(1200 words)
Chapter 20
Mistake



"You're... not... the human..?" Compass stares at Alice, as everything they thought they knew crumbles.

"That's right bud." Alice skipped most of the story, focusing only on how they found Ninetales and learned they weren't the human. "Isn't that hilarious? All those clues, all those puzzle pieces fitting perfectly together, and it turns out it was just a massive coincidence! Isn't that just so funny? Isn't that funny enough to make you want to pull your teeth out and scream and break something!? Isn't it so funny you just decide to... stop caring? To give up?.. Anyway, after that Team Bridge found me again, and, well, you know what happened there."

"But- Then- What- You're innocent! Why didn't you tell anyone?! We could've been looking for different methods, or the real human!"

"Oh yeah, like they'd believe me over you."

"But you could've brought Team Bridge to Ninetales right there!"

"Oh darn, silly me, maybe I would've though of that if I wasn't HAVING A BREAKDOWN. Besides, I think you're forgetting what I keep telling you: I don't care. The world is ending, and if there was a way to save it, we would've found it by now. Everyone is going to die, me included. Go ahead and tell them I'm innocent; once they learn you heard it from me, they won't believe a word."

Everything Compass did... All of their betrayal... It was all for nothing. They killed their best friend for nothing... "I'm sorry," they whisper as they run away. They run and run, tears falling from their eyes, until their legs give out and they collapse. At least it's night, and no one is around to see it.

It's right then, collapsed and crying, that Compass realizes: Thorn went looking for Ninetales. The first thing they did was try to fix the mistake they thought they made, and sacrifice themself to save the world. Thorn was a hero, and Compass...

Compass degrades into a sobbing heap, crushed under the guilt. They can't move. The only move they can make is to...



Alice lies in their prison bed. It's been half an hour since Compass left, and so they're back to doing what they did before Compass came: Waiting. And they're bored. See, this is why they started stabbing people, it's less boring. At least they have time to think. About how stupid they were to trust someone like Compass; someone that loyal to the law will rat you out with no hesitation. 'Oh but I'm so sorry about it, it was a mistake' yeah that's nice, it'll be a real comfort in the moments before their head gets chopped off.

Trustworthy partners are as rare as a shiny milotic. How could Alice be so stupid, trusting the first person they met, and such a law-abiding goody-two-shoes at that. This is what Alice gets for trusting someone who puts law and order above their own par-

*KA-BOOOOM*



When Alice's head stops spinning, they find themself buried in rubble. They dig themself out and start hearing a voice over the ringing in their ears. They look around the pile of rubble to find a hole in the cell wall and- Compass!?!

Compass reaches down toward them! "Come on, let's go, we don't have much time!"

Still dazed from the explosion and trying to put together what happened, Alice instinctively reaches for Compass's hand-

Compass grabs their hand and helps them up, pulling them out of the cell. Alice barely keeps up as the team races down the pile of rubble and through the town, where people start opening their doors to check out the commotion. The team sprints out of town hand in hand, not looking back and not slowing down until they pass over a hill and collapse to catch their breath.

Compass gasps for breath. "Oh my gosh... I can't believe... that worked... Are you okay Thorn..? Thorn?!" Compass helps Alice to their feet, but they just stand there, staring at Compass blankly. "Thorn, are you okay?! Any injuries?! I have oran berries-"

But Alice is too lost in thought to hear them. They stare at Compass, at the person who just broke them out of prison and saved their life. When Alice finally puts their thoughts together, they can only say... "You're in so much fucking trouble."

For the first time in days, Compass smiles. "Glad to hear you're okay. Now come on, we need to keep moving-"

"No, hold on, Compass, you blew up a wall and broke me out of prison! Don't you realize what this means?!"

"... That I used a bunch of blast seeds?"

"You're a CRIMINAL!!"

"W-what? No, you were innocent, I was doing what's right!"

"There are legal ways to free an innocent person, but you didn't use any of them! You exploded a wall! That's, like, super duper illegal! You're a crook! An outlaw! A fugitive!!" Alice lunges forward and wraps Compass in a tight hug, before immediately pulling away. "Sorry! Got too excited there."

"Wha- Excited? Why? I don't understand."

"I... On that night, when you betrayed me, I thought it was because you cared more about the law and following the rules than you did about me. But you just blew up a god damn building!! I... I'm honestly still having trouble believing it. That someone like you could do something like that... I'm so glad I was wrong about you."

"Well... What can I say? I had to fix my mistake."

"Heh. A mistake. That's all it was, wasn't it..? I'm sorry. You were given a chance to save the world, I can't blame you for panicking."

"But I could have just listened. I should have trusted you. After everything we've been through, how could I-"

"Okay, enough of that. We've both made mistakes; you tried to save the world, I stabbed people, nobody's perfect. The moral of the story is... uh, I dunno, wait for your partner to sleep first before you-"

A voice calls from behind the hill. "I think they went this way, hurry!"

"Shit, okay, retreat time!"



Alice and Compass settle down in the woods, hidden by the dense trees. They can't set up a tent or a camp fire because of lack of supplies and the need to stay hidden. Alice sighs as they lie on the dirt ground. "Great, I'm already missing my prison bed. Being an outlaw sucks."

"Yeah. It must have been so hard, living away from civilization... I know I already said it, but-"

"Seriously, Compass, shut up. Like I said, nothing you say will change how I feel. Only actions can do that. And holy SHIT has there been some action tonight! My partner's first felony! I'm so proud!"

"Wait, which was first, the destruction of property, or the treason for helping an enemy of the entire world?"

"Bah, treason's boring, let's say it was the bomb."

"Unauthorized use of explosives aside, it's nice to be with you again. They might hunt us down, but we'll survive. As partners."

"Buddy, we're not partners anymore..." Alice smiles. "We're partners in CRIME!"




I made it. I could end the story here, and be satisfied. But don't worry, there's more to come; still gotta save the world or whatever. And it's not like one act of kindness can make all those days of suffering just disappear... Anyway, cue Run Away, Fugitives!

If you enjoyed the story, please comment! I love hearing responses to my writing! What was your favorite part?