My (Twisted) Pokémon Journey: PMD Different Futures

Chapter Thirteen - ✿ Friends Stick Together ✿

I'm trying to be more active with this! Sometimes it's hard to write when I know I have actual assignments and coursework to do. Hopefully, the closer we get to the Expedition, the more enticing this will be. Thank you guys for sticking around, and don't forget to vote, and comment on something you thought! I read every comment!

By some miracle, we woke up back at the Guild: in our quarters, with our bags untouched, no one any more harmed than we had been before. It couldn't have been only a few hours since we were in the clearing in Apple Woods, and not very long since we had arrived at the Guild. We had a moment alone once we all woke up, equal looks of confusion on our faces.

     Chatot came hopping down the hallway in a hurry, not long after we all woke up and checked our things, demanding we come out and address our failed mission. He turned around and hopped away.

     We lined up outside the Guildmaster's chamber, as Chatot had demanded. Off to the side, not far from the ladder, stood Team Skull. Koffing and Zubat hovered a step behind Chief Stench, and each of them watched us with uninterested expressions.

     Then Chatot opened the Guildmaster's chamber doors, and hopped over to stand in front of us.

     "Explain yourself," he demanded. "I depended on you to get the Perfect Apples! Now..." he shuddered. "You assured me your team could handle the job!" he accused Hex.

     Out of the corner of my eyes, I tried to get a glimpse of Hex's expression. What I saw wasn't calm in her eyes, or defiance, but something closer to cold dignity. She unflinchingly met his gaze. "We got to the clearing and prepared to gather as many apples as we could carry," she reported. "Perfect Apples. There were many, ripe for picking. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is that we were ambushed by Team Skull."

     I held my breath, not daring to look at anything except Chatot. If anyone could make this claim and have him believe it, Hex had to be the one to do it. Thank Arceus that she was the one he saw as the leader.

     "They spewed a noxious fume that took us all down," Hex continued her report. "They made a show of helping us, but then turned on us for no reason. If you want someone to blame, it's them, and not me or my team."

     "Now, hold on there," Chief Stench interjected before Chatot could say a word. "Our toxic gas might have done what they said, but what really happened is that they weren't ambushed by us, but by other Pokémon who live in and protect Apple Woods."

     Chatot nodded, as if this made perfect sense.

     I could feel the fury of heat that wafted off of Hex. Outwardly, except for the excess heat, she showed no sign of anger.

     Chief Stench continued, "We rushed to help them -- as they had just admitted to -- and in the process, accidentally knocked them out with our poison combo. Just in time, too, as the Charmander was going to try climbing up the tree herself! With her tail-flame waving haphazardly!"

     Chatot turned his scathing eyes onto us, lingering on Hex as he addressed her, "Your teammates have had nothing but cruel and untrue things to say about Team Skull since they arrived only a couple days ago. I had thought better of you, individually, Hex," he chastised. "Don't let your teammates and their rumors cloud your judgement in our allies."

     Hex took a breath. "With all due respect, Chatot, what I said was the truth. We even discussed before we approached the trees that Pearl and I would stay well away from the trees, while Pika and Kip would take care of picking the Perfect Apples. We were and constantly are aware about the disadvantages of Pearl's flame is, and we took and continue to take the necessary precautions. These three attacked my team even as we tried to complete the mission you set us upon, and we tried despite the opposition we faced. Even with the opposition, we still kept well in mind the dangers and consequences of a forest fire," she added with emphasis. "Chatot, when have I ever lied to you? Or gave up on a mission willingly? Even before Pearl and Pika joined us, when have Kip and I ever displeased you with our results?"