Saphero could feel his heart racing even before the caffeine hit. Kloud started the tradition of dragging him to Coma Coffee before his big speeches, promising that a warm beverage would 'calm you more than a plus two from calm mind!'.

Saphero had his doubts.

The Espeon much preferred a glass of warm milk to start his day. Or a quick sketch in one of his lab journals. He had barely made a dent in his iced coffee so far, and Kloud was taking notice.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

"So..." Kloud watched the clock. Saphero hadn't said a word since he picked him up for breakfast and stress-relief at ten o'clock. It was unlike the Espeon, and the silence was driving him crazy. "Got any boring—I mean cool science stuff you wanna share, Saph? Maybe it'd help you practice?"

Kloud was grinning ear-to-ear, but Saphero hardly budged. The scientist was busy staring at Kloud's latte—caramel with a drop of whipped cream. A classic. The Umbreon ordered the same thing every time they came here, and he never let a drop go to waste.

When Kloud realized the Espeon was staring off into a void, he waved his paws dramatically. "Hellooooo? Saph, you alive?"

Saphero blinked. "...u-um, sorry, come again?" At least he was alive. The Umbreon reached across the booth and held his cheeks to make sure.

"You're quiet today—even for Saphero-standards. Something's wrong, but I don't know what..."

Saphero bit his lips to suppress a groan. Kloud was studying him—searching his eyes for a clue. Anything. Was it the speech? Kloud doubted it. Saphero had been through many of those, and while the Espeon certainly got antsy beforehand, he was never this pale.

Kloud leaned his face in closer. "You're hiding something..."

Saphero exhaled. A branched tail latched onto the Umbreon's paws, pulling them off his face and down to the table. 

"No, Kloud. I assure you I am not."

"Liar," Kloud accused. He put on a fake detective voice. "Your bottom lip quivered, giving you away instantly. Something's stressing you out, and I'm gonna get to the bottom of it." 

Kloud took another sip of his latte. He fiddled with his invisible fedora and adjusted the black amulet around his neck. Saphero groaned at the antics.

"So," Kloud said with a smirk. "Is it girls?"

"No."

"Bullies?"

"No. Kloud, I—"

"Broken heart? A girl who bullied you broke your heart, is that it?"

"Kloud, it's the speech."

Both the Eeveelutions looked at one another. Saphero was never great at hiding blushes, despite what his pink fur would suggest. The dainty Espeon was trying to look serious, but he could only hold his friend's eye contact for so long.

His iced coffee was practically full when he grabbed it again. It was just a tad too strong for his liking: an overshot on the vanilla and not enough milk. That didn't stop him from taking a small sip. 

Kloud used the time to gather his thoughts... he wasn't expecting that answer. It felt unsatisfying. After a short pause, he hummed thoughtfully. 

"Saph, I'd bet my life savings that you'll do great today." He itched a paw across the table. When he found the Espeon's paws, he held them. Saphero allowed it—it reminded him of when they were Eevees. 

When Saphero remained quiet, he pressed on. "Besides, giving speeches is easy compared to... quanum, quantum, whatever the word is!"

"Quantum entanglement."

"Ehh, close enough," Kloud purred. He rubbed those sad little paws until a branched tail denied him access—that dang tail! He suppressed a giggle as Saphero stared at him.

"If you want the truth, Kloud..." Saphero made sure he had the Umbreon's attention before taking a deep breath. 

He may as well come clean; Kloud wasn't letting up anytime soon, and he couldn't take much more of the dark-type's prodding. Kloud was the most persistent Umbreon (and pokémon in general) he knew.

Saphero leaned in enough to touch their noses together.

"This is the same machine that exploded in my face two years ago."

Kloud heard the words before he processed them. As if a switch had been pulled, his smirk vanished. He fell back into his booth, speechless for the first time since he'd gotten his coffee. The incident. Of course... it felt like forever ago, but Kloud remembered that day vividly.

...

It was Saphero's first-ever presentation. He was tasked with showing off Amethyst Lab's Warp Core T-1843, the Elpi's latest invention. 

Saphero was the youngest scientist on the team, having joined only two months prior. That didn't stop the determined Espeon from prepping endlessly to make the expo a massive success.

Notes. Blueprints. More notes.

Kloud recalled the Espeon spending tired nights in his lab, reviewing every safety procedure, protocol, and 'in case of disaster' manual he could find. He read them fifty times over. Kloud figured Saphero was about as prepared as any sane pokémon giving a ten-minute presentation could be...

Two weeks later, the day of the expo came. Saphero was a mess, but after a quick Coma Coffee trip with Kloud and a last-minute rehearsal, he got on stage.

His colleagues and fellow researchers filled the room, as well as his best friend (and hired defender) Kloud. The Umbreon made sure to save a seat in the front row so Saphero had someone to focus on—he promised not to make any funny faces or laugh. 

Saphero trusted him. 

The lights dimmed, and the Espeon ran through a brief slideshow before directing focus on the machine.

He flipped it on. The machine whirled itself to life beautifully, surprising even Saphero with how flawlessly the engines turned. Everyone was in awe. Three seconds later, it erupted into flames. 

Saphero wasn't sure what felt worse that night: his team's creation exploding into seventy-eight unusable pieces, or the looming silence and distraught faces that surrounded him after the fact.

...

It was a memory he wished to forget. The type of experience an overshot iced coffee couldn't fix.

Before either Eeveelution could break the silence, a Furret barista waved them down and trotted up to their table. Their voice was five octaves too high—a sharp contrast to the rest of the shop. 

"Morning, Kloud! Morning, Saphero! How goes it?" The chirpy voice startled Saphero, and Kloud took a final sip of his latte before nodding casually.

He offered their friend a hearty smirk. "Lovely, Sparky! You just clock in?" The Furret nodded immediately, sliding into the booth beside the Umbreon. Kloud made room, and it took one glance at Saphero to alert Sparky that something was up.

"Oh, is everything alright, Saphy?" His eyes examined the drink. It was untouched compared to Kloud's empty glass. "Curses! Did they overshoot yours—I can make you another one, just the way you like it if you want?"

"O-Oh, no, thank you. There's really no need." Saphero forced a warm smile. Kloud could tell immediately that it was fake, but he bit his tongue and let the Espeon explain. "Just a bit, as they say, 'experiencing the Butterfree' at the moment..."

"Ahh, you must be nervous about your speech?" Sparky pressed against Kloud's side. Well-groomed fur with a splash of cherry blossom leaked through his makeshift uniform. Kloud hardly minded. The ferret wasn't done, adding after a thoughtful squeak, "Mmm, I thought you liked giving fancy speeches? Is this one any different?"

Both Kloud and Saphero shared a look over the table. Unsurprisingly, it was Kloud who spoke up first. "Well, let's just say there's a bit of history with this proto... Protanite? This proto-whatever has a history of exploding, long story short. Poor Saph doesn't have the greatest track record with it."

Saphero resisted the urge to correct his pronunciation of 'Prototype'. The Umbreon would likely not care, he realized. Instead, he watched as the Furret folded his small arms in sympathy.

