Forum Thread

"Hey~, are you okay? Here, eat some of these." *gives a piece of candy* "This might make you feel better."
as Mokito solemnly walking towards Bolt.
"Sorry as well, but what was your question again?", while he hoots to Bolt.

---

Bolt eats the candy, Looking at Mokito.
“Dont worry about my question”
He slightly smiled
“Also, thanks.”

---

"No problem, because I love helping my fellow buddies", as Mokito smiles.

---

Bolt looked at his injured leg.
“I hope I can help you in return at some point” he said.

---

Magic gives Bolt and Mokito a glance before trying to get further ahead in the crowd, her ears pricked up.

Sunbeam, Brassjaw, and Umbrus are all conversing in hushed whispers, and Echo seems to be listening intently. It seems the meeting will start soon.

---

Bolt smiled at Mokito and then looked at Magic.
He pawed the grass.

---

// tis a long one, but i wanted to get the meeting done and let yall sit with the implications lol

As time passed, more Pokémon gathered, the air thick with anticipation. The clearing outside Sinister Woods had become a sea of bodies—guild members standing tall in their respective groups, independent adventurers lingering at the edges, rogues exchanging hushed theories. Conversations ebbed and flowed, speculation running rampant.

Then, at last, the leaders stepped forward.

A hush fell over the crowd as Sunbeam, the leader of Verdant Horizons, raised her voice, her clear, ringing tone carrying across the gathered Pokémon.

“ADVENTURERS OF ALL CREEDS! WE ARE GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT!” she called, her usually serene expression edged with urgency.

The murmurs quieted, all eyes drawn to the rocky outcrop serving as a makeshift stage. Sunbeam’s tail flicked, her ears twitching as she took a breath before continuing.

“Unfortunately, the reason for our gathering is not a happy one.”

A ripple of concern spread through the crowd, hushed whispers stirring like leaves in the wind. Pokémon exchanged uneasy glances, tails twitching, claws flexing. Before speculation could spiral out of control, a heavy stomp echoed across the clearing.

“QUIET!”

Brassjaw’s roar cut through the noise like a blade, his deep, gruff voice brooking no argument. His steely gaze swept over the assembled Pokémon as he stepped forward, his armored form casting an imposing shadow.

“We gathered here today because the pieces of the map have been stolen!” he declared. “All three confirmed pieces—each held by a different guild—gone.”

A stunned silence followed. Then, like a dam breaking, the whispers returned—sharp, alarmed, questioning. Who could have done this? How? The guilds had locked those fragments away, protected by their best.

Before the clamor could rise further, Umbrus took a smooth step forward, his piercing blue eyes gleaming beneath the hooded shadows of his fur. His voice, calm yet commanding, a sharp contrast to the hushed, panicked murmurs.

“We have pooled resources from all three guilds to offer a substantial reward to anyone who can uncover the thief and retrieve the map pieces.”

The murmurs shifted, some voices rising in interest. A bounty that large meant competition would be fierce.

But before anyone could act, Umbrus lifted a paw. “However—do not attempt to reclaim them alone.” His words held an eerie weight. “Whoever took these pieces bypassed our strongest defenses, outwitted our best guards, and struck at three guilds without leaving a trace. They are not a foe to be underestimated.”

A heavy silence hung in the air following Umbrus’ warning. The weight of his words pressed against the gathered Pokémon, the reality of the situation settling in. Some looked determined, others uncertain. The promise of a grand reward was tempting, but the sheer magnitude of the theft made even the boldest hesitate.

Then, from the edge of the crowd, a figure moved.

A hush spread like wildfire as Echo stepped forward.

Even among the guild leaders, few names carried as much weight as Echo’s. The most renowned rogue in all the lands. Some called them a legend, others a menace. A wanderer whose motives were as elusive as their movements, whose name was spoken with equal parts admiration and caution. Echo was a rogue, through and through, but even they had a code.

Tonight, however, they didn’t step forward with their usual effortless confidence. There was no smugness, no challenge in their gaze. They looked solemn. Their voice, when it came, was calm but firm, carrying the quiet authority of someone who had walked every path, and seen every kind of Pokémon greed could shape.

“Rogues.” Their piercing eyes swept over the unaffiliated adventurers, their fellow independents who had gathered here, drawn by curiosity or opportunity. “I know that, by our very nature, we prefer to work for our benefit. Sometimes for the greater good, sometimes not.” Echo let the words settle, their tone neither accusing nor apologetic—simply stating fact.

“But the fact that you’re here means something. Whether you realize it or not, by coming, you’ve shown a level of respect toward the guilds and what they stand for.” They paused, exhaling. “So, please, hear me now.” Echo’s gaze sharpened, and their next words carried a quiet urgency.

“If you find the pieces, do your part. Don’t keep them for yourself.”

A few murmurs flickered through the crowd, but no one dared interrupt.

“The treasure Wigglytuff safeguarded was never meant for one Pokémon alone. It was meant to bring us together, to test us—not just our strength, but our unity. If we take this and turn it into another war for power, we will be no better than those who stole it to begin with.” Their tail flicked, their sharp eyes locking onto the assembled rogues one by one. “This is bigger than any one of us. So whatever path you walk, whichever side you stand on, do not forget—this treasure is not just a prize. It’s a responsibility.”

---

The weight of Echo’s words still hung in the air, but Magic barely heard them. Her eyes were wide, her thoughts racing too fast to keep up.

Stolen?

