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Chapter 2 - Team Ion
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "Okay," Sean laughed, pushing Rai off him. It was nice to see the shinx smile again. "Should we go to the guild now?"

    Rai paused his manic hopping and frowned thoughtfully. He glanced up at the sky where the stars were showing and shook his head. "No. It's too late for it today, the guild would be closed."

    "How long were we unconscious?" Sean asked worried.

    "Come on, you know where you woke up?" Rai asked and Sean nodded. "That's my home. We can stay there tonight."

    He followed the shinx, wincing every third step. With the emotional period over, the physical pain was reminding him he had bruises all over him. They reached the crossroads, looking around again brought a stab of nostalgia through Sean's heart.

    To their left was naught but a rock, but a future café would make their start there. To the right was a track leading off into mystery and adventure with a watering hole for thirsty pokémon. Straight forwards were a slope that quickly turned into steps, hewn out of the ground itself that led to the looming guild. To the left was where Rai was heading, towards Treasure Town.

    Under his breath, Sean began humming the tune to Treasure Town, having heard it enough for it to be etched into his memory.

    "Da-da-dun dun, dun, dun, dun daadada."

    Taking another look around Treasure Town was wonderful, seeing it at night brought a whole new look. There were next-to no pokémon still around, mostly just those heading out an the nocturnal pokémon. The entire excitable town was relaxed and tranquil.

    They walked for five minutes before Duskull's Bank came into view, the town was larger than the game could have shown, with Duskull manning the bank even at this time of night.

    It amused him that the bank was still shaped like a duskull though.

    "What are you humming?" Rai asked as they passed the bank.

    "Oh… just something that popped into my head," Sean answered, smiling like a loon. He was enjoying the feeling of happy rather than the all-consuming fear that lurked beneath it. He was a pokémon! Holy shit!

    "Well, this is Treasure Town." Rai paused to sweep a paw in a wide circle. "Definitely the best town in the land. Way better than Capim Town. There's everything a pokémon needs here, explorer or not." Rai smiled, he did love Treasure Town.

    "Looks like a great place," Sean commented. "You've lived here your whole life?"

    The question was innocent, conversational, he didn't intend on Rai flinching at it.

    "W-well." He glanced away and Sean gathered that was an off-limits question.

    "How's it like living at the cliff?" he asked instead, moving past whatever wound he had just poked at.

    "Pretty nice," Rai answered, looking back at him with a glimmer of releif. "No wind or water gets in and the sounds of the sea are great for going to sleep to."

    "Sounds great."

    "It's a place to sleep." Rai shrugged. "If you're used to the waterfall nearby. Come on, we're both sore and tired."

    The rest of the walk passed in silence. Several times Sean tried to gather the nerve to say something, but Rai had gotten very quiet and was looking firmly ahead. He gathered the shinx wasn't in the mood to talk.

    Instead, Sean took in the sights of a place he knew so well yet had no true idea of what it was like. He saw shops he recognised, as well as buildings he didn't. They passed over the small, rickety, bridge and through the marketplace and further still.

    He took a glance at Kangaskhan Storage, closed of course. It was shaped like a kangaskhan as well, very curious design choices.

    It took nearly some time to pass through town, with them being slowed down by injuries, before reaching the cliffside. The waves were still crashing against the cliff, seemingly harder than they had in the morning.

    "Here we go," Rai said, giving Sean a tired smile. "Home sweet home." Rai began to head into his abode, but Sean's attention was caught by something else.

    A scrap of silver, fluttering in the wind, trapped under a rock. He stumbled over to it and tugged it out awkwardly with his numpty paws, missing fingers already. It was a streamer of silver, right where he had woken up.

    Thinking this could be important, Sean wrapped it around his hurting paw and followed after Rai.

    Cosy was about as nice as Sean could say about Sharpedo Bluff's dwelling. Cramped was a better word, not that he'd say such a thing out loud.

    For one pokémon like a shinx it was snug, any more than three would be pushing it.

    "Take some straw off the pile," Rai said as he moved to the small drinking well that took up most of the room. After almost dunking his head in the water and just inhaling the liquid, Rai pulled his head out with a gasp and caught his breath. "Feel free to have a drink too."

    Sean quietly took a small amount of the bedding from Rai's pile and set it up like a pillow. Rai gave him an unimpressed look, gathered some straw in his mouth, and dunked more on his pile.

    "That is your bed," Sean argued, but Rai was already slumping down onto his pile with a soft sigh of relief. He had done most of the fighting today after all.

    Swallowing guiltily, Sean realised his throat was parched and moved to the well. The germaphobe in him was highly disinterested in drinking anything that had a shinx head in it, but the part that wanted water overruled it and he drank deeply.

    By the time he was done, Rai was asleep.

    Feeling excessively guilty for reasons he didn't want to think about, Sean laid down on his pile. Despite his exhaustion he couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning, he just tried to get comfortable. Eventually curling up like a cat seemed most pleasant and he tried to relax.

    Nothing seemed to help much and there was the matter of the item he had picked up off the cliff. A silver stream of fabric; it radiated something that eased some of Sean's nerves.

    It was difficult to sleep regardless. His new, much better, feline eyes could see in the dark much better than his old human eyes. He could see Rai trembling and not from the cold. He wasn't asleep, was he?

    The feeling of guilt and sympathy lasted until he finally fell into a fitful sleep.

    Waking up was greatly unpleasant for Sean.

    The injuries from yesterday's unfortunate twist of events had dulled into an ever-present ache, the awful throbbing pain being what roused Sean.

    Groaning, he rolled over, off his little patch of straw, and onto hard and cold ground. His heart thumped a little as he opened his eyes, taking into view the low roof of the small dwelling.

    "Okay. Confirmed. I'm really somehow in the Mystery Dungeon world," Sean thought to himself as he tried to gather the energy the get up. There would be time to have a panic attack later, for now he had to stand.

    Finding the will to stand was difficult, but he slowly realised that he was the only person in the room. Suddenly fearful of being left alone, Sean shot right to his feet, only staggered once, and made his way outside.

    He was still holding onto the ribbon he had picked up, it was crumpled from sleeping on it, but he was not planning on letting the soothing feeling it delivered go just yet.

    Sean looked around, taking a deep breath of the salty air and closing his eyes. When he opened them, Rai was approaching.

    "You're up, Meowth," Rai said brightly, trotting over to him. Sean paused and blinked, it seemed that his panic was nothing but foolishness. "I'm glad you're awake, we both slept in a lot longer than I planned to. We should get going soon if we want to get into the guild today."

    Balanced on the shinx's head was a small wooden plate, on top of which were two apples. Sean salivated at the sight as his stomach gave a harsh rumble.

    He grimaced at the feeling of his stomach rolling as well, the memories of Skuntank's stench still haunted him. The apple was too delectable to pass up, however, and he accepted one of them from Rai.

    He had it bitten to the core in three bites. After a moment of deliberation, he ate the core as well. After swallowing he had to ask. "What do they make the apples with here?" he exclaimed. "I've had apples before and they were all… average at best. That was wonderful."

    "The Kecleon Brothers harvest them from dungeons, apparently," Rai said in between bites. "It's a fact that anything gained from a dungeon is top notch. Better to lure pokémon in a guess." He swallowed and shook his head. "Ah, that's better. So," he trailed off, growing shy. "Are you ready to go?"

    Sean noticed that Rai was adamantly avoiding looking directly at him, but he caught a glimpse of the shinx's eyes anyway. They were red and puffy. He was sure his eyes were little better.

    "I am," Sean said before falling into step with Rai. "I'm glad you seem better this morning."

    "Mm." Rai hummed.

    They entered Treasure Town, it was crossing the afternoon, but still much livelier than the previous night. For one, there were more than three pokémon around. There was no litleo to accost them this time.

    Sean couldn't help but smile widely as he took in the many fantastic creatures, beings he had only known to be fictional, but now here and real in the flesh.

    Metal too, a magnezone was floating around as well. "I wonder if that's Officer Magnezone?" Sean wondered to himself, but he wasn't sure how to phrase the question without seeming too knowledgeable. Magnezone was very shiny, clearly kept themselves in tip-top condition.

    Kangaskhan was manning her business and Rai felt the need to explain as they walked. "I didn't mention it yesterday, but that's Kangaskhan Storage. She'll store and protect any item we leave with her. She's never misplaced a single item, however big or small."

    Kangaskhan gave a cheery wave as they passed. "Good morning, Shinx, and Meowth too!" Which the pair returned. Past Kangaskhan's shop was where the marketplace truly begun.

    Sean took a much closer look than he had the previous day. Where he had only ever known the Kecleon Market to be the only real store, now he could see several booths and shops pulled up like a shanty neighbourhood. A few were manned, most were not.

    "Over there." Rai nodded in their direction. "Is mostly a big swapping joint or place where adventures might sell items they wouldn't sell elsewhere. That's the Kecleon Market, hi guys!" Rai spoke up loudly, causing Sean to wince.

    "Good afternoon, Young Shinx," the green kecleon on the left said.

    "And to your friend as well," the purple kecleon greeted, giving a bow.

    Sean gave a wave as they passed. "Hello."

    "They are the main pair to buy and sell stuff," Rai explained as they walked. "I got the apples from them earlier. They are really strong, that's how they get most of their items."

    They continued walking, Rai getting twitchier as they approached the guild. Past the bridge and in the main town, the Wigglytuff Guild could be just seen from where they were. A big pink blotch against the blue sky.

    Near the outskirts of the marketplace lurked the bank.

    "Good morning, Duskull." Rai gave a nervous smile. Sean swallowed meekly as well. It was one thing to know about Ghost-type pokémon. Another to see one first hand.

    Duskull didn't look so far removed from the depiction Sean knew it as; but the way its body constantly moved and rippled, yet didn't go anywhere, was creepy. The one red orb bouncing between empty eye-sockets was not pleasant to look at either. Yet at the same time he felt almost comfortable staring at him, the eye to the body reminded him of something… like a blanket perhaps?

    "Hello," Sean said after Rai. It would not do to be impolite and stare.

    "Most sincere greetings to you both," Duskull greeted, breathy and amused all at the same time. "Feel free to come by any time, Duskull Bank is your most worthy of stops."

    They both gave nods and hurried on their way.

    "Hoo." Rai breathed once they were clear. "Duskull's definitely good at what he does, keeping your money safe, but he gives me the heebie jeebies."

    "He seems alright." Sean rubbed an arm, wincing as he was reminded how bruised he was under the fur. "But I'll trust you."

    "So, that's Treasure Town, always a bit busy." Rai gave a smile, he still wasn't looking directly at Sean. "There's Exploration Teams all over it. I only recognised Team Ebony today, they don't seem to sleep at all."

    "The shuppet and, uh… what was the bird?" Sean had seen the pair whispering to each other himself last night. He couldn't quite remember off the top of his head what the non-ghost member of the team was.

    "Murkrow," Rai answered. "She's nice. She gets a bit fixated on things though."

    "I see." Sean did. He could remember them, however vaguely.

    As they arrived on the crossroads, Rai paused and Sean considered whether to give him a hand, or paw. Rai took a breath and continued onwards, wearing a fierce expression too determined for Sean to question.

    "So, what do we do when we get there?" Sean asked, hoping to break the silence. "Everything went a bit quick yesterday for me to keep up."

    "We gotta stand on the grate and get our footprints checked," Rai answered. "They'll let us in, then we just… ask to become apprentices."

    "That easy, huh?" Sean muttered. It seemed odd, but he did remember it really was that easy.

    "The guild keeps a track of all known wanted pokémon in the area," Rai said, changing the topic back. "If someone wants to get in, they gotta be cleared and if they are suspicious the guild will know by their footprint."

    "Sounds like you've done your research," Sean joked and Rai gave an embarrassed smile.

    "I've wanted to join them for… a while now," Rai admitted, scuffing the ground. "Every time I've tried to get the nerve to do it, I've lost it soon enough. Once I even made it inside, but when Chatot asked me what I was doing I made up a story about losing an item and wanting an explorer to find it for me… damn, I'm… ugh."

    "Well now you've got me!" Sean grinned, pointing a claw at him and nearly poking himself in the chest. "We're in this together. Tell you what, I'll grab you by the tail if you try and run."

    Rai gave him a perturbed glance and Sean inwardly cursed some excessively foul language. "I don't mean… like… um. What did I say?" He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head; the words were gone and if he kept on chattering he'd start saying some highly thoughtless things.

    "Nothing," Rai said, snapping Sean out of his thoughts. The shinx smiled and looked directly at him for the first time that day. "Glad to know I can… thanks. I might want to just mention, about the." He glanced around. "Human thing."

    "Yeah?"

    "It's not a really a pokémon thing to tell people your name right off the bat." For some reason Rai began to blush. "So, I'll call you Meowth and you call me Shinx when we're around others, okay?"

    Sean nodded. He didn't quite understand, but he'd go along with it. "Okay."

    Sean smiled and Rai smiled back. He was very cute. Sean could bet he was cute as well, he had a nose, that brought up the cuteness rating at least several levels. He could feel his ribs when he breathed in, however, glancing down he was very bony.

    That was weird but… he had no time to dwell. They had reached the guild.

    The giant Wigglytuff built into an entranceway was still horrifying. The empty eyes, paint chipping, the multi-coloured feathers tied to one side, and the weird totems in front of it. It looked threatening. "Maybe," Sean reasoned to himself as he and Rai stood frozen. "That's the point."

    "You ready?" Sean asked, forcing his eyes away from the yawning chasm of The Wigglytuff and to the grate that laid like a trap before it.

    "No," Rai answered honestly. "But I wasn't ready to lose my Relic Fragment either."

    Stepping forward, missing the pained expression on Sean's face at the reminder, Rai stepped forward to the grate.

    The holes were far too wide for him to stand on it and he hesitated. "I… uh… could you go first?" he asked, quietly and flushing in embarrassment.

    "No problem," Sean said, smiling as Rai recoiled back from the grate like it stung him. He stepped over it, not nervous at all. He'd done this already, he was a pro.

    There was a moment of nothing long enough for Sean to wonder if the guild was occupied.

    "Pokémon detected!" a sharp, high, voice declared, causing Sean to jump and Rai to fluff up with sparking fur. "Pokémon detected!"

    "Whose footprint?" another voice, that could only be described as intense, boomed. "Whose footprint?" Thankfully the owner of the voice wasn't shouting. Yet.

    "The footprint is meowth! The footprint is meowth!"

    "You again?" the voice Sean knew to be Loudred demanded. "Are you going to play by the rules this time?"

    "We will," Sean shouted, voice echoing for Diglett below.

    "Fine. Then get your FRIEND on the grate!"

    Rai breathed in and out several times very quickly as Sean stepped off and looked to him. He was shivering like a leaf in the wind and Sean came over, thinking he might need to carry him over. The shinx was heavy too, or at least heavier than he was.

    "You can do it," Sean said, hoping this measly attempt at cheerleading would help. Rai stared at him for a moment before swallowing and dragging himself over. He hesitated again before stepping onto the grate, looking back to Sean for support. "You know you can."

    Rai nodded and stepped onto the grate. "Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!" Hearing that for the third and fourth time reminded Sean of the pokémon detective movie he probably would never see now.

    "Who's footprint? Who's-?"

    "The footprint is shinx," Diglett interrupted, his voice growing very excited. "The footprint is SHINX!"

    "WHAAT?" Loudred gasped before the gate began to open rapidly. "Get in here then."

    Rai gave Sean a baffled look, but the meowth had no words of explanation for that. "Let's go," Sean said, jogging forward. Rai, much calmer now, ran after him and the two of them approached the mouth of the building.

    "I wonder what that's about?" Rai asked as they stepped into the mouth of the building, the gate clanking shut behind them. Sean was relieved to see that, rather than a ladder to climb, there was a steep incline heading down in a spiral to the next level. He had been wondering how Rai was going to climb a ladder without hands or opposable digits.

    Walking down to the second floor brought back another wave of nostalgia in Sean. Seeing the Wigglytuff Guild from such a different angle was strange, but even then, he felt at home inside its walls.

    Several pokémon were up and about, looking over the notice boards. There were posters plastered up about pokémon who weren't outlaws, just famous. There was a very prominent picture of a lucario with a caption in strange runes that… Sean could read. Called The Legendary Lucario.

    Sean found himself grinning widely again as he recognised each pokémon. Bidoof and Sunflora were looking over the job notice board while Corphish was glancing over the outlaw notice board. He spotted Chimecho giving Corphish advice as he worked out what mission to take.

    The pair received a glance or two from the pokémon in the room, but no one approached. Sean was sure Sunflora didn't even notice them come in, already used to how loud Loudred could be.

    "Ah, hello there," a voice chirped up from behind them. Sean turned, with Rai stiffly turning with him, to find a colourful bird having stepped up from the floor below them. "I am Chatot, Guildmaster Wigglytuff's right hand pokémon."

    "Hello," Sean replied, Rai did not make a peep. "I'm-"

    "May I ask what your business is here?" Chatot asked, cutting over Sean. His words were polite, but his tone was sharp. He hadn't quite taken in Rai's appearance, the shinx having shrunk behind Sean.

    Sean adjusted, letting Chatot see them both. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Rai. "We'd like to join as explorers!" Sean said, grinning widely.

    It was funny how quickly Chatot's demeanour changed. Moving from a guarded and professional guise to a flappy and delighted one.

    "Indeed? A new pair of pokémon who wish to become explorers?" Chatot rubbed his beak with a wing, seemingly speaking his mind out loud. "Splendid! Splendid! What a splendid day. Oh yes, you are aware of the difficulty of our program, yes? Of course you are." He nodded to Rai. "Splendid!"

    "I-is the training really that difficult?" Sean asked, finding his voice again.

    "Hmm?" Chatot asked before he focused on the nerves in both of their faces and fell into a flurry of flaps. "Oh no-no-no! Not at all, no, not at all. Our training is as easy as can be!" He gave a laugh, stiff and forced. "Yet we only deliver quality, oh most certainly yes! Come along you two, come along swiftly!"

    "His attitude can change quickly," Sean thought to himself as Chatot composed himself.

    "Follow me now," Chatot said, motioning them to follow him. "Let's get you signed up post haste with the Guildmaster. We don't wish to dawdle, chop-chop."

    Sean quickly followed, reaching the second slope down before realising Rai was having difficulty following. "Um… Rai?" He remembered Rai's words. "Sorry, Shinx?"

    Rai was shivering again and wearing an expression Sean could only call petrified. "No stun seeds around," Sean said, coming to Rai's side and pushing him gently. "Come on, we gotta go. Don't want Chatot to think we're lazy."

    Rai began to move, and they descended to the second level. Chatot was waiting for them with an air of eagerness. "Come now, come now. We cannot leave the Guildmaster waiting."

    Sean was able to quickly glance around, spotting the edge of Croagunk's Swap Shop and also saw Loudred. He gave a wave to the fellow Normal-type pokémon and received a swift nod in response.

    Chatot took them to the left and to a pair of impressive doors. The light from a window was beaming into their eyes and Rai made a low, impressed sound. "Wow. We're two floors underground and we can see the sky."

    "The guild is built into the side of a cliff," Chatot explained patiently. "It's only natural one could see the outside." He turned back to the doors and hesitated. "Now," Chatot said. "We are to see the Guildmaster. Behave yourselves around him. Do not speak unless spoken to. And on now account. I repeat, on NO account, should you be discourteous to our Guildmaster."

    With that he called out. "Guildmaster? Chatot is entering with guests." And pushed the doors open.

    Sean silently whistled. The doors were much bigger than Chatot, but he pushed them open like they were made of straw. Clearly stronger than he looked.

    They entered a rather quirky room as Sean started to think of team names. It was beautiful at a first glance. Fresh flowers being set in pots. Light streaming in from two windows, one was broken. Wigglytuff always refused Chatot's requests to get it fixed, claiming he liked the fresh air. Lavender drapes made by the best weavers around, the same colour as the splash of purple on the guild's forehead outside.

    There were also a pair of treasure chests busted open and sprawled off to the side. Pink was the dominating colour of the room, except for splashes of other colours, and Wigglytuff was there.

    The big balloon pokémon was not facing them and was standing unnaturally still. Chatot took this in complete stride and hopped over to his side. "Guildmaster?" he asked. "I present to you the two pokémon who wish to join your guild as apprentices. Meowth and Young Shinx!"

    Wigglytuff didn't respond.

    Rai was frozen almost as still as Wigglytuff and Sean was busy glancing around in mounting excitement.

    "Guildmaster?"

    "HIYA!"

    Wigglytuff spun around on them, startling everyone in the room. His voice was high and musical, fitting Sean's perception of the peppy, constantly cheerful, quirky wigglytuff he knew from the games.

    "I'm Wigglytuff." He introduced himself. "I'm the guild's Guildmaster, the Guildmaster of the Wigglytuff Guild. Guildmaster Wigglytuff. You want to form an exploration team?" He didn't wait for their response, instead opening his arms like he wished to hug them. "Then, let's GO FOR IT! YOOM-TAH!"

    Powerful sound waves blasted from him, streaming over Sean and Rai like a gale-force wind. Strangely the Hyper Voice didn't hurt, simply ruffled their fur a bit.

    The most important effect was snapping Rai out of his funk. Blinking rapidly, he leaned on Sean to steady himself, his muscles having locked up from how tense he had been.

    "First, we have to register your teams name," Wigglytuff said, oblivious to the stunned expressions he was facing. "So, tell me your teams name?"

    "Team name?" Rai repeated, latching onto the last words as he began to return to the present. "Oh shoot! I had… I had… uh… help?"

    With his voice bordering on hysterical, Sean quickly jumped in with the only name he'd been able to come up with. "Team Ion," he blurted.

    "Team… Ion?" Rai asked, cocking his head slightly. "That's different."

    "Y-yeah," Sean stuttered briefly, feeling everyone eyes on him. "It has something to do with electricity, I think, so I thought it'd be perfect."

    Rai gazed at him. "What about you?"

    "The only other name I thought of was ThunderClaw, and that sounds a bit… much."

    To that, Rai agreed.

    "All settled then!" Wigglytuff cheered. "I'll register your team name as Team Ion. Registering," he sang. "Registering… registered. YOOM-TAH!" He nearly blew them away again, but his clear enthusiasm was making Sean and Rai smile.

    "Congratulations!" Wigglytuff applauded excitedly, Chatot did as well. "From now on, you two are an official Exploration Team! I present you this in commemoration. A Pokémon Exploration Team Kit." With that he pulled out a box from somewhere. Sean blinked, one moment Wigglytuff's paws were empty, then he had something in them.

    Chalking it up to Fairy-type magic nonsense, he stepped forward. Rai joining him moments after.

    "Wait. Is he a Fairy-type?" Sean wondered about the situation he was in, there was a litleo and other pokémon past Gen 4 so….

    He was snapped out if it when the box opened by itself.

    "A Pokémon Exploration Team Kit?" Sean asked as they peered in. Rai seemed to know what he was looking at, he had only the foggiest of memories.

    "Yep," Wigglytuff answered. "It has everything an explorer might need. Quick, grab it all out."

    With Wigglytuff nearly vibrating with excitement, Sean did the honours. He was the one with more dexterity after all.

    "A badge," he said, pulling everything out.

    "Two," Rai noted, as a second badge fell out of the pile Sean held.

    "A map." Sean unrolled it, noticing a highly detailed map of the Grass Continent. He could spot various towns and landmarks he never would have known of. Treasure Town and Capim Town in particular stood out. There was some close places to Treasure Town. Quad Town. Sicilly. And the marks of some other guilds, the Clefable Guild in Blackstone Village a fair bit northeast and-

    "A Treasure Bag!" Rai gasped, clutching onto it like it was a lifesaving gabite scale. Sean looked up from the map. "I've always wanted one. These things cost a fortune!"

    "Your badges will be your official guild identification," Chatot explained, hopping over to Wigglytuff's side. "The Wonder Map is a wonderful tool to have to find your way. And the Treasure Bag is yours to keep. Now look inside before the Guildmaster pops from excitement!"

    Rai did so, finding a pair of cloth items. He dug them out as Wigglytuff gave a high pitched 'eee' sound in excitement.

    "That one's a Special Band, it'll make your Power moves stronger." Wigglytuff pointed to the scarf-like azure cloth. "The other one isn't complete just yet. I saw you had that silvery ribbon!" He beamed at Sean.

    Sean glanced down, realising Wigglytuff had spotted the ribbon he had wrapped around his paw. "But you have no way to wear it properly. If you hand it over, I can combine it with this one to make you something awesome!"

    Sean hesitated for just a brief moment before rationalising that Wigglytuff was perfectly trustworthy. He pawed over the bow and the band to the excited pokémon.

    "Lalala," Wigglytuff sang as he twirled around. Each time he spun, and Sean got a look at what he was doing he had made progress. He spun nearly fifteen times before stopping. "Ooh. Dizzy…" Wigglytuff wobbled a bit but was steadied by Chatot. "Here you go. A super nifty bow to wear. It'll do wooonderful thiiings." He handed it over before falling back, landing on Chatot.

    "Guildmaster!" Chatot grumbled, unprepared for Wigglytuff's weight. "GUILDMASTER!" He was nearly sprawled on the ground, Wigglytuff had to be doing it on purpose.

    Wigglytuff bounced right back onto his feet with a wide grin. "HIYA!"

    "Thank you," Rai said, and Sean gave his own thanks. "I really mean that… I didn't know it'd be so easy, you're very nice, Guildmaster Wigglytuff."

    "Aww," Wigglytuff sniffled, tearing up. "Come here." Before anyone could so much as begin to refuse, Wigglytuff pulled Rai into a hug. It took about four seconds before he grabbed Sean as well and hugged him as well. "We have always believed you could do it, Shinx," Wigglytuff said warmly, setting the pair down.

    Rai blushed.

    "But first you had to come to us," Chatot added, hopping up beside Wigglytuff, ready to intervene in case their new apprentices needed more space to breathe. Wigglytuff's hugs could be debilitating. "Can see it as the first hurdle."

    "Yep! But now we'll be having so much fun!" Wigglytuff cheered and did a dance around them before grabbing both of Team Ion plus Chatot for another hug.

    "You will also be working hard," Chatot added, acting as the stern teacher in comparison to the dancing Wigglytuff, despite being smushed up with them in the hug. "There will be no shirking of work and there are few excuses accepted here. Understand?"

    "We do." Rai nodded, determination replacing all previous trepidation. "Right, Meowth?"

    "Right."

    "Very good. Come with me you two," Chatot said, releasing them from Wigglytuff's affection. "I'll show you to your rooms."

    "Have fun." Wigglytuff waved, doing another spin. "And have a good rest, you two look very tired."

    "Thank you," Sean and Rai chorused as the doors closed behind them.

    "Come," Chatot said, hopping his way past the window and to a corridor. "The apprentice's rooms are this way."

    "We get rooms!?" Rai cheered under his breath, hurrying to catch up with Chatot.

    Sean grinned and raced after him, but not without glancing back and seeing Croagunk and Loudred staring at them.

    Chatot led them past several pairs of rooms on either side of the corridor and to the final one. "With Team Celestial absent, here is where you'll stay during your training here." They entered into a basic room. Having a pair of equally sized beds of straw and a window. It was somewhat roomier than Rai's place, but only due to the lack of a water fountain.

    They stepped onto their beds, feeling them as Chatot continued. "You'll live here while you train with us. Things will start getting busy tomorrow so make sure you go to bed early tonight. Dinner is held when Chimecho rings her bell. You are expected to attend all morning briefings. Understand?"

    "Yes," Rai said, Sean nodded.

    "Very good." Chatot paused and considered something for a moment. "We are happy to have you with us, Shinx. You will do well here," he said before looking to Sean. "As you can probably gather, Shinx is well known. I must offer a thank you for providing him with this boost of confidence." He nodded once and turned to leave.

    "Wait," Sean called out, causing the bird to pause and glance back.

    "Yes?"

    Now that things had calmed down and Rai was no longer shivering in a half-panic attack, Sean was able to think clearly again. He noticed something rather pertinent to the time.

    They had stayed the night at Rai's instead of joining the guild. It was only now occurring to him that they were supposed to have their first mission today. Spoink, or something.

    "Is it possible we can have a job to do?" Sean asked, trying to speak as coolly and naturally as possible. No hint of desperation or pleading no sir.

    Chatot's eye quirked in a slight smile. "Eagerness is a good sign, but just use today to prepare yourselves. Maybe introduce yourself to your fellow apprentices. There is no need to be hasty." Shaking his head, he continued hopping away. "Such eagerness, that might be tough to keep up with… the youth of today…" he muttered under his breath, falling out of hearing range soon enough.

    Sean swallowed and glanced to Rai. He was looking much livelier than he had been earlier, a smile was spreading over his face.

    "I did it," he whispered, joy beaming his face like no amount of light could. "I DID IT!"

    Despite his own misgivings of screwing everything up ever, Sean couldn't help but grin wildly as Rai danced around the room. "I'm an official explorer now. I didn't run away like the last sixty-two times! I did it, I did it, I did it!"

    He finished hopping around and turned to Sean, beaming smile still in place. "It's all thanks to you. Thank you, thank you!" He pounced on Sean and gave him a lick on the koban, the coin on his forehead, before freezing and leaping hard enough off him that the wind was knocked out of Sean.

    "I'm so sorry!" Rai gasped before hiding his face in his paws. "I got to excited. I shouldn't have licked you."

    Sean pulled himself to his feet. Being pounced on was not a feeling he was used to at this size, thankfully Rai had tackled him into one of the beds, so the fall wasn't painful. The shinx's tongue was somewhat staticky though and his forehead felt very strange.

    Rubbing the koban, and fully realising he had a bit of metal fused into his head now, Sean gave a smile. "Heh, it's fine," he said bashfully. "Maybe a bit of warning next time?"

    Rai peaked out from his paws and saw Sean was unbothered. Sighing in relief he propped himself up. "Sorry. I sometimes act without thinking, I can be thoughtless, sorry."

    Sean waved him off. "Haha, that's the same as me. You're fine."

    Smiling now, Rai stepped forward. "Well, you heard what Chatot said." Flicking his tail, Rai looked back to him. "Let's introduce ourselves to the other members of the guild."

    "Look who's all confident now," Sean teased as they went, Rai grinned but the smile was somewhat tight.

    "I got into the guild. That's the biggest step of my life!" he said brightly. Sean grinned.

    Sean considered what meeting the apprentices was going to be like. He had seen, or heard, everyone he knew from the games on the way in, barring Dugtrio.

    They exited into the guilds second floor and found that they had a small crowd waiting for them.

    "Oh my gosh!" A pitch only Sunflora could make squealed out in delight. "Shinx did it!"

    Rai and Sean had only moments to prepare themselves before they were swarmed by their guildmates. With only Croagunk, Diglett and Dugtrio abstaining from the attack on their personal space, everyone else went to clamber over them.

    The image of various monsters rampaging towards him evoked a sense of primal fear in Sean and it was him who froze up under the attention. Rai was all bashful smiles and quiet introductions while Sean tried to reboot.

    "And this is Meowth," Rai finished introducing himself and noticed Sean hadn't said anything. Hearing Rai introduce him as Meowth managed to bring Sean back to the world of the living and he blinked a few times to clear his vision. His tail was ramrod straight, but he didn't notice it.

    "Ah, hello," he said, heart still hammering in his chest. He did a mental countdown and reminded himself he was good at socialising. His tail slowly began to relax.

    Bidoof, of all pokémon, seemed to detect his anxiety and shuffled back. "Golly, I think we might have come on too strongly."

    The rest of them saw it too and took a few steps back. Sean gave a nervous chuckle and rubbed his face.

    He took a breath and reached out to Sunflora, giving a smile. "My apologies, you startled me a bit. I'm a meowth as you can see, but I'm happy for everyone here to call me-" Before he could finish introducing himself, Sunflora took his paw in her leaf-like limb and shook his whole body with impressive strength.

    "Oh my gosh!" she repeated, beaming at Sean. "I'm so totally delighted to meet you. You're both so cute! I'm Sunflora, this is Bidoof, that's Corphish." She continued pointing everyone out and Sean nodded and said hello to everyone she pointed out.

    "Skulking over in his creepy shop is Croagunk." Bidoof and Loudred stepped out of the way to let Sean and Rai spot Croagunk, who gave a lazy wave from his perch. "If you want to swap stuff, he's the guy. Although not at the moment."

    "Someone blew my cauldron up," Croagunk called, smiling lazily. There was no reproach in his voice.

    "Our main sentry is Diglett," Sunflora continued, "he's the one who read your footprints. And his dad is … uh…?"

    "Here," Dugtrio said, rising from the ground. "We took a break from communing with the waves to follow the commotion. Shinx, it is wonderful to see you in our ranks at last."

    "Th-Thanks," Rai said, perching down and almost burying his face in his paws as he was blushing so brightly. "For all this. Thanks."

    "I'm Loudred, I'm one of the main sentries for the guild." Despite being pointed out by Sunflora, the others had decided it was only polite to introduce themselves. "There's no one better in the guild than me to come to for advice on outlaws. I know 'em all. GREAT to meet you." He rattled Sean's arm worse than Sunflora had, Sean guessed it was some tough-guy thing.

    "Nice to see you," Rai said, smiling.

    "Yeah," Sean agreed. "You seem strong." This time he did massage his arm.

    Loudred puffed up proudly. "But of course! I'm the strongest apprentice here!"

    "Second strongest!" Sunflora called out.

    "FIRST STRONGEST!" Loudred roared back and the two fell into an argument.

    "Hey-hey, I'm Corphish." A crustacean pokémon shook a paw each with his pincers, taking great care not to crush or pinch them. "Ignore those two." He had to speak loudly over Loudred. "Croagunk is actually the strongest but don't say that around them."

    "Yup-yup," Bidoof agreed, stepping up to them. "Those two can get pretty competitive by golly. I'm Bidoof. I was the most recent apprentice before you two showed up. Gosh it makes me so happy to see some newcomers."

    Sniffling slightly, he let himself be pulled back by Chimecho, who floated up as the last member of the mob. "It is great to meet the two of you," she positively sang. "I am Chimecho. I am the chef and nurse of the guild and I also manage the Exploration Teams in general as well as the representative of the Psychic Network. If there are any questions you may have, places you need to scout, or anything at all, feel free to ask."

    That was a lot of things.

    "Thanks for the offer." Rai smiled but Sean did have a question.

    "Psychic Network?" he asked, that sounded new.

    Chimecho beamed at him. "Haven't heard of it?" He shook his head. "Curious. Well, it's a simpl thing to explain! A collection of Psychic-type pokémon who have created a linked neural connection pathway that-"

    "Chimes," Sunflora giggled as Sean was already looking foggy-eyed. "I think you're going too fast." Chimecho blushed and a few of them laughed. "It lets her talk to other towns and guilds, basically. That's about as much as we need to know."

    Sean looked to Rai who bobbed his head. "That's about as much as I've heard."

    "Oh."

    "We might ask someone for advice soon. Chatot said we go on a job tomorrow." Rai explained. "At the moment we're just told to familiarise ourselves with the place and you guys too I guess!"

    Sean tried to withhold his disappointment at the no mission. He was pretty sure the first mission was meant to be Spoink, but would it if they were a day behind on things?

    A stab of nervousness went through him at that, and Sean wondered how he was going to handle what was to come.

    "Well, good luck," Chimecho said. "Feel free to ask any questions. I'll see you all at dinnertime soon!" She floated off, leaving the pair with Bidoof and Corphish.

    "By the way," Corphish started. "Well done Shinx. I was always rooting for you to join the guild!"

    "Yup-yup, always knew you could make it," Bidoof agreed, bobbing his head.

    "Ah… don't embarrass me." Rai blushed.

    Bidoof grinned. "Knock-knock?" he asked, and Rai smiled.

    "Who's there?"

    "Snow," Bidoof said eagerly.

    "Snow who?" Rai asked. Sean watched in amusement, not expecting knock-knock jokes.

    "Snow point pretending you don't know me!" Bidoof finished and Rai chuckled.

    Corphish shook his head at the antics. "Behave, Bidoof," he said, faux-seriously. "Seriously though," Corphish continued, "we're happy to have you here. I know you'll be an amazing adventurer. Super strong too, just like your sister!"

    Rai's smile became fixed. "O-Oh, thank you."

    Corphish blanched as he realised he'd said something wrong. "Uh… uh… hey-HEY what's that over there?" He scuttled off as quickly as his six legs would carry him, Bidoof mumbling something unintelligible before running off himself.

    Bidoof glanced back, eyes meeting Sean's for a moment, before he ducked down and ran up to the next level. Sean turned to Rai who was blinking a little too much to be normal.

    Swallowing, he decided to take a stab at asking some difficult questions. Only to default to something safer. "So, they ran off in a hurry?" He took a moment, Rai didn't respond, so he pulled it back to difficult. "What's that about?"

    "Nothing really." Rai shrugged, turning around to walk back to their room. "My sister left a fair while ago, I've just heard about how strong she is so many times."

    Sean heard what wasn't said and wisely decided to listen and not press further. He glanced between Rai and the slope leading to the upper level, debating. He quickly decided to stick with Rai, everything was still far to strange and different to consider being alone.

    He heard the shinx sigh a little when he caught up and walked with him in silence back to their room. "I'm still really sore from yesterday," Rai admitted once they got to their room. Slumping down on the nearest bed he groaned. "I'm not used to getting pounded like that."

    Sean bit his tongue and walked to the second bed. "Well, yeah to be honest I'm not used to getting beaten up either. But when we find them…" he trailed off warningly.

    Rai rolled over to face him, consternation marring his expression. "Find them?"

    "We'll find those Team Skull assholes," Sean confirmed. Not a doubt lingering in his words. "And we'll get the Relic Fragment back."

    Rai blinked at him owlishly for a moment. "Noctowlishly?" Sean wondered, before Rai spoke.

    "You're a very strange pokémon," he said plainly. Sean gave a chuckle, but Rai's expression was firm. "You told me you were a human… I'm not sure if I believed you, but you don't act like any pokémon I've met before."

    "You've only just met me," Sean said. He knew it could be hurting his chances at being believed, but he still had to say it.

    "Yeah," Rai agreed before surprising Sean. "Exactly." He smiled slightly before yawning and closing his eyes. "I know we only just woke up, and I even normally wake up early, but I'm still so tired."

    Sean hummed his agreement. "I'm not such an early-delibird, but I don't sleep too easy either."

    "Heh," Rai laughed, eyes still closed. "Been here a day and you're already saying stuff like 'early-delibird'."

    "Thought it'd make sense," Sean said. He had planned the comment in advance.

    "Mm."

    They laid in silence for a moment, drifting off, but something occurred to Sean that wouldn't allow him respite until he had answers.

    "Rai? You still here?"

    "…Yeah. That's a weird way of asking if I'm awake though."

    "About the name thing you mentioned before…?"

    "Yeah."

    "What's the reason behind that?"

    "I don't really know. It's just polite to call someone you don't know, or just acquaintances with, by what they are. It's a privilege thing, something for friends, family and mates to call you by your name. Pokémon that go about telling everyone their names are usually regarded as, uh… w-well, you shouldn't do it."

    Sean digested that information for a moment, it made a comforting amount of sense. Still, there was one last thing on his mind.

    "You told me your name. And you barely know me."

    "You told me yours. Even if you didn't know the significance, you still did. I like to think, though, that we could be friends. Either way, I'm fine if you want to call Rai, as long as I can call you Sean. It's an odd name for a meowth, you don't look shorn."

    He chuckled. "The other pronunciation for that would be seen."

    "Seen? Sounds more like a Psychic-type name. Or something like a lucario or something."

    "Heh. I got a lot of people calling me Seen. Ever heard of the Meowth Theatre? Could think of Scene?"

    "Words are confusing."

    "Yeah. Shorn, Sean, Shawn. Whatever, I'll get used to Meowth."

    There was a bit of silence.

    "I'll do my best. Goodnight Rai, and… thanks. You didn't have to help me out yesterday either, but you did."

    "Goodnight Sean. And thank you. I never think I'd ever get to join the Wigglytuff Guild. If I had to lose my Relic Fragment to do it, well… that's just what had to happen."

    Rai fell asleep first, setting a trend Sean knew would persist. Sleep did not come to him as easily, though. Rai's last words lingered in his head.

    " Yeah… but you weren't supposed to lose it. That's not how the story goes. It didn't need to happen. But we will find it. We have to. Team Skull will turn up eventually, the expedition I think. I gotta make sure that happens…"


    Timeline wise things are already messed up a bit. Normally this day would have the job request to find Spoink's Pearl in the Drenched Bluff. But they joined today. But what does tomorrow bring, a certain predatory Psychic….
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 3 - An Upsettingly-Moist Excursion
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "I've taken a fly around town, Guildmaster."

    "Oh? How come?"

    "Just curious about our new arrival to town."

    "He was very thin."

    "Indeed. I have learned that he was first spotted with Young Shinx coming from the direction of his dwelling. Loudred and Diglett confirmed he came to the guild initially but left after someone, assumed to be Shinx. They emerged again at the end of the day appearing rather dishevelled and walked to Shinx's abode."

    "I am glad Shinx has made a friendly friend!"

    "Yes…."

    "Do you not think so, Chatot?"

    "I admit I hold some concerns. Where Meowth has come from and why he so swiftly struck up a friendship with Shinx."

    "Friends appear in mysterious places, Chatot! Lala, like in cupboards and under sinks! Just because they're a little different doesn't mean they are bad!"

    "I trust your judgment, Rhythm."

    "I trust yours, Trill. Let's support them both! Shinx struggles with confidence, if Meowth is helping him with that then that's great! They might both need help though, and Shinx was never one to ask."

    "Like his sister."

    "Yeah. Was that all?"

    "That was all."

    "Sing me my bedtime song, please."

    "Of course. Ahem."


    "h… y… ...k… u…"

    Sean breathed in and out. He was skirting wakefulness but was dozing just enough to know he was enjoying laying in one place, completely calm and comfortable.

    "Hey… w…k… up…"

    Rai smiled in his sleep. Enjoying a wonderful dream that he had finally gathered the nerve and joined the Wigglytuff Guild.

    "Hey-HEY!"

    Sean and Rai yelped as their noses were pinched by something very hard. "Wake. UP."

    With the claws coming out and electricity crackling to ward him off, Corphish stepped back to let Rai shock only himself and Sean.

    "Ugh…" Sean twitched, tasting copper from biting his tongue. "That was worse than the electric fence I accidentally touched."

    "What was that for?" Rai demanded, rubbing his nose and blinking the tears away.

    "It's time for the morning briefing," Corphish explained, scuttling back and further away from the danger zone. "You don't want to be late. Chatot will lose his feathers. I'm doing you a favour, hey-hey."

    Sean stopped growling and Rai stopped blinking. They glanced to each other before yelping again.

    "Hey-woah!" Corphish was bowled over by the pair scrambling to the assembly. They refused to make fools of themselves so early.

    "How did we sleep in so long?" Rai asked as they jogged. The distance wasn't far, and Corphish was gaining on them quickly.

    "You call that sleeping in?" Sean replied as they exited the corridor and were stared at by the entire guild minus Wigglytuff and Corphish.

    "It is for me," Rai muttered as they took places at the edge of the assembly, feeling awfully exposed. "I never sleep in that long."

    "Almost late, young apprentices," Chatot chided, looking them up and down.

    "You can thank me later," Corphish grumbled from behind them, before taking his place between Dugtrio and Loudred.

    "Alright," Chatot called over the soft rumbling of the talking pokémon and quieting them. "Has everyone met our pair of new arrivals?" He received a positive response from everyone.

    "Slept the day away I heard." Dugtrio turned to face them, three sets of eyes boring into them.

    Sean averted his eyes, uncomfortable at the sight of something brown and cylindrical popping out of the ground and speaking with three faces. He wanted to ask some questions but dared not to learn such forbidden knowledge. It hadn't bothered him yesterday, but yesterday he hadn't been pinched and then shocked awake.

    "Sorry," Rai giggled, nose going red. "We only meant to lie down for a moment. Guess our days before really weighed us down."

    "Hmm," was all Dugtrio said before Chatot cleared his throat.

    "Ahem. Either way, welcome to Young Shinx and Meowth. You are ALL expected to treat them well. You are all apprentices, you are all on the same footing even if some have more experience than others. Be polite and helpful if one comes to you for advice. Understood?" He was giving Loudred and Dugtrio a few pointed looks as he spoke, and both did their best not to roll their eyes at him.

    "Sure, whatever." Loudred shrugged. "I'm cool with them."

    "There were no issues yesterday, I imagine I will have no problem with them," Dugtrio said, bobbing briefly in place.

    "Good, good. Now." Chatot flourished his wing at the door he stood before. "Presenting our most illustrious Guildmaster."

    The doors opened and Wigglytuff strolled out. He had a smile, however vacant, plastered on his face.

    "Guildmaster?" Chatot puffed up grandly. "Do you have words of wisdom to share with us this morning?"

    Sean smiled happily, seeing the great Guildmaster Wigglytuff with his own two eyes beaming out at them tickled something young and innocent within him. He felt a grin pulling at his face, thinking of how amusing it was for Wigglytuff to stand around asleep with his eyes wide open.

    "Sure do!" Wigglytuff said, completely throwing Sean's expectations out the window and into the sea below. "Don't shirk work! Run away and… uhh…" he leaned over and whispered. "Line?"

    "Pay?" Chatot hissed back.

    "Right!" Wigglytuff beamed before continuing as brightly as he was before. "Run away and far away!"

    Sean found himself struggling to keep himself from laughing.

    He kept himself under control, however. Chatot was staring at everyone with an intense enough glare that any amusement would not be taken well.

    There was a tiny snort or titter than ran through the group, but everyone held flat enough expressions that Chatot couldn't determine which one, or ones, expressed such merriment.

    "Is that all, Guildmaster?" Chatot asked, pausing his suspicious scanning of the crowd.

    "Yup!" Wigglytuff turned to glide right back into his room but paused halfway, his back facing the crowd. "Oh wait! I thought of another one!"

    "Yes, Guildmaster?" Chatot asked. Wigglytuff stood there in silence. "We are… uh… awaiting your words of wisdom." Wigglytuff remained motionless, causing Chatot to hop to his side. "G-Guildmaster?"

    Wigglytuff spun back on the assembled apprentices, causing everyone to jump. "And three! Smiles go for miles!" With that he did a little dance, sang a little song, and twirled his way back into his room.

    After closing his doors, he quickly opened them again. "That has GOT TO be our new motto. Remember that everyone." He slammed his doors shut again but was heard singing again so no one was concerned.

    Chatot stood in silence, staring at the door, for a long moment before giving an imperceptible sigh and turning on the guild with a smile. "Let us all take our Guildmaster's wise wisdom to heart. So then… you heard the Guildmaster. On three! Smi… everyone. NOW!"

    "Smiles go for miles!" Everyone parroted back and Chatot nodded.

    "Could use some work," he mumbled before waving his wings at everyone. "Go. Do your duties for the day." The apprentices disassembled, besides Sean and Rai who remained where they were, exchanging looks.

    "Ah yes, you two." Chatot hopped to their side. "If you'll follow me." He began hopping to the ramp that led to the next floor and the pair quickly joined him.

    Chatot took them to their right and over to the job notice board. "As you were both fast asleep yesterday I doubt you were shown the notice boards, correct?"

    Rai nodded, but Sean raised a paw.

    "Yes?"

    "Is the board listed with tasks pokémon in the area want us to do?" he asked, hoping to sound informed.

    Chatot nodded. "Correct. If somewhat of a simple understanding." Turning he gestured over the board. "It is part of Chimecho's duties to receive job notices from farther away through the Psychic Network and she and I scribe them. Dugtrio is then to update these requests. On this board you'll find pokémon who need something done, be it finding something or escorting someone. This is your job for today, I'll just select one of these…"

    He hummed and hawed for a moment before plucking one off the board. "For a beginner team like the pair of you… THIS is the job the guild will have you do today." He handed it to Sean, as he was the one with the paws to handle it.

    As Chatot had been deciding, Sean's heart pumped hard in his chest. His mind swirled with what was supposed to happen, but that supposedly happened yesterday while they were sound asleep. He didn't know what to expect, how literal the days in the game were, how likely cosmic chance was or if he'd already screwed everything up ever.

    He glanced down at it fearfully and his heart did a strange jolt. His paws felt numb and Rai was the one who ended up reading it, looking down as Sean's paws were not that far from eye-level for him.

    "Help! My best friend in the world has gone missing! I am such an idiot, we had a fight over the stupidest thing and now she's gone into a dungeon without me! My friend, Psyduck, said if I wouldn't go with her, she'd go herself! I haven't seen her in two days! She said she was going to the Drenched Bluff! Please! Someone find her! I can't go myself, I'm too weak! Signed, Clefairy."

    Sean glanced down as Rai was reading, it wasn't english, but it certainly copied the exclamation point which was dotted all over the request. It bothered him that he could still read it, however.

    "The Drenched Bluff…" Rai tasted the word on his tongue again. "That's not far from here… maybe two hours?" He glanced down at the request again, a small frown starting on his face. "But this is just a finding mission. I thought we'd be doing exploration."

    "Hush please," Chatot said, giving them both a stern expression. "This is your first job. You cannot expect as difficult as a mission as that just yet. Exploring to discover or determine the limits of a new finding can be very dangerous even to prepared teams."

    He softened his tone slightly as the two looked scared of him. "After each mission you will debrief with either myself or the Guildmaster about your efforts. There you will receive feedback. Understood?"

    Rai swallowed, nodded, and smiled. "Then we'll prove ourselves like no one else! Right, Meowth?" He turned to Sean with resolute expectation on his face.

    "For sure," Sean agreed. "We'll find Psyduck and get her back here in no time."

    "Hmm," Chatot hummed and hopped to the side. "Well that is your task for the day. You best get to it, chop-chop."

    With the mission in hand, or rather paw, they leapt into action. Rai did at least.

    "Alright, let's go to the Drenched Bluff right now!" He was getting fired up, sparks were popping off him, and was running towards the ramp leading up already.

    "Wait, we need the Treasure Bag," Sean called, causing Rai to slide to a stop. "And our map… AND our badges."

    "Right." Rai nodded. "We left those in our room. Alright, I'll be back before you can say-" And he was gone, zipping down with speed Sean could only call unnatural.

    "Adventure." Rai finished, zipping back into place after a few seconds.

    "How did you go so fast?" Sean asked, blinking at the shinx with the Treasure Bag looped around him.

    "Easy." Rai grinned, turning to aim to the upwards ramp. "Quick Attack."

    He zipped up that as well, leaving Sean to try and run up as fast as he could. He had no Quick Attack. He was also clumsy and trying to sprint on two feet was decidedly harder than it used to be.

    Rai was waiting for him. Perhaps because the guilds gate was closed. He was tapping a paw and staring at a crank. Upon Sean joining him, he gestured. "We need to turn that to raise the gate. I, uh… might have trouble."

    They both looked down at Rai's paws and then to Sean's. Sean waggled his nubs and gave a grin. "Leave it to me!" he said grandly. With a flourish he strolled over and grabbed onto the crank.

    He was relieved to find it easy to turn, lifting the heavy metal gate with ease.

    "Okay!" Rai shouted, blasting into a sprint that kicked up a plume of dust. "Drenched Bluff, THAT WAY." He ran down the stairs before ending his Quick Attack, staring up at Sean who was taking his time with the stairs. "Come on. Adventure awaits!"

    "These stairs have a much worse drop for me now," Sean replied. He could say that being a little over a foot tall, and rather scrawny at that, was rather disconcerting to someone who had been quite tall a few days ago.

    "Plus," he panted as he reached the bottom. "Shouldn't we go into Treasure Town to get supplies?" The idea of rushing off into a dungeon with nothing but a bowtie was not something Sean wanted to do.

    He was also feeling new waves of panicked nausea at the idea of what they might miss if they didn't. Or maybe it was just hunger, he could see his ribs poking out through his chest.

    "Right… good point!" Rai ran at a normal pace towards Treasure Town, but Sean continued to have trouble keeping up with the shinx's pace. He hadn't focused on it the other day because of how much was going on, but he really could see his ribs if he bent the right way and pulled his skin taut.

    Previously he wouldn't mind being thinner. But this was a bit much. "How much didn't I eat in the future?" he wondered to himself before frowning. "…Yeah. Yeah that's right. Lost local memories but kept real-world memories? Is that how this works. Gotta be, I don't have any first-hand memories despite travelling back in time. Hmm. This is really weird, for entirely new reasons."

    Shaking the thoughts off, he focused on keeping pace with Rai. The shinx stopped for the minimum amount he could at Duskull's Bank before moving on. That, at least, Sean could approve of. His mind was elsewhere, thinking of the game. It was the next day, so Drowzee was around now wasn't he? Or was the day after? He couldn't remember for sure.

    Puffing slightly, feeling hungry, and wondering why the marketplace was as far from the guild as it could be, Sean was left in Rai's dust. He was relieved the shinx wasn't still using Quick Attack to move faster, but he was still too fast.

    "So, it's illegal to use moves in town," Rai mentioned just as a warning. "Even as a joke. It can cause someone to panic and attack back and then you've got a riot on your hands. Easier to just agree to not do it and then Team Magnezone doesn't get mad."

    He kept his newly-keen eyes as vigilant as he could. Scanning the place for any flash of blue or yellow. He saw a few, the town was a bit livelier this morning, but nothing that stuck out to him. He did spot a spoink however, bouncing around merrily with a pearl on its head. That was a relief of sorts.

    Wrapped up in his own thoughts, trying to remember painfully specific details of the game he knew, Sean almost walked straight into Rai when he stopped.

    "Sorry," he said on reflex, "almost bumped into you."

    "No problem," Rai replied before stepping to the side to reveal why he had stopped. "This is Team Razor Wind!"

    Sean looked up, and up, and further up still. A zangoose, scyther and sandslash all stood before them, all with natural sharp implements of pain and death glinting in the sunlight.

    "So, you're the freshy who's paired up with Shinx here," Zangoose said, smirking. "Well good luck. You're going to need it if you want to make it as an explorer."

    Rolling his eyes at his thorny leader, Scyther nodded down at them. "Make sure you stock up on seeds and berries," Scyther advised, exceptionally more pleasant than his leader in just nine words.

    "Always hang on to any reviver seeds you get too," Sandslash added. "Those things can and will give you the boost you need to keep going. Can be the thing that saves you in a long dungeon."

    "And no mercy." Zangoose sneered, but he seemed to have advice like his teammates. "The ferals won't give you any. Nothin' but merciless monsters out there."

    "Thanks, fellas." Rai smiled, somewhat dourly. "We appreciate the advice from experiences explorers like yourselves."

    Zangoose gave a scoff but gave Rai a friendly pat on the head. "One last thing. Keep some apples on you, always." He glanced at Sean with clear judgement of his bony frame. "You don't want to be stuck in OR out of a dungeon with no food."

    "Hey, guys!" someone called and Sean turned to spot the tall, and surprisingly buff, Vigoroth charging down at them. For a moment he thought he was being charged, but then he saw the expression on Team Razor Winds faces.

    "Hey... Vigoroth," Sandslash said awkwardly.

    "Hey, Shinx! Who's your friend? What's been up guys? Anything AWESOME!?" Vigoroth spoke to five people at once and then just kept on talking. Rai shot Sean a smile and gestured for him to join him.

    Sean glanced to Rai who was smiling and asked. "Is that normal" Sean thought it seemed quite condescending to pat another pokémon like that. Without asking or anything.

    "Zangoose is always like that." Rai shrugged. "Vigoroth too. Zangoose is nicer to me though."

    "That was nice?" Sean thought before asking. "How'd you meet Team Razor Wind?"

    "They're an Exploration Team! I just HAD to talk to them. Only took me three tries to get my nerve to approach them." Rai stuck his tongue out a winked before trotting forward again. "They're pretty awesome adventurers. Go for the tough stuff they do. Mostly rough dungeons. I think they're pretty cool."

    Sean nodded. He could understand that. "If that was how Zangoose is nice…" He didn't want to see Zangoose not-so-nice.

    Rai seemed to sense his misgivings and gave him an understanding smile as they reached a short line. They had reached the brothers Kecleon's shop and were waiting behind a marill and azurill.

    "Ah that's right." Sean smiled as it clicked into place. "This is where we first see them. Dimensional Scream too. That's going to be weird."

    "Thank you, Mr Kecleon," Marill said, young and boyish.

    "Yeah, thanks a heap Mr Kecleon and Mr Kecleon," Azurill squeaked, much younger and higher voice, but still unmistakably male.

    "You're welcome," the Kecleon Brothers said in chorus. The other pair of brothers smiles and went on their way, Marill holding a basket and Azurill a single apple. Azurill tripping right as he passed Sean, and the meowth bent to pick it up.

    "Here you go." He smiled kindly and got a shy one in return.

    "Thank you," Azurill said, grabbing the apple, before hurrying to join his brother. Sean waited. Nothing happened.

    "Sweet pair," Rai said as they stepped up into the shopkeeper's space of business.

    "Indeed," the green kecleon said.

    "Hardworking and honest," The purple one added.

    "Do you know if their mother is doing any better?" Rai asked as he glanced around the wares for the day. He received a pair of headshakes in response.

    "No better." Purple shook his head.

    "And to top it off, the family's treasure has disappeared." Green frowned, anger biting into his voice. Rai's face flashed with pain, although that might have been for the nasty reminder of his own misfortune.

    "Oh, Mr's Kecleon's!" The pair of blue brothers reappeared suddenly, rushing to the market stall. "You gave us an extra apple," Marill finished.

    "We didn't pay for this many," Azurill said.

    Green smiled. "That's our gift to you," he said, receiving starry-eyed thanks in return. A lot of them.

    Once the pair had left again, the two kecleon sighed in unison. "Do hope things look up for them soon."

    "They deserve it," Rai agreed before pointing out what he had chosen to buy, four apples and a Sleep Seed. Sean stood in silence the whole time, feeling somewhat out of place. Rai was clearly well-known and friendly with them already. It seemed unnecessary to try and inject himself into the conversation, and he had no money to buy anything with.

    What was bothering him more, however, was the lack of dizzy spells. He was almost certain the first Dimensional Scream happened after touching the apple. But not even a slight twitch of vertigo. He was feeling fine, fantastic even and he didn't like that.

    He felt even better after Rai gave him another of those delicious apples, and he hated every moment of it.

    "What's going on?" he repeated in his head. "Why isn't it happening? What do I do when…?" That's when he saw it.

    "Oh no," he said, accidentally out loud. A small part of Sean felt relieved, then he shut that feeling away under bars of shame and self-loathing. He shouldn't feel happy or relieved for what was happening.

    Drowzee was there. Drowzee was there. Drowzee was THERE.

    "Wow you've really seen our Water Float?" Azurill cheered, rolling a happy twirl around the predatory Psychic-type.

    "Indeed," Drowzee's oily voice reached their ears as Rai and Sean approached. He saw them and corrected his tone. "Certainly. I had no idea what it was, but thought it seemed unwise and potentially selfish to take it for myself. I left it where it was."

    "This is so amazing!" Marill grinned, he had set the apples down and shook Drowzee's paw. "Thank you. We've been searching for weeks now. It's very important to our family, it only works for us as well!"

    "Truly fantastic," Drowzee agreed, a glint entering his eye. "If you'd like, I could bring you there. For safety purposes, I am an experienced adventurer after all. None could guide you as safely as I could."

    "That'd be great!" Marill smiled, but then frowned. "Oh, but… I'm sorry, we really don't have the money to pay for your services. That's why we haven't gone to the guild or anything."

    "Think nothing of payment." Drowzee waved them off. "Helping you is all the reward I need."

    "Really, Mr Drowzee?" Azurill gasped, pure joy filling his voice, and Sean thought he spotted something resembling not-evil enter Drowzee's eye before he blinked, and it was gone.

    "Certainly. I was just up there, I know it'd be no trouble for me."

    "So, what's going on here?" Sean had enough. He moved closer and said his words very loudly. All three pokémon blinked at him before the brothers spotted Rai stepping up next to him.

    Rai glanced at Sean in confusion, he had been passively silent throughout the town. Now he was approaching someone? "Sounds like great news." Rai smiled and Marill and Azurill beamed back.

    "Yep. Looks like we've finally found our Water Float," Azurill explained before turning back to Drowzee again. "Thanks to Mr Drowzee here. He's the nicest, kindest, coolest ever! Except for my brother."

    Both Marill and Drowzee chuckled at that. "I don't think I'm that good," Marill started.

    "Your brother is definitely," Drowzee began.

    "Mr Drowzee is much better than me."

    "The greatest to you. Your own personal hero."

    Marill gave a chuckle and smiled at Drowzee. Drowzee smiled down at Azurill, but Sean saw only a leer.

    "Well, we had best be off if we wish to get back soon," Drowzee said, stepping past Azurill on one side and Marill on the next. He bumped into Sean and he felt the bump as something harder than necessary. "My apologies." Drowzee smiled and continued.

    Marill and Azurill waved their goodbyes and Sean waited. And waited. He wasn't sure about earlier, but he knew for certain that Drowzee triggered a Dimensional Scream.

    There was nothing.

    And that was a problem. Drowzee was going to take them to the mountain and scare them both really badly and they were meant to chase after them, but Azurill was so young and it reminded him of-

    A sudden wave of panic gripped him hard enough that it almost felt like vertigo, and he shouted out, "STOP!" He was loud enough that everyone on the street heard him. There weren't many about, the spoink was still here, a few shopkeepers and teams were there.

    Marill, Azurill and Drowzee did stop and turned with varying mixtures of concern, curiosity, and thinly veiled irritation. "Yes?" Drowzee snapped. "We are in a hurry if you don't mind."

    Sean swallowed nervously. He hated this. "Why did I yell out?" he asked himself. But he knew the answer. He could let this play out right and pretend he had a vision until they saw the poster at the guild. Or he could stop the boys from getting hurt in the first place.

    "I saw a Drowzee with a wanted poster," Sean declared, loudly, to the whole street. "So, I don't think it's okay for you to take those two without any questions." He hated talking without having any time to think about what he was saying, it made his heart pound and legs shake.

    Sean nodded to himself, feeling quite accomplished in how coherent he managed to be. Rai gave him a horrified glance and said. "A wanted poster? An outlaw!?"

    Marill glanced to Azurill worriedly but Drowzee kept his cool. "That is awful," he cried. "I understand your concern, applaud it actually, it is terrible when pokémon of your own kind act in such a manner to disparage their whole species. I know you understand as a meowth."

    Sean frowned, thinking. Drowzee had not reacted how he had thought. He scarcely even seemed bothered by the sudden and loud accusation and Sean couldn't help but doubt himself.

    "You won't forgive yourself if they're hurt," Sean reminded himself. Standing firm, he pointed the claw at Drowzee. "Prove it then."

    Rai was glancing between Sean and Drowzee quickly with concern. Drowzee was hesitating but found his words soon enough. "Very well. How may I prove I am as innocent as you?"

    The way he said that left a bad feeling in Sean's mouth and he pointed to where the guild could be seen. "Come with us to the guild and we'll check."

    "Oh please," Drowzee scoffed, loudly and louder still. "You wish to waste the guilds time with this? Marill and Azurill have a sick mother and I don't have all the time in the world. They need their item, this could take hours for you to be certain."

    "The wanted poster is up there," Sean insisted, lying through his teeth. "Won't take more than ten minutes."

    Drowzee hesitated again and received a glance from Marill. "I don't mean to be rude, but… I have to think about my brother. Let's just go to the guild."

    Drowzee stared at him blankly for a moment before looking up at Sean and Rai and nodding. "Very well. I have nothing to fear."

    The crowd glanced away, deciding the matter resolved and most of everyone relaxed. Sean didn't. Neither did Drowzee. They were staring at each other, tensed and ready.

    Right as Rai and Sean reached the trio, Drowzee moved. "YA!" Drowzee shouted, shoving Marill and Azurill into Team Ion's way with a hard shove and began sprinting away.

    Sean reacted almost as quickly as Drowzee did and was in pursuit. He tripped over Marill but landed on his feet and kept running.

    "Hold on!" Rai yelled, but Sean didn't listen. His heart was pumping hard, he wasn't thinking things anymore, Drowzee was quick but not as quick as a meowth. As if by themselves Sean's claws extended and then, as he fell further into the depths of righteousness, his claws began glowing white.

    He reached within scratching distance of Drowzee and went to slash with Power-infused claws. Sean used Scratch.

    It missed.

    Right as he went to cut, Sean was tackled to the side. He rolled in a furry-feline-fracas before being pinned.

    "Are you out of your mind?" Rai hissed, he had been the one to tackle and pin Sean. "I said you cannot use a move in town. You'll get arrested or be labelled an outlaw. NEVER do that!"

    He had spoken low, under his breath, so no one else heard. Sean distantly noticed Drowzee disappearing, no one else reacting fast enough to even begin the chase.

    "He's getting away!" Sean protested, Rai pushed himself off him and they both looked to see Drowzee disappear.

    "S-sorry," Rai whispered, Sean still just taking in what just happened. "But you really can't use a move here. The last pokémon to do so, well… it caused a terrible fight and the town was badly damaged."

    "But he… he… got away." Sean knew he was repeating himself now, but Drowzee was getting away. No. He HAD gotten away.

    Flushing with a mixture of anger, frustration, and nerves, Sean glanced down.

    Now that the adrenaline was wearing off he noticed he could feel something he had never felt before. It almost felt like blood flowing back into his arm after something had been cutting off his circulation, letting unrestricted blood flow to his arm again. It was like feeling the coolness of blood rushing to the tips of his fingers again, but somehow flowing even further than that.

    Frowning, he looked over his paw. It didn't feel like he had bled but summoning that Power and the feeling surrounding it; that was the closest description he could give. His claws were completely white, and almost flickering like mist.

    "M-Mr Meowth?" Sean started and felt himself return fully to the present when Marill's shaky voice reached him. The feeling faded and his claws returned to normal. Beside him, Rai sighed in relief. He had been blocking the view from anyone seeing the meowth's paw.

    "Uh… yes?" Sean asked.

    "Was Mr Drowzee really an outlaw?"

    "Yes." Sean nodded, trying to reorder his thoughts. "He was."

    Azurill popped up next to his brother and leaned against him, shaking slightly. "Does that mean he lied about finding our treasure?"

    "Y-yeah. I'd say so."

    The brothers shared a look and Marill gathered up the apples that had spilled when Drowzee had shoved them. "Th-thanks for stopping him. I don't know what might have happened if you didn't. We… we better get home. Thanks."

    Pressed together, they walked out of the town, towards home, together. Sean wanted to stop them, say Drowzee could be out there waiting, but he doubted it strongly.

    "Good work," Rai said, giving him a paw-pat on the shoulder. "You stopped an outlaw from taking them!"

    Sean tried to smile but could barely manage it. "He got away though." It was all he could think about.

    Rai nodded guiltily. "There wasn't much you could do. You put him in a situation where he had to run or else get arrested. He didn't take anything or anyone so it's a good thing!" He bumped his rump against Sean and knocked him over. "Oh, oops. I guess you're not used to that kind of thing?

    "No… no not really."

    "Come on then, if that wasn't too much excitement." Rai's lips twitched with a grin. "We've still got a Drenched Bluff to go through!"

    "Yeah." Sean agreed, falling into step with Rai. It stunned him how normal Rai was acting, how no one else batted much of an eye after the situation went down. A few pokémon had come forward, but Drowzee disappeared too quickly.

    "Shouldn't we mention this happened?" he asked as they passed by the guild.

    "When we get back, I think, we explain everything that went down on the day."

    "I suppose… someone could go looking for him."

    "It's too late now," Rai answered, he gave a sigh and they came to a stop. "Look you, uh… you did a good thing stopping him there but by the time we tell Chatot what happened he'll be too far away, and he might get mad at us for, uh, 'shirking work'."

    "That doesn't make sense," Sean said, crossing his arms grumpily.

    Rai cocked his head cutely. "That's how it is here."

    Knowing he wasn't winning this argument, Sean dropped it and they left town in a somewhat tense silence.

    Hoping to break it, Sean asked. "How come moves aren't allowed in town?" Sean asked. He wondered what other rules and social niceties he didn't know because this was certainly going to be different than what he was prepared for.

    "It's a peace thing really," Rai answered as they passed many trees. "Towns and civilisations seem to have that rule in common. If you have a disagreement, take it out of town or to a dojo."

    Sean's mind immediately went to Marowak's Dojo. He had spotted it, he was pretty sure, but hadn't gone anywhere near it.

    "Using Moves in town can upset the balance or something," Rai continued. "I think it's more to do with the fact that some predatory pokémon are, well, feared for what they could do. None of them eat anyone who's not a feral pokémon!" Rai insisted suddenly. "Well… not if they don't want to be an outlaw… um… but well, peace."

    "Peace?" Sean asked. "You mentioned a fight happened once or something?"

    "Yeah… Treasure Town was nearly destroyed by a fight that escalated from one pokémon attacking another, that led to someone trying to stop them, then a stray attack hit someone else and it all just went downhill from there."

    "I understand," Sean said. He was still shaking everything that had happened off. Still trying to understand why Rai was unfazed by it. He found the words.

    "You seem alright with it?" He looked right at the top of Rai's head. "Like that." He gave a twirly gesture, trying to show the befuddlement he felt. "Didn't just happen."

    "Well." Rai shrugged. "Not much did happen. No one was hurt. No one was taken. The outlaw ran away. You seem a bit frazzled though?"

    "It's not what I'm used to," Sean admitted, crossing his arms in a comfortable position. "I guess I'm still getting used to the fact I'm not in…" he trailed off. It felt almost taboo to acknowledge his beginnings, his world or the Dark Future. He could be confident it wasn't like this in that frozen hellscape.

    "Well if it helps, you act pretty okay so far," Rai said cheerfully. He chuckled when Sean gave him a disbelieving look. "You need a bit of work, yes, but so far you are handling this all pretty well."

    "So are you," Sean replied as they stepped past a trail leading to the left and further into an area Sean had never actually seen. He'd never seen the journey to a dungeon, the expedition didn't count.

    An hour later he decided it wasn't all that great. He and Rai chatted intermittently as they walked, trying to get to know each other a bit better.

    They started off with safe questions.

    "What's your favourite colour?" Sean asked. "Mine's yellow. Black too, but that doesn't really count as a colour."

    "Green," Rai answered. "What do you like to do to have fun? My eyes are yellow."

    "Well my eyes are green." They shared a smile. "Read I guess." Sean doubted any of his other interests would make sense to Rai. Games was assuredly off the table. "What do you do when you're feeling bored?"

    As they were nearing the Drenched Bluff, he had learned that Rai was excellent at reading the Wonder Map, they had moved onto slightly more personal questions.

    "Even without touching them at all," Sean finished. "I guess it's not very notable here." He wiggled his ears for proof and Rai wiggled them back. "But humans usually can't move their ears much without touching them."

    "That's odd to imagine," Rai laughed. "Hey, when did you- oh. I think we're here."

    The entrance of the Drenched Bluff was not particularly inviting. Drenched was an apt word to use when looking at it. As were other unflattering terms like moist, soggy and squelchy. The sounds their paws made of the ground and having to deal with the feeling oozing between his claws, haunted Sean as they walked forward.

    "Urgh, here's another fun fact about me," Sean groaned as they entered. "I cannot stand slimy things touching me."

    "It's not great," Rai agreed, grimacing. "Hopefully the dungeon itself will be more manageable."

    It was. To a degree.

    The Drenched Bluff was wet and slippery. Similar to the Beach Cave there were deeper pools of water where terrible things lurked, they made sure to avoid those areas.

    The walls were of a different stone, much greener and slimier than Beach Cave, but the ground was a mixture of the same green and a lot of moss and even more slime. There were many lileep around, but they seemed content to stay in one place and ignore them.

    "This dungeon's a bit older than Beach Cave," Rai said as they slipped around. "So, it'll probably be deeper."

    Sean tapped his explorer badge and realised no one had said anything about it having magical teleportation powers. "I guess we'll need to bring the psyduck with us as well."

    "She's probably scared to," Rai added. "And hopefully not injured. This place shouldn't be TOO big though. Let's take our time and get this done right."

    "You seemed like you were in a, wah!" Sean slipped over. Huffing he pulled himself up, ignored Rai's snickers, and said. "Hurry earlier."

    "We didn't run to the dungeon," Rai pointed out, he frowned and grew very still. "Careful. Anorith." Sean froze as well before glancing around discretely. A horrifying fossil pokémon, all legs and natural grossness, peered out from a corner. It warbled at them before turning and leaving.

    Breathing a sigh of relief, Sean made his way quickly to Rai's side, the ooze on the floor being used to slide himself all the quicker.

    "You're safer," he said when Rai chuckled at him. "Shush. I'm still learning. Teach me wise master."

    "Okay." Rai grinned back before going completely serious. "First things first. The lesson of how to not freak out over goo-" Whatever he was to say next was lost as Rai was launched back from a sudden hit.

    "RAI!" Sean shouted and tried to run to his side, slipped instead, and nearly did a backflip. He grunted in pain when he landed and groaned when he realised the goop was getting into everywhere.

    "Damnit," he grunted and tried to sit up. Before he could, a chingling floated to his side. "H-hello."

    "Don't say hello," Rai groaned, shaking his head. "It hit me. Attack it!"

    Chingling frowned and Sean's claws extended on instinct. It didn't like that and screeched at him, blowing him back as its eyes lit up with Psychic power. The Treasure Bag was separated from him and the chingling grabbed it gleefully.

    "Chin~ling," it sang mockingly at him, and Sean stared in pain. This one was much more coherent than some of the pokémon he had seen in Beach Cave, its eyes were less blank, but it still seemed incapable of talking to him.

    As he tried to stand, the chingling floated away, bobbing in the air mockingly as it went, a chime ringing from it.

    "Hey!" Rai shouted, firing a bolt of electricity, but he missed when the chingling swerved around it. "No! The Treasure Bag!"

    "I will get it!" Sean said grandly as he managed to stand and not fall over. He was able to use the slippery floor to his advantage and slide right across the room. "Get back here!" he snarled, claws out and ready for blood.

    "Wait, don't go on without me!" Rai said, but it was too late. He was hit harder by the Confusion attack the chingling had sucker-punched him with and was having trouble walking in a straight enough line to pursue.

    Rai groaned when he realised multiple pokémon had entered the room, emerging from the pools of water. However slow and ponderous, the shellos were coming for him.

    "Get. Back. Here," Sean demanded as he ran after the chingling. It was digging through his bag, stealing things and remaining out of reach. He was navigating the floor surprisingly well, but he couldn't change direction as easily as the horrible yellow bell and the chingling kept swerving whenever he got close.

    Leading him in a circle around one room, Sean was far to fixated on regaining his belongings that he failed to notice newcomers entering the room.

    The chingling laughed one more time before a Water Gun his Sean in the back of the head. The sudden thwack knocked Sean to the ground, water stinging and running rivets into his fur.

    "Chihihi." The chingling found the seed in their bag and immediately popped it into its mouth. It giggled for half a second more before dropping.

    "Oww," Sean moaned, rolling onto his back. "Oh no," he gasped as he realised two anorith and a shellos had appeared out of nowhere and were surrounding him.

    The one positive thing was at least the chingling was out, it had eaten the Sleep Seed that Rai had bought earlier.

    "Okay, BACK OFF!" Sean hissed, extending his claws. He felt his fur puff up slightly and the fluffiness helped make him look bigger.

    The shellos hesitated but both anorith were unperturbed by his threatening display. One clicked and the shellos fired another Water Gun, this one Sean ducked around. Taking a chance at his distraction, both anorith scuttled towards him, clicking and screeching.

    Sean was tackled by one and had the lovely sight of an anorith's mouth close up. With its eight feathery legs flexing and twitching and pair of mandibles dripping saliva, Sean had the delightful vision of being pinned by a gigantic ancient spider.

    He shrieked and threw the anorith off him with a burst of strength, it hit the roof with how hard he had thrown it. The other one came at him, mandibles glowing as it prepared an attack, but Sean lashed out blinding with his claws and hit it in the eye.

    Blood sprayed and the anorith screamed, jerking back and rolling over before righting itself and scuttling away. The shellos lost its nerve and slipped back into the water. The first anorith was not so cowardly.

    "HA!"

    A bolt of electricity made it rethink its bravery and a second direct hit sent the anorith fleeing for the corridors.

    Sean spun on the newcomer, instinct telling him to hiss and defend. Rai came trotting over, covered in slime, and beaming brightly. "Good work," he chirped as Sean remembered who he was. "Your claws are a bit… icky though."

    Sean glanced down and found he had remnants of eyeball on his paw. Shivering in disgust, he retracted the claws and dunked his paw in the slime, exchanging one gooey feeling for another.

    "That was NOT fun," Sean said as Rai reached their Treasure Bag.

    "You did pretty well though," Rai assured him. "Knocked out the chingling and scared two others off."

    "It ate the Sleep Seed," Sean muttered, coming to Rai's side and lifting the Treasure Bag off the snoozing chingling.

    "Oh… well all the better. Less trouble, that thing was annoying."

    Sean frowned slightly, it was a little jarring to hear Rai refer to another pokémon as a thing, but he shrugged it off. "Let's just find Psyduck and through here."

    He was suppressing more shivers and trying to forget the scream of the anorith. He also ignored the dots of blood that were mixing in with the slimy floor. Denial was nice and safe.

    Rai sensed Sean's discomfort and bumped him gently. He smiled at Sean's curious glance and Sean felt just the tiniest bit better. Rai seemed to be the physical sort, brushing up against him frequently as they had walked to the dungeon.

    In a far more comfortable silence than before, they continued wandering the dungeon. With Sean sticking right next to Rai, mentally replaying the fight he had, he felt better. The shinx was quite adept at shocking their attackers and making them flee.

    Very few creatures seemed to enjoy the feeling of voltage running through their bodies and few monsters bothered to try anything further after the first shock.

    Soon enough, however, the floor began to change.

    "Hold up," Rai said, coming to a stop. Sean stopped with him and gave him a questioning look. "We're nearly at the end of the dungeon. This looks like we're about to enter the last room, if we go too much further, leaving will take us right to the beginning."

    Sean sighed. "Where's Psyduck?" he asked, not expecting Rai to suddenly know.

    "We must have missed her," Rai guessed and turned back. "Looks like we're going for a trip."

    Frowning at the end, Sean followed Rai back into the slimy depths of the Drenched Bluff.

    An hour later, they were stumped. "I swear we've walked every step of this place," Rai groaned.

    Sean nodded in agreement. "I swear I've seen that lump of goop before."

    "They all look the same."

    "Exactly! We've crossed this place so many times I'm recognising the slime. Soon I'll be giving them names. Like George, and Larry. Lenny. Carl. That one can be Carl."

    "Don't let the dungeon get to you," Rai said worriedly, and Sean realised the shinx was actually concerned.

    "Haha, don't worry. I'm just kidding. I haven't gone far enough that I'm naming slime."

    "But you just…" Rai trailed off before shaking his head. More behaviour he didn't quite understand from the amnesiac human. "We're obviously doing something wrong. Even if Psyduck is constantly moving we should be finding her eventually."

    "Well," Sean began, not sure if he should speak his mind or not. "I mean. What if she got attacked and wasn't able to get away?"

    Rai's frown deepened, and he glanced away. "…Yeah," he said after a moment. "I'm trying to not imagine that could be the case."

    "Sorry," Sean said. "But she could be. Or she might have escaped the dungeon herself! Positive thinking!"

    "I know. I really hope not though. Yeah, positive thinking." He shook his head and stood firm again. "No! I refuse to let our first job be a failed one. There must be something we're missing. Maybe there's a passageway we've missed, or something we need to do to open one up."

    "Or," Sean said, heart soaring as he realised something they had missed. "She's not on the dungeon FLOOR!"

    "Huh?" Rai cocked his head, rather cutely Sean thought.

    "Psyduck are Water-type pokémon!" Sean said excitedly, and he pointed to the deepened water ways they glanced at the make sure nothing was emerging to attack from. But had ignored otherwise. "She might have gone into the water! There could even be more dungeon past those."

    Rai followed his paw and brightened. "Hey! That must be it." Rai immediately trotted to the water's edge and called out loudly. "PSYDUCK? PSYDUCK? IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, I AM SHINX. I AM AN EXPLORER FROM THE GUILD! YOU'RE FRIEND ASKED MY PARTNER AND I TO FIND YOU. IF YOU CAN HEAR US, COME THIS WAY. WE'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE!"

    He stepped away from that water and crossed the room to the second channel to call the same thing out.

    "Come on," Rai said, jerking his head to the corridor. "We've got to do that in every room." Sean nodded, and they ran to the next one, taking a place in each water way to call Rai's message out.

    They attracted a fair bit of undesirable attention, largely shellos popping out to spray water at them, but nothing Rai couldn't handle. Even Sean was warding them off with a few warning slashes with his claws.

    "Is this going to work?" Sean asked after they exited their tenth room. "I mean. Should we maybe try and swim? She might be stuck or lost."

    "I can't really swim," Rai admitted. "Can you?"

    Sean hesitated. He could swim, or at least he was able to previously. But even if he still could, entering the water and exploring without Rai to back him up was not an idea he enjoyed.

    "Help."

    Until he heard a cry. Both meowth and shinx spun in the direction of the previous room, exchanged a glance, before rushing to it.

    "CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Rai yelled and soon enough.

    "Yes. I'm over here," a feminine voice with a hint of a lisp, coming from one of the waterways.

    "WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" Sean yelled out, feeling a wave of caution hit him at just trusting a voice in a dungeon. They do anything to lure you in. He shook his head, feeling a little strange for a moment. He wasn't sure where that thought had come from.

    "I'm Psyduck," the voice called back. "I've been stuck here for ages now. I've hurt my arm and leg, and I can't swim. Please help me."

    They could hear her much clearer now, with that last comment they shared another look.

    "I can't swim," Rai said under his breath. Sean nodded, swallowed, and gathered his nerve.

    "I can." He peered over the depths of the water, noted any possible dangers, and took a breath. "Shock the water if you think you have to," he said, before not letting himself overthink any further and leaping in.

    The water was freezing. Drenched Bluff itself was pretty cold but the real chill was in the water. Sean gasped as his head broke the top of the water, taking in a lung of air. His body felt strange, clunky, like he was trying to steer something he had only watched other people control.

    He flailed all five limbs, tail flicking and curling as he tried to figure out how to swim as a meowth. "Are you okay?" Rai called, concern painting his voice bleak. Sean knew Rai must be seeing him struggle and he called back.

    He tried to put forth confidence. "Just a bit cold." He forced his feet to paddle, arms to wade and tail to just keep doing what it was doing.

    Eventually he got himself back under control and Sean made his way slowly across the water. It got into his mouth and nose and soon all he could taste was salt, not a pleasant taste when it was all one could taste.

    He reached a bend and glanced back to Rai, already seeming so far away. He knew once he passed this, Rai would no longer be able to physically help him. He was pretty sure salty water was more conductive of electricity, however.

    He passed the bend and found himself staring at more dungeon, and a psyduck.

    "Hello," he called, trying to smile and he slowly paddled towards her. Psyduck brightened greatly when she saw him approaching.

    "You've come to rescue me?" she asked, voice shaking.

    "Me and my partner, who's waiting on the other side," Sean answered, reaching the edge. He pulled himself out of the water, making sure he didn't gasp or otherwise imply weakness. He felt oddly tense, he couldn't place why but he didn't want to drop his focus on Psyduck.

    Psyduck was scared, likely hungry, thirst, and clearly injured. One of her legs was covered in dried blood and was already showing signs of infection. The sloughy skin was not looking particularly pretty.

    "How capable are you at swimming normally?" he asked as he laid a paw on Psyduck's shoulder.

    She started shaking and crying. "I-I-I. Oh gosh, I'm so stupid." She lunged and buried her bill into his chest, gripping his shoulders and sobbing. Sean awkwardly patted her on the back while trying to imagine how he was going to do this.

    He knew it wasn't going to be easy. But he had a bad feeling he was going to do exactly what he shouldn't and put himself at risk here.

    "Okay, okay," he said, voice low and soothing. "You are safe now. R-Shinx and I are going to get you out of here. But the hardest part is going to be getting across this channel of water. It's not very long, but if you can't swim then it's going to be a lot harder on both of us."

    "I-I can do a little," she whispered through tears. "I just can't keep myself above water. The blood too, the pokémon that live in the water attacked me because of it, I think."

    That was another issue. Sean hadn't been bothered on his way in, but he knew there was no guarantee on the way back. Still, confidence, or at least the appearance of confidence, was key.

    "Don't worry. You've got a Wigglytuff Apprentice with you. I'll keep you safe as we get across. Then there will be two!"

    Psyduck nodded and he supported her as they walked to the edge. "Here's what we'll do," he explained stepping a foot into the water. "I'll go in first and support you until you're in. Then I'll keep a hold of you on your bad side, and the two of us will use one arm and one leg to paddle. We'll be across in no time, especially with your flippers!"

    Psyduck choked out a laugh and nodded. Sean dipped into the water and didn't go under, paddling securely and waiting for her. Psyduck took a breath and let herself drop. She was much heavier than Sean was. At least five times as much, probably more.

    Still, water was a strong equaliser, and Sean was able to pull her up, going down underwater in the process. He had his breath and pushed off from the edge, giving them a boost in speed to begin with. She was heavier than he had anticipated, so he change his plan slightly.

    The air in his lungs began to burn and Sean loosened his grip on Psyduck slightly to allow himself to pull up to air without pulling her down. He took a breath and dunked his head again. Effectively pushing her along.

    He relied on her to guide them as he couldn't open his eyes underwater, popping his head up only briefly to breathe and not opening his eyes as they were wet.

    He could feel her flinch on occasion, pain from her leg as she instinctively tried to paddle with her injured foot. Something slimy touched Sean's foot, but he ignored it. It happened again, and he hoped they'd get out of the water soon. The fact that he was so light was actually helping him, allowing him to rise up and take a breath without plunging Psyduck down.

    Then something bit his foot and pulled, dragging Sean and Psyduck down with barely a cry. Rai was in sight when this happened, and he shouted out in horror as he saw Psyduck simply disappear into the water. The shinx breathed quickly, then quicker, when no one resurfaced.

    "Okay… okay!" He crackled with electricity but wasn't sure what to do. Sean had told him to shock if something happened, but Psyduck was there too now. He began pacing on the spot, debating whether he should try and jump in himself.

    Underwater, Sean writhed, letting go of Psyduck, extending all four sets of claws and slashing out wildly. He was in water though, so his movements where slow and clumsy. He felt the feeling of blood rushing again and felt it go to the foot that was dragging him down. He pushed on reflex and the claws in that foot shone briefly with Power. He kicked out and something gave.

    A warbling sound echoed through the water, but he was released. Eyes burning as he opened them, he grabbed the flailing Psyduck and hauled them both through the water up to air.

    Rai gasped in relief when Sean and Psyduck broke through the water again and he stopped pacing. Both of them coughed for breath, but they were mere meters away and Rai held a paw out. Psyduck gripped it in a flipper and tugged, easily pulling Rai into the water.

    Sean pushed, hoping the Psyduck would grab the edge, and thankfully she did so. He coughed and wiped an eye, spotting no Rai. His foot hit something, and he looked down into the clear water, heart jolting as he saw Rai going down, flailing as he tried to swim.

    He didn't pause to even take an extra breath before he went down and grabbed the shinx by the scruff of his neck. He exchanged places with him, forcing Rai up at the cost of pushing himself down.

    Things were dark down there, but nothing was stopping him from swimming. Sean swan up and headbutted Rai before breaking above.

    The shinx scrambled out of the water and Sean joined him, lungs and eyes burning. The three of them gasped for breath for several moments as they dragged themselves away from the water's edge.

    "See," Sean found his words first, coughing for another twelve seconds after speaking, "piece of cake."

    "I'm so sorry," Psyduck cried, covering her face. "I dragged you into the water."

    Rai made a strange bleating noise before pulling himself to all fours. "It's fine. L-let's just get out of here."

    Sean came to Psyduck's side as Rai came to her other and they helped hoist her up. The effort of that horrible experience combined with her exhaustion, injury, and hunger left her barely able to stand.

    Sean kept supporting her when Rai had to shock something. The salt clinging to his fur interfering slightly with his electrical attacks. But there was no further catastrophe that happened.

    "This is the end of the Drenched Bluff," Rai said as they reached a beautiful, oasis. All three of them were unimpressed, the beauty was not quite worth the near-drowning. "Let's go home."

    They gave Psyduck the third apple Rai had bought, that the chingling thankfully failed to steal, and she was able to walk mostly by herself as they made the journey back to Treasure Town.

    "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" After arriving back at the guild, they found Clefairy hanging around nervously. She spotted them as soon as they descended and nearly flew over to them. "Psyduck. I'm so, so, so sorry."

    With tears in her eyes, Clefairy held Psyduck by the flippers as the duck pokémon also began to cry. "No, I'm sorry. What were we even arguing about? It doesn't matter. I never should have gone, and I almost died because of it." Psyduck's voice broke very quickly and soon both pokémon were crying and apologising in each other's arms.

    Sean and Rai stepped back from the pair, smiling slightly as the reunion made everything more than worth it. Sean staggered his way over to Chimecho to speak with her.

    "Well done," Chimecho said immediately upon seeing he was coming her way.

    "Thank you." Sean smiled. "But I was just wanting to ask. Psyduck has a nasty wound on her leg, I think it's infected. Are you able to do anything about that?"

    "Oh, certainly!" Chimecho responded and floated over to the pair and began speaking to them, being shown Psyduck's injury quickly. Clefairy's gasp was audible from the floor below and she devolved into tears again. Chimecho quickly took them away to somewhere private.

    Rai stepped into place with Sean and they just sighed in relief. "Never thought about what happens after the adventure," Rai admitted, receiving a non-committal hum from Sean. They sat down and leaned on each other, enjoying a moment of peace and quiet.

    They weren't in peace or quiet for long. Chatot came hopping up from below and spotted them immediately. "Ah, just the pair I wished to see," he said primly, ruffling his feathers.

    "What can we do for you?" Sean asked, hoping Chatot didn't actually have something for them to do. Unless it was sleep.

    "I saw you completed your job and on the way to the medical wing, Clefairy stopped me to hand you the reward for rescuing Psyduck."

    At the talk of rewards, both pokémon brightened. Saving Psyduck was certainly its own reward, but something more was always appreciated. Chatot swung a small pouch into view and opened.

    "Here we have, oh very lucky you two." He pulled out three items and another, smaller, pouch that jingled. "A Blast Seed. A Reviver Seed and a Sitrus Berry. All very useful items for apprentices such as yourselves." He handed them to Sean, because he had the bag, and opened the smaller pouch.

    "A generous monetary reward also, very good." Chatot's feathers were puffing up quite a lot and Sean couldn't help but smile, knowing what was coming.

    "It seems," Chatot said as he counted the money. "Clefairy has given you two thousand Poké!"

    Rai beamed. "Two THOUSAND!?" He received more than a single glance at that. Chuckling embarrassedly, he said quieter. "Two thousand? Just for us?"

    "Well," Chatot said, and Sean's grin became rueful. "After taking in account guild training, guild meals, guild accommodation, guild exclusiveness and the Guildmaster own cut of the profits. You're sum comes out to, this much."

    He handed Sean two hundred Poké and Rai fluffed up. "Two hundred?" he only mostly whined. Chatot gave him a look that simply screamed him to dare and Rai sighed. "Fair's fair."

    "Very good," Chatot said brightly, all smiles again. "You keep all item rewards. So, make sure you make good use of them. With this completed, your job for the day is done. You may relax or do whatever you like. As long as it doesn't embarrass the guild. After dinner you'll come to the Guildmaster's Chambers for debrief, okay?"

    He began hopping away but paused to glance back. "Oh, and since you weren't awake for it at the time, dinner is served at the ring of Chimecho's bell. Listen for it as she won't ring more than twice." He continued hopping but right as he reached the ramp he paused again. "Also… good work today. ALL of it. I assure you the Guildmaster is very impressed."

    At that he did leave, and Rai smiled somewhat goofily. "The Guildmaster is proud of US!" He whooped and ran circles around Sean, making him dizzy. "Oof. I shouldn't do that again," Rai groaned, lying down. "Let's just relax until dinner."

    "Oh my gosh! I heard what happened it town today!" Sunflora came over to them, swirling in a giggly pile of plant and excitement.

    "Yup-yup, you scared a felon off," Bidoof said, coming to Sean's side. "I can't imagine doing that! You must have been real scary."

    "Hey-hey, I gotta say, that's not too bad new guys." Corphish also scuttled up to give his congratulations.

    Sean waved them off, feeling embarrassed as well as ashamed. "I didn't catch him," he muttered. "Who knows where he is now?"

    "Still a felon on your first real day, by golly. Not even in a dungeon, that's some spooky stuff yes-siree." Bidoof shivered. "Could be anywhere."

    "We wanted to check to see if you were okay," Sunflora added, and Sean smiled.

    "We're pretty good actually," he said, looking to Rai who smiled at him as well. "Bit salty. Literally I mean."

    "What kind of salty would you be otherwise?" Corphish asked and Sean glanced around for a moment. This was still weird for him.

    "In other news," he said, moving past the questions, "we DID complete our first real job," Sean nudged Rai and was bumped back. "RrrrShinx carried the whole thing."

    "No, I didn't!" Rai shot back, with surprise passion. "You saved Psyduck. And me from drowning. It was even your great idea that figured out where she was."

    "We wouldn't have gotten there if you didn't do basically all of the work," Sean replied. "I have to be useful sometimes or else people will wonder why you've got me on your team."

    "Team Ion is as just as much your team as it is mine," Rai said, giving him a challenging look.

    "Yeah," Sean agreed, stretching the word out as he tried to think of something to say. "I'm just saying that there was no way I could have even gotten through the dungeon without you." He left it unsaid that Rai could get through without him.

    "I wouldn't have found Psyduck if it wasn't for you," Rai insisted and they both nodded at the same time.

    "We're a team…?" Sean half-asked.

    "We'll be the best team!" Rai nodded back.


    It was after dinner and Wigglytuff had stopped dancing with his apple to eat it, and wasn't that the biggest, juiciest, looking thing Sean wasn't surprised he was obsessed with them. Just looking at the perfect apple made him want to leap across the table.

    After dinner they followed Chatot and Wigglytuff to Wigglytuff's chambers. There was a draft coming through the broken window and Sean noticed behind one of the drapes was another door that led further. He wondered where? It had to be down as they were right on the cliffs edge.

    "So, tell me! Tell me!" Wigglytuff beamed at them. "Tell me how it went, friendly friends!"

    They had prepared for this, chatting with each other and were ready. Rai stood a little stiffly, but Wigglytuff's earnest cheer relaxed him.

    "We had some trouble at first," Rai started, scuffing his paw slightly. "A chingling got a sneak attack on me and…."

    "I'm not the best fighter," Sean admitted. "Still getting used to it." With Chatot behind him, he missed the important look he gave to Wigglytuff. Wigglytuff gave no indication of anything behind him, smiling approvingly.

    "Understanding ones limits is the first step!" he said positively. "Continue, continue!"

    "So, we made our way to the end of the dungeon," Rai explained. "Without finding Psyduck. We discussed what we might have missed and turned around before we got to the end."

    Chatot nodded fluttering up next to Wigglytuff. "A smart choice," he said seriously.

    Rai smiled at the praise. "And so we went around again."

    This time Sean spoke up, "And still found nothing. We got worried she might have… been killed, or hoped she might have gotten out, but we had an idea."

    "Meowth had an idea," Rai corrected smoothly. "To go from room to room calling her name."

    "It wasn't just my idea," Sean said weakly.

    Chatot cleared his throat curtly. "Did you consider that calling out might attract more ferals?"

    Rai nodded. "We did, but at that point it was more important we find Psyduck. Meowth reasoned that since she could swim, she might be in a part of the dungeon we couldn't find, and trying to swim every channel would be more dangerous." Chatot nodded approvingly.

    "Eventually she called out," Sean continued. "And I was able to swim over and find her."

    "Chimecho mentioned she had a wounded leg," Wigglytuff said sadly. "How did you get her through?"

    "I swam us through."

    Chatot frowned. "That must have been risky, you are rather light for a meowth, and your species is not known to be avid swimmers."

    "I didn't have much of a choice," Sean said. "Being as light as I am I was able to surface for breaths every few seconds while pushing her."

    "Did anything attack you underwater?" Wigglytuff asked. Sean nodded. "I see. You did a valiant thing, but it's not right to risk yourself to that level, Meowth."

    Feeling abashed, and from Wigglytuff of all people, he glanced down.

    "Tell us how you resolved the attack?" Chatot asked gently.

    "I scratched it with my lower legs and kept swimming."

    "And I made a mistake myself," Rai said, ears tilting but he was ready to be in trouble with Sean and not the only one with a spotless record. "I reached out for Psyduck, but she ended up pulling me in. I can't exactly swim and so Meowth got her out and then went back for me."

    "He was just trying to help," Sean added, he shuffled closer to Meowth.

    Sensing perhaps their worries Wigglytuff smiled cheerfully. "It sounds like your first mission was a rousing success!" he beamed. They both blinked up at him, not expecting that.

    Even Chatot nodded. "Quite so. It is good to go in with a plan of attack, but matters always change in the moment. Neither of you two would be expected to swim, and so developing a way to solve the problem and rescue someone in great need is very admirable. There are things to learn from this endeavour, perhaps arm yourself with a rope in your common supplies?"

    "Ooh!" Wigglytuff bounced. "Or quick seeds! Go so fast you can run over water! Shinx can use Quick Attack, that plus a Quick Seed could totally be fast enough! And that'd be so cool! Swim really fast too."

    "Quite. You enjoy the beach, do you not?" Chatot asked Rai, who nodded. "I would advise taking some time to learn to swim. Meowth could even assist since he has the skill!"

    Team Ion smiled at each other, relieved they weren't in trouble and grateful for some tips of advice. Sean was glad they were taking the time to do this, it had never happened in the games, so he wasn't sure what to expect, but this was nice. It made him feel supported and Rai was silently agreeing on that.

    "One more matter," Chatot said, growing serious again. "The tussle in town with Drowzee. Are you both okay?"

    They nodded, Sean a little slower to do so. They noticed that and Wigglytuff hummed. "You can speak if there is anything you want to say."

    "I, uh… I probably acted too fast," Sean said ruefully. "Since he got away."

    "Not in the least!" Chatot barked, sounding angry but his words didn't seem so. "Preventing an outlaw from taking those young boys. That is far more important than capturing one."

    "He… but he could do it again to someone else!"

    "Perhaps he could," Wigglytuff said. "But he would have done it to them. You did a good thing, and a brave thing as well. We are both very impressed. You have a good heart, Meowth."

    Blushing under the praise, Sean didn't know what to say and so just managed a, "Thank you."

    "That is all," Chatot said. "Now," he added sternly. "It is expected you get a good rest and be up bright and active tomorrow. You cannot rely on your fellow apprentices to wake you in time, understood?"

    "Yes, sir," they chorused.

    "Sleep well," Wigglytuff hummed, doing a spin. "And dream good! Nighty night."

    Excused, they went to their room in comfortable silence.

    "Hey Sean," Rai asked, later that night as they lay in their straw beds.

    "Yeah?" Sean answered, after thinking for a while.

    "Why were you so sure Drowzee was a wanted pokémon?"

    "I saw the wanted poster." It was technically true when looked at it from his perspective. The game had shown Drowzee's wanted poster. "I wanted those two to be safe, so if it was rude to call Drowzee out like that, well… I'd prefer to look like a jerk than feel like an idiot for letting two kids get kidnapped or something."

    "That makes sense. I saw the poster too, later." Rai shifted, rolling over into a new position. "That was really brave of you, I couldn't imagine doing something like that. I'm glad the brothers weren't hurt. And thanks for saving me when I nearly drowned."

    "Thanks for saving me all those other times. Too many to count really."

    "Heh. Goodnight, Sean."

    Rai couldn't sleep. He didn't want to doubt his partner, but he had checked the outlaw notice board. The Drowzee was there for sure, but upon seeing him looking at it, Dugtrio had mentioned he'd only just put it up. How had Sean seen it?

    "Goodnight, Rai."

    Sean couldn't sleep. He couldn't help but replay the events that led to Drowzee fleeing. No Dimensional Scream, acting as rashly as he did. He didn't regret saving Azurill from a traumatic event, but Drowzee had a role to play later. Sean couldn't help but worry, what he was changing with his presence, why it was changing, and what the consequences it would cause.

    He believed in Rai. He wasn't so sure about himself though.


    I think it's right for the guild to actually be shown doing some sort of training. Thus, debrief with Chatot and Wigglytuff. Seems responsible of them.

    I also must thank Viroro for looking over this chapter and giving me some beta help!
     
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    Chapter 4 - Fracas With a Fiery Foe
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "AND THREE! SMILES GO FOR MILES!"

    Sean stifled a yawn as the guild gave their now-routine morning cheers. Rai was perfectly awake, happily shouting along, while Sean still disagreed with getting up so early.

    "What's so good about it?" he thought mutinously as Chatot dispersed the group.

    Loudred and Diglett went to their normal place, Diglett quickly burying underground as Loudred boomed his unnecessarily loud voice. Sean watched with a bit of interest as Loudred hopped over to a little cove in the shadow of Croagunk's creepy shop. He couldn't spot it from where he stood, but the previous night on the way to dinner he had seen that there was a lever and pully to open the gateway.

    Croagunk himself reached his strange shop much faster than Sean had seen him move when dinner was called. The poisonous pokémon stroked the cauldron that laid bolted into it before moving further into the weird shop and out of sight.

    The others had all already gone to the next floor, amidst a surge of chattering and multiple high-pitched 'Oh my gosh' Chatot called out. "Corphish, if you will?"

    Rai and Sean themselves didn't leave yet. The rest of the guild knew what they were doing but they didn't. Chatot would have to tell them.

    "Hey-hey?" Corphish gave his usual verbal tick as he scuttled back over to them. "What can I do for you today?"

    Chatot extended a wing towards the pair of feline pokémon. "Today I believe it would be best for Shinx and Meowth to tackle an outlaw." Rai stiffened up while Sean counted to three, even less comfortable with the idea. "As I have business to attend to today, I would like you to explain the outlaw notice board to Team Ion and help them select a suitable pokémon to go after. Understood?"

    "I hear you loud and clear." He clicked his pincers before turning to the pair with a smile. At least, as best as Sean could tell. Crustaceans, even crustacean pokémon, didn't perform the most varied of expressions. "Let's get to it right away!"

    Sean and Rai exchanged a glance before nodding. Corphish gestured and turned to lead the way up to the next floor. Before they reached the incline, he paused and turned back to Chatot, interrupting him before he entered the Guildmaster's chambers. "Does this mean I get the rest of the day off?" he asked eagerly.

    Chatot immediately puffed up in fury. "Absolutely NOT!" he squawked, causing Corphish to deflate. "It will be no trouble for you to do this task. Afterwards continue with your work, understood?"

    "Yes sir," Corphish replied glumly and Chatot nodded. He fluttered off and Corphish led them to the next floor.

    "Over to the left here." He pointed, and they quickly followed. Sean continued stifling yawns as they walked, but Rai was perfectly chatty this morning.

    "How long have you been part of the guild?" he asked, stepping into line with Corphish. Despite his knowledge of the guild, Rai was relatively in the dark about the apprentices.

    "Hey-hey, it's been about." he paused before trailing off. Rai cocked his head as Corphish mumbled some stuff under his breath before shaking his head. Glancing around, he spotted Sunflora over at the job notice board and yelled out. "HEY, SUNFLORA?"

    Sean, and Rai for that matter, flinched at the volume. It wasn't as intense as Loudred, but still very close to their ears.

    Sunflora, equally as loud, and three times as shrill, screamed back. "YES?"

    "The guild isn't that big," Sean moaned to Rai, who nodded in agreement.

    "HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN IN THE GUILD?"

    "SEVEN MONTHS!"

    "HEY! THANK YOU!"

    "YOU'RE WELCOME!"

    Satisfied, he turned to the pair and answered at a reasonable volume. "Seven months."

    "Cool," Rai said softly. He rethought asking any more questions after that experience.

    "Now, look at this board!" When neither feline pokémon looked, Corphish clicked a pincer threateningly. That got their attention. "Look. Here."

    Rai gulped nervously as Sean's own breathing grew shallower. On the outlaw notice board there were surprisingly accurate pictures, along with scrawled letters that Sean still had no idea how he could understand.

    With one eye squinted, Corphish aimed a pincer for a moment before firing off a very weak, highly controlled Water Gun. It knocked a notice off without smudging a bit of it and he snatched it out of the air with a dignified flick of his pincer.

    "Wow," Rai said, rather impressed.

    "Nice work," Sean added.

    "Meh." Corphish waved a pincer at their compliments, although there was an extra sparkle to his eyes as he handed over the job he had selected. "Take a read of it and tell me what you think?"

    As Sean was the one with dexterity, Corphish handed it to him.

    He quickly lowered it down so that Rai could read along. Sean read silently, although Rai still spoke out-loud.

    "Help! That jerk Litleo stole my golden ribbon. I chased him for as long as I could, but he ran into a dungeon, and I can't go in there. Please, could someone enter the Oran Forest and get my ribbon back before he sells it? Thank you. Signed, Charmander."

    "A Fire-type?" Sean asked curiously. "Wait. Litleo?"

    Rai was frowning, his eyes turned to Corphish who looked entirely normal. He stared, and Corphish stared back. Sean wasn't sure what this was for or if he needed to give them a private room.

    "Eh," Corphish said with a click of his claw. "I think this would be right to start with. Just some petty thief rather than someone intense. Like Drowzee!"

    Sean cringed before grinning bashfully. "Yeah. I saw what his wanted poster said. Scary stuff."

    "OH MY GOSH THAT WAS AMAZING RIGHT?"

    Sean and Rai jumped, tails going rigid as Sunflora shrieked right from behind them.

    "Don't do that!" Sean tried to say, but his words were smothered in Sunflora's chest when she embraced him.

    "What a brave pokémon you were. Standing up to Drowzee, saving the brothers, it just makes me… EEEK!"

    She swung him around, giving Sean a sensation he hadn't felt in years when he was small enough that other people could swing him around, before settling him down.

    "Oh my gosh you two are going to be, like, just the best!"

    "Yup-yup." Bidoof was there too and made his presence known with the last verbal tic of the trio. "I got shivers when I saw Drowzee's wanted poster. The thought that he was in Treasure Town, and nearly made off with two of our youngins. It just makes me…" He began to shake, but it didn't seem to be out of fear. "Makes me...!" His voice rose to an intense crescendo before he slumped. "Well, I'm just relieved you stopped him."

    Bidoof's little ball ears fell flat for a moment before he perked up again. "So, I'm glad we've got a couple of great new rookies in this here guild. Yup-yup, Meowth, Shinx, I think things are gonna improve with you two here."

    "You… hardly know us." Sean was feeling somewhat dizzy with the praise. Part of him wanted to embrace, glorify it, even ignoring the dual shame and fear at failing to catch Drowzee as well. The rest of his apprehension was sourced in one simple matter. "You're all really nice," he said. "That's just… nice."

    Meeting these people, seeing them close up and not as pixels on a screen. It was crazy, really. Loudred was not exactly pretty close up, and Sunflora was incredibly lively, constantly swaying and moving, stroking things around her. Bidoof was honestly a bit chubby, but he was twice as adorable as Sean could have ever prepared for with big happy eyes.

