Seeing Red

A Clover Guild Story
By Ribombee-anon

Chapter 1: The Job

Sneasel and I were late for a meeting. She dashed up the stairs, taking two at a time, while I lay prone on her head and desperately clutched her short fur.

“I told you we d-didn’t have time for another sparring match,” I said.

“C’mon, Booker, it was just one more fight,” my partner replied. “And don’t blame me—KFC asked for it. Besides, it’s important to stay in shape so I can fight well, right?”

“Y-yes, but not when we have a meeting to go to...”

“It’ll be fine. Hey, maybe everyone else is running late too. Maybe we’ll be the first ones there!”

As soon as we reached the top floor of the guildhall, Sneasel rushed ahead and threw open the double doors of Guildmaster Lliam’s office, panting as she entered. Five Pokemon were in the room already, and they all stared at us as we burst in. Lliam the Meowstic sat behind his desk as usual, looking stoic. Standing in a row before the desk were a Delibird and Linoone wearing postman hats, a Skiddo with a blue bandanna, and an Oshawott with a green band around his tail. The latter two Pokemon were our guildmates, and wore clover-shaped badges. Sneasel looked around at them and slightly lowered her ear, while I sat upright on her head.

“Oops,” Sneasel murmured, barely loud enough for me to hear.

“S-sorry we’re late!” I said to the gathered Pokemon. “We just lost track of time. We were d-doing some training, and—”

“Aww, don’t worry your pretty li’l head, hon,” the Delibird said in a drawl. “We weren’t plannin’ to start without y’all.”

Lliam nodded. “You’re usually on time for meetings, Team Brave, so I’ll let this one slide~”

“Th-thank you, sir,” I said as Sneasel stood beside Gus the Oshawott.

Lliam gestured to the Delibird and Linoone and asked, “Now that we’re all here, would you two like to begin?”

The Delibird gave a hoot and scurried to Lliam’s side. Tipping her hat at all the Pokemon, she said, “Howdy, and thanks for takin’ time outta your days to hear me out. I bet you folks know who I am, but just to remind y’all, the name’s Debby, boss o’ Delibird Deliveries. And I got a job for y’all. My star employee, Linoone, can tell you more.”

She pointed a flipper at her fellow postal worker, and he picked up where she left off. “We have a big, heavy package to deliver to Scraggy in the farming village of Grainfield out in Lush Prairie. It’s too much for me or Debby to carry, and Delilah is busy with another delivery, so we wanted to borrow one of the guild’s carts.”

“Well, that explains why I’m here,” said Skiddo. “I can pull that cart, no sweat. What are Gus and Team Brave here for?”

“Security,” said Debby. Her face and voice became grave as she whispered, “Believe it or not, there’s a whole lotta no-good outlaws in that there prairie—especially these last few months. And there ain’t no crime too cruel for their black hearts.”

“Cruel crimes?” Gus murmured. “Y-you mean... like kidnapping? Blackmail? M-murder?”

“Worse—mail theft!” yelled Debby, slamming her flipper on Lliam’s desk. “We gotta get some security detail on that there package. Otherwise, it’s gonna get stolen faster than you can say ‘joy to the world’!”

“She’s right,” said Lliam. “Sneasel, you’re easily one of our best fighters, and Booker is great at supporting you, so you two are an obvious pick. As for Gus, I’d like to start sending him on more combat-oriented missions so he can get some field practice with using moves and battling. Plus, I know the three of you are friends, so I think you can work together well.”

“By the way,” said Linoone, “you guys won’t be working for free. The guild will keep 75% of the profits from this job. Lliam already approved, so we just wanted to get together and tell you all about it.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Sneasel, cracking her knuckles. “Any job where I beat up some bad guys is a good job for me. And it’ll be fun to fight with Gus.”

I raised my hand. “Um, Debby... h-how dangerous are these bandits? Do you know?”

“They run the gamut,” the Delibird replied. “Some are real pieces o’ work, but some ain’t so bad. There’s one gang you ’specially gotta keep an eye out for, though. Between Capim and Grainfield, the most trouble comes from the Sharp Gang. They’re real tough fighters, but some say they ain’t as merciless as you’d expect... still, they gon’ loot y’all if you let ’em, so watch out.”

Linoone added, “That gang consists of Luxio, Liepard, and Mightyena, led by a Zangoose. The big boss has a sword and a cool eyepatch and cowboy hat, so you can’t miss him.”

Sneasel’s reaction to this was unexpectedly strong. As soon as Linoone described the bandit leader, she gasped, and I sensed her Aura surge up around me as a wave of conflicting emotions filled her head. Her hand started to go to her notched ear, but then stopped and simply adjusted her blue bandanna before falling again.

“A-are you okay?” I asked her quietly.

She ignored me, and stared intently at the two couriers. “So, th-that Zangoose...” she said. “His name... it ain’t Prairie Red, is it?”

“It sure is, hon,” said Debby. “D’you know him?”

“Yep,” she said, her voice dropping to a low growl. “Bastard.”

“What happened?” asked Gus.

Sneasel sighed. “Pretty sure I told most of you guys about this before, but... back before I joined the guild, I made a living doing solo jobs from that one public job board over in the town square. One day, I went out to a dungeon in the prairie. Got some good loot along the way, but when I came out, there were some bandits waiting—that Zangoose’s gang. They beat the hell outta me and took all my loot.”

“W-what?” I gasped. Even though this happened many months ago, and she was okay now, I felt my heart skip a beat in anger at the thought of my partner being injured. “That’s awful... How bad did they hurt you?”

“Pretty bad. I don’t wanna talk about the fight too much.”

“I understand... I’m so glad you survived that,” I murmured, rubbing her head. At the same time, I shut my eyes and breathed deep, clearing my head of that spike of anger from a moment ago.

“Well, at least it’s all behind you,” said Skiddo.

“Not really...” Sneasel said.

“What do you mean?” asked Gus. “If you’re okay with talking about it, that is.”

Sneasel hesitated, then reached up to her ear again and began to run her claw along the edge of it, focusing on the triangular notch cut out of it. I got on my hands and knees and crawled a bit closer to look at her old injury. I quickly put two and two together.

“W-wait, that was Prairie Red?” I murmured.

“Got it,” she growled. “Every time I see my reflection and look at my ear, it reminds me of that time those bandits wiped the floor with me. Really hurt my pride, y’know? That’s... why I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to.”

“I’m sure you did a great job fighting,” said Skiddo. “Getting a scar is nothing to be ashamed of.”

I nodded in agreement and said sheepishly, “I always thought it makes you look... cool.”

“I know you guys are trying to be nice and all,” said Sneasel, “but I’m still mad about this. Point is, Red’s a bastard and I want revenge. Glad we’ve got a job that takes us into his territory again.”

