//------------------------------// // Eighteenth Heist // Story: A New World, A New Stage // by tdnpony //------------------------------// Opening theme: Alice grinned as she picked up her hat, and put it on. Everything was in place, and now all that was left was to execute the plan. Since this mission presented a larger danger, Sleight and his family had gone on ahead first, and would camp outside the city. They’d wait till dawn, and in the event Alice and co didn’t return by then, they’d go ahead to their next destination: Canterlot, with Alice and co catching up. As expected, there was no news of their heist notice, meaning Medicine Bits definitely had something to hide in her factory that she didn’t want to risk the police finding. Oh well, that made it easier for them anyway. With everything in order, she and her team made a quick detour before starting their heist. It would be a real shame if she never got that secret weapon she commissioned a few days ago. “Alright, so that’s everything. You ready guys?” Fox grinned as they stood several roofs away from the factory. “Always,” Shade grinned. “Do you have to ask?” Rascal chuckled. “Can’t wait, dudette,” Scep nodded, while Charlotte and Spinner simply nodded without a word. “Alright then, it's Showtime,” she grinned as they leaped into the night, aiming for their target. Upon landing not far from the factory, they immediately went to work. Their timing had already been planned ahead, as this was the exact time before several key locations would have a shift in guards. Moving quickly, they leaped over the gates, just as the current guard left his post for a moment to shift, while dodging the few movement detection charms that had been casted around the area. With the first guard post cleared, they quickly ducked into the shadows again, keeping out of sight. “Is it just me, or have the guards not changed at all?” Shade whispered. “Its not just you. Something doesn’t feel right here,” Fox agreed. “But too late now, we have to keep moving. Be on guard though.” “Right,” they all nodded as they moved deeper into the factory. It wasn’t long before they reached another key point, and one that was well guarded. “Phase 2 begin,” Fox simply said, earning a nod as Rascal and the Spinarak twins jumped up...and grabbed on to the air vent. Opening it quickly, they crawled in. When they got in, the others immediately began a mental countdown. Once it hit 0, Shade moved to the edge of the corner, and began meowing softly, her tail sticking out a little. As expected, that caught the guards’ attention, as one of them moved towards the source to check on it. Noticing the tail that quickly retracted, the guard turned around the corner, his horn lighting up to give him a better view...before he was promptly pulled into the corner, his voice muffled by whatever was around the corner. Seeing that, the other guard gulped, and was about to call for help...before something snared him and pulled him up into the air vents. There was the sound of a struggle, before Rascal and the twins dropped down from the vent, while Fox and the others stepped out of the corner. “Suckers,” Scep couldn’t help but chuckle as they continued on. So far so good… The next area was naturally a little bit more tricky, namely due to the fact that there were a few more guards standing by in the area. However, the fact that the area was a bit more enclosed than the others, made was normally a strength (easily guarded) into a weakness Fox was all too happy to exploit. “Sceptile,” she said, tossing a few items to him. “You got it,” Scep grinned as he caught them. Using his species’ natural ability, he easily started scaling the wall. Timing it well and using the shadows, he slipped past the guards with relative ease. Finding a few key spots, he placed the items there, and when he was at a good distance, held his breath. As if on cue, the items opened, releasing a cloud of dust. Sleeping powder. By the time the guards realized something was wrong, it was already too late as one by one they soon fell asleep, the fast acting powder taking effect. The Fox gang waited for a minute, giving the powder time to disperse, so that when they walked in, all that awaited them was a group of passed out guards. “And now for the next phase…” Fox said grimly as they went through a different door than the one that lead towards Medicine Bits’ office where she kept her prized statue. Following the new hallway, they came upon the factory room where the shipments of drugs were being kept. Naturally, there were a few guards in the room too. However, like with the guards before, they had come prepared. The only difference was that as a guard happened to walk by as they entered, Fox darted forward, and with a precise chop to the neck, she knocked out the hapless guard, before stringing her up with one of her web bombs. Moving quickly, they did the same to the other guard patrolling, making sure to keep both guards out of the way. “Now then, as long as she has these, she’ll be able to build herself up again and again,” Fox frowned. “Well what are we waiting for?” Rascal grinned. “Let’s pull the plug!” Fox nodded. “Everyone, use Toxic on any and all drugs you find. We’ll make them rot to nothing! I want this place completely taken apart!” she ordered. “Roger!” came the replies, as they got to work. Acting as quickly, yet as quietly as possible, the gang proceeded to utterly ruin any and all pieces of shipment they could find, be it poisoning with strong poisons that rotted the herbs, or cutting it apart and spilling the contents to the ground, they took it all apart. It wasn’t long before they finished ruining the entire shipment, before Fox moved on and placed several bombs in the machinery in the room. “That should do it. Now, let’s go,” she nodded as they all left the room. Several minutes passed, before the bombs detonated, drawing the attention of every guard in the factory, and