Gareda gazed out over the small plateau, towards a village by a small stream. No reservoirs, aqueducts or anything of the sort, just simple mountain water nourishing an isolated town, with its roofs shining red under the sun and wide open landing places resting on the edge of the cliff. She watched for a while, then breathed out in relief.

‘At least home doesn’t change. For now.’

A pleasant wind passed by as she glided down the small cliff, her spirits lifted by the peace on the plateau. Dandelions scattered their seeds to the wind, the grass stirring along. The few feral Pokemon here kept to themselves. They wouldn’t flee more than a dozen hops when the Garchomp passed by, even those who were near when she made her landing.

‘Ferals are smarter than we give them credit for. They can tell I'm no ravenous beast. Smell, no. Probably the scarf, isn’t it… must be. You know Gareda, ugly as it is, it does have some use… blegh. Why do I even bother trying to convince myself?’

She wandered across the plateau, enjoying the scenery for what it was rather than zooming past overhead. Sometime later, a gravel road crossed her path. It ran across the plateau, splitting in two directions in the middle. It served as the connection between the town and the rest of the world. The Dragonspine Mountains were anything but accessible, and so this was the lone way in for anyone who wasn’t winged. Most dragons wouldn’t have a problem, of course, but more than just dragons lived in the Dragonspines.

Gareda stopped to drink from the stream, her flight having made her thirsty. Then she followed the path to her hometown.

‘Dragonspine is a silly name, isn’t it. We’re not the only ones that live here. Then again, we’re easily the biggest, and the most important.’ The Garchomp sighed. ‘Oh well.’

Ten minutes later, she had reached her destination. “The dragons of Fafnir’s Tooth welcome you,” the sign at the entrance read, along with a rough population count of 2500. The approaches to the town were swallowed up by farmlands, orchards and long strips for running to a stop after landing. Those were for the young and disabled, who struggled to control their flying. Gareda hadn’t needed to use them anymore for a long while. Not since she was a Gabite, at the very least.

She made her way through the town. Each building was mostly made of stone, thick enough to keep the cold out, but covered in a residue that smelled like rubber. It helped prevent fires from breaking out. For that same reason, wood wasn’t a prevalent material anywhere in the town. Clay bricks, stone bricks, even mud bricks, but no wood of any kind.

There were no other Pokemon here aside from dragons of various shapes and sizes. When she was younger, Gareda wondered why that was. Her parents always told her other kinds of Pokemon struggled to keep up, and she didn’t get why. If anything though, being around her fellow dragons was a comfort. No snide looks or glares, no fear, she was free to be herself, except for the scarf.

‘I’m home, yet I feel like a stranger… all because of this.’

That sore spot worsened as she passed through. She struggled with it every time she returned here, but never before had it been as bothersome as today. For the first time, others wearing that accursed green scarf were in town. Just going from the entrance to her old home in the south, she counted five, and there were sure to be more. The ease she felt from her sensors when she first laid eyes on home had disintegrated into a nagging itch, one which couldn’t be scratched.

It wasn’t long before she’d come home: A large building made from red clay bricks, with vines hanging from the roof.

‘Okay… You, you’ve got to enjoy today for what it’s worth, Gareda. Don’t let Patrina take home away from you. Five Soldiers is nothing. We can beat them. Don’t worry.’

With a deep breath, she knocked on the door and waited. A minute went by before the lock turned, and the door fell backwards to the sight of a greyed Kommo-o, whose scales had lost a good amount of their colour. A vague hue was left, one which paled in comparison to an of his kin. Gareda smiled regardless.

“Hey dad.”

“Gareda! You’re back!”

Upon hearing her name, Gareda threw her arms around her father, her eyes falling shut as she did. It wasn’t long before the familiar, surprisingly warm touch of his thick scales wrapped around her back, pulling her closer with a tug under the fin. She couldn’t conceal her teeth in her smile anymore.

“It’s been so long since the last time! Have you been busy?”

