Spice of Life: Chapter 5: The Dark Woods
 
“Zigzagoon? ...Zigzagoon?” Spice called out, cupping one paw over his mouth as he wandered down the forest path. He breathed out a sigh and adjusted his scarf, “I should have learned his name, really.” he muttered to himself as he continued along towards the next clearing.
 
Of course, it wasn't the clearing he was looking for. None of them had been, or if they had, he hadn't noticed. The forest was a maze of black and brown trees, dirty paths and pokemon noises from places shrouded in greenery. He tucked his tails between his legs with a whimper. How long had he been walking? What if it got dark before he found his way back to Cyn?
 
Though given how she treated him, did he even -want- to find his way back? His ears folded back as he recalled her rejection... a simple 'no' would have sufficed, really. The Ninetales rolled his eyes as he wandered over to the lake in the clearing, taking a little sip of the water.
 
-thunk-. He felt something firm under his paw. He lifted it up cautiously, expecting another trap, but instead he found himself greeted with a metal disc. He picked it up slowly, wiping away some of the dirt from it, then turned it over to see the white label on the front:
 
'TM90: Substitute'
 
“Oh, I've always wanted to learn this one!” He chimed, his eyes lighting up as he stuffed his new treasure into his adventuring bag. As he looked around he began to notice more items laying about the clearing... berries, coins, seeds! He bounced about with an excited yip, gathering anything and everything he could, dumping the contents of the clearing into his bag.
 
“HEY!” a shout came from across the clearing, so loud it left the Ninetales yiping in surprise.
 
Spice's ears shot up as he turned, seeing the Zigzagoon storming towards him. The Ninetales glanced down at the berries cradled in his arms and dropped them instantly, raising his paws. “I-I wasn't-” he stammered.
 
“You've got to share with everyone when you find stuff, don't you know anything about being an adventurer?” the Zigzagoon grinned, holding up his camera to take a picture of the incriminating scene, “But hey, you found me!”
 
“I-I did, yes. And in one piece too,” The fox chuckled in response, slowly gathering his dropped items and putting them back into his bag, closing the flap as it bulged out... though not as much as he'd have thought it would, given the size of his haul. He turned back to the Zigzagoon, “Well, now that we're together, shall we find the others?”
 
“No way, I want to get a picture of the statue before I do anything else. It's right at the center of the forest,” The raccoon replied, his brown eyes glistening dreamily, “They say that when the sun shines on it just right, it reveals the secret of Dark Woods!”
 
“A secret, you say?” The Ninetales perked his ears, his curiousity piqued by the rumour. Cyn wouldn't want him to pass up such a promising lead, it might have been something that would impress Marswick enough that it would undo all the damage he had done before, “Well, you're the client and it's important you're content with our service~”
 
“Great, let's go!” The Zigzagoon grinned, turning and bolting off in a blur. The Ninetales widened his eyes at his new companion's speed, though he quickly raced after him, breathlessly trying to keep up.
 
“Wait!” he called out, “W-we're missing all the treasures!” he added after a few breaths. He could feel them slipping by, and every time they entered a clearing there were at least four items scattered about... some of them were scarves! He HAD to go back for those- ...but he didn't want to disappoint Cyn.
 
“We'll get them later, come on!” The Zigzagoon called back excitedly, turning another corner and disappearing into the shadows of forest. The Ninetales hesistated before shyly placing one paw into the darkness, then allowing himself to step in after the client. The statue couldn't be too far, could it?
 
* * *
 
The Lucario couldn't help but watch the Liepard's gut as it swayed back and forth, the muffled yells coming from inside of it told him that the Farfetch'd was still alive, though it also told him he wasn't too happy about his predicament. The two of them had walked for quite a while now and they still hadn't come across either the Ninetales or Zigzagoon. He began to wonder whether they would at all.
 
“Cat got your tongue, Auric?” Cyn asked, looking over her shoulder at the Lucario as they walked, “Or are you just checking up on Marswick? You'd get a better idea of his situation from a belly rub, you know.”
 