"Well, jeez, that sounds terrible. I won't pretend like I know how you're feelin', but I bet I have something that can cheer you up!" That chippy squeak in his voice never left. Sparky was already nudging his way out of the seat before Saphero could protest. 

Truth be told, no treat or 'gift' sounded appetizing right now, but Saphero knew better than to try and stop him. 

"I'll be back in a jiffy!" Sparky promised.

Saphero waved his tail politely. "Thank you. Take your time..."

Just as quickly as he arrived, the Furret was gone. Saphero's face mellowed as Sparky slid his way between customers and through the employee doors. Once Sparky was out of sight, the Espeon sighed. 

"Kloud, if I die today, promise you'll be at my funeral."

"You got it," Kloud joked. He patted Saphero's head a few times. The Espeon mumbled a quiet protest, but he otherwise focused on his drink. They sat quietly together until Kloud noticed a table with a lone Meowstic behind it.

The pokémon must have only just walked in; Kloud was positive he wasn't sitting there a few minutes ago. The newcomer had his head buried in a book, and he seemed distracted by whatever he was reading. Across the booth from him, Saphero was already spacing out again...

Kloud narrowed his eyes. "Phosfurr..." he mumbled quietly. At the name, the Espeon's ears perked up.

"Wha... Phosfurr? Where?" From his angle, he couldn't see the table behind him. Kloud motioned with a discrete paw movement, and Saphero (not so sneakily) popped his head over the top of their booth. He observed for no more than a full second before plopping down again.

His face was pale. Streaks of red crept through his cheeks, and Kloud tried (and failed) to stifle a laugh as the Espeon wrapped a tail around himself.

"What's he doing here? Why now? Oh, curses, no no no..." Saphero groaned. Amused, Kloud patted the Espeon's cheeks and rubbed those pointy pink ears. Slow, soft motions. He loved how they curled behind his cheeks after a few seconds.

Kloud kept his purr to a whisper. "He's probably here for the expo, Saph. You know, to support you?" Saphero shook his head at the thought—he wouldn't believe that. Not even entertain it. Kloud grinned, slapping his paws back on the table. "I say you go over and make amends with him. Let bygones be bygones, Pidgeys be Pidgeys..."

"I refuse."

"Not even a quick chat?"

"No."

"Ahh, come on! It would do you good." Kloud kept pressing him until the scientist's cheeks grew hotter. This was no time for fun and games—his ex-lab partner, otherwise known as his sworn nemesis, was here. As if the expo in an hour wasn't enough to worry about, now Saphero would have to deal with the cold, cruel, evil, twisted Meowstic here to torment him!

Potentially even during his speech. He prayed the Meowstic wasn't planning on joining the expo, too. That would turn an already terrible day exponentially worse!

Saphero's eyes were pleading when he looked up again. "Q-Quiet, Kloud, what if he hears you...?" But the Umbreon wasn't looking at him.

Kloud was staring in the direction of Phosfurr's table. Saphero's heart dropped. 

"Too late," Kloud whispered. "He's lookin' right at me. I'm gonna go say hi." He was sliding to his feet before Saphero could wipe the fear from his face.

Without warning, Saphero slunk into his seat—practically sliding under the table. He needed to hide. Kloud rolled his eyes; he knew his friend could overreact sometimes, but this felt a bit silly. He brushed himself off, shot Saphero a (discrete) side-eye, and trotted up to the Meowstic's table.

Kloud bowed once he was face-to-face with Phosfurr.

"Sup, Phosfurr."

"Heya, Kloud. It's been a while." The Meowstic smiled warmly and returned the gesture. Kloud's eyes drifted to the empty seat beside him, and Phosfurr was quick to add, "Please, there's plenty of room."

Charismatic as ever, he dipped his head again and squeezed himself into the chair. 

He had only caught a few glimpses of the book the Meowstic was reading before pacing over... something chemistry-related, which checked out given Phosfurr's title. He didn't understand how Saphero, Phosfurr, and all those other science gurus in the Elpi sat around and read those complex theory books all day, but he certainly wasn't one to judge.

Being a defender was great, and having a best friend like Saphero meant he could vaguely navigate his way through complex conversations without making a fool of himself.

Like now.

"Book looks cool. What's it about?"

"Oh..." Phosfurr's eyes lit up for a moment, and he hid his excitement with a well-placed hum. "This book," he started, holding the cover eye-level, "is actually about mythology. Particularly, spirits, legendary pokémon, 'The Lord of Darkness', and all sorts of fun stuff! I'd argue it's a mix of historical folklore and philosophical debates—and, you know, it goes over old treasures and mysteries. I quite enjoy it so far."

Kloud noted the way Phosfurr's face lit up whenever he talked about his books. The Meowstic was the only pokémon he knew that read more than Saphero... and that was saying something. 

If Saphero wasn't stressing about reports or writing in his science journals, he almost always had his nose buried in a book.

Again, usually boring, science mumbo-jumbo, but literature nevertheless.

Kloud winked. "Well, that sounds neat. Learn anything fun yet?"

"Yes, actually." Phosfurr adjusted the book in his hands, flipping to a discretely marked page with a tab sticking out of it. "This, right here. Amethyst ore, but with a carbon signature over seventeen millenniums old—the oldest known ore in existence! Isn't that neat?" The joy in his voice sounded almost childlike, and out of respect the Umbreon smiled wide.

"Sounds fancy."

"Very much so!" 

Phosfurr adjusted the book so Kloud could see the picture. Black-and-white, of course. Kloud was more surprised there was a picture in the book at all, given the typical catalog of what the Meowstic read. He had to admit, though, he didn't see the wonder in it. 

"That's not all," Phosfurr continued. "Flip a few pages and you'll find lots of magical artifacts that date even longer back—epochs, I'm talking. There's even a few amulets in there."

Kloud's ears perked at that last part. He was going to inquire about the name next—A Chemical Universe—but was instead drawn to the black amulet around his neck.

Sensing where the Umbreon's mind was, Phosfurr smiled. "Yes, similar to the one you have there. I'd reckon there's an amulet somewhere in this book—dated thousands, perhaps millions of years ago—that birthed the magic yours has today. An ancestor, if you will."

"An ancestor for rocks?" Kloud mused. Despite grinning, he found himself increasingly interested.

Phosfurr could tell he had the Umbreon's attention and was glad to keep going. "Precisely. The amulet you're wearing, fancy as it is, almost certainly derived its magic from an ancestor of its own. And that ancestor from another ancestor. So on and so forth. Magic predates our very existence; some philosophers argue it may be as old as the universe."

"Woah," Kloud snickered. "That's old."

Phosfurr nodded. His smile never dropped. "Incredibly. Magic is fascinating, honestly. Unlike our energy, which is largely biological and varies between species, magic subverts nature. Any pokémon wielding a magical item can harness its power, no matter their species, type, ability, et cetera. That's what makes it so exceptional."

Kloud could feel a twinge of pride growing in his chest as he felt his amulet again. Sure, he may not have earned it like his father did—traveling dozens of miles and fighting through hordes of bandits, traps, and lost temples—but it was still his. It matched the darkness of his fur, albeit with a splash of purple that offset his black fur and gold rings fashionably.