    Rai stepped up beside him and bumped himself against Sean in a friendly gesture. "Let's bring in our first... Litleo." Rai was looking greatly uncomfortable, and Sean wanted to ask, but everyone was looking at them.

    Or really at Rai with sympathy in their eyes? Okay, he was definitely going to ask once they were alone.

    Smiling weakly at him, Sean tried to summon the same enthusiasm. Failing that, he attempted righteous zeal. Neither worked to really sell it. "Yeah. Let's… rustle us up a bad pokémon."

    "You'll do fine Meowth," Sunflora said, easily sensing his discomfort.

    "Hey-hey, I wouldn't pick something you couldn't handle," Corphish said. "Go get them Meowth. Shinx too!"

    "Yup-yup, you'll do great by golly. Meowth. Shinx. I'm rooting for you two."

    "Thank you!" Rai grinned as he hopped from side to side. His smile was overly large, and he was buzzing. "Come on, let's get going! To the Oran Forest!"

    He went to run, but remembered Sean wasn't as fast as him. Waiting politely, if impatiently, Rai watched as Sean addressed the rest of the pokémon.

    "Thank you," he said. "And, by the way, feel free to call me Sean. It's my name and I'm fine if you'd like to use it. You're friendly."

    He was smiling, remembering Rai's words from the two nights ago and expecting some sort of sappy, emotional, reaction. And perhaps a part of him was burning with curiosity of what the trio's name were.

    What he received was Sunflora falling back with a gasp, Bidoof squeaking in shock before choking and Corphish rearing back with both pincers clacking.

    Sean glanced to Rai in panic and saw the shinx burying his face in his paws, unable to deal with the second-hand embarrassment. Sean had made a complete fool of himself.

    "What did I do?"

    "N-no, that's fine," Sunflora said, coming back to her feet and being the first to speak. "Um… the time. Jobs. I have to go now."

    "M-m-m," Bidoof attempted before ducking down and running after her. Corphish clicked his pincers one more time before picking up on Sean's utter confusion.

    Still, all he said was "No thanks," and scuttled off without another word.

    Sean turned to Rai for explanation, but the shinx was too mortified to say anything more than. "Let's get to town." And walking off without giving him time to process.

    Once they had exited the guild and were alone, Sean had to ask., "What was that?"

    Rai turned to him, disbelief colouring his face and voice. "You're kidding right? I told you!"

    "What did I do?" Sean wasn't sure why, but he was embarrassed. He knew it was because of what he said, but the real why was a mystery to him. "You said names are a thing pokémon give to friends. I thought I was being friendly."

    Rai looked him up and down for a few meters, seemingly coming to the understanding again that Sean really didn't know what he was doing in regard to social niceties.

    Wetting his lips, Rai tried to gather the words to help the amnesiac understand.

    "Amnesiac is one thing," Rai thought to himself. "But this really is just… he really wasn't a pokémon for all his life."

    Sean didn't know it, but at this moment Rai fully believed his claim of being a human before.

    "What I said about names is true," Rai began, deciding to just talk and hope for the best. "You tell them to family, if they don't know already, friends. And… well… mates."

    Sean nodded, feeling that awkward feeling when you are embarrassed, and your tongue feels too big in response to it. "But… I said it to all three of them. As a friendly thing. They don't think… do they?"

    Rai's nose was visibly red and his obvious level of discomfort at the topic was causing newfound horror the bloom through Sean's everything.

    "Telling all of them. At once. In public too… that's what… uh…" with each stutter and hesitation, Sean's apprehension at what Rai had to say grew.

    "Spit it out," he demanded before wilting. "Please."

    "That's what night-mates do." Rai finally managed to say it. Using words that meant almost nothing to Sean.

    "Huh?" He cocked his head before shaking off the weird tic. "What is a night-mate?" He already knew, he just didn't want to think about what he just said.

    "SHH!" Rai hissed, causing Sean to flinch in surprise. His features softened, and he apologised. "Sorry. Night-mate is… how do I explain it? A pokémon who…." He was going redder again and Sean held his own paw up.

    "Okay. I get it." It was almost funny how relieved Rai became at the words, once the requirement to speak was gone. "Although... how do you know?"

    It was kinda funny to see Rai spark in embarrassment, made him feel the slightest bit less mortified. "Well, last time this happened is when I found out."

    "Last time?"

    "Yeah, you know our room how Chatot said Team Celestial stayed in it?" Sean nodded. "Well, apparently the grovyle there told people his name and it was a bit of a scandal before being cleared up."

    Sean blinked, a grovyle? Couldn't be....

    Taking Sean's silence as understanding, Rai winced and said, "Yeah. Not the best thing to say to our guildmates. On our second day too…"

    "Sorry," Sean drew out the word, emphasizing his regret. "I thought that was friendly!" he groaned, the implications beginning to really dawn on him. "What are they going to think of me?"

    "Some really awkward stuff," Rai confirmed.

    "Oh my… ffffrick!"

    Rai was a blushing mess, but at least the ice of the day had been broken by Sean's embarrassment. Rai's blush began to recede as Sean thought about what he'd have to say to make them realise he wasn't a 'night-mate'.

    The day was lovely. The sun was shining bright, and dewdrops still hung on many leaves and grass. There had been quite a storm the previous night, the rain having lulled Sean to sleep even when Rai started mumbling something.

    One question remained on the tip of his tongue even as they entered the town, spoke to Duskull, waved to three separate teams and made their way to the Kecleon Market.

    "No one's going to, uh," Sean trailed off, wanting to put this delicately. "P-proposition me, are they?"

    He wanted vague and meaningless platitudes that'd let him ignore the complete fool he made of himself. He wanted a blunt and honest answer that would make him coil up in disgust but at be freed in understanding.

    "I doubt Sunflora would have told anyone, yet."

    Yet.

    Sean pressed a paw against his forehead as Rai went up to order what they needed for the upcoming dungeon. Even the looming threat of an outlaw seemed like small-fry compared to Sean's embarrassment.

    "I should just never speak again," he thought to himself as Rai gave plastic smiles and went through the transaction emotionlessly.

    Oran Forest didn't seem so scary anymore. So that was a plus at least.

    By the time he remembered he had something to ask Rai, he'd forgotten what it was.


    "What IS this place?" Sean growled hours later.

    They had reached Oran Forest, with Sean vaguely noting it was close to Apple Woods, and entered the dungeon. Whatever he was expecting, he had forgotten it in the wake of horrified shame.

    Either way, Oran Forest was bizarre.

    With Beach Cave and Drenched Bluff there was a sense of order to the chaos. The waterways were always there but they were difficult for their pair to cross and were mostly ignored.

    With the Oran Forest, a dungeon made from trees rather than rock walls, the path was much more difficult to maintain.

    There were still passageways and rooms of sorts. They were rather stunning, twisted pathways of multicoloured leaves and branches, warping together in a beautiful display of natural engineering. Walking through a passageway was like going through an overgrown tunnel, one where you couldn't even see the former brick and stone.

    The rooms, however, and many patches of the tightly-woven passageways led into the untamed dungeon. Areas where there were even fewer rules than the ones these places scarcely obeyed in the first place.

    A place where dangerous pokémon lurked and treasures unlike those that were found in the rooms could be found.

    Rai had, however, strongly warned him off even considering stepping off the path.

    "Places like Drenched Bluff are really only dangerous if you go deep into the dungeons, off the path and over the waterways. Until there aren't any passages anymore and only cave."

    He defended them as he always did. Shocking the Bug types and the odd Grass type off.

    "But places like this? Forest dungeons. They are some of the most dangerous. It's a lot easier to leave the path and can be a lot more difficult to find your way back. I've lived in Treasure Town for a while now and I've heard that There are much more cases of lost pokémon in forest dungeons than other dungeons because of pokémon leaving the path. So, don't do it, no matter what you see or hear."

    Being in a dungeon, however, brought topics to mind that focused on the task at hand, and both were happy to discuss them. Rai explained what he had bought at the Kecleon Market, guessing that Sean didn't watch him while he did so.

    Most of it was food, along with rawst berries to treat burns. They weren't nearly as blue as Sean had been led to believe, as both rawst berries were a nice green colour. Rai explained that they were unripe rawst berries, having the same effect as the ripe ones but with a substantially better taste. Also with a substantially higher cost, but the shinx couldn't stand bitter foods.

    He didn't bring any orans, but the reason was perfectly clear. The dungeon was named Oran Forest for a very good reason.

    Lastly, Rai had bought a blast seed and sleep seed, citing that Sean had done well with the Sleep Seed earlier. "Plus, you need all the help you can get at this stage!"

    "Thank you so much," he gratefully accepted all the help he could get, especially if they were going to be fighting.

    They went through the dungeon for what felt like hours before, finally, Rai caught something.

    "Is that…?" He paused to sniff the air. "Smoke?"

    Sean breathed in as well. Being small and a cat was still weird, but he was adamantly refusing to think about the fact that his body both felt right and wrong at once. At least the trade-off came with an enhanced sense of smell. Not as well as a canine, Sean was sure, but it was something.

    "That's smoke," Sean agreed and they both thought the same thing.

    "Litleo."

    Sean allowed Rai to take the lead for once, making sure to stick close to the far more competent member of their duo, as Rai led them down a few corridors and through three different rooms.

    And then Sean remembered what he wanted to ask. "Do you know Litleo?"

    Rai froze. That was a yes, then.

    "We don't know if it's the same one from town," Rai said lightly, but Sean wasn't willing to accept that and move on.

    "What if it is?"

    Again, Rai paused. "I… well, he stole something, so we take him down and bring him back." Under his breath he added. "Can't believe that."

    "Why not?"

    Rai blinked at him, maybe not expecting him to hear. "I… okay, I guess it's fair I tell you. Litleo and I don't get along. He's a bully and has been picking on me for years for not getting into the guild. No one likes him, he's crass and perverted when not being a bully. I guess I'm surprised he's actually stolen something, he never actually did something like this before."

    Sean nodded slowly, taking that all in. "Oh. Are you looking forward to this then?" Rai had been very driven on the walk over, not talking much and staring right ahead.

    To that, however, Rai shrunk a little and shook his head. "No." And that was all he said.

    Not comfortable with prodding further, Sean just let the matter drop and they continued on.

    "Smells like he didn't go off the trail," Rai commented. "Or at least, not for long."

    He slowed to a near stop and Sean slowed down with him. Both of their hearts began to pound as Rai spoke without turning back. "I think he's in the next room."

    Neither of them had stopped completely, but the knowledge that a fight was coming was a little nerve-wracking.

    Sean tried to psych himself up for it. "Come on. You actually fought Koffing and Zubat. Not well, but you at least tried!" He couldn't help but note the fact that he still thought this was a dream at the time, along with the fact that they were supposed to happen. No litleo was in the games. "Because the pokémon hadn't been designed yet." Sean quickly cut that line of thought off. It made his head hurt to think any more deeply into it all.

    "Okay," Rai said, turning to Sean this time to meet his eyes. "You ready to do this?"

    "Sure," Sean said, throat catching as his mouth went dry. He withheld the cough and smacked his chest to try and suppress the need. "In a week. Maybe a month."

    Rai gave him an odd look. "Are… can you do this?"

    Sean paused, looked Rai over, saw the light shake in his back legs and the pleading look in his eyes. He sighed and gave a smile. It was small and rueful, but genuine. "Yes, I'm right here with you. Let's do this."

    Rai held his eyes for a moment before nodding. "Awesome."

    He turned back and they both took a breath. Rai burst into a Quick Attack, leaving Sean in the dust for a moment, entering the room with a battle-cry.

    The only occupant of the room, a small lion-like cub with a mohawk that looked like flames, started at their arrival.

    "What are you doing here?" he demanded, eyes tracking Rai as he moved.

    "You're coming with us," Rai shouted, alerting Litleo to the fact that Sean was there too.

    "Oh. Oooh? Heh." Litleo smirked, mohawk actually bursting into flames as he readied his Power. "And why do you want that? Huh, Shinx? You're a big bad explorer now so you think you take me?"

    "You know what you did," Rai growled, sparking with electricity as Sean stepped by his side. "You stole Charmander's ribbon. How could you do that?" The words carried a lot heavier feel to it then they maybe should have.

    "Like he was ever going to use it," Litleo shot back. "What use is it? At least I can use it! Look, just back off, I'm using it to get out of here. You won't have to see me again, you'd be happier with that. Right, Shinx?"

    Rai's mouth fell open, taken aback before he growled, metaphorically shocking both Sean and Litleo. "Absolutely not you mudbray's ass! You're coming back with us RIGHT. NOW."

    Litleo, to his credit, recovered from his surprise at the supposedly meek and cowardly Rai's words with a growl. "Language, Shinx." He grinned, but as Rai began to spark he began to smoke. "You're going to have to knock me out."

    And with that, he attacked.

    Not wasting any time, Litleo took in a heavy breath as his mohawk burst into flames and he didn't use Ember or Flamethrower. No, a kanji-symbol formed as he used Fire Blast!

    Sean scrambled out of the way as Rai darted to the right with Quick Attack. Rai rushed forward, electricity bolting towards Litleo who similarly dodged the attack.

    Sean couldn't help but watch the Fire Blast. There were many things he expected once it hit the dense 'wall' of the dungeon room. In its own way, a massive explosion and hole gouged out of multiple ancient trees was one of them, but he could hardly prepare himself for how real the battle just became to him.

    "Holy shit," he whispered as, far more, minor explosions began ringing out from the battle. Both Litleo's fire and Shinx's electricity clashed in elemental barrages.

    Thundershock's and Ember's danced with the pair constantly slamming into each other in impromptu tackles and speedy Quick Attack's. Every so often, when Litleo found a reprieve, he'd charge and send a Fire Blast Rai's way. How he knew that move, Sean didn't want to know, he was busy staying not on fire.

    The constant explosions and bursts of electricity were, however, beginning to set the area on fire and Sean found that staring off into space may not have been the best thing to do in the middle of a battle.

    Yelping as Rai nearly hit him with a stray Thundershock, Sean set his sights on the far wall behind Litleo and made his way there as quickly, and safely, as possible. Digging through the bag without looking, looking away from the fight spelled death in his mind, he felt around for the seeds.

    Sean knew that the blast seed was pricklier than the smoother sleep seed. They still weren't very large, and it took time for him to find it whilst on the edge of the battlefield.

    "This seemed so much simpler in the games!" Sean thought to himself, angrily pawing through the bag. The claws came out at one point, but after getting his paw stuck three-too-many times he forcefully retracted them.

    He glanced down from the battle for a moment, moving his eyes from where the pair had stopped for a moment to growl and prowl around in a circle.

    "MEOWTH!"

    Only to look up when Rai screamed his name. He looked up to see a kanji-shaped plume of fire heading right for him.

    Sean froze.

    "I always feared that I was the kind of person to freeze up in situations like this." Was a distant, fleeting thought that ran through his mind instead of moving out of the way.

    Fire Blast wasn't the fastest attack, but the distance between Litleo and him wasn't very far anyway. Rai tried to rush forward in a Quick Attack to knock him out of the way, but Litleo had hoped for this very action and sniped Rai with an Ember attack. When Rai was down, he leaped on him all claws and fire and savaged the shinx.

    Rai yelled out and fired off a Thundershock. He didn't need to aim it with Litleo right on him. The harsh electrical whine and zap did two things.

    It sent Litleo flying off him, trailing smoke.

    And triggered a sense of recollection in Sean.

    Sean leaped to the right, narrowly avoiding being clipped by one of the arms of the Fire Blast. He was safe.

    Until the Fire Blast hit the wall of trees right behind him and exploded. Explosions had force to them beyond just their impact zone.

    Right as Sean came back to his feet with a smile, he was blown forward by the concussive force of the blast and was sent sprawling. The bag too, was flung clean from him and landed on one of the burnt-out patches.

    "Sean!" Rai yelled again, dropping his concentration for a second time.

    Litleo had already picked himself up. Breathing heavily, one leg going numb, and with electrical burns over his body, he seemed more pissed-off than anything.

    Not dropping his advantage, he breathed a concentrated Ember attack which impacted the side of Rai's head.

    "Gah!" Rai fell down, clutching the side of his head.

    "You did good, Shinx," Litleo huffed as he stepped forward. "Better than you believed you could. But you're not good enough. Not yet."

    That was where Sean knew he was to get up and say something meaningful and profound. Dazed from the double impact, he could barely stand without wobbling.

    "Hashamuh," he warbled before frowning. "That's not right. Try again."

    "Noo…no-no-no." He waggled a paw as if drunk before pointing an accusing claw at Litleo. "WRONG!"

    Then he fell down again.

    "I didn't hit him that hard… or at all really," Litleo mumbled, confused and a little concerned by the display. "Anyway." Motion caught his eye. "Oh." He saw that Rai had stood back up. "Fu-"

    Rai used Thunderbolt!

    A critical hit!

    Litleo howled in a jolting scream as Rai put all the effort he could into the attack.

    Sparking with electricity, Litleo wobbled on all fours. Twitching from the residual jolts he crumpled to the ground.

    "Yeah!" Sean cheered from the ground. He forced himself back to his feet, noted that he really didn't feel THAT bad, and repeated, "Yeah! Rai you did it!"

    Breathing heavily, sweating and burned, Rai turned to Sean with the second-biggest smile he'd seen him wear. "I DID IT?!"

    "Nuh uh."

    Team Ion's faces fell, barely having time to turn to Litleo before he hit Rai with a Fire Blast.

    Rai was blasted back with a tiny cry, sent skidding along the leaves and dirt until he rolled to a stop, smoking.

    "RAI!" Sean screamed, but didn't drop his attention from Litleo for more than a split moment. He already began to dodge as he turned back, leaping to the side and landing on all fours to avoid a second Fire Blast.

    "How many of those can he DO?" Sean thought to himself as he raced around, avoiding Ember's and Fire Blast's.

    "Who are you to call Rai's name like you know him?" Litleo shouted over the din of battle. "Who are you to walk into town out of nowhere and convince HIM to join the guild!?"

    Panicking he tried to dig a paw into the Treasure Bag but was reminded it wasn't there anymore. It was beyond his grasp, being unfortunately close to Litleo.

    "Coward!" Litleo roared, firing fire with every breath. "Stop dodging and FIGHT ME."

    "Nope," Sean replied, having fallen into complete panic mode and all the unthought-out comments that came with it. "Throw yourself into a river!"

    "I HATE water," Litleo growled before deciding ranged wasn't cutting it and rushing forward.

    "That's the POOOIIIINT!" Sean froze on that word as he began running for his life, jumping and zigzagging with every few steps. More than a few Ember attacks made contact with his back and legs and one well-aimed Fire Blast knocked him off his feet and he rolled onto all fours. But nothing severe made full contact and the energy of the flight-or-flight reaction was full in effect.

    It couldn't last forever, though, and Sean was coming to realise that while this new body may be bestial and far more fit than his previous one endurance running was not something felines, or feline pokémon for that matter, were known for.

    One perk of humanity he never thought he'd miss.

    Thankfully it also meant that Litleo was suffering a similar fate. Both of them panting for breath and Sean finally saw his out. Rai wasn't back up yet, but perhaps he didn't need to be.

    He'd done his job.

    And Sean had a plan. He'd built it from scrap thoughts and tied it together with hope, but it was an idea. He had cycled around, and he had a straight shot for his salvation. He ran forwards in a burst of speed even as his muscles screamed at him to stop. He knew if he did, he wouldn't be able to get back up.

    Not stopping yet, Sean threw out an arm and grabbed the Treasure Bag in one swing. It was still in one piece, having been spared from the wrath of the earlier explosion. Everything had been jumbled, but for once the chaos worked in Sean's favour.

    He grabbed the seed that jumped to the top. He ran for a few seconds more, not having the willpower to turn to fight right away, but his legs were burning, his lungs were burning, everything felt like it was burning. Mostly from the exertion, but also from all the flames being thrown at him.

    Planting a foot, and extending those claws, Sean came to a stop and spun on Litleo. "HA!" Sean yelled victoriously and threw the seed with all his might at the unprepared Litleo.

    Unprepared for defiance due to the Fire Blast he had already sent.

    The seed hit the Fire Blast in mid-air and the explosion from the blast seed managed to cause enough push to detonate the Fire Blast as well, sending a ripple of painfully hot air across Sean's face. The Blast Seed was nowhere near close enough to do anything more than ruffle Litleo's fur.

    "You're kidding," he groaned. Litleo had paused when Sean turned as well, but a smirk was relighting his face.

    "Your only weapon I guess?" It was not a question. Not really.

    "I have MORE!" Sean threatened, paw digging into the bag dangerously. When he didn't pull anything out Litleo laughed in his face.

    "Coward and a liar." He shook his head, smouldering mohawk waving in the air like a fluffy target to bat at with claws. "Well, from some stranger who's hoodwinked Rai, what was I expecting?"

    The dig at his current species touched a nerve Sean didn't know he had.

    Sean thought of Rai, down, hurt, possibly if not likely unconscious.

    Sean grew angry.

    "You're right actually," Sean said, letting the bag fall to the floor, paw clenched around the object he had hidden away. "I am." His face was feeling redder than he'd ever felt it. Even if the fur would hide the angry flush he was sporting. "You know what else I am?"

    Litleo had paused, graciously enough, to let him speak. Such a thing would mystify Sean in times to come. The politeness in many strange and violent situations he found himself in.

    "Beaten?" Litleo growled, snapping his teeth.

    "Nope." Sean emphasised the p before running forward with all the speed he could manage. Litleo jumped in surprise before firing an Ember, not having the time to build the flame necessary for a Fire Blast. Sean covered his face with his other arm and ran through it. He'd experienced embers before. None as focused or painful as this, but he didn't let them stop him.

    Sean got a view of Litleo's snarl before he punched him in the mouth, with the paw that held a clasped sleep seed. Forcing it into the litleo's mouth, he felt bones pop in his wrist as Litleo's head was knocked back from the force of it.

    With the claws of his other hand, the arm that was blackened with now-burnt fur, he slashed Litleo across the throat with claws that glinted with black.

    To his distant surprise he didn't draw blood, but the hit was still severe.

    The sleep seed took effect, cutting short Litleo's pained yowl, and he staggered. Sean gasped as Litleo raised a mouth filled with crackling flames and he realised Litleo may have burned the seed out before it could affect him. He braced for agony, but nothing came.

    "Heh," Litleo gave a weak laugh as his head drooped, coughing out some ash. "Little Shinx has someone huh? We'll see how long you stick around before," he trailed off as sleep took hold and he slumped to the ground.

    Panting in a mixture of exhaustion and exhilarated fear anger, Sean raised a foot to stomp down on Litleo's head. But hesitated. The anger didn't rush out and leave him, but the sudden clear-minded bloodlust had. He lowered his foot before stumbling back.

    Not finishing his attempt at a boastful moment, even to an unconscious opponent, Sean turned back and rushed to Rai's side. He grabbed the Treasure Bag again as he did so and fished out an oran berry.

    "Rai?" He knelt by the shinx's side and gently shook him. He received a groan in response and was relieved to see he was still somewhat conscious. "Here." He held out the berry. To no response.

    "Right," Sean mumbled to himself, he pulled the berry back and cut into it with his claws, without noticing how the juice stung his paws or how sticky it made them. He brought the smaller chunks to Rai's mouth and slowly stroked his side, where there was less burn. "This'll help," he coaxed and soon Rai took a nibble.

    He remained kneeling by Rai's side, glancing back to Litleo every few seconds, until the shinx had eaten three berries.

    "Ugh," Rai groaned and came to his feet. "That was unpleasant."

    "Sorry my ha-paws," Sean corrected. "Taste so bad."

    "Not that," Rai said, before glancing to Sean's face and seeing the small smile. "Right. Joke."

    "You're a bit knocked about, I can't blame you for being a little slow."

    "Ow." Rai whimpered as everything ached. "What happened to…!?" His eyes fell on Litleo, conked out and laying completely unconscious. "You beat… you… beat HIM!?"

    "You sound surprised."

    Rai immediately went red. "I-uh-uh."

    Sean laughed. "I forced a sleep seed into his mouth. He'll probably wake up soon."

    As if cursing the devil, Litleo's eyes began fluttering and he groaned.

    "Quick!" Sean yelped, scrambling back as if that'd help. "Take him out!"

    "Wha?" Was all Litleo managed to say before a bolt of electricity brightened the room and knocked his lights out.

    Team Ion sighed in relief when Litleo crumpled, not getting back up this time. Both of them still watched him carefully as they approached, Rai leading the way. He nudged Litleo a few times before nodding. "He's down."

    "Alright then," Sean beamed, feeling immense relief wash over him. He looked over Litleo for a moment before realising. "How are we going to get him back?"

    "Carry him I guess," Rai answered, looking over the… litleo they had defeated. His face was carefully blank, not looking happy or sad.

    "Joy," Sean deadpanned before looking around. His eyes fell on the far side of the room, where Litleo had been camping as they entered, and wandered over there.

    "Hey," he called, catching Rai's attention. "Is this a bag?"

    It was. And inside were a few things, a rather nice sheet, food, equipment, and a gold ribbon. "Found it!"

    Rai grinned. "Perfect! Help him onto my back and I'll carry him back to town," Rai called, and Sean quickly joined him.

    Before hoisting Litleo up, Sean had to ask. "Are we really taking Litleo to the police? How much trouble is he going to get into for this?"

    "I dunno. More if he hurt Charmander, but… I doubt he'll get in any real trouble for this." Rai sent another dark look down at Litleo. "But we can't leave him in here! In this state he may not be able to get out before a feral takes a chance."

    Dragging him out wasn't the most pleasant thought. Even if Rai was the one doing it. But no part of Sean, however vindictive, would have agreed with leaving Litleo in here.

    Hoisting the dead-weight of an unconscious litleo onto a shinx's back. One of the many things he never thought he'd do, Sean positioned Litleo as best as he could before nodding to Shinx.

    "Thanks for the orans," Rai said as he began to drag himself and his load forward. "You didn't need to give me THAT many. I feel better than I did before the battle, besides the pain."

    "It's Oran Forest," Sean defended, shrugging and picking up another berry from the ground. "See. They're everywhere."

    Smiling, Rai shook his head in bemusement. "You got me there. But you can't do that every time I get hurt. Unless I really need it."

    "How will I know if you need it?" Sean shot back. "Especially if you're going to act like you aren't as hurt as you really are."

    He meant it to be playful, but Rai cringed at his words nonetheless.

    Talking quick to avoid Rai feeling any sort of bad, Sean quickly put his foot in his mouth and said, "I can't believe made everyone think I was a whore today!"

    Rai squeaked and nearly dropped Litleo. "I thought we weren't going to talk about this morning. At all. Ever. And don't say… that word. AND," he emphasized the word when Sean went to speak. "What do you mean 'everyone'?"

    "I said it in front of Sunflora," Sean answered, deadpan and completely honest. "Does she NOT seem like the kind of person who would gossip that?"

    "Th-that's a good point actually," Rai admitted before shifting sharply, shifting Litleo back into a more stable position. "She IS the town gossip. Oh dear, I didn't think of that."

    "I'm so embarrassed about it," Sean admitted. Part of him didn't want to speak of it, hope it'd be never brought up ever. At all. In all time. But a different part of him didn't mind making a bit of fun about himself, and another part of him just welcomed being able to talk to Rai.

    He decided to listen to that last part.

    "Did you see their faces? I mean wow." Sean laughed but Rai was blushing again. He almost stopped and apologised for making things awkward, but Rai actually gave him a small, teasing, smile.

    "Not really," he admitted. "I was kind of burying my face in the ground. Just the secondary embarrassment was painful."

    "I can assure you," Sean promised. "The full embarrassment once I realised what I said was just as bad."

    "I would have thought it was worse?"

    "Nah." Sean shrugged. "I don't know how you were feeling exactly. And, really, it WAS funny. Horrifying, socially isolating, probably going to have… uncomfortable moments to come. But we'll laugh about it!" To prove it Sean laughed. It was fake, but it wasn't meant to sound real.

    "You're," Rai trailed off, a small smile on his face. "Very optimistic."

    "What can I say?" Sean shrugged, it was true after all. "It's much more pleasant to see the good. Plus." He winked. "When you know exactly how to see the bad, it becomes a lot easier to figure out the good. Even if it's just a future thing."

    "Wise… I think?"

    "Not old enough," Sean said. "Unless you are calling me old in which how dare you!"

    "I'm not saying that!" Rai yelped.

    Sean paused, sighed, and apologised. "Sorry. That was a bit of sarcasm."

    They lapsed into a bit of silence, cut only by Litleo's snores. Sean decided the Oran Forest smelled very nice.

    "A lot of what I say is meant to be joking," Sean eventually said, rubbing an arm uncomfortably. Then from pain when he was reminded what a number Litleo did to him. Glaring briefly at the unconscious Fire-type, he continued. "I really don't mean to bring up uncomfortable stuff for you, or mean it if I say something… short? Rude. Just. What I'm saying is, I don't care if you WERE calling me old. I know you weren't, and even if you were, me saying 'how dare you' is meant… playfully I guess is the word."

    "I see." Rai nodded. He didn't completely, but he was getting the gist of what Sean was saying. "I guess I'm not used to someone who doesn't say exactly what they mean all the time."

    "Are all pokémon really that blunt and straightforward?" Sean asked.

    "Yeah." Rai nodded before frowning. "No. Most pokémon are; you can be sure that your friend or neighbour means what they are saying. It's kind of what keeps communities together, since outside of towns and such can be really lawless." Rai shook his head. "Are humans really so… dishonest isn't the word I want to use?"

    "But it fits." Sean nodded. "I… I guess. Sort of? Not to sound bad or anything, but most humans will speak white lies, just little things, day-to-day. There's also sarcasm. Don't you have that?"

    "Certainly." Rai nodded, and Sean relaxed. "But it's generally thieves and other lowlifes that use it."

    "Ah."

    "Yeah. Look I trust you." Rai turned to meet his eyes and Sean knew, even without the previous information on honesty, that Rai was telling the truth. "I also trust what you say. So, it is a bit weird to try and figure out what you are saying truthfully and what you mean as… a joke."

    Sean nodded, this was just more things he knew he needed to learn if he wanted to survive here.

    "This world is so strange," Sean said, completely honestly. "I'm serious there. It's nothing like I ever could have imagined." Sean smiled, a tiny bit of self-loathing fell into his face. "That's a lie. Not a complete one, I knew mechanically what this is. Culturally? Never would have seen this coming."

    "I think your world would be strange," Rai responded, sticking his tongue out. "I can't imagine trying to get around there… so I guess this is really hard for you huh?"

    Caught a little off guard, Sean nodded. "I've only been here, what, three days? I've already made a complete fool of myself in front of the guild and barely know how to talk to anyone besides you. I'm not even used to fighting. Like this, or at all really. You'd almost do better without me."

    "No, I wouldn't." Rai rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't have been able to knock Litleo out without you. I'd be unconscious, lost in a dungeon. Maybe he'd help me. Maybe he wouldn't. I wouldn't even be here without you. Stop putting yourself down."

    "I said almost," Sean pointed out but received a flat stare-back from Rai. "Alright. Alright. Jeez, I hear you. I'm awesome. I'm amazing. Best explorer ever, and he's chatting your ear off awkwardly right in front of you!"

    Sean smiled and glanced over to Rai. Right on the edge of his vision he swore he saw Litleo smiling, almost nuzzling into Rai's neck. By the time he had turned properly, Litleo was definitely still out of it. He resolved to keep an eye on him though.

    "I wouldn't say 'best'," Rai said, smirking. Sean fluffed up a bit, then noticed the fur and began patting it down awkwardly.

    "That's also weird. Having fur. Claws." Shivering he flicked his tail and noticed it. "Tail." They walked further in a comfortable silence before Sean said. "Wigglytuff though. Best explorer, right?"

    "Maybe," Rai replied, smiling vaguely.

    That caught Sean off guard. "Maybe? Who else? Team Ch-" He cut himself off right there, almost saying Team Charm. It wouldn't do to let slip something he, maybe, shouldn't know. "Chargelight?"

    "Chargelight?" Rai replied. "Who are they?"

    "No idea," Sean answered, honestly. "Made up a name in hopes of getting a winner."

    "That what you did for our name?" Rai grinned and before Sean fluffed up again, he answered the question. "Wigglytuff is definitely one of the best explorers ever, he and Chatot. There are some teams which each could be the best explorer team, but I think the best current explorer works all alone."

    Sean suddenly felt a wave of déjà vu, and along with it a sinking feeling. "Oh right."

    "Dusknoir!" Rai said, utterly beaming upon saying the name. "He's this AMAZING explorer that appeared out of nowhere recently. He's tackled some of the most remote dungeons on the continent, found like seven new ones, and defeated a few of the baddest bad guys around and brought them to justice." Speaking of Dusknoir seemed to open the floodgates and Rai continued gushing.

    "He became really legendary when he, singlehandedly, saved an entire village that had been swallowed by a dungeon. Saving hundreds of pokémon before the dungeon could claim them. Dusknoir is easily the greatest one-pokémon-team out there. I'd like nothing more than to meet him one day and say thank you."

    "Thank you?" Sean asked, deciding that was the most pertinent thing to focus on. "For what?"

    Blushing slightly, realising he went a little too far into fanboy mode, Rai explained. "A… a month or so ago I lost hope I'd ever be an explorer," Rai admitted, looking very uncomfortable. "I just didn't think I could ever get the courage to even apply. No one thought I could do it either." He grimaced and his eyes flicked to where Litleo laid on his back. "I mean, the pokémon in and around Treasure Town who did know me were nice about it, but I know none of them ever thought I'd ever gather the nerve to even try to go through with it."

    He sighed sadly. "I'm sure there are plenty who think I'm going to drop out as well. I won't. Not ever! Not when I have Dusknoir to meet and live up to! It was him who made me believe I could do it. When I learned about the village he saved, all by himself, it made me want to meet him all the more. And I'd never be able to do it, especially as anything more than just a nameless fan, if I didn't become an explorer just like him!"

    Sean felt somewhat awed at that. He knew, subjectively, that the partner, Rai, looked up to Dusknoir. Never truly why though. Not in this detail.

    Swallowing slightly, he nodded, shoving away the dark voice that spoke of Dusknoir's true intentions. What that meant for the future. What it meant for Sean himself. "He sounds amazing," he said, receiving a beam and a nod from Rai. "We'll definitely meet him one day."

    It was no lie.


    "And we got the ribbon back!"

    Rai was explaining to a relieved Charmander at the guild. He had received word his job had been achieved and had come racing. "He wasn't easy to fight with Fire Blast, but we got there!"

    Eyes sparkling in gratitude, the Charmander swayed his tail, staring at his gold ribbon. "Thank you so much!"

    He put down a bag and danced off. Chatot came flapping in once Charmander was gone. "Excellent work you two."

    Sean and Rai came down to the lowest level for Chatot to distribute the rewards. "Well done you two, your first outlaw mission was a roaring success." Chatot chuckled to himself as if he spoke a grand joke. "Your tasks are done for the day. You may relax now, but only in ways that maintain the guild's image! Come to the Guildmaster's chambers after dinner as usual."

    He gave a significant look to Rai before he hopped away, with a majority of their money.

    Rai watched the bag of poké disappear with a mournful sigh. "Farewell sweet cash," he whispered before shaking it off. "We did it, Sean!"

    Then Rai was dancing, and Sean could only smile and wonder why dancing around was socially polite but giving your name wasn't.

    "Oh well," he thought to himself, catching Chimecho's eye and noticing how she turned away quickly. "Least we're back."

    Once they were given an all-clear by Chimecho, she tutted over their injuries a bit but the nurse did good work, Sean decided to clear the air.

    "Hey, Sunflora?" he asked awkwardly as pokémon mulled about. She looked up and politely trotted over to him. "I just wanted to apologise for this morning."

    "Oh, it's nothing," Sunflora assured him. "Just a bit of a surprise, it's okay. I've put out the word for you."

    Oh. No.

    "Pardon?" he asked, hoping he'd misheard.

    "Yeah. A few pokémon seemed interested and-" He was going to die.

    "I'm not!" He blurted out. "Just hit my head and forgot things!"

    Sunflora froze. "Pardon?" she asked weakly.

    "I was just being friendly," Sean babbled quickly. "I forgot what that meant, I'm not I'm not a night-mate at all!"

    Sunflora stared at him in dead silence for a moment. Then she snorted and giggled. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe I tried to spread- oh my gosh. Not again! I'm so sorry, why didn't you say that earlier!" She was giggling in embarrassment rather than getting upset at least.

    "I was embarrassed," Sean said, staring at the floor with his face on fire. She continued to giggle uncontrollably. "Can you tell whoever you told that… no?"

    She nodded, still giggling. "It won't be hard." She giggled harder. "To clear up. Just like last time, at least no one really approached Luno so you should be fine. Wow. Wow. Wow. Okay. Hooo. Okay. Serious Sunflora." She slapped her face a few times with her leafy limbs. "Serious. You hit your head?" Sean nodded. "Sorry about that. It's cool, I'll clear things up for you."

    After a quiet dinner that grew in volume as Sunflora explained the mistake on Sean's behalf, Team Ion followed Chatot and Wigglytuff.

    "Do the others not do these debrief sessions?" Sean asked curiously.

    "They do." Chatot nodded. "But not after every mission. Besides, err." He cleared his throat, it would not do to continue speaking that. "Never mind."

    Wigglytuff beamed at them. "Good job, Team Ion!" he cheered. "A difficult mission completed!" He flapped a piece of parchment in front of him, pretending to read. "Chimecho says you got a bit roughed up," he said apologetically.

    "Shinx, you were knocked out at one point?" Chatot asked.

    Rai nodded. "Yeah. We thought we'd won but he wasn't as down as I thought and got me from behind."

    "Shinx carried the day," Sean added.

    "Meowth finished him off though."

    Wigglytuff giggled at them sticking up for each other. "It's good that you both did well! I am very proud of you both!" And then he rolled over to hug them. "We mostly wanted to ask… are you okay?" he directed the question more so towards Rai than Sean.

    Rai nodded. He didn't speak, however.

    Wigglytuff clapped him on the back and gave them space. "That's good! I want my friends to be happy! It's okay if you're sometimes not happy, though." He did a little spin. "As long as you're happy to talk about it with someone."

    "Thank you, Guildmaster," Rai said honestly, he didn't say anything more though.

    "Very well. How did you two find this mission to go?" Chatot asked, taking things back onto track. "A farther dungeon, a sapient fight with a ne'er-do-well with some injuries as well." Chimecho had noted that Sean had taken a bigger beating than Rai, but Rai had been the one knocked out.

    He was curious about that.

    Rai looked to Sean, who looked to Rai. "Well," Sean began. "I guess pretty well. We won the fight, got the item back, and got home in one piece. Litleo was strong, I… I was afraid to fight him."

    They sparked their attention on him. "Afraid?" Wigglytuff asked.

    Sean nodded, feeling embarrassed and casting his eyes away from them. "I'm… not the most comfortable with fighting. Rai keeps the ferals away from us most of the time, I want to help but…."

    "That's okay," Wigglytuff said, and Sean looked up. He was smiling. "Not everyone is eager to get into a fight when they could get hurt. That can be good, meaning you might be more careful." His eyes flicked briefly to Rai and Sean was reminded of the fact that Wigglytuff was a lot smarter than he let on.

    "As long as this fear does not rule you," Chatot added on, sharper than Wigglytuff was. "We'll continue these debrief chats. If it begins to impede your progress, we'll look into developing your confidence. For now..." He turned to Wigglytuff.

    "For now keep at it as a team!" Wigglytuff said brightly. "Things are scary on your own, I get scared in dungeons all on my own. As long as you keep working on things together things will be alright!"

    Team Ion smiled and nodded to him, and they were excused.

    "I believe we should speak to Meowth about Litleo," Chatot said quietly as they were left alone.

    "If you think that's best," Wigglytuff hummed.

    "I do."

    "On his own, then. We don't need to cause difficulties to them yet."

    "Very good."


    "Causing the water to freeze like that, admittedly, gave me some thoughts I'd rather not feel."

    "The forest and everywhere else will go back to normal once the Time Gears are returned to their proper place."

    "I know, I know. No need to remind me."

    "Fair enough. Which location next?"

    "Boulder Quarry. Should be the next least-protected."

    "Boulder Quarry it is. Shall we set off immediately?"

    "Hoo-ha-ha! You ask a question you already know the answer to. We're already on our way."


    Ah Litleo. Such a curious boi.

    Thanks to Viroro again!
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 5 - A Day of Birds
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    Something of a different kind of chapter, one with scenes from the view of other characters as Team Ion goes about their day.


    As the night-time guardian of the guild, and impediment of anyone wanting to sneak away in the dead of night, Chatot was the first to awaken.

    With his eyes slowly widening from a squint, he yawned out loud for a moment. It was the only time his guard seemed let down, Chatot plucked at a few stray feathers before shaking himself ready.

    Trilling slightly, he hummed a small song to himself to brighten his day and made his way down the floors of the guild.

    His morning routine was always the same. Regime and order were the bedrock of civilisation, as taught by the lucario of legends, and never saw fit to deviate from his way of starting the day.

    He slipped the large doors to the Guildmaster's Chamber open quietly and hopped his way to one of the tapestries. "Rhythm?" the bird pokémon called as he knocked on a smaller door behind it. "It is Trill. I am entering."

    He knew that he didn't really need to call out his presence. Wigglytuff was simultaneously far too informal to care and wouldn't hear him regardless. No matter what, however, it was his routine.

    His only response was a tremendous snore, so Chatot waited a moment, repeated his earlier action, and only then entered the room.

    To those who knew Wigglytuff, which wasn't as many as one may think, Chatot was confident they would expect the Guildmaster's private quarters to be a similar reflection of his personality that his greeting room was.

    Chatot was proud, although he would never reveal as such, to know he was one of the few who knew Wigglytuff entirely as he was.

    Perhaps, Chatot considered, those beliefs would not be false, only misguided. Wigglytuff's bedroom was more in-line with his personality than people would realise. It was neat and almost spartan in its bareness.

    No treasures, no knickknacks or items were strewn about. No crumbs of food or silly drawings. Guildmaster Wigglytuff's room was the same as the rest of the rooms in the guild. It had a bed and a window. A nice bed for sure, actual thatched straw with a blanket, and a window with a curtain, but far more modest than anyone would expect of such a legendary figure.

    Besides Chatot of course, but he'd never tell.

    "Rhythm?" Chatot asked as he peaked into the room. Wigglytuff was as asleep as normal, laying on his side and snoring lightly. Shaking his head and ruffling his feathers, Chatot hopped into the room and then onto Wigglytuff.

    "Wakey-wakey, sleepy head," Chatot sang, as he always did to rouse Wigglytuff, always the same song, always as embarrassing as the first time he sang it. "It is time to rouse up from your bed. There are bits and bobs to find awake. And lots of friendly friends to make."

    As soon as the last word passed his beak, Wigglytuff sprung up and captured Chatot in a hug. "Friendly friends!" Wigglytuff cheered and quickly spun Chatot around. "Thank you for singing my wake-up song," Wigglytuff said cheerfully, he knew that Chatot liked it when things happened as they usually did.

    "My pleasure," Chatot said dutifully and not at all dizzy. In all honesty, he really didn't mind singing Wigglytuff to sleep every night or awake every morning. It was their routine, and he liked it.

    As Wigglytuff carried him out into his greeting room, Chatot pried himself from the unusually strong grip of this particular wigglytuff and asked a question. This was something a little out of routine, but it was important enough that asking it now was appropriate. Chatot was nothing if not flexible, something he was sure of.

    "Have you put any more thought into the expedition?"

    Wigglytuff was humming under his breath and didn't seem to hear the question, continuing his own daily routine. Stretching, getting limber, testing his voice, but Chatot knew the Guildmaster was of a keen mind and was considering his answer carefully.

    "Dunno," Wigglytuff responded, jumping into his big chair with a laugh. "I think it'd be cool to search for Fogbound Lake or find what's at the end of the Sand Dune of Spirits. What do you think?"

    "I think your decision will be the best for the guild," Chatot said, fluffing his feathers up. "But if you want my opinion, the mystery of the lake feels more compelling. We don't know much of anything beyond hearsay. The Sand Dune of Spirits, of course, has its own mysteries, but we know much more about it currently."

    "Mmm," Wigglytuff hummed again and began singing a little ditty under his breath. Chatot nodded, knowing the Guildmaster's mind was hard at work again. He would never presume to know truly what the Guildmaster was thinking about, claiming such a thing was folly.

    "The apprentices should be rousing themselves soon," Chatot noted and looked to the door. "If I may be excused to prepare for the daily assignment?"

    "Of course, Chatot," Wigglytuff said brightly. "Take all the time you need." With that, he went back to humming and Chatot fluttered his way out of the room.

    Chatot didn't need much time to consider what he would brief the guild on, there was nothing particularly different from a normal day, he just had to wait for one tell-tale sign before he could really begin finding his words.

    "HEY! WAKE UP EVERYONE!"

    There it was. Even from the distance he was from the apprentice's rooms, Chatot cringed for their sake. Loudred was the best alarm the guild had ever had, even if he was abuse on the ears.

    Quickly the apprentices shuffled into the room. Loudred was unaffected by his own volume, so he was fine. Bidoof and Corphish were clearly dizzy from being in the immediate vicinity of the bellowing cry. Croagunk too stepped a little gingerly, Chatot knew only he and the Guildmaster were sharp enough to catch the tell the stoic frog gave. Hadn't slept much again, clearly. He might adjust Croagunk's task for the day.

    Sunflora and Chimecho arrived after them, both yawning and Sunflora rubbing both of their eyes. Chatot nodded, it was always nice to see inclusiveness, Sunflora and Chimecho were friends and the Grass pokémon never made an issue of Chimecho not having any digits to rub her own eyes with. Such camaraderie was greatly valued in the Wigglytuff Guild.

    Diglett and Dugtrio appeared from the ground. The father and son had their own designated area of the guild to sleep in, to prevent them from tunnelling too much and damaging the structural integrity of the guild. Small inclusions, the guild was prepared for large and unique.

    Lastly, the newest pair of apprentices arrived. Chatot couldn't fault them for being last, still growing used to the strict training of the guild and being the farthest from the hub of the guild. Farthest from Loudred as well.

    Still, as long as they arrived on time he'd never need to have words about being tardy.

    Nodding as he counted everyone as having arrived, Chatot flourished a wing and announced the Guildmaster.


    Corphish did his best to smile and nod along as Chatot waffled on and on and on about whatever disaster he decided was relevant for the day.

    He was pretty sure Chatot was rambling on about shows or circuses or serial killers due to his constant wild expressions and flapping of wings.

    It's not that he didn't want to listen, it was just that Loudred tended to leave his, Bidoof's, and maybe Croagunk's ears ringing for the first half-hour of the day. Sometimes longer if he was in a mood.

    And maybe he didn't want to listen. Chatot would go on for hours if you let him. Thankfully he only flapped and fluffed about for about five more minutes before stopping. Everyone began to speak so he quickly added his voice into the new morning cheer that they now had to do and Wigglytuff drifted back to his room.

    Whether the Guildmaster was awake or not was hotly debated between the apprentices. Sunflora ran a betting ring on the matter too, among other things. One thing they could agree on was that he could get away with it if he was. Chatot wouldn't yell at him.

    That was also bet on, actually. If Chatot was any more candid with the Guildmaster when they were in private. The girls, and Croagunk, giggled over the possible gossip but Corphish felt that was private to them and he had no business in it.

    His hearing began to return as Chatot asked the newbies to stay back for the moment and everyone else departed. They had been in the guild long enough that, unless they were stopped for a special task, their jobs were business as usual. Corphish noticed as Chatot cast an eye at Croagunk as well, didn't stop him though.

    Loudred and Diglett usually guarded the guild. Sometimes one of them would have other matters to attend to that day and someone else would pitch in, not often though. It baffled Corphish how strong Loudred was regardless. He barely trained or battled or explored yet was without a doubt one of the stronger apprentices.

    Chimecho would go start attending to her stations. The medical bay, the food stocks, the Psychic Network, she was very much the friendly helper of the guild and rarely did jobs in dungeons. To valuable to send away for too long.

    Dugtrio would probably stare out at the sea for an hour or two. Corphish could emphasize with him, being the only other Water-type in the guild, he missed the feel of the ocean some days. Although one can only be asked the exact same question about water so many times before you start getting annoyed and Dugtrio had long since passed that level.

    They mostly just did the polite nod greeting nowadays.

    Bidoof and Sunflora joined him, entering the middle level of the guild together. Bidoof immediately went for the normal job listings, and as Sunflora was chatting his ear off, difficult to do after a Loudred incident, she followed him. Corphish guessed Sunflora was planning to help him today, that was nice. Bidoof needed to get a move on if they were all going to graduate together.

    Corphish decided he was feeling daring this day and scuttled over to the outlaw notice board instead. There wasn't much point in making a choice now, as Dugtrio still had his daily job to do, but he was fine to wait.

    Chimecho came floating up before long and she smiled and said something to him, but she spoke far too softly to hear at the moment, so Corphish gave his usual reply. "Hey-hey how you doing today?"

    Chimecho seemed to understand, it was hard not to when you lived across from Loudred, and moved off to Bidoof and Sunflora.

    Corphish's hearing was almost back to normal levels when the newbies entered. Little Shinx, so meek yet determined, Corphish was very glad he had finally joined the guild. They were all rooting for him, it was hard not to know of the shinx's ambitions when he had lived in the area so long.

    Even Chatot had been looking forward to him gathering the nerve. Corphish knew the bird would never admit it, but he had seen a sparkle in his eye and a chipper ring to his tone when he told everyone Shinx had finally joined the guild.

    The other one though….

    Meowth, Corphish refused to think of his name, was friendly enough. Maybe too friendly, considering what happened yesterday. Even though Sunflora had confirmed it was a misunderstanding, it was still a bit awkward.

    He wasn't one to judge, not at all, but he wasn't the most comfortable with- "Oh they're heading my way. They are HEADING to ME!"

    Corphish did his absolute best to appear casual, unconcerned, unjudging. Chatot would flip out tremendously if anyone treated the meowth differently.

    "Can we speak to you?"

    It was the meowth speaking, and Corphish couldn't say no even if he was wishing he was still deaf.

    "Hey-hey, what can I do for you?" That sounded right. That sounded like something he'd say if he was fine.

    "About yesterday," Meowth said. Corphish would not call him Sean, even in his subconscious. "I just wanted to clear up any misunderstanding."

    "No misunderstanding at all, hey," Corphish said, clicking his pincers as that is normal corphish behaviour. "Hey-hey, Sunflora already explained."

    The overuse of 'hey' would become more prevalent the more uncomfortable or nervous or stressed he was. Corphish couldn't help it, just as much as Loudred couldn't help bellowing everything he said.

    "Oh good. Good. Thank goodness. Yeah, woke up without any memory, RrrrShinx is helping me."

    "Hey, it's no problem."

    At the very least Meowth relaxed. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for freaking you all out. I'm still learning all this stuff. Again, I guess."

    "Hey-hey, it's fine. We'll forget about it, leave it in the past."

    "Yeah." Meowth nodded. "And, uh, don't tell anyone I said my name, please? I can only imagine how awful it'd be if I got a reputation because of it."

    Corphish nodded, he had no intention of ever letting it get so much to his thoughts let alone to his mouth.

    Looking at Meowth, Corphish could see the mix of horror and humiliation and decided that it really had been an accident. He wasn't sure about no amnesia, but he could believe that Meowth really had been just trying to be friendly.

    "There is just one thing you can do now, hey-hey," he said, receiving a dead-eyed glance from Meowth.

    "Crawl under a rock?" he muttered.

    "No." Corphish was a little confused at the response. "You're going to have to prove to everyone that you are more than the local night-mate."

    "Oh. Great."

    "There-there. It's something you're going to have to live with now, hey-hey," Corphish advised, he knew he was the best for the job when it came to blunt truths and plain advice. "Turn em down when they come to you, explain why, and prove yourself. It's all you can do now."

    "Can't Sunflora just tell them the truth?" he muttered, wearing an impressively disgusted expression.

    "She will," Corphish confirmed. "But it won't be enough. Plenty won't believe it, especially if she says it's because of amnesia. Some may even think it's a move too…"

    Groaning, Meowth rubbed his face with his paw, almost poking himself with a claw in the process. "Fine. Let's just get a job and be out in the field."

    Shinx, who was being quiet as ever, nodded and stuck close to Meowth. Corphish nodded to the pair behind their backs. They seemed good together, if that meowth got Shinx to join up and stay, Corphish wouldn't care about any doings or dealings the meowth might do. Shinx deserved a good partner, and if Meowth was that partner then everyone would respect that.

    Scuttling back to the outlaw notice board, he saw that Dugtrio had done his job and began sorting through the updated pickings, picking a nasty Lumineon he could bring to justice. And if he was able to go swimming in the process? All the better.


    Litleo was fuming.

    Enough so that actual sparks were popping off his mane as it burst into flames every few seconds. The idea. The mere concept that fucking Meowth could beat him? Laughable.

    It was a joke, that 'battle' they had until Meowth decided to grow a spine. Even then, he was easily creaming the basic cat until it hit him in the face with a sleep seed.

    The type of cowardly move he should have expected, why would this opportunistic chump ever fight head-on-head without something hidden in its paw?

    The pair had embarrassed him terribly. Not only by beating in in a battle but even dragging him back to town. Him? He was no outlaw, he just needed to be out of here. And they brought him back? He decided that was fine. He'll stay and be their problem.

    It just added insult to, very literal, injury. They brought him to Chimecho who basically just gave him a common oran berry and then threw him out of the guild. Not like he wanted to stay there anyway but having to drag himself home was a little harder on him than he would have liked.

    Magnezone fined him, of course, but he barely had anything to give. Those metallic eyes scanned through his home in silence before he just took the poké and left.

    Didn't help his mood with all the pokémon giving him dirty looks. At least that was par for the course, gave them something to stare at. He made sure to stretch provocatively when a handsome guy began to look at him, but they glanced away quickly. Their loss.

    Still. There was a blow to his pride that needed to be sated. So, he waited, early in the day despite his injuries, for the pair to emerge.

    Sunflora and Bidoof exited first, the flower seemingly distressed about something. That was something amusing at least.

    Thankfully he didn't have to wait long for the pair to emerge. Meowth looked most dissatisfied with the day, good, and Shinx seemed like himself. Meek and quiet. Laughable. He'd knocked Litleo right out, what did he have to look meek about? He knew what he'd have to do, as he always had to do.

    He waited until they had stepped past the bush he hid himself in and began descending the annoyingly long steps down to the crossroads.

    Now was his time. He considered pouncing, tackling Meowth down the stairs, that'd teach him a lesson. But Litleo rethought it when he noted that he'd fall as well, and he wasn't fully recovered from yesterday. His ribs still hurt, and fire was not the easiest to channel when in pain.

    So, instead, he followed, stalking them quietly as they walked in silence. There seemed to be an awkward air about them, that was interesting.

    "Trouble in paradise?" he couldn't help but say. It alerted them to his presence, but it was too good to pass up saying.

    "YOU!" Shinx growled, switching from meek to fierce in an instant. It was almost impressive, it reminded him of who Shinx really was. "What are you doing here?"

    Litleo noted how Meowth took a careful and measured step back, leaving Shinx slightly closer to him in case of attack. Coward, just as he knew already. Then Meowth stepped forwards, a move that almost took Litleo aback.

    "Just wanted a chat," Litleo said. He wasn't lying either, it'd be idiocy to actually attack them here. That'd get him branded as an outlaw for certain.

    "We don't want to talk to you," Meowth said and Litleo looked to Shinx.

    "We? Or are you putting words in Shinx's mouth here?" He smirked as it immediately caused a reaction, Meowth's fierceness crumbled like the mask of sand it was and he glanced worriedly at Shinx.

    "That's not true is it?" he asked, all adorably concerned he may offend someone. "I haven't been talking for you, have I?"

    "Uh." Shinx hesitated, perfect. He quickly said. "No, I think we both talk!" Meowth mulled the words over, but Litleo could see that the damage had been done. He wouldn't be talking much today, but this shame wasn't enough.

    "So, Meowth was it?" he asked, stepping closer and smiling as the pair took a step back. "Walk with me. I want to talk."

    Litleo stepped past them, tail pointed and proud, and stepped a few steps down before pausing to look up. "Really? You're going to be this rude when I've come just wanting to talk?"

    Meowth was hesitating. Whether it was an act or if he was genuinely concerned about being rude was up to opinion. Either way, he glanced at Shinx before shaking his head. "Whatever you want to talk about you can talk with both of us."

    Litleo found it cute, really. Meowth gave himself a little nod, clearly satisfied that he'd said the correct thing to minimize whatever harm he thought could be caused. Litleo was far too intelligent for this pair, either going with him would hurt Shinx's precious feelings, or saying this in front of him would hurt. Either way, he'd leave this conversation feeling better.

    "Just wanted to give you a little warning is all," Litleo said, cupping a paw to his mouth as if this was a secret. Meowth narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to Shinx. "Just about Shinx here. He's got a few issues is all and I don't want to see a fellow feline hurt."

    Meowth was now frowning in confusion, showing a bit of doubt. Perfect. Shinx was, of course, experiencing a much more amusing reaction. A combination of outrage and horror and he tried to say something. Litleo spoke over him with his far stronger voice.

    "He's known as a really unreliable pokémon in these parts. Can never muster the courage to stand up for himself and tends to drag anyone who feels sorry for him down until they get rid of him. You seem like a good pokémon, but you're only going to get yourself hurt with this pity. That's all, I'm going to walk through the Apple Woods for the day."

    With that Litleo turned around and began strutting off. He didn't need to remain there to savour the response, although he wanted to. Such pettiness was beyond him. That should anger Shinx and make him push himself to prove otherwise. He was a genius, the secret key to that shinx-like lock.


    Swellow was having an off day.

    This would have bothered him just on principle, but worse of all he couldn't figure out why. Wurmple had been acting strangely around him ever since they decided to make an exploration team together.

    Was it because they were hobbyists? Neither member of Team Tasty thought they were quite cut out for Wigglytuff's Guild, nor the infamous taxing of the rewards the apprentices went through.

    So, they would go out together, each day, sometimes just to explore randomly, sometimes they'd take a job. They only had done one outlaw task, and Swellow thought that got their blood pumping.

    The day was shining, but not too hot, everyone was pleased with the weather, it should be a great day for spending time with a friend and helping others.

    Except Wurmple was so twitchy around him.

    The only time he brightened up was when another pokémon, or better yet another team, came up to talk to them. Swellow didn't like to think about it, but he was beginning to get worried that Wurmple regretted teaming up with him.

    Would he be happier on another team?

    Swellow was quite happy with their little two-pokémon team. He loved exploring and taking down outlaws with Wurmple. The little Bug-type was so meek, but when it came to battle he was almost comically strong. He used String Shot like it was an art, combining it into a brutally-hard Tackle or a Poison Sting topped with a penetrating slam. He had beaten many enemies that Swellow had no idea how to defeat.

    He was his most valuable partner, and he didn't want to lose him. He wished he was a little braver, enough to talk to Wurmple about this.

    Fortune came as Ponyta clopped ahead, revealing a pair of pokémon approached them, Swellow tried to keep the conversation pleasant. Wurmple relaxed when someone else came up to them, so if it was just a social thing then he'd feed that hunger.

    "Those are some good words," Swellow thought. "I should remember them to reassure Wurmple later."

    The pair were the newcomers to the Wigglytuff Guild, although everyone knew Shinx. The meowth was someone knew, Swellow had seen him around yesterday, but they hadn't spoken.

    Wurmple and Meowth immediately began a discussion, speaking lowly and privately. Whatever they wanted to talk about, it seemed perhaps it wasn't Swellow's business?

    Shinx though. He'd seen Shinx happier than ever just yesterday, still beaming off finally joining the guild. Today though, today he looked very unhappy.

    It seems misery would have company on this beautiful day.

    "What's eating you?" Swellow asked, perhaps a little too loudly as he noticed Wurmple flinch.

    "Oh, nothing." Shinx's expression immediately brightened up. Swellow was concerned, that was pretty bad acting to him.

    "Come on Shinx, you really are a bad liar." It was true, the meek little guy was terrible at being dishonest, probably in fear it'd upset someone. Swellow thought he was a little too worried about other pokémon's thoughts and feelings, it was easier to go with the wind in his mind.

    "I… just had a bad start to the day," Shinx admitted, scuffing the ground with one of his back legs. "Litleo... as usual."

    Ah, Litleo. The Fire-type brat had been in the area for a while. A few years or so, about as long as Shinx. And he really did seem to love antagonizing Shinx, feline pokémon issues maybe? Swellow personally thought Litleo had a crush and couldn't deal with that.

    "Maybe you should challenge him to a battle?" Was Swellow's suggestion. Things tended to be worked out in a battle, win or lose. If anything, it might help raise Litleo's respect for Shinx.

    "I battled him yesterday," Shinx said, mouth pulling into a grimace. "He stole Charmander's gold ribbon. Meowth and I had to fight him in the Oran Forest to get it back."

    "Did you win?" Swellow cocked his head, he hadn't heard any gossip about Litleo becoming a thief. Sunflora might be a little distracted perhaps.

    "Yes!" Shinx insisted, he did look a little brighter now, reminded of his victory. "He was tough, but Meowth and I took him down. I think it's just made him hate me more though."

    He was back to looking down and Swellow wasn't sure what to do. He had exhausted his wisdom with the battle suggestion.

    "There-there," he said, patting Shinx with a wing. "Whatever he said can't be that bad. And even if it was, you've still got your partner here!"

    Meowth was chatting with Wurmple, and they both perked up when he pointed the wing to them. "So, no need to worry!"

    "Yeah… thanks." Swellow wasn't sure if he really helped, but Shinx didn't sound quite as despondent as earlier. "We'd better get going. We took a request to rescue Pidgey from Mount Bristle today."

    Satisfied with his good deed for the day, he waited until Shinx and Meowth had left them to hop over to Wurmple.

    "I'm feeling hungry today," he said brightly, thinking of the dungeon Shinx had mentioned. "We should go to the Oran Forest! Or even Apple Woods. Which do you feel like today?"

    "O-Oran," Wurmple said. He was all stuttery and twitchy again. It did concern Swellow, but just talking to Wurmple made his day feel brighter, he could only hope that his words helped Wurmple.

    "Well let's go! Lunch isn't going to wait for us."

    Wurmple joined in on his whoop with a much less enthusiastic yay, but it was something and they were off.


    Pidgey's day was a bad one currently.

    Yesterday hadn't been much better. The day before that she thought was the worst, it was the day she realised she couldn't get through Mt. Bristle.

    Today, however, was a new low. She was so hungry. She really hoped Oddish had put out a notice for her by now or was coming to get her herself.

    She was sure a wing was broken. A stupid crazy machop had Karate Chopped her out of nowhere and now she couldn't fly. All the starly roosting in this dungeon only made it worse, they could still fly. They were mocking her, she knew it.

    She had given up on crying, it was a useless endeavour by now, and just focused on trying to get to the top. She wouldn't even look for the legendary treasure if that was the price of survival, she just wanted to get out of the dungeon alive.

    "-nother thing, he's an asshole. I know he's an asshole, you know he's an asshole, he's just angry because we beat him."

    Pidgey felt hope sore into her heart.

    "This isn't like the conversation we had on who's the most useless. He's right, others have tried to help me before, but they always had to leave eventually."

    She immediately began yelling out, those were definitely at least a pair of adventurers. Maybe even there for her. "Hey? HEY? HELP ME PLEASE."

    "I'm not going to leave. Where would I even- what was that?"

    "I think. Pidgey?"

    Relief almost brought her to tears as she replied. "Yes. Please help me."

    The scurrying of limbs grew closer and closer and eventually a head poked into the small room she had been resting in. It was a shinx, he was quickly followed by a meowth.

    "We're Team Ion, we're here to rescue you," Shinx said brightly and Pidgey did start crying from relief. She didn't care who it was, they were here to help, they wouldn't eat her. Especially not the shinx she knew of, assuming this was him.

    They placed her in the Treasure Bag they had as fortunate members of Wigglytuff's Guild and moved with all haste to the top. Pidgey fell asleep halfway through, exhausted from her struggles up to this point.

    She fell asleep to the conversation the pair had continued after making sure she was alright.

    It made an interesting dream that's for sure.


    Chatot was perturbed.

    Something was off with the apprentices, and he couldn't fathom what it was. Even with his keen ear and intelligent grasp on social politics, he couldn't quite be sure.

    Sunflora wasn't talking as much. That was strange in of itself. She was known to be a gossip, although a harmless one. Enjoying knowing things, but didn't spread things around hurtfully.

    Bidoof was blushing each time he glanced to the right of him. Right towards the newly minted Team Ion.

    Corphish was there as always. He seemed himself at a first glance, but a little vague and distracted on a second one.

    Loudred and Diglett had acted perfectly normal throughout the day, and Chimecho herself seemed fine as well.

    The Guildmaster was the Guildmaster, nothing different to say there.

    Croagunk was smiling in a vaguely unsettling way, but that was rather par for the course, so he was sure that wasn't the problem with everyone tonight.

    Shinx and Meowth. He had a feeling they were the guilty party here. Meowth seemed irritated today, acting perfectly polite, too polite, and rather distant. Chatot disapproved, he thought better of the apprentices to judge, but perhaps Meowth had done something?

    No. Chatot wouldn't consider it.

    Although Shinx didn't seem the type himself. So, what was it?

    He wasn't sure what had happened, and clever questions didn't seem to be his pathway in considering that no one was talking. Perhaps it was to do with Litleo?

    The debrief session went quickly as neither member of Team Ion had much to say about tonight's mission, the Guildmaster had cleverly questioned them about the top of Mount Bristle but neither had tried to pursue the dangerous little pile of rocks at the top.

    That was good. Let what was in there remain lost.

    Chatot sent them to bed and waited until everyone had entered their rooms.

    It was uncouth of him to do this, but no one would find out. As his place of sleeping was on the top floor, no one would expect him to be elsewhere in the guild.

    He carefully walked, not hopped, to the doors that contained the apprentice's rooms. He was not one for eavesdropping, but the needs must at times.

    Pressing his head carefully to the door, Chatot listened intently. To his satisfaction, he could hear voices. The pair remaining up to talk was somewhat irresponsible, but Chatot wouldn't mention it for it as long as their work ethic was undisturbed.

    "Rai, why does this bother you so much?" Came the meowth's voice and immediately Chatot felt uncomfortable. He was surprised they already had shared names, that was unusual.

    "I don't know. It's just every day I seem to be getting reminders about being a burden. Litleo's a bully, but he's not the only one who thinks that, Sean!" And there it was to somehow render Chatot feeling worse. Now he had Meowth's name as well. Sean was a curious name though, would fit a mareep more than a meowth. He wanted to pull away, but it was too late now. He may as well learn more.

    "I'm sorry." Meowth, no Sean, seemed to take a moment to build a breath or bravery to say his next words. "But his words shouldn't matter. You're not weak or a burden. You're not. Who cares what anyone says?"

    "Words can hurt!"

    Ah. It was Litleo. Chatot felt sympathy for the three of them, he had seen another side to that miserable pokemon before. He truly did not know how to act in the way he wanted to, did he?

    Litleo had been taunting Young Rai about joining the guild for quite some time now, Chatot understood. At first, it seemed to Chatot to be an attempt at pushing Rai to spite him, but he always lost confidence and the bullying got worse. They were quite at odds now, and poor Rai was rather fragile to hurtful words.

    "I… I know. I'm sorry. I just hate that he makes you miserable. I like you, you know. I don't care what he has to say. I'm not going to leave you, I'm kinda helpless without you. It'd make more sense if he was trying to tell you to leave me."

    "It's just…." There was a long moment of silence, almost enough to make Chatot believe the conversation was over. "Just losing my Relic Fragment. It was everything to me, it was the only thing I had, and I just put so much of myself into it. I never used to wear it, only just the previous day did I decide it would give me confidence and I lost it."

    "…I'm sorry."

    "It's not your fault. I would have given up entirely if it wasn't for you. I just wish I could get away from the thoughts that say Litleo was right about me. He said," he sighed. "I don't want to talk about it. I'm tired."

    Chatot held himself against the door, waiting, wondering if anything else was going to be said. He was concerned, greatly concerned, about Rai. He knew nothing of some 'Relic Fragment' but if it was important perhaps he could help find something to replace it or bolster Rai's confidence.

    Actually, that last thought gave him an idea.

    "I can't let this beat me," Rai said suddenly, recapturing Chatot's attention. "This is it. This is my declaration. I'm going to stop being so weak and fragile, I'm going to stop letting everything get to me so easily. I'm an apprentice in the Wigglytuff Guild! I won't let them down. I won't let you down, Sean! This is it. I'm just going to have to learn to live without it."

    "I'll be there for you all the time," Sean responded. "You don't have to be strong every day. When you're not, I can be the strong one. Er, emotionally at least. You're way stronger than I am everywhere else."

    "I don't think you're as weak as you think you are," Rai responded, an edge of playfulness entering his voice. "You get hit a lot and you just shrug it off." Chatot smiled and pulled away from the door. Dramatic nighttime talks, but it was good to see the one proper team in the guild bonding like this.

    He was concerned or Loudred, Sunflora, and Corphish. He knew they planned to build a team of themselves plus Bidoof, but Bidoof needed a great deal of help and they had promised to graduate together. He wondered what could be done to help Bidoof as well, or if he might need to council the four of them to make a different plan.

    Still, he was proud. If the apprentices could all be so honest with themselves and vow to better themselves, he'd be a proud chatot. He'd never tell them that, of course, it would be improper, but he would be proud nonetheless.

    For now, he had work to do. Shinx, or Rai, needed a confidence boost. Something to show the guild was believing in them both, something they could handle, but still, be important to entrust them with.

    He'd stay up the rest of the night pouring over maps and rumours if he had to.

    Chatot was the night-time guardian of the guild, but more importantly, he was the guardian of the apprentices.

    He would not fail them.


    These POV chapters as I call them are interesting to write. I like Chatot, he's a good bird under the taxing and stuffiness.

    Lot's of birds in this chapter, actually.
     
    Chapter 6 - Gazing Into Trouble
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    Got a big one here to make up for the shortness of the last chapter!


    "Er… ahem."

    Three days had passed since Chatot had eavesdropped on Sean and Rai. He had spent those days in deep deliberation. Several mysterious areas and dungeons had been considered, all but one had been discarded.

    He was nervous about assigning this to them, the difficulty may be too much, but nothing else suitable was around. He only wished he had thought to assign them something special one day earlier, having already planned and then sent Sunflora and Loudred out on an expedition to a waterfall.

    As true explorers they had discovered its secrets, and even got a dip in the Hot Springs for their trouble. The Guildmaster had been most pleased and they'd worked together well.

    His planned assignment wasn't the only thing he was nervous about today, however.

    "Everyone, listen up." The apprentices all stood at attention, picking up on the brevity of Chatot's words. It was very, very, uncommon for him to differ in how he addressed the guild each morning and even Wigglytuff was frowning. "I have an important announcement to make."

    There were a few shared glances as Chatot hesitated. Chimecho had her head bowed in sadness. "Far to the northeast." The bird found his words. "And farther into its outermost reaches… there lies a place named Treeshroud Forest. In Treeshroud Forest… time has apparently stopped."

    The sheer bafflement in Chatot's voice was drowned out and forgotten as the entire guild, bar Wigglytuff and Sean, all jerked back in horror.

    "Huh?" Diglett was the first to speak.

    "Eek! What did you SAY?" Sunflora shrieked.

    "You're saying time stopped?" Corphish asked, minus his usual verbal tic.

    "Yes," Chatot answered, nodding. "That is correct. Time has come to a standstill in Treeshroud Forest. The wind has stopped." Chatot shivered, he had only heard reports, but the idea was still terrible. "The clouds are motionless in the sky. Dewdrops lay suspended on leaves, waiting to drop, but never do."

    Chatot shuddered and shook his head sadly. "In Treeshroud Forest, time itself has truly stopped." There was a raw aspect to his voice, still stunned from shock of what he had learned, unable to understand why such a tragedy had occurred but burdened with the knowledge of how.

    The idea of a blighted land like that, it left him feeling chilled to the bone to even contemplate.

    "T-time has stopped?" Dugtrio asked this time, all three heads blinking as he tried to make sense of what he was hearing.

    "But," Rai spoke up. "How could something this awful happen?"

    Sean turned to his partner. A small frown on the shinx's face was the only notion that something was wrong, something he wasn't quite understanding. "It's unthinkable! How?"

    "Yes," Chatot agreed. "The unthinkable has happened. Why has time stopped in Treeshroud Forest? Well… it's because Treeshroud Forest was home to a Time Gear." A bad feeling swept into the stomachs of every pokémon in attendance, even Sean. "It's because Treeshroud Forest's Time Gear was… was stolen!"

    "Huh?" Bidoof gasped.

    "The Time Gear was stolen?" Croagunk asked, disbelief staggering his expression. "Who would do something like that?"

    "I heard it was possible," Chimecho spoke, shivering in mid-air. She had been the one to receive the message on the Psychic Network, a call of panic waking her in the night. "But now it's really happened!"

    "I don't get it!" Loudred roared, turning to rage. "Why would ANYONE take a Time Gear?"

    For once his bellowing volume was both appropriate and helpful, working to snap everyone out of the stunned confusion the mere concept had left them in.

    "Quiet everyone," Chatot hushed, for once not giving Loudred the stink eye. "Officer Magnezone has already started an investigation. The Clefable Guild will be leading the hunt for whatever vile creature dared to do this."

    "The reality is indisputable. With no guardian remaining, no one was there to prevent the theft of the gear." He and Wigglytuff both twitched just slightly. "And if one Time Gear has been taken, then others may be at risk. The guilds have been asked to keep an eye out for any suspicious characters and to be notified immediately if we have any leads."

    The apprentices all glanced around at the others, sharing determined nods.

    "So, keep that in mind. Let us know if you notice anything. Anything at all, even minor suspicions, even dreams or feelings you may have, anything could be possible due to the unknown nature of the Time Gears. That is all." Chatot breathed out, feeling a weight leave him as he had done his duty. "All right everyone!" he said, far more animated than earlier. "Here's to another day of work!"

    "RIGHT!" Everyone yelled, choosing not to say hooray after such horrible news.

    "Corphish, Shinx and Meowth stay behind," Chatot called before everyone could thunder out.

    Corphish offered a curious, "Hey-hey?" as he stepped into line with them but neither pokémon had an answer for him.

    "You two have become quite good at your work," Chatot said to Team Ion, making Rai beam happily. "The Guildmaster and I are impressed with your defeat of Litleo as well as your work in dungeons overall. There has been no job that has proven too much for you and this is an admirable trait in a pair of apprentices."

    "Thank you, sir," Sean said, unable to stop himself from smiling along with Rai. It was nice to receive a compliment, especially from the rather critical Chatot.

    "So, you will now be assigned a mission worthy of a proper exploration team!"

    Rai lit up, literally sparking, with glee but he managed to restrain himself from hopping around. Sean grinned but had a sort of tightness to his smile. Loudred and Sunflora had talked about their adventure in the Waterfall Cave. That was meant to be their thing.

    "Hey-hey?" Corphish asked, reminding the pair he was there as well. "What does this have to do with me?"

    "Well." Chatot hesitated again, and the fire lit within Team Ion spluttered for a moment. "There have been some differences of opinions regarding what mission the guild is sending Team Ion on. It HAS been agreed, however, that assigning a more experienced apprentice to accompany them, assist them, but not do the work FOR them, would be beneficial to their success."

    Turning back to Rai and Sean he stretched a wing to Corphish. "It has been decided that Corphish will join you on this mission. Keep in mind that this is still YOUR exploration, you cannot expect him to do the work for you and we will be speaking to Corphish later to judge a fair report on how it went."

    Swallowing in relief, Rai nodded. "That's fine, that's really fine. I just can't believe we're finally doing a real mission! Where are we going, what do you need us to do?"

    "Let me see your Wonder Map," he politely asked, and Sean quickly pulled the object out of the Treasure Bag. "Treasure Town is here." Chatot pointed then moved his wing, along, and along, and along. With each passing moment, the nerves grew. Finally, his wingtip came to a stop. "Here is where we want you to explore."

    "That's… far," Sean said feeling his entire mouth go as dry as ash. That was not the Waterfall Cave, he was certain of it.

    "This dungeon is known as the Boulder Quarry," Chatot explained. "Within it is claims of a grand treasure, but no one has ever managed to find it. There is a puzzle to it, as you will find, that no pokémon has yet seemed to have solved. As apprentices of the Wigglytuff's Guild, we expect you to discern the mystery and find the treasure. Failure will be reviewed, success lauded."

    Sean and Rai exchanged a nervous glance, this was not what either of them had really expected.

    "That is a far distance for a pair of newbies, hey-hey," Corphish commented and Chatot nodded.

    "Indeed. Normally you would need to pass through at least one other dungeon to even reach the Boulder Quarry, however, to alleviate the pressure of making it there, Wigglytuff's Guild has called in a favour and acquired a teleporter to move you straight to the entrance and to retrieve you when you are finished."

    Corphish and Rai jumped at that, Sean was simply curious.

    "T-Teleporter?" Corphish gasped.

    "For US?" Rai squeaked.

    "Yes," Chatot drawled, looking down his beak at them. "As you could perhaps tell, this is normally expensive, and we used a favour to get this for you, so we are expecting great things from the pair of you. You too Corphish, this will not be easy, not even for you."

    Rai looked spooked, so Sean put a gentle paw on his back, and he relaxed. Taking a breath, he nodded firmly to Chatot. "Right. We will not let you down Chatot sir."

    "We would not give you this mission if we believed you couldn't do it," Chatot said. "The Guildmaster himself seemed greatly positive on your chances here, it was his suggestion, do not disappoint him."

    "We'll do our best," Sean and Rai said exactly together.

    "Alright. Do you understand what this mission entails?" Chatot asked, just for confirmation's sake. He received a positive from all three and nodded happily. "Good, you'll find Alakazam waiting at the crossroads when you're ready. I'll leave you all to thoroughly investigate the Boulder Quarry then."

    He turned to hop away but then noticed Rai's expression. Frozen. "A-are you alright?" he asked with growing alarm as Rai began to shake.

    "Y-yeah," the shinx said, tears pricking his eyes. "Just a little overwhelmed and just so happy that I'm getting given this chance." He furiously rubbed his face until it was clear of tears and turned to Sean. "Right!" He spun to Corphish. "Right! Let's do this!"

    "Hey-hey, just try and stop me!"

    Chatot watched them depart before breathing out a hard breath and turning to the Guildmaster. They had talked in tense air about Treeshroud Forest, and both knew the matter weighed heavily on the other's mind.

    Wigglytuff smiled sadly at him and the two stood in silence, thinking of old, soothing, memories.


    "So, Corphish?" Rai asked as the trio entered Treasure Town. "What kinds of items do you take on explorations?"

    "Food is important for sure," Corphish answered. "And depending on where you go I'd suggest two to six oran berries as well!"

    "So… six for this one?" Sean asked.

    "Yeah. This is going to be a tough one, so as many items as we can take should be the goal."

    "I want a blast seed," Sean said immediately.

    "Blast seeds, sleep seeds, stun seeds. Even x-eye seeds!" Corphish thought for a moment before nodding. "Orbs too. Can't forget them. Any that you can pack, you never know what might come in handy at an inopportune moment."

    "I haven't used an orb yet," Rai admitted, causing Sean to wonder how the objects worked. "They seemed a bit excessive, but it might have helped when we had to fight Litleo."

    The Electric-type and Water-type chatted away as Sean drifted off into his own thoughts.

    "Did one day really mess things up that badly? What changed that is causing us to go somewhere else? And where are we even going? Boulder Quarry? Isn't that the Team Charm special dungeon?"

    Unmindful to the thoughts the meowth of the group was experiencing, Rai and Corphish walked almost directly into a white, fluffy, stomach.

    "Oof," Rai grunted as his head smacked into the surprisingly muscled abdomen of a larger person. "Zangoose!" Rai gasped. "Sorry for running into you like that."

    Zangoose scratched the point where both pokémon had run into him with his sabre-sharp claws. "Whatever," he said to Rai, to Corphish, however. "Long time no see Corphish."

    Zangoose's tone brought Sean out of his reverie and the expression on his face made him uncomfortable. The other members of Team Razor Wind were wearing dark expressions themselves, calm Scyther and cheerful Sandslash were all glaring right at Corphish.

    "What have you been up to?" Scyther asked, scythe arms held firmly by his sides. "Throw any other pokémon out lately?"

    The other time he had seen them, Sean hadn't been bothered by Scyther. He was a gigantic insect, but overall fairly friendly. He was getting some phobic reactions with an unhappy scyther though.

    "Hey-hey," Corphish said, but his eyes were cold as steel. "Not lately though. Haven't had any ruffians about for a while since."

    "Ruffians, are we?" Sandslash asked, crossing his arms and showing off his own deadly claws. "What's that make you?"

    "Now-now guys," Zangoose said, waving down the anger of his teammates. "Let's give little claw here a chance to speak."

    "I've got nothing to say to you, hey-hey," Corphish said sharply. "Now we've got work to do."

    With that, he stepped past Team Razor Wind and gestured for Team Ion to follow.

    "What are you hanging around with him anyway?" Zangoose asked as Corphish grew impatient. "Pretentious prick. Almost as much of a jerk as that hoity-toity Chatot."

    "Shut your mouth Zangoose!" Corphish snapped, drawing some attention from other pokémon. "You won't speak of me, Chatot, or anyone else in the guild like that. Leave."

    Zangoose made a dismissive noise but did jerk his head to his fellows. "Whatever. Have fun." He gave Sean and Rai an unpleasant smile before walking off with Scyther and Sandslash.

    Corphish huffed but said nothing as Sean and Rai joined him. They continued walking in silence, but it could never last.

    "So," Sean drew the word out. "What was up with that?"

    "Those jerks insulted the Guildmaster one too many times," Corphish said immediately. "Chatot and I had to throw them out of the guild. They clearly are still furious about it, arrogant all three of them." He turned to the pair with a dark glare in his eyes. "You want nothing to do with either of them. You hear?"

    Sean nodded quickly, Corphish was surprisingly intimidating when worked up, but Rai didn't, and they exchanged a glance when he turned away satisfied.

    Little more than chatting was made as they stocked up on as many items as they could.

    The day was quite busy despite the early morning. Team Ion and Team Razor Wind were not the only teams out this day and the Kecleon Market was receiving quite the boon of business.

    "Hey-hey, do you have anything in storage that might help?" Corphish asked Rai as they waited in line. The ears of the shinx perked up and he brightened.

    "Oh yeah, I do!" He beamed and turned to Sean. "I haven't introduced you yet to Kangaskhan. She's really nice, I think you'll like her."

    "Go ahead," Corphish said, waving a claw. "I'll settle the supplies on this end. You get what you need."

    Rai nodded and pulled Sean out of the line after he handed the Treasure Bag to Corphish. They walked the way they had on Sean's first day, heading in the direction of Sharpedo Bluff. Neither had gone any farther than Kecleon Market since joining the guild. It wasn't a far walk to Kangaskhan Storage, but certainly longer than Sean ever would have guessed.

    "Good morning dears," Kangaskhan said to them as she spotted them coming up. "Oh! Is it, Shinx? I haven't seen you in days, dear." Smiling brightly, Rai trotted up to the large pokémon, Sean trailing behind.

    Kangaskhan was enormous. She was thickly muscles, the pure power in her muscles barely contained by her skin, despite that she spoke with a maternal warmth that was easing to hear.

    She waited on a small stand and laid out behind her was a considerable building. A warehouse was the best Sean could put into words, one that seemed to sink into the ground very quickly.

    Scooping up Rai in a hug as soon as she could, Kangaskhan cooed for a moment before setting her sights on Sean. "And this must be your friend," she said, holding out another arm to grab him with. "I've heard a few good things about you Meowth, I've been hoping to meet you for a while now."

    "Nice to meeee-" Sean squeaked as the breath was physically squeezed out of his lungs with just her affection. He realised how it was to really be small compared to someone tall and felt sudden empathy for all the people he dwarfed when he was human.

    She soon set them down, Sean never more grateful for land in his life, and set her hands by her side. "Now what can I do for you. I cannot imagine this is a social visit for such exciting new apprentices of Wigglytuff such as yourselves!"

    Smiling bashfully, Rai nodded. "I was hoping to get my Max Elixir and Defence Scarf from storage?"

    "Of course, dear," Kangaskhan answered and turned to the door behind her. Sean noted that her pouch was empty as he regained enough oxygen to make rational thoughts again.

    Kangaskhan disappeared into the complex and left the pair waiting. "She's really quick," Rai said to fill the silence. "And boasts a perfect protection record. She's never lost something, never been stolen from. No one would dare."

    His expression was brighter than Sean had seen him yet. Ever since their first day, there was something lacking in the shine in his eye, even when he suggested joining the guild together, the raw emotions of having lost his treasure had weighed him down. Right now, however, Rai was positively glowing, and it was making Sean happier just to see it.

    "Here we are dears." Kangaskhan had already returned with the items in question. "Would you like me to put it on for you?"

    Rai glanced to Sean inquisitively and it took him a moment to gather what he might be asking. "I've got this bow," he said, flicking the silver fabric with a claw. He was quite sure of what it was and knew that the bow was best for him now. "I can carry the Max Elixir though."

    Kangaskhan handed the drink to him before picking Rai up and expertly tying the scarf around his neck. "Now you look even cuter," she laughed, scuffing Rai on the head. He made a disagreeable noise, but Kangaskhan only chuckled and set him down. "Do well out there today," she said and sent them off with a smile.

    "She's very nice," Sean commented as they returned to the marketplace. Rai fidgeted with the scarf and seeing his chance, added. "And you do look absolutely adorable in that."

    "I'm not cute!" Rai snapped back, nose going red. "I'm not. You're the one who's cute with your bow!"

    "Am I?" Sean grinned, adjusting the bow. "Why thank you, I guess it takes cute to know cute." He winked and laughed when Rai growled, running forward to dodge a pounce from the shinx.

    "Get back here!" he yelled, but Sean just ran faster.

    They laughed together as Rai did manage to tackle Sean but rolled off him immediately. There were a few pokémon watching, but Sean found it in him not to care. He helped Rai up and decided to care about possible social embarrassment later.

    "Hey-hey, looking good," Corphish commented when he spotted them.

    Rai immediately flushed. "I'm NOT cute!" he insisted, Sean snorting in amusement.

    Corphish cocked his head slightly and clicked a pincer. "I didn't… anyway, you ready to go?"

    "We're ready," Sean said, presenting the Max Elixir, Corphish held out the bag in response and sheepishly Sean took it. His paws were better at holding it than Corphish's pincers.

    "So, who are we meeting again?" Sean asked as the trio began the walk to the crossroads.

    "Chatot said a pokémon by the name of Alakazam," Corphish replied, leading the charge. "Said he used a favour for it too. Wonder what?"

    "Guildmaster Wigglytuff and Chatot were explorers together," Rai said cheerfully, still brimming with energy. "I'm sure they met and helped many pokémon we haven't even heard of."

    "Have you heard of Alakazam then?" Sean asked.

    "Nope." Rai popped the p, and his overall cheerful dismissal gave Sean a laugh.

    "It's difficult to tell who they may be," Corphish muttered. With a clearer voice, he explained. "Without a title or anything it'd be impossible to tell who this 'Alakazam' may be. I can think of a couple of famous alakazam, and since it was a favour."

    "We'll just ask them ourselves then," Rai said and trotted forward. They exited Treasure Town and spotted their target.

    Sean also noticed a small bear-like pokémon staggering about drunkenly. "Uh?" he said, realising the species of this pokémon.

    "Don't mind Spinda," Corphish advised. "He's fine, just perpetually dizzy."

    "Hellooo explorers," Spinda said, waving at the bush that they were passing. "Good luck… on your adventures." Even his voice sounded dizzy, each word a struggle to articulate.

    "Thank you," Sean said politely as they passed.

    "Excuse me," Rai said, walking up to where an alakazam rested against a tree, with eyes closed. "Are you the alakazam, the guild hired for us?"

    Alakazam opened their eyes, and with a baritone voice he said answered with a question, "Are you Team Ion plus Corphish?"

    "Yep." Rai nodded.

    "Then I am here to transport you to Boulder Quarry, yes." Alakazam stepped off the tree and walked to them, holding up a pair of silvery spoons. "Are you prepared for your task?"

    "We're ready." Rai turned to Sean and Corphish questioningly, receiving two nods in response. "Yep. Send us now please."

    "Once the matters are resolved, would you tell Chatot that I have done my duty?"

    "Uh… sure." Rai exchanged a glance with Sean, Alakazam seemed to be speaking only in questions.

    "Very well, gird yourselves, will you find what you are looking for?" Alakazam chinked his spoons together and summoned a great amount of Power, channelling it through his focuses.

    "Oh wait," Rai said, remembering he wanted to ask something. "Are you?" His question would go unsaid, as Alakazam judged his interruption to be for trivial reasons and completed his move.

    The four of them vanished into thin air, leaving Rai's voice only on the wind for a brief moment.

    "Totally wicked." Spinda staggered his way over to where no one was anymore.

    "I feel parched," Spinda hummed. Looking blearily at the water hole.

    "Oooh!" Spinda's whole body shook. "I've given me… a fantastical…. Tremendous… exciting… superb… spectacular…." Spinda kept rambling off large words for a few minutes yet.


    "Gah!"

    The sentiment was shared between all three pokémon who were knocked sprawling from the teleport. Travelling through space was neither pleasant nor gentle.

    "That felt…" Rai moaned, falling to his side.

    "Ooh did someone get a mark on the metagross that hit me?" Corphish groaned, upside down with his legs all twitching in disturbing manners.

    Sean couldn't even speak, just repressing all the urge to vomit after that. "Note to self. Never teleport again. I bet Alakazam did that on purpose." Thinking mutinous thoughts towards Alakazam helped and eventually he was able to stand without toppling over.

    "Are we here?" Rai pushed himself on all fours and glanced around. Trees. Lots and lots of trees.

    "Yes," Alakazam replied. "I will wait for you to return." And that was a dismissal, not a pokémon who was in the mood to chat.

    "Thank you," Rai said politely. He got a nod for that.

    "This is a forest," Sean said, he also noticed the many trees. Also, shrubs and bushes. It didn't bring to mind either boulders or quarries.

    "Ugh, bleh." Corphish coughed and flipped himself onto his legs. "There was a forest dungeon on the way to Boulder Quarry," he said, remembering the map better than the pair.

    They were situated in a pathway breaking a line between the ever-expansive trees. The Water-type in Corphish made him uncomfortable with so much plant life and the plant monsters that could come along with it.

    "Which way should we go?" Rai asked, looking both ways. "We don't want to go into the dungeon."

    Alakazam pointed with a spoon and gave them each a light Psychic tap to get them moving.

    "Bit pushy," Corphish muttered as they walked.

    "Um, excuse me?"

    Corphish paused, each leg freezing in place as a voice that was very much not Sean or Rai, spoke up. They all turned in the other direction, spotting a bellossom quickly walking up to them.

    "Uh, greetings kindly stranger," Corphish said, returning to Team Ion's sides.

    "Greetings kindly team," Bellossom said, giving a curtsy. She spoke with a clearly feminine voice. Shyly, she turned away from their stares, covering her face with her dress. "I thought I'd do you a favour."

    "What kind of favour?" Rai asked, cocking a head.

    "Don't go to Boulder Quarry."

    Team Ion plus Corphish all blinked once before glancing at each other. Sean decided to be the one to speak up, something here was off and was tickling some old memory. "Thank you for the warning, but we've got a job to do there."

    "Right." Rai nodded. "We've been sent on a mission to find the treasure hidden within."

    Bellossom shrugged and turned around. "It'd be best you give up," she advised. "I've lived in this area for a while, and I've learnt a thing or two about this dungeon. Trust me, the longer it's taking for this 'treasure' to be found, the more excited all you adventurers are getting. It's leading to rowdiness and violence. Do you really think it'll be worth it? If it even exists?"

    Without waiting for an answer, she walked off.

    "A little rude," Sean said after she was well and gone.

    "Hey-hey, she may just be frustrated with having to deal with so many explorers," Corphish said, rationalising the event. "Especially if we've got some frustrated pokémon who may not be happy to see us here."

    "Should we go?" Rai asked, taking a hesitant step forward. His earlier confidence hadn't completely burned out, but he was less jubilant than he was earlier.

    "Of course," Corphish said, stepping forward. "We cannot let down the guild!"

    Rai nodded and stepped into line, Sean catching up a few moments later. As they walked the forest path grew wider, the trees began to thin, and the grassy ground began to turn rockier.

    "Looks like the right way," Sean said, wincing as his paw pads were poked by stones.

    The trees ended almost immediately. Simply stopping at one flourishing point. The change from green life to sandstone rock was almost rude in its bluntness.

    "Has this place been mined?" Sean muttered as they stepped into a clearing.

    "Or just torn apart by pokémon?" Rai said equally as quietly.

    Stepping into the clearing was like stepping into a room filled with tense people. There was no room, but there was a respectable amount of pokémon loitering about, all of which stared right at the trio as they walked in.

    A few pokémon scowled and turned away in a huff and each of the trio stepped a little lighter as they realised the mood was quite dour at the moment.

    "Hey-hey," Corphish said on reflex, waving a claw. "We should just go straight in."

    "Agreed," Sean and Rai said in chorus. The entrance to the Boulder Quarry, a cave dungeon it looked to be, was right in front of them. There were a few spot-camps about, a few pokémon nursing injuries.

    Sean, feeling extra vigilant due to the negative attitude the entrance of the dungeon was soaked in, took in every pokémon, keeping a careful eye for any sudden movements. His tail went straight, not that he even noticed, and each whisker quivered in the air.

    Gurderr.

    Ninetales.

    Riolu.

    Golem.

    Hitmonchan.

    Tynamo.

    Grovyle. He couldn't help but glance twice at that, a bit of a scarred creature chatting amicably to someone else.

    Staraptor.

    Diglett.

    Diglett, dig, diglett, dig! Trio-trio-trio.

    The pokémon's name repeated in his head, hearing an old memory of the anime now playing in his head like an earworm. There was also a diglett approaching him.

    "Hello," the diglett said, cheerfully and Sean's mind stopped repeating the earworm.

    Blinking rapidly, he shook his head to clear out the fuzzies, his claws retracting and tail going limp. "What the hell was that?" he wondered as Rai greeted the only friendly pokémon in the area.

    "Hello, Diglett. What can we do for you?"

    The diglett looked over the three of them, saw Corphish and Sean, and ducked into the hole it dug a little until only its eyes were peering out. Oddly small for a diglett.

    More comfortable speaking to the pokémon it had a strong advantage over in battle, Diglett turned back to Rai. "I can guess you are here to look for the treasure of Boulder Quarry?"

    "That's right." Rai nodded, as Corphish took a small step back, gesturing Sean to do so as well.

    With them farther back, Diglett seemed more comfortable, and it spoke a little louder. "I won't give you the tired warning of not going in, but I just want to make sure you're ready for what's in there."

    "Is the dungeon filled with strong pokémon?" Rai asked.

    "Y-yes, but that's not what I want to warn you about." Diglett shifted uncomfortably, fascinating for a pokémon that was mostly head. "See, since no one has been able to find the treasure for so long, some adventurers are getting frustrated. Th-there's one team here that is really angry lately, going too hard on the feral pokémon in the dungeon and even bullying other teams to try and drive them off." Lowering their voice to a whisper, the diglett said. "See Team Charge over there?" It gave a bare nod to a heavily bandaged trio. "Had a run-in with Team Gazer, they can't even leave yet because they wouldn't make it out there in their state."

    Sean and Corphish shared a concerned look as Rai frowned. "Who is Team Gazer?" he asked, thinking it'd be best to know who to look out for.

    "A really nasty team consisting of Beldum, Electrike and their leader, Beheeyem. They are really angry lately and might attack you if you run into them."

    "Thanks for the warning, Diglett," Sean said with a smile, glancing at his teammates. "But we'll be okay. Right guys?"

    "For sure, hey-hey," Corphish agreed, snapping his pincers. "If they try to cause trouble with us, we'll give them the old what for!"

    "So, we'll be, oh." Rai blinked, he had turned back to finish talking to Diglett, but the Mole Pokémon was already gone. "Wow. Did you see Diglett leave?"

    "Hey-no."

    "I blinked, and it was just gone," Sean answered, rather surprised himself. He frowned as this seemed familiar to him, he didn't have time to ponder, however. Too many things going on around him.

    "Guess the rumours are true," Rai muttered before shaking it off. "Let's go then!"

    "Right."

    Sean deftly stepped between Rai and Corphish as they headed to the dungeon entrance. It was simply pragmatic, plus he really didn't like the looks he was getting. Could pokémon smell weakness? Fear? These were questions he was afraid of the answer.

    Boulder Quarry was unlike the dungeons Sean had entered earlier. Being either underground caves, mountainous regions or forests, he was frankly more comfortable in the plain, rocky, walls that made up this dungeon. Looked more normal.

    The ceiling was a little cracked, enough to poke through some angry red glows. That was still creepy wherever he went. Oran Forest, Mount Bristle, all the dungeons seemed to have it.

    He was even less comfortable when they were attacked. Immediately.

    A ninjask, absurdly fast bug came with only the warning of its wings beating, swooped them right as soon as the light from the entrance of the tunnel was obscured.

    A Slash right for Sean knocked him flying, back stinging harshly from the surprise attack. He let out a high cry of surprise and pain before the wall he was slammed into shut that up.

    The ninjask had moved so quickly, striking Sean with a Slash and then beating into him, all in the space of half a second.

    Sean felt the old familiar feeling of blood on his face as the ninjask pulled a limb back for another Slash. Being bombarded with a Bubblebeam for its daringness.

    Sean grunted as he was slammed into the wall again, Corphish's bubbles had quite a concussive force to them and had knocked the ninjask into him again, but the pressure on his back was alleviated when it pried itself off him and flew back into the air.

    Rai tried striking it down with a Thundershock, but the ninjask was too quick and it zipped away.

    "Sean!" Rai cried once he had finished growling in the direction the attacker flew off. "You alright?"

    "Screw that thing," Sean groaned, peeling himself off the wall and grabbing his face. "Ugh, that's a feeling I haven't felt for a while. Is my nose bleeding?"

    "You are bleeding!" he shrieked, causing Sean to wince.

    "Ow, that hurt almost as much." Rai wilted for a moment, but perked up again, recognizing the annoyed comment for what it could mean.

    "You're probably okay if you are sarcasm talking," he said, peering over Sean. He grabbed the meowth's head with his paws and pulled his down, examining his back. Thankfully the Slash had left only a mark in his fur, it wasn't bleeding like it felt it was. He didn't have much padding on his back though, so his bones stung as well.

    "You look alright," Rai said, affirming his check-up with a nod.

    "Thank you for that," Sean said, rubbing his face. Being pulled down was not a pleasant experience after being attacked.

    "You're welcome," Rai said brightly, either missing or ignoring Sean's sarcasm.

    "Hey, if you're alright we should keep going." Corphish gestured with a claw and the pair quickly stepped into line with him.

    "I want to be in the middle," Sean said, squeezing between them. "If I'm going to be a target, they are going to have to get through you first."

    Rai nodded, but Corphish rolled his eyes. "I'm weak," Sean complained and Corphish sighed.

    Still rubbing his face, he hated the feeling of bleeding, they continued on their merry way.

    "This place is horrible," Rai whined, an hour later. "It's so hostile!"

    It wasn't merely the pokémon who were incensed, although they were attacked an unusual number of times, the real problem lay in the dungeon itself. It seemed like it was breaking down, either from age or to spite them. Rocks would fall from the ceiling, cracks would open up in the ground, walls collapse, blocking their path, and a stone bridge they found collapsed two-thirds of the way across, only quick meowth-senses saved the trio when Sean yelled for them all to jump.

    While the dungeon was terrible, it was not the biggest issue. Even when they ran into eighteen different dead ends. What was truly offensive was the ninjask.

    It showed up far too often. Appearing from the ceiling, zipping in from a pathway, descending upon them like a bug out of hell.

    After the third attack, all seemingly focused on Sean, he started spitting in fury whenever it appeared.

    After the eighth, all three of them were jumping at the slightest noise.

    Then this time, the fourteenth time one particular ninjask had attacked. They were certain it was the same one as it always, without fail, attacked Sean first. No matter the threat level the other two presented, it went for him.

    It was only then did they learn why.

    "Wha? NO!"

    The ninjask achieved a sharp Slash, cutting not through Sean, but through the strap of the Treasure Bag. Quick as lightning and ten times as shocking, it grabbed the Treasure Bag and flew off with it.

    Rai unleashed enough electricity to be considered a Thunder attack and Corphish blasted Bubblebeam all across the dungeon, but even when taking multiple hits, the ninjask did not relinquish its prize.

    They did not see the ninjask again.

    "What even IS this place?" Rai growled. His enthusiasm had lasted longer than anyone had predicted, but eventually, frustration got to him. "Why is everything against us today? Do you really not want us here oh high and mighty dungeon?"

    "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Sean almost raced forth into the unknown, and had to be pulled back by his tail by Rai. He yelped, still not used to that thing always being there.

    "Okay. Okay. OKAY!" Corphish snapped, grabbing both of his partners by the tail and dragging them forward, ignoring their cries of pain and fury. "Let's just get through this horrible place and find this legend-damned treasure. Hey. HEY."

    "Ow, okay, okay, ow, enough." Sean managed to free his tail from Corphish's unfairly tight grip. Part of him was thankful Corphish's pincers weren't as sharp as a yabby's, those would have sliced right through his tail.

    After glaring at the odd limb for a moment, he still could barely fathom having this fifth limb, Sean turned to a wincing Rai and a calming Corphish.

    "This bloody sucks," he said, rubbing some dried blood off his face as if to accentuate his words. The dusty fragments disappeared off his paws as he flicked it. "But think of the story we'll get to tell when we beat this fricken place!"

    "It will be nice to beat this place," Rai grumbled.

    "That's true, heeey," Corphish muttered. Both pokémon shook their heads and stared up at the walls, fury burning in their eyes.

    "You will NOT beat us!" they said together, firing off water and electricity at the dungeon's ceiling.

    "That… is probably taunting murphy," Sean deadpanned as the dungeon rumbled. He began to move. "For the love of – RUN!" he called as the dungeon began crashing down, Corphish and Rai shouting out and tearing after him in moments.

    They made it out of the room of pure spite as the entire pathway collapsed, blocking any ability to backtrack from here.

    "Let's hope this doesn't lead to a dead-end," Sean said cheerfully. "Or we might die."

    Corphish stared at him in horror as Rai stepped into line with him. "How do you go from more optimistic than me to straight up depressing?" he asked, a little disturbed himself at the cheerful manner of discussing one's death.

    "With sweet, sweet, denial," Sean answered, as peppy as he was before. "Can't let it bother you if you pretend it's not an issue." He smiled and continued walking, eying Rai's summersaulting of facial expressions through the corner of his eye. "Although, I AM an optimist," he said honestly. "That's why I think we've gotten through the worst of it."

    "You think so?" Corphish asked, joining Sean's other side. It had been a bit of a joke at first, but both Rai and Corphish walked with Sean in the middle. It had shown to be much safer that way.

    "Not in the least," Sean answered, receiving twin sighs from his companions. "We've lost the Treasure Bag. That sucks."

    "Yeah," Rai said and then nodded harshly. "It DOES suck."

    "Sucks terrible," Corphish agreed. "Sucks, sucks, sucks."

    "Okay. Has the word sucks lost all meaning to you both now?"

    "Yep."

    "Your reputation would disagree, hey-hey."

    "Hilarious. Anyway, look." Sean pointed, the ground was changing. "That's a good sign. We may be further into this, finally."

    "Hey-HEY!" Corphish cheered, scuttling forward quickly. "Looks like we've reached the deep of the Boulder Quarry." He thought for a moment before clicking a pincer. "Didn't Chatot say that we'd come up to a right and left path soon?"

    "Right and left…?" Sean said as his eyes suddenly widened.

    "Oh, I'm an idiot," he thought before actually pressing a paw right into his forehead. He wouldn't hit himself, that would hurt. "Oh, my legendary pokémon, god, Arceus, Dialga, GAH! I. AM. An. IDIOT! There's a Time Gear here!"

    It was all coming back to him now. The name of the dungeon had rung only the faintest of bells. He wondered if it had been a random dungeon you could find later at the end of the game.

    "Team… the weavile one. That… was a past thing, wasn't it? Um, ditto! Duh, bellossom. Probably that diglett too. Good grief I am an idiot! Ah, what else, there was something else, wasn't there?"

    "This is a charming place," Rai noted, looking around. His voice snapped Sean out of his rapid panic-thinking, and he glanced around himself. Looser earth, large stone cliffs narrowing slightly into a choke point. Bad feelings all around.

    Sean's tail went still again as his pawpads felt the tiny rumblings from below ground. "Run," he said quietly, not moving.

    "Pardon?" Rai asked before squeaking as Sean grabbed him and Corphish and tugged them forward.

    "RUN!" he bellowed and tore off running, dragging them until they caught their feet and joined him. The walls exploded out as the ground shook. Sean leaped on reflex, narrowly avoiding a great horned head tearing itself out of the ground.

    "Gyah!" Aggron roared. "WHO DARES-"

    He blinked, the lairon who tore their way out of the walls blinked. There was no enemy.

    "Hey?" He turned to see the interlopers running. "HEY!"

    "Hey-nope," Corphish said, sending a Bubblebeam behind him. It distracted Aggron long enough for them to escape the area without the far slower and bulkier pokémon trying to pursue them.

    "Uh… what do we do now?" one of the lairon asked.

    "Just… go." Aggron jumped back underground, deeply disappointed. The six lairon exchanged glances before slowly shuffling away, all just as put out.

    Huffing and puffing as the trio began to slow down, they all glanced back multiple times, but nothing seemed to be thundering its way over to them.

    Slowing to a crawl, Sean, Rai and Corphish took a moment to catch their breath.

    "Good… call," Corphish said, panting for breath.

    "Yeah," Rai agreed. "Thanks."

    "You're both," Sean puffed, "welcome."

    Each of the trio breathed a sigh of relief before they began to laugh. "Help."

    "Good lord," Sean laughed. "Did you hear how high my voice went?"

    "My ears are still ringing," Rai giggled.

    "I hope neither of you heard what I was chanting," Corphish said, abashed. "Those words are not fit for youths such as yourselves."

    "Oh, you're not THAT old," Sean said, waving him off. Corphish accepted that until it clicked.

    "Hey, hey! I am NOT old in the slightest!"

    They broke into giggles again.

    "Help."

    Only to come up short when a tinny voice finally reached them.

    "Huh, who's there?" Rai stood, prickling with electricity.

    "Hey-hey, show yourself."

    "I'm hurt, please help me." That got them moving, Rai and Corphish rushed off without hesitation, and Sean took a slightly longer moment to join them.

    "Oh," Rai's voice was high and soft as they came into a new clearing. There were stones, as usual, a surprising number of boxes, mostly pillaged of their contents, two paths stretching into unknown dungeons.

    And a beaten and bloody shinx.

