The Home of the Brave

A Clover Guild Story
By Ribombee-anon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-gXQqtjBjU (BGM: Lazy Daydream - Flower)

The world is beautiful, and in few places is that beauty more apparent than flowers. I never felt that way before becoming a Ribombee, but I know my newfound appreciation is not solely due to my new brain and instincts, or my ability to sense the gentle light of each plant’s life force. Those play a role, true, but the changes mainly made me stop and pay more attention. By doing so, I realized what I had been missing all this time, and so I grew to love the bright colors, diverse shapes, and pleasant scents of flowers.

Unsurprisingly, many of them decorate the dorm room I share with my partner, and I own a stack of books on the subject as well. On this cool autumn evening, I’ve been reading one such text at my little personal desk atop our full-size desk. Despite being a miniature book, created by tiny Pokemon for tiny Pokemon, it’s filled with gorgeous artwork and deep information, depicting plants from all over the world and the locales where they live.

It’s ironic—despite serving as an assistant cartographer here at the guild, I’ve only ventured beyond the shores of the Grass Continent a few times, and there are plenty of places on this very landmass that I never visited. I’ve traveled much more as a Pokemon than I ever did as a human, but there are still so many landscapes and towns to see. I let my imagination roam to distant regions each time I read this book, wondering about whether I will someday go there and witness them in person.

At least I can still experience a variety of foreign flowers here, in the comfort of Capim and the Clover Guildhall. I recall the hidden glade that my dear friend Ari once showed me, where plants from the other side of the world mysteriously thrive. I also remember chatting with Rain in the guild’s garden for countless hours about interesting flora, and watching with interest as she showed me her book of flowers she had plucked and pressed. I even think back to the times I visited Garden Square, that cozy spot on the edge of Capim where flower shops abound, sometimes offering rare plantlife from afar. Despite all this, I know nothing compares to seeing them in their true homes. Perhaps it would be good to travel more in the future.

I lean back in my chair and put a little armored hand to my fuzzy chin. The future... I haven’t given much thought to it. I’ve always been content here at the Clover Guild, and I never imagined myself doing anything different. Exploring dungeons and helping people in need is a good cause, and it can even be enjoyable despite the stress it brings. But I nearly lost everything mere days ago, when a Spiritomb corrupted our guildhall and forced us all to face our fears. Life is as precious as it is fragile. This is particularly clear to me now. Maybe now is a good time to think about where I’m going next, so I can make the most of this life while it still lasts...

I shake my head to clear it. For now, I don’t want to be weighed down by any heavy thoughts. This is a time for the whole guild to enjoy the peace we fought for. And, as I feel a familiar and comforting presence grace my mind, it’s a time for us to enjoy each other too.

I get up and stretch, and let my antennae flick, as the door is thrown open. There stands the Sneasel I know and love, with her shimmering white scarf and her glimmering gold gems.

“W-welcome back, Nira,” I say as I smile.

Nira... Until a couple days ago, she was simply known as Sneasel, as she never completed the rites of passage that were required to gain a true name in her tribe. But after proving her strength to the ghost of a tribemate, he granted her the name Niravaq, meaning Braveclaw. At my partner’s request, he also gave her the approval to shorten it into the nickname Nira. She loved both versions, and earning a true name after all this time had almost brought her to tears. I couldn’t blame her—it’s a deeply significant honor in her culture, and her lack of a true name had always been a source of shame for her.

Nira’s notched ear perks up as I greet her. Her fangs appear as she slowly grins. “Call me ‘Nira’ again,” she says.

“Sure thing, Nira,” I reply.

Her grin grows ever wider. Happiness overflows. She hops up and down, laughing and clasping her claws before her chest.

“I love it!” she cries. “This is so cool! I mean, it’s gonna take some getting used to. But it’s so worth it!”

I chuckle as her infectious cheer washes over me. “I agree. It still feels strange to use your new name, but I-I’m really glad you’re happy about it. I know how much it means to you.”

“It definitely cheered me up after that crummy dungeon,” she says, an ounce of darkness creeping into her voice. “Anyway, I’m all wrapped up helping Toge and Cassie clean the basement. Dinner’s already on. There were a lotta people in the mess hall when I passed by. Wanna head down there now?”

“Oh—it must be later than I thought.”

“Got all wrapped up in a book again?”

“I guess so... There’s just s-so much to learn about flowers. I could read about them all day.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’ll never understand how you can read stuff without fighting or explosions in it. Well, your nerdy stuff can wait. We oughta get some grub before it runs out.”

“Grub? P-please don’t eat any bugs.”

“You know what I mean, you dork,” Nira says, and we both laugh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHuBXAAB0gU (BGM: Turnabout Sisters 2001 - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)

My wings buzz, and I lift off the desk. Nira opens the door and lets me fly out first, then she follows behind me as we head down the hall. I sense the Auras of so many Pokemon scattered around the building, such as Team Moonshine keeping to themselves in their dorm, Lliam in his office up above, and Ross in his room nearby. Nira goes to Ross’ door and perks up her ear, and notes that she hears paintbrush sounds. He must be sleep-painting another accidental masterpiece. Nira smirks at the idea, but I genuinely look forward to seeing what he produces.

