Back-to-School Blues

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Mission Description:

Phosphor hadn't really been expecting any of the missions available to newbies like him would be anything special. Pick up a lost item, maybe escort a couple to the Luvdisc Lochan. That was the type of thing he was expecting. And he wasn't complaining about that! It was honest work. It was just that when he saw a mission where he could actually make a difference... of course he'd jumped to it. He was regretting it now, though. He hoped he was ready for something like this. The more he thought about it, the more he'd worked himself up, until the tension was tangible in the air and he swallowed his pride. He'd ended up begging asking a more experienced guild member for help. Better safe than sorry, right?

He hoped he was ready for this. He could usually sense pokemon before they arrived, with their emotions intruding into the Ralts' mind. But this time, they were in sync, and Phosphor had no warning before the client finally poked her head out from the other side of the school gates. He wasn't sure whether the ball of worry in his mind was hers or his or both. He offered a polite wave, feeling a bit unsure as to how he could reassure her. He was the guild member. He'd have to figure it out.

"Hey there." He managed a bit awkwardly, hoping she couldn't tell how unsure of himself he felt.  "My name's Phosphor, and I'm the leader of Team Daybreak." He offered the shiny badge for the Fennekin to inspect, an awed smile crossing her face as she observed the winged badge.

"Woah." The girl stared at the badge for a long while. She was impressed and daunted, but... a little bit set at ease. "You're a guild 'mon. You're really here!" She squeaked, her tail wagging as she spoke.

"'course we came." Phosphor said with a small smile, patting the fire type on the head. "'Another guild pokemon's on her way to help, too. She's real strong and smart, so you've got nothing to worry about." He didn't exactly consider himself either of those things, but at least he knew his limits and asked for help, right? If nothing else, another pair of eyes wouldn't hurt.

The Sylveon was still following them... That was worrisome. The good thing was that he had said he would take a right at the dojo to get to his home. If he didn't, he was obviously lying. Tatsu would just have to wait until they got there.

He thought about the dojo for a bit. He had also heard about it earlier - apparently it was a place where one could train and even learn new moves. After this was sorted out, he might want to go there to see exactly what the place held.

It was a pretty awkward situation overall, though. The Sylveon currently seemed to be trying to converse with the Fennekin, while the latter seemed to want Tatsu to do something. He wasn't sure what to say, though - until he thought of something. He looked at the Sylveon and asked "By any chance, is there another path that leads to your house?"

The Sylveon weighed that for a long moment, tilting his head. "Yeah. They're a little shadier, though, more outta the way. Safer to stick to the main roads at this time of night. I know the police and guild have a big presence here, but..." He frowned, looking down at his paws, deciding the rest could remain unsaid. "... well, you get it. Class runs real late, can't really be too careful."

The Fennekin paused, weighing that. "Makes sense." She added quietly, casting a sideways glance at the third member of their little party. "How far until the dojo?"

"That desperate to get rid of me?" He joked weakly, to no response from the Fennekin. He shook his head, shifting awkwardly in his paws. It didn't exactly take a genius to tell he wasn't welcome. "... uh. Sorry. Five more minutes of walking, about. Then I'll get out of your hair."

It should be pretty obvious to everyone, including the Sylveon, by now that the Fennekin was worried about the Eeveelution. Tatsu felt he should take a more direct approach. He most certainly hadn't lied, but he hadn't quite explained the wider situation to the Sylveon, the exact reason why he (and Phosphor, although he was fine just not mentioning the Ralts for now), had ended up here. It might just be time to do that and explain why he was asking such pointed questions.

He floated onto the Fennekin's back again before talking. "I will be upfront with you. The Fennekin here is worried that you have been stalking her, so I am attempting to provide her with some help. Although there are many Pokémon in her class, it seems that she is concerned about you in particular. If it is true that you only seem to be following her because this is the safest path to your home... Does anyone else from your school live near you?" he asked.