    For a brief, horrifying, moment Sean saw Rai, but he could still see Rai standing frozen and purged that idea from his mind.

    "A-are you… oh gosh!" Rai rushed forward, kneeling by the other shinx's side and looking over it in worry. "What happened to you?"

    "It… hurts," the shinx said, a slight feminine undertone to its whimpers.

    "Hey, I have this." Corphish stretched out a claw, opening it up to reveal an oran berry. "I found one earlier in the dungeon, saving it for a needed moment. You look like this is needed."

    The shinx, she, looked up at Corphish with a shaky smile. "Thanks, but I don't think that'll do me much good. I just want to get out of here, but I can't make it past… them." She nodded back the way they came, images of a big aggron flashing through everyone's minds.

    "We'll get you out of here," Rai said, laying a careful paw on the other shinx's shoulder. "Right guys?"

    "How did this happen?" Sean said, ignoring Rai's question and looking straight at the shinx. She was curled up, barely moving as they came up to her, paws clasped over her face. Even then, he could still see her eyes.

    "T-Team Gazer," the shinx squeaked. "I refused to give up on my own search for the treasure and they beat me up and left me here."

    "Those CROOKS!" Corphish yelled, causing everyone to jump. "I am sorry miss, we will help you very soon, but this is going too far now."

    "Are you sure?" Rai asked, stepping back slightly from the shinx. "She looks in bad shape."

    "I don't think we can turn back just yet." He glanced to the other shinx. She averted her eyes when she saw him glance her way. "It shouldn't take us very long to get through this and find something to get us back. Like an escape orb!"

    "Oh but, no one has managed to find the way forwards," the shinx squeaked, attracting their attention again. "Maybe it'd be better if we all gave up and tried again some other time? Going through either path just leads you back here pretty quickly."

    "It shouldn't take us long to try them out then," Sean said, taking the oran berry from Corphish. It was a bit squished now, but still edible. "Have this, stay safe, we'll be back for you soon."

    "O-okay," shinx muttered, sinking into herself more. "I'll find a spot to hide I guess, thanks."

    She forced herself to her feet, licked up the berry, and slunk away. Rai still looked conflicted, so Sean put a gentle paw on his back.

    "She'll be fine," he insisted. "She's walking and everything, mostly just worried I think."

    "Maybe I should stay with her?" Rai asked, and Sean felt a small flash of something go through him.

    "You alright?" he asked.

    "Yeah. She just… I guess sort of reminds me of my sister. She shouldn't, my sister wouldn't ever ask for help." He blinked and shook his head. "Just daydreaming, sorry."

    They had to go forwards. And forwards brought them to a path.

    "Which one should we take?" he asked, Corphish still muttering angrily coming up behind him.

    "The right path," Sean answered. "And I mean the actual right path, not right as in right-right."

    Both pokémon gave him a confused look and Sean pointed. "Right."

    "Riiight," Rai said, and giggled. "Heh."

    "Yeah, yeah, very funny. Let's go," Corphish positively growled. Sean joined Rai and they stared after Corphish as he scuttled forward, pincers clicking repeatedly.

    "He's really upset," Sean said lowly.

    "Bad news. For Team Gazer."

    They ran forward, not wanting to lose Corphish.

    An angry Corphish made Team Ion realise just how he participated in throwing a powerful trio like Team Razor Wind out of the guild. Bubblebeam's and Razor Shell attacks knocked pokémon aside like tiny bugs, not there were many pokémon around.

    "What is going on with this place?" Rai asked ten minutes into Corphish's rampage, he was thankfully calming down now.

    "After that beginning, I wasn't looking forward to coming in here," Sean said. Currently, only a few pokémon even attacked, most either laying around unconscious or fleeing at the mere sound of them.

    "Someone's been through here recently," Corphish muttered, shaking his head to clear the anger. "And I bet it was Team Gazer."

    Sean and Rai tensed, but Corphish didn't start muttering angrily and blasting the walls again. He did take a long moment to do anything, but the muscles in his legs relaxed for a bit and he sighed.

    "Hey-hey, sorry for that. I think I lost control a little there."

    "Maybe a bit," Sean agreed. "You okay now?"

    "Yeah, yeah. When we find those crooks, I'll show them what for, I can't waste all my energy on these pokémon."

    He still held a dark glint in his eye, but Corphish had calmed down. To Sean and Rai, the steely anger was just as intimidating.

    Sean urged them on, knowing that this dungeon wasn't particularly long, and indeed a few minutes later they spotted natural sunlight, rather than the odd illumination dungeons consisted of.

    "Yes," Rai cheered as they all sped up. "See, that wasn't so hard."

    They exited, only to find themselves back at the beginning.

    "Huh?"

    "Hey-huy?"

    "Looks like we're back at the beginning," Sean said primly, stepping out of the shadow of the right-sided dungeon. He walked halfway to where the second one beckoned and stopped, standing in front of the large stone wall that separated them. "And I bet the same thing will happen if we go through that one."

    "Then what is the trick here?" Corphish asked as Rai sniffed around for the shinx that they had left.

    "I bet that most exploration teams keep searching these two pathways," Sean said, pacing back and forth. "And get nowhere. If the solution was one of these paths, then someone HAD to have found it by now, right?"

    "Hey guys, Shinx is gone," Rai called, catching their attention. "I can't smell her at all. Not even a path or anything. With her injuries I should be able to smell something." Rai was frowning but looked more perturbed than worried.

    "Maybe she found an escape orb?" Corphish suggested, walking over to Rai. "Or someone helped her. Pokémon don't just vanish otherwise. There'd be signs of a scuffle in anyone else happened." He said this assuredly, he was the most experienced of the three of them after all.

    "Hmm. Yeah, you're right." Rai was still frowning, but he shook it off to step up to Sean. "I heard you talking about this mystery. Do you have any idea on what to do?"

    Sean smiled. He had been thinking over exactly what he was going to say as they explored the right-side dungeon. The right things to sound smart, but not too in-the-know that'd bring suspicion.

    "I think there's another path," he said grandly, turning his back to Rai and Corphish and right to the wall. Walking forward slowly, Sean continued speaking. "So many pokémon must have gone back and forth, back and forth, and different times, trying different pathways in combinations, to find some key to unlock something they couldn't find. But I think they were looking for this key, and forgetting that not all paths are so obvious."

    He'd been rehearsing this in his head, he hoped he sounded smart and not like an ass.

    Stopping in front of the stone, Sean wondered how so few pokémon had ever thought to press against a few walls, or even just stumbled through it like a platform nine and three quarters.

    He pulled a paw up and paused for a moment. Frowning slightly, Sean just stared at the paw that was now his limb. It gave him a sudden feeling of vertigo and he nearly stumbled.

    "Sean?" Rai called, concerned, but Sean turned back with a smile.

    "I'm fine," he said, turning back to the wall. "And I think, THIS." He blinked the feeling of incorrectness away and pressed forward, sinking the rest of his harm through the so-called solid stone. "Look!" He grinned and moved out of the way to allow his companions to see.

    "Is your paw going THROUGH it?" Rai gasped.

    "That's the entrance!" Corphish cheered. "Good work Meowth, you found it!"

    Sean grinned and waved down their accolades. "It's nothing," he said, still grinning widely. He pulled his paw back and waited for the pair to join him. Corphish scuttled up eagerly and stuck his own claw against the illusion, whistling as it passed through as if there was no stone at all.

    Rai, however.

    "Shinx?" Sean asked, the shinx had frozen and was trembling in place. "Rai, are you alright?"

    "Y-yeah. I'm fine. I'm fine," he insisted, looking every but fine.

    "Seriously?" Sean pulled back and stepped to his side. "Rai, what's wrong?"

    This didn't seem like the excited shakes from earlier, his brow was quivering, and he couldn't look at them. He didn't seem to realise Sean was calling him by his name, neither did Sean and Corphish was firmly looking away.

    "Just a bit nervous I guess. Haha," he chuckled humourlessly. "Sorry, I'm going to get over this. Right. Now." He forced a step forward, and another, until he was right before the illusory wall.

    "This is just so weird. I'm looking at solid stone, I need to step through solid stone," Rai explained, still shaking. "I can't help but be afraid halfway through it's going to not be stone and I'm going to be stuck."

    "That won't happen," Corphish said immediately, but Rai just gave him a weak smile.

    Swallowing slightly, Sean did his best to be mindful here and not sweet and patronizing. "We won't leave you, even IF that did happen," he said, Rai glancing up at him. "We'd get you out of the wall and you'd be fine. Alright?"

    Rai took a deep breath and let it out with a shudder. "Yeah. Alright." He nodded and met Sean's eyes, he was still shaking slightly but not as bad. He even smiled something that reached his eyes rather than being a blank mask. "Can we all, you know, jump. Together?"

    Sean nodded. "One," he said, looking to Corphish.

    The crustacean got what he was going for. "Two."

    Rai smiled, seeing they were leaving the final decision to him. He took another breath and braced his back legs. "THREE!"

    "Jump!" Sean yelled, just in case Rai needed just a little final push. They all leaped forward, passing through the stone illusion and onto cool stone on the inside.

    "Hoo wow," Rai breathed, finding his breath returning to him. He glanced over himself, checking that no parts were missing. "I'm in one piece. Oh." Rai let himself crumple to the ground in relief. "I did it."

    Right as Sean knelt down to pick him up, Rai pulled himself up. "I'm okay now. Better than okay actually." He grinned at Sean and Sean grinned back seeing both the spark back as well as a glint of pride. "Let's find this treasure!"

    "This whole place is covered in limestone," Corphish said, ten minutes into their new exploration. There were pools of water, constant dripping sounds, an unfortunate number of echoing screeches, all the standard cavern-fair noises.

    Unlike the right path, there were fewer pokémon around. Unlike the right path, the pokémon that were about were angry that they were there.

    It was down to Corphish and Rai for the most part. Sean was still uncomfortable in battle, he much preferred having a stock of items to make up for his inexperience, but the Treasure Bag was gone, and he was unhappy about that.

    "Good grief, what it with this slowking?"

    One particular enemy proved to be quite a challenge. Capable of shrugging off Rai's Thundershock attacks and Corphish was unable to get close enough to strike him with a Knock Off.

    "Ah, blast it!" Corphish cried as he was thrown back by a Psychic attack.

    "I don't have any blast seeds," Sean yelled back, ducking around Rai being thrown at his head.

    "Oh haha," Corphish grumbled as he righted himself. "Okay, new plan. Sean, distract it!"

    "Wha?" Sean spluttered, his heart made an uncomfortable flip. He didn't like being as close to the slowking as he was right now. Blank eyes, gaping mouth, the eyes of its crown all rolling about unseeingly. It was one of the creepier pokémon he'd seen, due to the extra eyes. "What am I supposed to do?"

    "Scratch it or something, Rai and I need one good shot!" Corphish helped Rai up and whispered something Sean wasn't of the mind to hear. He carefully edged forward, fur going stiff and tail poking right up.

    "Uh, nice slowking. My liege." Sean performed a delicate bow and then a rather poor curtsey. He had no idea what he was doing.

    To his credit, the slowking did hesitate at the odd movements, but this didn't stop it from grabbing Sean in Psychic.

    Sean made an awful sound as the feeling of the very air around him seemed to constrict around him and squeeze before lifting him up. That was the best he could gather about how it felt to be under a Psychic attack, and he wheezed as the slowking began squeezing the air from his lungs.

    He tried to thrash, but even those movements weren't enough to break the hold of the slowking. Massive electrical trauma, however, was enough.

    The slowking made a terrible screeching roar as Rai hit it with all the electricity he could, causing it to drop Sean ceremonially before twitching as electricity continued to arc over its body.

    "Perfect," Corphish said, scuttling up as fast as he could, one claw descending into darkness. "It's Paralysed!" He slammed his Knock Off into the stomach of the slowking with all the force he could muster. Its eyes bugged out from the impact before it was thrown back by some extra concussive impact.

    "Type advantage," Corphish scoffed, blowing on his claw. "He's not getting up quickly after that, let's get out of here."

    Rai helped Sean up and supported him as the meowth forced air back into his bloodstream.

    "That was," Sean managed before choking and needing to breathe rapidly again. "Not fun."

    "Nope." Both Corphish and Rai said together.

    Sean nodded and really hoped they wouldn't encounter any more obnoxiously strong enemies.

    They did. One painfully durable marill rolled right over Sean. A dragonair blasted him with a Dragon Pulse attack. He was wrapped up by a seviper and blinded by a pair of volbeat and illumise.

    "What is this day?" Sean groaned, beaten and battered, and without any items to cover the pain and exhaustion with.

    "I'm kind of impressed with just how bad your luck is hey-hey," Corphish said, looking over the meowth with new respect. "They all seem to be going for you. And you are managing? I'd be down and out if I went through all that with no oran's, hey-hey!"

    "Corphish is right," Rai agreed. "You're a bit clumsy but wow you can take a hit and keep going."

    "At this point, I run on the power of spite," Sean growled, but the compliments were helping a little. "Spite to beat this goddamned dungeon!" Sean hissed and swiped at the ceiling, claws out and shining with Power.

    "Calm down, hold it for later," Corphish said, and received a disbelieving stare in response.

    "Who went psycho on the dungeon earlier?" Sean scoffed.

    "Hey-hey!" Corphish clicked his pincers, trying to find words. "Hey… hey."

    "Oh look." Rai pointed, desperate to move the subject away from potentially hurtful words being said. "That rock looks interesting."

    "That is one perfectly flat rock." Sean nodded.

    "Flattest I've ever seen," Corphish agreed.

    They exchanged a look and then continued, leaving that in the corridors behind them.

    "The room is widening," Rai pointed out as they walked. It was true, things were growing more circular, the dripping was even louder, and there were more pools of water around.

    "Brighter too," Sean noted. "I think this might be it."

    "Hey-yay, let's hurry up!"

    They sped up. The exhaustion made by the trek being forgotten for a moment in the thrill of excitement.

    "Oh wow, LOOK!" Rai squealed before rushing off with a Quick Attack. "Treasure! Treasure!"

    Corphish whooped as he spotted the box as well. Sean was more subdued, he was sure he remembered this fairly well.

    Up a few steps, presented proudly as if it was just for them, laid a gorgeous green and silver chest. It was huge, being wider than all three of them side by side and even Sean, the tallest of the three, only reached the clasp of the box with his head.

    "What's in it!" Corphish demanded, jumping right onto the box and scuttling over it, clicking his pincers uncontrollably. "Open, open, open, hey-hey-hey."

    "Calm your jets," Sean said, shooing Corphish off. He examined the lock on the chest for a moment, it was very simple: just a press and it would open. Touching the wood was a little odd, it was almost spongey but not quite.

    Due to the dampness of the room? Sean wasn't completely believing that.

    He pressed down and the box lid almost sprung open, not even needing them to push it up. Putting two paws on the brink, Sean hoisted himself up and glanced inside it.

    To his surprise, there WAS something inside it. He wasn't sure about crawling into the box to get it, he was getting mimic vibes from this. The fact that he could feel air moving in there was just creepy.

    "WELL?" Corphish couldn't contain himself any longer and he climbed the box. "WHAaaa?"

    He paused, unbelieving, before slowly letting himself fall in. "Hey-Corphish!" Sean snapped and grabbed him. "Don't just throw yourself in there!"

    He pulled Corphish out, finding the crustacean to not be too heavy, and let him fall on the outside.

    "It's just a blast seed," Corphish said, voice flat.

    Rai gawked and tried to jump up and into the chest himself. "What? No!" Sean grabbed him before he could fall in as well and held him steady until he let himself slip back. With no one else risking falling in, Sean let go and buried the creepy, not-wood, feeling touching the chest left on his paws.

    "Is it a blast seed?" Rai asked softly. "Are you sure?"

    "No mistaking it," Corphish said, still flat. "I've handled enough to know." He sighed sadly, and Sean slipped over to retrieve the seed from him. "Should have guessed it really," Corphish muttered. "A treasure hidden for THIS long? A puzzle you just had to walk through a wall for? Of course, someone's found it already."

    "Someone's found it?" a new voice yelled out, attracting their attention.

    "Wha? Who?" Rai began before a trio of pokémon stormed into the room.

    "YOU!" The four-legged one roared. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"

    "Statement: You three are thieves, bullies, and troublemakers," the floating one said.

    "Team Ion, I presume?" the third, the bipedal one, the leader, the beheeyem asked smoothly. "I would like to say well met, but nothing would be farther from the truth.

    "Wait," Rai said lowly.

    "Electrike, Beldum, Beheeyem," Corphish growled. "It's Team Gazer."

    "So, you know of us?" Beheeyem asked, reaching his arms forward as he settled into a competitive position. "Then you'll also know we are the ones who deserve the treasure. What have you done with it?"

    "There was nothing here when we arrived," Rai answered, voice barely shy of yelling. "Just a box and a blast seed."

    "Accusation: Lies," Beldum said, voice echoing around the cavern. "Directive: We shall stop you and bring you in for what you have done."

    "You're not taking us anywhere," Corphish yelled. "We'll be taking cruel creatures like YOU in! How dare you harm Shinx?"

    "How dare YOU harm Elgyem?" Beheeyem shouted. "Enough of this, you're going down!"

    "THIS IS FOR EVERYONE!" Electrike yelled before he unleashed a torrent of electricity on Corphish. Rai jumped in the way of it, taking the hit, and sent his own Thundershock back.

    Sean opened his mouth to cry for them to stop, but it was already too late. They were enraged and attacking and neither Rai nor Corphish seemed open to talking this out either.

    Corphish aimed his sights on Beheeyem and nothing else, firing a Bubblebeam to start things off. The Psychic-type deflected the attack with a Psychic and backed away, throwing a Hidden Power barrage back.

    Sean backed away as the situation devolved into a brawl. Team Gazer was not listening, even as he tried to shout above the chaos.

    "Directive: You are going down."

    Sean's whiskers twitched, and he dove to the side to avoid being slammed with a Take Down from Beldum.

    "Woah, woah, woah," he said rapidly, backing away from the massive gouged hole Beldum's attack made in a wall. "I don't want to fight you!"

    Behind him, a war of electricity, water bubbles, and Psychic attacks reigned dominant.

    "I uh… don't want to fight in general," Sean corrected.

    Beldum stared at him coldly for a moment. "Accusation: You are an outlaw and a coward." With that it rushed him again, however, Sean dodged the attack again.

    "If nothing else," he thought to himself, nearly panicking. "I'm faster and I think Take Down is all it can do?"

    While Sean was busy dodging, Rai fought Electrike with electricity. Twin beams of sparking power met in the middle of the two quadruped Electric-type pokémon as they tried to overpower the control of the other.

    "Pokémon like you," Electrike growled, straining against the lightning battle. "Never win."

    "Good guys… always… prevail," Rai grunted, pushing harder and harder. Sparks of electricity danced out every, leaving small burns all around them and on their fur.

    Using jets of Bubblebeam's, Corphish blew himself out of the way of any attack Beheeyem tried, dodging over everything and even slipping through any Psychic grabs, all the while pinging him with whatever he could.

    "Arg, enough!" Beheeyem threw out a pulse of power, knocking Corphish back before he raised his arms. "Everyone, GET READY!"

    Electrike grinned and broke the electrical surge while Beldum waited patiently. From Beheeyem's flashing fingers a box began to take shape.

    "No!" Corphish yelled, sending a torrent of explosive bubbles at Beheeyem. He took the hit unwavering as he channelled the bizarre powers he was tapping into. "Everyone, attack now!" Corphish demanded, Rai fell into a Quick Attack while Sean kept on staring fearfully at Beldum.

    "Trick Room!" Beheeyem crowed as the move finished and a bizarre set of hexagons spread over everything, seeping into the walls, covering every inch of the area.

    "Trick? Oh no." Sean grimaced as it felt like his entire body was subsumed by tapioca. His speed and agility abandoned him while Beldum now sped forward like a freight train.

    Beldum's Take Down slammed right into Sean's chest and he was sure something cracked, knocking him flying off the small raised area he had stuck to and into the thick of the brawl.

    Rai found his own speed, not severely decreased, but enough that Electrike now out sped, slamming him with a Tackle.

    Beheeyem staggered as the toll of the Bubblebeam reached him and was still too slow to avoid Corphish's Razor Shell attack. He fell down with a cry, giving Corphish further opportunity to strike him with his other pincer, coated in Dark-type energy. The Knock Off was caught, however, as Beheeyem suddenly surged in speed.

    He was not very strong, however, and Corphish swiftly overpowered the grab to strike him head on. Knocking him out.

    "Leader!" Electrike yelled, splitting his attention for a moment long enough for Rai to Thundershock him.

    "Re-evaluation: Target Corphish," Beldum said, switching gears stoically and rushing forward to smash into an unprepared Corphish. There was a nasty crack as Beldum's weight, speed, and deadly attack knocked Corphish into a wall before he collapsed.

    "Okay, everyone stop right now!" Sean shouted but was ignored as Beldum turned to stare at Rai.

    "Risk Assessment: Meowth is weak. Target adjusted."

    "Oh no you don't," Sean jumped in the way as quickly as he could. He wasn't liking Trick Room. Gravity still worked the same, and every moment wasn't difficult, simply sluggish. Like his brain was taking its time directing the nerves to do things. "You're fighting me!"

    He unleashed his claws and swiped at Beldum, harmlessly chinking off the sturdy Steel-type. The round head of the Beldum swivelled to him, single eye staring listlessly at his own.

    "Inquisitive: You would protect him?"

    "Yes, I will!" Sean declared, slashing Beldum over and over. "I'm your opponent, leave Rai alone!"

    Beldum turned his whole body to Sean and then headbutted him. It wasn't even a move, not even a tackle, but the weight and hardness were still enough to knock his breath out.

    "Declaration: Stop embarrassing yourself." Beldum swivelled back to Rai, who was staggering as Electrike headbutted him, and prepared another Take Down.

    "Dammit!" Sean uncurled his other paw and threw the blast seed he still held, missing Beldum completely as the seed exploded harmlessly against the wall of the Trick Room.

    Sean groaned.

    Then Trick Room shattered.

    "W-woah!" Rai gasped as he suddenly dodged, moving at his normal speed again.

    "Rai, DODGE!" Sean yelled, warning of Beldum's rapid approach. But not as fast as before, and Rai was able to duck under the heavy pokémon.

    Sean cheered as Rai blasted both pokémon with Thundershock, then was hit by a flying shinx when Beheeyem got back up and tossed Rai at him, slamming their heads together and sending Sean down.

    "Oh, come on," Rai growled, rolling off Sean. That last hit finally seemed to do it and Sean did not look like he was getting up again, laying limply. Rai felt a burst of anger surge through his body, Sean was scared of fighting and he'd still jumped in to protect him from Beldum and now THIS?

    "We will bring you down," Beheeyem declared and raised his arms again. "TRICK-"

    For the second time in the same manner, Beheeyem was blasted with Bubblebeam.

    "Room." Beheeyem coughed, Power fading before he slumped.

    "Leader!" Electrike shouted.

    "Concern: Beheeyem, what is the damage?"

    They were also blasted with Bubblebeam.

    Corphish had gotten back up and he returned to Rai's sides. "One more hit?" he asked, breathing heavily. Rai nodded savagely, crackling like a storm.

    "One more hit?" Beheeyem asked, being supported by Beldum. Sean began to stir, and he raised his head and saw what was going on.

    "ENOUGH!"

    Rai, Corphish, Beheeyem, Beldum, and Electrike all paused as Sean yelled hard enough for them to hear him. Pulling himself up, using Rai as a brace, Sean continued without taking a moment to breathe. "Don't you all SEE what is HAPPENING HERE?"

    He panted for breath, each inhale burning as he was sure his ribs were at least bruised for this entire mess. He was angry, both at the situation and at himself for letting it descend this far. He had the answer, and he had been too smug to give it away immediately.

    "First!" He pointed a claw up. "WE were told that YOU Team Gazer were the bullies."

    Team Gazer all exchanged a look. "But," Electrike began, but Sean was talking again.

    "TWO! You were told that WE Team Ion were the bullies, right?"

    "Well, yeah, that's what Elgyem said."

    "THREE! We met a shinx at the split circle path that said YOU had attacked her."

    "That's where Elgyem-"

    "FOUR! Someone is OBVIOUSLY trying to turn us against each other."

    "Wait," Rai began. "Why would?"

    "FIVE! That person is HERE RIGHT NOW!"

    Pushing himself off Rai, he stomped back up the steps as the five pokémon watched in abashed confusion. He walked to the treasure chest who looked impressively nervous for something without a face. Like a soggy box.

    He extended his claws and raised a paw. "Now do I have to carve my name into you or are you going to give it up?"

    There was a pause, Rai feared Sean had lost his senses in the anger, and Sean growled and began to slash.

    "Okay!" the chest squealed, and Sean caught his paw before impact.

    The five watching pokémon all gasped as the treasure chest rocked to the side several times before it seemed to melt, turn pink, and grow a face.

    "That face," Beheeyem said quietly, putting the missing piece together.

    "Doesn't that look like?" Corphish muttered.

    "Okay, you got me," Ditto said, shamefaced and very nervous as six pokémon stared at it.

    Sean narrowed his eyes at it but took a few breaths to calm himself down. "I'm beaten, tired, bloody and really, really, upset over all this," he said, causing Ditto to cringe. "Why did you do this to us? Why turn us against each other? Why everything?"

    He knew why. Even in anger though, Sean knew the role he was meant to play.

    "I," Ditto began before sighing. "It'll be easier if I just show you. Follow me." It sighed and turned around before pulling itself along the ground like a slug. Lots of rhythmic contractions.

    Team Gazer exchanged a confused set of glances before following Rai and Corphish, Sean was already right behind Ditto, and he still had his claws out.

    "First, I want to apologise for what I've done," Ditto said as they began walking a thin path, raised between a lot of clear water.

    "Query: What have you done?"

    "I told each team that the other was a set of crooks and bullies, transformed myself into bellossom and diglett to try and warn you off, ninjask to steal both of your Treasure Bags, shinx and elgyem to turn you against each other, and have been doing this for years."

    "You have the Treasure Bag?" Sean snarled, causing Ditto to cringe.

    "Y-yeah, sorry. I thought without your bags, you'd give up. A lot of teams rely too much on them and back off when they lose them. Don't worry, I've got them up ahead."

    "Why have you been doing this? Hey-hey."

    "I'm protecting the real treasure here," Ditto admitted.

    The five other pokémon shared a set of looks, some suspicious, others grim.

    "Why would you be leading us to it then?" Beheeyem asked, guarded for another trap.

    "Because you'll understand why you can't take it," Ditto said before slowing. "We're here. Look up ahead." Along a craggy path lit with cerulean blue led to a treasure of a sight.

    Sean felt the air rush out of his lungs for a whole different, much more pleasant, reason. Shining with a cerulean light, turning softly as if it was a cog that ran part of the world, the Time Gear was utterly enrapturing.

    He vaguely heard gasps from behind him, only Rai's really penetrated the overwhelming feeling of want that gripped him suddenly.

    "Look at that," Rai whispered, coming up against Sean and rubbing against his side. He felt the sheer tenseness of Sean's muscles, as he was beginning to spring forward. "Sean?"

    Rai's small voice and innocent question managed to clear his head, and Sean blinked for the first time in a minute before bowing his head, forcing his eyes away from it. "It's beautiful," he said, unable to say anything more. He averted his eyes, even seeing it out of the corner of his eye was beginning to overpower his sense of reason again. He felt tears in his eyes, a sheer feeling of need to run over and grab that. He wasn't prepared for amnesia to still affect him like that.

    It had to be. How long was he in the Dark Future? The sun of the day still stung his eyes a bit, he was still adjusting. How long in the darkness, only to see the key out of it in front of him?

    He couldn't take it. He couldn't. He couldn't he couldn't he couldn't he couldn't.

    "Astonishment: A Time Gear is the treasure?" Beldum asked, clearly amazed in the face of the Time Gear.

    "Yes." Ditto nodded. An odd move for them to make. "And I have protected it for a long time. Only one other time has anyone actually found it, and thankfully no one was intending on taking it. Still, the fewer people who know of my Time Gear the better, it was part of the warning I was given. To guard it as best as I can."

    It bowed its face in shame. "But I can't stand watching pokémon tear each other apart. I couldn't the first time, not this time. I shouldn't have shown you all, so you have to promise me you won't reveal this!"

    "O-of course," Electrike said.

    "Hey-hey, my lips are sealed. Especially with Treeshroud Forest having its Time Gear stolen, this one has got to be protected!"

    "What about Wigglytuff?" Rai asked, frowning. "Shouldn't the guild know so we can help protect this one?"

    "Wigglytuff?" Ditto asked suddenly. "Pink chap? Loves Perfect Apples? Much smarter than he looks?"

    "That's the Guildmaster," Corphish confirmed. "Wait? You know him?"

    "Indeed. He was the one who caught me out the first time, breaking up the feuding teams, and led to the first time I showed the Time Gear to anyone."

    Rai and Corphish started back in shock as Team Gazer all exchanged one more look. Beheeyem had retrieved the Treasure Bags. "We swear we will not reveal the Time Gear," he said. Turning to Sean, as he was the only one not blinking in shock, Beheeyem continued. "Team Gazer apologises to you, Team Ion. In any other situation, I'm sure we would have been allies." He offered their bag, the broken strap being held together in Psychic.

    "Thank you." Sean nodded back, and Team Gazer left.

    "Wigglytuff has been here before?" Rai whispered, expression twisting as he wasn't sure how he should feel. Annoyed? Happy he'd done what the Guildmaster himself had managed? "Why were we sent to look for the treasure here then?"

    "He… could he have forgotten? Hey-hey. The Guildmaster CAN be… no, the Guildmaster is not THAT forgetful. How would one forget a Time Gear?"

    "Does he know where we were being sent?" Sean added in. "I mean, Chatot was the one who arranged it right?" Turning to Ditto, he asked. "Did you meet a chatot with Wigglytuff?"

    "No." Ditto shook its face. "It was years and years ago though. There was no guild Wigglytuff had back then, I'm certain of that."

    "Ages ago. Maybe he DID forget?" Rai wondered and sighed. "Well. We found the treasure, we just can't take it with us. I hope Chatot will understand."

    "It's a Time Gear," Sean said brightly. "This is exactly what he'll like to hear with the trouble going on. Maybe that's what it was, to check it was still here?"

    "Hey-hey, you're right. We should get back to the guild quickly, alert them." He looked to Ditto. "We'll send some guild operatives to help protect you? Okay?"

    Ditto hesitated. "If Wigglytuff thinks it'd be the right thing to do… I guess. They'll need to be careful though, the less attention on this place the better."

    "We better get going then," Sean said, receiving nods from his companions.

    "Take care," Ditto said as they left the limestone cavern.

    "What a day?" Sean said as they walked out of the dungeon.

    "What a story!" Rai smiled, much more positive now.

    "What an adventure. A Time Gear hey-HEY!"

    It was with smiles that they left the Boulder Quarry. Sean wouldn't grow concerned until they were back at the guild, realising that a heavily guarded Time Gear could cause problems for later.


    "So, it was a path in between the two entries? How fortunate for us."

    "Don't get too smug just yet, we've still got to find the Time Gear and the day is going."

    "We know it's in there, YOU know it's in there. We'll find it, the night is better for this anyway."

    "Ha. Let's just get going."

    "That meowth, however…?"

    "I noticed too. He looked right at you for a moment, but… if it was him wouldn't he have come over?"

    "Skinny though. Just like..."

    "We'll find him, let's just get this done."


    So, you may have been wondering, why Corphish of all the apprentices? To that I say, why not? In all seriousness though, he's got the least characterisation and reason to being there out of everyone. Dugtrio has more personality than him. And has a role at the guild. Corphish is the only one out of everyone you're most likely to not really care for, so I thought I'd give him some spotlight here!

    And here we also get a revelation that Sean may not remember everything from the games too well. He's played the games many times, yes, but he can't remember every little thing. He figured out where they were eventually, but not everything is going to come to him right away. And as things change, it becomes even less reliable.
     
    Chapter 7 - Trying Something
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    Chapter seven. Thank you to everyone who has come this far! We've still got a while to go!


    Returning to the guild was done in a quiet affair. Alakazam was found waiting for them outside the border of the campsite and quickly warped them home. Sean especially was grateful for the quick exit, he felt eyes burning into his back, but glancing behind him afforded no answers.

    "How was the adventure?" Alakazam asked after they appeared at the crossroads, but before an answer could be given he teleported away.

    "He's a bit rude," Sean yawned. Now that all the excitement was over, he was tired. And sore. Sore everywhere. Even his tail hurt, the muscles at the root of his tail seemed oddly stretched out. "Hey, has my tail been doing stuff?" he asked as they began the walk up the trial of infinite steps.

    "It was going up a few times during weird moments," Corphish answered. "You didn't notice?"

    "Not in the least. Tails are weird anyway."

    "Mmph." Was Rai's contribution to the topic at hand.

    Corphish, having the most legs, was the fastest and he was the one to stand over the grate. They were quickly let in by Diglett and Loudred.

    They trudged down and down further until they were at the lowest level.

    "Ah, you three," Chatot said, spotting them. He hopped away from the pokémon he was talking to, Alakazam to the trio's annoyance, and looked them over. "How did you fare in the dungeon?" his voice was casual, too casual.

    "We beat it," Corphish said, letting his body slump to the floor as his legs decided they didn't want to carry him anymore.

    "We found the treasure," Rai added, slumping to his side.

    "It was a Time Gear," Sean said, wobbling back and forth on his feet.

    "A… A TIME GEAR!" Chatot screeched, flapping his wings furiously. "Well, well, well, well-well!"

    "The guardian said Wigglytuff had already been there," Sean said, giving up and sitting down. "Guildmaster Wigglytuff I mean."

    "Ah… pardon?" Chatot ceased his fluttering to blink at them instead. "The 'guardian' said the 'Guildmaster' had already 'been' there?"

    Ignoring the odd choice of words to emphasize, the trio nodded.

    "No." Chatot shook his head. "No-no-no. That cannot be right. It was the Guildmaster's plan to send you to the Boulder Quarry, overturning my suggestions for an easier dungeon. If he already knew what was there…?" Trailing off he looked to Alakazam and then past him to Wigglytuff's chambers. "Stay here, I'll return shortly."

    There was no argument there, the trio just laid in place as Alakazam stared at them until Chatot came hopping out. His wings were a little frazzled, with too many startled flaps of the wings.

    "Well, I have your answer," Chatot said, hopping to a stop. "Indeed, the Guildmaster has been to the chamber containing Boulder Quarry's Time Gear. Apparently, before he was well known before he even joined Team Charm even." Chatot's eyes did a curious thing at that mention. A twitch of sorts.

    "In conference with the Guildmaster, he confirmed that he remembered the Time Gear. Eventually," Chatot added under his breath, remembering just how many times he had to word the question before Wigglytuff would stop dancing.

    "But you will be pleased to learn that this was exactly the Guildmaster's plan! By confirming the Time Gear location, which is still there, we can send pokémon to guard it."

    Of the trio, it was Sean who nodded. "We thought so too. Ditto, the guardian, said it'd be alright if the pokémon were careful." After a moment he added. "You need to walk through a wall that is in the middle of two path dungeons that just loop around. The rock wall is an illusion or something."

    "You have done very well," Chatot said, sparking some attention from the other two. "Even if this adventure was perhaps not what you were expecting, you still solved a puzzle only the Guildmaster had previously properly worked out. This is very impressive. And to find a Time Gear at this sensitive hour, currently, that is worth more than any treasure."

    Smiling through his eye, beaks didn't convey emotions well, Chatot tipped his head to them. "I will alert Chimecho that you need some medical attention, and I will inform Sunflora of her new task to be started tomorrow. That is all, you may rest now. After dinner, the three of you come to the Guildmaster's chambers for debriefing."

    With that, Chatot hopped away, heading to the upper level to find Chimecho.

    Corphish recovered better than they did, scuttling off after complimenting them. Rai was tired and drained from the experience and crawled off to have a cat nap, but Sean didn't feel as weary and decided to get to know Chimecho a little.

    "So, uh, the Psychic Network has been mentioned once or twice but I still don't really understand what that's all about?" he asked as she went about her tasks in the medical wing. Cleaning tools, preparing some medicine-soaked bandages.

    "Cut this would you?" she requested, levitating some dry cloth for him to cut. He did so absentmindedly as she began to explain.

    "A properly trained Psychic can drift into a form of trance. This trance allows their mind to join a continent-spanning network of psychic emanations. No one Psychic can cross such a distance, however, with the network being a connection of impulses constantly, we can aid by creating 'platforms' so to speak. It's hard to explain to someone who cannot experience it themselves."

    "Where did this idea come from?" he asked, really curious. Nothing like this was in the games. Even Super still used an orb system rather than a pokémon system. He supposed it was kinda like the Connection Orb in a way. Just with pokémon.

    "From Lucario," she said as if that was an explanation. At her confused expression, she giggled bashfully. "My apologies. I am certainly not accustomed to someone not understanding who I mean when I say that."

    "Is this lucario well known?"

    She nodded. "The Legendary Lucario is the pokémon who built civilisation itself, starting a few hundred years ago even! It is said she is gifted powers from legends above legends and has awesome powers. It is said that she suggested the Psychic Network, after her own powers. She was the first pokémon to rescue others from dungeons, picking up on calls for help with her powerful aura!"

    She bobbed in the air, her version of a shrug. "That's what I've heard at least. It can be hard to tell what is truth and what is just rumour distorted. The network is valuable, it's how we commune between towns and guilds swiftly, where outlaw notices tend to come from and the Federation in the middle of the continent can send out messages for aid for lost pokémon deemed to be in a dungeon somewhere."

    That was a lot of information at once, but he was cutting cloth and took it all in slowly with a few nods here and there. "Thanks, Chimecho."

    "It is no problem, thank you for your help."

    With that, he was left to wander. His muscles hurt from getting beaten up all day, and he was dirty from all the dust and blood. He wanted to wash off, Rai licked himself which Sean adamantly refused to do.

    "I don't think I've been alone for the entire time I've been here." Sean thought to himself as he walked to the beach to clean himself.

    The beach was pretty, but he was distracted. He waded into the shore, still thinking deeply.

    "Am I really in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon world?" He already believed in that fact, rational thought made it difficult to accept though. "Am I stuck here forever is the real question." With the aches getting a bit much, he sat down where he was standing. There were no seats at the table after all.

    "What happened to bring me here? What is my family doing? Did I die… or did I just disappear? I hope they're alright." The thought hit him with a wave of emotion he hadn't let himself feel before, slightly tearing up as he thought of everyone he had left behind, Sean sank in on himself, fiddling with the Silver Bow he wore to wash it as well. "I miss them. I miss my friends, my family, my world."

    If it wasn't for an interruption, he would have sat with those dark thoughts tormenting him until he fell asleep.

    "Sean?" Rai's soft voice came from the beachfront, and he nearly jumped.

    "Rai!" he gasped, covered in seawater. "What are you doing up?"

    "I could say the same to you," Rai said, walking into the water as well. "I will actually. What are you doing on the beach?"

    Sean hesitated, waiting in silence as the shinx walked towards him. "I." he trailed off, not able to admit it.

    Rai came to a stop beside him and smiled. "Come on," he said, coaxing Sean out.

    They sat in silence for a minute, an hour, a day. Sean wasn't certain.

    "Okay, not a day," he said to himself before sighing, he needed to talk.

    "I'm just thinking."

    "About what?"

    "Stuff… stuff about where I came from."

    "Do you remember anything?"

    "A… a little," he said, it wasn't even a complete lie although the half-truth made him feel even more guilty. "I remember I had family and friends. I was pretty happy I think. They're a bit blurry though, I'm not sure if I remember my mother's voice." The truth was painful to speak aloud, every day Sean had lived as a pokémon, he was finding it more difficult to gather concrete facts about his life before it all.

    He still couldn't remember anything firsthand about the dark future, only what he remembered from the game. Even his memories of human life were blurry at best, the game was clear but even then he hadn't remembered Boulder Quarry right away. How long had he been in the Dark Future?

    A brief thought flitted through his head. "I wonder how I reacted when I arrived in the dark future? I must have still remembered everything. Is that why things are already different? Did I make a change in the future that is affecting the past? That's a weird thought. I wonder what Grovyle thought about me?"

    "I don't remember my mother's voice," Rai said suddenly, catching Sean off guard. As the meowth looked at him curiously, Rai gave him a small, sad, smile. "But I remember how her voice felt to me. Safe. Warm. Loving. It's taken me a long time, but I think that's enough. It has to be enough."

    Sean met the shinx's eyes for a moment and gave a small smile back. "I hope you never forget."

    "Never ever." Rai nuzzled him for a moment, before pulling himself up. "Do you want to come to the guild now? Or stay here a little longer?"

    Sean swallowed, hoping he wasn't going to offend Rai. He wanted to say he'd come, but that'd be another lie. "Stay, I think. Just for a bit longer."

    "Okay." Rai smiled and nuzzled him again. "I'm your friend okay? You've got me. Take all the time you need." With that, he turned tail and left to give Sean some privacy.

    Sean smiled after the shinx and sighed, leaning back. Part of him did feel better, not completely and not in all areas, but some measure of support simply felt nice.

    He had other stuff to think about. Team Skull, what they did. They hadn't really spoken of it, but… they had stolen the Relic Fragment. Maybe they should tell Chatot and Wigglytuff, both of who seemed pretty reasonable. That thing was important too, he couldn't just do nothing.

    He waited until he was mostly dry, now covered in salt and sand, and walked back up to rinse off at the water hole.

    Dinner and then the debrief.


    Chatot had been flustered the previous night during debriefing, having already spoken for both parties and thus not much was left to be said.

    Corphish had good things to say about Rai and Sean's efforts, however, and so they were rewarded with some additional items.

    They went to bed in a good mood, hopeful even.

    "Ahem! As I was explaining." Once again, Chatot deviated from his routine. Some apprentices were getting worried about him. "There is a lake far to the east. Many aspects of that lake remain mysterious. We hope to unravel those mysteries."

    Chatot threw up a wing as he continued with a pronounced chirp to his voice. "And so, our guild is planning to mount an expedition for the first time in a while!"

    "An expedition you say?" Bidoof cheered. "Yes, please. Yes, sirree!"

    "Oh my gosh!" Sunflora squealed, doing a twirl in all the excitement. "It's been a long time since we went on an expedition."

    "But," Loudred began, at a reasonable level. "That means you are going to be picking members for the expedition from all of us AGAIN! Right?"

    "An expedition, I've only been able to watch the guild depart on those before." Rai hopped in place, sparking with excitement.

    "Precisely," Chatot chirped. "We will depart in several days." He waited as the apprentices calmed down to continue. "Over these next few days, we will choose the worthiest apprentices. The chosen few will form the expedition party."

    The crowd fell into cheers again, even Sean couldn't stop himself from grinning even as the static from Rai began making his fur stand up. This was a great way to lift the mood, he never quite realised the timing of the expedition came with the bad news from the other day.

    "Everyone work hard so that you may be chosen for the expedition. Sunflora stay back for a moment. That is all."

    "Oh wow this is so exciting," Chimecho gushed.

    "Yup-yup! I've yet to go on an expedition. I would surely love to go this time."

    "Let's work at it to get picked as members!" Loudred roared right in Diglett's face.

    "Right," Diglett replied, unphased by the volume. "I won't be a weak link."

    "Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey!" Corphish seemed stuck on that word.

    "Imagine going on that, Meowth?" Rai asked. "Do you think we could make it?"

    Smiling confidently at his partner, Sean nodded. "We can do it." In the back of his mind, he thought over everything that had transpired with a satisfied expression. "Boulder Quarry proves that."

    "Thank goodness!" He cheered internally. "I haven't screwed everything up so hard we're not going to Fogbound Lake! Phew, things are going to be back on track." Feeling considerably better about everything, Sean recalled what was going to happen next. "Next up we've got… oh. Oh, that's not right. Is that right? Please tell me that is… isn't… Ah no… no!"

    While Sean's mind fell to a trio of unpleasant figures, Chatot dismissed the crowd. "All right everyone, it's back to work as usual."

    The thunderous. "HOORAY!" Did wipe Team Skull out of his head for a moment, but unfortunately, that couldn't last very long.

    "Hey, Rai, can we talk quickly?" Sean said before Rai could race off.

    Rai blinked at him before flashing him a smile. "Sure!" And went to move, but Sean was edging the other way. "Ah?"

    "On our own."

    He took him into their room, Rai looking a little worried. "I was thinking about Team Skull," he said. "How they stole your treasure."

    Rai blinked once at the name before shrinking a little. "Oh. What about them?"

    "Shouldn't we tell Wigglytuff and Chatot?" he asked.

    Rai looked surprised at the notion. "Huh? We can't bother them with something that small." Sean cursed Rai's lack of self-worth.

    "They stole from you," Sean pointed out. "And beat us up to do it at that. They'd listen to us, and it might help us get it back."

    "I… I don't know."

    "Trust me?" Sean asked, almost pleading. He didn't want to be stuck with them on the expedition, he didn't want the Relic Fragment to be lost or destroyed if they couldn't sell it.

    Rai still looked unsure but gave him a nod. "Alright."

    Breathing a sigh of relief, Sean hunted Chatot out right away.

    "You two," Chatot huffed. "Surely you must be eager to get a move on! The expedition is coming up, you do not want to appear uninterested."

    "We have something we wanted to tell you about," Sean said seriously, Rai still frowning behind him. Chatot glanced between the two and then nodded.

    "Very well. With the Guildmaster or…?"

    "With if we could," Sean said after looking to Rai for support.

    Chatot led them in and Wigglytuff spun around on them cheerfully. "Excited you two?"

    "Guildmaster, these two have something they wish to discuss," Chatot said stiffly, something in his tone unnoticeable to them but Wigglytuff picked up on it.

    "Oh? Go ahead! Go ahead!"

    Sean looked to Rai who opened his mouth, but nothing came out. So, he spoke up. "The day we met, Shinx got robbed by a trio of pokémon," he said, Chatot and Wigglytuff growing very still. "We tried to get it back, but they beat us and ran off with it."

    "Who?" Chatot spluttered in rage. "Did. This?"

    "Team Skull. A zubat, koffing, and their leader a skuntank."

    "And what did they take?" Wigglytuff asked gently.

    "M-My treasure," Rai said. "I called it the relic fragment because it looked like a piece of a bigger thing. A little stone with a symbol on it. It's not valuable!" he added quickly. "It's just a rock I don't think it-"

    "Shinx," Chatot said seriously. "Do not undervalue the worth of sentiment. In any case, to be robbed is to be the victim of a crime. Why did you two not tell us of this before?"

    Rai looked uncomfortable and Sean glanced away.

    "I understand," Wigglytuff said softly. "There's no reason to be ashamed. You do not win every day, and that's not your fault."

    "I still lost it," Rai muttered softly. "It's all I had left of my family."

    Chatot held a stricken expression for a long moment, and he clucked gently. "It will be alright. This 'team' will be tracked down and brought to justice for this act. Look at me, Shinx." Rai looked up. "The guild stands with you."

    Rai teared up a bit. "Th-thank you."

    "Was that all?" Wigglytuff asked. Sean nodded, so he hugged them both. "It's very brave what you just did, thank you for telling us."

    Rai chose an outlaw to track down that day.

    Sunflora and Loudred had discovered the Waterfall Cave a short time before Chatot had sent Team Ion to Boulder Quarry, the excitement of their discovery had brought a few pokémon around, as well as some pokémon fleeing the law.

    Sean had been silently impressed with Rai, leaping right through the waterfall without hesitation. He thought he'd still be able to salvage the words he had planned for the occasion, but Rai was too worked up to doubt himself.

    If Sean had thought the Drenched Bluff had been uncomfortable, the Waterfall Cave laughed at that. There was thankfully stone as the floor, but an unpleasant amount of mud and slime scooped up the area.

    The obsessive-compulsive part of Sean wailed at having to track through it all. The rest of him was far more concerned for Rai to even take notice.

    Given time to prepare, Sean could appear as a quick thinker and clever conversationalist. He spent most of his time not speaking to Rai simply thinking about possible things to say in the future.

    As it turned out, however, the reality was not so easy to deal with.

    He had thought, a little, on Team Skull and had thought of a few things to say that'd hopefully lighten Rai's mood. Each time he turned to speak to Rai, however, he lost his nerve.

    "Okay. Real people, real pokémon. It's not so cut and paste, but he's your friend. You don't have to say the perfect thing, alright? The perfect thing is not natural, it's not genuine, just… say… something."

    While Sean continued to think away in a building panic, Rai continued crashing his way through the dungeon. On any other day, he'd be delighted to be here, jumping through a waterfall, combing through an almost completely new area for discoveries no one had found yet.

    But they were here on business. Weepinbell was here somewhere, the cowardly crook was known for ambushing pokémon and threatening to eat them if they didn't give him their belongings. No record ever stated he had followed through with such a threat, but Rai was determined to bring the outlaw to justice.

    And if stunning a psyduck with Thundershock before knocking it out with a Quick Attack was therapeutic, then he wouldn't complain.

    "So, where do you think he is?" Sean started, gathering enough boldness to speak finally.

    "Some corner," Rai answered, anticipating the rest of the question.

    "Cool," Sean said. "Okay. Want to talk?"

    "We've got a job to do here."

    "Well, we can talk about that." Sean hesitated. "Still, we've got time, want to talk-"

    "No."

    Sean sighed, this time a little frustrated. "Come on Rai, please."

    Rai stopped and sat down, grimacing at the slickness of the ground. "Alright. What do you want to talk about?"

    "I… I dunno. How are you liking the guild so far?"

    "Better than I imagined," Rai answered, but it was strict. He relaxed a mite. "Not as scary as I made myself believe." He glanced down then back up. "I started wearing the relic fragment to try and be brave. I'm glad that if I had to lose it then at least I got you."

    Sean flushed a little. He wasn't used to being praised. "Thank you for not thinking I'm insane."

    "You're welcome. The poké is still out on that one though." Sean laughed, but Rai had said it so seriously. He laughed too.

    Rai took a breath and frowned. "You do smell a bit, haven't you been grooming or anything?"

    "I… no?" The very thought of licking his fur made Sean cringe. "That's why I was in the beach last night."

    "Ooh. That's why."

    "Yeah. So, uh… if you got the chance to tell those three off for what they did, what do you think you'd say?"

    "Pardon?" Rai blinked in alarm at the mere thought of speaking his thoughts out loud.

    "Have you thought about it?

    "Of course I have, but… I can't just say that."

    "Sure you can."

    "M-Maybe that's easy for you."

    "Rai," Sean said bluntly. "There is no judgement here. I want you to tell me, what you wouldn't say to him because it'd be rude." He took a breath, Rai looked uncomfortable, so he tried another avenue. "What I want to say to them was that they are foul, disgusting, bullies who stink. Worse than me even."

    Rai blinked, not prepared for such blunt honesty.

    "I wanted to call Skuntank a shitstain on society." Sean could feel himself blushing, and he fiddled with his Silver Bow in response, it wasn't in his nature to speak so nastily about another. But Skuntank's actions had sparked something in him. His neck still ached a bit from that blow. He had been more concerned about how Rai was feeling, but now that he was thinking about how he felt.

    "I think he's pathetic that he snuck up on us. The kind of sad, spineless, piece of loose trash that is so aware of his own pitiful nature that the only way he can feel better about himself is to try and drag everyone else down to wallow in misery with him. Lonely, probably, but it doesn't excuse anything. Now." Sean took a breath. "That's what I wanted to say, but never would. What about you?"

    Rai still hesitated, but Sean's own words, the admission, the equality he was affording him with this honesty, was too great to simply shun.

    "I… I hate them," Rai admitted, ears falling flat. "I've never actually hated someone before. I don't even hate Koffing and Zubat, they were just following him. He was the real person who took my treasure and then attacked us both out of nowhere. We'd won fair and square! What kind of person does that? Even this Weepinbell we're chasing down, I think he's still probably a nicer person than Skuntank. At least he only threatens, Skuntank makes it personal. Y-you're right, he has to be someone really pathetic to even want to do this kind of thing. I mean, that was MY TREASURE!"

    Rai's sudden shout echoed through the slimy halls of the Waterfall Cave, and Sean waited silently as Rai grew angry.

    "How dare he take that from me? It's the only thing I have left of my family. It's the only thing that carried me through all these cold nights without my sister. It's the only thing that gave me the strength to continue on in this unfair world. It's the ONLY THING THAT GAVE ME HOPE AND HE THINKS HE CAN JUST TAKE IT FROM ME!?"

    Rai breathed heavily, his fur sparked, and angry tears dripped down his nose. Sean took a careful step forward, then another. He could smell the ozone and saw his fur begin standing up but continued unmindful. He'd been zapped plenty of times.

    Twitching only once at the loud zap that stung his paw, Sean ran his paw down Rai's back, flattening down his fur and picking up a lot of static along the way.

    "Thanks," Rai said, pulling his head back up. "I think that helped. I'm still upset, but… it's nice to get it out."

    "I'm glad." Sean smiled brightly, ignoring the tears for Rai's pride. "Sometimes you have to just say it, leaving the angry thoughts to boil over in your head can't be healthy. I would know, I'm sure."

    Rai smiled back and shivered, letting the charge dissipate. "Okay, we should get going. Hopefully, Weepinbell didn't hear that, or else we're going to have an interesting battle up ahead."


    "Meowth, may I have a word?"

    Rai had decided to do laps around town after taking down Weepinbell, most aggressively at that Sean almost felt bad for him. Rai was a lot stronger than he might have expected, the battle against Team Gazer showed that.

    Sean, however much he knew he needed to get stronger, didn't want to run. Rai was more so just working out excess energy, he reasoned, leaving him to relax up at the guild.

    Where Chatot came hopping over to him.

    "Sure," he replied, standing with an immediate plunge of nervousness around his heart. Your superior needing a word with you was never a good thing and he began to lambast himself for skipping out on the run. Chatot probably knew and decided he was skipping out on training, and he was going to be in trouble and-

    "How are you finding your tenure with us so far?" Chatot asked pleasantly.

    "Oh!" Sean relaxed a bit, was this just a friendly chat? "I'm enjoying it so far. Learning a lot."

    "I am pleased to hear that," Chatot replied. "Have you found any concerns to raise thus far?"

    "No?" Sean replied, a little thrown. "No, things have been good."

    "Good. How have you been getting along with the rest of the apprentices?" The question was a little sharper, a little more pointed.

    "They're friendly. Corphish is knowledgeable, so I feel like I've learned a lot."

    Chatot nodded. "Good, excellent, yes."

    "Sir?"

    "I have noticed you do not socialise often," Chatot said carefully. "It has also come to my attention of a slip-up with names some few days ago. I hope this has not caused any division amongst you?"

    Sean blushed. This was going to haunt him, wasn't it? Chatot of all pokémon was asking him this. He wanted to sink through the floor. "O-oh. No, I explained it to Sunflora, and things are fine. Bit awkward, but it'll blow over."

    "Pokémon can be difficult at times," Chatot said strangely. "Impressions can be difficult to shift, but hard work and diligence is a powerful tool. No one has approached you on the street?"

    "I stick around R-Shinx, so. No, besides some comments from Litleo and a few odd looks, no one's actually approached me."

    He was flashed a curious look at the mention of Litleo, but Chatot nodded and dropped the subject.

    "I suppose you might be interested to know that we have sent Sunflora to Boulder Quarry to aid in defence of the Time Gear. Excellent work the three of you in that excursion. Truly good…."

    Debrief went quick and sleep was easy. With the mon on a mission, Rai charged for the jobs again, heading to the left again.

    Whether he still needed stress relief, Sean still felt almost bad for Weepinbell yesterday, Rai chose another outlaw to track down this day.

    Once he handed it to Sean, the meowth grew a little concerned.

    "Uh, this is a." He hesitated, glancing at Rai. "A golbat."

    "Yeah?" Rai asked, looking completely innocent. "Got to bring felons to justice and all that."

    "Hmm." Sean decided not to make a fuss or point any claws. Nodding, he decided that this was fine.

    Smiling, almost scarily, Rai began leading their way out of the guild.

    "OH, MY GOOOOOSSSSSHHHH!"

    Only for the entire guild to shake all over again. Sunflora had been absent during dinner last night as well as not present during Wigglytuff's episode.

    As she had been sent to stand guard for the Time Gear first, trusting her as one of the most reliable pokémon in the guild.

    Her voice had been caught by Diglett even before she arrived at the grate and had Loudred open up the guild to save her time. Fortunate, since she hadn't been planning on stopping.

    "EVERYONE!" Sunflora screeched as she threw herself into the guild and down the incline to get to the second floor those few milliseconds faster. "THE TIME GEAR IS GONE!"

    Gasping for breath, Sunflora fell to her leafy hands and shook. Her scream brought everyone to the second level of the guild.

    Diglett and Dugtrio emerged from the ground on each of her sides and Sunflora grabbed a hold of Dugtrio and began to cry. Loudred and Croagunk came rushing up from below a few seconds before Chatot and Wigglytuff emerged as well.

    Chimecho, the most immune to high voices, rushed to Sunflora's side and wrapped herself around Sunflora, easing her off the choking Dugtrio and letting her cry into her.

    "Sunflora," Wigglytuff said, voice soft yet audible to everyone in the room. Even with their ears ringing.

    The Guildmaster knelt by Sunflora and patted her on the back. He nodded to Chimecho, and she stayed wrapped around Sunflora as she cried her eyes out.

    "Breathe, Sunflora, breath," Wigglytuff urged gently. "Take a deep breath… there we go. Let it out, breathe." He continued coaxing her for a minute, letting Sunflora regain control of herself naturally.

    Once she was all cried out, he pulled her up. "Friendly friend. Have a hug." He wrapped her in a soft, warm, hug and Sunflora finally relaxed.

    "It was terrifying," Sunflora whispered, still in Wigglytuff's embrace. "Everything in the deeper dungeon was just… wrong. Nothing moved, there was no sound, so many pokémon were frozen, unable to move, unable to live or die. I hope they aren't aware of what happened to them. It was so silent, so wrong."

    She whimpered and choked out a sob when Loudred came up and patted her on the back.

    "I got to the end of the dungeon, just hoping. But… but." She gave a keening sound, grating on the ears but filled with terror. "Ditto. It was… it was…."

    "Shh-shh-shh," Wigglytuff whispered. "Take your time, Sunflora."

    She took a shuddering breath before continuing. "Ditto looked like it had gone through a horrible fight and was… w-was trying to drag themselves out of the cavern. But, they were frozen, their face… they were so scared, they knew what was happening and couldn't save themselves."

    Sunflora sobbed in Wigglytuff's arms, before being transferred to Loudred and Corphish, with Chimecho still wrapped around her, as Wigglytuff pulled Chatot down a level to speak with him alone.

    Sean and Rai came up to the group hug that Sunflora was in the middle of, not sure what to say or do. They were still getting to know the other apprentices, it felt wrong to join in on the hug as if they weren't.

    "Grovyle was there," Sean thought to himself as he watched Sunflora sadly. "I saw him. Holy- fuck. How didn't it click in my mind?"

    They didn't join the hug, the apprentices just slowly broke apart on autopilot. Rai and Sean ended up wandering to the job bulletin board and selected a different job to do. Neither was in the mood for a fight with this sobering news.

    "Alright, everyone." Chatot had returned without being spotted, receiving a few glances his way. "Loudred, Chimecho, bring Sunflora to her room. Everyone else, you should continue your work. We'll take care of her, but we can't let our work stop even now. Especially now. Continue helping, doing good, we'll find a way to fix this situation. Keep a stiff upper beak."

    He waited until the group had given Sunflora another hug or three each before leading Loudred and Chimecho down.

    He emerged right as soon as he was confident they could make it to her room.

    "Very well. Shinx." The shinx's ears flicked when he realised Chatot had called him.

    Stumbling over as quickly as he could. "Yes?"

    "Loudred will be taking care of Sunflora today, leaving him unable to perform his duties. So, your task for the day is to take over as the gatekeeper. Alright?"

    "Yes! Of course." Rai glanced back to Sean, who was watching with a concerned look. "What about Meowth? I don't know how he'll manage in a dungeon alone…"

    "Not a problem," Chatot said, gesturing for Sean to approach. "While you two work d well as a team, it can be a good lesson to learn how to work apart. Meowth, if you would be able to spend your day sorting through the food stocks? With Chimecho also… anyway, take note of what is in good supply and what needs refilling and make your way to the market to obtain what needs to be restocked, alright?"

    "Right!"

    "Good." Chatot nodded and led them downstairs. He gave a few words to Rai as he showed him the pully, it was thankfully something a quadruped could manage, as well as the current list of outlaws and suspicious pokémon to bar from entering.

    Afterwards, he showed Sean into the dining room and all the way to the back where a door lay. "In here," he said, oddly quietly, following Sean into the stockroom.

    "Okay," Sean said, looking around. It smelled pleasant in the room, there were a few windows leading out to the sea that allowed light in. "Where should I…?"

    "Be careful," Chatot said as the door closed behind him, giving them privacy.

    "Pardon?" Sean said.

    "Rumour spreads very quickly around here, Meowth," Chatot said seriously. "Especially with unpredictable forces around."

    Sean looked only confused so Chatot ruffled his feathers.

    "I believe you have run into Litleo again since bringing him down?"

    "I…?" He paused, that wasn't what he was expecting. "Yeah? Yeah, we have." Litleo was around town, he glared at them whenever they crossed paths. Sean couldn't help but notice he was never with anyone.

    "Litleo and Shinx's relationship isn't something for me to comment on," Chatot said stiffly, clearly uncomfortable. "However, there are extraneous details that it may be best that you are aware of."

    How deep did this go? Sean wondered. Why did the partner have this backstory? He tried to push that thought away. It was wrong to think of Rai as a game character, it wasn't… it wasn't his reality now. He was actually here, and Chatot wasn't 90% tax man, but a concerned teacher wanting to help.

    "Really?" Sean asked. "Is… is this something I need to know?"

    Chatot ruffled his feathers slightly, but he didn't seem annoyed. "Perhaps not, but…." He sighed. "Litleo has shown some troubling behaviours over the years, undoubtedly caused by his family. He has long since had some sort of fixation on Shinx. I believe it wise just to tell you to keep an eye on him."

    Sean nodded once, his gut twisted awkwardly at this warning. It felt wrong, wrong to imagine a pokémon could do anything that might need to be 'warned' about.

    Chatot, however, seemed to read his face and his eyes widened. "Oh! You're not thinking I am implying he might hurt you or Shinx are you?"

    Sean blinked, that's exactly what he was thinking. Chatot began to flap, flustered immediately. "Oh no-no-no. I am more concerned for him. Attention-seeking behaviour, or buying into shady sorts. No, I believe that." He immediately cleared his throat, cutting those words short. "Yes. Well. I just fear the damage to your reputation that can be caused, I think it best to not mention Team Ion's recent discovery of a Time Gear that has now gone missing, yes?"

    Sean gave a nod. "I… what?" His paw came up to touch his bow, he'd found himself touching it when bored or nervous. It was calming in a way.

    "You were the last to leave, the last to see that Time Gear, and with the guardian lost to the frozen time, if pokémon learn of you being the last there. They may mention that to another. The longer that chain goes, especially with matters of importance like this, the more likely it will become distorted, and its message twisted."

    "Chatot, we didn't-"

    "I know you didn't. But when no one knows who did, they are going to look at the stranger." Sean frowned, glancing down.

    Chatot sighed, looking from left to right. "The guild has a tab with the Kecleon Brothers, so go through them if at all possible when restocking. That is all."

    Chatot turned to hop and leave but hesitated halfway. Turning back, he said. "Is there anything you know? Anything that you may have thought unnecessary to tell? Anything you suspect but didn't want to say?"

    Sean hesitated, torn between truth and lies.

    "Th-there was more than us who found the Time Gear," Sean said, tripping over his words slightly. "Team Gazer, remember?" Was he damning someone to protect Grovyle?

    "This is true," Chatot said sharply. "Hmm."

    "Y-yeah." Ears drooping, Sean looked away from Chatot. He felt awful.

    "Team Gazer…" Chatot muttered.

    "But I don't think they did this!" Sean said quickly, returning Chatot's gaze to him. "They didn't seem the type, and we all promised not to say anything. I don't think they would have broken it."

    Chatot stared at him for a moment. "Why do you think that?" he asked seriously.

    Sean was flatfooted. Of all the things he expected Chatot to say, that wasn't it. "Uh."

    "It is not difficult to let a small fact slip. You came straight back here and have had no time to risk telling anyone else, this Team Gazer on the other hand is unaccounted for. Hm. We should have considered that after the debrief, the Guildmaster and I."

    Chatot raised his head at him for a long moment before holding up a wing. "We need to find this Team Gazer and see if they have any idea. They may have let something slip and we need to know if and where and who."

    "Yeah, okay." Sean nodded.

    "Is there anything else?" Chatot asked, waiting patiently. Sean shook his head after waiting for what he hoped was the appropriate amount of time, feeling guilt claw at him yet again as he lied once more.

    "Alright. Do your work here, and do not worry." Chatot switched from serious back to pleasant in an instant, making it almost difficult for Sean to believe that conversation had just happened. "The expedition will still be going along. Work hard and you may be picked! That is all."

    Chatot turned and hopped out of the storeroom, closing it softly behind him. Sean sighed, rubbing his face as he tried to bury the constant bad taste lying was leaving in his mouth.

    "Should I have lied there? No. I had to. There's no way he'd believe me if I told him the Time Gears were needed. I have to protect Grovyle, maybe… maybe." Sean thought as he began looking through the guild's food stocks, taking note of only one magnificent perfect apple.


    Figuring out what needed to be replaced wasn't difficult. But without a way to write anything down, Sean needed to rely on his memory.

    Deciding that he couldn't hope to make just one journey, he decided to memorize a few items, retrieve them, and then figure out what ones he had to memorize next.

    Rai smiled at him when he told the shinx he was going into town and the guild gate was opened for him without trouble.

    As Sean left the guild, it struck him that he'd never left the guild alone. He glanced back at the blank eyes of the wigglytuff that loomed over the entire guild. He passed a bisharp on the way down and made his way into Treasure Town.

    "This feels so weird," Sean thought to himself, looking around Treasure Town completely alone. "I don't have Rai to stop me from making a fool of myself. Oh boy, let's do this!"

    Without someone to talk to, Sean just let his mind wander. Sunflora's news had shaken everyone, her reaction especially had drawn attention, but Sean could at least feel comforted that things were still going as they should be.

    So, it wasn't the Time Gear or Grovyle that his mind focused on, instead, Team Skull was stuck in his thoughts like a tumour.

    "It's shocking just how much changes when it's not a game." Sean considered as he went. "I didn't like them before, but hey the music was fun and Skuntank was… something not completely terrible in the end. We told Chatot and Wigglytuff about them now. There's no way they could come on the Expedition… unless?"

    Wigglytuff was forgiving. If they agreed to give it back and then planned to steal it again, would they try that?

    His mind worked feverishly, trying to remember all the mischief Team Skull caused throughout the story.

    Sean snapped out of it by the time he spotted the twin kecleon and made his way through the transaction smoothly.

    For the first run, he acquired a bushel of apples. A handful of mixed berries. A type of grain he wasn't sure existed in any world. And a set of seeds.

    Even that amount was almost too much for him to carry.

    "Wish I was taller," Sean laughed to the Kecleon Brothers and they chuckled as well as he stumbled off, arms filled with the items. "Never thought I'd think that again," Sean muttered once he was clear. "I was tall enough."

    Carrying the items made him wish he'd taken the Treasure Bag, which was repaired easily after Ditto broke the strap. He couldn't change that now and had to walk with what he had.

    At least the items obscured his vision, and he could pretend people weren't looking at him. Chatot's words were on his mind.

    Diglett quickly called his species and Rai immediately opened the gate, Sean staggering into the guild with the last push to go.

    The items weren't particularly heavy, but so many of them over such a distance were wearing thin even on his surprisingly strong arms.

    He spent a little time resting in the storeroom before putting the items away and then walking back into town to do it again.

    All the while, he thought and thought and thought about Team Skull, Grovyle, and a few thoughts about Dusknoir crept in as well.

    He had a good idea of what was supposed to happen next, the one perfect apple tipped him off that it was probably that experience to come.

    Weren't they supposed to be here already? Maybe since they had actually taken the item they were wisely sticking away from Treasure Town. That could be a problem.

    Sean was mindless to less-than-kind eyes on him as he made his second trip.

    With his arms so sore after the first trip, Sean decided to spread out the remaining items and made the journey four times in total, collecting all the items that seemed to need a refill. It wasn't the most thrilling of work, Sean was surprised he preferred the danger of the dungeons, but it had to be done.

    The food made him hungry though. It still unnerved him slightly just how thin his body was, some weight had been put to hide a few of those ribs sticking out, but he restrained the desire to snatch something.

    Chatot would know, Sean was sure.

    An idea began to take root in his mind. A small plan for safekeeping, if and when something went wrong again. A little something.

    He was scared to send the plot veering off too far, the world was at stake after all. However, something like this was small and innocent, surely it would be no harm?

    Apple Woods was on his mind.

    On one final trip into Treasure Town to top up the last of the baskets, Sean spotted someone and decided to approach them.

    "Hello, Litleo."


    In the original version, this and the next chapter were originally one before being split once it became too long. It also had Team Skull in it and Sean didn't even think of telling Chatot and Wigglytuff that Rai had been robbed.

    In retrospect, a bad idea.
     
    Chapter 8 - Imperfect Victory
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    Dinner had been a quiet affair.

    The poor news and downcast nature of Sunflora sucked any enjoyment out of the event.

    They still ate, of course. The labours of the day had left everyone hungry, and no one was so impolite to offend Chimecho, or Sean for that matter.

    The meowth had offered his assistance to Chimecho in pulling dinner together. The Psychic-type had been a little shaken by Sunflora's breakdown and appreciated the help. He found he enjoyed helping her cut up cloth for the nurse's station or prepare the food. She did a lot for one person.

    Neither he nor Rai spoke much besides chatting before they were getting ready to curl up. The day's labours had been much easier, so neither was nearly as exhausted as usual.

    Before any real relaxation could be managed, a knock occurred at the door.

    "Hm?" Rai asked. "Who is it?"

    "Hey-hey," Corphish said, pushing the door open. Gesturing with a claw, Team Ion stood up. "Come along quickly, quietly too."

    Sean shared a confused look with Rai before they both followed. Corphish led them quickly into the room he shared with Bidoof and Loudred. Sometimes Croagunk as well.

    They entered the room, for the first time Sean realised, and found it surprisingly crowded.

    Everyone besides Chatot and Wigglytuff were there. Diglett and Dugtrio looking like a secret third evolution so close together, Sunflora looking a bit more lively with a sun stone beside her, offering a glow to light up the room.

    "What's up?" Sean asked as he shut the door behind him. The room was dim, but not so dark as to obscure anyone. He found his eyes falling on Sunflora first, she was doing better it seemed, but was still sticking close to Loudred and Chimecho.

    "You've been part of the guild for over a week now." Chimecho began from where she was wrapped around Sunflora's arm.

    "You've shown yourself to be great pokémon by golly." Bidoof continued.

    "And it's time we embraced you as fellow apprentices and friends." Diglett finished.

    "Oh wow!" Rai beamed, actually lighting the room with a brief jolt of excited electricity. "Really?"

    "Yeah," Sunflora said, giving a nod. Her voice shook a little, but otherwise, she seemed alright. "And what better way than with a night of fun with everyone?" She grinned, joy filling her voice. "We're going to have such a good time! We'll play truth and more truth, tell scary stories, and just get to know each other even better!"

    "Do you do this often?" Sean asked as he and Rai settled in the room, finding a comfortable place to sit.

    "Once a week," Chimecho answered. "We apprentices all come together to just talk, spend time, and relax."

    "We haven't had one since you two showed up, hey-hey," Corphish said. "Didn't feel right to leave you out, but with how things had been going so fast no one was sure when to even organise this."

    "Croagunk suggested tonight," Dugtrio said, speaking up for the first time since they entered the room. He bobbed up and down slightly, close to Diglett, but mindful of the disturbance tunnelling through the room could cause. "After… today." Dugtrio trailed off.

    Sunflora gave him a pointed look. "Oh my gosh. Don't fret over little ol' me, I'm a tough girl. Today just makes me all the more determined to find who's doing this and stop them!"

    "Here, here." Chorused the apprentices.

    "Meh-heh-heh. We shouldn't focus on the negatives of the situation," Croagunk said, catching everyone's attention immediately. It wasn't common for him to speak without being spoken to beforehand. "This Time Gear situation should leave our minds tonight. Tonight is the night we learn embarrassing secrets Sunflora will spread all around town."

    "Don't say it like that," Sunflora insisted. "I won't spread anything no one wants me to."

    This led to an immediate chorus of agreement towards Sunflora.

    "Of course."

    "No worries, yup-yup."

    "Hey-hey, you can say whatever."

    "I've got nothing to hide, you know me too well dear."

    Sunflora's expression was a little flat once everyone was done. "Sure, sure." She regained her brightness in the next instant, however. "But, let's get started. We have to start soon or Chatot will know we stayed up late tomorrow morning."

    A murmuring of chuckles went through the group. Even Sean and Rai grinned at how Chatot could act sometimes.

    "Okay, everyone sit in a circle." Sunflora began directing them. "Loudred you go there, Corphish you can be next to him. Diglett, oh Dugtrio! Everyone move a bit close to the wall to get Dugtrio in, okay, Chimecho you can be next to me."

    There was a bit of stumbling over each other as everyone followed Sunflora's directions. Soon enough, however, they were all seated. The room was cramped, especially with ten of them in the room.

    "Okay everyone, here is the game we'll play to warm everyone up," Sunflora said, striding forward to stand in the centre of the circle before plopping a sack down. Chimecho had reluctantly let go of her to curl up, still slightly floating, in the circle with the others. "We play it whenever we get some new recruits!"

    "The ones that don't run away after a couple of days, hey," Corphish pointed out, giving a respectful click in Bidoof's direction who blushed.

    "The funniest one was Grovyle and Braixen," Croagunk murmured, causing Chimecho to smile in memory.

    Sean, hearing grovyle, stiffened and blurted out, "Grovyle?"

    "Guess you wouldn't know Team Celestial," Croagunk mused, rubbing his chin. No one else seemed surprised at the mention, not even Rai who just smiled at Sean. "They're on their graduation exam out in the Sand Continent, last I heard."

    "Oh, okay." Sean's mind whirred with possibilities, almost missing as Sunflora shook the sack she placed down and began explaining the rules.

    "In this bag is thirty plain seeds." Everyone but Sean grimaced at that. "Everyone is going to get three of these. The game we'll play is Truth and More Truth. Someone will ask someone a question, and they have to answer truthfully. If they don't want to answer, they can eat one of their seeds instead and that question can't be asked to them again. Understand?"

    "...No," Diglett said.

    "You'll pick it up," Sunflora replied because they'd played it before, and began handing plain seeds out.

    Sean picked up one of the seeds, admiring it for a moment. He wasn't sure why everyone frowned, he hadn't eaten a plain seed though so he couldn't judge.

    "Okay, like, I'm going to start," Sunflora said, sitting down in her spot. She immediately rounded on Sean. "What do you think of me?" she asked.

    "I, uh." Sean blinked, not expecting her to go for him right away. "I like you? You seem really strong and brave, knowledgeable as well."

    Sunflora beamed. "Oh my gosh thank you! Now you get to ask someone a question!"

    Nodding, Sean looked out to the crowd. It was still strange to him, to be sitting in the south bedroom, looking at a set of creatures only known in fiction, to talk to characters that he'd only been able to see as pixels on a screen.

    "Corphish," Sean began, choosing his target. He decided to start soft. "Why did you want to join the guild?"

    "Eh?" Corphish clicked a pincer on reflex. "Hey... huh. No one's asked that to me before. Chatot just said 'you're in'." Corphish paused to think over the question for a moment as curious looks jumped around the group. The apprentices realised they didn't know why anyone had joined the guild, beyond just surface details. "I guess it goes back to when I lived in the place that would eventually become Drowned Cave."

    Bidoof hissed in a breath of surprise as a few others wore expressions of alarm. "You lived in Drowned Cave?" someone whispered.

    "Before it became a dungeon," Corphish reiterated. "I was barely even out of the egg when it happened, so I don't really remember. Just what my pa said. Me and him were apparently saved by a pair of explorers just in time to avoid going crazy like the others. I guess I just wanted to keep that going, help other pokémon, so no one would have to lose anyone else to random dungeons."

    Corphish nodded, satisfied he had answered the question. He eyed Sean for a moment until Sean gave him a small smile and turned to Bidoof. "Since." He glanced back at Sean with a questioning look. "Meowth brought it up. What about you? Why did you join the guild?"

    "Oh, uh well... by golly, nothing quite as good of a reason as you Corphish," Bidoof admitted. "I've just always wanted to be an explorer! Just someone decent that can help others. So, I left mama and my village to come here because I heard the Wigglytuff Guild is the best around, yup-yup."

    Bidoof glanced around, wondering who to target his question to. "Not to seem unoriginal, but Meowth's question is just too good! Chimecho, why did you join the guild?"

    "Well, it was a dark and stormy night," Chimecho began, soft voice almost reverberating through the air like a haunted chime. "I was lost, I was scared, I was being hunted. A terrifying electric pokémon wished to kill me for reasons I still don't understand, shocking me continuously over and over and over again."

    Chimecho's eyes glazed over slightly as she lost herself in her memories. "The only thing I really remember thinking that night is that I didn't want to die. I didn't want to die. I didn't want to die. But die I was going to, as I couldn't defend myself, and they kept on attacking me. Then. Out of nowhere. A booming voice rocked what felt like the world itself and everything went dark."

    "Oh my gosh. Chimecho..."

    Blinking slightly as she returned to the present, Chimecho looked around and frowned. Everyone was staring at her with expressions of abject horror. "Oh! Do not worry, this is a happy story. The boom was a saviour, I'm not sure who though. I don't really remember what happened after it all ended." Chimecho giggled. "Once I recovered I sent a call for help out through the Psychic Network as I had been trained and was promptly rescued and taken to the nearest guilt to recover. That was the Wigglytuff Guild!"

    She beamed. "They didn't have a dedicated member of the network here and a few other pokémon had graduated leaving a lot of things needing to be done. I asked if I could join to repay them and I was in!"

    She smiled and turned to Croagunk, the only one not looking completely rattled by that story. Still, the gleam of compassion in his eye, meant more to him than the endless platitudes Chimecho had received over the years. "I may as well keep the trend going. What about you Croagunk, why did you join the guild?"

    "I learned that the Swap Cauldron was here," Croagunk answered easily. "Meh-heh-heh. Once I found it couldn't be moved, I moved in. Simple as that."

    Chimecho nodded happily, she did know the story and cuddled up to Sunflora.

    Croagunk chuckled, turning to Rai. "Might as well break the loop, we all know why Shinx is here." There were a few smiles shared. "Instead I'll ask what you think of your partner there." He nodded towards Sean, chuckling as Rai's ears went up.

    "Sean?" he asked. "Oh, I think he's amazing."

    With Rai and Sean looking most uncomfortable, Croagunk chuckled again. "Meh-heh-heh, come on now. You know that's not enough."

    "It's embarrassing," Rai mumbled.

    "Yeah I'm cool just with amazing," Sean said, eyes darting. He didn't like compliments so brazenly given to himself.

    "I don't know how to compliment people," Rai grumbled and pawed a plain seed. There were a few looks of disappointment, and a disgusted grimace on Rai's, as he ate the seed. "Too embarrassing," he said.

    "Your turn then," Croagunk chuckled.

    "Okay, uh." Rai turned right and left. It looked like he was going to ask a question of Sean, but then his eyes slid. "Loudred. Who had the idea to jump through the waterfall?"

    Sunflora immediately smirked. Loudred glowered at them both.

    "..." Loudred ate the plain seed. "Ugh, disgusting!" He was, thankfully, keeping his voice down. For Loudred at least.

    After glowering at Rai for a moment longer, Loudred turned to his trusty partner. "Diglett! How do you memorise so many feet? Every time I've tried your side of the job I can't tell a blaziken from a lucario!"

    Diglett and Dugtrio flinched at the question, with Diglett quickly eating a plain seed. "Eww. Dad." Diglett turned to his father. "Why do you like the sea so much? And don't just say it's majestic and wondrous, what's the real reason?"

    Dugtrio stared at his son for a long moment before all three heads slowly bobbed. "Alright. I'll tell you. I met your mother by the sea." Diglett's eyes widened. "She loved it herself and shared that love with me."

    Diglett took a moment to take that in before asking. "Is that the whole reason?"

    Dugtrio ate a plain seed.

    Ignoring the sigh from his son, Dugtrio turned to Sean. "Well you were the first to get asked and I was the last. So it feels right to ask you a question that has been bugging me since you joined." Sean nodded, leaning forward with interest. "Why do you walk like that?"

    "Finally!" Loudred nearly yelled. "I've been wanting to know that forever."

    "Yup, I gotta confess it's been on my mind too."

    "Hey-hey, I went through a dungeon with him and not once did I give in and ask that. So... good on Dugtrio?"

    "Why I walk like... what?" Sean asked, genuinely baffled before remembering something. "On two legs?"

    "Yes." All three heads of Dugtrio bobbed. "I understand that meowth CAN walk like that, but it must be uncomfortable. They all walk on four legs, only going to two for brief periods, if at all. But you only seem to walk on two legs, that must take some dedication. So, I'm just wondering why?"

    "I guess..." Sean glanced to Rai whose expression was rather blank. "I just do. I always have, I think. I mentioned the amnesia before right?" Nods all around, apprentices did not hide secrets it seemed. "I started walking like this as soon as I stood up and just have ever since."

    It was true. Not even a half-truth. Simply not the whole truth.

    With the question answered, Sean, turned to Croagunk. He'd given the embarrassing question to Rai, and he now wanted to get him back a bit. "If you had to kiss anyone here. Who would it be?"

    Croagunk's pouches stopped inflating for the briefest moment, Croagunk's stare remained as impassive as ever. "Chimecho," he answered after a brief hesitation.

    "OOH!" Sunflora squealed as Chimecho blushed and the others laughed. Sean grinned as well, it didn't seem to throw Croagunk, but it lightened the remaining darkness left by Chimecho's story.

    With that, the apprentices grew a little more daring and ingenious in their questions. Diglett convinced Bidoof to reveal he liked knock-knock jokes because a friend of his was really clever with them.

    Sunflora managed to corner Diglett into admitting he found feet fascinating, Croagunk convinced Loudred, Corphish and Bidoof into admitting they found Sunflora pretty, and Rai proved himself bold by asking Sean what Sean thought of him.

    "I think you're the bravest, strongest, AND cutest pokémon I've ever met," Sean answered, unable to help adding a comment to make Rai squirm.

    The apprentices found the need to wrap the night up once concerns were raised, that curfew had long since passed and Chatot might notice something amiss tomorrow.

    In the end only Sean had answered every question given to him, a few others had Plain Seed's remaining, and he decided to taste one just to find out why everyone disliked them.

    Croagunk chuckled. "I may need to start a list," he said as Sean exclaimed that he thought the seed was delicious. "You're a very odd pokémon."

    Sean was granted everyone's remaining seeds and he took them back to the room with delight, setting them into a small nest on his bed before curling up on them. Rai giggled as he noticed Sean was purring.

    Rai decided to abstain from commentating on that.

    "Hey, Sean?" Rai asked, he was a little disappointed it snapped the former human out of his purr-fest, but he wanted to say something before they went to sleep.

    "Yeah?"

    "I know no one asked me why I wanted to join the guild." Rai smiled wistfully as he glanced out the window, watching the moonlight stream in. "Because everyone knows why. Or, well, they think they know why."

    Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, Sean leaned up very curious. "I always thought it was something to do with wanting to be an explorer?" That was about all he knew from the game at least.

    "That is true." Rai nodded as he turned to Sean. "I love exploring, I love helping out, finding new places, saving pokémon. All of that is true, but there is another reason why I wanted to join this guild."

    Sean could see Rai somewhat well in the dark, he was thankful for the far better eyes this meowth body owned. Rai was still smiling, but there was a new edge of melancholy to it. "Rai? Why did you want to join the Wigglytuff Guild?"

    "After I lost my parents, my sister and I managed to get to Treasure Town," Rai explained, falling into the old memories. "We had nothing, only the generosity of the people here. But... but I ended up getting really sick." The way Rai said that shot a feeling of worry through Sean's spine and he needed to take a moment to remind himself that Rai was fine. He reached over to feel his fur, just to quell the irrational fears.

    "My sister... we didn't have money, and very few possessions. She heard of a rumour that a gabite scale is a powerful healing item, but she had no way to get through the only dungeon a gabite was known to live in. So she appealed to the guild, and they managed to get a Gabite Scale which saved my life, and didn't demand anything in return."

    Smiling brighter now, Rai glanced up at the roof before coming down to meet Sean's eyes. "After that, I knew I wanted to do exactly, the same. Help other pokémon, help this guild, because they saved me. Without them, I'd probably…." He trailed off.

    "Then let me say I'm incredibly relieved the guild was here," Sean said. "I don't know what I would have done if you didn't save me. Don't know what I'd do if I lost you either."

    "...Goodnight Sean."

    "Night Rai, sleep tight."


    "And three! Smiles go for miles!"

    "Okay pokémon, time to get to work."

    "HOORAY!"

    Sean stifled a yawn through the morning cheers. He wasn't the only one.

    Sunflora was doing better already. It had been shock and alarm mixed with fear that had led to the breakdown, she was determined to show everyone she was not to be underestimated and had the loudest voice among the cheers. The previous night's activities certainly helped too, she was brimming with bits of gossip to be shared.

    Sean yawned again as the apprentices dispersed, getting a curious glance from Rai. "Didn't sleep well?" he asked as Chatot spotted them remaining. "You might have purred too much."

    "Ah you two," Chatot said, as Sean tried to remember purring. Team Ion walked up to hear their orders. "Your task today is to obtain stock to replenish the larder," he said.

    "Larder?" Rai asked. "You mean go get some food?"

    "Indeed." Chatot fluttered his wings. "The guild's food stock is inspected every morning by Chimecho and I. It seems the guild's perfect apple supply has run out as have a few other things."

    "Oh, damn, I forgot to mention that." He then heard Chatot. "Wait! But I restocked everything else!"

    "Indeed." Chatot nodded to him genially. "But well… there is the occasional night-time grazer. Most commonly our most illustrated Guildmaster. As he should be able to!" Chatot insisted.

    Sean found himself frowning. "So, you'd like us both to go to the Kecleon Market?" he asked. "Or just one of us again?"

    "No, no." Chatot shook his head. "Chimecho will be able to replenish most of it by herself today. No, instead your job is to collect perfect apples as they cannot be purchased anywhere."

    "Perfect apples?" Rai cocked his head in a manner Sean thought was adorable. "What are those?"

    "They are very large and delicious apples," Chatot answered, a distant look in his eye. "But, more than that, they are the Guildmaster's favourite food. If there were no perfect apples, the Guildmaster." Chatot trailed off. "The Guildmaster w-would."

    "…go on," Rai said. "If there were no perfect apples, what would happen to Guildmaster Wigglytuff?"

    "The Guildmaster would." Chatot's voice rose with each word before he simply descended into silence, eyes screwed shut.

    Rai and Sean exchanged a glance.

    "…Yes. That is what would happen." Ignoring, or perhaps not seeing, their perturbed expressions, Chatot continued. "That is why I am begging you two to get some perfect apples."

    "Wait… wait would happen to…" Rai sighed. "Sure, you can count on us!"

    "Very good." Chatot fluttered his wings again. "Perfect apples can be found deep within Apple Woods. Here, I'll mark it on your Wonder Map."

    Once he had pointed it out, right next to Oran Forest, Chatot spread his wings. "Now, listen, this may seem like a simple errand, but it is a crucial job! After all, this is all about the Guildmaster's… erk." Chatot twitched. "So, please don't fail."

    "We'll get it done," Sean said as Chatot waved them away.

    "Oh and one last thing!" Chatot called before they left. "Do keep your voices down at night. Raucous behaviour after curfew will be punished."

    Rai and Sean's tails went rigid. "Yes sir!" they squeaked.

    "Very good." Chatot nodded. "Otherwise keep walking strong. Especially you Sean." Chatot's eye twinkled before he returned to seriousness. "Now get going."

    They hurried off, sharing a giggle at Chatot knowing what the apprentices were up to but not caring. He wasn't as stuffy as he presented himself.

    The town didn't take long to plunder, Rai cut a dashing figure with his scarf in the wind, and they were off.

    It took them a few hours to reach the dungeon. Apple Woods was very close to the Oran Forest, the two still containing different dungeons to explore.

    When the trees began to thicken, the path became more worn, and the feeling of the area began to turn, Team Ion knew they had reached their destination.

    "Chatot said we need to go to the deepest part of the woods," Rai said as they neared the true entrance of the Apple Woods.

    "Figures," Sean replied. "Isn't it always at the end?"

    "Yeah actually," Rai said after a moment to think. "Funny that."

    They both smiled and headed in.

    In terms of location, the Apple Woods reminded Sean greatly of the Oran Forest. Except it was apples that were all over the place, rather than oran's.

    He enjoyed eating a few apples they picked up, after checking them for grossness. Each one was even more divine while fresh.

    It was a picturesque place. Trees lined the dungeon as an impenetrable wall of foliage, soft grass pleasant to the feet after trudging over hard dirt and pointy stones, and food everywhere.

    The occasional Bug-type that Rai scared off with electricity.

    It was the most disconcerting dungeon Sean had ever entered. The sky was even more visible, a bloody crack against the picturesque trees around them, storming in silent violence. Some of the clouds reminded him of eyes, it was creepy and he preferred being enclosed in the trees to seeing the sky.

    Even Oran Forest, a similar dungeon, hadn't given him the bad vibes this place did. It was too pleasant, too pretty, too chocolate-box to be anything more than a trap.

    "This place is weird," Sean said, deciding to share his worries.

    "You think?" Rai asked. "This place seems pretty nice so far."

    "That's the point," Sean hissed, eyes darting about. "A dungeon? Nice? It must be some sort of evil trap. Are these dungeons alive?"

    "Uh… maybe?" Rai shrugged and glanced about before settling back on Sean. "A few pokémon claim that they are. I've never seen anything to suggest these places are alive. Would they let us out if they were?"

    "I suppose you've got a point there," Sean mumbled. "But you see my point about here? Where are the pokémon, other than when we came in? This feels like we are being led to feel like everything is hunky-dory and then BAM!" He smacked a paw into another. "We get swarmed."

    "We'll keep an eye out," Rai said. "And maybe not wander into rooms that have a bit too much treasure in them. Okay?"

    "Sounds good." Sean flicked his bow with a claw. The dust caught on their feet, even grassy dungeons like this had that same ashy powder all through them. Sean didn't like it.

    They continued. Sean grew more unnerved the longer they went without being attacked, Rai enjoying his time in a pleasant-smelling place.

    To pass the silence that had fallen over them, Sean began to hum. Just the only thing that came to mind; a bouncy beat of positivity. The Apple Woods theme.

    He wasn't sure how accurate he was, it had been a while, but Apple Woods always did have a certain trick to its tune that he enjoyed.

    Over time Rai began to grow a little unnerved himself.

    "Hey," he said, trailing off already. "I'm kind of getting your point now. Where are all the feral pokémon?"

    "I have a feeling I don't want to know," Sean said. "I resist the urge to look behind us."

    Rai looked back. Nothing there.

    He glanced at Sean, worry staining his expression. "I've never seen a dungeon this empty. Just a few here and there. It's like nothing is here."

    "What am I?" Sean asked with fake exasperation. "Your imaginary friend?"

    "Heh." Rai gave before turning away. Sean eyed him for a moment before sighing.

    "It's been a while since I've put my foot in my mouth hasn't it?"

    "No, no it's not that," Rai insisted, turning back to look brightly at him. Sean just faced him with an expectant look on his face and Rai bowed his head. "When you've got no friends for so long you can't help it."

    "I'm sorry for bringing it up," Sean said.

    "Oh, don't be sorry, I should apologise for getting weird about things again. Even when I swore that I wouldn't."

    Sean shook his head. "You can't be strong all the time Rai, if you try you'll break eventually."

    "You're very wise from someone with amnesia." Rai smiled cheekily at him. "I can only imagine what you're keeping locked up in that head of yours."

    "Probably something really boring," Sean said, laughing him off. "Really boring."

    "I don't know," Rai said flippantly. "I think it'd be pretty interesting. Get to know what you were like before coming here, what the human world is like. Sounds like an incredible mystery and I love mysteries!"

    "Well let's hope we can work out what the mystery here is," Sean said, reminding them of the weirdness abound. "Before whatever happens, happens."

    To break some of the tension, a butterfree came screeching out at them. Rai, already a little jumpy, zapped it and it fell to the ground smoking.

    "Hm," Rai grunted.

    "Yeah," Sean said.

    They exchanged a glance, no more enemies came rushing out at them, and then moved on, leaving the butterfree to flutter up into the air again and wander off.

    They continued exploring the dungeon, a few pokémon began to pop up as they went further. One particularly vigorous exeggutor required both of them to take down.

    Eventually, however, all good and terrible things come to an end.

    "It looks like we've come pretty far," Rai said as they entered a widening area. "According to Chatot, the Perfect Apples should be around here somewhere…"

    "I think that enormous tree might be what we're looking for," Sean said, pointing forward.

    They broke into a job, entering the clearing completely before coming to a stop before a gigantic tree.

    The trunk was thicker than any tree Sean had ever seen, Rai too.

    "Woah, those must be perfect apples," Rai gasped, looking up. On a few branches that pushed out of the thick leaves did indeed contain large, delicious, apples. Sean had seen the perfect apple yesterday and could confirm with confidence that these were it.

    "All right then," Rai said as they took a few more steps forward. "How should we get them down? Can you climb?"

    "I think so," Sean said, claws unsheathing. "We may have a problem though."

    "Hmm?"

    "Chaw-haw-haw, you're looking for some Perfect Apples?"

    Rai started as the voice seemed to come from above them. "Wha? Who was that? Where are you?"

    "Chaw-haw-haw." Was his only answer.

    "Skuntank!" Sean shouted, claws extending. He was here? What were the chances, they came here to mess with the protagonists in the game, but there should be no reason they'd be here now.

    They both looked up to see Skuntank claw his way out of the thick leaves, Koffing and Zubat breaching as well, and both took flight.

    Skuntank leaped down, forcing Sean and Rai to jump back to avoid being flattened. "Chaw-haw-haw, Team Skull at your service," Skuntank said as Koffing and Zubat flanked him.

    "Stop laughing," Sean snapped, his nerves flaring at the constant guffawing.

    "Heh-heh, it's wimpy and wimpo. How have you been?"

    "WHAT?" Rai snarled, Sean remaining silent to glare hatefully at them.

    "Woah-ho-ho, I'm stuffed!" Koffing belched. "Those apples were good. What are two losers like you two doing here?"

    "You ate the Perfect Apples?" Rai seethed. Sean glanced askew at Rai, a little surprised at how much anger was actually showing.

    "There are still a few more on the tree," Sean whispered, alleviating some of the sparking rage.

    "Right." Rai nodded and narrowed his eyes as he pulled on his power. "Let's knock these creeps out and take my treasure back."

    "Chaw-haw-haw," Skuntank laughed. "Chaw-HAW-HAW. Knock us out? How rude. Why I was even going to offer you an apple for your earlier troubles, sorry about the tizzy back in Beach Cave. We are both explorers, we both work against our reputations to show others we are not what others perceive us to be."

    "I am not a bullying creep like you," Rai said coldly before remembering Sean's words from the other day. He closed his eyes and took a breath, through his mouth, and calmed himself. "But if you are offering to help then give me back my treasure!"

    "It's a tough reputation to beat as a Poison and Dark-type," Skuntank admitted. "Everyone views my kind as foul troublemakers. That is the camerupt on my back. But what about you, Shinx? Don't you work almost as hard to prove you aren't a useless coward that everyone sees you as?"

    "Urk." Rai flinched back as Sean wondered, somewhat detached, how it was possible to despise Skuntank all the more. He didn't even acknowledge the demand, and his sharp eyes couldn't spot the Relic Fragment on their person.

    "You want the apples, right?" Skuntank seemed to ignore Rai's reaction, although Sean knew he saw a smirk. "Nothing could be easier. Watch."

    With that Skuntank stomped up to the tree and took a moment to prepare, before slamming his whole body into it. The tree shook. Skuntank did it again and several apples fell from the tree.

    "Perfect apples," Sean said, a sudden wave of hunger ran through him, and he really wanted to grab one of those just to see if it was as tasty as was claimed.

    "See? What did I tell you?" Skuntank returned to standing between Koffing and Zubat and waited patiently. "Go on now. Pick up those Perfect Apples and scuttle back to the guild. Chaw-haw-haw."

    "Woah-ho-ho."

    "Heh-heh-heh."

    Rai and Sean didn't move.

    "Hm? What's the matter? Aren't you going to pick them up? And after I was so nice and helped you out!"

    "You're going to pull a dirty trick, aren't you?" Rai growled. "I'm not going to fall for another trap like the Beach Cave!"

    He fell into a prowling position and hissed. "I won't be fooled by you. And I'm going to take my Relic Fragment back from wherever you've put it!"

    "Colour me surprised," Zubat said. "They didn't fall for it at all."

    "Aww," Koffing moaned. "How boring is that?"

    "I knew it," Rai hissed.

    "Chaw-haw-haw," he laughed, looking straight at Sean just to confirm he was doing it on purpose. "It's a little disappointing you aren't the trusting sort. You're the stupid sort though, so that evens out. You wanna go, little Shinx?" Skuntank's breath was foul. "You won't enjoy what happens."

    Electricity crackled over Rai's fur as Sean grabbed a hold of an x-eye seed.

    "You're going to give my treasure back," Rai warned one last time.

    "Well now, aren't we feeling peppy, chaw-haw-haw-haw-haw," Skuntank laughed. "The last time we met you were knocked out with a single breath. Hell, your useless friend lasted longer than you did. Eh, whatever, we haven't been following you for a fight." That was alarming for Sean to hear. "I got a question about that rock of yours."

    "Shut up!" Rai shouted, not listening. "I'm not going to back down. I'm never backing down to sad bullies like YOU! Because YOU are pathetic letting your pals fight us and then attack from behind like a dirty, rotten, coward!"

    That looked like it stung a nerve as Skuntank's expression twisted and Koffing and Zubat shrunk back.

    "Oh? Pathetic, am I? Alright." He nudged Koffing back further. "No. We're not doing the noxious gas combo. If these two want a fight, then we'll beat them with our paws and claws."

    "Woah-ho… are you sure boss?"

    "Heh… yeah?"

    "Yes," Skuntank growled and turned to Team Ion. "In recognition of your courage, Team Skull is happy to accept your challenge. Get ready."

    There was no way to get ready.

    Without giving them time to so much as blink, Skuntank was upon them. One meaty claw slammed into Rai's head and batted him brutally. Sean pulled his paw out and tossed the seed as hard as he could, but Skuntank had spotted him preparing earlier and incinerated it with a Flamethrower.

    Sean yowled and threw all the Power he could into his claws to Scratch Skuntank but got socked in the chest with a lightning-quick jab of Dark-type energy that knocked him sprawling.

    "Ugh," Rai groaned, forcing himself up. "Oh." Skuntank and Koffing were already upon him.

    "You're not even worth an actual battle," Skuntank said before he and Koffing belched fumes over Rai. His building electricity failed as consciousness left him.

    "Chaw-haw, now." Skuntank turned on the remaining member of Team Ion, right in time to receive an oren berry. He caught it in his mouth of reflex before his face screwed up. "Ugh!"

    He coughed hard as the false berry absolutely burned going down. He retched and shook his head violently, spitting smog and ash.

    "That's it," Skuntank growled, voice warping in fury. He smacked Koffing out of the way and began stomping up to Sean, who was backing away at a respectable pace. "You're lucky I can't do much or else pokémon will ask questions." He pounced suddenly, knocking Sean onto his back.

    Sean got a terrific close-up of Skuntank's face and received the Poison and Dark-type's burning saliva on his face. He choked on the smell as Skuntank breathed slowly on him, clouding his mind as things began to go dark, but not quick enough to be merciful.

    Eventually, he lost consciousness.

    "Chaw-haw-haw," Skuntank laughed as he devoured the remaining perfect apples. "That'll show them not to mess with Team Skull."

    "Woah-ho-ho can't believe that got the nerve to even try."

    "Heh-heh, they'll know better not to try again."

    The three of them stood for a moment.

    "Err, boss?" Zubat asked. "Weren't we gonna ask them about-"

    "Forget it," Skuntank growled. "If they want trouble so badly they can deal with them when it comes. Let's skedaddle boys."

    With that, they left Team Ion in the clearing, after ensuring the tree was stripped bare of perfect apples of course.


    "Ugh, that was awful," Rai moaned as he returned to the realm of the conscious. "Oh… Sean!" He spotted the downed Meowth and rushed to his side, stumbling momentarily when he felt his neck throb with pain. "Sean! Sean!"

    "Oh," Sean moaned, cracking his eyes open. "Cough."

    "Are you alright?" Rai whimpered.

    "Yeah…" Sean sighed and groaned as he pulled himself up into a sitting position. "I don't seem to be bleeding. Am I?"

    "No… no you're not bleeding."

    "Then yes, I'm fine. Just sore."

    And wanting to vomit just from the memory, but he felt that information didn't need to be shared.

    "Urf… we both got knocked out," Rai mumbled. "Again. Even worse than the first time. It still reeks."

    Sean glanced about. "No perfect apples either. I'm sorry, Rai."

    Rai jumped when he noticed that. "Oh no. OH NO!" He ran up and looked desperately up into the tree. "I don't think they left any. What are we going to do?"

    "We'll be fine," Sean said, trying to ease Rai's panic. "Chatot will… well… he won't be happy, but we'll get through it."

    He wanted to, really badly, explain why but couldn't say just yet. Rai would disapprove anyway.

    "We're out of luck," Rai sighed, bowing his head. "Let's just head back to the guild and hope we don't get into too much trouble. Chatot will be mad, he was freaking out just at the thought of this."

    "Right," Sean agreed, and they began to move. Leaving Apple Woods was easy, as they had reached the end of the dungeon the space warping let them out right at the beginning. It was still several hours of walking, however, both of them were sore from the complete mockery of a 'fight'.

    "I'm really sorry, Sean," Rai said as they began the painful trek home. "If I didn't antagonize them, this wouldn't have happened."

    Sean looked to Rai. He supposed it wouldn't be hard to blame Rai, but it wasn't his fault in the least. "You saw those three," he said firmly. "They were planning something no matter what. Even when Skuntank pushed Koffing away, they were going to stink us out no matter what!"

    "That'd at least hurt less," Rai grumbled. "Less than knowing bullies like Skuntank completely outmatch us. My neck hurts too."

    About that, Sean wasn't sure what to say. He was quite sure one never had a proper battle with Skuntank in the games. He briefly wondered how this might cause a change but discarded it as the result was still exactly the same.

    "I can't believe we got a chance," Rai whimpered sadly. "To get it back and just lost like that. Dammit!"

    "I'm so sorry," Sean said, he felt like it was his fault. Rai was strong, he wasn't. He was weak. The best he could do was take a punch, but Skuntank still overwhelmed him quickly.

    "It's not your fault!" Rai snapped. Sean flinched from the tone, and he softened. "Don't blame yourself. You look like you do."

    "It is my fault," Sean muttered. It was his fault Skuntank was there in the first place. What was it? What had changed to cause that? Had he seen him going to the beach and decided to follow? He bet that was it. It was his fault no matter what, he'd changed something.

    He almost told Rai, almost considered it for a moment. Rai wouldn't understand, as Sean turned to him he knew he wouldn't. So, he didn't say anything.

    They walked in silence the way back. Dread and anticipation being their company.

    "WHAAAT!" Chatot screeched, hours later. "YOU FAILED!?" Chatot's wings fluttered continuously as he began to panic. "Are you serious? Oh no! What am I going to do!?"

    He took flight, making a panicked lap of the room as he babbled. "Goodness gracious! What am I going to do!?"

    "We couldn't help it, sir," Rai said, trying at least to explain. "Team Skull and-"

    "Quiet!" Chatot snapped, coming to a stop and glaring at them. "I do not want to hear any of it. You leave me no choice, you will be going without dinner tonight."

    "What?" Rai exclaimed. He had expected punishment, but not that. "B-but, Chatot."

    "You failed to complete an important job," Chatot chastised, his eye narrowed into a terrifying glare. "Your punishment could be much more severe. I don't want to hear anything from you until debrief."

    Chatot turned away, staring out the window with an expression turning to apprehension. "You've saddled me with this terrible task. I've got to report this to the Guildmaster tonight. Upon hearing my report, the Guildmaster is sure to… sure… s-sure to. AH." Chatot began flying about the room again, panicking once more.

    "I will report this to the Guildmaster after dinner," he said, coming to a stop as the anger returned. "You two will come with me when I do so. If I had to face the Guildmaster's wrath all by myself, well, that would hardly be fair for something that wasn't my fault. Therefore, you two will come with me. It will be your debrief."

    "Y-yes sir," Sean and Rai said together. Chatot was terrifying when he was angry. Sean fiddled with his bow with nerves.

    Dinner came and went. Rai had to watch everyone eat alone, Sean having excused himself to wander Treasure Town before their comeuppance was due. Rai let him go, wanting to be alone himself. Rai regretted going into the dining room, watching everyone else eat was torture.

    Once everyone was finished, Chatot waited outside the door for him.

    "Where is Meowth?" he asked, having refused to look over to where the punished pokémon were supposed to be standing.

    "He went for a walk," Rai mumbled. "I thought he'd be back by now…"

    Chatot and Rai glanced up at the incline. "Hmph. If he thinks he can avoid this or leave us both to suffer while he gets away. Ooh boy will my wrath be severe."

    Rai didn't want to consider that, although it was nicer than another thought that crept into his mind.

    "They always leave." The thought sounded a lot like Litleo actually, and Rai shoved it away aggressively.

    "Chatot," came the singsong voice of Wigglytuff. "Where are you, you my silly bird? I'm waiting so patiently."

    "Urk." Chatot twitched. "We cannot wait any longer. To do so is to increase his rage with frustration. Meowth will be going without dinner the whole week for trying to skirt out of this."

    Rai bent his head low as he followed Chatot into Wigglytuff's Chamber. He never expected to be facing this, alone.

    "Hiya!" Wigglytuff chirped as they entered. "You brought me some perfect apples, didn't you? Thank you so much! Oh?" He cocked his head. "Where's friendly friend Meowth?"

    "Uh, there's a… there's, uh, a slight…" Chatot stumbled over his words. "Uh… it's awfully hard to say this, but."

    "Huh?" The confusion and concern from Wigglytuff was palpable. "What's wrong?"

    "You see, uh, truth be told. These apprentices… Team Ion. Meowth and Shinx. Well, they failed in their mission to bring back any Perfect Apples, and… so, uh, to put it another way."

    "It's okay," Wigglytuff said, causing Rai to blink in surprise. "I understand."

    Feeling a weight leave him, Rai looked to Chatot who was not looking any better.

    "It's all right. Nobody wins all the time. Don't feel blue, don't feel blue." Wigglytuff began to sing that, leaving Rai feeling somewhat okay with all this.

