The Great Bulk: Sweet Relief

A Great Blessing

After we were accepted into the Clover Guild, I spent my first few days correcting my sleep schedule. While Makuhita and I were on the run, I had to stay awake through the night half the time because I didn't want Lombre shooting us while we were asleep. Being able to sleep without that fear was something I missed, and the beds we had only made things easier.

They were much softer than what I was used to. Back on the Sand Continent, most had to make due with linen sheets stuffed with materials such as hay. It was to cut down on the itchiness. If you were rich, however, you could import materials such as cotton-

That's it! That's what the beds are made of! I don't know how rare cotton is on the Grass Continent, but if all the beds were made from it, then it'd be one of the greatest acts of generosity I've seen. I felt the need to find the one responsible for this and, at minimum, thank them. Due to their efforts, I've had some of the best sleep I've ever experienced.

The simplest way to find out the identity of the mystery benefactor would be to ask around during breakfast time, but first, I had to ask my partner a very important question. There were still a few hours left to go before he woke up, so I sat down and meditated to pass the time. Usuually, I'd do yoga, since it's superior in my opinion, but my broken leg stopped me from doing what I wanted. I was grateful that my body's natural gifts cut down the recovery time to mere weeks, but this predicament was still annoying.

Soon, Makuhita awakened. I waited a couple of minutes for him to situate himself, then I approached him. "I need to ask you something," I requested.

"Sure, Assy, what is it?" He asked. Of course, he neglected the fact I hated that nickname.

I groaned, shooting him a glare for a moment. "Why did you spare Lombre?" I stated. "He was trying to kill us both, and he very nearly succeeded. No one would've blamed you for doing it, since it would've been self defense, so why even bother? He'll just recover and come back to try again."

"I didn't want to break a promise I made," my partner replied. "Breaking his arm was already too much. I should've held back my anger more."

"What exactly was that promise?" I questioned.

"I promised my brother that I wouldn't let my rage control me," he responded. "Neither of us wanted me to wind up like our dad. I was really pissed off when I saw Lombre aiming at you. If I ended his life right there, I would've broken my oath." He paused for a few moments, looking for the right words to say. "I don't remember if I told you this or not, but I used to be a completely different person."

I could feel a mixture of guilt, and oddly enough, fear within his Aura. What was he so terrified of?

"I got into fights a lot," Makuhita said. "I had a temper, and I lashed out at others. If it weren't for others rooting for me, I'd still be like that." He frowned, looking much more contemplative than usual. "I don't want to lose myself. I don't want to become just another jerk."

"I understand," I reassured him. "I don't exactly agree with how you handled things, but I get why you did." He didn't seem to realize what his actual feelings were, but I knew the truth: he was scared of losing control of himself.

"Thanks for being honest with me," my partner told me. "It's about time to eat, so I'll be seeing you in the kitchen." He began to walk out of our room, and I followed him to our destination: the mess hall.

The two of us were given plates with pancakes on them, a strange, brown substance of sorts being drizzled upon them. When we sat down, I decided to take a bite of my food, and it was unlike anything I had experienced. However, that was likely due to how I limited myself before this point.

The pancakes themselves were soft, and the stuff on them added some sweetness that complimented them well. It was quite good, as I expected it to be: every day I came here, I tried what was on the menu. I got the impression that a lot of it was basic, but it all tasted good to me. A small part of me nagged that I should be sticking to my old diet, but I wanted new experiences.

As silly as that desire was, I considered it a part of my training all the same. I was not formally trained in the use of Aura, being self-taught, but during my time bounty hunting, I stumbled upon a theory: I needed to train in order to fully express, use, and improve upon my skills, but I came to believe that there was another component I had previously overlooked. Sourdough gains its character from its surroundings, but needs to be properly kept and cooked in order to bring its potential out. What if experiences and bonds played a role in shaping Aura, too? I knew for a fact that I could sense my partner's Aura signature much further away than anyone else's if I concentrated.

It'd take time to see if my new approach yielded results, but for the moment, I finished my meal and began to look for someone to interrogate. I had to find out who it was that blessed these halls with cotton.

Giving Thanks

There were a lot of Pokemon to talk to, and I didn't even know where to begin. I knew nobody, and I was paralyzed by the sheer number of potential choices I had. Do I talk to the Phanpy sitting with an entire crew of Pokemon? I recognized two of his companions from when Makuhita first entered this place; the Cyndaquil's Aura in particular giving me bad vibes.

I decided against approaching them. I didn't need any more problems in my life. After that, I still couldn't decide who to ask my question to, so instead, I closed my eyes. I felt out the Auras of everyone present, and I decided to simply levitate towards a random group. I could've walked, but my crutches made it intolerably slow.

