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PART V

Onwards to Ruby Fortunes

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Fall rains fell upon the windows of the Crest Headquarters in Agate Township. Gareda and Luffy were staring out over the roofs of the town, a torch on the table serving as a makeshift hearth. It was early in the morning. Gareda had tea in her talons, Luffy did not. Why that was, Gareda wasn’t dying to find out. Mornings had more than enough headaches to clutch one’s head over. Official business alone was bad enough.

Ever since the Othersider escaped, Agate Province has been quiet. The odd Alliance cell here, criminal gangs there, nothing Gareda wasn’t used to dealing with. Nothing her forces weren’t used to dealing with, either. Make an example out of the leaders, lock the rest up, problem solved.

Too quiet, as a matter of fact. It bothered her over her morning tea.

‘Something’s happening soon. I bet my scales on it.’

“Gareda?”

She looked up from her tea. “Yes, Luffy?”

“You seem, uh, nervous today,” the Magmar said, tapping her claws on the table while her flame flickered in an unsettling manner. Gareda sipped from her tea, closing her eyes all the while before letting out a soft groan.

‘Look who’s talking.’ “You’re mistaken. I don’t feel different from any other day. Especially not the last few weeks.” ‘The ones I’ve been snapping my fins over, ugh.’

“O-okay. If there’s anything wrong, uhm, you can tell me, okay? I’m always willing to lend a hand, well, claw.”

Gareda waved at her. “Why thanks, I appreciate it.”

Luffy sighed in relief. “Always a pleasure, believe me. I’m happy to be on your side, you know. I might not show it sometimes, or maybe I come off a little weird, but I’m happy. That’s what I wanted to tell you,” she said, forming a smile on her face soft enough to melt like ice cream in the sun, or in her hand for five seconds. Not that one ‘holds’ ice cream for long. Either it’s eaten fast, or it’s nothing more than a sugary, liquid mess.

Gareda breathed in deep, then took another sip from her tea. The cup couldn’t hold nearly enough to make today’s headaches fade. And they were relentless, despite having no fuel except a mere feeling. The feeling that something wicked was coming this way. The Garchomp’s sensors flared with activity. It was painful. An iron grip couldn’t stir up this much of a storm.

‘Why don’t I just tell her. Trust goes both ways…’ “Today is quiet, isn’t it.”

Luffy had picked up a candle to light, despite how much was coming in through the windows. “That’s true, but it is only morning. Isn’t it normal for nothing to happen in the mornings?”

The Garchomp shook her head. “Not exactly… scratch that. Mornings are when plans fire off. When orders come. The drums of war thunder. The world holds its breath. Or in our case, the Alliance loves to fire their… antics off at dawn. And they’ve been quiet for the last few weeks, have we?”

“No?” The Magmar tilted her head, putting the candle back down before looking for a tea cup she didn’t have. “Well, yes, when you put it that way, it’s been quiet. But mornings are quiet back home in the Ruby Province. The afternoon and the evening? That’s when things get movin’!”

“I’ve heard,” Gareda replied, shoving her tea away. ‘Typical Rubyfolk laziness.’ “It’s that time of the year again, isn’t it?”

“Oh, you’re talking about the Festival of the Seven Crops, right?”

“...I suppose I am.” ‘Not that I keep track.’

Luffy shook her head. “Not quite, but soon. Two weeks or so, the autumn harvest will come. And then we’ll have the Festival of the Seven Crops. All Rubyfolk come together to celebrate the harvest, dancing, singing, games, meeting new people…” the Magmar’s eyes looked upwards with a dreamy glare. “Oh, and you can’t ever forget the big feast! All the great autumnal dishes are served!”

“So, this is to fatten up for the winter, I take it?” Gareda said, grinning all the while.

“No no no no no, uh, it’s not that, it’s to… we celebrate them! Tornadus! Thundurus! Landorus! Enamorus too! It’s to celebrate the harvest and how they help us with the harvest! Life wouldn’t be the same without ‘em!” Luffy said with a nervous laugh. She was reeling a little, as which made Gareda raise an eye.

‘Damn. Not a good idea to joke around. Clearly this means a lot to her. And Rubyfolk in general’ “I see. And you’re excited to take part this year, aren’t you?”