    Right as he went to thank Wigglytuff for understanding, Wigglytuff turned to Chatot. "Where are the other perfect apples?" Once those words left his lips, Rai's relief plummeted.

    Chatot flinched. "As I'd explained… um… they failed to get them, so, uh… In other words, the perfect apples. The number of perfect apples we have harvested… would be, uh…" Chatot took a breath. "Zero."

    "Oh." That one word, one letter, sent a rivet of fear through Rai's spine as Chatot began to break down.

    "Therefore, not even one perfect apple was obtained." The routine was broken, it was all falling apart. "That means, Guildmaster… you will have to make do without perfect apples for a little while. Yep! Until they grow back. That's what it means!"

    To Rai's shock, and terror, Chatot began to laugh hysterically. To the point that he was tearing up.

    "Um… Guildmaster? Guildmaster?"

    Wigglytuff sniffled. Once. Twice. Then a small sob.

    "Ah! Is he going to cry?" Rai thought in alarm.

    Lip quivering, eyes watering, Wigglytuff began to tear up.

    "COVER YOUR EARS!" Chatot screeched, clapping his wings over his head as Wigglytuff began to spasm. A single sob caused a shockwave, knocking them back.

    "Hang on."

    Wigglytuff perked slightly as Sean entered the room. Rai noticed he looked a little different but was too frazzled to determine why.

    "I'm so sorry for being so late, Guildmaster, that door is really heavy, but I hope I can be forgiven." Sean reached into the Treasure Bag. "Because I brought this!"

    With both paws, as it was really big, he held a perfect apple.

    "OH!" Wigglytuff brightened immediately and raced forward. "For me? Thank you!" He plucked the perfect apple from Sean and balanced it on his head before dancing around joyfully. "Thank you, friendly friend! Thank you, friendly friend! Lalalala."

    Staring in muted shock, Chatot caught himself gawking and composed himself. "That is all Guildmaster, we'll take our leave now." He swiftly gestured for them to exit and exit quickly.

    "No problem, friendly friends!" Wigglytuff sang as he danced with the apple. "Have a good night, have a good night!"

    Chatot closed the door behind them as he and Rai blinked in shock. With the door firmly closed, Chatot checked it several times just to give himself a moment to recover, the three just stood there in the dimness of the room.

    Sean, as the least shocked, allowed himself a victorious smirk. "You're welcome."

    "H-how?" Chatot managed. "H… how?"

    "I used my time in Treasure Town to ask around," Sean answered, gesturing widely. "Eventually I found someone with a perfect apple and traded for it. I didn't mean to take so long, but it took a while to get. Those doors are heavy though." He massaged one of his arms with the other one before brushing his neck. "How do you do that all the time?"

    Chatot barely comprehended the compliment and just shook his head. "Just… go to bed. I'll be able to think more in the morning. We shall debrief properly then."

    He hopped away to guard the entrance or scream where no one could hear him. However, he then paused. "No. First, I apologise. I… shouldn't have placed such blame on you. You said you were ambushed? Yes, I… go to the kitchens, take something. I… think I need to relax, the stress is getting to me." He continued to mumble as he hopped off.

    Sean gave Rai a smile and led him to their rooms.

    Once they were safely inside, Rai found his voice. "Wow. That was terrifying. Chatot was panicking so much and Wigglytuff started getting so upset."

    "I know," Sean said, not admitting just how well he did know. "Sorry about leaving you to that, I hoped to get back before Chatot brought us in, but I guess I was too slow."

    "Just glad you're here," Rai said, smiling. Then he realised what he said and glanced away awkwardly. "Uh… you know?"

    "Yeah." Sean nodded, unable to hide his smile.

    "So, what DID you trade for a Perfect Apple?" Rai asked, turning back to Sean.

    "Well… you know." Sean looked away, feeling a small bit of embarrassment claw at him. He toyed with his fur, tracing a scar he couldn't remember getting.

    Rai frowned, looking closely at Sean, trying to spot why he was acting like that. He couldn't help but notice the scars himself, jeez there was a lot of them. Why did he look a little different?


    A few hours earlier, Sean had left the guild with a plan in mind.

    He held the Treasure Bag, containing all his items as well as all the money he shared between him and Rai that wasn't in Rai's bank account.

    He walked down to the crossroads before turning left, walking the same path he had trudged home earlier, the path to the wider world, the path to his destination.

    He walked as quickly as his tired muscles would allow. Sean was amazed at how well his new body recovered every morning, just a night's rest and he was back to better than new. The wonders of a pokémon body, he marvelled.

    For the time now, however, he was tired and sore. Vindictiveness, however, and spite drove him forwards. Part of it was to spare Rai, and himself, the trouble of upsetting Wigglytuff and Chatot. Part of him couldn't help but worry that without the security of a game's code, Rai may not get picked for the expedition. Not willing to jeopardise that any further than his interference could, he aimed to interfere in a good way.

    And if it was fuelled mostly in spiting Skuntank, then he'd be fine with that as well. Sean was honest with himself, spite was a good motivator.

    Little more than spite and some curiosity would lead him to this pokémon's home, that was for sure.

    Sean followed the path as best he could in the waning light, following a few directions his confidant had given him. He stepped off the path he and Rai normally walked to their dungeons, and into the living area of the pokémon who lived in Treasure Town.

    There was much more to it than just the business section and guild after all.

    Sean got lost, that he was certain, but he kept repeating his directions in his head until things began to make sense. After over an hour, he finally retrieved his sense of direction and found his target location. He was worried he'd get back late at this rate, but hoped he wouldn't get lost on the way back.

    The house was built into a big tree. An old burrow was filled with what probably passed for trash. Little burns were all about, the tree house was not the healthiest nor was the place well looked after.

    Sean hesitated for a moment. Spite, while wonderfully energizing, could only bring him so far. He hesitated, took a breath, and swallowed nervously, but ultimately working to spare Rai from fear and worry was worth this.

    He knocked politely on the small door and received an insufferably smug. "Come in!"

    The flap door shut behind him as Sean the meowth entered Litleo's heated abode.

    "And I was thinking you'd arrive next week sometime," Litleo snarked as Sean entered. "Don't worry, I always get the boys to come."

    His smirk unsettled Sean, and he completely ignored the lecherous tone. "Have you got the perfect apple?" he asked, not wanting to stay any longer than he had to.

    "Come on, do we need to discuss business before pleasure?"

    "I'm only here for the apple, Litleo."

    "Yeah, I can…." Litleo paused and thought. "Ah, come on. You couldn't at least say, 'getting what I want' so I could make a sleazy remark out of that?"

    "I knew you'd be looking for that," Sean answered, crossing his arms. "And my answer was the same as it was yesterday. No! It was a rumour caused by an accident."

    "I can treat you real nice," Litleo purred but received a stone gaze in response. "Sheesh," he said, rolling his eyes. "You really do need to get laid, but whatever."

    Turning to bask in Sean's spluttering fury, Litleo pulled out a small sack. "It's in there if you want to inspect the goods."

    He was grinning again, waiting as Sean was forced to step closer to reach into the bag. Litleo ran his tail up against Sean's leg, but he ignored it. Pulling out a magnificent red apple, Sean knew that this was perfect.

    Smiling slightly at the accidental pun he had thought, Sean nodded. "This is it." Unable to resist, he added. "It's perfect, thank you."

    The pun received the desired reaction as Litleo recoiled. "Wow. Woooow. I don't even know what to say to that!"

    "Better than nothing but innuendos," Sean muttered.

    "Maybe. I can make the night perfect for us both if you'd like~?"

    Rolling his eyes, Sean set the apple down. This was a transaction after all. "Okay, what do you want for it?"

    As frustrating as Litleo's advances had been on him yesterday, confirming that the rumour was spreading as well, the worst thing is that he refused to give a straight answer on what he wanted in return.

    "What do you think?" Litleo grinned.

    Other than THAT, of course.

    "I'm not having sex with you," Sean said flatly. "What. Do you. Want?" He put the Treasure Bag down next to the perfect apple. "You can have your pick of stuff here."

    Litleo pawed the Treasure Bag for a moment before pushing it off the bench. "Nah. I think you're desperate. Not the good kind of desperate, but it could become the good kind of desperate if you want?"

    "Please stop," Sean snapped, toying with his bow in frustrated discomfort. "It's a rumour. That is it. That is all it is. Why do you even want to, er, with me anyway?"

    Litleo rolled his eyes. "Wow you are fun to rile up, I gotta say." Grinning at him again, enjoying how he could see Sean physically holding his reaction in check, just amusing him more. "Hey, I'm not gonna force you. And fine if you're not interested in all this." He gestured to himself giving a provocative stretch. "Then you've got some weird tastes. Or you're into Shinx. Although pretty similar in body shape...?"

    Sean's glare slowly intensified.

    "Okay, fine, I have a new offer. That."

    He pointed to Sean and the meowth sighed. "This isn't funny you know?"

    "Not you." Litleo rolled his eyes. "Although…?" Sean was stone. "No? Fine. I mean the bow you're wearing."

    "My bow?" Sean frowned, he hadn't expected that at all.

    "Yep, take it, take it, or leave it."

    Grimacing, Sean looked down feeling his bow with his paws. As much as he liked it, he was certain there was a power in it, Sean was confident there was no real reason that he needed to have it.

    Thinking about Rai, he sighed and began to tug it loose.

    "Yeah, take it off."

    Sean paused to glare at Litleo but continued taking it off even as the lecherous Fire-type whistled at him.

    "Here." He held the bow out, but Litleo grinned at him again.

    "Put it on me pretty please, I don't have the paws for it."

    Now really staring Litleo down, Sean took a measured step forwards and then another, ready for anything Litleo may try. The Fire-type waited patiently until Sean was tying the bow around his neck.

    "Don't I look dashing?" Litleo asked, bouncing over to look in a little reflective orb. It gave Sean a chance to look around, Litleo's house was fairly small, not much to see beyond a closed chest and a bed with what looked like a sheet.

    That looked nice. He hadn't seen those besides in the hospital wing.

    Litleo finished admiring himself. "Would I? I look much better then you with this, I'm sure. Silver on white? Nah. Silver on me though."

    Rolling his eyes at the vanity, Sean grabbed the perfect apple and put it in the Treasure Bag. "Pleasure doing business with you," he muttered and went to leave.

    "Almost," Litleo answered. "But come back any time! We can take turns taking it off. I could wear the bow, you could wear this necklace I bou-"

    Sean let the door shut behind him before letting the shudders out.

    "Ugh, creep." He thought to himself as he began the trip back to the Wigglytuff Guild, quickening his pace to get away from Litleo faster, as well as worrying about the time he had wasted. He hoped this would work.


    "Your bow," Rai said, finally spotting what was missing. "What happened to… you traded your bow for the apple?"

    "Ah… yeah." Sean nodded, it was weird not wearing it anymore, he'd barely noticed it there before, now that it was gone he felt like he had lost something. "That was the only thing… the trader would trade for."

    "Who was it?" Rai asked, exactly the opposite of what Sean was hoping for. "Maybe we can trade back for it. I've got some money, maybe that?"

    "It's fine Rai." Sean waved him off. "Not a big deal. Not even a deal. I barely noticed it."

    "But it's the only thing you had!" Rai insisted. "Who did you trade it to? Come on, just tell me."

    "Litleo," Sean admitted, causing Rai to pause.

    "Lit… Litleo?" he asked, Sean nodded. "You traded your bow to him? HE had the apple?"

    "Yep," Sean said. "It's really not a big deal Rai. Just the luck of the draw, calming down Wigglytuff and making sure our chances for the expedition aren't ruined was much more important."

    Rai frowned but didn't argue that point. "What was he even doing with a perfect apple?" Rai grumbled, not actually asking the question.

    He slumped down on his bed, feeling sleepy, and not in the mood for any more talk. Sean slowly made his way onto a comfortable position on his own bed, even hungrier.

    He wouldn't admit it to Rai, and the shinx hadn't even actually meant to have that question answered.

    "Litleo, wandering off the Apple Woods. He mentioned that those days ago." Sean ruminated as he began to slip off to sleep.

    Running into the bothersome pokémon yesterday had seemed like a problem, especially since Litleo had heard about his name accident, but he quickly remembered where Litleo said he was going the other day, and a quick question told him that yes, he was strong enough to get to the end of Apple Woods. Asking him to fetch a perfect apple hadn't been easy, the Fire-type coming onto him several times over the discussion.

    He hadn't even been certain he'd actually do it. But it was his best chance at obtaining a perfect apple just in case. Without risking someone mentioning this odd plan to an apprentice and bringing questions down upon him.

    Smiling at the confidence that he had won this one, Sean fell asleep. He knew Team Skull would have trouble to brew later on, but for now he was victorious.


    Sean actually trying a little bit. How nice.

    I like Litleo, he's fun to write.
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 9 - Peace and Fun the Day
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "Ahem, one last item before we commence with the day's activities."

    The next day had come, and Sean and Rai were rather miserable. Neither had slept well, the aches and pains lingering from the thrashing they had received stung poorly as had Chatot's attitude.

    They had managed to get something to eat, and neither had gotten into trouble, but it still hadn't been easy to sleep. For Rai, knowing he'd gotten his chance and been crushed. For Sean, knowing they needed the Relic Fragment but were too weak to take it back left him very nervous. Still, they trudged down to the guild assembly.

    "Within the next few days," Chatot said, holding everyone's attention firmly, "the Guildmaster and I plan to announce the members of the expedition party."

    "Wow!" Chimecho cheered.

    "By golly," Bidoof said. "The members are finally going to be picked!"

    "Meh-heh-heh, who do you think is going to be picked?"

    "Wooooo! Can't wait."

    "Everyone, this is your last chance to make a good impression on the Guildmaster. Work hard and impress us if you want to be chosen." Chatot nodded, giving the apprentices a moment to chatter amongst themselves. "All right, everyone. Let's get down to work as usual!"

    "HOORAY!"

    Everyone dispersed, Wigglytuff joining the apprentices meandering as casually as they could towards the mess hall as Chatot turned to them both.

    "Ah, you two," Chatot said, gesturing for them to come up to him. "Let us adjourn to the Guildmaster's chambers now, chop-chop."

    The doors had been left open this time, and with no Wigglytuff.

    Chatot kept his beak raised as the doors slipped shut and he turned to them. "I will offer my apologies for last night," he said stiffly. "I may have overreacted a tad."

    "A tad," Rai echoed.

    To his credit, Chatot didn't cringe. "Er. Yes. Ahem. As the second in command, it is my duty to meet with the apprentices first to ensure certain things need to be done or not. In my panic, I entirely broke protocol. I did not listen to the reasons you had or took consideration of your condition. For that, I am truly sorry."

    Rai nodded, relaxing a bit. "Team Skull was there, sir," he said, adding the sir after a moment.

    "Beat us up again," Sean said, still feeling the ache in his ribs. They had seen Chimecho, yes, but Sean was beginning to realise that the guild's reputation was actually serious. The first few days he recovered from damage with a bit of pokémon magic and a night of rest, but he could feel his body still aching, getting taxed from adventuring so far so often and fighting so many ferals. The Guild gave them one day off a week, he learned.

    And he knew Rai had to be feeling worse considering he did most of the actual fighting. He was looking forward to the one day they got to have off to rest and recuperate. That was sorely needed.

    Chatot's eyes darkened slightly but he held his composure better than last night. "I see. Chimecho has sent word to the Federation about this team, they will not remain so free to do as they please for much longer. They will be brought to justice!" Heat entered his voice and he swallowed it done.

    "Besides that, are you two alright? The Guildmaster can be… frightful at times and I have not missed the fact that you no longer wear the ribbon the Guildmaster made for you?" he added, offering a pointed look to Sean.

    "That's what I traded," Sean mumbled. "For the apple." Chatot's expression flickered briefly.

    "Why did the Guildmaster do that?" Rai asked, having noticed the pointed lack of Wigglytuff in the room.

    Chatot looked harsh for a brief moment, a reprimand likely on the tip of his tongue for Rai's cheek in asking that. He paused, however, looking at them both, and swallowed it.

    "The Guildmaster is… a pokémon of habit, much like myself. Breaks in the routine run the risk of upsetting him, and unfortunately, the Guildmaster has a great deal of strength that he must spend every minute of everyday restraining. To think of the control the Guildmaster exhibits every day to ensure that none are hurt. A taxing quality that would be nearly impossible for anyone else to bear. The apple is in a way his reward for his work, it resets the tension so to speak. Without it, he can… grow upset and when he is upset his control begins to unravel."

    There was something to his words. Something that sounded off.

    Chatot looked like he had more he could say, but was choosing not to. A stiffness to his posture and slightly raised beak, his eyes firmly on them both. It wasn't their business to ask why Wigglytuff could unravel, that was clear.

    Neither of them had reason to push, however, and so Chatot left the matter to be closed. "While you two DID fail in your task to obtain perfect apples from Apple Woods, you still went above and beyond to acquire an apple through other means. So, before you begin your allocated jobs today I believe you have some friends looking out for you."

    He gestured a wing towards the door and there was a scuffle of sorts behind it. The door was pushed open by Chatot with a flourish.

    Bidoof squeaked when he realised they had been spotted.

    "Come over you three," Chatot said, voice almost smug with their reaction. "And Chimecho, Guildmaster?" he said to the head poking out of the mess hall. "You may bring the full plate out, there is no need for deception."

    Slowly, almost guiltily, and certainly warily, most of the apprentices emerged from various spots they had hidden out of sight, or where standing to look casual. As well as Wigglytuff leaning against the Swap Cauldron trying to look like he was meant to be there.

    Only Dugtrio wasn't there, already at work doing his task.

    Chimecho floated out, a pair of plates hovering in her psychic grip, stacked with food. Bidoof and Sunflora also stepped forward, shooting Chimecho a surprised glance.

    "You got them food from the larder?" Bidoof asked.

    "Yeah," Chimecho admitted, embarrassed. "When Chatot and I inspected it, I thought I managed to sneak some stuff without him realising."

    "Oh my gosh, Bidoof and I snuck some food off our plates to give them!"

    Rai was blushing now and smiling widely, Sean unable to hold back a grin himself. It was heartening to know the others had their backs, Chatot too it seemed.

    "It would be amiss of me to turn a blind eye to thievery and food stashing," Chatot said sharply, causing everyone to flinch. "But just this once there will be no punishment due to the motive involved. I am proud that you apprentices have such tight bonds."

    He waved a wing at Sean and Rai who made sure to split the food among everyone as a sort of breakfast. Once they were done, which took a very short time, Sean worried he may have eaten too quickly. He only hiccupped thrice thankfully.

    "Now get to work!" Chatot said, shooing everyone. "There are jobs to do and pokémon to assist. Get going."

    Chatot made sure to stare them down as the apprentices scattered, but once everyone was gone, and no one in eyeshot, he let himself smile.


    An hour or two after Rai and Sean left Treasure Town they were accosted.

    "You two," Skuntank growled, voice low as he emerged from the bushes. "Come with me."

    "No way," Sean said, ready to shout for help.

    Koffing and Zubat flanked him, but they were near the guild and Rai was feeling bold. "Give me back my treasure and maybe you won't get arrested."

    Skuntank glared at him, and he shifted under Rai's return stare. Flames sparked at his mouth, Sean was ready to leap in or race off to get help. Either way, he was hoping someone would come soon because they weren't strong enough to beat Team Skull.

    Sean stepped closer to Rai as the shinx and skuntank stared each other down.

    "What are you three even doing here?" Sean demanded. "You know we've told the guild what you've done. Team Skull is getting bounties as we speak. Give the Relic Fragment back."

    Eventually, Skuntank scoffed. "I'm trying to have a dialogue with you here and you keep on repeating the same thing." He shook his head, agitated and began to stomp off.

    Rai blinked, Koffing and Zubat shared a confused look, but Skuntank was already exiting the town.

    "Wait?" Zubat said, glancing back between them and Skuntank. "Weren't we…?" Skuntank was already leaving.

    "Boss wait up!"

    The pair of Poison-type pokémon quickly hurried after their leader and the air was cleansed of their presence.

    "That was… weird," Sean said, it seemed like the entire moment had occurred and resolved with no reasoning. He also couldn't remember that happening, which bothered him

    "Did I mess something up?" Sean fretted as Rai slowly pulled him away and back into line with him. "Don't tell me the apple is going to mess everything up!"

    While Sean worried about things that may never be, Rai did his best to go back to happy.

    "Just forget about those three," he advised upon realising Sean was distracted. "They're not anything but trouble for us."

    "Should we run back to town and let the guild know Team Skull is here?"

    Rai nodded. "Yeah, we better. Ugh, we already came this far. I want to know why they just did that and then backed off. It doesn't matter though."

    "I'm amazed you are so chipper this morning," Sean said, rubbing his jaw. It amazed him how fast pokémon recovered from brutal beatdowns, even now he only had a distant ache in his head and neck from Skuntank pounding him over the face yesterday. "My head still hurts."

    "Don't remind me. I wish they'd just leave us alone."

    "And take your treasure?"

    Rai sighed. "I kind of think they don't have it anymore. Koffing and Zubat said they were going to sell it. They probably wouldn't have come back if they still had it."

    Sean's mind slid briefly to the Rainbow Stoneship before he shook his head. "Nope. We have to find your treasure! If they don't have it, maybe we can find out who they sold it to?"

    "And how are we going to do that?" Rai asked, expression flat. "They crushed us just yesterday, and I really don't think they are going to still have it."

    "Don't make me be the optimistic one," Sean said, frowning at Rai. "I'm the one who's supposed to be looking on the bad side of things and you tell me everything will work out! This is all backwards and it's freaking me out!"

    Rai laughed at him, causing the meowth to scoff in mock-outrage. "We'll find it again," he said as sternly as he could. "We have to."

    "Why do you care so much?" Rai cocked his head at him. "It was my treasure after all."

    Sean blushed a little, hating to be questioned off guard. He was once again thankful that fur covered his face. "Well, you know, you're my friend and it was, is, really important to you. I think. So, what friend would I be if I didn't think it was important?"

    Rai smiled softly and averted his eyes. "Th-thanks. That means a lot to me."

    Sean smiled back. "No worries. Let's just get to town and then back to work."

    "Right."

    Rai's energy returned and they raced back towards the town. Rai was super-fast using Quick Attack, but Sean found he was actually about on par with him otherwise. He felt a bit silly running on two legs, a brief dysphoric experience as he fell onto all fours to race forth and take the lead.

    He caught himself and stumbled, clambering back onto two to try and wipe that weird feeling away. His eye started getting caught by shines around him, he wanted to scout into the woods for adventure or mystery, but again shook that off.

    "So, today we've got the Waterfall Cave to go back through," Rai chatted as they returned from the guild after letting them know. They briefly stopped when Spinda staggered in their path, giving a wave to three separate spaces that none of them occupied.

    "Keep an eye on this place," Spinda said, circling where a large rock laid dormant. "I've got biiiig plans for this place. You'll see, it'll be a wonderful place. So magnificently magnificent…" His voice, as dizzy as his walk, was still pleasant to hear as he wandered off.

    "Two pokémon in the dungeon," Sean said as he looked through the pair of jobs Rai had chosen for the day. "How did two pokémon get lost in the Waterfall Cave at the same time?"

    "Dunno," Rai answered, giving a tail flick. "Don't think they know each other either. Floatzel's new around here."

    They walked past the crossroads and on the way towards the wilds. Both members of Team Ion glanced in the direction of the house Litleo owned, but neither commentated on Sean's lack of a bow.

    For about twelve seconds.

    "We'll need to get you a new bow," Rai said, pointedly not looking left anymore. "What kind I don't know. Maybe a Defence Scarf like me?" He proudly jutted his chest forward, perhaps adding a centimetre more scarf Sean could see.

    "I don't know." Sean rubbed his jaw in thought. "I don't think I can pull off the cute look as well as you do."

    Rai's pride immediately turned to outrage. "I'm. Not. CUTE!" he yelled and tackled Sean. "I'm not, I'm not, I'm not! I'm the cool explorer Shinx! Not the cute one! You're the cute one!"

    Sean laughed, pushing Rai off him before running forward. On all fours. "Saying that isn't helping," he chuckled, trying to put as much space between him and the shinx as possible.

    As Rai knew Quick Attack, this was a futile endeavour.

    After pinning him again, and making him agree Rai was not cute, Rai let him up and Sean brushed the twigs and leaves off him.

    "Don't know why you even bother," Rai said airily.

    "What's that supposed to mean?"

    "You still haven't bathed yourself," Rai said, screwing his nose up. "And now I smell like you."

    "I'm NOT licking myself," Sean replied. "Humans do NOT do that to clean."

    "Well, what do they do?"

    "Bathe! In water. Running water, a shower. Or a bath, you wouldn't have showers here. I scrubbed in the ocean anyway."

    Rai cocked his head, Sean had to bite his tongue or else he'd call him cute again. "What's a shower?"

    Sean frowned and tried to think. For a brief moment, he couldn't visualise what a shower was and it made his skin crawl. "Um… a room where you stand, and water falls down on you? But nicer than that."

    "Sounds really weird," Rai said. "But baths could be done in a better place than the brine. There is a hot spring not too far. Maybe after we complete the job, we can go there?"

    Sean's heart leaped into his throat. "YES!" he shouted, before realising just how loud he was. "Yes. That sounds great. Really great. Amazingly great."

    On the inside he chastised himself. "Hot spring. DUH! I was literally thinking about it the first time we went to the Waterfall Cave. How did I forget? Ugh, it'll be so nice to be clean again."

    "Sounds like a plan then," Rai said, swallowing an amused smile at just how happy the human-turned-meowth became at the notion of getting clean. "We better get going then."

    "Sounds good." Sean nodded.

    "Not 'great'?" Rai teased, unable to help himself. Sean smiled eventually after trying to hold a dark expression.

    "Just a minute you two!"

    Only for both of their expressions to turn sour at the familiar voice.

    They spun towards the direction the voice came from, to the side off the path, and tensed as Zubat came flapping up to them. Sean nearly attacked on reflex, his fur puffing up as he was surprised.

    "Finally," Zubat moaned. "You know how hard it is to find someone when you have no eyes? Luckily I can smell you just fine." Sean flushed at the jab as Rai stepped forward.

    "What do YOU want?" he snarled, not wanting to deal with this. "Trying to distract us so that the other two goons can sneak up on us? Just go away! Leave us alone, dammit!"

    Sean was already looking around, keeping a close vigil on any potential areas Skuntank or Koffing could come out of.

    "Look," Zubat said. "They don't know I'm here. They think I just doubled back to grab a mushroom I sensed." Under his breath, he added. "And I don't have eyes so what do they even think…? Whatever. I'm here because I want to talk to you two."

    "I'm not interested in talking to you," Rai snapped back. "So, unless you're here to give me back my Relic Fragment, get lost!" He was sparking with electricity. "Or we could take you down and bring you in, one of three."

    Zubat sighed, briefly covering his face with a wing before it went back to flapping in the air. "Look, I get that thing is important to you," he said, making Rai growl. "But I AM here to talk to you about it. Boss wanted to earlier, but you really don't like us."

    "Can you guess why?" Sean said, equally as done with this entire situation.

    "Yeah, yeah, we're jerks, bullies, bad guys. Whatever. I've heard it all before. If the two of you would get over yourselves and listen to me, you might learn something you need to know."

    Sean and Rai exchanged a look. Neither was prepared for Zubat to appear so suddenly nor to be claiming to just want to talk. Sean nodded slightly, and Rai turned back to Zubat.

    "Alright fine," he said. "What do you have to say?"

    "Hey, I don't HAVE to say this," Zubat snapped. "I'm doing it out of the kindness of my heart." He ignored the twin snorts that came from the pair. "Not long after we hocked that rock with the weird picture, there have been pokémon around, coming up to us, and asking really weird questions. A couple of sableye, seemed like the shifty kind."

    Sean frowned, Rai looked baffled, and Zubat turned from left to right. "None of them mentioned the rock exactly, but asked stuff about patterns, symbols, treasures, stuff like that. Weird stuff that seemed too specific to be coincidental."

    "Who?" Sean asked.

    "Heck if I know," Zubat answered. "Boss wouldn't talk much about it, he was the only one who officially met with buyers, and told us to avoid anyone asking about it."

    Sean and Rai exchanged another look, much more concerned this time. "Why were they asking about my treasure? If they even were," Rai asked.

    "I don't know okay?" Zubat snapped angrily. "All I know is that there were a lot of weird questions. 'Was it destroyed'? 'Who had it before'? 'Where did you get it'? Boss wouldn't talk about it, but if he was going to ask YOU about it, then there must be something off about it all. Boss always knows when a buyer is off or suspicious in some way."

    "Takes one to know one," Rai muttered, Zubat again pretended he hadn't heard that.

    "Fine. I don't know what you're talking about," Rai said, turning away. "And I really doubt it was about my Relic Fragment, I found it in Amp Plains. I know you three are thieves of more than just my treasure, you probably just have a reputation that these pokémon followed."

    Sean hesitated longer than Rai, glancing between him and Zubat. "Why would you even warn us of this?" he asked, not wanting this opportunity to just go.

    "Team Skull aren't a bunch of sappy good-doers," Zubat snapped, turning away himself. "But when something is skeeving out the boss enough for him to try and give you guys a warning, then I know it's worse than it seems. Just… be careful, alright?"

    "Alright," Sean answered as he nodded. "Thank you," he added, more out of politeness than anything, but Zubat still looked surprised.

    "Heh-heh-heh, whatever. This conversation never happened."

    Sean and Rai walked in solid silence for a few minutes, going over what Zubat had said. It was Rai who broke the silence. "So, I was thinking maybe a joy ribbon for you?" he said lightly. "Because you get smacked around so much in dungeons, those things make you even stronger for going through that kind of stuff!"

    "Sounds good," Sean agreed, absentmindedly feeling where he used to wear his silver bow. "Anything that'll help."

    Sableye... that left him not feeling good.


    Skuntank coughed pitifully as he tried to breathe. His legs burned as he did his best to stand, managing to pull himself onto all fours. He gasped as he was kicked in the side and crashed back down on the ground.

    "B-boss," Koffing cried. "Ugh." He could barely float, bruises littered his lumpy skin. Zubat was completely unconscious. He had flown in with a screech when happening upon this scene, but his surprise attack had failed to startle their attacker at all.

    Koffing put everything he had into moving and began floating to Skuntank's side. "Boss!"

    He cringed as the green blade of their assailant turned to him.

    "Stop," Skuntank demanded, freezing both pokémon. "Koffing, go. Zubat!" he barked, repeating the bat's name thrice before he stirred. "Get up and get lost. Both of you."

    Skuntank pulled himself to his feet again, mouth burning with flames, and he breathed a near inferno at their enemy.

    Their green assailant artfully dodged out of the way, before running a circle around Skuntank until he could fire no longer. Zubat and Koffing were gone, having taken Skuntank's orders and fled while they had the chance. Leaving him.

    The assailant came to a stop, lighting one of their arms in a blade of green energy. "It seems you do have some honour," Grovyle said as he began to approach slowly. Skuntank was gasping for breath now, unable to hold himself steady. Grovyle waited until Skuntank's strength left him and he slumped back on the ground. "Covering for those two."

    "What do you want?" Skuntank growled, glaring at Grovyle even as the world seemed to spin.

    "Three things," Grovyle answered, stepping closer. The claws on one hand glinted dangerously as he reached Skuntank. "The first you can't give me, the second you seem unable to give me. The third." Grovyle reached down and grabbed Skuntank's head, lifting it up as the deadly pokémon groaned. "Tell me about that meowth."

    "What?" Skuntank asked.

    "The meowth with the shinx. Who are they?"

    "Team Ion," Skuntank growled. "Grr, you're with those freaks asking about that stupid r-" Grovyle raised his blade to Skuntank's neck, and he stopped. "Fine. Bony little bastard."

    "Skinny is he?" Grovyle asked. "What else?"

    "What does it matter?"

    "Just tell me."

    "Scars. Lots of them. Sticks to the shinx like glue, and can't fight for shit. Tough little bastard though."

    Grovyle nodded and seemed to think.

    "Why do you care about what some pair of losers are?" Skuntank asked, forelegs scrabbling to gain purchase as he tried to pull back from Grovyle. "Why attack us over it? What is it worth to you?"

    "I'm not interested in questions, Skuntank," Grovyle said, letting go of Skuntank and letting his head slump back down. Skuntank grunted softly as he was freed. "Only your cooperation. Now. Run. Do not come back. Touch them again I'll finish the job."

    "Fine." Skuntank relented, waiting for Grovyle to grab the items out of the bag he wore. Robbing him blind was he?

    Once he was done, Grovyle stood like a dashing thief. "Thank you Skuntank. Now leave. And take my advice," he said as Skuntank began to drag himself off. "Don't speak of this to anyone. We'll know."

    Skuntank sneered at him, but a small glint of fear still shone in his eyes. Skuntank quickly staggered off and Grovyle sighed; it hadn't been his desire to have to be so rough, but he had to be sure Team Skull would not pose an unacceptable risk.

    He looked over what Skuntank had owned, before stashing it carefully in his Treasure Bag. He looked west, the direction that Treasure Town laid, it was time to pay a certain famous guild a visit.


    "I'm just saying it might be a bit difficult to carry both of them around if they're injured."

    Sean and Rai's feet echoed constantly through the Waterfall Cave, splashing loudly on the wet floor.

    They both avoided the water channels that existed in the dungeon. Rai still couldn't swim, and Sean hoped that he'd never have to swim through a dungeon again.

    Part of him had an aversion to water. He blamed the species he now was.

    After two hours of searching, they found nothing.

    Rai, not to be dissuaded, took them to the last room, turned around, exited the dungeon, and then they went through it again.

    The second go-around ended up being equally fruitless as the first.

    Still, smiling fixedly with one eye twitching, Rai brought them through it again. It was exhausting at that point. Thankfully few of the enemy pokémon attacked them, many still being beaten or dissuaded from attacking earlier.

    "What did the requests say again?" Rai asked wildly. "Are we even in the right place?"

    Sean dug the pair of requests out of the Treasure Bag and read them out.

    "Help, my daughter Cherubi has disappeared. She said she wanted to visit the Waterfall Cave and I let her because of the type advantage, but she hasn't returned. I feel terrible, but I'm not fast enough to get there quickly. Please someone save her ~ Cherrim."

    "She should be here," Rai said. "What about the other one?"

    "So, my sort of rival has been gone for a while. He's been acting a bit weird, but I heard him mutter about that new dungeon, Waterfall Cave, today and I think he might have gone there. Can someone check, just to see if he's alright? Help him if he needs help ~ Clauncher."

    "Ugh. Let's keep looking."

    They spent nearly four hours going through the dungeon, combing each aspect of it that they could, using moves to try and get them to respond, and Sean even swam through some murky water into multiple dead ends.

    "This is bullshit!" Sean swore as they found no cherubi or floatzel yet again.

    "I don't know what 'bullshit' means," Rai snapped. "But if it's a swear word then I'll say it too!"

    "Tauros-shit then!"

    "Ah!"

    "AH!"

    After screaming at the walls, they broke into weary laughter. "This is just madness," Sean said. "Doing this over and over and expecting something different. It's late, I'm tired, you must be exhausted. We're not going without Cherubi though, how young is this pokémon?"

    "Pretty young," Rai said in worry.

    Sean only groaned in reply.

    One more search still yielded no results.

    "That's it," Sean snapped, grabbing Rai by the tail and dragged him along. "Maybe they found a way out, let's look outside."

    Rai didn't resist and swiftly walked himself. "This sucks," he moaned. "We can't be looking bad at this point."

    "The perfect apple will be enough," Sean assured him. "That looked good for us. Chatot was relieved, he'll probably think of us when thinking about the expedition, and Wigglytuff definitely will."

    "…Alright. I'm worried about Cherubi too."

    They entered the final room, and Rai sighed in relief and turned to leave.

    "Wait," Sean said, stopping him in his tracks. "We haven't actually gone into the last room. Didn't Loudred yell something about some big gem? What if that's still here?"

    "And if we get it!" Rai squeaked, dashing forward. "It'll look SO good."

    Sean watched in disbelief as the shinx found reserves of energy to run with, before slowly moving after him at a sedate walk.

    "Holy moly, look at this place?" Rai called from up ahead, Sean hastened his walk slightly.

    Even his weary attitude was blown away by the gem room. Glinting stones glimmered from every surface, being lit by means Sean would never understand. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, topazes, and much more shone from every angle and he was momentarily blinded with a sheer desire of WANT.

    WANT the ruby. Eat good.

    WANT the topaz. Look good.

    WANT the dusky quartz. Give to F-

    "Look at that thing!" Rai called, his voice snapping Sean out of the fit of avarice that was consuming him. Only to draw him in all the further when he set his eyes on the master gem.

    A gigantic pink stone. He wasn't sure what kind it was, a light ruby, rose quarts, whatever it was didn't matter as he was drawn in by its shimmering glory.

    Rai's words melted away into an inaudible chatter as Sean stepped closer. Thought had left him, all he could see was the gem and his own visage reflected in it.

    Rai was still talking, voice muffled to Sean's ears, growing slightly concerned in pitch when Sean stepped up right to the stone. He wasn't thinking, thinking was a foreign concept to him now. He hugged the stone, and it moved in with a click.

    That click suddenly returned Sean's wits and he blinked a few times as a new rushing sound began to fill his ears. "Oh." Was all he managed to say before a tidal wave was upon them.

    "Seeean! You know what that does!"

    Sean enjoyed swimming as a human. He had swum in pools and creeks, water holes and sculpted swimming pools. He had been in deep water several times, falling off a boat, diving too far into a waterhole, and had been caught in a rip and dragged out into the ocean.

    Rai, however, had not. He did not know how to swim with anything more than instincts.

    While Sean scrambled in the water to find some purchase to kick off from, Rai flailed and only managed to wiggle in place.

    Eyes stinging, Sean opened them to spot the dark shape that was Rai in the dark caves waterway. He tried to swim closer to him, but the pull of the rapids and the burning in his lungs made it exceptionally difficult.

    He saw Rai's terrified expression for a brief moment and doubled his attempts, slowing his own pull to let Rai come to him.

    He reached out a paw, grabbed Rai, and lost his grip. Without taking the time to curse his three-digit stubby paws, Sean tried again, extending the claws and snaring Rai's fur. He felt something against him and grabbed with his other paw, claws digging into Rai's scruff and drawing blood. He had him.

    Rai writhed against him, but his panicked eyes fell on him and realised it was Sean. He stopped fighting him and let Sean pull them upwards, up until their heads broke the top of the water. They both breathed in deeply and desperately before the water pulled them under again.

    Sean refused to let Rai go, cutting him multiple times, as they came up for air before being dragged down. After what seemed like an age, but actually took a mere ten minutes, they were blasted upwards and into the open air.

    "BRACE!" Sean screamed as they fell, clutching onto Rai in terror and simply hoping they landed safely.

    Hitting the water from their height, and into a shallow pool, was not among Sean's favourite experiences in life. He actually rated it rather low on the list. Thankfully a pokémon's body was much tougher than a human's and was less prone to the effects of physics. After resurfacing, they were shaken, but relatively fine.

    "Oh my, that was quite a fall." A laboured, yet still strong, voice said. Neither Sean nor Rai paid it much attention, merely floating in place as they tried to remember how to pokémon again.

    "I'm so sorry." Was all Rai managed to say.

    "Not fun," Sean agreed. "Are you alright?"

    "I'm fine. I'm not looking forward to swimming again. Or ever."

    "Yeah."

    Blinking, they began to resurface to the realm of the aware and looked around. They were seated in a pleasantly warm hot spring, with a few pokémon staring at them.

    Sean's adrenaline-infused mind didn't quite register who was what, but Rai at least recognised someone.

    "Teddiursa?" he asked, slowly spinning until he was no longer floating on his back but standing on all fours. "What are you doing… here? Where are we? Wait."

    "You are at the hot spring," the voice from earlier said, drawing their attention. Standing on a raised element of the heated rock, was an ancient torkoal. "Now are you alright? That was quite a fall." His voice was aged, yet strong.

    "Two in one day," another pokémon, a mankey, said. "Well, two events. Four pokémon."

    "Well this is what we were talking about before," Rai said, completely coming too. "Wow. We're at the hot springs? This place is ages from Waterfall Cave!"

    "Quite the distance indeed," Torkoal agreed. "Seems to be a popular event these days since it was rediscovered." He seemed unenthused at the idea, hitting people with floods was maybe a bit dangerous.

    "Meowth pulled us both up," Rai said happily, pointing right at Sean. "Saved my life! Thanks so much."

    "It's nothing," Sean said, blushing. "You would have done the exact same thing."

    "But I don't know how to swim." Rai chirped before grimacing. "Although, ow. Your claws are really sharp."

    He turned his head, trying to see the back of his neck, and giving Sean a direct shot at the blood.

    "Oh dear," Torkoal gasped. "Young pokémon, do not overtax your bodies. You should stay here for a time, soak in the waters. There are healing powers here, it will likely help that wound."

    "Good idea." Rai nodded, sinking just enough to cover his neck. "Ah… and hey, we were going to come here anyway! What luck huh, Sean?"

    Sean didn't respond.

    "Sean? Oh, heh."

    Sean was blissfully scrubbing himself down. Once Torkoal told Rai to stay put to deal with the scratches, Sean had realised he was in nice warm non-salty water and was taking this opportunity to the fullest.

    It felt wonderful to get clean again. And it didn't come with hairballs either.

    They remained in the hot springs for nearly half an hour before the topic of why they were here came up again.

    "And we just couldn't find either of them!" Rai grumbled from the edge of the water. He bounced back from nearly drowning quite quickly, but he still wasn't keen on going too far. "I have no idea. You didn't see a cherubi or floatzel pop out of the sky, did you?" Rai chuckled, but no one joined in.

    "Uh, yes," Teddiursa answered, after the moment nearly turned awkward. Both Sean and Rai's eyes snapped wide, and they turned their attention solely on Teddiursa.

    "When did this happen?" Torkoal's voice took on an edge of hardness. He had been asleep most of the day.

    "Mankey said…?" Teddiursa looked towards the pokémon.

    "Only about half an hour before these two did."

    Rai bolted up as Sean waded closer. "Are you serious?" Rai gasped as Sean said.

    "They were together?"

    "Yeah." Mankey nodded, looking a little uncomfortable. "I didn't think of anything before, we know Floatzel." There was a muttering of agreement.

    "Why didn't you say something earlier?" Teddiursa's companion, Ursaring, asked.

    Mankey sank in slightly, embarrassed. "I, uh… didn't want to make a scene, I was the only one here and Torkoal was sleeping. Cherubi seemed a bit dazed, I didn't know if I should say anything or not."

    Sean and Rai exchanged a glance, the same conclusion coming to mind as they began to worry. "What direction did they go?" Sean asked, hoping Mankey would say towards Treasure Town.

    "That way." The little bear pokémon pointed, and Sean saw Rai's face drop. That wasn't towards Treasure Town.

    "We have to go," Rai said, splashing out of the water. "Now!"

    "Right," Sean said, splashing to his side. He scooped up the Treasure Bag from where he placed it and they raced off, ignoring Torkoal and Ursaring calling after them.

    "This can't be as bad as I'm thinking?" Sean asked as they ran. "Right? Pokémon are all happy-go-lucky, sunshine and friendship. They're not like…" Yet as Sean said it, Drowzee came to mind. Weepinbell came to mind. Darkrai came to mind.

    "Let's just hope we aren't too late," was all Rai said, and they spoke no longer as they sprinted.

    With an hour lead, neither was sure they'd be able to even catch up to floatzel and cherubi, but they had to try. If only for peace of mind.

    Rai slowed for a period to examine some dried tracks, a long, thin foot. "These are floatzel tracks," he said, and they were off again.

    They sprinted, then ran, then walked, and sprinted again. They reached a split in the road, and Sean immediately took them to the left. Rai called after him but followed soon enough anyway. He couldn't explain why, but stopping was not an option, and he had to find floatzel.

    They sprinted, then ran, then sprinted again, before Sean slowed them to a walk. He was breathing too hard to stop for words, but both of them muffled themselves regardless as they walked up to a clearing.

    "Do you have it?"

    "Right here."

    Peering out from behind a tree, Sean's eyes narrowed. He spotted two pokémon. A staraptor and a floatzel. And the floatzel was holding a sack that moved.

    "I want to see-" Staraptor's demands would go unheard as Sean and Rai emerged from the trees, breathing hard and scowling deeply.

    "Is this a set-up?" Staraptor squawked furiously, but Floatzel hissed and stepped back himself.

    "I have no idea who those two are," he said, narrowing his eyes. "What are you two doing here?"

    "What is in that bag," Sean said, voice low and dripping with malice.

    "None of your business," Floatzel snapped back. The bag, or the pokémon inside the bag, quickly squealed.

    "HELP ME!"

    The terrified scream sent both members of Team Ion straight into action. Sean went first, rushing forwards in a blind charge.

    Floatzel tossed the bag to the side as Staraptor squawked and flapped into the air. A Thundershock from Rai nearly knocked him out of the sky, while Sean slammed into Floatzel's belly while lashing out with his claws.

    A thin white line, yet no blood, was drawn on Floatzel before he responded, striking Sean as he was knocked back with a ring of water. The Water Pulse dazed him badly as it knocked him even further, but he shook the effects off fast enough to avoid a second one.

    Judging him to be an easier target, Staraptor swooped down with a foot outstretched. Sean didn't have the ability to evade a second time and received a stunningly powerful kick to the chest. He felt it in a heartbeat, Staraptor moving so fast to strike him multiple times with feet, wings, and beak.

    "So that's what a super effective move feels like." Briefly flitted through Sean's mind as he was knocked back into a tree. The attack was devastating, but left Staraptor in a position to be attacked by an even more furious Rai and he pushed every ounce of Power into his attack.

    Rai used Thunderbolt.

    Staraptor was blown back, jerking in agony as he crashed into Floatzel, and both tumbled down in a twitching pile of electrified limbs.

    Rai rushed to Sean's side, but the meowth was already getting up. "DOWN!" he shouted, leaping to tackle Rai out of the way of a speeding floatzel.

    Floatzel, wrapped in a wreath of water, bounced off a tree and came around for a second shot. Rai charged forward, summoning the same power he had earlier and used a second Thunderbolt. Floatzel howled in pain, but he was merely a distraction.

    Staraptor came at Rai from behind, aiming for a healing wound on his neck. Sean leaped in the way and took a second Close Combat attack to the chest. This time, however, he grabbed Staraptor's other foot and refused to let go even as the deadly Flying-type battered him with his wings.

    He was able to hold him for nearly ten whole seconds, struggling against the strength of the massive bird, throwing a paw up and punching him repeatedly. His bag flapped as it was knocked open, he snatched an item out of the air and slammed it into Staraptor.

    The blast seed exploded and knocked them apart.

    Sean rolled to a stop, right by the tossed bag, and weakly tried to crawl over to it. From the inside, he could hear crying, and the bag was still moving. "Are you okay?" he whispered, reaching the clasp of the bag. He managed to open it, ignoring the sounds of battle continuing, and a cherubi rolled out.

    "H-Help me?" she whispered, and Sean nodded. Cherubi sobbed and scooted closer. "You're hurt."

    "I'm fine," he answered, feeling a wave of emotion cross over him. Her voice, it struck a bolt through his heart. She sounded terrifyingly like his niece.

    "Where's my mommy?" she whimpered, flinching back as a clap of electricity spooked her. Sean turned back to the battle, Rai was doing well to fight them, but he couldn't continue alone for very long.

    "I want my mommy," Cherubi cried again. "I want my gacko. I want my gacko."

    Sean's heart clenched painfully as Cherubi continued to cry. "She's a little child," he thought as he got to his feet. His claws on his right paw unsheathed as Sean's thoughts turned darker. "A child, and what were they going to do with her?" His claws began dripping with purplish darkness as Sean's mind went blank.

    Sean's other paw extended its claws as the cold hatred gripped his heart, channelling powers he had no idea of. Both claws were gripped with darkness ringed in purple and the darkness began to extend, shaping into triple sabres each that extended far beyond his claws.

    "MONSTERS!" He roared and burst forward with speed unprecedented for himself. Rai briefly saw him coming and stunned Floatzel, giving Sean an opening to pounce on Staraptor.

    Staraptor screeched in pain as Sean's blades cut into his wing, through flesh, and nearly severing bone. His other paw came around as Staraptor flapped back and delivered a brutal slash from his face to his chest.

    "SCREW THIS!" Staraptor shrieked and flapped out of reach, quickly making his way up and away as fast as his injured wing could carry him. Sean hissed after him, but the problem was not yet dealt with.

    "Watch out!" Rai yelled, not in time to spare Sean from being struck in the back of the head. He fell to the ground as Cherubi cried out again, witnessing the underhanded blow.

    Rai's own temper snapped, moving from explosive rage to steely rage and he unleashed a voltaic storm on Floatzel, blowing him back into a tree, then through the tree. The large tree crashed down, burning thanks to the electricity, as Floatzel completely lost consciousness.

    Rai breathed heavily, having expended far more energy and Power than he ever thought this day would take. He quickly came to Sean's side, but Sean growled. "Cherubi?" And Rai quickly rushed to her side as well.

    "Hey, hey, hey," Rai soothed, trying to calm the crying pokémon. "It's alright. It's fine. You're safe now. You're safe now. Hear me? Say it after me. I'm safe now."

    "I-I'm safe now."

    "I'm safe now."

    "I…I'm safe now."

    "You're safe now."

    "I'm safe now."

    "You're okay," Rai said, curling an arm carefully around her. It wasn't easy, being a large berry, but Cherubi seemed to appreciate it all the same.

    "What happened here?"

    Sean's overprotective instincts flared again when an unknown voice entered the clearing, and he was up again with black sabres on his right arm.

    Ursaring quickly raised his hands. "Woah, woah, woah." Teddiursa peaked around Ursaring's legs and Sean blinked, recognising them as Not-Enemy. "Teddiursa and I came after you after Teddiursa convinced me something was wrong with Floatzel."

    "Floatzel took Cherubi," Rai answered before glancing down at Cherubi. "Right?"

    "Y-yeah," she answered, relaxing slightly now that it was safe. "I was exploring the new place, Waterfall Cave, and he was so nice and friendly, offering to help me around, and then wanted me to meet his friend. He seemed so nice, he promised he would take me back home right after."

    Ursaring's expression turned dark, and he stomped his way to where Floatzel lay.

    "I'm glad you're alright," Teddiursa said, rushing over to hug Cherubi. "You're alright? You're alright?" Mankey also popped his head out of the bushes nervously, taking in the battle and spotting Cherubi.

    "Mankey also pointed the way to where Floatzel had gone," Rai said, smiling at the upset bear. "If it wasn't for him, I'm not sure we would have made it in time."

    Cherubi didn't speak, she just pressed into Teddiursa's hug, and they both began to cry. Rai stepped back, letting them cry together, and waited by them as Sean came over.

    "I think Ursaring's going to carry Floatzel back to Treasure Town with us," he said, pointing to where Ursaring now had the criminal slung over a shoulder.

    "You two are exhausted and can't be leaving this criminal here, free," Ursaring snarled but made an effort to speak softer when Cherubi flinched. "So, I'll carry the lowlife for you."

    "Thanks."

    "Thank you."

    Mankey backed away, letting them past as he glanced between them all. He sighed softly, sadly, and followed.

    Arriving back in Treasure Town was interesting. Cherrim had been pacing nervously around the entrance to Treasure Town, keeping an eye on the guild and the crossroads, and upon spotting her daughter, immediately rushed over crying in relief.

    "Oh, my cherubi, my cherubi," she cried, leaves opening enough to embrace her daughter. "What happened?" she asked, repeating the question more forcefully when Cherubi burst into tears, and she spotted Floatzel being carried like a sack.

    "This lowlife tried to kidnap her," Ursaring growled, causing Cherrim to freeze.

    Cherrim uttered a soft, "No."

    "I'm sorry miss," Rai said, stepping closer. "He did and tried to sell her to a staraptor out far beyond the hot springs."

    "Cherubi?" Cherrim asked, glancing down at her daughter, hoping this was just a lie.

    Cherubi burst into tears again, pressing against her mother. "I'm so sorry. I was so scared, I didn't know what was happening, and he seemed so nice, and he said he'd take me back, but he didn't."

    Cherrim began to cry herself, pressing against her daughter. Rai shared a look with Sean before looking back to Cherrim. "Miss we are going to contact Officer Magnezone right away," he said, nodding to Ursaring to continue walking up to the guild with Teddiursa by his side. "He'll be in a lot of trouble for this."

    Cherrim stopped crying long enough to start, before staring at the back of Ursaring, and the unconscious face of Floatzel. "That's…?"

    Her bud began to glow as she softly pushed Cherubi to the side. "Put him down, I will finish this myself." She began to charge a Solar Beam, even in the dying light of dusk her will would gather all the power she needed.

    "Miss no!" Rai cried, jumping to her side. "Let the authorities deal with this!"

    "He tried to take my daughter," Cherrim replied calmly, still charging. "I'm not going to just let him go."

    "Miss what he has coming to him will be worse than just a Solar Beam!" Rai tried to appeal to that area.

    "I'm not intending on 'just' a Solar Beam."

    "Miss!" Rai scrambled for a purchase. It was difficult to try and defend Floatzel, a big part of him felt this was entirely justified, but he wouldn't stand by to let her kill.

    "Your daughter needs you right now." Sean's voice cut across the situation, and Cherrim hesitated. She glanced to the side, where Cherubi was still crying, but now looking desperately for her mother. Cherrim's bud slowly closed.

    "Make sure he is punished," she said softly, brushing a leaf alongside Cherubi. "I'll be in next morning to properly thank you. For now, I just want to be with my daughter."

    She quickly left, and the pair sighed in relief. They nodded to Teddiursa, who had been glancing back worriedly, before following them up to the guild.

    It would be an interesting meeting with the authorities. That was to be certain.


    The day was done. The jobs completed. The outlaws were given over to the authorities. The apprentices had all gathered for dinner, waiting for Chimecho to call them in.

    Bidoof came wandering down cheerfully. "I got some new knock-knock jokes to share! Anyone up for one?"

    Sunflora sighed and waved a leaf. "This another collection from Bell?"

    "Yup!"

    "Go ahead."

    "Knock-knock?"

    "Who's there?" Dugtrio muttered.

    "Snow!"

    Rai quirked his mouth. He felt like he'd heard this one before. "Snow who?" he asked. Corphish nodded to him.

    "Snow laughing manner!"

    Wigglytuff laughed. A few others smiled, but that was it.

    "Hello?" A rather deep voice echoed distantly, Chatot and Loudred perked up curious.

    "What could that be?" he muttered. "Diglett, sentry!"

    "Pokémon detected!" Diglett squeaked excitedly and disappeared. "Pokémon… detected?" The change in his tone sent everyone back on edge.

    "Who IS IT?" Loudred demanded.

    "The footprint is Grovyle. The footprint is Grovyle."

    Sean stiffened.

    "Visitors at this hour?" Chatot muttered, looking over the outlaw notices. "Unless... let me check this out."

    "Grovyle huh?" Loudred muttered, looking thoughtful. "No Braixen?"

    Chatot fluttered up to the top and looked through the grate. He stiffened a moment upon seeing the scars on the grovyle before relaxing. "What do you want?" he asked firmly. "As you can see the guild is closed for the day."

    Grovyle smiled genially on the other side and held out a hand. "I have come with information pertaining to Team Skull, if this is not a bad time?"

    Chatot raised his beak, considering it for a moment. "Very well. Come in." He opened the gate, letting Loudred through before letting it shut again. "Everyone's down on the lowest floor waiting for dinner to arrive. You will not, I repeat will not be discourteous to the Guildmaster."

    "I have always wished to meet an explorer as great as him," Grovyle said lightly as they began to walk. "And have heard much about his number two as well."

    Chatot blinked and fought a blush, he was rarely acknowledged in Wigglytuff's legend. As was the way, they didn't need to draw attention to the other either. Still, it was nice when it happened so he was a little flustered already.

    They came down to the lower floor and Chatot gestured with a wing.

    Sean, feeling panic grip his very soul, did his best to hide behind Rai without looking like he was hiding. Grovyle's eyes drifted over the whole guild, taking in the surprisingly curious expressions shot his way, before landing on Wigglytuff.

    "I take it you are Guildmaster Wigglytuff," Grovyle said and Sunflora and Chimecho immediately swooned at the voice. Even Rai and Sean shivered slightly, and Sean's mind immediately went to interesting places.

    Wigglytuff, with a new person around, and being directly addressed, bounced right up onto his feet and immediately clamped onto Grovyle, startling him. "I am Wigglytuff!" He beamed, shaking Grovyle's entire arm. "It is nice to meet you, friendly friend!"

    Sean had to smother a laugh at the sheer look of bafflement that Grovyle was sporting as he was rattled by the handshake. He covered it up very quickly, though, and smiled. "It is nice to meet you myself. I have heard a great deal about you Guildmaster, although I wished to have met you under better times."

    Wigglytuff's smile dimmed slightly as Grovyle pulled himself free. "I ran across a trio of troublemaking pokémon identified as Team Skull out near Sicilly. I did not realise who they were until a while after I had passed by them, and thus had to come straight to the guild to inform you."

    "Sicilly?" Wigglytuff murmured. "That's on the way towards Craggy Coast." He shared a significant look with Chatot who nodded. "Yay! Thank you, friendly friend!" He then hugged Grovyle, to his apparent horror.

    That was really hard for Sean not to laugh hysterically at. What was going on?

    "Oh, this could be great!" Wigglytuff went hyper again and clamped back onto Grovyle, causing the same look of sheer bafflement. "We're going on an expedition soon, to Fogbound Lake, it's going to be fun, and exciting, and mysterious, and fun, fun, fun! AND it's in that direction! Oooh! Will you join us? Will you? Will you? Will you?"

    Grovyle's expression of astonishment clearly didn't need to be faked at how quick of a turn of events that took. "I, uh." He blinked before regaining his calm. "I would be honoured to lend my assistance to the great Wigglytuff Guild."

    "YES!" Wigglytuff cheered, grabbing Grovyle in a tight hug. Grovyle's expression turned to a brief moment of panic, but it was missed completely when Wigglytuff tossed him in the air.

    "Three cheers for Grovyle!"

    The guild cheered each time until Wigglytuff finally let Grovyle down.

    "I… had best be going," he said, catching his breath and backing away. "I should not intrude any further on your time." He bowed his head but was putting distance with every word. Sean held his breath as Grovyle's eyes passed over him and he swore they stopped for a moment.

    "If you'll forgive the intrusion, I'll see you tomorrow?" Grovyle asked.

    "Of course, of course!" Wigglytuff cheered. "We need to get to know our new friend first!"

    "Yes," Chatot agreed, going along with Wigglytuff's madness with ease. "We will need to adjust plans to accommodate this new arrival. So, we'll expect to see you bright and early, Grovyle."

    "I am an early riser," Grovyle assured, giving a charming smile with his handsome voice. "Again, I'll be honoured to work with you. I think I'll need a night to process this."

    "We have beds here!" Wigglytuff immediately said. "My room; and Team Ion has space in their room too!"

    Grovyle glanced towards Sean and Rai for a brief moment before shaking his head. "No, no. That is more than alright, I have already organised my bed for the night."

    "Aww," Wigglytuff moaned but perked up right after. "Alright! We'll see you tomorrow friendly friend!"

    "Indeed." Grovyle nodded. "I look forward to it."

    And then, as quickly as he arrived, he was gone.

    Wigglytuff hummed a merry tune as everyone surged into the mess hall. Already spirits were raised greatly with this news. Chatot forewent his planned announcement before dinner and just had everyone dig in.

    Afterwards, the guild had gone to bed in high spirits. A new person to join the guild, and everyone knew the Guildmaster was an excellent judge of character at that!

    The apprentices all shared pleased goodnights and went to bed happily.

    One pokémon, however, was not so relieved.

    "That was a bit odd, but so is Wigglytuff," Rai said as he curled up on his bed.

    "Mm."

    "And he saw Team Skull? Maybe with the whole guild we can catch them. Even if they sold my treasure, they could tell us who they sold it to."

    "Sounds good."

    "Goodnight, Sean."

    "Night, Rai."

    Rai was happy. But Sean was not.

    "Ahhhhh…" he screamed on the inside, desperately trying to hold it in so he wouldn't freak Rai out. As that would cause questions he couldn't answer. "What is going on? WHAT IS GOING ON? Why is Grovyle here? That wasn't supposed to happen. He looked at me. He looked right at me and stared. Just for a moment. I bet no one else noticed, but I did. Does he know? How would he know? I haven't even seen him, have I?"

    Panicking further, he went deeper. "Oh my god. Oh. My. GOD. Wait. Wait. Could I have told him The Truth during the part of the future I don't remember? Would I? I don't know. Maybe? I don't remember. Would I have told him? The situation was pretty serious. Is that enough? Did I tell him where I would end up? But why wouldn't he have come for me sooner? Or… wait, I would have told him I would lose my memory, right? Ah. But. But. BUT. What's going on? I don't know. I WOULD have told him not to come here, so why the hell is he here. WHY THE HELL IS HE HERE?"

    These were questions Sean couldn't answer. Everything up to this point had been handled fairly well, no severe differences in the story he was expecting.

    This. This however, Sean had never seen coming. But as much as he wanted to sleep and just let this be a nightmare, the reality was irrefutable.

    Grovyle was joining the expedition.


    Ah good times. Not for Sean, he's not ready for things to jump out of his idea of the plot just yet. Even though this has been the case from the start, haha. He's clinging onto the side of a sinking boat, pretending the water is at least warm.

    Grovyle is joining the expedition!
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 10 - A Striking Expedition
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    Chapter ten! A milestone!


    Sean failed to sleep. At all. For the panicked meowth, then next day passed like a blur.

    "And THREE!"

    "Is that all for today young Shinx?"

    "Meh-heh-heh, this old thing is nearly fixed."

    "Apple Woods seems so much nicer with Team Skull gone."

    "Oh by the way, did you use Night Slash yesterday?"

    "So, I hear that you came to this area only recently?"

    "Yep, I found him outside my home."

    "Grovyle seems nice, better than Team Skull I'm certain."

    "Fun talk, goodnight Sean."

    The next day was slightly better.

    "SMILES GO FOR MILES!"

    "Take care out there today."

    "Thank you for your patronage."

    "The Joy Ribbon, please."

    "Hey look! Electivire is back."

    "Ever thought about trying the dojo out?"

    "Sean, are you okay?"

    "I'm fine. Just a bit sleepy."

    "Look OUT!"

    "I'm just saying, you're spazzing out a lot."

    "Can't wait for the expedition."

    "Chatot still has to announce the pokémon going."

    "Grovyle's voice makes my back tingle… what? Like I didn't see that shiver when he talked that first night."

    "Before we eat, I have an announcement."

    "Can you believe it, Sean? Tomorrow the expedition party is going to be announced. I'm so nervous."

    "We'll get in. You'll get in. I'm sure of that."

    "Won't be the same unless we both get in."

    During the morning of the next day, the world stopped spinning and Sean finally blinked the madness out of his eyes.

    To his surprise, he was the first one awake. He looked over to Rai, snoozing peacefully. He smiled as one of Rai's back legs kicked out a few times, him making a mewling sound before sighing and burying his face in the straw. His eyes wandered a moment before he corrected. That was rude.

    His body still felt a bit tired, but his mind felt clearer than it had since he arrived in this world. Rubbing one eye for a moment, he leaned up before quietly getting out of bed. Rai, despite his early-rising tendencies, was a fairly deep sleeper and didn't wake as Sean left the room.

    The click of the door shutting caused another foot-jerk, but Rai did not awake.

    The last time he had wandered the guild while everyone was asleep had been due to a melancholic moment, this time Sean was simply feeling restless.

    Loudred's thunderous snores made him thankful that two doors were between theirs and his own room.

    As well as pity Bidoof and Corphish. Croagunk was a question Sean didn't want to ask.

    Bidoof would argue against the idea that Croagunk slept.

    Sean continued walking until he was in the lower guild. With sunlight beginning to stream through the windows, the room looked far more pleasant than it had that other night.

    Rubbing a muscle in his arm, Sean walked until he reached the second floor. He hadn't come up here the first time he was alone, so it was curious to look about the place, completely empty of bustling activity.

    The job bulletin boards were empty, and Chimecho's station was unattended. There was no Chimecho Assembly in this world, she only took up position in the higher level to be a quick responder to anyone who needed medical aid, while the actual medical wing was near the kitchen on the third floor.

    "Ah, Sean?" Chatot spoke from behind him, startling Sean into jumping. "My apologies for startling you," Chatot said, as he finished hopping down from the top floor. "I wasn't expecting to see anyone up so early."

    "Sorry, Chatot," Sean said, slipping into formality. "I woke up early today, thought I'd wander about until everyone was up."

    "Couldn't sleep?" Chatot asked, with a distinctive twinkle in his eye. "Too excited to hear the apprentices selected for the expedition eh?"

    Sean grinned sheepishly but nodded regardless. He couldn't remember a great deal of the last day, or was it two, and didn't quite remember Chatot talking about this. He gathered it happened at dinner, however.

    "Well, you'll need to wait until everyone else is up!" Chatot said, a gentle reprimand entering his voice. "Your eagerness is a positive look for you though. I wondered," he trailed off and Sean frowned.

    "Sir?"

    "Ah, no worries!" Chatot fluttered his wings for a moment. "None at all. It is good to see eagerness and initiative. It is all well and good to work closely with your partner but acting under one's own initiative is healthy as well."

    "Thank you," Sean said gratefully, if a little embarrassed. "I don't get complimented on initiative often that's for sure."

    "Is that so?" Chatot nodded. "Hm. There seems to be more on your mind?"

    Sean raised his eyebrows. "You can tell?"

    Chatot chuckled. "One does not teach so many young pokémon without picking up on some meandering thoughts." He spread a wing and pointed to Sean. "Come."

    He began hopping forward and Sean followed him. Chatot didn't speak, so Sean took it as permission to do so himself. "I'm just nervous I suppose. Not sure if I can keep up with Rai, not sure how this expedition is going to go. I thought I did, but now I… just don't know."

    It felt less uncomfortable than he thought to speak of this to Chatot, freeing even, although he still had to censor some things.

    "You seem confident you'll be picked," Chatot pointed out and Sean internally cursed.

    "Uh, I mean." He scrambled for an explanation. "I like to think positively. Think of whens, not ifs. Even 'if' this expedition I'm not picked, the next one."

    Chatot nodded. "Interesting way of thinking. Forgive me for pointing this out, but you don't seem the most driven or confident normally. During the debrief sessions you often downplay your contribution."

    "I'm normally pretty tired," he half-joked. "I'm not the most expressive in general. I… I feel like Rai is doing significantly better than me."

    Chatot stopped, they had reached the bottom floor and had been moving towards the mess hall when he paused. "I know of your amnesia, but I have not asked to what extent exactly?"

    "I don't really know."

    "Hm." Chatot looked up to a window, the first rays of sunlight were coming through. "Many years ago I knew someone who felt much the same. Like their contributions were not equivalent to their companions. I assure you that she was treasured yet, and I can see each day how Shinx looks to you for support and courage. Obvious growth is not made in a few weeks, you are doing fine, Meowth."

    Sean opened his mouth to say something, he didn't know what he wanted to say. Or what he felt. Why he was so restless this morning?

    "Yes?" Chatot pressed gently.

    "I'm human," he said, cringing as soon as the words left his mouth. Try as he might, wish as hard as he could, he couldn't take the words back.

    Chatot, to his credit, reacted with just a blink. "I see." And spoke with a somewhat clipped tone. He cleared his throat and went to speak, but movement caught his attention. "We are out of time for privacy," he said quickly, and Sean turned to see the apprentices Bidoof and Corphish stumbling their way into the room. "I am behind schedule, we will speak later." With that, he raced into Wigglytuff's room.

    Sean stood around awkwardly, hoping that neither Corphish nor Bidoof had heard him. They hadn't, only noticing him when they were standing right in front of him.

    "Oh golly!" Bidoof squeaked. "I thought you were Chatot for a moment."

    "Hey...," Corphish yawned. "Are you that tired Bidoof?" Corphish asked, nudging Bidoof with a claw. Bidoof yawned in response.

    "Meh, Chatot just ducked into Wigglytuff's room," Croagunk said, coming out of nowhere and causing Sean to startle hard. He puffed up his fur slightly as he scrambled back from the poisonous frog.

    "Don't DO that!" he gasped, clutching his chest. "Where the hell were you?"

    "In my shop," Croagunk replied easily. He settled in next to where Bidoof and Corphish stood and gave Sean a lazy glance over. "I'm always up and about working on my Swap Cauldron, I'm getting close to finally fixing it, so I've been getting up earlier and earlier."

    "Oh," Sean said weakly. Croagunk gave him a somewhat amused look before settling in to stare forward with a neutral expression.

    Sean waited for a tense moment for Croagunk to say or do anything, but he didn't and he slowly relaxed. He gathered that surely Chatot would have known... but then again he kinda blurted that out.

    Corphish and Bidoof weren't awake enough yet to talk, so the four of them waited in silence. Chimecho came around, Chatot returned, and they left for the mess hall as the others began to stumble in.

    Loudred roared something that was just noise, and scrambled in, waking Rai and Sunflora in the process.

    Diglett and Dugtrio appeared from the ground, with Diglett disappearing once Loudred had been reassured he wasn't late for the reveal of the expedition crew.

    Within a few minutes, Diglett had detected someone, and Grovyle was allowed in. The Grass-type chose not to stand off to the side, instead choosing to stand with the apprentices. Sean was displeased considering Grovyle chose to stand with Rai and himself.

    And Rai was very happy to see him.

    "Good morning, Grovyle!" he said with unbound cheer, even more than he had greeted Sean with earlier.

    "Oh, and I get a 'you're up early' while Grovyle gets all the smiles," he thought mutinously as Grovyle returned with an easy smile.

    "Good morning to you too, Shinx," Grovyle rumbled, causing most of the apprentices to shiver.

    "Why did he have to have the greatest voice of them all?" Sean bemoaned as Chatot shushed everyone.

    "Ahem." He cleared his throat. "Now then. I shall announce the expedition members at this time." Chatot was almost beaming as he displayed a sheet of parchment that Wigglytuff had been too excited to hold on to.

    The apprentices waited eagerly as Chatot said. "The chosen members are written on this memo. Step forward if your name is called."

    "Ooh, it's finally happening!" Sunflora gasped, breaking the silence Chatot had enforced.

    "By golly, my hearts-a-pounding," Bidoof added, sending everyone into a roar of voices.

    "THIS IS IT!"

    "Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-he-"

    "I'm so nervous dad, do you think we'll both get picked?"

    "If the sea is my life, son."

    "Meh-heh-heh, you are all worrying a little much for one moment."

    "Oh, you can't say you're not excited too Croagunk."

    "This is it, this is it." Rai sparked with anticipation.

    "Yep." Was all Sean could manage, throat closing up with paranoid, desperate, hope that he hadn't wrecked everything ever.

    "You'll both be fine," Grovyle said as Chatot shushed everyone again.

    "Without further ado," he said, raising his voice to compensate for everyone's ringing ears. "I will announce who has been chosen."

    The whole crowd stilled.

    "Our first member," Chatot began magnificently. "In commemoration of his feats in dual-discovery of the Waterfall Cave, catching the deadly outlaw Shiftry, and dedicated hard work at the gate is Loudred!"

    "YES!" Loudred roared, voice squeaking as he did so. He raced up ahead before turning around with a beam on his face, his whole gigantic mouth closed in a grin. "I KNEW I'd get picked, it makes perfect sense. It's only natural if you think about it. WOO-HOO!"

    Chatot was unphased by the volume, even if everyone else was remembering how jittery Loudred had been for the last two days.

    "Next up, in recognition of his mentorship and discovering a Time Gear, is Corphish!"

    "Hey-hey-HEY!" Corphish cheered, scuttling up. "Got it. I got picked, yes!" He bounced a claw off Loudred's fist in celebration. That brightened Sean and Rai.

    "Next on the list is due to credit for hard work and diligence in the face of difficulty. The next member is none other than Bidoof!"

    Bidoof started in sheer shock. "Really!? Really and truly? G-golly. M-me, I'M going on the expedition?"

    "The Guildmaster makes no mistakes," Chatot huffed. "Now come on up."

    Bidoof didn't move. "Y-yup, j-just give me a minute," he sniffled and Chatot nodded.

    "We'll continue then." He glanced further down, seeming to read. "This member shares credit with Waterfall Cave." Sunflora beamed. "And has a rather long string of impressive work under her name. Let us welcome Sunflora!"

    "OH. MY. GOSH!" Sunflora danced her way over and high-fived Corphish and hugged Loudred, who looked most pleased with this turn of events. "Yippee!"

    "As our guardian of the food and diligent crafter of our meals, Chimecho is coming as well."

    Chatot's smile only seemed to brighten in his eye. Turning the page over he cleared his throat. Sean couldn't help but notice that the first side of the paper was blank.

    "Diglett for his memory and hard-working attitude in identifying the visitors to our guild. Dugtrio for always changing the jobs, even if a little late at times. Croagunk because we still need to apologise for breaking his beloved cauldron. Rai and Sean for their dual discovery of a Time Gear plus their endless hard work and determination to improve."

    Outright chuckling at the baffled expressions he was receiving, Chatot tossed the page aside revealing there was nothing on either side. "That's right! The Guildmaster has decided to bring the entire guild along! Hee-hee-hee."

    The expressions turned to smiles as Wigglytuff laughed as well. "It was Chatot's idea too!" he insisted. "I just said yes."

    A few smiles were sent Chatot's way, but he glared them all back with a fierce glare. "Oh, hush now. It was the Guildmaster's decision entirely."

    He got bombarded with hugs regardless. "Ack! Get off!"

    "Meh-heh, sorry to bring this up." Croagunk's low, clear, voice cut through the celebration. "If we were, indeed, to bring everyone, the guild would be left completely undefended."

    "Don't worry." Wigglytuff waved his concerns off with cheerful smile. "We'll lock up REEEAAALL tight. No one could get in, or out! Hahaha."

    Croagunk nodded, satisfied that Wigglytuff did know what he was doing.

    "Alright everyone settle down," Chatot said, once he had removed all the various pokémon from his person. "Let me explain the schedule. Right after this, I will hold a briefing on the expedition. As such, the chosen members, each of you, should prepare to embark on the expedition. Go to Treasure Town, go to the shops, the bank, to Kangaskhan, and begin determining your inventories, we will be monitoring your ability to meet the coming challenges. Thus, when you feel you are ready return here. That is all, dismissed!"

    With that, Chatot and Wigglytuff moved into Wigglytuff's Chamber while the rest of the guild converged into a circle. Grovyle stepped to the side, simply watching them as Sunflora shrieked, "I could scream, I'm so happy that everyone is coming on the expedition!"

    "The Guildmaster and Chatot have done it again," Chimecho agreed. "I'm so shocked, I'm tingling."

    "I couldn't help but believe we wouldn't get picked," Rai said, glancing to Sean. "I'm so relieved that we all get to go!" Sean just flashed him a smile.

    Bidoof sniffled, the circle had converged to where he had been standing, as he still couldn't move. "By golly, I'm mighty happy they are even letting me come along on this here expedition. And not just me, everyone gets to go! It's like a dream, without all the tremors that come with Loudred's snoring."

    "HEY!" Loudred shouted. "You're lucky I'm in such a good mood."

    "If we are all going," Dugtrio raised, "then that likely means we are going to be tested in a different way than any of us may have previously thought. I propose we apprentices all work as one in this expedition in planning our inventories, show Guildmaster Wigglytuff that we are worthy of his training!"

    Everyone nodded.

    "Hey-hey, that's the spirit!"

    "YEAH! That's the SPIRIT!"

    "Dad's really good at raising spirits, I'm all pumped up now!"

    The apprentices all fell into a chatter while Sean smiled, glancing at everyone's faces and enjoying the sheer positive energy the pokémon all put out. "Never thought I'd ever be in the middle of this." He smiled, thinking to himself.

    "We need to work with Grovyle as well!" Rai said, snapping Sean out of his happy place. Rai, turning to the mentioned reptile, invited Grovyle in. "We may have only known you for a couple of days, but I know this expedition will be so much better with you along. So, let's all work together. Alright?" He extended his paw in a very non-feline like greeting.

    Grovyle stared at Rai's paw for a brief moment, hesitating. Sean felt that he was the only one who caught it as Grovyle smiled and stepped forward. "Certainly," he said, clasping Rai's small paw with his larger hand. "I look forward to working with you. With you all," he amended, looking up to nod to everyone. Rai moved to make space for Grovyle, and he stepped in between the shinx and meowth.

    "We all agreed?" Sunflora asked, reaching a leafy limb in.

    "YES!" Everyone responded, reaching a limb in themselves. Even Grovyle.

    "HOORAY!"

    The apprentices all broke ranks then, some falling into duos, others going off alone in their excitement, all with the same goal. Storm Treasure Town of its valuables.

    Grovyle joined as well, walking with Team Ion until they reached the crossroads. "I'll see you both soon," Grovyle said, waving them off as they made their way into Treasure Town. Sean resisted the urge to glance backwards, doing anything potentially unusual was a complete no-go with Grovyle around.

    Skipping and humming in joy, Rai zipped ahead to the marketplace, leaving Sean to cough in the dust cloud he left behind.

    "Wait up," he called, but Rai was already too far ahead. Shaking his head, Sean hurried to catch up, crossing the bridge to find the Kecleon Market being swarmed.

    Everyone from the guild, besides Chatot and Wigglytuff, were all in line, Loudred and Sunflora loudly haggling with the Kecleon Brothers.

    "Oh wow," Rai said, glancing at the line. "They're tearing Treasure Town to shreds."

    "To shreds you say?" Sean asked, before biting his tongue. Rai offered him a loopy smile.

    "Let's go to the rest of the market," Rai suggested, far too energised to stand politely in line. Sean raised his eyebrows but followed. They hadn't really entered the row of stalls any further than one or two in.

    "Good morning!" the first stall owner cheered as Team Ion stepped up to her. "Welcome to Team Glee's shop of wonder and happiness!"

    Rai smiled and began looking through what they had for sale while Sean looked between the three pokémon manning the stall. A togepi, politoad, and ledyba. They rang a distant bell or three and he decided to chat while Rai decided.

    "Where did you find these items?" he asked, as Rai poked at a blast seed.

    "All through Mount Bristle!" Ledyba answered before the other two could so much as open their mouths. "We went to give an oran berry to Whiscash, so we also brought some water because he probably needed it too."

    "He had water with him." Politoad frowned, before perking up again. "But he was really thankful we came to help him and gave us this really pretty rock that he found while adventuring."

    He held up an uncut amethyst and Sean didn't need to fake the pleased sound he made at the beauty of it. Even as a human he had loved gemstones, especially amethyst, and enjoyed collecting them.

    The three members of Team Glee chattered on as Sean stared, transfixed at the amethyst. Politoad had set it down, right on the table, to free his hands for some gesturing. He couldn't hear the trio, it sounded like he was underwater.

    Sean blinked and shook his head. "Stop dozing off like that!" he reprimanded himself, blinking a few times to get some moisture back into them.

    Rai ended up buying all of their apples and berries before they moved on to the next stall that caught his eye.

    Or, rather, caught Sean's eye.

    Team Ebony, the glitz and glamorous pair who couldn't agree on what treasures to seek out, were chatting happily behind a table that was covered with gems, pieces of glass melted from battles involving Fire-type pokémon, dusty old things that reeked of intrigue, and other wonderful things that drew Sean to them like a moth to a flame.

    "Good morning, Meowth," Murkrow said politely when it was clear he was heading right for them. Rai barely noticed Sean's disappearance, spotting someone selling orb's and hurrying toward them.

    "Good...?" Sean asked, before blinking again. "Good grief, why does that keep happening?" he muttered to himself. "Uh, hello Murkrow and Shuppet. How are you going?"

    "Glamourous as always, darling," Murkrow answered, sweeping a pitch-black wing before the treasures that laid before her.

    "We're good," Shuppet answered, bobbing up and down happily. "We've finally found some treasures that are valuable, don't you think." Levitating a dusty relic in her smoggy grip, Shuppet jutted it out until it was nearly touching Sean's non-existent nose. "Look at this thing! Isn't it so rare and valuable?"

    "Uh."

    "I believe Meowth has an eye for style," Murkrow cut in, picking something up in her wing and butting Shuppet's item out of the way. "See the polish, the glint, the allure of this glass? The most beautiful glass in the entire Grass Continent I would believe."

    The glass was pretty, it appeared to have been caught in some oil and had a rainbow shine about it. As the item was twisted, lumpy, and overall disturbing in its aesthetic, Sean made sure simply to nod approvingly.

    "No one wants to buy a stupid piece of gross glass," Shuppet snapped, pushing Murkrow's wing back away. "This… thing is clearly the most valuable item in Treasure Town, no the Grass Continent, NO! The world. I bet this thing is the most valuable thing in the world. We just need to figure out why, but I can let you figure out for the low-low price of three thousand Poké."

    "Psh," Murkrow scoffed. "Overreaching much? Most valuable thing in the world? Try the most valuable thing in that dusty old box you found it in. Because it was the ONLY thing in that box. I'd wager that the box itself was worth more than that piece of ugly, dusty, junk."

    "And your weird chunk of glass is better?" Shuppet butted heads with Murkrow, both of them growling now. "I bet I can find something more worthwhile than that in a bad dream."

    "Your taste in treasures IS a bad dream."

    "You're like a distracted dustox when looking at a charizard's tail! You'd fly right in thinking you saw something shiny!"

    "Oh? Like that time, you jumped right into the middle of a monster house because you thought you saw something interesting? And it was a TRAP of all things?"

    "At least I'm trying to find worthwhile things."

    "Shiny things ARE worthwhile."

    "Materialist!"

    "Nostalgic!"

    "Mirror starer!"

    "Dust lover!"

    Sean backed away, leaving the pair to their argument as they began spitting louder, and more obtuse, words.

    It wasn't hard to find Rai, he had moved on from the orb seller, and was speaking to a trio who were not selling but had come in after noticing the same roadblock surrounding the Kecleon Market.

    "And so, the whole guild is going on an expedition!" Rai beamed to the perturbed trio, making up a bellsprout, ponyta, and a camerupt.

    "I just… asked where you found the orbs," one of the three, a bellsprout, managed to say.

    "Hello." Sean beamed as he stepped into place by Rai, who was currently trying to hide his face. "I don't think we've met before. I'm." He paused a brief moment, just to remind himself not to say Sean.

    "Sean, right?" Ponyta said, causing Sean to flinch. "I think I've heard of you."

    "Hahaha," Sean laughed, fake and bright. "No."

    "You walk on two legs," the deep voice of camerupt rumbled out. "Are you sure you're not Sean?"

    "I am," Sean said reluctantly. "But anything you may or may not have heard is probably a complete fabrication that has no basis in reality whatsoever."

    Camerupt blinked as Ponyta said. "We heard you told everyone in the Wigglytuff Guild your name, making them think you were advertising because Sunflora." Because Sunflora was a pretty apt description that all of them understood. "But that it was just an accident because you were trying to be friendly with nothing ulterior about it."

    "Oh." Sean swallowed, regathered his bearings, and nodded shamefully. "Then yes. That's me."

    "Oof," Bellsprout said. "Can't imagine doing… a-anyway, s-so you're going on an expedition?"

    "I miss those," Ponyta sighed. "I remember the expedition that discovered The Pillars, that was a fine adventure."

    Eager to move past two sets of prior awkwardness, Rai jumped back up happily. "YES!" he shouted, before flinching at his own volume. "Yes. To discover the mysteries of Fogbound Lake. The whole guild is setting off, we've even got a really cool addition with an explorer called Grovyle joining too."

    "Grovyle?" Ponyta asked. "Never heard of him."

    "Nothing to me," Camerupt rumbled.

    Bellsprout, however. "Oh? Grovyle? Has a large, brown, Treasure Bag he wears as a satchel like he's delivering mail or something?"

    "Yes!" Rai beamed. "You know him?"

    "He knows him?" Sean screamed internally.

    Bellsprout shrugged, as best as he could at least. "Never met, but Grass-types gotta know other Grass-types. I've heard of him, he's apparently very strong, uses lots of powerful moves, and is very smart with item usage. I could have sworn he had a partner though…"

    Rai cocked his head. "Partner? For Grovyle?"

    "Yep." Bellsprout nodded. "Just what I heard at least. Could just be a friend, or rumours going the way they normally do. Some pokémon are claiming the Great Dusknoir doesn't work alone either!"

    Rai and Bellsprout shared some hearty laughter over such a preposterous notion.

    "So, Braixen over there was selling Orbs." Rai pointed with his tail, and Team Flame made their way off in that direction.

    "Nice guys." Rai smiled, turning to Sean. "I think we've got enough stuff to get us going steadily. Should we head back to the guild now?"

    "Hm?" Sean asked, noticing Rai was speaking to him. "Pardon?"

    "I said I've got the stuff." He patted the Treasure Bag as proof before slipping the band off to let Sean pick it up. "And we should head back to the guild."

    "Sounds good."

    They left the marketplace and began making their way back, spotting Loudred and Sunflora up ahead, while Bidoof and Corphish spotted them from behind.

    Treasure Town was truly busy this morning, pokémon were everywhere. Even without the guild having sieged the place, the town was busy.

    "Wonder if something else is going on?" Sean wondered after pointing out the business to Rai.

    "Nothing besides the guild's expedition," Rai answered, not beaming upon speaking of it like before. "Hey… are you alright?"

    Sean turned to look at him curiously. "Yeah?"

    "That sounded like a question, not an answer." Rai pointed out. "I've just noticed you've been… off for a couple days. You barely talked to me at all yesterday or the day before. And you're still dozing off a bit, like when we were talking to Team Flame."

    "Who?"

    "Bellsprout's team."

    "Oh."

    They continued walking, Rai facing Sean and wearing an expectant look on his face. Wetting his lips, Sean found his words. "I, uh… don't know. I've been having a few odd dreams, flashes of stuff. Did you know it's impossible to see a face in a dream you haven't seen in real life?"

    "Really?" Rai asked. "That's cool." Then he frowned. "Have you seen someone in your dream? Wait. Are you remembering stuff?"

    Sean shrugged. "Not… quite. Maybe, sometimes stuff happens that I wasn't really prepared for. I'm really entranced by jewels apparently, I remember looking at that." He lowered his voice. "Time Gear and couldn't look away. I might have done… something if you hadn't snapped me out of it."

    "Probably because you like shiny things," Rai said, waving him off. Then his expression twisted into horror. "I, uh… you probably wouldn't be used to meowth instincts and that's why I said that. Not that all meowth are like that! It's just…"

    Watching Rai get flustered was fun, but Sean spared him with a chuckle. "I get it, don't worry. No offence taken, you're too nice to offend me." He grinned. "Adorable too when trying not to stare at Grovyle."

    Rai scowled at him, and Sean laughed, racing forward to avoid being swatted. "I'm. Not. CUTE!" he yelled as they passed Duskull Bank, Sean laughing his head off.

    Duskull chuckled at the antics and nodded to an amused Corphish and Bidoof. "He is cute," Duskull said, getting twin nods in response.

    By the time they reached the guild, Rai had forgotten their conversation. Sean hadn't, and was relieved Rai had let it go.

    They waited in excited silence until everyone arrived ready.

    They wouldn't be leaving for the expedition today. Things still needed to be planned, put into place, and give the town some time to prepare for the absence of the Guild for a while.


    "All accounted for, it appears," Chatot said, looking over the assembled pokémon.

    "Uh, Chatot sir?" Bidoof piped up. "Grovyle isn't here yet."

    Chatot nodded. "Grovyle has already been briefed, we'll be meeting him on the road."

    With that explanation out of the way, he began talking. "Let me explain the expedition once more. First, the objective: Exploration of Fogbound Lake. It is a lake that is located far to the east. However, it is perpetually enshrouded by a dense fog. As such, its actual existence has never been confirmed."

    "So exciting," Wigglytuff said, cutting in. "The mystery makes me so happy!"

    "Indeed," Chatot said drolly. "It is merely the foggy mirage of a spot that lives to this day on rumour alone. It is also rumoured." Chatot smiled, eye glinting. "That a treasure of unimaginable beauty lays hidden there."

    "A treasure hunt?" Murmured the apprentices.

    "Yup." Wigglytuff beamed. "It will be fun, fun, fun!"

    Chatot had everyone open their wonder maps and instructed them to look to the eastern fringes of the map, laid with only a shape of the continent, no landmarks were featured on the map. Sean couldn't decide if the first time he had seen the map made him happy or disappointed there were no clouds for the unexplored areas.

    Just undetailed portions.

    "With the distance this expedition is embarking upon, we will need to make our way through several dungeons that cut down the most time." Chatot pointed to the bottom of a mountain. "Therefore, we will be heading through Drenched Bluff to a small dungeon called Tiny Meadow."

    He made sure everyone was following. "Little can be found there but it acts similar to The Crest as a shortcut dungeon, from there we will embark through a craggy coastline collection of dungeons into the mountains here." He pointed to Mount Horn. "And that will bring us to camp at the foot of the foggy forests. That will serve as a base camp to mount our next move."

    He hopped back to give the apprentices some time to think. "Now if we were to travel as one group, our mobility would be severely restrictive, and the dungeons would turn truly vicious against us. So, as you may be expecting, we will set off in smaller teams."

    The apprentices shared glances, wondering if the choice of teams was up to them. Chatot answered that immediately. "I shall announce those groups now." He glanced to the left portion of the mob and listed off four names. "The first group shall consist of Sunflora, Loudred, Diglett, and Croagunk."

    "You guys BETTER not hold me back," Loudred warned after the four had glanced around.

    "Meh-heh-heh, you should talk," Croagunk chuckled.

    "The next group shall consist of Dugtrio, Chimecho, Corphish, and Bidoof."

    "We are a solid group," Dugtrio said, looking among the others.

    "I swear to do my best," Chimecho chimed.

    "Oh golly, I'll do my best not to hold you guys back," Bidoof said.

    "Hey-hey, we'll all do our best to support the group!"

    "Now let's see." Chatot turned to Wigglytuff. "The Guildmaster and I shall travel as a pair. This is acceptable yes?"

    Wigglytuff started as if struck. "Me? I get to go with Chatot? Yippee!"

    Chatot cocked his head slightly. "Really, you're actually happ… nevermind, don't push it, Chatot."

    Turning back to the group, he nodded to Sean and Rai. "Team Ion shall travel as a team, and Grovyle has requested to join you if that is alright?"

    Sean, having had a sinking feeling the entire time, was not surprised, although still dismayed. He tried not to show it, not difficult to do when Rai jumped in joy. "REALLY!?" He approached Loudred levels of noise. "We get to go with Grovyle? Yes! Yes! Yes!"

    "I… er, presume that is alright?" Chatot asked as everyone stared at Rai in jealousy.

    Rai continued repeating yes as if stuck, Sean looked to Chatot with a deadpan look. "I think the answer is yes."

    "Very good." Chatot nodded happily, relieved there were no issues. "Well then." The group turned back to Chatot. "Okay pokémon, time to get to work! Move out!"

    "HOORAY!"

    The whole guild thundered out, each excited to get started with this. Sean was swept into the excitement as well, he hadn't seen much of the world beyond a few hour's walk from Treasure Town. This would prove to be interesting, one way or the other.

    Grovyle was waiting for them by the time they reached the crossroads, and he was pleased to learn that Team Ion was happy to have him along.

    "If you don't mind the presumptuousness," Grovyle said, pulling them to a stop as the others began to plan their paths. "I have been briefed on the charting. A clever duo that Guildmaster and Chatot. This turns several weeks of travel into several days, jumping through a list of known dungeons."

    "I think that's a great idea!" Rai smiled, barely even glancing at the map Grovyle had laid down. "What do you think Sean?"

    "Sounds good," he agreed. That, at least, sounded calming. He wasn't completely certain on Mount Horn, but he knew he remembered the Craggy Coast. "Crazy how some dungeons leap through that much space." He wasn't aware of it beforehand.

    Certain dungeons had entrances and exits that crossed a far greater distance than the road within them would imply. He'd heard of The Crest, which was to the North towards Capim Town. A short dungeon that crossed quite a lot of space and was used as a common shortcut across the coastline. Tiny Meadow was similar, just to the East.

    It did make sense, however, if he was to compare this event to the games.

    "Excellent." Grovyle rolled up his map and stashed it in his own Treasure Bag. "Shall we be off then? Start running, get ahead of everyone else." He winked at that, and Rai nodded, the trio falling into an easy walk with no troubles.

    Sean was uncomfortable. There were few, if any, situations of his whole life he could remember that left him feeling this uncomfortable. "What I can barely even remember," Sean thought grumpily. It was true, and disconcerting to him, but memories of his life as a human were getting somewhat fuzzier. He could still remember what he needed to, he hoped at least, but even remembering what he looked like was difficult.

    "If it wasn't for Rai, I'd probably forget my name." Sean did his best not to look at Grovyle and just let Rai chatter away. That was fine. It was fine how brightly Rai smiled at Grovyle. It was fine how happy he was that Grovyle had asked to come with them. It was fine he barely even glanced at Sean as he spoke.

    It was fine.

    This was fine.

    Everything was fine.


    Grovyle had smiled as he waved Team Ion away as they travelled into Treasure Town one more time, preparing to grab their gear for the expedition. He waited until everyone was gone, and Spinda too had staggered off up the guild, before spinning on a heel and swiftly walking down to the beach.

    He passed the morning krabby and corsola, ignored the shellos that had escaped from the Beach Cave, and avoided the dungeon entirely. Instead, he went up on an angle, covering his tracks in sand as he did so, jumping up the short cliff and into the bushy areas that no one bothered to go into.

    They had scoped this spot out to be the best place they could find that was close to Treasure Town.

    He walked a new, yet memorized, path, tapping trees as he went. Soon enough, he found their hideout. A hewn tent.

    "Back already? Miss me, did you?" The speaker, a riolu, smiled as Grovyle ducked into the hideout.

    "I had some time," Grovyle answered, without answering the question that was really asked.

    "Sure. Anything new on our friend?"

    "I'll be travelling with them, so I'll figure it out soon enough."

    "Can't have too long by myself," his companion said, crossing his arms. "You look worried. I'm perfectly capable of doing this by myself you know."

    "Have you memorised everything?" Grovyle asked.

    "Yes."

    "The dungeons?"

    "Beach Cave, Mount Bristle, Amp Plains, Drenched Bluff, Waterfall Cave, Spring Cave, do I HAVE to go on?"

    "The cover story?"

    "I made the damn thing up!" His companion grinned. "I think you suggested three whole words to it. More verbose than usual, Striker."

    "You have the escape plan ready?"

    The riolu raised an eyebrow ridge, before striding over to pull down a segment of the tent they were in. Grovyle, or Striker as he was known here, nodded approvingly as he saw that everything was packed and ready.

    "Knew you'd ask."

    Striker the grovyle scowled at the eye-roll his companion gave to his sensibleness.

    "So, as soon as I heard you, everything was ready for me to book it. I'm not an amateur here." Riolu crossed his arms and grinned proudly.

    "I know," Grovyle said, crossing his own arms now. "You cannot blame me for being concerned. You've been stressed lately, we both are, I know you normally wouldn't miss something, but it has happened a few times since we've been travelling here. You sure you're alright?" He tapped the riolu's head.

    The expression his companion wore softened before he shook his head. "Yeah, you're right. Ugh, stress, world-ending catastrophes aside. Look, I've got berries, seeds, orbs. I'm amazed you let me keep so many, with YOUR love of the things."

    Smiling slightly, Grovyle plucked an orb out of his bag and admired it. "You just don't understand them like I do." He pondered the orb, before placing it back in the bag. "Very well, be safe, run if you have to. Any sign of a sableye, even a bad feeling about Dusknoir, and you are leaving. Alright?"

    "Alright. Come on, it's like you don't trust me to do the smart thing."

    "I don't," was Grovyle's flat response, not reacting as the riolu grew mock-outraged. "Sean, I'm serious. Don't do anything stupid, find where the Relic Fragment is if those three sold it anywhere local, but if you come under risk, get out of here. Please, I don't want to risk you any more than I have to."

    "Alright," Sean the riolu sighed. "I promise to try and not be reckless or stupid. Now." He smiled, a little sadly, but mostly encouragingly. "You have an expedition to catch! Better get going, and don't get caught taking the Time Gear please."

    "I won't be so obvious," Striker replied, a smirk over his face. "Take care, Sean."

    "Not a goodbye?" the riolu smiled.

    "Just a see you later."

    "Give them hell and bring it all home."

    Grovyle nodded and raced off to reach the crossroads, just in time for the guild to trample down in eager excitement.

    "I will be careful," Striker the Grovyle thought as he spotted a certain meowth and shinx. "But first I need to learn the truth."


    Well then.
     
    Chapter 11 - Things Get Harder
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    The real size of the world blew Sean's breath away.

    In his experience in geography, a continent was quite a lot larger than the map implied it was. At least most continents were.

    Majority of the dungeons they had gone out to explore were within walking distance of the town. Sometimes it was a few hours, but they could always make it there, get through the dungeon, and back all in a single day.

    This was different. They had to walk for most of the day just to reach the first leg of their journey. He saw rolling plains, the sea crashing against the coast, and types of trees he didn't even know existed.

    "This world really is gorgeous," he thought to himself, smiling as Rai beaned Grovyle with a million questions. "I get why exploration is a big thing. It's exciting seeing these places even the games never showed."

    There were some smaller towns close by to Treasure Town. Quad Town, Sicily, a little place called Feore? Feiore? He wasn't sure how it was spelled.

    He was not offended that Rai barely spoke to him; the shinx focusing instead on barraging Grovyle with a thousand deadly questions.

    He was a little worried. Grovyle being right there and ready to hear whatever. And not an inane fear that Rai liked Grovyle more, that was not even on the cards, nor was he afraid of Grovyle. More that Rai would ask too many questions and Grovyle would let something slip.

    To be hit with this many questions would be daunting, even for one without something rather large to hide like Grovyle.

    Not that he was paying much attention to how Grovyle answered. No, just a glance here and there whenever it seemed appropriate. It would be suspicious if he completely avoided Grovyle's existence, so a cursory glance now and again was the right action.

    Sean's tail swish and flicked. Did he really need to hide? Would he have told Grovyle the Truth? The big capital T Truth? He felt like he would, wouldn't he? To give him hope in that terrifyingly dark place.

    Sean had noticed that the night left him faintly uneasy for reasons he couldn't quite place, he reckoned it had to do with the Dark Future. All that he must have experienced. He was kinda impressed he'd survived, but he was certain he had Grovyle to thank for that.

    And by not saying anything, it felt like lying. By omission at least.

    Still, every time he turned to the pair to open his mouth to say something, something struck him right in the throat. Like a spider had crawled into his open mouth and made a nest in his oesophagus. He just couldn't spit it out. Something wild gripped him.

    He caught Rai's eye and went to speak.

    What if he doesn't believe you? His mind screamed. What if he thinks you're insane? What if you didn't tell Grovyle anything? But why else would he be here. What if what if what if?

    He couldn't survive here on his own, he just couldn't. It felt faintly irrational, but his rational mind wouldn't listen.

    He just smiled awkwardly and commented that the weather was nice.

    "The last I heard from my sister, she had gone to the Water Continent," Rai said, winding down on the latest story that he was telling to Grovyle. He had already covered moving to Treasure Town from Amp Plains. Sean nearly using a move in town on Drowzee. Everything but the Ditto's secret from Boulder Quarry. And a basically everything else Sean had gone through with Rai. Now he was talking about personal stories. "She's an incredible luxio, I wonder if she's evolved all the way yet…? Oh, I've been talking so much. What about you, do you have any siblings Grovyle?"

    "Never asked me if I have siblings," Sean thought mutinously as he also thought. "Because you have 'amnesia' you lying fool."

    Sean glared down at the ground. His feet paws were poking their claws out and he took the effort to force them to retract.

    "No, I am an only child," Grovyle replied, nodding down to Rai. Then he looked across. "What about you, Meowth?"

    Sean didn't react, still not particularly used to being addressed as Meowth, as well as doing his best to ignore the pair. "Hmm?" he asked when he realised both pokémon were staring at him. "Pardon? I didn't catch that."

    Rai opened his mouth, almost like he was going to say something, but faltered and closed his mouth again as Grovyle repeated the question. "Do you have any siblings?"

    Sean felt trapped, boxed in, outwitted in a game he didn't know he was playing. "What does he mean by that? I can't say yes, cause then Rai would know something is up. Do I say no, that's a lie though, would Grovyle be able to tell!?"

    "Uh, I…"

    "You can't say amnesia. So, say something NOW!"

    "N-no. Probably." He gave a weak shrug while mentally lambasting himself for backing out of the lie. "Come on, you lie basically every day. Grovyle isn't that scary, who cares if he knows? It wouldn't completely wreck the entire world if the story changed like that would it?"

    Unable to take that chance, Sean smiled vacantly until Grovyle looked away.

    "HE KNOWS!"

    While Sean began a whole new tirade of mentally screaming two words, Rai took Grovyle's attention again and began spelling out how their first outlaw mission went.

    The chatter was a pleasant hum in the back of Sean's mind as he continued to freak out over possibilities and suspicions he had no idea were feasible or not.

    Still, despite the chaos of Sean's mind, the waves continued to crash against the cliffs as the Craggy Coast drew closer.

    "I believe this is the entrance to our first proper challenge," Grovyle said, hopping up to a sheer opening into a dark cave. Sean grimaced as he looked at it, the entrance giving the feeling of a jagged hole torn into the side of a cliff. It was not particularly inviting, and Sean felt like something was missing, but he couldn't put his paw on it.

    Dungeon entrances always threw him a little. It was like seeing a mirage on the road behind the drivers seat, a gas-like ripple. Only, this mirage didn't fade once he was close enough. It remained. Subtle enough that if he wasn't looking, he might not notice it.

    He wondered if this was how pokémon got lost in dungeons, not even seeing the entrance before it pulled them in.

    "Hoo." Rai breathed out. "This is the start, the real start. The start of our first expedition!" He turned back to Sean, beaming brightly and Sean lavished in having his attention again. "Let's do our best, Meowth!"

    Sean noticed Grovyle's eyes on him and gave him a curious look. Grovyle smiled. "Are you both ready?"

    Rai looked back to the entrance and murmured, "This is a true expedition…."

    He froze, eyes being drawn into the dark cave, the yawning chasm pulling him in, pulling him towards an uncertain future. An unknown future. An exciting future!

    He crackled with electricity. "Let's go already!" he yelled passionately. "The rest of the guild won't be waiting on us for sure!"

    Rai raced to the mouth of the cave and began hopping from left to right. "Hurry up you two!" he cried, unable to contain himself and sparking several times.

    "Very ready then?" Grovyle chuckled, as he turned to the meowth who was playing it cool. "This will be an adventure I'm sure." He nodded towards Rai who whined at them to hurry up. "Alright?"

    "Right," Sean replied, feeling his throat try and restrict to stop the words. He didn't meet Grovyle's eyes. "Craggy Coast awaits." He hurried forward, smiling far too widely at Rai once he reached him and quickly stepping further into the cave.

    Rai waited for Grovyle, and the two of them entered right after Sean, watching the meowth's tail flick back and forth as he did his best to appear natural.

    "This is going to kill me," Sean thought, grimacing as Rai and Grovyle began to talk again. "Through worry I'm going to mess everything up or whatever is going to attack me in there, I'm not sure."

    He resolved to keep his eyes fixated on what was in front of him and ignore what was behind. He had the bag, he had the items, and Rai was strong enough to fight even without Grovyle.

    Sean knew he was the one who needed the help, but he wasn't accepting it from Grovyle.


    The cave was a new low when it came to dankness.

    The Beach Cave was wet, Drenched Bluff and the Waterfall Cave were slimy, this cave was wet, slimy, and salty.

    So much salt, Sean feared he was going to absorb it through his feet. Even breathing was uncomfortable with how the scent of salt permeated everything.

    "I'm going to smell like this for weeks," Sean complained. He had fallen back into line with Rai and Grovyle fairly quickly, not willing to put himself in the line of fire just to avoid maybe interacting with Grovyle.

    Rai remained between them, however, that was unchanging.

    "It probably will," Rai replied cheerfully, nodding wisely. Sean took it vacantly, moving on to the next problem, until Rai's tone registered with him.

    "Hey!" he snapped. "What are you implying there?"

    "In all the time I've known you," Rai replied with a smile. "You only clean off in the hot springs. No hot springs around here, just salt water and our tongues."

    "…Saved your life," Sean mumbled, turning away with a pout.

    "Sure did!" Rai agreed, grinning brightly.

    "You don't bathe?" Grovyle asked, staring down with concern after dispatching a whiscash with Bullet Seed.

    "Weirdest meowth ever," Rai said. "I get not wanting hairballs, but he prefers the water I think."

    "I don't like this water," Sean growled, flicking a foot rapidly to free it from something particularly offensive.

    "Did you know that Meowth can swim!?" Rai gasped, turning his full attention back to Grovyle as he found another thing to tell him of.

    "Indeed?" Grovyle looked over Sean again, appraising him. "Interesting."

    "I thought so too." Rai nodded. "Swam in our second dungeon to save a lost psyduck. Even saved me from drowning when I fell in." Rai trailed off into embarrassed laughter and Sean sent a smile his way before going back to glaring at the surroundings for surrounding them.

    Sean wasn't sure what to take from Craggy Coast. The place was unpleasant, every dungeon was unpleasant, but the dungeon itself wasn't much of a problem.

    It was almost relaxing, adventuring with Grovyle. He was so powerful, often with a type advantage on top of the ferals in this dungeon. Anything Rai didn't scare off, Grovyle easily laid low.

    Sean was not relaxed though. Grovyle made the dungeon easy but strung his nerves like a harp each time Rai began to say a little too much.

    "We talk every night, well not for the last few because Meowth's been uh… tired."

    Didn't help Sean's nerves that Grovyle kept looking at him each time Rai would talk about him.

    "He almost used a move on Drowzee in town, but he didn't! Everything worked out fine, even though Drowzee did get away. I wasn't fast enough to chase him down."

    What was worse was when Rai realised he had been excluding Sean from the conversations and tried to add him in.

    "Remember when we fought Litleo?" Rai asked, tearing his eyes from Grovyle for a few seconds to grace Sean with his attention.

    Sean flinched slightly, startled at being addressed so suddenly. "Oh, yeah definitely! Big battle, I was only mostly useless."

    "You weren't useless!" Rai immediately said, annoyed and also resigned to this discussion.

    "Ah." Sean patted where his nose was. "I said mostly."

    Rai gave him a flat look. "Don't get cute with me, there is no way I could have done that alone."

    "You are the cute one here," Sean said, smirking as Rai puffed up. "Can't turn that talk on me, I'm the master here."

    "I'm learning though," Rai warned, grinning again. "I'll figure your 'sarcasm' out one day."

    "Hmm," Sean hummed before glancing to Grovyle. Things weren't different, but he felt a little better now that things were still normal. "Litleo was our first real battle together," he explained to Grovyle. "At least where I did something of use."

