My Precious Companions

By UnknownZerr0

Team Shadow was resting together at a campfire. The four members of the explorer team were more exhausted than they have ever been on a mission before.

Zero, the team leader, quietly looked through his notebook while leaning against the base of a nearby tree. The zoroark's long hair cushioned his back against the rough bark as he relaxed. Despite his long and sharp claws, he handled the book with care in a delicate manner. His ears occasionally twitched as he listened to the crackling of the flames at the center of their small camp. A feeling of melancholy was draped over him like a blanket as he reviewed his team's performance during their mission.

The leader's eyes darted over to his best friend, the co-leader of their team. It was Shade, a sylveon with a unique coloration due to his unnatural dark typing in addition to his fairy type. Usually the carefree troublemaker would be gloating about his performance and making idle banter with the other team. But his downcast expression and unnatural silence reflected well the current campfire mood.

Shade may have seemed like a careless and worry free pokemon to anybody else. But Zero knew him better than that. He knew the sylveon was harder on himself than most and was probably judging his performance today way too severely. Their near death experience against a strong criminal krookodile that day had shaken the dark sylveon's ego. Zero knew his friend was blaming himself for the way they struggled during the fight. His heart ached to see his closest companion in such a state.

A soft snort from nearby drew the zoroark's gaze. Venom, a scolipede and the team's supplies carrier, was asleep on the ground. He had taken a nasty hit during the fight. Venom was tough so the hit hadn't caused any lasting damage. But now that the fight was over, the wound was weighing on him. Thankfully they had time to rest, otherwise the scolipede would have been in a tough spot.

Venom was normally calm and preferred to be stationary when not traveling. But seeing him so still and almost lifeless… It was disturbing to say the least. That's why Zero always looked at him every few minutes. He kept an eye out for movement and signs of life. Anything to let him know his teammate was still alive and breathing. Zero never wanted to lose a teammate. He didn't want to go through that pain again. He didn't think he could handle it.

The last member of the team was sitting by the fire. Slitted kommo-o eyes stared deep into the flames illuminating the camp. Bastion is their last team member for this mission and one of the reserve members on Team Shadow. He's a kommo-o with a fiery temper and a huge heart. Zero could see that Bastion was angry at himself, the fury deep within his heart being reflected in the fire. The criminal pokemon they had fought today had gotten underneath his scales with some rather cruel words.

Zero was able to ignore the tauntings of that psychotic krookodile bastard. He knew how to hide his true feelings and mask them under lies and illusions. He was a zoroark after all, it was in his nature. But Bastion never held back his true emotions and was always honest even with himself. His anger had been used against him today and that left a deep wound on his heart. Zero knew he would have to talk to the kommo-o when they got back. A few days of rest would also give him time to heal. Zero wrote down his thoughts into the notebook and closed it with a sigh.

It was rough, having to lead a group. He had never done so until joining the Dawn Rangers Guild, having been appointed as a leader by Guildmaster Auger himself. At first Zero had argued with the lucario about his decision. But over time even Zero couldn't ignore the fact he had a talent for leading. Still, it frustrated him and annoyed him because it took away time from his personal goal of finding out his past. Such a severe and unnatural case of amnesia had to have a cause. A very important cause that Zero wanted to find more than anything. But now that he was a team leader, now that he had the responsibility of commanding and caring for a group of pokemon, it seemed he would never be able to find any clues…

Team Shadow's leader shook his head. No, now's not the time to be selfish. He had to care for his team after all. They needed him right now and they came above everything else.

Putting down his notebook, Zero stood up and walked across the campsite towards Venom. His clawed feet made no sound against the dirt and stone of the ground below, a skill the zoroark obtained after days of training. He stopped by Venom's side and crouched down. He carefully observed the wrappings on the scolipede's wounds. No blood leaked through which was good. The injured pokemon was breathing more easily than he had been earlier. Another good sign that eased Zero's stress, even if slightly. He didn't wake the scolipede. The injured needed rest after all.

