Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Chapter 95 - Regroup

Within the King's castle, two Pokémon, one large, one small, sat on opposite ends of a large table. Leph always felt awkward playing with the Treecko opposite to her, and she was sure she felt the same about her... but they were the only ones who could really entertain one another. Everyone else was either dull or intimidated or downright irritating.

Aster's grinning, saccharine expression flashed through Leph's mind and she shook it away.

"Leph?" the Treecko asked, fanning her five cards. "Are you holding?"

Leph blinked, then looked down. Three kings—each one a different depiction of Alexander—a two, and a five.

"One card," Leph said, sliding the two forward, face-down. She did not move her hoof, and lacking a mouth made for a good poker face, but she had always been told that her green eyes were very expressive. And apparently, a mouthless Pokémon wearing sunglasses was cheating. Sharing the same species as the God of Creation? Just fine. Some eyewear? Unbecoming of an Arceus, apparently.

Beside Leph was a small pile of candies they used in place of chips. They didn't need money, after all, only the pride of winning. Her opponent had far fewer.

"And you, Mhynt?" Leph said.

The Treecko's fingers twitched, and Leph knew that simply dropping one card was intimidating her. Good. And she already had a trio.

"Three," Mhynt said, sliding them forward. With a flick of her fingers, a dark power danced around them and pushed the three cards into the pile, and that same dark power wrapped around the top of the deck. She was oddly stiff after she saw the cards, her expression even more stone-faced than before.

She was hiding her loss. "Something wrong?" Leph asked.

"No." Mhynt's eyes trailed for a split-second toward a lifeless Honedge next to her, its hilt balanced against the tableside. Common giveaway, looking toward the blade for support, even if it could not answer. It was sad, in a way, but Leph could take advantage of the insecurity.

Mhynt slid three candies into the pile. "Raise by three."

Trying to psyche her out? Fine. All she would need is to match, raise, and scare her into folding. "Five."

Leph's face contorted ever so slightly into a forced frown. Forced frown.

"All in."

No no no. This was a trap. Even if she matched it, Leph would have the upper hand in one play. If she backed out now, they'd be on even ground. Was it worth it? Three cards. Most of her hand was junk. The most she'd have is a pair. What was the point, then? To scare her? Or was it a lucky draw? A trio. But Leph had three kings. But had she seen a single ace from this deck yet?

Too risky. "Fold."

"LEPH!"

The shrill voice of Aster punctuated the sudden weight on Leph's back, and whatever sense of thrilling peace was evaporated with his shriek.

"Leph, Leph! I gotta go on a mission! Can you lend me some of your tricky spheres?"

Aster hung off of Leph's wheel, swinging his legs and tail forward and backward, gaining more height each time.

"Aster, can you please knock next time?" Mhynt said irritably; during Aster's sudden appearance, she had grabbed the hilt of her blade, but released it with an irritated huff. "Why didn't Alexander ask me to go on this mission?"

"I dunno!" Aster said.

"I haven't gone on one in a while." Mhynt stacked her five cards, set them down, and conjured a large, dark hand from her left arm. With it, she drew the candies toward her side of the table with a large, shadowy hand.