I made my way to a table which seated a Furret and a Skorupi. The former gave me a wave, and then inhaled deeply. "Oh, hi there!" She exclaimed. "You're new here, aren't you? What's your name?"

"I'm Asana," I said, introducing myself. "My partner's currently busy gorging himself. I came here to-"

"That's a pretty neat-looking Power Band you got there!" the Furret interrupted, her Aura practically exuding her excitement. "I usually go for cute-looking accessories instead of cool ones, but you do wear that well! Where'd you get it?"

The first thing she noticed was something as mundane as what I was wearing? What was she thinking? "It's an old keepsake," I explained truthfully. "It came from my first "real" bounty hunting job that wasn't just some petty thug. Our target gave it to me."

The Furret looked a bit nervous as I mentioned my trade, but she calmed down quickly. On a side note, I wondered how that Hitmontop was doing. Makuhita did seem to get through to him. Maybe he found a better hobby after serving his sentence?

Either way, what I said seemed to get the Skorupi's attention. He went from chipping away at his pancakes to actually looking at me, seemingly interested in me. "You still didn't tell me your names, though," I reminded the both of them.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" The Furret blurted out. "I totally lost track of what I was doing! I'm Furret, and that's my little buddy right there! What do you think of his tie-"

"I don't care about fashion," I blunty told her. "I have a question I need to ask, and I want to get straight to the point. Do you know who's responsible for the bedding arrangements? I want to thank them personally."

"That's a simple question to answer," the Skorupi chimed in. I couldn't tell if he was just focused on eating, or was an introvert in general.

"Team Cozy did it," he revealed to me. "Look for a Chespin and a Wooper sticking close to each other. That's them." He returned to his meal, leaving me alone to deal with his partner.

"Y'know, I can't recall a time those two weren't around," Furret said. "They aren't super-cool big shot explorers, but they're pretty reliable! Wooper's so cu-"

"Cease!" I blurted out. "I got the answers I needed, so I am going now. I'm afraid if I stay here, you'll keep me here until sundown."

Furret's ears lowered, and she looked a bit disappointed. "Oh, okay," she muttered. "Have a nice day, okay?"

I walked off without another word. Why did I have to pick a chatterbox, out of all the possible Pokemon here? If it wasn't for her partner pointing me in the right direction, I wouldn't have even learned anything! I used my Aura sensing capabilities to search for the two I needed, and I actually felt two Woopers. I looked to my left, and saw one with odd markings sitting with a Politoed and a Corphish. Nope, that wasn't the one I wanted. The team I wanted was behind me. I turned around and saw the two I wanted to speak to, and that's when I realized why I had to pick them out manually:

That Chespin was no Chespin at all. He was yet another human. The fact that there were so many here was still surreal to me. Humans hadn't been seen on the Sand Continent for hundreds of years. Makuhita showing up was an improbable phenomenon in of itself. How was it even possible that there were at least a couple dozen of these mythical beings congregating here simultaneously? Was fate playing a trick on me? Is this some sort of dream? Maybe it was an ill omen? Whatever it was, it didn't sit right with me. Come to think of it, that Skorupi was one, too, but I was so busy deflecting his partner's attempts to ensnare me in conversation that I didn't even realize it until I left!

I was so distracted by my own thoughts that I forgot to levitate, instead slowly walking towards those two. I was so unfocused that I didn't think about the annoyances of travelling while crippled, arriving at their table and waiting for them to notice me. The Chespin quickly noticed me and observed me, his eyes focusing on my scar in particular. I hated when others pointed it out or lingered on it, as it was a reminder of how foolish I used to be. It was an avatar of my mistakes.

I decided to introduce myself before things could get any more awkward. "Hello there. You're Team Cozy, yes?" I asked. "I'm Asana, of Team Yin-Yang, and there is something I would like to tell you."

The Chespin looked a bit surprised. Maybe it's because I was seeking him out specifically? "I'm Chespin, and..." He trailed off for a few moments, thinking of the right thing to say. "Sure? Aren't you a bit new to start singling specific people out?" He asked. Things only grew more tense. I had to defuse the situation quickly.

"I wanted to thank you for the beds," I stated. "You have no idea how dangerous the trip here was, and I had the best sleep of my life due to your kindness. Cotton is rare where I'm from as well, so that only makes your deeds stand out more in my eyes."

He took another look at me, figuring out how to respond.

"It isn't every day we're thanked," Chespin replied. "We only buy genuine Whimsicott cotton. Sometimes, it feels like the others take it for granted, but being able to sleep well is more than enough of a reward. Although, I do have a question." I could feel a bit of revulsion build up in his Aura. Did I screw up?

"What kind of dump has no cotton?" He asked. "How did you even live before arriving here?"