conveniently drawing them away from the Fox gang. “Suckers,” Scep chuckled again as they dropped down from the ceiling, having hidden up there to let the guards guarding Medicine Bits’ office to pass. “What did you expect? Right now they’re just dolls dancing to our script,” Shade chuckled as they made it to the office. “And with this, its Check,” Fox nodded as they opened the door, revealing the office. Only they found a small problem. “Guys? Where the hell is the statue?” Rascal deadpanned upon seeing that the statue wasn’t where it was usually kept. “She probably just hid it. Search the room!” Fox ordered. The group spread out, quickly combing through the room. At first they didn’t find anything, but that changed when Charlotte found something lodged behind a bookshelf. “Found something!” she said, drawing their attention. Upon closer inspection, Fox couldn’t help but whistle. “Oh? Not bad,” she chuckled as she tugged at the item, revealing it to be a handkerchief which was stuck...in the wall. “A secret passage. Might have fooled us too if it weren’t for this stroke of luck,” she admitted, before they grabbed the edge, and started pushing. Slowly the hidden door was pried open, revealing a passage that seemed to travel down rather deeply. “Huh, a hidden passage,” Fox mused, before turning to them. “Should we check?” The group made a show of thinking, before the all answered, “Let’s go!” and with that the group made their way down...but not before they closed up the entrance behind them. Last thing they needed right now was for the guards to come back and find the entrance...assuming they didn’t already know about it. Meanwhile, Jonathan and co was headed for the secondary facility around the pier. “Okay, here we are,” he said as they got a look at the facility, and blinked in surprised. “What the…?” “What’s with all the extra security? You don’t think…?” Heat started. “Could very well be,” Jonathan nodded. “Fox must have had the same idea as us.” “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s get in on the action,” Echo grinned as they made their way closer. Stopping a short distance away from one of the less guarded entrances, they saw two guards. Looking around, they found a few coconuts that must have fallen out of a crate or something, picked them up, and using his new strength, Jonathan, along with Heat, hurled them at the guards, catching them on the heads, before an audible ‘clonk’ like something out of a comedy show was heard, the two guards going down like rocks. “Good thing they had helmets on. Or we might have had to find another way to knock them out,” Heat chuckled as they passed the two out cold guards quickly. Getting inside, they managed to get past the few guards around, though somehow it seemed odd at how few there were, especially if the place had suddenly been...reinforced, for lack of better words. However, proceeding along, they found a few guards who had been knocked out as well. “Either Fox got to them first, or someone else is here,” Jonathan mused as they quickly made their way deeper. They had a more important mission to do at the moment. “Well well, what do we have here?” Fox mused as they exited the tunnel. “Heh, guess Bits had more than just one facility. Clever,” Shade chuckled. They were wondering why it seemed so easy earlier, and why the shipments they had destroyed seemed fewer than expected. “Alright then, everything’s all set,” Rascal grinned as the Fox gang were atop the roofs nearing Medicine Bits operations. The group easily leaped from roof to roof, but soon stopped short when they noticed a familiar form below. “...oh come on! Them again?” Shade groaned in annoyance at the sight of a certain Hydreigon “Wow, you’d think they were chasing us with how often we end up running into them,” Fox couldn’t help but chuckle. “...don’t even start, Alice,” her team deadpanned, not bothering to call her Fox at the moment. They saw the Hydreigon raised his arm again for a moment, then it went slack again. Before they could question such action, he just approached the napping guard, tapping him on the shoulder. In one fluid motion, he slinked behind and wrapped his arm around the poor guard, choking the breath out of him. Another player entered the picture, a Serperior with the grace of a butterfly slithered closer. “And a new player enters the stage,” Rascal groaned. The snake planting a vine over the mouth before blowing a good night kiss on the guards head. He went down without a hitch. “Well...that was fast,” Shade blinked. “But convenient,” Fox grinned. “How so, dudette?” Scep couldn’t help but ask. “We’re going to check this place out, since our target’s probably here. Why go through the trouble of making our own distractions, when we have a volunteer,” she chuckled. “Dudette, you are evil sometimes,” Scep said as they all shared a small laugh and silently followed. “At least we still have the advantage...at least in terms of type...and numbers,” Shade pointed out, as it WAS still 5 against 2. “Doesn’t matter. With how preoccupied they are, with luck we can get our target without even having to fight them again. But if we do, you all know what to do,” Fox said with a sly grin, as she pulled out several Shock Bombs and distributed them. Just then, they heard a rattle which signified the fence gate sliding open. All of them looked down to see the fenced gate had been slid aside by the Hydreigon. He and the Serperior slinked inside before the Hydreigon shut it close once more. With several more motions from the Hydreigon, they nodded to each other before splitting up left and right respectively toward the outer edges of the maze of containers. “So...what now?” Rascal asked. “We find out what’s going on here, but watch ourselves. I’d rather avoid fighting that Hydreigon and his Pokemon again. Crime Lord or not, I’d rather not have us fighting in a collapsing building again,” Fox said, to which her team nodded with equal