    "He distracted Litleo," Rai interjected, happily knowing Sean was embarrassed by praise. "Tricked him into lowering his guard, and got him with a sleep seed. I was barely conscious at the time, but he got me some berries and I was back up."

    "Just in time," Sean cut across, pushing the credit back. "To knock him out right as Litleo was getting up."

    "An impressive win," Grovyle said, nodding down to the pair. "Some of the greatest teams are built from a common foe."

    "Have you worked with anyone before Grovyle?" Rai asked innocently as he absentmindedly zapped a krabby. "

    Grovyle was silent for long enough that he could only answer with. "Yes. Some time ago."

    Rai nodded and didn't press further. Grovyle's clipped tone was explanation enough.

    Not to be stopped by awkward silences, Rai had enough of those in the first few days with Sean, he decided to change the subject. "Meowth's been doing really well though." The shinx smiled as he felt Sean's eyes bore into the back of his head. "We went to a dungeon called Waterfall Cave not long before the expedition crew was announced."

    "Indeed?" Grovyle asked pleasantly, keeping his eyes on the walls around them. He scared a gastrodon off with a quick Bullet Seed. "Preparing for the expedition?"

    "Well," Rai trailed off awkwardly before righting himself. "We took two jobs that day, hoping to look like we were really dedicated."

    "Understandable," Grovyle said nodding. A hint of a smile even twitched at his lips. "It appears to have paid off well."

    "Yep!" Rai beamed, sending a Thunderbolt at an enemy to send it skittering for the depths. "It wasn't looking too good at first," he explained as Sean added something.

    "We searched the dungeon three times looking for those two!" Sean frowned as the memory of what followed came to him. "I bet Floatzel knew we were there too."

    Rai nodded, solemn. Turning back to Grovyle, he explained. "We were looking for two lost pokémon, but as it turned out Floatzel had kidnapped cherubi!"

    Narrowing his eyes, Grovyle asked. "And you caught him?"

    "We did." Rai nodded and looked to Sean. "We ended up going to the end of the dungeon and accidentally triggered a trap," he trailed off, looking hopefully at Sean.

    Happy to continue, Sean brightly explained, "Was some sort of water trap on a big gem. Pushing it in triggered the trap and washed us all the way to the hot springs."

    "His first proper bath." Rai smirked at Sean. "Also saved me from drowning."

    "Ah yes." Grovyle nodded. "You mentioned that earlier I believe?"

    "Did I?"

    "You did," Sean said flatly. "You said everything. Well… mostly everything."

    "Not my fault!" Rai said. "Grovyle asks such good questions and I had to tell him… most of it, you know?"

    Rai was looking at Sean, Sean was looking back. There was something in the yellow eyes of the shinx, something pleading.

    "We got directions from the pokémon at the hot springs," Sean continued with a cough. "And hunted Floatzel down just as he was handing Cherubi over."

    "And we battled him!" Rai yelled, jumping forward and sparking dangerously. "Floatzel and Staraptor. They tried to fight back, but Team Ion was too good for them!"

    Grovyle chuckled at Rai's exuberance and sidled next to Sean, making the meowth truly uncomfortable. "You have quite a partner there," he said, and Sean nodded stiffly.

    "Yep," he croaked, cleared his throat, and tried again. "Yep." Still croaking.

    Grovyle gave him a curious look, but before he could do anything, Rai returned. "I didn't get to tell the best part!" he said excitedly.

    "Hm?" Grovyle glanced back up to Rai.

    "That battle was when I figured out how to use Thunderbolt properly!" He fired the very same at an enemy creeping up on the pair, knocking it flying with a screech. "And Meowth did something new too!" With that, Sean's interest was piked.

    "Huh?" he asked dumbly. "Me? When did I do anything besides Scratch?" He extended his claws and channelled some Power through them to demonstrate. "I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything fancy."

    "You did seem pretty mad," Rai agreed, shaking his head. "But no Scratch attack I've even seen involves a long, black, blade thing. That was definitely a new move!"

    "Long black blade?" Sean repeated, glancing at his right paw. "I don't really remember."

    "How don't you remember?" Rai cocked his head, concern filling his voice. "You nearly cut Staraptor's wing off. That's what scared him away in the first place."

    "Everything is a bit of blur after I realised what was going on with that whole 'deal'," Sean admitted, getting another concerned glance from Rai as well as one from Grovyle. "It's nothing," he insisted. "I just got really angry, and we were tired from doing the same dungeon three times!"

    "I guess," Rai mumbled, considering it. They all stood in silence for a moment; Grovyle decided to break it.

    "That does sound like Night Slash," he said, perking Rai up and getting a disbelieving look from Sean. Privately, Grovyle took it as a victory. The meowth had barely looked at him at all, and only for brief periods. He was fully staring at him now.

    "You've seen a Night Slash?" Rai asked eagerly. "I've only really heard pokémon talk about it in the streets, or the guild. You don't get many Dark-type pokémon in Treasure Town. And the poochyena brothers have never showed it off."

    "They likely cannot learn it, despite the matching typing," Grovyle explained. "I have seen a Night Slash before. Many times. I once helped someone learn it."

    As soon as the last words left his lips, Grovyle froze up. Rai, ignoring any odd reactions in delight, immediately squeaked. "You can teach MEOWTH!"

    Sean froze as well, and the two met eyes for a moment, looking away quickly. "He doesn't need to take that time," Sean quickly said. "It'd probably take days, if not weeks, and Grovyle has better things to do."

    Rai pouted and looked to Grovyle who had regained his composure. "I." He was clearly hesitating, a look that would have thrilled Sean had it not been so confusing to see. Striker glanced at Rai and received the full brunt force of Rai's hope. "Could give a tip or two," he sighed, giving into the cute shinx.

    Rai immediately beamed again and ran around Grovyle in happiness. "Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Meowth, this is great!"

    He tackled Sean in happiness before rolling off bashfully. "S-sorry. I'm being a bit… much again."

    "I'm fine," Sean said, pulling himself into a sitting position. Grovyle stretched out a clawed hand and Sean took it without hesitation, getting hefted up to his feet. He fought to prevent a disgusted look from crossing his face, his back was all damp now with cave slime.

    "You are curious," Grovyle said, causing a painful heart jump in Sean. "I've never met a meowth who stands like that."

    "I know!" Rai said, cheer returning. "It's so weird, but a good weird!" he quickly corrected. "I think it's cool. Unique."

    "Other meowth can stand," Sean mumbled, stepping into his own space.

    "Yeah, but Croagunk thinks it's weird and cool too," Rai said wisely as they began to walk again. "Meowth's weird in lots of ways, but that just makes him who he is! Who is wonderful, it's all good things I swear!"

    Sean chuckled at Rai's scrambled attempts to praise him. It was nice to hear. Grovyle had relaxed around him, so he hoped that there was no suspicion there.

    "I don't know, he seems interested but maybe just to seem polite? There has to be something I did that got him to come to Treasure Town early, risk being seen on this expedition. There has to be. But if I did tell him… wouldn't he tell me? Should I tell him my name, just to see? What would Rai think though?"

    Sean watched Grovyle as Rai continued to chatter on. Grovyle was very alert, very twitchy, and almost brutal in how quickly he'd dispatch any pokémon that dared to even look at them. But he replied to Rai's questions easily and showed no odd signs when Rai would get Sean to add his own two cents.

    Sean smiled and began to relax himself. "I guess if he does know something, nothing wrong seems to be going on. He'll take the Time Gear, and everything will be back on track. A few bumps here and there, but the expedition looks like it'll be easier than I expected. Grovyle is really strong, I don't even have to do anything!"

    Happy to enjoy being lazy for once, Sean continued strolling alongside Rai and Grovyle until they returned to natural light and not the distorted angry light that peaked through the cracks of the dungeons roof.

    "We're almost through!" Rai said, voice echoing through the widening passage. He picked up speed, trotting forward and driving Sean and Grovyle to run to keep pace with him.

    The mouth of the cave yawned, and the trio were expelled.

    "Ah!" Rai sighed as they emerged on a wide, rocky, path. "Can you smell that clear air?"

    Sean breathed in. The terrible salty smell still stuck to his fur, but the air of the mountains was clear and pure. "Smells like victory."

    "We are through Craggy Coast," Grovyle said, stepping up behind the pair. "But we are still quite a way from the base camp the guild wishes to meet at.

    Grovyle pulled out his map and he and Rai began talking as Sean stepped away. He climbed one of the rocky edges that closed the path in, digging his claws in to hoist himself up, before taking a full view of the location.

    "Do you want me to scout ahead?" Sean asked the pair. Rai hummed, Grovyle frowned at the map and flicked his eyes to him.

    "No, we should be fine to go as a group," the deeply-voiced reptile said.

    Dozens of snow-capped peaks spread out as far as his eye could see. Sean smiled, this wasn't the first time he'd been in a place a little like this, although this was a nicer place. The sun was still in the sky, although it was getting close to the horizon.

    "We just need to cross this mountain and we should be at base camp," Rai called, catching Sean's attention.

    "Right," he said, climbing down. "Just this dungeon and we're there?"

    "Correct." Grovyle rolled up his map and stored it back in his bag. "But for the moment I believe we should rest. Eat, drink, and prepare for the next journey."

    Sean wholeheartedly agreed with that, and he quickly joined the pair before walking to the entrance of the dungeon.

    "It'll be a while before we get to base camp," Rai said as they sat down. Sean sighed as his weary leg muscles finally got to relax. "It might be a good idea to stay here for the night, it's not a great idea to rest in a dungeon." He offered a pointed look at Sean that he knew was just educational.

    But felt like Rai was judging him, as if he would.

    "This place appears well secured," Grovyle agreed, popping his neck. "And if I am correct, I may need all my strength for the next dungeon. Mountain dungeons are often home to Flying and Bug pokémon."

    "Yeesh." Rai cringed. "Yeah I can see why that might be a problem. We'll just need to do better!"

    "We did let you do most of the work." Sean grinned, receiving a scoff from Grovyle. "I'm still pretty useless, but I can throw a seed… occasionally accurately."

    "Don't trust him with a blast seed though," Rai warned, catching Grovyle's curiosity.

    "Why not?"

    "Because they NEVER WORK!" Sean shouted, yelling at the sky. He calmed quickly though. "I don't know what it I." He pouted, crossing his arms. "Every single time."

    Rai giggled, but Sean's disgruntlement was judged not due to be mocked, so he instead sat down on his belly. "I'm hungry, Meowth you have the bag."

    "I do." He quickly swung the Treasure Bag around and opened it, glancing up when he noticed movement.

    "I too have brought provisions," Grovyle said. "Would you consider pooling the food to be allocated equally?"

    "Of course." Sean smiled and the two with some dexterity quickly set the food into three piles. With Rai already drooling, Sean hastened to make sure he didn't lose a paw to the hungry shinx's mouth.

    They ate in silence, peaceful silence. Rai took this chance to rest his throat, having talked most of the day away.

    With Rai giving them a blissful reprieve, Sean and Grovyle enjoyed some silence.

    It was, unsurprisingly, Rai who broke the silence. "So, what you said earlier," he said, speaking to Grovyle. "About giving Meowth some tips for Night Slash?"

    Sean cringed as he had thought that forgotten but Grovyle nodded. "Indeed." The Grass-type looked to the sky, the sun was setting now, but everything was still perfectly visible. "We should begin during this rest period, it is unwise to try and learn a new move in a dungeon. The stress can help." He gave Sean a sly look. "But can also go catastrophically wrong. Practise first, alright?"

    "I understand." Sean nodded, withholding a sigh as he stood up. His legs twinged in discomfort, but he had to move. Things needed to be done, no point in complaining about them.

    Rai remained sitting, simply rolling over to watch as Grovyle led him a few meters from the little camp they had.

    "There are some important tenants to learning a new move," Grovyle explained, positioning himself in a combat stance. Sean felt a little nervous about that. "The first is will. You need to do it with determination and perseverance. The second is desire. You need to want to do it with all you can muster. The third is the actual training itself. Mastering those wants and needs until it becomes routine."

    The leaves on Grovyle's arms flashed green and Sean immediately recoiled as Grovyle slashed out, Leaf Blade slicing a few stray bits of fur off his head. "HEY!"

    Rai bolted up, but Grovyle had already stepped back. "That was Leaf Blade. For me to learn it, took simple dedication. A Grass-type move for a Grass-type pokémon." Grovyle lowered his arms, and Sean tried to still his pounding heart. "Many types are channelled without much trouble, and as you yourself are of the Normal-type, you have a typical capacity to channel other types with a little more ease than myself using a Ground-type move."

    Grovyle began walking towards him, and Sean had to force himself not to back away. "A Dark-type move, however, is different. Some types require a little… more, when utilised outside their normal scope." Grovyle's arm leaves glowed again as he called a second Leaf Blade, Sean missed the subtle light in Grovyle's eyes.

    "What do I need to do for a Dark-type move?" Sean said, impressing himself with the levity of his voice.

    "The idea is simple," Grovyle said, and slashed. Not at Sean but sending a green blade of energy back at Rai.

    Rai squeaked and leaped for cover, not that he had to. The Leaf Blade, somehow sent as if it was a bladed beam, had been aimed well above his head and off to the side, but the sudden attack had startled him.

    "HEY!" Sean yelled, claws extending right as Grovyle had sent the attack near Rai.

    "I'm okay!" Rai immediately called. "But what was that?"

    His betrayed look didn't seem to move Grovyle, but the reptilian pokémon turned away from it regardless. "My apologies, Shinx," he said blankly. "How do you feel about that, Meowth?"

    "What?"

    "How do you feel about someone hurting your partner?"

    "Angry!"

    Grovyle nodded and smiled. "Look." He stepped to the side, just enough for Rai to spot Sean's paw and gasp. Sean blinked, seeing his claws not shining white, but beads of black pooling near the base of them. His blink broke the spell, and his claws returned to normal.

    "What the?" Sean blinked again and shook his paw. When nothing happened, he turned to Grovyle. "What was that?"

    "Night Slash," Grovyle answered. "Or, at least, the beginning of one." Grovyle sat down, satisfied. "For you to use Night Slash, emotion is needed," Grovyle explained. "Negative emotion usually. Anger is among the easiest to form, and brings a substantial amount of passion with it. It's an easy way to get you started.

    "So, I need to feel… angry?" Sean asked, sitting down himself now that it seemed okay to. Grovyle stood up.

    "Currently? Yes." Grovyle nodded. "You aren't trained enough to be able to channel the emotion without losing yourself to it. In time, perhaps, the memory of anger, or other emotions, can be enough to utilise Night Slash."

    "Hm," Sean hummed, looking over his claw. He noticed Grovyle standing and got to his feet with a groan. "Is there anything you can do to help more?" He didn't mean to sound a bit ungrateful, but then Grovyle sat down, and he felt justified.

    "I could attack you," Grovyle said, shrugging at Sean's horrified look. "Attack Rai. Steal your belongings. Insult you until you hate me."

    "Please don't." Sean sat down.

    "Then you tell me?" Grovyle said, standing back up. "What could I do? I'm not a Dark-type. Grass-type if you didn't realise."

    "I realised," Sean said, standing up. "You said you could help teach me earlier!"

    "I said I could give you a few pointers," Grovyle corrected, turning his back and walking back to the campsite. "You will need to figure the rest out yourself."

    "Wha?" Sean blinked, paws twitching. "Well that isn't very helpful!" he said, voice rising. "You can use Leaf Blade! Isn't there something there that can help? Something similar?"

    "Leaves are not claws," Grovyle said, sitting down where Sean had left his bag. He dug into it and pulled out an apple. Biting into it like an asshole, Grovyle glanced back. "You gonna just stand there?" he said through chomps.

    "Enough!" Sean yelled, claws extending completely before the shadows left by the setting sun began to lengthen. Darkness pooled, sharpening into solid blades of pitch darkness that extended onto the ground. Sean breathed deeply, trying to calm down before he heard clapping.

    Grovyle smiled, clapping politely. "Well done," he said, nodding to Sean's right paw. Sean frowned, glancing down and stared in surprise. Unlike before, the Night Slash was fully realised and didn't disappear as soon as he saw it.

    The three dark blades did disappear quickly, however, leaving his paw clean and without even a hint of the shadow. "Huh?"

    "Grovyle was winding you up," Rai said, from where he was sitting. He had watched them with concern before figuring out what Grovyle was trying to do. "To get you to get angry enough to do Night Slash for real! Right?" He looked to Grovyle for confirmation, perhaps a little desperately.

    Grovyle nodded, smiling. "Correct. I do apologise for doing that, but some things have to be learned through ways we'd prefer not to employ." He opened his own bad and pulled an apple out. "To replace yours," he said, setting it into Team Ion's Treasure Bag.

    Sean was still blinking, mind whirring as it took all that in and sorted it. "Oh," he said, once things were in the right place. "Oh. Okay, uh… thank you? I think."

    Grovyle chuckled, gesturing Sean over. "That'll be enough training for one day. You already seem to know Night Slash, as that was impressively well done for a first try." Sean came, with a little hesitance. He didn't like what Grovyle just did, but the reasons he could understand.

    "I seem to know it?" he asked, confused.

    Grovyle shrugged. "You were already forming the sabres. Either you have some experience in the move already, or you are a very quick learner."

    "Oh."

    "I needed to do that," Grovyle explained as Sean sat down, next to Rai. "In order to give you a baseline action to work from. From what Rai said, you've used Night Slash before, but you don't remember doing so due to the chaos of the time."

    "Right." Sean nodded, shifting closer to Rai.

    "But now you have used a proper Night Slash, and you remember if. You remember what I said about emotions fuelling this?"

    "I do."

    "So now you'll know. And if it helps, you can picture THIS moment to fuel future attempts." The brightness that Grovyle said that with threw Sean for a moment. Grovyle seemed to realise it himself and turned his head. "It is late now," he said uncomfortable. "It would be best if we got some rest. A long day tomorrow, we need to be ready."

    "Sounds good," Rai yawned, curling up next to Sean. "Night, Meowth. Night, Grovyle." Rai was warm and soft next to him, it felt nice.

    "Goodnight."

    "Night."

    Sean did not sleep well.


    "All right gang!" Rai spoke brightly. The night had passed a little coldly, rather uncomfortably, and the trio was up earlier than usual, even for Rai. "We have to get moving. The base camp is on the other side of Mount Horn, and we can't let the guild down!"

    Sean shot a bleary eyed, but curious, glance around. He had seen the entrance of the dungeon yesterday, and like Craggy Coast, something felt like it was missing. It had been bothering him, but not enough to take precedence over his several-hour-long-panic-attack Grovyle had caused.

    "AH! That's right," Sean thought, realisation flooding him. "No Kangaskhan Rock thingy, whatchamajig, whoosits. The weird storing rock. Makes sense I guess."

    Satisfied he'd figured it out, Sean followed Rai quickly as he urged them forward, Grovyle stepping in after him.

    Things went well. For about five minutes.

    "Rah, Thunderbolt!" Rai roared, blasting a butterfree with enough electricity to knock it out. Sean cringed as the pokémon hit the ground with a slap.

    Grovyle grunted, weathering a dusty wind before forcing a Bullet Seed through and pushing the venomoth out of the room.

    Sean kept them going as best as he could. Carving up berries and keeping their energies high. He felt bad, but there really wasn't a whole lot he could do. Not without going right up to the enemy at least.

    "I need a ranged attack," Sean thought as Rai zapped pokémon in triplicate.

    "We need to go," Grovyle huffed, pokémon were absolutely crawling through this dungeon. And all of them seemed after them.

    "You're not injured, are you?" Sean asked as they began to run. Grovyle and Rai sent back as many moves as they could to slow the pursuers down. Sean only looked thrice, each time he saw a lot of bloodthirsty monsters. He ran faster.

    "No," Grovyle answered. "But I am getting worn out. These pokémon are taking two to three times as much effort to knock out and there are so many."

    "Just send them running then!" Rai said, unleashing the storm on every pokémon in the air. One fell, the others turned.

    "If we don't knock them out," Grovyle argued back. "Then they will likely seek us out later when we are weaker."

    "Feral pokémon don't leave dungeons," Rai snapped back, he was exerting electricity constantly and the drain seemed to be getting to him. Sean shoved an oran berry down the shinx's throat.

    "What if they pursue us into a corner?" Grovyle demanded, felling a pineco and slashing out with a Leaf Blade to relieve a natu of consciousness. "We are already in a corridor."

    "Just drive them off!" Sean said, tossing what he hoped was a blast seed at the horde. It wasn't, it was a quick seed.

    The aerodactyl that ate it, suddenly roared and beat its wings, moving shockingly fast and slamming into Grovyle.

    Grovyle was smashed into a wall as the aerodactyl swooped off, scrambling to fly. Rai shouted at it, trying to zap it, but its speed gave it the chance to evade.

    "Crap, crap, CRAP!" Sean yelled as the aerodactyl came around for another run. "SORRY. FUCK!"

    Sean's eyes had met the bloodshot eyes of the aerodactyl, and he realised a nightmare was literally coming true.

    Several things happened in swift succession.

    Grovyle had pulled himself from the wall, and slashed out, knocking two pokémon back and clearing a path to a different corridor.

    Rai had unleashed electricity, zapping everyone. Grovyle and Sean included, and managing to force most of the attacking pokémon back.

    Sean had frozen up as he stared hunger in the eyes, then was electrocuted and he yelped and jumped towards the path that Grovyle had opened.

    The aerodactyl screeched and Sean screamed as cruel talons clamped around his body, pulling him into the air as the super-fast aerodactyl flew off with him.

    "SEAN!" Rai cried in horror as Sean was carried off.

    Rai and Grovyle went into immediately pursuit, abandoning the opened path. Sean screamed and struggled in the vice grip of the aerodactyl, its talons had drawn blood and no matter how many times he hit it, a simple Scratch attack couldn't pierce its rocky skin.

    The wind rushed back, tickling his whiskers, and Sean screamed anew as everything began to shake. The aerodactyl took several turns, too many and too rapid for Sean to figure out. In desperation he tried to bite, but only stung his teeth in the process.

    They arrived in a room and the aerodactyl released him. While flying full speed. Sean slammed into a wall headfirst and crumpled down in a heap.

    Everything was spinning, his head pounded, his torso stung with a few gouged scratches, Sean wanted to vomit, wanted to scream, even wanted to cry a little.

    Nothing embarrassing could be done yet, as the problem was still there. The aerodactyl had swooped off, shaking the speed off, before circling him, flying down closer. Sean flinched as a globule of drool hit him on the back of the head, and he realised what this monster was planning.

    Sean's paws tore into the Treasure Bag, having thankfully not lost it in the flight, as the aerodactyl came for him mouth open. Sean tossed a seed and, with how well the last one went, the aerodactyl swallowed it before pulling up.

    Sean rolled anyway and felt the wind rush past him again as the aerodactyl ascended. Then it fell. Fell quickly as a puppet whose strings were cut.

    It crashed to the ground, asleep, and Sean got to wobbly feet. "Okay," he said, repeating it while backing away. "Okay. Okay, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay." He wanted to say more, just to hear it himself, but he was stuck in the shocked state of one word. "Okay."

    He turned tail and ran.

    "RAI!" Sean found his voice as he barrelled down a path. "RAI CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

    The walls of the dungeon were pure rock, and the sound reverberated through the dungeon in a ceaseless, useless, echo. Sean grimaced, staggered as a wave of vertigo hit him. The fight or flight response was wearing off, he felt the front of his head and felt blood. The koban was fine though, barely even a nick on it.

    Sean gasped in pain as he felt his torso throb, looking down there was two cuts on his front, and he could feel at least one more on his back. "Of course," he breathed. Thinking clearer, Sean opened the bag and fished around for an oran berry.

    "Come on," he said, looking in and moving stuff around. "I had like ten of these. Where did they go?" There were no orans. He had been too hasty with them, giving them to the others at the first signs of tiredness. "Great." He threw the bag down. "GREAT. RAI? GROVYLE? CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

    "Paa…"

    Sean's body shivered as he stood painfully straight. "Now is NOT the time to freeze up," he thought furiously, considering how well that had just gone, and forced himself to turn around.

    "Oh."

    Part of Sean, a part very detached from this whole situation, was rather impressed that not one, not two, but three personal nightmares all happened in the space of two minutes.

    A parasect scuttled forward. Eyes blanker than any feral he had seen thus far. Foggy white, blackened veins bulging in those empty orbs, mouth opened in a gormless, hungry, gape. It carried a wretched stink, an earthy musk that left him lightheaded upon first gasp and continued to make his vision spin as he began to hyperventilate.

    The same detached part of Sean observed that the gigantic mushroom was the real enemy, and not to touch it or else he might catch the zombie plague. The rest of Sean flipped the shit out.

    "AHHHHHH!"

    Sean's scream was loud enough that Rai and Grovyle easily heard him.

    "Where is he?" Rai scrambled forward. "HURRY!"

    Sean scrambled backwards as fast as he could, slamming headfirst into another wall, this time bruising the back of his head. The parasect's mushroom quivered and it breathed out a lungful of spores.

    Sean was having none of this. "NO!" he screamed, turning tail and running three steps into another wall. He jumped in panic, hitting another wall. He was boxed in at a dead end.

    Sean desperately clawed at the walls, hoping in an irrational way he could dig his way through before it got him.

    "Seect," the parasect moaned, its dry voice carried a weak tremble of something Sean's mind translated as hunger and charged.

    Sean spun, both paws forming dark sabres, and flailed wildly, striking the parasect multiple times while screaming bloody murder. "HEEELLLP!"

    He headbutted the possessed bug and slashed it with his claws. Its blood ran freely, oily mucus dripped as well from his feral attack.

    Sean leaped forward, chipping the mushroom with his claws and he continued to thrash out wildly, and landed on the other side. The parasect gurgled something and tried to turn to him, puffing out more spores, but Sean was running again, and it crumpled to the ground. He tripped over his Treasure Bag and grabbed it on reflex, continuing to run in a blind panic.

    He hit a few more walls as he ran on all fours, this proving to be faster than on two. He turned, twice, thrice, and found himself in a long hallway. Sean sprinted forward, no longer screaming loudly, but a high-pitched eeee.

    "Where is he?" Rai shouted again, as he and Grovyle tore up a longer hallway.

    "What is that sound?" Grovyle asked, detecting something getting closer.

    "EeeeEEEEAAAH!" Sean cries, zipping past their view at the end of the corridor.

    "SEAN!" Rai yelled and ran forward in a burst of speed. "MEOWTH, COME BACK!"

    Sean was in no state to listen and continued running. The meowth detected something trailing him, and only ran faster as Rai continued to yell after him. Sean collided with a wall when he failed to turn, the loud crack causing Rai to wince. The meowth scrambled back to all fours and continued sprinting off right as Rai tried to pounce on him.

    "MEOWTH! DAMMIT!" Rai was able to keep him in sight, but Sean was shockingly fast and fitter than he had seemed beforehand. Rai was getting tired, Sean seemed to be sprinting non-stop. "SORRY ABOUT THIS!" Rai called, before charging electricity.

    "Shinx!" Grovyle called from behind him, managing to catch up. "You'll need to knock him out, just zapping him is going to make him run faster!"

    "What?" Rai inwardly cringed. He rarely went so far as to knock even a feral out, but his closest friend?

    "EEEEEEEEAAH!"

    "Maybe it's for the best," Rai agreed.

    "I'll tell you when to fire," Grovyle said as they sprinted side by side. There were too many turns so far, but Grovyle knew where the best point was.

    They entered a room, too small, and continued pursuing.

    They entered a corridor, but it ended too quickly.

    Another room, Grovyle slashed an enemy down. They continued running.

    "I'm," Rai gasped. "Getting to the end of my rope."

    "Have you charged enough?" Grovyle asked eyes firmly ahead, far less fatigued.

    "Yes."

    "NOW!"

    They entered a long corridor, nothing but walls for dozens of meters. Rai yelled out and he fired all the electricity he could at Sean, blasting the meowth off his feet. Sean rolled to a stop, and twitched once, before slumping on the floor.

    Rai, gasping for breath at this point, staggered to Sean's prone form. "Meowth?" he managed, weakly. He nuzzled Sean with his nose. "M-Meowth?"

    Grovyle knelt down, pressed a finger to Sean's neck for a moment, and nodded. "His heart is beating, he'll be fine."

    "I-I can't b-believe I knocked h-h-him out!" Rai stuttered, wave of crashing guilt slamming into him. "What k-kind of f-f-f-f… friend am I?"

    "A good one." Grovyle laid a gentle hand on Rai's back. "He was too panicked, he was pushing himself far too hard to run like that. Look at these wounds." He pointed to the bleeding parts on Sean's back. "This needs to be treated, and running like that, exhausting himself like that, was going to do damage. You had to do this, or he would have gotten hurt."

    "But isn't he hurt now?" Rai's voice was low and weak.

    "He is," Grovyle agreed. "But compared to what he would have been had you not knocked him out? This is nothing."

    "O-okay."

    "Okay?" Grovyle repeated until Rai accepted it.

    "Okay."

    "Good." Grovyle nodded, looking Sean over. "I think it'd be best to tie something over his chest; this scratch seems the worst."

    "My scarf!" Rai said immediately, pulling the defence scarf off. "Here."

    Grovyle took it after a brief hesitation and quickly tied it around Sean's chest. "That will have to do for now. We don't have enough berries to soak it, so…" Grovyle pulled out a berry regardless and coaxed Sean into swallowing it. "Thankfully we've gone forwards, rather than back. I'll carry S… Meowth for the rest of the way."

    There was just a moment of silence, normally unnoticeable, but Rai realised in that moment he had been shouting Sean's name. Grovyle didn't quite look directly at him, a quiet offering to just pretend it didn't happen.

    He took it.

    "I can do it!" Rai insisted, staggering to his feet. "I should do it."

    "Shinx…." Grovyle trailed off at the desperation in Rai's eyes.

    "I have to do it," Rai said softly and Grovyle slowly nodded. "Very well." Grovyle tied Sean in place with his joy ribbon and the two conscious pokémon set off.


    So, you have to focus really hard on something you felt

    Can be something good, but, uh… not a whole lot of that there.

    Excuse me. There is much good here to focus on!


    Right. Well, even so, stuff like anger is easier to start with.

    That rush of emotion, that's the rush you gotta direct into your claws.

    It's all intent.

    And once you've mastered your intent.





    "Ugh… what happened?"

    For Sean, waking up was not pleasant. Probably among his least favourite awakenings.

    "O-oh. You're awake?"

    Sean's mind was a little foggy, but he could place that voice anywhere. "Rai? Ugh."

    "S-sorry." Rai moved, and Sean jolted slightly, but he was a bit more comfortable now. He took a moment before realising that he was moving.

    "Where?"

    His eyes cleared a little and he realised he was quite low to the ground. Also, on a shinx.

    "You are awake. Good."

    That was Grovyle, Sean was sure. That voice couldn't be mistaken. He was also sure he should be feeling bad about that, but he was a bit too foggy. "What happened?"

    "We are not certain," Grovyle replied, still walking. "You were carried off by a hastened aerodactyl and we did our best to pursue, following your screams." Sean felt Rai cringe at that memory. "Next we saw of you, you were running in a blind, instinctive, panic."

    "Did I hit a wall and conk myself out?" he asked, feeling how bad his head ached. Muscles too. Everything hurt like he'd been squashed by a steamroller.

    "N-no," Rai answered. "Y-you were panicking so badly you didn't understand us and I… I knocked you out." Sean didn't have time to register that before Rai was speaking again. "I'm so, so, so sorry. You just were running to fast, we couldn't catch up, and you were injured, and you were hurting yourself more, and bleeding, and Grovyle said if you kept running and I didn't knock you out you'd hurt yourself more, and I did it. I knocked you out, and I'm so sorry."

    Rai crumpled to the ground and burst into tears. "PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!"

    He shivered, feeling Sean's weight press down on him, and for a moment his guilty conscious thought Sean was pressing him into the ground where he belonged for hurting him.

    Then the arms of the meowth were around him and Rai thought Sean was going to throttle him. He wasn't. Rai gasped when he realised Sean was hugging him, also saying something, but he hadn't heard the start.

    "-erstand. Ow, I think I did do something bad to my chest, oh gosh I'm bleeding all over you!" Sean rolled off Rai, horrified he'd bled on his friend, but dragged Rai down and on top of him. The ribbon was still tying them together.

    "Hello," Sean said to the whimpering shinx on top of him.

    Rai sniffled, and a few tears hit Sean's face. "You don't hate me?"

    Sean hugged him again. "Never. Sorry for bleeding on you though."

    Rai sagged in relief, accidentally crushing Sean underneath. "Ow, ow! Rai!"

    "Oh!" Rai squeaked, jerking up, and tugging Sean halfway up with the ribbon. "Ah, get this off!"

    "Here," Grovyle said smoothly, adding his hands to the mix to get them separated. "We tied you to… Shinx as he insisted on carrying you in penance for knocking you out."

    "Really?" Sean asked, breathing easier once Rai was off him. "Thank you."

    "It's nothing," Rai said, looking away. "We uh… didn't have much to treat you with, Grovyle managed to get an oran berry down, and my scarf to go over the biggest cut." He pointed to Sean's chest, and he glanced down in surprise, having not felt it.

    "Ah. Thanks again. For… a lot now. Heh." Sean rubbed the back of his head bashfully. "I went a bit crazy. I'm remembering a bit more, that aerodactyl was going to eat me! I got him with a sleep seed though, then I ran and found a dead end."

    Grovyle felt just the slightest bit vindicated at that but didn't say anything.

    "I got cornered by a…" Sean shivered. Then shivered again and rubbed his arms. Shivering one more time, he managed to say. "Parasect."

    Both pokémon looked at him blankly. "And?" Grovyle said.

    "It's a freaking zombie bug mushroom monster!" Sean snapped, shivering again. "Ugh, gah, AH! Just thinking about it makes me was to scream again."

    "You don't like parasect do you?" Rai asked.

    "Obviously," he snapped, sarcasm positively dripping from his tone. Sean didn't mean to snap, he was sore and still a little freaked out. To his surprise, Rai seemed to relax again.

    "You're alright," he whispered, turning away for a moment to regain his composure. "I'm really glad you're alright, Meowth."

    "I am too." Sean nodded, giving a quirk of a smile. Rai returned it and Grovyle shifted, catching their attention.

    "We are almost through," he said, pointing forward. A dim light shone, and Team Ion sighed in relief.

    "Thank god," Sean muttered, walking forward with a wince. "I'm ready to be out of this horrible place."

    "Do you need me to carry you the rest of the way?" Rai asked, quickly trotting besides Sean, but Sean refused.

    "I can manage the rest of the way. But… thank you."

    Grovyle caught up himself, having paused for a moment. "By our chosen path the base camp shouldn't be more than an hour's walk from the exit."

    "We've done it," Rai breathed as they exited the cave to a very foggy area. "We've made it over Mount Horn!"

    They walked in silence the rest of the way. Sean was aching, Rai was exhausted, Grovyle was deep in thought.

    They followed a pleasant track until the sounds of pokémon talking reached their ears.

    "Hey everyone!" Rai called, letting his voice move forward as he didn't want to step away from Sean. "We've arrived!"

    They stepped into base camp. There were a lot of wigglytuff-themed tents around. Personally, Sean would have been creeped out if he wasn't so relieved.

    "You are somewhat late!" A sharp voice only Chatot could manage caused Sean and Rai to cringe and even Grovyle to snap to attention. "Everyone else arrived hours ago!"

    "Sorry, we uh, had a little…" Rai trailed off, cringing under Chatot, remembering the last time Chatot was upset with him.

    "Things didn't go to complete plan," Grovyle cut in smoothly. "A situation occurred during our trek through Mount Horn and Sean was knocked out and badly hurt."

    Chatot's rage, and the attention of the apprentices close by, turned to Sean who weakly raised a paw in greeting. Sunflora and Bidoof gasped at the scarf he was wearing around his chest and the dots of blood that had gone through. "Hey."

    There was a brief moment of silent. Sunflora whispered. "Oh my gosh." Before Chatot flapped to attention.

    "Chimecho! Chimecho! You are needed post haste!" His voice carried far and Chimecho, along with the rest of the guild, came out of the mist.

    "What is, oh my word!" Her confusion turned to concern once she spotted Sean and came floating over quickly. "Come this way immediately." Sean was relieved and followed as Chimecho took him to her own tent. The one she had her supplies in.

    "Get set up and get ready for the briefing," Sean heard Chatot say to Rai and Grovyle before he was pulled in and everyone's eyes fell off him.

    Chimecho had him seated on a rather soft bed, it was stuffed rather than just a pile of straw and gathered a few bits and bobs in Psychic before turning back to him. "You're safe now," she said softly, and Sean felt something grow in the back of his throat. He realised he was about to cry and forced it down. "Shh-shh-shh," Chimecho soothed. "You don't need to worry, you are safe here."

    Sean covered his face. He didn't cry, but he did shudder a few times as he let some of the lingering panic wash away into the pain. Chimecho stripped the scarf and ribbon from him and replaced them with cloth soaked in sitrus juice.

    "It is a repairing agent when applied like this," Chimecho explained when he asked. "Eating them is an energy boost not unlike eating an oran berry, but sitrus' are more useful as bandages than oran's."

    She gave him water as well after washing the blood and dungeon dust off him and told him to rest up for now.

    "You'll recover well from this, nothing too serious. It just looked worse than it was."

    Sean couldn't help but feel like it hurt just about as bad as it was, but then again he had noticed how fast he recovered from the trials in the dungeons. Nothing like a human body. Even stamina wasn't much of an issue, despite felines not being known for having that in excess.

    Wigglytuff was ecstatic that they had finally arrived and immediately pulled Grovyle to the side to bombard him with friendliness and tales about the dungeon. He was confident Sean was in the best care with Chimecho and wasn't super worried.

    Rai was quickly met by the rest of the apprentices, and he began to tiredly explain the whole story.

    Chatot, once sure Rai was in good company himself, hopped off to Chimecho's tent. She was just poking her head out when Chatot came by.

    "Oh, Chatot. Meowth is doing well, I've just got him resting for the moment."

    "Very good, Chimecho. I would like a word with him before he goes to sleep if this is possible?"

    Chimecho hesitated. "He shouldn't be doing anything strenuous," she said uncertainly.

    "I just wish to speak to him," Chatot reaffirmed. "It shan't take more than a few minutes. Then I will be back to address the guild."

    "Very well. I will just… go check on Rai. And Grovyle, of course. Maybe he'll let me… um, I'll go!" Blushing, Chimecho floated away. Chatot shook his head, bemused, before hopping into the tent.

    "I require a word with you," Chatot said blandly. Sean nodded, and he waited in silence as Chatot hopped further into the tent. "First, are you alright?"

    "Yes, sore but... I'm fine now."

    "How bad are your injuries, honestly?" Chatot's tone brokered no argument.

    Sean hesitated, unsure of how to word it. "They sting," he said. "And I bled a bit, but nothing too bad. Chimecho said it looked worse than what it was. It was the parasect that freaked me out, but nothing really happened there. I'm fine now."

    "I want to ask something, and you will answer truthfully," Chatot said sharply, Sean swallowing fearfully, he felt very tired, he really hoped Chatot wasn't going to ask what he knew he was going to ask. They hadn't had any time to deal with that little thing Sean had let slip.

    "The other morning," Chatot began. "You revealed something to me. Something difficult to believe. Something that is very odd to claim. Something to my knowledge has only been proven true thrice in history. Wartortle and Gengar as well as Dewott in Paradise some years later. You said you were human, correct?"

    Dewott in Paradise? That sounded like Gates, but Sean didn't jump onto that. "Yes," he answered. He felt that Chatot was giving him a chance to take it back, despite his earlier words. He didn't, he didn't want to lie on this day.

    Chatot breathed out a sigh. "Human? Near-mythical beings that once existed and only exist here and now in the most… concerning of times. This is a... bold claim, Meowth. Although." Chatot glanced away, thinking. "It does explain a few things. Your name to begin with, your mannerisms to continue with. And…." The Time Gears going missing.

    Sean stared at Chatot. The bird had begun to pace back and forth, a few feathers sticking up as he began to flap.

    "Human! Human! What a ridiculous claim. Hee-hee-hee. What a fanciable fable to spook poor old Chatot with. I know it is customary for new recruits to try and pull a fast one on myself, but."

    Sean felt a little insulted, but at the same time a little detached from it all. He glanced down at his paws, wiggling three nubby digits back and forth and the yellowish bandages that were tied on his furry form. "It's the truth," he said, Chatot stopped pacing. "I was human, but now... I'm not."

    "Enough," Chatot snapped. "I don't know why you think this is funny-"

    Sean's tail flicked irritably. "Chatot sir," he began, but Chatot cut over him.

    "Meowth, enough." The meowth closed his mouth. "Do you have proof? Can you back up this claim with any evidence? Any powers you have not yet shown, items you possess, skills a meowth couldn't do?"

    Sean couldn't.

    "You have amnesia," Chatot continued, gentler this time. Although to Sean it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. "Whatever happened, whatever knocked your memories out, must have not taken everything. Humans are a popular legend, you may have simply found them fascinating. Perhaps you lost your memory searching for one, and only that remained in your head."

    Sean frowned, he knew that wasn't the truth. His tail flicked again as he claws began to extend. He sighed and forced them back. "Chatot I..."

    Chatot waited. Sean, for a moment, wanted to tell him everything. Everything he hadn't told Rai yet. "Told Rai this and he believes me."

    Chatot raised his head slightly, observing him. "...He is a good partner then," Chatot said, settling on that above all other things he nearly said. "Nothing good can come out of this claim, Meowth."

    "Why?" he asked, feeling daring enough to push.

    Chatot's face became one of many emotions at once, a torrent that shifted too fast for Sean to nail down any of them.

    "…is it true that a human stopped the meteor from falling?" Sean asked. Chatot's eyes closed in obvious pain. "And…?"

    "And Paradise," Chatot managed with a gruff. "Not that we know much of what went down, they hold their secrets close. Stoke the rumours, get tourists. Paradise is growing quite well under Dewott's leadership, so there is nothing outright to say she came across to solve a… problem."

    He went back to pacing.

    "The Time Gears, sir," Sean pointed out.

    "Yes," Chatot's reply was clipped. "Yes, I…." He sighed heavily. "Are you sure, Meowth?"

    "Is Sean a name a meowth would have?" he asked.

    "Sounds more like a mareep's name, yes. Shorn, rather… unusual for a meowth. You said you have amnesia?"

    "Yes."

    Another check in his corner. Chatot seemed to be wavering. Sean really wanted to have him on his side. Another flash of temptation hit him, to explain what he really knew.

    As soon as he caught Chatot's eye, his throat closed up. Like that aerodactyl had clamped its jaws around his neck, threatening to bite if he even squeaked a word of it out.

    The sudden flash of fear of what would happen. What Chatot would do. If he told him he was a character in a game. Would he even understand? Would he hate him too. Attack him to get rid of something that should not be.

    Chatot seemed to take his hesitation as something else and his voice softened. "Meowth, do not worry. Whatever the truth is, you are not alone."

    Somehow, that just made him feel even worse and he nodded miserably.

    "Good." Chatot nodded. "Now I should return, the Guildmaster wishes to address the guild soon."

    "Chatot?" Sean called after him before he left. His eyes were drooping, he just wanted to sleep, but something was more important first.

    "Yes?"

    "Don't tell anyone. Please."

    Chatot stuck his beak up. "Of course not. I would never-"

    "Not even the Guildmaster."

    Chatot paused. "Eh? Why would you feel the need to specify exclusion of the Guildmaster?"

    "It's just…" Sean's eyes were drifting, and things were spinning again. "I'd prefer to tell him myself." Sean slipped asleep and Chatot waited for a moment, before sighing lightly and hopping out.

    He hadn't promised, Sean fell asleep before he could demand anything so bold of him. To not tell the Guildmaster, Chatot barked a laugh at that.

    "I'd prefer to tell him myself…." Echoed in Chatot's head and he sighed. He hated promises.


    I like Chatot if you couldn't tell by now. I think he's a decent sort. Can be harsh, but Wigglytuff is soft. They make a good duo.
     
    Chapter 12 - It's Real Foggy
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    So, in the original story this and the next chapter were one, but I decided to split it into two here.


    "Ow," Sean grunted as Chimecho removed the bandages.

    "And… there we go!" Chimecho had taken them off as gently as she could, but the bandages tugged at Sean's fur a bit and he didn't enjoy that. "Your wounds look healed, I'll just clean the rest of the blood off."

    Sean sat still as Chimecho did her work, the basin of water she had growing steadily pinker as she scrubbed dried blood off his body. "Those pokémon did quite a number on you," she commentated. "Not the first either," she tutted.

    "Pardon?" Sean asked.

    "You have a lot of scars underneath your fur," Chimecho said, brushing several faded lines she had found between the fur. "Here and here and there and here."

    While she counted the scars, Sean mused. "My head still hurts but thank god for a pokémon's healing rate. If I was still human those marks would take weeks to disappear."

    He blamed all the pokémon that seemed drawn to attack him for everything else.

    "You have quite a few," Chimecho continued, clicking her tongue. "Not as obvious as that new grovyle, oh and not nearly as much as the one of Team Celestial. Goodness gracious, that was alarming upon first sight," she continued, adding that last bit under her breath. "And… done!" Chimecho pulled back, formally white cloth pink and red and black. "All spick and span and ready to go!"

    "Thank you so much, Chimecho," Sean said gratefully. He stretched and stood up with a wince as it pulled at his still-recovering body.

    "Here are the items you were wrapped in." Chimecho hovered over Sean's ribbon and Rai's scarf. "All cleaned and ready to be worn again!"

    "Thanks again," Sean said politely, taking both. He fiddled with the pair, not wrapping either of them around his neck just yet.

    She set the objects away into a pot to be washed later, some to be discarded as well. As she turned back, he was still there, and she smiled. "Something on your mind, Meowth?"

    He shrugged. "Not much, I don't know. Just a little curious."

    "Oh?" She beamed. "About what?"

    A lot of things, actually, but Sean didn't voice them all. They would be busy soon. "Just since I have you here, I was still curious about that Psychic Network thingy?"

    She nodded, it wasn't the first time someone had been curious. "What would you like to know?"

    "Where did it come from?" he asked seriously. "I've never heard of anything like that, it's hard to even imagine really."

    And it was. It wasn't in the game, he knew that. He saw no connection orbs or anything like that either, just these pokémon who developed their web of communication.

    Chimecho hummed for a moment as she pondered the question. "Exactly where? I can't say. It's been a thing for many years now, I do not know how long exactly. I do know a little of the history, others in the network have been kind enough to explain."

    She smiled at him. "I don't see many pokémon wondering about history, ah, if Indeedee could have you for an hour she'd talk your ear off," she giggled.

    He smiled back as she sobered, finishing putting her tools away. "Well, as I understand it, the network was designed by The Legendary Lucario." She said Lucario with emphasis that Sean immediately thought was a little unusual. "As a way of building community and surviving dungeons."

    "Lucario did this?" he asked. He remembered the Lucario rank in Rescue Team and the brief bit of history we had of that person.

    Chimecho bobbed in the air, her version of a nod. "Indeed. It is said that Lucario was the first explorer, rescuer, all things to do with dungeons and beyond. She could find people within them during the times that no one knew what dungeons were and began to teach others. The network was made by her to act in her place as she left to help others."

    Her eyes were a little far away. "Oh, imagine meeting her. That would be a highlight of my life."

    "Meet her?" he asked, a little thrown. "Sorry, I thought the dungeon stuff, Explorer Federation business was pretty old."

    "Oh, it is," Chimecho replied. "Lucario. Well, goodness, cannot even begin that history in the time we have. Excuse me, it's a little funny to me." She giggled. "Everyone knows about Lucario." Again with that emphasis. "It's something taught in school even and even wild pokémon have heard of her, at least that's what I've heard. Hard to imagine anyone who hasn't."

    He felt a little in the deep end as Chimecho giggled again. "I apologise, I'm not meaning to laugh at you. It's simply so odd, you are a charming young pokémon, Meowth."

    She smiled and then turned to the tent flap.

    "Chatot would like to speak to everyone again," Chimecho said, leading him out of her tent. "While you were sleeping he went over a few things, but said he'd talk again once you were ready."

    "Kind of him," Sean said as he stepped out into the glorious day. Fog was still there, glorious fog.

    "Meowth!" Rai called, bounding over to him as soon as he saw him. "How are you feeling?"

    "Better," he said, brushing non-existent dirt off his shoulder. "How about you?"

    "Better 'cause you're better!" Rai said, nuzzling him along the side that hadn't been wounded. "Was weird sleeping without you there."

    "Here's your scarf back, thanks for giving it to me." Sean began to hand the scarf over before realising Rai couldn't really put it on himself. "Should I?" With an affirmative nod from Rai, Sean clumsily tied the defence scarf back around Rai's neck before putting the joy ribbon around his own.

    He fumbled a little with tying them, but he was getting more used to his paws.

    "Ahem, attention please," Chatot called to gain Sean and Rai's focus, everyone else was already waiting quietly, but old habits die hard. "With everyone now at the base camp safe and sound, rested and recovered." He didn't look at Sean, but everyone else did. "We will now proceed to our exploration of Fogbound Lake!"

    Smiles were shared, and glances spun as Chatot turned around. "As you can see, we are in a densely forested area. Somewhere within this forest, Fogbound Lake is supposedly concealed… but so far, that has been nothing more than a rumour."

    "Exploration teams of all types and pokémon have mounted many attempts at finding the lake," Wigglytuff cut in, Chatot bowing out gracefully to let the Guildmaster speak. "But so far the lake hasn't been found. No one has been able to crack the mystery."

    "Hey-hey-hey, so is it there or what?" Corphish started, taking the limelight for himself. "Is Fogbound Lake really there or have we come this way for nothing?"

    "Silly Corphish," Sunflora said, shaking her head. "You'll wreck the hopes and dreams saying stuff like that."

    "YEAH!" Loudred roared. "DON'T SPOIL THINGS NOW!" Sean couldn't help but quirk a small smile he swiftly hid at that.

    "Hey…." Corphish hunched down in his shell.

    "Um, may I?" Chimecho asked. "Um… while we were travelling, I heard about a certain legend."

    "A legend you say?" Chatot asked.

    "Yes." Chimecho nodded, swaying in the wind. "A legend about Fogbound Lake. According to the legend, Fogbound Lake is home to a pokémon called Uxie. Uxie is supposedly exceedingly rare, perhaps even a Legendary Pokémon, and has the power to wipe the memories clean of anyone who meets its eyes. That is why, even if someone was to find Fogbound Lake, they wouldn't remember it after Uxie removed their memories, effectively muzzling any attempts to reveal the truth about the existence of the lake."

    More than a few eyes turned to Sean, Rai's most noticeably.

    "I've heard of this legend myself," Grovyle commented. "Best to be careful, most legends are built from a kernel of truth."

    "G-golly, that sounds terrible." Bidoof shook in place. "Positively hair-raising yup-yup."

    "Meh-heh-heh, I've heard of this legend myself," Croagunk said. "I grew up in the Bubbling Swamp that we passed by. That legend's been around for some time, no one has ever proved it, but, how would they? It's never completely faded either. Meh-heh-heh, perhaps there is some truth to it?"

    "What would we do if our memory was erased?" Dugtrio gasped. "The implications are terrible!"

    "Are you… talking about we as in all of us, or we as in you?" Sunflora asked curiously.

    "We as in Dugtrio! We might forget our love of the ocean, that would be an utter outrage!"

    "You're so weird sometimes you make me go eek!" Sunflora exclaimed, shaking her head. "Not your love of your son?"

    Dugtrio puffed up in outrage. "No amount of amnesia would ever make us forget our love of our son!"

    "Ahem," Chatot coughed politely. "You should all realise that places of this sort can be expected to have a folktale, or a legend attached to them. Our guild has overcome difficult challenges and obstacles when conducting successful explorations before!"

    "That's how the guild earned its reputation of first-class right?" Sean asked.

    "That's right." Wigglytuff nodded. "We never give up. Never surrender! Yoom-TAH!" His voice nearly blew the guild away, but everyone managed to hold firm, getting a satisfied nod from Chatot in the process. "Hahaha so don't worry. Everything will be alright. Let's believe in success for this adventure too, and let's try! Let's try! No reason not to try, lalala!" His overwhelming positivity reinvigorated the whole guild.

    "HOORAY!"

    "Let's move on with our plan," Chatot said, bringing the conversation back to its role. "The Guildmaster and I shall remain here to gather intelligence from the teams in the field. You. All of you shall go off in teams to explore this forest. Be aware that this forest is enshrouded in a deep fog. Once you enter it, your visibility will be severely restricted. And electric attacks." Chatot turned to Rai. "Will be affected by this to a degree as well, so be aware your attacks may not be as effective as normal."

    "Right." Rai nodded. He also relied on his eyesight to score his hits; he knew this would be doubly difficult.

    "The Guildmaster and I believe that Fogbound Lake has defied discovery due to this constant fog," Chatot continued. "There has never been a recorded time of this fog being lifted, possibly meaning it is being kept in place by some means. Therefore, your search is twofold. One, search for Fogbound Lake. And two, find a way to lift this fog."

    "I'm guessing Defog wouldn't work?" Sean asked as the apprentices nodded.

    "No move has ever been able to shift the fog," Chatot answered, shaking his head. "If you accomplish either task, return to base camp and inform either the Guildmaster or myself. That is all. Alright everyone, let's give it our best as always!"

    "YES, SIR!"

    "Let's all try our best!" Sunflora said right after the cheer.

    "It'd be nice if we made a discovery or two," Bidoof agreed, sharing a smile with Sunflora.

    "We'll find the LAKE!" Loudred roared. "AS MEMBERS OF THE WIGGLYTUFF GUILD THERE IS NOTHING LESS WE CAN ACCOMPLISH!"

    "We'll find the lake," Chimecho agreed as everyone staggered from Loudred. "I'm sure of it."

    "Dad?" Diglett asked, coming to his father's side. "I was thinking, maybe we should try looking under the ground. Maybe the lake is underground?"

    "Not this one," Sean thought as Dugtrio beamed.

    "Ah my son, my pride and joy, you make me proud. Let's look underground." He nodded with all his heads at Diglett before looking to the group. "Alright everyone, we will be off. A lot of ground to cover." And with that, Diglett and Dugtrio disappeared into the ground.

    "Hey-hey-hey, we can't afford to dawdle either!" Corphish hopped to his feet.

    "Yup-yup, we need to hurry."

    "Meh-heh-heh, let's give it our best shot."

    "Let's get this done Sean!" Rai turned to the meowth and received a nod from Sean. "We'll search every inch of this place!"

    "You two," Grovyle said, stepping up to them. "Have any ideas on where to start?" Sean felt uncomfortable as Grovyle seemed to barely glance at Rai as he came up to them, speaking right to Sean.

    Rai nodded, bouncing in excitement. "We're both fast and have good eyes! I can glow and Meowth worked out the pathway through Boulder Quarry! We've got this!"

    "Boulder Quarry?" Grovyle asked.

    Sean tried not to wince. "Sure did," he said, as Rai turned an expectant look on him. "Hard to explain, weird place."

    Grovyle eyed him for a moment before nodding. "Forgive me for this, but I believe it'll be better for us if we were to split up from here. Cover more ground that way." He then smirked and damn was it a good look on him. "I'm eager to get ahead of you two, see if you can catch up."

    Rai immediately reacted, sparking with electricity. "We'll give you a head start," he said confidently, also a really good look on him and Sean's eyes drifted from Grovyle's smirk to Rai's confident grin.

    Grovyle and Rai eyed each other for a moment until Rai's grin began to crack a little under the pressure of being stared down by Grovyle. Then, Grovyle laughed.

    "Very kind of you, I'd better run then. Take all the advantages I can get. Best of luck you two, and keep working on that Night Slash." And then he was off, dashing incredibly fast into the mist.

    Rai breathed out a sigh of excited emotion as Grovyle disappeared, Sean was still staring. Rai shook it off and then flashed a grin at Sean. "What's with the look?" he asked.

    Sean finally blinked and he shook his head as well. "Oh, uh. I don't know if I've seen you look that confident before, it's a nice look."

    Rai went red. "U-Uh, well. That, I."

    Seeing Rai's confidence begin to go up in smoke, Sean immediately tried to backtrack. "No! It's good. Really good. I bet we can do it as well, get ahead of Grovyle. Impress the whole guild! I know we can do it!"

    And at that moment he resolved to cheat his hardest in the trials coming up. Because Rai deserved to look that confident all the time.

    They waved to Chatot and Wigglytuff as they went by.

    "Chatot I'm bored."

    "It's been a minute. Please don't do this already."

    "But Chatoooot."

    Their voices fell quiet quickly though as Team Ion wandered the mist.

    "Creepy place," Sean observed, withholding a shiver. "Charming."

    "So, I was thinking," Rai began, not looking at him. Sean didn't move his eyes off the trees either, it felt like something was watching them. "What Chimecho said about the legend, Uxie I think she said."

    "Yeah?" Sean asked when Rai didn't continue.

    "She said that Uxie could remove memories… do you think that's what happened to you? You came here, and then Uxie took your memories?"

    Sean frowned, the topic wasn't a huge surprise, but he hadn't looked forward to it either way. "Maybe," he said, not willing to just say no. "I don't feel any déjà vu or anything. It doesn't feel like I've been here before."

    "Probably would be part of Uxie's goal though?" Rai said, feeling confident in his points. "Maybe if we meet this Uxie, we can ask them? Even if they didn't take your memories, they might have an idea of what did or a way to get them back!"

    "Let's focus on finding Fogbound Lake first," Sean said, distractedly rubbing the chill off his arm. His eyes went left and right, looking for that stone he remembered. "If Uxie's there, it would be a good idea to ask."

    "Good, let's find Fogbound Lake then!" Rai didn't rush off like he normally would, sticking close to Sean instead. They both preferred it. The forest was difficult to see through, and very quiet.

    A subtle shift in the feeling the place gave out caused them both to avert their eyes and glance to each other. The trees in the mist became more oriented to positioning and the fog only seemed to grow heavier.

    "I think we entered the dungeon," Sean said, feeling the bottom of his stomach drop. They didn't have the stone!

    "Yep." Rai nodded. "No doubt."

    "Let's get to this then." Sean gave Rai a confident smile he didn't feel. Grovyle was not with them, the fog was still there, and everything was coming back to the way he liked it.

    Except.

    Sean's smile fell as Rai began leading him through the dungeon. He was sure the stone was meant to be on the path in, was he completely wrong? Was it further in? Or had someone already grabbed it?

    In a different part of the dungeon, Grovyle began his journey to the Groudon statue. "Alright," he said to himself, patting his bag and the key hidden within it. "Time to do this."


    "Um… Rai?" Sean asked once they had gotten well into the dungeon. "You don't need to work so hard."

    "What do you mean?" Rai asked, sending a furret to the land of dreams with a powerful zap.

    "You are kind of doing… everything for me."

    Sean and Rai had been storming their way through Foggy Forest for nearly an hour at this point. Sean had his claws ready, ignoring the occasional jab of pain through his abdomen, and had a plan of attack.

    Rai electrocuted every enemy they had come across. From the Flying-types to the Normal-types to the Grass-types. He had refused to allow anything to get even within talking distance to Sean, exerting his electricity through the fog.

    He was even carrying the Treasure Bag.

    Sean, being completely honest with himself, didn't exactly mind having less work to do, but this was getting excessive. Rai's electrical attacks were being dampened by the fog and the shinx was having to push himself a lot harder to make them effective.

    "Well, you know." Rai shrugged, rolling his shoulders and avoiding the question. "I'm pretty strong, and I attack from a distance all the time! I don't see the problem!"

    "The fog IS making it harder for you to hit stuff," Sean pointed out, literally pointing a claw to multiple scorch marks across the room they were in. "Took you four tries to hit that noctowl."

    "I'm still getting better with my aim!" Rai insisted. "Thunderbolt takes some time to master, that I know."

    He demonstrated his greater proficiency by striking down a zigzagoon on the first shot. "That's all well and good," Sean said, crossing his arms. "But you're doing everything. I'm not even carrying the bag, and I'm the one who uses items."

    "I didn't think you needed the weight on your back," Rai continued to insist upon his point. "It's not like I can't get an item out if I need it."

    Sean stared him down for a moment. "Rai, please," he said softly and the shinx wilted.

    "I… you got really hurt in Mount Horn," Rai said shamefully. "Part of that is because of me, I just want to make it up to you."

    "Rai, I'm fine," Sean stressed the word. "And I forgave you as soon as I woke up."

    Rai shifted, still looking a bothersome mix of guilty and defiant.

    "Can I at least have the bag?" Sean asked, stretching out a paw to Rai. "I feel better with it anyway. I mean, if something happens and you can't protect me, what am I supposed to do without it? It has all the seeds that I use, like that sleep seed I used on the aerodactyl."

    Sean's light, almost flippant, tone towards getting carried off caused a small shiver through Rai, but he did concede the point. "You do good with the seeds, that's for sure," he said as he shrugged out of the bag.

    "Crammed it down the beast's throat." Sean grinned proudly, feeling a lot better with the Treasure Bag slung around his shoulder. "And this isn't even heavy, I'm sure I can manage," he added to Rai's concern.

    Smiling at his friend, Sean decided to lead the way for once. "I've got a paw on three seeds right now," he said as Rai shot him a mixture of annoyed and concerned looks. "And I'm fine. Barely even have any new scars under all this fur!"

    Sean's bravado remained as they made their way further into the dungeon. The fog was still smothering everything in its oppressive embrace, but it could do nothing to Sean's keen eyes.

    "Here comes a hoothoot," Sean said, spotting the bird flying towards them. Rai squinted, trying to get a lock on the slow bird and began to charge electricity. "Let me take this one," Sean said, sweeping a paw out to block Rai's line of sight.

    "What?" Rai asked as the claws in that paw extended.

    "Let me," Sean repeated before dashing forward.

    Heart pumping furiously in his chest, Sean readied his claws as the hoothoot spotted him and swooped down at him. "Scraaah!" Sean yelled, beginning to say the name of the attack before just slipping into a battle cry.

    Hoothoot's beak shone white as Sean's claws did and Scratch met Peck in an almost embarrassingly underwhelming moment. Hoothoot's dive had given it some extra force and Sean yelped as his paw was pecked hard.

    Recoiling, he managed to sidestep the hoothoot tackling him and the bird landed in the dirt. "Ow-ow-ow!" Sean yelped hopping on his feet and shaking his paw. "FfffRICK!" With his other paw's claws glowing white, Sean slashed out with that one, delivering a much better blow upon hoothoot's face.

    The feral pokémon screeched loudly and darted back, right as Rai decided to step in and shock it with Thunderbolt. Hoothoot crumpled like a sack of bricks and Rai came trotting over to his side.

    "Good battle!" he said politely as Sean stopped making a fuss. Admiring his paw, he quickly found there was only a small spot of blood and even then, it wasn't flowing. He felt an odd fascination with the drop of blood for a strange moment, wanting to see it change.

    "Thanks," Sean breathed, a little relieved Rai had stepped in. His heart hammered in his chest, and it was just a hoothoot. "That… thanks. I feel better knowing you have my back."

    Rai brightened and nodded to Sean. "And I'm happy to know I have you to do the same."

    "Yeah," Sean sighed, rubbing his injured paw against his hip to wipe the blood away. "Let's keep going."

    "Right."

    Without any more dawdling around, Team Ion stormed the Foggy Forest with the force of a stiff breeze.

    Pokémon fell before them once Rai had shocked them enough times or Sean threw seeds with the precision of a champion shot-putter. In a feat of great irony to the pair, Sean had the stronger presence in this dungeon.

    The eyes of the meowth were keen and sharp and were able to spot things that even Rai's eyes didn't pick up on. A sharp slash with his claws or a precise seed thrown at the right angle was enough to ward a considerable number of pokémon off.

    Needless to say, Sean was feeling much better about the hoothoot from earlier.

    "And that makes twelve," Sean said as a furret scampered off into the fog. He flexed the claws on his left paw at the retreating figure for a moment before retracting them and beaming in delight. "Scared that one off for a while I bet!"

    "You're doing fantastic!" Rai cheered, simultaneously happy for his friend, reassured Sean was in fact healed, and relieved that he could restore some of his energy. Shocking enemies through all this fog was really dragging him down.

    "I know, I know," Sean said waving him off facetiously. "You're too kind."

    "How can I be too kind?" Rai asked, cocking his head as Sean gave him a bright look of adoration.

    "Never change," he said, poking Rai on the nose. "You are far too cute as you are."

    "Change is good though," Rai insisted before fluffing up and barking. "Stop calling me cute!"

    "Who's going to hear me?" Sean laughed, running forward through the empty room they had entered.

    "I AM!" Rai yelled, chasing down the slower pokémon.

    Sean dodged Rai's first pounce, but he couldn't avoid the second one due to laughing far too hard. "Ah, you're too heavy, help! Someone help!"

    Growling, Rai pressed down on him, really pinning him now. "Who's cute now?" he asked pleasantly.

    "You," Sean replied without hesitation, even with his mouth pushed into the grass.

    Rai growled, but he wasn't the only one. "Eep!" Was all Rai managed before something tackled him.

    "Pleh, what's going on?" Sean yelled spitting out grass, tone changing to alarm as he pulled himself up. Yips and barks from the two pokémon wrestling. One was Rai, Sean could tell, especially when the yellow light of electricity blasted the other one, off Rai.

    "Oh, go to distortion!" he yelled at the pokémon that had attacked him. Sean had to bury a snort of amusement once he saw Rai's face, all concern being washed away. A big blotch of green paint was striped across his face, and he gave Sean an equally filthy look for the laughter.

    Rai shot off a Thunderbolt, but the smeargle avoided it by rolling to the side. Its tail waggled in a few rapid positions, green paint somehow remaining in the air as the tail swept through. Like it was painting the very air.

    "What's it doing?" Sean asked in surprise, he could guess but this was just weird.

    "I don't know, but I don't like!" Rai answered, charging a second Thunderbolt. Before he could, however, the smeargle finished sketching Rai's Thunderbolt and the green paint turned bright yellow before it sunk into the smeargle's body.

    "That's weird," Sean said, backing away as the smeargle turned to him. "Looks like it's going to AH!"

    The smeargle flashed with light and used Thunderbolt, blasting Sean off his feet.

    He landed with a crash and a groan. "Why does this feel familiar?" he asked before twitching as the remaining electricity caused his limbs to spasm.

    Even now, the smeargle made no noise, simply staring forwards with glassy eyes narrowed into a foggy fury.

    Rai, upon Sean getting blasted, abandoned charging electricity and instead chose to just charge the smeargle himself. "BACK OFF!" he roared, slamming headfirst into the smeargle's chest.

    With contact made, Rai unleashed the built-up electricity and for a moment the fog around them lifted from the light and energy the attack gave off.

    Smeargle did not get back up.

    With the threat unconscious, Rai calmed down and turned to where Sean had fallen. To his surprise, Sean was already up and rubbing his neck.

    "Ow," Sean said to Rai's wide-eyed staring. "Also, wow. You really took that thing out."

    Sighing in relief, Rai trotted back over to Sean. "Glad you're alright," he said, rubbing against him for a moment. "When you got shocked I…." He glanced away, shame flashing across his face.

    "I'm okay," Sean said, pulling himself up with Rai to hold onto. "You don't need to get too upset when I get hurt though, I don't want you winding yourself in a dungeon." He groaned as he popped his back, the tingly feeling fading as Rai absorbed the lingering voltage off his body. "I'm pretty tough."

    "Shush," Rai said, but without any heat to it. "You really are tough. That joy ribbon must really be doing some work."

    Rai trailed off, but to his relief, Sean laughed. "Yeah, this thing was a great idea." He fiddled with the bow the joy ribbon had been tied to. "Not quite as snazzy as my bow, but much more useful really. I'll be stronger than you in no time!"

    "I don't think it works quite like that." Rai began but shrugged as Sean pointed the way. "As long as we are both alright!"

    "I survived Boulder Quarry AND the disaster that was Mount Horn," Sean pointed out as they left the room. "I think I can take some Foggy Forest and come out swinging."

    They continued fighting through the dungeon, beset at every turn.

    Multiple pokémon began to appear at once and Sean and Rai were forced to fight back-to-back to divert and defeat several enemies all at the same time.

    Try as he might, Sean couldn't quite form a Night Slash yet. His claws would glint black for a moment as he tried to remember what Grovyle had said, but his mind continued to flip back to the aerodactyl or worse the parasect and distract him.

    Rai was getting tired. He had eaten most of their supply of orans to keep his energy going and two of their three apples. Sean didn't mind, he was the one who suggested it. Even with his better capacity to fight, Rai was still the powerhouse of the duo.

    To Sean's dismay, he accidentally used the blast seed they had on a duo of pokémon. Except he missed his throw, and the explosion occurred a few feet before the noctowl and skiploom, it managed to scare them off at least.

    They fought their way deeper into the dungeon until the roaring sounds of water attracted them. The walls of the dungeon began to melt away into proper trees and plants, the oppressive air of the dungeon drifted away, and even the fog was a bit lighter here.

    "Wow," Rai gasped as they entered a wide clearing. The fog, while thinner than the dungeon, was still quite thick when looking up, but had mostly lifted on the trail to a large stone statue. "Water is coming down in waterfalls all over the place."

    All around them, lined with shrubs and pleasantly cool grass, water fell from great heights. It splashed out in a fine misty trail, invigorating the pair as they were cooled and refreshed by the mist of the falling water.

    "But, where are we?" Rai asked, glancing around. "Is this the deepest part of the forest?" He looked around a little more, but there was no object of interest blocking the back.

    Sean smiled as the thunderous sounds of water crashing down filled his ears and he shivered pleasantly. Rai caught the movement and turned to him.

    "Are you cold?" he asked.

    "Nah," Sean replied, shaking his head and rubbing an arm. "I just enjoy the sound of water. Gives me goosebumps." He shivered again, enjoying the tingly feeling the sound of rushing water gave him. It felt a little different with a meowth's ears and yet also like there was no different.

    The world was sharper, brighter, in many ways compared to his old self and yet it felt normal. Delving into the feeling was what made him uncomfortable as memory and instinct began to come at odds.

    Further conversation was halted as they had stepped too far into the clearing and the sound of water crashing down completely drowned out all other noise.

    Sharing a look, they walked forward quickly to escape the loudest part of the waterfalls.

    "Meh-heh-heh, what do we have here?"

    Both Sean and Rai jumped in alarm once the low voice reached their ears. Spinning around they found Croagunk standing inches from them both. "How long have you been there?" Sean gasped, clutching his chest dramatically as Rai wheezed.

    "A few minutes," Croagunk answered. "Exited the dungeon about a minute after you. I said hello, guess neither of you heard me. Meh-heh-heh."

    Sharing a nettled look with Sean, Rai pushed a smile forward. Croagunk was unsettling occasionally, but he was a good guy still. "Sorry, the waterfalls were so loud."

    "Meh-heh-heh, no offence taken." Croagunk waved them off and they stepped aside as he walked forward, eyes trained on the statue. "I'm more curious about this sunken statue to be honest."

    They were much closer to it now and the pair hurried to keep up with Croagunk. The venomous frog was surprisingly quick, striding through the softened, squelchy, ground as if he'd grown up in it.

    "Very possible," Sean thought as the three of them came to a stop. "That's fun." Sean grimaced as he got a first-hand look at Groudon.

    Or really it was a second-hand look. This was a statue. A gargantuan statue that was still likely nothing in comparison to the real thing. Sean's mouth curled in a few bizarre directions as he looked over it.

    Face: Gigantic and snarling, mouth wide enough to eat him in one gulp.

    Body: Rough and spiky all over, perfect for battering his feeble meowth form into paste or impaling on any one of those barbs.

    Hands: Thick and crushing, wide enough to crush the organs out of him.

    Feet: Broad and also spiky, capable of crushing or spearing in equal measure.

    Everything: Absolutely terrifying. This was the form of a deity, the embodiment of the land, the one who lifted the earth from the primordial sea, a being so ancient and powerful that Sean was nothing in comparison. It was covered in moss that had tiny little things wriggling through it.

    "What is this?" Rai breathed, amazed. In his eyes, it was a relic of an ancient time before they had writing or history that was recorded, crafted by limbs he may not even recognise. Ancient, unknown, mysterious.

    "Dunno," Croagunk answered, shrugging. "Has to be a pokémon, but what kind?"

    "I've never seen a pokémon like THAT before," Rai said, taking a deep breath and calming his nerves. "Okay, it's just a statue, maybe there's something to this thing?" He stepped forward without, much, hesitation and began looking over it closer. "Sean, you've got good eyes, take a look!"

    Sean's instincts told him not to stop looking at the monster's face, but the rational part of him mutinied and he shook his head. "Just a statue," he confirmed and strode forward with his own confidence. Now was not the time for dilly-dallying, he knew where to look.

    "Rai, here," Sean called once he had gone around to the statue's left side. "There's something here and, err, I can't read it."

    "An inscription?" Rai asked, gaining Croagunk's interest enough for him to come around himself.

    "Meh-heh-heh, looks like it," Croagunk confirmed. "Footprint runes, local dialect too. It says…" Croagunk stared at it for a brief moment, Sean was a little surprised but had nothing to say about this. "Reignite the life that burned within Groudon. Then the sky shall blaze with the sun's heat. The path to treasure shall be revealed."

    "The path to treasure!?" Rai gasped. "Croagunk that's incredible! The key to finding Fogbound Lake could be right here!"

    Croagunk's easy grin never shifted as he chuckled, "This is a mystery we've got to solve then."

    "Shouldn't be too hard," Sean said, smiling a little bitterly as he just had an idea. He gave Rai a meaningful look, only to receive a questioning one back.

    "Shouldn't be too hard?" Rai repeated, frowning. "Um… reignite the life that burned within Groudon. Then the sky blazes with heat. The path to treasure shall be revealed. This seems pretty tricky; do you have some idea Sean?"

    They didn't have the stone. He hadn't had time to think about it up to this point, but it was occurring to him now. Who else knew about the inscription ahead of time? And had gone ahead of them?

    "Dammit, Grovyle. I need that."

    "Uh… Sean?" Rai asked as Sean had gone very still indeed. "You figured something out?" He could be optimistic.

    "Uh no." Sean's voice was very hoarse, and he cleared his throat. "Besides the fact that it looks like there's a piece missing in the chest here."

    "Uh…" Rai frowned and looked around, settling on the statue for a moment. "Huh. Yeah, between all the moss." He gave it a light shock to clear a bit out. "I wonder… hmm, Fire-type attack maybe could do something? Any that make ash or so?"

    "Not that I've heard of," Croagunk answered, stepping back from the statue. "I reckon this could be the key forwards, I think we'd better get back to base camp. Maybe the Guildmaster has an idea?"

    "Yes, that's right!" Rai nodded. "Wigglytuff is a legendary adventurer, he'll know something I'm sure!"

    Sean wasn't sure. He was pretty sure now that Grovyle had grabbed it on his way in, but maybe he'd just missed it… he resolved to look more carefully.

    He didn't enjoy the idea of going through Foggy Forest again though.

    They began to walk back, passing the thunderous waterfalls and enjoying the spray of water again. Rai was energized, Croagunk was… Croagunk, he was difficult to read at the best of times.

    Feeling uneasy about the whole thing, but determined to get this done right, Sean glanced back to the statue.

    "Oh." He blinked, but a flash of green only reaffirmed his belief. "Oh, you son of a bitch."

    He thought fast, but his mouth moved faster. "Hey, Rrrrshinx?" he asked, mind going blank as he had nothing prepared.

    "Hm?" Rai asked, stopping and glancing back at Sean.

    "Maybe we should look around here for a bit?" he asked, eyes trained on where he saw movement. "I mean, we only just got here, and it isn't like all three of us need to go back to base camp?"

    Rai looked to Croagunk who shrugged. "Could be a good idea," he said.

    "Yeah!" Rai smiled and broke from Croagunk's side to join Sean's. "We might see everyone back at the statue!" he said and Croagunk nodded.

    His eyes focused on Sean, and he felt like Grovyle was staring at him again. Croagunk just smiled good-naturedly. "Good luck," he said, giving a wave and disappearing into the mist.

    "Okay," Rai said, walking back with Sean. "Where should we look first?" he asked, quickening his pace once he realised Sean was powerwalking.

    "To the right, I think," Sean said firmly, still acting on autopilot. His mind was yelling at him to slow down, but Sean was not listening to Sean at the moment.

    "Uh, okay," Rai agreed, turning right as Sean was already crossing the path. He glanced back to the statue, but Sean didn't pay it a second look. "Where are we going?" he asked, a little alarmed. "Shouldn't we look around the statue first?"

    Sean came to a stop, breathing raggedly for a moment before shaking his head. "Sorry, I think I saw someone go this way," he admitted, gesturing forward with his paw. The claws were extended, and Sean made a conscious effort to pull them back in.

    "You saw someone?" Rai asked. "Who?"

    "It looked a bit like…." Sean hesitated, he knew Rai really liked Grovyle and he wasn't jealous about that at all. "Grovyle. But I don't think he saw us, he probably didn't even realise we were here."

    "Grovyle?" Rai cocked his head, and for once Sean didn't call him cute for it. "He probably would be this far, if not further. Maybe you're right if he's around he might have some idea!"

    Smiling suddenly, perhaps a little too much in Sean's opinion, Rai bounded forward. "Hey, Grovyle? Are you here?" he shouted, voice carrying in an echo but drowned in a waterfall before long.

    "Doubt he'd be able to hear you," Sean said, figuring Grovyle wouldn't emerge even if he did. "We should just look."

    "Yeah, yeah, okay let's go."

    "Do you even see the path to Steam Cave?" Sean wondered as he and Rai walked carefully. The fog had grown incredibly thicker in a few short moments, limiting their vision to just a few meters. The sound of water falling slowly began to drift away as the fog seemed to drown it all away.

    "Where are we?" Rai whispered. Whispering seemed right, the area had gone eerily quiet.

    "Somewhere," Sean answered, falling back to sarcasm in face of his nerves.

    "Yes, I can see that," Rai grumbled.

    "I can't," Sean responded, smiling despite himself.

    Rai gave a small giggle, and he felt a bit better.

    "I think we should stick to the left," Sean said, angling them in the direction he chose. Their feet squelched on soft ground. It wasn't quite mud yet, but it was right on the edge of it. Sean had left the horrific feeling in the back of his head as the fog was of greater concern.

    "Normally we'd be able to find the entrance no problem." He frowned, thinking further. "Should we even look for it? Can it be found with all this damn fog? Okay, I'm going to call out."

    "Grovyle?" Sean called, voice almost immediately being lost to the fog. "GROVYLE?"

    "GROVYLE?" Rai joined in, voice only a little higher. "GROVYLE?"

    "Good lord this place is unsettling," Sean commented after their shouting did nothing.

    "I'm amazed we can even breathe through fog this thick," Rai mumbled.

    "A charming thought," Sean said dryly, stepping forward into new territory. "Wha?"

    He froze, and Rai froze with him, having also stepped onto new ground. They looked down, even this close the fog still fuzzed up their features. Still, both could see they stood onto ground no different than what was before, except it was different.

    "Is the ground warm?" Sean asked after a moment of them staring at their feet. He lifted his foot, grimacing at the moist feeling.

    "Yeah," Rai answered, after testing the ground out a little more. "Really warm."

    "It wasn't warm before," Sean said, his mind automatically thinking about horrible land monsters, which led him to think about a real Groudon being right underneath them.

    Rai thankfully spoke, moving him away from such thoughts. "No, it wasn't. This is… weird."

    "Could be…" Sean paused as a thought slammed into him. "Steam Cave! It must be warm, we might be close!" He held his tongue, not sharing that amount of knowledge. Instead, he nodded firmly to Rai. "There might be something ahead. Remember what the statue said, about reigniting fire or something? This is warm, this might be what we're looking for."

    Rai's eyes widened before he grinned widely. "That's really clever!" he gasped. "I hadn't even considered that."

    Sean chuckled, rather pleased. "I won't say race ya, maybe hang onto me?" he suggested.

    Rai grinned. "Let's link tails!" he replied, snaking his tail to curl around Sean's. "That way we won't lose each other."

    Sean felt a little odd as their tails wrapped around each other, sometimes the tail still gave him strange bursts of feeling not himself and having a fifth limb was the worst of it. He swallowed it down though, pushing the funny feeling to the bottom of his stomach.

    The fog began to thin as they walked forward as the air itself began to heat up. It didn't go away completely, but the hotter air caused it all to rise a bit further and the pair were able to see further.

    They were able to see the death and/or pain coming in time due to this.

    "Woah!" Rai froze and yanked Sean's tail, causing the meowth to yelp. "Sorry, that pool of water just ahead, that must be boiling hot."

    Sean grimaced, both in pain in his leg and from the realisation he had gotten unfortunately close to stepping in that. "Okay, more careful," he said, backing away and going a safer route.

    Sean and Rai pressed together, confident the other would spot any danger they missed, and stepped forward carefully. They reached a few dead ends in terms of boiling water and had to back away.

    "I didn't think there would be a maze here," Sean grumbled as they had to carefully turn back again.

    "Wish one of us could fly," Rai said, agreeing with the sentiment. "Chatot would be really helpful here."

    They continued, making their way further and further, turning back, going way back, going further, circling back, going further and further and further until finally.

    "There!" Rai called, pointing forward with a paw. "I think I see something!"

    The pools of water suddenly seemed to part, instead of the frustrating maze there were simply two large pools on either side. Neither raced forward just yet, wary of a trap, but nothing happened as the two walked up to a cave opening that was positively belching at them.

    "Mouth of the beast much," Sean said, frowning at the fissure-like opening.

    "We can go in through here I'm sure," Rai said, stepping up to look over it. The heat from the cave had caused a blind spot in terms of fog, but steam was also wafting out of it anyway.

    "It's going to be so hot in there," Sean moaned. "Steam from a cave opening? Oh my god."

    "It's too late to get cold feet," Rai joked, getting a Look from Sean. "Heh."

    "You are funny," Sean said completely flatly. "Hilarious."

    "Thanks." Rai smiled, blissfully ignoring the expressions of bemusement that crossed over his friend's face. "Whatever is in here probably lifts the fog, my pulse is racing just thinking about this."

    "Maybe it's the real entrance," Sean joked, being completely serious. "And we've just bypassed the lifting of the fog?"

    "Could be," Rai agreed, surprising Sean. "Either way, something important is in there and I can't wait to find out!"

    Sean nodded, smiling at the enthusiasm of Rai. "Right," he agreed, nodding. "My pulse is going like crazy myself. Whatever's up there…"

    They drew closer, and took in the cave entrance for what it was. The sight was shimmering because of the heat, no. It was the curious optical illusion of the dungeon entrance.

    Rai glanced to Sean, but the meowth was staring forward with a fixed expression of determination. "I think it's a dungeon," he said, less sure now.

    Sean nodded. "It must be." Even though he had assured himself he'd cheat for Rai's benefit, Steam Cave was still something else now that he was here. They'd found a way around the missing stone, he wondered how no one had found the dungeon.

    And then remembered that people had and Uxie simply removed their memory afterwards. What was coming up there, the Groudon illusion. Yet one that was dangerous, nonetheless.

    He did not feel ready to go up there.

    Rai was looking at him, reading his expression of nervousness and dread. Something he didn't know the true context too, but he could make a guess. Fear of meeting Uxie and knowing for sure if his memories had been tampered with here.

    Or not.

    Sean looked to him and there was a look in his eyes. One that knew more than he was telling. "Ready?" he asked.

    He was willing to do this. Go forth into this. Rai felt warmth in his chest at such a brave pokémon. He wanted to be like that. To be afraid, to be weak even, and still do the bold and brave thing. He knew there was a pretty sharp difference in their strengths, but even though Sean had been carried off by the aerodactyl, he'd survived.

    Rai believed Sean could do this and hoped that he could do the same.

    He nodded. "Let's show the guild who they're messing with!" Rai said with confidence he wanted to feel.

    And Sean, seeing the confidence he wanted Rai to have, banished his own fears and grinned back.

    With that, Team Ion entered Steam Cave.


    A small bit of my ramblings here at the end. Just some differences between the original and this version. Sean being more supportive and brave for the sake of Rai, as well as that bit of world-building at the start.
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 13 - And Now It's Hot
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "Ah, Croagunk," Chatot chirped when he spotted Croagunk emerging from the forest. "Have you found something to report?"


    Croagunk chuckles, "Indeed, Chatot, sir." He nodded. "At the end of the Foggy Forest there is a statue of a pokémon looks to be known as Groudon."


    Chatot blinked. "Groudon, you say? Hmm, curious."


    "You know of it?" Croagunk asked, spotting the gleam of familiarity in Chatot's eye. The second-in-command always did love to show he was in the know.


    "Well of course!" Chatot scoffed. "Who do you take me for? I am the head of intelligence for the guild." He flapped once but then nodded. "Groudon is a Legendary Pokémon whose myth claims as the being responsible for creation of the land by raising it from the sea."


    Croagunk watched Chatot in silence before chuckling again, "Sounds like a powerful being."


    "Indeed. I think it may be a good idea for me to view this statue myself." Chatot paused to glance around at the empty base camp. "The Guildmaster has already gone ahead."


    "I spotted the Guildmaster racing to the end of the dungeon," Croagunk explained. "I said hello, but he didn't seem to hear me."


    "Probably chasing an apple," Chatot muttered, Croagunk withheld a chuckle at that one. He was clearly not meant to hear, or at least he wasn't meant to comment. "Nonetheless, we should go forward from here. No one else has returned, so they are likely still moving through the dungeon themselves. Despite having only just returned, will you accompany me, Croagunk?"


    "Sure."


    Once Chatot was ready, and Croagunk had a chance to have something to eat, they pushed back into Foggy Forest, leaving the camp unmanned.


    "So, Sean is a human?" Croagunk asked right as the dungeons hold closed around them.


    Chatot squawked, flapping his wings, his feathers going everywhere before screeching, "He told you?" Croagunk waited for him to compose himself. "Uh, of course. My apologies. I know how… close you two are?"


    "Meh-heh-heh, nah I just overheard him telling you back at the guild. Thought my ears might have been playing tricks on me, seems not." He chuckled again as Chatot took that in.


    Chatot was aghast for a moment, frozen in a half-step as Croagunk went ahead, paused, and glanced back at the frozen Chatot. "I will not tell anyone," he said conversationally. "I was just curious. Makes sense, considering how weird he is. Liking plain seeds of all things, meh-heh-heh. A nice kid though"


    Chatot slowly relaxed and nodded, unable to say anything at first. He quickly joined Croagunk, and they began their trek through the dungeon.


    "Are you concerned?" Chatot asked after a few minutes of silence, broken up by them expertly dissuading ferals from attacking them.


    "Nah," Croagunk returned. "I know the rumours, but it's been par for the course so far. Considering the mess with time lately, I'm actually kinda relieved at the thought. I know the guild can help him if he needs it."


    Chatot nodded, that was true. "A level head, thank you, Croagunk."


    "Meh-heh-heh, if only the cauldron was workin'. I might be able to help him and Little Shinx gear up a bit." He gave a slow wink to Chatot who fought to not roll is eyes at the obvious ploy.


    And then had to fight down a smile as he impressed at the cunning. It was not a bad idea, all things considered. He had some things to think about, and Croagunk was strong enough to handle the ferals himself.




    "Oh my gosh!" Sean howled, channelling Sunflora and Ponyta at once. "This is the worst. Possible. THING!"


    Rai had no words, he was too busy rolling around on the damp floor, crying with laughter.


    Their initial entry into the hot and humid Steam Cave was even more unpleasant than Sean had feared. It was hot. It was humid. It was very uncomfortable.


    He was reminded of the fact that felines don't sweat and had to pant a lot to keep his temperature at a reasonable level. As did Rai, although his discharges of electricity were able to serve a similar purpose, to the meowth's jealously.


    The moistness of the ground was unpleasant, but nothing worse than wandering the heated quagmire previously.


    The issue that Sean faced, however, is that after a little while his fur began to stick up. And up. And up some more until he had the appearance of some ballooned out puffball.


    "My fur isn't even this long!" Sean shrieked, Rai collapsing ever harder into laughter. "Even after getting shocked in Mount Horn, this damn fur wasn't this puffy!"


    Coughing now, Rai staggered to all fours, blinked the tears out of his eyes, spotted Sean and fell back to the ground in hysterical laughter.


    It hadn't helped that Sean had crossed his arms, put on his sternest glare, and pointed it right at Rai. Giving him the best view of the scandalised ball of fluff.


    Soon enough, however, Sean couldn't put up the façade any longer and laughter began to build in his own chest. "Rai's laughing so hard," he thought as he burst into laughter himself. "That's worth any embarrassment." Sean wasn't shy about making fun of himself for the amusement of others, and with Rai's reaction, he felt pretty good.


    Eventually, the novelty wore off and Rai was able to at least stand and laugh. He faced away from Sean and the pair began the journey again, sniggering occasionally after a funny thought of spotting Sean out of the corner of his eye.


    Sean made sure to continue scowling at all things that weren't Rai, after assuring him that Rai's laughter didn't bother him. He caught sight of himself in a clear pile of water and couldn't help but snort.


    "Humidity doesn't agree with me."


    It wasn't all fun and laughter though. The further they went in the more relentless the enemies became.


    To both of their surprise, not that either would say such a surprise out loud, they made an effective team.


    "Get ready, Rai!" Sean called, delivering three brutal Scratches to a snubbull's head, reeling it back with red lines over its skin as Sean darted back, distracting the snubbull enough for Rai to blast it to dreamland.


    "Duck," Rai commanded right after blasting the snubbull away. Sean followed suit, feeling the puffed-up fur on the back of his neck move as something zipped past.


    "YAA!" buzzed a yanma, sending off a green shockwave that sent both members of Team Ion sprawling.


    Sean got to his feet first, having been better braced for the attack, and he sprinted forward, catching the Bug-type's attention.


    Buzzing in anger, it dove after him glinting white. Sean dived to the side, avoiding the swooping tackle, and rolled back on two feet.


    Extending his claws, he yelled and thumped his chest, "Come at me then!" And the yanma came for him.


    Sean grinned and ducked down again, giving the recovered Rai a clear shot to fry the yanma and knock it unconscious.


    "Awesome!" Sean cheered, hugging Rai before tapping his paw with his own. "Yeah." It wasn't lame at all.


    The energy continued as they pushed forth. "Hoo." Rai blew a bit of fur out of his face. "We've come pretty far, how much further do you think is left?"


    "No idea," Sean said cheerfully. Without the existence of actual floors as per the game, he could only guess. And he had but one guess. "Hopefully not much longer. I really want to stop looking like something you pull out of a shower drain."


    "What's a shower drain?" Rai asked as they left the battlefield behind them. A few pokémon twitched as electricity still was being grounded, others were just lying around unconscious.


    "Basically, it's like a bath that moves constantly. Falls onto you like you're under a warm soft waterfall. I miss them."


    "Hang on. Do you not actually know how to bathe!"


    Sean paused. "Pardon?"


    "You don't know how to bathe yourself?" He sounded so genuine Sean couldn't find a response at first.


    "I. We go to the hot springs."


    "No! I mean, like how shinx and meowth bathe."


    "I'm not licking my fur!"


    Rai cocked his head. "Have you tried?"


    "Er." To be honest he hadn't. "Why would I want to?"


    "Well, you're not human anymore," Rai pointed out, then he brightened up. "My sister taught me when she still lived here, I can teach you!"


    He was so happy with the suggestion Sean almost agreed. However, he then remembered how awkward that would be. "Uh… I'm alright, Rai. The hot springs work."


    "But it takes you so long to dry off!" he complained.


    It did. They needed a fire to hang him over to dry him out after trudging back from the hot springs, the walk only downgraded him from wet cat to damp cat.


    "I still miss showers. They're much better to get clean with."


    "Oh. So, then what do you?" Rai paused as the ground changed. "Huh. I think we're farther than I thought."


    "Oh, please let this be over," Sean said, rushing forward. He slowed quickly, remembering what lurked above, and Rai caught up as they entered a waypoint.


    "This is a fun room," Sean commented, looking at all the nothing. No Kangaskhan Rock here, Sean noted. "They definitely don't exist. Wouldn't make any sense anyway."


    "Why?" Rai asked. "There's nothing in… oh sarcasm, gotcha."


    Sean smiled, giving Rai a pat on the back. "The sass training is going well," he said vacantly, receiving an amused look from Rai. "Right now, can we have a small break?"


    "I bet we've climbed far," Rai commented, nodding. "Can't be much further from the top!" At Sean's pleading look he relented. "We should take a small break so the last leg of it isn't too hard."


    Sean sighed in relief, sitting down and leaning against a wall. Rai joined him, unable to stop a groan of relief when he laid down as well. "Heh, you're tired too," Sean said, and Rai poked his tongue out at him.


    There was a deep, distant, rumbling. Akin to stones falling down a cliff far, far, away.


    Rai blinked as Sean's heart clenched. "Huh? What was that?" On his guard, Rai looked back and forth carefully. No one was now. "Did you hear that or am I hearing things?"


    Another rumble, this time they felt it.


    "No, I felt that," Sean said, voice an octave higher than normal. "Yep, that sounded big. And scary." He cleared his throat, shook his head, and stood up. "But no matter what, we shall prevail!" Did he sound brave? He hoped he did.


    He clenched a paw and raised it at the roof and shook it vigorously. "Hear me foul phantom, you cannot scare us off!"


    "Uh…?" Rai cocked his head at Sean's antics but decided to put it aside for now as Sean chuckled awkwardly. "Okay! It's not that far to the top I'm really sure, let's go?"


    "Yes," Sean said, still glaring at the roof. His heart was pounding, and his paws were clammy from all the steam, but he knew what was coming. This was right. This was correct. This was supposed to happen.


    "Oh, wow that is a loooooot of endoprhins," he thought as waves of adrenaline spiked through him. "Things are back on track now and no one can stop us! Ahahahahahahahahaha!"


    While Sean laughed maniacally, Rai dug a pair of apples and an oran berry out of the bag Sean wore. "Here," he said, passing an apple. "We should eat before we go."


    While laughing between glorious bites of delicious apple, Sean nearly choked, and he decided to end the madness.


    "One oran berry?" he asked once his breath was caught.


    Rai smiled. "Cut it in half, please." Sean quickly sliced it in twain with a single flick of his wrist


    "Love doing that," he admitted as he took his half. It was their last Oran Berry, and both felt a bit better once it was down. "It's the little things that is cool about being a scrawny meowth and not a tall human."


    "How tall were you?"


    "Tall enough to carry you under one arm if I wanted."


    "Ooh."


    They began to leave, silently electing to race a little out of the midpoint.


    A distant, almost high-pitched, bellow rocked the entire cave, causing both of them to stumble and freeze. "That sounded like…." Sean trailed off.


    "Wigglytuff."


    They shared a nod and raced forwards.




    "My-my, what is this?" Chatot gasped and even Croagunk was impressed.


    "I wonder, did those two manage a miracle?" he wondered out loud as the fog melted away. "Or did they have a hidden trick in the bag?"


    The rest of the dungeon was a breeze without the fog and only moments after they had exited the dungeon, did another voice reach them. "Oh my gosh, Croagunk and Chatot!"


    They turned to find Sunflora and Loudred rushing to them.


    "By golly, the fog's just plume faded away." Bidoof and Corphish were panting, running to catch up.


    "Well-well, someone has clearly made an excellent discovery," Dugtrio said as he and his son emerged from the ground.


    "Wow look up there!" Diglett gasped, causing everyone present to look up.


    "M-my word!" Chatot squawked as everyone's eyes turned up. Up towards the towering plateau standing like a headstone against the blue sky. Waterfalls descended from it, thundering down around them. "With the fog gone, it seems only one reasonable conclusion can be made. Fogbound Lake is in the sky!"


    "Everyone over here!" The familiar voice only belonging to Chimecho called out and the eight pokémon looked down and then forward. Chimecho bobbed up and down in greeting, floating by a fearsome statue and two other pokémon.


    "Guildmaster!" Chatot called, easily deducing the pink pokémon to be his most treasured partner.


    "And Grovyle too, oh my…." Sunflora swooned as the eight of them rushed forward.


    "Hello, everyone," Wigglytuff greeted as they got close, bouncing on his feet.


    "Guildmaster, are you responsible for the lifting of the fog?" Chatot demanded, fluttering up to him. To his surprise, Wigglytuff shook his head.


    "No, no. Not me, I couldn't figure this one out. It was Grovyle! Grovyle!" He pointed a stubby arm to the Grass-type, who had been standing a little apart from Wigglytuff. "And Chimecho too!"


    "It was nothing," Grovyle rumbled. "Merely a trinket I picked up that Wigglytuff and Chimecho deduced the value of."


    "Indeed?" Chatot asked, turning his gaze from the two to the floating Psychic-type. "You also assisted in the discovery here?"


    "Oh, it was nothing," Chimecho sang, smiling at everyone individually before turning back to Chatot. "I was simply admiring the statue here and noticed there was a large hole in its chest." Looking now showed no such hole, but a gleaming red stone instead. "Wigglytuff asked if either of us had found anything that could fit, and Grovyle offered up a stone he had with him."


    "It was really warm too," Wigglytuff giggled. "When I put the stone in, the statue's eyes went really red like it was going to stand up and attack us! But instead, it just got brighter and brighter and I had to look away, like this." Wigglytuff demonstrated covering his face and diving to the ground. "Then once the light was gone, the fog was gone too! Then you were there, and we were here, and everyone found each other!"


    "Exceptional work you two." Chatot nodded to Chimecho and Grovyle. "And the Guildmaster of course."


    "But we're missing some friends." Wigglytuff almost frowned. "Meowth and Shinx, this is terrible, this is terrible!"


    "Meh-heh-heh, if I may Guildmaster?" Croagunk asked, stepping forward. Chatot stood out of the way to let Croagunk speak. "Those two remained here when I came to alert Chatot of the statue. They said they'd look around for clues, you didn't see either of them?"


    Wigglytuff and Chimecho shook their heads.


    "Perhaps they went further?" Grovyle suggested. "It'd be easy to get lost in that fog after all."


    "Then we must go forward then!" Wigglytuff declared, pointing to the right. "After Team Ion. They must have found their own way, they are very brave and very skilled. But we cannot let them have all the fun alone, everyone let's go!"


    "HOORAY!"


    The guild thundered and began running forward.


    "Hey, Chatot?" Corphish asked as they began storming forward.


    "Yes?"


    "Do you know what that statue was?"


    "Of course," Chatot huffed. "As I explained to Croagunk earlier, that was Groudon. The Legendary Pokémon whose myth states created the earth by rising it from the sea. It must be inconceivably powerful."


    "Ooh imagine fighting someone like that," Wigglytuff said, shivering. "That'd be so scary and so fun!"


    "Please don't go looking for Groudon," Chatot begged.


    "Aww…"


    "This way," Grovyle said, racing forward faster than anyone else. They arrived at a steaming quagmire, boiling water in all directions, but a path could be found.


    "Chatot, we don't have any time to spare," Wigglytuff said and Chatot nodded.


    "Correct sir," he flew up and over and quickly directed the guild along the quickest path, his keen eyes missing no path.


    They continued going until they reached the yawning mouth of a very hot cave.


    "Hey-hey, that's the way in!"


    "We can't just stand here! Oh my gosh, we've got to hurry!"


    "We'll need to go in smaller groups," Wigglytuff said, frowning. "It'd take far too long with this many, along with how dungeons react when more than four enter. No, everyone split yourselves into groups of four! Chatot and Grovyle, you take someone's place each. Bidoof and Diglett, you come with me."


    Direct orders from Wigglytuff had the group split apart in moments. The group led by Grovyle entered first, then Chatot's, and lastly Wigglytuff smiled at the two members of the guild he had asked to come along with him.


    "Excited?" he asked eagerly, getting rapid nods and no words in response. "Yay! This'll be so much fun. Yoom-TAH!"


    With the whole cave shaking for a moment, undoubtedly stirring the feral pokémon within into a rampage, Wigglytuff led Bidoof and Diglett into Steam Cave.




    After battling what felt like three whole swarms of Bug-type pokémon in a very hot place filled with Fire-type pokémon, Sean and Rai were ready for this to be done.


    "We've climbed way up," Rai said as the entire cave yawned open, allowing into a canyon of sorts. "This place." Rai frowned as Sean felt it. "This place feels… strange, somehow."


    "Everything feels tense," Sean said. "Like the air itself if waiting for something." He looked around, taking in the sheer cliffs around them, looking hard but not impossible to climb with claws.


    "It's making my skin crawl all over." Rai shivered. "This place feels dangerous, I feel like…." He appeared spooked, tensely standing straight, staring at the cruelly curved tips of the cliffs. Something flickered in his eyes.


    "Feel like you're getting crushed?"


    "Yeah."


    "Me too."


    They shared an uneasy look and Sean attempted a comforting smile. The ground rumbled.


    "Ah!"


    The ground rumbled again, and a bellowing roar shook the entire plateau. "The roaring! Something's here!"


    Something stepped forward. A single stride, shaking them to their bones.


    "S-something is," Rai whimpered, stepping back with each thump. "Is c-coming."


    Every step caused them to bounce on the ground from the sheer intensity, the footsteps grew more rapid and soon enough the entity emerged. Rai's bravery was buckling, and Sean felt primal terror welling up in his chest as well. He repeated to himself that Groudon was just an illusion, but it breathed, it snarled, and he could even smell burning sulphur as it approached.


    "W-w-what is that?" Rai squeaked, unable to even yell it. "It looks like the statue," he whimpered, tears welling up. "That thing really exists? Groudon?"


    Sean was similarly flat-footed and barely able to think in the presence of such an overwhelming creature. Every instinct urged him to run, every little voice that ran through his head told him to run.


    Groudon was massive in comparison to him. His bulk blotted out the sun where they stood, each breath he took was loud enough for them to feel, and each twitch and shiver that ran across his body was perfect in its realism.


    Only. Groudon would be certainly larger than this behemoth. It had to be, the ravine wasn't that wide and Groudon if it truly raised the earth must be a kaiju, surely. He tried to convince himself, then it began to speak.


    "You! Have you come to desecrate this place? DEPART NOW!" It spoke like a volcano erupted, shaking the plateau, each word rumbling with the ancient power of an eternal being. He had to give it to Uxie, he could believe how a display like this could scare people off.


    "W-wait, we've only come for Fogbound Lake," Rai said, words spilling from him in panic. "That's all we're here for, to see if the legend is true, we just want to see it!"


    "WHAT!?" Groudon's voice rose to a bellowing roar. "I AM THE GUARDIAN OF FOGBOUND LAKE! I AM GROUDON! YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE HERE ALIVE, INTRUDERS!"


    Groudon flexed into a battle position, to Sean it looked like he was going for a hug.


    "O-Oh gosh no," Rai whimpered, shivering like a leaf. His eyes were wide, and pupils were dilated, yet no matter how he tried, he couldn't move.


    Sean could see Rai's fear in the side of his vision and that changed the awe-inspired terror plunging through his chest.


    He knew Groudon was a fake.


    He knew they could defeat an illusion.


    He knew he would not let anything ruin Rai's confidence again.


    They hadn't come this far to back away because he was useless.


    "PREPARE FOR MY WRATH!" Groudon overblew its dramatic statement and Sean snarled.


    "How about no?" he said coolly, cutting across Groudon's excessive volume and Rai's squeaking.


    His brazenness seemed to stun the massive creature for a moment. "You… YOU DARE CHALLENGE GROUDON?"


    "Not in the least," Sean replied, crossing his arms and smirking at the screwed-up look Groudon's face took. Even now he could see the plastic nature of this, Groudon didn't have a confused or perturbed expression and so its face just froze into its angry expression. "You are not Groudon."


    "W-wha?" Rai managed, tearing his eyes off Groudon to stare incredulously at Sean. "WHAT?"


    "Yeah." Sean nodded, forcing the smirk to remain on his face. "The real Groudon couldn't possibly be this small, and really, the sun isn't looking too strong here."


    Rai's expression turned to puzzlement at that last comment as Groudon regained his composure.


    "YOU DARE CHALLENGE GROUDON?" The sunlight suddenly grew more intense.


    "You just said that," Sean said, rolling his eyes. He waved a paw in the sunlight with a pitying look. "That's the best you can do? A Sunny Day? Is that even real, I still feel all moist from the cave."


    Groudon's face twitched as he said moist.


    "S-Sean, I really don't think you should be saying this," Rai whimpered, spotting the building anger.


    "It's fine, Rai." Sean shot him a confident grin and extended his claws. Somehow, he felt okay. This was exactly how things were meant to be and that simple fact built his confidence. "How about we show this fake what for?"


    Rai almost seemed to consider his words.


    Then Sean was sent flying back.


    Groudon had stomped and a stone erupted from the ground, slamming into Sean and punting him back into the dungeon. "HOW IS THAT FOR REAL?" it roared as Rai gaped in wide-eyed horror.


    "SEAN?" he yelled, but there was no response. "You." As if a switch was flicked, Rai turned from frozen terror to burning fury. "HOW DARE YOU!?" Rai unleashed the thunderstorm, unleashing his most powerful Thunderbolt to date.


    It did dick diddly to Groudon.


    "HA. IS THAT ALL?" Groudon rumbled and Rai's bravado vanished.


    "Eek," he squeaked, dodging a stone for him before sprinting off in a Quick Attack to avoid Groudon's fist coming down to flatten him.


    Groudon leered down at Rai, face distorting and turning in a horrific mix of grotesque and terrifying. Rai couldn't help but freeze as a dark shadow fell upon him. He blinked and saw Groudon's body flashed before the light peeled off it like a serpent's skin and compressed into a shining ball of energy flung right at him.


    The shinx tried to move, but his legs felt sluggish. His mind cried for him to move faster, but his legs weren't responding and the Ancient Power smashed into him.


    Rai cried out as he was sent body-first into one of the rocky cliffs and crashed to the ground, a perfect target for Groudon's next attack.


    It breathed in deeply, drawing power from the earth around it, and summoned a wave of mud that blasted shinx back and down.


    He hit the ground hard and couldn't get back up again. Rai tried, but the mud was sticky and slippery, and he fell each time he tried. The dizziness probably didn't help.


    "DO YOU UNDERSTAND!" Groudon rumbled, stomping closer as not even the mud shivered from its false steps. "AND NOW FOR YOUR ARROGANCE, YOU SHALL-"


    Movement caught the awareness of Groudon, but its form no matter what form that is, was still sluggish and unwieldy.


    Sean had exited Steam Cave once more, and he was rather perturbed at being kicked away as if he was a football. And even angrier that it had beat on Rai afterwards, the fury burned through his body until it settled in his paws.


    With both paws dripping with Dark Energy, long sabres of darkness formed and sharpened past the claws that bore them.


    Sean came running out of nowhere with speeds Rai hadn't seen him demonstrate before, having been unconscious or away.


    Groudon's eyes widened when it saw what Sean was doing but was unable to stop him as Sean jumped onto and off his knee, carving six deep gashes in the Groudon's chest.


    "COWARD!" he yelled. "ACTING LIKE YOU'RE SO STRONG AND TAKING A CHEAP SHOT!"


    It roared, and the voice changed, becoming a higher pitched, but lower voice, for just a moment. Sean kept running up Groudon before kicking off and doing a backflip off its head. All the while being the coolest he'd ever known. He landed on all fours and growled at Groudon. "Didn't hurt much anyway."