The greatest concentration of life energy is below, shining like a rainbow to my third eye. The cheerful noises of our gathered guildmates grow louder as we descend the stairs to the lobby and pass through the open doorway into the dining area. The large room is filled with the constant din of the crowd. It’s somewhat oppressive, but after spending countless mealtimes here, I’ve developed a resistance to the noise.

My eyes drift around the room, observing Pokemon of all shapes and sizes sitting at tables or milling about. Close to the entrance, Team Petal-Purr and Team Punipawa are chatting enthusiastically about a dungeon with a fantastic treasure at the end. Even the shy Heidi wags her short tail and leans in to join the chat. Shelby is the first to notice our arrival; she pauses the conversation to rear up on her hind legs, grin from ear to ear, and frantically wave her stubby paw at Nira. My partner grins and waves back at her young student. Meanwhile, Heidi sends a warm smile my way.

“I’ll grab our food,” Nira says, leaning closer to me.

“I’ll find somewhere quiet to wait,” I reply.

There are no calm spots at ground level, but that’s no longer an issue for me. As Nira goes to the counter to get our meals from Beast and Ronnie, I fly up to the ceiling and begin drifting around idly, looking down over the mess hall from my isolated vantage point.

Teams Keystone and Oracle sit at the same table as Petal-Purr and Punipawa. Nick is quiet, but Amelia is engaged in a lively conversation with Charm and Natu. As I look down at them, the psychic bird abruptly swivels his entire round body and aims his dark eyes right at me.

‘Busy evening in the mess hall,’ he says, barging into my mind with his telepathy. ‘You avoiding the crowd up there?’

‘Just taking a look at the room,’ I reply by thinking and focusing on him. ‘It’s a relief to know everyone is safe and sound after the Spiritomb incident.’

‘I hear you,’ says Natu. ‘Hey, swing by our dorm next time you get the chance. Smokey carved a present for you. But don’t let her know I told you. It’s supposed to be a secret.’

‘Thanks for the spoilers,’ I say with a frown. A psychic laugh echoes in my head before Natu salutes me with a wing and refocuses on the Pokemon at the table.

I try listening in, but there’s far too much crosstalk from all the lively conversations happening around the room. The largest amount of chatter is unsurprisingly coming from the table occupied by Team Misfits. They’re all drinking merrily (though Totodile easily has the largest number of empty glasses piled up around him), and they’re joined by Team Cozy, Toge, and Pika. Elm hovers past them, and he says something that seems to flip a switch in Toge. A wave of strong emotion pours out of the Togetic as his face hardens, and he begins gesticulating wildly and raising his voice. The crowd mostly muffles his rant for me, but amused laughter from Elm, Wooper, and Totodile cuts through the noise. Nearby, Asana frowns at the disruptive Togetic—then frowns deeper at Makuhita, who sits beside her and continuously gorges himself on several plates of food. Asana scoots away and contents herself with her light meal.

Asana and I are both startled by a squeal from another guild member at the next table over: Furret. She’s excitedly babbling on and on, while Smith sits across from her in dead silence. It’s impossible to tell if he’s stonewalling her or enraptured by her mile-a-minute speech. I hover closer and pick out a few words that Furret says, which are all related to clothing she’s either bought or wishes to buy. I immediately back away. I’d rather not be spotted and dragged into the conversation. If that happened, I can safely assume she’d try to convince me to play dress-up with her again. I’m still embarrassed from the last time that happened.

The more enthusiastic half of Team MLG notices Pochi passing by, and she pauses her conversation to talk with him. Smith enjoys a short reprieve before Pochi leaves and meets up with Nida and Sunny, who are eating at a table near the window Tropius uses to reach into the mess hall. Currently, the giant banana-bearing dinosaur is peeking in and chatting with Bill. Within moments, Gill gallops in from nowhere, hugs his brother, and joins the conversation. They’re probably discussing their experiences in the Spiritomb’s dungeon; I remember hearing they teamed up for their mission. I start hovering closer, wanting to thank Bill for all the advice he gave me and Nira during our counseling sessions. It played a crucial role in helping us stave off corruption in our own instance of the haunted underhall.

I’m interrupted in an unfortunate manner, as Cory poisons the air with a ghost-related pun. This is followed by a loud groan from Rain. The pair is sitting with Kaiji and Kris not far from me. The gray Meowth nudges Rain with an elbow and speaks loudly, delivering a followup pun. The shiny Eevee slaps her forehead with a paw, and Cory and Kaiji laugh. Kris, sitting beside Kaiji, merely tilts his head in confusion over the joke. Meanwhile, Bill and Gill trot past on their way out of the mess hall; having missed my chance, I resolve to talk with Bill another time.