There were certainly better, far more creative amulets circulating the region at this point, but his still felt special. Besides, he was tough enough on his own; magic was only a cool addition for him, not a necessity. 

The Umbreon fiddled with his amulet long enough to leave a light smudge, finally flipping the book back around to Phosfurr.

"Well, consider me impressed. Here I thought you only read numbers and science mumbo-jumbo," Kloud teased. The Meowstic rolled his eyes playfully, closing the book and placing it in his lap.

"Hardly. I quite enjoy history... and mythology, I guess. When I have the time, of course." Kloud was happy the Meowstic was still in good spirits. It had been a solid month since he'd last visited Phosfurr's lab. Being a defender meant he handled business all over Sylva Skies, not just in the Elpi.

Additionally, most of his free time was spent with Saphero. Considering the shaky relationship between the two scientists at the moment, Kloud hadn't had a proper one-on-one with the Meowstic in quite some time.

After a brief pause, Kloud rested a paw on the table. "Anything else keeping you busy? Besides reading and your... experiments, I'm guessing?"

"Oh, I do plenty of experiments still! And yes, actually." On the floor next to Phosfurr was a small bag. He reached down for it, fighting with the top string before pulling it open. 

Out came a few small instruments—namely, a customized flute and a thin harmonica. Phosfurr toyed with the items before focusing on the long pipe. "The flute's not actually for playing. It was sold to Amethyst Labs by a close friend of mine. He's an explorer from the Creedite Woodlands, and he claimed it possessed some magical abilities."

Kloud studied the flute curiously. "Does it? Or, uh, do you know yet?"

Phosfurr traced the sides of the instrument slowly. He was still smiling, even as he bit his lips and closed his eyes. "Recapping the experiments my team and I have devised so far, we concluded with a ninety-eight percent level of confidence that the flute is indeed magical. P-value less than a quarter of a percent for thirty-eight samples, just over three percent for seven others."

"Put that in normal words, please."

"Yes, we're pretty sure it's magical," Phosfurr clarified.

Both Kloud and Phosfurr shared a smirk. Kloud was tempted to reach out and touch it for himself, but he was surprised to see Phosfurr sliding it over to him. "Feel it. It's one hundred percent cedar—some of the smoothest wood you'll ever find."

Kloud touched it, and the ring on top of his glowed in wonder. It was soft. Deceivingly soft. Whatever pokémon carved this—assuming it was a pokémon—really knew their craft. After getting a good feel for it, he slid it back over to the Meowstic, who promptly set it in his bag again.

"What's it do, by the way? The flute, I mean?"

"Oh, silly me! The magic, of course!" Phosfurr's cheeks flushed. "For now, we're calling it the pokéflute. When played, it can wake any living pokémon from a state of slumber... the melodies it creates are rather soothing, though. Not at all harsh. We're not sure if it can do much else—at least not yet—but that's the beauty of experiments, I suppose."

A pokéflute. Quite a literal name, Kloud reasoned, but it made sense at least. Eventually, his eyes found the harmonica.

"Is that also magical?"

"Oh? This harmonica?" Phosfurr reached out and held the small instrument gently. After watching the Umbreon nod, he shook his head enthusiastically. "Nope, this one here's mine. You asked if I had any other hobbies, and although I'm not too great yet..."

Kloud cut him off by leaning his face in closer. Those dark ruby eyes focused on the tool first, then stared into the scientist's eyes. Phosfurr felt his face warming before he shuffled deeper into his chair, looking away timidly.

Kloud smirked. He loved toying with scientists from the Elpi: they were the easiest pokémon to fluster, he learned. He flashed his white fangs and winked deceptively. "You're absolutely playing that for me next time I visit your lab. If you're not busy, of course."

"Y-You, um..." Phosfurr was still recovering. After a short exhale, he smiled softly. "You know my schedule, Kloud. Stop by anytime; you're always welcome!"

Phosfurr adjusted the red scarf along his neck. He shot a glance behind Kloud, scanning the booth the Umbreon came from. It looked empty from his perspective, but he could have sworn he saw Kloud talking to someone before he left. 

He'd resisted asking until now, but his curiosity finally got the better of him. 

"Say, Kloud? Mind if I ask you a question?"

Kloud had a feeling he knew what was coming. "Go right ahead."

"Did, um..." Phosfurr looked into his eyes. Kloud didn't blink. "Is Saphero here, too?"

"Yeah." No point in lying. "He's still at our booth. Scared of his big speech today... you know how he is."

Phosfurr hesitantly nodded. "Ah, that checks out. I believe it's the model... T-1843, was it? I can see how that could be stressful for him." Both Kloud and Phosfurr dropped their smiles slightly. 

For Kloud, it was always hard seeing his buddy so stressed out. It didn't take much to frighten the Espeon, sure, but it had been a while since he'd seen Saphero this paranoid.

Phosfurr, he suspected, was concerned for other reasons. Before he could tackle the elephant head-on, Phosfurr beat him to the chase. "Is he still, uh, y'know..."

"Yeah," Kloud sighed. "But he'll get over it. He just needs more time, is all. It's really nothing against you." The last part may have been a white lie, but Kloud wouldn't let that slip. He wasn't ready for whatever conversation that could spawn.

"Of course..." Phosfurr smiled again, but it didn't seem as happy now. "I won't pretend like I'm not a little sad, but I respect his choice. I'll always be here when—if he wants to talk again." The way he said 'if' had Kloud wincing internally. 

The Umbreon nodded affirmingly, but he couldn't find any further words of comfort. He wished the two could talk it out and squash the beef between them, but that idea seemed far-fetched from happening anytime soon.

Instead, they sat silently for a while, until a loud voice over a microphone proclaimed: "Order 0-1-4 for Phosfurr". Both 'mon perked up, with Phosfurr grabbing his bag and offering his hand.

"Whelp, I'm a to-go! Catch you at the expo in an hour, I'm guessing?"

"Ha, you bet!" Kloud shook it, rising from his chair and stretching those legs. So Phosfurr did plan on going? Neat. At least now he could warn Saphero, if the Espeon asked. "It was a pleasure. Thanks," he added after another, final bow. 

Phosfurr nodded, returning his bow, and the Umbreon turned and pranced back to his booth.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been gone, but the moment he was in sight Saphero whispered to him.

...from underneath the table.

"Kloud, psstt, down here." Kloud slid into the long seat and looked down. Low and behold, a pair of purple eyes were gazing up at him. It reminded him of a scene he'd read in a not-so-wholesome comic book as a kid, but he tried to repel the similarities as soon as they arrived.

"Saph, what in Arceus' name..."

"Is the coast clear?"

Kloud face-palmed. "Yes, Saph. You can come up." Five seconds later, the Espeon was back to sitting like normal—albeit with a patch of dust staining his otherwise velvety chest. Kloud instinctively reached out to brush it off. "Did you really have to hide on the floor?"

"I couldn't risk him seeing me..." Saphero whined.

