Sunbeam and Moonlight - Ace Detectives! (Part 1)

I padded alongside Surf through the forest, which was growing more and more familiar by the second.  We were coming home.  I hoped that nothing too important had happened while I was away...

A new Shell Bell bumped against my chest, courtesy of my mate, who had promptly given it to me after I had told him that we would spend a day at the beach, just for old times' sake.  I smiled as I recalled the moment.

I made you this.  I know Bolt said I was only supposed to find a present for my Secret Stantler, but what was I supposed to do, not get you a present for Snow Day?

I loved him so much.

We hadn't been away too long, mostly because I was constantly worrying about my Clan in the back of my mind, something that Surf could apparently see (and cure) easily.  The original trip had taken us two weeks, but since we knew the way and subconsciously kept a faster pace, it took us only about one week to get back into our territory.

I glanced at Surf as we walked.  "Nothing too huge could have happened while we were away, right?"

Surf shrugged.  "It could have, but it probably didn't.  What are the odds of something like that happening in the exact week that we've been gone?"

"Higher than it should be, apparently..."

"Splash, Espeon is very capable.  That's why you put her in charge.  Sure things have happened suddenly in the past, but-"

"No, Surf, look!" I said, staring at our camp, just visible through the trees.  Smoke was rising from the top.  Was our home on fire?

Surf stood tall.  "Looks like a job for two Vaporeons, then..."

I only nodded before tearing towards camp as fast as my paws could go.  So much for a calm ending to our romantic getaway...

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I skidded into camp, stopping myself from using Surf just in the nick of time to avoid attacking the Rapidash that Espeon was talking to.  Surf, who was running behind me, didn't see that I had stopped until he turned through the camp entrance, resulting in his careening into me a full speed.  Both of us fell very spectacularly, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in camp.  I flushed bright red.

 

Espeon looked at the two of us with a small smile.  The Rapidash just looked confused.  "Are...  These Splash and Surf?"  I turned an even deeper red.

 

"Yes," Espeon said, still looking at us.  "They were on hiatus for a while and just returned, apparently."

 

I tried to untangle myself from Surf.  "I'm so sorry...  We saw smoke and thought there was a fire..."

 

The Rapidash shrugged.  "You'd be surprised how often I get that...  And how often I get attacked by Water Types because of it..."

 

Surf got to his paws, somehow still looking dignified.  "Lucky Splash stopped before we could, then," he said with a polite, but apologetic smile.

 

She nodded.  I cleared my throat and sat down, trying to retain some amount of professionalism.  "So, were you here for some help?"

 

"Not anymore, actually.  Espeon and Umbreon took care of it, thank you."

 

Oh.  I guess everything really is going smoothly.  Huh.  I shook my head.  "Well, thank you, then."  The fire horse Pokémon dipped her head politely, then backed up and took a flying leap over the barrier.  I watched in awe.  I loved watching Rapidashes in action.

 

Espeon stood back up and turned to look at us.  "Welcome home, I suppose."

 

I smiled.  "Thanks, Espy.  How did everything go here?"

 

"Well, you missed Moonlight's harrowing Power Quest, but aside from that, nothing much."

 

Surf sat down next to me.  "Oh, so she went on her Power Quest?"

 

"Yes, and both she and Umbreon are hesitant to talk about it.  Apparently, it was a bit of an ordeal.  So I'm giving them some time off," she finished quietly, looking towards her den.  I could see a yellow glow from Umbreon's rings inside.  He must be sleeping.

 

I nodded while still looking at the log den.  "Probably a good call...  Where are Three through Five?"

 

"In the meadow, being watched over by their older sisters."

 

"Oh, good," Surf said.  I nodded.  It was nice that the five of them cared so much about each other.  Even Moonlight, who apparently got back from a nerve-wracking Power Quest only a few days ago.  Good for them.

 

 

Moonlight was exhausted.  How could her younger siblings possibly have this much energy?  Even Sunbeam was looking worn out!  Sunbeam! 

 

Since Splash and Surf were both still on a romantic getaway, their mother was busy with a customer, their father was sleeping (seeing as he had taken the patrol the night before and hadn't slept in two days), and her three younger siblings were getting underpaw, Espeon had asked her and Sunbeam to entertain them until she was done or they calmed down.

 

Sunbeam bounded over to Moonlight's side, breathing heavily.  "I don't know...  How much longer...  I can do this..."

 

Moonlight shook her head.  "Me either...  Four rounds of wrestling...  Six races..."

 

"And now two hours of Pokerus..." Sunbeam panted.  "We need a new plan..."

 

Moonlight only nodded, watching Three dash around the field, chasing his giggling younger sister.  Finally, he tackled her.  "Got you!  Now you have Pokerus!"  With that, he dashed away as quickly as he could as Five bounced to her paws and ran towards Four. 

 

Moonlight lit up.  "I've got an idea...  Hey!  I thought of a new game!" she called out, trotting over and trying to look energetic.  

 

All three instantly broke back towards Moonlight, stopping short in front of her.  Five bounced up and down with excitement.  "What is it, what is it?"

 

"Why don't we play Hide and Seek for a little bit?"

 

"Yeah!!" came the unanimous reply.  Sunbeam shot her a look that clearly said "Smooth, sis."

 

Moonlight gave her older sister a tiny smile in reply before turning back to her younger siblings.  Patience, she reminded herself.  Who knew that they could be at such different maturity levels even though they were practically the same age?  "Who seeks first?"

 

Five and Three both jumped up instantly.  "I will!" both shouted at once.

 

Sunbeam stepped up next to Moonlight.  "Ok, Four, you can go first.  You were patient."

 

"Really?  Yes!" their radioactive brother said with a satisfied swish of his glowing tail.  I'll start counting!"  He laid down and covered his eyes with his paws.  Moonlight secretly wondered if that irritated his eyes at all.  Probably not.  "I'll count to 50!"

 

"No going outside of 20 steps of the meadow!" Sunbeam added.  Moonlight loved her sister...

 

"Ok!  1...  2...  3..." Four began, sending Three and Five bolting in different directions.  Sunbeam inclined her head one way and Moonlight nodded and followed as both ran at a moderate pace to the tree line.

 

Sunbeam stopped, looking at the branches above her.  "Nice call on the game change..."

 

"Thanks..."

 

"If one of us can hide in a tree here, and the other on the other side of the meadow, we can cover all angles.  I'll try to keep a Psychic monitor on them if you want to..."  Moonlight nodded silently.  She knew what Sunbeam meant.

 

Without another word needing to be said, Moonlight bounded away, jumping into the shadow dimension to cut straight across the meadow undetected.  Technically cheating, but whatever.  She loved the fact that she didn't feel drained here anymore...  But that didn't mean she planned on staying here.  She had to play fair, even if it meant she was found first.  No powers, just hiding.  And hiding was something that Moonlight was very skilled at.

 

Jumping back into the normal world as she reached the other side, she didn't slow down as she found a tree to climb.  She leapt up to the first branch and dug her claws in, slowly working her way up.  She didn't come all the way to the top, stopping about halfway up.  She could still hear Four counting and see the entire meadow, but she was well-hidden in the shadow of the trunk.  A perfect spot.  She loved being an Umbreon.

 

Time dragged on.  Moonlight's eyes were already starting to drift closed as Four finished counting.  Sunbeam had said that she could drift off if she wanted to.  She'd watch them.  Moonlight would probably take watch during the next round.  But for now...

 

She took a soft breath and let her eyes close, wondering how Three, Four, and Five could possibly have more energy than both she and Sunbeam combined did.