annoyance. As much as they wanted to settle the score, this was not a good time and place. The Fox gang followed after the Hydreigon, Eric, as they remembered he was called. The group watched as the Serperior went to work, taking out the guards...in a way that was oddly sensual...for a giant snake anyway. That fact was rather obvious when Fox noticed the light blushes on Scep and Rascal’s faces. It was only hit home even more when the Serperior gave a goodbye kiss to one of the guards, prompting Scep to say, “Lucky bastard…” “For once, we agree,” Rascal blushed as well. On the side, Fox and Shade chuckled. “Boys…” they said in amusement as they continued to watch the events unfold. The Serperior looked toward the downed stallion with a disgusted expression. “My trainer tasted better than this.” She grunted. The Serperior heard a whimper, turning her head toward the source to witness the stallion she had backhanded before had leaned his back on the fence. It is obvious the stallion is scared half to death with how he was shaking. The Serperior smiled before slowly slithering forward to meet the stallion face to face. “S-s-stay back! I’m warning you!” he stammered, but she still moved forward regardless. The Serperior coiled her tail around the hoof held out to placate the snake from advancing, a touch so delicate that it would feel like a mother embracing their sons. She slowly set it down aside, before slowly lowered her head beside his head. “Sleep…” And sleep he did. The stallion’s eyes rolled up to the back of his head and slumped before promptly wet himself on the ground. With a disgusted face, she left to resume her task. “Well now, that was interesting,” Fox couldn’t help but comment after that display. “Annoying is what it is. Is this guy an Elite Four in disguise or something? Cause he’s packing some power houses,” Rascal groaned. “Though...I wouldn’t mind dealing with that Serperior…” he blushed...and promptly had his ear pinched. “No falling in love with potential enemies,” Fox said simply, though it was clear she found it amusing. “The same goes for you too, Scep. Especially on a heist. Go woo her AFTER we’re done.” “You’ll really let us do that?” both of them asked dreamily, and at her nod, they suddenly straightened. “Yosh! Let’s do this!” they both said, and if one looked closely, it almost looked like there was fire in their eyes. With that, the group of thieves moved towards their target. However, before they could get to the room, something else drew their attentions. They focused toward the center of the maze. What they saw was surprising to say the least, the Serperior from before was in the clearing within the maze of containers with exits cut off. What drew their attention the most was that she was pitted against two Darmanitan. Strangely, the Hydreigon was nowhere to be seen. “...Fox...can I…?” Rascal almost pleaded. Fox on her part chuckled in amusement. “Go ahead. I assume you want to go too, Sceptile?” “Eeyup,” Scep grinned. “Then go, oh shining knights,” Fox chuckled. Another explosion drew their attention toward the battle. To their surprise, the Serperior actually did quite well. The Serperior quickly slithered around a Darmanitan using a Flame Charge before she countered with a Dragon Pulse that sent him blasting toward the wall. His buddy followed, beating his chest like a gorilla and charged at the Serperior with a maddened gaze. A barrage of Fire Punches is initiated, for all the good it does to the Darmanitan, it was useless against his opponent. Helen danced between the strikes with the grace of a pigeon, yet she knew the next attack was almost unavoidable with how close she is and with the Darmanitan opened his mouth as a sign. She lowered herself as low as she could and slithered between the Darmanitan’s leg. She emerged to the other side with her foe turning around to face her with a snort. With another deep breath, he prepared a Flamethrower. Unknown to him, Helen smirked and jerked her tail back, thus the Darmanitan soon landed on his face, turns out she coiled her tail around his legs the moment she slithered between the limbs. He is helpless as the Serperior blasted him with another Dragon Pulse. Both foes got their bearings back and soon resolved to charge together with Flame Charges. Yet, the Serperior stood there, not giving any reaction whatsoever. Inches away from the impact, the Regal Pokemon bend herself backward and the meteor-like objects collided with each other followed by a thud. They were recoiling from the collision with each other, and the snake saw an opportunity. The Serperior allowed her tail to glow green and spun. The Darmanitan got their legs sweeped underneath them and both crashed onto their backs, but their foe was far from done. Seeing them both on the ground, she did yet another spin, colliding her Leaf Blade to the Darmanitan and send him flying like a golf ball and the second Darmanitan wasn’t spared from such a fate either. “Hot dang. How is that even possible?” Scep couldn’t help but ask, his jaw hanging open. “Perfectly possible. Skill always trumps raw power,” Fox calmly stated. “Now then, unless we want to have to fight that, let’s keep moving,” she calmly said, before she and Shade dragged the two love struck mon away. Quickly moving to a new room, they soon found an interesting new problem. “Someone’s been watching too much TV,” Shade joked, as their next obstacle made themselves present. Several Machop and Machamp lumbered into their view, all of them having a dazed, almost zombie like look in their eyes. “Tell that to a lot of them too,” Fox added, as several other Pokemon, all with a similar look lumbered in. “...feels like an old horror movie,” Fox idly commented. “We’d better deal with them now. We can apologize later. Now then, area attacks. Take out as many as you can in one shot!” “You got it!” they all grinned, before a barrage of Shadow Balls, Blizzard, and Leaf Storm