FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The airship of the treasure hunter Lashanne crossed the skies above the bright, golden sands of the desert of the West Continent. Towering crags dotted the horizon to the west and south-west as far as the eyes could see, never vanishing from sight until the ocean appeared on the eastern horizon and still the ship carried on.

That trek alone had taken Four days, and for the days to follow there was naught but sea all around the ship as it held its easterly route, crossing the great dividing ocean between the west and eastern hemispheres of the world. Every so often, the course would change to veer around potentially hazardous weather systems but the ever-vigilant owner of the vessel -the Treasure Hunter Lashanne, assured they never lost their way.

Eighteen days had passed since they had left Princeport. Luke and Volcan were restless, bored from the long trip -Lashanne had warned them it would take a while but never had they imagined being so bored. The ship only made stops at islands where the crew would clean the ship before getting back on their way, but otherwise it had been wooden planks, crashing waves and the sun or moon as they came for over two weeks.

By now, they had played more games of chess than they thought possible. Every day, they played, swapping tactics and making wagers as they could. Luke, who once thought he might never beat his boyfriend at a game of chess, had begun winning every odd game. They had been keeping track of their respective wins in their minds, but soon lost count of the number of games they had played -and in turn, how many wins or losses both had suffered.

Another game was just coming to an end, and once more Luke said the game-ending word "Checkmate," as his knight cornered Volcan's king.

Volcan let out a light-hearted laugh. "You beat me again," he said, looking at Luke. "You've gotten really good at this, love."

"Well, we've been playing almost nonstop for eighteen days. I was bound to catch onto your tactics sooner or later." Luke commented back, grinning slightly and rubbing his nose with his paw confidently.

Volcan let out a sigh, leaning on the table with one elbow resting upon its surface while his talon supported his head. "Has it really only been that long? Feels like a month by this point," he moaned.

"I know... but Lashanne did warn us it would be a lengthy journey." The Lucario returned, leaning back in his seat and looking up to the ceiling of their room. "I'm trying not to let it wear me down though. I just keep thinking about us finally arriving back home, greeted by our friends and family once again."

"Me too," agreed Volcan, looking at Luke. "Never thought I'd actually be missing Kage's deadpan attitude -it'd be a thrill a minute compared to this."

"I never thought I'd hear you say that." Luke commented with mild shock. "Frankly that's one thing even I don't miss. He does well at his job, but his attitude really does get under everyone's skin."

"Not as much as sand does," Volcan remarked, rubbing his feather-covered ear with a talon. "I swear I'm _still_finding grains everywhere."

A pair of knocks at the door caught their attention, and both turned to look at the door to see Lashanne standing in the doorway. She appeared to be rather tired -not in a sleepy sort of way, but simply drained from repetitive tasks. "Hey," she said. "Room for a third?"

"Sure," Volcan replied, humming in thought as he saw her expression. "By that face, it looks like we're not the only ones this voyage is getting to."

"I knew it was going to be long, but I've never spent more than seven nights on this tub before at least stopping for a drink," replied the Delphox, rubbing her eyes before she glanced at the chessboard. "...Mind if I have a go?"

"Not at all." Luke returned. "Who would you rather play against? Me or Volcan?" He inquired.

She hummed, looking between them for a moment before she pointed at Luke. "I'll go against you," she said.

"Alright," Volcan replied, sliding out of his seat and heading over to the bookshelf, looking for reading material.

Lashanne seated herself before Luke and helped him set up the pieces for another game. "Though I have to admit even with preserved food, your mom knows how to make a stew," she remarked, looking at Volcan.

"Yeah. That was delicious, even with dried meats and vegetables in it, but once rehydrated by the milk and water, they taste pretty good," Volcan returned.

"Unfortunate that the milk ran out after the first batch," Luke remarked. "I would have loved to see how she made it."

"Eh, she can show you when we get to Azure," Volcan piped up, finding a book he liked and seating himself in another chair positioned in front of a window, letting in daylight that allowed him to read the pages.

Once the pieces were all set up, Luke rolled his head a little and cracked his paws against each other in preparation. "Alright then. Let's begin." He said, gesturing for Lashanne to make her first move, as she had the white pieces on her side.

The Delphox made her first move, and the game was on. The rounded lasted five minutes, with Lashanne seeming confident she had an edge early on, but Luke had already seen through her strategy by the tenth move, knowing her plan. The Delphox attempted to open Luke's left flank to allow her pawns to get through and transform them into stronger pieces. But Luke kept his bases covered, taking advantage of Lashanne's singular focus to move a few pieces of his own into place.

Then, when she least expected it, Checkmate. "What?" She asked, shocked as she studied the board. "Oh, crap -turned my walling trick against me."

Volcan got up from his chair and looked at the chessboard, studying the placement of the pieces. "I know you're really intelligent, Lashanne, but you don't seem to have much of a head for tactics," he said.

"Hey, I'm a plenty good strategist. I out-smart so many goons, you wouldn't believe it," she retorted.

Volcan shook his head. "Strategy requires thought, but tactics require observation," he said. "You focused more on how your pieces are moving and less on how Luke's were." He pointed at the chessboard.

Lashanne studied the pieces again, seeing the proof laid out before her. She looked at Luke, as if for his opinion -if what Volcan said was true or not. He shrugged a little at her. "He's pretty much correct, Lashanne." He replied. "You're a good player and you had some interesting maneuvers, but I'm afraid I was still a few moves ahead of you." He added.

"If you rely on a single strategy and don't formulate a contingency plan, it's all too easy for experienced strategists like Luke and I to outmaneuver you," Volcan added.

"Well geez, don't pour salt on the wound," Lashanne retorted, leaning back in her chair with a scowl.

"I wasn't. I'm trying to be helpful here," Volcan returned, slightly defensive.

"Well I can think for my_se-_" She was cut off as the ship made a sudden jerk, causing several of the chess pieces to tip over, some falling to the floor. She looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, now what?" She asked, rising abruptly from her chair. "I hope we aren't near a stormfront."

"We better get up there," said Luke, joining Lashanne as she started for the door. "Coming Volcan?"

"Right behind you," Volcan returned, setting down the book in his talon and following the two out as they left the room.

They turned to the stairs, seeing Toby coming down the steps hurriedly, a toolbox held in one paw as he descended. He saw the others ahead, looking at Lashanne. "Better get up to the helm, partner," he said. "The rotors are acting kooky."

"What's wrong?" Lashanne asked.

"They started skipping or something, which caused that jolt just now," Toby replied, weaving through the three before making a beeline towards the rear of the ship. "I'm going to have a look."

"I'll come with you," Volcan offered, following the Meowth.

"Yanno anything about fixing motors?"

"Well I do own a boat which I think I've worked on before -does that count?"

"Close enough."

"Come on," Lashanne said to Luke, bounding up the stairs to the deck.

When they emerged, they found Degra at the helm, holding the wheel tightly in her talons as the ship jerked again. When Lashanne bounded up the stairs to the helm, she gladly surrendered the wheel to Lashanne, who took hold of it in her paws and steered the ship back on course. "Luke, take a peek over the stern -let me know what the rotors are doing," she instructed the Lucario.

"On it." Luke replied, quickly turning on his heel and trotting toward the stern of the ship, leaning over the railing as far as he could and observing what exactly was wrong with the rotors.

He watched the spinning blades closely. At first, they seemed to be functioning normally, until suddenly the left-rotor made a sudden stop, creaked in protest before starting up again. For but an instant, it had stalled. He could smell hot metal and burning grease, even with the ship moving forward the smell still reached his nostrils. "Eugh..." Luke groaned, covering his snout when the burning smell reached his nostrils, covering his nose with his paw as he reared away from the railing. "Well that can't be good..." He thought out loud, turning back to the helm to inform Lashanne what was wrong. "One of the rotors seem to be jarring to an abrupt stop before starting up again, and it smells like there's burning metal and grease too." He informed the Delphox.

"Okay," she returned. "Sounds like the lubricant wore off finally and one of the rotors has stripped. I can't make those repairs in the air."

"Lashanne!" Toby called from the hatch leading below deck. "One of the belts just went on the motor. Volcan needs to put on a new one -can you cut the engines for a moment?"