Next was to check up on Bastion. Zero made his way over to the kommo-o while glancing at the fire every now and then. He didn't understand why Bastion was so interested in the flames and contemplated asking. Once beside his dragon companion, he took a seat on the ground and decided to eye the fire himself. The flickering sparks and licking tongues of flame were quite pretty to look at. Maybe he should stare into fires more often. It might even help him understand Bastion better.

The kommo-o in question eventually grunted at his presence. “What do you want?" he asked, not bothering to mask the frustration in his voice. Zero simply chuckled and leaned back a bit, still looking into the fire along with Bastion.

“Just trying to figure out why you like looking at fire so much." Was the team leader's response.

“I don't know. What else should I stare at? Want me to stare at you?"

“Oh my, that's quite forward don't you think? I didn't know you felt that way."

Zero's teasing words caused Bastion to start stuttering and blushing, much to the zoroark's amusement. He tried to come up with a response for a solid 10 or so seconds before giving up with a huff. “You know that's not what I fucking meant asshole."

“Already talking about fucking and assholes huh. I see you weren't satisfied with that garchomp you hooked up with."

“Fuck you."

“Do it yourself then."

Bastion closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. The pink in his cheeks was somehow visible through his scales due to the intensity of his embarrassment. Finally giving up on arguing with his leader, the kommo-o instead turned to Zero and asked, “What do you really want? I know you didn't come over here just for the damn fire."

Zero decided that was enough teasing for now and turned to face Bastion. He looked his fiery friend in the eye with a blank expression, as if boring into the kommo-o's soul and gaining all the information on the dragon that he could. His eyes then turned to stare back at the fire as he told the kommo-o that “I want you to know you did great today, even if you don't believe it."

A few moments of silence followed as Bastion continued staring at Zero. The kommo-o's eyes no longer held so much frustration and instead had more hints of disbelief. Zero continued and said, “Your judgment of the situation was even better than mine back there. I'm glad you stepped in to battle that krookodile before Shade could take anymore damage. I was distracted and your quick thinking saved Shade from a potentially lethal hit. I thank you for that."

Bastion didn't seem to have much to say to that. He turned his gaze back to the campfire and once again stared into the flames. Even if the kommo-o hadn't audibly responded, Zero knew that his words had reached his friend. Bastion's silence was a form of understanding. It was a language only those who knew him well could understand. Both of them retreated back into their minds as they gazed into the fire that flickered before them.

Before Zero could start thinking too much, his attention was drawn back over to Shade. The sylveon's narrowed and glossy eyes struck a chord deep within the zoroark's soul.He had to get over there and say something. Seeing his friend so distraught was too unbearable. The team leader stood up and walked over to Shade.

Tears pricked at the edges of Shade's vision. He tried to keep them inside. Crying would just make him feel worse. But the scathing words that came from his own mind hurt too much and soon his cheeks became wet. The scene of Shade's crucial mistake during that day's mission repeated continuously in his head. With every repeat his self-deprecation grew. His teammates could have been killed, tortured, or worse and it would have been all his fault. The immense guilt swallowed and devoured him, leaving him feeling hollow.

The krookodile they had faced was stronger than what had been reported to the team. Far stronger in fact. Everything had gone well during the beginning of the mission. They easily made it through the mystery dungeon the krookodile criminal was hiding out in. When they had reached the end of the dungeon, the Intimidation Pokemon and his lackeys had been there waiting for them. Shade had gotten cocky during the fight and began bantering with the criminal. He tossed attacks and insults with ease and danced about the battlefield in his usual manner. His confidence took a high when the krookodile backed himself into a corner. Shade had let his guard down, anticipating the ground type's surrender.

That was the crucial mistake. Right as Shade let his guard down and hoisted his head up high in victory, the krookodile lunged forward and struck him with thrash. The attack felt immensely more powerful than it would have been otherwise. That meant the criminal had the ability anger point and Shade hadn't noticed when it activated during the fight. Such a powerful strike had sent Shade straight into the dirt, leaving Team Shadow down a member for a few moments. If it weren't for Bastion's quick thinking, Shade wouldn't have survived long after hitting the ground. The thought made the sylveon feel even worse. Because of his arrogance his teammates had to cover for him against a criminal pokemon at his strongest. What kind of dungeon explorer was he if he couldn't even keep his head in the fight? What if he endangered his teammates again?