was fired, blanketing the entire group of zombies, and knocking them off their feet. However, the zombies quickly got back on their feet, not showing any notable signs of pain. “Go figure,” Fox groaned. “Looks like we’ll have to either immobilize or knock out all of them.” “Knocking out sounds good,” Rascal grinned, before they all jumped into the fray. Meanwhile, Jonathan and co were met with a...bizarre situation. “...oookay, these guys need to lay off on the drinks,” Howl sweatdropped at the sight of the meandering ponies. “...yeah, they definitely do,” Jonathan sweatdropped as he easily, almost casually knocked out another pony. The ponies were all meandering around, and clammering towards them...sorta like one of them zombie movies. Now, normally that might have been scary. However, when the zombies are...pastel colored ponies, it kinda kills the scare factor. Eventually they got tired of dealing with what was probably the most pathetic zombie apocalypse ever, and proceeded to finish off all of them, leaving the room littered with unconscious ponies. “They’re gonna be having the mother of all hangovers tomorrow,” Echo chuckled as they continued on. They kept running before finding themselves in another large area...just as a certain group of thieves had finished closing another door...and boarding it up too, if how frantically the Weavile was freezing the door was any indication. However, when the Fox gang noticed them, the frowns on their faces told them something was not right. “This really isn’t a good time, Jonathan,” Fox sighed at the sight of the familiar Lucario. Jonathan on his part blinked in surprise. It was...rare to find Fox sounding so subdued, but when she was it rarely meant a good thing. However, he still had a job to do. “And other times are? Sorry, but I’m taking you in, Fox,” he said, while his team tensed. “Normally I’d enjoy the chase that usually follows, but right now…” Fox’s eyes hardened as a Shadow Ball appeared over her paw, while her team tensed. “Duck.” Jonathan barely heard her as he saw her throw the attack right at them. Acting quickly, they did just as she said...right before hearing the attack impact against something behind them. Turning to see what it was, and nearly jumped when they saw it. They were treated to the sight of a Haxorus of all things lumbering towards them, but what was really scary was the dead look in its eyes, like something that wasn’t quite alive, yet was able to walk. In short, another zombie, only unlike the ponies who were...laughable, this was...frikkin scary. “The (censored) is this (censored)?!” Heat nearly screamed in alarm...right before the Haxorus was frozen solid. “And that’s why this isn’t a good time,” Shade chuckled. Jonathan blinked, before getting back up, albeit rather shakily. “What in Arceus’ name was that?” “The end result of Medicine Bit’s illegal operations. As I’m sure you’re already aware of, the drugs she produces help to make living, sentient beings much more...suggestable to command,” Fox stated, her voice hard, and her expression angry. “This is the end result of too much of that drug.” Jonathan blinked, before his eyes widened in horror. This wasn’t the first time he had heard of something like that. “You mean Zombie Drugs? Those kinds of drugs that could basically turn humans into ‘zombies’ of sorts? And she’s feeding them to Pokemon?!” Jonathan growled, his earlier fear replaced with anger. “Not just Pokemon, she’s used the stuff on other races too, and even some of her fellow ponies,” Fox grunted, having ran into a few of them on the way. “Probably where those who wouldn’t be bribed went.” At her words, Jonathan’s paws balled up into fists, remembering the ones he had just encountered. To turn other beings into mindless puppets...he wouldn’t stand for it. One look into Fox’s eyes told him all he needed to know, and without a word, the two nodded. They had a bigger fish to fry...no...charcoal, and her name was Medicine Bits. “Ya know, with how easy it's become for us to just up and suddenly call a truce, I REALLY wonder why we’re on opposite sides,” Echo couldn’t help but comment. After they had agreed to a truce, they had decided they could cover more ground if they split up. However, Fox being Fox, decided to make a game out of this too. If their team could find and capture Fine Spice before the Fox gang, Fox would leave her target be. Alternatively, if the Fox gang got to Medicine Bits first, then they’d be taking their target as promised...even if Jonathan didn’t actually know what she was targeting this time. “You really think Jonathan didn’t wonder about that before?” Howl snorted, remembering what their trainer had hoped to do after they caught Fox...back on Earth...though he figured that idea could still work. “Meh, I don’t really mind. Sides, I’d rather work with her anyway, at least we don’t have to worry about her knifing us in the back,” Heat shrugged. Jonathan didn’t say a word, focusing more on finding their perp. However, inwardly he was thinking something along those lines too. He often did wonder why Fox chose the life of crime despite all the good she was capable of doing...not to mention the good she already did do. The train of thought was derailed however, when they turned a corner...and saw a rather unwelcome sight “You again!?” Jonathan exclaimed. Standing before them, with a Serperior by his side, was a VERY familiar Hydreigon. “Eric, who are these people?” She asked as she retracted her vine. The moment the Serperior, Helen, asked that, Eric analyzed the group with his observant eyes. “...he said, ‘you again’...did I know him from somewhere?” His eyes fell upon a simple silver band on the Lucario’s right wrist. He resisted the urge to rub his head. “....of course, I should have known.” “Officer Jonathan.” Eric said out loud. Helen nearly blanched. “A police? My, my....” The snake put up a vixen smile that seemed flirty. “And what might you be