Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Quenched Torch

Chapter 64: A Miserable Little Pile of Secrets

Adventurer's Log

12th of Solgaleo's Moon, 1540 Post-Ruinam

Well. That's it then.

I tried my best. I really did. I tried my best to do what was right, I tried my best to pay my dues to the world, I tried my best to protect what's close to me. My home, my friends... May... But none of that matters anymore.

I found the records. And the dog had every reason to hide them. The Phoenixes want to go back and change history. Just wipe the last 1500 years from ever having happened. They need Oshawott to do that. And I think he's going to do just that.

I saw him last night seeking out a Phoenix hideout. He almost went in. The idea's in his head.

What the hell were we thinking? We treated him like a beast, threw him into the frontlines where he could see the worst of things, kicked him to the curb over and over and expected him to be fine with it. I could have stopped this. But I was too much of a damn coward, Pike couldn't keep his fucking pants on, and look where we are now.

I don't know what's going to happen next. Maybe he changes his mind. But... I don't know. I really don't.

Arden set his pen aside, staring down at his entry. The writing was shaky and smudged in places, hard to make out unless one really tried. But did it matter anymore?

He stared a moment longer, then snapped the journal shut and stood. Across the room, his companions looked up. "Arden?" Pike asked, wings twitching cautiously. He didn't answer the bird.

"We... um, still have the meeting with the apprentices soon," May frowned. "They'll be here soon. Are you going somewhere?"

"Just need some air," Arden muttered.

"...You sure you're okay?" the Leafeon blinked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just have... something going on. I'll be at the rock."

"There's always the angry room," May offered gently. "I got new stress toys like you wanted."

"I know," Arden sighed, slinking into the hallway. May opened her mouth to call after him, though no words came out. Biting her lip, she settled her chin down on her paw, tail flicking in thought.

"...Ya think he's mad at me?" Pike soon broke the silence.

"You think?" May shot him a flat look.

"I already said I was sorry, though, a whole lot. I gave Oshawott that TM, I woulda thought'd fix things with him..." Pike trailed off. May just grimaced at him before standing and following after Arden, Pike's wings drooping as he watched her go. What was he doing wrong here...?

As May moved down the hall, she paused in her tracks. The storage cellar door was swung wide open, and Arden stood over it in the daylight, staring wistfully at a standard orb in his paws. A quick glance to confirm no energy was churning inside drew a sigh from May.

"Hey. If you want, we can just write back to Point Forest and tell them—" she started, though jumped back as Arden swore loudly to himself and hurled the dud orb at the wall with full force. The glass ball thudded loudly against the wood, bounced off, then shattered against the stone floor. Hundreds of glittering blue shards tinked across the floor as May watched on, her jaw agape. "...A-Ardie?"

Arden just looked to May, his eyes glistening before he quietly turned and hurried away. The Leafeon was quick to prance over the glass and run after Arden, hurrying after him as she left the pulverized remains of the orb behind them.