“It’s the highlight of every year for me,” Luffy said. Her nerves and happiness deflated. “I just don’t know if I can go this year. Our duties have been keeping us busy. It’s a shame, I would’ve loved to take you along. And Vli, of course. Can’t forget Vli.”

“Me? Huh.” Gareda shrugged. “You sound like it’s something urgent.”

“Well yeah, I mean, you didn’t know much about the festival until I told you, did you?” Luffy asked.

Gareda softly growled like she’d been embarrassed. “Correct.” ‘Blegh. Haven’t been there in forever. Cerben has been keeping things under control, hasn’t he?’

Just then, a loud and hollow knocking sound came from the door. Judging by the volume and tone, Vli was at it again. Gareda gulped whatever was left of her tea down.

‘Should’ve brought the whole pot upstairs. Birdbrain’s bound to smack me in the face. All that zipping around he does…’

“Come on in.”

The door was nudged open. Sure enough, the Toucannon waddled right into the room, his feathers dripping wet. “Sorry for being so late. I got called over on my way here, and it’s-”

“No, no, it’s fine. Arceus forbid we’d have to wake up even earlier,” Gareda grumbled under her breath. “Right Luffy?”

“Yeah, certainly,” Luffy said. “You think so too, don’t you, Vli?”

Vli tilted his beak. “Eh? Ah, of course! But this isn’t the line of work you can just shirk your duties in. Unless you’d like everyone to wake up with a claw at their throat in the morning!” The Toucannon flapped his wings. Gareda shielded her face with an arm, scowling right after. Conveniently, Vli flew onto the table right in front of her.

“Dry yourself downstairs, for the love of the creators…”

“My apologies, Lord Gareda! It was urgent.” Vli bowed towards Gareda, who glanced off to the roof. There was a tiny Spinarak crawling on it.

“Right then… what’s the stitch?”

“It’s erhm… He said he wanted to speak to you directly-”

Gareda thumped a talon onto the table. “Who is it. Come on now.” ‘And don’t you dare say it’s Sword.’

Vli hopped away, then looked to the door. Four feet were coming up the stairs. By the sound of it, the Pokemon they belonged to was a big one. Gareda’s tail tilted up and down, her sensors spicing up the quiet of the morning with a little intrigue. But the scent of wet dog that entered her nostrils moments later nipped it in the bud, no matter how muffled the smell was. Even when a large Arcanine’s head poked through the door, she wasn’t feeling it.

‘Cerben. Turns out I was right. Again.’

“Hello? Can I come in? This… this is very urgent, my apologies for the lack of advance notice, but I had to get here as fast as I could,” the Arcanine spoke with a voice that was Cerben’s, without a doubt. A grumble stirred in Gareda’s throat.

‘Should’ve brought a cauldron of tea.’ “Come on in. You’re here now.”

The Arcanine stepped into the room with his smell, his heavy footfalls bringing a creaking sound out of the floorboards. “My apologies for my… odour. It was rainy.”

“I’m used to it,” Gareda said. ‘Not.’

“Oh, it’s you! Cerben of the Rubyfolk!” Luffy got out of her chair “It’s an honour to meet you!”

Cerben smiled a little at her, as he made himself comfortable sitting down. “Oh no, the honour is all mine. We Rubyfolk have to stick together, remember. Status isn’t something that can get between us.”

“How’d you come here, anyway?” Vli asked with a flap of his wings, tilting his beak in an inquisitive manner.

He nodded. “A kind young Dragonite helped me out. You know how fast they are, don’t you.”

“Ah…”

Gareda banged the table with her talons. “Alright. Let’s hear it then. Why are you here?” ‘Because I can guess the former.’

The Arcanine sighed. “Look Gareda… I know you might not like to hear it, but… I need your aid. The situation in my territory isn’t getting better. Mystery Dungeons are a major issue, and the Alliance is popping up all over! It’s, it’s getting harder for me to keep a grip.”

“Is this about your brothers?” Gareda asked, to which Cerben shut his eyes.

“I… I can’t ever stop thinking about them. I know I am supposed to do my duty, but…”

“Oh, Cerben…” Luffy walked to him and ran a claw through his mane. Vli joined her, using a wing instead.

