Rex
Resident Furry
Okay. This is AU of Fade to Black, my Pokemon Mystery Dungeon canon. Sorry if I don't do a good job explaining things, I just wrote as it came to me, so constructive criticism is very welcome. I'll write more as it comes to me, so there might not be a very stable update schedule either. I'll cross my fingers and hope Writer's Block doesn't start to overtake me again.
---
It was raining in Rustboro City, a steady, constant rain, which hadn’t stopped for over a week now. Water pooled in the streets, flowing downhill like a river. The Monferno known as Aleci Temps, Sub-Don of the city, watched the new river go under the protection of a large umbrella. Near him, drenched to the bone but not seeming to care, was Seth, a Buizel assassin, and his top Enforcer.
“This bad weather makes it difficult to get anything done,” the Monferno noted, “For both us and the Red Shield.”
“Shane thinks they’ll make a move on one of the outlying towns soon,” Seth replied, “Littleroot or Fallarbor, somewhere defenses are light.”
The rain had stretched the Red Shield Gang thin. With no sign of the weather turning, the group was being forced out into the open. All the Mafia had to do was wait and attack them when they made their move. Still, this weather was just as bad for them as it was for the Red Shield.
“Mikhail is worried about flooding in Slateport City, and they’re considering evacuating Sootopolis entirely,” Seth continued, “Mossdeep and Lilycove are alright for now, but continued flooding would a problem. They’re already moving what equipment they can out of that old base off Lilycove. Dewford is already stalled because of flooding, and unless more Corsola corpses wind up under Pacifidlog, it doesn’t have long left.”
“These cities have been with us for centuries, to think that they would be lost to a little flooding,” the Monferno frowned.
“Teach them not to build on a place so flat,” Seth smirked.
“Seth, how cold of you,” the Monferno said, reproachfully, “Any word from the other regions?”
“Nope,” Seth replied, “They’re all taking about the rain, but none of them are revealing where they’ve been hit hardest.”
“Worldwide flooding, it can’t be natural, and it can’t be just rain causing it either,” Alec muttered, stepping down into the street. Water quickly filled his shoes, but he slogged on nonetheless. Seth followed behind, his bare feet and webbed toes having no issue pressing forward.
“Maybe that crazy old Torkoal was right,” Seth said, overtaking the Monferno, “Maybe you guys put too much smoke into the atmosphere and now the ice is melting.”
“Please, Seth, Global Warming is a crackpot theory with no evidence to support it. It’s just an old coot’s way of whining about how the old ways were better,” Aleci chuckled.
“If you say so, boss,” Seth replied, stepping up to the curb.
“I fail to see how you can walk through this disgusting sloth with no worry of catching something,” Alec muttered. It was true; the water was a disgusting gray color, the result of water mixing with the trash and filth that littered the ground. In the lower parts of the city, sewage had also begun mixing with the water, creating a festering mess that Pokemon had to slog through everyday just to get to work.
“I can wash my feet,” the Buizel pointed out, “Same can’t exactly be said for your shoes.”
Seth held out his hand, and helped Alec up to the curb. The Monferno looked down at his shoes, which were indeed full of water. He cursed under his breath, then started down the road. Seth followed after him, snickering to himself. After a little ways walking, the two of them entered a tower.
The tallest building in uptown Rustboro City, the Devon Building was where Alec ran the city from. It also housed the living quarters of him, his Enforcers, and their underlings, if they had any. It was kept powered and watered every day, all day, even when bad weather threatened parts of the city, like it did today. Upon entering, the Buizel and Monferno were blasted with a wave of cool, dry air. All the rain had made it very humid out.
Aleci immediately took off his shoes and threw them away. After what Seth had said, he wasn’t sure if he could ever wear the pair again. The bottom of his pants was soaked, but otherwise the umbrella had protected the Monferno’s black suit and fedora from getting wet. He put his umbrella down like a shield as Seth shook the water from his orange and cream fur. There was no easy way for him to get the water out of his clothes though, and thus the Buizel’s black pants and bandanna clung to him, dripping water.
The Buizel tried to walk further into the building, only for Alec to quickly close his umbrella and hold it in front of him. “You aren’t tracking water around. Stay here, I will find you a towel to wrap yourself in while your clothes dry.”
The Monferno handed the umbrella over, then started up the stairs to the next part of the building. He first made a stop in his own room, changing into a dry pair of pants and putting on a new pair of shoes. He then went to one of the bathrooms and grabbed a towel for the Buizel, before returning downstairs.
Seth was chuckling to himself when Alec returned. He pointed to the floor around the Monferno, where watery footprints could be made out. Alec’s footprints. Once again, the Monferno cursed himself under his breath, before throwing the towel at the Buizel, around whom a puddle was forming. He called in a maid while Seth stripped. The one that came out first, and older Chansey, was unfazed when she walked in just in time to catch Seth just before he managed to wrap the towel around his waist. Seth didn’t seem to notice either way, so the Monferno decided he just wouldn’t mention it.
“Linda, hang up the Buizel’s clothes to dry, then do something about all the water that’s been tracked around,” Aleci ordered.
The Chansey preformed a slight bow, then hurried to do as told. Alec, meanwhile, called Seth over to a side room. A few people were waiting for them there. Jacob and Andre, a Lucario and Linoone from the Red Shield, had followed Seth after the Buizel had fled the Red Shield encampment. The Lucario wore a gray jacket and black pants, his left eye scared and milky white. The Linoone wore a simple pair of black pants, and while he appeared mostly normal, his left eye was brown, unmatched by the right’s blue. Unfortunately the Buizel was somewhat attached to them, too much so for Alec to remove them without affecting the Pokemon’s performance.
That’s where the third Pokemon came in, the Dusknoir named Hades. The imposing Pokemon had one order, to protect Seth. This meant from everyone, including any Red Shield threats that made themselves apparent. The Dusknoir’s stomach mouth, which used to ferry souls, was stapled shut, and the eyes on his chest bandaged over. The four formed what was known informally as the Assassin Team, with Seth as the Leader. The fifth and final Pokemon in the room was Shane, a Zoroark and Alec’s other Enforcer. The Zoroark had its hair cropped short, and wore dusty gray pants and a sleeveless shirt. Prison clothes, the same outfit Alec had found him in.
The Linoone approached Seth, a little wobbly on his hind legs, and held out a cupcake. The Buizel took it, before frowning. “What’s this for?”
“It’s a cake,” Andre replied, “Happy birthday!”
“Birthday?” Seth blinked.
“Yes, you idiot,” Jake chuckled, “This day sixteen years ago you hatched from your egg. So you get some cake and a present.”
“Present?” Seth asked. It was obvious the Buizel was completely lost.
“Just eat the cake!” Andre grinned, “And then we’ll give you something.”
Seth nodded, and slowly bit into the cupcake. Then determining that it was good, he quickly ate the whole thing. Alec then reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a black handle, and held it out for Seth. The Buizel accepted it, and looked it over.
“Push the lever on the side, just watch your fingers when you do,” Alec explained.
The Buizel did so, and a blade flipped out of the opposite side of the handle. It was a switchblade, a nice one at that. The Buizel gave it a few practice swipes, then flipped the blade closed again. He looked at Alec, who nodded, smiling a little.
“That’s your gift, take good care of it and it’ll see you through many missions as a member of the Mafia,” he said. “The blade is stiletto, better for stabbing then cutting. As you know, the blade retracts into the handle, so you can carry it around in your pocket no problem. Now then, if you’re done with the festivities, I’d like for you all to take a seat, we have a little planning to do.”
---
It was raining in Rustboro City, a steady, constant rain, which hadn’t stopped for over a week now. Water pooled in the streets, flowing downhill like a river. The Monferno known as Aleci Temps, Sub-Don of the city, watched the new river go under the protection of a large umbrella. Near him, drenched to the bone but not seeming to care, was Seth, a Buizel assassin, and his top Enforcer.
“This bad weather makes it difficult to get anything done,” the Monferno noted, “For both us and the Red Shield.”
“Shane thinks they’ll make a move on one of the outlying towns soon,” Seth replied, “Littleroot or Fallarbor, somewhere defenses are light.”
The rain had stretched the Red Shield Gang thin. With no sign of the weather turning, the group was being forced out into the open. All the Mafia had to do was wait and attack them when they made their move. Still, this weather was just as bad for them as it was for the Red Shield.
“Mikhail is worried about flooding in Slateport City, and they’re considering evacuating Sootopolis entirely,” Seth continued, “Mossdeep and Lilycove are alright for now, but continued flooding would a problem. They’re already moving what equipment they can out of that old base off Lilycove. Dewford is already stalled because of flooding, and unless more Corsola corpses wind up under Pacifidlog, it doesn’t have long left.”
“These cities have been with us for centuries, to think that they would be lost to a little flooding,” the Monferno frowned.
“Teach them not to build on a place so flat,” Seth smirked.
“Seth, how cold of you,” the Monferno said, reproachfully, “Any word from the other regions?”
“Nope,” Seth replied, “They’re all taking about the rain, but none of them are revealing where they’ve been hit hardest.”
“Worldwide flooding, it can’t be natural, and it can’t be just rain causing it either,” Alec muttered, stepping down into the street. Water quickly filled his shoes, but he slogged on nonetheless. Seth followed behind, his bare feet and webbed toes having no issue pressing forward.
“Maybe that crazy old Torkoal was right,” Seth said, overtaking the Monferno, “Maybe you guys put too much smoke into the atmosphere and now the ice is melting.”
“Please, Seth, Global Warming is a crackpot theory with no evidence to support it. It’s just an old coot’s way of whining about how the old ways were better,” Aleci chuckled.
“If you say so, boss,” Seth replied, stepping up to the curb.
“I fail to see how you can walk through this disgusting sloth with no worry of catching something,” Alec muttered. It was true; the water was a disgusting gray color, the result of water mixing with the trash and filth that littered the ground. In the lower parts of the city, sewage had also begun mixing with the water, creating a festering mess that Pokemon had to slog through everyday just to get to work.
“I can wash my feet,” the Buizel pointed out, “Same can’t exactly be said for your shoes.”
Seth held out his hand, and helped Alec up to the curb. The Monferno looked down at his shoes, which were indeed full of water. He cursed under his breath, then started down the road. Seth followed after him, snickering to himself. After a little ways walking, the two of them entered a tower.
The tallest building in uptown Rustboro City, the Devon Building was where Alec ran the city from. It also housed the living quarters of him, his Enforcers, and their underlings, if they had any. It was kept powered and watered every day, all day, even when bad weather threatened parts of the city, like it did today. Upon entering, the Buizel and Monferno were blasted with a wave of cool, dry air. All the rain had made it very humid out.
Aleci immediately took off his shoes and threw them away. After what Seth had said, he wasn’t sure if he could ever wear the pair again. The bottom of his pants was soaked, but otherwise the umbrella had protected the Monferno’s black suit and fedora from getting wet. He put his umbrella down like a shield as Seth shook the water from his orange and cream fur. There was no easy way for him to get the water out of his clothes though, and thus the Buizel’s black pants and bandanna clung to him, dripping water.
The Buizel tried to walk further into the building, only for Alec to quickly close his umbrella and hold it in front of him. “You aren’t tracking water around. Stay here, I will find you a towel to wrap yourself in while your clothes dry.”
The Monferno handed the umbrella over, then started up the stairs to the next part of the building. He first made a stop in his own room, changing into a dry pair of pants and putting on a new pair of shoes. He then went to one of the bathrooms and grabbed a towel for the Buizel, before returning downstairs.
Seth was chuckling to himself when Alec returned. He pointed to the floor around the Monferno, where watery footprints could be made out. Alec’s footprints. Once again, the Monferno cursed himself under his breath, before throwing the towel at the Buizel, around whom a puddle was forming. He called in a maid while Seth stripped. The one that came out first, and older Chansey, was unfazed when she walked in just in time to catch Seth just before he managed to wrap the towel around his waist. Seth didn’t seem to notice either way, so the Monferno decided he just wouldn’t mention it.
“Linda, hang up the Buizel’s clothes to dry, then do something about all the water that’s been tracked around,” Aleci ordered.
The Chansey preformed a slight bow, then hurried to do as told. Alec, meanwhile, called Seth over to a side room. A few people were waiting for them there. Jacob and Andre, a Lucario and Linoone from the Red Shield, had followed Seth after the Buizel had fled the Red Shield encampment. The Lucario wore a gray jacket and black pants, his left eye scared and milky white. The Linoone wore a simple pair of black pants, and while he appeared mostly normal, his left eye was brown, unmatched by the right’s blue. Unfortunately the Buizel was somewhat attached to them, too much so for Alec to remove them without affecting the Pokemon’s performance.
That’s where the third Pokemon came in, the Dusknoir named Hades. The imposing Pokemon had one order, to protect Seth. This meant from everyone, including any Red Shield threats that made themselves apparent. The Dusknoir’s stomach mouth, which used to ferry souls, was stapled shut, and the eyes on his chest bandaged over. The four formed what was known informally as the Assassin Team, with Seth as the Leader. The fifth and final Pokemon in the room was Shane, a Zoroark and Alec’s other Enforcer. The Zoroark had its hair cropped short, and wore dusty gray pants and a sleeveless shirt. Prison clothes, the same outfit Alec had found him in.
The Linoone approached Seth, a little wobbly on his hind legs, and held out a cupcake. The Buizel took it, before frowning. “What’s this for?”
“It’s a cake,” Andre replied, “Happy birthday!”
“Birthday?” Seth blinked.
“Yes, you idiot,” Jake chuckled, “This day sixteen years ago you hatched from your egg. So you get some cake and a present.”
“Present?” Seth asked. It was obvious the Buizel was completely lost.
“Just eat the cake!” Andre grinned, “And then we’ll give you something.”
Seth nodded, and slowly bit into the cupcake. Then determining that it was good, he quickly ate the whole thing. Alec then reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a black handle, and held it out for Seth. The Buizel accepted it, and looked it over.
“Push the lever on the side, just watch your fingers when you do,” Alec explained.
The Buizel did so, and a blade flipped out of the opposite side of the handle. It was a switchblade, a nice one at that. The Buizel gave it a few practice swipes, then flipped the blade closed again. He looked at Alec, who nodded, smiling a little.
“That’s your gift, take good care of it and it’ll see you through many missions as a member of the Mafia,” he said. “The blade is stiletto, better for stabbing then cutting. As you know, the blade retracts into the handle, so you can carry it around in your pocket no problem. Now then, if you’re done with the festivities, I’d like for you all to take a seat, we have a little planning to do.”