“I don’t know if fighting him is a good idea,” said Linoone. “This is supposed to be a stealth mission, and I wanna S-rank it if we can. No point in messing with this gang if you can help it.”

“He’s right,” Debby said to Sneasel. “I understand your frustration, hon, but you’d best avoid these varmints. They may not be the roughest bandits in the prairie, but they ain’t soft. And ain’t nobody safe from their banditry—not even birds like me. They’ve even gone an’ shot down Pelipper couriers before.”

“Now, on the one hand,” Linoone chimed in, “I’m all for shooting down Pelippers... but still, we need to avoid getting distracted. We should just focus on delivering the package.”

“Hold on, ‘we’?” asked Gus. “Are you coming with us, Linoone?”

“Sure! The guild is providing the cart and the security, but this is a Delibird Deliveries job, after all. We’re still responsible for the package, so I gotta come along to make it official. Also, I can scout around and keep an eye out for any bandits, so we can avoid them. I’m not a fighter, though, so don’t expect too much from me if the bandits attack us.”

Skiddo bowed his head. “So... that means we only have two fighters to protect the cart: Sneasel and Gus. Is that really enough? I know you said we’ll try to be sneaky, but what if the gang finds us?”

“I don’t wanna put too many guards on this here package,” said Debby. “It’ll attract too much attention. I ain’t comfortable sending more than three guards, one escort, and one carter.”

Having watched the discussion silently all along, Lliam finally spoke up again. In response to the nervous looks that I, Gus, and Skiddo were wearing, the guildmaster smiled at us and said, “I have faith in you all. You five can handle this. It should be a simple job, as long as you remain focused. And who knows—maybe you won’t meet any bandits at all!”

“I hope we don’t,” I murmured.

“I hope we do,” Sneasel said. Her Aura was still flaring up from under me. I felt like I was in the middle of a fire. It made me shudder, but Sneasel didn’t notice, and she kept talking in a low growl. “Looking forward to getting another shot at these scumbags. Let’s get a move on.”

* * *

Chapter 2: The Prairie

I tried not to feel too nervous as we got our cart, left the guildhall, and went to the Delibird Deliveries office. We loaded up the package and waved Debby goodbye, then the five of us set off into the southeast wilderness.

It was a bright late summer morning. The road to Grainfield was a dirt path, wide enough for multiple carts to go abreast. Sneasel and Gus sat in the cart, while I perched atop the package, which was a large wooden chest. Linoone walked alongside us, keeping pace with Skiddo, who didn’t seem to be struggling at all. He kept moving at a constant walk as we meandered through green fields, rolling hills, and scattered woodlands.

The environment gradually changed as we approached the center of the continent: trees grew sparser and shorter, and eventually disappeared completely; the grass became drier, taller, and yellower; the breeze turned into wind; and the air grew hotter. We had officially transitioned into the Lush Prairie.

We crested a tall hill and took our first look at the vast region below us. The slightly hilly grasslands undulated like an ocean in the wind. Golden grasses and grains stretched out the horizon, with some distant dark mountains looming far away.

“Beautiful view,” I said.

“Feels like we’re on the Oregon Trail,” said Skiddo as he descended the gently sloping hill.

“Does that make you the ox?” Linoone asked him. “Better watch out—the bandits may steal you from under our noses.”

“They’ll have to get through Sneasel and Gus first.”

“Guess so. But we’ve got bigger problems, cuz I just got dysentery.”

Gus groaned. “Don’t even joke about that.”

“I’m not joking. You just got it too. Gee, it’s the real Oregon Trail experience!”

Linoone laughed, Gus rolled his eyes, and I heard Skiddo sigh in annoyance. I looked over at my partner, wondering how she felt about these jokes, since she was the only native Pokemon here. Her face, with a furrowed brow and big frown, was a mix of confusion and frustration. I knew it wasn’t just because of these jokes, though. She had been quiet ever since we left Capim Town. I could safely assume that the bandits were looming large in her mind.

To help take her mind off it, I told her what Oregon and the Oregon Trail were, and explained the game inspired by the topic. Sneasel perked up a bit at my explanation of Earth’s geography and human history, and our three comrades contributed to the discussion too, talking about subjects like the American frontier and video games. I knew Sneasel enjoyed learning about the human world, so I hoped this would improve her mood, and it seemed to be working to a degree.

Linoone carried the conversation, walking behind the cart so he could look at me, my partner, and Gus all at once. His talkative, extroverted nature was a boon for passing the time, because there wasn’t much to look at in our surroundings. After that initial hill, the trail had leveled out into a flat, straight stretch of road with tall dry grass on either side. It felt like we were blocked off on either side by golden walls that rippled in the hot wind.

As the chat continued, I lay down on the wooden chest and basked in the heat of the sun in the cloudless sky. As an insect, I was cold-blooded, and I felt pleasantly energized as the sunlight fell on me. I could sense Skiddo’s enjoyment too, since Grass-types like him thrived in the sun, though Gus and Linoone were uncomfortable with the summer heat. Sneasel didn’t like it either, but her Ice-type body naturally produced a chilly aura that helped her regulate her temperature. As Gus began panting from the heat, he sheepishly asked if he could sit with Sneasel in order to stay cool. She disagreed at first, but with some encouragement from me, she begrudgingly accepted and let the Oshawott lean up against her side. Linoone looked jealous, but he couldn’t hop in the cart with us. There was little room left, and more importantly, he had something else to take care of.

“I’m gonna start scouting ahead,” he told us.

“You’re just saying that because you want to roleplay as Solid Snake again,” Skiddo said flatly.

“That’s half the reason,” Linoone said with a grin.

“Only half?” asked Gus.

“...Okay, maybe a bit more than half. But also, we really need to figure out where those bandits are, and I’m the best man for the job. I’m good at sneaking, I’m fast, and I’m pretty sure my fur will give me 100% camo index in all this dry grass. So I’ll go exploring, find where they are, and report back.”

“Um, Linoone?” I asked. “H-how will you know where the cart is, so you can get back to us? I don’t want you getting lost.”

“I won’t stray far from the road,” he said, “so I should be able to find you again. Besides, I’ve made deliveries in this region a few times before. I’ve got a decent mental map of the layout and landmarks, and the way the roads go. As long as I don’t wander into a dungeon, it’ll be fine.”

“If you say so,” Gus said. “Good luck.”

“Thanks! This’ll be fun. Time for some tactical espionage action.”

With that, he slinked off into the tall grass, and we continued our trek without the chatty courier-spy. Our previous conversation died down without him, and everything grew quiet except for the rustling grass and the rolling wheels of the cart. We each seemed to retreat into our own thoughts, as if none of us wanted to interrupt the calm of the prairie.

I, for one, couldn’t resist fretting about the possibility of bandits ambushing us. Even though I trusted Linoone to do a good job of finding the gang, and my Aura-sensing ability could provide us with a bit of extra forewarning, the threat of being caught unawares refused to let me settle down. The tall grass would conceal any approaching enemies, and only two people here were able to fight. Also, there was the chance that Sneasel would do something risky and dangerous due to her lust for revenge. My imagination betrayed me, and I couldn’t stop myself from picturing shadowy figures lurking among the golden grain, ready to pounce at any moment...

I shut my eyes and breathed deeply, trying to meditate as I lay on the box we had to deliver. Although I didn’t hear or sense any presence near us, I couldn’t bring myself to relax. I wouldn’t feel safe until this package was in Grainfield.

* * *

I lost track of time as we rolled through the prairie, waiting for Linoone’s return. Conversation was only scattered, and the once-pleasant heat of the sun became too much for me. As I was unable to control my body temperature by myself, Sneasel let me get back on her head to cool off. By coming in contact with her again, though, I was startled to once again clearly sense the anger boiling up within her.

“A-are you still thinking about the bandits?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Sneasel replied. “Glad Linoone’s hunting them down for us. That way, I’ll know exactly where to go so I can get some payback.”

“Sneasel...” I moaned. “P-please don’t do anything dangerous. We don’t need to fight any bandits. We just need to deliver that package safely.”

I moved my little hand through her fur, rubbing her head next to where I sat. She usually enjoyed this, and I hoped it would help her calm down. I sensed her Aura waver a bit, but anger still dominated her thoughts.

“Why not do it another day?” asked Gus. “That way, you can bring more items or some backup.”

Skiddo looked back over his shoulder as he kept pulling the cart onward. “That’s not a bad idea. If you want to deal with this revenge thing, do it later. You’re going to jeopardize the mission. Just stay on the cart and protect the package.”

“But this is the best chance for me to do it!” Sneasel yelled, making me yelp in surprise. “Sorry, Booker. But I dunno how long it’ll be till I get another shot at these guys. Bandits move around a lot. If Linoone finds them now, I’ll know right where they are. But if we ignore them this time, it’ll be hard to track them down again. I don’t wanna miss this chance!”

“You shouldn’t rush it,” I said. “I’m n-not opposed to fighting bandits and turning them in so they can face justice... but y-you’re going about it wrong. I agree with Skiddo and Gus—if we’re going to fight that gang, we n-need to prepare better. We can’t do it today. Please don’t focus too much on... rushing things and chasing revenge.”

There was silence, aside from the creaking cart wheels and the hot wind blowing in the grass. I slowly felt Sneasel’s Aura changing beneath me. It was no longer like an angry fire, and now seemed duller and darker. When Sneasel finally broke the silence, it was in an unexpectedly sad tone that matched her energy.

“To be honest, it ain’t just about revenge,” she said. “Red, that dirty Zangoose... He took my loot, he took part of my ear, he took my pride. I gotta prove I ain’t as weak now as I was then. Gotta prove I ain’t a... coward.”

I had a sinking feeling as I heard that word. I knew this was a touchy subject for her. The entire reason she was here on the Grass Continent was due to a moment of cowardice back in her homeland. She fled from a difficult fight and got caught all alone in a dungeon shift, which warped her far away from her home and family, with seemingly no hope of getting back. She spent a long time beating herself up over her failure before meeting me. I’d been helping her deal with these issues, but it was still a work in progress, and self-doubt and insecurity still consumed her from time to time.

“You’re absolutely not a coward, Sneasel,” I said softly, now rubbing her head with both hands. Gus and Skiddo quickly concurred, but Sneasel was unconvinced.

“You always say that,” Sneasel muttered to me. “I know I’ve gotten stronger, but I just... can’t get my mind off how I lost to these bandits before. It’s like my ear’s burning, and I can feel that sword cutting through it again, and I... I can’t ignore it. I’ve gotta settle this—now.”

I gulped. I knew I had to say something, but I was unsure how to phrase it to help Sneasel overcome her deep-set grudge and anxiety without making the situation worse. As I thought it over, I sidled over closer to her damaged ear and reached out to scratch behind it. She always liked when I rubbed her head, but she loved this even more. I hoped it would make her feel better, and potentially be the foothold I needed to change her mind. Her ear twitched in response to my touch, but unfortunately, I barely sensed any change in her Aura. Even this gesture wasn’t enough.

Skiddo shot me a sympathetic glance over his shoulder, and Gus looked at me sadly before fiddling with his scalchop. They didn’t have any ideas for how to assist me. I had to help my partner by myself.

I took a deep breath to brace myself, then leaned even closer to her ear and shakily whispered directly into it, “P-please don’t. I understand why you’re u-upset about this, but you can’t get... obsessed with revenge, to the point where it clouds your judgment. Please stay with me. I d-don’t want to... lose you.”

As I poured my heart out, I sensed something unpleasant shoot through Sneasel’s Aura: concern, fear, sadness...? She didn’t say anything, but as I kept scratching behind her ear, I could literally feel her conflict between her care for me and her desire for revenge, like a swirling storm of heat and cold pulsing up from beneath me. I shuddered, and she must have felt it, because she reached up and gently patted my head with a claw. It was a soothing gesture, but the only thing that could make me truly relax was hearing her agree that this vengeance wasn’t worth it. And I still wasn’t sure if I’d done enough to convince her of that fact.

Before she could make a decision, we caught sight of Linoone strolling over a small hill up ahead. Skiddo picked up the pace and stopped before the courier-spy.

“Kept you waiting, huh?” Linoone asked in a gruff voice.

“Just give us the report,” Skiddo grumbled flatly.

Linoone dropped his surprisingly accurate impression of Solid Snake and took on a more serious air. “Well... it’s not good. I saw four or five Pokemon up ahead, with a cart, camped out in an open spot maybe... 100 feet from the road.”

“What direction?” asked Skiddo.

“They’re over that way,” Linoone said, pointing north. “Not far away. Worst of all, they fit the description of Prairie Red and the Sharp Gang.”

“Oh no...” Gus muttered.

All at once, Sneasel’s dimming Aura sparked to life below me, making me gasp. Gus heard and looked up at me.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

I pointed down at Sneasel. She was ignoring both of us, staring off in the direction Linoone had indicated. My heart sank. I continued to scratch her favorite spot behind her ear. Her notched ear twitched again, and she reached up and felt the old injury with her claws. She said nothing, but her Aura continued to burn.

Meanwhile, Skiddo asked Linoone, “Can we go around them?”

“They’re close to the road,” replied the courier. “They’ll hear us, unless you go off-road and give them a wide berth. And that’s a bad idea if you’ve got a cart. The grass will get in your way, and there are lots of rocks and ditches and stuff that you can get stuck on.”

“We did pass a fork in the road a while back. Maybe we can go back and take the other route?”

“That would help us avoid the bandits, but it’d delay us too, and Delibird Deliveries always promises our clients that we’ll never be late. Plus, I’d have to spend more time scouting ahead for any other trouble in that direction, so that’ll slow us down even more. Also, the Sharp Gang aren’t as bloodthirsty as a lot of other bandit groups, so there’s a risk we’ll bump into an even more dangerous bunch if we try another route.”

They kept debating. Sneasel stopped touching the cut in her ear, and her hand moved to me. She gently pinched me between her claws, plucked me off her head, and set me on the box next to us. I gave her a pleading look. I knew what was coming, but I still didn’t know how to stop her.

Without a word, Sneasel got up and hopped out of the cart. Before anyone could question her, she used Quick Attack to launch herself into the grass in the direction of the bandits. She vanished in the blink of an eye, and the rustling grass was the only sign she had ever been here.

* * *

Chapter 3: The Zangoose

For a few long seconds, all four of us were paralyzed. Then panic set in.

“What is she doing?” Skiddo shouted.

“Sh-she’s going after the bandits!” Gus said.

He hopped to his feet, but Linoone scurried behind the cart and reared up, putting his front paws on the edge.

“Stop!” shouted the courier. “Skiddo, you need to run! Get to Grainfield! You’ll be safe there! And Gus, stay on the cart and protect the package if the bandits show up!”

“A-are you sure?” Gus asked. He began fidgeting and turning his scalchop over in his paws, anxiously muttering, “I d-dunno if I can do it alone...”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Linoone. “Do your best, both of you!”

“If... if you say so,” said Skiddo. “But what are you gonna do?”

“I’ll go after Sneasel!”

“A-and what about Booker?” Gus asked.

My heart had sunk deep down. This whole time, I’d been sitting motionless on the box and staring at the wall of grass at the edge of the road. I’d expected Sneasel to run off, but I’d also desperately hoped that it wouldn’t happen. Now she was gone, off to face a whole gang of bandits by herself, all because of her nagging lust for vengeance—and my failure to convince her to stay. I wasn’t assertive enough. I was weak. And now, because of me, she was going to get herself badly beaten again—or worse.

I felt my stomach turn. I couldn’t bear the thought of my partner suffering at the hands of these bandits again, especially if it was my own fault for not holding her back. But I also couldn’t rush in and rescue her like a hero. I was no fighter, and neither was Linoone. We didn’t stand a chance against the bandits. Still... I refused to sit here while she was in danger. I had to do something.

“Booker!” Linoone shouted, startling me. “What will you do?”

I fought against my fear and indecision, and blurted out, “T-take me with you! Please... I can’t just s-stay here.”

Linoone hesitated before replying, “If you say so. Get on my back, and hang on tight!”

He dropped down and stood on the ground, waiting for me. I hopped off the box, ran to the edge of the cart, and leaped onto Linoone’s back. His fur was soft and dense, and I held on as tight as I could with my fingerless hands. As soon as I was in place, Linoone dashed ahead, accelerating almost instantly to his top speed. I was very nearly flung off his back as the courier darted recklessly into the tall grass. I could vaguely sense my partner ahead of us; while the grass made it impossible to see her, her familiar Aura became recognizable as we approached. It was soon joined by a cluster of new presences, like multicolored clouds of mist glowing through the grass. Then, suddenly, we burst into the open. Linoone planted his feet, lowered his rear half, and slid to a stop. I grabbed his fur tightly with both hands and lay down flat against his back, barely avoiding tumbling over his head. We stopped in a cloud of dirt, and I took a second or two to examine our new surroundings as the dust settled.

We had entered a large patch of dirt and stone containing a campsite. Medium-sized rocks rose from the ground here and there, and several tents had been set up, with a wooden cart resting by the largest one. Multiple Pokemon, all wearing red bandannas, were gathered around. I knew in a moment that this was the Sharp Gang. The group consisted of a Liepard, Mightyena, and Luxio, standing by the tents, and in the center of the dirt patch stood a fearsome Zangoose: Prairie Red. He had multiple scars showing through his white fur, a constant scowl on his face, and an eyepatch over his left eye. He wore a brown cowboy hat, a leather bandolier holding many throwing spikes and a pouch, and what seemed to be a sword strapped on his back. I wasn’t sure why a Pokemon with huge claws needed a weapon, but I could guess it was either meant to extend his reach or to intimidate his foes, or it was simply a trophy.

I only gave a passing glance to the bandits, because my attention was quickly drawn to my partner. She was here too, standing off to the side and staring down Prairie Red. The bandit’s arms were crossed, while Sneasel had her claws raised in a fighting stance.

My partner and the bandits noticed me and Linoone as soon as we entered the area. They all reacted with surprise.

“Y-you!” Sneasel cried. “What are you doing? Get outta here! This is my fight!”

Before we could say anything, Red pointed at us and yelled, “Stop them!”

His three comrades rushed at us and surrounded us. I yelped in fear, and the startled Linoone spun around, nearly flinging me off his back as he looked at the intimidating Pokemon walling us in.

“Don’t move,” Red ordered us. “Sounds like you guys are with that Sneasel. Got any other buddies around?”

Linoone and I stayed silent out of fear. Liepard rolled her eyes, Mightyena snarled at us, and Luxio bared his fangs.

“Don’t ignore the boss,” he hissed as electricity arced between his fur and the ground. “Answer the question, unless you wanna get shocked!”

“I suggest you listen to the loudmouth,” Liepard said in a smooth, bored voice. “He’s always looking for excuses to zap things.”

“It’s just us,” said Linoone. “Right now, at least. We had a cart, but we split up. It’s long gone by now.”

“A mail cart, I presume?” asked Liepard, smacking Linoone’s mailman hat with a paw. “Anything good on it?”

“Doesn’t matter,” said Linoone. “You’ll never catch up to it.”

“We’ll see about that,” the Zangoose said. “Mightyena, follow that cart. If it ain’t well-guarded, bring it down. But don’t hurt anyone too badly.”

Mightyena nodded, then bared his many sharp fangs at Linoone. “Which way did it go, courier?” he said in a rumbling voice. “And if I find out you lied, I’ll make you regret it.”

Linoone hesitated. “Th-they went to Grainfield. But like I said, they’ve got a good head start, and they’re fast. Might as well stay here, save your energy.”

Mightyena growled and darted off into the grass, moving oddly silently despite his hulking size. Liepard and Luxio sat down near us and kept an eye on us. I felt bad about all this, but I couldn’t blame Linoone for admitting where the cart was. There was probably no way to weasel out of this. We just had to hope Skiddo was fast enough to reach the town before Mightyena caught up, and Gus was strong enough to defend the cart if Skiddo was too slow.

More importantly, my partner’s safety was still up in the air. The Zangoose turned his attention back to her and said, “You didn’t get to introduce yourself before these two bozos showed up. I’ll chat with them later. For now, let’s pick up where we left off. The name’s Prairie Red, and you just wandered into my camp. Big mistake. Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

“I didn’t wander in,” Sneasel said. “I’m hunting you down.”

“Oh great, another bounty hunter.”

“Nope. I ain’t after a bounty. I want revenge.”

Red smirked. “Revenge, huh? That’s funny. What’d I ever do to you?”

“This!” Sneasel said, pointing at her notched ear. “You slashed me and you robbed me. And losing to you made me feel like crap. I’m here cuz I wanna fight you again. I gotta know I’m stronger now, and I ain’t a coward anymore.”

Red paused, as if analyzing Sneasel’s speech. In the end, he shrugged. “I can tell that’s a big deal for you, but I don’t care. I don’t remember you at all. I’ve got no idea who you are.”

Sneasel gave a start. “Y-you what?”

“Hey, we’ve robbed tons of Pokemon before. You can’t expect us to remember every sorry weakling we hit.”

I could practically feel the heat of Sneasel’s growing anger. She stared at Red, her claws slowly curling into fists of rage. Frigid mist formed around them, and her eyes seemed to glow crimson. “Then I’ll give you a fight to remember,” she growled.

“I hope so,” said the Zangoose. “Boring fights are no fun. If you really wanna go, then c’mon—show me how much you want that revenge of yours, kitten.”

The fight was moments way from breaking out. A surge of fear went through me, and I finally managed to blurt out, “W-wait! Sneasel, stop! It’s n-not worth it!”

“You shouldn’t interrupt them,” said Liepard. She sounded calm, but stern. “If they want to fight, let them.”

“B-but she’s my partner!” I yelled up at her. “I d-don’t want her getting hurt! Please, Sneasel... There’s n-no shame in backing down.”

Red smirked at me. “That speck is your partner?” he asked Sneasel. “Why? If you care about being strong, you’d be better off with a buddy who can actually help you fight.”

Sneasel hissed. “Don’t diss Booker. He does a great job. And at least I got an actual partner, unlike you. All you got is these same three lackeys from the last time we fought,” she added, pointing at Liepard and Luxio, and gesturing off in the direction Mightyena went.

Red hissed back. “They ain’t just lackeys,” he told Sneasel. “I lead them, but we’re all partners in the end. And they’re good. Better than my last one ever was. And way better than yours.”

For a moment, I wondered what happened between the bandit and his previous partner, and why they were no longer together by the time Sneasel met Prairie Red. Sneasel couldn’t care less, judging by the way she snarled at Red’s jab against me. She began to blur as she summoned up energy, having finally been goaded into starting the fight. She used Quick Attack and darted at him faster than the eye could see. Even so, Red predicted it and hopped to the side, making Sneasel pass him by a short distance. She staggered and spun around barely in time block his claws as they swung down at her. She backed off, raising her arms defensively.

“Rushing in?” the bandit said. “Thought you’d do that. You’re obviously the dumb, reckless type. If you were smart, you’d give up like your wimpy little friend said.”

Sneasel glanced over at me. “Sorry, Booker. If I give up now without a fight, I’ll be even more of a coward than I was last time. Doesn’t matter how brave you say I am, doesn’t matter how many enemies I’ve beaten... If I can’t fix this mistake, I’m a failure. And I ain’t gonna let that happen.”

Sneasel faced Red again, while I stammered uselessly. The fight was on, and I couldn’t hope to stop it, no more than I could stop the wind blowing through the prairie. My partner resumed the duel by pouncing at the bandit and feinting, making Red slash one way with his right claws so she could attack from another angle. He reacted quick enough to block her strike with his left hand, then followed up with a right-handed gut punch that sent Sneasel reeling back with a grunt. She regained her balance and backpedaled, getting some distance on the bandit while summoning shards of ice and tossing them at Red. He evaded some and deflected the rest with his claws, then pulled some throwing spikes from his bandolier and counterattacked. My partner was more agile than the Zangoose, but he hurled his projectiles with more force than she did, so she had to stop and focus on dodging. Even then, one dart sliced her upper left arm, making her wince.

I gasped as I saw her blood stain her gray fur. She’d been through worse before, but I never got used to the sight of my partner in pain. I felt sick. I hated how reckless she was being, but more importantly, I hated how I was unable to stop her.

“I... I don’t like this...” I muttered, clutching Linoone’s fur tightly. “W-what do we do?”

“I can’t do anything,” the courier whispered. “I’m no fighter, and we’re kinda pinned down right now. I’m so sorry, Booker... All I can do is watch.”

“Exactly,” said Luxio. “You make one move from that spot and I’ll zap you both. I’m not gonna let you mess with the boss.”

Meanwhile, Prairie Red let out an exaggerated yawn. “All you’re showing me is that you have a lot to learn, kitten,” he grumbled at Sneasel, his voice a tired drawl. “You should’ve just run away.”

“I did that once,” Sneasel growled. “Never again.”

She lunged at her foe with Quick Attack once more, closing the distance instantly. Red raised his arms to block the icy punch she threw as she reached him. Frost formed on his fur, and he stumbled back, but he appeared to be unharmed. Sneasel followed up by swinging her claws wildly. Red’s arms nearly blurred as he parried every one of Sneasel’s slashes—until he suddenly caught her arm and pivoted on one foot, redirecting her attack to fling her off to the side. She curled into a ball in midair, rolled when she hit the ground, then got up and rushed the bandit again, using Ice Shard to cover her approach. They clashed again, and while Sneasel managed to cut him twice, he slashed her in return and punched her in the chin. She staggered back several feet and toppled over backward, groaning as she hit the ground.

Blood was staining more of her fur and dripping onto the dirt. The sight of my partner’s pain was almost too much to bear. “Sneasel!” I cried. “A-are you okay? How bad are you hurt? U-use a berry, quick!”

I knew she had Oran Berries in her belt pouch, but she ignored me. She was so focused on the fight, she didn’t care to use items. She muttered what I assumed was a string of curses as she rubbed her chin and glared up at her opponent. He simply brushed frost off his arms and shook his head.

“Why won’t you just give up?” Red asked. “You obviously ain’t gonna win.”

Sneasel grimaced and stood up shakily. “I won’t feel happy... till I fix w-what happened last time,” she said, her voice shuddering.

The bandit sighed in frustration. “If you try that, the only thing you’re gonna feel is a lot of pain. Listen... After fighting for a bit, I’ll admit I remember you now. You were really reckless the last time we fought. That’s dangerous. And I can prove it to you, unless you give up now.”

I sensed Luxio and Liepard tense up in expectation as the bandit boss placed a paw on the grip of his sword. “Here’s some advice, kitten,” he growled. “If you keep acting like an idiot and bashing your head against walls, you’re gonna get cut down. But I’m gonna give you one last chance to back off. As soon as you stop fighting me, I’ll let you go without hurting you anymore. Same goes for your friends. Of course, I’ll still rob you fellas. But I’ll let you all go free.”

“He’s telling the truth,” Liepard said. “We hate killing. We’re just in the bandit business for the loot.”

“How nice of you,” Linoone grumbled. “Doesn’t matter, though. Sneasel’s not going to listen to you guys.”

“She’ll only l-listen to me...” I murmured. My little heart was pounding out of my chest. “I need to go t-talk to her, and s-snap her out of this. C-can I go over to her? Please...”

“Oh no you don’t,” said Luxio. “We let you walk over there, and you could attack the boss, or heal your pal, or use some kinda item. You’re gonna sit right there until we say you can go.”

Distraught, I watched as Prairie Red drew his sword. To my surprise, the blade was the severed tail of a Seviper, affixed to an ordinary-looking metal sword hilt. He twirled the sword in his paw and snarled at Sneasel. She wasn’t looking at him, though. She had her eyes on me, and I could see she was full of indecision. She was grimacing and shuddering from her injuries and her rage, but still didn’t want to back down.

I tried to squeak out another plea, but the Zangoose interrupted me. “You’re taking too long,” he told Sneasel. “Make a choice. I don’t envy you, though. You gonna fight like an idiot, or run like a coward?”

Perhaps he chose that word just to prod her. It worked. My partner’s gaze snapped over at the bandit boss. Her damaged ear twitched as she heard that most hated insult, and her eyes went wide as she saw the weapon that humiliated her before. It was enough to push her over the edge.

Sneasel roared like a beast and charged one more time. Red crouched slightly and adopted a certain stance, his weapon held before him and angled down. Linoone gasped and covered his eyes. I couldn’t look away, and I couldn’t move. I could only scream for Sneasel to stop.

The two Pokemon met. In the blink of an eye, Red spun the sword up and swung it down at Sneasel in a powerful chop. She hopped aside, but the Zangoose immediately swung upward to attack with the back of the blade. The tip scratched Sneasel’s left arm directly below where the throwing dart cut her before. As she stumbled and reeled, Red slashed down again. This time, the Seviper tailblade sliced her left cheek open. Before she had a chance to react, he swung his sword sideways, dealing a long cut to her right flank.

Blood splattered on the dirt. Sneasel screamed in pain. I flinched and cried her name. My partner fell to the ground, clutching her side. Her legs kicked as she scrambled back frantically, breathing heavily, her face wavering between expressions of rage and pain—until Red stepped forward and touched the point of his bloodied sword to her neck, making her freeze up entirely.

I couldn’t take it anymore. Disobeying the bandits, I leaped off Linoone’s back and ran towards the two Pokemon. I wasn’t sure what I could do, aside from making one last attempt to get through to Sneasel and convince her to surrender—assuming the bandit boss even allowed me to get close. Linoone called me back, but I paid him no mind. Luxio hopped forward and slammed a paw down right beside me, trying to knock me over or scare me into submission. I stumbled as the ground shook, but I kept running, not looking back. Liepard scolded him for almost crushing me, and they began to argue. I ignored them both and only looked at Sneasel.

Red glanced over for a moment. “Hey, let him go,” he said sharply, pointing at Luxio. “The little guy ain’t gonna try anything. I can tell.”

“Are you sure, boss?” asked Luxio.

“He’s a wimp. You can hear it in his voice. And he didn’t even step up to save his partner—all he did was whine and beg. Guess you oughta be happy about that, kitten. You ain’t the biggest coward here after all. At least you got up and fought me, even if that was stupid.”

The bandits laughed, and Red took a cloth out of his bandolier’s pouch and began wiping Sneasel’s blood off his blade. We were in no shape to fight him, and he knew it, so he began to relax. He quietly watched as I arrived at my partner’s side and stood next to a puddle of her blood. From my perspective, it looked much bigger than it really was, which just made my heart sink even lower. Sneasel lay flat on her back, still clutching the gash in her side as she looked over at me. She breathed heavily, and winced with each shaky breath.

“Why’d you c-come over?” she asked in a weak voice. “They told you to stay back... You could’ve just left me here...”

“No... I couldn’t leave you,” I said. “I want to stay with you, and h-help you stay safe. And that’s why... I keep telling you th-this fight isn’t worth it. Throwing yourself into a duel like this, for no reason other than r-revenge... There’s just no point. You have to move on from the pain you felt before. Learn from it, a-and train to get stronger, but don’t let the past... c-control you like this, and make you do dangerous things. You’re strong enough to resist that. I know you are.”

“Strong? I’ve trained a bunch, but you saw what happened right now! I still can’t beat this guy! I’m still a loser...”

“Th-that’s okay. Nobody can win every fight—especially not alone. I know y-you’re a great fighter. Don’t let this one loss get to you.”

Sneasel said nothing for a while. She simply breathed heavily and grunted in pain as she took in my words. Finally, she whispered, “I know you’re right... even if it’s hard to believe you. I don’t wanna give up. But right now, I dunno if I got a choice... Please don’t think I’m a c-coward if I quit...”

“Coward... is the last thing I’d ever call you.”

Sneasel forced a smile and slowly looked up at Red. “If I stop, are you really gonna leave my pals alone?” she asked. “Cuz if you try to hurt them... then I ain’t done yet. I won’t let anyone... h-hurt my friends.”

“Did you forget what we said before?” Prairie Red replied, putting away his bloodstained cloth. “We just steal. We ain’t interested in killing. Brings too much heat. And... well, even I got a bit of a moral code left in me. That’s one thing I didn’t lose when I started this life.”

“You better be telling the truth,” Sneasel growled, but then she coughed and grimaced in pain. “I... I’ll stop now.”

“See how easy that was?” Red said, sheathing his sword. “I ain’t quite done with you folks yet, though. Gimme all you’ve got—actually, wait. Are you with the Feds?”

“Th-the Exploration Team Federation?” I asked. “Y-yes, we are. We joined a few weeks ago.”

“In that case, you can keep your badges. Stealing them is gonna make the Feds come after us, and we don’t need that kind of trouble.”

Liepard swiped Linoone’s hat and mockingly placed it on her head, despite his protests. Sneasel fumbled with her belt buckle, then undid it and tossed the belt in front of her, refusing to look at Red. The bandit boss picked it up and looked into the two pouches, poking around with his claws.

“See anything good?” asked Liepard.

“Not the best haul, but it’ll do,” the Zangoose replied, slinging the belt over his shoulder. “Decent loot. Some typical items in one pouch, plus a wand. And a map folded up in the other one. Maps are always useful. Bug, you got anything on you?”

I reluctantly opened the two little bags on my belt. Since they were so small, I could barely fit anything inside, but I made sure to pack essentials: a small chunk of a Reviver Seed in one pouch and a slice of an Oran Berry wrapped in a leaf in the other. I held them up, and the bandit plucked them from my tiny hands with his massive black claws, making me flinch in fear.

“I can’t even tell what these are,” he said, squinting his eyes and holding the items to his face. I identified them, and he shrugged and tossed them on the ground. “Too small for us to use.”

I scrambled to pick them up. They were indeed useless for normal-sized Pokemon, but they did have an effect on tiny ones like me, so I didn’t want them to go to waste. Meanwhile, Liepard forced Linoone over to me and Sneasel, and all three of us clustered together in a group.

Red pointed at us and barked, “Stay here for now. Don’t try anything funny. We’ll wait here till Mightyena gets back.”

“We gonna ransom these fools, boss?” asked Luxio.

“Bad idea. Don’t wanna piss off their whole guild—or the Feds—by doing something like that. Plus, I don’t wanna bother keeping hostages fed and whatnot. We’ll just keep them till Mightyena comes back. If we let them go now, they could ambush him out in the prairie.”

At that, the bandits settled down, and a strange sense of calm fell over the camp. Luxio continued to eye us warily, but Liepard wandered into a tent and returned with a book, which she placed on a rock and began to read. Red sat down on the ground, dropped Sneasel’s stolen belt down beside him, and began cleaning off his sword again, occasionally touching a claw to the minor cuts that Sneasel dealt him in their duel. Linoone lay down near Sneasel and rested his chin in his paws, letting out a long sigh. My partner still lay flat on her back. She’d taken off her bandanna and was holding it against her side cut with her right arm to try to manage the bleeding, while her left arm was draped over her eyes to hide them in the crook of her elbow.

I sensed an unsettling mix of sadness and anger coming from her, her red Aura tattered with pain. There wasn’t much I could do, but I had one idea. I walked to her left hand, which lay beside her head, and wrapped my arms around a claw. It was the closest thing to a hug that I could offer her, given our size difference, but I hoped it would be enough. Sneasel gave a start as she felt this unexpected contact. She moved her head slightly, peeking out from under her arm.

“It’s okay,” I said. “Y-you’ll move past this and get even stronger. And... I’ll be there for you. I’ll do whatever I can to help you... That’s what partners do, right?”

I could have sworn I saw her eyes start to water. She immediately averted her gaze and buried her face in the crook of her elbow again. Liepard and Luxio rolled their eyes, but Linoone was smiling at me. Meanwhile, Red stopped wiping his blade and started to bow his head as if contemplating something. After a long pause, he placed his sword on the ground and began digging through one of Sneasel’s belt pouches. He withdrew an Oran Berry and, to my surprise, tossed it into the dirt by Sneasel’s side. Everyone stared at it.

“What are you doing?” Linoone asked Red.

“Eat it,” the boss told Sneasel.

My partner peeked at the berry. I picked it up and held it out to her, and she weakly took it in her claws and ate it. As she did, I looked over at the bandit boss.

“Why... why did you help her?” I asked. “After hurting her so much... I don’t get it...”

Prairie Red refused to respond. His eye gave me a mysterious look from under the brim of his hat, then he took up his blade and resumed cleaning it. I wanted to question him and make him explain his oddly sympathetic change of heart. I was sure he had a reason, but I couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t too important, though. The only thing that mattered was that Sneasel was alive.

I went back to her claw and hugged it again, tighter this time. I didn’t want to let go.

* * *

Chapter 4: The Scars

Mightyena returned before long. He reported that he caught up to the cart, but an Oshawott guard fended him off until they reached Grainfield. The bandit had to retreat at that point, unable to confront an entire town by himself. Sneasel, Linoone, and I smiled as we heard about Gus’ success.

Now that Mightyena was back, the bandits ordered us to leave. They also said they’d move their camp, so it would be pointless for us to report their current location. Sneasel got to her feet and tried walking around. She was shaky and still clutched her injured side, but she was able to move thanks to the Oran Berry. Instead of getting on her unsteady head, I rode on Linoone’s back again, and we departed the camp. In a quiet voice, I thanked Prairie Red for healing Sneasel, and encouraged him to reconsider this life of crime. His only reply was another silent look, then he averted his eyes and retreated into a tent.

Linoone led the way to Grainfield, which wasn’t too far away—mercifully, since Sneasel was too wounded to walk far. She constantly grimaced and grunted in pain, and Linoone and I started chatting about random topics to keep her mind off her injuries. While she didn’t talk much, she faintly smiled once or twice. We had to pause a few times for my partner to rest, but we reached our destination before long.

Grainfield was a decent-sized and dusty town with wooden buildings and a long main street, all surrounded by lush farmland. Curiously, it looked much like a classic Wild West town from Earth, and the local Pokemon were dressed in clothes like cowboy hats and ponchos. We spoke with some townsfolk who directed us to the sheriff’s office, where Gus and Skiddo had taken shelter from the pursuing Mightyena. After a cheerful reunion, Linoone and Skiddo took the delivery to the client at last, while Gus and I went with Sneasel to the town’s clinic so she could get a more thorough healing. We planned to ask the guild nurse to check Sneasel later, but for now, the town doctor did her best to patch my partner up. She reduced Sneasel’s pain, washed up the blood, and closed up her wounds, but couldn’t stop the three tailblade cuts from turning into scars.

Once we were all done in Grainfield, we hired a big bird to carry us and our cart back to Capim Town. Along the way, Gus and Skiddo told us about the final leg of the run and the battle with the pursuing Mightyena, while Linoone and I told them about Sneasel’s duel with the bandit boss. Sneasel refused to talk, and I didn’t blame her. I sat by her side, resting a gentle hand on her claws, which held her blood-soaked bandanna with her badge still pinned to it. One green leaf of the clover-shaped badge bore a dark red splotch. I tried not to look at it.

We returned to the safety of our guildhall shortly before dinnertime. Sneasel dropped off her bloodied accessories in our dorm, then we all met with Lliam again to tell him about our mission. He listened silently, taking notes and nodding his head here and there until we were done. Then he placed down his quill and considered what we told him.

“You completed the objectives of the mission,” he said at last, his voice low and even. “That’s the most important thing. You had to protect and deliver a package, and you achieved that goal. For that, I’ll congratulate you.”

“Thank you,” said Gus.