“Why did you eat him anyway? It's so... wild.” Auric replied, cringing at the thought as he adjusted his iron pauldrons, “Devouring another pokemon is to become a feral, living only to eat or be eaten... I'd like to think we've evolved beyond that.”
 
“Oh yes, let's all just eat berries and sing songs about how friendly we are,” Cyn snickered at the thought, her belly jiggling as the Farfetch'd inside her began to jostle around again. She gagged, “I wish he'd stop moving so much though, I think he's actually making progress.”
 
“Which way?” The Lucario asked, raising an eyebrow at the cat as his eyes trailed back to her stomach. Cyn didn't respond, but as she choked and spat out a few brown feathers, he got the picture, “Your's wouldn't be the first stomach Marswick has escaped, you know.”
 
“Doesn't make me any more likely to spit him back up,” Cyn replied uncaringly, her tail curling and twisting in the air as she poked her head into the clearing, “If I let him go right now, he teleports back to the guild and I lose -everything-. I'd be lucky if I weren't hunted down as a criminal.”
 
“Well, technically you are one. You devoured a guild inspector and demanded he give you supplies in return for his safety,” Auric crossed his arms, “Honestly, I don't know why I'm not holding you by your tail and shaking him out of you right now.”
 
“Probably because you know you might end up just like him,” The Liepard replied, pushing her luck as she licked her lips, sizing up the Lucario as she stepped into the clearing, “It might be a tight squeeze, but I'm sure I could take you down... probably wouldn't be able to walk afterwards though.”
 
“Let's hope it doesn't come to that, shall we?” Auric replied, seemingly unmoved by the threats as he lowered himself to the forest floor. He closed his eyes, his ears perking and swivelling as a dull blue light emerged from his hand, scanning the floor it hovered inches above. “...The warp trap came out here.”
 
“Which one? Spice or the client?” Cyn asked, making her way over to his side as she watched him work curiously. His aura had lit something up on the ground, like a blue burn that hung in the air. It had scorched reality itself... leaving behind it a tear that could only be seen when it was lit up by the Lucario's aura.
 
“Both of them,” The Lucario replied, opening his eyes as he stood back up again. He dusted himself off briefly before looking around, “Somehow the warp trap brought them both to the same spot. The chances of that happening are usually one in five hundred, at least.”
 
“So, what? The trap was defective?” Cyn replied increduously, “I suppose it's not like there's a pokemon going about making sure they're still all working.”
 
“There may just be,” The Lucario said, his eyes narrowing as he turned to lead the way, “Come on, the tracks lead further into the forest. I think if we hurry we could catch up to them.”
 
“I'm not taking orders from you yet, Auric.” The Liepard noted, jogging to get infront of the jackal to ensure she was the one leading. She winced as her tail curled around, holding her stomach, “Nngh... Got a stitch.”
 
“You're not supposed to run after eating.” Auric reminded her bluntly.
 
“Shut up.” Cyn muttered in response, her ears folding back as she allowed herself to slow down, her stomach grumbling impatiently around the bird. She doubted he had a lot of time left, her tail reached towards her bag to get the Reviver seed for him...
 
THWACK! She winced as her stomach bulged out from the leek striking the inside of it. She let out a low growl and brought her knee up into her gut, hearing the muffled squawk from inside as her hit landed on Marswick. She purred to herself, her tail swaying back and forth... maybe she'd save that Reviver seed for later after all.
 
* * *
 
“How much further is it? My paws are getting tired!” Spice whined as they walked. The Zigzagoon seemed as full of energy as he had been the whole trip, even as the fox stumbled and panted.
 
“It's only a little further,” The Zigzagoon grinned. The darkness of the forest path faded as they reached yet another clearing, though before they went in the Zigzagoon pushed the Ninetales back with his tail.
 