Suddenly, Kris goes rigid and looks around. He must have received another vision via his broken horn. He starts focusing on a large spiderweb in a high corner of the room. Dangling down on a thread is Cheris the Tarountula, who accepts an Oran Berry from Sencha the Whimsicott before reeling herself up. Or is it really an Oran? Judging by the barely-restrained grin on the Whimsicott’s face, and the reaction from Kris, I get a bad feeling. I’m about to dart over and warn Cheris about the potential lookalike, but she’s already sunk her fangs into the blue berry to begin liquefying and slurping the insides. An instinctive fear lurches inside me, and I wince and drift away from the huge spider, even though I know she’s friendly. I resume scanning the room, and when I check on Cheris a minute later, it seems like she’s suffering no ill effects. In response, Kris looks relieved, while Sencha appears disappointed and wanders off.

The would-be prankster bounces off a few people’s heads and hops past Mustel and Serpes, who sit together at the end of a table. The massive snake is coiled up tightly to conserve space, while Mustel uses his partner like a scaly chair. He holds a piece of half-eaten bread in one paw and the open Pokedex in the other, and is excitedly telling Serpes about whatever is on the current page. I can’t see the book’s contents from this distance, but the look on the snake’s face suggests it’s boring. I bet it’s something I would find intriguing, though. It’s always fascinating to learn more about the Pokemon that inhabit this world. Sadly, I can’t visit Mustel, since I see Nira now has a tray of food in her paws and is walking away from the counter.

I take one last look at the mess hall and all these people from above. We’ve experienced so much over the years, both good and bad. Right now, I still sense the lingering stress of the Spiritomb’s torment among them. But there is also so much brightness and hope for better times, and I can feel the vigor required to make it a reality.

My face wears a smile as I flutter down to Nira and join her. We proceed to a table occupied by some of our closest friends in the guild. Macom is among them, and he silently focuses on his food while his tail slowly and faintly blinks in a pattern.

- .- ... - -.--

I’ve learned to decode the odd flashes of his taillight, and the translation of this sequence makes me chuckle.

KFC eats his meal to the left side of Macom, while Cooper and Testa sit on the right side. The Squirtle is leaning forward and enthusiastically talking to Gus, who sits directly across from her and looks like he wishes to be left alone. There are empty spaces on either side of the Oshawott, and Nira sits beside him.

“This seat taken?” she asks him.

“You already know the answer,” Gus replies.

Nira rolls her eyes. “Y’know, you really need a partner, G.”

I sit on the table itself, giving my wings a break. I offer a friendly smile and nod of acknowledgement to Cooper, and he does the same to me. My partner passes me a bowl of dense grainy ambrosia balls and a bottle of golden nectar, and I start consuming my incredibly sweet (yet nutritious) meal while Nira digs into her ethically-sourced Veluza fillets and white rice. She also has an apple crisp for us to share. Apparently, Beau baked some and donated them to Beast shortly before dinnertime. I never tried them before, but as soon as I take a bite, I wish I’d done so sooner. They taste delicious—and not just because my Ribombee palate prefers flavors such as this.

As we eat, the Pokemon around us strike up conversation with both me and Nira. She readily chats with everyone, even with her mouth full, but as per usual, I don’t have much to say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLHDbruVjQg (BGM: Melodies of Life - Final Fantasy IX (guitar cover by Daisuke Minamizawa))

“How have you been today?” KFC asks Nira at one point.

“Pretty good,” she replies.

“I remember hearing that you accepted a student recently.”

“Yep. Shelby. She’s definitely getting better at fighting. Only tripped over her tail four times today.”

Testa chuckles. “We all gotta start somewhere.”

“And you, Booker?” asks KFC.

“I’m keeping up with my training,” I reply.

KFC nods approvingly, while Nira says, “Can’t wait till you figure out Aura Sphere!”

I glance at my hands. For a few seconds, faint mint-colored wisps fade into view around my black chitin, then vanish like smoke in the wind. “Th-that might not happen for a while,” I say. “But I still believe I can learn it someday. Especially with you and KFC helping me.”

Macom looks up from his food and faces Nira. “You haven’t just been training today, right? I believe I saw you doing some work in the basement.”

Nira nods. “Yep. The repairs are coming along. Wish that Spiritomb was still around so he could help us out. He caused this whole stupid mess in the first place, and then he just... leaves.”

“There’s nothing we can do about that now. No sense in being bothered by it.”

“I guess. At least Toge’s good at keeping everyone organized. Skiddo’s tuckered out by carting stuff around, but he’ll manage. And Cassie’s been doing most of the work, honestly. She moves super fast when she’s working on construction stuff—which is surprising, cuz she looks like a big fat lump.”

“I’m pretty sure she’s mostly muscle,” I remark. “Also, c-construction and repairs are something she’s passionate about, and that can be quite a motivator. Remember all the work she did for the Summer Festival?”

“You ain’t wrong there. She even told me she coulda handled the basement all by herself, but she likes having people working with her, so she’s cool with me and the others being there.”

“She’s got the right idea,” Testa says. “Being with other people makes work go faster. Right, Cooper?”