The Sylveon fell quiet, then, his ears flattening and his voice quite small. "Oh. Arceus. ... I'm so sorry, Clover, I had no idea.That's terrifying." The Fennekin didn't answer, then, staring straight through him as if trying to decide if he was trustworthy. "It really wasn't me, I promise, but I- don't know how to prove it? Um, Vera lives pretty close by, but her classes end an hour earlier..." He trailed off, his gaze settling on the sidewalk.

"It... does make me a little nervous, but I'll probably be fine taking the backroads! Sorry, I wouldn't have tried to start up a conversation if I... if I knew..." He dipped his head apologetically, taking a few steps back. Clover, for her part, was still staring - almost as if she was looking straight through her classmate, not at him, as if at something only she could see.

Interesting, Tatsu thought, This Sylveon really seems to not have malicious intent. And if the backroads are not safe... it would be unfortunate to force him to take them. But how can I be sure, unless I continue observing the situation for a few more days? ...Perhaps I could guard him. Or the Fennekin - Clover. But I am a stranger to both of them, and they are children... Tatsu thought, and then he realized something that made him wonder why he hadn't thought of it earlier.

"You are children. Should we talk with your parents and find a solution that will be safe for both of you? Or is there a reason why this should not be done?" Tatsu asked. Why had the Fennekin gone all the way to the guild to ask for help? Why had her parents not been able to do anything about the situation? Tatsu could think of several possible reasons... none of them good.

Both the children blinked up at the Honedge with wide eyes, as if some unspoken secret was being prodded at - one they were reluctant to spill. Clover scratched a paw on the ground. Even the talkative Sylveon's ears had flattened, a deafening silence spilling out across the clearing. "Mom just says this happens to everyone. 's what happens when boys like girls. Part of growing up, she said?" Clover's ears flattened, huffing a sigh. "M-maybe I am just a chicken. Shouldn't have gotten the guildmons dragged into this..."

There was a brief flicker of rage in the boy's eyes, huffing out an annoyed sigh. "I dunno if that's right. And if it is, it shouldn't be. If someone cares about you, they shouldn't scare you like this!" He retorted, casting his angry gaze at the ground. "My mum and dad take turns walking me home. Maybe you can walk with us too when all of this is over? If you want to. It's on the way, so I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

Clover fell very, very quiet. Almost eerily so, staring straight through the Sylveon. "You don't have to though!" He hurried to elaborate, scrambling for more words, when-

"Found you." Her voice was low, pushing past the Sylveon. A quadruped there in the moonlight, stubby legs connected to a stout body, half-hidden in an alleyway. Blue eyes atop a long neck. Staring in their direction, freezing statue still as the Fennekin set eyes on it. And it turned around to scamper off and run further down the alleyway.

But their pursuer had a predator of his own, another shape baring his exit. A burst of pink energy lit up the shadows, revealing a flash of blue scales from the quadruped, and... another figure behind it; a Ralts stepping forward and twisting his hand to summon another pulse of psychic energy. The stalker backed up, forced out of his hiding spot, the blue scales and yellow fins of an Amaura revealed as he sprinted to escape-

- right towards Tatsu and his party. "Don't let him get away!" Phosphor ordered, twisting another pulse of energy in his hands.

Tatsu thought about what Clover and the Sylveon - he wondered why neither the latter Pokémon himself nor Clover had said the name - had just revealed. While the Honedge was no expert in the world of romance, he had to agree with the Sylveon's statement that someone who truly cared wouldn't try to frighten someone else. He was still thinking about the next thing to do when he heard the "Found you," and saw Clover stare.

He turned too and saw the Amaura - and when the Pokémon ran towards them, and Phosphor said not to let him get away, this confirmed to Tatsu that the real stalker was found. The Honedge acted at once, using a Shadow Sneak. He attempted to use his shadow to hinder the Amaura's advance towards Clover and the Sylveon, and engage the aurora Pokémon himself.

The Amaura skidded to a clumsy stop with a startled squeak. He wasn't trying to approach them, exactly, he was trying to run. A plan that Clover was all too quick to interfere with, shooting a red-hot Ember in the ice type's path. The Sylveon, too, rushed into action after he had overcome his shock. His legs were trembling, he was clearly afraid, but he puffed out his fur to try and look a bit larger and more intimidating. Surrounded by four sides, the pokemon glanced nervously between them all, his gaze lingering on Clover for a moment too long for Phosphor's comfort.