“Aye… that’s never pretty. Seen it happen when a nasty infection spread through Windswept Island. It’s horrible that life can turn south on a whim like that.”

“Thanks… I appreciate the kind words,” the Arcanine whispered to the two, his voice deeper than his usual baritone. He was shivering still. Fire types weren’t supposed to shiver. Gareda shook her head, then got up.

“Let’s cut the crap, shall we? Why should I slide over to help out? The search for the Othersider is hard enough as is, and Pa-” she took a sharp breath through her nostrils, “....the Queen won’t appreciate me turning up empty handed. I’m not interested in receiving another hundred lashings from her vines.”

“I know!” Cerben whined. “Listen, Gareda, this… we have to work together to stop this. We can’t just do our own things anymore. Our troubles are Eravate wide!”

“Queen’s orders,” Gareda said. “She wants us to manage our own sector, idiotic as it is. I’m lucky I can keep my territory secured as.”

“Exactly,” Cerben said, leaning into Luffy and Vli’s strokes. “We have to work together, even if the Queen doesn’t like it. This isn’t about her, or even the Crest. It’s about Eravate. Our home.” He licked his mouth. “We have to work together for that boy… the Othersider. You’re not going to believe this. Intelligence says he might come to the Ruby Province soon.”

Gareda’s eyes widened. “Soon?! Why didn’t you say so earlier, you mad dog? You’re even worse than birdbrains over there!”

Cerben and Vli traded a quick glance. Both looked like they wanted to say something, but bit their tongues at the last moment. Luffy raised a finger, then lowered it. She seemed nervous, worried she was being left in the dust.

“That Oshawott is the key to something larger,” Gareda said in an ominous tone. “He is an Othersider. A human. I don’t want to think about what will happen if we do not catch him.”

“Yes,” Cerben said. “So… you agree to help me?”

“On one condition.”

“Which is?

Cerben had tilted his head like a curious school-age Growlithe, yet the trembling in his legs gave away how he really felt. Scared. Cornered on all sides. Gareda’s sensors weren’t lying, either. The Arcanine needed her, and needed her bad. She stood up, and spread her arms in a presenting manner.

“You will help get the Queen to stop breathing down my neck. That means you will stay on my side until we’ve caught the Othersider. Is that clear?”

The Arcanine gulped. “Yes. Yes, that is very clear. Whatever it takes…” he spoke with his eyes fixated on the floorboards. Gareda’s eyes narrowed.

“Look at me when I am talking to you.”

“Yes-” Cerben reflexively stood up, his fur bristled. “Yes. My apologies, it’s just that… I have fallen so far… without my brothers, now I struggle to stand up for my own people-”

“Worry about it later,” Gareda sneered. “You scratch my back, I scratch yours. Plenty of time to mourn later.”

Cerben sighed. “Yes…”

The rain that morning grew well into the afternoon, and the discussion grew along with it. Hours of debate between Gareda and Cerben on what to do went on. Debate that they agreed wouldn’t reach out of this room. Not even Dritch would know, unless alerting her would be necessary as well.

Progress was slow: neither Cerben nor Luffy had the fortitude to keep going for a long while. Seeing Luffy struggle made Gareda call for several breaks, though it didn’t help the mood much.

In the end, it wasn’t until the sun returned that the discussion finally came to an end. Cerben left, and Gareda finally turned to Vli and Luffy with a sigh of relief.

“Well, you’ve heard everything. Time to pack our bags.” ‘Not that we have anything to pack.’

“We’re going home…” Luffy looked towards the skies with a sombre gaze. “Just in time for the festival, but I didn’t expect to go back at a time like this.”

“You could say that again,” Vli said. “Next thing you know, we’re going to the Azzuro Islands to help out whatever cold foot’s in charge there!”

Gareda tapped her foot as if waiting at a restaurant. “Please. Don’t get ahead of yourselves. We’ve got our work cut out for us, and who knows how it will turn out. As far as I’m concerned, we’re getting the Othersider. We’re going to send the Alliance back into whatever dungeon they crawled out of. And we’re not going to stop until it’s over. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Lord Gareda!”

“Yes it is, Gareda.”

An affirmative growl came out of Gareda’s throat. “Good. Now then. Let’s not keep that mad dog waiting too long, shall we?”