up to this time, Eric?” Jonathan said sternly. “Not about to cause more property damage that could endanger lives, I hope.” “Dear, we’re simply doing the community a service. Trust us in this handsome.” Helen winked, followed by heavy breathing. “Oh that I don’t doubt. I DO have to give you credit for delivering Grumble to us,” Jonathan said, acknowledging his previous actions. “However, like last time, it's not the motive I’m concerned about. Its the method.” “....let’s go, we’re wasting time. I don’t want to end up you hurting even more if we wait around.” Eric ignored him entirely and floated forward, unwilling to explain himself to a cop. “I look forward to meeting you again, handsome.” With that the Serperior slithered away as well in a not-so-graceful way due to her earlier injuries. “You really know how to get on people’s bad sides,” Jonathan said, as he grabbed Eric by the arm. “As an officer, I can’t allow someone as shady as you to run around...at least not until I have all the facts.” “....even if I explain myself to you, I don’t think you would understand anyway. Please, let go of me, I’m trying to catch someone.” Eric tugged his arm, but the Lucario didn’t let go. “I deal with one of the most whimsical thieves to have ever lived on a daily basis, and as it so happens, we have a truce to catch someone as well. Very likely, the same person you’re after. So try me. I doubt you could possibly top her,” Jonathan shrugged. “.....I don’t really care about anyone’s opinion on my methods. As long as I didn’t harm them more than necessary then it’s fine, a line which I already crossed when my cover was blown.” The Hydreigon answered calmly, then he tugged his arm free. “...like I said, I don’t want to bother you or fight you. The two of us had someone to catch. Let’s go.” “I’d like to be able to do that, but as it is now, I can’t,” Jonathan sighed. “As I said, your motive may be right, but your methods are wholly questionable. If I let you walk away, then I’ll be turning my back on the oath I swore to uphold as a police officer,” he said, as Heat jumped in Eric’s way. “You say you didn’t harm them more than necessary, yet you still endangered the very criminals you say you try to apprehend within reason. Getting smashed repeatedly in the face and dragged through the ground DEFINITELY counts as excessive force. So do us a favor, and come quietly. I promise you’ll get off easy if you explain.” Eric stopped himself in his tracks, carefully watching the crossed-armed Combusken in front of him. “......you’re not going to let this go, officer?” “Not a chance. Not unless I see proof that I should,” Jonathan said, his voice hard as steel. No way out as far as he could say. He sighed in surrender, willing himself to avoid trouble unlike last time, lest he wanted to get chewed out by his mother or even putting Helen into more danger zones. “.....what do you want to know that I know about?” Helen stared at Eric, now she really wondered if this is even the real one. The Eric she knew was by far unwilling to share information to those he didn’t trust. Either this one is an impostor, or...he had changed...somehow. “Eric? Are you sure about this?” Helen questioned as herself surveyed the situation. It was four against one, her current wounded situation wasn’t exactly helping either. It made sense her trainer would choose this path. “....I know that I’m acting out of place right now, but please Helen….” Looking at her straight in the eyes, he pleaded. “....trust me on this. The last thing I want is for us to get into more trouble.” The voice that reached out to her was definitely his, it was unmistakable. She smiled and brushed a vine under his chin. “But of course, why wouldn’t I trust my dear trainer? Go get them, sweetie.” With a nod, Eric turned to face the Lucario proper, fixing him with his best neutral look on his own. “...make it quick, I don’t want to waste time, not with my Serperior needing medical attention.” “Alright then, let’s get started,” Jonathan nodded. “Mind if I join in?” came another familiar voice as Fox suddenly appeared on a nearby ledge, her team behind her. “...one moment, please,” Jonathan sighed, before turning to Fox. “Did you find anything?” “Our target? No. But I did manage to thrash more of Medicine Bits’ shipments. Nobody’s gonna be taking part in those drugs...not after what we did to them,” Fox chuckled. Eric wasn’t going to ask how, or why Fox was involved. He just resolved to let out an annoyed sigh while rubbing his head. “Alright then,” Jonathan nodded, before turning back to Eric. “For starters, you can tell us what you’re doing here? Manehattan is pretty out of the way.” That one….Eric couldn’t exactly answer straight, at least not the first part. “....I was here trying to look for something for my ailing dad. Then I got sidetracked momentarily when I rescued a police pony from some….’persuaders’. I learned this place from the cop then I wanted to check to see if it was as illegal as the pony said. It seems it was.” His mind was momentarily brought back to those crates inside the container Helen had cut in half with Leaf Blade. “Alright. Fair enough,” Jonathan nodded. “You seem pretty cooperative this time,” Fox mused, just a little suspicious. “Any particular reason why?” “.....let’s just say, someone chided me for my…..methods.” Eric said cryptically. Twisting the truth as far as he could to prevent them catching on. “...fair enough I suppose,” Fox shrugged. “And you’re right about this place being suspicious. the owner of this place, Medicine Bits is another crime lord, only one specializing in drugs. You’ve already seen the Pokemon zombies wandering around here. Well, that’s the end result of an overdose of her drugs, to cut a long story short.” “We’re here to take Medicine Bits down, so we’ve agreed to an alliance of convenience,” Jonathan explained. With that much knowledge on their fingertip, Eric connected the dots fast