    "See, Rai?" he called, pointing at his work with a victorious grin. "See what I mean?"


    Rai looked up and gasped. The scratches had left a pretty deep mark, but rather than blood there was just gaps that were flickering in and out of existence.


    "What IS that?" he asked, and Sean nodded in victory.


    "An illusion."


    Groudon growled at them, and the wounds faded. "You challenge Mighty Groudon?" it hissed, quiet yet loud. "You scoff and mock and claim to know when you are but impudent whelps crawling on a world that does not know my sacrifice? You will not go any further."


    Sean grit his teeth. "You're not Groudon."


    Groudon roared. "IT MATTERS NOT WHAT YOU THINK."


    "Enough, Uxie!"


    Groudon paused.


    Rai perked up, pulling himself from the mud as if it wasn't even there. His body still hurt, the illusion was real enough to inflict actual damage, but his spirits bolstered Rai ran forward charging another Thunderbolt.


    He unleashed it on Groudon's chest, blasting a scorch mark as it grunted, yet it didn't move to strike back.


    "Rai listen very carefully," Sean said as he began to run forward. "Aim for the gouges I'm about to leave!" His right paw generated another Night Slash as the fake Groudon stared at him. Sean darted to the right, avoiding a kick, and ducked under an Ancient Power. He stabbed forward with Night Slash before slicing up, opening another hole in the illusion. "NOW!"


    Rai let off a battle scream as he flooded the gaping hole with electricity. Despite striking the Groudon earlier and doing nothing, striking the inside of the illusion did something far more.


    The Groudon screeched before collapsing utterly into nothingness as the electricity suddenly exploded outwards, blasting Sean back and knocking Rai off his feet himself.


    "GYAH!" A different voice yelled out as something else flashed, and something else hit the ground with a soft thump.


    "Ugh," Rai groaned, picking himself off the ground. "Sean? Sean!" He turned around to find Sean weakly raising a paw and doing his best to give a thumbs up.


    "This doesn't work without a full hand," he groaned, and Rai sighed in relief.


    Sean began to pull himself up, steadying himself on Rai once the shinx was there to provide his support. Together they limped forward, staring warily at the yellow pokémon that had appeared after the false Groudon had been destroyed.


    "I do not believe that was completely necessary," Uxie sighed, picking himself up. Sean immediately shut his eyes, but Rai did not, cocking his head at the pokémon. "You made your point, if you'd taken some more time to speak you may have avoided winding yourselves."


    "Who are you?" Rai asked, too tired to really demand answers.


    "As I said earlier, I am the guardian of Fogbound Lake. As you said, I am Uxie. And I cannot allow you to pass."


    "Rai close your eyes," Sean snapped, throwing a paw up to try and shield Rai from Uxie's gaze. He followed Sean's demand, remembering something Chimecho had said earlier.


    "Hmm," Uxie said, looking at them with crimson eyes. "You know of my power then?"


    "Uxie?" Rai ventured.


    "Yes. I am the protector of the artifact here. Many have come to claim Fogbound Lake's bounty, but all have been repelled. Often by the fog, often by the dungeon, often by the illusion, and lastly there is no one who has escaped my gaze. If I will it, I will force your eyes open and extract this day from your minds. Here you are, exhausted and weary, while the illusion takes only a small portion of my power. Fight me, and you will fail."


    "How did that work anyway?" Sean demanded.


    "The illusion I create requires a steady link to control it and supply it energy to form its moves," Uxie explained, he had no issue in answering questions. As the being of knowledge, he enjoyed it. Very few adventurers had ever really asked him anything. "It is not unlike a Substitute, although more actively controlled. Unfortunately, that means I need to have a mental connection to it. Normally it would be as powerful as I can empower it and any wound inflicted on it would not be passed to me, simply draining my Power. But your usage of the Dark damaged my control and staggered my safeguards, the electric attack didn't quite strike me directly, but I did feel it. None have managed that, so I suppose that is commendable. Pity you won't remember."


    "Wait we're not here to take anything!" Rai insisted, cringing as they both felt Uxie summon his Power to take them down. "I'm being honest! Yes, we are adventurers, but we are with a guild and the entire guild is on its way. All we wanted to do was find Fogbound Lake, sure a treasure would be nice but if it is so important to you than we'll all leave without it."


    Sean and Rai held their breaths. Sean wasn't completely certain about Uxie, he was rather sure that Uxie had emerged unscathed in the game, so he may be more ticked off at them than normal.


    "Well… okay, I believe you," Uxie said plainly, causing them both to sag. Was it that easy? He lowered his Power and closed his eyes. "Very well, let me welcome you to Fogbound Lake. I have my eyes closed now."


    "Great!" Rai opened his eyes and beamed as the pixie-like pokémon. Sean was not so trusting and kept his eyes closed, but Rai began to trot forward, and he was forced to feel around. "Don't mind him. I was hoping to ask you a question or two?"


    "Indeed?" Uxie almost smiled, but emotion wasn't what he was known for. Voice even and tone as level as it was before, Uxie said. "Very well, it might be best to discuss on the way."


    "Sure." Rai nodded and began trotting alongside Uxie and Sean reluctantly opened his eyes. Uxie wasn't facing him, and he kept close to Rai without getting super close to the Legendary Pokémon. "My friend has lost almost all his memory and I was wondering if you might have taken it?"


    "Hmm." Uxie turned to Sean, and he quickly glanced away. He had seen Uxie's face, the jewel on his head was quite alluring, and he had kept his eyes closed, so Sean buried the doubt and looked back. "The last pokémon who reached past the illusion was a ledian. I have only taken the memory of a meowth twice, and both occurred decades to centuries ago."


    The sun was setting as they walked, and Rai shot Sean a questioning look. "Well, what about a…." He trailed off, giving Sean another meaningful look and Sean started as he realised what Rai might be asking.


    "Yeah, you can say it," he said.


    "What about a human?" Rai asked proudly, catching the tiniest change in Uxie's expression. "Have you taken the memory of a human recently?"


    Uxie examined Sean curiously and he felt a presence somewhere around his head. It was an uncomfortable feeling and he tried to shy away from it until it disappeared.


    "…No. It has been a great many centuries since I have seen a human," Uxie said, causing Rai to wilt. "Whatever is the cause of your friend's memory loss, I am not it."


    "Do you have any idea what it could be?" Rai asked, clutching at straws now.


    "Memory loss from damage to the brain is often temporary or only partial, a greater range of memory stolen is almost always the act of a being. Despite having great command over the mind, my own abilities have been greatly reduced. Along with the rest of those you all Legendary Pokémon."


    Sean frowned. "What? What happened?"


    Uxie cast him a blank look. "A grand sacrifice to preserve the world a great many cycles around the star in the wake of mankind's hubris. Has this been forgotten?"


    Rai and Sean shared a look.


    Uxie seemed disappointed. "I do not leave the lake, I am not aware of the activities of the outside world outside of the time I must scare people off."


    "That sounds lonely," Rai said, frowning at him.


    Uxie shook his head. "Far from it. I am able to commune with my siblings at any point in time."


    "Oh." Now Rai seemed wistful.


    Rai sighed but smiled anyway. "Thank you for answering at least."


    "You're welcome. Now look forward, we have arrived."


    Rai aimed his gaze forward and smiled as they came up to the dark waters of a lake at dusk. "Wow it's getting so dark outside now. This is… this is Fogbound Lake isn't it?"


    "Indeed." Uxie confirmed. "It may initially be a little difficult to see at night but, behold." He turned around, keeping the exact same plain tone as he gave the grand announcement. "Fogbound Lake and its relic. Can you guess what it is?


    In the dusk's light, the clear water of the lake twinkled as if the stars had fallen into it. Above the water were hundreds of glinting lights and volbeat and illumise danced in the sky. In the centre of the lake a great azure shine welled up. The lights of the pokémon twinkled like stars, creating shooting displays of light across the calm water of the lake.


    "This lake is so big, can barely imagine a place this big on the top of a plateau."


    "This place is beautiful," Sean said, stepping close to the water's edge. "It's like the stars are in the sky, water, and air."


    "Water constantly wells up from far below this place," Uxie said, not quite sounding bored but close to it. "It flows up so heavily it has long formed this enormous lake." Uxie turned back around. "Now cast your eyes to the glowing centre of the lake. You see it?"


    "I see it." Rai confirmed. "That blue, sort of green, light coming from below? It looks… familiar."


    "Step forward for a closer look," Uxie said, and they did as he asked.


    Sean swallowed painfully as his eyes fixated on the glow that the Time Gear emanated. Just like back in the Limestone Cavern, his pulse quickened, eyes dilated, and he was nearly overwhelming by the Need To Have It.


    "That's awesome." Rai beamed, recognising it. "A Time Gear! And it's all safe here too, that's incredible! No one would find it here."


    "And with my protections in place, the Time Gear has remained safe," Uxie said. He turned slightly to where Sean was creeping forward, Rai catching his friends movement as well. "I guard it, it is the sole reason why I am here. Since this continent's flow of time was damaged and the gears scattered to stabilise it."


    "Meowth?" he asked, but the meowth didn't hear him. "Uh… Meowth?" He stepped forward and bumped Sean lightly, causing him to jump.


    "Woah! What was that for?"


    "You seemed out of it again," Rai explained, cocking his head. "What was that?"


    "Just… trying to get a closer look," Sean said, looking down. "Sorry, shiny things distract me a bit."


    Rai giggled, and Sean felt better.


    "A Time Gear!" a high and cheerful voice cried. "A Time Gear! Oh well, that's too bad." Rai started as Wigglytuff came trotting up to them, Bidoof and Diglett barely keeping pace with him and panting for breath.


    "Hoo, golly that wasn't easy," Bidoof groaned, lying down in relief.


    "The Guildmaster is…" Diglett puffed. "So strong, and so fast. It's incredible, it feels like we had to fight most of the enemies though. What was with that?"


    "We can't take a Time Gear," Wigglytuff said, pouting. He spotted Uxie and raced up to him. "WOW fantastic lake, friendly friend!"


    "And who might this be?" Uxie asked, turning to Rai as Wigglytuff was staring out at the lake in open-mouthed amazement.


    "That's Guildmaster Wigglytuff," Rai said, then glanced back to the others. "And Diglett's the one in the ground, Bidoof is the one lying down. They're members of the guild like we are, we're all here together."


    "Glad to meet you, friend!" Wigglytuff cheered, shaking both of Uxie's arms. "Friend! Friend! New friend!" He danced around a bit before going back to the lake's edge. "Gaze upon this amazing view friends! I'm delighted we came, right everybody?"


    As Wigglytuff began to hum and sing a bouncy tune, Uxie detected more pokémon arriving and sighed. "It appears even if I had chosen to erase your memories, it may not have worked with so many people able to note a blank spot."


    "By golly this place is gorgeous," Bidoof gasped, having gained the energy to trudge the last steps. "Those lights are beautiful yup-yup."


    Uxie turned to face him and Bidoof cringed. "Mighty fine place, all thanks to you I bet!"


    "Hm."


    "Oh my gosh, we're finally here!"


    The crowd of pokémon raced forward, relieved to be out of the hot and damp Steam Cave, besides Croagunk who rather enjoyed it.


    "Hello to one and hello to all!" Wigglytuff beamed as the guild came forward, cautiously upon siting Uxie.


    "Guildmaster," Chatot squawked, flapping his wings. "You got ahead of us; who is this, and what is going on?" He spotted Sean and Rai and sighed in relief. "Thank goodness, you two are here as well."


    A leafy-green head stepped forwards. "Impressive work you two," Grovyle said, striding past Wigglytuff. He gave a short nod to Uxie before making his way directly to Sean and Rai. "It appears you were far ahead of us all."


    Sean's eyes fixed onto Grovyle and that's right, that was another problem. He wouldn't… he wouldn't do something with everyone here, would he?


    Oh, but how mad were the guild going to be when Uxie told them what he did? Sean realised something, he could help this. He could 'remember something' thanks to seeing Uxie, back Grovyle up. Maybe, just maybe, they could explain this?


    Uxie's words of why he guarded the gear came back to him and his chest began to feel funny as he began to think over what to do.


    "It was tricky, going through the fog," Rai admitted, beaming up at Grovyle. "We actually left that Groudon statue because Meowth thought he saw you!"


    "Indeed?" Grovyle asked, turning to Sean. "You have sharp eyes then."


    "You were there?" Rai gasped as Sean grappled for words.


    Grovyle nodded. "Yes, I had found something I thought could be of help, so I quickly returned to the base camp to alert Wigglytuff. I found him on the way, however, and he and Chimecho discovered the way to lift the fog."


    "What was it?" Sean asked, hoping he sounded perfectly curious.


    "A strange stone I found," Grovyle answered. "Warm to the touch, by placing it in the heart of the statue the fog was lifted."


    "Ooh," Rai hummed. "That would have been cool to see!"


    "Bit bright at first," Grovyle said smiling. "But the area is beautiful with the fog lifted. You'll need to look around once you are down."


    "Never mind all that," Wigglytuff said, waving them closer as a rush of sound boomed from behind them. "Look out there! It's spouting, pretty-pretty!"


    The volbeat and illumise had scattered temporarily before flying in practised routines around the absolutely stunning vision that was the lake spouting.


    "Yes, the lake geyser erupts every once in a while. It sends up water, just like a fountain. And the Time Gear casts illumination from below. This is how the lake is refilled," Uxie commented, but no one really heard him.


    "HOLY MOLY."


    "Oh my gosh, even Loudred is amazed."


    "Hey… hey… that's beautiful."


    "Oh my, so shimmering. Absolutely lovely, I'm so happy I came here."


    "Heh, even I gotta admit that is stunning."


    "Dad… I think I get why you love water so much."


    "My son, this is… astounding, even for water."


    "Yup-yup, that's the prettiest gosh darn thing I've ever done seen. I wish I could show this to Bell."


    "What an incredible find, Guildmaster."


    "Pretty, so pretty. I'm glad we all came here! This is treasure enough."


    "Meowth?" Rai asked, catching Sean's attention away from the water and light show. "This is magical. I can't believe we got here first." He looked so happy.


    "You did it." Was the only thing Sean could manage as he looked at Rai, the problems about the Time Gear problem banished for a moment. "You're amazing."


    Rai glanced away from the lake and to Sean for a moment. "Sean? We've been partners for a while now, I-I was wondering..."


    "Truly magnificent." Grovyle's deep voice didn't even manage to shake one person out of the glory of the Time Gear water display, but it did pause Rai. "Meowth, could I have a word with you?"


    "Hm?" Sean grunted, transfixed by the azure light show and Rai.


    "Perhaps some other time," Grovyle sighed, glancing around. Far too many pokémon really to have a private conversation. "But as it seems, I believe it is time for me to go."


    His first words didn't shake anyone out of it, the second sentence caught the whole guild's attention.


    "What?" Was the general consensus.


    "Indeed." Grovyle nodded. "While the time I have taken here has been a treasure I will remember always, I do have urgent business back in Treasure Town. I do not regret coming along and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to explore with you, Wigglytuff Guild. But it is time for me to leave, and I will be my swiftest when alone."


    'No wait!' was on Sean's lips. He was pretty sure he was meant to be doing something, explaining something, together to solve this.


    Yet, if Grovyle wasn't confident to try. It surrendered the brief flicker of an idea he had, it was too risky, especially with Uxie right there. Maybe later, he said they'd talk later.


    "It was great having you," Wigglytuff said, stepping forward. "Thank you for coming, friendly friend." Grovyle braced, but it was barely enough to withstand Wigglytuff's hug. "Hopefully we will see you again soon."


    "Yes," Grovyle grunted, coughing from his lungs being manually constricted. "I may have to stay in Treasure Town a little longer. S-Meowth and Shinx, I hope to see you soon. But I have to go now… please?"


    Wigglytuff released him, not without another squeeze, and Grovyle shot a shaken smile across the guild. He nodded to Sean and Rai and disappeared into the night, Sean's eyes following him until he was out of sight.


    "Wonder what Grovyle wanted to talk about?" Rai wondered out loud, Sean paid him no mind.


    "I'll work it out," he thought, but he had no time to dwell as Wigglytuff was addressing the guild.


    "So sorry to have disturbed you," he apologised to Uxie, giving a few bows. "We had a fantastic time, ten out of ten, would go again! Friend, friend, friendly friend!"


    "I shall not take away your memories of this place," Uxie said, startling a few guild members who hadn't realised who he was. "There would be no point and I am willing to offer you trust. But I must ask you to keep this place a secret, trusted to no one but each other."


    "Absolutely." Wigglytuff nodded. "Thank you. We all know what we need to do. The Time Gears have started going missing! This one must stay safe. We won't breathe a word to anyone about this place, I swear it on the name of Wigglytuff's Guild, Wigglytuff, Chatot, Audino stamp approved! But maybe if you permitted, occasionally a guild member could check up on you?"


    "Please hold true to that promise," Uxie asked. "And I am not certain if repeated visits are a good idea. If someone is indeed stealing Time Gears, raising the chances of being followed and discovered are perhaps not worth it."


    "I understand," Wigglytuff said.


    "But I am not amiss to the company of the guild," Uxie added. "Not commonly, but I would permit it if someone were to come covertly every few weeks or so. You will not have to face the Groudon I materialise to do so."


    "There was a Groudon?" a few members of the guild squawked.


    "An illusion of one," Uxie confirmed, generating the illusion and spooking most of the guild.


    Except for Sean, Rai, and Wigglytuff. "Hello, friendly friend!" Wigglytuff cheered, coming up to shake the illusion's massive hand.


    "G-Guildmaster?"


    "This is one of my defences for Fogbound Lake," Uxie said, having the Groudon roar and stomp its foot, causing most of the guild to stumble. "It is quite formidable."


    "The Guildmaster defeated this?" Chimecho gasped and swooned.


    "No," Uxie answered, confusing them for a moment. "The shinx and meowth did." Eyes turned to them as both of them blushed.


    Wigglytuff wrapped Sean and Rai up in a hug themselves while beaming. "Well done you two! Three cheers for Team Ion!" The guild cheered.


    "Hip-hip-HOORAY!" Wigglytuff tossed them both into the air. "Hip-hip-HOORAY." He caught them and tossed them again. "Hip-hip-HOOOOORAAY!" He caught them one last time and let them down.


    While the pair of them staggered into the arms of the other apprentices, Wigglytuff turned his affection on Uxie.


    "Great work!" Wigglytuff beamed and hugged Uxie too, to his clear surprise. "We'll make sure the Time Gear stays safe! So safe! Even safer!"


    "Indeed. If you would release me now?"


    "Okay." Uxie floated back for some space. "Let's be on our way. Chatot, if you will?"


    "I'll hop to it, Guildmaster!" Chatot affirmed, fluttering his wings and turning to the guild himself. "Everyone, we are going back to the guild. This expedition – The Quest to Find Fogbound Lake – Has been a rousing success!"


    "HOORAY!" The whole guild, including Chatot and Wigglytuff, cheered.


    Chatot and Wigglytuff stepped aside with Uxie to talk to him a little about the situation as the rest of the guild continued to admire the spectacle, talk about the adventure, or ask Rai and Sean about fighting Uxie's illusion.


    In time, however, they had to go. "Take care, Wigglytuff Guild," Uxie said, seeing them off with almost a smile. "It was nice meeting you, it is nice to hear of the world in these times."




    "For the first time in centuries, I allow my guard to drop," Uxie muttered as he trembled, barely able to support himself with his normally formidable Psychic powers. "And on the day, I am winded as well? How foolish can I be?"


    "Uxie? UXIE!? Talk to me, what is going on?" a feminine and passionate voice reached Uxie's mind.


    "My Time Gear has been discovered by the Thief," Uxie answered, consciousness beginning to fade as things began to flash black and white. "A cunning one able to pass for innocence with ease."


    "Uxie, listen to me, focus on my voice." A steadier voice overcome the panicked yelling of the first. "Can you move? You have to get out of there quickly, has the gear been taken?"


    "The thief has reached the middle of the lake," Uxie replied, mental voice equally as even and unbothered even as his body was tilting to the ground. "It won't be long now. I believe I will not be able to escape in time."


    The azure light of Fogbound Lake was snuffed out as the thief snatched it from its resting place. Grovyle breathed in deep as he breached the water and climbed onto the lakefront, grimacing as he placed the gear in his satchel.


    "My siblings know," Uxie said as Grovyle began to escape, raising a hand to snare him in a Psychic grip. It was too weak to hold him for the time freeze, but enough to say his piece. "You shall not succeed."


    "I am saving the world," Grovyle answered and Uxie frowned.


    "You would end it," Uxie said, voice still flat. "Like you would end me."


    "For what it is worth," Grovyle said, stepping forward as Uxie tried to rise up straight and blast him into the water, "I am sorry, but you will understand soon."


    Uxie began to open his eyes, but it was to no avail. The Spirit of Wisdom fell. Grovyle sighed sadly, watching as time began to stop along the lake. Uxie would not escape, he would not move any further to warn anyone else. And especially not the guild.


    "I had best hurry, lest the guild discover my presence and actions." He darted off, as Uxie's mind became crowded with his siblings shouting at him.


    "Uxie, move!" Azelf commanded and Uxie found the willpower to try, but not the strength.


    "Uxie, MOVE!" Mesprit screamed, pushing all her passion through to her brother as she could. Uxie found a reason to try and began to float again.


    He glanced behind his shoulder and grit his teeth. The water was freezing in a kind of coldness that no ice could ever match, he could not escape. He knew it, cold logic against their passion and will.


    "Cancel the connection," Uxie demanded through their link, it took all three of them to break it. A hint of emotional will crept into his voice as he pleaded with them, "Quickly if I am frozen while still connected to you, you wi-"


    Time froze.


    The lights of Fogbound Lake grew still, yet ever there. The volbeat and illumise's glow still remained, yet now their light cast a shadow across the frozen, yet not icy, water.


    Uxie stilled, mind locking into place, going blank, heart freezing, but not stopping, eyes open, yet not shining.


    Mesprit screamed in agony as the connection to her brother was frozen in time, she unable to end it, her mind unable to comprehend the inconceivable wave of
















    From her yellow brother. Things went black and white and purple and colours that do not exist as she writhed in agony, the Underground Lake shaking as a maelstrom of energy began to unleash a reckoning on it.


    Azelf cried out in no less pain as Uxie did not go silent, it was not silence from Uxie but a complete lack of anything that cried out in an agonizing crescendo across their mental link. It was a silence that pounded on the ears like distortion on a radio.


    Azelf grit their teeth and pushed their whole WILL into resisting the agony, into ending the connection the ever-present nothing that they were joined with. Whether it took a second, an hour, a day, or longer Azelf wasn't sure, but they refused to be dragged down into the scream they heard from Mesprit.


    The Being of Willpower resisted until it was gone. But once it was gone, they wept for their brother, their sister, and for the world.


    Cute stuff, well not the ending but otherwise.

    I can't wait for what's coming, I hope we remember who begins to make his Great appearance after Fogbound Lake~
     
    Chapter 14 - Crumbling a Little
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    A branch cracked.

    With heightened hearing, edged to outright paranoia, the riolu hidden in the trees tensed. In a practised motion he tugged a retractable cord and the spartan camp he had dwelt in for the last week was all wrapped and ready to be absconded with.

    He was right in the middle of hoisting the heavy cloth around his shoulders when he heard some tapping.

    It was rhythmic. One tap. Two taps. Three taps. All while someone glided through the brush as if they were part of it.

    Sean the riolu relaxed slightly and smiled when he spotted the green crest on the top of his visitor's head.

    "Sean?" Striker the grovyle whispered, sliding through the trees.

    "Here," Sean whispered back, relaxing almost entirely now that he was certain there was no threat to him. "Glad to see you're okay."

    Grovyle smiled and hopped to his side. He looked him up and down with a critical eye before nodding. "Impressive," he said warmly.

    Rolling his eyes, Sean have him a tiny shove with a blue paw, more a tap. "We can talk impressive in a minute. How are you? Any clue on that meowth? How did the expedition go?"

    "Fruitful in one way," Grovyle began as the riolu placed their entire home back down. "Disappointing in another. Did you find the key?"

    Sean shook his head. "Nope. Judging by the question, that was the disappointment?" Grovyle nodded. "And Shinx doesn't know where it is either?"

    "It doesn't look like it," Grovyle confirmed. "And he gave no indication that he has any idea." Sighing with frustration, Grovyle crouched down and Sean sat down as well. "I did obtain the Time Gear, however," he said, and Sean smiled. "And got a closer look at our… friend."

    Grovyle opened his travel bag and held out the cerulean gear, grimacing as he did so. Sean quickly opened up the bag he stored the gears in, opening the bag quickly for Grovyle's sake. "Three down," Sean sighed and gave the still-grimacing Grovyle a concerned look. "You alright?"

    Striker grimaced. "Still feels like the cold stone of the future," he said, rubbing his hands to try and rid the feeling the Time Gear left on him. Sean reached forward to clasp Striker's hands with his paws and held them until he stopped shuddering.

    "One bastard of a deterrent in taking those things," he joked, and Grovyle gave a small, grateful, smile. "Two to go. Past the hump! It'll have to be easier now won't it?"

    "Don't swear." Grovyle smirked, but Sean's tone was far too innocent to be anything but sarcasm. "Easy now, do not give us bad luck now."

    "I won't jinx us," Sean laughed and Grovyle chuckled as well. "Hehahaa… so, did you get any idea on 'Meowth'?"

    "Yes," Grovyle said, beginning to frown. Sean felt the shift in tone and sat up straight. "Odd."

    "Odd? Odd in what way?" Sean asked, the riolu's ears twitching.

    "He has told Shinx his name to begin with," Grovyle said, causing Sean's ears to twitch again. "And said it was Sean."

    Sean blinked. Twice. Thrice. Then a fourth and fifth time just to be sure. "Oh… well… that… huh. That actually makes sense really."

    "Say again?"

    "Yeah." Sean frowned thoughtfully, pulling himself to his feet. "Getting separated from us. What better way for us to find out where he is? Broadcast name that we'd both recognise."

    "Dusknoir would recognise it as well," Grovyle pointed out, before giving a tired sigh. Sean didn't even need to give him The Look, he realised it as soon as he said it. "Of course. Of course, he'd do that, the fool. To get 'his' attention as much as ours."

    "I mean, it'd definitely pull some heat off us," Sean sighed, shaking his head. "Can't help but wonder if he actually planned to get separated from us now."

    "Unless he knew something would attack us," Grovyle said dryly. "I feel this was just a coincidence based on what else I learned. He didn't seem to completely recognise me, I fear he may be suffering a bout of amnesia like you did."

    "Hm," Sean grunted, rubbing an arm absentmindedly. Grovyle noticed it was the same arm that he had shielded himself with during their trip through time. "He did take as bad of a hit as I did."

    "Is it aching?" he asked, concerned.

    "Huh? Oh, no I'm fine," Sean said, dropping his arm to his side. "Just thinking."

    "As am I," Grovyle said as he began to frown again. "I believe that the usage of your name hasn't been intentional."

    "Hm?"

    Grovyle sighed and looked up. "He was rather… distant through most of the travel, I'm not sure how much of me he recognised. He stuck much closer to Shinx, kept me at arm's length."

    "That is weird," Sean agreed. "And it can't be because…? No. Wait, he never talked to you?"

    "At first he was very quiet," Grovyle said. "It was hard to tell at first since Shinx would not stop talking, but no matter what he seemed uninterested in engaging me in conversation. I travelled with them across two dungeons and several days. If it wasn't for what Shinx himself told me, I wouldn't have been certain it was him. Shinx blurted his name out when we were separated, otherwise, I'm not sure if I would have guessed. I couldn't quite find a way to get close enough to examine him for scars, but I could see some."

    "Like me, he can't remember it all," Sean mused. "And since he woke up away from us…."

    "Like you." Grovyle nodded. "And unlike you, he didn't have either of us to help stir those memories. They are still there I'm certain, he seemed to recognise me, but not why or how. Or what it meant."

    "So, he may not know," Sean theorised before frowning. "He might recognise you, but not know why. Holy shit, what if he thinks you're a bad guy? We can't fight a friend! Does he know you took any of the Time Gears?"

    To Sean's relief, Grovyle shook his head. "Thankfully that incident shouldn't be discovered for some time. I succeeded in trapping Uxie in time, although he said he has warned his brethren about me."

    "Not about me!" Sean grinned cheekily. It dropped after a second. "Jeez. And I thought things were bad on this side."

    At that, Grovyle's eyes sharpened. "Yes? I notice you haven't shared any news. No sign of the key is one thing. Has something else happened?"

    Sean's expression turned quite guilty. "Don't freak out on me," he said, and Striker crossed his arms sternly. "I mean it, Striker. I've been careful." With the grovyle blinking just briefly off guard after his name was used, Sean explained, "Dusknoir is in the area."

    One of Grovyle's claws snapped closed around nothing and clenched as his jaw tightened. Sean cringed away as Grovyle took a moment to calm his nerves. "You agreed that any sign and you'd leave," he said softly.

    "Yesterday," Sean explained. "I was in the marketplace and there was a big commotion. Apparently, Mount Bristle had a Shadow Pokémon problem and with the guild gone, the locals were a little panicked. I decided to stick around a bit to get some more information, and then he was just… there."

    "As he does," Grovyle growled, he was scanning the brush around them for any sign.

    "Yeah. He calmed the townsfolk, especially when they realised he was 'The Great Dusknoir' and he went off to 'dispatch of the threat' returning this morning with the good news."

    "I wonder how many sableye did the dirty work for him," Grovyle snarled before stalking up and down the small clearing. "He's here? Now? The guild won't be far behind me, he's clearly here for them. He knows Fogbound Lake has a Time Gear, he'll want to check it out. Especially if they tell him I was there, and they have no reason not to. Dammit!"

    Sean watched this quietly. It was a rare scene to find Striker losing a bit of his cool-guy composure. He supposed he should feel honoured, there wasn't really anyone else Grovyle would show this side to. He needed to be cool, calm, and collected for everyone and everything else.

    There wasn't much he could do. Letting Striker simple curse and growl, cut up some trees, and mutter obscenities under his breath was the best option here. He tended to regain his composure fairly quickly.

    Striker continued to mutter and attack trees for a minute longer than Sean had guessed before he pulled himself together.

    "Get that thing on your back," Grovyle ordered, gesturing briefly to the tent. "We're leaving."

    Sean didn't move.

    "Sean?" Grovyle asked, bordering on growling at him for once. "I said we need to leave."

    "Striker," Sean began soothingly but the Grass-type recoiled from his voice.

    "That's your 'you're not going to like this' voice," Grovyle snapped. "And I already know I don't agree."

    "I think I should stay here," Sean suggested.

    "I was right," Grovyle said, sounding mock-surprised. "I don't agree. I'm not letting Dusknoir get his filthy traitorous hands on you."

    "And how will he?" Sean asked, stopping Grovyle in his tracks. "He's looking for a human named Sean. You know what he'll see when he sees me? A riolu named Riolu."

    "I'm not risking you." Grovyle glowered, taking a step forward. "You know as well as I do that you can't keep your nose out of things. If something happens, you'll do something stupid and get yourself caught."

    "Well, what happens when Dusknoir learns about someone 'else' named Sean?" Sean demanded, standing his ground. "If Shinx is as chatty with names as you say, he'll find out sooner or later. Or if he pals with the guild and gets a good look at him, you know he'd recognise him."

    Striker took a deep breath. "If he… recognised me, he'll probably know to keep his distance," he suggested, but it was weak.

    "And what's he supposed to do if Dusknoir does figure it out?" Sean asked.

    "Dusknoir won't… do anything until he has all three of us," Grovyle said slowly and deliberately.

    Sean nodded. "I've got an idea. It makes sense to split up again. We both know the last two lakes are guarded by Azelf and Mesprit. How much help am I even going to be there? I'll be an even deader weight in battle, and it'll also show the last one that there are two after the Time Gears, rather than just one. I won't do anything stupid, no matter how much I want to. Saving the world needs to come first."

    Striker took that all in, thought it over, and gave his companion a fragile smile. "Arguments are so much more enjoyable now that we can actually discuss things." His smile fell, and he sighed. "You and your rational good points." He tried to focus on all the holes and flaws of Sean's idea, but the pragmatic part of his mind won out. "Very well. You have to swear it this time though. Swear you will not endanger yourself. Not to save either of us."

    "Striker," Sean said sadly before nodding. His companion's expression was immovable. "Alright. I swear."

    The grovyle nodded. "I will be holding you to that," he warned. "You don't have nimble enough fingers to do some alien human counter-deceit this time."

    "I'm still not apologising for saving your life," Sean retorted, feeling new confidence fill him now that he'd won the argument. He wiggled his paws, but Grovyle was right. He couldn't cross his fingers if he didn't really have any. "You all thanked me, I could tell. Except you, who just shouted 'gro, grovl, vle' at me for two hours straight."

    "Heh, Guardian covered-" Striker stiffened up as did Sean. "I… I apologise. Slip of the tongue."

    "It's fine," Sean said, waving him off. "Really. Nothing wrong with thinking of the good times every now and again."

    "…Perhaps." Striker shook it off and looked to the path he had come. "Well, Giratina's plan has changed now. I intended on remaining for longer in Treasure Town, but with Dusknoir here that is impossible. You will stay here, continue searching for the key. Keep off Dusknoir's web of information. Be nothing more than-"

    "Than the friendly, if a little naïve, young explorer," Sean finished with a grin that befitted one brain cell. "I'm good at that."

    "I'll continue for the Time Gears," Striker continued as if Sean hadn't spoken, but an amused tilt to his jaw was visible. "I had some time to think when travelling back and I have decided that searching for Mesprit and her lake is the better choice. Finding the right entry, any entry at all, is not going to be easy. Azelf's location is at least somewhat known."

    "Good choice. I would have suggested it anyway."

    "I'm sure you would have." Striker nodded. "Lastly, but first to be done, I am going to speak with 'Sean' and see what he remembers."

    The riolu blinked. "Is that the best idea? If he doesn't remember much you might make him suspicious."

    "I'm certain he knows more than he lets on," Striker said.

    "Like you?"

    "Possibly. I don't intend on telling him anything without good cause, I just plan to ascertain what he knows. Let him speak. I already told him I wanted to speak with him before I parted from the guild. If he refuses to speak with me, or I cannot get him alone, I'll move on. But what he might know could factor into our plans. And if possible, I'll warn him about Dusknoir."

    "If you think that's best," Sean said with a shrug. "You're the most careful guy I know, so it should be fine. Probably best you don't mention me for the moment."

    "Certainly not!" Striker nodded and they fell into a moment of silence.

    "Well," Sean began, breaking the silence. "Guess you'll be taking off right away?"

    "Indeed." Striker nodded. "I am sorry. This wasn't my intention."

    "I know," Sean sighed, giving a reluctant smile. "I know. We've got important work to do. I'll find the key to the Hidden Land. I was hoping to have you there to give me a bit of assistance there. And I'm guessing you don't have anything of Shinx's I might get a Scream from?"

    "Nothing specific," Striker confirmed while shaking his head. "But we could give it a single shot anyway? See if anything helpful comes up."

    "Still weird that here the Scream shows me any random thing," Sean muttered as Striker stepped closer. "At least the future was consistent." He clasped Striker's clawed hand with his softer paw as Grovyle sat his bag down and opened it.

    Feeling a little foolish, Sean held hands with Striker while he rifled through their things. He touched food, berries, a scarf, and an unnecessarily large number of orbs. He wouldn't say that, Striker would get uppity at him again, but he'd think it viciously.

    "Anything?" Striker asked after a minute.

    "…No."

    They dropped their grips and let their arms flop down against their hips. "Worth a try." Sean shrugged. Striker quickly secured his belongings in his travel bag and swung it into place.

    "I should be off now," he said, and Sean nodded.

    "Don't do anything stupid," he said and got a grin out of his friend.

    "Same to you," Striker said wisely. "Same to you."

    Sean gave him a light shove. "Now get out of here," he commanded. "Rob some gods. Save the world. Let me find the key."

    "Good luck, Sean," Striker called as he disappeared.

    "See you, Striker," Sean muttered, pushing the faint feeling of sadness away.

    He had a key to find.


    The guild had chosen to duplicate the original plan, except in reverse. The various apprentices split into their same groups before setting off on the exact journeys that had brought them to the Foggy Forest in the first place. Except for one small exception.

    "Since the two of you came through the mountains with a partner," Chatot said to Team Ion as everyone was packed and ready. "I think it may be pertinent for you to exit with someone as well."

    "Yes! Friends work with friends," Wigglytuff parroted next to Chatot.

    "Indeed, so for your trip back, you will be travelling with Croagunk. Understood?"

    Sean and Rai exchanged a look before the fur on their necks stood up. Croagunk was right behind them. "Understood," they said together.

    "Meh-heh-heh, glad to be working with you," Croagunk chuckled from behind them.

    With everything in place, the guild split up once more.

    Croagunk didn't mind travelling through Mount Horn and Craggy Coast on the way back. "It was fun to wade through mud again," he commented at one point while being attacked by a triple beedrill trio. "This is alright though."

    Saying this after getting lanced by a beedrill was cause for some concern between them.

    Otherwise, Croagunk fit in well. He didn't talk much, didn't inspire the same kind of attention that Grovyle had, Sean was thankful for that small mercy, and was a very competent battler.

    The comments Croagunk made were somewhat strange though. Or vaguely insulting.

    "Meh-heh-heh, good catch." He complimented Sean, after managing to be in the perfect spot to get slammed by Rai. The shinx getting blasted back by a Solar Beam.

    "I'm a good landing pad," Sean groaned as Rai rolled off him. Croagunk darted forward with a fist seeping purple, Poison Jabbing the bellossom right in a weak spot.

    "You're all pokey," Rai coughed, coming to his feet. "Warm at least."

    "I'm aware of that," Sean said dryly, coming to his feet as well. He brushed some dirt off his face, tail, body, and legs. Everywhere, he was filthy all over again.

    "Good grief." Rai shook his head at Sean. "Just clean it off."

    "I will," Sean insisted, Rai gave him a disbelieving stare. "We'll just stop by the Hot Springs."

    "Meh-heh-heh, I was wondering about that earlier." Sean turned his attention to Croagunk as the amphibious pokémon plodded along. "But it makes sense."

    "It does?" Rai asked, cocking his head, Croagunk just chuckled.

    Sean's concern over whatever Croagunk meant by that was forgotten when they were attacked by some new enemies.

    Thunderbolt and Poison Jab finished off two, while a Scratch and half a Night Slash managed to send the last one fleeing.

    "You are really strong, Croagunk," Rai commented cheerfully as they continued on, barely slowed.

    "Meh-heh-heh." Croagunk's cheek pouches inflated in for a longer moment before shrinking again. "You're not too bad yourself. Both of you, you'll be graduating in no time."

    "You are much stronger than us," Sean pointed out. "Why haven't you graduated?"

    "Eh, can't," Croagunk answered. "The only treasure I care for in the world is bolted to the floor of the guild."

    The smell of salt ended up sticking to Sean after they exited Craggy Coast, and Rai refused to go through the next leg of the journey smelling nothing but salt.

    Croagunk had no issues, so it was decided on a small detour before arriving back at Treasure Town.

    "Ah… this feels wonderful," Sean sighed, leaning back in the water. Rai nodded in agreement, bobbing up and down as he did so.

    "You two are welcome here any time," Torkoal said, voice a little laboured but otherwise strong.

    Croagunk remained in place, rooted in the dimmest corner of the Hot Springs. His expression hadn't changed, by the inflation of his cheek pouches seemed to have slowed. Sean gathered that meant he was enjoying it.

    "I hope we haven't been bothering you," Rai said meekly towards Torkoal.

    "Not at all," the aged pokémon insisted.

    "He won't clean up otherwise," Rai explained, giving Sean a cheeky glance. Sean rolled his eyes in response.

    "Just because you enjoy coughing up hairballs, doesn't mean I will."

    "I do NOT cough up hairballs!"

    "Hm, sure, sure."

    Rai growled and pounced, dunking Sean into the soothing water of the Hot Springs. Sean thrashed and splashed water everywhere before resurfacing, dunking Rai's head down for half a second before springing back.

    "Come here!" Rai called as Sean paddled for his life, breaking into laughter as he did so. Thankfully Rai did as well, and the laughter disabled him from pouncing again.

    Torkoal chuckled and let them wash away the stresses of the expedition. He chose not to ask them about it, determining that if they wished to speak of it, they would. And Croagunk was known for not being the chattiest of apprentices. No one else populated the Hot Springs this day, the regulars having left before Team Ion arrived.

    To their regret, the time to leave seemed to come too quickly. "The guild will be worried," Sean said out of the blue and Rai agreed.

    Croagunk remained Croagunk and made a creepy laugh.

    "You're right," Rai sighed. "Don't want Chatot to get upset at us or something, not when we're going so well."

    "You two take care then," Torkoal said, overhearing them. "And come back any time."

    Rai shook the water off, showering Sean as he got out. "Thanks," Sean said.

    "You're welcome," Rai replied brightly, causing Sean to snort. He awkwardly tried to shake the water off, still not completely accustomed to fur, and nearly lost his balance. Thankfully Croagunk caught him.

    After nearly falling back into the Hot Springs, Sean decided to walk the water off. They waved to Torkoal and left the Hot Springs, now on the regular path that led straight to Treasure Town.

    After a few hours of aimless chatting, something happened.

    To their surprise, green and leafy stepped out of the trees to block their way. "Grovyle!" Rai beamed, delighted to see the clever adventurer again.

    "Good afternoon, Shinx and… Croagunk," Grovyle said with a grin. "Sorry to have vanished off so suddenly, seems I didn't have to rush, and I apologise for that."

    "Oh, no that's okay," Rai insisted. "We got back through the dungeons alright, that Night Slash is really helping!"

    Sean smiled at Rai for that.

    Grovyle nodded. "Well, if you don't mind I can show him another trick?" He raised an arm and flicked it, a blade of green slicing off his arm into a projective that struck against a tree, leaving a noticeable mark.

    "Oh, cool that's so nice of you!" Rai beamed and grinned at Sean. "Who knows what he can show you?"

    "Meh-heh-heh. Probably something dangerous."

    "Something that can hopefully form a stronger partnership," Grovyle said, eying Croagunk for a moment. "Say… Croagunk?"

    "Meh-heh-yes?"

    "I wasn't able to share this earlier, but I had been thinking about it throughout the expedition. Your Swap Cauldron, I believe I may have an idea that may help."

    "Oh?" Croagunk leaned forward, omitting his usual chuckle. "There isn't much left I haven't tried to repair it."

    "The issue was stability was it not?" Grovyle asked, getting a nod from Croagunk. "I've spent a lot of time having to prepare things that will last. Have you tried incorporating scizor carapace into the cement?"

    Croagunk's pouches froze as his expression… didn't change, but the pause was enough. He chuckled and shook his head. "You are very clever, Grovyle. Not easy to get hold of it, but…." He looked away, staring past everyone and nodded. "I'll see you back at the guild, Team Ion, I have business to address."

    Croagunk began to drift away, moving quite eagerly to try a new idea to repair his beloved cauldron. Sean waved.

    He turned to Rai. "Now, forgive me for being presumptuous but I had learned that you were recently stolen from?" Rai flinched and almost shrunk, Sean curled his tail around Rai's in response.

    "I heard a rumour that some stone object with a strange marking has been spotted." Rai gasped and bolted upright. "I overheard someone speaking about it in the marketplace but was unable to find who it was."

    "My Relic Fragment!" Rai said before frowning. "Or… it probably isn't. There are lots of rocks with markings on them."

    "Don't think like that," Grovyle said gently. "Yes, it is not always easy to raise your hopes, but it is equally as damaging in time if you disallow yourself from feeling no hope. Perhaps it could be, or someone may have an idea or lead for you?"

    "You're really wise." Rai smiled, it was nicer than his normal ecstatic grin. "After Team Skull took it I…." He trailed off before shaking his head. "I really should start asking around, they probably did sell it, thanks."

    "You are welcome," Grovyle said warmly. "Now, I can give your friend some assistance while you return to Treasure Town. Who knows, Meowth may be back before you are."

    "Oh, I can wait," Rai said pleasantly. "Sean would probably get lost if I left him alone." Rai gave a laugh, but Grovyle did not.

    Sean was still facing Rai, but he was watching Grovyle through the side of his eye.

    "I wouldn't wish for you to lose this chance," Grovyle said, keeping his face neutral. "If needed, I can show him the way back."

    "I wouldn't want to inconvenience you!" Rai shook his head.

    "It is no inconvenience," Grovyle said firmly. "I will tend to Sean, you find your lost treasure."

    "Oh, uh..." He glanced at Sean and remembered that Grovyle had wanted to talk to him about something. He realised this must be something private. "Okay. I guess I'll just… see you back at the guild?"

    "Sure," Sean said giving Rai a smile. "Don't worry, I won't trip over my feet too much! You need to find the Relic Fragment, I'll feel better at least."

    Rai smiled, gave Grovyle another curious look, and ran off, calling out. "Croagunk wait up!" The new pair watched until Rai was a small dot to their eyes before Grovyle turned to Sean. "It would be best we take this off the path well-travelled."

    Swallowing nervously as a thousand and four scenarios flashed through his mind, Sean followed Grovyle off the path and into the woods. Before today he hadn't left the path at all besides the one time he found his way to Litleo's abode. And even then, that was just an alternate path.

    "So, how secret are the techniques you're planning on teaching me?" Sean asked airily. Grovyle gave him an unimpressed look before it morphed into a thoughtful one.

    "This will have to do," he said, coming to a stop. Sean looked around, this didn't seem to be a simple random spot. A small clearing Grovyle had led him to, surrounded by a thicket of trees that stretched their branches far enough to blot out the shine of the sun. Only brief rays fell through the leaves, lighting what was clearly a campsite.

    There wasn't much, befitting someone who was constantly on the move. Just what appeared to be a swag made of hewn reeds and leaves with a bag sat on top of it.

    Grovyle gestured for him to sit, but Sean declined. He was feeling a mite too nervous to sit around easily.

    "First, extend your claws," Grovyle commanded, and Sean quickly obeyed.

    "Going straight into it I guess," he thought, flexing his paws and letting his claws come out. With a taloned hand, Grovyle grabbed one of his paws and examined it. He checked the top, bottom, how long his claws were, before letting it go.

    "Perform a Night Slash for me, if you are able," Grovyle said, and Sean took a breath.

    With the claws on his right paw twitching and trembling, he tried to force the sticky unpleasantness through his arm. His arm began to wobble as he tried to call upon this Power. His claws began glinting black, but none of them extended into the sabre-like blades that was Night Slash.

    "Hm," Grovyle hummed as Sean gave up, breathing slightly harder for his effort. "Not great," he said, and Sean flinched. "Not terrible at least. Watch me."

    Grovyle's left arm shone green before it cracked and spread to his leaves, lengthening them into glowing green blades. Grovyle lifted one of his arms vertical and let Sean see how the Power had sharpened along his arm.

    With his right arm, Grovyle did the same until the time came to shape the Leaf Blade. Instead of running along his arm, the energy moved and shaped along his hand, becoming a smaller set of sickles.

    "In time you may be able to do this," Grovyle said, slashing out with both arms and the green energy seemed to fly right off his limbs, cutting small branches and leaves down from where he had aimed the attack. "However ranged attacks of this kind take a considerable amount of time and dedication to properly master."

    "Well that's pretty awesome," Sean said, glancing back as another branch fell down. "It doesn't sound like you're teaching me that though."

    "No."

    "Then what are you teaching me?"

    Grovyle didn't answer immediately, instead, he glanced to where he had sent the Leaf Blade's.

    Sean wet his lips and decided to make a stab at the topic below the surface. "Why did you want me alone?" he asked and Grovyle's gaze fell back on him. He didn't outwardly react to the almost deadly look in Grovyle's eyes, on the inside he screamed a bit. "You clearly wanted Rai to leave… is there some super-secret move you have to show me completely alone? Or…?"

    "Or," Grovyle answered, and Sean breathed out heavily.

    Leaning against a tree, Grovyle crossed his arms and stared him down. Sean stared back, wincing upon first meeting Grovyle's intense gaze, but gathering his nerve and staring him down himself.

    Soon, Grovyle cracked a smile. It was bizarrely friendly and even more strangely comfortable to see. "Do you know me?" he asked, and Sean's roiling nerves quietened completely. There was no point in being nervous about what had already happened. "You've acted somewhat… oddly ever since I first met you. I think at least. You are quite difficult to read."

    Sean swallowed dryly and wet his lips with a damp tongue, feeling the scratch of his inhuman tongue drag roughly across feline lips. "I'm not sure," he said, clenching his paws and doing his best not to shrink away. Something about this felt every flavour of wrong, he felt hot and itchy.

    Grovyle nodded, the tension in his shoulders seemed to sag away as he sighed. "What happened to you?" he asked the wind. "Alright, tell me. Who are you?"

    "I… what? I'm Sean. Sean the meowth."

    Grovyle nodded. "Indeed. What about you especially? What are your hobbies, what do you like to do?"

    "Why are you asking these things?" Sean asked, mind just going blank now. "I'm an explorer. I like… exploring things."

    "Where do you come from?"

    "T-Treasure Town."

    "Do you?"

    Sean was silent.

    "Sean," Grovyle said, the name common and known to his tongue.

    Sean flinched. "I have amnesia okay!" he yelled, surprising Grovyle with the energy. "I don't know why you're asking me these things! What do you want to know?"

    "I want to know what you know about me," Grovyle retorted and Sean's fragile web of lies and the pressure to keep up the act cracked.

    "I KNOW YOU'RE FROM THE FUTURE!"

    Sean's voice didn't carry far, the forest consumed his words before it could spread to delicate ears. But what had been said, had been said.

    "I do not do well under pressure," Sean commented to himself, feeling suddenly very detached. Like he could just float away.

    "Do you know that you are as well?" Grovyle asked softly, far gentler than Sean's emotional outburst. It still caused him to cringe.

    "Ah… uh… fine, yes! I know! I know I'm from the future. I know you are from the future. I know the future we come from is a hellscape nightmare land of pain and horror and death. I know you are the one taking the Time Gears to stop the never-ending nightmare the world ends up as. But I don't remember being there!"

    Grovyle took a few moments to take all that in, all while Sean cursed himself to the deepest pits of hell for releasing so much. "I hate lying," he thought miserably. "I hate it so much… but surely I can be honest with Grovyle? Someone. At least for some of it."

    "I see." Grovyle said eventually. "That is… more than I had expected to be honest." Sean covered his face to breathe into his paws for a moment before dropping them.

    "I don't remember… much of anything," he admitted. Which was, technically, the truth. At least in this context. "Just that where I come from is horrible and we are back trying to stop it somehow. I don't remember… you very much at all."

    Grovyle frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

    "I remember what we are doing. You… I don't remember, just that you're pretty awesome and that you are here to save the world. Also, pretty awesome."

    "What do you remember clearly?"

    Sean rubbed his face, took a few breaths, and tried to figure out what he was going to say. He decided to go with the truth, at its most technical.

    "I woke up on the cliff on Sharpedo Bluff," Sean said, staring down at the ground. "I didn't really remember much. Just… my name is Sean, and I was human."

    Grovyle stared at him for a very long time. "Amnesia indeed. This complicates things, you really can't remember much?"

    "What do you mean? I'm not acting the way I used to?"

    "No." Grovyle shook his head. "If that shinx hadn't said your name, I may not have recognised you at all. You are considerably bolder these days. It's… nice to see."

    "Me? Bold? Good lord. Well, I mean, the future is a place of death. I can only imagine how freaked out I would have been."

    "So, has your memory been returning at all?" Grovyle asked, but Sean shrugged with a dismissive sound.

    "Kinda? Parts of my memory have been going further," he admitted, frowning as he tried to remember what his mother's name was. "And when I woke up I didn't really know what I was doing."

    Sean licked his lips again, he cursed himself on the inside for being such a hesitant person, bold his ass. He knew he'd said enough that Grovyle could make his own conclusions, but he had to say it. If just to prove he could. "I only really remembered the stuff I've said. I know that the future is terrible, and we came back in time to save it."

    Grovyle nodded, sighing out a held breath. "And you remember how we planned to save it?" he asked, just to reaffirm what Sean had already said.

    "Time Gears."

    Grovyle smiled. "You remember the important parts then, which is a relief." Grovyle stepped forward, Sean instinctively stepping back at the sudden movement. The wood gecko pokémon paused, a frown touching his lips. "But you are…."

    He trailed off into thoughtful silence and Sean stepped forward himself. "I want to help you, Grovyle." Grovyle frowned further at that, Sean baffled as to why. He hadn't even reached the bad part yet. "But I don't think I can. I'm just not strong, not brave, not bold at all. Groudon was a… fluke I think, wasn't even Groudon and I knew that." He shook his head and looked back, eyes trailing over the plants they had walked through.

    Grovyle mentally placed that last line aside for later consideration, he hadn't been aware there would be something like that to scare people off.

    "You have other obligations here," Grovyle said, nodding. "I am relieved you still know of our mission, I wouldn't wish to make an enemy of you. I don't think our actions will remain shrouded for much longer. Uxie is frozen in time." Sean spun back on Grovyle at that.

    "Pardon?"

    Grovyle nodded, a pained expression darkening his face. "With the guild having found the Time Gear and Uxie being such a powerful telepath, I'm afraid it had to be done. I thought this might buy us some more time to act, without being seen. But this will likely not work as I had hoped. Uxie will be fine once time is restored."

    "I see." Sean frowned, glancing away. "Ah… this is really weird for me at the moment," he said, hoping to lighten the mood. "I feel really tense, and I don't know why."

    "You were always the careful sort," Grovyle replied, nodding. "Kept us all alive in the future." He went to clap Sean on the shoulder but rethought that.

    "So," Sean said, turning the topic back to what he wanted to say. "You said I have other obligations here?"

    "Indeed." Grovyle nodded. "I found my way onto the guilds expedition in the hopes of getting close to Shinx." He smiled a pleasant grin. "Then I find I may not have needed to. You've done an admirable job there."

    "Okay…?" Sean asked, frowning. "Why exactly?"

    "Right, you wouldn't… Shinx is in possession of, was in possession, or will be in possession of a required item to find our way to Temporal Tower." Grovyle stepped over to his other bag and ruffled through it quickly. "This," he said, turning back with a scrap of parchment in hand.

    He thrust it towards Sean who took it carefully. On the parchment was a, surprisingly well drawn, imitation of the symbol on the Relic Fragment. "This glyph was found in Brine Cave, and we know it to be the key to the Hidden Land. Our only lead to this is Shinx, Team Skull was of… little help in that field."

    "Team Skull?" Sean asked, mind spinning with everything being said. "O-okay, slow down please."

    Grovyle sighed. "I have to be brief, I can't stay in the area much longer."

    "Why?" Sean asked. "You froze Uxie."

    "Dusknoir is in the area."

    Sean paused, the feeling of remembrance washing over him like ice water. "Oh."

    "Yes, 'oh'," Grovyle said. "You remember the threat he poses correct?"

    "S-sort of."

    "Do not let him find anything out about you," Grovyle ordered, rolling up the picture and thwapping him on the head with it, lightly. "We don't need any greater risk to this operation."

    "Okay just…" Sean mimed some walls around him before pushing out with his paws. "What do you want me to do?"

    "I want you to find the item," Grovyle replied before handing him the scroll. "Take this with you, but keep it hidden. I'll be back in Treasure Town once I have acquired the remaining two Time Gears. I am not certain how long this will take, we have an idea of where Azelf is hidden, but Mesprit will be much more difficult to find."

    Sean nodded, before frowning. "Wait. So, you were just telling Rai a lie in order to make him leave?"

    "Yes, unfortunately. Knowing I had something secret to discuss with you could cause unnecessary complications."

    "And what if?" Sean began as Grovyle stepped back to grab his belongings. "What if Dusknoir figures out who I am?"

    Grovyle stared at him for a long moment. An inscrutable expression Sean had no way to decipher. "You'll be alright," he said eventually. "At best, we will free you. Even if things go to their worst, Dusknoir won't harm you. Minimise any interaction with him and don't let him get a close look at you. Understand?"

    Dusknoir wouldn't harm him, what did that mean? "Y-Yes, I got it all."

    "Good." Grovyle packed his swag into the bag and swung it in parallel to the other one he wore. "This went considerably better than I had feared," he said, giving Sean a confident smile. With a nod he said. "I really wasn't sure how much you remembered, I thought you simply had a vague recognition of me. This is good news, thank you. We are back at full strength or at least closer than before."

    Sean managed to smile back as Grovyle began leading him back the way they had come. "I'm not allowed to tell any of this to Rai, am I?"

    Grovyle was silent for a bit, only the sound of them walking through nature. "It would be best not to," Grovyle said. "The more who know, the greater the risk Dusknoir will find us. Telling him would only place him in great danger. But on the occasion everything goes wrong, it may be a good idea to find a way to let him figure out what needs to be done."

    "One last question though," Sean said, pausing Grovyle. "In the future... what did you... what did you know about me?" Had he told Grovyle everything? He wanted to scream it, he hoped so badly he had.

    Grovyle turned back, a contemplative expression flitting across his face. "Despite it all, you were very brave," he said after a pause. "Always someone to count on. Always... made what we were doing worth it."

    Sean swallowed, that wasn't quite what he meant to ask, even if it did make him feel good. "And how much did you know about me?" he asked.

    Grovyle's expression was curious, a little perplexed. "...Enough," he answered.

    "Well..." Sean thought. "That answered nothing ever."

    Grovyle came to a stop and pointed. "Keep going forward, you'll know the way back to Treasure Town soon. I will part ways here, reducing the possibility we could be connected together. Deny everything if you must, stay close to your allies, and find the glyph item. Tell Shinx that I have given you a tip on how to launch a Night Slash. And good luck."

    "You too, Grovyle." Sean waved and Grovyle waved back, another pained look in his eye. Once Sean was out of sight, Grovyle smiled sadly.

    "Take care of him, Sean," he whispered, then disappeared into the forest.


    The sun had set, and night had fallen by the time Sean found his way back to Treasure Town. The moon had risen to cast its gentle light upon the world as nocturnal pokémon began to start their day. Sean noted a large number of hoothoot and was able to see small differences in feather and beak length as he went.

    He was quite bored but also anxious which was an uncomfortable combination.

    Spending the walk back thinking over his and Grovyle's conversation slowed his pace down a bit. It couldn't be helped, Sean compulsively thought over everything he did and did not do.

    He couldn't decide if he had done the right thing exactly by revealing so much to Grovyle, or how much he didn't learn from their conversation. "Feels like I did all the talking," he thought as he kicked a stone.

    Then winced as his shoeless feet were stung from the impact.

    "Whatever that was," he thought as Treasure Town began to come into view. "I've probably sent everything sideways. How much point is there anymore at trying to keep the 'story' on track?"

    His dour thoughts were to be interrupted, however, by something blue, yellow, and relieved to see him. "Sean!" Rai called, bounding over to him and snapping Sean from his reverie. "You made it. I was just about to come looking for you."

    "It was a trip." Sean smiled, relieved that Rai was still Rai. "That's for sure. I spotted about thirty-seven and a half hoothoot."

    "Thirty… seven? That'd oddly specific." Rai's expression grew grave. "And a half?"

    "It was a noctowl, I'm pretty sure," Sean clarified, leaving Rai to breathe a sigh of relief.

    "That's good. I heard a Shadow Pokémon was in the area, but someone mentioned it was handled."

    "Shadow…?" Sean frowned, but Rai was looking very uncomfortable now. Deciding to shelve that for now, he asked. "How did the treasure hunting go?"

    Rai's discomfort faded away like sand pictures on a beach before he shook his head sadly. "Nothing. No one's heard of anyone talking about it. The place was getting quiet, so I'll try again tomorrow."

    Dammit, Grovyle. "It'll turn up. What about Croagunk? Did you catch him? He was going off pretty fast."

    To Sean's concern, Rai flinched at that. "YES," he half-shouted as his fur puffed up before he restrained himself. "Yes, I caught up with him. Didn't talk about much though, just creepy laughter and creepier comments. You know?"

    "Normal Croagunk then." Sean nodded wisely, and Rai nodded as well, tension sliding out of his shoulders. Without speaking, they began to walk the rest of the way to the guild, enjoying a spot of silent companionship as they did. Rai boldly linked his tail with Sean and smiled when Sean gave him a questioning look.

    Diglett and Loudred let them in quickly and Team Ion officially returned to the guild.

    "Last again!" Chatot squawked, giving them a disciplinarian look-over. "Hmm. If the cost was clean fur, I suppose we can live with it." Sean blushed as Rai sniggered and he enjoyed a bit of gentle ribbing from the rest of the apprentices before Chimecho called them all to dinner.

    They had a surprise waiting for them post-dinner, Chatot said but then just sent everyone to bed. Tomorrow would be a day off for everyone.

    Afterwards, Sean and Rai relaxed into their familiar room with far comfier beds. Not just piled of straw now, and even had quilts. "Much nicer than the cold, hard, unloving ground," Sean sighed as he began to wriggle his way to comfort.

    "It is nice," Rai agreed, curling up into a tight ball on his own bed. "Kind of cold, though."

    "I don't mind the cold," Sean said as he found his comfortable spot. One leg splayed out onto the ground, torso twisted enough to let his tail breathe with his face pressed into the softness, one arm tucked in, while the other one remained free.

    Rai would have been concerned if Sean wasn't a feline pokémon. For him, this contortion was perfectly normal.

    "That expedition though," Rai said, opening his eyes to stare out their window. The sounds of waves crashing against the cliff were distant, but audible enough for them both to feel comforted. "Another Time Gear."

    "Yeah," Sean said, not trusting himself to say more.

    "Grovyle too," Rai's tone took on wonder again and Sean tensed for a different reason. "He was amazingly strong, and smart too. I'm not surprised he figured out how to lift the fog, pity we couldn't go back with him."

    "Yeah."

    "Not that going with Croagunk was bad!" Rai insisted, realising he may have been being rude. "He is a really strong pokémon."

    "Really strong. Fun too."

    "Fun… I guess you could say that."

    "Heh," Sean chuckled and wriggled again. "You don't feel comfortable around him?"

    "Not like I feel around you," Rai said plainly, and Sean wasn't sure how to respond to that.

    "Well… thanks, I feel comfortable around you as well."

    Rai's smile was hidden in the darkness, but Sean was pretty sure he could feel it. "What about Grovyle, though? What did he want to teach you so badly? I didn't ask earlier, since he seemed like he wanted to see you privately."

    The beginnings of guilt began to claw at Sean's conscience. "Oh just… this really cool way to do a ranged attack. Like, he did Leaf Blade, but was able to fire it like an energy attack."

    "Oh, that's really cool! It takes a lot of skill to pull that off, not surprised he can do it."

    "Yeah, he's pretty skilled."

    "He didn't want anything else?"

    Sean frowned into the straw. "What do I say? I can't… I can't lie again, not to Rai." Sean didn't think he could tell the whole truth either, so he took a mixed option. "He actually told me he might know me."

    Rai bolted up in bed. "What? Really?"

    His sheer excitement made Sean feel several orders of magnitude better, as well as distantly guilty all over again. He nodded but gestured for Rai to keep his voice down. "We're not… certain, because of my amnesia. But… well… he did seem kind of, vaguely, sort of familiar to me too."

    "This is going to backfire so hard on me," Sean thought but decided that Rai's delighted expression more than made up for any possible repercussions for this.

    "This is so cool, we might be able to figure out your memories soon!" Rai beamed, laying back in bed but still grinning widely. "Funny that Uxie had no idea, but Grovyle did."

    "A bit, yeah." Sean smiled and eased back into his comfortable position. Only to find it wasn't working anymore, so he had to splay in a different way. "He had to leave though, he said he's got some 'urgent business' but should be back… eventually."

    "Oh, well." Rai got comfortable himself but didn't wrap himself up so tightly again. It felt better to relax a bit more. "I bet when he does come back he'll be able to help you. Wow, Grovyle's getting me onto my treasure again, and he recognises you. I'm so glad we met him. How lucky are we?" Rai smiled one more time before finally deciding he should go to bed. One last thing though. "Did he tell you anything about yourself?"

    "Just that I was 'the careful sort'." Sean answered, closing his eyes with a smile.

    "Heh, that's pretty funny considering what you did to Uxie's illusion."

    Sean chuckled. "He also said I seem, I dunno, considerably bolder."

    Rai was silent for a bit. "You are. I feel braver when I'm with you."

    Sean didn't know how, but he was grateful he was having a good effect. "Thanks."

    "I never got to ask, with Croagunk there I dunno... but how did you know Groudon was an illusion?"

    "I... dunno. It just seemed impossible. I guess I just latched onto the hope that it wasn't and it helped me notice what wasn't adding up."

    "How'd you know about the sun thing?"

    "Human knowledge."

    "Ooh. That's really handy. You're remembering stuff then?"

    He shifted in bed. "Kinda? Maybe Grovyle being there helped?"

    "Maybe." Something seemed to linger in the air, something unsaid.

    "Rai?"

    "Goodnight, Sean."

    "Night, Rai."
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 15 - The Gang is Gathering
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "WHAAAAAT?" Loudred roared the next morning. The morning announcements had been given and everyone was preparing to go about their day.

    Everyone had stepped apart, the notice board workers were mulling about while the sentries went to their posts.

    Loudred's screeching brought everyone back down to the lower decks, concerned about what their guard was throwing such a fit about.

    "Is it a dangerous outlaw like Salamence?" Bidoof guessed.

    "Oh my gosh, what if it's Team Charm?" Sunflora gasped. "Loudred would totally throw a fit over them showing up!"

    "Hey-hey, I've always wanted to meet Team Raider."

    "YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY A FOOTPRINT?" Loudred screamed, causing everyone who had made the critical mistake of getting closer to the noise to flinch.

    "I can't tell what I don't recognise," Diglett explained patiently, Loudred not even phasing him. "And that's that."

    Sean had woken up feeling better rested than he had since he had arrived here. Sleeping without his conscious being so guilty led to nicer rests, he found.

    He was feeling so good, the expected arrival of Dusknoir didn't scare him. He just edged his way further into the room as Diglett pulled himself back underground.

    "Diglett is an outstanding sentry," Loudred growled, he was speaking quietly for himself. Still loud enough for everyone to hear. "For him to be stumped by a footprint is rare. If Bidoof or Sunflora were doing it, THAT I'd understand."

    "You DID NOT just say that?" Sunflora yelled, storming up to Loudred. "You take that back right now."

    "Oh YEAH?" Loudred yelled back. "What if I don't?"

    "What if?" Sunflora spun to Bidoof who wasn't making a peep. "Tell him, Bidoof! Tell him what he'll get if he doesn't take those hurtful things back."

    "Uh." Bidoof nearly panicked when an angry Sunflora and Loudred's burning eyes fell on him. "Uh… yup-yup, knock-knock, by golly?"

    "HA!" Loudred laughed. "Bidoof won't."

    "What's that?" Diglett's voice reached them all and Loudred paused. "You want to meet our Guildmaster? And you… oh." He quickly popped his head up to the assembled guild. "He says he's Dusknoir! Guess that explains it, he doesn't really have feet."

    "D-Dusknoir?" Loudred gasped as the whole guild began murmuring. "W-well DON'T KEEP HIM WAITING!"

    "Loudred you operate the door levy," Sunflora pointed out and Loudred immediately ran for it.

    The rest of the apprentices who were peering out of the doorway ran into the room as Chatot yelled for order.

    "Under no circumstances will you be discourteous to our guest," he said sternly, as well as quickly. "No asking for autographs or bothering him for exploration tips. You will not embarrass the guild. And now I'm… going to get the Guildmaster." He quickly fluttered off right as Sean's whiskers twitched as a shadow began to descend from the path leading up.

    "Oh, that's a weird feeling."

    Rai was frozen stiff, ecstatic expression of pure excitement on his face. Waving a paw in front of him didn't register at all.

    And then, Dusknoir appeared. "Good morning," Dusknoir said pleasantly, and Sunflora, Bidoof, and Loudred all fainted.

    "Oh, that's a reeeaaallly weird feeling."

    He was of a similar consistency as Duskull. Dusknoir's upper body was more set and solid than Duskull's unstable form and brawny as all hell. There was a modest and somewhat worn grey ribbon tied to his right arm. Or it may have been a scarf, Dusknoir's arms were very thick. His lower body tapered to a wispy, genie-like, tip that was constantly moving as if it was blowing away in the wind.

    Which, as Sean looked closer, was more accurate than he had expected. Dusknoir's lower form seemed to be utterly fading into nothingness as it flowed off him, but then a more shadowy texture replaced it as if a never-ending river of Dusknoir.

    "What is this feeling?"

    Dusknoir's single eye roamed through the guild. Unlike Duskull's eye which seemed to bounce without stopping, between his eye sockets, Dusknoir seemed to have control over his eye. Sean edged himself closer to Rai, to hide a little against him, as Croagunk came to stand with them.

    Thankfully, Dusknoir's attention never had the chance to stop on him, as he was distracted when Chatot returned with Wigglytuff.

    "Thank you for visiting," Wigglytuff said joyfully as he trotted up to Dusknoir. To the surprise of everyone, he didn't immediately grapple Dusknoir in a full-body beartic hug. "What an honour to be visited by The Great Dusknoir!" He still did clasp both of Dusknoir's large hands and shake them vigorously though.

    With a voice as smooth as honey, Dusknoir said, "No, no." Shaking his head. "Think nothing of it. The honour is all mine. There is no greater honour than visiting the Wigglytuff Guild. It's far more famous than I." He then winced slightly. "And no need to refer to me as 'The Great Dusknoir', Guildmaster, I assure you I did not give myself the title."

    "No need to be modest!" Wigglytuff insisted. "We are all friends here!"

    "Thank you for your hospitality," Dusknoir said warmly. "As friends, I insist you call me Dusknoir." Wigglytuff giggled. "I have been meaning to visit here for some time. Once I heard the guild was mounting an expedition to find Fogbound Lake, I simply had to come around to hear the good news."

    "Unfortunately, we didn't find anything," Wigglytuff said, still smiling even as his cheer dimmed slightly.

    "Oh? You didn't find the lake?"

    "Nope!" It was a little surprising to Sean to see how easily the lie flowed off Wigglytuff's tongue, not a hint of deceit in his face. "It ended up as a waste of time. Didn't learn a thing. We got to have fun as a guild though! And even make a new friendly friend!"

    "…I see. That must have been quite a disappointment for your guild."

    "Can't win them all," Wigglytuff replied, shrugging the idea of disappointment off. "And it was so wonderful to stretch our legs a little, wasn't it, Chatot?"

    Chatot, who had been similarly besotted by Dusknoir's appearance, puffed up a little and fluttered his wings. "Indeed, indeed, it has been some time since the entire guild has endeavoured upon a task and many rewarding experiences were gained."

    "I am certain it was rewarding indeed," Dusknoir said warmly, nodding to the guild as they were all still staring. "Returning to roots, I imagine?"

    For a moment, just a moment, something else seemed to cross Wigglytuff and Chatot's faces. It was so brief that no one was certain they saw anything.

    "I overheard your guild was travelling with another explorer?" Dusknoir asked. "Is this true?"

    Wigglytuff's expression turned from mildly disappointed to ecstatic all over again. "Yes! Friendly friend Grovyle! He was able to help Team Ion through some dungeons and even I got to explore a bit with him!"

    "Grovyle you say?" Dusknoir pressed. "What are they like?"

    "He is an incredible friend! Very smart, very strong, very wise, very clever! Very resourceful, even if we didn't find anything in the end it was still worth it to gain a new friend. You should come on an expedition too, Dusknoir!" Wigglytuff gasped and then danced in place. "Yes! Yes! The next expedition the guild mounts, we could bring you! You! And invite Grovyle again! It would so much fun, so much fun!"

    Dusknoir had been silent through Wigglytuff's moments before giving a slow nod. "Very interesting," he said and glanced out to the rest of the guild briefly. Sean fought the urge to crouch out of view, Rai was still a perfect statue, but he knew that'd be foolish. Thankfully Croagunk got bored of standing in place and decided to make his way to the front, walking in front of Sean in the process.

    "Meh-heh-heh, we at the Wigglytuff Guild would be happy to learn from you Mr Dusknoir," he said as Dusknoir's attention fell on him.

    Dusknoir nodded cheerfully before addressing the whole guild. "Well success of not, every expedition comes with knowledge and experience gained. I had hoped to come here to hear of your latest triumph."

    "We didn't learn much," Wigglytuff said. "Sorry."

    "Not at all," Dusknoir insisted. "It gave me an opportunity to visit you, and the timing wound up quite fortunate. When I arrived, there was some worry in Treasure Town I was able to solve in your absence. And so, I plan to stay in Treasure Town for a short while. May I visit with you occasionally during my stay? Your guild constantly receives the latest news. Any information would be of great help on my own explorations."

    "No problem!" Wigglytuff beamed. "Other exploration teams visit us all the time. You will always be welcome here!"

    Dusknoir paused briefly at that before nodding. "My thanks."

    With that, Wigglytuff bounced his way to where the apprentices were all standing and addressed them all. "Everyone! This is Dusknoir. He is going to be staying in Treasure Town for a while! Mind yourself around him. Dusknoir is very famous and quite knowledgeable. So, I'm sure everyone would like to get advice from him. But let's not overdo it, we don't want to be a nuisance."

    "And may I reiterate," Chatot said, hopping forward. "Do NOT embarrass us by asking the Great Dusknoir for autographs!"

    "No, no," Dusknoir chuckled, waving him down. "If it is autographs you want, I'd be happy to oblige." He swiftly began to receive requests for such a thing, Chatot staring enviously.

    "What does an autograph from a pokémon look like?" Sean wondered. "And holy crap, I never realised I wanted one from Dusknoir this bad!"

    "But… information? I'm afraid you flatter me. I have very little information, even I am still learning new things. However, I would be delighted if I may be of service to anyone. If there is anything you wish to ask me, please do not hesitate. I would be happy to oblige."

    The apprentices all began to cheer in various ways. The quadruped pokémon stamped their feet, while other pokémon clapped.

    "By golly, this is such an honour to have the Great Dusknoir here among us."

    "Oh my gosh! I'm so glad to have the chance to meet you."

    "Hey-hey, I better get some waterproof parchment for you to sign, Great Dusknoir."

    "Okay, everyone settle down," Chatot said. "You are dismissed to your daily work."

    The guild gave a cheer and Diglett and Dugtrio buried down as Dusknoir turned to Wigglytuff. "I believe I'll go for a wander through Treasure Town. Feel free to approach me with anything. Good day."

    "You too, Dusknoir!" Wigglytuff replied and Dusknoir floated out of the room.

    "I can't believe you spoke to Dusknoir!" Chimecho said as soon as the apprentices were free to talk again. Floating above Croagunk excitedly

    "Meh-heh-heh," Croagunk chuckled, giving a side look to Sean and Rai. "Well, he said he was just another pokémon."

    Sean gave Croagunk a small smile and Croagunk returned to tinkering on his Swap Cauldron. He had only just put out the order for scizor carapace, but he had other work he could do for the time being.

    Sean turned to Rai. The shinx still wasn't moving. "Uh, RrrrShinx? You okay?" He waved his paw again and, when that didn't work, gave him a slight push.

    Rai began to tip over but blinked. "Hm?" He caught himself and shook his head. "Woah! Headrush."

    "I'm not sure if you were breathing," Sean said, only half kidding. "Is Dusknoir that big of a deal?"

    Immediately the entire room turned to stare at him.

    "…Yes, I know I'm handsome, no need to stare."

    "Oh my gosh. You don't know…" Sunflora said slowly. "About the Great Dusknoir?"

    "Hey… hey? Have you been living under a rock for the last year?"

    "YEAH? How could you NOT know of the GREAT DUSKNOIR?"

    "Okay, first." Sean held up a paw. "Ow, volume. Second, amnesia."

    Comprehension and a bit of shame took over the expressions of everybody. Rai had to ruin his fun though.

    "I told you about Dusknoir," he said innocently, turning to cock his head at Sean. "Don't you remember?"

    Sean hesitated, and everyone's eyes narrowed. "Well… I think I'm going to get a head start in Treasure Town," he said calmly as he began to move towards the incline. "Do some shopping… you know…." he licked his lips, Sunflora's leafy hand twitched, Bidoof's nose twitched, Corphish's pincer clacked.

    "Get him."

    Sean tried to run. He tried to evade. He really did. But he failed and was subjected to nearly half an hour's worth of Dusknoir facts from half of the guild.

    Rai laughed off his pleas for mercy and instead took the time to go do the shopping, ignoring Sean's bargains to do it for him.

    They eventually released a shell-shocked Sean who stumbled his way to the job bulletin board, grabbed a random piece of parchment without reading it, and continued stumbling his way outside.

    He met with Rai who was loitering outside the entrance to what seemed to be a bunker. He smiled upon seeing Sean and began chattering at him.

    All Sean could hear was white noise.

    "Dusknoir's biggest record of rescues in a single dungeon is thirty-seven," he said numbly. "His favourite colour is either blue, yellow, orange, green, grey, black, white, purple, brown, red, blue, yellow…."

    He finally came back to life after Rai had him imbibe something and he blinked as the noise receded. "Where am I?" he asked, looking around a faintly familiar place."

    "Welcome… welcome." A dizzy and laboured voice greeted them, and Sean looked up from his cup to see Spinda wobbling in place. "You're in Spinda's Café! The greatest, most wonderful, most amazing, spectacular, tremendous, exciting, glorious, fantastical, funtastical, remarkable place you'll ever be!"

    "Spinda's opened a shop," Rai explained as he led Sean to a table to sit at. "Has an exploration project going on as well. See them." He pointed to the other side of the, surprisingly roomy, building to where a wynaut and wobbuffet stood. "Project P. A recycling place that sponsors local explorers that aren't part of the guild."

    "Why not the guild?" Sean asked.

    "Well we get sponsored anyway I guess," Rai explained. "They didn't make it exactly clear. This seems like a pretty nice place though, Spinda had it built over only a week or so!"

    "So that's what he was doing…" smaller lies were easier for Sean.

    "Yep. But anyway, we've got a job to do! I picked out a mission in the Sunny Meadow today."

    "Ah. I should… return this I grabbed then?" Sean looked down at the job he had taken, and his eyes widened. "Yep. Return this."

    "What is? Oh." Rai leaned over to read it. "…Yeah, let's leave that for someone else."

    After returning a job asking to arrest a pokémon on the other side of the continent. Sean and Rai set off for Sunny Meadow.


    "Okay pokémon, time to get to work."

    "HOORAY!"

    A few days after the expedition, it was Team Ion's day off and they planned to wander out in a direction they hadn't gone yet.

    "Ah, you two," Chatot called them over, Sean blinking sleep from his eyes. Day off or no, Rai still got up at dreadful times. "Before you leave to your own devices today, I would like you to go to Kecleon Market and ask if they plan to stock perfect apples."

    "Perfect apples? Are we running low on them again?" Rai asked, having only twitched briefly at the word.

    "Yes. The Guildmaster recently made a trip to Spinda's Café and… well, after a taste he decided to empty the entire stock of them in one night. I tried to stop him, but, well… the Guildmaster can be persuasive at times."

    Chatot gazed off into the distance and Sean noticed his eyes were a little bloodshot. That certainly explained the musical, but also rather loud, singing he had heard last night.

    A glance to Rai made it clear he had realised it too and was fighting to keep a smile off his face.

    Chatot ignored their cheeky smiles. "But yes, the challenge of going all the way to Apple Woods and back every few days is quite difficult. And we cannot allow the Guildmaster to go, no-no-no." He shivered. "So, it would be of a great help if the Kecleon Brothers begin to stock them. We will pay handsomely. Anything to avoid… urk."

    "If it's so much trouble, we could go get some?" Rai suggested but Chatot rounded on him in disbelief.

    "You? No-no-no-no-NO! After the exceptionally near miss the last time, I cannot trust anyone with this task. I'll go retrieve them if necessary. You just ask if Kecleon is willing to sell them. Understood?"

    "Understood," Rai replied, bowing his head slightly.

    "Good. I know it is your day off so relax well after this."

    They quickly left Chatot's side and walked to the middle floor in companionable silence.

    There was an immediate, noticeable, divide in the room on this fine morning.

    "Hm?" Rai cocked his head, looking right and left. To his right were the apprentices, all pointedly not looking at the job bulletin board but the outlaw notice board. To the right were three pokémon, speaking lowly among themselves.

    "Wonder who they are?" Rai asked as Sean took in what pokémon were there.

    Weavile, arbok, drapion.

    "Ah," Sean thought, recognising that.

    Rai was already wandering over there, not particularly perturbed by the energy in the room. "Good morning," he greeted brightly, and the three pokémon ceased talking. As one they turned to look at him and Sean quickly joined Rai's side.

    He knew a little meowth didn't really help the cred of a tiny shinx, but he doubted Team A.W.D would do anything untoward inside the guild.

    "Hello," Weavile said suspiciously. "What do you want?"

    If Rai was put out by the unfriendly tone, he didn't show it. "Just curious about what jobs are posted today." He moseyed up to the board and began reading through them as Sean stuck very close to his side.

    The whispers started up again and Sean's sharp hearing caught a bit.

    "Still no word on Zero Isle."

    "No one in thisss placce hassss been of any help."

    "Stop whinging. We are not a group of whining children. The guild is the last place we'll check out before moving on."

    "I was thinking we might get something from the café for later," Rai said, eyes sliding off the job listings. "Sound good?" Rai asked, and Sean nodded, happy to get out of there. As they were walking, however.

    "Hey, you two?" Weavile called and Rai paused, Sean stopping as well. "Come over here for a moment."

    Rai came over without hesitation, leaving Sean to wonder a bit about him, before he too came to meet Team A.W.D.

    "I wonder why Arbok gets his initial first. You'd think it'd be Weavile, she's the leader, isn't she?"

    "Tell me something?" Weavile asked, softly and with a purr. "Have either of you heard of Zero Isle?"

    "Zero Isle?" Rai repeated.

    "Yeah." Drapion nodded. "Rumour has it that the greatest of treasures can be found there. Some say it is the ultimate dungeon with the ultimate prizes, in the shadow of a great disaster, that even knowing where it exists draws you in eventually, for the temptation is too great."

    "Drapion," Weavile said warningly, and he cut himself off with a grunt.

    "…My apologies, Lady Weavile."

    "We have been looking for clues about Zero Isle," Weavile said, looking back to the pair with a deadly gleam to her eyes. Sean couldn't help but eye her wicked claws. "We thought the Wigglytuff Guild may have some idea?"

    Rai shook his head. "Sorry, I haven't heard of it. But we are only the newest recruits here! Someone older might know, Guildmaster Wigglytuff or Chatot?"

    "Hm," Weavile hummed but besides glancing to the path to the lower areas, didn't move.

    "We'd prefer not to involve them in this," Drapion said helpfully, getting another glance from Weavile. He cringed harder. "My apologies, Lady Weavile."

    "Well, this is likely a waste of time anyway," Weavile said, looking back at them. She opened her mouth to dismiss them, but then her eyes fell on Sean. "What about you, Shy-Eyes?" she asked. "You look like you have something to say."

    "I…." Sean glanced to Rai who looked surprised before shrugging. "I don't really know for sure. But I've heard it's an island to the south of here."

    "Really?" Weavile asked, curiosity lighting her eyes. "And how would you know of this, small meowth?"

    "I don't know," Sean repeated, meeting Weavile's eyes. "But when you said Zero Isle, it just sounded… familiar."

    "Hm." She eyed him for a longer moment before clicking her claws. "Arbok, Drapion, we're moving out."

    "Yes ma'am," they chorused and Team A.W.D left.

    Sean relaxed once they were gone. He wasn't sure why he did that, but he did remember that the horrible dungeon was on an island to the south of here. "Directly south too I think."

    Rai cocked his head at Sean once they were gone. "How have you heard about this place? Even I haven't."

    "It just… came to me," Sean admitted. "I hope I'm right, I think I am."

    "Maybe seeing Grovyle has helped some memory come back?" Rai beamed and got excited. "This is really awesome!"

    "Yeah." Sean smiled at Rai's joy. "But we do have a day to get through. Let's start this."

    "Right." Rai nodded, and they left for Treasure Town.

    Even with the size of Treasure Town, the Kecleon Market was still large and easily visible from the other side of the bridge.

    There seemed to be a greater amassment of pokémon around the marketplace than usual. Even more strangely, everyone was in place and was clearly pointedly looking away from something.

    Rai gasped as he spotted the brawny figure of Dusknoir speaking to the Kecleon Brothers and said. "It's Dusknoir! Oh wow, I wonder what he's saying?"

    Sean gave him a look as Rai began to speed up. "We've got shopping to do as well! With Kecleon too! I wonder if he'll talk to me if I go up to him?"

    Sean stared uncertainly at Dusknoir. He'd managed to avoid Dusknoir pretty well up to this point, and Rai was too nervous to approach him directly. Sean knew Rai was hoping he'd do it first, give him that push, and he felt guilty he was avoiding it. He wanted Rai to keep getting bolder.

    "Uh… maybe?"

    "So, we should do it?" Rai breathed excitedly.

    With Grovyle's words flashing through his mind, Sean glanced around looking for an out. Beedrill. Darmanitan. Machoke. Litleo. Electivire. Marowak.

    "Marowak!"

    Sean pointed to the powerful Ground-type. "I've actually been meaning to talk to Marowak," he said as Rai gave him a crestfallen look. "And it's not like I'm any good at the shopping. So, I could do that and you… talk to Dusknoir, that way we'll save lots of time! Productive. Energetic. Dynamic usage of time." Sean couldn't think of any more adjectives to spout. "That stuff!"

    Rai cringed a little. "I, uh."

    Sean gave him a friendly tap, maybe this would be the best of both worlds? "He seemed pretty nice, give it a shot!

    "Alright… we'll meet back here?"

    "Right here." Sean nodded and raised his paw for Rai to headbutt, but Rai was already running across the bridge. "…This is fine," he said, feeling awfully unpleasant Grovyle flashbacks.

    Sean watched the shinx trot off with nervous excitement, going straight up to Dusknoir and beginning the chatter. Sean smiled slightly, he did like to see Rai happy but ducked away when Dusknoir looked up to where he was staring.

    "Okay… Marowak is… not here. Where did he go? To the Dojo I guess."

    Turning tail and walking quickly in the direction he remembered the large building to reside, Sean took in the image of Treasure Town on his lonesome.

    He smiled.

    "This place is beautiful," he thought as he looked around. He'd been here for a while now, but everything was still so fantastic.

    Being able to watch a beedrill do his morning errands, carrying a postbag. Watching a teddiursa and ursaring gossip away like they did every day. Seeing a machoke carry a heavy piece of timber for a much smaller rattata while chatting pleasantly.

    Seeing Flying-type pokémon soar above the town. See Water-types pop out of the stream and then wrap water around them to allow them to swim into town without issue.

    A gothitelle and gardevoir combining their psychic might to carry a large, heavy, table between them, floating in place with it.

    A pair of sableye melting into shadows and disappearing.

    There were pokémon he didn't even recognise! And Sean just wanted to go over and ask them a thousand intrusive questions about what they were and where they came from. He didn't though.

    Even a magmar having set up a temporary shop stall and was roasting fruits for curious pokémon to buy and enjoy.

    "This place is wonderful," he said quietly. Sean wouldn't deny to himself that he did miss many things back home, even if those things were fuzzy at this point. But the Pokémon World was still a dream few could ever live out.

    Sean was snapped out of his reverie by someone waving a blue furred paw in front of him. He blinked quickly, eyes focusing as he realised he had drifted off into daydreams in the middle of the street. "Oh sorry," he said, reflexively stepping out of the riolu's way.

    "Oh, no need. Just making sure you were awake." Chuckling, the riolu reached out a paw to him in the classic sign for a handshake. Sean quickly took it, realising his folly and received a surprisingly vigorous shake. "I'm Riolu."

    "Good morning," Sean said with a growing smile. "I'm S… Meowth."

    With a smile touching the lips of the canine pokémon, he tilted his head slightly. "I heard your name is Sean."

    He said it completely innocently as if it was no surprise whatsoever. Sean, however, recoiled with a fierce blush that darkened his lips. "IT'S A RUMOUR!" he yelled, causing some attention. Wincing at his own volume and the fact he just screamed in the face of someone he had met thirty seconds ago, Sean lowered his voice. "Sorry. Yeah, my name is Sean, but I swear it was just a misunderstanding due to… misunderstandings."

    To his relief, Riolu nodded wisely, unbothered from his outburst. "Yeah, I heard," he chuckled. "Apparently you told the town gossip, and she took it all the wrong ways."

    Blushing harder in two different kinds of shame, Sean sunk in on himself. "I can't believe I did that. It's so embarrassing. No one's really bothered me about it, but I can't help but wonder…".

    "What they're all thinking?" Riolu asked, receiving a nod. "Don't worry. Mistakes happen, and word has spread it was just an accident. The worst you'll hopefully get is teasing. Sorry about that, by the way."

    "Oh, no need to apologise!" Sean insisted. "I yelled in your face. I'm the one who should be apologising. Sorry."

    "Second time you've apologised," Riolu pointed out. "Probably best to save those. Who knows what could happen next?"

    He said it teasingly, but Sean grimaced. "Who knows," he sighed. "I tend to… um… hello."

    "Hi." Riolu frowned slightly and glanced around.

    "Sorry, I tend to start spilling my life story to anyone who listens," Sean apologised. "And I only just met you."

    "Third time you've said sorry," Riolu said, raising his paw and wiggling the digits. "I only got three of these nubs to count on per paw."

    "Heh." Sean smiled and relaxed. "We're probably in the way, want to step off the streets?"

    "It's stuff like that," Riolu started, but decided not to finish that thought. Sean's expression was enough.

    They stepped south, got out of the way, and continued the impromptu chat that Riolu had started. "So, if you weren't coming over to tell me I was in the way, what do you want?" He quickly grinned and then thumped his chest with false bravado. "Heard about the glorious exploits of Team Ion?"

    "Yes actually." Riolu beamed, pausing Sean in his mock-bragging. "I'm new in town, moved in just before the guild left, and have heard some cool things that everyone's been up to."

    "Oh!" Sean said, not sure how to react to this positive fame. "I see. Welcome to Treasure Town, we only get one calamity a season… joking of course. Um, what can I do for you?"

    "Nothing really." Riolu shrugged. His eyes never left Sean's face, flicking all over him with pure excitement that Sean could actually feel himself.

    It felt nice to meet someone so happy just to talk to him,

    "I've done a bit of exploring here and there, and I just like to talk to teams that are around." After a moment of thought, Riolu added. "Do anything cool on the expedition? The locals here seemed to think it was a pretty big deal, but nothing's really happened since the guild returned."

    "No," Sean said, sticking to the cover story. "Complete bust. A bit disappointing, but Shinx and I had fun getting there anyway. I think he may have had a better time of it though. Mount Horn was awful," he added darkly.

    "I've heard of that place," Riolu said with a wince. "Let me guess… aerodactyl?"

    "YES!" Sean cried. "Horrible thing carried me off! I didn't even know what I was going to." Was all he managed before being interrupted.

    "You got carried off by a flying rock monster?" Litleo said from Sean's left shoulder. Startled, Sean jumped with a yelp and spun around on the invader-of-personal-space as Riolu tensed up.

    "What the hell?" Sean demanded, retracting his claws after they had unsheathed themselves in preparation. "Don't sneak up on me like that."

    "Or I'll get The Paw?" Litleo asked and chuckled. "Could be funny."

    "Um, hello?" Riolu asked, stepping back into the conversation. "How can we help you so… suddenly?"

    Litleo looked Riolu up and down and made an agreeable noise. "Nice," he commented before ignoring Riolu completely. Turning to Sean he asked. "So, I heard through eavesdropping that you got carried off by a monster rock monster of monstrous monstrousness?"

    "Yes, I'm fine," Sean replied, giving Litleo a flat look. His eyes fell on the Silver Bow that Litleo was happily flaunting. "Thank you for the concern. I hit it with a sleep seed." Sean glanced aside as he remembered what followed. "I wish the aerodactyl was the worst part though."

    Litleo perked up, intrigued, but Sean shuddered. "No. I'm not thinking about that or the glassy, hungry, so empty eyes… ugh."

    "Sounds like you had a great time on the expedition!" Litleo chirped, smiling cheerfully. "Sorry about the utter failure in the whole 'finding something' goal. I've been great, been a bit bored during the guild being gone." He ignored the way Sean and Riolu were just staring at him.

    "A Shadow Pokémon popped up in Mount Bristle," Litleo continued. "But The Great Dusknoir showed up and handled THAT problem. Anyway, I think the pleasantries are out of the way and I have something I want to talk about."

    "What do you want?" Sean asked, a little interested even if the news recap of the past few days was completely unnecessary.

    "I've been curious about something for a while," Litleo explained, cheerful expression falling away into a more thoughtful look as he trailed a claw through the dirt. "And I'm serious here. Tell me, Sean. Did you know that your partner had some fancy rock for a few years? It had a symbol on it that looked like this."

    Sean blinked, not expecting that from Litleo in any sense of the word. Beside him, Riolu adopted a similar expression of surprise, but he masked it immediately. Looking down found an impressively accurate picture drawn into the dirt of the Relic Fragment's glyph.

    "Uh… yeah?" Sean said. "That's a surprisingly good picture, although it's a bit wobbly. How did YOU know about it?"

    "I've known Little Shinx for years," Litleo explained, waving a paw dismissively and brushing the sketch away. "And the symbol looked exactly like this. He never displayed it or anything, but a couple times I saw him looking at it. Talking to it sometimes too, especially after his sister left. But he never wore it in public."

    "Okay," Sean said slowly, frowning. "But why do you care? I didn't think you liked Shinx?"

    "Don't like him?" Litleo asked, gasping. "Perish the thought. I like him plenty, he just needed a few good pushes. I'll admit that I go a… little far at times, it's just so fun and no harm is really done." He said this like it was no big deal.

    With narrowed eyes, Sean stared at Litleo. He looked too innocent to trust, but his voice was quite earnest. "Alright," Said allowed, not making any judgement. "Still, why do you care? How did you even know he lost the thing?"

    "Well, that's easy." Litleo rolled his eyes. "I bought it off someone who bought it from someone else, who bought it… you get the picture."

    "WHAT?" Sean yelled, masking Riolu's quiet gasp. "YOU have it?"

    Litleo's expression twisted slightly. It was almost pained and almost guilty, but not either of them exactly. "I… did have it."

    Sean's racing heart slowed, and he sighed. "You sold it didn't you?"

    Litleo shook his head.

    "Huh?"

    "I lost it," Litleo admitted as Sean's stomach began flipping again. "Or, rather, it got stolen." At Sean's disturbed expression, Litleo explained why he was really here. "I'll be honest with you, Sean. I was intending on giving it back, really, in fact, if you had JUST STAYED at my house for two seconds more I would have shown it to you. But you left in a huff, and I thought, eh another day."

    While Sean began to soak in the feeling that brought, Litleo continued.

    "Then the expedition was announced, and I decided 'you know what? I'm going to give it back as a welcome home present'. Bury the bad feelings between us and start anew! But." Litleo frowned, lip curling into a sneer. "The day before you got back, my house got ransacked. And you know my house is nice, how dare someone invade it!" Shaking his head in impotent fury, Litleo's breath sparked a few flamed but he restrained himself.

    He was in town after all.

    "I got home to find the whole place torn up and so messy. It took a while to put everything back, I don't have hands after all."

    "No one helped you?" Riolu asked. Litleo looked at him like he was stupid.

    "No," he said slowly. "Then I had to work out what was missing. The weird rock with the weirder symbol. That was taken."

    "That's all?" Riolu asked softly, frowning in concern. Litleo's face said something else, but he smirked it off.

    Litleo shrugged. "Some food was taken, but that doesn't count. I'm not even too sure if any of my snacks were taken, but I think I have less. Shinx's rock. That's the important thing. And I'm thinking that whoever took it was looking just for it. I have some pretty nice stuff, and I put the rock somewhere safe. My whole place was taken apart, and that was the thing that was taken? Someone must have known I had it."

    Sean was resisting the urge to bury his face in his paws and scream. It'd feel so nice, so exhilarating to let the madness loose. But he didn't, he took some heavy breaths and put his paws down.

    "Okay," he began, looking anywhere but Litleo's eyes. "I still don't know why you are telling me this. What?" he demanded. "You had the Relic Fragment and now you don't? Are you doing this to mess with me or something? Raise my hopes only to dash them?"

    "Normally," Litleo said, nodding. "Yes. That sounds like something I'd do. But not this time. Look," he insisted. "I'm serious. That rock belonged to Shinx, and someone was after it. Who's to say they aren't after Shinx too? If they knew so much to the point they knew I had the stupid thing, it wouldn't surprise me if they knew it belonged to Shinx first."

    "You?" Sean said, in disbelief, hearing between the lines. "You are worried about him?"

    Litleo narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what high horsea you think you are riding, but I'm not your enemy here. I've known Shinx for years, he's probably the only…." He trailed off briefly, something pained flashed across his face. "Point is, I'm allowed to be worried about him. You've known him for, what, a couple months? Try five years and then you can look down on me."

    "Oh." And now Sean felt like shit. "Sorry, I didn't think."

    Smiling again, Litleo nodded. "Yeah. You didn't, but that's fine. You're cute, and you ARE his friend. So… I forgive you," he purred, waggling his eyebrows.

    Thrown off, Sean glanced to the side and saw Riolu. Litleo looked Riolu up and down again and nodded. "Nice. Anyway, when's Shinx getting back from mooning over Dusknoir?"

    "He's not 'mooning'," Sean said.

    "Did you SEE him?" Litleo asked, raising an eye.

    "Well…."

    "Yeah."

    Sean stepped forward, out of the corner, and looked in the direction of the Kecleon Market hoping to see his friend. To his relief, Rai was trotting over the bridge alongside another pokémon and was beaming brightly enough to actually shine.

    "He's happy about something," Sean thought as Rai spotted him and immediately began sprinting over to him.

    "MEOWTH! MEOWTH! MEOWTH!" Rai shouted, reaching him within a few moments. "GUESS WHAT?"

    Rai hadn't even acknowledged Litleo standing only a few meters behind Sean, or Riolu for that matter. Instead, he was vibrating on the spot with excitement.

    "What?" Was all Sean dared to ask.

    "SOMEONE'S SPOTTED MY TREASURE!" He squealed, causing everyone to wince. "I can't believe it, but they described what it looked like, and it was exactly the same! Team Skull must have dropped it or sold it and it's wound up somewhere else!"

    "O-okay," Sean said, ears ringing. "Where is it?" Then the words Rai was saying clicked and his heart leaped. "WHAT?"

    "I KNOW!" Rai beamed.

    "And where is this supposed to be?" Litleo asked, not content to remain standing aside and ignored. Rai started in surprise.

    "When did you get here?" he demanded, eyes narrowing slightly. He spotted the bow Litleo wore and growled. "That was Meowth's."

    "I've been here the whole time," Litleo drawled. "Longer than you. I was just chatting to Sean here and Riolu here, thought I'd share a bit of news with him. I traded fair and square for this swanky bow, I offered something else, buut… well, Sean knows."

    Sean glanced to Litleo and withheld a shudder. "Yeah, he told me something important."

    "That can wait," Litleo cut through and shut Sean up for the moment. "First, who's your friend and where did he say your treasure was?"

    Rai frowned and took a step to the side. Farther away from Litleo and closer to Sean. He glanced behind him as the pokémon he had been walking over the bridge with reached them.

    "Don't run off before I tell you where it is!" the sableye gasped, panting for breath.

    "Right." Rai nodded, deciding to ignore Litleo for the time being. "Where did you see my treasure?"

    Sean had a sudden sense of déjà vu once the sableye came up to them, something that only grow heavier when he began to speak.

    "At the end of a dungeon about a day from here," he explained, pointing to the exit of Treasure Town. "It's called Amp Plains."

    Litleo gasped and Rai stiffened. The sableye looked between the four pokémon he had reached, from Rai to Litleo to Riolu to Sean. Sean withheld a shudder, experiencing large diamond eyes boring into your own was not pleasant. The sableye had a mouth too wide and claws too long.

    It looked away.

    "That's where I saw it alright. Right at the end of the dungeon. Now, can I have the apple?"

    Rai rolled it over and the sableye took that as a good enough goodbye and stepped away before melting into a shadow of a braviary.

    "So… Amp Plains?" Sean asked, Rai didn't react.

    Looking between the three of them, Riolu decided it was time to say goodbye. "It was nice meeting you, Sean," he said. "You too, Litleo. And you too, Shinx." He waved and stepped off, he had some thinking to do.

    Sean glanced between Rai and Litleo. There was that insufferable look on Litleo's face, while Rai was still staring forward perfectly blankly. "So… Amp Plains huh? Sounds scary. But we can do it!" Rai was still not blinking. "Rai? Are you alright?"

    That received an answer. "Oh?" he croaked. "Yeah, I'm fine. Bit parched."

    Litleo snorted. "Yeah, he's not fine," he said, getting a spark of anger from Rai.

    "I don't need you to talk for me," he said hotly. "Especially lies. I'm fine."

    "Because staring into nothing upon hearing two words is totally fine," Litleo shot back. "Forget it." He turned to Sean. "He's not going to Amp Plains. Not in a million years."

    "What?" Rai growled.

    "It's totally a trap too."

    "What!?"

    "And you really aren't ready for it." He gave Rai a pitying look. "You know that."

    "WHAT?" Rai's whole body sparked, and Sean needed to lay a careful paw on him to calm him down. The crackling electricity popped and sparked when he touched him, but it didn't hurt anymore. "I can do whatever I want," he said tersely, turning away from Litleo. "And I want my Relic Fragment back."

    "It's not there," Litleo insisted, trotting up to get in Rai's line of sight again. "I wanted to tell you under better terms, but I'm going to have to do it now. I bought the rock from machoke who bought it from whoever. I'm sure it gets back to those Team Skull thugs eventually."

    "YOU HAVE IT?" Rai yelled.

    "NO! STOP YELLING!" Litleo yelled back, managing to cow Rai. "I was going to give it back to you after you returned from the expedition." Rai gave a disbelieving snort at that. "But my home was ransacked yesterday, and it was stolen."

    "Ransacked?" Rai asked, frowning as some of his anger left. "What? Why?"

    "The only thing that was taken was your treasure rock thing," Litleo explained. "That's all," he insisted. "And I think you might be in some kind of danger. Whoever stole it, knew I had it and I had hidden it pretty well. They only took the rock. And you were the one who had it first, so whoever took it might be after you for some reason."

    "What?" Rai asked, alarmed now. Zubat's words flashed into his head. "Why would someone be after me?"

    "How should I know?" Litleo asked. "But I do know someone is up! Right after I lose it, someone just HAPPEN'S to know where it is? And in Amp Plains? Why would it be there of all places?"

    At that, Rai's uncertain look vanished. Sighing, he shook his head. "I'm not sure I believe you ever had it." He ignored Litleo's insulted expression and shook his head. "No… no it makes sense that it would be there. That's where I found it."

    He sighed again and looked at Litleo. "Look, thanks for… the concern I guess. But I have to get it back. Even if your crazy idea is true, and I don't think it is, I still have to try. It's the only thing I have left."

    He glanced to Sean with a pleading look. "Will you help me?"

    "Of course I will," Sean said, almost offended Rai had to ask. "I'll follow you anywhere."

    Rai smiled, small and genuine, and stepped forward to butt him gently with his head. "Thanks."

    "So, you're really doing this?" Litleo asked as Rai stepped back. "Going to Amp Plains to fall into an obvious trap?"

    "Yep," Rai said. "I'm stronger now. Stronger than you."

    Litleo scoffed and Rai smiled before beginning the walk. "I've got supplies, so let's go right away. It's going to take a while to get there."

    Sean nodded and gave a small wave to Litleo.

    "What are you waving for?" Litleo scoffed, stepping into place. "I've GOT to see this."

    Rai stopped. Sean stopped. Litleo stopped.

    Rai moved. Sean moved. Litleo moved.

    "No," Rai said once it sunk in. "You are not coming."

    "You," Litleo said teasingly. "Can't stop me."

    "Why?" Rai gasped before shouting. "Sean run!"

    He bolted off, Sean scrambling to catch up. And Litleo kept pace with them easily.

    "I'm as fast as you," he said dryly. Once they left Treasure Town, Rai used Quick Attack and bolted off in a burst of speed.

    Leaving Sean with Litleo.

    "He'll figure it out," Litleo said as he and Sean came to a stop. Rai went a surprising distance before realising he'd left Sean behind, coming back with an embarrassed scowl.

    "You're not coming with us," he said darkly, and Sean decided he'd just stay quiet and hope the problem avoided him.

    "So, Sean," Litleo began conversationally, ignoring Rai completely. "Have you heard the story of Shinx and The Very Rude Tentacool?"

    "Stop calling him Sean!" Rai demanded as Litleo began to regale Sean with embarrassing stories. At no point did Litleo let them leave him behind, even when Rai attempted periodically to do so.

    All that Sean could think was that things were getting interesting.


    Sean and Rai walked farther than they ever had for a dungeon run.

    Avoiding other dungeons, giving polite greetings to similar pokémon wandering the well-worn tracks. Sean was amazed at how much there was.

    Rai would point out other paths that would take them to smaller villages, other dungeons he hadn't heard of, and other interesting places.

    The air was pure, the path was scenic, the day wasn't particularly hot, it would have been lovely even on his sore paws.

    Except they weren't alone.

    "And that is the thirty-eighth reason why Shine Village is better than Brooklet Crossing," Litleo said, tied in an argument with Rai. "It also is closer to the Dammed River dungeon, and we all know how cool that place is."

    "YOU are a FIRE-type," Rai snapped back. "Why would you ever want to go do Dammed River? And Brooklet Crossing is closer to Simple Valley, that's a far better dungeon than 'Dammed River' so there."

    "Excuse me for liking a challenge once in a while," Litleo shot back, but he was still grinning widely. "Going soft AND senile in your old age, are you?"

    "I'm two months older than you," Rai grumbled. "I still don't understand why you like Shine Village so much. If it's so good, why don't live there?"

    "And miss my best buddy, Shinx?" Litleo gasped and shook his head. "Never." He then bumped his side into Sean, who had been strategically not involving himself in their ramblings. "Don't worry, Sean, I still love you."

    He moved in, and Sean pushed him back, tapping the bow as he did. He felt a small jolt from touching the silver bow and recoiled, but Litleo didn't seem to notice, already moving back to Rai.

    "So a thirty ninth reason why Shine Village is better than Brooklet Crossing," he began, and Rai moaned in despair.

    They walked until the sun began to set, and continued walking. They walked until the grass began to thin, and continued walking. They walked until the trees stopped growing, and continued walking.

    Night had fallen, and Sean's legs were screaming at him now. All three of them were not so much walking as stumbling forward at this point.

    "We're… almost… there," Rai panted, stumbling as a shot of pain went through a back leg. "Just a bit further."

    "Rai, we've got to stop," Sean moaned, collapsing onto his paws and knees like he'd just lost a card game. "We can't go through a dungeon like this." He wanted to emphasise some words, but he was parched and tired and couldn't find the energy.

    Litleo stopped too and slumped onto his side. "You really are crazy," he groaned, blinking wearily at Rai who also stopped and fell down. "I'm not sure if it was to get here in a blind hurry or you wanted to drive me off. Either way, we're here."

