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All characters belong to them.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Well Shia, you done it now, haven't you?

Ironswap is a swap of Sands of Iron by InfinityDoom. All characters belong to them.", "writing": "Silently, and reluctantly, the Shinx walked the streets, slowly making his way to his destination. He knew where it was of course. How could he forget? The humiliation, the pain, all brought about by it. He didn't want to go back there. Yet, he needed to. His paw gripped the item in his hand tightly. The dagger that the charmander had given him.\n\nAs it turned out, there was a catch after all. The words of the charmander rung fresh in his mind.\n\n[i]\"But now that you mention it... it would be mutually beneficial to us both if the two that used and abused you were to shuffle off this mortal coil. Would it not? Besides, you need a Guild badge, or someone with it by your side to even leave town...\"[/i]\n\nHe took a breath and sighed. He didn't really want to do this, but the charmander was right about that last part. And his instructions were clear to the little shinx. Kill the two targets. That was the price for his help. Shia did not understand why the Charmander wanted those two dead, but if he, or others had gone through what he did, he could guess. He still had no idea who this strange charmander was or what his deal was, but he'd given him help, however small, when no one else did. \n\nThe lives of two not-so-innocent mons was a small price to pay for it. \n\nStill, he did not relish in what he was about to do. He would shed no tears for them, of course. But to Shia, this was a job. A task to be done. Nothing more.\n\nHe just hoped that he didn't have to search the whole town for both of them. That they'd be there when he'd arrived. As he climbed the steps to the guild, his ears rung as they picked up the voices of the two he was seeking. They were in the middle of an argument.\n\n\"For the last fucking time!\" He heard the Helios, the one that raped him, shout. \"You do NOT get to bring your umbre-whores home!\"\n\n\"I'll bring whoever I fucking want home if I want!\" The petulant gabite argued back. \"And then I'll fuck them, right in front of your fucking stupid face!\"\n\n\"Not while I'm your boss, you won't.\"\n\n\"You aren't the boss of me! You aren't my dad.\"\n\n\"Need I remind you that your 'dad' took away your noble badge and put me in charge of you to straighten you out?\"\n\nShia felt two parts relieved, and annoyed that they were both here. With a groan, he topped the stairs and stalked towards the pair. He kept the knife, as well as his intents, hidden as he shuffled towards his prey.\n\n\"What a joke that was!\" Gaben fired back, completely unaware of the shinx making his way towards him. \"This place is the nuts running the nuthouse. Believe me, when my father finally takes me back and I get my badge, the first thing I'm doing is dismantling this fucking joke of a guild!\"\n\n\"Yeah, keep that attitude up boy, and I'll grow old and die before-\" The heliolisk stopped his argument mid-sentence as he noticed the shinx coming towards them. He moved his head a little to the side to get a better look. \"Oh you've [i]gotta[/i] be fuckin' kidding me!\" He muttered. \"It's that little shit-shinx again.\"\n\nFinally, Gaben turned around, he wore a look of pure disgust and irritation as he saw Shia coming closer to him, now only a few inches. The Guildmaster, having suspected nothing, groaned. \"Gaben, you deal with this little shit, I'm going back insi-\"\n\nBefore Gaben could do anything however, Shia wordlessly drew the knife, and quickly slashed at the Gabite's throat. The strike hit its mark, and blood poured from the open wound, staining the sands to the side and below him with blood. Instinctively, Gaben reached for his throat, desperate to stop the escaping blood and air, but it was far too little, far too late. Shia quickly grabbed his shoulder, and thrust the blade into his heart, furthering his wounds and lessening what little time on this mortal plane he had left. The ex-noble hadn't even had time to utter a plea for mercy before he dropped to his knees, and hit the sand, the coarse dry micropebbles becoming wet and stained with his blood, but not before Shia turned his attention to the monstrous heliolisk that had just a day before, mercilessly raped him in broad daylight. \n\nSaid Heliolisk was now in a panic. In desperation, he charged a move, any move, to save his own life. Had his mind been more clear however, he would have realized how useless this was, a fact made evident as the Iron weapon found its way to his own throat, piercing it on one side. It went in so far that the tip just barely broke skin on the other side. Shia, who at this point had remained deathly silent, gave a loud yell as he withdrew the blade from his malefactor's throat and proceeded to slash it open. In a fit of unchecked rage, he quickly stabbed the guild master in the chest, over and over, even as life left his body and joined his so-called pupil wherever he was now.\n\nThe rage soon subsided, and Shia let the body fall to the ground. Checking his handiwork, a flood of emotions entered the Shinx's mind. Shock, fear, regret, mortification at what he had just done. He fell to his knees, and gripped his head. He'd done what he was asked. Before this, he had no qualms about doing this. Yet now... it all felt so... wrong. So evil. He wondered if he himself was the evil one, and not these two. He barely suppressed the urge to vomit on the sands, his shock was so great.