enough to send someone spinning. “....so that’s how the security was so tight…normally because to spend that much manpower guarding one place is inefficient. We were the bait for you two, huh?” His face was blank, carefully hiding his slight irritation. “Nothing of the sort,” Fox waved off. “In my case, I just finished raiding the main factory when I found this secret passage to this place...right as you came barreling by. So yeah, call me opportunistic if you will,” she chuckled. “...we had nothing to do with it,” Jonathan sweat dropped. “We were on a raid of our own, and had to fight through security when we ran into Fox.” “....anything else? If not, then I have to do things right now, then bring my Serperior back for some medical treatment. Use me as a bait again if you want, but leave Helen out of this.” “My, what are you talking about, we’re in this together.” Helen leaned her face closer again and rubbed her cheek against his. Eric lightly pushed her away, Helen made a disappointed ‘awww’ “Oh don’t worry, I don’t plan on making a habit out of it. Sides, its not like I made you do anything you weren’t already planning to do,” Fox waved off, a small part of her enjoying this...though the rest of her quickly squashed it. “....then we’re done here. What I said is the truth, trust me or not is your call.” With one arm carefully hoisting Helen up, they made their way toward the crime lord’s perceived hold out : a cargo ship. “You can go on ahead. Don’t worry, I’ll be joining you soon enough. After all, the show isn’t over yet,” Fox chuckled as she walked over towards Jonathan who was trying to get up. “Geez, you really went overboard didn’t you with that raid you did before,” Fox chuckled lightly as she got to the Lucario. Noticing the wound on his leg she hadn’t noticed before, she frowned, and before he could say anything, ripped off a piece of her cape and used it to tie the wound. “So...do you think we can trust him?” she idly asked. “Huh?” Jonathan blinked, before sighing. “Honestly, I don’t know. Heck, I barely get the guy. One moment he seems normal enough, and the next moment he can do some things that make me question his sensibility...or sanity.” “Yeah...that team of his doesn’t help much either, huh?” she mused as she finished tying the wound. “Its a good thing you’re a Pokemon now, so this should heal in a day.” “Yeah, that team of his makes me wonder too. But...I think we can trust him. It didn’t seem to me like he was lying,” Jonathan sighed before looking at his bandaged wound. “True. I kept an eye on him, so either he’s a very good liar, or he’s telling the truth. I’m hoping its the latter,” Fox nodded as she got up to leave, but Jonathan stopped her. “...why?” Jonathan couldn’t help but ask. It seemed odd for him to do it now, but for some reason, he felt that this was the best time. “Why do all this Fox? People may think you’re a criminal, but I can tell you’re no simple crook. You’ve done good before, heck, you’ve saved lives before, so why? Why waste your talent by being a thief? You could have been much more than this…” Fox on her side stopped for a bit, then sighed. “We all have our own paths, our own choices to make. I became Fox of my own choice and free will, and I don’t regret it,” she said with finality. “Now come on, the Hy...Eric, will need our help.” And with that, the two teams followed after the Hydreigon. However, as Jonathan’s injury made his movements a little slower, they were quickly left behind by said Hydreigon. However, they kept going. Eventually they followed him to another large room, an area where cargo was kept, and found Eric and Helen staring down a mob of zombie Pokemon. Seeing that, Fox and Jonathan looked at each other and nodded. The incoming wave of brainwashed Pokemon jumped at them like a moth drawn to a flame. However, before they could do anything, several attacks shot through the air, and hit them, knocking them all back. “Sorry we’re late. We took a wrong turn to where the party was,” came Fox’s voice. Turning to the source of the sound, Eric saw Fox and Jonathan (the Zoroark helping the Lucario stand due to the wound on his leg), and both their teams. “Looks like you guys could use a hand,” Jonathan chuckled as they eyed the assortment of zombie Pokemon and Ponies. The former human nodded. No one is getting in or out now. “...Helen, can you manage?” “I (cough) might be able to.” Just seeing her head bowed low was enough to trigger Eric’s worry. “Here’s a better idea. Take a breather,” Fox said as she and Jonathan’s team stepped forward. “Alright everyone, let’s do some crowd control. Area attacks again!” “You got it!” they all grinned, before a wide array of attacks were fired, hitting a large number of opponents, blowing them all away. However, unsurprisingly they got back up. “Tch. There’s got to be a way to stop them from constantly getting back up,” Jonathan grunted. “Do you think we can use those web bombs of yours?” “I didn’t carry enough. And they can only hold so much before they break eventually,” Fox said, as both of them jumped out of the way of a few stray attacks. While this was going on, the rest of their team was wiping the floor with the zombies. “Sorry for the headache,” Howl said, before blasting several of the Pokemon with Dark Pulse. “Just try to keep it to a minimum!” Heat added, before hitting several of them with Rock Smash on the head, knocking them out instantly. “They’ll feel this in the morning,” Echo chuckled as she fired a concentrated Supersonic. During the general chaos of the situation, Eric kept a solid survey of the situation with his back planted close to Helen who assisted. So far, they had no need to act, because their impromptu allies had assisted them in their defense. “Get down!” Duck he did, just close enough to let a Hyper Beam pass by and graze his head by mere inches. Before he could celebrate his successful dodge, he traced the beam to a new target. His