((A collab post between myself, Redwing, and WatermelonTango.))

Sylveon frowned. "I understand," she told Zephyr. "I'll inform the Guildmaster immediately."

"No need, Sylveon," said Alakazam, emerging from his office. "I heard him. This works out well; I was just planning on heading out anyway." On his back was an old backpack, clearly long past its prime but still sturdy-looking and reliable. In it were all kinds of exploration gear, some berries, a few seeds, and some apples. "I'll investigate as I make my way. Zephyr, would you care to accompany me?"

Zephyr opened his eyes for a moment as the Guildmaster entered the room. It wasn't often that he went out himself, he usually stayed in the guild and took care of all the paperwork and jobs. It was even less often that you got the chance to work with him. So of course he was going to jump on the offer. "I would be honored to accompany you Guildmaster. Just allow me a few minutes to gather my own supplies." He said as he dipped his head respectfully.

Alakazam nodded. "Very good. But, ah, do try to put some speed in your step, hm? I'm starting to be able to hear the ruckus myself, and that can't be good."

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Clarity was getting tired of this nonsense, whizzing past trees and dodging nippy little pests. She decided that she had enough of this. She spat the apple out before turning herself around to face the pack of rats chasing her, and immediately flapped her wings with the best air cutter she could muster. That did little to stem the hoard; they all scattered and put her inside of a circle again. She began doing the only reasonable thing a dragon would do in this situation; she began firing dragon breaths in frustration, but there were so many of them that she couldn't gain any ground. She suddenly felt a sharp pinch on her ankle, and roared in frustration as she tried to pry off the Ratatta latched on. 

"Maybe I'm a little bit over my head here..." She thought to herself as the wall of rats slowly converged on her.

===============

After a few moments, Alakazam and Zephyr were approaching the edge of the forest. A flock of Pidgey flew rapidly overhead, likely away from whatever was causing all the noise and confusion in the forest itself. "Right then, Zephyr," Alakazam said, "you've got the keen Aura Senses. You lead the way. And don't worry; I can keep up," he added as he began to float in place.

Zephyr nodded, closing his eyes once again and expanding his senses. Focusing on the things further away from him, and trust Alakazam to be on the lookout for things nearby. He got hold of the auras of the group he had sensed earlier and began to walk in that direction. Weaving around bushes and trees in a seemingly impossible way as he still had his eyes closed.

It didn't take long for them to reach the commotion and Zephyr was forced to open his eyes. Sometimes it was better to actually see things than sense them. Though it didn't happen too often. The sight was a terrible thing to rely on. It looked like a group of Ratatta, lead by a Raticate were picking on a Noivern. Food was probably involved somehow. He created an Aura Sphere and launched it at the group, being careful not to hit the Noivern as well. It did wonders to get everybody's attention.

"Here now," said Alakazam, touching down onto the ground as they came across the group. "What's all this commotion about?"

Clair's ears suddenly perked up at the sound of some kind of attack... and watched somewhat dazed as an aura sphere flew past. She turned to the source and spotted a Lucario and Alakazam looking over the situation. It seemed like everything paused as they were all stared down. 

It was the Raticate who first broke the silence. "Apple! It was my apple! And she stole it!" he said angrily, pointing at the Noivern. The Ratatta around him began shouting agreement.

Alakazam turned to the Noivern. "Oh? Is this true, young one?"

She really didn't have words to describe the situation. It took her a moment to find her voice.
"I uh... well... they.... Erm." She wasn't what you would call a wordsmith. Clarity reached over and picked up the half eaten apple that she had discarded earlier and simply thrust it in the direction of the Raticate.

"I'm sorry for taking it and whatever," She half mumbled while rolling her eyes. This was the worst case scenario; she didn't want to get involved with the town at all if she could avoid it, but here she was getting the attention of all of them. Stupid, stupid stupid! She'd make a show of slapping herself if it wasn't for present company. 

The Raticate sneered and swatted the apple away. "Half eaten! Half eaten! No good if it's half eaten! It was whole when you stole it, so whole is what we want!"

"Fine! Whatever!" She quickly snatched it back and made a show of eating the rest. This earned her a lot of agitated glances from those present, but Clarity was being too self satisfied to notice.

Zephyr sighed, this whole situation was just silly. Trying to kill each other over an apple. There were probably hundreds of them in this forest. He took his backpack off his shoulder and rummaged through it for a moment before taking out an apple. "Here, take it to replace the one she stole. Now everybody gets an apple." Except him of course since he had just given it up. But it was better this way. "But know that both groups are in the wrong here. One for stealing in the first place, and the other for letting it bother them. You both live here so you must learn to get along."

