Chapter Text
Ethan falls, face first, into the the dirt below. The Pichu that was doing its best to stay perched on his shoulder until a moment ago lands on top of him.
The stone-topped walls that surround the Brass Tower are tall, tall enough to make it hurt when he lands, but evidently not tall enough to keep the two of them out. He scrambles to his feet, brushing off late afternoon sun-warmed dust from his clothes, turning to hear his muffled pursuants air their frustrations on the other side.
“...find him…”
“...that damn brat…”
“...boss…”
“Yeesh.” He whispers to himself, both at the stubborn nerve of those gang members and the scrapes he earned on his palms. They’re not fixing to climb up after him it seems, so maybe he’s finally lost them? Lance had warned him that messing with these people could end up getting dangerous, but how is he supposed to stand aside when innocent Pokémon are getting hurt…?
Ethan glances down at the little Pichu who started this whole mess, now shaking gravel from a short, yellow coat. The tumble did nothing to it… what a hardy little Pokémon! He crouches down beside it in the sun.
“We’re not supposed to be here. Keep up, okay?” He softly says.
“Pi… Pichu!” Pichu nods determined after a moment’s hesitation.
The make their way alongside the border of the Brass Tower grounds– a thick, tall wall. It’s quiet here, and every grind of gravel under his sandals or call of startled Pidgey puts him on edge. Yet, no one’s around to hear.
In front of them is a long stretch of empty courtyard with a shallow pond covered in teal duckweed, and beyond that is the unattended, mahogany coloured entranceway and gate to the tower and temple.
Ethan is about to make a break for it, run on home with his new friend, apologize to his mom profusely for being late… before he hears voices, clear as day in the silent, still air. Poliwag splash startled back into the courtyard’s pool from where they relaxed on the edge of the tile.
“I assume that permission to enter will not prove an obstacle to our plans?” Is lowly said.
He creeps quietly towards the sound, pressing himself out of sight against a neglected wall, covered in moss.
“Sir… You must understand that…”
Who is that?
Dozens of meters away stands a man, tall and dark in an overcoat much more suited for winter, looking out of place in front of the luxurious, gilded main hall.
Behind him is a bored-looking, red-haired boy, arms crossed. His kimono looks expensive. A dark grey Pokémon, looking like… some kind of evil, one-eared ferret? stands by his side.
Finally, in front of the man is the stuttering head sage, wearing a sour expression.
Several other people mill about– a woman and several men, but all from a distance, and they talk amongst themselves.
Matching outfits? What’s up with that?
“Pichu?” Pichu mirrors Ethan’s attempt at spying, trying to get a good look at whatever had captured its rescuer’s attention. Its odd ears perks up as it spots the group of strangers before looking up at Ethan with wide eyes. It grabs the corner of his hakama and pulls.
“Pichu! Pichu!” It cries.
“Shh…!” He frantically crouches down, scooping the Pichu up into his arms. “We have to be quiet, remember!?”
“Pi?”
He braces himself against the wall once more, peeks out, and… damn it. They’d caught someone’s attention. The tall man is still busy with whatever heated conversation he had struck up with the Head Sage. That red-haired boy, meanwhile, is staring straight at Ethan. Eyebrows furrowed.
The boy from New Bark grins uncertainly and raises a finger to his lips. Maybe he’ll understand…
The boy’s silk sleeves fall about him as he uncrosses his arms and visibly scoffs at Ethan’s gesture. He then quickly turns back at the darkly-dressed man, tugs at his coat sleeve like a child, and says something too hushed for Ethan to hear.
…He must have not gotten the memo.
He should have just kept his curiosity to himself, Ethan internally cries out. He really is a dope! He’s about to be caught! By some very important looking people! He ducks back behind the wall once more, heart racing as he tries to figure a way out of this mess.
“Pichu,” He glances up towards the sloped top of the wall, and then down at the Pokémon in his arms. “I’ll lift you! Hop over!”
“Pi?” It leans in his arms, back towards the people they’re now hiding from, pulling on Ethan’s sleeve in his embrace.
“C’mon… I don’t want you to get in trouble with me.” Ethan had to climb a tree to get in here, so he won’t be able to scale the wall by himself. He’s too short… but Pichu could probably be lifted, just high enough to hop over…
He takes one more glance behind the wall, expecting to see faces of anger turned towards him…
… but the man is… barely glancing at the red-haired youth, who appears to be the same age as Ethan, if a little taller. After a short exchange, he waves his hand dismissively, turning back to the poor sage.
Ethan can’t be sure from this distance, but the other boy steps away, looking… angry?
Then his gaze returns to Ethan.
Ethan doesn’t have time to make certain if the scorn in those lavender eyes is meant for him or the tall man. He just thanks the deities of the Brass and Bell towers for his lucky break, and manages to scramble across the courtyard and out of the unattended entranceway. Quickly, before his new pursuant has a chance to tell on him again.