37 | THE SCARLET COURT

Being confined to the dungeon's cramped cells was the worst form of torture August had ever experienced. It was suffocating. The dark cavern reeked of filth and echoed every small noise there was. The flickering of torchlights cast creeping shadows on the walls which formed into monsters if she concentrated on them for too long. Still, she couldn't help but gaze at the fire. There was no other source of light, and it drove her mad. Without daylight, there was no sense of time.

Seconds, minutes, hours—they were all the same. Sometimes the monotony would break when someone began a conversation, but the dialogue never lasted. It hurt too much to speak. The rations of food and water the guards brought them weren't enough to satisfy anyone.

"It's just enough to keep them from keeling over," one of the more outspoken guards had said to his partner while on the job. "Her Highness wants them strong enough to talk in court, but not too strong that they try to cause problems." He'd sent August a glare. "Got that?"

She'd spat at his boots.

"Filthy wench."

His slip of the tongue confirmed the rumors she'd learned of when being transported to Scarlet. The queen wanted a hearing with them. August wondered why she was taking forever to summon them for her court. Was she, too, a lover of theatrics? Did she want to break August's company as much as she could only to deliver the final blow in the public's eye? The idea repulsed her, but she was certain her prediction was close to the truth.

As gifted a liar as she was, August couldn't fabricate a lie intricate enough to explain how her company had come across Shannon's group to rescue them. There'd be far too many coincidences involved which the court would see right through. Lying to the queen was a death sentence. One misstep would end in everyone's fatal ends.

Unless... she told the truth. If August took the blame for all she'd caused, the queen could take mercy on those around her and solely punish the pirate. At first, this plan had frozen August solid in fear. She didn't want to die. But she didn't want them to die, either. Her empty gaze had stared at the wall for hours, picturing the frail magicians on the other side. It was her fault they were in here. She could get them out. It'd cost her life, but she could do it.

Her head swam with nausea as her mind ran rampant. It was better they lived than her. She was useless now. The world didn't need brawn, it needed a brain. Lang and Cyryl provided that, not her. Caelum needed them to survive. Not her. The greatest thing she could do now was sacrifice herself to save her friends so they could fix the world which had always gone against her.

She looked to the flickering embers of the torches. No, that was a lie. Caelum had given her some good in this awful world. It'd led her to her childhood companion, Ves. Her mentor, Wes. Gracie, Omar, Cyryl, Lang. Her lips trembled. Gracie. She'd also promised herself to keep her Shaymin safe, no matter the cost.

I'm sorry, Gracie. She envisioned her Shaymin shaking with sobs and felt a spear lance her heart. I have to break one more promise.

She knew what she had to do.

⚔️

The Scarlet Court was held for the worst of crimes that pertained to the nobles of the country. Murder, treason, witchcraft. All of the felons found themselves in the halls of the castle's throne room. The great hall had high, arching ceilings supported by columns with engravings of the national Pokémon, Haxorus, on them. Windows were small and few, casting little light into the smoky room illuminated by candles. A thick, red carpet stretched across the marble flooring from the entrance all the way to the throne.

Poised atop the throne was the monarch of Rubrelum herself, Queen Zeya. Her scarlet eyes matched the jewels of the crown upon her head and the color of the nation's famed hue. She dressed in a white, luxurious gown with a violet cape embellished with golden trimmings. One of her hands rested on the throne's armrests, her fingers drumming against it impatiently. The other grasped a scepter as if it were a weapon. It was the queen's piercing stare which had stolen August's breath for the power she radiated was unlike any other. She was gorgeous, and she was terrifying.

The trio had entered the court in shackles, guided in a straight line with August in the front, Lang in the center, and Cyryl in the back. A hundred pairs of eyes glaring daggers bore into their beings. The audience was split into two stands on either side of the carpet, all nobles dressed their best in front of royalty. A select few were beside Queen Zeya; a Haxorus rested on her right, and Prince Dedan stood to her left with Shannon slightly behind him.

A raised stand was placed in front of the queen's throne. Soldiers positioned August's company beside it. As soon as they came to a halt, they were forced to kneel. Blood roared in August's ears as she watched her boots sink into the carpet. Sweat beaded on her temple and trickled down her cheek. This was real.

The candlelight cast a cryptic glow upon Queen Zeya's figure as she turned her head towards Prince Dedan and asked, "Are these faces familiar to you, my son?"

He nodded. "Yes, they are. There's one person missing, however. He was Rubre himself. A tall, dark man who was called Ragnar, I believe."

"His name was Omar," came from the sad voice behind August. She tensed as she recognized it was Cyryl who was speaking. "A-and he isn't with us anymore. He passed away."

"Do not speak unless spoken to," Queen Zeya warned, her words sharp. "You're fortunate enough as it is to have had Prince Dedan vouch for you and request a hearing before you were sent to the grave. Had he not been so insistent, I would have had your lives ended the moment my soldiers detected your ship off the harbor."

The Haxorus at her side rumbled zir throat. The bladed dragon's muscles flexed at the prospect of violence. A single strike from the powerful beast could end a man's life.

Queen Zeya continued, "You are summoned here today for a round of questionings. Those you held captive have already given their sides of the story, but now we must hear yours to continue our investigations." Her eyes narrowed. "Choose your words carefully when you speak; everything you say will be held against you to determine your punishments. Bring forth the first member."

Two guards grabbed either one of August's arms and forced her onto the stand. Everyone's attention turned on her. The prince and the queen. The public audience. Shannon. August's racing heart thumped wildly in her chest. She clenched her shaking fists, hiding them from view. It hurt to swallow for there was no moisture left in her dry mouth.

Steady, she thought, forcing herself to calm down. Steady. Be smart.

"Are you a mute?" the queen demanded, annoyed.

August exhaled a shaky breath and lifted her chin, forcing her nervous expression into nonexistence. She replied coolly, "No, I can speak."

"Wonderful." Queen Zeya folded her hands in her lap with the scepter beneath them. "State your name for the record-keeper and then explain yourself."

"My name is August Gold. I'm the youngest daughter o' Augustus and Sheila Gold."

Whispers erupted immediately, speaking of a child long thought to have been kidnapped and killed by bandits. Wide-eyed glances looked between the sisters. Neither of them reacted.

Going on, August said, "When I was 11, I got kidnapped by pirates in Clearcrest Town. They were called the Zoroark's Deceit; their captain was Briley Calico. She forced me to work with them or be killed. I didn't want to die, so I joined them.

"I spent ten years o' my life as a pirate. There was no escaping. I just did as I was told fo' ten years until now. In the spring, we raided a Vere science ship called the S.S. Last Hope. On raids, we split up to take over each cabin. I took the last one with the leader in it. Turned out the leader was Dr. Tuyen Le, a famous scientist. I didn't know it then when I talked to her."

August felt Lang's stare burning into her back. She'd never told the nurse the full truth, not even on Shaymin Island. August had kept up the lie that she'd never met Tuyen and only knew her through her lost luggage. Now Lang was to hear what really happened alongside everybody else.

"Dr. Le told me her team was trying to save the world. She said she had the key, an' she asked me to keep it safe. That key was a Pokémon an' a bag o' science stuff. I took it. I took it, an' I brought her to the deck to be offed. The whole crew was offed. After that, we took all their loot an' sunk the ship. That's where they went."

It'd been a mystery to the public where Tuyen's research group had disappeared to. August supposed she gave them closure. She tried to take comfort in thinking they'd appreciate knowing she was dead for sure instead of continuing to hope for her to appear again one day. It was that feeling which shielded her from the horrified, betrayed look Lang gave her.

"I thought I could sell Dr. Le's stuff an' make a fortune fo' myself, so I left the Zoroark's Deceit. I knew Calico would be after me, but I figured I could outrun her. The sky's a big place. But I needed a ship, an' I needed a crew. So I got myself one. Forcefully."

August could manage stretching the truth. Lies were easier to tell when based in shreds of reality.

"I got Omar 'cause o' his ship. I needed Cyryl to research the science stuff Dr. Le gave me. Zie figured out we needed a specialist fo' it, so we got Lang. They worked fo' me 'cause I made them. Blackmail kept them loyal.

"We sailed across Caelum to get answers about Dr. Le's stuff. It's wasn't long 'til I heard the Zoroark's Deceit caught a Rubre ship. Calico never went after navy ships, but she knew I had a sister who was a soldier. She found out Shannon was on that ship somehow, so she raided it. That was where Shannon, the prince, an' that other man got stolen."

August avoided making eye contact with Prince Dedan and Shannon. It was her fault they underwent the misery they did. Of course it was.

"The men said what port town Calico was last seen at, so I went there. I made my crew help me save Shannon an' her men. An' we did. We saved 'em from Calico an' sailed to drop them off. We did them no harm then; we just gave them medicine, food, an' water. After that, we got them to Clearcrest an' let them be."

August hadn't realized she was shaking until she heard the clinking of her cuffs. Her tough façade cracked, revealing the raw fear and desperation she'd kept hidden beneath.

"All I'm asking is fo' you not to punish those two. I'm the one who got Dr. Le killed. I'm the one who got the prince kidnapped. I'm the one who caused all this. Not them, just me. All the bad stuff's on me." Bracing herself, she met the queen's scathing glare. "So please think o' that. Please. That's all, that's all I've got to say."

The following silence was deafening. August felt as if she were being burnt alive by the blazing hatred expelling from those around her. If looks could kill, she would've have been murdered a thousand times over. She was what every noble hated: dishonorable. Disgraceful. A mark on society meant to be washed away and forgotten.

To her surprise, it was Prince Dedan who spoke next, inquiring, "This project you speak of, the one created by Dr. Le, what is it exactly?"

"Lang explains it best," she replied. She needed to escape this stand.

"Then bring forth the next culprit."

The same guards pulled August out of the stand, their holds made of steel as they dragged her back to the side with Cyryl. Lang refused to acknowledge her. There was a darkness in her eyes that wasn't there before, casting a grim shadow upon her tightened features. Guilt and shame knotted in August's throat. She had to confess that truth to show the court she was the one to blame. No, she should've told Lang this earlier. Dread made the pirate's body hollow.

At the stand, Lang gathered her strength and spoke loudly and clearly to the royals, "My name is Lang Thị Dao, and I'm the sole daughter of Trai and Bian Dao. I'm also a former student and younger cousin of the late Dr. Tuyen Le, related to her through marriage on my mother's side."

August stiffened. The nurse had never mentioned Tuyen was family.

"For those unfamiliar with Dr. Le's work, she was the Vere scientist who discovered trees prevent mudslides. Her research caused King Dingxiang's purchase of your country's pollinator Pokémon to strengthen our forests. Needless to say, she was a hero in our field and was given the funds to pursue whichever project she wanted. This led to her hoa energy studies.

"The hoa energy studies were kept secret. I was close to her, and I knew almost nothing about it until I read the books she'd left behind after her"—Lang slowly shook her head—"after her death."

August stepped backward, knocking into Cyryl. Zie sent her a worried, sidelong glance despite being unable to stop shivering zirself. No amount of sympathy lessened her disgust with herself.

"I'll try to make this as simple as possible, but this is a complicated topic. The hoa energy studies center around the theory that Caelum's three main isles have their ecosystems regulated by power sources hidden deep within each island. These power sources, as unbelievable as they seem, are flowers. Massive, gargantuan flowers as tall as capital buildings whose roots run all throughout the land to regulate all the isles' water bodies. They're called Core Gracideas to us and Life Flowers to those who care for them."

Skeptical murmurs rose from the audience, questioning the sanity of the nurse on the stand. Still, Lang continued on with full determination.

"Two of the three Core Gracideas in Caelum are on the verge of collapse—it's why Rubrelum and Verelum are facing so many natural disasters. Tranquelum, the single isle whose Core Gracidea is well, is not healthy simply due to good karma and fortune. Tranquelum's Core Gracidea is well off due to it receiving something that the others have long gone without: pollen. Specifically, Shaymin pollen.

"Contrary to popular belief, Shaymin are not extinct. During the poaching epidemic of the late Diamond Age, Shaymin chose to go into hiding rather than taking the risk of being captured. They sought refuge in a tiny isle off the coast of Tranquelum where no man could harm them and hid from us for over a hundred years. It was pure chance that our team happened to stumble upon it and speak to the flock itself. After a long conversation and exchange of favors, the Shaymin agreed to give humanity a second chance and begin to pollinate the Rubre and Vere Core Gracideas again.

"What we need to do to save Caelum is work together with the Shaymin so they can nurse the Core Gracideas back to health. Actually, I have a bill drafted which concerns all of this; it's called the Endangered Species Act. We were en route traveling to deliver a bill that would protect these Shaymin on their voyages when we were stopped in Blacksteppe. I beg of you only to assist our cause. Not for me or for my group, but for your people and all of Caelum."

Disbelieving chuckles and irritated whispers continued to fill the tense air. Queen Zeya matched the suspicious attitude of her people, her face pinched in dubiousness as she processed Lang's lecture.

"My son," the queen said, her tone unimpressed, "did your men ever mention finding strange plants such as mushrooms aboard their ship?"

Quiet chuckles escaped the audience. Annoyance churned within August; this was no laughing matter. Pinning their theories on drug-induced hallucinations stroked the flames of her ire. She detected the same irritation rolling off of her magician companions.

Prince Dedan returned, "No. The items closest to that would've been their empty bottles of liquor." He walked closer to the queen, causing her Haxorus to curl around her throne with zir scales arched in warning. "However, my men did find a study full of research books concerning the Core Gracideas and Shaymin. They also found this."

The crown prince reached into his cloak and brandished a bright, fuchsia flower with round petals and a pale center. It grew inside of a small container of soil that Cyryl had carved out of a small piece of wood with the aid of Omar. The sight of the legendary Gracidea took the audience's breath away.

He assured, "There's truth to the outlandish things they say."

Queen Zeya waved her hand. "This seems like an extravagant ploy. One flower and a shelf of books prove nothing. It's easy to scrawl a lie on paper and say it's the truth."

There was no hesitation in Prince Dedan's response as he countered, "When I was held captive on their ship, I saw a live Shaymin myself. Transformation Pokémon can't feign that." He then claimed in earnesty, "I believe their mission."

Prince Dedan wasn't the one who'd glimpsed Gracie. It was impossible for him to have seen her when confined to the dining hall. Only one of the soldiers were allowed to travel beyond that room and that was to speak to August. Gold locked with gold, sharing the same knowing glint. This was Shannon's doing.

"I can prove the Shaymin's existence," Lang added in, leaping at the opportunity. "If you'd plant the Gracideas from the ship in front of the castle, you'd attract the Shaymin flock currently visiting the isle. It'd take no more than a week."

There was no guarantee in that, August thought. It was all speculation. Lang had no surefire way of summoning the Shaymin to their aid.

"Fine," Queen Zeya agreed with a roll of her eyes. "I'll humor you on behalf of my son's wishes. If there are any traces of malicious intent with this waiting game, though, you will be made to regret it."

"I promise this is innocent." Lang bowed her head. "Thank you."

"Bring forth the last member."

August wanted nothing more than to protect Cyryl as the quivering teen was forced onto the stand. Zir cuffs rattled loudly in the hall, echoing off of the marble architecture. Zie clutched onto the chain and refused to look up from it. Zir entire body trembled.