“Pretty much,” Gareda replied, her voice soft and easy on the ears. ‘You wouldn’t know how busy, and why. May you never have to.’

Her father patted her on the back. “Come on in now, you must be tired from the flight! Honey, Gargar’s home!”

Gareda shut the door behind her with a gentle stroke of her talon, before heading in. The familiar smell of home filled her nostrils. Nothing quite like the aroma of onion soup. Most of the house was but a single room, where they lived, ate, and slept. They stored things in a side room, and washed outside in the stream. That was all the family had. That’s how the family lived. That’s how most dragons in Fafnir’s Tooth lived.

“Honey? Is that you?”

The hoarse voice of another Garchomp came from the other end of the room. She sat on a hanging mat with a small bowl of tea in her talons, and a book on her lap, her shark tail hanging off the mat and dangling below like it was stuck onto her body, and not a part of it. The scales around her eyes were somewhat cracked, and not from damage, either.

“Dialga and Palkia almighty have you gotten tall. Solhynin, why is my daughter wearing a green scarf?”

The Kommo-o sighed, his scales jingling like chainmail. “Morticia, honey, you remember this, don’t you? She joined the army, she’s even become a Lord of the uh, the Crest. You know, just like how you were the strongest warrior in the village when you were younger? It’s like that, but-”

“Yes yes,” the aged Garchomp groaned, before sipping on her tea. “Of course I know our daughter’s gone in the army, even though I told her not to. And this is why. Look at that ridiculous green scarf she’s wearing. It’s just like those other fools roaming around Fafnir’s Tooth these days. Don’t they have a sense to take those silly looking things off? It’s a miracle anyone takes them seriously. No dragon needs those, let alone a Steelhide.”

Solhynin licked his upper lip. “Oh, yes.”

Gareda scratched at an itch under her scarf. After glancing at the spot, and with her sensors tingling, her smile became weary.

“Well then, why won’t you take it off?” Morticia asked. Gareda shook her head.

“I’d love to, but it wouldn’t be professional.”

“This is home, not a workplace.”

“I know, but still.”

“Oh well. It doesn’t matter much.”

‘She’s right, but I do not have a choice. I wish I could tell her the truth without… ngh…’

Solhynin suddenly clanged his scales, then tilted his head as Gareda’s eyes were drawn his way. “Gargar, are you hungry? We’ve got plenty of soup leftover for lunch.”

“Sure, I don’t mind,” Gareda said while sitting down on a pile of straws. She’d helped herself to some ferals while on the road, but that didn’t matter. ‘He still calls me Gargar after all these years. Dad, you’re too precious for this world, you really are.’

Solhynin handed her daughter soup, just like the old days. Gareda drank from the bowl rather than use utensils, also like the old days. It wasn’t long before the top of her mouth sported a brown smear, which she haphazardly licked clean. Morticia was amused by her difficulties.

“Still eating like a dragon, I see.”

“I never was one for table manners,” Gareda snarked, before raising the bowl back to her mouth. “So, how’s life been?”

Morticia put her tea down on a stand next to the mat. “You first. Your life’s bound to be more interesting, with your worldly business.”

“Hey now. Don’t go ragging on old Fafnir’s Tooth. You live here yourself, you know,” Gareda said. ‘Besides, nothing happening is an improvement over anything I’ve been dealing with.’

Solhynin chuckled as he spat a fire at the stove. “Come on now, Gargar. You know yourself this place doesn’t experience much. What are you expecting, the ferals tried pushing us off the cliff? Ludicrous!”

“Of course not. But who am I to go before my elders?”

“We’re not that old,” Morticia softly growled. “But since you insist, then be our guest. Nothing out of the ordinary, for starters. We’ve been keeping watch over the Dragonspines, and it has been needed. Don’t know if anyone’s ever bothered telling you, but there’s been some sad, sad attempts at establishing new settlements, and just about all of them have blown up in the faces of whatever moron came up with the idea.”

“Settlements?”