    "We are?" Sean groaned.

    "Yeah, the entrance shouldn't be much farther than this." Litleo feebly gestured with a paw, and Sean held his eyes open enough to spot a narrowing of the dark rocks in front of them.

    "Oh."

    Rai tried to rise to his feet, saying. "Come on, we'll go in and out and make our way back by morning."

    Sean had long forgotten about names with how casual Litleo was with his. "Rai, no!" Sean said, finding some energy to stop the mad shinx. "Please just sit down, you're going to hurt yourself." He crawled forward and grabbed the shinx's tail, Rai stiffened before slumping to the ground.

    "Okay maybe we can rest for a little while."

    "I see Rai likes his tail being pulled," Litleo commented, slumping with a relieved sigh. Rai was too tired to shock him for that.

    There were lightning-shattered trees around and Sean pulled himself up to collect some bits of long-dead wood. Most of it was scorched, but he couldn't care enough to look for less burnt wood.

    He dumped some twigs between the three of them and Litleo breathed sparks on them until they caught fire.

    Sean gathered a little more before giving up for the night and just resting against the Treasure Bag. The night was cold, but with the fire burning Sean and Rai weren't chilly themselves.

    "Thanks," Rai said quietly, one of Litleo's ears perking at the word.

    "Pardon?" he asked, grinning lazily. Rai gave him a reproachful look and Litleo's grin shifted into an actual smile. "No problem."

    Rolling off the uncomfortable bag, Sean upended it to find some food and water. He tossed an apple to both quadrupeds and put some water between them. They dined in blessed silence, the cool fruit and clear water soothing their throats and bringing the tiniest bit of energy back to them.

    "So the two of you are close right?" Litleo asked, breaking the silence the other two were deeply thankful for. When neither replied, Litleo continued as if they had given the obvious answer. "So, why don't you trust each other?"

    "Excuse me?" Sean asked, mildly alarmed but mostly confused.

    Rolling his eyes, Litleo said. "Well not YOU, more him." He jabbed a paw at Rai. "You haven't told him about what this place means to you. Why not?"

    Rai turned away, mouth tightly shut and Litleo sighed. "I get that it's hard-"

    "No," Rai said sharply, turning back to Litleo. "You DON'T get it."

    Litleo grew comfortable, resting his head on his paws and staring at him with doe eyes. "Why don't you tell me why I don't get it then?"

    Rai hesitated, frustration and something Sean couldn't figure out flickered across his face. He pursed his lips and swallowed, turning away. Sean glanced to Litleo, expecting yet another retort to anger Rai and wondered if he should say something beforehand. But Litleo was content to wait, he could see Rai was staring towards the dungeon.

    He gave a silent gesture for Sean to look at Rai as well and he saw where Rai was looking. The need to know burned in his chest, and he debated on if he should say anything.

    "I was hatched here," Rai said, voice clear in the silent night. Only the crackle of the fire gave anything else. Sean raised his eyebrows, not that Rai could see it, but he had already gathered that was the case.

    Everything else, however, he was less sure about. From Rai's discomfort and Litleo's remarks across the day, he had a bad feeling about what Rai was about to say.

    "I lived here when I was just a cub, with my mother and father, my two brothers and older sister. We were happy here; this place has commonly occurring thunderstorms which energize electric pokémon like us."

    Sean swallowed, Rai wasn't facing them, just looking to the entrance of the dungeon.

    "I don't remember much. I don't remember what my father smelled like, or what my mother's smile looked like. I don't remember their voices, only… only how they sounded when we were attacked."

    Rai's eyes were bright with old tears, and Sean wanted to get up and do something, and yet he didn't. Rai was shaking his head slightly, staring sadly into the fire. "All I could really hear were the cries. Arashi and I were lucky but my brothers... it was just howls and the screams of the monster's broken words. My sister and I… w-we were the only ones who made it. She carried me all the way to Treasure Town."

    Rai looked to Amp Plains. "This was our home, this is where I found my treasure. At the end of the lightning fields, in a small closed-off area, with this big glyph that matched the one on the fragment itself. I thought it meant something, I showed it to my family, and no one thought it was much, but they still supported me to find out what it meant. Even if it meant nothing, just finding out would be enough."

    Rai shook his head. "I know it's stupid, but it's all I have left of my family. My sister left a long time ago to find her own path, I haven't seen her in ages." Rai sighed and crouched down, resting his head on his paws. "Happy now?"

    Sean glanced to Litleo, who did not look happy. He didn't look shocked either. "If that's what the weird rock means to you, then it's worth coming here," he said and looked to Sean. "Even if it is still an obvious trap."

    "I," Sean said, voice cutting off. He looked to Rai, almost disbelieving. Rai gave him a sad smile and Sean swallowed, got up, and curled up next to him. "We will do this together," he said. What else could he say? Sorry was truly not enough. Could never be enough. He looked to Litleo, who had a sad glow in his eyes. He had a feeling it wasn't Litleo who couldn't really get it.

    "Thanks for telling me," Sean said, and a thousand words came to his lips as he nearly told him everything. But he looked again, and Rai's eyes were closed, Litleo was there, and Sean didn't speak. Instead, he went to sleep himself.


    Three cattos.

    The 'theory' that if the Sky Partner was a shinx then something must have happened to the luxray pack in Time and Darkness was in mind when I was making Rai's backstory.
     
    Chapter 16 - Static Electricity
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    The next morning all three of them slept in until the brightness of the sky was too much. With not a bang but a groan, the three pulled themselves up.

    Everyone was still sore from the slog to get here. Sean cracked his neck and both Rai and Litleo cracked their backs with big stretches.

    It wasn't long before they were standing in front of the mouth of the dungeon, each one doing nothing more than staring in. Sean and Litleo standing back, looking to Rai as he extended and retracted his claws in nervous silence.

    "Last chance to turn back," Rai said, not sure himself just who he was saying it to. "Th-this is it."

    "I'm staying with you," Sean said, stepping forward and rested a paw on Rai's shoulder. He could feel the tenseness in Rai's muscles, it was like touching stone. He focused and even brought his tail around to link with Rai's, that seemed to help more, and Rai smiled gratefully.

    Litleo snorted. "As if I'd have come this far just to turn around now." He stepped forward as well and grinned. "Come on then, Shinx. Show me what you're made of."

    Rai set his jaw and breathed out hard through his nose, closing his eyes as he did so. He nodded slightly and rolled his head, unclenched his muscles. "Let's go."

    They left the dead grass and broken trees behind and entered the dungeon. They didn't enter with a bang or a storm, simply walked in stiff silence as the floor changed, the sky began to blur out, and the cliffs became walls.

    Team Ion plus Litleo had entered Amp Plains.

    "You're really brave you know," Sean said as the entrance faded, and they were truly in the depths of the dungeon now. Rai gave him a pained look but managed a smile through it.

    "Save the heart-warming crap til later," Litleo said, peering around as his ears flicked back. "I've been in this dungeon only once and I can tell you right now that this won't be easy."

    The sounds of the dungeon began to reach them, skittering of distant feet, the rumble of falling stones. Sean jumped when a piercing shriek reached them, rising into a crescendo of terrified agony before petering out into nothingness.

    "Ah… the sound of forgiveness," Litleo said wisely before pointing forward. "Well chop-chop, or else we'll be getting the chop-chop."

    Rai stepped forward boldly and began leading them from the room they were in, aiming in a direction that didn't lead towards the lingering echo.

    Something growled from inside the wall and all three of them hurried forwards. Neither of them wanted to be here. The kaleidoscope of a sky was melding reds and greys as the sound of thunder began to boom from above them.

    "Can lightning strike in a dungeon?" Sean asked shakily as they entered the room. A doduo screeched as they entered, one head hanging limply as the other swung around wildly. It began charging them and Rai blasted it with Thunderbolt.

    "Yes it can," Litleo said as they edged by the smoking form of the twitching bird.

    Sean picked a few berries from where the doduo had been hording. Having followed the sound of electricity and screams, a feral shinx charged them from another exit.

    Immediately Sean and Rai froze up, leaving Litleo to pounce forward and take its hungry gaze on them. Rai turned away with a distasteful grimace, but Sean wasn't able to.

    Even without looking at Rai and this shinx side-to-side he could spot glaring differences. Waking up next to Rai and seeing him every single day certainly helped.

    This creature was scruffy, patches of fur torn out, chunks of both ears taken out, only three prongs on its star-shaped tail. The yellow eyes of the feral shinx were faded and unfocused, hazily flicking from Litleo to the pile where Sean had left some berries.

    It yowled and lit up with electricity, aiming to tackle Litleo with Spark. Litleo hit it with Fire Blast.

    Rai flinched as the shinx shrieked and Sean cringed, seeing the explosion fling it into the wall, colliding with a dull smack and slumping to the ground silently.

    "Okay," Litleo said brightly, turning back to his companions. "Solved that one for you!"

    He pranced ahead, pleased with himself, looking back when Sean didn't move. "Stay here too long and more will come? You don't want me to blast MORE shinx, do you?"

    Sean tore his eyes from the smoking heap that was near the other twitching pile and quickly caught up without a word. The three entered a corridor in silence, Litleo leading now, Rai trotting up behind him, and Sean following at an uncomfortable pace.

    This was not going to be fun.


    Chatot's day had been going quite well. Quite well indeed.

    The guilds expedition had been a rousing success, even if they couldn't tell anyone that. Rather than treasure though, something far more valuable had been found. And with the increasing troubles with time that the continent was facing, things as valuable as Time Gears needed to be protected.

    Not only that, but a new business had also opened. He hadn't known much of Spinda beforehand, but the dizzy ditz could mix a drink like no one else could. It was something that could never be revealed to the apprentices just how intoxicated the Guildmaster had become once he learned of cider.

    Something to be concealed with even more fervency was his own slip of composure. It was because of the Guildmaster, as wise and intelligent that he was, that such an embarrassing incident even occurred.

    One does not turn down the Guildmaster's offering after all. What sort of example would he be setting then?

    That is what Trill the chatot told himself at least. Rhythm had only to ask, and he barely even tutted before agreeing.

    Even then, the next morning had made such a lapse of control hardly worth it. He could barely croak out the Guildmaster's wake-up song. Rhythm himself had still bounced up and been full of beans, as if he hadn't nearly stumbled into the sea on their way back.

    Yet despite the less-than-ideal morning, the day had shaped up to be an excellent one. The Great Dusknoir came by each day and offered his wisdom and assistance in anything the guild wished. They wouldn't abuse such generosity, of course. That would be most unbecoming of the first-rate guild of the Grass Continent.

    It was still comforting to have such a wise pokémon by their side.

    Yes, the day had been good.

    Until it wasn't.

    Team Ion disappeared. Without informing the guild of any jobs chosen that would take them so far from Treasure Town. Instead all the locals had to say was Meowth spending some time with the ruffian Litleo and a new, friendly, face known as Riolu before Shinx came to him in a panic and they ran off, with Litleo following them.

    It was worrying, and Chatot did not enjoy more stress on top of his already-stressful life.

    They did not show up for dinner, despite how loudly Loudred had yelled to the sky for them to return and ultimately the guild had to have a subdued and unpleasant dinner before setting off to fitful rest.

    It was not like either of them to be so rash, Chatot was certain. Rai had lived in Treasure Town for over five years and was a well-known face. Always careful, always measured, he was never known to do things without thinking.

    And Meowth. Chatot hadn't known the odd human-turned-meowth for very long, but he could see Sean was a bit of the same. Careful, not the kind to take risks. And clearly liked to think everything through, including what he told to others.

    For them to run off so suddenly, without even alerting the guild as to why or where, was most unusual and unusual was distressing.

    And looking for them would be pointless. Dungeons were all over the land and they could have gone to any one of them. All they could do for the time being was to wait and hope.

    Such feeble ideals made Chatot uncomfortable. He liked dealing in facts and figures, not hopes and legends. Facts were straightforward, feelings were not.

    Chatot's day was not going well. But there was one potential silver lining. Chatot disliked hoping, but he could not always help himself. The Great Dusknoir was seen going in the same direction shortly after Team Ion had run off and hadn't returned either.

    If the Great Dusknoir was going after them the situation didn't bode well, but if he reached them then they would be fine. That, Chatot could be certain of.

    For the time being, all he could do was wait.


    "Okay." Sean grunted, claws shining white and yellow as electricity danced against him. "This. Is. No longer… FUN!" He pushed against the near-weightless energy like he was going for a hug, separating the stream of electricity. Before the flaaffy could charge up another, Sean pelted it with a sleep seed, and it crumpled.

    "I don't think that should have worked," Sean commented, marvelling at his apparently magical paws. "But I am a pokémon now, so perhaps it is time I give up on the lofty ideals of logic."

    "Stop mumbling a monologue and HELP!" Litleo yelled from the corner he was pinned into.

    Sean pulled a pile of seeds from the bag and tossed them wildly at the three mareep and the plusle and minun that were all shocking Litleo with their electrical attacks. Something exploded but unfortunately it was the ground, but the shockwave knocked the x-eye seeds into powder that quickly impaired the five pokémon.

    Also Litleo.

    Wincing, Sean couldn't help but watch as electricity went everywhere, along with sparks of flame. Sean dug a heal seed out and tried to aim for Litleo, but he knew his throw was dangerously inaccurate.

    "Now Goldeen, Fire Thrower!" Litleo yelled and burped a Fire Blast at the wall as Sean creeped around to him. Once he was close enough, and Litleo spotted him and called him Duskull, Sean ran forward and rammed the seed down his throat.

    Immediately the bad effect wore off and he shook his head to clear it, fluffing up in the process. "Thank you, Goldeen," he snarked and pounced forward, clearing Sean, and landing wreathed in fire among the pokémon. Something, possibly Litleo, exploded and pokémon were all sent flying.

    "Oh thank the legends," Rai said, entering the room and spotting Sean. "You're okay!"

    "Yes, yes," Litleo said, butting Sean out of the way to receive the joy-tackle himself. "Your love and adoration are acce-ow!"

    Rai jumped off of Litleo without a word and tackle-hugged Sean as planned.

    "He didn't give you any trouble, did he?" Rai whispered loudly, causing the grooming Fire-type to scoff.

    "He got ME with one of the weird seeds, you should be asking ME if I'M alright." He finished grooming and sent Sean a beaming smile. "You will be forgiven in due time, however. Such things come sooner if someone can get that powder off my tail…?"

    "Good job." Rai nodded to Sean and began leading them out of the room, one of the mareep began to get up and Rai sent it back down with an immediate Thunderbolt. Litleo pouted at being ignored and immediately ran to Rai's other side and bumped against him.

    "Pay attention to meee," he whined, getting a sigh and Rai's soft paw pushing his face away.

    "Are you alright?" Rai gave in and asked, unleashing the floodgates.

    "NO! You cannot imagine how terrible it was, we lost you, and then Sean wouldn't stop crying, then I got attacked by ALL the Water-types, and then the ground swallowed me up, and then…."


    "Uh… Rai?" Sean asked further in. "Are you alright?" In cases like this, he was a little more concerned for everything else, but he felt it was prudent to address the source.

    "Hmm?" Rai blinked, turning to Sean. Away from the girafarig he had rendered unconscious with a single Thunderbolt. "Oh yes, I'm fine. Just fine. Perfectly fine."

    "I think he's fine," Litleo said, nodding. When Rai turned to glare at whatever else entered the room, Litleo leaned in and stage-whispered. "He's not fine."

    "I heard that." Rai's eyes narrowed, an electrike had entered the room and his jaw clenched at the sight of it.

    "Good." Litleo spotted the approaching electric sponge and moved forward. "I've got this." He began to form an Ember to show it what for when Rai ran forward in a burst of speed. "Or… you've got this."

    Rai was not shining with the tell-tale glint of a Quick Attack, he was just running startlingly quickly. Sean and Litleo watched as Rai's mouth suddenly melted into darkness and he pounced through the electrical blast given off by the snarling electrike, tackling it onto its back and suddenly clamping his jaws down.

    The Bite attack, thankfully, didn't draw blood but inflicted more than enough pressure damage to knock the electrike out.

    Rai growled and slowly lifted himself off it, shaking his fur and prowling away.

    Litleo sighed and followed after him as Sean stared at the electrike in shock. He moved slowly, not wanting to lose them, but couldn't quite take his eyes off the electrike.

    Once they entered a corridor he snapped back to focus and hurried up, pushing past Litleo to get right next to Rai. They walked together in silence for nearly three entire seconds before Sean ruined it. "Mind telling me what that was?"

    "A Bite attack," Rai grumbled.

    "I gathered that," Sean said, moving to continue but Rai interrupted.

    "Why ask then? If you knew so much."

    Sean raised his head back slightly, not expecting that kind of response from the mild-mannered Rai. Rai came to a stop. "Sorry." His ears flattened. "I didn't mean that."

    "It's fine." Sean waved him off as Litleo also stopped. "But seriously, what? How long have you been able to use Bite?"

    "A few years."

    Sean was aghast. "Years?" he spluttered and then shook his head. "Okay, fine. Doesn't matter. Why didn't that come up when Grovyle was showing me Night Slash?"

    Rai was silent for a moment, Sean glanced to Litleo who seemed ready to say something.

    "Remember what Grovyle said?" Rai asked, taking their attention back. "About what is needed to use a Dark-type attack for a non-dark-type pokémon?"

    "Negative emotion," Sean muttered.

    "Yeah. I don't like to be negative, but this place just… it just… it's bad for me."

    Sean hesitated, glanced to Litleo who now seemed content to be quiet for once, then back to Rai. "We can go," he said. "If this is too much, we can find our way back I'm sure."

    Rai was silent for a moment, Sean honestly wondered if he'd take the out he was given. That was dashed by him shaking his head. "No. We've come THIS far. It's just cowardly to turn around now. Right, Litleo?"

    Litleo, surprised he was being addressed in the middle of the emotional moment, blinked. "Yeah probably," he said easily, getting a glare from Sean and a sardonic smile from Rai.

    "See? He knows."

    Rai turned forward and continued walking, Sean giving Litleo a filthy look. "You could be a little easier on him," he snapped quietly as they continued.

    "And how is avoiding his problems going to help him?" Litleo shot back. "He needs to do this."

    "You know as well as I do that his Relic Fragment isn't going to be here."

    "And you should know as well as I do that it doesn't matter how stupid this is. He needs to do this, face his darkest memories and come out stronger for it."

    "Rai is plenty strong! Not every problem has to be challenged and destroyed, some things are not worth doing when the emotional cost is so bad."

    "And letting it boil under his skin is any better? This is stuff that I've watched haunt him for five years. You don't understand."

    "At least I've actually helped him. What have you done to help him in those five years? You've been an asshole and a bully to him."

    "I," Litleo snarled softly, bringing his head in very close as the two of them came to a stop. "Have been someone for him to take his frustration out on, someone to push him when he's being a coward or sulking in misery. I've kept him going, even if I've had to be an asshole to do it."

    "And you really think that's the best way?" Sean said equally as softly. "To torment and belittle him for years? He didn't have any self-esteem when I first met him. How long has he wanted to join the guild? And how long have you been making him feel like he never could?"

    Litleo opened his mouth to retort, but Rai finally noticed them not following. "What are the two of you chattering about?" he called, getting a simultaneous cheerful response.

    "Food."

    "Good idea, I'm really hungry." He licked his chops, tasting electrike fur and pulling a face.

    Sean put on a smile and pulled open the Treasure Bag to feed the three of them before they continued onwards.


    Amp Plains was a dungeon of pain and horror and all three sane pokémon were getting tired of the constant bombardment.

    Rai was mostly alright, being fuelled with rage and absorbing so much electricity that his own attacks were scarcely draining him. His attacks were largely ineffective, however.

    Sean was having the least good time, at least on the physical front. Being the one with the bag, and therefor food, most pokémon targeted him first and he was growing rather singed. Several tufts of fur were also sticking up and were adamantly refusing to be smoothed down.

    Litleo was simply in a bad mood. Sean and his hushed argument had left him with a sour taste in his mouth and doubts in his head. He was confident he was in the right, but the niggling feeling of doubt wouldn't leave him and was grinding his nerves to a fraying edge.

    Didn't help that Amp Plains was equally as terrible as he had remembered it to be. He wasn't sure how Rai was holding up, he was relieved the sane shinx hadn't fallen into a despair-induced catatonia or something similarly disruptive to the quest, but the line of pokémon just salivating for some Fire Blast in their faces wouldn't stop.

    Sean had used up a great deal of their supply of seeds and was trying to keep stock a little better. Unfortunately this meant his assistance in battle was limited. He had Night Slash down fairly well, but to use it he'd have to get up close and personal and that was a bad day waiting to happen.

    He had his eyes out for any giant flyers seeking to carry him away and a Sleep Seed ready just in case.

    "Okay, okay, ow, okay. ENOUGH!" Litleo yelled, the volume of his yell causing an actual shockwave and knocking some of the horde back. He took this moment to take in a breath, ready to unleash the burn on these who dared clamber over him.

    Then a phanpy kicked him in the chest, an elekid punched him in the back of the head, and an electrike bit his back-left foot.

    "BITCH!" Litleo roared, huge verbal shockwave blasting everyone back from him. He aimed his furious eyes forward and yelled again. "BIIITCH!" And used Echoed Voice.

    The clambering horde were all sent flying and Litleo strongly considering torching them, but Rai's voice of sanity and reason caught his attention. "Come on, run!"

    Snarling at the horde, and using another Echoed Voice to be certain, Litleo turned and ran after the bruised pair.

    Panting, the three of them left the madness behind and just hoped it wouldn't pursue.

    It did.


    "Is it just me?" Rai asked, panting. "Or is this like Boulder Quarry just with the numbers of Mount Horn?"

    "I don't know either of those places," Litleo replied, running side-by-side to Rai.

    "I wasn't asking you."

    "Why did you just put it out there then?"

    "Why did you feel the need to answer then?"

    "YES," Sean cut across the building argument. "This is just like both. Including the monster bugs. We even had someone with us in both cases."

    "Corphish and Grovyle were much preferred to this," Rai muttered, getting a scowl from Litleo that was quickly covered up with a cool expression.

    "An experienced explorer or two WOULD be great," Litleo said as loudly and obnoxiously as he could. Rai growled, and they entered a new room.

    Sean could hear the old music. The sounds of terror and despair as endless waves of enemies crashed upon them.

    He wasn't sure if it was an exact concept in this place, but he could see clear as the horrifying sky that this was a monster house.

    All three skidded to a stop, but they had already entered and been spotted by the hordes of feral pokémon. They weren't attacked immediately, however. The several dozen pokémon just stared, no one moved a muscle.

    A drop of Sean's blood hit the floor.

    The horde descended upon them.

    Sean received the delightful image of a horde of zombies clambering for his flesh and froze up as Rai said a few rather un-Rai things and lit up with electricity.

    Over the sounds of lightning strikes, Sean made out a few sounds. "Y…u… …c… …ng… m… … nst… …s."

    Rai overexerted himself greatly, but the display of electrical might warded the horde off and stunned them long enough for Sean and Litleo to run through the room with Rai and escape into a corridor.

    "Please don't blow yourself up," Sean begged as they let Rai down to let him run along with them.

    "Yeah, that'd be uncool," Litleo added.

    "Eat this." Sean offered one of the dwindling oran berry's they had remaining, and Rai inhaled it. Sean hesitated, but then gave him another one. Litleo didn't say anything.

    "I'm good," Rai reassured, still gasping for breath. "Promise. Just… a small rest?"

    They found an alcove and pressed into it to wait.

    "This dungeon," Sean said. It was all he had to say.


    Their rest didn't provide much opportunity to recover, as something found them soon enough.

    Stronger than the others, a luxio charged their alcove. Rai was able to charge some electricity, but Litleo stepped in the way.

    "Go for it," he said, sending a warning Ember to the luxio.

    "What?" Sean asked, not quite realising what Litleo was asking.

    "I know you're slow, but not this time. Take Shinx and run for it. I'll cover you."

    The two members of Team Ion stared at Litleo for a moment, but he was done with the talk and began sending Fire Blast's at the luxio, it responded with a Thunderbolt.

    "Come on," Sean said, pulling Rai along and making a break for it.

    "I'm ready," Litleo called, grinning as fire poured from his jaw. "How 'bout you?"

    He leaped forward with an improvised Fire Fang, giving an exploding bite on the luxio's shoulder. He was sent flying up, but the luxio was thrown into a wall. Litleo landed on his stomach and felt the wind be knocked from his lung. He grunted and got back to his feet, pulling at his reserves. He chuckled as he could barely form another Ember. He hadn't had any of the oran berry's and was really feeling it now.

    The luxio recovered and was coming for him again. In a less terrible condition as that first shinx he knocked out, this one had a gleam of intelligence to its madness and Litleo realised it knew he was exhausted and was going to wear him down.

    He spluttered an Ember, trying to appear heartier than he was. But the sparks died quickly, and he coughed up smoke. The luxio's jaws crackled with electricity as it went for his neck.

    Litleo dodged back but stumbled as everything seemed to hit him at once and his legs quivered. The luxio immediately came back for another shot and received a paw in its mouth instead of a neck.

    Litleo grunted in pain as his paw was bitten, electricity coursing through his body and causing him to spasm. He would not go down easy and pushed his paw forward, jamming it down the luxio's throat and causing it to gag.

    "I taste good, don't I?" Litleo taunted, gingerly putting his paw down. "Only the best I am."

    The luxio snarled and eyed him cautiously as it backed off, missing the meowth that had come running back. A Night Slash took several whiskers off as Sean slashed it across the face.

    Litleo stumbled in shock at Sean's reappearance, but before he could say anything an oran was jammed into his mouth. Sean blocked a Thunderbolt aimed for the recovering Litleo and crumpled but bought just enough time for Litleo to find the energy to call a point-blank Fire Blast.

    The luxio went down and, this time, didn't get back up.

    "My world is pain," Sean groaned as he forced himself up on quivering limbs.

    "Took you long enough," Litleo scoffed, looking to where Rai should still be. He spotted the shinx quickly, running back their way himself and wearing a most adorable expression of concern. For Sean, no doubt.

    "You're welcome," Sean muttered bitterly, but brightened when Rai reached them.

    "I thought I told you to run," Litleo said, looking most disapprovingly. "I can assure you, I had it handled."

    "Handled down its throat," Sean said, and Litleo gave him an appraising look.

    "Heh, you're not too bad," he said, closest thing to a pure, non-egotistical, compliment thus far. Then he gave a hair flip. "But of course you had to have something to you if you're keeping up with Shinx." He flashed an exhausted grin at Rai, but Rai was only fussing over Sean.

    "Whatever," Sean said, rolling his eyes. "Let's just keep going, this can't be much farther. We've been in here for hours."

    Litleo led the line this time, tail pointing upwards in pride at his victory. Sean and Rai simply shared a vaguely annoyed, and amused, glance before following.


    They were nearing the end of the dungeon now. Sean could just feel it. He was normally so great nowadays about taking things as they came, preparing carefully for what he knew to happen, keeping things ready for the moment.

    Team Ion, plus Litleo, finished clearing out a stubborn room and shared a nod.

    "This place can't go much longer," Sean groaned. He sort of felt like he was floating, he wasn't sure if that was a side-effect of the quick seeds he'd eaten or if his body was pulling blood from his limbs to preserve his torso.

    Then, as if his words were all the dungeon was waiting for, the path began to change. All three of them perked up and walked faster, following as things continued to change after hours of the same over and over and over and over again.

    Before they went too far, however, Sean decided to stop them.

    "Hang on a moment guys," he said, coming to a stop. Both feline pokémon stopped with him and gave him a curious, then delighted, look like Sean was pulling food out of the bag. It was running rather low, but thankfully the dungeon had provided items as well. "Who knows what's up ahead, but we really should be as ready as we can be."

    There was no argument and Sean watched fondly as Rai devoured his meal like a feral pokémon tearing through a carcass of apples. They had one elixir they shared between the three.

    Litleo gave them both a curious look as they each drank a third before offering it to him, but he didn't argue and finished it.

    "Uh, Rai?" Sean cleared his throat as well, thankfully politeness won out over attention and Rai looked to him. "So you've been a bit… wild today."

    Rai swallowed heavily and shrugged. "It's this place. All the electricity in the air. All the memories it brings back. I'm fine."

    "You sure?" Sean asked, just for his own peace of mind. "I mean… never knew you even knew how to use Bite. The move," he clarified when Litleo took on a cheeky expression.

    Litleo pouted as Rai smiled. "I'm sure. We've not got long to go before we can leave, and I never have to come back to this place! I've already conquered my fear here, now…." He glanced off to the side in thought. "Now I just want to move on. This has been good for me I think."

    "Ha!" Litleo crowed, startling Rai. Jeering, he said. "Told ya."

    Sean pinched his lips together in a not-frown as Rai looked between them curiously. "Told him what?"

    "Just that I was right that it was good for you to come here!" he laughed and pranced over to Rai and gave him a pat on the back. "He thinks I've been too tough on you, but clearly it was for the best."

    "Too tough…?" Rai frowned, and his eyes slid to Sean before going back to Litleo and jerking back. "Hey don't touch me."

    Litleo paused, paw still held up from where it was resting on Rai. "…Okay, jeez, sorry. No touchy, I getchy."

    Still frowning, Rai eased away from Mane and joined Sean. The three fell into silence. Sean fiddled with the apple core he had, seriously tempted to eat it all and be happy about it.

    "I didn't think that putting yourself through all this emotional trauma was necessarily going to be worth the emotional outcome in the end," Sean said, feeling the need to explain himself to the silence. Rai gave him a confused look but didn't cock his head.

    "And I knew that you'd be fine," Litleo said. "Always knew you needed a push or twenty. Now look at you! Fancy apprentice to Wigglytuff, finally," he added softly.

    "What?" Rai said, before his tone turned reproachful. "What? YOU didn't do anything to help. I only joined because of Sean, you just belittled and mocked me. All the time. For years."

    Litleo flinched with each accusation thrown his way. The words had an effect, however, and he frowned and snapped back, "Hey! Everyone else was coddling you. I get what you've gone through is horrible, but you wouldn't have gotten anywhere if I didn't push you."

    "Push me?" Rai demanded, now sparking with anger. "Push me where? Off a cliff? Because sometimes I-" Rai cut himself off and shook his head, eyes red and almost tearing up. "You did nothing but torment me. I don't owe you anything. I don't even know why you're here. Why did you come? What did you want out of this? TELL ME!"

    "I don't have to tell you anything," Litleo growled back.

    "WHY DID YOU TREAT ME LIKE YOU HAVE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS?"

    "Rai," Sean said, trying to calm his friend down.

    "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I'D JUST FORGET ABOUT IT AND MOVE ON?"

    "Rai please calm down."

    "WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO? YOU SAID THIS WAS A TRAP BUT YOU CAME ANYWAY, IS IT YOUR TRAP? TELL ME! NOW!"

    "I'm sorry," Litleo yelled back, silencing Rai better than anything Sean was trying.

    "W-what?" Rai whispered.

    "I'm… I'm sorry for the way I've treated you." Litleo's expression was moving up and down like a boat in a storm. Turning away, he glared at a wall before forcing himself back to face Rai. Gritting his teeth, he had his eyes closed rather than look at him. "Look. I don't hate you. I've never hated you. I just thought… everyone else they just were too easy… I mean, I just."

    He continued to babble as Rai, and Sean, stared at him unblinkingly. Eventually, Litleo got control of himself and took a needed breath. "I thought I'd done the right thing. That's what Sean and I were arguing about. I thought I was right… I still think I'm not wrong." Rai lifted a paw up as Litleo scrambled for words. "But… maybe… did I go too far?"

    "Yes," Rai replied without thinking, then he blinked and shook his head. "What? What? What are you talking about?"

    "I've just been trying to push you to be better, since no one else would. But…." He cringed and scrubbed his face furiously. "Heh, wow. I really have been a… heh. Oh well, sorry doesn't fix things." With a crooked smile that really didn't look right, he pointed forwards. "Action does. Let's find your treasure."

    Rai flicked his eyes from Litleo and onwards for a few long moments before eventually giving a nod. "Fine. I'm watching you. But… fine."

    Litleo let them both pass him before he took up the rear guard silently.

    Sean glanced back once, but Litleo's expression was like a mask, and he didn't say anything. Rai wasn't talking either.

    The dungeon began to open up, the sky began to darken into pure darkness, and Team Ion plus Litleo entered the lightning fields.

    "This place," Rai muttered, wonder and terror filling his voice. "This is right… this is right where I found my Relic Fragment!" He ran forward in jittery excitement, Sean keeping pace as he was quickly reminding himself what was going to bother them here. He kept a close eye on the cliffs surrounding them.

    Forwards, and above a steep but scalable hill, lied the lightning fields. A seemingly endless expanse of constant lightning strikes. An eternal thunderstorm remained above it, providing Amp Plains with endless electricity.

    "Over that hill, there's a small alcove," Rai explained as they ran forward, right into the middle of the clearing. "And that is where I found my Relic Fragment."

    "Would it be there again?" Sean asked.

    "I've always known it was special," he explained. "I could believe it has powers like that."

    That didn't help his confidence. Nor did the constant rumble of thunder and the feeling of anticipation in the air. He figured it was the lightning but knew it could be something else.

    "Okay let's just check it and get out of here," Sean said, growing more uncomfortable by the moment. Rai nodded, understanding.

    "I've missed being here," he said wistfully. "It's always a storm, always." his expression shifted, and Sean cursed opening his mouth. "It was thundering then too." Rai came to a stop. "The place I heard my parents last."

    As much as Sean wanted to support Rai in this emotional moment, he really wanted to get out of here. There was something else. Something that was making his claws itch, that put pressure behind his eyes, he was sure he could taste misery, and he knew he didn't like it here.

    "Rai."

    Black lightning struck.

    Litleo tackled them both out of the way from the devastating blast, the shock-wave caused by its impact still sending them flying further. They flew past the rock jutting from the ground and rolled to a stop near the hill's beginning.

    "Well/It/Well," a voice, rampant and unhinged called from above. All three looked up to see a manectric staring down from above. From behind it, a horde of electrike began closing in from all directions.

    Rai and Litleo untangled from the pile of pokémon and bared teeth and claws at the approaching electrike, leaving Sean to stare up at the manectric in horror.

    It was wrong.

    Where the manectric's normally vibrant yellow fur shone, this one's fur was sickly and matted. The cerulean blue that matched it, was instead a washed-out mess. Corruption had long since set in and each strand of fur shimmered in its ugly depravity. Something dark like rotten purple crystals glittered amid it at times.

    Shadow Manectric leaped down, landing in front of Sean and barely missing him, only due to Sean scrambling back. Rai and Litleo bumped backs with Sean as he backed to them, the three pokémon staring down the Shadow Pokémon.

    The electrike were the same, matted and wrong. They were Hungry. Rai and Litleo quivered, and their palpable terror did not make Sean feel any better.

    "You. Trespassers." Manectric spoke, stilted and laboured despite an edge of mocking remaining in its tone. "You. Fall. You. Descend. Come here. You. Submit. Die. Feed. HUNGRY!"

    The aura was shifting over the electrike, and Sean hissed, "It's doing something." Both of his allies glanced back to see The Shadow roiling around the manectric.

    "D-D-Die."

    "To you? Never," Litleo whispered. Rai had stopped completely, simply staring at manectric.

    "That voice," he whispered, coarse with emotion. "I heard it when my parents…."

    He was too paralysed to even tear up as Sean and Litleo realised what Rai was saying.

    "You." Sean turned back to the manectric. "You." He was almost beginning to sound like it now, quivering with fury. "You invaded this place. Didn't you?"

    "All. Gone. All. Resisted. All. Perished."

    Rai drew blood as he bit down hard on his mouth. He had known for years, there was no way his family wouldn't have come for him otherwise. To hear it confirmed, however.

    "Submit?"

    "NEVER!"

    Rai screamed and erupted into electricity, being subsumed by the crackling voltage as he tore towards the shadow manectric.

    The electrike all attacked at once, but the manectric was slower on the uptake and Rai lightning crashed into it with all the force of Rai's grief.

    To Rai's credit, the manectric was thrown back from the veritable storm.

    Sean met electrike tooth with each claw on all four paws forming a Night Slash. Being covered in blazing darkness that cut through the foul Shadow, he managed nearly a full thirty seconds before he was pushed back.

    Litleo unleashed the inferno within him on the other half, bathing them in purifying flame. He succeeded in holding out another few seconds longer.

    There were too many of them. They were too exhausted from reaching the area. And these Shadow-corrupted pokémon were too powerful.

    Something churned in Sean's gut, he felt sick and starving and terrified as the blank eyes darker than anything feral, were closing in on them.

    "STOP!" Sean screamed. To his credit, the electrike all did hesitate.

    Shadow Manectric burst out of the hill it had been buried with, black lightning crackling around it. Its face had twisted into something indescribable, there was nothing that remained of what it once was besides the feeble frame.

    With Manectric attacking again, the electrike swarmed forward, overwhelming Sean and Litleo with sheer numbers.

    The corrupted creature unleashed the black lightning crackling around it upon Rai and he screamed before matching it with yellow lightning, fighting the tendrils of death off with everything he had.

    The twin bolts were matched in the sky for a moment, creating a corona of light that sent the fur of every creature present straight up. Lightning burned the air, and the stench of ozone began to hang thickly.

    Rai was shuddering, being pressed back as he overexerted himself. Through his tears, however, he gave a wild cry, a bestial shout native to his wild family.

    With a final cry like thunder, Rai blasted right through the black lightning and his show of power called down the power of the skies as natural lightning forked down and struck manectric multiple times, each bolt attracting more until the thunderstorm was unleashing its wrath upon the scourge of Amp Plains.

    It was not enough.

    Rai couldn't make a sound as his vision swam. His electricity completely sapped and willpower fading. He staggered before slumping onto his side. He could hardly hear Sean and Litleo yelling out for him, but he couldn't get up. Something strong cradled him.

    The world went black.

    "Rai!" Sean screamed when Rai collapsed. The brave shinx didn't respond and he struggled to get free of the electrike pile that was biting and shocking him. His limbs were failing, his eyes couldn't stay open. He managed to pull himself free after pushing all his anger through one limb and into his claws. He heard an electrike yelp and the grip eased enough for him to tear himself free.

    He staggered and collapsed, he tried to crawl but something shocked him, preventing him from getting to Rai. Something safe cradled him.

    The world went black.

    Litleo yelled and roared, but he was choking under the weight of the electrike, the weight of the Shadow poking and prodding against him. They were smothering him, he would die, they were going to kill him.

    Let it in.

    He thought. His vision was fading, his lungs were being compressed.

    Salvation, if you let it in.

    Sean and Rai fell silent and Litleo couldn't tell what had happened to them. He was beset from all sides and his head felt as heavy as stone.

    Let it in. Do as your mother prepared you for-

    "NO!"

    Litleo coughed smoke, he couldn't breathe a spark to save his life. A fact he found irrationally funny at the moment. Something cool cradled him.

    The world went black.

    Dusknoir arrived on scene, witnessed Rai destroy the black lightning, and then collapse. He went for the meowth first and stored him safely in his belly mouth, grabbing the unconscious shinx next. Very brave, Dusknoir decided. He took him into the safety of his torso next. They were not lost souls, but they would survive this.

    The dogpile of electrike continued swarming over one more area and Dusknoir considered leaving it be, but a yell of defiance and puff of smoke made his mind up for him. This Litleo was a known bully and troublemaker in Treasure Town. It wouldn't be so amiss as to leave him.

    And yet….

    Dusknoir removed the corrupted pokémon and took the third pokémon in his hand before opening his belly mouth one more time and gently settling him next to the members of Team Ion. He could have left him, but he respected the defiance the litleo showed.

    With them safe, Dusknoir turned to Shadow Manectric. He sent the electrike who dared to attempt to attack him away with shadows of his own. Pure shadows, those untainted by this force.

    "Foul. Die. Die. Again. Die. Die. Die. Die." The manectric chanted and Dusknoir shook his head.

    Not even a manectric, Dusknoir decided. Nothing as noble as a pokémon. Not even a monster. Not even a demon. Just a shell.

    He reached forward as it unleashed the black lightning upon him, but to Dusknoir it was nothing. He deflected it with his own shadow and continued advancing as the shell grew more desperate.

    "Be at peace," Dusknoir said, grabbing it by the throat and beginning to relieve it of what little vitality that remained. "Give up. Rest now. Go."

    The electrike had long fled by the time Dusknoir left Amp Plains, three terribly injured pokémon within his form. He hurried for Treasure Town, he would not take rest this night. Not for this.

    Those at Treasure Town, especially the guild, would be most pleased upon his return with their apprentices, and one saved troublemaker. Enough to listen to him perhaps. If nothing else, the companions of Grovyle would be more likely to listen to him now.

    "Yes," Dusknoir thought as he flew as quickly as he could. "This whole endeavour will be worth it."


    Dusknoir to the rescue?

    So, in the original version of Warped Skies this was my least favourite chapter. Of all of them. This was mostly because it was way too heavy on the battles. Which was a pity as otherwise, the talks between Litleo and Sean, and then Litleo's apology to Rai were great moments! But it was weighed down by the chapter.

    So, I cut them down a chunk and might post them in the side story along with other stuff I take out but still happens!
     
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    Chapter 17 - The Mane Event
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    The day was a beautiful one, one that drew the eye to countless displays of natural beauty around them. Team Gazer, however, had their eyes set forwards.

    "Query: Are we there yet?"

    It was also a day where Beheeyem's patience was truly wearing thin.

    "No Beldum," the leader of Team Gazer sighed, rubbing his face with the smooth part of his arm. "We are not there yet."

    They continued their trek, questing for one place and one place only. There was a growing concern among the three and, based on what was going on around the continent, it was a concern shared by more than just them.

    Every village they passed through had mounting work, very eager for the skills of an exploration team. It was good work, hearty and noble, and filled their coin purse quite well. Yet, the fact that so many needing help was causing anxiety.

    "Query: How much further to 'Designated Landmark' Treasure Town?"

    "I don't know," Beheeyem replied, not bothering to keep the exasperation out of his voice. They had been travelling for weeks once the decision had been made to seek out knowledge of Time Gears. And with no better idea of where to look, Treasure Town and one specific guild was their destination.

    "It can't be much further," Electrike barked. "It's been only forever since we left Jaunty Town."

    "It has been four days," Beheeyem corrected. "You flirted with everything and we had to leave."

    "Yeah," Electrike sighed happily, staring off into the distance. "That was fun."

    "Query:," Beldum begun and Beheeyem felt his frayed nerves snap.

    "I don't know!" he yelled, spinning on the floating pokémon. "I don't know how far it is to Treasure Town. I don't know what we're going to find when we get there. I don't know where to find the magnets you get off on. I don't know, I don't know, I. Don't. Know."

    Beldum and Electrike stopped to stare at him, letting Beheeyem catch his breath before Beldum continued. "Statement: Noted. Counterpoint: None of those accusations were what I was going to ask."

    Beheeyem sighed and scrubbed his face. "What? Then?"

    "Statement: We have a dusknoir making considerable haste towards us. Query: What should we do?"

    Beheeyem and Electrike started and looked around. "Why didn't you mention…?" Beheeyem trailed off, knowing that was a futile thing to ask and would only bring further mental and emotional harm. He'd also spotted a dusknoir trying out for record breaking-speed, for a dusknoir at least.

    The dusknoir, having spotted the trio much earlier, slowed in its glide considerably. Even before it wasn't moving particularly fast, but such beings were not known for their speed in the first place. Beheeyem could fathom that something was quite wrong for one to be moving so fast.

    "Hello?" he called, raising an arm in greeting. "Are you well?"

    Dusknoir glided to a shelmet's pace. His wide upper chest was heaving with the force of exertion, even though he didn't have lungs as per the normal standard, air was still very much needed.

    "Greetings travellers," he said grandly, floating up to Beheeyem and outstretching his hand. "I am Dusknoir, perhaps you have heard of me?" Beheeyem took his hand with only a moment of hesitation and an expression of surprise, Dusknoir noting only a slight grimace for a Psychic-type to be touching as powerful of a Ghost-type such as himself.

    "Beheeyem, the leader of Team Gazer," Beheeyem said before gesturing to his companions. "This is Beldum and Electrike, members of Team Gazer."

    "An exploration team?" Dusknoir asked, receiving a nod. His eye fell on Electrike for a moment too long, causing the Electric-type to shift uncomfortably. "Very good. I hate to ask something of you so suddenly, but in regard to your question. I am fine; however I have three badly wounded pokémon stored safely and I need to get to Treasure Town as soon as possible. I see you are a Psychic-type, might I trouble you for assistance?"

    "There is no question of help, Dusknoir," Beheeyem said, blinking rapidly as it really began to dawn on him just who this was. "G-Great Dusknoir, I think… whatever I or my companions can do is yours for the using." He added a bow after a moment.

    Dusknoir chuckled and shook his head. "No need to bow," he said as Beheeyem straightened. "I need you to pull me along with Psychic, or anything else you can muster. I have moved as fast as I can from Amp Plains and with no rest and, to my great shame, I find my strength beginning to wane."

    "Yes, very well." Beheeyem nodded and looked around.

    Detecting his question, Dusknoir opened his belly mouth to show three unconscious pokémon lying within, two familiar ones and Electrike gasped. "Is that Team Ion!?"

    "Fascination: You carry them within you?" Beldum asked, not having the same tact at the other two.

    "They are safe there," Dusknoir explained, closing it. "And I cannot carry all three with ease in my hands when they are unconscious."

    Beheeyem swallowed and regained his nerve. "N-no problem Great Dusknoir. How shall I…?"

    "Use Psychic on me," Dusknoir said. "I can withstand it." Beheeyem gave a jerky nod, lifting an arm as the lights on one lit up. Dusknoir didn't make a sound as he was grabbed in the, rather uncomfortable even at its gentlest, mental grip.

    "Do not mind my discomfort," Dusknoir grunted. "We need to arrive at Treasure Town swiftly."

    Beheeyem nodded and began to pull Dusknoir along, floating himself as fast as he could.

    "Query: Do you know how far it is to Treasure Town?" Beldum asked, and Beheeyem groaned.

    "This again?" he hissed, but Dusknoir gave a laugh.

    "At my earlier speed I would have estimated four hours. With the noble Team Gazer I would guess just two."

    "Two hours of this?" Beheeyem thought, even already he didn't like the pressure on his head. But, as he pulled Dusknoir along, he knew that this was for the best. Three pokémon as well as the Great Dusknoir were depending on this.

    Beldum was silent, Beheeyem thanked all the legends, for the rest of the trip, while Electrike ended up running ahead to see if he could warn the guild in advance. Dusknoir thought such an idea was a grand one, Beheeyem simply hoped he wouldn't get lost, or distracted for that matter.

    As Dusknoir had predicted, two hours after meeting they began to see the first signs of civilisation. The dirt track became a little more well-worn, more paths began to branch off, even a few pokémon were out and about, although they did nothing more than gawk at them passing by.

    Either at Dusknoir, or the fact that someone was dragging Dusknoir along in a floaty grip. Either-or, Beheeyem was too tired to care which.

    "Thoughtlight!" Electrike called and Beheeyem found new energy to be exasperated at him with. "Over here!"

    He had a chimecho, chatot, and croagunk with him, and Chimecho at least winced at the use of Beheeyem's name.

    No one commented on it, however, as the four approached.

    "Chatot," Dusknoir gasped, nearly hitting the ground when Beheeyem's grip over him slackened and broke. "Team Ion, plus Litleo, terribly injured." He opened his belly mouth and reached in. Chimecho winced away, as did Team Gazer, along with anyone else looking in. Chatot and Croagunk took it in stride, however.

    He pulled out Rai first and Chimecho floated forward, grabbing the battered shinx in a much better trained, far more gentle, psychic grip. "I'll see you there," she said and floated off to the guild, face set and determined.

    Dusknoir acquired Litleo next, and Chatot took him with a carefully gentle grip and flew after Chimecho. Lastly, Dusknoir pulled out a bedraggled meowth and Croagunk stepped forward.

    "This isn't trouble for you?" Dusknoir asked, continuing to hold Sean against himself, cradling him slightly. "I will be able to make the rest of the trip, his wounds look bad, he doesn't need any jostling."

    "You've done your part," Croagunk replied. "He'll be fine with me." Dusknoir hesitated a moment before allowing Croagunk gently pull Sean out of his hands and Croagunk raced off into the guild, gait impressively even and failing to jolt Sean at all.

    Dusknoir sighed in relief and nearly toppled back. He fixed himself back up properly and nodded to the pokémon watching before looking to Beheeyem. "Thank you for your assistance, Beheeyem," Dusknoir said and Beheeyem smiled, giving a flash with a finger that meant something pleasant. "I think I will adjourn to the guild, ensure that those three are going to be fine."

    That caused a twitch in the exhausted Beheeyem. Electrike didn't notice, cosying up to a flustered Marill who had been walking out of the guild. Beldum, however.

    "Concerned Query: Beheeyem, are you alright?"

    Beheeyem pulled himself together, tried to forget about the pounding in his head as it nearly caused his innate control over his floatation to fail, and looked to Dusknoir. "Team Ion? What happened to them?"

    This caused Dusknoir to pause. "You know them?" he asked, eye focusing only on Beheeyem.

    "Yes," Beheeyem said tiredly. "We were coming to Treasure Town in the hopes of speaking to Wigglytuff, but also them if given the chance. What chance that it would be them…?"

    He looked to Beldum and nodded. "Get Electrike and come to the guild."

    "Statement: Directive understood." Beldum swivelled to float after Electrike but hesitated and swung back to the tired beheeyem. "Concerned Statement: Can you make it without assistance?"

    Beheeyem nodded tiredly and shooed Beldum away.

    Dusknoir and Beheeyem, one considerably more tired than the other, began to float their way up to the guild. Beheeyem thought it nice to make an ally of the Great Dusknoir, even if it was due to using a powerful move on him for two hours.

    "What do you know of Team Ion?" Dusknoir asked, making conversation.

    "Err?" Beheeyem hummed. "Not much, I guess? Didn't know they had a third member. We met in, uh… an exploration that went a little awry."

    The sentry grate didn't seem to be monitored at the time, but the gate was open so the two just floated their way in. There was a distressing amount of loud sounds from below, while a few exploration teams loitered in the middle area awkwardly.

    "I think I'm going to lay down, don't mind me," Beheeyem managed.

    Beheeyem just floated to a relatively abandoned corner, it only had Team Glee in it, and decided now was a good time to fall unconscious.

    Dusknoir continued on to the lower floors.

    The guild continued to tick while Beheeyem was crashed out, a few pokémon wondering if they should help him and several trying to rouse him. Team Glee sung him happy songs, but he didn't wake up, so they switched to death metal. It also didn't work.

    Strangely enough everyone else seemed to leave during the song and the three decided that was for the best, it gave Beheeyem time to rest in quiet.

    Four hours later Beldum and Electrike wandered into the guild.

    "Seriously though, Cobalt, I was working on a date with her so well! Why'd you have to ruin it with facts and reason?"

    "Declaration: Thoughtlight wanted us here hours ago. Addendum: Marill was male."

    "Working HIM so well then," Electrike corrected, then spotted his team leader being drawn on with bits of charcoal. "Hey! What are you doing."

    "Colouring him in," Togepi of Team Glee said cheerfully. The immediate, pleasant, response stumped Electrike for a moment.

    "I… uh… cool. Can I join?"

    "The more the merrier!" Ledyba said, offering a piece of pink charcoal.

    Beldum oversaw the graffitiing of Beheeyem and gave final scores to the four.

    "Results Announcement: Togepi receives seven points for her skilful emblem of a flower on Beheeyem's chest. However quantity over quality was the goal of this endeavour. Electrike gets six points for enthusiasm, paws and muzzle are not skilful drawing appendages." Electrike huffed at that. "Ledyba received nine points for colouring Beheeyem's entire upper half. Politoad wins at ten points for his mix of colours and quantity of colour."

    Politoad clapped happily and Team Glee sung Team Gazer a song before they decided it was time to leave.

    Not long after that, a chansey left the guild and an apprentice come up and spotted them.

    "Oh my gosh," Sunflora gasped and sprinted to them. "Are you the three who helped Dusknoir get Team Ion here sooner?"

    "Yes," Beheeyem muttered, Sunflora's shrill voice finally waking him up. Rubbing his face, Beheeyem slowly floated upright. His other arm was quickly clasped with leaves as Sunflora shook him with enthusiasm bordering on Wigglytuff levels.

    "Thank you so much!" Sunflora said before breaking down into tears. "If you hadn't helped, who knows what might have happened to poor Shinx and Meowth and Litleo?" She suddenly embraced Beheeyem and cried into his coloured chest.

    "Aww," Electrike whimpered as his hard work was blended with tears. "Ooh." Then the colours really began to mix, and it looked funky.

    "Alright," Beheeyem said, trying to push her off. "Yes, yes, I know. I know." With Sunflora not letting go he decided to just pat her back awkwardly until she stopped.

    It took the intervention of a loudred even louder than logic would dictate to pry Sunflora from him. The extra harsh scowls weren't appreciated either, but Beheeyem could understand stress.

    They were brought down a level to meet with the guild, and as Beheeyem grew more awake, he realised that as terrible of a situation this was, it really was quite beneficial. Wigglytuff was known to be difficult to approach, but in having helped some of his apprentices. Answers may be within their grasp indeed.


    The nurses station was not often used to such a capacity. Chimecho kept the small room neat and orderly, as was her nature, but it wasn't often for her to have three serious patients at once.

    Treating cuts and scrapes, injuries that just needed time, with some berries was simple. Chimecho knew she was the only one in the guild properly qualified to do this, but she realised she was somewhat out of practise when this landed in her room.

    Still, she was still a consummate professional, and she quickly had Chatot and Croagunk place Litleo and Meowth down on the beds with sheets and then out of her way.

    With her Psychic control, she didn't need hands or helpers for her work, and any distractions was not acceptable. No one would bother her unless she explicitly requested help. Which she did. Twice she sent someone out to fetch something she needed.

    The first time Chatot flew out, being the fastest due to his flight, to go straight to Chansey and bring her to the guild. The Egg Pokémon was more a nurturer than a healer, but she had a few natural abilities that Chimecho knew would be a boon in this situation.

    The next time Chansey had Chatot go out to her home to acquire some bitter herbs. The three were unconscious, for once that was a mercy. No one enjoyed those herbs, even being ground into a paste as it stung like nothing else.

    Bidoof ran off as well, saying his friend Bell had some as well.

    Wigglytuff waited outside the door, a rare frown plaguing his face and tension clear throughout his body. Only Chatot dared to approach, but he said nothing, just waiting for a new direction as he paced anxiously.

    "Where did they go?" Wigglytuff wondered out loud. No one responded, the whole guild had arrived now and was loitering around worriedly.

    Chatot snapped at them all multiple times and was pacing an actual hole in the ground, but no one left. Dusknoir himself eventually came down, but he insisted he was fine. He didn't turn down Sunflora going off to get him some food, however.

    An abandoned bag sat near the base of the stairs. Wigglytuff himself had been carrying it before Electrike barrelled down shouting for help.

    "How did they get so hurt?" he said out loud. Again no one replied. It wasn't uncommon for Wigglytuff to speak his thoughts out loud, not even realising he was doing it. Dusknoir moved to speak, but Chatot quietly told him that it was best to save the story until later.

    Some time passed before the door to the nurse's room opened up. A tired Chansey yawned as a frazzled Chimecho floated on behind her.

    "They're okay," Chimecho said, taking it as her responsibility to explain the situation. "Lacerations are abundant over Meowth and Litleo. Rai has multiple burns from what doesn't seem to be fire. All three are unconscious but stable. All we need to do now is keep them comfortable and wait for them to wake up."

    "Is there any risk of that… not happening?" Chatot asked, speaking immediately as soon as Chimecho stopped.

    "It's-" Chimecho tried to gather the words, causing the guild to clench up in worry as it looked like she was hesitating. "With any injury bad enough to keep someone unconscious for… however long they have been like this?" She turned to Dusknoir who replied.

    "Over a day. 28 hours? I'm not sure, the time began to blend together."

    "That long." Chimecho nodded her thanks. "Means that you can never give a one hundred percent assured answer. I believe they will wake up. These wounds are serious, but they should not be life threatening thanks to our treatment."

    "I think it's exhaustion over anything else," Chansey added. "Whatever they've been through, it's sapped them. They just need time to recharge, literally in Shinx's case."

    "Very well, thank you to you both," Chatot said, ruffling his feathers as the guild relaxed. "Now." He turned to Dusknoir. "I believe now is a good time to discuss how this happened? Dusknoir, do you know?"

    "I know in part," Dusknoir explained as the guild, plus Chansey, all focused on him. "Young Shinx and I were discussing matters in relation to an old treasure he used to own before a pokémon approached him, believing to have seen something resembling Shinx's treasure."

    Dusknoir looked back and forth among the guild, noting everyone's drooping eyes and several pokémon shifting around on tired muscles. "He quickly left to find his partner and then the two left. Or three it seems," he added, considering Litleo in the equation.

    "Why would HE of all pokémon have joined them?" Corphish muttered.

    "Right, he's a troublemaker. Did he do this maybe?" Sunflora growled. "Revenge maybe?"

    A few pokémon were looking a bit mutinous at the idea that this was caused by Litleo. Neither Chimecho, Wigglytuff, nor Chatot shared in that thought.

    "Now-now everyone," Chatot huffed. "Let us not jump to conclusions. What if he was there to help?"

    A few skeptical looks were shot his way until Dusknoir nodded. "Indeed. Litleo does appear to have joined Team Ion in their trek through Amp Plains."

    Sunflora and Bidoof twitched as those words were said, both of them thinking the same thing. Their guilty expressions weren't missed, but no one confronted them.

    "Why would Shinx go back there?" Chimecho whispered, looking utterly stricken. She shivered.

    "Regardless of that," Dusknoir said, continuing his explanation. "I followed them, feeling something off about the situation. I only managed to catch the trio once they had beaten the dungeon and entered the final area. A terrible place before a charred field of lightning strikes. At the time Team Ion plus Litleo had been overwhelmed by a force of electrike, led by a Shadow Manectric."

    At that mention, everyone in the room stiffened.

    "Sh-Shadow?"

    "I… dealt with the manectric and carried the battered pokémon out of the dungeon and moved as fast as I could towards Treasure Town. The only place that could help them in that situation. I met a certain Team Gazer on the way and Beheeyem aided me by carrying me along in Psychic when my energy was fading. I owe them for getting me here hours quicker. Yet… I wish I could have done more, bring some items to help them, anything more."

    "You went above and beyond," Wigglytuff said gently, stepping forward with tears brimming in his eyes. "To have gone to save our friends without asking, bringing them back within you, saving them from a Shadow Pokémon. Thank you so much Dusknoir, we are honoured to count you as a friend."

    Dusknoir stared at Wigglytuff for a moment, unmoving and quiet for a moment of silence. "Thank you Wigglytuff. I am honoured to count you as a friend myself."

    Wigglytuff smiled and then grabbed Dusknoir in a tight hug. Dusknoir stiffened but relaxed partially as Wigglytuff bawled into his chest for a moment. Thankfully, blessedly, Wigglytuff pulled back quickly and wiped his face.

    "Let us all get ready to support Team Ion when they wake up," Wigglytuff said, still sniffling. "Litleo too. He went to help them himself it seems, we should make sure they all know they are loved."

    The guild gave a quiet cheer and everyone, finally, moved away.

    With that Chansey bade her goodbyes and left the guild, Sunflora seeing her out.

    The Sun Pokémon returned quickly with three new pokémon.

    "Guildmaster," Sunflora announced as she gestured them forward. "This is Team Gazer. The ones who helped Dusknoir get here."

    "Yes!" Wigglytuff beamed. He gave all three of them a quick hug, steadying Beheeyem as he nearly dropped to the ground. "Are you feeling alright?"

    "I am fine, just exhausted with a headache," Beheeyem said, speaking for the three. He still hadn't noticed the new body art.

    "Thank you for helping Dusknoir," Wigglytuff said, smiling and waving to where Dusknoir was resting. He raised an arm in greeting.

    "Indeed, thank you again, Beheeyem."

    The Cerebral Pokémon blushed, but soaked in the praise. "There was no question of helping, as an exploration team it was our honour, and as leader of Team Gazer there was no greater work."

    Then Beheeyem sagged. "Are they alright?" he asked. "We've met Team Ion before, we were actually heading to Treasure Town in the hopes to see them. And to speak to you, Guildmaster Wigglytuff."

    "Me?" Wigglytuff asked, pointing. "Why me?"

    "We've been noticing some… growing concern about Time Gears recently," Beheeyem explained as Dusknoir left the room. "Time going haywire, pokémon getting scared. We recently heard that the Time Gear of Boulder Quarry went missing, we discovered it alongside Team Ion. And also heard that you yourself had discovered it years prior. So we came this way hoping there was anything we could do, or anything you knew about the situation."

    Wigglytuff frowned and rubbed his head. "…No. Nothing I can think of. I only found the one Time Gear in my exploring days and knew to stay away from it. The same you found, actually."

    "That's… disappointing." Beheeyem frowned and decided to go for broke. "Nothing in your recorded information? Any old tomes or scrolls that you can think of? With the situation as it is becoming, any effort can only help."

    "Nothing I can remember," Wigglytuff said, screwing his face up in concentration. "…Nope. Nothing."

    "We couldn't take a look? Beheeyem pressed. "It would, if nothing else, be a great relief to feel like we are being useful. Nothing would make me happier." Beheeyem carefully didn't try and claim it was a reward for helping, he had helped even without knowing just who they were helping, it wasn't underhanded to try and benefit from the situation though.

    "…I suppose that'd be alright," Wigglytuff said after some thought. "Alright, but tomorrow. Everyone is so tired, you worked so hard to get here. You are welcome to stay at the guild tonight, tomorrow we can look."

    Beheeyem seemed to sag in mid-air, gratified relief flooding him. Even with his hours-long nap he was still exhausted, right now seemed to be a fine time to sleep.

    Wigglytuff decided Beheeyem's choice of bed was a fine one and went and fell asleep on his feet. With his eyes open. Making Beldum uncomfortable, as Electrike had also toppled over and gone to sleep.

    "Statement: This makes me uncomfortable."

    With nothing else to do, Beldum also dropped like a stone into the floor.

    Trill hopped up not long later and carried Rhythm back to his room, humming the night time song under his breath.

    He had quietly cleaned up the bag Rhythm had packed, knowing the wigglytuff had been about to sneak out to go look for Team Ion. It was just what he was like. He would have preferred to be told at least.

    He tucked Rhythm in and placed blankets on Team Gazer before taking his place as guardian of the guild.

    He felt an eye on him and turned, spotting Dusknoir ascending from the lower level.

    "Good evening, Dusknoir," Trill said.

    "Good evening, Chatot," Dusknoir replied pleasantly. "Are you unable to sleep?"

    "Nay," Chatot replied. "I rest on and off."

    Dusknoir came to a stop, staring out of the grate into the star-filled night. "Why do you position yourself here?"

    "It is the perfect place to catch anyone trying to sneak out," Trill replied, the old-fashioned response to that question, not the truthful one.

    Dusknoir chuckled. "Hoo-hoo-ha, you are just as I had heard."

    Trill cocked his head slightly. He ruffled his wings. "You are much different to the rumours say," he replied.

    Dusknoir eyed him. "How so?"

    "There is much talk of grandness," Trill explained. "You come across as far more down-to-earth."

    Dusknoir couldn't smile like another pokémon could, but for a moment he seemed to be. "That is kind of you to say."

    Trill didn't respond to that one. It wasn't so much kindness as an observation, and he was good at that. Good at seeing that Dusknoir wasn't quite what people said he was. Including himself.

    Dusknoir continued gazing out into what part of the sky could be seen. "I've noticed that the guild's roof expresses emblems," he said softly.

    Trill shifted slightly.

    "Your feathers, are they not?"

    Trill nodded. There was a bundle of feathers tied like a brush on the wigglytuff head. Right above another mark.

    "And the mark on the roof's brow," Dusknoir continued, Trill tensed up. "Purple and cream. It almost looks like an accident, but…."

    "You are wise, correct?" Trill interjected sharply.

    Dusknoir stopped. "I… well, others have said."

    "Then you should know not to carry on that thought."

    Dusknoir stared at him in surprise for a long moment, Trill didn't stare back, eyes set on the stars outside, tracking constellations.

    "Understood," he said. "I apologise for bringing it up."

    "That is quite alright," Trill replied.

    "I'll leave you to your night." Dusknoir vanished shortly after, leaving Trill to look at the stars and think about the Time Gears and the one they lost to their maddening allure.

    He didn't understand.

    He wasn't sure he wanted to.

    He just roosted, the guardian of the guild.


    The last thing Sean remembered was pain.

    The first thing he remembered was fear.

    Sean's eyes snapped open as he rocketed up on the softest bed he could remember sitting on as a single word remained the only thing in his mind. "RAI!"

    "Mmm." Rai groaned from the bed next to him and shifted painfully, trying to pull himself up in his sleep before giving up and slumping back down with a frustrated huff.

    Sean's whirlwind of one word crashed to a stop as his eyes adjusted. He was in a room. Not a clearing. The room was peaceful, unlike the clearing. There a window letting light in, not the darkness of the clearing. There was the gentle sound of life living its way, unlike the clearing.

    His heart thumped painfully, and eyes began to burn as Sean didn't blink. Soon his eyes began to tear up from the pain and he closed them and held them closed, jaw tightening and pointy teeth biting down into his soft lip.

    Litleo snored and mumbled something.

    Sean started, jumping in place, and turning on the disturbance with wide, pinpricked, eyes. He breathed hard, heart still thumping. Litleo was under a blanket, that was odd. Not a carpet of electrike trying to smother him.

    Slowly, carefully, even fearfully, the meowth turned back to where he thought he had seen Rai. The shinx was resting quietly under a blanket of his own, nestled on a bed with sheets as soft as his own.

    The muscles in Sean's neck began to relax as he felt exhaustion crashing over him again. He didn't want to close his eyes again, but the first time had been alright.

    He blinked a few times, slowly taking in the whole room with clearing eyes. A cupboard there, door slightly open. A basin filled with clear water there, three cloths soaking away. Soft beds stuffed with straw but covered with sheets he didn't even know existed here.

    A door that led to familiar sounds, Sean thought he heard the tell-tale cry of. "Hooray!" And he fell back into bed with a groan.

    They weren't in Amp Plains anymore.

    It was safe.

    Sean didn't want to close his eyes, afraid this was just a dream and they were all just dying in a clearing by Shadow Pokémon. Things hurt a bit too much to convince him of that, however. Just like how getting decked by Skuntank convinced him he wasn't dreaming the first day.

    Sean turned to Rai, checking to see if he was breathing. He pulled an arm out of the blanket that covered him and reached over, brushing against the scrap of tail he could reach. Rai screwed his face and shifted around, easing Sean's irrational fears.

    Litleo's snores were still ongoing, and it was to that sound that Sean drifted back off into sleep.

    The sun rose and fell before any of the three injured pokémon stirred again.

    As with the first time, Sean's eyes cracked open and squinted against the light. His slitted pupils widened and contracted as he blinked rapidly. For a moment, his mind was blank.

    The rays of the sun creeping in through the window caught his eye again and Sean hissed in pain, swiping out with a clawed paw at the offending rays before stuffing his face into the comfortable bed he laid on.

    Something rumbled in his throat before the headache hit him and Sean groaned. The racket he was pulling ended up causing both other occupants of the room to stir.

    Litleo to his left, up against the wall, and Rai to his right, closer to the door, both shifted in their white sheeted beds. He had a moment of vertigo.

    A quick glance at his paws showed they were still paws. "Do humans have four fingers or five?" Sean wondered for a moment before frowning. "Five. Thumb's a finger."

    He felt a brief sense of melancholy for the fabled thumb before the shifting and mumbling of his companions pulled him back to the present.

    "Rai?" Sean croaked, voice scratchy and hoarse. He coughed, saying just Rai's name sending his throat into spasms, before saying it again. "Rai?"

    Rai cracked a squinted eye open, searching for a moment before his vision cleared enough to make out Sean. Rai started, jolting in bed, before rocking to all fours. "Sean!" he yelped before grimacing as his own throat stung.

    "Stooop," Litleo moaned, trying to bury his head in his bed. "So loud."

    He stilled himself before slowly, almost fearfully, poking his head up. He looked up, then left, and finally to his right. Sean, as the one with the clearest eyes, got a good look at Litleo's expression.

    Fear. Distress. Desperation.

    He blinked, and the expression was gone. A shaken grin replaced Litleo's fearful expression and he gave a quiet chuckle. "We're alive." He nodded to himself, looking around again, feverously. Sean's ears quirked as he picked up on Litleo's breathing rate speed up. "Alive. Back. Safe. We're safe. We're not drowning." His voice began to break, a mixture of dehydration and emotion causing his words to crumble. "We're fine. We're fine. We're fine."

    "We're fine," Sean agreed, adding it in.

    "We're fine," Rai said, giving a shaky nod as Litleo turned a borderline-hysterical gaze on them.

    "We're fine," Litleo said one more time before sagging under the sheets.

    "You're awake." A fourth voice chimed in and all three of the bedbound pokémon jumped. "Oops!" Chimecho giggled. "My apologies. You three are all safe here."

    "Where?" Was all Sean could manage as the other two were catching their breaths from the spook.

    "You're at the guild," Chimecho explained, floating closer. "You arrived three days ago, unconscious and… well." Chimecho glanced away, not wanting to say anything more about how bad it could have gone. "You've been asleep the whole time."

    "We're alive," Rai breathed, sagging onto his bed as well. "Oh… thank the legends. We're alive." Tears filled his eyes and he turned away, hiccupping as he tried to not make a scene.

    "You're all safe now," Chimecho said, ringing a calming chime. "You all woke up as well, that was the biggest hurdle." Chimecho's voice hitched as she swallowed. "I-I'm so relieved."

    Chimecho took a few breaths to calm herself and she composed herself quickly. She smiled at Sean, who was trying to get out of bed and come to her side. "Stay in bed for now," she said gently, but firmly. "All three of you still need a great amount of rest. It's safe to sleep, but first. How are you all feeling? Is there any pain?"

    An old medical fact came to Sean and he nodded. It wasn't helpful to yourself or your nurse if you lied or tried to downplay your state. "I've got a bad headache," he said, grimacing as being reminded of it seemed to bring the pain back in full force. "And my torso just… stings."

    "Everywhere hurts," Rai admitted. "But help Meowth first."

    "I kind of feel like my everything is bleeding," Litleo said. "Is that normal?"

    "How's your breathing?" Chimecho asked, already floating to her supplies. Litleo took a moment to think about it.

    "Not great. It's a little hard actually," he panted.

    Levitating in a Psychic grip, Chimecho brought new bandages and several different types of berries. She gave three to Sean, two to Litleo alongside an incense, and brought the rest of the supplies to Rai.

    Sean watched curiously as Chimecho did her work. Skilfully peeling off his bandages, not fussed with the dried blood, supplying a salve before rebandaging him. It bothered Sean what he had seen, patches of fur missing and unpleasant looking burns on Rai's body, but Chimecho was quick and efficient, covering Rai up quickly.

    "I will inform the rest of the guild that the three of you have woken up," Chimecho said, floating back to observe her work. "Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?"

    "More of that incense?" Litleo suggested and Chimecho quickly set some more out. Litleo coughed up a spark, but thankfully nothing was lit on fire.

    "If you need anything," Chimecho began, levitating a bell over to Sean. "For anyone, give that a ring and I will be along soon. Understand?"

    "Yes, ma'am," Sean said, smiling lightly.

    Chimecho gave him a coy one back before leaving them to their devices.

    She shut the door carefully behind her, closing with nary a click, leaving the three in silence.

    A hushed calm fell over the room as neither pokémon chose to say anything. Everyone was feeling roughly the same, sore and tired, yet none of them closed their eyes and settled into a nap.

    The air grew tense, anticipation hung in the silence of the room until Sean was unable to take it anymore.

    "So that… sucked," he said plainly, feeling their eyes on him immediately as he broke the sacred silence.

    "Yeah," Litleo agreed.

    "Mm." Was all Rai added.

    "How did we get out of that?" Sean asked, realising that none of them had asked Chimecho that exact thing. "Last thing I remember is everything going black with… pokémon surrounding us. Do either of you remember more than that?"

    "Getting suffocated," Litleo said, voice starting light before beginning to shake. "Being pressed d-down and smothered by a… all th-those." He fell silent, squeezing his eyes closed. He didn't want to think about that.

    The words he had felt, coming at his very core, were on the tip of Litleo's tongue, ready to tell them what he had felt, but Rai spoke up.

    "No I… I just remember fainting. I couldn't." Rai bent his head, ashamed. "I couldn't beat Manectric. Even though he… it. Even though that monster killed my family, I couldn't beat it."

    "None of us could have beat it," Sean said weakly. His mind was still taking its time to return to full faculties, but even now he could remember that such a thing was not right. "A Shadow Pokémon?" Rai and Litleo flinched. "How could we have been prepared for that?"

    "It's my fault," Rai said, after taking a moment to digest Sean's words. "I dragged you there and you nearly died. Both of you," he added, remembering Litleo's presence.

    Sean shook his head. He had the words to refute that, he was sure, but they were taking some time to reach him.

    Litleo scoffed. As snorting would be far too painful at the moment. He grimaced anyway, the action hurting his throat, and flicking his tail as the two looked to him in confusion.

    "It's not like you put it there," he forced out, throat feeling like he had an igglybuff lodged in there. "How is a… that, your fault?"

    "I," Rai began, thrown off from Litleo's defence of him. "I made you both come. If I didn't go there without even thinking, neither of you would have been hurt."

    "And YOU would have died," Litleo pointed out. "And you didn't make either of us come, although I wouldn't mind…?" He managed a smirk. It didn't land and he sighed. "We chose to go, idiot."

    "You wouldn't have gone if I wasn't going," Rai argued back, and Sean finally caught up enough to add his two poké in.

    "You were going to find your treasure," he said. "It's not like not going was an option."

    "Yes, but," Rai groaned and looked back and forth. "You can't let me stew in my own misery? This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so hasty."

    "Stew…" Litleo whispered, eyes going far as he realised how hungry he was. Shaking his head, he said. "Nope. No stew for you. Get over yourself and stop blaming yourself for this. I was coming to tell you that your funky rock was missing anyway, at least you've started looking for it!"

    Sean nodded. "He's right. It might have been a bust. A…" he shivered, thinking back to the clearing. "Even a little bit traumatising. But we're alive!"

    Rai looked between them both for a long moment. Sean's eyes drooped a little and Litleo yawned before Rai muttered, softly. "Neither of you thought it was there… did you?"

    Litleo shook his head, but Sean took longer to respond. "I… didn't want to dismiss it as a potential start." Rai held his gaze until Sean's cracked and explained further. "But… I didn't think that some stranger just randomly had seen a treasure at the end of a dungeon and not picked it up. It seemed… convenient."

    Rai nodded slowly, mouth twisting.

    "Sorry."

    Rai sighed. "Don't apologise," he said, voice not brokering any argument there. "I'm sorry. This IS my fault, but you don't seem to be letting me drown myself in self-pity."

    Sean grinned softly, Rai was getting the art of sarcasm, so he knew no offence was taken. "Can't let you do that, you're the light of my… of this team."

    "Gay."

    Rai gave him a crooked smile and sighed again, moving into a yawn. "It feels like it's been a long day already."

    "Yeah, I'm exhausted still."

    "All I want at the moment is sleep."

    No one was particularly thrilled about sleeping. None of them could forget what memories the clearing left them, chatting had silenced them, but they were returning.

    Rai was the first to fall asleep, too exhausted from his injuries and the talk to hold himself back. Litleo dropped next, watching Sean for a long time before finally succumbing to rest. Sean took the longest, every time he began to drift off he'd remember a sound, feeling, or fear and he'd jolt back to awake and need to take a look around to reassure himself.

    Exhaustion took him in the end and Sean fell into a fitful sleep.


    Another day passed before Chimecho even allowed them to step out of the room. All three felines had grown restless and they couldn't sleep the day away every day.

    In the time since they had awoken and Chimecho alerted the rest of the guild, everyone came in to see them.

    Wigglytuff was the first and he almost devolved into tears of joy and had to restrain his hugs to himself. They were recovering well, Sean was still baffled at the sheer durability of the pokémon form, but Wigglytuff didn't want to risk hurting them and receive Chimecho's wrath.

    Corphish was next and being more lucid than Wigglytuff, he was able to explain the situation in ways Chimecho had avoided.

    "Dusknoir carried us in his belly?" Sean shrieked upon hearing the news, even the fanboy that was Rai was a little thrown by that revelation, but neither Rai nor Litleo minded much for the sake of survival.

    "We're alive," Litleo pointed out as Rai's gaze slipped off through the window.

    Sunflora came in in actual joyous tears and did hug Sean as he was the best off but refrained from hurting Rai and didn't seem to think a whole lot of Litleo. She brought with her a piece of interesting news.

    "Dusknoir left the day after he brought you in," she said, voice even and not shrill as she often became when she was spilling the news. "He said he received some alarming news about the southeast area of the continent and had to check it out 'post haste'."

    "Southeast?" Rai frowned. "Isn't that…?"

    "Yeah." Sunflora nodded, giving Litleo an obvious look. "Hopefully it's nothing."

    "Even if it is the 'Great Dusknoir' surely can solve it?" Litleo said as Sunflora decided she had best get to work.

    After Sunflora had left, Litleo turned to the other two and said. "Isn't that where the Guild explored? For Fogbound Lake? That you didn't find anything on?"

    "Litleo," Sean said warningly as Rai was cringing. The Fire-type made a face but didn't press further.

    Diglett and Dugtrio visited together, but neither were allowed inside the actual medical wing as their burrowing would damage the floor.

    "First time, and last time, we ever came in here Chimecho made sure we had a reason to visit," Dugtrio explained.

    Bidoof brought them some snacks, snuck through Chimecho's distracted gaze, rattled off a few knock-knock jokes and wished them good health.

    Chatot made a strategic visit after Loudred, who had not been allowed to visit for long due to problems keeping his volume under control.

    Chatot begun pacing a hole in the floor of the medical wing until Chimecho froze him in place with a terrifying glare. "Ahem." Chatot cleared his throat, after pausing.

    "Due to your injuries you have been excused from work for the time being. Until Chimecho says you are able to return to work, you will stay here. There WILL be time made up for this, due to this being an unauthorised excursion into a dangerous dungeon without telling anybody and making each member of the guild worry over your safety and send the whole-"

    Chimecho gently coaxed Chatot out of the room before he began showing emotion in front of them.

    "Well, that sucks," Litleo commented when Chatot had left. "Great."

    "He cares," Sean said, although he himself didn't like the idea of extra work. "But he can't show that."

    Rai just gave a soft laugh.

    Croagunk was the last to visit them. Being the one to bring them dinner that night. "Meh-heh-heh, good news you three." He wasn't the first to acknowledge Litleo immediately, but he was still only one of three. "In the time you've all been asleep, I've finally managed to repair my Swap Cauldron."

    "Oh, wow!" Rai said, enthusiasm unparalleled in the room. "So, Grovyle's tip worked?"

    "Yep. Smart guy that Grovyle." Croagunk turned his lidded gaze to Sean, who was looking pleased, and Litleo who was just confused at being acknowledged. "Some scrape you three got in, huh?"

    "I feel like I get injured more often then not," Sean said, frowning as Rai looked to him. "This is the worst so far, but it isn't the first time. Those Shadow Pokémon were horrific."

    Croagunk nodded slowly, cheek-pouches not moving. "I'd bet. Some serious stuff there. How are you three fairing?"

    "Sore," Sean said.

    "Bored," Litleo said.

    "Alright," Rai said.

    All three at the same time.

    "Meh-heh-heh, I get that. I mean, mentally? Emotionally? You all nearly died, and it was to a Shadow Pokémon. You know the legends about that, right?"

    Sean didn't, and looking around he noticed both Rai and Litleo cringing away. "No," he said, hoping Croagunk would explain.

    He regretted it. Realising that maybe he didn't want to know.

    Croagunk explained anyway. "They say that if a Shadow Pokémon does you in, you become a Shadow Pokémon yourself. Not sure how true a legend like that is, what legend is?"

    Fogbound Lake was true. Was what Sean nearly said, but he held his tongue. He could see Rai was thinking it.

    "You can tell if something like that has left any… lasting damage, right?" Sean asked, feeling a mite nervous. He didn't like to think about being dragged down by all the electrike before, even less now.

    "Yeah you're all fine physically," Croagunk said, all three breathing a small sigh of relief and muscles they didn't know they had untensed. "But stuff up here." He pointed a deadly hand to his temple. "That's harder to tell. Chimecho's good with healing the body, the best in the area, but she doesn't know how to treat the head. Azumarill in town holds therapy, when she's not ill at least."

    Sean nodded. He understood what Croagunk was getting at. But it was awkward, and a little embarrassing, to talk about fears and memory's that now felt trivial. They had survived.

    But a part of Sean's head still felt like he was in the clearing.

    Rai's burns ached. Cold and hot in ways he couldn't really remember.

    Litleo still felt like he had trouble breathing at times. Discretely coughing brought nothing up. No inky blackness he was afraid of seeing. No blood either. Nothing was there, but he could still feel the air being pressed out of him.

    None of them said anything. But their expressions were enough for Croagunk. "Make sure you say something when you need too," he said lightly, moving to take his leave from the room. "Bottling stuff up never helps. Alright?"

    He didn't seem to wait for a response and left the room, door falling shut with a soft click.

    The room fell into an awkward silence. Sean played with a thread, tangling it around a claw. Rai's tail sparked slightly. Litleo took a few deep, comforting, breaths.

    "I kinda feel like I'm still in the clearing at times," Sean said, breaking the silence. He flushed under his fur, the insides of his ears going red, but he continued anyway. "I don't like thinking about what happened, but I can't help myself at times. I don't like it when it's really quiet."

    He refused to look at either one of them. Saying it out loud felt like admitting to a weakness, and he didn't feel like a weight had lifted from his chest. Just that a burden was being pressed onto others.

    "Something was… there," Litleo said quietly, also not looking at anyone. They all looked in a single spot, none of them meeting the other's eyes. "When the electrike were suffocating us. It wanted me to give in. I didn't. But… something was there."

    Fogbound Lake was true. Flashed through Sean and Rai's minds again, but they didn't say anything.

    "That… thing," Rai said roughly. "Killed my family. And I couldn't beat it. Is it still there? Did Dusknoir drive it off, or did he just swoop in and save us."

    "Dusknoir killed the Shadow Pokémon in Mount Bristle," Litleo pointed out. "He probably would have done the same there."

    Rai nodded, breathed a little easier. "I still couldn't. I just… there was nothing I could do against it. Nothing my parent… my brothers."

    There were no tears in Rai's eyes. He had been out of tears for years for people he never really knew. It wasn't the closure he had hoped for in returning to Amp Plains. No due revenge. "And my Relic Fragment wasn't there. It was stupid to go."

    "We didn't look everywhere," Sean said, jumping to Rai's comfort as naturally as breathing. "We could… g-go ba…."

    He couldn't quite finish that.

    Rai didn't respond. None of them wanted to think of going back.

    They didn't talk much for the rest of the day. But there was no absolute silence held, something Sean was deeply grateful for. Rai purred when it got really quiet, resting his head on Sean's bed and letting him pet him a little.

    Litleo watched jealously, but didn't ask for anything, sulking in silence, inching closer until Sean was petting him too. He leaned into the touch. Rai said nothing.

    After three days of loafing around in the medical wing, Chimecho finally let them free.

    "You will do NO strenuous tasks," she said, staring all three felines down with a nurse's demanding glare. "That means NO tasks, NO jobs, NO dungeons, NO training. Nothing but short walks, take plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and if you disappear AGAIN?" Chimecho didn't finish that thought, left them to think up plenty of horrible things that would happen if they disobeyed.

    "I'm alright," Sean protested, jutting his chest forward in proof of a lack of the mummy wrapping Rai suffered and plasters that adorned Litleo.

    Chimecho stared him down until his ears fell flat and he obeyed.

    Sean stuck close to Rai, who was still the most heavily bandaged of the three of them. He was not squeamish and had watched Chimecho's work and asked her plenty of questions she was happy to answer. He felt confident he could replace the bandages if, for some reason, Chimecho was unable to do so and she offered to let him practise on her if he so pleased.

    But with freedom on the line, Sean assured her another day. For now, he and Rai, wanted to take a walk through Treasure Town.

    A few residents had come by to visit them in their imprisonment. Kangaskhan had come and cried all over Rai. Duskull had spooked all three of them. Spinda brought them each a Life Seed Smoothie. There was a surprising visit from Team Gazer, but each was aware of Beheeyem's role in helping them and gratitude worthy of a shaymin was shared.

    Rai received most of the attention. With Vigoroth, Electivire, who had also cried on Rai and was banished with Kangaskhan, Marowak, Marill and Azurill, and several more coming to visit Rai.

    Now they could leave.

    Litleo left the room first, unable to stand waiting any longer now that freedom was within his paws and he, gingerly, hopped off

    He avoided what looked to be a hole that had been paced into the floor and hastily filled in and continued on.

    However his haste, in his recovering state, was still slow enough for round, pink and cheerful to spot him. Wigglytuff, delighted as always, rolled his way over to Litleo.

    "Good afternoon, friendly friend!" Wigglytuff beamed upon reaching Litleo, the Fire-type looking wary.

    "Uh… hi?" he said, not sure about trusting Wigglytuff overwhelming pleasantness. Lot's of people were nice at first.

    "How are you feeling?" Wigglytuff asked, walking in pace with Litleo. "Your injuries were quite severe. I saw Chatot carrying you in!"

    Litleo would have grimaced upon being reminded of the state he was in, but what Wigglytuff said caught his interest. "Chatot carried me in?"

    "Yup!" Wigglytuff nodded with his whole body. "Very carefully."

    "Oh. Tell him thank you, I guess." Litleo frowned and turned away, continuing to walk. Wigglytuff trotted along, unbothered by the silence. "Do you want me to pay you or something? For the medical care, I guess?"

    "What?" Wigglytuff gasped, voice so endearingly genuine it paused Litleo. "Gosh no! Never would I charge a friend for being saved! Never-Never! Besides apprentices don't pay. It's part of Chatot's budgeting anyway, you can tell him thanks in person he's probably around here somewhere"

    Wigglytuff rambled a little. "I don't get the stuff he works on, bills and paperwork, medical things and food and bleh." Wigglytuff stuck his tongue out, but again Litleo needed to stop and return to something Wigglytuff had blurted out.

    "Apprentice?"

    "Yeah!" Wigglytuff beamed. "You're Meowth and Shinx's teammate, aren't you?" Wigglytuff frowned and looked off into the distance. "Why would you have gone to Amp Plains with them if you weren't?" he questioned out loud, but not actually asking Litleo.

    "You... wouldn't mind?" Litleo asked, voice suddenly small. "If I was a member of the guild?"

    "I would mind." Wigglytuff nodded and Litleo felt something crack inside. "If you weren't." He opened his arms. "Friendly friend, are you not? We teach well here and would love to have you!"

    Litleo searched Wigglytuff's expression, looking for any deceit or jokes. He saw nothing but bare-faced honesty. And cheer. A lot of goofy cheer.

    Litleo swallowed and went to speak but paused when Sean and Rai's voices reached them both.

    "I'm just saying, what if Chimecho was secretly evil? Who'd ever suspect her?" Sean was saying, obviously joking, but Rai was fluffing up through where bandages weren't.

    "She's way too nice to be evil. And, if you forgot already, she saved our lives."

    "For eeeviill." Sean grinned, and Rai gave him a truly unimpressed look. They stepped around Litleo and Wigglytuff, giving nods to the Guildmaster, as they continued on. Litleo shot Wigglytuff a quirky look and received a mimed shove to join them.

    He joined them, and they didn't notice the intrusion.

    "This is ridiculous, Litleo tell him Chimecho can't be evil!" Rai demanded, waving a paw at Sean.

    "I dunno." Litleo grinned as Rai's expression darkened into a mock-glare. "I think I'll need to hear it all just to make an 'educated' decision."

    Wigglytuff danced off to parts unknown as the three felines began their walk to Treasure Town.

    "So, I think it's a bit early to tell if Chimecho is evil," Litleo said after Sean gleefully repeated everything. "She's got some scary faces, but she DID save our lives."

    "For evil," Sean reiterated.

    "We don't know that yet," Litleo tutted. "Time needs to be taken, care, before such conclusions can be made."

    "Why are you talking all fancy?" Rai asked, giving Litleo an inscrutable look.

    "Well these things take time to work out," Litleo explained, stretching out and popping his back. "But we've got the time to work it out. Hopefully not anymore injuries like that, maybe watch how she acts when dealing with bumps and scrapes?"

    "She also prepares the food," Sean pointed out. "Perfect time to poison someone."

    "Has anyone died from the food?" Litleo asked.

    "Not yet."

    Rai cracked a smile before snorting in laughter. "You're ridiculous," he said, giving Sean a fond look. "Don't encourage him," he said, looking back to Litleo with a noticeably less fond look.

    "I think I've done enough encouraging," Litleo said. It was a simple sentence, spoken with no weight or force. As if without a care to be had. It still brought Rai to a stop.

    "Yeah," he said, looking at Litleo with older eyes. "You have."

    Litleo stopped himself, looking back to Rai with a cool expression. Sean glanced between the two and frowned, watching them both carefully but didn't speak as the two stared each other down.

    "So, I was thinking for our next, much better planned, excursion we could-" Litleo began before Rai cut him off.

    "Next excursion?" he almost growled.

    Litleo hesitated and Sean witnessed several emotions flash across his face. He spotted guilt, anger, exhaustion, pain, and several more that went by too fast. Litleo swallowed and reigned in any acerbic comments to speak more gently. "Sure. I mean I heard your first journey together didn't end so well either. Beach Cave Calamity or something. A nasty first go, a rite of passage I guess, to get membership into Team Ion."

    Litleo gave them a confident look, one that didn't shake even as Rai narrowed his eyes and Sean frowned in conflicted emotions.

    "Why would you want to join our team?" he demanded. "Especially after you nearly died. Why?

    "Why not?" Litleo attempted, but Rai wouldn't let that cut it.

    "No. Tell me why you think you can just force yourself along on our journey and then decide you're on the team after it all goes to shit? I didn't want you to come to Amp Plains, but I couldn't stop you, but you think I'm just going to let you on my team as if nothing has happened between us?"

    "If I didn't come, you would have died," Litleo pointed out, mane flickering with sparks for a moment. "I'm sorry, alright? I always wanted you to do what you wanted. I never meant to hurt you."

    "So why then?" Rai asked, looking warily at Litleo. "If you didn't mean it, why do it at all? Why for five years? Just tell me."

    Litleo frowned and glanced upwards at the afternoon sky before sighing. "I thought everyone just… they all liked you but they knew you as the shy shinx with the tragic life. Wanting to become an explorer so badly, but just never having the nerve." He shook his head.

    "You had people, everyone actually, who supported you. They told you to try again later, to always keep hoping, to always look forward. That one day it'll come to you. That if you're patient, you'll be an explorer one day. I thought they were just coddling you because you weren't doing it."

    Rai shifted awkwardly, he wasn't entirely comfortable where Litleo was taking this, but continued to listen attentively.

    "Who was pushing you, Rai?" Rai didn't react to the use of his actual name, Litleo didn't even notice he had used it. "Everyone was saying to be patient, to feel better when you couldn't do it, to be content that you'll get there someday, never saying when 'someday' would be."

    He growled in disgust. Whether at the past or at himself, even Litleo wasn't sure. "I could see, I was sure that you'd never do it if someone didn't push you. If someone didn't just look at you and say 'good enough, top marks for hopes and dreams' to make you feel better, then why would you improve? I wanted to see you become an explorer, I knew you could do it. But you weren't. You just weren't."

    Litleo stopped for some breath and looked down from the sky, looking to Rai with a guilty look. "I took it too far. I know I did, and I really am sorry. I thought I had to balance all the empty praise and well-wishing, everyone saying to feel better and try again some other time like that was going to do anything. I thought it was working too. Sometimes when I pushed you really far you'd go to the dojo, train, then march to the guild."

    Litleo paused. Rai didn't need to hear what happened next, neither did Sean. They both knew. But Litleo said it anyway. "But you'd always turn back. Every time. You were so… sure that 'someday' would come that you just wouldn't try. So I thought I had to push harder and harder."

    With a stony expression, Rai shook his head. "I wanted to prove you wrong, but every time I'd go your words would flash through my head and I'd lose my nerve. I decided you were right about me."

    Litleo cringed, a stricken expression flashing across his face as Rai told him how he fucked up. "I'm… sorry. I never meant to make you think you weren't good enough. I was sure you could be. I thought I could make you angry enough to do it, then throw it in my face and say you were good enough. But… it didn't go that way. I was wrong."

    Those last three words caused Rai's eyes to widen. "You… said you were wrong?"

    Litleo nodded, turning away slightly so he didn't have to look directly at Rai's shocked face. "Yeah, whatever. Not even I can be right ALL the time." He pawed the ground grumpily before sighing and looking back to Rai. "I don't think I was wrong in all regards," he said honestly, getting a raised eye from Rai.

    "I took it way too far without a doubt," Litleo said. "But I still think doing nothing but hearing 'good enough' wasn't doing any better. I hurt you in so many ways, things you'll probably never forgive me for, but everyone else wasn't doing you any better either. You ARE strong, and even before Sean turned up you were strong."

    He met Rai's eyes. "I want to make up for what I did. There's no… excuse that just makes it better, but I want to try. You, heh, you inspired me really."

    Rai breathed out a hard sigh, trying to find the words in the tumultuous miasma that was his formerly understood world. Friends for a day then Litleo was a jerk and he was the poor orphan. Now things were seeming less black and white and he couldn't find words.

    "I… I… you're right." He went with. "I don't think I can just move on from what you put me through. Not yet at least, not all at once. But…" he paused for a long moment and looked to Sean before back to Litleo. "You tried to make Meowth leave me. I didn't have anyone else. You were cool that first day we met. "

    Litleo's expression was pain and he bowed his head. "I… have no excuse for that. Mother just… no. I won't try and make excuses. I tried to justify it to myself later by saying it was just a 'test' for Sean. It was wrong though."

    Rai turned to Sean. "What do you think about letting him on the team?"

    Sean, caught somewhat off guard about being addressed, did his best to speak his best thoughts. "Um. I don't really have the history you two have. It's not easy to forgive, something I just know for sure. But…." He swallowed and looked to Litleo who was doing his best not to look vulnerable.

    "I think he. Uh." He hesitated again, heart doing weird flips, mind telling him this was a bad idea, mind also telling him this was a great idea.

    "The story didn't have this," Sean thought before frowning and making his mind up. "You know what?"

    He set his mouth firm and nodded to Rai. "If you're willing to work with him. To try and put this behind you and start anew, then I support it." Litleo smiled widely and Rai gave a hesitant nod.

    He looked back to a hopeful Litleo and breathed out a hard breath before giving a nod. "I guess we are going to be teammates now." He smiled weakly as Litleo gave a, somewhat teary, whoop. "I think we need to start over on a new foot." He reached his paw out, giving a fragile smile. Trusting Litleo. "I'm Shinx. Or… you can call me Rai."

    Litleo looked at the paw for a moment in surprise, nearly reeling at the opportunity given. He quickly clasped it with his own and nodded a thankful smile back. "The names Mane. Mane the litleo. Call me Mane, Rai."

    Rai smiled and nodded. "Sure, Mane."

    "Thanks, Rai."

    They both managed a smile before Rai pulled back. "Okay, bonding over. Let's start the day."

    Nodding in relief that everything went better than he dared to hope, Mane began walking. "Yeah let's leave the gooshy stuff to Sean."

    Smiling, Sean followed in their shadows as they walked in a comfortable silence towards Treasure Town. "Who said you could call me, Sean?" he asked, teasingly. Litleo gave him a grin.

    "You can call me Mane if I can call you Sean."

    "Sure."


    I do really like Mane. He's fun and the story would not have been what it was without him. There's a fair bit to him as well, Rai's not the only one with some stuff in his backstory.
     
    Chapter 18 - Prelude to Violence
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "And THREE! Smiles go for miles!" Sean, Rai, and now Mane all joined in on the morning cheers with exuberance. It had felt like ages since they had started their day like this.

    "Okay pokémon," Chatot said grandly. "Time to get to work."

    "HOORAY!" Everyone cheered, rattling the guild's windows with their voices.

    With that majority of the guild wandered to their assigned tasks. If Chatot had something else in mind he'd call them back, otherwise, they knew what to do.

    The team currently known as Ion, however, was not so directed. "Hm, you three," Chatot said, turning to them with an imperious eye. He tested the last word for a moment, eyes falling on Mane longer than either Sean or Rai.

    "Chimecho has decreed you still require at least one more day of rest. However!" he added when Rai gave a disappointed sigh. "After your check-up with her, you should take this day as a means of preparation. With three of you now things will be different. Easier in some ways, but harder in others. Perhaps try and… understand each other."

    "Yes sir," Rai said dutifully, Mane held a smarmy retort back for later.

    "Good." Chatot nodded, pleased he was being listened to. "Perhaps take a day of discussion and unifying of your wants out of this partnership. All three being on the same way of thinking is very helpful!"

    "Didn't you explore with Wigglytuff?" Mane blurted out.

    Chatot's expression of distant pride faded as he gave Mane a sharp look. "Guildmaster Wigglytuff, yes," he said to Mane's excited expression. "What about it?"

    "Eh." Mane shrugged, feeling Rai and Sean's eyes on him. "He always seemed like the kind of pokémon you could never figure out. But, good on you then!" His voice was chipper and flooded with politeness. Chatot's beak rose slightly, but he didn't wish to start an argument over something so small.

    "Yes, quite." Chatot looked between the three and nodded. "Finish healing from your ordeal," he said, eyes lingering on Sean for a longer moment. "And you'll be back to work tomorrow!"

    With that, he bid them goodbye and hopped off.

    "Did he really need to say Chimecho 'decreed' we have to rest?" Mane asked once the area was clear of bird pokémon. "That's so dramatic."

    "He's just making sure we understand," Rai argued. "We can't injure ourselves further, imagine what Chimecho would do to us then?"

    "Oh?" Sean grinned, shrugging off Chatot's lingering gaze on him from earlier. "You are coming around to my theory?"

    "What theory?" a light, pleasant, tinkly voice asked and all three jumped.

    Chimecho floated there and Sean thanked the heavens he hadn't said what theory he had. Even as a playful joke, no thank you.

    "Nothing important," Mane said smoothly and earnestly. "Just some playful fun."

    "Hm." Chimecho looked over them all for a moment before clicking her tongue. "Well come along then."

    They followed, Chimecho quickly and skilfully removed and reapplied the bandages on Rai and Mane, while the rest of Sean's injuries had vanished.

    "More scars I fear," Chimecho said softly, having looked over Sean last. "I'm sorry about that." The gentle psychic touch ran over a few ones on his back that Sean didn't even know were there. "What orders have you suffered through?"

    "Not sure," Sean said, uneasy. Finding scars through his fur wasn't the easiest, but it bothered him that he had so many. He was almost sure that wasn't right, but then again. "The future is a horrible place."0

    Frankly, Sean preferred the pleasant present. Less dead world and with more thrilling adventure.

    "Well despite your injuries, you seem well recovered," Chimecho explained while Rai and Mane watched on jealously. "I still would not advise you to enter dungeons, especially alone, but you're fighting fit."

    "So, I can train?" Sean asked happily and Chimecho nodded.

    "Don't strain yourself too hard. That's a word of advice, even ignoring your recent injuries as your body still has some recovery to do. You may train, however. Those two, however." Chimecho turned an eye that promised violence on them. "Are not allowed."

    "Aww…" Mane grumbled and put his head on his paws. One of them was still bandaged but most of his body was free of the constricting fabrics.

    The clumps of Rai's fur that had been burned out and then shaved by Chimecho were already coming back well. It still left him looking very patchy, like someone had given up halfway on filling in all the colours on Rai, but he only had a few bandages left himself.

    "I mean it," Chimecho said warningly before looking at Sean. "Don't let them strain themselves, alright? I think I can trust you."

    Sean smiled and nodded, shooting a toothier grin at the other two. "Oh, no problem at all."

    "We'll see who's a problem," Mane groused but Rai nudged him to be quiet.

    With no other business in the guild, they were allowed out for a second breath of fresh air.

    "Ah, this is the life." Mane sighed as they trotted out. He stood on Sean's right, Rai stood on Sean's left. Two quadrupeds and a meowth standing on two legs. "Being a guild brat is going to be fun I think."

    "It's not all fun and games," Rai pointed out. "Outlaws and ferrying jobs."

    "New people, new experiences," Mane rebutted, grinning.

    "Sometimes we have to take the sentries places and watch the guild."

    "Feet are interesting."

    Rai breathed out a hard breath. "Okay." He took the challenge. "Some adventures are a bust, take too long, and leave Sean smelling bad."

    To that, Mane quirked his eyes. "Just Sean?"

    Sean was giving Rai a dark look, but Rai had adopted a twinkle in his eyes and was grinning at him. "He doesn't bathe himself. He goes to the Hot Springs."

    "Whaaa?" Mane asked, overly loud and long-winded. "Why not?"

    "Because I don't want hairballs like you," Sean said, aiming to gain control of the conversation, but Rai was still grinning. Mane was about to carry on.

    "You don't bathe? Really?" Mane was judging him, and Sean felt like this was not correct. Something had gone backwards here. "Heh, I'm not dealing with smelly meowth. If it's so big of a deal, I'LL bathe you!"

    He fought to keep the mocking grin off his face and look earnest, letting Sean splutter in defiant shock while Rai's expression had gone into something almost reproachful.

    Sean laughed, that was the only way. Mane's expression had broken into a leer and Rai was still looking perturbed.

    "No, thank you," Sean managed. "I'll just visit the Hot Springs more often if it's that big of a deal."

    "Your loss." Mane shook his fur. "What about you Rai? Don't have something to say?"

    Rai stared at him before blinking slowly.

    Sean chuckled again. "That's an image I need scrubbing out of my mind."

    Still amused, but coming to be a bit more serious, Mane pushed the conversation to a different path. "So, we kinda talked about it last night, but we were all so tired. Team names huh? You think it should be changed?"

    Sean frowned, something was coming back to him.

    "Oh yeah." Rai nodded. "When Guildmaster Wigglytuff wanted to talk to me yesterday he mentioned, among other things, that we can change the team name if we wish. It's not often done, but it's an option I thought would only be fair to bring up."

    "What would we even change it to?" Mane asked. "Team Ion sounds alright. What did Sean say last night, something about-"

    "PLASMA!" Sean squeaked, upon realisation hitting him.

    "Yeah… ow." Mane flicked an ear at the painfully high pitch Sean had gone to. "Team Plasma. That sounds interesting."

    "What does it mean?" Rai asked, turning to the squeaking feline pokémon. "You knew what ion meant, what's plasma?"

    "Really hot," Mane answered, to Rai's surprise. "Sounds familiar. I'm not really sure what it is, but Fire-types occasionally talk about plasma. It's meant to be incredibly hot though. So, it fits me at least."

    He was grinning again while Sean explained.

    "Plasma is a state of matter," he said, somewhat numbly. "Extremely high temperatures can cause it. So… fire, or electricity. And matter is a normal thing, so…"

    Rai and Mane both nodded, the latter curious about how this odd meowth knew this science stuff. "I guess." Rai looked to Mane who opened his mouth, but Sean cut over them.

    "No!" he almost shouted, and the two blinked. "Uh… no, I don't think it fits us so well."

    Rai gave him a puzzled look, but Mane thankfully nodded. "Yeah. It doesn't have the same ring to it as Team Ion does. What does ion mean anyway?"

    "It's uh… stuff to do with atoms." Sean rubbed an arm awkwardly, he was remembering that Mane didn't actually know about his true nature and was debating telling him. "Really small stuff. Building blocks of the world and such."

    "Huh… how do you…? Eh, whatever." Mane shrugged, he was sensing an answer was not forthright. "Let's just keep thinking."

    "Well, there was something I've been thinking about lately," Sean said, brushing the questions off. They crossed the threshold into town and Vigoroth spotted them and kicked up a dust trail in his haste to see them.

    "Shinx! Shinx! How are you feeling? How are you doing? Are you in any pain? Do you need a Sitrus Berry? Why are you out? Does Chimecho know? Don't tell me you snuck out! Don't ask me to hide stuff from Chimecho! She knows everything, and she's really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY scary when she's mad, or suspicious, or just floating down the street. Have you seen her when she's mad? She's like-"

    Rai, with an ever-patient smile, put his paw up and Vigoroth stopped the stream of unyielding words from the apparently infinite lungs of Vigoroth. He took multiple gasping breaths as Sean tried to pull that apart and understand it all.

    "I'm feeling better now that I'm outside," Rai answered. "I'm doing about the same as yesterday when you visited. I'm not in any need of a berry. Chimecho gave us permission to leave, but not do anything strenuous. You don't need to keep any secrets. And don't tell that last part to Sean, he's convinced of crazy things I think."

    Sean gave Rai a baffled look, wondering how he could possibly have understood everything being vomited at him but didn't question it. Vigoroth had acted the same yesterday and Sean didn't dare to ask questions he couldn't understand the answers to.

    After another bout of a day's worth of discussion ran through in five minutes, Vigoroth let them go and the Kecleon Brother's beckoned them over.

    "Shinx!" The green one smiled.

    "Meowth." The purple one grinned.

    "Welcome, welcome," they both greeted and received smiles in return.

    "It seems Chimecho's let you free," Green said, rummaging through a drawer. "This is exciting, exciting!"

    "In celebration of your bravery in returning from Amp Plains," Purple added as Green handed him something. "And also for your recovery."

    Together they said. "We present you with a fresh apple each, free of charge. Picked just today from the Apple Woods, so their quality is top-notch!"

    "Thank you so much!" Rai positively glimmered with gratitude as Green carefully handed the apple to him, balancing it on Rai's head as the shinx grinned.

    "Thanks," Sean said, smiling. It felt like forever since he'd had an apple fresh from a dungeon.

    "What about Litleo?" Rai asked, as Sean took the apple off his forehead and held it out for him to bite into.

    Both kecleon blinked and glanced past Rai and Sean to the third member of their trio. "Ah."

    "He came to Amp Plains too," Sean pointed out. "And he's just joined the team officially." He was giving Mane a side glance as he spoke, realising that no one had acknowledged him up to this point.

    Green and Purple looked to Rai for confirmation and the shinx nodded. "Yup. We're putting bagon's behind us and starting anew."

    There was another moment of hesitation and silent deliberation between the two kecleon before Green procured another apple. "We only picked two from Apple Woods recently," he explained, handing it to Sean. "So, it isn't quite as fresh as the other two."

    "Food's food." Mane shrugged and bit into the offered apple, Sean quickly letting go so Mane's sharp teeth didn't take more than just the apple.

    Rai thanked them again and they moved onto Kangaskhan as the Kecleon Brothers began whispering together.

    Sean gave Mane a few searching looks, trying to find the words to ask a question delicately.

