No amount of wishful thinking was keeping duty at bay forever, and Gareda knew it well. Much as she would’ve liked to spend time with her new partner, there was no time to waste. The world wasn’t going to stop spinning for them. Nor was the Alliance going to hibernate.

With Luffy on her back, she soared towards Whitiara as fast as her fins would let her. At the same time, she was determined to give Luffy an easy ride. She deserved so much at minimum. Gareda kept her back straight, her fins level, and didn’t make any odd turns or manoeuvres, no matter how rough the wind or steep the obstacles in their path.

Cold quickly settled into their scales as they headed north. Whitiara’s winter chill, spoken of across Eravate in quiet murmurs, stuck into them like a knife out of an assassin's cloak. A muscle in Gareda’s neck twitched when the temperature dropped below the freezing point. She resisted the urge to bare her teeth.

‘No dragon lets themselves be bested by cold, Gareda. Hold on… you’ve done it before.’

The grassy landscape turned white, and all the water gradually froze up. First the ponds, then the lakes, then all but the mightiest rivers. Farmlands vanished under a blanked of snow; most berries couldn’t grow in the cold. A handful managed. Most didn’t.

From above, all roadside travellers looked weary, dragging their feet and warming their paws with their breath. Luffy audibly gulped. Fire might beat ice, but even the strongest flame can be smothered. They were lucky to not be caught in a snowstorm.

And so they flew on, stopping once to catch their breath and eat a little, but that was it. There was a job to fulfil, and two people waiting for them. Dritch wasn’t one to dawdle, and Vli had already gone ahead days earlier. Gareda held him in mind most of all.

‘Remember, Gareda, you’re the boss. Set the right example… He deserves your best after all the crap you’ve put him through.’

Halfway through the afternoon, they descended upon the city of Tirasford. Set in the shadow of Mount Tenebrous to the west, the city was remarkably organised. The streets were a perfect grid, broken apart only by the river Entivesi running through town. Everything from the markets to the clinics to the postal services and cathedral had its spot in the city. Most public servants, from the Soldiers to the street sweepers were four legged Pokemon, like Gigalith and Ninetales. Gareda scoffed seeing the latter sweeping the ground with their tail.

‘They always say Ninetales have mythical qualities… pfft. Same folk probably throw themselves at the feet of every Lucario they come across. Fools.’

Picking out Dritch’s spot in the city would’ve been a challenge, had Gareda not been told in advance of where. She landed in front of a cathedral, where she was greeted by an entourage of Soldiers who helped Luffy off her back. Then, they were escorted inside.

“Lord Dritch has been looking forward to your arrival, Lord Gareda.”

Gareda tilted her head backwards. ‘You don’t say.’ “Is Vli in attendance as well?”

“Yes. He’s been useful, she’s said.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“She did.”

“Hm, I see,” Gareda mumbled, focusing on her sensors. None of the Soldiers showed much emotion. No sweat, tears, nerves, smiles, nothing. Just pure concentration and professionalism. There was one exception: Luffy. She was shaking a little, and the cold wasn’t the guilty party. Gareda flinched; she wanted to offer her a talon, but that would give people the wrong idea.

‘I have so much to make up for if everything goes well…’

The doors opened, and they walked inside. The smell of a smoky incense hit their nostrils head on, and with it came the sound of a dull mechanical hum, emerging from across the cathedral.

Slowly, Gareda made her way over the carpet to the altar at the other end, Luffy sticking close by. Awaiting them on the other side was a Metagross shrouded in smoke from a lamp. Sitting atop her was a Toucannon, the crown of his head poking out from the smoke.

“We have a guest.”

The four legs of the Metagross thumped against the ground, as they became in motion from a near statue-like state. Slowly, the huge metallic mass that was Dritch turned around. Her eyes were closed, unlike those of the Toucannon sitting atop her head. His beak twitched and turned all over the place, as if he were searching for something.

“Fascinating. Two guests, you have brought. I do not count the Toucannon, for he has made himself at home here for the moment.”

‘As emotionless as ever, I see.’ Gareda kept her arms at bay. “Has he, now? I’ve known him for months. He likes the cold about as much as I do.”