Kloud sighed. He had a lot more he wanted to say, but that could wait until after the expo. Besides, the frown on his friend's face was beginning to pull on his heart.

"Hey, Saph..." The Espeon looked up. Kloud didn't grab his paws immediately this time; he waited two seconds first. "You're gonna be fine. I know things are difficult, but I'm here for you. Forever and always." The Umbreon rarely gave such cheesy lines, but Kloud felt it was warranted.

Saphero appreciated it, too. "I'm glad I have you, Kloud."

"I'm glad you have me too." Kloud winked. He let his paws wander on Saphero's for a moment longer before a chippy barista came barreling towards them again. It wasn't hard to spot the strawberry poffin even before he slid it on the table.

"Ta-da! Freshly made—and don't worry, it's on the house!" Sparky took his place next to Kloud again. The Umbreon naturally scooted over, but the Furret was already leaning against him as he reached over the table and poked Saphero's forehead gem. "So you better enjoy it! Poffins are scientifically proven to help amazing Espeon before their big speeches, so I made them just for you!"

Saphero recoiled a little, but he was smiling nevertheless. "Oh, Sparky, you seriously didn't have to do that," he mused. Truth be told, he wasn't feeling particularly hungry at the moment, but he wouldn't dare refuse such a kind gesture. Besides, one little cookie never hurt. "Thank you."

"Nah, it's nothin'!" Sparky sat back in his seat. Kloud could smell the warm icing and fresh dough from the Furret's fur as he adjusted himself. It was quite a pleasant scent, all considered. The Furret was always covered in some kind of perfume or spray that was a joy to be around.

And he almost always hooked them up, too. Probably because his grandparents owned the shop, but also because he liked them.

The moment Saphero took a bite, pushing his now room-temperature iced coffee aside, his eyes lit up. He tore another piece off almost immediately, nibbling it curiously. "Sparky, this is amazing!"

Sparky was elated. He was hoping Saphero would say that. "Woohoo, I knew you'd like it!" He reached for the plate and grabbed a smaller piece for Kloud. "Here, Kloud, try a bite." He held it out confidently.

Not one to protest, Kloud took the piece and ate it whole. ...and, yeah, it was pretty amazing. Even he was caught off guard a little. "You made this?"

Sparky nodded, noticing the Umbreon's smile of appraisal as he licked his lips clean. "Mhm! Made the batch last night and froze the dough overnight! I wasn't sure how they'd turn out, but I'm proud of 'em!"

"Well, I extend my compliments to the chef." The purr Kloud gave him had his little heart fluttering. Sparky was grinning ear-to-ear, and his light fur did a terrible job of hiding the pink on his cheeks.

All considered, Kloud felt rejuvenated after his chat with Phosfurr and seeing Saphero nibble away at the homemade poffin. He thought about the places he could take him after the expo—a bar maybe, depending on if lightning struck twice and the emergency sprinklers flooded the entire stage. He was hoping it wouldn't come to that.

Perhaps a little ice cream treat was in favor? Or maybe the circus? There was exactly one circus in the entirety of Sylva Skies, located in the Lotus Falls district. He had wonderful memories of him and Saphero trotting around there together as Eevees, sneaking into shows and (much to Saphero's displeasure) scamming the scam booth workers. 

There was even a time Kloud managed to 'borrow' a display plush that Saphero was obsessed with from a rude Lilligant.

She was obsessed with convincing the two Eevees to play her overpriced, borderline impossible game. Break three moving plates with only two balls. Kloud, prideful as he was back then, adamantly refused to play until he noticed his smaller friend obsessing over a dragon plush.

Because that's the kind of thing young science kids were into.

He first asked if they could just buy it, to which she denied. Saphero's parents supplied them with a mere twenty bits, so they could only afford one or two games before they were out clean.

Clever as he was, he asked if they could see the plush for a moment, just to get a feel for whether it was worth it or not. With a simple touch of his amulet, his plan was in motion.

He proceeded to throw the first game on purpose: not even a single plate. The sick Lilligant took pleasure in it, pocketing their money and tempting Kloud to play again. Knowing they were down to ten bits, Kloud and Saphero made the 'difficult' decision of walking away, the smaller Eevee completely clueless as to what his friend was up to...

Until a big, fluffy dragon plush appeared in Kloud's paws thirty seconds later.

"Ta-da! See, I told you I'd win it for you, Saph!"

Kloud found himself smiling at the memory. Saphero still had that plush to this day; it was buried somewhere in the Espeon's den, which Kloud joked he hardly used. Wherever he decided to take Saphero after the expo, he was sure the Espeon would enjoy it. As long as they were spending time together, nothing else mattered—

"There, over there! I knew he'd be here!"

Kloud was abruptly torn from his thoughts as a gruff voice entered the shop. Saphero and Sparky twitched in their seats, and Kloud (easily) looked over the Furret at the Gallade who was pointing at them. "Second booth on the right against the wall."

He was talking to someone they couldn't see. Kloud straightened in his chair and narrowed his eyes.

Three seconds.

It took three seconds for a new shadow to appear at the front of the shop. His muscles tensed. He couldn't make out the shadowy figure staring at them, but he had a bad feeling.

"Right over there." A paw guided the shadow forward, now halfway in the light of the shop. One more step was all it took before Kloud's face went pale. Sparky audibly gasped, and Saphero was a mixture of confusion and concern.

"Kloud," the tall Lucario finally spoke. "May I request a word with you?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Quick, Inferno, squeeze in!" An energetic Riolu scooched himself to the far end of the photo booth. The set was a bakery shop; fake tiaras, dramatic chef hats, and various flowers were among the prop choices.

The Riolu, who had chosen a tiara made of fake blue roses, was already tapping the buttons on the screen. By the time the Blaziken ducked his way beside him, the countdown was on three.

"Oh—" Inferno tidied himself up, swooped an arm around the smaller pokémon, and smiled all in one motion. The machine buzzed, flashing the duo before resetting itself at five.

"Okay, okay! You wear this now!" Without warning, and after hitting the button to add suspense, the Riolu swapped his tiara for the Blaziken's chef hat. They finished posing with only two seconds to spare, a second 'flash' preceding a wave of giggles.

"Ahh, Solus, I think my eyes were closed. We'll have to do another one."

"They were not!" Solus laughed, holding the Blaziken's arm before standing up again. "Let's do another one. But first, new props..."

This was Solus' first ever time visiting Lotus Falls. And the circus, for that matter. A long day of playing festival games, watching performances, and nibbling down salted peanuts had his brain swirling with energy.

Their last, but most important stop of the night, was of course the photobooth. Memories were great and all, but pictures of memories made them last forever.

"Mmm... Okay, got it." Solus traded the chef hat for a classic red rose. He stuck the stem between his ears, situating himself (this time before hitting the button) against the Blaziken's lap. He set his light brown satchel off to the side. "You hit it."

Inferno, who was noticeably without the tiara now, reached out and hit the button. This picture was the best of the three. Solus had his cheeky, signature smile, perfectly centered in the frame with the fake rose highlighting an ear. Inferno was comfortably holding him, the warmest of grins on the defender's face as he gave the Riolu a set of bunny ears.

The screen lit up again. There was nobody else in line, so they took their time sorting through all the images. Solus loved them all, even giving Inferno a little play jab upon noticing the two talons sticking up over his head. Before they walked out, though, Solus peeked his head through the curtains.

"Wanna join us, Pixie?"

The Sylveon in question was waiting happily for them on the outside. She originally agreed to go in after Inferno—the photo booths were only two pokémon per session. However, with no line or workers around at the moment, why not get a group photo?

Pixie debated the question for half of a zeptosecond.

"On the way!" She brushed a paw through her fur and trotted up to the booth. Solus grabbed his satchel, holding it on his lap as he squeezed next to Inferno. Pixie gracefully jumped into the booth, noticing the cheap CGI backdrop and silly props right away. She smiled wide. "We'll have to take pictures at my father's bakery, next."

"That's assuming he'll let me back in there after tonight." Inferno giggled.

"Oh, Inferno, don't be dramatic." Pixie returned his smirk, wrapping a pink feeler around the Blaziken's arm. She held it there long enough to grab a pink tiara, adjusting it along her head before jumping up and sitting on the other side of Solus.

The Riolu was nestled comfortably between both pokémon. Pixie's sweet, rose-inspired scent washed over him, and Inferno's warmth hugged him closer. His heart was racing fast, the smile on his face growing tenfold as he wrapped an arm around both of them.

"Ready, guys?" he asked excitedly. Pixie nodded, her ribbons creeping and perfectly hugging both boys tightly. Inferno thought for a moment, deciding on a whim to remove his blue scarf and hand it to Solus. The Riolu held it between his paws, looking back and forth between Inferno and the cloth before a talon was patting his head.

"All yours, buddy. Think it would look cute on you."

"Aww..." Pixie's voice was two—no, eight octaves higher. There were hearts in her eyes as she pressed her cheek against Solus'. "Here, Solus, I'll help you put it on!" She maneuvered a free ribbon to help the Riolu organize himself.

The scarf slid over him with ease; a bit long, but Pixie compensated by wrapping it an extra few times around his neck. By the end of it, Solus could see the ends just barely creeping to his chest, and he finally cuddled up and stared into the screen again.

"Thank you, Inferno! Thanks, Pixie," he mused. Both the Sylveon and Blaziken purred together, and Inferno finally hit the button on the screen. The countdown started. 

All three leaned in close, their cheeks smooshing together as Solus flashed the camera a wink; Inferno forming a peace sign with his talons; and Pixie, creative as she was, coiling her ribbons above the Riolu's head to create a makeshift heart design just as the lens flashed.

The picture turned out gorgeous. They jumped out of the booth one after the other, grins on all their faces as they circled up a few feet away. A new family conveniently took their place moments later—another Riolu, surrounded by two older Lucario. He was noticeably younger than Solus, but Solus only caught a few glances before looking away.

Inferno stretched an arm casually. "I don't mind waiting in line to get those if you two wanna wait here? Perhaps we can stop and grab ice cream on the way?" Inferno offered. Ice cream, Solus thought, sounded lovely after an entire morning of cheap circus food.

Pixie studied Solus' reaction before piping up. "Sounds good to me! You sure you don't want any company, though?" She analyzed the line for the photo pick-up. There weren't that many pokémon ahead of them, but it would at least take a minute or two before theirs would be done printing.

Inferno waved a paw. "Nah, I'll be good! You and Solus can go find a bench, if you'd like." He leaned down to rub the Riolu's head, as well as sneak a little kiss to Pixie. Pixie reciprocated the gesture happily. Standing up again, he almost reached down to adjust his scarf, but he stopped himself when he noticed Solus still wearing it. "I'll catch you guys in a minute."

He waved them off, leaving the two alone as Pixie hummed quietly. What a beautiful day, she thought. When she and Inferno plotted to take Solus to the circus, and subsequently Lotus Falls, they weren't certain it would turn out to be such an incredible time. 

Pixie was nervous the Riolu would feel frightened around so many new pokémon at once, if she was honest. 

But no, Solus hadn't stopped grinning since the loudspeakers hit his ears. Compared to the Galena Collis and Creedite Woodlands, Lotus Falls was a breath of fresh air that he needed. Months of being cooped up in a bakery helping an old Arcanine and (occasionally) serving tables got boring fast.

This was a fun, eventful day for all three of them, and Solus made his pleasure known by the sweet chirp in his voice. "I can't thank you enough, Pixie. For everything..."

The Sylveon, looking distracted after the small kiss, blinked before looking at him. "Oh? Aww, don't thank us, Solus! We all needed the break, honestly!" 

She closed the distance between them. Their eyes were perfectly level, and Solus barely reacted as a ribbon crept and squeezed around his chest. "There's always room for a little fun! You spend so much time at the bakery, and helping Inferno and me, but all we want is for you to be happy!"

Her words were simple, yet she spoke them with a love and warmth that few could match. Solus nodded, trying (and failing) to mask the blush on his cheeks as Pixie pressed her forehead to his. The Sylveon smiled, planting a polite smooch on his cheek. 

She sat down to observe him. "Mmm, let's adjust that scarf a little! The blue looks so cute with your fur."

Solus had no choice as Pixie put him through a round of dress-up. He tried his best to stay cooperative—bending his head down, then up, left, and down again as she tidied his scarf properly. Those ribbons worked with expert precision; it was almost scary how skilled they were. "May as well ruffle the ol' fur a little, too! Gotta complete the look..."

She licked one of her paws. Solus felt Pixie grazing one of his cheeks next, fluffing and smoothing the fur along his face as she sang a quiet tune. 

If he was honest, he trusted Pixie's judgment more than his own: working in the beauty industry taught the fairy-type well. She always obsessed about staying tidy, and that of course meant dressing and fluffing her two favorite boys whenever she had a chance.

They never complained once.

Once she had his cheeks properly smoothed, she ruffled Solus' head tuft enough to droop it down between his eyes. Perfect. She patted the fur one time for good measure, backing up to observe the finished makeover.

"My Arceus, you're adorable!" She gave a final smooch to his nose. The flush in Solus' cheeks only added to the look. He offered a timid grin, resisting the urge to touch his face as she admired him. Somehow, he felt renewed, and the warm ribbon around his chest squeezed happily.

"Thank you, Pixie!" Solus squeaked. Pixie giggled, sparing him from another hug.

Solus took the time to reminisce about everything they'd done so far: a haunted mirror maze, indoor talent show, apple-bobbing contest, and a few fun (albeit scam) mini-game booths. 

Inferno was especially annoyed at one booth in particular, run by a cocky Lilligant with a mouth too big for her manners. He tried breaking a few plates with two balls made of rubber, but he conceded after two attempts.

Solus and Pixie had a great time watching him try, though. Even if the Lilligant left a sour taste in their mouths. Speaking of the Blaziken, Solus found his eyes eventually trailing to search the photo line again... but before he could find Inferno, he noticed two white and green blurs walking towards them.