As usual, the Squirtle gently nudges her quiet partner into the conversation. He takes a moment to collect himself before saying, “Y-yes, it does. And on that topic, there’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. After that... harrowing incident we all went through recently, I’ve been considering how things have changed since Testa and I joined the guild. Spending time with everyone here is nice. It’s even... reinvigorating, I guess you could say. It was always enjoyable to live with you, Testa, and go on missions together with you, but being with this guild has brought a lot of additional excitement to our lives. I m-may not enjoy all of it, but I’m glad we’re here. I just, uh... wanted to put that out there, and thank you all.”

“That’s the spirit!” says Testa, much more enthusiastic than him. “Let’s drink to the guild!”

She holds out her glass, and earns a toast from most Pokemon sitting nearby. Cooper, lacking arms, can’t easily raise his glass, but Testa clinks hers against his while it sits on the table. I walk across the table to tap my little vial of nectar against her glass, then return to my spot while Nira launches into a chat about ghosts and ghost stories with our guildmates. Despite everyone’s recent experiences with phantoms, nobody seems to mind discussing the topic. The aftereffects of the corrupted dungeon still loom over us all, but the guildhall is at peace now, and the darkness is less deep when we view it in hindsight.

Halfway through my vial, I sense newly approaching Auras. I check the mess hall entrance. d’Alin, Ari, and Pirth are entering together. They’re followed shortly by Sierra and Santos, and then Ikarus and Linoone. The seven of them stay together and look around the room, talking amongst themselves. d’Alin’s roving eyes pass over me and Nira; I could swear the fish shoots us a dirty look, but I want to believe it’s just my imagination. Any lingering concern is washed away when I see Ari smile at me and lift her single red paw slightly, offering a meek greeting.

I feel a gentle pressure on my head. Unlike Natu, Ari always wordlessly asks permission before stepping into my mind. I allow her telepathy to proceed. Her calm and soothing thought-voice is a welcome sound, and it easily cuts through the noise around us.

‘Hello, Booker,’ she thinks.

‘Hello, Ari,’ I reply in my mind. ‘How have you been?’

‘I certainly could be worse. I can hardly complain, considering we are all safe and together.’

With a nod, I think, ‘The guild has been through a lot of hard times, both before and after you joined us. But we’ve weathered all the storms so far, and I’m grateful for that.’

‘I couldn’t agree more. The strength of this group impresses me always. It is enough to help me feel at peace here.’

‘At peace... Does that mean you’re feeling more comfortable about removing that veil of yours?’

Ari’s face is stoic, but a weak, timid sigh echoes within my mind. ‘It is still a dream of mine. A beautiful dream. Yet I still have so far to go. I am sorry.’

‘Don’t apologize. I look forward to the day you feel happy in your own skin. But take all the time you need. I’ll be here for you.’

‘Thank you, Booker.’ She smiles and trots off to join her comrades, who have begun moving toward the counter.

As I watch her go, I think about the times we’ve talked. She confided in me about her secret struggles, and I offered her encouragement and lent an ear when she was hurting—not unlike the conversations I’ve had with Heidi, and various other guildmates as well. I always try to help them, and I feel grateful for receiving the same kindness from them in turn. Not everyone here is on the best terms with one another, but we always stand by each other when it matters, and that’s comforting to know.

That fact is embodied in the next arrival to the mess hall: Kiyo, the normally irritable fox who nonetheless forged an odd friendship with me one Halloween night. He saunters into the room with Cassie in tow; Bean is with them too, sitting atop the Sandshrew’s head beside the origami rose she’d begun wearing on her ear last Midwinter. The small bird’s feathers are all fluffed up due to the evening chill, but he relaxes as he’s brought into the warm mess hall.

The trio passes close to my table, so I wave at them. “H-hello, Kiyo,” I say.

His enormous ears perk up, and he pads over to me. “Hey, Booker. And, uh, Nira. Right? I got the memo you changed your name.”

My partner grins and nods at him. “Yep! You got it. I love hearing people say it.”

“It sounds nice!” says Cassie. “It’s a pretty name!”

“Great, now you ruined it,” says Nira with an exaggerated pout. “I don’t wanna be pretty.”

“In that case, it’s a fierce name! Fierce and cool!”

Nira laughs. “Just messing with you. I know it’s a cool name. I told you what it means, right?”

“Yeah, you mentioned it in the basement the other day. It means ‘Brave’, right? That is pretty cool. Hey, Booker, have you ever thought about getting a new name? ‘Booker’ isn’t very fierce.”

“Um... I never wanted to be fierce,” I reply, “so ‘Booker’ is okay with me.”

“Well, that’s good to hear, cuz I never wanted you to change it in the first place. Cutemons deserve cute names!”

She playfully pokes my cheek with a claw. I flinch and rub the spot where she prodded my exoskeleton. Nira quickly pokes my other cheek. I rub that one too and shoot her a glare, earning a snicker from her in response.

“So, anyway, you three here to grab some food?” Nira asks Kiyo and his friends. “I dunno if Beast’s got anything left. Whole lotta people here tonight. Better move fast if you wanna get something.”

“We already ate in town,” says Kiyo. “We just wanted to swing by and hang out for a bit.”