"Sure," she called, reaching down to the ignition lever and lifting it.

The engines died down quickly, and Luke saw the rotors slowly cease their rotations, and the ship began to slow. The smell of the burning grease and hot metal hit him even harder now while the ship wasn't moving, and Lashanne came to the railing to look over and see for herself.

"Wonder if the salty air got to them?" She wondered aloud. "Then again I've never had the engines going for this long before. Might've pushed 'em to the limit." She rubbed her chin, then turned to Luke and Degra. "See if you can spot anywhere we can land. We'll have to fix this before we can go any further."

Luke nodded in return, already running toward the starboard section of the ship and leaning over the railing once more, scanning the area down below and keeping a keen eye out for anywhere they could land the ship and properly repair it. As he surveyed the sea around, he noticed a collection of islands ahead to the south south-east. But one among them stood out -he could make out large structures on it that struck a chord with him, though he wasn't sure why. Noticing his focus on the island, Degra offered him a telescope she had been using to give him a closer look. Lifting the telescope to his eye, Luke got a clearer view of the island.

Resting upon the island on the side closest to them, a massive round, stone structure stood tall on the horizon. A structure that brought memories of the Team Warmachine competition flooding back to his mind, and it was in that moment he realized what island it was he was looking at.

The island estate of Team Warmachine.

He slowly lowered the telescope from his eye, a stunned expression present on his face that slowly turned into a small grin as he looked over his shoulder back to the helm. "Lashanne!" He called out to her. "Turn the ship to starboard and start making your descent! I just found a group of islands where Team Warmachine resides!"

"Can do," Lashanne replied, before she shouted towards the hatch. "Hey guys! How's that belt coming?"

"Just putting it on now!" Volcan called back, followed by a clang and the Blaziken cursing. "Ow! FUCK that hurt!"

"Warmachine? The gold-ranked Rescue Team?" Degra asked, recognizing the name.

"The very same." Luke returned. "We fought them during a tournament they hosted a while back."

"Was Volcan there too?" She asked, holding on as Lashanne received the all-clear to start the engines again and the ship began to move once more.

"He fought with my team as a stand in for one of my own." Luke answered back. "We also managed to reunite with Tristan while we were participating as well."

Degra laughed lightly. "Of course, he would -my boy always did like a challenge," she remarked.

At that, Volcan and Toby returned to the deck, both wiping their hands on rags -the former nursing a cut on his knuckle, which it didn't take long for Luke and Degra to see. "Wrench slipped -sent my talon into the edge of a gear," he explained. "The edges on those things are sharp."

"So that's what you were shouting about. We'll have to clean that," Degra stated as she went to find something to treat Volcan's hand with.

"So, see somewhere for us to land so we can fix this tub?" Volcan asked Luke, coming to stand over by the railing.

Luke nodded back with a grin. "I did," he answered. "Just so you know, be prepared to be greeted by some old friends of ours when we land." He offered Volcan the telescope, and pointed to where the Lucario had been looking before.

Holding the telescope to his eyes, Volcan found the island through its lens. By his jaw falling open, Luke was able to guess he had realized where they were as well. "No way!" He exclaimed, lowering the telescope. "Well as an old sailor would say, 'blow me down'! We're back in familiar waters after all!"

"Which means we're closer than we thought!" Luke said with equal excitement. "I wonder how the old soldier's been doing since we last worked with him."

"I guess we're going to find out," replied Volcan.

After a few moments, they finally came up to the island. The airship met the waves of the ocean, it's keel parting the waves as it rode along until it drifted up to the docks of the island, where a Croconaw was working on one of the boats anchored there. He looked up as the shadow of the airship passed over him, and gawked as he watched the vessel slow to a stop. Shaking away his astonishment and collecting himself, he then ran up to the vessel as it descended to a low hover over the docks, and bellowed out to the pair he could see on the railing.

"Ahoy there! This island is private property -what's your business here?" He called.

"We just need to make some repairs, sir!" Volcan called. "We're friends of Team Warmachine -if you can just tell them Volcan and Luke are here."

The Croconaw seemed doubtful of their claim to be friends of Team Warmachine, but he also had no reason to doubt the claim either. "Ya better not be pulling my chains, sonny! But I'll run it past 'em!" He called. "Just stay there while I go see them!"

The Croconaw left to go inform his employers of the new arrivals. Volcan and Luke watched him until the Blaziken spoke up. "I remember that guy -he was the captain on the Kyogre's Rest, wasn't he?"

"Yea I think you're right." Luke agreed.

Some time passed, with Luke and Volcan watching and waiting to see who would come to meet them. Until at last, on the path to the manor house, they saw a tall, round-bodied Pokémon coming their way, moving with as much haste as their figure could muster until Luke and Volcan saw an Empoleon that they recognized immediately -Leon, Team Warmachine's tactical expert.

"Now there's a more familiar face," Volcan said. "Let's go meet him!"

"We'll be down in a moment," Lashanne informed them.

With that, Luke, Volcan and Degra bounded over the railing to the dock below, and turned to face the Empoleon as he approached. By the look on his face, Leon was feeling as if he were seeing a ghost as he regarded Luke and Volcan. "I can barely believe it!" He exclaimed. "You really are alive!"

"Indeed we are." Luke returned, offering his paw to the Empoleon once they were within arms reach of each other. "Good to see you again, Leon."

"I must admit, it's shocking to find out Torolf was right," admitted the Empoleon, reaching out and grasping Luke's paw with the three claws on the inside of his flipper, shaking it. "I was so certain you had perished that night, but I am overjoyed to see it was not so."

"As are we, Leon. How fares Team Warmachine these days?" Volcan asked.

The Empoleon grunted at that, clearing his throat before continuing. "Much has happened, I will tell you. Better you hear it from Torolf, though. I will let him know you're coming." He looked past them at Degra. "And who is this?"

"This is my mother, Degra," Volcan introduced her, letting her step forward to also shake claws with the Empoleon. "Mom, this is Leon, Team Warmachine's tactician."

"A pleasure, madame," said Leon.

"Likewise," replied Degra.

As Leon pulled back his flipper he turned back to Luke and Volcan again. "As soon as you are ready, I'd ask you make your way up to the manor. Torolf will want to see you."

"We kind of need some repairs to the ship here," Volcan pointed out, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the vessel behind them. "Can you help us out?"

Leon hummed as he studied the vessel. "Never seen a contraption like that before," he said. "Wherever did you find such a thing?"

"It actually isn't ours." Luke answered back. "It belongs to a friend we made while we were surviving in the Western Continent. We ran into her while she was exploring an ancient city and she was kind enough to help us."

The Empoleon blinked. "The Western Continent? Ancient cities?" Leon repeated as though for confirmation, a blank expression plastered upon his face. "Quite the adventure you've had, haven't you? Nevertheless, I'm sure our mechanics can be of help -I'll send for them as soon as I get to the manor." He turned from them. "Come at your leisure -we'll be waiting," were his last words before he departed, leaving the three on the dock to wait for Lashanne and make their way to the mansion on their own when they were ready.

"Just one group owns this? This place is almost as big as the Academy!" Lashanne said in awe as she stared up at the towering mansion as they approached the front doors. The ornate architecture and sheer size of the building was alien to her, not accustomed to seeing such a thing from her side of the world. "Whoever these Team Warmachine guys are, they are definitely loaded."

"Loaded? They probably have enough Poks to swim in. I mean, a place like this," Toby turned and waved his paw towards the island arena. "And a freaking colosseum reminiscent of Gladiator City?"

"And lots of other amenities as well, such as their own little fleet of ships." Luke chimed in, reaching forward and pushing the doors firmly to get them to open. "They're the number one Rescue Team in the world for a reason, Lashanne."

"They must be if they can afford all this," she added.

The door was opened, and the five of them entered the mansion's lobby, greeted by a wide-open room with two curving stairwells leading up to the second floor and meeting at the top where a balcony overlooked the lobby below. Hallways stretched out to the left and right, and from those hallways emerged a cluster of familiar faces, eager to see the two returning captains after their supposed demise.

