"why not just say gloomy"

Three more screws fall, and Gladion thinks that it must be the work of some cheap Silph Co. Multitool. To think, Aether Paradise is a top-of-the-line starship meant to sustain life in even the midst of a supernova, and yet it can be dismantled with one of the oldest tools in the galaxy. With all four screws off, it’s clear that the grate is stuck, and it’s a wonder Lusamine can’t hear the heaving effort whoever is up in the vent is putting into slamming it open. Come to think of it, he should be more worried about this, shouldn’t he? “–not even listening.” His mother’s sneer is in view, and Gladion blinks, too used to her vitriol to flinch as she nearly screams, “When are you ever going to grow up and realize that the universe is not going to drop someone in to save you?” Someone drops from the vent.

Moon’s newest job sounds simple. Escort a human and a rare pokemon to the Altar of the Sunne, protecting them from hunters and assassins.

So why is she beginning to feel like she has absolutely no idea what’s going on?

— Day 1: King’s Shield - Bodyguard/Assassin/Target —

As far as job requests went, this was definitely one of the most dangerous ones Moon had ever taken.

Normally, she was assigned to deal with wild pokemon, or handle deliveries. Occasionally, she was sent on rescue missions. Once in a while, she had to threaten and subdue bandits and robbers.

This time, however, Moon was beginning to wonder if she should ask for extra danger money. Within a single day, she had already fought three battles with armed hunters intent on capturing her client.

This was the fourth.

Manu, her decidueye, crashed to the ground as the lurantis struck him with another charged leaf blade. To the left, the castform tried to spew fire at him. Goldie grabbed it by the head and smashed it into a tree. The castform screeched, then fell still.

Now it was just the lurantis, Goldie, and Star.

“Goldie, stop it moving! Star, get ready!”

Obediently, her kommo-o sprang towards the lurantis. Behind him, her toxapex raised her front two arms threateningly.

“Leaf blade! Leaf blade!” shrieked the other trainer. She tried to rush towards her fainted castform, fumbling with her bag. In a flash, Moon blocked her path.

“I’m not letting you heal it,” she said, pointing a razor-sharp dagger at her face. “Drop the bag.”

As expected, the dark-haired woman had no combat skills herself, and could only glare helplessly as she obeyed. Moon lifted the bag with one hand, keeping the dagger trained on her target.

She smirked. There were a variety of healing potions, but no antidotes or full heals.

Amateur.

Read more on AO3

.:Side by Side:.

Being Alive Sucks

18. Lingering Shadows

Against the warning bells ringing in her head, Moon forced herself to stay relaxed, to keep her shoulders from stiffening. She moved slowly, fighting the instinct to whip around instantly and pinpoint the danger. Letting them know that she had been caught unawares would only reveal her weakness. When she could finally glance behind her, she saw a single woman—no, a single vampire—standing five feet away.

Golden eyes. Long hair dyed pink and yellow.

“Plumeria?” Moon whispered.

The vampire raised one hand in a lazy salute. “Long time no see. It’s been… what, about a hundred years? Give or take?”

Full fic on AO3

— Thanks to Artpharos for editing.