Spending the Night

You sigh as you decide to just head over to the Village Chief's den to meet up with Jackal. As good as it sounds to spend your time with that tantalizing Sneasel, it all sounded too good to be true. Making your way through the streets as usual, you are able to find a Ninetales soldier leaning against a lantern post. You grab her attention by asking for directions to the Charizard's residence, to where she happily and clearly instructed its location to you.

Traveling and arriving at the stone construction, Redeemer's Grotto flags curtain down along the large front entrance of the wooden doorway. Two guards give you the clear to enter, having to expect your arrival from a word of the Charizard. Entering the large building, you step through a somewhat luxurious foyer and greeted by an Espeon maid. The Eeveelution adorns a crimson dress with yellow ruffled foliage supporting the city's colors, in fact, most of the furniture and art depicted these colors very well, and a bit, extremely. You wondered if Ryzer **** his servants to wear clothes since they were an unnecessary asset to most Pokemon.

"Ah, you must be Lace! Allow me to show you to my master's quarters." She gestures for you to follow with a happy smile. Keeping yourself at her pace, she sneaks in a comment by whispering, "...Are you actually solving the reason for the infection? Do you know anything about it so far, because I mean, we're not supposed to discuss it in our city but you know that everyone is wondering how this entire mess got started. We're not dumb enough or brave enough to just ignore that factor, especially with-"

"Now Luna, I know you aren't interrogating our guest for why he's here, are you?" The Charizard's voice calls out. Luna, the Espeon, eeps as she discovers that both of you had arrived in the Village Chief's throne room, having her face glow a bright red.

She stutters with terror and embarrassment, "N-No of course not, master. Please excuse me." She quickly performs a small bow before leaving the premises of the room without another second to waste.

The Charizard chuckles as he rests his big-bellied self upon his throne. "Don't worry about her. I have no laws saying that our citizens can't acknowledge the infection's existence. But with our demanding urges, people seem to think that, not that I'm complaining for it. It provides much less stress for me due to the lack of panic as a leader." He slaps his hand on his legs and stands up to welcome. "Ah yes, I have a new open inn to show you. How has your stay been in Redeemer's Grotto so far?" He steps down the small platform to approach you.

You think back as much as you can about so far, but can only imagine Maple and what tonight could have held. "Well, let's just say I met some interesting people today. Mainly one person."

The dragon's eyes glimmer. "Oh? Don't tell me you've already spent your time with one of the city's many prostitutes, have you?" His sinister grin apparently wasn't meaning any harm or surprise, but more from the sense of pleasure?

Your cheeks begin to build up heat up. "Wha? No, heh, not entirely...Do you not outlaw prostitution in your city?"

Ryzer releases his quaking laughter, grabbing your shoulder with an arm wrapped behind your back to pull you into his own side. "Bah ha ha ha ahh haaa! Why on earth would I outlaw such a thing? Work is work and pleasure is pleasure!" You feel a tad awkward being nudged into the dragon's pudge like this, but you really wanted to make a good impression on this leader. He continues a smile and calms down from his laughter, "Even my lustrous maid Luna partakes in several naughty antics with me at night, now isn't that right my little servant?" From calling out to Luna, he had noticed her walking past the throne room in the hall, and she easily picked up on what he was talking about. Her face explodes with red even more than yours did, and she quickly quickens her speed down the hall with her two-tipped tail tucked between her legs. He chuckles once more before replacing his attention back to you. "I may or may not know many prostitutes that thrive throughout my city. So who took your fancy, you dirty little hound?"

You reply with an unwilling snicker and reply, "Do you know of Maple the Sneasel?"

His entertained smirk droops down into a bewildered frown. "Are you saying you actually saw that Pokemon?" You nod, curious as to why he appeared so troubled upon hearing her name. The Charizard softly releases you and questions you. "And do you know where this Sneasel is? Did she request to meet or take you somewhere?"

Worriedly, you admit, "Well, she said she wanted to see my tonight at uhm..the Eastern Well, I believe?" The Village Chief glances over at a Rapidash guard, nodding to him as the horse exits out of the room. You are able to listen to the soldier rally up a few troops and head out. "Why is that a problem?"

"Because..." He states with a hint of frown. "She's actually a **** trader who kidnaps citizens and smuggles them out of the city. We've been trying to track her down and have been searching for her secret tunnels that she's been shipping her poor captives to. But now, with your help in this, I suppose she expected you to capture you in seclusion since you are unaware of her notorious nature. Hehhehheeeh, you've done well yet again!" He gives a powerful slap to your back. "You never cease to impress me!"

Just then, a Dragonair naga slithers in, carrying a dead-looking Typhlosion over his shoulder. The soldier announces, "Sir, I found this Typhlosion passed out in the streets, mumbling about how it was urgent to see you for something. Normally I wouldn't disturb you...but I do not recognize this individual. Is he a guest of yours?" You couldn't believe that the fat husk slugged over the guard's shoulder was Jackal. The Charizard chuckles and nods, allowing the naga to drop Jackal onto the floor for him to groan in misery.

"T-Too...much ale..." The fire-type manages to spit out. He was completely out of it and drunk. You go over to your drowsy companion and swing his arm around you to help him stand up a bit. You noticed that he sports a large beer belly that sloshes with each slight movement he makes with all of his rambling and hics emitting out.

Ryzer smiles and begins to lead the two of you out to show you your place of stay.

----|----

The room was empty except for the small rug lying in the center, with two beds were in far corners. The space was a bit small, but definitely tolerable. You set your bag next to the bed as Jackal immediately collapses on his own bed face first, grumbling in the sheets as he stroke his gut to calm it down. The Charizard lights a torch against the wall with his flame tipped tail, lowering it back down from the wall to the floor. The thick orange tail sweeps slowly across the dusty flooring to grasp your odd attention as the Village Chief sighs to himself.

"Now, it isn't much since the building was made recently which is why you can have all to yourselves, but for a night, I'm positive you'll find that your beds are quite comfy. Tomorrow morning, meet me at the town gate and I'll give you the directions to the swamp...that is, if you're still actually willing to travel to it. I'll allow you to sleep on the decision."

"Thank you very much." You bow the to dragon leader, seeing as that is the correct response to him around here. The Charizard asks one more question as he turned to leave. "I never did get your name, did I?"

"Lace." You answer. Jackal raises a hand up before you could say'Jack' again.

"I'm-shmmph...Jawkhal...." He grumbles followed by a hic.

"Lace and Jackal." The Charizard huffs out with a smile. "I'll be sure to remember those names." He then takes a strange, and violating glare at your body, browsing it from top to bottom. You hear him say as he opens the door to leave with his back turned to you. "Hmph. You seem to be a bit young to be going through so much trouble that could easily throw your life away." You watch his tail brush one last time against the flooring before it disappears behind the door.

Both of you were in your selected beds at this point, Checking on Jackal, the Typhlosion apparently decides to sleep atop his blankets and covers, preoccupied with his hangover. You close your eyes as you say, "See you in the morning, Jack."

Jackal had his back turned to you while he slept on his side. He didn't even bother correcting you this time.

-----|-----

Blinking your eyes tiredly, your blue ears dart up, catching an unusual sound and presence in your midst. You groan and sit up in bed, seeing where all the commotion was coming from. It was...

1. The morning, with explosions and screams filling the air!

2. In the middle of the night, with the Chief standing at your bedside! *