So the Ralts snapped his fingers, commanding attention. "D-don't hurt me!" He yelped, looking around for help only to be met with scowls on all sides. Hmm. He seemed pretty young, by Phosphor's count. Maybe he genuinely didn't know better, but he wasn't letting this stalker off the hook until he knew exactly how much fear and anxiety he'd caused his client. Let him off the hook too easy, and he'd just start doing it again.

"Phosphor Arcadio, Team Daybreak. I had some questions for you." The Ralts answered instead, drawing his guild badge from his pocket. "Firstly, where are your parents?" He could only hope the Amaura's parents were more useful than the Fennekin's were, but frankly, his hopes weren't up very high.

His fins flattened in clear anxiety and worry, trembling legs as he backed up towards Tatsu. "... I..." He trailed off, summoning all his bravery. "... i-it doesn't matter! I didn't do anything wrong, I was just- walking! Walking home!"

"I caught you red-handed." Phosphor countered. "Try again." The Amaura glanced back towards the Honedge, searching for... what, help? Reassurance, maybe? It was hard to say, but Phosphor wasn't keen on having any of it.

It seemed that the attacks had managed to stop the Amaura in his tracks. But as Phosphor asked questions, with the Amaura's answers to them merely denying any wrongdoing, the Ice-type was backing up towards Tatsu. The Honedge kept his eye on the Amaura, but at least for now, they didn't seem to be trying to attack.

"Why were you following us? Are you from this Fennekin's school?" Tatsu decided to ask some questions of his own. He continued by stating firmly "Do not lie. Even if you were doing something wrong, tell the truth and admit it now."

The young Amaura froze in place, swallowing hard. He stayed silent for much longer than Phosphor was comfortable with, crossing his arms and staring intently. The Amaura finally started stuttering out something akin to answers. "Yeah, I'm in the next class over. So what?" He challenged, wilting under the Ralts' stare. "I wasn't following you, I was, just going home, my house is at a right! After the dojo!"

The same reasoning? Maybe... "You weren't just watching. You were eavesdropping, too." He stated, and from the way the child's eyes widened, he suspected he was right on the money.  "Do you have any idea how much stress you've caused my client? She hasn't felt safe walking home ever since you got this idea in your head, because she was afraid you were going to hurt her. What do you think about that?"

"I didn't- I'm, sorry, I just thought-" There we go, an admission of wrongdoing. If he wasn't certain they had their stalker before, he definitely was now. "I just... I don't know... thought she was cute...? I didn't mean to scare her that much I promise-"

"But you did." Phosphor added, crossing his arms. "And if you don't take us to your parents, then we might have to get the police involved." He didn't have much sympathy. He was an idiot kid once too, and no one ever cut him a break - especially not the people in charge. Granted, he wasn't ever this brand of idiot, he mused, feeling the faintest pinprick of guilt as the Amaura started tearing up, stumbling back and nodding.

"I'm sorry, please- please don't be mad?" His apologetic gaze seemed to land on the Honedge, who was much less frightening than the Ralts was - likewise with a very unhappy looking Fennekin and Sylveon.

So the Amaura really was the stalker. Tatsu couldn't feel much sympathy for someone who had repeatedly tried to lie about what he had done, but still, it wasn't too difficult for him to believe that the Amaura genuinely had no intention to hurt Clover. After all, if he had wanted to, why hadn't he done it earlier? There were other possible reasons, but still...

"I will not lie either. Your actions were, at the very least, foolish and hurtful. Even if you really liked her, what you did has only turned her against you. But do what Phosphor here said and take us to your parents. The police, hopefully, should not have to be involved then, and whatever punishment you receive for this will probably be less severe than if they are," Tatsu replied as the Amaura looked at him.

"He's right." Phosphor nodded in agreement. "Talking to your parents is the way you're gonna get out of this the easiest. If you stalk her again after this, I'll be back with the cops." The Ralts informed him coldly. Despite his tone, he was... a little relieved that this was just a stupid kid, and not something more sinister. Clover should be safe from now on.