entire world seems to slow down as he came to full realization where the beam headed towards. “Stupid Pokemon and stupid thief. Ruining everything I worked for.” Medicine Bits incessant grumbling was unheard in the chaos. She had made sure to slink away from the bridge and across the ship toward safety while her buffoons of pony power will keep them busy. A flash to her right dashed the hope from her, turning toward the source, a bright beam was heading toward her. Nothing in her long line of preparation could prepare her for this. She decided to cover her face and braced. A slight draft of wind, and an explosion is heard, kicking up dust. Was she dead? She could still feel her five senses, which means she’s still alive and kicking. Opening her eyes and uncovering her face from her own hooves, she nearly tripped backward when there is yet one of the more scarier Pokemon was in front of her. Before she could scream her heads off, he fell forward, smoke rising from a spot on his back. The fighting was pretty intense, as while the zombies had no coordination, it made them all the more unpredictable. However, the two teams had plenty of experience with situations like this, and as such, were adapting quickly. Fox on the other hand, upon seeing the army of zombies, was quick to run to a safe spot, Jonathan with her, as his leg wouldn’t have let him be nearly as effective as he needed in a fight zone like this. As such, the two of them decided to focus on directing their teams in the fight. “Leaf Storm to your right, cover Heat’s back!” Alice ordered. “Roar! Keep them off of Liepard!” Jonathan ordered as well. Once again, the irony of the fact that the two ‘enemies’ made an incredible combination was not lost to them, but they ignored it in favor of winning the battle. A good thing too, as Fox noticed one of the zombies, a Kingler, was about to fire a Hyper Beam...one aimed right for Eric’s head. “Get down!!!” Fox shouted towards Eric. Fortunately she was in time, as the Hydreigon ducked, much to her relief. However, it was at this point that they realized the Hyper Beam had a new target: Medicine Bits. “...karma is a bitch,” Jonathan couldn’t help but say, finding it oddly appropriate that Medicine Bits was about to die at the hands of one of her victims. “Rest in peace,” Fox offered as a sign of respect, as the Hyper Beam was upon the mare. What happened next surprised them. Eric had jumped, and placed himself between Medicine Bits and the attack. “Wait, what?!” the two gasped in shock as the Hydreigon somehow forced himself to get in the way of the attack, before visibly wincing when the attack struck...HARD. Medicine Bits didn’t know how to react, here it is one Pokemon went into the way of the beam that was supposed to struck her. A groan caught her attention, looking at the downed Pokemon, he is still conscious. Nonetheless, she wasn’t one to waste opportunity. She grinned at the Pokemon’s stupidity. “Idiot. But thanks for being my idiot for the moment!” However, when she turned to run, she suddenly found she couldn’t. Looking down, her eyes widened at the sight of the thick coating of webs now covering her hooves. “My my, got caught in a sticky situation, have we?” came a voice that purred dangerously close to her. That voice caught the mare’s attention, her mind told her not to look, yet she did it anyway and looked up. That prove to be a mistake once her eyes made contact with a pair of blood-red slitted ones, her body, even with every effort she put into it, refused to follow the brain’s command to move. “Care to repeat what you just said to my precious trainer, you ungrateful bitch?” The venom in Helen’s voice was enough to melt steel, all injuries forgotten momentarily. Likewise, the two other teams who were approaching backed off a bit, yet one thought was shared. “Dead mare in 10 seconds” they mentally gulped, and decided wisely to stay out of the way. “I will check my trainer, do keep yourself in place. If there so much as a single hair is gone from his face….” Helen licked her lips to ensure the implication sink in. “....I’ll make sure that you will go through your worst fear!” “....s...stop.” Eric’s voice surprised the Serperior. Glancing behind her, she found herself relieved that her handsome trainer got back up although it was obvious he was in pain. She moved herself to help when he nearly doubled over. Once a vine is secure around his shoulder, she asked. “Oh dear, are you okay?” “.....I’m….fine, don’t worry about me. What about you?” “You’re still you as always, worrying about myself instead of yourself.” She made sure to peck his cheek as a token of gratefulness. “Thank you for caring.” While the exchange was happening, both Fox and Jonathan stared in well...they honestly didn’t know WHAT to think really. The guy they had pegged for a borderline psycho had just dove in the way of a potentially fatal attack for a mare who had no qualms of using illegal substances to reduce sentient beings to mindless slaves. Then said mare (as expected) spits on the gesture, and he STILL stopped his Serperior, even worrying about her when he’s the one who looks ready to keel over and die. This was too much for them at the moment, and gave them something to think about...later. Right now they had a crime lord to arrest. “Medicine Bits. For production and sale of illegal substances, illegal use of said substance, and enslavement of sentient beings, you’re hereby under arrest,” Jonathan stated as he grabbed her hooves, and ripped them off the webbing, before looping them over her back, and cuffing her. “You have the right to remain silent, and everything you say will be used against you in court....and don’t bother denying it. We both have undeniable proof,” he added, looking towards Fox, who shrugged before handing over the evidence she had gathered. “Make sure not only the local police get that, kay? If I were you, I’d send it to Fillydelphia, somewhere she