Mere seconds after entering the lobby, they were set upon and barraged with questions by Razorwing -the Skarmory air support of the team -and Aegis -the Chesnaught and team's armoured tank. The two were speaking so quickly that the two never got a word in, asking questions like "How did you survive?" "Where have you been all this time?!" "What happened to you after?!" Giving the two barely any time to begin to answer.

"Alright, break it up!" A female voice sharply intervened, the two parting as a Ninetails stepped between them and approached the visitors. "I admit, I thought my eyes were being cheated by some spell when I saw you two come through that door," she said to Luke and Volcan. "But I'm glad to see you're both alive."

"Likewise, Kari," Volcan agreed.

"I see you made some friends too," Shamshir -a Scizor, and the master combatant of the team, second only to their captain in terms of combat prowess- added, gesturing to Degra, Lashanne and Toby.

"My mother, Degra," Volcan introduced. "And then we have Lashanne, a Treasure Hunter from the West, and Toby -her partner."

"Pleasure to meet you all," Degra bade.

"Same here," Lashanne agreed.

Before anyone else could say anything, a booming guffaw of laughter filled the lobby, making nearly everyone in the group jump with a start at the sheer volume until a massive form dropped down from the second floor, the floorboards beneath them quivering as they landed. The figure, a huge Swampert, stepped forward as the others parted to clear the way for him.

"Whoa! Big kahuna!" Lashanne exclaimed, shocked by the sheer size of the Swampert.

"I feel so insignificant," Toby added meekly. The Swampert, even lowered onto his hands, was as tall as Volcan! Were he to rise on his hind legs he would utterly dwarf all five of them.

"Hello Torolf." Luke greeted the Swampert calmly as he approached, smiling and nodding to him gently. "Been a while, hasn't it?" He asked with mild jest in his tone.

"I'll say! You gave us quite a scare, you two!" He bellowed, clapping both Luke and Volcan on their shoulders -and nearly sending them face-planting into the floor from the force of it. "I've had people looking for you for weeks and didn't even get a rumor that you had survived. What happened to you two?"

Luke and Volcan shared a brief glance, before taking turns to explain to Team Warmachine what had happened. All of them -Torolf, Shamshir, Kari, Aegis, Razorwing, the team medic Gallia -a Gardevoir- listened attentively to the explanation, their expressions varying between them from looks of shock to that of intrigue -especially when the topic of the ancient city came up. They concluded with their arrival in Princeport and spending the next few weeks waiting for the airship to be repaired while earning some money for the voyage.

"We've been travelling across the sea since then -eighteen days, if I've counted correctly. Now here we are, on our way home."

"That is some story, I tell ya," Razorwing piped up. "And who's this Seji guy?"

"Besides a dirtbag who likes to steal artifacts from people who actually work for them?" Lashanne asked.

"To be honest, we don't know," Volcan answered before Lashanne could continue. "But I think I know him... somehow."

"You were too young to remember him," Degra piped up. "You were only nine years old when he first came to the island, in the company of Minato and his master, Victor."

"I do remember a photograph, at Minato's house. He was in it -I'm sure of it," Volcan went on, rubbing his head in frustration.

Luke gently touched Volcan's arm in an attempt to steady him, giving him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it'll come back to you one day." Luke assured him. "In the meantime," he turned his attention to Torolf once more. "Have you heard anything in regard to the Pokémon we assaulted at the Fortress? Have they been active as of late?"

"Unfortunately, yes," replied Torolf, gruffly. "I'll explain it at length to you. But first..." He reached out, brushing a finger across Volcan's belly and pulling back a dirt-covered finger after. "I believe someone has been in the sands a little too long."

At that the two lifted their arms and looked themselves over, stunned to see that Torolf was right. They were filthy, covered in the dirt, dust and sand from their stay in the west. It hadn't occurred to Luke until now, but his fur had become somewhat matted. Volcan's feathers were darkened from the dirt clinging to them, and his crest was unkempt and fraying at the edges.

"A long time without running water, I suppose?" Leon inquired.

Luke blushed a bit in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head with his paw and looking away absently. "I suppose so." He admitted. "We've been through so much that I guess we weren't aware of our lack of hygiene."

"Well, you're welcome to freshen up here," Leon offered before looking at Kari. "Show the ladies to one of our spare rooms. I'll take the fellows to another."

"Sure," Kari returned, looking up at Degra and Lashanne. "Follow me, please," she bade before walking past them and heading down the hallway on the left.

"I'll see you later, son," Degra called back to Volcan as he, Luke and Toby followed Leon down the other hallway.

As they walked down the hallway, Luke started to scratch a bit at his arms and sides. Only now having been made aware of how dirty he and Volcan were did the irritation on his skin start acting up from all the dirt and sand he was hit with during their time in the desert region. He growled a bit the more he scratched at his body, loose fleks of sand starting to fall out of his fur as they walked. "Gah...I'm kinda wishing Torolf didn't say anything about how we look...Now I can't stop scratching."

"You're getting it all over our carpet," Leon pointed out as he led them on.

"S-Sorry." Luke returned, holding his arms at his sides and trying to resist the urge to scratch any further.

"You can take the first shower, love," Volcan offered as Leon stopped at a door, pushing it open and holding it for them as they stepped inside.

The room was a single large chamber, with various pieces of furniture including a king-size bed directly across from them. To their right, next to a dresser and vanity table, there was a door. "This actually used to be Kaen's room when he was still on the team," he said. "Washroom is through the door back there." He added, pointing with a flipper.

"Thank you." Luke quickly spoke as he weaved around the Empoleon and practically barged his way into the washroom, shutting the door behind him and taking off his effects before he'd step in and turn on the water, sighing in relief as the hot water ran through his fur and began rinsing the dirt, sand and grime out of his fur.

"So, this was Kaen's room, huh?" Volcan asked, looking around. "Quite nice."

"Yes. He was quite flattered when we offered it to him," Leon began.

"Pardon me -I just got here. Who was Kaen?" Toby asked.

"A Charmeleon who served with Team Warmachine," Volcan replied.

"One of the youngest we've ever had -second to Gallia's younger brother," Leon explained. "Quick-footed, tenacious and packed quite a punch but he was as rowdy as he was energetic," he said chuckling, putting a flipper to his beak as he carried on. "Seemed like everywhere we went, he picked up some female to..."

"Ap-bap-bap!" Volcan cut off the Empoleon, forming an 'X' with his arms as he faced Leon. "TMI, pengy. I had to see the inside of Kaen's chest when Mikhail was fixing his broken ribs -I don't need to know about his dating life too."

"Fair enough. I apologize," Leon returned. "It seems I rather miss having the boy around -causes me to ramble a bit. The mansion has become rather quiet without him." He rubbed the back of his head, sighing. "I guess having him leave reminds me how empty this place can feel at times." He said, lamenting, before clearing his throat. "Well anyway, I'll leave you three for now. If you need anything, my own room is three doors down from here -I'll be there. Feel free to explore the mansion at your leisure."

"Much appreciated, Leon," returned Volcan, nodding to the Empoleon as he departed, leaving them the room.

"I would give anything to live in a place like this full time," Toby commented, still taking in the room and peering out the window where he had a good view of the ocean behind the house. "These blokes are way loaded!"

"I think you'd get tired of it pretty fast," said Volcan.

"Like hell I would."

"You explore the mysteries of the world -you really think you could so easily settle into a posh life like this?" Volcan asked as he sat down in the chair at the desk. "I cannot imagine a worse retirement for one who lives the adventurous life -you'd be so restless you'd probably turn this island into..." He trailed off, losing his train of thought. "I don't know, some kind of adventure in your backyard."

"Lashanne's the adventurer, bub -I'm just the sidekick," replied Toby.

Volcan tilted his head slightly. "How'd you two meet, anyway?" He asked. "You don't seem like the academia type so I'm guessing you weren't fellow dropouts of that academy she talked about?"

Toby grimaced, eyes wandering slightly to his left -a motion Volcan keenly picked up on. "Let's just say... she helped me out of a jam," he said. "I weren't the most honest Meowth around before I met 'er."

