Chapter 04: Unexpected Conflicts
Page 27 of the Explorer's Guide: Lucario Guild
Lucario Guild is the oldest of the three Guilds, being founded 6 AU by Laryon Lucario. It is based on the Old Lucario Guild, the first of the former six Guilds of Equivos formed by Matheus Lucario. Lucario Guild specializes in rescue work and discovery missions, similar to Rhyperior Guild in that sense. Eight statues within the connected Mystery Dungeon's exit depict the seven Pokemon who built it and the one who inspired it, Matheus Lucario.
Matheus' Notes:
This new Guild was formed before I was reborn as a Legend, so I don't know much about its construction. I will say, however, they did a good job on my statue. It looks regal, lifelike, and--hey, is my nose really that big?
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Sion's eyes fluttered open, the Zoroark sprawled over his bed. The room was illuminated with yellow light, the rays from the morning sun brightening what it touched. Lucario Guild began to stir, refreshed for a new day of exploration and work. Swablu from the Founder's Canyon called through the morning air, waking all who heard their warbles.
Sion rubbed his face, then looked to his left, seeing Corinne sleeping peacefully. He sat up, smacking his lips, then set his feet on the floor, slowly standing up. He stood up straight, leaning back to stretch, then shuffled to the closet, opening the door.
Within were what belonging they had in their stay here. A basket of berries with a set of messy dishes sat on a shelf, next to some sheets and blankets. An unlit lantern hung overhead, the light of the room making the dull surface shine slightly. Two bags were on the center shelf, and a bundle of wands labelled as 'Petrify' sat next to them. Outside of these few things, the closet loomed with dust and cobwebs, seen with little need to clean.
Sion yawned once more, taking a handful of random berries from the basket. He popped a Cheri Berry in his mouth, the tangy flavor spreading in his mouth. He exited the closet, closing the door, and opened the door to the hallway. He looked back to his mother, seeing her stir, and waved to her.
"I'll see you later," he said, shutting the door behind him. He walked down the hallway to the stairs, eating a sweet Wacan Berry on his way. He stepped down the stairs, hearing the gentle breathing of a Pokemon down below.
Behind the desk was a Lopunny, arms crossed and head on top of them, her ears acting as pillows. She wore a blue apron, emblazoned with the Arc so prevalent in Lucario Guild, patterned with dirt and various other stains. Despite the apron's messiness, her fur was immaculately clean, combed and scrubbed thoroughly.
Sion reached the edge of the stairs, jumping off the last step. The vibrations shook the desk, causing her head to slip from its comfortable position, ending up with her falling to the floor.
Thunk!
The Lopunny stood up, clutching her forehead wincing. "Ow!" She straightened up, and with a barely audible crack, grabbed her back. She leaned forward, looking behind her. "Ow..." She slumped against the desk, and sighed. "That's the last time I sleep at my station," she muttered. She looked forward, seeing a scruffy Zoroark with a bundle of berries in is claws, watching her curiously. The Lopunny smiled, standing up properly and walking around the desk.
"Good morning Sion! How did you sleep?" she asked, hugging him. Sion, carefully holding out the berries as to not get them crushed, returned the hug. They let go of each other, and Sion grabbed another berry, holding it gingerly between his claws.
He said while eating it, "It was great Molly; you always make the beds right." He ignored the fact that his bed had the covers thrown everywhere last night, as it usually ended up when he slept at night.
Molly wiped her brow, going back to her desk. "Thank goodness. I thought I forgot to do your room." She returned to the desk, rubbing her back. "It's hard being an innkeeper and a daycare worker. Everyone's wanting me everywhere at once!" She sighed, propping her head on top of the desk. "I wish that Doug could help me out around here..." A door to the right swung open, a big Diggersby stomping out of it then leaning on the doorframe, the wood creaking under his weight. He looked grumpily at Molly, squinting his eyes, adjusting to the sudden brightness of the room.
With a gruff voice Doug said, "I have a hard enough time going out of the guild and finding good stuff to sell to ole Kecleon. The inn's your work, not mine." Sion steadily stepped back, keeping the berries behind his back.
Doug sniffed the air, perking up. His barrel-like stomach grumbled, the Diggersby rubbing it hungrily. He looked to the entrance, seeing nothing, yet smelling something sweet in that direction.
He looked at Molly and pointed at the door, saying, "Did you get some berries from the patch just for me?" Molly looked toward the door, seeing a slight shimmer in the air, and berries floating within it.
