
Jaze took an anxious gulp.
``No Pokemon could have survived those flames, but...'' Flare took a deep breath ``That short moment of hesitation cost your father dearly, as while his flames hit true, it had given Zoroark enough time to close the distance between them and hit him with a powerful Night Slash straight to his chest. Seconds went by before any of us could see anything after the blaze, and when it did only one figure remained standing, your father. In front of him lay a pile of ash which had once been the Zoroark, only one part of him remained.'' Flare chocked back a sob ``The claw that was embedded in Blaze's chest.''
Jaze felt tears swell from his eyes, but he didn't wipe them away.
``Zoroarks followers had already began to flee as we rushed to his side, but while the blow had not been instantly fatal like that of our Guildmaster, we knew there was nothing we could do. Blaze met my eyes and muttered in a barely audible voice, `Please tell Surges and Jaze, tell them I am sorry, tell them I love them' a..and that was it.. he was gone.''
Both Jaze and Flare were openly sobbing now.
Through his sobs, Flare continued ``We all stood in silence for a long time, unable to take in what had happened, but eventually we had to. As the most senior member of the Guild left it fell on me to take the lead, so I had them lift your father's body onto my back, and we took him back to the guild. And behind the guild is where we buried him.''
The room grew silent after that, other than the occasional sob but after a few moments both Flare and Jaze regained their composure.
Jaze looked up at the Rapidash ``Why? Why did he do it?''
Flare sighed and replied ``We asked that too for a long time, for weeks our only mission was to find where the Zoroark had come from and what he was after. Eventually we found our answer. He had come from a pack in the mountains to the east. From what we could gather he and another pack had been at odds. Usually we don't deal with pack fights, they are too personal for us to get involved, but apparently his sister had been taken by the rival pack. His pack had told him not to involve the guild, but he had always admired explorers and he was convinced we could help so he sent a request for help. In all honestly I don't know what happened to the request, it was likely ignored for being a pack dispute or because he could not offer much of a reward''
Flare wiped his face to clear the last of his tears.
``His father had gone to get her back alone, and when he returned he was gravely injured and had been carrying the sister's body, he died shortly after. So from what we understood, he blamed the guild for their deaths.''
``I suppose that makes sense, but to kill for it? Surely he knew such actions would not bring them back?'' Jaze exclaimed.
``No of course not, but grief can change you in many ways as you well know Jaze. Few are as mature as you.''
Jaze smiled at the compliment.
``Besides, do not forget, he had been after Jirachi. Now this is only my own assumption as no one could tell me what he had been intending to wish for. But what else would one wish for when grieving? I believe he played the part of Darkrai to gain followers, he took his time traveling finding Pokemon who would join his, or well Darkrai's cause all so he could force Jirachi into granting his wish, which I believe was to bring his family back to life. Although I assume he told them it was some stupid wish to grant them power or something.''
He took a breath.
``He had of course researched the guild too, that was how he knew of your mother, so perhaps he had really planned to destroy the guild. But I think his true hope, as foolish as it was, was to bring his family back to life, and he had no intention of letting the Guild stop him.''
When we found him at Luminous Spring I think his rage just got the better of him. He had convinced himself we were to blame and so decided to deal with us first before getting his wish. But as I am sure you realise such a wish was impossible to begin with.''
Jaze sighed ``Of course. But then where was Jirachi?''
Flare let out a small laugh ``He had been sleeping behind the cavern, he slept through the whole thing well until Blaze's blame woke him up. He was none too pleased to find his home destroyed but given the circumstances he understood. He too was friends with Blaze after all. Naturally in our own grief we begged him to heal him, but of course it was impossible, his powers were not miracles which he explained to us in detail much to our dismay. So Jirachi left, I don't know where he resides now.''
Flare stretched, as if the story had tired him and yet some of the fatigue had left his face as if a burden had been lifted.
``After that it was just picking up the pieces, I visited your mother and gave her the news. Which again I cannot apologise enough for, I should have been there for you Jaze. But I returned to the Guild and took on the role of Guildmaster which I have held ever since. The Guild has since returned to a state of peace, we have had no major incidents since.''
Jaze looked at him thoughtfully ``What about Luminous Springs?''.
Flare tilted his head ``What about it?''
``Well it's the only place you can evolve isn't it? Did the damage from my father's blast not damage it?''
Flare smiled ``You really are perceptive aren't you? Your father was strong, proud and noble, which I am sure you will prove to be too, but you most certainly got your brains from your mother.''
Jaze blushed at the compliment.
``Yes Jaze, unfortunately the fire damaged the cavern severely, whatever energy that resided there was lost to us, and for a long time we were unable to use it to evolve. In fact you will find most of the Guild here are still in their first evolutionary forms regardless of their rank. It has since been restored thanks to the efforts of Kosa and Allium who I am sure can explain more about it than I can. But even though it's been a year since it was restored and even before that we could travel to another town to evolve, it has become a bit of a tradition here now not to evolve. Of course everyone is welcome to evolve if they choose to but now most new members choose not to. Sure evolution gives you a little extra power, but there are benefits to being small too.''
Flare smirked ``Although we still hold the name Wigglytuff's Guild officially in memory of our first master, nowadays most refer to us as Everstone.
Jaze laughed ``I quite like being a Shinx myself anyway..'' he then murmured almost inaudibly ``It's how my parents remembers me after all''.
Flare stood up and looked down, once again the image of an intimidating Guildmaster.
``Welcome to the Everstone Jaze, we are happy to have you and we are sure you will become an irreplaceable explorer''
Jaze smiled ``Thank yo..'' but he was interrupted from a knock on the door followed by a sweet sounding voice.
``Sorry to disturb you Guildmaster but I wanted a word.''
Flare smiled, a genuine smile Jaze didn't think he could have made half an hour ago.
``Perfect'' he beamed before walking over to the door and opening it.
``Jaze this is Pyre'' as he pointed at the Litten standing in the door with a foreleg. ``She joined the Guild recently too, I'm sure she can show you around.''
Jaze gave a shy smile ``Hey, nice to meet you.'' He murmured. She was pretty cute.