“H-hey, what did you do that for?” Spice whined lightly. The Zigzagoon moved a paw to his lips, then pointed to the grass ahead. The Ninetales perked his ears and looked over the clearing, seeing the many sleeping Rattata laying around on the grass. His stomach growled loudly, and his tails swished, “You wouldn't mind if I...” he began.
 
“Of course not. We're in the wild, after all.” The zigzagoon grinned, holding up his camera and flicking a switch on it, turning off the flash before winking at the Ninetales, “Whenever you're ready, preddy.”
 
The Ninetales grinned as he lowered himself to the forest floor, sneaking carefully across the grass in an attempt not to wake any of his prey. He reached the nearest of the small pokemon and looked down at it, his tongue slipping out of his muzzle and running along his lips. He wasted no time in opening his mouth and bringing it down over the Rattata. The zigzagoon watched from the bushes as the Ninetales tilted his head back, sending the bulge down his throat and into his slim stomach.
 
He murred to himself, but he wasn't satisified just yet. He snuck along to the next while his tails reached out, binding four others and waking them. The remaining Rattata squeaked and fled as he devoured the one before him, his tails holding the others tightly to keep them from escaping. Once he was done with the one in his mouth he began to have each of the tails feed him in turn, his stomach growing larger and squirmier with each of the little pokemon he ate.
 
The Zigzagoon made his way out of the undergrowth and approached the Ninetales as he played with the last one, running his tongue over it's front and between it's legs as he held it in his maw. It's little legs kicked about in an attempt to get free and it's tail flailed, but nothing could prevent it's fate. The Ninetales tilted his head back, taking two hard gulps to send it to join the others he had caught. He rolled onto his back, murring as he rubbed his bloated gut with both forepaws, “O-oh, I've never been so full~”
 
“You could be fuller,” The Zigzagoon noted with a grin. His furry paws dug through the Ninetales bag and began to take out the berries, shoving one after the next into the fox's maw, “Here, eat these too!”
 
“Mmmph~ Rrph~” The Ninetales agreed, gulping down the berries as the raccoon stuffed them into his mouth. He hadn't been fed in a while, but he wasn't about to complain about the pokemon's hospitality. His stomach bloated out and he rolled onto his side, letting out a loud, berry-scented belch into the Zigzagoon's face, “P-pardon me.”
 
“Not at all, I've never seen a pokemon eat so much,” The Zigzagoon laughed, snapping a picture of the overfed Ninetales, “I got some great pictures while you were hunting too, they're even better than seeing the statue!” he grinned before pouting, “But you're out of berries... is there anything else I can get you?”
 
“O-oh, if you wouldn't mind looking, I could go for something with a little more flavour~” Spice grinned in delight at his little waiter, his tails running over his stomach, “Perhaps a fire-type... are there any Flareons in this forest?”
 
“Oh hey, that's a good idea!” The Zigzagoon grinned, though he decided to check the Ninetales' bag once more for stray berries. He perked his ears curiously and pulled out the disk the Ninetales had found before, “Ah, is this a TM? Are you going to learn it?”
 
“Ah, I should, shouldn't I?” The Ninetales chimed as he took it into his paws. He pushed the top and listened as it hummed to life. His tails began to wag excitedly as he stared into it, “I've always thought things would be better if there were two of me. Shall we find out?”
 
“Sure, but what're you going to forget?” The Zigzagoon asked, tilting his head curiously, “Isn't that how they work? You learn something new but forget how to do something else?”
 
The Ninetales folded his ears back as he considered this. It was always difficult parting with a move, but this was for Substitute! He'd never be without another pokemon again! He needed Flamethrower to heat up any baths he planned to have, and of course Hypnosis was always useful... he paused, that left two... he narrowed his eyes and nodded in confirmation as he stared into the disc, his eyes flashing as the new move moved into him, the disc became a dull black.
 
“Oh hey, you learned it!” The Zigzagoon chimed, clapping his paws together, “What did you choose to forget?”
 “It was a tough decision, but without Round I can't perform my singing routine,” The Ninetales replied with a gentle sigh, “I had to forget Overheat, from now on I'll have to find another way to dry myself.”
 
“Bummer... well, for you.” The Zigzagoon replied. The Ninetales glanced over at him briefly, noticing the change in his tone... his eyes had turned from brown to blue, and he was slowly growing. The Ninetales rolled about in an attempt to get to his feet as the Zigzagoon burst into a cloud of smoke... when it cleared, a Zoroark stood there grinning down at him.
 
“Y-you're-” The Ninetales stammered, continuing to try to get to his feet. Every time he moved one paw to the ground, his heavy stomach pressed against the grass and prevented him from getting up, “W-what-”
 
“Yeah... I ate that guy a while ago. Honestly, I'm surprised no one ever though to come looking. I got a camera though, so I figured I'd look the part.” The Zoroark replied, running his tongue along his lips as he picked up the Ninetales with ease by his scruff. He tugged on the scarf teasingly and licked his lips, “So, turns out I'm in the mood for a fire-type too~”
 
“D-don't eat me! I'm warning you, I'll use-!” The Ninetales closed his eyes tightly, only for his fur to flash uselessly. He blinked, looking down at his glistening paws before looking up at the Zoroark, who shrugged with a chuckle.
 
“Sorry, I couldn't find a Substitute TM,” The Zoroark replied, peeling back the sticker on the TM to reveal the move that was really locked inside it, “Protect is useful too though. Maybe it'll 'protect' you from my stomach acids long enough for you to digest your own prey before I digest you.” He grinned, licking along his grey lips.
 
Before the Ninetales could argue, the Zoroark's mouth opened wide before him, revealing his glistening throat and drooling tongue. It slurped over the fox's face playfully before the hand holding him shoved his head into the mouth. The Ninetales began to yipe and scramble in an attempt to get away, but his predator held him close as he took his first gulp, bringing his head into his throat.
 
The Zoroark's claws drifted along Spice's stomach before snatching the bag off of him and dropping it to the floor, quickly followed by the scarf around his neck. He took another loud gulp to bring the Ninetales' slim chest into his maw before finally reaching the large stomach, which continued to wriggle with the prey inside. He moved his hands to the Ninetales' rear, pushing against both cheeks at once to bring his prey deeper, his throat bulging out with the Ninetales' midsection as it yipped and yelled inside him. Soon all that remained were those nine fluffy tails and two paws, which continued to kick as though the fire-type had even the slightest chance of escape.
 
“HEY!”
 
The Zoroark growled as he turned, the Ninetales tails still hanging from his mouth. Of course the Liepard would have found them, and she looked pretty pissed too. He grinned around the tails, slurping them up teasingly slowly before tilting his head back to take his final gulp, his once slim stomach now revealing the defined bulge of the fire-type within it.
 
The Liepard growled, her tail lashing behind her as she dashed towards the Zoroark. He closed his eyes, beginning the last gulp of his meal. He could feel the Ninetales' tailtips as they trailed down his throat. There was no way that the cat would reach him in time. It was a shame he had fattened up the Ninetales, she could have made the perfect dessert~
 
His eyes shot open as he felt the sudden slam to the back of his chest, leaving him staggering forward and gagging as the tails choked him. He looked down to see the Lucario's paws around his midsection. They pulled in forcefully, pushing the Ninetales back up the way he had come. Spice landed on his back, taking in a deep breath of fresh air as Auric restrained his predator, who growled and struggled against him.
 
“Auric, knock him out!” Cyn snapped before running to Spice's side, rolling him over onto his back as she looked down at him, her eyes drifting to his gut, “Yikes, you got fat.”
 
“Oh please, it's nothing I can't work off in a jog,” The Ninetales replied groggily, holding his head as he gathered his bearings. He glanced up at the Zoroark and gasped, quickly backing off and hugging his tails, “Ah! Crazy wild pokemon!”
 