"Cotton isn't grown on the Sand Continent due to it requiring a lot of water," I informed him. "We do have an agricultural belt, but most of it is used to grow food. Cotton is an expensive import back home, and you'd probably only see it in the homes of the rich."

"That's an injustice," he replied. "Coziness is something everyone should have a right to. Isn't that right, Wooper?"

The Wooper sitting at the table nodded in agreement. Chespin certainly felt a bit eccentric, but his heart seemed to be in the right place. Him and his partner seemed to be the types that most would look over, but if what Furret said was true, they've been around forever. Surely, there was something I was missing here.

"It's important to be thankful for any blessings you have, no matter how small they are," I told him. "My partner and I had to travel on the road by ourselves without anything but food, water, and a few items. I learned just how valuable sleep was on that trip."

"That sounds rough, but I'm glad the two of you are okay!" Wooper exclaimed. "What was it like?"

"It was unpleasant," I responded. "We were being chased the entire way here. It's kind of a long story, but I'd be glad to tell it since I want to get to know the others here more."

"Well, I got an idea!" Wooper replied. "If you wanna get more familiar with us, I know a good place!" He turned his head towards Chespin, the smile on his face growing even wider than it usually was. "You know that ice cream place I shown you? We can go there!"

His partner looked deep in thought for a few moments, and then, he responded. "I guess we can do that," Chespin said. "We haven't been there in a while, and I think Asana might be better company than some of the other people here."

"Wait, what's ice cream?" I butted in.

"Wait, you don't know what ice cream is?" Chespin said, clearly shocked by my lack of knowledge. His expression became more determined as he grabbed my arm. "We've got to get you out of that rock you were living under. C'mon." He began to lead me away towards the entrance of the Guild, Wooper following right behind him.

A Precious Treasure

We traversed the bridges that dotted Capim, until we finally made our way to a certain set of stairs. We descended into a dining room, and immediately, I could feel a cold chill. It was an alien feeling. I had gone to the snowy southwestern tip of the Sand Continent a few times, but even with that knowledge, it still felt like a foreign environment. I was far more used to heat than frigid temperatures.

The design of the room was quaint. The walls were carved with the shape of snowflakes, and there were paintings depicting an unknown, snowy locale. It was distinctly different than the cold places I had gone to, mainly due to how wooded it was. I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding looking at the art. Ever since I arrived at the Grass Continent, I gained a dislike of forests. They're too cramped, and if it weren't for my prowess with Aura, it'd be far too easy to get ambushed in them. The fact that I nearly died in one on my way to Capim proved how dangerous they are.

I turned my attention to the counter and walked towards at, glancing at the Tangela manning it. "A Meditite is gracing this establishment?" He questioned, a few of his vines gently moving. "That's kind of unusual. Don't your kind typically stick to some kind of diet?"

"Normally, yes, but I'm trying to expand my horizons," I explained. "I want to try as many new experiences as I can."

"Okay then," the Tangela responded. "So, what flavor would you like?"

Wait a minute. There were multiple flavors to choose from? I looked at Team Cozy, trying to find a way not to embarrass myself. "What would you two recommend?" I asked.

"Well, there's a saying about this!" Wooper told me. "If you don't know what kind of ice cream you want, pick vanilla."

My attention returned to the Tangela manning the counter. "I'll have vanilla, then," I informed him. "If I ever come back here, I'll try something else."

It took a bit to get our food prepared, but once it was, I looked for an empty table and moved there. Team Cozy moved there with me as well. I was thankful there were spots left: the entire place was packed. It was like we were sitting in a calm spot in the middle of a sea of Auras. It was a lot of information to process at once, but I could work with it.

"So, what exactly brought you here?" Chespin asked, his spoon scooping up his ice cream. It was some flavor called "Chocolate Swirl", and Wooper had ordered the same thing. "I remember you said that you were being pursued, right?"

"Yes, we were," I replied. I ate a bite of my ice cream, noting its unique flavor. It was cold, yet sweet. It's no wonder why it wasn't known in the parts of the Sand Continent I traversed: they wouldn't have been able to keep it cold enough to last. "We were chased from the Sand Continent, all the way to here. We landed at the southern part of the Grass Continent, so it was quite a journey."

"What kind of person would be stubborn enough to hunt you for so long?" Chespin questioned, looking a bit disbelieving of my claims.

"Well, the partner of an outlaw we captured holds a grudge against us," I told him. "Lombre will do anything and everything to murder us. He sank the boat we fled on, and I don't even know how he stowed away on it without getting detected. He'd try to attack or snipe us whenever he could, and he even assaulted me while I was asleep once. The most unbelievable part of it all is that he's old enough to be having a mid-life crisis. He doesn't look like a hardened criminal. He appears to be an average Pokemon, and the only way you can tell him apart is the scar on his left arm and the look in his eyes. His gaze is cold and calculating, and it's unmistakable after you seen it once."