No, correction. Rushing full speed at them.

"Yo, Solus! Pixie!"

The Sylveon in question turned, raising an eyebrow and standing straight again. Solus walked to her side, blocking the sun with a paw and focusing on the silhouettes.

A Leafeon and Alolan Vulpix. His face brightened as they got closer.

"Maple! Crystal!"

The two girls skirted to a halt right before barreling into them. Pixie's ribbons were already extended, and Solus bounced back and forth as he waved feverishly.

"Hey, girls! It's been a while!" Solus flashed them both a toothy smirk.

Like Solus' satchel, the Leafeon was carrying a thin bag around her neck as she bowed politely. "Likewise! It's so nice to see you again, Solus!" Maple purred. 

Her Vulpix companion was grinning even wider—too wide, Solus thought. He gulped. He sensed he was in danger soon...

"Pixie! Solus!" Crystal cheered. Before either could react, the Vulpix rushed at them.

Pixie braced herself: she knew how to handle this. Once the small pokémon was in range, she closed her feelers and twirled the white fox around—that did the trick. Crystal was giggling when she hit the ground again, her eyes practically sparkling.

"Haha! That was awesome!" the Vulpix sang.

And then she turned to Solus. Solus' heart dropped; he took a deep breath, but it was promptly knocked from his lungs as Crystal launched herself at him.

"Hehe! I've missed you soooo much, Solus!" Crystal purred. Solus could feel his lungs popping, and he was hopeless as the ice-type rubbed her face up, down, and all over him.

"U-Um, missed you too..." he stammered. His face was a deep red.

Pixie and Maple shared a look, but there was no saving the Riolu now. Pixie smiled and turned to the Leafeon. "Maple, you're looking lovely as ever! You're even more gorgeous than the last time I saw you—and you were beautiful then, too!"

Maple hid the flush in her cheeks with a light giggle. Pixie was still as bubbly as she remembered—thank Arceus. "Oh, Pixie, you're too kind." Her heart fluttered. The irony of the Sylveon calling her beautiful did not go unnoticed.

After a short pause, she commented on it. "I guess I learned it from you—"

Pixie interrupted her. She was shaking her head back and forth. "Nonsense! You and Crystal are the cutest girls in all of Sylva Skies, and I won't hear otherwise!" She wrapped a feeler around the Leafeon's cheek.

Maple bit her tongue. Despite being objectively beautiful herself, Pixie hated the spotlight—Maple knew that. The Sylveon wasn't a celebrity per se, but working in the fashion market ensured that her face was stapled to a few products here and there.

And plastered in a few magazines.

Maple remembered the Sylveon turning down an invitation to Sylva Skies: Hall of Fame Top 10 fifth edition. The publishers needed a fairy-type, and the most logical choice was Pixie. The Sylveon fit every definition of the word beautiful—a cover featuring her face could sell hundreds, maybe thousands of copies across the region. 

When they offered a five-digit payout for a quick photo shoot, Pixie promptly declined.

To this day, Maple respected her for it. Pixie wasn't interested in being adored herself: she wanted to make other pokémon feel special. Other pokémon feel beautiful. It was a trait rarely found amongst her fellow models and fashion enthusiasts, and Pixie stood out in Maple's eyes because of it.

After another few squeezes, the Sylveon released her. "I hope you girls have been well! I wish I'd known you two were gonna be here today... we all could have traveled together!" Pixie pouted playfully.

Maple rubbed the back of her head. "O-Oh, actually, we just got here." She tightened the bag around her shoulders. When Pixie formed an exclamation point above her head with her ribbons, Maple continued. "Crystal and I are on the way to the Elpi. My father asked me to fill in for him at an expo they're having today."

"Wowie! That sounds like fun?" Pixie leaned her face closer. Maple shrugged, tapping an anxious paw against the ground.

"Kind of? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's an honor to go in his place! I guess I'm just a little...?"

"Overwhelmed?" Pixie guessed. She moved until she was eye-to-eye with the Leafeon, and it was her paw this time that patted Maple's shoulder. "Oh, Maple, I'm sure you'll do great! It sounds to me like Draxue trusts you—which he should, since you're A-W-E-S-O-M-E!" Pixie spelled every letter out dramatically.

Maple couldn't help but smile coyly. Draxue, the leader of the Galena Collis, was her father. He was the strongest pokémon in Sylva Skies—perhaps even the entire region. Pixie had only met the Garchomp a handful of times: one time at her father's bakery, and a couple of times when she traveled with Inferno to work.

There was also the time Draxue and Celestia, an Alolan Ninetales from the Creedite Woodlands, dropped their daughters off at Inferno's house. That was quite a scene—Pixie answered the door with icing on her face and a Riolu on her back.

Ah, good times.

Maple hugged the Sylveon for a full minute, then looked over at her friend. Crystal had the Riolu on the ground, her snout digging into his scarf.

"Solus, this scarf looks so cute on you! Mwahaha!"

"P-Please, help..."

Maple and Pixie pretended not to hear him. The Leafeon broke the hug, sitting down to gather her thoughts. Pixie moved and sat beside her.

The Sylveon made a quiet exhale. "You're still young, Maple. You'll make a great leader one day—I know you will! But sometimes, you just gotta take a deep breath. Live a little, make memories, have fun..." Pixie's tone was more controlled now. Her voice was soft, and Maple noticed right away that the Sylveon was serious.

She sighed. "Maybe you're right..." A cloud passed by overhead. Maple counted the puffs of cotton in the sky. One of them almost looked like a computer, and another resembled a hammer. She transformed the clouds into various shapes as she leaned into Pixie. 

It reminded her of the days cloud-watching with Crystal when they were kids, their tails intertwined and the wind to their backs.

Crystal was the only other daughter of a leader in Sylva Skies. Draxue and Celestia, their respective parents, owned two separate districts. When news broke of the Garchomp and Alolan Vulpix having offspring of their own, the two leaders were quick to schedule a day to meet. 

Or, rather, for their daughters to meet.

They were born exactly a year apart. Maple remembered how shy Crystal was the first time they met; the younger Vulpix stammered over every word, and their parents left them alone for hours every week. Over a decade later, they were practically sisters.

Maple smiled at the memories. Her smile only grew once a feeler wrapped around her shoulder, rubbing it soothingly.

"Inferno and I are here for you, too. We live in the Collis, after all, so if you ever wanna crash out with Solus and us for a few weekends..." Pixie was still talking, but Maple zoned out temporarily.

Something the Sylveon said reminded her of something important... or rather, someone important. When the Sylveon stopped talking, it clicked.

"Wait, sorry, Master Inferno? Is he here?"

At the name Inferno, a sporadic Vulpix perked up. Her... victim was sitting up again, his face paler than a ghost-type as Crystal trotted away from him. She paused to decide where to sit: next to Pixie, or next to Maple? She opted to squeeze in between them.

"Is Inferno here, too!" she squeaked.

Pixie rubbed her head. "Yep! He should be in line down there somewhere..." She pointed a paw down the dirt road. 