“Hey, I wasn't done eating!” The Zoroark growled, only to feel a fist connect with the back of his head. The dark-type fell to the forest floor, slumped over as the camera landed next to him. The Lucario let him go before turning his attention to Cyn.
 
“Okay, now you.” Auric said, making his way over to the cat. Cyn backed off quickly, though as she felt her stomach beginning to squirm she knew that Marswick didn't have much time left. To avoid the Zoroark's fate she lowered herself to the floor, gagging a few times before finally coughing up the bird.
 
The Farfetch'd took a moment to take in a few gasps and shiver, covering up himself with the loose feathers that had come out with him. He then glared back at the Liepard, taking out his leek and bringing it back to whack her nose, “Just who do you think you are?!”
 
“I think they're the ones who just caught The Shadow, sir.” Auric spoke up, lifting up the unconscious Zoroark's long hair and revealing the black band that tied it back, “Master of disguise. We've been tracking him for months... I never thought we'd actually capture him, much less alive.”
 
“-They- caught The Shadow?” Marswick gasped, lowering his leek.
 
“They did,” Auric replied, giving a gentle nod over to Cyn as he smiled lightly, “It was Cyn's idea... she knew there was something fishy about that Zigzagoon from the moment she approached. Why else did you think she wanted to escort him alone? I'm sure he'd be the toast of the wild if he had managed to eat a high-ranking guild member like you.”
 
“You could have just told me rather than keeping it a secret.” Marswick snapped, shooting a glare back to his previous predator. Cyn glanced up at the Lucario, then over at Spice, then finally to the fallen Zoroark. It was a lot to take in, and she hadn't expected Auric to allow her to take the credit... still, she couldn't let the chance slip by.
 
“I'm a dark-type, sir. Secrets are what we do best,” The cat replied with a purr before turning her attention to the Zoroark, “So, what happens to Shadow? If no one else wants him, I'll bring him back for Typh.”
 
“Absolutely not! He is a criminal, and will be tried by the guild as such.” Marswick announced, turning to leave the forest as he held his leek high. “Come along, Auric! We must bring him back to the guild before he wakes up.”
 
“Ah, yes sir.” Auric replied with a nod. He glanced to the two pokemon briefly before grinning, swinging the Zoroark over his shoulder in a fireman's lift, “Until next time, friends.”
 
“Thanks.” Cyn replied. The two pokemon raised their guild badges in unison and disappeared in a beam of light, taking the Zoroark with them. She shook her head, breathing out a sigh of relief, “That was a close one. Hope you're up to writing a report, because I'm not.”
 
“I think right now I've earned the right to a bath,” The Ninetales replied with a whine. His stomach had finally settled enough that he could stand up again, though it was still difficult to walk as it sloshed back and forth beneath him. He looked around briefly with a sigh as he adjusted his scarf and picked up his adventuring bag, “And we never did find out where that statue was, apparently it reveals a secret at a certain time of day... It was probably going to be more loot.”
 
“Well, seeing as you've taken most of the loot anyway...” Cyn began. She made her way over to the camera the Zoroark had dropped and offered it over to the Ninetales, “We're going to need to get some pictures to advertise the Den anyway~”
 
“Y-you mean...” Spice's eyes sparkled with delight, “A photoshoot? For me?”
 
“After you've got all that Zoroark drool out of your fur,” Cyn replied with a snicker. The Ninetales blushed and fluffed his tails in an attempt to make them more presentable as the cat reached through her own bag, finally taking out her guild badge, “Ready to go?”
 
“Yes, let's get out of here before -another- wild pokemon shows up,” Spice replied with a shudder. Cyn rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself as her badge lit up around the two, the beam of light became brighter and brighter before finally exploding into a shower of sparks, sending the two pokemon home.
 
The sun began to set over the grove, lighting up the statue of Cresselia from behind. The sun shone through the crystal ball balanced on the tip of its head, creating a glowing spot in the center of the clearing...
...a small sprout popped up from the glowing patch of dirt, and Reviver seeds began to fall from it's tiny branches.