“Yeah, settlements,” Solhynin filled in while pouring the contents of a waterskin into a pot. “Just nearby, some electrics tried setting something up. We all hated it. But hey, free entertainment, right? Didn’t take long for the complaints about magnetism and the cold weather to come along. Some of our young ran off to harass ‘em too. Didn’t take long before they were gone.”

Gareda scoffed. ‘And other Pokemon wonder why we’re so arrogant.’ “I take it none of them are around anymore?”

“Nope. They all went off the cliff. Not literally, of course.” The pot scraped against metal. Solhynin reached into a cupboard for dried fruit, only to put it back down. “Wait. That’s the last step, damn it.”

“What of those kids?”

“Hm?”

“You said village kids were harassing the electrics,” Gareda said while scratching the side of her neck. “Was my brother among them?”

“Not a chance in the Distortion. We beat that out of him long ago,” Morticia replied, her teeth visible. Aged as they were, their potency shined bright and true in the firelight. “He always admired me while hunting. Didn’t take much to scare him into something better.”

‘And I thought nothing would shake him,’ thought Gareda while she put her soup down. “Where is he now, by the way? He used to-”

“Traveling with his boyfriend,” Morticia deadpanned.

“Boyfriend?” ‘That joker?’ Gareda was taken aback. “Didn’t you ask all of us to produce grandkids?”

“Ages ago, yes. Times change though. Ridiculous of me to demand these things. They either happen or not. And not to mention, why should I care now?”

Gareda crossed her arms. “Just what do you mean?”

“Ever seen your sister with her six kids?” said Morticia as she pulled herself off the mat. There was a tall scar halfway across her tail. A war wound from years earlier, much like the one running from her belly and down her left leg. “More than enough for me, and she isn’t done yet, she says. Crazy girl. Then your other brother has another two. And he isn’t done yet either… the fool.”

“I see,” Gareda mused. ‘Surprise enough he found someone at all. Oh well. As long as he’s happy.’

The conversation dawdled on about Gareda’s siblings and the rest of the family for a while longer. Some families could write a novel in an afternoon with their ramblings about family, right down to their third cousins’ lives. Not the Steelhides. Neither side of the family cared for small talk, least of all the Garchomps. Morticia liked it straight to the point, like a good battle.

Alas for Gareda, it wouldn’t be long before her parents passed the gauntlet back to her.

“Enough of this blabbering. Why don’t you tell us what you’ve been up to?” said Morticia, before taking her tea bowl back into her claws. “Not a chance in the Distortion you’ve been pissing around for the past few years.”

Gareda breathed in deep, then blew the air out her nose like a steam engine on tilt.

‘Here goes nothing…’ “Oh, a few things have happened, but we’re doing just fine. Got about a third of Eravate to keep an eye on, and that’s been going well.”

“The Dragonspines too, correct?” asked her father. Gareda gave him a casual nod, her talon stroking the side of her leg.

“Only a part of the Dragonspines. In case you’re wondering why I haven’t visited for army related reasons, it’s because nothing ever happens here, and you know that.” She paused to clear her throat. All the while she was rocking back and forth, trying her best to ignore the grating noise of the straws buckling under her weight.

“Anyway, what was I saying… yes. Been keeping an eye on things, you know. Some thugs running amok here, some weird rebel organisations there, it’s no big deal. Most of ‘em don’t put up much of a fight.”

“How odd. You’d expect they would,” Morticia remarked.

“Yes, hah. Hah. Hah.” Gareda chuckled as if she was the one at the wrong end of a claw. “You can say that. Actually, you don’t know most of it. Half these groups would get shredded to pieces by the prey up in the Dragonspines. Fairies could take these panzies out.”

“Pfft. Can hardly believe that. I have those fairy sissies weeping under my feet within a minute.”

“Deny it all you want. It’s the truth,” Gareda deadpanned. ‘Arceus, aren’t you the queen of lying, Gareda. Patrina can shove it.’