“Aaaand Kiyo wanted to play some music!” Cassie says. “He just can’t stay away from that new piano.”

“I wasn’t really planning to play anything,” says Kiyo. His dismissive tone is belied by the slight wagging of his dense cluster of fluffy tails.

I look in the direction of the piano, although I can barely see it from this spot. One of our teams recently acquired a grungy old upright piano as an unusual reward for completing a mission. The guild decided to put it in the corner of the mess hall, since we weren’t sure where else to place it and we didn’t want to simply get rid of it. To date, not many guild members have attempted to play it, but Nira and I are among that number. Multiple keys are still scratched from her attempts, and when I tried to play it, I struggled to even push down the keys. I’ll have to stick with making music on my kalimba instead.

“You don’t wanna play?” Nira says to Kiyo. “Why not? Come on Kiyo, bang out some tunes!”

It seems like others heard her voice. Someone shouts “Free Bird!”, resulting in laughter. Another person suggests the song “I Don’t Want to Say Goodbye”, which is met with groans from several guild members. A slew of other requests and jokes ensue, and Kiyo raises his voice.

“Alright, alright, chill out!” he shouts. “I’ll do something, I guess. Not like I wanted to play anyway, but if it’ll make you all be quiet, I’ll do it.”

“He always plays so hard to get,” Cassie comments with a smirk as she and Bean follow Kiyo to the piano.

He clambers onto the seat, sits on his haunches, and pushes open the lid shielding the keys. The entire room falls into an expectant silence. Then the fox stretches and, after considering what to play, begins to perform a bit of smooth jazz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amLw1pWu7tI&t=5s (BGM: Cafe - Paper Mario: The Origami King (piano cover by Nokturn))

The piano is slightly out of tune, but his playing still sounds wonderful—especially considering he doesn’t even have fingers. All around me, natives and former humans listen in. Nira crosses her arms, shuts her eyes, and bows her head; it’s subtle, but I can see her bobbing her head slightly to the beat. Cassie leans against the piano and listens happily with perked-up ears, while Bean perches atop the instrument, gazing out over the room as he basks in the music. The bird eventually glances over at me, and our eyes meet. Even at this distance, I find myself lost in his dark soulful gaze.

With a mere glance, he seems to tell me that he appreciates the admittedly few times we’ve interacted, and he wishes to continue spending time with me and all his other friends in the guild. He assures me there will be no shortage of chances for us all to tighten our bonds, and that exact unity will continue driving us onward. Our collective experiences and mutual support have been, and always will be, instrumental in letting us improve ourselves day by day. We have confronted our deepest fears, overcome fierce challenges, and achieved great things over the years. If we can accomplish feats such as that, then nothing is beyond our grasp. We have many more bright days ahead, and so long as the guildmates hold each other in their hearts, the Clover Guild will live on forever.

I smile as the words grace my ears. I hear them in a voice I never knew before, as clear as crystal and chiming with truth.

Or maybe this is all just my imagination.

* * *

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3tM2-TcJzk (BGM: Beneath All the Stars in the Sky - Monster Hunter)

Following dinner, Nira and I relax in the lounge with some of our guildmates. My partner splays out on the couch while I sit on the backrest, watching over her. The room is full of laughter and cheer, except for Nira.

“I’m stuffed... Why didn’t you stop me from going back for seconds, Books?”

“I assumed you could handle it.”

“What about when I went back for thirds?”

“I s-still thought you knew what you were doing.”

“Well, then, why’d you give me that ambrosia?”

“You asked me for some. And I-I only gave you one piece. It’s not to blame for you feeling sick.”

“Then, uh... Why didn’t you stop me from stealing Gus’ apple crisp?”

“B-because you grabbed it and ate it before I could react! At least you apologized and got him a new one. And you did that all on your own, without me pestering you. I-I’m proud of you.”

“Aw, shut up... And get me some tea or something. I just wanna lay here for now. Ugh.”

I request the aid of one of my guildmates to carry the beverage for me. We visit Beast and deliver a cup of ginger tea to Nira, which helps her. Even so, she no longer feels feel like hanging out in the lounge, and she believes getting some peace and quiet may be better for her. With that in mind, we decide to go outside and stargaze instead. We say goodnight to our friends and head out to the guild’s rather large garden. We grow crops here for use in the kitchen or dungeons, but we also have a lot of decorative plants, making it wonderfully relaxing.

We enter the garden together, walking on cobblestone paths among the flowers, bushes, and trees. There are wooden fences as well, built by many people over the span of three years. As a result, they vary widely in design and quality, but at least they’re all functional, and they add character to the garden. The area is softly lit by warm lanterns; a similar light, much fainter in comparison, emits from the Fire Stone shard on my clover belt buckle. We wander until reaching a dark and quiet corner at the outer edge of the garden, isolated from the rest by a large wall of bushes. To one side, across an open field, looms a vast black forest. The field and leaves rustle with the cool night breeze, but my special cloak protects me from the autumn chill. Floating on the wind is noise from the guildhall, muffled and quieted by the bushes, but still full of life. And from the other direction, the hooting of owls and the chittering of bugs rises from the woods. I can understand the insects’ calls, but there are no words to speak of, only the expression of vague and varied emotions.