She shivered, falling back onto her own tail, still floating, her mind scrambling for answers. How? WHO? Who could pull that off? One piece, sure—maybe even two with enough skill. But all three? The traps of Verdant Horizons were intricate and layered, designed to ensnare even the most cunning of thieves. Ironclad Brigade’s defenses were sheer, unyielding force—no one got through unless they could overpower the strongest warriors in the region. And Shadowveil Order’s lair? A nauseating maze of illusions, shifting corridors, and tricks that made even the boldest explorers turn back.

Someone had beaten them all.

She swallowed.

"How?" she murmured under her breath.

Her gaze flickered over the rogues scattered throughout the crowd. Some stood with their arms crossed, some muttered to one another, but most… looked just as bewildered as she was. Real, genuine shock. She had assumed, at first, that a rogue had pulled this off. Who else but an independent adventurer with no guild ties?

But as she scanned the faces before her, unease crept into her gut.

The top rogues are all here. The ones who could have done this—the ones she would have suspected first—stood among the gathered crowd, blindsided like everyone else.

---

Peridot sighed, clutching his stone close to his chest as he stepped forward. He kept his gaze on Echo, bowing respectfully. "It's not the treasure I'm interested in. The map pieces mean nothing to me, Echo. I'm merely here to prove my worth and ability as a freelancer."

He turned away slightly, closing his eyes. "...And to do that, it is in my best interest to help recover the map pieces that have been stolen. I'm in."

A messenger fletchling flew by.
"Uhmm, excuse me mister(Peridot), do you know where uhmm- someone named 'Magic' could be?"

Echo’s keen ears caught Peridot’s words, and his amber gaze flicked toward them, a faint glimmer of recognition surfacing in his eyes.

"Any help is appreciated," he said, his voice steady but firm. "But remember what Umbrus said—don’t work alone."

His ears twitched at a sudden, high-pitched voice cutting through the crowd's murmurs. Turning his head, he spotted a small bird Pokémon fluttering anxiously near Peridot. Even with his sharp Noivern hearing, the words were little more than a faint chirp against the wind.

Magic? Hm. I think I know that name.

Echo’s brow furrowed slightly in thought. Ah. Well. Whoever has a message for them picked a bad time.

—

Magic snapped out of her spiraling thoughts as the murmurs around her grew, scattered voices rising in discussion. Then, she heard her name.

Her ears perked up, and she instinctively lifted a small white paw, waving it in the air.

“I’m Magic!!” she called, her voice clear despite the lingering confusion in her mind.

---

Peridot smiled softly. "I could say the same thing about you, Echo. I know money means a lot to you, but this is a whole lot bigger than that."

He turned his gaze towards the small Fletchling, opening his mouth to answer but closing it as Magic answered instead.

"Ah yes, a mail for 'Magic' from 'Anonymous'. Here you go!"

The messenger fletchling hands out(or wings out) a mail from his bag.

"Hope you have a great day!" Said the messenger fletchling.

The messenger fletchling flew away after he gave the mail to Magic.

---

Magic blinked in confusion as she took the letter, her paws hesitating before unfolding it.

Who would send me a letter? she wondered. Especially now?

With a furrowed brow, she carefully opened it, her eyes scanning the words inside.

—

Echo gave a small nod of agreement. This was about far more than just money.

Brassjaw, growing weary of the scattered conversations breaking out around him, let out a sharp huff. His tail slammed against the rocky stage, demanding attention.

"Meeting adjourned!" he barked. "Anyone interested in finding the map pieces—start forming your teams now."

Sunbeam and Umbrus hop down from the rocky stage, and Brassjaw soon follows. Echo looks around and flaps his wings, coming down in the crowd to continue idling chatting with the various rogues.

---

The messenger fletchling flew back towrds Magic.

"Wait, do you have a middle name?"

---

Peridot shook his head, just watching the others around the clearing carefully. Not many would willingly team up with a rogue like him, he knew from experience.

This, however, was a different situation, and he didn't know who would approach him.

Bolt’s eyes widened.
“Stolen?!” He said, looking at Brassjaw.
Bolt shook his head for a second, trying to process what he just heard.
Bolt walked closer to the group,
“Someone made it through?!” He whispered to himself, looking toward the group of Pokemon.
“Anyone want to team up?” He said, still struggling to believe that someone stole the pieces of map.

---

Mokito's excitement grew, that he screamed loudly, that every Pokémon could hear.
"Me, me, me me me me!!! I want to join!", "Who wants to be teams with me?!?!?"
Awkward silence filled the place, as he shouts it loudly.

---

“Hey! You! Do you want to be on my team?” He said, slightly blushing as he finished talking
“Also messenger Fletchling, what team are you joining? Are you going to help us get the pieces of map back?”
Bolt looked at Mokito, and then looked at his hurt leg, it hurt alot less.
“I’m Bolt” he said, Smiling

---

Magic gave the Fletchling an awkward look, tilting her head slightly.

"Don't have a middle name that I'm aware of," she said, her tone light but puzzled.

Meanwhile, the guild leaders stood slightly apart, engaged in a hushed but intense debate.

Should they let the rogues handle this alone? It was almost certainly a rogue who had stolen the map pieces in the first place. But if they left it entirely in their hands, could they truly be trusted to return them?

On the other hand, sending all the guild members scrambling after the pieces could be just as reckless. There were still active missions that needed to be completed—clients who relied on them.

---

Bolt smiled At Mokito and looked towards Brassjaw again, his eyes sparkling with determination.
“I Will Try my best to help!” He said, looking at the guild leaders. His glasses bounced as he let out a small determined roar, ignoring his injured leg.

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