She looked back at Doug, biting her lip. "Uh..." she replied, looking away from the berries. Doug smiled laxly, lumbering toward the berries, still groggy from last night's rest.
He grasped at the berries, not hearing the increased breathing of the hidden Zoroark. The berries lifted in the air, going above his reach. Doug growled, throwing his right ear toward the berries, punching Sion's paw. He cried out, dropping the berries. Doug grinned, scooping the berries from the floor with his hand, eating all of them at once.
He patted his belly, returning to the door he came from. "Thanks very much for the meal. I loved the sound they made when I grabbed them." He opened the door and entered the room once more, slamming the ocean-blue door.
Sion reappeared, grasping his paw. Molly rushed over to him, inspecting his paw. "He didn't hurt you too badly did he?"
Sion shook his head, taking back his limb. He rubbed it, saying, "No, but he took my breakfast. I want to leave the rest of the berries for mom, so I guess I'll have to go to the cafe." He shuddered, remembering the last time he entered.
Molly whistled softly, looking away. She went back behind her desk, stooping down and digging through the underside, and said, "I need to grab a bite too. I'll come with you." She came out with a bag over her shoulder, stepping around the desk and drawing close to Sion. They exited the inn, walking along the path toward the Wenstrel Cafe.
They talked with each other, trading banter as they strolled. Few Pokemon were out from their beds, the few being berry workers and early bird explorers. There were none to distract Sion with their worries, so he could freely express himself:
"Has Doug always been like that?"
"He was better when I married him. He's so tired from going abroad that he can hardly do anything but sleep when he returns."
"It'd be nice if he didn't want me out of the inn."
"You know how strongly he feels about the Guild. In his mind, all Zoroarks are bad. There's only so much you can do for public opinion."
"Well, he's not far off. There's few Zoroarks in Equivos, and they tend to be Outlaws, using their illusions to get the better of people. It only got worse with Arthus."
"Don't let that thing bother you too much. Everyone here will eventually see how good of Pokemon you are. I see that, Victor sees that, even Lukas sees that!"
"Master Mienshao does what he can, especially with...certain Pokemon."
"You mean Ren, don't you?"
"...yeah. He's just downright cruel at times. Every day he does something to hurt me, and it always focuses around how I shouldn't be here because I'm descended from Arthus."
"Ren's just a bully. I dread the day he becomes Guildmaster, and when that day comes, I'm going to move out, whether Doug likes it or not."
"I feel like I want to move out right now. It's been nice here in the Guild, but with him around, it makes it difficult to want anything more than to get away."
"Don't worry about what he or anyone else has to say about you. You are a good and honest Pokemon, and I am glad to see that you aren't the stereotypical Zoroark."
"...thanks."
Just ahead of them was an oval-shaped building, extending lengthwise on the path. Two heavy wooden doors were propped open, the delicious aromas wafting out from the kitchen within. The walls were painted a pale cyan, in commemoration of the ancient Chef Wenstrel Quagsire, a dear friend of Laryon Lucario in his time, the roof covered with dark purple tiles. The sign overhead showed the face of a Quagsire, with the words "The Wenstrel Cafe: In Memoriam" Large windows were embedded into the walls, letting the morning sun shine into the interior.
Molly set a paw on Sion's, looking up to him. "You know I can just get you some food. You wouldn't have to deal with Simeon."
Sion looked down, smiling halfheartedly. "I'll be fine. I have to face him at some point, right?" He replied. He entered the doorway, Molly crossing her fingers that all would go well.
Inside, the walls were painted a pale purple, the stonework below them painted with cyan paint. In the center of the floor, the ever-noticeable Seal of Arceus painted in a bold yellow. Small oval tables littered the floor, spotlessly clean for the breakfast rush, the chairs surrounding the smooth surfaces. A large wall bisected the oval lengthwise, with a long rectangular hole through it, showing the ever-busy cooks preparing today’s meal: Oran Crepes with Moomoo Cream. No other Pokemon stood inside, the other Guild Pokemon still rousing themselves from sleep.
Sion set a paw over the threshold, and a wobbly pink and white figure stopped. He turned around, staring warily at Sion. The Slurpuff wore an oversized chef’s hat atop his head, and a messily clean apron around his wide chest. He stood on top of a stepstool, making himself the same height as the other kitchen workers, preparing the crepe filling for the meal.