As for myself right now, the only thing I feel is peace, like a soft warm blanket resting over me. The garden has long been my favorite spot in the guild, and it’s grown so much over the years, ever since I helped create it with Team Cozy back at the dawn of all this. Minun, Rain, and Blossom have been instrumental in keeping it tidy and thriving, and I’ve frequently offered my assistance too. Ribombee are natural experts in this field, after all, and I’m able to help despite lacking the same experience that a native-born Pokemon would possess.

I glance around at the beautiful, multicolored flowers blooming on the bushes, and I smile softly. The variety of plants in the garden makes it a paradise, and knowing that I helped bring it to life makes it even more rewarding.

Nira lies down in the short grass, sighing with relief and resting her paws on her belly. I flutter to a huge golden flower, one of many rising from a long flower bed, and lie down atop its flat center. The sturdy stem only bends a bit under my minuscule weight, so the flower provides a decent place to recline. I bask in the garden’s gentle and many-hued Aura, and join Nira in gazing up at the infinite sky above. As we watch the twinkling stars and crescent moon peek around the slowly drifting clouds, I remember some lines from a human poetry book that came through a rift and lives in our library now. They are beautifully written, and a perfect portrayal of the shimmering grace that greets me and my partner whenever we stargaze:

Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven,
Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.

Time passes by pleasantly as we talk idly about whatever comes to mind. We point out constellations, too—some created by native Pokemon, others invented by humans. Among these manmade ones are crude replicas of those from the old world, like the Big Dipper, the Southern Cross, and Orion. They are not perfect matches in this alien sky, but close enough to remind us lost humans of home. Nira’s tribe had many constellations too, but their stars are utterly obscured in this hemisphere. She contents herself with telling me what they looked like and what they represented, while I return the favor by recounting whatever constellations and stories I can remember from Earth. We’ve done this many times, and I’ve already memorized most of the legends of her people and their stars, but it’s always enjoyable to hear them again. Plus, it helps her maintain a link with the Stone Tribe, even thousands of miles away.

She lets out a long sigh after regaling me with one legend of a constellation’s birth, involving a giant Mamoswine who climbed a mountain to enter the sky and escape a band of hunters. “I sure hope I can see those stars again one of these days,” she says. “And it’d be cool if you could see them in person.”

“I’d love that too,” I reply. “I look forward to rediscovering Elderfrost. Being able to see your homeland and m-meet your people would be wonderful.”

“Preaching to the chorus,” she mutters.

“Choir,” I correct her. “But I-I know what you mean. And I’m certain it’ll happen someday. I’ll do whatever I can to make it a reality.”

Nira growls her gratitude, and squints at the moon. For most of her life, it looked a certain way. Here on the Grass Continent, it’s upside down and wrong, joining the unfamiliar stars as a constant reminder of how far she is from home. My heart sinks a bit. We humans know exactly how she feels. And that only strengthens my determination to solve the mystery of her homeland.

Elderfrost Island is hidden somewhere in the ice and snow around the Mist Continent. Its people didn’t explore far beyond its shores, and vanishingly few outsiders ever visited it, leaving its location on the greater world map an enigma. Seeking any clues, I’ve worked alongside Macom, the guild’s cartographer, as well as Lingon the Leafeon, a member of the Exploration Team Federation. Both of them have granted me access to mountains of maps and texts, but I’ve yet to make any good progress. Even so, I will never stop searching, for my partner’s sake.

Perhaps we could take advantage of the massive concentration of ley lines on the Mist Continent, and use that to locate our desired destination somehow. Or maybe the key is the spectral flame that lives inside Nira now, gifted to her by the ghost of her tribemate that we recently defeated in the haunted guildhall. That ember comes from her homeland, and maybe it wants to go home as much as Nira does. Could it guide us back?

And on the topic of homelands... will the guild ever find a link back to the human world? We’ve been searching for one ever since the founding, without success. I’ve long since decided to remain here and continue living my new life, but I can’t truly rest easy until I send a message to my old friends and family. I have to tell them I’m safe and happy in a faraway land, and I will never forget them.

“You ever think about the future?” Nira asks suddenly.

I give a start and look over at her. She’s still staring up at the moon. Her eyes and gems glisten in the silvery light.

“A-actually, yes,” I reply. “Funny you should ask. It’s been on my mind lately. I even thought about it right before dinner today. But w-why do you ask?”

“Cuz I’ve been thinking about it too,” she says. “Talking with Agra made me wanna get home even more than I already did. I wanna see my home, my tribe—and I wanna evolve too. But you knew that already.”

I nod in response. Technically, she can evolve anytime she wants. She already found a Razor Claw a while ago, and the Luminous Spring activates relatively frequently. But she rejected the chance because she wants to evolve in a specific way. Her tribe has an ancient, sacred ritual and tradition revolving around evolution. Even if it means delaying her power boost, she intends to complete the process in the company of her tribe. I can respect her decision.

“Anyway, the Island and evolution ain’t the only stuff on my mind,” Nira continues. “I’ve been having fun teaching Shelby. And she ain’t the first person I’ve done that sorta thing with. I’ve sparred with more guildies than I can count, I taught Toge about stealth, I helped Chespin with his fear of ice—and of course, I helped you a whole buncha times. And I’ve always thought doing those things was pretty fun.”

“You can be a great instructor when you put your mind to it,” I say.

“I know that. I’m great at everything.” She smirks a bit before becoming serious and aiming her eyes right at me. “But the point I’m trying to make is... Well, all this training stuff is kinda making me think about what I’m gonna do in the future. Like, whether I’m gonna stay with the guild or try something else. I keep thinking it’d be cool to start a dojo in town and teach people how to fight and explore dungeons. Kinda like training the next generation or something.”

“Not a bad idea,” I reply. “Teaching is a n-noble cause.”

“Noble? That ain’t really my style, but I get what you mean.” She pauses before continuing, “Also, I’ve been thinking... maybe you could work with me. If you helped me with the dojo, you could teach folks about Aura and the strategy side of things, and I’d mainly teach everyone how to punch people real good. Playing to our strengths! Now, I know you ain’t super keen on getting up in front of people and talking, but you obviously like the idea of teaching, and I think a nerd like you would be awesome at it. As long as you’re up for it, of course.”

I sit upright and turn to face her. She has her arms crossed behind her head, but she keeps holding my gaze. “So, uh, whaddaya think?” she asks. “Just an idea I’m throwing out there. I ain’t gonna quit the guild anytime soon, don’t you worry. But I’m just curious.”

I don’t reply right away. I have to take some time to sort my thoughts, because this feels like a heavy topic, especially among the silence of the night.

“The idea of leaving the guild and trying something else hasn’t c-crossed my mind very often...” I murmur at last. “B-but I have indeed considered it. And those thoughts have been coming up more often over the last few days. I guess the Spiritomb incident made me feel more introspective, since it was so dangerous and I came so close to d-dying or... or l-losing you.”

Like a dark cloud passing over the moon above, sadness and regret briefly tinge Nira’s Aura. “I getcha,” she says quietly. “We’ve been through a lot, but that mission was extra rough. Probably best not to think about it too much.”

“I don’t like recalling it either. But still, whenever I think about it, it does make me ask myself: w-what next? Have I finally found my calling here at the guild? It’s a good place, and I can do good things here. Each mission, big or small, in a dungeon or not, makes this world a bit better. It’s f-fulfilling to know our work is helping others.”

Nira nods. “Right. But, I mean, getting paid for it is even more fulfilling.”

She chuckles, and I roll my eyes and continue. “And yet, I wonder if there is s-some other path I should take. Should I continue completing missions for the guild? Should I begin teaching, like you suggested? Should I try something else entirely? I just don’t know. But I-I do know there’s so much more to see and do in the world. I’ve been wanting to travel more—to your homeland, and other places too—and experience more things beyond the guild. M-maybe I’ll find my answers along the way.”

“I’m totally down to explore more with you,” Nira says. “Or try whatever else you wanna try, for that matter. Could be fun. But whatever you do, you’d best not stress over it too much, alright? We ain’t gotta make any big decisions tonight.”

“Th-that is true. We have a good life now, here in the guild. It’s stable, familiar, comfortable. We really were lucky to become a part of this place.”

“Yeah. And we were here right at the start, too. What are the odds?”

Memories of our first gathering flood my mind: meeting my partner and Gus, arriving in Capim Town and attending Meloetta’s concert, that shocking moment when I learned I wasn’t the only human around, the meeting at the crossroads and the founding of the Clover Guild. Even after all this time, that pivotal night is unforgettable.

“I certainly want to stay here for now,” I say from the midst of my memories. “This place is my home. But I-I think it’s important to keep an open eye and open mind, and be ready for new opportunities—as long as I don’t lose sight of where I come from. And just like I never forgot my human life, I w-won’t forget my time in the Clover Guild, no matter where life takes me. Or us.”

“That ain’t a bad way of looking at things,” says Nira. “The guild definitely ain’t stale—how can it be when you got all these goofballs hanging around? But if you wanna see what else is out there, like I said, I’d totally support you. Whether I go through with that dojo idea and you join me there, or maybe you get a different job somewhere else, or whatever... Trying new things can be tough, but it’s definitely worth it. You just gotta give it a try and be brave. And I know you are.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PObfAdQG89Y (BGM: The Journey Home (Instrumental) - Ace Combat 5)

My wings flutter, and I smile at my partner’s words. Bravery... It’s what we both strive for. It’s why we called ourselves Team Brave. We always wanted to be courageous, overcome our flaws, and push onward no matter what. And looking back at our long journey, I can certainly say we’ve achieved great things together. It’s no coincidence that my partner was granted a name meaning “Braveclaw” a few days ago. It’s a sign of her growth—and I have to admit I’ve improved as well.