A crash came from the kitchen. Solhynin had dropped a pan of water right onto the counter, the sound and the steam signifying the tea being ready. “Curious though, Gargar. We didn’t see any of these Soldier fools in town until recently. Did you send them here?”

Gareda flinched. “No. I know nothing about their presence.” ‘But I can guess.’

“Then who does?”

“Someone whose name I will find out soon enough.”

Morticia shook her head, spit flying out of her mouth and leaking onto a dusty carpet. “Come on now, honey, don’t be an idiot. Gareda knows full well we can handle ourselves. So some clumsy moron in the Crest has to be behind this ‘brilliant idea’.”

The father threw his claws in the air, his scales clanking against one another. “I’m just asking!”

“Oh yes. The usual.” The mother shook her head. “Whatever. Gareda, my girl, do find out who is behind their presence quickly. Me and your father will have a fun afternoon telling them all to stick their green scarves up their-”

“Yes yes! Don’t worry about it!” Gareda snarled, then panted. Her mother scowled back at her. A taste of her own medicine, except the medicine was a family recipe.

“And what was that for?”

Gareda’s sensors were on full tilt. ‘D-did I just yell at my own mother?’ “Sorry, just been stressed out recently-”

“Explain yourself.” Morticia closed the gap between herself and her daughter. “And be honest. You haven’t been entirely honest, and you know it.”

Solhynin drummed his claws on the table. “Don’t you think you’re going too far?” he asked, one claw rummaging through dried fruit.

“No such thing as too far, ever!” Morticia snapped back, then shook her head in regret. Her mate gave a tepid grunt in response, before she turned back to Gareda. “Seriously, Gareda. What is going on? You’re not telling the truth, and you’re shaking. You’re hiding something, I can tell.” She pointed at her sensors. “The blind can tell you aren’t being forthcoming.”

Gareda sighed as she leaned backwards, her teeth protruding from her mouth like she’d stuffed herself full of food moments earlier. “Okay. The truth is, I’ve been searching for a few Pokemon, and it’s been hard to find them.” ‘Hard to find a Pokemon when they’re not actually a Pokemon.’

“How come? You never struggled to locate prey.”

“They’re not out in the open. On top of that, I have to do this as civil as possible. Can’t make a mess when doing this, but Arceus almighty is that damn near impossible when I’ve got someone breathing down my neck.” Gareda shook her scales loose.

“Sounds like you’ve got pitiful bosses, then.” Morticia grinned, leaning against a wall with the point of a talon. “What a bunch of fools. If a dragon can’t get it done, no one will. ‘Queen’ Patrina, pfft. Some ruler she is.”

The corners of Gareda’s mouth ticked upwards. ‘Some ruler indeed.’

“Tell me, is the mouthbreather the same joker who sent the Soldiers our way?”

“Probably.”

“Didn’t even need to ask.”

“Excuse me,” Solhynin said. Neither Garchomp was bothered by his breaking in. “Got another question to ask you. ”How come there’s problems in the first place? You were never one to let anyone down, Gareda. Did something-”

“Of course not!” Gareda snapped, then elbowed her own side. “I mean, my part is going just fine, runaway Pokemon notwithstanding. If it wasn’t for all the fools I’m babysitting, none of this crap would’ve gotten out of hand.”

Solhynin looked at her with a worried gaze. “If you say so, Gargar. As long as you keep doing your best, nothing should go wrong, right?”

“Yes.” ‘Nothing at all…’

Morticia was chuckling to herself at the wall. Just like that, all was forgotten. “Pfft, come on now. You’re acting like it’s the Lone Eye she’s after.”

Coldness shot through Gareda’s sensors and down her body, as if her mother had gutted her like an enemy The precision that went into her strike couldn’t have been a coincidence. Did she know? Gareda pressed a talon into her leg once more. Of course she wouldn’t know, the Lone Eye was a long lost legend by now. One that very much roamed the lands still, but word of that hadn’t spread far… or had it?

“...Look, I’m just trying to make sense of things. I’m not hurting our daughter,” Solhynin said.