Alakazam smiled and nodded approval. "Well said, Zephyr. Now then," he said, turning to face the horde. "I think that should conclude your business here..." His smile was replaced by a dangerous glare. "...Don't you?" The Ratatta all stiffened and backed away, until finally scampering off into the brush and disappearing. The Raticate grabbed the offered apple, then ran off with them. Alakazam sighed. "Well, I'm glad that's settled. Now," he said, turning to the Noivern, "what to do with you?"

Clarity crossed her arms and gave a very indignant stare. She bet they had a hundred apples back in town, and berries, and poffins and all sorts of stuff like that. The crap she has to go through to get a decent meal! She would have continued looking as indignant and rebellious as possible if her stomach wasn't growling so much. She supposed that all the fighting really didn't help her apetite at all. She looked down at her leg where a Ratatta had previously been, and found it rather injured. There was that too. She shrugged her arms and titled her head awkwardly. 

"Do you got something to eat?" She asked, slightly embarassed that she was in such a predicament. 

Alakazam considered the Noivern in front of him for a moment. Suddenly, an apple began floating from his own backpack over to her. "As a matter of fact, I do." Just before the apple was within her reach, however, it stopped. "But," Alakazam said, "I'm not sure a thief should eat it, certainly not one that has also cost my own guild member his lunch." The apple slowly began to float away.

She had to do her best to restrain a snarl, as would only be expected where she came from. Clarity was tired of always having to go through with difficult nonsense for a meal, but townsfolk had their own ways of being difficult. She briefly thought about leaping for the apple, but decided that would probably worsen her situation.

"You caught me gramps, I'm a thief. A mugger. I lie and steal and all that stuff that mean people do." She threw her wings into the air. "You've got me red handed and all I can ask is; what would you do with me?" She grinned, having more fun then she expected with this.

Alakazam raised an eyebrow. "Now now, it isn't wise to try to lie to a Psychic-type. Hmm..." He turned to Zephyr. "Zephyr, it was your lunch that was taken first. What do you think we should do?"

Zephyr listened patiently as Alakazam dealt with the thief. When she spread her wings he kept a very close eye on her, ready to bring her down if needed. When he was addressed by his Guildmaster at first he just shrugged. He wasn't super intelligent like a Psychic-type was. He was much more of a hands on guy. Fighting-types tended to be. "Well, I don't mind too badly going lunchless. Its good to know what its like to be hungry every once in a while, in case you run out of food in a dungeon. This is the first time we've caught her so I think we should just let her go. But if a bounty shows up on her head I'll take responsibility and take her down." The last part was definitely said as a challenge. He liked a good fight.

Alakazam thought for a moment. "Is that so?" The apple that was still floating was bobbing back and forth as Alakazam considered his decision. Finally, he addressed the Noivern. "Alright, then I will offer you a deal. I will grant you this apple and, as Zephyr has said, allow you to leave in peace. However, if I ever see your poster on the Bounty Board, we will come to find you. You will not escape that time. Are we clear?"

Clarity pondered it over and decided that she would give in. She didn't like being bossed around like this, but her need for food usually won out versus her need for dignity. She nodded her head in Alakazam's direction.

"Erm.. well.. okay. That sounds reasonable." Despite her flippant attitude before she tried her best to seem genuine. "I'm sorry for causing so much trouble."

Alakazam nodded in return, and the apple slowly floated over to her. "You're forgiven. Do stay safe; the forest can be dangerous... as I'm sure you're now far more aware."

"Yeah well... thanks." She clutched the apple in her claws. She turned to leave, but something made her look over her shoulder over at the Lucario.
"Say, what's your name?"

"It's Zephyr." He said when the thief asked about his name. It didn't seem bad to do so. He had the guild behind him if she decided to bring friends.

"I'm Clarity." She said simply before shoving the apple in her mouth and flying away. You could tell by the way one of her talons were curled up that those rats had done a number on her foot. She pierced through the forest canopy and didn't turn back.

Alakazam watched Clarity as she flew off into the distance. When she was just a speck in the sky, he turned back to Zephyr. "Well now, I'm glad we got that settled peacefully. Thank you, Zephyr. You were a big help."

Zephyr wasn't used to being complimented by someone as famous as the Guildmaster. So he turned his head away in a shy manner, pretending to be focused on something else. "It was nothing. I'm just honored that you allowed me to come with you."

Alakazam smiled. "Think nothing of it." He readjusted his backpack. "Right then, I'm off on a small expedition. I trust you can find your way back. Tell Sylveon I should be back within the next few days. Until then." With a wave, Alakazam turned and headed deeper into the forest.