“Do you feel like you gained good experience, Gus?”

“I do. But it was a close call. I was able to keep that bandit away, but if we weren’t so close to Grainfield, h-he might have caught up with us.”

“You did a good job, though,” said Skiddo. “The mission would’ve failed if you weren’t there.”

Gus fiddled with his shell again and mumbled his gratitude. Skiddo chuckled, but Lliam didn’t seem happy. He looked over at me and my partner, his eyes narrow.

“Although the mission was completed successfully,” he said, “things certainly could’ve gone smoother, eh?”

“Y-yes, sir,” I said. “I’m glad we made it out in one piece, but...”

I was sitting on Sneasel’s head again now, so I was spared the sight of her new scars plainly visible on her upper left arm, her left cheek, and her right side. These would probably be covered up in time as her fur grew over them, but they could very well stay with her forever—a reminder of what her choice had cost her, courtesy of the bandit’s vicious tailblade.

“I’m also glad we didn’t lose any members on this mission,” said Lliam, his voice unusually serious. “But you came close. Team Brave, please stay here. Gus, Skiddo, go relax after your hard work. And Linoone, you’re free to go as well.”

“You got it, boss,” said Linoone. “I enjoyed working with the guild. Hope I can do it again sometime. Stay safe, all of you.”

The three of them left. As the office door closed, the guildmaster got out of his chair and began pacing around the room, his arms behind his back and his eyes lowered. Sneasel and I stayed in place and watched him.

“Revenge,” the Meowstic said, his gaze still focused on the floor. “It’s a powerful desire. It can motivate you to achieve great things. But it can also be a risk—a liability. You were thinking the same thing, yes?”

“S-something like that,” I said. “What about you, Sneasel?”

She had been almost entirely silent ever since we left Grainfield, and I wanted to hear her thoughts. She hesitated to reply to me, but as Lliam turned his intense teal gaze on her, she finally sighed and spoke.

“You’re right, boss,” she said to our guildmaster. “I screwed up big time, all cuz I just couldn’t wait any more. I wanted revenge now, and I didn’t think things through. Everyone was telling me to be careful, Booker was trying to save me, but I just... ignored them. I was cocky and obsessed, and made a dumb decision. And I’m sorry. Almost ruined the whole mission, almost got myself killed...”

She paused and reached up to pat my head again.

“I can’t afford to do that,” she said. “Not when I got a partner to watch out for. I gotta stay alive. So... I’m sorry I screwed up.”

Lliam stared at her, before finally smiling softly. “I didn’t expect such a heartfelt admission from you,” he said. “Perhaps spending so much time with Booker is making you soften up a little.”

“I’m not soft!” Sneasel snapped.

“I didn’t say you were,” Lliam said with a chuckle. “But you’re learning—slowly, over time—to be more careful. That’s not a bad change. I hope you’ll remember the lesson you learned today.”

“You mean, ‘revenge is bad’? That lesson?”

“Close, but I wouldn’t phrase it like that. I’ll let you and Booker figure it out on your own. Booker, could you write the report for this mission and give it to me when you’re done, please?”

“Yes, sir,” I said. “I’ll have it done tomorrow morning. We also need to get a new belt for Sneasel... and r-replace the items we lost.”

“Indeed,” said Lliam as he returned to his chair. “Sneasel, do try to be more careful in the future. You’re one of our most valuable assets, and a friend to many guildmates. None of us want to lose you—least of all, Booker.”

“I know,” Sneasel said faintly.

I leaned over to scratch behind her ear again. This time, I sensed happiness radiating out of her like warm sunlight, and I smiled.

We waved goodbye to Lliam and went to our dorm. Sneasel walked to our dresser, and I hopped off her head and landed on top, sitting on the edge with my legs dangling. Her bandanna and badge lay beside me; my antennae twitched and I grimaced at the scent of my partner’s blood on them. It would be good to wash them as soon as possible. For now, Sneasel looked down at the scars on her side and arm, and took a hand mirror out of one drawer to check her cheek scar and her notched ear. She frowned and sighed as she gently rubbed her injuries with a claw.

“Um... I said this before, but I still think they look cool,” I said, trying to cheer her up. “The notched ear, and the new ones. R-really, I do.”

“You’re not wrong,” she said. “Scars are cool. But just like that notch in my ear, every time I see these, they’re gonna remind me how that Zangoose destroyed me. I should’ve been able to beat him this time...”

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Y-you’re an incredible fighter, no matter what. I’ll always be amazed at how brave... and talented, a-and strong you are.”

Sneasel looked down at me, and her gaze made me feel self-conscious about heaping praise on her—even though I meant every word. I fidgeted and looked away, and I heard her snort and chuckle.

“Gee, butter me up, why don’t you...” Sneasel said, smirking at me. Her face soon fell, and she continued quietly, “Sorry I scared you back there, partner. I thought I was strong enough, and I could beat Red this time. I didn’t expect it to go like that.”

“D-don’t feel bad!” I said. “As long as you’re safe now, and y-you learned a lesson from it...”

“I did,” she said as she put away the mirror. “At least, I think I did. I mean, you always tell me I gotta be more careful, and I know I haven’t listened to you as well as I could’ve. Maybe that’ll change now. Definitely ain’t gonna be as careful as you usually are, but I’ll try being less reckless.”

“That’s good. How do you feel about... getting your revenge now?”

“I don’t wanna give up on that. But I’ll have to be smarter about it.”

I frowned. “Hmm... I still d-don’t really think revenge is a good thing. At least... not revenge for its own sake.”

Sneasel cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“Um... I mean, if someone hurts you, it’s usually best to t-turn the other cheek and move on with your life, instead of obsessing over that pain. But in a case like this... Even though Prairie Red wasn’t an e-entirely bad guy, he’s still a notorious bandit. So, if we defeat him and make him face justice... then we’d be making the roads safer, and h-helping lots of people. That way, it’s like your revenge has a... higher purpose, instead of just being about anger and grudges.”

“So, that means you’re on board?” Sneasel asked, getting a little excited. “You’re cool with me fighting Red again?”

“S-someday. This is one case where revenge can be worth it. But not because of the revenge itself—it’s worth it because we’re fighting crime and doing good. Don’t forget that. And always make sure your desire for revenge doesn’t... overwhelm you, or c-cloud your judgment like it did today.”

Sneasel nodded and reached out, giving me a noogie like she often enjoyed doing. “I get it,” she said. “Lemme know when you wanna give it a try. We can talk about strategy and stuff, and pack some good items, and try getting some buddies to come with us. We can turn it into a whole mission. We’ll make a good plan, I’ll do a better job fighting Red... and most importantly, you ain’t gonna lose me.”

I smiled up at my partner. “That’s all I can ask for.”