“Never said you were. Besides, you’d never hurt her.” The scowl Morticia gave her mate spoke for itself.

“Of course not.”

Solhynin poured the water onto some of the dried fruit, giving the water a warm reddish colour. “Tea’s as good as done. Want some?”

“Of course,” Morticia said, one eye fixated on her spot on the hangmat.

Tea was served, just as Gareda hastily worked the remainder of her soup down the hatch. Something about comfort foods made them so adept at suppressing stress. The tea did wonders as well. Gareda sighed after drinking half of what she was given. Even family visits were ripe with tension now.

Life had dealt her a bad hand these past few months, and the Togepi weren’t sharing luck with her anytime soon. First the Azure Flute piece is stolen from Luminity, then the Alliance starts snooping around Agate again. And if that wasn’t bad enough, a human appears, and the Alliance has got their dirty claws on him. That poor boy. Gareda almost had gotten him out, but she blundered.

One bad mistake, and now Queen Patrina was losing faith in her. There will be consequences, she said. Gareda gritted her teeth as that damned Queen’s voice echoed in her head, again and again, like the bells on a clocktower. Oh, the true consequences of the Alliance having that flute were terrifying. But Gareda knew what she really meant.

“Hey. One more thing.”

Just as her parents were finished with their tea, Gareda spoke. They seemed confused.

“What is it?” Morticia asked, now once again swinging on her mat. Solhynin asked the same while laying on a large cushion.

Gareda kept her teeth bared. “Take good care of this village, yes? We’ve built something… very wonderful here. It would be a shame if it went to waste.”

Solhynin and Morticia both laughed. “Gargar, my dear. Of course we’ll take care of this village like always. We have been elders for a good twenty years now. Why would we suddenly change our minds?” Solhynin said first, putting his claws under his chin. Even someone mortally terrified of dragons wouldn’t be intimidated by him anymore.

“I know, but still-”

“Come on now, Gareda,” Morticia growled out while leaning back her hangmat. “You know we’re not stupid. No one can best Fafnir’s Tooth. The other types know their place. The ferals will never not be a good hunt. We’ve gone through horrible times just fine. We sent Yveltal’s little death cult running for their mommies. We kept the Caves of Triumph under control. Nothing to worry about.”

Gareda sighed. “Understood.”

“You worry too much, Gareda. Really. Keep a clear head, yes?”

“Yes, mom.”

“Good.”

Gareda remained with her parents for dinner, her orders be damned. Over time they got her to reveal a better mood, and everything seemed to be back in order. Deep down though, Gareda’s emotional state remained the same, she just knew how to hide it well. Maybe her parents were right, and it was all an overreaction. They might be gaining in years, but no dragon was letting that stop them.

Still, Gareda had an obligation to make sure they were well. Little did her parents know just how much was riding on their daughter’s back, and what the penalty for her failure would be.

* * *

The red bricks were tinted orange when Gareda exited her parents house. The night was fast approaching, and her deadline for getting out of here was coming right along with it. She hoped to slip away without getting noticed by another green scarf, but alas.

“Hey, aren’t you lord Gareda? What are you doing here?”

The Garchomp stopped dead in her tracks. She glared over her shoulder. An Obstagoon with a tabard hanging off his neck was looking at her out of genuine curiosity. She scowled.

“Private business. None of your concern.”

“But I thought you were-”

Her eyes went wide, and she charged. It wasn’t long before her fin was pressed against the Obstagoon’s neck.

“I said none of your concern! Know your place, or else!”

“Y-yes ma’am!!”

With the Obstagoon’s legs shaking, Gareda let him go. She smelled his fear, and her sensors were revelling in it. With one final growl, she left him to whimper for himself.

‘He won’t snitch. Or so I hope… for his sake.’

Before anyone else would notice her here, she made her way to the cliff end of Fafnir’s Tooth. There, she leapt off the ledge, and flew off towards the approaching night.

‘No fear. Just focus.’