Once, I was weak, scared, helpless, and practically useless. But I walked a hard road and came out on top, guided and supported by so many others. KFC trained me to awaken my Aura. Toge taught me how to use Safeguard. Jennifer and Lingon helped me strengthen my Fairy Wind. The Ribombee residents of Small Town unveiled the secrets of Pollen Puffs. Thunder Bloom and the rest of the Shaymin tribe guided me along the final step of my journey toward flight. And all along the way, my guildmates were there for me... and chief among them, Nira. She was always at my side, pushing me to be the best I could be, encouraging me even when my hope was in tatters. And come today, I can fight and fly, and face danger and conquer it.

“Thank you so much,” I tell my partner. “I’ve said it a million times... but that’s because I can never thank you enough. I’m s-so glad you’re always there for me.”

“Same to you, Books,” she says. “There’s nobody else I’d rather partner with.”

She lets out a huge yawn, and I’m unable to resist responding with a tiny yawn of my own. The contrast makes us both chuckle.

“Well, that’s about all the serious talk I can handle for one night,” she says. “Any more and my stomach’s gonna start hurting again. Best we get some shut-eye. Ready to head inside?”

I nod and float onto her head as she gets up and stretches. She walks back to the guildhall, closing the front doors behind her. The lights inside are dim, and there are no guild members in sight. It seems like everyone has retreated to their dorms by now. We do the same, heading to our own room on the second floor. A glance through our round window reveals that the clouds obscure the moon now, so Nira cracks open the hatch of our dark lantern to provide a tiny bit of extra light in the room.

I dismount and flutter down to our desk, where we keep the bowl of cotton balls that has long served as my bed. Nira tosses her scarf, armband, belt, and badge atop our dresser, while I neatly fold my cloak, belt, and waist cape and put them beside my bed. Nira then stretches again and flops unceremoniously onto her round bed. Meanwhile, I nestle into my bowl and get comfy.

I’m about to say goodnight when I sense... something within my partner. I sit up and look over at her. She’s lying on her side and propping herself up on one elbow, and looking over at me.

“Hey, uh, this may kinda come outta nowhere...” she says. “But do you wanna come over?”

My antennae perk up. “Oh! S-sure.”

She rolls onto her back, letting one paw lay at her side while slipping the other under her head. She tucks in her chin and watches me hover over and land on her belly. As soon as I kneel down in her short gray fur, I sense something about to happen, but I decide to stay put and let Nira have a bit of fun. As expected, the paw at her side abruptly swings upward and nudges me on the back. It’s a light touch, but still enough to make me faceplant onto my partner, my head landing right beneath her gem. The cool furry surface beneath me shakes as she chuckles. I push myself up partway and meet her gaze, rolling my eyes dramatically before flopping back down, where I lay my cheek on her chest and listen to her heartbeat.

This is far from the first time I’ve slept atop my partner. It was rather awkward at first—and even now, I can’t entirely shake the instinctive fear of being squished if she moves too much, and I’m unsure if I’ll ever get accustomed to sleeping on top of a Pokemon instead of a normal bed. But she almost never moves in her sleep, and we both derive some comfort from this: she feels better when I’m with her because she can know I’m safe, while I find it easier to sleep when her soothing, cool Ice-type aura surrounds me.

“Comfy?” Nira asks.

“Y-yes,” I reply. “So, um, a-any special reason for this? Are you concerned about nightmares again?”

“Uh... yeah, kinda,” she admits. “Been hard to sleep lately. I keep thinking about what happened in that dungeon. Hoping it’ll be easier to relax if I can, like... feel you with me, and hold you close.”

“You can do that as much as you want,” I say. “N-no objections on my end.”

“Thanks,” she says.

She lets out one final yawn, which I echo again. The same paw that playfully shoved me now descends over my body like a weighted blanket, heavy enough to pin me down but gentle enough to not crumple my wings. I fidget a bit to get comfortable, then look up, past Nira’s beautiful shining gem and into her lively red eyes. We meet each other’s gaze one more time, and a soft smile crosses her face.

“Goodnight, Books,” she says. “Love you.”

“I love you too, Nira,” I reply. “See you in the morning.”

She shuts her eyes and tilts her head back, letting out a sigh as she easily, gradually drifts off to sleep. I nestle into her short scruffy fur, tuck my arms under my head, and take a brief look around the dorm.

As if they were waiting for me, the clouds part. Pale moonlight pours into the room and illuminates our flowers, trinkets, and decor. And from atop the dresser, silver light glints off my partner’s clover badge. Although it’s barely visible from this angle, I stare fixedly at it. My drowsy mind ponders that four-leaf symbol of luck, a link to my past life, the icon of my strange new home in this brave new world. I keep watching the badge even as drowsiness rests a tender hand on my head and encourages my eyes to close.

The future... it stretches before me, and I can’t know what it will bring. But as long as that lucky clover shines like a star over me, and I have my friends and my beloved partner with me, I will always fly onward with nothing to fear.

I smile. And one final happy thought meanders through my mind as I gently drift off to sleep:

‘Thank you, Clover Guild, for helping me be brave.’

The End

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