"Does your picking up on that con three weeks ago have something to do with that?" Volcan asked, to which the Meowth nodded. "Were you... in some kind of trouble?" At Toby's sharp look, the Blaziken held up his hands. "Okay, touchy subject. I'll leave it at that."

Shortly after, the washroom door opened and Luke stepped out, fur matted with moisture and from the effort of toweling himself off, yet he had never looked so content before that moment. His fur was clean, the sand and dust that had clung to him for the past three weeks finally cleared along with the perpetual itch the dirt had caused him which he had learned to ignore during the long days on the airship.

"Whew...I never knew how much I needed that until I started the water up." He commented before looking to Volcan and gesturing for him to enter. "All yours, love."

"Thanks, Luke," Volcan returned, heading into the washroom and leaving Luke to get acquainted with the room.

The Lucario then walked over to the bed and sat against the edge of it, sighing as he let himself lay back as he waited for Volcan to finish his shower, letting his mind wander a little. Toby, still waiting his own turn with the washroom, noted the look on Luke's face, and spoke out as he moved closer. "Hey, you look rather glum, don't ya think?" Toby asked, going to stand by the bed, leaning against it. "I'd think ya'd be ecstatic -you're almost home and you got to let some old friends know you're still kickin'."

"...You're right. I should be happier." Luke agreed, staring up at the ceiling. "...And yet...I can't shake this feeling in my stomach that we've only broken off the tip of the iceberg." He added, rolling his head a little to look at the Meowth next to him. "I suppose hearing Torolf say that the group we assaulted is still active has me worried they'll strike again when we least expect it."

"Is that what that bit about some fortress meant?" Toby asked. "I heard everything that came after -when you ended up out west. But what were you guys doin' before then?"

"For the most part, I was trying to help Volcan regain his lost memories when he landed in Azure." Luke explained. "He's still trying to regain all of the memories he's lost, but for the most part, he remembers enough to know who he is and who his friends and family are."

"And this 'fortress' had something to do with that too?" Toby asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yea. It was housing Pokémon they had captured and put into slave labour from the towns they attacked....Volcan's home...happened to be one of the towns they hit." Luke explained with mild hesitance. "We assembled a task force consisting of all the top ranked teams we could muster. Warmachine, Phobia, Kama, The Red Talons, as well as my own group, Team Valiant, and led an assault on the fortress to free those that were captured."

Toby whistled. "I had no idea you guys were involved in somethin' so big before you met Lashanne and me," he said.

"It was the most dangerous mission we ever took part in." Luke added, sitting up and resting his paws on his thighs. "And I feel it's only going to get even more dangerous from here on out."

A long silence fell over the two, broken only when the door to the washroom opens and Volcan emerged, the colour of his feathers returned to normal and his crest, now laying flat against his back, finally rid of all the fraying feathers at its edges.

Luke managed a smile when he saw his lover all fresh and clean, sliding off the bed to meet him halfway. "Well, look at you. You're like a completely different Blaziken now that you're all washed off." He commented.

"Amazing what a little running water can accomplish," said Volcan, chuckling. "Even if it causes some discomfort it's worth it to look my best."

"My turn now," Toby stated, heading into the washroom and leaving Luke and Volcan alone in the room.

"Suppose we ought to go see Torolf now?" Volcan asked.

Luke nodded, taking Volcan's hand in his paw. "Yes, let's." Luke returned.

Leaving the room, the two followed the hallway they had previously walked down with Leon to make their way back to the main lobby. The other members of Team Warmachine had left to return to their own business, so the Lucario and Blaziken ascended the stairs to Torolf's office -or what they assumed was his office, as he had come out of this room beforehand.

Following a knock on the door, they were given permission to enter, and stepped through the doors to enter a small room with several shelves lining the walls and a single, large desk in the middle, where the Swampert sat pouring over several papers -and looking quite flustered in the process, his finger audibly shaking the desk with each tap as he read one held in his other hand.

"Looks like somebody could use a Secretary," Volcan commented.

"If ya know a good one, send 'em my way," Torolf returned, setting down the paper and looking up at the two. His expression softened as he motioned for them to sit down, taking the two chairs placed in front of his desk. "I'm truly overjoyed to see you both alive. The day we thought we lost you, it was terrible." He shook his head. "Young Sickle and Serena probably took it the hardest out of everyone, but Hank especially never lost faith you two were alright."

Luke chuckled a little as they sat before the Swampert. "Hank always did have a knack for looking on the bright side of things. Helped keep the morale high when things looked bleak." He commented. "That being said you mentioned you had others searching for us for weeks. How'd you figure we were even still alive?"

"I cannot take credit for that," Torolf admitted. "It was Kage who had determined it. He practically demanded we return to the island, and it was there he..." The Swampert paused. "Well, I admit, it was a little over my head. But his words were something like 'Matter can't be created or destroyed, only changed, or in this case moved', and that seemed to be enough to convince him you two were alive."

The Lucario's expression changed from confused to surprise in a matter of moments, his gaze drifting down slightly before he started to chuckle and grin. "...That damned frog never misses a beat." He muttered softly. "Despite all of his faults, he still manages to surprise me to this day."

"Aye. You have quite an ally there, son," Torolf returned.

Luke nodded, then his expression turned serious as he looked back to Torolf. "In any case." He began, leaning forward on the table. "Give me the scoop. What's been happening since we disappeared?"

"Well for one, we never did catch the leaders of those marauders," Torolf answered, folding his hands in front of him. "When we went back to the island looking for proof that you and Volcan were still alive the fortress had been abandoned."

"They deserted a fortified position like that?" Volcan asked.

"The damage to the fortress was extensive, but not irreparable," Torolf returned. "Sickle theorized their dependence on the fortress may simply have been its anonymity, which they lost the moment Serena found it and we attacked it."

"Still seems like a waste, but I guess I see where they'd be coming from," returned Volcan, until he froze, eyes wide. "Wait... then that Gallade..."

"Yes... he's still out there too," replied Torolf. "Along with the Dark Blaziken and whoever else works for him. We have yet to locate their ship -the _Oppression_according to Kage and Sickle- either, but the attacks on the West Islands have ceased though the Pokémon Hunt continues."

"I feared as much..." Luke replied with a grim tone. "Seems things are only going to get more complicated the longer these guys are loose." His paws clenched a little against the table as he frowned for a moment. "...Do you have any specifics as to who these guys are, or where they originate from?"

"As a matter of fact, we do," replied Torolf. "The Dark Blaziken in particular. We may have found out who he is, or rather was, before he became this."

This caught the attention of both Volcan and Luke, who looked at the Swampert in alarm before he carried on. "We searched throughout the guild halls for any record of a Blaziken with amethyst coloured eyes. Turns out, his first appearance was on the North continent -a raider, attacking towns at random with no rhyme or reason. He never took anything, simply destroyed everything he saw. So, we hired an investigator to search for his origins and Razorwing was accompanying him until he returned just yesterday.

"They deduced the destruction left by the Dark Blaziken seemed to form a trail, leading back to where he originated. The results were... shocking, to say the least," said Torolf. "The first target was a monastery, inhabited by warrior monks of various fighting-types, and among the ruins there were portraits of the people who dwelled there, which Razorwing brought back one in particular."

At that, he got up from his desk, walking over to a nearby shelf and lifting a framed picture off the top, bringing it over to the two and showing them the portrait -hand-painted with skilled hands- of a Blaziken. Just an ordinary red and tan Blaziken...

Except that his eyes were purple.

"His name is Calhoun," stated Torolf as the two stared slack-jawed at the portrait.

"Wait...that's the same Blaziken we encountered at the fortress??" Luke exclaimed as he studied the portrait, even taking it in his paws and holding it closer for himself and Volcan to better gaze at. "Jeez, he looks so...calm in this portrait. What in the hell drove him into becoming a Shadow Pokémon?"

"That, we still don't know. But we know he was living in the monastery -we learned that one of their practices was that the monks were required to paint self-portraits, without the need of a mirror. They believed that this was a way one grew to know oneself," Torolf answered. "This was evidently done by-"

"Hold on, hold on," Volcan interjected, fingers pressing into the temples of his skull. The two could practically sense the fury and confusion radiating off the Blaziken as he spoke. "You're telling me that the psycho who attacked my town and tore apart the Arceus Shrine with his own hands... is a fucking MONK?!" He practically exploded the last word, but from then he struggled to formulate words.