Escaping the dungeon had been just as bad. The rest of krookodile's lackeys were still attacking while the main criminal himself was fighting Bastion. Venom had taken a lot of damage by then and was already weakened from the long fight. A gliscor landed a critical hit on the scolipede, causing him to let out a loud shout of pain. If it weren't for Bastion brawling the krookodile while Zero defended both Shade and Venom then…

Footsteps broke Shade out of his spiraling thoughts. He turned to see his closest companion and the leader of their team walking toward him. Shade knew Zero could step without making sound, so it was clear the zoroark was making noise on purpose. Zero sat beside him too with a gentle look in his eyes. Shade had to turn away, his friend's gaze too much to bear at the moment as his mind tormented him. A clawed hand pressed lightly against his back and rubbed him in soothing motions. Zero slowly stroked down his back, occasionally rubbing his head or back.

“Are you alright Shade?" Zero asked. The zoroark's tone was so caring and gentle, and only Shade knew the reason why. Hearing his best friend speak to him so softly broke something in the sylveon. The guilt crushed him and he lost control over his tears. Explorers faced death every time they delved into a mystery dungeon. It wasn't probable to die in dungeons but that didn't mean it didn't happen either. And Shade couldn't control his tears as he remembered Team Shadow's fallen team member. His mistake today could have caused a second death for their team. Shade didn't think he could forgive himself for that.

Zero sensed that his question wouldn't be receiving an answer. So instead he picked up Shade, holding the sylveon gently in his arms. Shade was still weakened from their fight today so he couldn't resist even if he wanted to. Besides, Zero's fur was soft even after all the traveling and fighting from their mission. Instead of fighting against the zoroark's hold, Shade buried himself into his friend's chest to soak in the warmth. That gentle clawed hand returned to his back once more and the sylveon felt more safe in Zero's arms than anywhere else.

“Were you thinking of Nova?" The question was so short but its weight hung above Shade like a guillotine. He couldn't answer, instead curling up further in Zero's arms. The zoroark could tell that his friend wasn't doing well and made a decision.

The leader of Team Shadow stood up from the ground and held his companion close to his chest. He turned to Bastion who was still examining the fire and said, “I need to step out for a bit. Promise you'll watch Venom?"

All it took was a glance for the kommo-o to understand the situation and Zero's intentions. Bastion nodded resolutely and responded, “Of course, you can count on me."

Zero gave Bastion a thankful smile and a nod. He then turned and walked into the forest, a destination in mind. Bastion watched him go as he carried Shade in his arms. Once the zoroark and sylveon were gone, the kommo-o let out a sigh and smirked softly. “You can wake up now."

Venom grunted and one of his eyes peaked open. “Dammit, I thought I did a good job. When did you notice?"

“When our dumbass leader started cuddling his right hand mon."

Both the kommo-o and scolipede chuckled at that. Venom adjusted to a more upright position, mindful of his own injuries while he moved. “He certainly is really friendly with Shade. But don't you think calling him a dumbass is a bit harsh?"

Bastion hummed to himself for a bit before shaking his head. “Nah, it's accurate. He's being a dumbass after all. He always does this too. Putting us above him even when we have a moment to unwind and rest. Guy's probably just as shaken as Shade. Zero is just more capable of hiding his emotions. Annoying ass habit, can't he just be more fucking honest with us? That's why he's such a dumbass."

Venom smiled softly. He knew Bastion's words were true, even if the way he said it was quite vulgar. “Well, yes. Zero doesn't lean on us as much as he should. But he does it out of the good will in his heart… besides. We both know the pain he's gone through. That trauma has left him wounded in many ways. Ways that only time and positivity can heal. We just have to be there for him."

Bastion smiled softly, an expression almost nobody would see on the kommo-o. He turned back to the fire without another word. Venom joined him in staring into the flames. The two of them watched the embers flicker and dance, transfixed by the ethereal display. Zero would heal over time. And they would be there for him as he did. They would always be there for him.