“Negative,” Dritch replied, her eyes half open. “You misunderstand me. He is at home here, in the house of our lord, Arceus.”

Gareda put a talon right below her scarf, around where her heart was. “So he has accepted Arceus, then? I didn’t take him for someone very religious.”

“All minds can be opened,” Dritch responded, even as Vli was wildly shaking his head.

“This was all her idea, alright?” the Toucannon replied. “I- look, listen, even I can’t deny that it’s rather peaceful and comforting here, in the cathedral I mean…” he knocked himself on the head with a wing, one feather breaking free and fluttering to the ground. “What am I even saying, I’m supporting the Tapus, this is not-”

“That’s enough,” Gareda interrupted, her voice echoing off the walls. “Sort out your beliefs on your own time. Dritch, why a cathedral? I didn’t take you for religious.”

A mechanical whirr came from the Metagross’ body. Vli jumped right off and flew towards Luffy, who was holding out an arm for him to perch on, which he gladly accepted.

“Simple. Trust in the creator Arceus is a reasonable position. It is because of Him that we live. It is because of Him that we think. It is because of Him that we are who we are, and we ought to pay respect towards Him for this. Especially in times such as these, where so many have turned their back on Him.”

Gareda growled. “The Alliance, you mean.” ‘Wouldn’t make that Drilbur hill into a mountain, myself.’

“Most certain,” Dritch answered. An indignant whirring came from all four of her legs, as she raised the main part of her body well above them. “But pray, these are far too private and delicate matters to discuss as openly as we are. You and I ought to hold it somewhere private. Correction, where we will not be disturbed.”

“This cathedral is private enough,” Gareda said, blunt and with no room for interpretation. But Dritch found a way.

“Your suitors are proving that to be untrue.”

“O-oi!” Vli cawed, his feet gripping onto Luffy’s arms with enough force to snap a tree branch. Luffy was too concerned with hiding the blush on her face to notice. “Suitors?!”

“Calm yourself!” Gareda snapped back, revealing teeth. She hastily wiped it off her face. “Sorry, but that is incredibly unprofessional of you to say. They are bodyguards, not escorts.”

Dritch lowered her body. “Bodyguard. Suitor. The title matters not. What matters is that we are incapable of having this discussion with them present. Do not complicate things, for I have no Soldiers in this cathedral for the same reason. Please order them to leave for the moment.”

Gareda sighed. “Yes… understood.” ‘No wonder Patrina is so proud of her… Cerben would have caved long ago. From Mad Dog, to a sterile machine.’

The Garchomp turned towards her companions, who were still too embarrassed to say much, Luffy especially. Gareda crossed her arms. “You heard her. Wait in the barracks until we are finished here.” ‘And for the love of Arceus, Vli, don’t ask Luffy any questions.’

“U-understood…” Vli stammered while Luffy walked him out, as if he could actually hear what Gareda said in her head. Given the confusion she sensed from him, Gareda was inclined to believe it.

Once they had vanished through the door, Gareda slowly turned back around, making sure her tail wouldn’t hit anything nearby.

“We’re alone. Time to get to business.”

“Pure concentration,” Dritch deadpanned, her legs twitching like a spider’s. All that was missing was the web. “First things first, have you researched the situation in Whitiara?”

Gareda nodded. “Of course I have. You have been running a tight operation here from the very beginning. The Alliance is merely a shadow here, as are the dungeons. Any and all suspected troublemakers are dealt with swiftly. You prefer to tear out the rot before it starts. Is that correct?”

“Not entirely.” Dritch’s eyes turned into x’es for a brief moment. “Describe the Smaugus for me.”

Gareda blinked. “They are a clan of dragons that lives in Whitiara, primarily. And they have been around for centuries. Something to that extent.”

Dritch shook her main body with closed eyes. “Disappointing. They are not a clan of dragons. Once upon a time, yes. But their clan has since moulded into an alternate society, with its own moral code, settlements, laws, and all the details one would expect of a society. That society accepts far more than dragons. Indeed, many dragons have left the Smaugus. They did not agree with the new code.”