\n\nAnd yet, there was a small part, a small part that reveled in what he'd just done. Or at least tried to excuse it. To rationalize it away, to call him to regain his senses. These two had abused him, and who knows how many others? They had it coming, right? Just like that bitch Brene.\n\nBrene...\n\nThat's right. He still had work to do. Now wasn't the time to sit around and mope and feel sorry for an asshole ex-lord and a rapist guild master. He needed to move. He saw the latter's badge, and was just about to reach for it when-\n\n\"HALT!\"\n\nShia's head jerked over to the side, and saw a guard, an Ampharos, coming straight at him, spear at the ready. Instinctively, the shinx leapt to his feet, and ran. A thought flashed through his mind, wondering how they caught onto him that fast. Did someone see him from inside and go for help? Or did he just waste so much time feeling sorry for himself that he let himself be seen? \nWell, it hardly mattered now. The only thing now was escape or die.\n\n\"STOP THE ASSASSIN!!\" He heard shouting behind him, and as he ran, he saw more guards giving chase. He knew he'd be as dead as the others if they caught him. Luckily, he held the speed advantage, but he knew he couldn't keep it up forever. There was only one place he could go now, the entrance. Unfortunately for him, the Ursurang guard was there, his own spear and girth blocking his only way out.\n\nHe quickly looked around, but found no other means of escape. No building was close enough to the wall to jump it, and he wasn't nearly spry enough to do it himself. Shinx were not known for climbing skills. The only way out was through that archway, blocked by that single Ursurang. \n\nHe took a breath, and took a running start. This would be all or nothing. The guard's eyes narrowed, his face morphing into a hostile growl as he readied his spear to skewer the incoming shinx. Shia leapt, and dove to the sands right as he reached the gate guard. He felt the air move as the spear jabbed at him, and felt a few hairs on his back make contact with the stone and wooden weapon. Luckily for him, it missed by only a few hairs length, and he was able to do what he intended: he slid underneath the bulky bear mon's legs, his body sliding in the sand a mere foot step before coming to a stop.\n\nThe bear looked around confused, then bent over and looked under him and saw the shinx's body on the other side of the gate. Shia didn't waste a second however, and leapt to his feet, his dagger still in hand, as he ran for the only place now that he could even call home: the maze. As he ran, he looked back, and saw that the guards were no longer in pursuit. It seemed none of them wanted to leave town to catch him.\n\nIt would not last of course, but at least he had a start. And if he could reach the maze before they did, he could lose them. At least for a very long time. Long enough to finish up what he needed to do.\nAfter that... well... He'd have to think about that once he got to that point. All that mattered now was taking down Brene, and saving Veera from her clutches. And making those two other rapists that had raped him and his friends pay for what they did. Nothing else after that mattered.\n\n\"...WHAT?!\"\n\nOn the other side of town, a commotion of a different kind was underway inside the AshShell guild hall. Rai had just declared his intentions, to not only leave town, but to assist Loona in hunting down Brene. Needless to say, they were all in shock. And a certain Riolu was not taking it well at all.\n\n\"You CANNOT be serious!\" She shouted at the Raichu in front of her. \"ESPECIALLY not now, of ALL times!?\"\n\n\"The Guild is leaving in less than a week, Rai.\" The guildmaster added in. \"You're running the risk of being left behind.\"\n\n\"I'm well aware of that.\" Rai told his superior bluntly.\n\n\"Please, don't you go after that... that... that [i]sociopath!\"[/i] The Riolu pleaded. \"You know how many mons have tried to claim her bounty, right? Even those damn sleaseballs in the Sandstone Guild don't even bother to try anymore.\"\n\n\"Knowing them, they've probably cut some sort of deal.\" Burrs commented in the background.\n\n\"Yeah, probably. But anyway, Rai, the bounty isn't worth-\"\n\n\"This isn't about the bounty!\" Rai shouted back. \"In fact, sod the bounty! I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do.\"\n\n\"'Right thing to do?!'\" The female Riolu yelled indignantly. \"Since when is 'getting yourself killed' the 'right thing to do?!'\" Her eyes shifted towards Loona, who thus far had said nothing, and couldn't help but feel more than intimidated when her purple eyes bore into the Linoone's aqua ones. The Linoone rubbed her left arm awkwardly with her right paw. \"Oh, I get it now. This is about that little sav-\"\n\nA quick glare from the Oshawatt guildmaster shut her down before she could finish the word. She quickly cleared her throat and corrected herself. \"Er, that [i]dungeon dweller[/i]... that got kidnapped, isn't it? You know she's probably dead, or worse, by now right?!\"\n\n\"That might very well be.\" Rai told her. \"But that doesn't change the fact that something has to be done about Brene. And if no one here will do it, then it falls to me, and that's all there is to it. I've put it off long enough, and enough people have suffered. One way or another, it has to end now.\"\n\n\"You cannot be [i]that[/i] pussywhipped by that wannabe-citizen standing right there-\"\n\n[b]\"ENOUGH!!\" [/b]Rai roared, having finally had enough of the Rilou's classism. So great was his anger that sparks danced across the electric rat's cheeks, threatening to burst out with an attack at any moment. \"I will not stand here while you throw mud on a [i]fellow[/i] dungeon dweller! Or did you forget about where I came from in the first place?!\" He shouted. \n\nThis sudden burst of anger scared even Loona a little, and it seemed to do the job more than enough for the Riolu, who was taken aback with fear. Seeing her reaction, Rai took a few breaths that culminated in a deep sigh, and calmed down, the sparks soon subsiding as he spoke.\n\n\"Look, Riley...\" He regretfully told the Riolu. \"I'm sorry it didn't work out between us, I really am. But that's no reason to start spewing such hateful vitriol at her.\" Rai looked at the Linoone with a soft look, and she weakly smiled back. Rai then focuses his attention back to Riley, the Riolu who Loona had just learned was apparently his... ex? Former lover? Fling? Something like that? Something Loona would have to ask later. Or perhaps not.\n\n\"I'll admit though...\" Rai continued. \"That yes, she's part of that decision. But no, when it comes right down to it, I have my own reasons.\"\n\nHe paused, and gathered his thoughts before he continued.\n\n\"It's because... She's right. I was a coward.\" He sighed. \"I refused to help this woman here, because I was scared. Scared of what might happen to me, yes. Just like you are. But... More than that, I was, and still am, scared of seeing what my former mentor has turned into. Of seeing every good thing I knew about her, about seeing all the virtues she taught me, refuted. I was willing to shy away, to let 'others' deal with it, just so I didn't have to, like a coward. Just like we do when it comes to the underground slave trade. How we strut around taking credit for stopping the surface slave trade, while shrinking away from dealing with the illegal underground trade, which has only gotten worse over the years.\"\n\nSebastion's eyes narrowed at this remark, but he said nothing as Rai continued.\n\n\"Well, that ends now. Either I stop Brene, or die trying. Because if I don't, no one will.\" He looked over to Sebastian. \"I know you don't agree with me, Guild Leader, and if you want to kick me out of the guild for doing that, then I'm fine with that. It won't change what I need to do, though.\"\n\n\"Why would I kick you out for this?\" Sebastian said solemnly. \"You are right, I don't agree with it, but you're standing up for what you believe in. If this is what you feel is right, then I can only hope you succeed in it, and that you find your way back to us, one way or another. I may not like it, but I'll pray to whatever gods are listening for your success and safe return.\"\n\nRai's expression softened to a sad smile. He made his way over to the guild master, and was about to hug him when he remembered the fact that he was still in bandages from Brene's mace attack. So he settled for giving him a lighter, but still heartfelt hug instead.\n\n\"Everything that is good in me,\" Rai said sorrowfully, \"I learned from you, and her...\"\n\nHe released him from his grasp. He gave a respectful bow towards his guildmaster, who nodded in return. tapped Loona on the shoulder, signaling that it was time to go. Loona headed out the door, and Rai was just about to, when he stopped suddenly. Without turning, he quickly spoke.\n\n\"I'll try to save her, if I can. Brene I mean...\"\n\n\"And what are you going to do if she's too far gone for that?!\" Riley shouted one last time.\n\n\"What I must.\" Rai responded darkly, before finally leaving. He closed the door behind him, and met up with his new Linoone fiend again.\n\n\"Well...\" Rai sighed. \"That went well.\" He said sarcastically.\n\n\"Are you alright?\" Loona asked with concern. \"That was quite the argument.\"\n\n\"Yeah, I'm alright.\" Rai said dismissively, but he still managed a smile in response to her concern. \"I expected something like this would happen. In all honesty, I expected worse.\"\n\nLoona couldn't imagine how exactly it could have gone worse, but she decided not to ask. She did, however, ask a different question.\n\n\"I notice you didn't bring up the whole manor thing from last night.\"\n\n\"It's better if they don't know about that. At least for now.\" Rai quickly explained. \"Plausible deniability and all that. A bit pointless anyway since we're moving out, as you heard. Besides, us being out in the dungeon gives us the perfect excuse to not be in town for the next couple of days, to let Piggle's little grudge fizzle out.\"\n\n\"I somehow doubt he'll let it go that easily.\" Loona lamented.\n\n\"Probably not, but by then he'll likely have cooked up some new scheme or something. So it all works out.\" Rai said dismissively.\n\n\"So what happens if you don't make it back in time?\" Loona asked. This caused Rai to frown a little.\n\n\"I'm more concerned about us making it back in the first place. If they're gone by the time we come back, well...\" He stopped as he thought about the answer. An answer that didn't seem to be coming to him. After a few moments, he gave up, sighed, and shrugged. \"I'll think of something, I guess. I know where they're going, so there is that.\" He looked at her and smiled. \"Either way, it's nothing you need to worry about, Loona. Right now let's focus on-\"\n\nThe sound of a stomach growling interrupted his conversation. Neither of them knew whose it was, but it was enough to cause them to look at each other awkwardly.\n\n\"-On getting ourselves some breakfast. Can't go dungeoneering on an empty stomach after all. And there's no sense wasting the provisions we have as long as we're here.\" He quickly added. He tapped her shoulder reassuringly. \"Come on, I know just the place.\" He said with a smile.\n\nLoona smiled back, and followed him through the streets, until he stopped by a building. She couldn't read the sign.\n\n\"The old noodle joint.\" Rai explained. \"Good place to fill up before going about your day.\" He put his paw on her shoulder and stepped into the place with her.\n\n\"Huh, how about that?\" Rai asked. \n\"Oh, it's you guys.\" Loona remarked. Right in front of them, sitting at the table, there was her ... former? Boss, Igon, and Ara, the shopkeeper. It would appear the two of them had been catching up when they'd walked in.\n\n\"Oh hey Loona!\" Igon cheerfully greeted. \"How're you doin'?\"\n\n\"I'm... Doing well.\" Loona replied awkwardly. \n\n\"Well don't just stand there, have a seat!\" He reached over and pulled a spare wooden chair at the table out invitingly. Ara did the same with a chair next to her, though she used her telekenetics to move it instead of her physical strength for Rai. Conveniently, or perhaps, awkwardly enough, they were located right across from each other. Loona took a seat next to Ara, and Rai took one next to Igon. It seemed to slightly disappoint the big Flygon that Loona didn't sit next to him, but it was a fact that didn't show for long, as he cheerfully called out. \"Hey waiter! Two extra bowls for our guests here!\"\n\nWhile they waited for their bowls, Loona thought of how to start the conversation. To be honest, she wasn't particularly close to either of these guys, having only known them for a day, less even. Still, it was nice to see them again. Though she really didn't know what to say. She looked at Rai, who looked back. It looked like he was similarly having trouble on how to start the conversation. Igon saw them looking at each other, and a grin appeared on his face. Before anyone could stop him, he blurted out.\n\n\"So, have you two done it yet?\"\n\n\"What?\" Both the Linoone and the Raichu blurted out. \"NO!\" Their faces went a deep shade of red. \n\n\"I... we haven't...\" Loona stammered. \n\n\"I mean, I ... uh...\"\n\n\"Oh give it time, Igon.\" Ara laughed. \"I'm sure the lovebirds will when the time is right.\"\n\nThis comment only caused their blush to deepen, they looked away from each other.\n\n\"Well, it's just that you two smell of each other. And knowing Rai here, I'm kind of surprised he hasn't.\" Igon laughed.\n\nThe breakfast noodles couldn't have come fast enough, and, the group ate in an awkward silence. However, as Loona was eating, she spied something sitting on the edge of Ara's chair. She looked over to it without moving her head, and she saw out of the corner of her eye, that it appeared to be some sort of purple cloak.\n\n\"Hey Ara...\" Loona asked.\n\n\"Yes dear?\" \n\n\"What's with the cloak?\"\n\n\"Oh, well...\" Ara paused. \"I have... some business to attend to. Out of town. After this.\" Her usual smile faded into a frown. Loona could guess that this 'business' of hers was not going to be pleasant, and despite their teasing earlier, decided it would be rude, and none of her business, to pry. So she simply nodded, and the four of them continued their meal.\n\nThey talked about other things, though thankfully she and Rai's relationship status never came up again. Rai paid for the meal, they thanked the two of them, and left. And none too soon either, as it looked like the guards were combing the streets, searching for someone.\n\n\"You think it's Piggle?\" Loona asked her partner nervously.\n\n\"Possibly.\" Rai replied. \"But I don't think even he has the authority to carry out a search like this on his own. Still, I'd rather not find out. Let alone have to put up with him again.\"\n\n\"Agreed.\" Loona replied. \"Let's get out of here while we still can.\"\n\n\"No arguments there.\" Rai told her as he patted her on the shoulder.\n\nLuckily the gate guard gave them no trouble once Rai showed him his guild badge, despite the apparent monhunt. Neither of them bothered to ask what the apparent monhunt was all about. They had other things to attend to: A monhunt of their own.\n\n\"Be careful out there, there's a murderer on the loose.\" They heard the guard call out from behind them. \"They could still be out there.\"\n\nThe pair didn't need reminding. She knew all too well about Brene, as did Rai.\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Silently, and reluctantly, the Shinx walked the streets, slowly making his way to his destination. He knew where it was of course. How could he forget? The humiliation, the pain, all brought about by it. He didn't want to go back there. Yet, he needed to. His paw gripped the item in his hand tightly. The dagger that the charmander had given him.

As it turned out, there was a catch after all. The words of the charmander rung fresh in his mind.

"But now that you mention it... it would be mutually beneficial to us both if the two that used and abused you were to shuffle off this mortal coil. Would it not? Besides, you need a Guild badge, or someone with it by your side to even leave town..."

He took a breath and sighed. He didn't really want to do this, but the charmander was right about that last part. And his instructions were clear to the little shinx. Kill the two targets. That was the price for his help. Shia did not understand why the Charmander wanted those two dead, but if he, or others had gone through what he did, he could guess. He still had no idea who this strange charmander was or what his deal was, but he'd given him help, however small, when no one else did.

The lives of two not-so-innocent mons was a small price to pay for it.

Still, he did not relish in what he was about to do. He would shed no tears for them, of course. But to Shia, this was a job. A task to be done. Nothing more.

He just hoped that he didn't have to search the whole town for both of them. That they'd be there when he'd arrived. As he climbed the steps to the guild, his ears rung as they picked up the voices of the two he was seeking. They were in the middle of an argument.

"For the last fucking time!" He heard the Helios, the one that raped him, shout. "You do NOT get to bring your umbre-whores home!"

"I'll bring whoever I fucking want home if I want!" The petulant gabite argued back. "And then I'll fuck them, right in front of your fucking stupid face!"

"Not while I'm your boss, you won't."

"You aren't the boss of me! You aren't my dad."

"Need I remind you that your 'dad' took away your noble badge and put me in charge of you to straighten you out?"

Shia felt two parts relieved, and annoyed that they were both here. With a groan, he topped the stairs and stalked towards the pair. He kept the knife, as well as his intents, hidden as he shuffled towards his prey.

"What a joke that was!" Gaben fired back, completely unaware of the shinx making his way towards him. "This place is the nuts running the nuthouse. Believe me, when my father finally takes me back and I get my badge, the first thing I'm doing is dismantling this fucking joke of a guild!"

"Yeah, keep that attitude up boy, and I'll grow old and die before-" The heliolisk stopped his argument mid-sentence as he noticed the shinx coming towards them. He moved his head a little to the side to get a better look. "Oh you've gotta be fuckin' kidding me!" He muttered. "It's that little shit-shinx again."

Finally, Gaben turned around, he wore a look of pure disgust and irritation as he saw Shia coming closer to him, now only a few inches. The Guildmaster, having suspected nothing, groaned. "Gaben, you deal with this little shit, I'm going back insi-"

Before Gaben could do anything however, Shia wordlessly drew the knife, and quickly slashed at the Gabite's throat. The strike hit its mark, and blood poured from the open wound, staining the sands to the side and below him with blood. Instinctively, Gaben reached for his throat, desperate to stop the escaping blood and air, but it was far too little, far too late. Shia quickly grabbed his shoulder, and thrust the blade into his heart, furthering his wounds and lessening what little time on this mortal plane he had left. The ex-noble hadn't even had time to utter a plea for mercy before he dropped to his knees, and hit the sand, the coarse dry micropebbles becoming wet and stained with his blood, but not before Shia turned his attention to the monstrous heliolisk that had just a day before, mercilessly raped him in broad daylight.

Said Heliolisk was now in a panic. In desperation, he charged a move, any move, to save his own life. Had his mind been more clear however, he would have realized how useless this was, a fact made evident as the Iron weapon found its way to his own throat, piercing it on one side. It went in so far that the tip just barely broke skin on the other side. Shia, who at this point had remained deathly silent, gave a loud yell as he withdrew the blade from his malefactor's throat and proceeded to slash it open. In a fit of unchecked rage, he quickly stabbed the guild master in the chest, over and over, even as life left his body and joined his so-called pupil wherever he was now.

The rage soon subsided, and Shia let the body fall to the ground. Checking his handiwork, a flood of emotions entered the Shinx's mind. Shock, fear, regret, mortification at what he had just done. He fell to his knees, and gripped his head. He'd done what he was asked. Before this, he had no qualms about doing this. Yet now... it all felt so... wrong. So evil. He wondered if he himself was the evil one, and not these two. He barely suppressed the urge to vomit on the sands, his shock was so great.

And yet, there was a small part, a small part that reveled in what he'd just done. Or at least tried to excuse it. To rationalize it away, to call him to regain his senses. These two had abused him, and who knows how many others? They had it coming, right? Just like that bitch Brene.

Brene...

That's right. He still had work to do. Now wasn't the time to sit around and mope and feel sorry for an asshole ex-lord and a rapist guild master. He needed to move. He saw the latter's badge, and was just about to reach for it when-

"HALT!"

Shia's head jerked over to the side, and saw a guard, an Ampharos, coming straight at him, spear at the ready. Instinctively, the shinx leapt to his feet, and ran. A thought flashed through his mind, wondering how they caught onto him that fast. Did someone see him from inside and go for help? Or did he just waste so much time feeling sorry for himself that he let himself be seen?
Well, it hardly mattered now. The only thing now was escape or die.

"STOP THE ASSASSIN!!" He heard shouting behind him, and as he ran, he saw more guards giving chase. He knew he'd be as dead as the others if they caught him. Luckily, he held the speed advantage, but he knew he couldn't keep it up forever. There was only one place he could go now, the entrance. Unfortunately for him, the Ursurang guard was there, his own spear and girth blocking his only way out.

He quickly looked around, but found no other means of escape. No building was close enough to the wall to jump it,  and he wasn't nearly spry enough to do it himself. Shinx were not known for climbing skills. The only way out was through that archway, blocked by that single Ursurang.

He took a breath, and took a running start. This would be all or nothing. The guard's eyes narrowed, his face morphing into a hostile growl as he readied his spear to skewer the incoming shinx. Shia leapt, and dove to the sands right as he reached the gate guard. He felt the air move as the spear jabbed at him, and felt a few hairs on his back make contact with the stone and wooden weapon. Luckily for him, it missed by only a few hairs length, and he was able to do what he intended: he slid underneath the bulky bear mon's legs, his body sliding in the sand a mere foot step before coming to a stop.

The bear looked around confused, then bent over and looked under him and saw the shinx's body on the other side of the gate. Shia didn't waste a second however, and leapt to his feet, his dagger still in hand, as he ran for the only place now that he could even call home: the maze. As he ran, he looked back, and saw that the guards were no longer in pursuit. It seemed none of them wanted to leave town to catch him.

It would not last of course, but at least he had a start. And if he could reach the maze before they did, he could lose them. At least for a very long time. Long enough to finish up what he needed to do.
After that... well... He'd have to think about that once he got to that point. All that mattered now was taking down Brene, and saving Veera from her clutches. And making those two other rapists that had raped him and his friends pay for what they did. Nothing else after that mattered.

"...WHAT?!"

On the other side of town, a commotion of a different kind was underway inside the AshShell guild hall. Rai had just declared his intentions, to not only leave town, but to assist Loona in hunting down Brene. Needless to say, they were all in shock. And a certain Riolu was not taking it well at all.

"You CANNOT be serious!" She shouted at the Raichu in front of her. "ESPECIALLY not now, of ALL times!?"

"The Guild is leaving in less than a week, Rai." The guildmaster added in. "You're running the risk of being left behind."

"I'm well aware of that." Rai told his superior bluntly.

"Please, don't you go after that... that... that sociopath!" The Riolu pleaded. "You know how many mons have tried to claim her bounty, right? Even those damn sleaseballs in the Sandstone Guild don't even bother to try anymore."

"Knowing them, they've probably cut some sort of deal." Burrs commented in the background.

"Yeah, probably. But anyway, Rai, the bounty isn't worth-"

"This isn't about the bounty!" Rai shouted back. "In fact, sod the bounty! I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do."

"'Right thing to do?!'" The female Riolu yelled indignantly. "Since when is 'getting yourself killed' the 'right thing to do?!'" Her eyes shifted towards Loona, who thus far had said nothing, and couldn't help but feel more than intimidated when her purple eyes bore into the Linoone's aqua ones. The Linoone rubbed her left arm awkwardly with her right paw. "Oh, I get it now. This is about that little sav-"

A quick glare from the Oshawatt guildmaster shut her down before she could finish the word. She quickly cleared her throat and corrected herself. "Er, that dungeon dweller... that got kidnapped, isn't it? You know she's probably dead, or worse, by now right?!"

"That might very well be." Rai told her. "But that doesn't change the fact that something has to be done about Brene. And if no one here will do it, then it falls to me, and that's all there is to it. I've put it off long enough, and enough people have suffered. One way or another, it has to end now."

"You cannot be that pussywhipped by that wannabe-citizen standing right there-"

"ENOUGH!!" Rai roared, having finally had enough of the Rilou's classism. So great was his anger that sparks danced across the electric rat's cheeks, threatening to burst out with an attack at any moment. "I will not stand here while you throw mud on a fellow dungeon dweller! Or did you forget about where I came from in the first place?!" He shouted.

This sudden burst of anger scared even Loona a little, and it seemed to do the job more than enough for the Riolu, who was taken aback with fear. Seeing her reaction, Rai took a few breaths that culminated in a deep sigh, and calmed down, the sparks soon subsiding as he spoke.

"Look, Riley..." He regretfully told the Riolu. "I'm sorry it didn't work out between us, I really am. But that's no reason to start spewing such hateful vitriol at her." Rai looked at the Linoone with a soft look, and she weakly smiled back. Rai then focuses his attention back to Riley, the Riolu who Loona had just learned was apparently his... ex? Former lover? Fling? Something like that? Something Loona would have to ask later. Or perhaps not.

"I'll admit though..." Rai continued. "That yes, she's part of that decision. But no, when it comes right down to it, I have my own reasons."

He paused, and gathered his thoughts before he continued.

"It's because... She's right. I was a coward." He sighed. "I refused to help this woman here, because I was scared. Scared of what might happen to me, yes. Just like you are. But... More than that, I was, and still am, scared of seeing what my former mentor has turned into. Of seeing every good thing I knew about her, about seeing all the virtues she taught me, refuted. I was willing to shy away, to let 'others' deal with it, just so I didn't have to, like a coward. Just like we do when it comes to the underground slave trade. How we strut around taking credit for stopping the surface slave trade, while shrinking away from dealing with the illegal underground trade, which has only gotten worse over the years."

Sebastion's eyes narrowed at this remark, but he said nothing as Rai continued.

"Well, that ends now. Either I stop Brene, or die trying. Because if I don't, no one will." He looked over to Sebastian. "I know you don't agree with me, Guild Leader, and if you want to kick me out of the guild for doing that, then I'm fine with that. It won't change what I need to do, though."

"Why would I kick you out for this?" Sebastian said solemnly. "You are right, I don't agree with it, but you're standing up for what you believe in. If this is what you feel is right, then I can only hope you succeed in it, and that you find your way back to us, one way or another. I may not like it, but I'll pray to whatever gods are listening for your success and safe return."

Rai's expression softened to a sad smile. He made his way over to the guild master, and was about to hug him when he remembered the fact that he was still in bandages from Brene's mace attack. So he settled for giving him a lighter, but still heartfelt hug instead.

"Everything that is good in me," Rai said sorrowfully, "I learned from you, and her..."

He released him from his grasp. He gave a respectful bow towards his guildmaster, who nodded in return. tapped Loona on the shoulder, signaling that it was time to go. Loona headed out the door, and Rai was just about to, when he stopped suddenly. Without turning, he quickly spoke.

"I'll try to save her, if I can. Brene I mean..."

"And what are you going to do if she's too far gone for that?!" Riley shouted one last time.

"What I must." Rai responded darkly, before finally leaving. He closed the door behind him, and met up with his new Linoone fiend again.

"Well..." Rai sighed. "That went well." He said sarcastically.

"Are you alright?" Loona asked with concern. "That was quite the argument."

"Yeah, I'm alright." Rai said dismissively, but he still managed a smile in response to her concern. "I expected something like this would happen. In all honesty, I expected worse."

Loona couldn't imagine how exactly it could have gone worse, but she decided not to ask. She did, however, ask a different question.

"I notice you didn't bring up the whole manor thing from last night."

"It's better if they don't know about that. At least for now." Rai quickly explained. "Plausible deniability and all that. A bit pointless anyway since we're moving out, as you heard. Besides, us being out in the dungeon gives us the perfect excuse to not be in town for the next couple of days, to let Piggle's little grudge fizzle out."

"I somehow doubt he'll let it go that easily." Loona lamented.

"Probably not, but by then he'll likely have cooked up some new scheme or something. So it all works out." Rai said dismissively.

"So what happens if you don't make it back in time?" Loona asked. This caused Rai to frown a little.

"I'm more concerned about us making it back in the first place. If they're gone by the time we come back, well..." He stopped as he thought about the answer. An answer that didn't seem to be coming to him. After a few moments, he gave up, sighed, and shrugged. "I'll think of something, I guess. I know where they're going, so there is that." He looked at her and smiled. "Either way, it's nothing you need to worry about, Loona. Right now let's focus on-"

The sound of a stomach growling interrupted his conversation. Neither of them knew whose it was, but it was enough to cause them to look at each other awkwardly.

"-On getting ourselves some breakfast. Can't go dungeoneering on an empty stomach after all. And there's no sense wasting the provisions we have as long as we're here." He quickly added. He tapped her shoulder reassuringly. "Come on, I know just the place." He said with a smile.

Loona smiled back, and followed him through the streets, until he stopped by a building. She couldn't read the sign.

"The old noodle joint." Rai explained. "Good place to fill up before going about your day." He put his paw on her shoulder and stepped into the place with her.

"Huh, how about that?" Rai asked.
"Oh, it's you guys." Loona remarked. Right in front of them, sitting at the table, there was her ... former? Boss, Igon, and Ara, the shopkeeper. It would appear the two of them had been catching up when they'd walked in.

"Oh hey Loona!" Igon cheerfully greeted. "How're you doin'?"

"I'm... Doing well." Loona replied awkwardly.

"Well don't just stand there, have a seat!" He reached over and pulled a spare wooden chair at the table out invitingly. Ara did the same with a chair next to her, though she used her telekenetics to move it instead of her physical strength for Rai. Conveniently, or perhaps, awkwardly enough, they were located right across from each other. Loona took a seat next to Ara, and Rai took one next to Igon. It seemed to slightly disappoint the big Flygon that Loona didn't sit next to him, but it was a fact that didn't show for long, as he cheerfully called out. "Hey waiter! Two extra bowls for our guests here!"

While they waited for their bowls, Loona thought of how to start the conversation. To be honest, she wasn't particularly close to either of these guys, having only known them for a day, less even. Still, it was nice to see them again. Though she really didn't know what to say. She looked at Rai, who looked back. It looked like he was similarly having trouble on how to start the conversation. Igon saw them looking at each other, and a grin appeared on his face. Before anyone could stop him, he blurted out.

"So, have you two done it yet?"

"What?" Both the Linoone and the Raichu blurted out. "NO!" Their faces went a deep shade of red.

"I... we haven't..." Loona stammered.

"I mean, I ... uh..."

"Oh give it time, Igon." Ara laughed. "I'm sure the lovebirds will when the time is right."

This comment only caused their blush to deepen, they looked away from each other.

"Well, it's just that you two smell of each other. And knowing Rai here, I'm kind of surprised he hasn't." Igon laughed.

The breakfast noodles couldn't have come fast enough, and, the group ate in an awkward silence. However, as Loona was eating, she spied something sitting on the edge of Ara's chair. She looked over to it without moving her head, and she saw out of the corner of her eye, that it appeared to be some sort of purple cloak.

"Hey Ara..." Loona asked.

"Yes dear?"

"What's with the cloak?"

"Oh, well..." Ara paused. "I have... some business to attend to. Out of town. After this." Her usual smile faded into a frown. Loona could guess that this 'business' of hers was not going to be pleasant, and despite their teasing earlier, decided it would be rude, and none of her business, to pry. So she simply nodded, and the four of them continued their meal.

They talked about other things, though thankfully she and Rai's relationship status never came up again. Rai paid for the meal, they thanked the two of them, and left. And none too soon either, as it looked like the guards were combing the streets, searching for someone.

"You think it's Piggle?" Loona asked her partner nervously.

"Possibly." Rai replied. "But I don't think even he has the authority to carry out a search like this on his own. Still, I'd rather not find out. Let alone have to put up with him again."

"Agreed." Loona replied. "Let's get out of here while we still can."

"No arguments there." Rai told her as he patted her on the shoulder.

Luckily the gate guard gave them no trouble once Rai showed him his guild badge, despite the apparent monhunt. Neither of them bothered to ask what the apparent monhunt was all about. They had other things to attend to: A monhunt of their own.

"Be careful out there, there's a murderer on the loose." They heard the guard call out from behind them. "They could still be out there."

The pair didn't need reminding. She knew all too well about Brene, as did Rai.
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