Meanwhile, Zero stepped through the forest at a slow and even pace. His footsteps were silent as if he glided across the ground. He could hear Shade's soft whimpers against his chest, the fur there becoming wet with the sylveon's tears. The zoroark knew where he was headed, it was an area he had discovered while scouting the location.

Zero reached his destination quickly. A small grotto located within the bottom of a cliff. The team leader stepped forward and entered the small cave, sitting down against the side of the wall and hugging Shade tightly. He rubbed the sylveon's back as his friend relived the trauma of their close companion's passing.

“I miss him, I miss him so much. A-And it hurts cause we could've lost somebody else today because of me. I feel so, so awful." Shade's voice cracked as he spoke. The day they lost Nova weighed heavily on both of them. Zero felt tears well up in his eyes too. He fought to keep them down as the repressed emotions in his heart began bubbling up. Memories surfaced too. Memories of their days with their fallen noivern friend.

Zero, Shade, and Nova. The three founding members of Team Shadow. They had only known each other for a short while before becoming a team. But they were drawn together by their hopes and dreams for the future. Zero, a zoroark who wanted to learn the secrets of his very existence. Shade, a sylveon cast out by normal society and seeking a place to belong. And Nova, a noivern who wanted to explore the ends of the world and map them down for those who came after him. Together they became an unstoppable team for the Dawn Rangers Guild. They spent months bonding, working together, and adventuring as an exploration team. They forged an unbreakable bond. They thought of each other as companions for life. A team that would never separate until the end of time.

But disaster struck during a particular mission. They had delved deep into an unknown mystery dungeon searching for a lost explorer. And when they got to the bottom…

Zero felt a paw against his cheek and he was brought back to the world. His own cheeks were wet now. He didn't know when he had started crying. It was hard to breathe, his chest was tight and he felt himself choking on his own sobs. Shade was crying too, though not as hard. He had only seen Zero cry once before and seeing it again was hard. But he knew Zero needed this. He knew Zero was the type of pokemon to hold in all his emotions until they burst. So Shade cuddled closer to Zero's chest as his friend cried out in anguish.

Moments passed by as they sat there in each other's arms. Zero eventually calmed down and started breathing evenly again. He even laughed to himself, though it was more of a self-deprecating chuckle. He said, “Fuck. Here I am sobbing my eyes off after bringing you here. I'm sorry, Shade."

The sylveon shook his head with a smile. He loved his team leader, but dear arceus the zoroark was terrible about taking care of himself. “Fuck off idiot. You've spent the past few months running yourself ragged for everybody instead of grieving. It's about time you let all those tears out… dummy."

A smile graced the zoroark's features. “Alright, fine. I'll give myself more time to process my emotions. But in exchange, you don't get to blame yourself for what happened today, alright?"

Shade's smile vanished and he looked ready to argue. But Zero spoke first and said, “At least not fully. You did get cocky, yes, and as your team leader I want you to work on that. But I also want you to know we all share part of the blame for today's mission. We all made mistakes, and we all had our good moments too. Most importantly, nobody died. You should never blame yourself for something that hasn't happened. Venom and Bastion don't blame you. I don't blame you. And I'm positive Nova doesn't blame you either. So don't blame yourself."

Tears returned to Shade's eyes as he looked up at his team leader. The zoroark's eyes were resolute and firm. There wasn't a hint of deception in his gaze. Zero truly believed everything he said. The sentiment was so touching that Shade couldn't refute his friend's words. Instead, he nodded weakly and said, “Okay. It's a deal." 

Zero smiled down at Shade with so much fondness and love that the sylveon couldn't look him in the eyes. He buried his face in Zero's chest as the zoroark let out a quiet chuckle. Zero hugged Shade a bit tighter, never wanting to let go.

They both stayed like that for a while longer. Holding each other in their arms and enjoying the other's presence. They knew they had to return to the campsite. Return to the other members of their team. But they had a bit longer until they had to go. So they stayed there together in the grotto. Happy that they had each other.