I scooped up a couple more bites with my spoon as Chespin and Wooper digested the information I gave them. "Man, that's why we never take the big jobs," the former responded. "We couldn't live like you do. The kind of crap you went through is precisely why we only take smaller missions. All I really need is coziness and sweets, and our way of life provides enough for that. Now, how did you survive all that trouble?"

"We took it one day at a time," I revealed. "Although, I don't think of you any less for taking easier jobs. There's a decent number of Pokemon back home that only work for the money, and the more mundane missions sometimes slip by. For every item retrieved, Pokemon rescued, or minor outlaw stopped, there are people who're thankful for your help. Plus, there's nothing wrong with staying in a niche if you're good at it."

"I just like helping others, but when you put it that way, you make us sound important!" Wooper said.

"Everyone who contributes is vital in their own way," I reaffirmed. "You're both heroes in your own story. On another note, since you decided to bring me here, I'll tell you a story once I'm done with my food. This one has a good ending, which doesn't always happen in my line of work."

Wooper looked a bit excited, while Chespin looked mildly interested. We finished our food in silence, and the minute I was done, I sat down my spoon.

"Alright, it's time," I told them. "This was our first "real" job. We only went after petty crooks before. Our target was a Hitmontop, and he was kind of a thrill seeker..." I told the two of our confrontation with him, and how Makuhita steered him off of the path of banditry.

Once I was finished with my tale, I waited to hear their commentary.

"Your partner sounds really nice," Wooper stated. "How did you find a friend like him?"

"He was dropped off in the middle of the desert when he got transported to this world," I informed him. "He wandered for days until he almost died from thirst. I was lucky to have stumbled onto him."

"I'm confused," Chespin interjected. "Shouldn't you say that he was the fortunate one?"

"It was a good thing for both of us," I explained. "He found someone willing to take him in, and he pushed me to become something more than an arrogant caravan guard. We've saved each other's lives more times than either of us can count."

"I could say the same about Wooper," Chespin replied. "It's good to have someone who you can trust."

"He covers my back by covering me with his back!" Wooper added.

"A good partner is a necessity in my line of work," I stated. "Now, how did you two meet?"

"I found Wooper not too long after I woke up," Chespin responded. "I was trying to get a drink, and then he popped out at me. He was as much of a surprise to me as Makuhita was to you. Our journey to the Guild was mostly unremarkable, except for the fact that someone tried to rob us. My partner did most of the work in fending them off."

"I didn't do everything!" Wooper protested. "I don't think I could've hit them if you weren't aiming me."

"I barely even knew how to fight back then," Chespin muttered.

I couldn't help but smile. A week ago, I was being hunted down. Now, I was sitting here recounting stories and watching a friendly debate. It felt nice to finally be able to relax.

"You still helped, and that's what's important!" Wooper countered.

"I'll have to try fighting with you two when my leg's healed," I interjected. "I know you two don't take the more dangerous jobs, but I still want to see how a team as close-knit as yours operates."

"I'm not really interested in that sort of thing, and besides, we probably aren't at your level," Chespin said. "I'll have to pass."

"But think of how fun it'd be!" Wooper butted in. "We could learn a thing or two from her, if we're lucky!"

Chespin sighed. "I guess we'll be doing it, then," he muttered. "For now, though, I'll tell you a story of my own..."

The three of us then began to swap more tales of our adventures for hours on end, up until it was time to go home. Sadly, we couldn't stay there forever.

As we finally got up from our seats, I looked at Team Cozy. "Thank you for taking me here," I said with gratitude. "You helped me regain something precious today."

"What would that be?" Wooper asked, curious as to what I was talking about.

"You gave me back a bit of normalcy," I responded. "Just talking with you two helped me forget my hardships for a while."

"Well, I'm glad we could help!" Wooper commented.

"I don't know how you and Makuhita live through all the crap you go through, but I guess that's why our teams are different," Chespin observed. "We better get back to the Guild before dinner."

I nodded, and the three of us began to walk our way home. I couldn't help but feel safe for once. Capim was packed with Pokemon, and I knew that Lombre would be hesitant to strike at me if I wasn't isolated. He preferred to keep his distance most of the time, whether by sabotage or sniping.

I did wonder how Makuhita was doing, though. Fighting alone was a difficult thing, but I had faith in him. He was one of the most resilient individuals I had ever met, and even if he did lose, I was confident he'd come back alive. I knew that when I made it back to the Guild, he'd be there waiting for me.