Torolf and Luke both reached out to calm him, and though it took some effort he slowly managed to settle down until the Swampert could continue. "I know it's a shock to the system. It seems so out of character both for his practices, and for Pokémon in general." Torolf sighed. "Sadly, that is all we have found out. What few have survived his attacks tell us only what we know -that he seems to be drawn to locations that worship legendary Pokémon and destroy every trace of those sites of worship. The Arceus Shrine, like you mentioned, being one such example."

"I see..." Luke muttered, putting the portrait back on the table and rub his eyes with his paw. "Any other leads about those that follow him?" He asked.

"Not much," replied Torolf. "The Gallade, we know is called 'Sash' is still an anomaly otherwise. As for the third -the one Sickle and Kage saw with Calhoun and Sash, we have identified him as a Decidueye. A Pokémon from the Great South Island, but his name still eludes us as well as his motives for working for Calhoun. We do not yet know of anyone else in their employ."

"Damnit...so we practically have nothing to go on aside from a few names and the fact their leader used to be a monk." Luke growled. "Not knowing the reason as to why he suddenly changed his ways is going to bother me until I do get answers, and even then, I dread hearing them..."

"I will keep searching," promised Torolf. "In the meantime, every Rescue Team in the world has been alerted to them, and the guilds have marked Calhoun a threat level A -to bring in at all costs. If he is seen, everything possible will be done to capture him, and the Oppression is still a prime target -as well as wherever it is they have been taking their prisoners."

Luke nodded back firmly to Torolf, his doubt giving way to a newly regained determination as he spoke. "We'll be ready to move the instant we have a lead on them, Torolf." He answered back. "We'll bring those bastards to justice for everything they've done, no matter what."

"Just watch yourselves," Torolf bade. "These beings are dangerous. With Mewtwo under their control, and the revelation that Calhoun can corrupt and control other Pokémon, there's no telling what awaits us."

"Believe me... we know," stated Volcan, his brows furrowing into a deep scowl as his gaze fell the floor, talons clenching the edge of the desk before him.

"Now, I best be getting back to work," said Torolf. "With Maggie gone, all management work falls to me now." He groaned, slapping his hands against the papers on the desk. "But it's so dull. How did she manage this shite for so many hours a day?"

"I imagine the job requires a lot of patience and concentration." Luke pointed out. "Sound like you really are in need of someone to do this kind of work for you.

"It's part of what I'm doing here," he answered, gesturing to the papers. "Along with the contractors repairing my arena, some repair work on the Kyogre's rest and job listings to distribute to my team."

"Wait, what happened to the Kyogre's Rest?" Volcan asked.

"You know all those fighters we had staying aboard? Turns out not all of them are good at keeping house -make of that what you will," replied the Swampert.

"Cripes, what'd they do to total a ship as big as that?" Luke asked, bewildered at the fact.

"Totalled? Oh no, the ship still runs fine. But the rooms needed an extensive cleaning and some renovation," replied Torolf, and then his eyes rolled back, angled toward the ceiling as he had a thought. "Mostly confined to those who lost in the first round, now that I think about it."

"Sore losers," Volcan muttered.

"They should be getting the bill for the work in that case then," said Luke, crossing his arms.

"It's not like they gave a deposit or anything," replied Torolf. "Besides, after they all went home we had no real means of finding them." He shrugged. "But let me worry about all that. You two and your friends are welcome to stay as long as you need to until you can get back on your way. If you need anything, just ask one of us."

"Thank you, we appreciate your hospitality Torolf." Luke answered, standing up from his seat and looking to Volcan. "Should we check on Lashanne about the airship?"

"Yeah," Volcan agreed, rising from his chair and bidding goodbye to Torolf before they left the room.

The second the two of them had shut the doors and turned to walk down the corridor, Luke's composure started to slump a bit and he wore that worried look on his face once again. "What in the hell are we up against...?" He asked softly. "In all my years in this career, I've never had to deal with Shadow Pokémon..."

Volcan put his arm comfortingly around Luke, but remained silent, knowing that nothing he could say at that moment would help console the Lucario. The experience was just as new to him as it was to his boyfriend and as much as he could hide it, the Blaziken was every bit as afraid...

~~~~~

Hours passed as the airship was put under maintenance, replacing the parts that had worn out from their long journey with spares that Lashanne stored in the lower decks. With the help of Team Warmachine's hired mechanics, and Volcan and Luke pitching in where they could, the work did not take too long. Still, despite their efforts, the sun was already beginning to set by the time the Delphox announced that the ship was ready to depart, prompting everyone back on board. Torolf and his team arrived to see them off.

"Are you sure you won't at least stay the night? We have plenty of room," the Swampert offered once more.

"Thanks, big guy. But, we're so close to home now we just can't wait any longer," Volcan returned.

"Under any other circumstances, we'd be more than happy to stay." Luke chimed in. "But I fear that if I stay in one place, knowing home is just over the horizon, I may not ever get to sleep."

"I understand," returned Torolf, and then lifted his hand, pointing at the two with one big finger. "Just you make sure you arrive safely. If I have to go looking for you again you better hope I_don't_ find you." He stated with a hint of jest.

Luke chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "We'll be more careful." He assured the Swampert before offering his paw to him. "Until next we meet, Torolf."

Torolf reached out, gently grasping Luke's paw between two of his fingers and shaking it. "Welcome back, Luke," he said. "I hope to see you soon." He said as he repeated the gesture with Volcan.

"I'm sure we will." Luke answered with a warm smile and a nod, pulling his paw back when Torolf released it, then turned to Volcan and gestured over to the airship. "Shall we?"

"Right with you, love," returned Volcan, giving Torolf a salute before walking with the Lucario back to the airship.

Kari's ears twitched, her head raising slightly. "Wait, did he say 'love'?" She asked.

"It appears more happened out west than we know," remarked Shamshir, a knowing smile on his face, followed promptly by shock from his cohorts.

Luke saw their stunned looks, but he only smirked a little in return, confirming their suspicions when he reached around Volcan's hip and held him close to his side as they continued to walk off toward the airship. "If they only knew..." Luke whispered up to Volcan with a grin.

Volcan snickered, pulling Luke a little closer as they approached the side of the ship. Then, holding Luke securely, jumped them up to the deck.

As the final preparations were complete, the ship's engines sputtered to life while the gas bag was refilled, letting the helium-filled balloon carry them into the skies. Below, their friends in Team Warmachine waved to them as they flew away from the island, the sun at their back and continued their journey.

"According to my calculations, we should reach the coast by the morning," Lashanne informed them. "From there we'll just need to determine which way it is to Azure and then follow the shore there."

"That shouldn't be too hard. I'm sure when we reach the mainland, I'll be able to identify where we should go." Luke replied, his tail swishing quickly back and forth behind him.

"Excited, are we?" Degra piped up, seeing Luke's wagging tail.

"How can I not be?" Luke asked. "We're so close to Azure I can almost taste it."

"Just hang in there a bit longer, Luke," stated Volcan, patting his lover's shoulder. "Tomorrow night we get to sleep in our house again."

"I know...that's what I'm looking forward to the most." Luke replied, glancing back to Volcan with an ecstatic smile.

They stood together, staring off into the distance -to the mainland just a faint shadow on the horizon ahead...

~~~~~

It had been over three weeks since the teams in Azure had received the letter from Luke and Volcan, telling them of their whereabouts. For a while, everyone remained anxious, hoping that they would see a ship from the West land in the city carrying them, or that they would find them coming over land back to the town. But every day brought only disappointment for those that dwelled on the subject, as still their two friends had not returned.

Having finished his routine patrol around town, Hank settled down on the roof of his house to relax in the sunlight, sighing anxiously as he struggled to make himself comfortable, watching the clouds pass overhead. It wasn't long before his mind drifted back to his team Captain and that of Team Phalanx -the Blaziken that Hank had grown to be good friends with, once more wondering where they could possibly be.