There were dozens of pokémon huddling around the various booths, but it wasn't hard to spot the Blaziken near the photo printing section. Pixie smiled brighter. "He's grabbing a few photos... it must be taking him a while, though. If there's time, I'm sure he'd love to say hi!"

"Of course!" Maple and Crystal chirped simultaneously. In Maple's case, Inferno was her mentor—he'd been training her well over three years now. It was how she met Solus and Pixie. In Crystal's case, the Blaziken owed her a hug or two (or six).

"Maybe we can all get a picture together?" All three girls turned at the new voice. It was Solus again, and after a brief hesitation, he sat beside Maple. He could feel kiss marks on his chest and between his eyes. "If there's time, of course?" He looked at Maple.

Maple smiled at him. "I'm down! Crystal, how about it? A picture before the road?" The question was rhetorical. The Vulpix was grinning even before Maple turned to her, and Pixie hid a snicker behind one of her feelers.

"I'd love to!" Crystal squeaked. She brushed her tail against Pixie, tapping the fairy-type eagerly. "You wanna join us, too?"

Pixie thought about it. All three pairs of eyes were on her. On one hand, a picture sounded cute—and she liked cute! She was almost tempted to say yes, but after a short giggle and wave of her feelers, she turned it down. "Nah, you three have fun! I'll wait here for Inferno to get back..."

"Oh? Are you sure, Pixie?" Maple tilted her head. She enjoyed the Sylveon's company so far, and she'd feel bad leaving Pixie alone. "We can just wait for Inferno first? We still have an hour to kill..."

"No, no, you three go have fun! Solus hasn't seen you guys for a while, and a picture of you three sounds too cute to pass up!" She wrapped a ribbon around all three of them for emphasis. Maple conceded after a long stare. If Pixie was alright with it, she'd respect the decision.

Solus was the first to step forward. The Riolu stretched his arms carefully, wary of the far-too-innocent face Crystal was giving him. He couldn't prove it, but he swore she was the devil. A demon who killed through hugging and smothering you to death. He looked at Pixie.

"We'll come back here when we're done, 'kay?" He flashed her one of his classic winks. Pixie found it adorable every time.

The Sylveon waved them off three seconds later, making herself comfortable. Up ahead, she spotted the same family from before leaving the booth: two Lucario with a little bundle of fur zooming between their legs. Pixie hadn't noticed the tiny Riolu cub before, and she watched the family for several long seconds...

Too long. She really oughta look away soon. But for some reason...

'Are we a family, too?'

The thought slipped into her mind. She barely realized what it meant until she ran the words over again. A family... probably not. Not like that family, at least. She and Inferno had only been dating for a week now, but they weren't, like, a family.

...no, of course not.

She smiled solemnly. She remembered twelve years ago; the day Solus moved to Sylva Skies. She was only at the beginning of her modeling career—year one of a four-year-long apprenticeship. Minutes before closing, she met Inferno and the Riolu for the first time at her father's bakery.

She remembered that day vividly...

...

"Excuse me, sir?" Inferno had a coin tucked between his talons. Fifty bits. The Arcanine behind the counter stared at him—then grunted.

"Yes?"

"This is short notice, but..." He motioned to the sleeping Riolu latched around his neck. His eyes were pleading as he extended the coin forward. "I'm a defender from the Collis, and I have to meet down at the Falls. It's urgent, but I can't take him with me..."

The Arcanine glared at him. They closed in under ten minutes—a trip to the Falls would take at least an hour, and that was only to get there.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, pal, but we close soon. Have you tried the other shops in the area? There's a sandwich shop only a half-mile down the woods—"

"Everywhere else is closed!" he pleaded. The Riolu around his neck stirred; Solus was a heavy sleeper, but the commotion was slowly getting to him. Inferno waved the money again. "I can pay you more than this if you need! I promise, I'll be quick—just an hour or two."

Ignus was hesitant to speak. The Blaziken looked hopeful, and the Riolu curled up around him looked harmless. He closed his eyes and thought hard about the decision... but to his surprise, he didn't need to say anything.

"I'll watch him, Dad!"

Pixie emerged from the kitchen wearing a small chef hat. She looked at the Blaziken and Riolu duo, then jumped next to the Arcanine. Her dad gave her a thoughtful, long look, but ultimately sighed.

Then he smiled softly.

"Whelp, you heard her. You can leave the kid here."

It all happened so fast. Without many words to say, as well as needing to leave for Lotus Falls as soon as possible, Inferno grabbed the Riolu by his arms and maneuvered him onto the Arcanine's pelt.

The defender let out a low, relieved exhale. "Thank you, you two! I'll be back soon—"

"No worries! We'll take care of him!" Pixie jumped on the counter and pressed her face close. She stared into his eyes. "You have my word. Now go!"

Inferno stared at the Sylveon... specifically her eyes. They were bright—confident. He found himself unable to look away for a moment. The gravity of the emergency eventually settled in again, and with a final bow and thankful nod, he dropped the fifty bits on the counter and rushed out of the bakery...

Five hours.

The trip was five hours in total. It was well past three in the morning when those glass doors slipped open again. Expecting to find an irritated Arcanine and betrayed Sylveon, he was surprised to see the trio—Solus included—sitting at a table decorating poképuffs.

The Arcanine helped Solus spell out names on all the cookies, and Pixie switched from hugging the small cub to moving his paws along the icing with her feelers. All three looked up when he entered the building.

"I'm... I'm so, so sorry..." Inferno started. He was looking at the Arcanine specifically, but he was surprised to see the fellow fire-type chuckle in response.

"No need to apologize. You had to do your job." He looked over at his daughter. She was smiling at him. He focused back on the Blaziken, nodding his head reassuringly. "It was the right thing to do. We don't need your money, either." He slid the fifty bits back on the table.

Before Inferno could walk up and grab it, a Riolu was staring into his eyes.

"INFERNO!" Solus cut in, zooming from his chair and jumping into the Blaziken's arms. Inferno's face lightened immediately; he hugged the little gremlin nice and tight, twirling him around the air.

"Hehe, hey, buddy! Sorry that took so long." He ruffled Solus' head tuft. To his surprise, he noticed how smooth the fur looked; like it had recently been brushed and stylized.

"Daww..." Pixie whispered, but it was loud enough for all three of them to hear. She stepped forward from her chair, jumping on the table next to Inferno. She had the coin tangled up in one of her ribbons and offered it to him. "Before you forget..."

He hesitated to take the money back. On the one hand, he felt terrible for making two random pokémon spend five hours of their night watching over a kid that wasn't even theirs... but on the other hand, they were offering.

He took it with an appreciative smile. "You guys... I really don't know what to say."

Pixie hummed for a moment. When the Blaziken looked at her, she sat down on the table and offered him an innocent wink. "Maybe your name, for starters."

...

A single tear fell from her eye. Just as the new trio made their way into the booth, a sneaky voice startled her from behind.

"Heyo, Pix! Where's Solus?"

The Sylveon turned, wiped an eye happily, and proceeded to point toward the photo booth. Inferno was back just a minute too late. Pixie was still elated to see him.