He grunted, leaving his work and stepping down the ladder, budging through the other workers’ way and stepping through the door, his arms on his hips. In a high and reedy voice, he exclaimed, “I thought I told you that you weren’t welcome here!” Sion grinned weakly and waved hello.
Molly entered, grabbing hold of Sion’s arm. “Simeon, you know he’s sorry for dumping your cake batter over you. Can’t you please let him have breakfast?” She sniffed the air, smiling. “Mm, smells like your famous crepes!”
Simeon Slurpuff blushed slightly at the mention of his cooking. “Filled with Oran berry filling! Delicious!” He sighed, looking dreamily into the air. He shook his head, pointing at Sion. “Anyway, it’s not just the whole cake incidence—even if I really missed baking that cake—it’s also because I’m not sure how much I can trust you,” Simeon stated.
Sion groaned, rubbing his temples at the same response he’s heard for years. “I’ve lived here for years, helping out where I can, and you still don’t know how much you trust me?” Sion exclaimed.
Simeon held up his arms defensively, eyes widened and his little pink tongue tucked back into his mouth. “Can’t be too careful in today’s day and age you know!” He replied. He closed his eyes, drooping forward slightly, leaning his head on his arms, thinking. He looked back at Sion and sighed, saying, “Alright, I’ll give you another chance. I’m warning you though:” He leered cautiously at Sion, saying, “If you make one wrong move, I’ll kick you out of here faster than you can say ‘cupcake’! The Guildmaster might like you hanging around, but I don’t, and this is my café, so I make the rules! Understood?”
Sion nodded, inwardly groaning as to not offend his unwilling host. Slurpuff nodded agreeably, waddling back into the kitchen, shoving past his co-workers and going back on top of his stepladder, scraping the bottom of his pan and sampling his Oran handiwork.
Molly and Sion took their seats, the latter rubbing her back afterward. “I need a break from the daycare, or I’ll go crazy! I can hardly touch the Nido-Lord Team’s kids because of their spines, and they’re the ones that cause the most trouble!” She shuddered, looking behind her. “And there’s seven of them.” Sion nodded, taking a napkin from the wooden holder, unfolding it and laying I across his lap.
He replied, “Those little terrors are nothing compared to what Ren does to me. One day he took some jam from a sandwich he brought from lunch and slathered it over my headfur!” Sion rubbed his long bundle of fur, feeling it stick to his fingers. “It was over a week ago, and I can still feel it!” He took back his claw, sniffing it. “Even worse, it was Pecha berry; I hate Pecha!”
Molly grimaced, rubbing her ear’s luxuriously soft fur. “I’m glad my husband changed his prankster ways when we began to date; he liked doing the same thing to me when we were younger. The best way to get rid of it is to—” She cut herself short, mouth agape and eyes widening. She tapped on Sion’s paw, pointing at the Pokemon who just came through the doors. Sion looked in that direction, his face falling.
Stomping angrily through the door was Ren Lucario, his brow furrowed and his jaw clenched, paws up in the air. His tail hovered closer to the ground as he approached his seat, which happened to be at the opposite corner of the room. He scooted the chair back, purposely making it screech across the wood. He sat down in it, pulling it up, making the screech one more, and sat with his arms crossed, looking down at the table.
Sion quickly turned invisible, not wanting to be spotted by the infuriated Lucario. He came close to Molly, he stood as still as possible as to not gather his attention. “Just stay still, and don’t say a thing. I haven’t seen him in a mood like this since I put his name in the dancing competition.” Molly looked in his direction with a bewildered look on her face. Sion quickly added, “Johnson wanted me to do it.”
Ren looked around, seeing only Molly. He looked in the kitchen’s direction, groaning. Grumpily he exclaimed, “When will breakfast be ready? I’m starving!”
A Drowzee looked over the counter, looking over to the son of Lukas. “Hold your Ponyta there, we’ve got another ten minutes before the crepes are done! We can’t rush everything for the future Guildmaster,” the Drowzee replied, stepping away and taking a plate from a fellow Lombre.
Ren growled, looking in Molly’s direction. “Future Guildmaster…yeah right. I know I’ll be a good one, even if Dad doesn’t think so. I’m honorable. I’m kind. I’ve got friends.” He looked at Molly, his angered face unchanging. “What do you think?” Molly remained silent, unsure of what the right answer would be.
Ren growled again, standing up swiftly and marching toward the Lopunny, his chair’s back falling to the ground. “Well, what do you think!” he exclaimed louder.