Gareda rolled her eyes. ‘Like I want to know anything those pompous idiots are up to.’ “Pray do tell, what does this have to do with the Alliance? If they are a ‘secret society’, then I doubt most of them would care for this conflict in the first place. Aren’t we leaving them be? What reason would they have to get involved.”

Once again, Dritch shook her main body, this time with open eyes. Her patience seemed to be wearing thin.

“Disappointing, yet again. Lord Gareda. How have you been keeping control of the Agate Province and the surrounding regions?”

‘Not even a question.’ Gareda lowered her talons, then stood as upright as the claws on her feet would let her. “Simple. I have a large army, and many informants. We track what is happening in the towns, and suspicious Pokemon are kept under close supervision. Dungeons and ferals are not any problem either. We track their growth and manage it accordingly.” ‘To no fanfare, of course.’

“I see.” Dritch’s eyes flushed blue. “Now, you are fortunate to not have to reshape any long standing social structures. All civilised Pokemon have accepted the Crest. That is not a situation that we are lucky with, of course. The Smaugus and the Crest have come to agreements, yes… however, agreements are words on paper. There is much we do not know. Much our eyes do not see.”

The smell of incense weakened, causing the metallic smell of Dritch’s body to creep up Gareda’s nostrils. Reflexively, her feet shifted on the carpet, anxious to cause an Earthquake if needed be. She was on her guard.

“So you believe they’re hiding something? Do you have any proof?”

“Truthful. Yes,” Dritch stated. “The secrecy has long been a point of concern. As such, I have built up an intelligence network among the ranks of the Smaugus. Their secrecy has made progress rather slow. But we have been able to reap the rewards. And we have heard and seen enough to draw a few conclusions. For one, we believe that the Alliance hopes to win over the Smaugus in some way.”

Gareda growled. ‘Of course.’ “To gain a foothold here, no? Do they already have one?”

Dritch closed her eyes as she repositioned her feet. “Negative. Our intelligence extends beyond the Smaugus. We too have knowledge of the local population. And our Soldiers are strong. We have arrested many of them. But the Alliance are like garden weeds. Pull a thousand, yet they will never cease to try and advance.”

Gareda nodded along. “Yes, and I get it. You’ve been crushing them wherever they pop up, no matter how many times they pop up. So they have started thinking out of the box. Get the Smaugus on their side, and we will have a problem.”

“Correct. That is their likely plan,” Dritch said. “Unfortunately, a direct military solution would do far more harm than good. Most Smaugus are still ambivalent. Confronting them would push the tribe into the Alliance’s talons. A most regrettable outcome.”

“So what’s the plan?” Gareda asked. Dritch tilted her body, straining her legs by the sound of it.

“Since the Alliance is coming, we should be prepared to expose, then eliminate. Find new cells. Crush them. Find infiltration within the Smaugus. Warn them. Win them over, if possible.”

“Understood,” Gareda grumbled while tapping her neck with a talon. “Simple enough… though, I have a request.”

“Go on.”

“You have heard of the Othersider, correct?”

“Indeed I have,” Dritch said. “Intelligence reports that there is a strong chance he will be among the Alliance coming here. He had his role in collecting both missing flute pieces, if memory serves me correctly. It should be expected that the Alliance is more than confident in using him again to collect the final piece. How unfortunate. He does not know he is being deceived.”

A painful growl left Gareda’s throat. ‘If only you knew just how bad things were. If only he knew…’ “And that’s why I’ve been looking for him. Patrina may want him dead, for all she cares. I do not. I want him alive and well…”

Dritch’s legs gripped onto the carpet as she raised her main body well above her limbs. They seemed to strain to reach those heights.

“Certified. Your request is valid, in my book. Since it is crucial that we work together, I propose the following. You will handle the confrontations with the Alliance. I will handle the intelligence operations and day to day business of Whitiara. Is this acceptable to you?”

Gareda nodded. “It is.”

Dritch gave a nod of her own in return as her body sank back down. “Good. Do not be under the impression that this is a demotion in any way, shape or form. To the contrary, this is perhaps the single most important task for someone to occupy. Should the Alliance gain enough power to breach the defences at the Bastion, then Lord Arceus the Creator have mercy on our souls.”