Not for the first time, Hank was angsty when he thought about his two friends, a growl escaping his throat as he pictured once again what he'd do when they returned. 'I swear, if those two arrive and they're practically half dead, I'm gonna punch 'em BOTH so hard they'll wish they stayed back west...' The Zoroark thought to himself as he watched the clouds drift by, idly tapping his claws behind his head. 'I mean...who the fuck do they think they are, keeping us in suspense like this?'

Despite his internal bemoaning, though, all he truly wanted was to see them home, safe and sound. As much as it pained him to do so, he knew he'd have to keep waiting...

As he finally relaxed on the tiled roof, he very nearly drifted off into sleep before the rumbling of an engine filled his ears. At first, he assumed that it was one of the fishing boats coming into port -some of them could be quite loud, until a shadow passed over him and he realized the sound was coming from above him.

At that, his eyes shot open, and he found himself staring up at what appeared to be a large, wooden sailing ship... flying?!

The Zoroark's eyes widened in complete shock, sitting up from his spot with his jaw agape as he stared at the flying ship. "....What in the actual FUCK?!?!?" He exclaimed, quickly jumping to his feet and fumbled a bit for his earpiece. "Yo! Anyone that can hear me, we got some company in the form of a fucking flying ship!" He exclaimed into his earpiece.

"Yea I see it!" Eagle Eye replied, the Talonflame flying overhead the town and seeing the ship from his position. "Not gonna lie, I was NOT expecting a sight like this! I'm goin in for a closer look!"

"You do that. I'm gonna grab the boys and get 'em all together!" Hank replied, quickly leaping off the roof of his house and dashing madly through the streets of Azure in search of his comrades.

Eagle Eye soared closer to the approaching ship, flying over it so that he didn't draw any attention to himself just in case the crew aboard the vessel were hostile. With his Eagle like vision, he scanned the decks of the ship from his position to see just who was manning such a vessel.

His eyes swept the deck. He spotted a tall fox-like Pokémon operating the ship's wheel -it took him a moment to register that it was a Delphox as they didn't resemble any other that he had ever seen in his life -and being well travelled he had met plenty. At their side stood a Meowth, who noticed him right away and called out to a trio on the port-side of the ship, opposite to his position.

He found the two, and now it was his turn for his beak to fall open. The figures, a Lucario and two Blaziken, turned around to see him, and from the two on the left he was greeted by the faces of none other than Luke and Volcan.

"...I'll be fucking hosed down...It's them!!" Eagle Eye exclaimed happily, laughing hysterically before he shot down to the ship, levelling out just as he was about to ram head first into the deck, then tackled the Lucario head on and send him skidding onto his backside as the Talonflame embraced him in his wings. "HAHAHA!! YER FUCKIN BACK!! FINALLY!!!" He exclaimed.

Luke wheezed, fighting to collect his breath after being tackled by the Talonflame. With a cough and a chuckle, he lifted a paw to pat Eagle Eye's back. "Ahem... good to see you too, Eagle Eye."

"Try not to kill him when he just got home, okay speedster?" Volcan asked, also kneeling to clap the Talonflame on the wing.

Eagle Eye quickly jumped off of Luke when he felt the clap to his wing, about turning and tackling into him as well. "I ought to knock both of you off this damned boat! You have any idea how scared shitless we all were for you?" He squawked.

"We're sure everyone will tell us," Volcan returned, catching the Talonflame as he sprang into him and laughing heartily. "Mind if I borrow your radio for a sec?" He asked.

"Yea, knock yourself out!" He said, using his wing to flick his earpiece off of his earhole toward the Blaziken, who caught it in his hand.

Volcan lifted the earpiece close enough to his beak to speak into it. "Now hear this," he said. "All of you better get ready, 'cuz guess who's back in town?"

Down below, Hank, hearing the all-too-familiar voice over the radio, stopped dead in his tracks just as he reached the center of town. "Wait...That you Chicken Legs?!?" Hank exclaimed, looking back to the ship hovering over them. "Wait...then that means..." He started to wear a shit eating grin on his face as he started to laugh heartily. "Holy fucking shit, yer finally back!! The hell took you fucks so long, eh?!" He asked while still laughing.

The word reached everyone on Team Valiant, all of them looking up toward the direction of the incoming airship. Each of them were expressing their shock and joy in their own manner, with Katsu laughing heartily, Doug cheering happily, and Kage...remaining silent throughout the whole exchange. After the whole commotion finally ceased, Doug spoke up next. "Hey, tell us where you plan to park that thing, so that I can get the gang ready to meet you there!"

"Just meet us in that clearing on the north side of town!" Volcan replied. "And let my team and Luke's family know we're here too if you wouldn't mind?"

"Yea sure, I'll get right on that!" Doug replied, then he was underground within seconds to go tell the rest of Team Phalanx that their captain had returned.

"I shall gather Luke's family!" Katsu announced immediately after Doug cut his radio, still grinning as he practically stampeded through the streets as fast as he could run.

The loud banging had roused Luminara from her meditation, rolling her eyes in annoyance as she stood up from her spot and walked over to the door, opening it quickly. "Oh, Katsumoto." She answered, putting on a friendlier smile for him. "What brings you by today?"

"I am very pleased to inform you that your son has returned to Azure, as has Volcan!" He stated. "They will be landing shortly in a clearing just north of town."

The elder Lucario's eyes lit up with joy upon hearing the news, even tearing up a little. "Oh that is WONDERFUL news indeed!" She exclaimed joyously. "Is he alright? Does he have any injuries on him at all?" She frantically asked the Samurott.

"I have not seen him yet, but we shall know soon enough." Katsu replied. "We must make haste. They shall be landing shortly."

"You go ahead! I'll head into town and grab my other two boys! Oh, they will be so thrilled!" She exclaimed, dashing past Katsu and making for Azure at almost breakneck speeds, leaving Katsu to regroup with the rest of his team to greet Luke and Volcan when they finally did land.

Doug had arrived at the hostel and tossed a stone at Serena's door -his only means of knocking- to get her attention. When the Vaporeon emerged from her dwelling, Doug passed on the word to her. Excitedly she ran over to Tristan's door, tapping on it heavily with her paw to try and get his attention. "Tristan! Volcan's back! He's finally come back!"

A rumbling within the room alerted her to the Aggron's stirring. Her expression fell flat as she realized that she needed to move, and barely got out of the way of the door in time before it flew open with a boom that even Doug felt. "HE'S BACK?!" He bellowed so loud, likely half the town heard him, including a few doors down where Minato and Caulin were staying.

The younger Riolu burst through the door himself, looking over to Tristan and Serena. "Did you say Uncle Volcan's back!?" He exclaimed, his face lighting up with extreme joy. "What are we waiting for?! Let's go meet him!!" He exclaimed happily, jumping repeatedly where he stood.

"Way ahead of you kiddo!" Tristan barked, starting to run from the building before stopping in his tracks, turning and looking back at Doug flatly. "Uh... where?" He asked.

"They're landing just north of town in a clearing." The Dugtrio replied quickly. "Let's get moving! We don't wanna be late, do we?" He asked.

"What he said!" Caulin exclaimed. "C'mon, guys! Let's GO!!"

As the three ran off, Serena was left behind. She was about to run after them, but stopped, turning her gaze towards the door Caulin had come out of. But there was no one else stepping out. Cautiously, she walked over to the door, peering into the room. "Minato?" She called.

There was silence for a long moment, followed by the sound of movement coming from the room. To Serena's surprise, Minato slowly stepped out of the room and shut the door after him, still wearing that utterly shattered look in his eyes as he glanced back to her. He said nothing to the Vaporeon, only nodding slightly to her before he stuffed his paws into his coat pockets and began to walk past her toward the exit. She stared after him for a moment before breaking herself out of her trance and following after him, taking it as a good sign that he was willing to go see to his best friend.

No sooner did the ship touch ground and Volcan and Luke leapt over the railing that they were practically smothered by their friends coming to see them, embracing and laughing as they celebrated their reunion. As soon as he had a clear path to him, Caulin made a beeline straight for Volcan and practically launched himself into his arms, clinging to the Blaziken joyously.