Molly began to stand up, edging away from Ren. Stuttering, she said, “I-I think y-you’re a good Pokemon, a-and that you’d make a great G-Guildmaster.”
Ren fumed, slamming his paw against the table. “Then why am I not good enough!” he asked, his voice echoing into the kitchen. Simeon perked up, ladling Oran filling into wraps, concerned. He looked out into the cafeteria, seeing Ren approaching Molly with a stern expression, the Lopunny fearful and holding her paws out.
Simeon jumped off his ladder and rushed out of the kitchen, his belly scraping against the floor. He jabbed his arm at Ren and exclaimed, “Oi you! Get out of here or shape up! We treat the ladies respectfully here!”
Ren turned to him, quivering. With restraint, he replied, “I was just asking her a question…like a friend.”
Simeon set his arms on his hips again, studying him crossly. “Ha, sure. You’ve been such a great friend that you had to have your daddy send you to the Luminous Cavern to evolve,” Simeon stated. Molly ran away from Ren and out the door as he clenched his paws, gritting his teeth and trembling in anger.
He ran forward, Simeon’s grin of insult turning into a grimace of fear. Ren raised his paw into the air, the limb glowing with orange energy. Ren exhaled inhaled sharply, and exhaled quickly, then roaring, “You’ll regret saying that!” He threw a punch downward, radiating waves of orange energy.
Ren got thrown backward, the Power-Up Punch dissipating into a violet scratch in the air, the owner reappearing in front of Simeon. Ren sat up on the ground, growling.
“You’re always there, Illusion, hiding with your vicious tricks!” Ren sneered, Sion standing protectively in front of Simeon. The tubby Slurpuff quickly dove over the counter, pulling a rope away from its anchor next to the wall, a metal sheet crashed down, covering the hole between the kitchen and the café.
“We got a mad Lucario in there, and it ain’t pretty!” his voice exclaimed, the bolts for the doors clicking.
Sion got into a defensive position, keeping his legs and arms apart. Ren raise his fist, glowing with orange energy once more. He lunged for Sion, the Zoroark jumping to the right. Ren punched the wall instead, leaving a deep indentation within. He pulled his arm away, running after Sion, a dark-blue energy enveloping his limbs.
Sion quickly turned invisible, the dark-blue energy in Ren’s hands forming into an elongated bone. Ren halted, listening for the fleeing Zoroark. He heard the creak of wood, and jumped into the air, slamming a table below with his bone. It cracked and splintered, splitting in half under the force. He heard a cry, saw Sion reappear on the ground, sprawled out.
Ren roared, jumping into the air once more. A purple energy reverberated around Sion, and he dashed out of the way, leaving Ren to bury his bone deep into the floor. Sion seemed to run faster than before, leaving light-purple streaks behind. Ren let go of the bone, the weapon dissipating into the same dark-blue energy. He thrust his paw out, his entire body glowing red, tiny incarnations of swords floating overhead.
Sion ran toward the door, breathing rapidly. Ren clapped his paws together, the clinking of metal coming from them. He opened his paws, keeping his wrists together, and a grey-white beam of light shot out, striking Sion on his side. He gasped in pain, falling to the floor, just making it outside.
Ren stepped forward, moving around the pieces of wooden debris. He stood over Sion, grabbing him by his headfur. He turned him around looking directly into his foes eyes. “You’ll never be as good as I am. I am related to Laryon, and you to Arthus. Who was the winner in that story?” With his other paw, he charged it with orange-energy once more, rearing it back, preparing for another strike. Sion cringed, expecting the worst.
Behind Ren, a burst of electricity surrounded him, the Lucario’s face turning from hate to fear. He dropped Sion, leaving him to collapse to the ground, breathing rapidly. Ren dropped to the ground as well, his limbs frozen and his face set. Behind him a Heliolisk, his frilled neck extended. Next to him was Molly Lopunny, clutching her bag and her paw to her cheek as she saw Sion and Ren. Behind both was a tall figure, wearing a brown cloak and hat, the Guildmaster’s Seal around his neck.
The Heliolisk lowered his frill, looking down at Ren sadly. The brown-cloaked Lucario pushed through, kneeling and taking off his hat, revealing himself to be Guildmaster Lukas. He sighed, studying both Ren and Sion with grief.
“Harold, send them both to the Medical Bay, then after they are healed send them to me. Punishment is in order.”
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