"M-my name is Cyryl," zie stammered. "I'm 16-years-old. Oh, m-my apologies. I meant I was 15, not 16. My birthday's yet to pass this year, truth be, truth be told. U-um, you see, I was taken into the group for my, um, my background knowledge. I have a decent amount of intelligence, knowledge, that sort of thing over, um, the world's history. T-Tranquelum's, Verelum's, Rubrelum's." Zie forced a shallow laugh, beginning to sway on zir feet as if zie were going to fall over. "That's my specialty." Zie abruptly hunched over and vomited over the side of the stand.

Shit, August thought as she watched on in pity. She loathed this court for forcing the teen into this plight.

"Clearly this child is in no state of mind to speak before the court," Queen Zeya interjected, more annoyed than sympathetic to the teen. "We'll end the hearings here. I have much to discuss with Prince Dedan and Miss Dao. This court is adjourned."

⚔️

Hours later, August heard the groan of the dungeon door opening—Lang was back from her conference. Loud footsteps echoed throughout the rocky hold. The grating screech of an iron bar door sliding open physically attacked her ears. She glared at the guards' shadows on the wall. They left the area with bothered grunts, slamming the exit shut. Dead silence resumed, but this time a heavy tension came with it. It crawled through the dungeon and wrapped itself around everyone, suffocating them in its heavy presence.

Quietly, Lang said, "Queen Zeya has granted us one week to wait for the Shaymin to appear. If what we say is true, then we'll be freed. If the Shaymin don't show up, however, we'll receive... unfavorable sentences."

"She'll pardon August?" Cyryl asked, sounding the surprise jolting through August.

"Incorrect," she disproved at once, her disposition wintry cold. "Her Highness will grant you and me freedom, not her." She spat the word like a curse. "She'll be paying for her crimes no matter what the outcome is. This situation simply delays it."

"That's not fair. August—"

"You know what's unfair, Cyryl? Learning that your mentor who was seeking a remedy to save the world was murdered by the hands of greedy pirates. It's even more unfair to learn that one of those criminals who took her life away was someone you thought you trusted."

The hurt in Lang's barbed words speared August through her chest. She was glad for the walls between them for seeing the expression on the magician's face might've ended her.

"I'm sorry," August said, squeezing her eyes shut. Her mind replayed the images of her sending Tuyen off to her death. "I didn't want to hurt you."

Lang's volume raised as she retorted, "Do you really have the audacity to say that to me? You didn't care about my feelings, you cared about keeping me ignorant so I could solve your Gracidea mystery for you."

August curled her hands into fists. "That ain't true!"

"It is true, and you know it!"

Cyryl hurriedly cut in, "H-hey, let's calm down."

Lang fell deaf to zir warning as she seethed, "I've known you for a short time, August, but over and over again you've proven yourself to be a self-centered brute! All you care about is yourself and that's why people get hurt. It's why Tuyen was murdered—"

August's frustration waned.

"—it's why Cyryl is missing an eye—"

Guilt swallowed her whole.

"—and it's why Omar was blown up on that damn ship trying to save your life from a person you could've easily gone the rest of your life ignoring!"

August lost her breath, the accusation striking her like a blow to the gut. Lang was right. August didn't doubt it for a second. Deep inside, she'd come to this conclusion, but it was different hearing it from someone else aloud.

"Lang, that's unnecessary!" Cyryl exclaimed, horrified by the nurse's outcry. "You can't, you can't say things like that!"

She sharply retaliated, "And what would you have me do instead? Stay quiet until we're summoned before a court to explain it to everyone? Concealing the truth is the same as lying."

"But we're a team," zie protested. "We can't let ourselves be divided in a time such as this. We need to stick together; it's what Omar would've wanted."

"Omar placed too much faith in this 'team,'" Lang replied, her voice cracking. "Look what it cost him."

August said nothing, resting in her corner of shadows with a blank look in her eyes. The last of her willpower slipped from her being as she agreed with everything Lang said. This was what she deserved. A dreadful end for someone who'd done only dreadful things. Karma had finally come for her to right the wrongs she'd left behind. And she... she accepted it.