"You made it!! You're finally home!!" Caulin shouted happily as he nuzzled hard into Volcan's cheek. "I knew you'd make it back! Nothing can take you down!"

Volcan chuckled, hugging the Riolu warmly for a moment before pulling away to look at him. "It's good to see you sport. And I brought someone else along too," he added, looking up and motioning to his mother, who jumped down and landed by their side.

"Hello there, Caulin," she said, beaming at the Riolu.

"Holy... It's mama bird!" Caulin exclaimed, practically leaping out of Volcan's arms and into Degra's, wrapping his arms around her neck. "This is the best day ever!" He added.

"Oh my! You're getting big, Caulin!" She exclaimed as she caught the Riolu, swinging him around a little as she held him. "I'm so happy to see you're safe."

Meanwhile, Luke was getting swarmed by his teammates and his family, with his mother practically squeezing the life out of him and bombarding him with questions about his health, to which he kept reassuring her he was fine. Once she finally let go, his two brothers swarmed him next, with Mikhail embracing him happily and Rigel lightly punching his shoulder at the same time.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to have you home, brother!" The scholarly Lucario said, wiping tears from his eyes, which smudged his glasses a bit and forced him to polish them.

"You goddamned idiot! The hell were you thinking, making us worry like that? We all thought you kicked the bucket!!" Rigel practically berated him. "Hell, TRISH was worried about you for Arceus' sake! Next time you go out on a dangerous mission like that, I'm going with you, so that you actually come back to us!"

"Heh...sorry, Rigel." Luke replied, rolling his eyes a little. He was used to Rigel berating him for embarking on dangerous missions before, but he knew it was only because he cared for his well being. He quickly hugged his eldest brother and patted down his back warmly. "I've missed you both."

"Tch...you idiot." Rigel said in an exasperated tone, but he held him back just as tightly. "...Glad you're safe, lil bro."

At that moment, as Volcan turned to address the others, Tristan, somehow appearing seemingly from nowhere, popped up in front of him, startling the Blaziken. The Aggron simply stared at him, as if expecting him to do something. Volcan's eyes rolled left to right, uncertain how to respond to this rather odd behavior from the Aggron. "Uh... hi, Tristan?"

Unexpectedly, Tristan's arm shot forward, slugging Volcan in the shoulder and causing him to reel from the heavy -and unexpected, punch. He held his shoulder in his other arm, gawking at Tristan. "The hell was that for?!"

"Just makin' sure you're not a ghost," Tristan replied, before lunging forward and embracing the Blaziken, exploding with laughter. "And you're not! You're alive!" He called as if announcing it to the whole world as Volcan's lungs emptied of air.

"Yes," Volcan returned in a strangled voice. "But if you keep crushing me like this, the subject may become debatable!"

The Aggron paid him no heed as he practically danced around with the Blaziken in his arms, until Volcan finally managed to wiggle free of his grasp, gasping for breath. At that moment, he felt a touch at his leg, and looked down to see Serena staring up at him, tears of joy filling her eyes.

"V-Volcan..." She said shakily.

The Blaziken smiled, kneeling to the Vaporeon's level, and she practically threw herself against him, her paws holding him tightly around his neck as she cried gleefully into his chest. "Welcome home, my friend," she said in a weak voice.

"It's good to be back, Serena."

A few of Team Valiant came over to greet Volcan once they had their turn smothering Luke, Katsu striding forward and clapping Volcan's back firmly and laughing heartily as he did. "Welcome back, my comrade!"

Doug popped up as Volcan was reeling forward from Katsu's slap. "Glad to see yer still kicking, pal!" He said as he swayed his heads back and forth happily.

"BOOYAH!!" Hank exclaimed, placing both claws on Volcan's shoulders as he landed on top of him from out of nowhere, nooging the Blaziken with his knuckle before artfully hopping off him as Volcan flailed his arms, trying to get at the Zoroark. He then clapped his paw on Volcan's shoulder, grinning. "About damn time you got back!"

"Oof... the hearty greeting I got from Torolf was less painful than the one I'm getting from you dorks," he remarked, chuckling as he addressed the three. "I'm sorry we kept you all waiting."

"We're just glad you're alive, Volcan," Serena spoke up. "That's all that matters."

Before the Blaziken could repond, a booming voice -as loud as thunder itself, filled the air, bellowing his name and causing everyone to go rigid from the sheer volume of it -even Lashanne and Toby on the airship. From above, a streak of yellow became a diving Zapdos, bearing an expression a mix of anger and sheer madness as he plunged towards the Blaziken.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU LITTLE RUNT!!!" Bellowed Lighris as he plunged like a Noctowl chasing a Rattata -and Volcan looked very much as frightened as one as the Zapdos fell towards him.

"...Well I'll be damned," the Blaziken muttered as he watched the Zapdos plunging at him. "He did make it here..."

A second later, the Blaziken was ploughed into the ground by the falling Zapdos, skidding backward a few feet before the electric bird was immediately yelling in his face while standing upon his chest, wings flapping madly as he went and speaking so quickly and incoherently -as though trying not to break out crying -that half of his words were barely intelligible, except for the last of his rant.

"Do you have even the_slightest_ idea how much you scared me?!" Lighris demanded. "I don't scare bro, but my heart was going a mile a minute when I thought you might've died on Arc! I... I...!" He struggled to continue...

His words died out as Volcan suddenly sat up and hugged him tightly, leaving the Zapdos stunned and silent as the Blaziken held him. "I missed you too, Lighris," he said plainly.

Finally, Lighris let the tears flow, wrapping his wings around the Blaziken as he shook in his arms. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, Volcan..." He said. "I can't lose my little brother..."

"Brother?!" Lashanne finally piped up from above after watching the spectacle, both her and Toby staring mouths agape at Volcan and Lighris.

"Bu-bu-but how, when, how and why, and...?" Toby asked, unable to form a coherent sentence as his mind tried to process the idea of a Zapdos being related to a flightless Blaziken.

"Trust me, we were just a shocked as you were when we found out." Hank commented with a shrug. "Don't ask me how it works, just roll with the punches." He added, looking fully toward the Delphox and Meowth. "On another note, mind telling me who _you_guys are? Aside from the fact yer the owners of this hunk'a wood and, I'm assuming, the ones responsible fer bringing my captain and his lover bird back to us?"

At that, Lashanne hopped over the side of the airship, slowing her descent with levitation before she touched down and turned to Hank. "You're right on all accounts," she replied. "The name's Lashanne, from the West Continent. And my partner up there is Toby."

"Hey, all," the Meowth replied, waving his paw.

Hank looked at Lashanne from head to toe, whistling a little as he took in her appearance. "Damn... Luke and Chicken Legs got really lucky when they ran into you." He commented with a smirk. "You look as tough as you look hot."

She arched an eyebrow at his flirtatious tone. Volcan could only chuckle at the exchange, letting his gaze wander until his eyes found Minato, standing apart from the group and watching them, the defeated look still in his eyes as he did. Volcan stepped away from the others, intent on going over to see him. The Lucario's gaze drifted to the approaching Blaziken's, staring at him quietly as he made his approach even as he let himself lean against a nearby tree. When Volcan was right in front of him, he didn't speak; he didn't even give a gesture to welcome him home. He just stared up at him, still looking shattered and defeated.

"Minato..." Volcan began, peering into his friend's eyes and feeling his heart wrenching as he saw the pain harboured deep within him. Still, he managed to force a smile, and said, "I'm glad to see you're safe... I was worried about you, when we got you out of the fortress."

Minato made no response at first, still staring at him in utter silence until he pushed himself off of the tree he was leaning against and lifted his paw up, lightly touching Volcan's shoulder as he walked around him and back toward town. "...Welcome back..." Were the only words he uttered to the Blaziken as he walked off.

"Minato..." Volcan tried to call after him, but he was ignored, the Lucario walking with his tail dragging on the ground back to the hostel. He stared, puzzled, after him. Until he felt a touch at his leg, looking down to see Serena staring up at him again, but this time with sadness.

"He's been like this ever since we returned to Azure," she said.

