Chapter 17
Maceria Town


After Mightyena fainted, the Lilligant asked me and Snivy some questions about ourselves and what happened. After we explained the situation, they introduced themself as a friend and housemate of Mightyena, trusted with taking care of Poochyena while Mightyena was away. They must have noticed how tired we look after having been awake through 24 hours and a battle, because they offer to let us sleep in their room, while they take the couch. They lead us there, and there's unfortunately only one bed. But it's a big bed, and we are very small and very tired, so we just set our stuff down and go to sleep.

When Snivy wakes me up, it looks to be about mid day outside. We go out into the house and meet with Lilligant again. "Oh, hey there you two. Mudkip and Snivy, right?"

"Actually, my name is Jamie."

"Oh yeah. Sorry 'bout that, Jamie."

"Where's Mightyena?" Snivy asks.

"Last I checked, they're still sleeping. Same for Poochyena. If I know Mightyena, then they were probably awake for days chasing that Kecleon. They'll be out for a while. Anyways, what are you two gonna do now that you're done helping Mightyena?"

A quick conversation later, and we find Lilligant knows nothing about Volomans nor the Wildfire, besides that Mightyena had it.

"Hey Mudkip, let's head out into town and see if anyone knows anything," Snivy says.

"Wait, I thought their name was Jamie?" Lilligant says.

"It is," I say.

"It's complicated," Snivy says.

"No it isn't."

We head into town and get a few suspicious looks, and the pokemon we talk to seem pretty distrustful. Some of them refuse to even talk to us. As usual by now, no one knows anything, besides the few we meet who know Mightyena. After about an hour of asking around and checking out the town, we decide to head back to Mightyena's house.

We go inside to see Lilligant and Mightyena at the table together, and they turn to face us as we enter.

"Oh hey, good timing," Lilligant says. "Mightyena just woke up a few minutes ago."

"Jamie! Snivy!" Mightyena says, starting to walk towards us, but stumbling to the ground as they walk.

"Whoa, dude, take it easy!" Lilligant says rushing to Mightyena's side. "You need to rest, okay?"

Mightyena looks up at their friend and smiles. "Right. Thanks." Mightyena turns back to us, this time staying seated. "Jamie, Snivy, I can't thank you enough for what you did for me. I hate to have put you in danger, but I don't think I could have done it without you." Mightyena begins to tear up, their words interrupted by sobs. "You've saved Poochyena's life. Thank you both so, so much."

I smile as Mightyena thanks us. It feels good, knowing I've saved someone. I felt the same way with Krokorok. I think I could get used to this. After Mightyena calms down, Lilligant helps them back to the table, and invites us to take a seat.

"Mightyena," Lilligant says, "there's something you need to know about that started after you left town. You kids should listen too, since you're outsiders. The day after you left, people started disappearing at night, one by one. No one knows what's happening. Everyone's also getting a bit... excessively suspicious of outsiders, which is why the gate got closed up recently." Oh. Well that explains the way everyone was acting towards us.

Mightyena stares at Lilligant, eyes wide. "Who's disappeared so far?"

"Five people so far, but none of our friends, at least. I heard the news this morning that a little Magby vanished last night..."

"And all they're doing is closing the gate!?"

"Don't get me wrong, everyone's just as concerned as you are; they're already investigating the disappearances for patterns and such, as well as the area outside town, but nothing's been found yet. There are more guards posted all over, and they've set up a curfew. As for you two," Lilligant says, turning to me and Snivy, "you should probably be careful walking around out there. And also, I don't think any inns would be willing to house outsiders, but I think I speak for Mightyena too when I say you're welcome to stay here. Someone will have to sleep on the couch, though..."

"I'll take the couch," Mightyena says. "It's nice to finally be able to sleep at all, and I owe you both, so you can take my bed. It's only one bed, though, so I'm not sure how you'll work that out..."

"Screw it," Lilligant says, "one of you can take my bed again. I'll sleep in a chair. I can't let Mightyena hog all the martyrdom."

Mightyena laughs. "Thank you, Lilligant."

"Yeah, thanks," I say. "We're just about out of money, so we couldn't afford an inn anyways. And with people disappearing, it doesn't seem safe to camp outside."

"Alrighty then! I'm sure you're all hungry after last night, especially you Mightyena, so I'll go get you all some lunch."

A little while later, and we're all eating grilled cheese. It's the first real food I've had since... since I came to this world, actually. It's been a while. Anyways, it's good food, but it feels really different eating a sandwich as a Mudkip. I'm suddenly reminded that I have no teeth.

"Oh yeah!" Snivy suddenly says. "Mightyena, is your Wildfire gone?"

"Oh, um..." Mightyena inhales, then blows a puff of air upward. No flames. "It looks like it is."

"Wait, you couldn't tell? Krokorok said it messed with their head, and their feelings."

"Feelings like... wanting to save Poochyena no matter what?"

"Oh... I guess there wouldn't really be any change, huh?"

We resume eating our sandwiches. Soon, Lilligant finishes and goes out shopping. Snivy and I finish later, and I suggest that we go out and gather some food to restock our supply. Mightyena warns us to be back soon, before sunset at the latest.

We grab our bags and head out. As we reach the edge of the walled-in town, we find a small gateway through the wall, guarded by a Lucario and a Croagunk. As we approach, they move to block us.

"Stop right there!" the Lucario says. "You don't look like you're from here. Where did you come from?"

"We came in with Mightyena last night," says Snivy.

"Wait, Mightyena came back?" the Croagunk says. "When did that happen?"

"Yes, they're back," the Lucario says. "Everyone was talking about it just this morning; they said some 'flame demon' ran through the streets last night, and many thought it might be the culprit of the disappearances. Then, the Lilligant friend of Mightyena's came and said it was Mightyena returning."

"That thing was MIGHTYENA?! I saw that! I thought I'd had a crazy nightmare or something."

"Wait, do you fall asleep on duty?"

"Um, I mean, no, I just-"

"That is unacceptable! For a guard, to sleep while on dury is to endanger the people of this town!"

"Like you're one to talk! I've seen you napping on the job more than once!"

"I- No, you lie!"

The two guards start arguing, Snivy taps me on the shoulder and motions for me to follow them, and we slip through the gateway unnoticed. Leaving the town behind, we head towards a grove to start looking for berries.




Thanks for reading. Comments, questions, and criticisms are encouraged and appreciated.