“Yes. My apologies for this next question, however. What is the Bastion?” Gareda asked.

“The most heavily guarded site next to Luminity, and the Seal inside Mount Stalwart. It is there where the flute is kept. It is there where my finest Soldiers are stationed. We must be vigilant that nothing goes awry there.”

Gareda’s eyes narrowed. “Shouldn’t we reinforce it, then?”

“That is a difficult query,” Dritch responded. “The exact balance between the Bastion and keeping check over the rest of Whitiara is difficult to pin down…”

* * *

A fierce snowstorm was raging outside. Luffy had placed the back of her claw against the window, watching the snow build up outside while taking occasional sips from the mug in her other claw. Behind her, Vli was minding his own business on a chair, holding a magazine in one wing and a mug of his own in the other.

“How’s the tea,” he asked in a monotone voice. Luffy tilted her head downwards.

“Oh, it’s fine. Heated Razz isn’t my favourite, but it does the job,” she said.

Vli shrugged. “It’s a poor man’s version of hot cocoa. That Is a winter’s beverage. But I imagine it’s hard getting the stuff out here. Probably expensive.”

“Yeah.” Luffy let go of the window, then held her mug over the end of her tail. “What are you reading?”

“The news,” Vli replied, holding up the monochrome papers in his wing. “Nothing interesting. Petty local politics about counsellors managing firewood. Just killing time until Gareda gets back. They sure have been taking their sweet time, haven’t they?”

Luffy sighed. “Yeah. Yeah, they have been.” She looked back out of the window. “You know, with what I’ve heard about Dritch, I didn’t think it was going to take them this long. She seemed like someone concise to me. Very orderly, very quick, you know. But now it’s like they’re bickering like farmers arguing over the harvest.”

“Farmers?” Vli cawed, then chuckled. “Oh I’ve seen my fair share of arguments back in the Azzuros, alright. But since when do farmers argue about the harvest?”

“Hmm… well, a lot of farmers in the Ruby Hills help each other with the harvest. Especially during festival season,” Luffy explained. “Helps keep everyone efficient, but there’s always arguments about how much share of the harvest all the workers are entitled to. You get arguments, insults, sometimes even fights. Then the rest of the community has to intervene.”

Vli slapped the newspaper down on a table. “Sounds terribly inefficient,” he said, to which Luffy shrugged.

“Sometimes, yes. But it works most of the time.”

A knock then sounded on the front door of the barrack, which was empty spare for them. Luffy immediately peeked out the window, even though she couldn’t see the front door from where she sat.

“I’ll open,” Vli said, setting his mug down before quickly soaring over. He opened the door, and in stepped a snowed in Gareda, a weary look dripping off her snout.

“Good morning.”

“Oi, my Lord!” Vli waved. “So how’d your talk with Lord Dritch go?” he asked.

Gareda stared at him with a dumbfounded look in her eyes, as if he was insane.

‘Oh, I don’t know, birdbrain. It probably resembled your experiences with her in the past few days.’

With a growl, she sauntered past, then crashed sideways into a chair. She had just enough energy to avoid squishing the fin on her back.

“She is one thorough figure, I will say that much. Won’t leave a single stone unturned,” she said, sensors pulsating while she sniffed the air. “Can I have some of that Razz tea, as well…”

“I-I’m on it!” Luffy said, rushing off to grab the heater. Gareda groaned.

‘Should’ve picked the damn couch…’

Gareda sat and watched as Luffy poured the tea, nodding her way through most of Vli’s questions without much of a thought. Most questions were, once again, ones Vli could answer better himself.

It took one sip of tea before Gareda broke the news.

“Well, looks like we get to continue our work unhindered. Dritch has handed the responsibility of fighting the Alliance and hunting down the Othersider to us.”

“Eh?” Vli tilted his head. “What about intelligence?”

“Dritch will handle it herself,” Gareda answered. ”We’ll have our intelligence, don’t worry.”

“Do you think she’ll have work for us?” Luffy asked. Gareda slowly tilted her head towards her.

“Oh, don’t worry… we’ll have plenty of work cut out for us. And we’ll get it right this time.”