"He knows, then?" Volcan asked.

Serena nodded. "Yes..." She answered, wiping a tear from her eye. "I had hoped having you come back would help him... but it seems it didn't."

"Everything alright?" Luke's voice rang in the air as he approached Volcan and Serena, slightly confused when he saw the sad look in her eyes. He was about to ask what was wrong when his gaze drifted ahead and saw the downtrodden Lucario walking back into town. His ears wilted immediately as he watched Minato. He could feel the negativity and despair practically pouring out of him, which made his composure drop slightly as a result. "...Is that...your friend, Volcan?"

"It is... though I barely recognize him like this," replied Volcan, sadly. He looked to Serena again. "What effect is this having on Caulin?" He asked in a low tone.

"A very poor one," replied Serena, looking back in the Riolu's direction -still held in Degra's arms as the others all introduced themselves to her and Lashanne. He seemed happy for the moment, but she knew it would not last when he went home. "Minato barely ever comes out of his room at the inn, and barely even looks at Caulin anymore... it weighs heavily on him. I do what I can, but..." She sniffed. "I'm not his mother... there's only so much I can do."

"That's no way for a father to treat his son." Luke replied, his composure returning as he scowled slightly. "I get that he's lost someone dear to him, and that he's still recovering from it, but he can't let his despair control his life like that." He then lowered his gaze slightly. "He needs to be strong, for his son's sake."

"I know," Serena replied. "But I don't know how to help him... physical wounds, I can heal but wounds of the heart -to the soul. Those are beyond any healer's power."

Volcan knelt to rest his hand on Serena's back. "Just keep trying to get through to him. Caulin still has all of us to look out for him too."

Luke nodded in agreement. "Perhaps I should have a talk with him one day." He suggested. "Out of all of us here, I understand what he's going through quite well... Maybe I'll be able to get through to him."

"Maybe... but for now, we should give him his space. Minato's tough -perhaps one of these days, he'll be able to pull himself out of it. Only time will tell..." He shut his eyes. "And right now, all I want is a good long rest."

"I think we both have earned a well-deserved rest." Luke pointed out, leaning slightly against Volcan. "After all we've been through, I think we deserve a small sabbatical."

"Agreed."

With that, the two of them turned to address the others, getting their attention before Volcan began to make an announcement. "Everyone... first, thank you all for being here to welcome us home. I'd like to make this announcement now that we have the chance." He began, putting his arm around the Lucario. "Luke and I... are engaged."

Almost everyone in Team Valiant, as well as Luke's immediate family stared in complete shock at the announcement, with Doug, Eagle Eye, Hank and Rigel all blurting out in unison. "Say WHAT???"

Even Kage was mildly shocked at this revelation, arching an eyebrow at the two of them. "...I must admit, even I'm surprised by this news..." He admitted.

"Well, to that I say congratulations~" Mikhail said with a warm smile. "Though I have to ask...who popped the question? Was it you, Volcan?"

"No, it was Luke," Volcan replied. "A lot happened out west... a lot of things that tested us to our limits. But they made one thing clear to me -just how much Luke and I need each other." He held Luke a little tighter with his arm. "That's why I couldn't refuse him... I hope you all don't feel like we rushed things, but it felt like the right choice."

"Well...I mean...ya kinda are." Hank commented. "You guys only just started dating like...a month and a half ago, two at most." He then shrugged. "But hey. If that's what you want, who am I to judge? You just let us know when the reception is, and we'll be there."

"Aye!" Katsu agreed. "It will be a celebration for the records!"

"We haven't decided that far ahead yet, but we'll be sure to let you all know," promised Volcan.

"I have to admit bro, I'm surprised," Lighris commented. "You were never that outgoing back home, but when I said once I wouldn't call you a ladies' man, this isn't exactly what I had in mind." He remarked with a snicker. "Still... I'm happy for you bro."

"As am I," added Degra.

"And I as well." Luminara said, stepping forward and nodding to Luke and Volcan. "As far as I'm concerned, you two deserve one another."

"Agreed." Mikhail added.

Rigel smirked a bit and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Well, good to know I'm about to get quite a kickass brother-in-law." He commented, nodding to Volcan in acknowledgement. "Welcome to the family, bud."

"Thanks Rigel, Mik... Miss Luminara. Your approval means the world to me," said Volcan. "Now I think Luke and I will be going home for some much-needed rest. We'll be sure to celebrate with all of you soon." He glanced at Caulin. "Especially you, sport -I promised you that ice cream before I left, and I haven't forgotten."

Caulin nodded feverishly back to Volcan. "You bet! And I'm happy for ya too, Uncle!" He replied, shooting him a grin and a thumbs up. "I'm still not really sure how it works, but if you're happy, then I am too!"

"We'll see you two soon," Serena added.

"Same here!" Tristan added.

With everyone giving their approval, Luke and Volcan turned away and began to make their way back to town while everybody else returned to what they were doing before -save Lashanne who merely climbed back aboard her ship, meeting Toby at the top of the rail.

"So, what now, Lashanne?" Toby asked. "Do we stock up and fly back out west?"

"And spend another three weeks flying over the ocean? I don't think so," the treasure hunter returned plainly. "Not ready for another voyage like that. Not yet anyway," she hummed in thought. "It's not like there's anything waiting for us back there. Who knows? Maybe we'll find something interesting out here in the East. You never know what lies beneath the surface wherever you go."

"Well... can we start by going to eat something that's not preserved?" Toby asked, rubbing his jowls with a paw. "My jaws still hurt from all that dried meat we've been munching on."

Lashanne let out a laugh. "Sounds like a good place to start, partner," she returned, before the two left the ship and headed into town. "Let's see what this cozy little hamlet has."

~~~~~

As was to be expected, the house was rather dusty as Luke lifted open the door to his home, both himself and Volcan coughing and sneezing from the stale odor that practically exploded from the inside of the house as the door was lifted. At that moment, Volcan suggested that perhaps they should consider a screen door for the future.

Stepping inside, they briefly fought with the thought of cleaning the house first before settling in, but a dusty bed didn't sound so relaxing -or romantic, and so they surrendered and tidied up as much as their tired bodies would allow. Luke changed the bedsheets and cleaned the old ones before leaving them up outside to dry on a clothesline, while Volcan swept the floors and beat the dust out of one of the rollout carpets from the living room. They were still far from finished, but at least the house didn't give them hay fever now.

They closed and locked the front door and headed to relax in the bedroom... or so one might think. The moment the door to the bedroom closed, Luke felt Volcan's talons upon him, turning the Lucario to face him and kissing him deeply and passionately on his lips.

Luke didn't hesitate in the slightest the second their lips met, quickly swinging his arms around the Blaziken and embracing him tightly as they began to make out together. The Lucario's tail swished frantically behind him as their intimate moment started to grow more heated, his paws sliding along Volcan's back in a sensual manner. Volcan caressed and groped Luke's form, until he picked him up from the floor, carrying him over to the bed while still locked in the kiss and practically threw both of them upon the covers, pressing their bodies together passionately as they kissed.

Volcan pulled away to stare down at Luke in an almost predatory manner, smiling broadly. "We told the others we were here to rest... but I've been waiting for this for too long," he said, his hands trailing down Luke's body as he loomed over him.

Luke started to smile just as broadly, lifting his arm up and tugging at his scarf until it was off his neck, Lucarionite and all, before tossing it aside and caressing the Blaziken's chest slowly. "We both have." He returned. "And I can't wait a moment longer..." He said with a playful growl.

Following Luke's example, Volcan lifted off his shoulder harness and cast it aside before taking the Lucario into his arms again, leaning closer to him, slowly. "Neither can I..." He said, his excitement leaving him almost breathless. "I want you so much..."

"I'm right here." Luke whispered as he started to pant a bit himself. "Come and get me, you handsome stud!"

Without another word, Volcan kissed him again, grinding their bodies together intimately as he pressed closer to Luke, leaving the two entangled together atop the bed. Their tongues danced together, and they panted with excitement, stopping to breathe only briefly before they were at it again, unable to take their hands off each other.

Before long, the house was filled with their throes of passion as they took their relationship to the next level...