DOESN’T have her hooks in,” Fox stated. “....where are you going?” Eric breathed in air that has been expelled from his lungs with discomfort. “Don’t cha know? I’m not done yet,” Fox chuckled, before throwing down a smoke bomb, and when it cleared, her team and her were gone. “Gah! Dammit Fox! Come back here!” Jonathan growled as he chased after her...with a limp, but not before mashing Medicine Bits into the webs again, this time making her FACE get stuck in the webs. Seeing the mare was in need of help, he floated over and roughly pulled her out before looking over at the cop. Eric wanted to mention about the Dodge City clue, but kept it to himself anyway. They still didn’t give him much reason to trust them nor proof it otherwise. “....let’s go….we’re done here, Helen. Be careful not to aggravate your injuries. If there’s anything wrong, tell me, alright?” The mare protested as the Hydreigon dragged her by the back of her shirt collar, shouting protest along the way. The pain had returned once the adrenaline had worn off, but Helen had enough strength to slither. “But of course (cough), sweetie.” Meanwhile, Fox had already found what she was looking for, another office in the bridge of the cargo ship, and true enough, it was the one where her target was stashed. By the time Jonathan got to the room, she already had the statue in her hands. “S-stop right there!” Jonathan huffed, his injured leg dragging him down. “You really shouldn’t push yourself like that,” she said. “Not like you’re giving me much of a choice,” Jonathan grunted. At his words, Fox frowned slightly, before looking at the statue, and before Jonathan could react, she lifted the statue...and smashed it to the ground, revealing what looked like a small scroll inside. “...there. This show is over,” Fox smiled slightly, before she and her team jumped away towards the nearby window. “W-Wait! Fox! Why did you…?” Jonathan sputtered, honestly surprised at her actions. “We may be on opposite sides of the law, Jonathan, but I’ve never once thought of you as my enemy. I quite enjoy our...rivalry you could say, and I’d hate for you to push yourself more than you’ve already done,” was Fox’s answer, her voice sincere as she and her team soon vanished into the night, leaving the surprised group of cops. “...well...guess all the times she’s been playful with you really were that,” Howl blinked, honestly not sure what else to say. Jonathan for his part didn’t know what to say, and instead just wordlessly picked up the scroll that had been hidden in the statue. Honestly, this night had gotten to the point he didn’t know WHAT to think anymore. Jonathan sighed as he and his team walked back to where he left Medicine Bits. However, when they got there, they stopped short when they noticed she was gone. “...Eric,” Jonathan sighed, having a good idea who probably took her. “Come on guys, let’s get going. We’ve got a vigilante to catch up to,” he sighed tiredly, his leg still giving him hell. The group made their way to the exist, the guards either still unconscious, or having cleared out when the fighting started, no doubt wanting to save their own necks. What they didn’t expect was to find the Hydreigon standing at the entrance. “....looking for her?” The Hydreigon nonchalantly asked, throwing the mare on his arm onto Jonathan’s feet. “....you’re the cop. Take care of her.” Jonathan just picked up Medicine Bits, completely ignoring her protests since frankly, he didn’t give a damn about what she had to say at this point. “Any particular reason you didn’t just do it like you did with Grumble?” “.....because there weren’t any cops around the area. I’m not a cop, dragging around a mare in front of everyone in the city that never sleeps is bound to give me more trouble. You’re a cop, you can go drag an innocent-looking civilian and no one will bother you, simply saying it’s police business.” Eric explained in detail. “...I’m not THAT blunt normally, but fair enough,” Jonathan sighed, before hefting Medicine Bits over his shoulder. “And I’ve decided that we’re not turning her into the police...at least not in this city...” he sighed as he started walking away...but not before knocking Medicine Bits out with a quick strike to the back of her head. “The last thing I need right now is you making a scene,” Jonathan grumbled. This was why he hated playing vigilante. With his job is done, he turned. “....then we’re done here. Let’s go, Helen. I’m going to look that wound of yours.” He flicked his head toward the exit then made his way toward it. Helen was in agreement, but not without a few parting words. “See you later handsome! Take (cough) care.” She slithered to join her trainer. “...wait. You seem really interested in stopping criminals and the like,” Jonathan sighed, a small part of him wondering why he was bothering. “But why are you doing it this way? There are plenty of more legal ways to do what you do.” “....do I need a reason to do the right thing?” Eric’s back was still onto them, not bothering to glance behind him. “No, but I think it helps to do it in a way that doesn’t make you look crazy,” Heat deadpanned. “Oh, but that is just the part of his charm. Strong, silent type.” Helen pushed herself into Eric’s comfort zone again, only for him to gently push her away. “.....what she means to say, is that I always thought….cops are just either too incompetent or are just too much of a glory hound or…..too corrupt to care. So….I don’t really bother dealing with the law…sometimes they just got in the way. And there are only a few people you could trust who are working with the law.” Right now, Eric was staring at them over his shoulder to watch their reaction. The four of them looked at each other, then shrugged as they walked away. It was clear to them Eric wouldn’t change his mind, and who were they to force him. So with that they agreed to leave him alone. After all, they had a bigger fish to fry. Ending theme: