Can I perhaps request a short fic about the Ravens and the Golden Garden/Targent for PL4 Day (I love those crazy kids)? I had this somewhat odd idea that Swift just adopts any kid with a bird name because he's quite literally a mama bird in my eyes...(Crow, pack your bags, lmao).
((Thank you for the request! I’m sorry this is a day late and it’s kind of open-ended but it was already longer than intended and I needed to finish it.))
Title: The Raven and the Swift
Description: The Black Ravens aren’t giving up the Golden Garden without a fight. Swift is sent to infiltrate Misthallery.
Set: After PL4, but before Miracle Mask and Azran Legacy
Spoilers: For PL4
Warnings: Referenced character/animal death, Swift carries a knife
Swift— dressed in white trainers, khaki cargo shorts, and a red floral shirt— made his way up to the Golden Garden.
While his ‘tourist’ disguise was intended to portray a casual demeanour, he admittedly (and ironically) would have felt more at ease in his Targent uniform. His face felt particularly exposed without his scarf and his sunglasses, but his dark brown contact lenses would have to do for now.
His targets were all too familiar with Targent’s appearance in Misthallery.
Swift was here under strict, classified orders from Commander Bronev. The mission he had been given required the upmost stealth and sagacity.
If Swift was recognised, he would be denied access to the Golden Garden, and the Azran site would remain out of Targent’s control.
Thus far, Targent’s best efforts to secure the garden had been impeded by a gang of ruffians wearing white bird masks and ragged black robes.
Despite Swift’s suggestions to deploy the assassins, Bronev had insisted that it was to be a bloodless, clandestine infiltration.
They didn’t want to alarm the local residents or the authorities… unlike Jean Descole, with his ridiculous attempt to demolish Misthallery over a year ago.
Had this ‘Black Raven gang’ been hired by Descole? The Ravens’ costumes certainly resembled Descole’s, with their white masks and billowing dark attire…
Not to mention, the Ravens had Descole’s ‘Spectre Robot’— with which, they had managed to drive Targent out of Misthallery so far…
Bronev was right; Targent couldn’t just invade the garden, guns blazing. Then their agency would look no better than Descole or his underlings.
Someone needed to take the garden right from under the Ravens’ noses. Someone like Swift.
Swift frowned as he joined the queue of visitors waiting to enter the Golden Garden. They were all being corralled like cattle along a canal, which had been emptied of water along with the reservoir.
Apparently, the giant lake-dweller that had once inhabited Misthallery had destroyed the flood gates and uncovered the entrance to the Golden Garden.
The creature had given her life, and (as rumour had it) allowed a sickly young girl to recover with the garden’s pure air.
Why should the residents of Misthallery alone be able to capitalise off the Golden Garden? The gifts of the Azran should be shared with the world!
The majority of these people, like Jean Descole, would have no respect for the Azran’s legacy; just lookat how they had treated the aquatic creature— the last of an ancient species. (They were known as “Lagushi”, in the ancient Azran language.)
If Targent had arrived in town before Descole, they would have temporality captured the creature, ensured her safety while they studied her, before releasing her back into the Golden Garden.
Swift would have made sure of it—
“Get your very own Loosha, right here!”
Swift raised an eyebrow at the salesperson hollering from a wooden stall on the bank of the canal. The person, along with their two colleagues, were all sporting Black Raven costumes.
The Ravens were gesturing to the blue ‘Loosha’ toys and other mechanise out on display. It seemed they were profiting off Loosha’s sacrifice. (How tactless…)
One red-haired woman purchased a T-shirt from the stall. She ran past Swift, whooping.
Reluctantly, Swift left the queue to approach the Ravens’ stall.
“Greetings, curious traveller!” called the Raven who had been hollering earlier. (They actually sounded quite young, now that Swift considered it.) “May I interest you in a Loosha friend?”
Swift hummed, perusing the wares with a sceptical eye. “Is that really what ‘Loosha’ looked like?”
The speaker replied, “‘Course it is—“
“We saw her up close,” a slightly taller Raven bragged.
“Did you now?” Swift drawled.
“Yes! We helped her open the flood gate—“
“That’s enough,” a third Raven hissed. They shuffled to the front of the stall to stare at Swift. “If you’re not gonna buy anything, then buzz off!”
“I will buy… this,” Swift said, pointing to a glittering grey-blue stone supposedly from the Golden Garden. He removed a £50 note from his wallet. “And I’m after some information, please.”
He placed the money on the stall counter. The Ravens snatched it up, resembling the scavenger birds they were named after.
“How can we help you, Sir?” the third Raven chimed, all traces of rudeness vanishing from their voice. Their associates observed Swift curiously.
Swift put the stone in his pocket, carefully pondering his next words. He gestured to the Ravens’ robes.
“What was the inspiration behind your… Black Raven apparel?”
The Ravens hadn’t expected that. The trio glanced at each other— engrossed in some silent discussion Swift had no part in. After a moment, the third Raven (the apparent leader) nodded.
The leader asked Swift, in a conspiratorial tone, “Have you heard about the Bird of Illusion?”
“Perhaps…” Swift hummed. He had read about that particular Azran legend, but how much could he reveal without raising the Ravens’ suspicions? “Is it linked to the Golden Garden, by any chance?”
“Indeed! The bird was said to lead people into the garden— but only those rare few who proved themselves worthy!”
“Worthy?” Swift snorted. Anyone could enter the Golden Garden these days…
Looking back at the visitors’ queue, Swift was annoyed— albeit, unsurprised— to see his space had been taken. At this rate, the garden would be closed before Swift could get inside!
He huffed. Behind him, Swift heard muttering from the Ravens.
Then, the lead Raven said, “Lost your place in the line?”
“Obviously…” Swift rolled his eyes back to them.
The leader whispered, “What if we could offer you a private tour of the garden?”
“Really?” Swift’s eyes narrowed. Was this a scam? Or an attempt to catch Swift off guard?”
“Really, really!” the leader breathed. “For £100–“
“I already gave you fifty,” Swift grumbled.
“Seventy, then! That’s my final offer,” the leader bargained. They offered Swift their long flowing sleeve.
Swift shook it.
“Meet here at midnight,” the leader muttered.
-
Swift knew he could very well be waltzing into a trap.
The Black Raven may have been inspired by the Bird of Illusion… but Jean Descole was familiar with Azran myths too. It would be in keeping with Descole to make an imitation of such a myth— like he had done with the spectre.
Consequently, Swift wasn’t going in unarmed.
The mist might not have been as bad as it was during the ‘spectre’ attacks, but it was still thick enough to cut with the small knife Swift carried in his shorts’ pocket. Really, he hoped he wouldn’t have to use it…
Still, his hand hovered over his pocket as he crept up the hill to the former-reservoir.
He had left early— intending to arrive before his ‘guide’— but there, waiting next to the canal, was the Black Raven.
The Raven was wielding a lantern, which they lifted upon Swift’s approach. Swift felt like he was about to be led into the afterlife by a ghostly guide…
No. Whatever happened tonight, Swift was going to walk away from it in tact.
“Finally,” the Raven snorted. It was the leader from earlier. Once again, Swift was struck by how youngthey sounded— no older than sixteen, surely.
Swift shrugged. He gestured to the entrance in the dam wall. “After you…”
The Raven gestured back at him.
“No, please— after you…”
Slowly, Swift turned towards the entrance. Swift sensed the incoming attack. He ducked as the lantern swung over his head. Spinning on the ground, Swift kicked the Raven off their feet.
The Raven cursed and landed on their back.
When Swift glared down at them, he saw their hood and the bird mask had come off. A boy with dark blonde hair was blinking up at him, with one dark eye not concealed by his fringe.
The boy wheezed. “You’re one of them, aren’t you?”
“Do you work him?” Swift demanded. He had removed his knife and was now pointing it towards the youth. “Jean Descole?”
“What?” the boy gasped. It was almost a pained laugh. “‘Course not! That nut-head tried to destroy our town—“
“Then explain why you still have his machine,” Swift hissed.
“Uh…” The boy struggled to sit up. “D’you mean the Spectre Bot? We nicked it from him—“
“And you’ve been using it to fight my associates ever since!”
“Well— yeah…” Frowning at Swift, the boy clambered to his feet. “Did you really think we’d let some other nut-heads take the garden? After Loosha died for it—?”
“My… organisation has no quarrel with you or your little gang,” Swift reasoned. He lowered his knife. “All we want is to ensure—“
“You just attacked me!”
“In self-defence after you attacked me!”
The boy huffed and crossed his arms. “So… what now? Are you gonna kill me?” Under his bravado, Swift could see he was shaking slightly.
“…No,” said Swift. He pocketed his knife. “What would be the point in that?”
Relief flashed through the boy’s one visible eye.
Swift turned his head towards the dam wall and the garden beyond. “Instead, I have a mission for you and the rest of the Black Ravens.”
“A mission?” The boy’s tone was still guarded, but Swift detected a hint of curiosity.
“For now, my agency will leave the garden alone— trusting that you and your friends will guard the site from Jean Descole.” Swift smiled and held out his hand. “Do we have a deal?”
“Do I have a choice?” the boy muttered.
“The only other choice is that I will send in reinforcements to secure the garden,” Swift warned.
The Black Ravens’ leader sighed. He quickly shook hands with Swift.
“I’ll throw in three hundred pounds for your troubles,” Swift added.
Bronev wouldn’t be pleased about the price— but wasn’t it worth it to know the garden would be under watch, and Targent wouldn’t have to get their hands dirty?
And what if their agency could gain some new recruits along the way?
The boy hummed, before he agreed, “Deal… Erm, what’s your name? Just in case we need to get hold of you—“
“It’s Swift,” Swift answered. “Yourself?”
He smirked. “Crow.”
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So The pokèmon au!!
It’s set in the Galar region but also across other regions too!
———
Professor Hershel Layton is a Professor of Archeology in Motostoke (Ground/Rock) who studies with Professor Maggie Evermore about the legendaries and how the fossils of pokèmon can help them find more about the past of Unova and other regions.
Luke Triton originally born in Wyndon but now lives with his parent’s in Ballonlea (he’s about 19 in this and is a water/Normal type trainer) Laytons former apprentice follows his own path studying the bond between a pokèmon and trainer by travelling across regions to see how the connection differs in each region.
Lastly Emmy Altava former adventurer now part time photographer in Chirchester, (electric/fighting type trainer) who is investigating the mystery’s of the legendary pokèmon darkarai and cresselia and how they can cause both chaos and destruction for the pokèmon world.
The three are brought back together to solve the mystery of the azaran legacy, and maybe stop a dormant pokèmon from waking up and causing a shit ton of problems for the world.
They meet Desmond Sycamore a (dark/ice type ) professor in Hammerlock who finds a girl frozen in ice with only memories of loosing her pokèmon who is yearning to find it and bring it home.
Which has lead him to think that she knows more about the legendary pokèmon that lays underneath the highest mountain in galar.
He decides that he should take her along with the gang to the small town of Misthaven where the elders know more about the legends.
The gang have to find the many keys that will unlock the history of the Azaran before it is to late and the apocalypse is brought to the world.
And that is how the story begins.
————
Some little headcannons/backstory for this au
Flora is Fairy/steel and at 18 has become one of the most talented mechanics in postwick.
She can build almost anything from robots to full on machines.
Flora was originally from Hammerlock but moved after a terrible thing that happened there.
Luke is from Wyndon in this and grew up with Ariana (ghost type trainer) and the two of them have a healthy rivalry.
She is actually set to become the next ghost gym leader after her father retires.
Claire is Steel/Dragon/psychic and is currently working on her latest project that can help hershel and the gang
She is also juggling wedding planning on the side with Angela (fire) and Randal (ground/dragon)
Anton (ghost/poison ) is one of the last remaining dukes of Galar and his family the herzen’s are the keepers of a very important keys.
Sophia (fairy/ice) lives with their daughter Iris (Ice/poison) hiding the second key in the necklace anton gave her as a symbol of their love.
She ran away from Folsense or Ballonlea just like the game but remains alive (she’s about late 30s early 40s in this)
The Pandora’s box stayed with Anton.
Desmond in this au has a wife she’s alive along with their daughter. The two of them live in wedgehurst.
He doesn’t actually know this due to him thinking that they both died in a tragic accident to do with the Azaran a few years prior in Hammerlock.
Their names are Erica (flying/water) and Nessie (Flying) or ness for short.
Erica is a teacher/mechanic who is hell bent on not talking about the Azaran and what she knows and what it did to her.
Rachel (steel/grass) and Leon (fire/dark) have a extremely tense relationship in this due to Targent and opposing ideals.
But the both love each other very very much and one day want their sons to be reunited with them again.
Janice (normal/fairy) and Malina (ghost/dragon) are in this (I WILL MAKE THEM FIT) they know something about the Azaran but not that much
The two of them actually run a little opera together and tell the tales of the legends
Maggie is actually Sonia’s great great great grandma (she’s actually one of my oc’s for my pokèmon au called order of jirachi) she’s an electric type professor.
She’s one of those who knows a lot more then she lets on about the Azaran, and she tries to hide it because of the repercussions it could cause.
Basically everyone is linked to the Azaran for some reason I don’t know why but I wanted to see how I could connect and weave stories from characters that had never met or weren’t explored!
Let me know if you want more!!!
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