"Maple and Crystal are here, too! They're all taking a picture together."

Inferno hummed. He studied the Sylveon's eyes—they were gorgeous. Just as beautiful as the day he fell in love with her. He sat down on his knees, showing Pixie the various pictures as well as the scarf he bought Solus. The scarf explained why it took so long, and Pixie eagerly anticipated Solus' reaction when he saw it.

When they organized all four pictures, Pixie sat down beside him. A soft feeler wrapped around his side, keeping him close. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Inferno."

"Hmm?"

He snuck his talon around her, returning the cuddle playfully. They were both giggling before falling quiet again. Pixie glanced at the final picture one last time—all three of them, with Solus' bright smile infecting the digital square.

She leaned back, taking a nice, happy exhale before staring into Inferno's eyes.

"I love you."

From inside the photo booth, three happy faces were staring into the lens.

Five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

Flash.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Let me make sure I have this straight," Kloud said. He was looking at the Lucario and Gallade. "You want me to play door service at the museum today? During the expo?"

The Lucario nodded. "Correct."

"And when the criminals come through, I'm supposed to... let them in?"

"Correct."

Kloud sighed. He wasn't sure how much he liked this plan... letting criminals into a facility was usually the opposite of his job. He was in no place to doubt either of them, however.

He had to trust his leader.

Kloud bowed his head. "Very well, sir. You can count on me."

"Sir Hydra..." It was the Gallade who piped up this time. He looked at the Umbreon as he spoke, a blade over his chest. "If I may, Kloud has quite the useful restraining abilities. Mean Look, in particular. Perhaps he could apprehend the criminals instead?"

Aeru, he remembered, was his supervisor. Hydra's right-hand man. He'd only spoken to Hydra (the leader of Amethyst Elpi) a handful of times, but he was much more familiar with the Gallade.

And he had to admit, it felt nice having Aeru vouch for him.

Hydra didn't look as convinced. "Not to worry. There are three elite defenders from the Galena Collis I contacted—they can handle any conflict. It would be unwise to risk Kloud or any bystander getting harmed."

Ouch. That one stung. Kloud bit his lips and closed his eyes...

He couldn't keep quiet. "I can assure you, sir. I'm a very able fighter."

Hydra faced him. His face was... unreadable. It wasn't mean, cold, or anything negative, but Kloud still felt a shiver run down his spine. He kept his chin raised until the Lucario addressed him.

"I do apologize, Kloud. None of this is an assessment of your strength..." Hydra started. Kloud repressed the urge to sigh; he felt like he was being talked down to. It didn't help how formal the Lucario spoke, either. "There are many great defenders in the Elpi. Yourself included. I was the one who sought you out, after all."

"To be a doorman. Yes, I know." Kloud did a poor job hiding his irritation. Luckily, Hydra didn't press him on it; the Lucario only looked away, fiddling with a piece of metal in his ear. After a few seconds of toying with it, Hydra recapped the plan one last time.

"Just so we're all on the same page: Aeru, you'll be at the main exhibit. There are three artifacts I suspect they're after—make sure to have eyes on all three. You can communicate with the three undercover defenders via earpiece and radio. When the criminals make a move, you use your magic."

"Yes, sir." Aeru bowed his head. Hydra nodded, then looked at the Umbreon.

"Kloud, you'll be at the front entrance. Expected occupancy is around thirty to thirty-eight guests. When you see the two targets, let them through and give Aeru the signal. You remember their profiles, correct?"

"A Jolteon and a Gro... Grovel? The green one."

"Grovyle," Hydra corrected.

Kloud nodded, repeating the name. "Grovyle, got it. I'll radio Aeru when they make it through..." Hydra could sense the Umbreon wanted to say more... literally. The Lucario could see the red wavelengths radiating from Kloud's aura.

He made a tough decision. The Elpi was not known for their defenders—they were a research-focused district, after all. The Galena Collis had many more suitable fighters on standby.

But Kloud looked determined. Those toned muscles and strong legs revealed he was well in shape, and if the Umbreon really wanted to help so bad...

"...and if anything goes wrong, you can step in. Focus on protecting bystanders first, and contain the criminals by force once the area is secured. You are a defender, after all, and I trust you'll make the right judgment," Hydra concluded.

Kloud's eyes were practically glowing. Did he hear that right? He turned to look at Aeru, and the Gallade confirmed it with a small smirk of his own. Kloud held his chest high, smiling for the first time since he'd stepped out of Coma Coffee.

"You got it, sir! I won't let you down!" Kloud bowed.

Hydra bowed in return. So long as everything went to plan, there would be no need for such drastic measures. He shuffled in his bag to hand Aeru and Kloud small earpieces.

"They're connected through a private channel. Leave them turned on, and I'll connect the other three once I see them. We have exactly thirty minutes to station ourselves. Fifteen after that before the expo begins," Hydra instructed. Both Aeru and Kloud adjusted the small gadgets in their ears, sharing a nod.

Kloud felt fired up. He was planning on attending the expo regardless, but now there were stakes involved. He wondered if Saphero knew any of what their leader had just gone over... his guess was no. Hydra's amulet could only see so far into the future, and given the urgency at which Hydra and Aeru tracked him down, he figured this was a top-secret operation.

There wasn't even time to warn Draxue before the expo began. They had less than forty-five minutes to set up, and a trip to the Galena Collis took an hour minimum. That could partially explain why Hydra was so stressed: he'd have to handle this on his own. The Lucario must have had connections with the three defenders from the Collis beforehand—or perhaps they were just in the area?

Kloud wasn't sure, but he didn't think about it for long. Who cared about the other defenders? He would be there, and he wouldn't let anything happen to his fellow residents.

He wouldn't let anything happen to Saphero.

"Let's go, Kloud," Aeru suggested. The Gallade was standing beside him now, pointing down the sidewalk. "We can radio when we split up. The museum is only ten minutes north."

Kloud smirked, nodding confidently. "Sure thing. We'll hold things down on our end, Sir Hydra! Don't worry about us!"

Hydra flashed the duo a nod, then watched them leave. He let out a slow, quiet breath... the blue amulet around his neck faded gently. He tapped the earpiece in his ear one last time.

Come on, pick up...

A little radio came through after another adjustment. With enough fiddling, he could hear a small voice on the other line.

"Do you copy, Firenze?"

Silence. The static was overbearing, but Hydra focused hard until a thin, distorted voice finally came through.

"Heard."

"Did you receive my instructions?"

Three miles away, a masked pokémon stood perched atop an abandoned rooftop. A hood cloaked his entire face, and he was holding an earpiece with his right hand.

"Yeah, I got them. I'm in position now."

The voice on the other line was quiet. He waited for the Lucario to speak again, and that came after five long seconds.

"My amulet is never wrong. When things get dicey, I'm relying on you. I have a feeling I know who's behind this, but I'll need at least thirty minutes..."

The voice fell silent. The masked figure looked down at the bright streets of Amethyst Elpi, a thin smile parting his lips.

"Don't sweat it, Hydra. You can count on me."

"You're the only one I can count on."