The ice type nodded quickly, his legs trembling. "Okay! Okay, I'll, I'll take you there." He gave in, swallowing hard. Phosphor had to admit he wasn't looking forward to this, this wouldn't be a fun conversation to have, but... it needed to get done.

"... so it's over?" Clover's voice broke through the fog, quiet and tenuous.

"Hopefully it will be, very soon," Tatsu replied to Clover's question, "once we get this settled with his parents." What would they be like? the Honedge wondered, Did they not know what the Amaura was doing? Entirely possible... hopefully they're not the kind that would encourage this behavior.

He floated onto Clover's back for... the third time? The Amaura probably wasn't a threat now, so unless something else came up, there wouldn't be much else to do until the group got to the parents. Tatsu had been wondering whether he could become a permanent guardian to Clover or maybe the Sylveon, but as things went on, he doubted more that he would be useful to them. They were still kids under the protection of their parents, and, as Phosphor had mentioned, in a city with police protection.

Even if what Clover had said about her mother apparently considering stalking normal for romance was concerning, it didn't seem that her mother actually wanted her to get hurt. He wondered whether they should go tell Clover's mother about how much stress the Fennekin had experienced afterwards, and hopefully help her understand the seriousness of the matter. And as for Phosphor, he was already a member of the guild. Although... did he have a partner or not there? Tatsu wasn't sure when to ask, though.

The Amaura walked along with his head dipped in shame. Phosphor kept an eye on him, but he doubted that he'd make any attempts to flee. No escape attempts that would last for very long, anyways. They were going to talk to his parents, and he couldn't just... not go home. He was less worried about the stalker getting away, now that they'd identified him as someone who went to Clover's school, and more worried about the idea of this kid running off on his own in the middle of the night.

The Fennekin seemed a lot more at ease now with Tatsu's reassurance, giving the Honedge a thankful nod. She still walked between Phosphor and the Sylveon, keeping her distance from the Amaura, but overall she did seem much more comfortable. "Yeah, I'd like to take you up on that, Caspian. That sounds nice. If your parents wouldn't mind me walking with you guys...?"

So that was the guy's name, huh? Better late than never, Phosphor thought wryly. "I'm sure they'll be happy to!" Caspian answered in return with a wagging tail. They weren't out of the woods yet, but... maybe this would turn out alright after all?

"And thank you, Phosphor. And Tatsumasa!" Clover chimed happily, her spirits seeming to lift readily at the idea that this would finally be over. "It, um. Really does mean a lot to me."

The Ralts couldn't help but chuckle. "It's no problem, kiddo." He gave her a scratch on the head, to which she gave him a dirty look - okay, okay, he got the message, she wasn't a kid. Clearly. He glanced back up at Tatsumasa, giving him a nod. "And you too. I really owe you, this wouldn't have been an easy mission to take alone." He cleared his throat, glancing up at the sword pokemon. "So, ah... thanks." It felt lame and dull and all too insignificant for how much good the total stranger might have done tonight, but Phosphor didn't know how else to thank him.

"At least let me split the reward with you, alright? It's only fair, you did just as much work as me." The Ralts decided, making up his mind with a nod.

"... my house is up ahead." The Amaura muttered quietly. If they lost his words in the rest of the conversation, that would be just fine by him. "L-let me know when you wanna go in, I guess."

Things at least seemed to be going somewhat well, given the circumstances, so far. The Sylveon's name was finally revealed to be Caspian, but what was the Amaura's? Perhaps they'd find out once they got to the ice Pokémon's home. And now he was being thanked. "You're welcome," Tatsu replied, "And I am very grateful that you wish to split your reward with me, Phosphor, although I am not part of the guild." 'It wasn't an easy mission to take alone', he said, Tatsu thought, it does seem likely that he really has no partner. Hmm...

As Tatsu was thinking, he noticed the Amaura say his house was up ahead. "So we are here," the Honedge said, "I, personally, am fine with going in right now. But is everybody else?"