    "Can't just say 'No one seems to like you, huh?'" he thought as Mane challenged his look with something resembling a challenge.

    "Not many people seem to be…" he began, looking to Mane who rolled his eyes.

    "Just say what you really mean," he said. "No one likes me here."

    Rai, hearing this, turned around with confusion evident on his face. "No one likes you?"

    "Everyone likes you," Mane pointed out and left the matter in the air to settle. Rai's expression began morphing into guilt when Kangaskhan spotted them.

    After a quick talk with Kangaskhan, who at least treated Mane with the same care as she did everyone else, and a run-in with Chansey, Sean continued putting together his thoughts.

    All the while, as Rai was stopped and talked to Treasure Town residents while he and Mane stood awkwardly to the side, Sean was thinking.

    He'd been thinking about it more often recently, but with nothing to do since Amp Plains except sit around, thoughts he couldn't avoid with work were rushing back at him.

    His position on the team.

    They had decided to spend some time unwinding at the beach and Sean decided he had to talk now, or he'd avoid the topic forever.

    "Progress isn't made unless it's forced," he thought as he geared himself for this.

    "Rai," Sean said, breaking the silence that had fallen on the three of them, lulled by the rise and fall of the tides. "I think we need to discuss something important. Mane too, actually," Sean added as Rai turned to him.

    "Okay," Rai said. "What?"

    "Yeah, you finally going say what's been on your mind the whole day?" Mane asked, shifting to face him.

    Thrown off a little that Mane had noticed his silent deliberation, Sean began. "Amp Plains was… bad." He cringed on the inside, this was already sounding ridiculous. "And I think I was the problem." There. Sean was more satisfied with that. "No, I don't think. I know I was the problem."

    Nodding that he'd started his point successfully, things began falling into place and Sean went to continue. But paused at Rai's dawning horror.

    "You're not the problem!" Rai squeaked. "Everything else was the problem. Me. Mane. The dungeon."

    "Hey," Mane protested.

    "You're fine Sean. Better than fine, you're great!"

    Bemused a little at this, Sean gave a self-deprecating chuckle and shook his head. "Rai, I mean between the two, three of us now, I'm easily the weakest of the team. I've only got two moves, one of which doesn't always work, and I can't do nearly as much as you. All I can do is ferry items around really."

    "And that's more than enough," Rai insisted. "It doesn't matter if you're not super strong you're still super useful and super tough and I couldn't get through dungeons without you!"

    Smiling a little puzzled, Sean tried to reign this back. "Rai. You don't have to defend me or anything. I'm just thinking I need to get stronger." Rai's posture began to relax. "I've been pretty lazy lately, just riding on your coattails, or Grovyle's, or Corphish's. All the tougher dungeons we've done we've had someone else. Mane too!"

    Mane perked up at being mentioned in a positive way. "Keep going," he purred.

    "I just mean," Sean said, edging away from stoking any egos. "I've had it easy. And I keep getting hurt because I'm not capable of defending myself when you can't. I can't just rely on you, or Mane, to save me every time I get into trouble."

    "You get yourself out of trouble," Rai said quietly. "That aerodactyl and all."

    "One case." Sean shrugged. "I've got items, but… well. Look there are three of us now. That means we need to buy more items, more food, and more healing, to make sure I can keep everyone in fighting shape. That means we need more money. That means we need to take tougher jobs. That means harder dungeons. If I keep getting hurt like this, I'm just going to weigh you both down."

    "What are you saying?" Rai asked, beginning to get alarmed again.

    "I think I'm going to ask Marowak if he can train me," Sean answered, and Rai breathed a sigh of relief. "I can't keep just… coasting along. Dungeons are training, sure, but with all the harder ones I've had two people to do the work for me. And now we will always have two." He nodded to Mane who smiled back.

    "But I don't want to just… be so weak. I've got to actually start working and stop being so lazy. I've got to get Night Slash down, and maybe even learn a new move. Cause things are just going to get harder, and I don't want to have to be the one that needs to be protected all the time. Do you understand?"

    Rai digested that for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I do." He gave a smile. "You had me worried there for a moment. It sounded like you wanted to leave or something."

    "Leave?" Sean's ears went straight up as he realised how he had started their conversation. "Oh, no, I did not mean that at all! I'm so sorry."

    Rai chuckled. "You weren't so it's alright."

    "Get a room you two," Mane moaned, pulling himself up and shaking some sand off.

    They spoke a little while on ways Sean could learn from more than Marowak before Mane began peering towards the town.

    "So, I think I'm going to go around to my house and see if it hasn't been completely torn apart yet. I hope my bed at least is still there."

    "Sure," Sean said eyes falling off the ocean below. "Might as well do something." Rai gave a mute nod himself, enjoying the ocean's sounds.

    On their second walk near Treasure Town, the three were stopped again.

    "Salutations," Beheeyem said, giving a wave with his alien arm. "Tis good to see the three of you up and about once more."

    "Yeah! Yeah!" Electrike cheered, running up to them and doing a few laps. "How are you doing? How? How? How?"

    "Reprimand: Give them space," Beldum said when both Mane and Sean winced, but Electrike took another lap before going back to his team.

    "It's good to see you again, Beheeyem." Rai smiled brightly. "Thanks again for saving our lives."

    Beheeyem waved his hand at them. "No-no, it was simply my civic duty as a pokémon. I know you would have done everything in your power to help us had the situation been reversed."

    "Who are you again?" Mane asked, deciding he was finished with being left out of the loop.

    Sean whispered over to him. "Beheeyem." And Mane gave his cheeky grin a withering look.

    "Yeah. I gathered that much."

    "I am Beheeyem, the leader of Team Gazer," Beheeyem said grandly, straighten up in a dramatic position. "These are my compatriots, Beldum and Electrike. We seek to uncover the past."

    "Explore the future!" Electrike continued.

    "Declaration: And protect the present." All eyes fell on Beldum. Beheeyem and Electrike seemed unbothered but Mane whispered.

    "Their motto seems to get a bit slow at the end there." He nudged Sean who didn't nod. He would not visibly agree.

    Beheeyem pretended as if he hadn't heard that, but Electrike bounded over to Mane who stepped back. "Based on the two of you covered in bandages, is it wrong to assume you still have healing to do?"

    "Yeah." Rai nodded. "Chimecho's cleared Meowth though. He seems to understand when she's talking about that healing stuff."

    Inquisitive eyes fell on Sean and he began talking as Mane and Electrike began to circle each other, Mane's eyes never leaving the curious Electric-type. "With all the bruising, burns, internal bleeding, the uh… external bleeding on Rai and a few lung things, she's being very careful with us. Making sure we heal up without causing lasting damage to ourselves."

    Beheeyem nodded. "It is far better to be safe than sorry. Being lamed would not do well for you at any time, but all three are quite young. Best remain careful." He raised a finger and waggled a light on it. "Do not get yourselves into more situations that require Dusknoir and my intervention. It's worrisome."

    "What are you?" Mane called from where he was staring down Electrike. "Their mother?"

    "Statement: No. Beheeyem is male. And of an incorrect egg group to be closely related to any of you."

    Mane gave Beldum a flat look as Beheeyem raised an arm to stroke along the metal body. "Thank you," he said after a pause.

    "Statement: You are welcome."

    "Now." Beheeyem clasped his hands together, lights intertwining. "Would you join us three for a drink in Spinda's Café?"

    "If this is a date I'm choosing Electrike," Mane said immediately. He received looks. He returned those nuanced expressions.

    "Hooray!" Electrike cheered and sped off, Beheeyem gave a tired sigh.

    "Declaration: I choose Shinx."

    Sean laughed at Rai's confused and vaguely affronted look but nodded to Beheeyem's request regardless. "Sure… don't listen to Litleo. He's, uh…"

    "I completely understand," Beheeyem said, waving him off. "Electrike seems to be cut from the same cloth."

    Sean saddled up next to Beheeyem as they walked the short distance out of Treasure Town and to Spinda's Café. Beldum floated by him silently before swivelling their eye to him.

    "Statement: You appear in thought, with something to say."

    "Hm?" Sean blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking."

    Beldum's eyes swivelled up and down for a moment before spinning to Beheeyem and Rai chatting about Dusknoir. Their eye returned to Sean rubbing his chest and Beldum spoke once more. "Declarative Apology: It was incorrect in retrospect to have fought at Boulder Quarry. I apologise for striking you."

    Sean's paw dropped from his chest, unaware he was even doing so, and he gave Beldum a puzzled smile. "It's fine. It was a mistake, manipulated into doing so. No need to apologise, I'm just sorry I didn't get Ditto to reveal themselves earlier."

    Beldum bobbed in the air in silence and Sean took a moment to wonder what kind of Psychic ability allowed it to float yet not use any other moves. Beldum's eyes returned to him, creeping him out with its ability to swivel at any moment. "Query: Your attention on the Time Gear was disconcerting, why did it enrapture you so?"

    Sean's heart did a funny flip and he blinked at Beldum, mind racing.

    "We're here. Hello? Anyone in there?" Rai waved a paw and Sean blinked again. Beldum's eye swivelled to Beheeyem who gave a minute shake of the head.

    "Oh, we're here?" Sean asked, and Rai smiled.

    "That's what I've been chattering about," he said and nudged Sean until he moved, following after Beheeyem into the comfortable space that was Spinda's Café.

    "Welcome all," Spinda waved, nearly toppling over in the process. "Take… a seat wherever… you… please."

    Mane and Electrike were already sitting at a large table, glaring at each other. Beldum took their spot by Electrike's left and Beheeyem sat down on his right. Rai let Sean sit down next to Mane then took his seat next to Sean, the meowth and litleo's eyes falling solely on Electrike. Mane moved in closer, and then Rai did, going until Sean was almost squeezed between them.

    "So what's up?" Sean asked, highly aware of the fire cat and electric cat by his arms. His tail flicked out.

    Beheeyem templed his fingers and leaned forward. "We were on our way to Treasure Town when Dusknoir found us," he explained as Sean and Rai frowned. "We were heading here for you."

    "For us?" Rai asked. "Why us?"

    "Because you and we were the ones who found that Time Gear," Beheeyem said. It wasn't dangerous to say this out loud, word had already spread about the existence and subsequent disappearance of Boulder Quarry's Time Gear. "Along with Wigglytuff and… someone else many years ago."

    "Okay," Rai said slowly, giving a slow nod as well. "But still, why were you coming here for us?"

    Beheeyem dropped his hands and sighed. "Time is degrading further," he said, laying it out there in all the bluntness he could. "Dungeons are appearing more frequently. Shadow Pokémon are appearing more frequently. Ferals are fleeing dungeons. Things are going to devolve into chaos soon if the solution to whatever is going on isn't found."

    "What is going on then?" Mane asked sharply and Beheeyem shrugged.

    "That's the first problem," he said, rubbing his face with his hand. "We've been searching for all the information on Time Gears since Boulder Quarry. Trying to find some rhyme or reason to what's going on."

    "Is it a problem though?" Mane asked, resting his paws on a table and giving Beheeyem a challenging look. "Time Gears are disappearing. That seems like it'd be the cause."

    "No." Rai shook his head. "Chatot explained not long after we joined the guild that things were going on for a while now. Before even Treeshroud Forest was frozen in time."

    "Before it was frozen?" Mane questioned. "Or only by the time that someone figured out that gear was missing?"

    For that, Rai had no answer. He looked to Beheeyem who sighed.

    "We asked that same question," he admitted. "And found no answer. It seems possible that something was happening before the first gear was taken, but certainty? That is much harder to determine. That forest is a vindictive dungeon few had made it to the end of regardless, and we don't know how long it takes for a dungeon to freeze. Boulder Quarry is not entirely frozen in time after all, but all of the inner dungeons are. Who knows how long it takes before it is noticeable?"

    Sean remained perfectly silent and attentive throughout this. He was happy to skate this one by. Beldum looked to Beheeyem who gave a brief nod.

    "Inquisitive: Meowth, your attention on Boulder Quarry's Time Gear. Neither your companion nor any of us reacted the same way."

    "Excuse me?" Sean asked, frowning as Rai and Mane looked at him. "What are you implying there?"

    "We aren't implying anything Meowth," Beheeyem insisted. "It is simply a question that has to be asked. You had a reaction there."

    "It was beautiful to look at," Sean said, feeling very uncomfortable but trying to not be defensive. "That's it."

    "You reacted the same with…," Rai began before clamming up.

    "The same with what?" Beheeyem asked, leaning forward.

    "Yeah," Mane said. "With what?"

    "I… uh…" Rai looked to Sean with help, but he looked just as mortified and equally as unhelpful.

    "Have you the location of another?" Beheeyem asked softly.

    "Yeah, do you? Do you?" Electrike barked.

    "We…." Rai looked for Sean's help.

    "We can't say," Sean managed, wincing under Beheeyem's frustrated expression. "I'm sorry, it was a promise."

    Beheeyem looked at him for a very hard moment before breathing out. "I see."

    "Ooh is that what?" Mane said before nodding smartly. "Gotcha. My mouth's a banette."

    "There's a lot he should know," Sean thought absentmindedly while Beheeyem floated into the air.

    "I believe our conversation is done for now," he said as Rai stood up.

    "I hope we haven't offended you." He frowned and Beheeyem took a moment but shook his head.

    "I am going to speak with Wigglytuff," he said. "It isn't a stretch to perhaps assume something said by the guild was not as truthful as it seemed. If nothing else, some peace of mind is something I dearly want. And to offer our help, there are proactive measures we should be doing, and nothing is more important than fixing whatever chaos is gripping the land. Not even honour.

    He gave them a look and then floated off, Beldum and Electrike moving on after him quickly.

    "I feel like I offended him," Rai said, and Sean smacked his shoulder.

    "I'm the one who said it," he argued, and Rai gave a soft laugh.

    "Yeah. I do feel bad though, he saved us, and we couldn't say anything."

    "So that whole little failed lakeside resort you went on a little while ago?" Mane asked, sliding into the conversation. "Was that maybe not so much of a failure?"

    Rai gave Sean a concerned look, but Sean nodded and lowered his voice. "He's part of the guild, Rai," he pointed out and Mane grinned.

    "I'm so smart."

    "Don't get ahead of yourself," Rai grumbled as Sean came to his feet.

    "I think I've used up enough of the day," he said, looking to the door. "I should really speak to Marowak."

    Rai joined him. "Marowak's really strong and smart, I've trained with him."

    Mane also joined them in standing. Unlike Sean, both of the other two didn't gain much height in doing so. "Well, I've got to see this."


    "How does Team ThunderFlame sound?" Mane asked as they made themselves busy in Marowak's Dojo.

    The skull-wearing creature was delighted to see Rai, sympathetic to Sean's wishes to get stronger, and tolerant of Mane's presence.

    That was the least they could ask for, Sean and Rai were beginning to realise.

    "Where's Sean in that name?" Rai asked, watching as Sean began running laps in the training room with Marowak barking demands.

    Mane huffed, but he saw the shinx's point. "Well, then Team Whiskers? We all have those."

    Rai watched as Sean stumbled off his feet, managed to catch himself, and roll back up as Marowak said something firm and only almost emotionally hurtful. "Hm. Isn't that too cutesy?"

    "Team Tough?"

    "Now you're just being silly."

    Mane snickered and glanced over to Sean. During their periods of bare-bones awkward conversation and somewhat less awkward silence, Sean was being put through the wringer by Marowak.

    The Bone Keeper Pokémon was steadily smacking his bone club into a palm. The sound left Sean flinching each time the dull thwack echoed out in the small room.

    Marowak hadn't done anything but stare, criticise, and stare some more. Still, he didn't want to know what might happen if he displeased the suddenly crazy taskmaster and neither Rai nor Mane were a good matchup for him if he needed help.

    "So, how?" he puffed as he ran, Marowak following steadily and smacking the bone against his palm. "Is this going to help? Endurance training? It's more strength I'm worried about."

    "There is little use you can be in battle if you cannot finish your excursion afterwards," Marowak said primly. "Now stop dragging your tail, hold it up or I'll put a weight on it and force you to."

    "Yeah, lift that tail!" Mane cat-called.

    Sean withheld the groan and continued plodding along. He could only thank his stars this body was much fitter than whatever he was before.

    Even then, as he ran he could feel his heart beating heavily in his chest, combined with the fast and sharp breaths he was taking, Sean was reminded how thin he was.

    He had put on some muscle during his time here, and some weight. Still, being able to feel his ribs when he breathed too hard didn't sit well with him.

    "Faster!" Marowak snapped, smacking his bone harder and Sean jumped. He was lagging behind with all the thinking, but he resolved to put it out of his mind until later, like he preferred to do.

    "What about Team Purrfect?" Mane asked as they continued watching Sean flail onwards. He was swinging his arms an awful lot, which Marowak barked a correction. Sean shot them pleading looks but both just returned it with silent judgement.

    He had asked for this after all.

    "No."

    "Okay then."

    They continued watching until Marowak decided he had enough of Sean's attempt to run in circles.

    "Hmm… yes," he said, lowly as he rubbed his chin on the rounded end of his bone club. "A lot of work needs to be done. What moves can you use, Meowth?"

    Sean, having only slight trouble breathing, little enough that Mane did not feel sympathy, choked out. "S-Scratch and Night Slash." He took a few moments to gasp for breath. "Sort of. I've mostly got it down. But sometimes. It takes me a few tries."

    Marowak nodded. "Hmm. Very well. Endurance training will need to be done every day, make a lap around Treasure Town each morning while your partner. Partners," Marowak corrected. "Make the preparations for your day's journey. We'll move up to two laps as you begin to build some stamina. After you return, come here and I will begin working you into proper shape. Being able to run from or after a fight is one thing, but you still need to learn how to actually fight."

    Sean nodded, mostly grateful but somewhat fearfully. "Y-yes." He nodded again before adding. "Sir."

    Marowak waved him off. "No 'sir' business around here," he said, smacking his palm and Sean twitched. "I am Marowak as you are Meowth."

    Sean quickly agreed with that. "Yes! No problem, Marowak."

    "Very good. Now follow me." He turned tail and began to stroll to the opening in his dojo. "Within is a contained dungeon. We will enter together, but you will be leading, and you will be doing the work. Leave your bag with your partners."

    Sean gave the two bored pokémon a pained look and Mane perked up. "If you're going in then we should probably do something else."

    Rai yawned and pulled himself up as well, he nosed the strap of the Treasure Bag over his head and lifted it. "I think Chimecho might give us some lunch."

    "Great!" Mane beamed. "I'm starved."

    Sean gave them a glare, but it softened into a sigh. "Have fun you two."

    "Good luck, Meowth," Rai called and gave a crackling smile. "You'll do fantastic. I'll see you at the guild later, we might take over from Loudred and Diglett since why not?"

    "What? Work?" Mane moaned and sat down. "I'm staying."

    Rai gave him a truly flat look before sighing. "Or we can go get your bed." Mane perked up again and bounced to his feet.

    "Well what are we waiting for?" he laughed, flicking his tail. "Catch you later! Maybe I'll see your feet later, who knows?"

    Rai tossed his head, following after Mane, and Sean waved them goodbye.

    "Now," Marowak's chilling voice put his fur on end. "The training begins."


    Rai gave a low whistle as he and Mane looked around the hollowed-out tree he had staked his home in.

    "That doesn't… look good," Rai said, eyes looking up and down. They hadn't even entered yet and the place was looking terrible. The door was missing, just to start with.

    Mane took a deep breath and set his jaw. "Well…" he didn't finish the thought and just stepped forward. Rai quickly hopped into movement himself, trailing the proud litleo into his home.

    "It's only been a few days," Rai mumbled as they stepped in. The entire room was stripped of valuables and what was left was broken.

    Mane gingerly picked his way through his house with a stony expression, kicking broken twigs and shards of orbs out of his way. Or perhaps just to kick them.

    "Treasure Town is a nice place," Rai said softly, looking around at the ruin. "Who'd do this?"

    Mane reached his nest and moved some stuff out of the way. "Hmm. Not as bad as I had feared," he said, looking down at his straw bed. The sheet that had covered his bed was gone and a hollow pang rang out through his chest, but he refused to let it show. "Let's go."

    Rai started from where he was examining what appeared to be some graffiti and turned to Mane with a confused look. "What?" Mane just continued to walk forward, tail rigid in place. "Is your bed gone?" Mane didn't reply. "Couldn't there be something you want to take with you? Surely not everything is missing."

    Mane paused as he reached Rai, close enough that Rai could see the tenseness in his neck. "There's nothing here," he hissed. "Let's just go."

    Rai looked back to where Mane had gone and back to where Mane was now doing his best not to stomp. "Mane. We just got here."

    Mane sighed and the tension in his body seemed to go out all at once, almost leaving him looking deflated. He turned back with a torn expression and Rai's breath hitched in his throat. "Look I was expecting this, I just needed to have it confirmed. There is nothing here. Let's. Go."

    Rai swallowed and stepped forward. "Shouldn't we look anyway? Something might not be broken, or something may have been missed."

    Mane snorted. "I do love your optimism," he sneered, and Rai paused. In an instant, he was reminded of all the other times he and Mane had spoken. Mane seemed to detect Rai's anxiety and visibly pulled his expression down a notch. "I'm sorry. Please, just let it go."

    Rai stared at him for a moment before sighing. "No. Tell me what you were looking for, and then we'll see."

    Mane growled and tossed his head. "Why are you so damn stubborn?" he demanded, but Rai stood firm. "Fine. I wanted my sheet. It's valuable. It's gone. I'll need to get a new one with all the money I'm going to earn now that I'm a guild brat. Happy?"

    Rai brightened and nodded. "Definitely." He trotted forward to a stunned Mane and gave him a smile. "Thanks for telling me. And I'm sorry this happened." His smile faded, and he looked around the trashed house again. "Why would anyone do this?"

    Mane waved a paw in front of his eyes and Rai turned back to him. "Stop looking around and let's just go."

    Rai looked to challenge him again for a moment but nodded and Mane sighed in relief. They quickly left and once they were clear of that place Mane's cocky smile returned. "You know it took me just three meetings to get Sean to come to my house. Took me five years to get you to. You play hard to get."

    Rai gave him a flat look and tapped the silvery bow Mane wore around his neck. "I'm still annoyed you made Sean give you that for a Perfect Apple."

    "I offered my body," Mane replied, laughing at the myriad of expressions that immediately flew over Rai's face. Affronted was the one he enjoyed the most. "But he said no. Even when I did this." Mane stretched out as widely as he could, claws popping out and tail flipping up. "Ah. But still, nothing."

    "As if he would," Rai grumbled, and Mane leered at him, Rai sneered back and they both glared at each other before breaking into laughter.

    "Don't pull faces at me," Rai admonished, the effect lessened by his giggles.

    "Don't have a face so easy to laugh at," Mane joked back. "I like the black markings by your eyes though."

    Rai shook his head at him and they continued to make light conversation on the walk back to the guild. It was easier to talk than it had been until Mane decided it was time to move back into harder areas of conversation.

    "So, about that little expedition the guild went on?" he began, voice light and innocent. It made Rai tense up, although he reminded himself that he didn't need to be. "Too bad that didn't work out so well, huh?"

    Rai chewed on the thought for a moment before Mane turned to look right into his eyes. "So?"

    Rai sighed and nodded. "There was a promise we made. Instead of having our memories taken. You're a part of the guild now, but… well, I'd need to ask the Guildmaster if I could really tell you anything. I think you've guessed it though."

    Mane nodded. "Okay, I get you. I can understand that you don't really trust me yet." Rai's expression turned guilty, but he waved it down. "Don't look at me like that. Seriously. The only one who should ever be guilty between us is me.

    Rai breathed out and found he didn't need to force a smile, it just came about his face. "Thank you." They didn't have much more to say as they walked the rest of the path.

    Diglett was not at the Guild to let them in.

    "Hello? Diglett?" Rai called, and Mane pushed him out of the way.

    "Let me try." He took a deep breath and then bellowed into the grate. "ANYONE HOME? WE'RE COLD AND HUNGRY AND HURT AND WOULD LIKE TO COME IN." He may have put a little Hyper Voice into that.

    Rai blinked a few times as Mane's voice echoed multiple times before Loudred bellowed back. "HOLD YOUR HORSEA!"

    The entry gate was yanked up in jumps and they quickly entered before Loudred decided to close it again.

    "HURRY UP!" Loudred yelled, his voice even louder that they were inside. "DUSKNOIR'S BACK."

    "What about Team Eaten because we were all in that guys stomach," Mane muttered as they hastened their step. They entered the lowest level to find a crowd of pokémon around the entrance to the rooms.

    "Oh my gosh, thank the- oh my gosh, I can't even say Thank the Legends!" Sunflora gasped as they arrived, she was by Rai's side in an instant. "It's terrible. It's so terrible."

    "Hey-hey, where have you been?" Corphish snapped, also coming up to Rai. "Bidoof went to the dojo but no one was there."

    "Sean's in the dungeon," Rai answered and looked confused at everyone gathered. "And we went to Litleo's house. It didn't go great."

    "WELL, THINGS HERE ARE TERRIBLE TOO!" Loudred roared. "UXIE HAS BEEN-" He was silenced when Wigglytuff's sniffles cut through all noise.

    The rest of the guild parted from the entrance to the rooms to let Wigglytuff, Chatot, and Dusknoir back through. Rai gasped as he saw the tears streaking the fur on Wigglytuff's face. This wasn't just a tantrum, he was actually crying.

    Dusknoir's hand was hovering awkwardly over Wigglytuff's back like he wanted to pat him on the back but wasn't sure if he could. Chatot was no help, a blankness to his eyes as he walked, not hopped, forward.

    The three of them stopped at the lip of the corridor, the apprentices looking on in fear. Dusknoir didn't say anything, it didn't feel like his place. Chatot seemed unaware they were even standing in front of them. Wigglytuff took a deep, shuddering, breath before he straightened up and rubbed his face.

    "The Time Gear of Fogbound Lake has been stolen," he announced, voice steady and strong despite his previous behaviour. The whole guild thought they were prepared for that, they had seen a limp Uxie be carried in, but the confirmation from the Guildmaster shook them.

    Croagunk bowed his head as Chimecho burst into tears. Sunflora immediately went to her side, gently stroking her as Chimecho shuddered.

    Loudred froze up as Bidoof whimpered a soft. "No."

    Dugtrio burrowed into the ground to muffle himself before he made a fool of himself, Diglett looked between Loudred and the hole his father had gone into with a lost expression.

    Corphish scoffed and turned his head, one pincer clacking several times as his eyes flicked from everything but another person. He almost fired a Bubblebeam at a window but controlled his temper.

    "Oh," Rai whispered, and Mane looked between him and the remaining guild with a very uncomfortable expression.

    Chatot blinked, eyes clearing up a little and he looked to Wigglytuff, behind him, and then to the apprentices. He ruffled his feathers and opened his beak but couldn't find the words.

    "What happened to Uxie?" Diglett asked, turning to someone else he looked up to. Wigglytuff's lip quivered but he held firm and brushed another tear out of his eyes.

    "Uxie is," Wigglytuff began but really didn't know what to say. He turned to Dusknoir with a pleading expression.

    "Lost," Dusknoir answered, looking back to the bedrooms with his single eye. "Frozen in time due to the loss of the Time Gear. He suffered quite a bout from the aggressor to defend it. In an optimistic light, his freezing in time is beneficial." He turned back to the guild. "It means his state cannot get worse. It cannot get better either, but once time is restored we'll know he needs help rather than suffering alone.

    "I-Is there anything I can do?" Chimecho asked, steadying herself with Sunflora's help. "I could look him over? See if…?"

    Dusknoir shook his head before pausing. "While there isn't anything you can do for him in his current state, yes. It is a good idea to grasp his current state and injuries to be prepared for treatment when you can."

    Chimecho nodded and went to go forward but Dusknoir held a hand up. "There is time for that later. For now, I think it would be best for the full guild to discuss options of where to go from here. It is imperative we catch the culprit. Without the Time Gears, Uxie and everyone else frozen in time cannot be helped."

    "Dusknoir, sir," Chatot said before the guild could mobilise. "First I must ask. How did you move Uxie?" Dusknoir turned to him as Chatot looked back. "Every report I have read on the subject of time has always proved that objects, and pokémon, frozen in time cannot be moved or manipulated to any degree. It is like they aren't there, but the space is being occupied anyway. So, how did you move Uxie?"

    Dusknoir smiled, or as best as he could with no face and a belly mouth. "Even in times of crisis, your keen mind stays sharp." He bowed to a somewhat flustered Chatot. "It is not well known, or understood actually, but." Dusknoir's right first became wreathed in electricity and Chatot and Corphish jumped. "Electricity can render things frozen in time… how do I put it? Less frozen."

    He turned back to where he had taken Uxie and sighed. "Water can be drunk, and food can be eaten. Things move again, but they are not… quite there regardless. Pokémon unfrozen in this method remain frozen in time, they can simply be moved. Nothing more."

    "Let's move into the mess hall," Wigglytuff said, once Dusknoir's expertise had been proven yet again. "It is the best place for a franker discussion, I think."

    He moved, Chatot after him, and Dusknoir along later. The rest of the guild quickly followed, Dugtrio could be seen coming along as well, even as he remained underground.

    Once in the mess hall each pokémon drifted to their usual seats and sat in silence. Each thinking over what had happened, that Uxie had been lost, that somehow something went wrong.

    "What happened?" Corphish snapped, still angry. "How did anyone know about the Time Gear besides us?"

    "What are you implying?" Loudred growled, voice lower than they'd ever heard it. Still rather loud though. "Are you trying to say you think someone BLABBED?"

    "Hey. Hey." Corphish clacked a pincer. "Maybe I am. Did anyone break their promise to Uxie?"

    "How DARE you ask that?" Sunflora shrieked, slamming her leafy hands on the table and making it rattle. "Do you not trust your fellow apprentices?"

    "I'm not saying anyone would willingly betray Uxie," Corphish snarled back. "Anyone could have told a family member or friend believing in their trust." His eyes flicked to the end of the table and he pointed a claw. "Shinx! Did you or Meowth tell Litleo?"

    "W-wha?" Rai jumped as every eye fell on him. "Wha? Mane's a part of the Guild now!"

    Mane glared back at Corphish. "Why don't you just ask me rather than yell at Shinx?"

    "I don't want to have to talk to you any more than I-"

    "Enough!" Chatot yelled, voice quelling everyone in the room. "Corphish." He turned to the Water-type. "Your concern is admirable, but your behaviour is not. Do not start picking fights among your fellow apprentices."

    "Shinx didn't tell me," Mane cut over, stunning everyone that he'd speak before Chatot was finished. "Neither did Meowth. I figured it out though, your 'secret' wasn't that hard to work out, to be honest."

    His words sent the guild into another flurry of panic as words were yelled and worries were felt.

    "Everyone stop!" Wigglytuff cried and the guildmembers all turned to him. His lip was quivering again. "Do not allow this situation to break your bonds with each other. Do not allow paranoia or suspicion cast a negative light on anyone here. We are all equal in Wigglytuff's Guild, we are all friends. I do not believe anyone here would betray Uxie's trust, and he wouldn't want the happy and unified guild to be tearing itself apart over his plight. Please, calm down."

    "Y-You are correct Guildmaster," Chatot said softly, ashamed he had fallen into the hysteria as well.

    "Sorry, Guildmaster."

    "Hey-hey… I'm just concerned. But. Sorry."

    "You have a way with words Guildmaster."

    "We see now that we allowed fear to overtake us. It will not happen again Guildmaster."

    Wigglytuff smiled as everyone relaxed and wiped his face again. "I really do need to stop crying today. It's so depressing. But maybe that's okay, because today is a depressing day." Wigglytuff stopped wiping his face to smile at his apprentices, even as tears continued to streak his face.

    "But today is not the end. Today is not the day where we run and hide. Today is the day we make a change. Today is the day evil's defeat has truly begun. Today should not be remembered as the day we learned Uxie was lost, however temporarily. Today we will remember as the day we all come together to stop this and save the world."

    The apprentices gave a cheer. Some said hooray. Others said here-here. Others still said various catchphrases and turns of phrases they were known for saying. It was chaos, it was disorganised, and it didn't sound very pleasant. But it sounded as real as the greatest of their cheers, and greater yet.

    Afterwards, the guild began to brainstorm ideas.

    Wigglytuff gave permission for anyone to use his library to research any ideas they may have.

    It was agreed that they would reveal what had really happened on the expedition to the town and spread the word that another Time Gear was stolen. The time for soothing the worries was over, ignoring the problem and not addressing it publicly was only going to stress more pokémon out. It had to be known that the guild was fully acting to stop this menace.

    Excursions were planned for teams to visit the three areas frozen in time. Look for any clues, anyone in the area that has seen anything at all.

    Chimecho was to get into contact with Alakazam of Team A.C.T and Xatu that called the Hill of the Ancients of the Air Continent home.

    Lastly, Dusknoir was asked for any insight he may have.

    "You found Fogbound Lake, and its Time Gear, with another, did you not?" Dusknoir asked smoothly, as the guild was getting ready to begin their plan. "Grovyle, correct?"

    "Yes." Wigglytuff nodded. "Looking for Grovyle is a great idea! He may have some idea as well, he is very wise."

    Dusknoir paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes. Any questions we could ask of Grovyle should prove to at least give us something new to work with. And who knows? Could he have spoken of this with anyone?"

    "Grovyle made the same promise," Wigglytuff said brightly, but firmly. "Whoever is doing this must be cunning to have found Fogbound Lake."

    Dusknoir decided to let the matter rest and he and Wigglytuff continued discussing other plans with Chatot adding in information when needed.

    Before things were wrapped up for the day, Dusknoir had brought Uxie from the lake to here. He moved the lifeless Uxie from Wigglytuff's office to the infirmary and was invited to stay for dinner.

    "No-no," Dusknoir said, declining the offer. He had more things to get done tonight. "I have imposed enough on your beneficence. If it is agreeable, I will return in the morning to help organise the following days."

    As he left the room, Dusknoir's eye fell on the quiet shinx sitting with a less-quiet litleo.

    "You are always welcome here, Dusknoir," Wigglytuff said gratefully and lifted the grate himself to allow Dusknoir to leave, waving goodbye to the brawny Ghost-type as he floated off.

    Wigglytuff remained standing there, watching, as Dusknoir began to move down the steps, before he noticed him stopping.

    Dusknoir looked down and gave a polite greeting to an exhausted looking meowth struggling to reach the top of the hill.

    Sean looked up grimly and nearly squeaked when he realised he was face to belly-mouth with the Great Dusknoir. "Hello," he said in an exhale of breath.

    "You seem fatigued," Dusknoir noted, looking over the panting meowth. "May I carry you to the guilds entrance? No need to strain yourself any further."

    "No, no," Sean replied, dearly hoping he was sounding perfectly casual. He pulled on some experience and placed a grateful smile on his face. "I'm training to get stronger. Marowak said there aren't any shortcuts. I can do this. I will do this."

    Dusknoir observed him for a moment longer as Sean found the energy to flee and began climbing the remaining steps. "Very well. There is important news at the guild. It isn't good news either, all assistance is valuable. Your guildmates will bring you up to speed."

    "Goodbye," Sean said and Dusknoir repeated it before slowly floating down as he struggled the last few steps.

    Sean shivered once he was free of Dusknoir's presence and noticed Wigglytuff waving from the guilds entrance. "Guildmaster!"

    Wigglytuff lifted the grate himself, grabbing the bars and simply pulling the stupidly heavy metal up as if it was fairy floss. "Meowth! Come in, come in."

    He managed a small burst of energy and trotted in a staggering lope the rest of the way, the grate clanging harshly as Wigglytuff let it drop. Wigglytuff put his arm around Sean's shoulder and guided him down. "There has been an incident," he explained seriously enough that Sean perked up and remained completely attentive, putting even Dusknoir out of his mind. "Fogbound Lake's Time Gear has been stolen and Uxie has been frozen in time."

    "O-oh," Sean stuttered, passing it off as panting for breath. "Oh. Oh… oh my, fuck!" he gasped, spinning to Wigglytuff. "The Time Gear? Uxie? What? What? How? Who?"

    He was putting on an act, it filled him with shame to lie so brazenly to Wigglytuff. As he questioned, however, the panic became a little genuine. "Do you know who stole it?"

    To his relief, Wigglytuff shook his head. "No. No leads either. The guild is preparing to put out an official word on the situation, Chatot is writing something up now. But from here we are taking a more active role in determining what is going on. Who is stealing? And why."

    They reached the vacant second floor, eerily quiet for this relative earliness. Sean thought of Grovyle.

    "Sunflora, Loudred, and Dugtrio are heading off to Treeshroud Forest, that's where the first Time Gear went missing. To see if they can learn anything at all," Wigglytuff explained as they did a spin and began walking the second slope to the lower level.

    "Bidoof, Diglett, and Croagunk are returning to the area around Fogbound Lake. Being the earliest time, maybe something was left behind, or someone saw something. Anything."

    They reached the lower floor and Wigglytuff frowned, looking off to a window to the sea. "For the Limestone Cavern I'm going to try and contact Lopunny, but in the time we have the plan is to send Corphish and ask that Team Gazer. Since they all have been there before, and they are also investigating the Time Gears."

    Sean nodded, following along. "And Chimecho? And us? Team Ion?

    "Chimecho is going to be doing her best to contact Alakazam and Xatu. Either one of them would be invaluable in furthering our reach of information. For your team?" Wigglytuff sighed, not looking at him. "We are not sure yet. Shinx and Litleo are still injured, it isn't an acceptable risk to send them out to parts unknown."

    Sean nodded. "I… see."

    Wigglytuff cracked a smile and continued. "For the time being, those two will be taking over Diglett and Loudred's job. As for you? I heard you have begun a training regimen in order to improve your combat capabilities?" Sean nodded. "Excellent. You should continue doing that, but during your rest period if you could perhaps take a look in the library and see if you can find any information we could use? I know that's a big undertaking, but all the help we can get would be fantastic."

    Sean immediately nodded. Not only was that something he knew he could do, he liked reading and missed it a bit. "Absolutely! That sounds perfect, as I get a bit stronger I can get a bit smarter too!"

    Wigglytuff beamed, washing the odd morose demeanour away. "Excellent! I knew I could count on you friendly friend!" He hugged Sean, tightly but thankfully not too tightly, and danced a bit. "I know this whole situation stinks! It is smelly terrible, and I hate having to order my friends around. It's not me! It's not me!"

    "Aaand we alllll love you for you," Sean said dizzily, Wigglytuff twirling them a few more times before releasing him.

    "Okay. Litleo and Shinx are just over there!" He pointed to where Mane was staring with a bored, but somewhat amused, expression. "I have to go see Chatot." Wigglytuff pouted. "He's probably got three letters for me to read over already."

    "Seven actually," Chatot called from Wigglytuff's room and the Fairy-type giggled.

    "Coming, Chatot!"

    He rolled away, and Sean was allowed to wobble his way over to Mane. The litleo was resting against Croagunk's Swap Shop, near the crank that had to be pushed to lift the grate. "Hey," he groaned, sitting down and sighing in relief.

    "Hey yourself," Mane answered, stretching out. "Have fun with the maniac?"

    "How was I supposed to know Marowak takes training as 'Serious Business'?" Sean whined, cracking his back. "He had me running through the dungeon too. Endlessly smacking that bone. I'm going to hear that sound in my nightmares tonight."

    Mane gave a small chuckle and they both turned to look at the hole Rai had to crawl through to get to the underground tunnel. Sean groaned, but got up and plodded on all fours to it. "Hey Rai?" he called, waiting for a moment.

    "Meowth! You're back!" Rai's relieved, and slightly echoing, voice bounced back. "Did you hear?"

    "Yeah. This sucks. This completely sucks."

    "I can't believe the Time Gear's gone. Another one. We've seen two. And they've both been taken after we left."

    Sean frowned, a little uncomfortable. He became very aware of Mane sitting behind him, watching him. "Really bad luck. But it wasn't just us, Team Gazer and Corphish the first time. And the whole guild the second time."

    "Yeah…"

    They lapsed into silence and Sean found a comfortable position. One that would be painful, or impossible, had he not been a magic cat monster.

    "How did your training go?" Rai asked just as Sean's mind was drifting, pulling him back to reality.

    "Oh terrible," he answered, grinning. But Rai couldn't see that, so he stopped. Too much effort to smile anyway. "Marowak had me running even in the dungeon. He also made me go through it three times. I didn't know he took training so seriously."

    Mane gave a soft chuckle from behind him, causing one of Sean's ears to flick. "Funny how we change what we say for others," he said softly enough that only Sean heard him.

    Sean gave him a look, but Rai responded so he turned back to the tunnel. "Yeah, he's pretty intense at times. He's usually at his worst at the start, he calms down pretty quickly. Did you see that Dusknoir's back? He found Uxie and brought him back here."

    "Yeah I saw him on my way up," Sean answered, a little distracted. He frowned as all of Rai's words clicked. "Wait. Brought Uxie here? I…" Sean paused, remembering that he shouldn't know Uxie's fate. "I could pretend Wigglytuff told me. But… less lies."

    "Uxie's frozen in time," Rai said, oblivious to Sean's inner monologue. "But Dusknoir knows a way to move things trapped in time. If anyone did, it would be him." Admiration for Dusknoir pushed the morose tone away for a moment. "Heh, it's actually with electricity which I guess is cool."

    Sean squirrelled that information away for later.

    "So?" Mane called as Sean's conversation slowed down. "What do you think about Team Time or Team Gear?"

    Sean gave him a challenging smile and then actually thought about it. "Hmm."

    Mane sniggered. "I'm just being an ass. Honestly, Team Ion is fine with me. I didn't expect you to change the name for me?"

    "Not Team Plasma?" Sean joked, and Mane laughed. "Not Team Rocket?" They had a red, blue, and meowth after all.

    "What's a rocket?" Rai called, and Sean sighed.

    "Hey, Mane?" Sean asked, coming to a decision.

    "Hm?"

    "Who's still in the guild?"

    Mane furrowed his brows for a moment, wondering about the question, before deciding to answer it. "Chatot, Wigglytuff, Chimes, you, me, and shinxy."

    Sean thought some numbers in his head and nodded, deciding he'd tell Mane. "I-"

    "Meowth?" Chatot asked, hopping out of Wigglytuff's room. Wigglytuff was busy reading over some lines and repeating them out loud, he'd be doing that for a while.

    Upon hearing his name, or what acted as one, the meowth poked his head up. "Yes?"

    "May I speak to you?" Chatot asked, hopping forward and pointing a wing to the living quarters. He didn't say it but asking to see him alone was clear.

    So, without hesitation, Mane stood as well.

    "You are manning the gate," Chatot said sharply and Mane slowly leaned back down with a pout.

    He gestured again and waited for Sean, who was being harshly reminded of his sore muscles, to come along.

    He was reminded of Chatot's lingering gaze from this morning, an innocent time that already seemed so long ago, as Chatot led him into his own room.

    Sean abstained from sitting on his bed, as he feared he wouldn't get back up again after he had this private conversation with Chatot. "How can I help you?"

    "I've seen fit to give you some words of advice," Chatot said, standing in place. His eyes were tired, his feathers were springing a few bits up here and there. Chatot seemed quite frazzled, but he was deadly serious here.

    "Thank you…?" Sean tilted his head slightly, waiting for Chatot to say it.

    "According to my sources," Chatot begun, having decided on how to say it. "There is someone, or a group of someone's, looking into the name Sean. Now I don't know why, and I do not think it is something to be concerned about." Chatot gave an approximation of a comforting look.

    "It could simply be fans of myths or of Team Go-Getter's," he hypothesised. "And looking into the possibility of another human. But on the off chance that this is something to be concerned about, I believe you should request both of your partners to make sure they refer to you only as Meowth when you are outside this floor of the guild."

    Sean nodded, throat suddenly very dry. "Oh no. My name. Sunflora spread it around. If Dusknoir already…? No. No that was ages ago and she put out the correction. But… oh no this is way too early. I… I don't really want him to know at all. Dusknoir is so dangerous."

    "Furthermore, may I ask if you have informed Litleo of your… position?" Chatot asked, bringing Sean back to the present.

    "No," Sean answered, shaking his head. "I haven't. I was actually about to tell him when you called me over."

    "Good," Chatot muttered under his breath and straightened. "Now. I have no jurisdiction over what you tell your partners, I can only offer advice. And I was to suggest telling him soon."

    Sean blinked. "Really? I kinda expected you to say the opposite there. I can't help but notice that a lot of people don't seem to like him."

    Chatot thought of Corphish earlier and grimaced.

    "Litleo is… he has not had the kindest upbringing. I won't share gossip, if you want to know you should ask him directly. Others might think he's untrustworthy but I have seen otherwise."

    Sean leaned back. "What did he do to make everyone hate him so much?" he demanded and Chatot blinked. "I know he's a jerk and has been a bully, but does that justify how everyone treats him? No one asked how he was fairing when we went around town, they just ignore him when they can."

    "Mind your tongue," Chatot snapped and Sean stopped talking. He realised he'd spoken too harshly and sighed. "My apologies. But… it's a combination of things. His behaviour for the last five years is too much to begin to discuss in a short meeting. His family, those are beings best to be forgotten."

    He frowned and Chatot nodded. "I had best get back to work." He began hopping out before pausing and looking back to the human-turned-meowth. "Meowth you… remain safe. I would not wish to see you, or Shinx or Litleo be dragged back to the guild half-dead and in need of urgent medical intervention again."

    A small smile ghosted its way across his face and he nodded. "I'll do my best. Thank you, Chatot."

    Chatot hopped his way out and Sean sighed. He wanted to want to get up and go back out and keep Rai and Mane company, but the bed was so inviting.

    "Maybe just for a minute?" he said, chuckling softly. He knew it wouldn't be for a minute.


    Outside the guild, down the stairs, past the water hole, into the town, further and further and one may come across a curious sight.

    A large brawny Ghost-type pokémon, sitting alone in a comfortable room, swinging something that was clasped between two thick fingers back and forth. Back and forth.

    In the gentle candlelight, Dusknoir saw the circle as it flashed by. The next swing and he saw the four spirals. On the next swing, he saw the four spires. The next swing and he caught the Relic Fragment that the sableye had acquired, gripping it in his fist.

    Dusknoir slowly opened his hand to look at the object again. For the umpteenth time, he looked at the key to the Hidden Land. Memorising every wobble, every line, every part of the small object that held so much weight.

    He closed his eye and took a shuddering breath. He couldn't put this off any longer. It was pure fancy, mere nostalgia, it was dangerous, nearly suicidal even, to put this off any longer.

    "Forgive me, Scout," Dusknoir begged before he clamped his hand around the object and squeezed until he felt it crumble.

    Dusknoir squeezed his eye shut nearly as tightly as the shards began digging into his hand and releasing his ghostly ichor. He met it with the cold fire he could command, burning in his fist.

    It was painful. But he felt that it should be.

    Eventually, Dusknoir stopped and turned his palm facing up and slowly uncurled his hand. The ashy remains slid through his fingers and trickled to the ground.

    He breathed out a hard breath and sat in silence, not sleeping, for the rest of the night. He could give penance this one time. Just this one time. The next morning, his work would begin in earnest.
     
    Chapter 19 - Barter With Blood
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    So blood has a role in this chapter. It's not as terrible as you may all be thinking! Just, anyone who is freaked out by any blood keep an eye out for the paragraph that starts with. "Now this may hurt a tad," got that? Cool.


    Running was sorta fun, Sean decided. It certainly was better than being chased around by a bone-wielding monster, however, so the meowth would take what he could get.

    On the morning after Dusknoir had returned with Uxie, the guild had mobilised and began to set off.

    Team Ion, Wigglytuff, Chatot, Chimecho and Dusknoir saw off the rest of the guild as each apprentice was sorted into teams and sent off to where the Time Gears had been taken.

    With time frozen and no guardians there, they hoped that something helpful could be found. Either a clue to the thief, or some sort of direction to any remaining Time Gears.

    Once everyone was gone, Chatot hurried Rai and Mane to take up sentry duties and pulled Wigglytuff aside to brief him on the speech he had to make to Treasure Town.

    "Dusknoir, if you could round up the townsfolk? They are most likely to quickly listen to you," Chatot asked as he dragged Wigglytuff along.

    The Ghost-type nodded sagely. "Certainly, I'd be happy to assist," Dusknoir said grandly and floated off to spread the word.

    Sean had been left to do what Marowak had ordered him to do, run. Something he thought he was good at already, but endurance was a big thing with dungeon runs.

    As he knew what Wigglytuff was going to be explaining, he saw no need to circle around the town square. Instead he ran along the outskirts, moving in and out of the town when his path became blocked.

    The meowth wasn't running particularly fast. He didn't want to wind himself so quickly, and even then, upon the first circle of the pokémon settlement his legs were beginning to burn.

    "Pain means it's working," Sean repeated as he forced himself along for another lap. This is bad practice and should not be done.

    After the second lap pokémon were beginning to assemble and Sean slipped out of town to take a drink at the waterhole. He looked up to where the Wigglytuff Guild loomed, giant pink face leering over the town, and thought of Rai and Mane.

    He felt bad for the two, but Chimecho still hadn't cleared them. Rai was getting restless and they were still getting used to Mane rooming with them. To their relief, he actually cut the flirty comments out when they were alone in their room.

    "Good morning!" a chipper voice cut through his thoughts and Sean nearly choked on the water still in his mouth.

    He coughed a few times for breath and quickly felt a paw giving him a few good, if excessive, smacks to the back, and his throat cleared. "Thank you," he gasped, blinking tears from his eyes. It was Riolu, he realised.

    "No problem," Riolu replied, smiling warmly as Sean squinted at him. "Sorry for startling you."

    "Meh." Sean waved a paw. "I'm fine, no harm done."

    "Good to know." Riolu smiled and pointed a blue-furred paw to the town. "Is something going on? I heard a few pokémon chatting about some town meeting being called?"

    "The guild has some news to share," Sean answered, grimacing a little. "It's, uh… not good news. You'd probably better get along, Wiggly- ahem. Guildmaster Wigglytuff is going to be explaining everything."

    "So, are you helping spread the word?" Riolu asked, moving forward slightly and Sean hastened to match his step.

    "No." Sean shook his head. "Dusknoir is. I'm doing laps of the town. I'm training," he explained when Riolu looked confused. "Marowak has me doing it."

    "By running? You look tired."

    "Pain means it's working."

    "It… doesn't, actually. Pain means stop."

    They made it into the crowd and Sean waved off Riolu before returning to his run, the Fighting-type pokémon returning it with a bemused look before melting into the forming crowd.

    On Sean's next re-entry into town, the crowd had fully formed but Wigglytuff wasn't there yet. Dusknoir was, however, and looking over everyone with his eye. Sean wondered if he had problems with depth perception.

    Finally, after two more runs, Wigglytuff had arrived. Sean slowed down, avoiding Marowak's figure in the crowd, and stopped to catch his breath under the guise of listening to the announcement.

    Wigglytuff had already explained what was going on by the time he had stopped, so Sean didn't bother listening to the whole thing. A few quiet words were shared between neighbours, up until Wigglytuff began to speak.

    The crowd had whipped into a flurry of whispers upon being told the truth of the expedition and the loss of the Time Gear they had found.

    "Why didn't you do anything to guard it?" One of the townsfolk demanded and Wigglytuff sighed.

    "We had offered, but Uxie was adamant that he could protect it himself. We were only permitted to check up on him every few months. It may have taken longer for us to learn of the Time Gear's disappearance had Dusknoir not looked into rumours from the area."

    From there Wigglytuff began to explain what the guild was doing about it and Sean moved on. Marowak had spotted him and he didn't dare continue loitering about with the Bone Keeper Pokémon aware of his presence.

    To his surprise, the soft sounds of another pair of paws hitting the ground followed him out. Sean looked back with only a little bit of unease to find Riolu trailing him.

    "Hey." Riolu waved and Sean slowed down, being so kind as to let the fit Fighting-type catch up to his pondering plods.

    "Why are you following me?" he asked, taking some needy gulps of air.

    "Just had to get out of there," Riolu answered, grinning somewhat shakily. "It's going to be bad once the crowd is broken up, rumours and fears are going to be flying all over the place. Why not stick with a guild apprentice for a bit?"

    Sean found no fault in that and gestured him along. "Well I'm going to do one or three more laps of the town before Marowak will probably need me. I'm happy for you to join me." Riolu smiled and matched his pace. Sean quirked his head when a thought entered it and said. "You're probably stronger than me. I'm training to be stronger, remember?"

    "Meh." Riolu shrugged. "It just feels better to be with someone else. And hey, I'm still relieved you're okay after Amp Plains. You've recovered well," he added, looking Sean up and down.

    "Thanks…?" He smiled, somewhat bemused. They'd only spoken the one time, but he supposed pokémon were like that. They ran together in silence, Sean focusing on the burning in his legs and not his burning jealousy at how easily the riolu was jogging along with him.

    "Hey, can I ask you something?" Riolu said, right as soon as they left Treasure Town.

    "Hm?" Sean answered, looking to the riolu who just waited in silence. "Yeah, okay. What's up?"

    Riolu smiled and nodded forward, alerting Sean of the rock he was about to run into. "I'm just wondering, what do you think of Treasure Town?" They both passed the rock, Sean going around it and Riolu jumping over it.

    "Uh, it's a nice place?" Sean answered, more than a little confused. "Why do you ask?"

    Riolu shrugged, aura tassels bouncing along. "It's just not been too long since I arrived here, and I heard you were the most recent person besides me to arrive in this place to stay."

    Sean wasn't sure if that was actually an answer, and he looked at Riolu for a moment longer than normal. The Fighting-type was facing forward, eyes narrowed slightly in concentration and mouth open to puff for breath.

    "It's a nice place." He decided to go with. "The guild is here, the pokémon are friendly. It's nice."

    "It is, isn't it?" Riolu said, smiling. "Definitely worth fighting for." From that statement, he turned to Sean, still smiling. "I look up to you guild apprentices and explorer teams. Fighting for places like this, it's nice."

    "Yeah, I agree," Sean said, nodding. He was still a little bemused. "Keeping Treasure Town safe and the nice way that it is, is definitely worth fighting for." He thought for a moment, mentally crafting his next words. "Why do you bring it up? Anyone you need to fight? Or are you thinking of joining the guild?"

    Riolu barked a laugh, except without much of the laugh, and shook his head, nearly hitting Sean in the eye with one of his tassels. "No, no. Nothing like that. Just a thought, since this place is so nice."

    Sean blinked. He thought over the words, and he concluded Riolu still wasn't saying much of anything. It was making the nailbeds of his claws itch. His voice….

    "Is there something you want to say?" he asked, seeing a gleam in the riolu's red eyes that he couldn't place. "Because it seems like there is."

    To his relief, Riolu didn't hesitate in shaking his head. "Nah, I'm a bit weird. Sorry for that. I'd just like to get to know you. We're both the newcomers to this place, and I haven't really made any friends. And I don't think Sunflora or Bidoof like me."

    "Pardon?" Sean asked, almost unable to believe Bidoof of all pokémon being so overt with dislike that this riolu would notice that. "Bidoof? And Sunflora, she's pretty nice. Why don't you think they like you?"

    He was concerned, it seemed very out of place for the friendly guild apprentices to not like another perfectly friendly pokémon.

    Riolu gave a slow wince. "Eh… heh, well when you were all still in Amp Plains the guild didn't know where you are." Sean nodded, that he knew since most of the guild had given them all an earful over it. "But I had heard Amp Plains, so I told her and Bidoof and they reacted… disbelieving, sort of angry. Said that Shinx would never go there and stormed off."

    "Ah," Sean blurted out. "Ah. Oh, oh… yeah that's… sorry, it's not really my place to say why he wouldn't normally have gone there." Sean winced, thinking of Rai's family was not the most welcome thought.

    Again, without any hesitation, Riolu nodded accepting that as it was. "Gotcha. I won't ask. I feel a bit bad about it though. I heard Dusknoir rescued you all though, that's cool. Being saved by 'The Great Dusknoir' and all."

    Sean nodded, grinning wildly. "Probably the best thing out of that was being saved by him! The Great Dusknoir of all pokémon!" He beamed before thinking. "Oh wait, Litleo. I guess, hmm."

    He frowned, thinking hard, before noticing a very perplexed stare from Riolu. "Too much?" he asked, with a weak grin.

    "A tad."

    Sean gave an uncomfortably brief chuckle before grimacing and turning away. Any reminder that he was inside Dusknoir's stomach was a bad one. "Sorry," he said again, feeling the need to explain himself without seeming odd. "I just remembered he carried us back by holding us in his belly mouth and that just creeps me out."

    To his relief, Riolu laughed. "Yeah, I bet!" He grinned. "That thing looks like it could chomp you up in one bite." He wiggled his paws before raising them as if they were a pair of large jaws. "Chomp and you're gone."

    Snorting, Sean shook his head at him. "That's really weird," he said and then felt immediately bad when Riolu's grin dropped.

    "Heh, yeah. Sorry." Riolu turned away and Sean felt bad. He tried to think of something to say, but nothing came, and they continued jogging along in silence.

    Soon enough, however, Riolu came to the rescue once again. And just like being saved by Dusknoir, this was nearly as unwelcome. "What do you think of Dusknoir?" he asked quietly, Sean nearly wasn't sure if he heard him.

    For a moment he debated if he could pretend he didn't hear Riolu, but then the blue-furred pokémon looked questioningly at him and Sean thought fast.

    "He's alright," he said, pointing his eyes to the road. "Much more down to earth then you'd expect of someone everyone calls 'The Great Dusknoir'."

    "Heh." Riolu smiled and Sean felt a little less awkward. "So, he doesn't call himself that?"

    Shaking his head, Sean said. "Not even once, I think. He's confident, but I don't think egotistical."

    As Riolu was now smiling, Sean decided to continue. If they could just move past any awkwardness, he'd feel better when going to sleep in three years when this memory bubbled up. "Very smart, very clever. Kinda hard to read though." Thinking of Dusknoir was easy, when he could just focus on game-related information and not the mon as he knew him. "He always gives me the feeling that he's got something more to say, or something he knows, but is holding it back until the right time."

    "Do you trust him?" Riolu asked abruptly and Sean paused his thought to frown.

    "Huh? Why wouldn't I?"

    Riolu hesitated for a moment, red eyes flicked forwards before returning to Sean. "Well, I mean, you don't really know him, and you said you think he's holding some stuff back. Doesn't sound like you trust him to me."

    "He saved my life," Sean said, a bit more forcefully then he intended. "Why wouldn't I trust him?"

    "That's not a real answer," Riolu pointed out. And Sean nearly bit his tongue.

    "Do you trust him?" he asked, avoiding the subject and pressing it back to his companion.

    "I've seen no reason not to," Riolu said, before grinning slightly. "But you're dodging again."

    "Yes," Sean answered, hating the lie as it rolled so easily off his tongue. "I trust him."

    Riolu raised his brow. "Are you sure? You took a while to say that."

    "Why are you so interested?" Sean demanded, slowing his pace as they began to circle around on the path. "You didn't actually answer my question either. You said you've seen no reason not to trust him, are you looking for a reason?"

    "Not at all," Riolu said, as earnest as everything else he had been saying. "I know what I think. Just wondering about you. Getting to know each other and all."

    Sean gave him a suspicious look. "Very well then. How about I ask some questions then?"

    "Go ahead." Riolu gestured for him to start.

    "Why did you come to Treasure Town?" He started with.

    "I'm trying to find my path," Riolu answered.

    "What path?"

    "Dunno." Riolu shrugged, bouncing his shoulders as he jogged. "Whatever leads me to my future I guess. A good one is what I'm aiming for though." He winked with a grin.

    "Uh," Sean stalled, expecting an easier go at probing the riolu for answers. But he was quick to a response and said a lot without saying much to clutch onto. His misgivings of Riolu's intentions began to lower.

    "Not sure what you're asking." Riolu's grin widened as Sean's suspicion melted into annoyance.

    "Shush, I'm thinking."

    Riolu laughed and shook his head. "Ah… that wariness."

    Sean absorbed that and frowned. "Wha-?"


    "I'm so bored!" Mane whinged, rolling onto his back and pawing at the roof in frustration. "How can anyone stand this type of mental torture?"

    Down the tunnel, through the pathway, and below where the grate sat, Rai sighed. Mane's voice echoed a lot and he had no way to avoid the endless chatter the litleo was capable of doing.

    "I mean, wouldn't it make sense to do this in shifts? We do it for a few hours, then someone else, then someone else, and just cycle like that?"

    "The guild is too busy for that," Rai answered, voice dull and done. "Most of the guild is out doing jobs even on days when the world ISN'T falling apart. We're the only ones here."

    "Wrong!" Mane called back, causing Rai to cringe. "Chatot, Wigglytuff, and Chimes are still here."

    Rai was aghast. "You can't expect the leaders to do this kind of work!" he yelled back and Mane grinned. Some emotion was back.

    "Why not?" he asked and felt the shinx sigh hard.

    "They are running the place. Everything only goes as smoothly as it does because of them."

    "And… what do they do exactly?" Mane asked, drawing some Relic Fragment's in the dirt with a claw.

    "Run the place. I just said that."

    "How?"

    Rai was silent.

    "How do they run the place?" Mane prodded.

    "I… how should I know? I don't know."

    "So, they could be doing nothing?" Mane suggested, and Rai growled.

    "No."

    "How would you know?"

    "Because I just do."

    "And I'm supposed to just take your word on it?" Mane laughed, this was fun at least.

    "What else are you going to do?" Rai demanded. "It's not my place to ask. That would be so disrespectful."

    Mane shrugged, even though Rai couldn't see him, it felt good to move his muscles. "Ehh… I mean, should you really follow what others say blindly? What's the harm in asking questions. It's those who don't like questions that usually need to have those questions asked."

    The litleo detected movement behind him and turned, breaking into a grin. "Here's our mon of the hour!" Chatot hopped down, Wigglytuff following right after him. "Both of them! Hey wise leaders!"

    He waved erratically, and Rai hissed, trying to be quiet but his voice still carried. "Don't bother them!"

    Chatot, upon hearing Mane call out to them, looked up right as Dusknoir drifted down. "So, how do you actually run this whole guild thing? Lotta work?" Mane asked.

    Wigglytuff immediately turned to Chatot who huffed and held his head up. "Indeed. Going through each job application to determine if such needs require us to meet them. Dividing labour throughout the town to help in construction and repairing. Solving petty disputes, managing the guilds treasury, promotion and…"

    Chatot would have continued, but Dusknoir gave him a quiet reminder that they did in fact have work to do. "Ah yes, of course." He gave Mane an imperious look, but the litleo moaned in disappointment.

    "Damn. That was actually interesting," he sighed and turned back to Rai. "See any feet yet?" Chatot gave him another look but followed after Wigglytuff and Dusknoir to Wigglytuff's room.

    The cheerful Fairy-type was looking a little drained but there was a gleam to his eye that Chatot realised had been lacking recently.

    Once the doors were shut behind them he asked, mindful of Dusknoir's presence. "How are you feeling, sir?"

    "A bit down," Wigglytuff answered honestly, rolling to his chair. "But that's just because of all the terrible news I had to share! Boo!" He bounced onto his chair and turned back to his two confidants with a determined look. "But the time isn't the time to be down. Time is the time for action!"

    Trill nodded. He wouldn't show it, even if Dusknoir hadn't been there. But he was happy. It hadn't escaped his notice that Rhythm had been less cheerful year after year, as well as more restless. Having a goal to strive towards would do him some good, Trill reasoned.

    "Shall I get a start on researching?" Dusknoir suggested, gesturing to where the hidden door that led to Wigglytuff's library laid.

    "Thank you so much for this Dusknoir!" Rhythm beamed, waving his paw and the door appearing. "There you go. Have fun! Don't get too glum! And if you need to, go for a… run?" He turned to Trill with a questioning look before giggling. "Sorry, Dusknoir."

    "No, no," Dusknoir waved him off. "I do miss the old legs but evolving was worth it."

    The large Ghost-type had to duck to get through, but he managed and disappeared into a cramped room with many old tomes and scrolls.

    As Dusknoir did that, Trill retrieved the several maps he had been going over. They all were of the Grass Continent, but several were older and showed places that weren't found on the standard Wonder Map.

    He turned around to find Rhythm staring out the broken window. "Rhythm?" he asked, hopping forward and Rhythm turned around.

    "Just thinking about Armaldo," Rhythm answered and Trill nodded, setting the maps down in front of them both. Rhythm sat, happier on the floor than on the big fancy chair, and they began to pour over the old items, handling them carefully of course.

    After a few minutes of reading, Trill put one map aside and gave Rhythm a firm look. "Is that the only thing on your mind?"

    Rhythm smiled softly. "You know me too well to need to ask that question, Trill."

    "I suppose so." Trill nodded, there was some pride, but it was overshadowed by concern. "It can't be Soothe." He managed to withhold a wince at the brief flash of devastation across Rhythm's face. "You understand that, right?"

    Rhythm nodded and scratched his belly across the scar mostly hidden by his fur. "I can't help but wonder though?" he said, looking up and to the window wistfully. Trill's eye was on Rhythm's belly, in that one spot the fur never quite managed to cover completely.

    Rhythm quickly shook his head and turned back to the maps. "So, what do you think of the Northern Desert? That place is largely mysterious and has many dungeons a Time Gear could be hiding in."

    "If the Sand Dune of Spirit's does indeed exist somewhere in there." Trill nodded. "Such a place may have some clue at least."

    Rhythm made a note of that and they continued combing over the maps.


    "Pokémon detected," Rai called and waited for Mane to respond in kind. "Mane?"

    "Hm?" The litleo blinked a few times, he had fallen into a daze. "You say something?"

    He received an aggravated sigh. "Yes. Pokémon Detected."

    "Cool," Mane replied. "Who is it?"

    There was silence before Rai just decided to pick and choose a different battle a different time. "Togepi," he sighed, and Mane trotted to the lever and raised the gate. He returned to the entrance to the tunnel proudly, just for Rai to say. "That was fast. Did you even check to see if they were an outlaw?"

    "Togepi?" Mane laughed back. "You're kidding right? Oh no, big bad Togepi, ruler of all things mildly bothersome has come to siege the guild."

    "Take this seriously," Rai snapped back, and Mane's ears flattened, just for a moment. "We're doing a job. I know it sucks, but we should still do it right."

    "Aye-aye," Mane muttered back and sulked over to the corner the lever laid.

    Mane went back to dozing for a few hours more, getting up only to let pokémon in. He barely checked the outlaw records, but he did follow Rai's demands in doing so.

    All the lying about was making him restless as well as hungry and Mane was wishing for a distraction or a reprieve.

    When Chatot, Wigglytuff, and Dusknoir exited their study session he received one.

    "Take a short break you two," Chatot ordered, hopping over to a revitalised Mane. "Get something to eat and drink.

    "Hear that, Rai?" Mane shouted, trotting over to the tunnel and sticking his face in. Only his red mohawk could be seen. "We get a break!"

    His cheer echoed through the whole tunnel and rattled the guild slightly, Rai didn't care he was just as happy.

    Mane stepped back when he heard the scrabbling of paws and stretched a paw down into the tunnel. "Need a lift?" he asked with a cheeky grin, spotting Rai in the dim light shimmying his way up.

    "I'm." Rai grunted. "Fine." Mane watched with a little concern, but mostly amusement, as Rai struggled up the sharper incline.

    "Here." A deeper voice spooked Mane, nearly causing him to jump in the hole. "Let me help." Dusknoir wrapped his hand in a shadowy tendril for a moment before reaching down, extending the tendril to wrap around Rai's front paws. "Ready, Shinx?"

    "S-sure," Rai stuttered, still stunned whenever he received Dusknoir's attention.

    Without any trouble, Dusknoir pulled Rai up, the shadow tendril disappearing into his hand as Rai was levered out of the tunnel.

    "Thank you, Great Dusknoir," Rai said once he was clear, bowing to the Ghost-type.

    "No need to bow to me, Young Shinx," Dusknoir said, abashed at the formality. "Nor do you need to refer to me as 'Great'. Just Dusknoir will do."

    "You mean it?" Rai's ears went right up as Mane rolled his eyes.

    Dusknoir beamed. "Of course you may," he said and gave Rai a friendly pat on the head. "Now you must be hungry and thirsty from spending so much time down there." Dusty too.

    "I am." Rai glanced to Mane who was ready to run off into the sun and roll around in the grass like he hadn't seen it in years. Rai was not so ready to go yet. "But first I wanted to thank you for saving our lives. If you hadn't come to Amp Plains, well… we probably would have died there."

    Mane looked over to Rai, holding a stable expression, and to Dusknoir before nodding. "Yeah he's right. I don't think we got a chance to thank you. Me, Shinx, or Meowth. You went off to do important stuff. So, yeah. Thanks for saving us."

    Dusknoir waved them off. "It was no issue, simply the right thing to do. The important thing is that you are all okay, you, Shinx and Meowth."

    Rai nodded as Mane looked eager to leave again, but the shinx had more to say. "It was the most important thing, yeah. But…" he hesitated, glanced to the impatient Mane, before girding himself for what he had already accepted as reality. "Did you see anything there? Any stone or odd marking?"

    Dusknoir stared at him in silence and Rai wilted under his gaze, he turned to Mane and hissed. "You drew it before, can you do it again to show Dusknoir what I mean?"

    Mane looked between Rai's pleading look and the silent Dusknoir and nodded. He quickly sketched out the symbol of the Relic Fragment in the dirt floor.

    "Something like this?" Rai asked, note of pleading in his voice. "My treasure, it's why we went to Amp Plains in the first place, I lost it to some thugs a while ago."

    Dusknoir took a long peer at the symbol, thinking in dead silence. Eventually he shook his head. "No. I did not see anything resembling this in the clearing I found you or anywhere else in Amp Plains. I simply dealt with the Shadow Pokémon and took you out."

    Rai sagged but nodded anyway. "I thought so. I guess Sableye was wrong. Thank you again for saving us and…" he frowned slightly. "Dealt with? How?"

    Dusknoir stared at him again and Mane stepped in. "Killed it," he said, before looking sharply to Dusknoir. "Right?"

    Dusknoir slowly nodded, fingers twitching minutely. "Yes. I took what little life it had left. I do not like ending another life, even one so corrupted. Such a final sentence is not something I wish on anyone. But in some cases, it had to be done."

    Rai breathed out hard. As with the Relic Fragment, he had imagined that was the case. "I… thank you." Dusknoir's eye flickered in surprise as Rai bowed his head. "I don't wish that on anyone, but… that manectric killed my parents. My brothers. My whole family beside my sister and I. I'm… I'm glad it can't hurt anyone else."

    Dusknoir looked between the shaking shinx and frowning litleo and then back to where Wigglytuff had gone to check on Chimecho. Chatot was mulling about.

    "I witnessed your final show of defiance, Shinx," Dusknoir admitted and Rai looked up in surprise. "You overpowered the Shadow Pokémon, however briefly. That took a truly bright spirit to beat back the Shadow like that."

    "Th-thank you," Rai said, stunned again.

    "And if you are interested, I could give you some tips on how to deal with other Shadow Pokémon," Dusknoir offered, nodding to both of them. "To give you a more fighting chance if it happens again. However unlikely," he said before adding. "But it always pays to be prepared. There are many things I have learned I never thought would be useful, but they have saved my life and others. Knowledge is power after all."

    "You'd do that for us?" Rai whispered and Dusknoir nodded.

    "Certainly. Anything to lower the risk of Shadow Pokémon taking another."

    "Splendid," Chatot said, causing Rai and Mane to jump and even Dusknoir to twitch. He hadn't noticed the bird coming closer. "Learning from someone as learned as Dusknoir is a rare opportunity." He turned to the startled Ghost-type, and in the same chipper tone added. "If I may be so bold as to ask, would you extend the offer of training to the rest of the guild? Surely that would lower chances of tragedy further!"

    Dusknoir's eyes flickered briefly before he nodded. "Of course I would be happy too," he said, spreading his arms slightly. "The more pokémon in the know, the better they are."

    Chatot nodded and hopped off to the kitchen, leaving Dusknoir to return his attention to two-thirds of Team Ion. "And what of the third of your number? I briefly saw him yesterday, he said he was training to get stronger. Perhaps there is something I could do to add to his repertoire?"

    "You'd train him?" Rai gasped, beaming.

    "Yeah," Mane added, grinning over his impatience. "Meowth could definitely use the training. Although I can't believe he's getting to train while we are stuck here. I don't even get to look at the feet!"

    Rai snipped a glare at Mane for talking about feet in front of Dusknoir, footless spectre he was, before nodding to Dusknoir. "Thank you, Gr-Dusknoir. Thank you so much for, well, everything."

    "Hoo-hoo-ha! Do not thank me just yet, Shinx. Thank me later when I've actually done something worth thanking."


    Sean kept running, Mane and Rai continued acting as sentries even after Chimecho confirmed they were fighting fit. Or was thrown through the dungeon in the dojo by himself.

    With the guild almost devoid of pokémon, it was soon decided to close it to the public for the time being and attach the job listings to the outside of the guild for other teams to take.

    It wouldn't be right to shut down entirely, pokémon were still in need even with the Time Gears disappearing. But the three members of Team Ion were all getting very antsy to go back into dungeons.

    Dusknoir had chosen to wait until the rest of the guild was back to give his advice on Shadow Pokémon, and Sean was still being taught by Marowak for the time being.

    He had things to research anyway, the time to train would come later.

    Wigglytuff and Chatot were doing debrief sessions with the apprentices after every mission now, something that naturally tapered off into fewer meetings the longer a pokémon worked for the guild. With the dire matters at play, however, it was agreed that extra support for their wellbeing was necessary.

    While Treasure Town continued to chug along, the apprentices sent out of their own excursions were having their own tales to tell. The travellers to Fogbound Lake eventually found their way and retrieved something of use.

    As did the team who headed to Treeshroud Forest.

    And the team that returned to Boulder Quarry.

    Each had found something to bring back.


    "To begin with," Dusknoir began, looking out at the assembled guild.

    The guild had returned, bringing the spoils of information to give. They had done better than he had expected, and Chatot and Wigglytuff were both very proud.

    With the apprentices back home, it was decided now was the time for Dusknoir to teach. "There is one thing to always keep in mind when facing a potential Shadow Pokémon." He paused for suspense and a few pokémon leaned in interested. "It's not a fight worth fighting."

    A few frowned, glanced to their companions, and Diglett asked. "Why? I thought this was teaching us how to fight them?"

    Dusknoir nodded. "Indeed. But engaging a Shadow Pokémon should not be one's first choice. They are powerful, remorseless, and the fate of falling to one is the direst end. Fighting should be the response when there is no other choice. I will explain how to engage them, however. But first you must understand." Dusknoir rose it to his full height and loomed over them, eye burning darkly. "A Shadow Pokémon is a threat like no other. Do not fight if you have the choice."

    He waited until the apprentices all gave nods, some more hesitant than others, and waited until everyone had agreed in some way. "Good. Now listen closely. While fighting a Shadow Pokémon should be a last resort, no amount of begging or pleading can sway them, there are still tricks any pokémon should be able to use."

    Dusknoir gestured for everyone to stand. "Split into groups of two each. This is best practised in pairs, one pokémon will be the attacking pokémon and the other will be the defending pokémon. These skills may also help in non-shadow encounters."

    He waited as the pokémon all began to talk amongst themselves, move, and pair up.

    Loudred and Sunflora quickly went together, both glaring at the other.

    Diglett and Dugtrio decided to pair up as father and son, both were more comfortable practising on each other regardless.

    Bidoof and Corphish were already standing by each other. Chimecho gave a shy glance to Croagunk who offered a non-poisoned hand.

    The last three all exchanged looks. "What do we do?" Rai asked, looking between Sean and Mane. He looked up as Dusknoir's shadow fell on them.

    "Would one of you come up with me?" he asked, offering a large grey hand. Rai squeaked, and Mane rolled his eyes. "You two could work well to train together, it would be most helpful if Meowth would join me."

    "Me?" Sean said highly, fur bristling slightly. Riolu's words bubbled up to him from those days ago and he glanced to Rai who looked supportive and Mane who seemed unconcerned.

    "It shouldn't take us long to demonstrate," Dusknoir said, sensing Sean's hesitance. "And as you are a Normal-type, there is no risk to you."

    Sean nodded. "No problem. I hope these two don't fight though," he added, hoping to pass his dilly-dallying as concern for them.

    Mane stick his tongue out at him as Sean was led to the front.

    "Breathe at a normal rate," he thought to himself as he looked out to the guild, all looking jealously at him. Sean would have been more than happy to trade with anyone, and so sorely wanted someone to ask. "Just be polite and don't shake or stutter too much."

    "Now then," Dusknoir began, sweeping an arm out to them. "If we are all prepared, let us begin."

    From there Dusknoir began instructing everyone to go through some mimed exercises. One pokémon was to act as the aggressor, the Shadow Pokémon, and was instructed to try and pin or catch the other pokémon. It was to teach evasion first, fighting back would come later.

    The room was large and there wasn't much risk of damage as long as no moves were used. Loudred nearly yelled out when Sunflora tripped him, and Mane's coughed up a small Ember when he got too excited and nearly set Bidoof on fire.

    Sean himself was told to act as the defender and to do his best to avoid Dusknoir. Seeing the giant Ghost-type bearing down on him, hands outstretched to clutch him up, inspired a sudden surge of fear in him and he almost freaked out.

    Marowak's directions, however, came to him when Dusknoir nearly had him pinned. "If you are facing an opponent you cannot fight," he remembered. "The best thing to do is to ensure you always have a path to move, once you are out of options to run, you can only fight. And that is not a fight you are likely to win."

    With all the other pokémon crashing and banging about, Sean used them as distractions. Weaving through, across, and under Loudred and Mane, and Wigglytuff who had started to dance.

    Dusknoir's thick fingers grazed his fur a few times, but Sean managed to twist his way free before he could get a grip on him. He stopped thinking, mind going into a strange zen state of pure instinct and he weaved through the crowd of fighting pokémon as if he'd done that his whole life.

    Eventually, however, all good things must come to an end. Dusknoir called this first exercise to a close. "Good job, everyone," he said warmly as Sean found himself coming to, crouching behind Croagunk. "Some were quite excellent at avoiding, others make sure you practise agility or grappling when you can. A hand or paw of applause for Meowth, avoiding me with great skill. Come on up here again, if you please."

    Dusknoir clapped politely and Sean flushed, being gently shoved up front by Loudred while a few other pokémon gave him accolades for a surprisingly impressive job. "Your training with Marowak already seems to be paying off." Dusknoir beamed and Sean gave a nervous laugh.

    "Well."

    Quick as a flash, Dusknoir snatched the completely unprepared Sean up, hand closing around his abdomen entirely and hoisting him up into the air. He yowled in shock and tried to scratch Dusknoir in a panic, but his claws had no effect on the arm of the Ghost-type.

    Dusknoir squeezed once and Sean felt the air get knocked out his lungs as everyone realised what had just happened so far. Sean froze up, he looked into the baleful eye of Dusknoir and just stopped.

    "Don't let your guard down," Dusknoir said primly before gently lowering him back to the ground. Sean remained on his feet, unable to even unfreeze and collapse. The guild had frozen up as well at the sudden attack.

    "A Shadow Pokémon will use any advantage they can," Dusknoir explained casually. "Such beings are not truly 'there' anymore, but they can act like they are to raise their own chances of victory. They may say phrases that sound normal or stop attacking and seem to 'snap out' of their state. Do. Not. Believe. Them. They will take any opportunity." He looked down towards Sean who was still frozen.

    "Are you alright?" Rai asked, having run up to the front right as Dusknoir was setting Sean down. "M-Meowth?"

    Sean blinked very slowly and took a deep breath. "I just saw my life flash before my eyes," he said through numb lips and Rai gasped.

    "Seriously? You remember?"

    Mane came up as Sean snapped back to reality. "The who now?"

    "You said you saw your life?"

    "Oh. Just a figure of speech," Sean gave a shaky laugh. "What just happened? I think I blacked out for a moment."

    "My apologies for startling you so," Dusknoir said and Sean flinched hard. Dusknoir had raised a hand but seemed to think better of it and lowered his arm. "But rest assured, if you learn from this you should not make a mistake like that when it counts. Since you did not appear to be listening earlier, do not drop your guard around a Shadow Pokémon for any reason, no matter what they do or even say. Understand?"

    "Y-yes."

    "Good. Now." Dusknoir moved onto other aspects of preparation, while Sean just slowly melted back into the group. Bidoof and Croagunk gave him congratulations for dodging around so well up to that point, but Sean barely heard them, nor did he even remember doing so.

    "What's happening to me? I need to scout out…," he thought as they stood at the back to listen to Dusknoir's next directions away from him. Sean looked to his paw and frowned. He moved it, twitched the almost-fingers, extended the claw. "Whose arm is that?"

    He blinked and shook his head, Rai was asking a question, only the meowth had to wonder. "Who is Rai?"

    That thought caused him to nearly flinch. "What I am thinking? Rai is Rai. Partner. Best friend. Probably…" he shook his head again and noticed Mane staring at him.

    "Your eyes are freaking out," Mane whispered. "Pupils going big and small. Are you okay?"

    "Fine," Sean replied, the lie flowing out as easy as water. "Still reeling I think."

    He rubbed his face, forgetting a claw was extended and nearly stabbing his eye. He winced as he still drew some blood out from his cheek and stared at the red liquid on his claw for a moment.

    "You can use that to create-"

    Sean blinked, they were splitting into groups again. This time he was spared from Dusknoir's attention and allowed to work with Rai and Mane. They were learning where to strike to most disorientate a pokémon.

    "Can you run up ahead? Scout for us? Keep an eye out for any pokémon and come back soon!"

    "If he gets hurt…."

    "Guardian, relax."

    "No. I don't know what I'd do if I lost him."


    He stifled a groan and rubbed his temples. "Headache," he grunted to the concerned look Rai was giving him. The litleo was always so-

    "No Rai is a shinx. Mane is a litleo."

    Sean felt dizzy, he needed to sit down.

    "I need you to come with me. We're just… going away for a while. I want to protect us both."

    He felt blood again and the meowth fainted.

    "Are you alright?"

    "I'm fine."

    "I hope you are. You had better be okay. I don't know what we'd do without you."


    "Are you alright?" Sean blinked, he was lying on the floor and Rai was looking very concerned.

    "I'm fine," he answered, leaning up. It was the truth, he felt surprisingly good.

    Rai breathed a sigh of relief but was still ready to fuss over him. "I hope you are. You had better be okay. I don't know what I'd do without you." He leaned back to give Sean space and he found everyone looking very concerned.

    "What happened?" he asked, gathering that he had done something foolish again and knocked himself out.

    "You just… collapsed," Sunflora whispered and Sean blinked. "Just like that. You were up, and then you weren't. You spooked us all."

    He felt someone touch him and flinched. Chimecho floated up from behind him. "You appear fine," she said, rather puzzled. "Besides the sudden bout of fainting, your heart rate and breathing rate seem fine and I can't sense anything off with my Psychic."

    "Well I feel fine now," Sean said, standing up to give himself a stretch. "Better actually, I've been sore these past few days, but I'm feeling pretty good. Oh, wait." The guild tensed. "There's the soreness." He rubbed a hamstring, and everyone relaxed.

    "Are you able to continue?" Dusknoir asked, before humming. "Hmm, perhaps not."

    "No, I feel fine," Sean quickly said, shaking his head. "Really. I think all the excitement from earlier just got to me."

    "You were running pretty fast," Corphish muttered.

    "He jumped right over Loudred before going underneath Wigglytuff," Diglett mumbled.

    "Dusknoir did grab him very suddenly," Mane pointed out. "He doesn't really like to be touched, I've learned.

    They looked to Chimecho who considered it for a moment before asking. "What is the last thing you remember?" she asked, wanting to determine if he had hit his head or something.

    "Standing by Mane," Sean answered, frowning slightly. "From where I am, and everyone's faces, I'm guessing that's not it?"

    "You began mumbling a lot," Mane said. "Eyes were going weird too." He leaned in to peer directly into Sean's eyes and the meowth edged back slightly. "They are fine now, but it was weird."

    "I think you should sit down, get a drink of water, and just observe for a bit," Chimecho said, deciding on the course of action.

    Sean nodded. "Yes, nurse," he said, only almost joking.

    Chimecho smiled at him and he slinked off to the kitchen as Dusknoir shook the moment off and continued directing everyone.

    Once he was alone, Sean took a look at his paw again. "What the hell was that? Did I finally have a Dimensional Scream or something? What guardian? A Time Gear guardian? That was weird."

    He wandered back in and sat out the remainder of Dusknoir's tips. Most of it were things simply to do and then a demonstration of how to do them, which he was watching carefully and planning to ask Marowak to help him figure out.

    Eventually, however, Chatot had to call an end too it.

    "Everyone, thank Dusknoir for taking so much time to help you all," he said, flapping his wings. "But it is time to get to work. You can begin to employ his tactics through your work today."

    There were a few groans, but no one argued and soon the guild was broken up into their tasks. Chatot and Wigglytuff were looking over everything the teams had brought back, trying to pinpoint some locations to explore but hadn't decided on anything yet.

    The sun had well risen by the time the guild was sent out in force.

    Several members, however, had things back at home base yet to do.

    "Continue trying to contact Xatu and Alakazam," Chatot asked of Chimecho, who nodded and floated away. Cross-continent communication was difficult enough, but the minds she was trying to find was located further still. She wouldn't be preparing dinner this night.

    Or the next, even.

    "Now, Team Ion," Chatot said, seeing the three were still loitering around. "You know what to do, take your pick of tasks from the job bulletin board or outlaw notice board. Understood?"

    "Yes sir," they chorused, Rai enthusiastic, Sean polite, Mane sardonic.

    "Get to it then, chop-chop." Chatot flapped at then and Rai began leading them towards the middle floor.

    "Before you go," Dusknoir said, sliding in next to them. "It had occurred to me that a large part of the reason we were training was for young Meowth here, and yet he was forced to miss a large period of it."

    Chatot saw this and hopped over. "What did you have in mind?" he asked.

    "Based on Meowth's earlier fainting spell and his determination to get stronger, it occurred to me that I could possibly give him a few specialised tips." Dusknoir turned to Sean who was girding himself for this. "How does that sound? I believe I could even begin the process of adding another ability to your arsenal."

    He generated a Shadow Ball as easily as breathing and showed it before everyone. "Meowth can learn this move, I assure you. I have taught it before, although it won't be easy."

    Sean stared into the blackish purple blob surrounded by crackling energy and swallowed feeling weird looking at it. Mentally he knew that couldn't hurt him, he was a Normal-type.

    "That's amazing that Meowth can learn that," Rai said, wincing when Sean gave him a burning look. "Sorry. But that could be amazing, and Dusknoir you would really teach him that?"

    Dusknoir nodded, letting the Shadow Ball fade away. "Indeed. For him to learn it, however, something must be given up. I can assure you it isn't an easy move for a non-Ghost to learn. Our powers come naturally to us, but for others?"

    "What do you mean by 'given up' Dusknoir?" Sean asked, voice steady and level.

    "For a pokémon not a Ghost-type to channel these types of energy, something must be willingly sacrificed."

    Deciding that Sean had agreed, Chatot shooed Rai and Mane out. "Go, do your work. You'll see him later tonight."

    "Good luck!" Rai called, and Mane gave him the same.

    Dusknoir went to put his hand on Sean's shoulder again but hesitated and dropped his arm. "Perhaps we should take this to somewhere more comfortable," he suggested, Sean disagreed.

    "I'm fine here. It's where we were training before," he said, looking around at a few scuff marks in the dirt. He didn't want to go anywhere alone with Dusknoir, Grovyle's words came back to him.

    "Don't let him get a close look at you," he thought glumly. "A bit late for that."

    Dusknoir floated down until his wispy end was fading into the floor, he had crouched the only way he could, so he could explain this easier. "Here then." He reached a hand out and Sean forced himself not to lean away, letting Dusknoir grab his paws and bring them up flat. "Extend a claw if you would?"

    Sean chose the right paw to do so with.

    "Now this may hurt a tad," Dusknoir warned before sharply driving the claw into the pawpad of Sean's other paw.

    "Ow! What are you doing!" he jerked back, retracting the claw, but a drop of blood was still coming out.

    "My apologies," Dusknoir rumbled, almost sounding like he was holding back laughter. "It's better when you don't expect it."

    Sean rubbed his paw with a mutinous look, but Dusknoir reached out again and waited. He tried not to glare, hesitated, but slowly gave his injured paw back. "Why did you want me to bleed?"

    "It's the easiest sacrifice," Dusknoir answered, taking his paw. The blood had stopped, it was only a tiny prick, but he squeezed, and another drop came out. Sean winced, but he was more uncomfortable with how close Dusknoir was to him and his blood then in pain.

    "Blood is a vital thing for life," he said, examining Sean's arm and feeling a few scars he had. "Even non-biological beings have some sort of vitality to them, whether it be liquid of something more esoteric. For a Normal-type such as yourself, your blood can be used to channel the power of the Ghost-type."

    He had Sean hold his arm out and began orbiting both of his large hands over Sean's paw. To Sean's shock, and mild horror, the drop of blood seemingly began to smoke before it disappeared entirely, melding into a core of blackness that quickly grew.

    "Bring your other paw over it," Dusknoir said and Sean quickly followed, shaking slightly as the orb grew further and further. "From just a tiny drop of blood, not enough to even feel. Comes this."

    Dusknoir lifted his hands away and let Sean's shaking arms hold the Shadow Ball. "What. What do I do?" he asked, nearly panicked. His arms quivered, but the Shadow Ball didn't explode violently and hurt him.

    "Hoo-hoo-ha. Don't worry. It cannot harm you. Just press down on it once you feel ready and it'll disappear."

    Sean nodded shakily and took a breath before easing his paws down as slow as possible. He soon touched the swirling vortex of energy and braced, but no pain. It felt distantly cold, like he wasn't actually feeling the cold but was expecting it to feel cold. He pressed down and wondered if he felt the tiniest bit of resistance before it puffed into nothing.

    He let out his breath and sagged. Dusknoir looked down at him, amusement flickering in his eye. "Well done. Now let's do that again."

    "Again?" Sean asked, standing back up. "Alright. How much more do I need to bleed for this?"

    "Very little," Dusknoir said, amusement still filtering through his voice. He took Sean's paws again and began forming another Shadow Ball with the barest scraps of dried blood still on his paws. "One drop of blood has enough to form multiple Shadow Ball's if used correctly. As you grow more confident with the move, you will naturally begin to use smaller amounts to achieve the same result. This size is the optimal size," Dusknoir explained, stopping when the Shadow Ball was at the size the previous one was.

    "Why?" Sean asked, a little more comfortable holding it now that the first one hadn't hurt.

    "Larger and it runs the risk of breaking. Smaller and it may not impact your target as heavily or pop quite at the right moment and do very little."

    "I see."

    Dusknoir continued doing this for the next few hours. Sean got a crick in his neck and they decided to move onto moving and generating Shadow Ball's.

    It was, dare Sean believe it, nice. Dusknoir was very patient, explained any questions he asked, and didn't push him when he began to get frustrated. Simply let him take a step back and breathe for a moment.

    "Blood that is given express permission to use, can be utilised in the same way as your own," Dusknoir explained when he asked why Dusknoir was still using as much blood as he was. "But that which isn't? Much harder, not many Ghosts could use any blood that was not given to them like I could." Still, the drops he was using was very small indeed.

    He didn't ask for express permission, and Sean was relieved. Even now, he didn't want Dusknoir to be able to use his blood for whatever whims he wanted. That was an uncomfortable thought.

    In comparison, Sean wouldn't say Marowak was a bad teacher, but this was certainly different, and he appreciated that.

    "Now would you look at that," Dusknoir said huskily, almost in awe. Sean grinned, sore and literally drained, but between his paws shone a Shadow Ball. One that Dusknoir did not form for him.

    "How's this?" he asked, grin almost cocky. Dusknoir flicked his eye from his grin to the Shadow Ball and rubbed his face over where a mouth should have been.

    "Somewhat small," he said, and Sean's grin dropped. "But astounding regardless. Destroy it, do it again ten times."

    Sean blinked. "Already? Alright." He squeezed the Shadow Ball down and it disappeared. He frowned and rubbed his right paw. They had stopped taking blood from the left after it began to hurt. Dusknoir was honest when he said very little blood was needed to create a Shadow Ball, but they had been doing this for hours.

    He had moved onto his arm and using the blood on his claws from puncturing himself. It wasn't pleasant, but it reminded Sean of blood tests and medical tools designed to take drops of blood to check blood sugar levels. He couldn't quite remember what, but with that in mind he was more comfortable doing this.

    It'd be another twenty minutes before he could form another Shadow Ball. Just in time for Rai and Mane to stumble down, trapped in the throes of a big argument.

    "You threw that bagon into the water! What's wrong with you?" Rai was yelling, and Sean popped his Shadow Ball.

    "It tried to eat you," Mane snapped back. "Thanks for saving my life. Oh wait. That was me!"

    Dusknoir looked up from where he was examining Sean's paws, looking to the commotion. "Now what is this about?" he asked, floating up and over.

    "I saved his life and he's mad at me for it," Mane said immediately.

    "You could have killed that bagon to do it!" Rai snapped back.

    "Better then YOU dying," Mane growled. "I can't believe we are even having this argument."

    "It's not the what, it's the how and I don't approve of you killing a feral for me."

    "It DIDN'T die."

    "Because I jumped and pulled it out."

    "It tried to pull you in as well."

    "Enough you two," Dusknoir said sternly, Chatot was poking his head out of Wigglytuff's room but was satisfied the situation was handled. "Shinx, thank Litleo for saving your life."

    "Wha?" Rai blurted, and Mane grinned cockily.

    "Litleo, apologise to Shinx."

    Mane's grin dropped. "Excuse me?" he demanded, glaring up at Dusknoir.

    "The two of you are teammates," Dusknoir said, fingers twitching. "Understand the others point, accept what happened, then move on."

    He crossed his arms and stared them both down. Rai cracked first and bent his head. "Thank you," he said softly. Mane gave him a look for breaking but felt Dusknoir's gaze and relented.

    "Sorry." He even bit his tongue to prevent himself from adding to that and undoing the apology.

    "Very good." Dusknoir beamed and gestured to Sean. "Your friend has been making tremendous progress. I had expected days or weeks of practise, but he had formed two Shadow Ball's on his own already."

    "Oh wow!" Rai beamed and bounded past Dusknoir, forgetting his argument with Mane. "Already? That's incredible! You're doing so well."

    "That is really fast," Mane said, slinking in after Rai to attack Sean's other side. "What kind of special training do you give out?"

    Dusknoir laughed. "I merely have learned many things and have an attitude to share them."

    Sean grinned, enjoying the boost to his ego. "I'm just that good I guess."

    "Don't start getting cocky," Dusknoir warned and Sean laughed.

    "I'm just playing," he said and flexed out his paws. "Took me ages to get the second one. But if I keep practising, who knows?

    "Who knows?" Dusknoir repeated, voice deep and rumbly. "Well I think it'd be good to stop for the day. Let you recover, each may have only taken a bit of blood, but it can build up if you do it too much. Perhaps eat some meat."

    With that, Dusknoir bid him good day. Sean watched him off, face screwing up at the thought of eating meat. Rai agreed, as did Mane, Sean did not and ate fruit.

    Later that evening, Sean was deep in thought. He was tired, the blood loss was beginning to affect him now, but he had too much on his mind to sleep just yet.

    "Dusknoir…" he thought. He didn't like to spend most of a day with the danger, and he had accidentally relaxed at some point. Sean was confident he didn't say anything incriminating, but still being so candid with Dusknoir was making him feel confused. It felt shockingly easy to relax around Dusknoir, despite everything he knew.

    Or because of it? He knew Dusknoir would redeem himself, but not until he was truly forced to face himself. "Why was it so easy? Is he just that much of a mentor-ish figure?"

    It had been nice to learn from Dusknoir, but the potential cost was leaving him feeling paranoid. "Someone is looking for a 'Sean'." he thought. It had to be Dusknoir, who else?

    Making up his mind, Sean stood. Chatot's words rang through his mind again and he nodded. This had to be done.

    It was foolish to rely on the story so hard. Using it as a crutch risked too much when things inevitably went in a direction he wasn't prepared for.

    To be entirely honest with himself, Sean wasn't even sure if there was a story to follow anymore. "There has to be," he pleaded with himself. "I have to be able to fix the tower. Darkrai's something else, but Dialga HAS to be in place or everything is just over."

    He considered Mane, Team Gazer, Grovyle, and Dusknoir. Things were too different to be certain, but he was optimistic that things could still work in a manner he could predict.

    "But if I'm going to be able to predict anything," he thought as Sean sought out Rai. "Then I need to start doing more. If I just react to Dusknoir he'll trap me. Action, that's something I have to do now."

    "Rai?" he asked, poking his head into their room. The shinx perked up from the book he was reading, Mane looked up as well. "I was hoping to ask you something?"

    "Sure." Rai smiled and stood. "What's up?"

    Sean felt Mane's eyes on him, but he led Rai out anyway. They walked the guild in silence, heading towards the dining room.

    Sean led them further, into the stock room, before turning to Rai, the shinx looking most worried now.

    "I wanted to ask you not to tell Mane about me," he said bluntly, keeping his voice low just in case Mane had decided to follow.

    Rai frowned but nodded regardless. "I guess. About the whole human thing, right?" Sean nodded, and Rai chewed his lip for a moment. "I don't really like keeping secrets or lying. And he knows your name, that's not the most pokémon name around."

    "I doubt he'll ask," Sean said seriously. "But… I will tell him myself. I want to do it myself. Chatot also told me that 'someone' is snooping around Treasure Town looking for a 'Sean', and it's made me a little uncomfortable."

    To his relief, Rai nodded again. "Alright. I won't tell."

    "Thanks." Sean smiled, but it was thin. That was just the beginning. "But also, I want you to promise you won't tell Dusknoir anything about me."

    "What?" Rai asked, cocking his head. "Why not?"

    "I just…." Sean hesitated and looked away. "Well, I'm not really 'human' anymore, now am I? I need to start adopting pokémon things, culture, mannerisms and stuff more if I want to fit in here. And you've told me that names are only given to close friends and, uh… well I learned not to share my name."

    Rai winced. Nothing much had come out of that, besides Mane making the occasional comment, but it was still a source of awkwardness for them both. A reminder of times they weren't as comfortable with each other.

    "Is that the only reason?" Rai asked, frowning slightly. "Dusknoir is really smart, and really well travelled. If there is anyone who might have an idea of how this has happened, it's probably him."

    "Not just him," Sean pointed out, hoping dearly this wouldn't backfire. Rai brightened.

    "Right! Grovyle said he might know you. Well, might." Rai frowned again. "Would it be that bad to ask Dusknoir? I've been thinking about it, since he's so open to questions. And he taught you Shadow Ball! You don't trust him?"

    "I trust you," Sean said, and Rai's frown twitched. "Just… please. Keep this secret, let me tell who I want to tell. I have been thinking about asking Dusknoir, but I'd prefer to do it myself if ever. It's my thing after all."

    Rai nodded and breathed out a hard breath. "That's fair," he said and cracked a small smile. "Glad you trust me at least."

    Sean ignored the guilt trying to envelop him whole. "So, you promise?"

    "I promise."

    He smiled. "Thank you, Rai."

    Later that night, Sean left his room and the two snoozing felines to push his way into Wigglytuff's meeting room. He felt around in the darkness for a bit, eyes catching most of the larger things, until he found the parchment that pokémon used to write on.

    He carried with him the piece of charcoal he had lifted earlier and scuttled back out to where the guild assembled each day.

    His paws weren't the most dextrous. It'd been longer then he could even remember. But Sean put burnt wood to thick paper and began to write in the language he knew best. It was close enough to Unown after all.

    Rai, I hope I never have to give you this. He began to write, English sloppy but legible. But if you are reading this, know that I'm sorry for… just everything. Trust Grovyle and find the Relic Fragment. You have to find it…

    He wrote on, no sound besides the distant crash of waves and the scratching of paper.


    "Is that it then? It's beautiful."

    "Yes. But be careful."

    "Always are. Come on Saniya, you know us."

    "I do. I also knew Soothe. And I know Guardian."

    "Fair point. Well, you both ready?"

    "Always."

    "It won't… it won't hurt right?"

    "You'll be fine. Right?"

    "Yes. It's as safe as it can be."

    "Okay. I'm ready."

    "Are they ready?"


    "Yes."

    "Then let's go. See you on the other side."



    So I think the breather chapters are done for a while now.

    The storm is coming.
     
    Chapter 20 - Lovely Days and Nights
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    "Success!" Chimecho whooped, doing a loop-de-loop in celebration. "Xatu. Are you still there?"

    "Hmm." The mystical bird huffed cross the mental link. "Yes. Who is this?"

    "Chimecho of the Wigglytuff Guild," Chimecho answered, pursing her lips as she maintained the connection. It had taken a huge undertaking that no one else in the guild would understand.

    Requiring her to link up with over two dozen other minds in the Psychic Network before they funelled her the required power to push across the void that the ocean was to press into the Air Continent and then use their network to hop, skip, and jump until she reached Xatu.

    "A situation of grave importance has occurred on the Grass Continent," Chimecho swiftly explained. "And the Wigglytuff Guild is taking action. So, we are assembling as many allies as we can, and both you and the residents of Pokémon Square could be of great assistance here. The world could be at stake here, time itself is freezing across the Grass Continent."

    Xatu was calm. "By 'residents of Pokémon Square' you intend on recruiting Team Go-Getters?"

    "Correct but anyone else would be helpful. Team A.C.T, Whiscash, and anyone who may be able to help."
    A note of pleading entered her mental voice. "The Time Gears are being stolen, three have already gone missing, and we are scouting potential Time Gear locations to look for the remaining ones to guard, but the guild is only so big, and whoever is stealing them may be dangerous indeed."

    "I understand,"
    Xatu replied. "The winds have stopped blowing at my home, despite the storms that assail this place. The sun feels fixated in place yet moving rapidly. I have noticed these things."

    Chimecho waited patiently, but Xatu seemed finished. "Uh… can you go to Pokémon Square to ask for help?"

    "Very well,"
    Xatu said. "I will make haste, I can see it. I will not be able to commune back to you swiftly."

    "Nor I."

    "Consider my talon in aid."


    Chimecho breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Xatu." She felt the connection end and then the headache replace it. "Oh dear," she groaned and sagged in air, nearly falling down. "No. No. I must give this news." She continued talking to herself, keeping the overpowering headache from sending her to the floor, floating out of the medical wing and onto the main floor.


    "Moving on everyone," Chatot said primly, fluttering a bit in place to regain the attention that had wandered. "To the most important topic of the day."

    Days had passed since the leads to the Time Gears were found and nothing had been said since then. Loudred had been grumpier than usual, manning the gate with particular ferocity. Dugtrio was so anxious that even staring out at the sea didn't alleviate his concerns completely.

    Even Croagunk was showing the effects of stress. The amphibian pokémon didn't talk much in general, but he had said even less for the last few days. Standing by his Swap Cauldron, gripping its rim tightly with both hands.

    Or he lurked around Sean, leaving the meowth feeling curiously safe and in danger at the same time. He hadn't found even a single hour for the last few days where he wasn't in someone's presence or felt eyes trailing his actions.

    Knowing he had Rai and Mane, and Croagunk too he supposed, was comforting, but the ever-present feeling of being watched left him tense and irritable.

    Crushed deep within his Treasure Bag laid a letter he dearly wanted to hide in Sharpedo Bluff, but absolutely no one was giving him a chance to sneak out. It didn't help that the thought of going out alone for even a few minutes left him feeling ill.

    So, here they were. The guild and allies assembled and ready as Chatot waffled on half-heartedly. Electrike of Team Gazer yawned loudly. Even Guildmaster Wigglytuff seemed tired, although in comparison to the rest of the guild he had a glint in his eye and a determined tilt to his head.

    It was odd how different it made him seem. From the cheerful goofiness he always presented, Wigglytuff seemed a little airy at times and distant from everyone besides Chatot.

    Nowadays, he danced even more, he spoke with all the apprentices at times one-on-one to take on some of their burdens, he felt livelier. It was all the same as he was before, but there was more to it and guild was finding it reassuring.

    Wigglytuff's spirit and determination kept spirits high. He had brought in a duo of extra helpers during the time spent researching, a familiar alakazam and the many new faces of a claydol. They were standing with Wigglytuff and Dusknoir as Chatot spoke.

    Chatot was finally ready to explain the goal of the day. "The trio of Bidoof, Diglett, and Croagunk unearthed something of particular use on their assignment to Fogbound Lake," Chatot said, the three pokémon in question straightened up.

    "Three glyphs," he continued. "With conference with Dusknoir, many books of legend, and the items discovered on the excursions to Boulder Quarry and Treeshroud Forest, we believe we have pinpointed four key locations where the remaining Time Gears may be found."

    "Oh my gosh, spit it out!" Sunflora demanded when Chatot paused for breath.

    "Hush," he snapped, and she crossed her leafy arms. "Be patient, Sunflora, or leave the room." She sighed and sagged, letting Chatot take the time needed to compose the next part in his head.

    "It is believed that if Uxie, the Being of Knowledge, protected one Time Gear, then it is likely that there may be two others. Three pokémon make up this 'spiritual' balance of the world. And so, Mesprit, the Being of Emotion and Azelf, the Being of Willpower, also may protect Time Gears," Chatot explained and gestured for Dusknoir to speak up.

    "Indeed," the imposing Ghost-type rumbled. "In my travels I have heard small myths of these ancient pokémon. One thing of note is that all three are thought to be tied to lakes of some sort. Fogbound Lake is one, adding credibility to such a theory."

    "Furthermore." Wigglytuff didn't need to step forwards to command all attention with just a single word. "After observing the pictures at Fogbound Lake for ourselves we can determine that one is likely found in a cave of sorts. The other appears to be underwater, judging by the apparent whirlpool held above them."

    Chatot nodded his thanks to the two. "But such markers are insignificant considering how many caves there are and the amount of water that exists." The rest of the guild nodded, some looking a little discouraged. "However, with the tome that Corphish and Team Gazer brought back, we were able to learn a little more."

    Beheeyem gave a smile to Corphish who nodded back. Electrike wanted to speak up, but Beldum nudged him; nearly knocking him into Beheeyem in the process.

    "From Ditto's tome," Chatot said, ignoring the small domestic spat brewing in Team Gazer. "We were able to learn a small part of the role of the Time Gears, however most of the book was too old and decrepit to make sense of. From that, however, we were able to garner a small 'scope' of sorts of the Time Gears. Each was placed in a strategic location on the continent itself, ruling out the sea it seems."

    "So, what are the locations you have decided upon?" Beheeyem asked, voice strained from the effort of holding Electrike and Beldum apart with Psychic.

    "We have decided to search throughout the Northern Desert," Chatot answered, giving a mildly disapproving look for two of Team Gazer's behaviour. "Solemn Valley, Ancient Lake and Crystal Cave."

    "The guild has been divided into teams for this excursion," Dusknoir said as Beheeyem succeeded in quelling the mutiny occurring between his teammates. "Determining who is best to enearth the secrets of each place, keeping in mind that these lakes are unlikely to be easy to find considering the difficulty of Fogbound Lake."

    "Bidoof, Sunflora and Dugtrio are assigned to Crystal Cave," Wigglytuff said, speaking up again. "You'll be going with Alakazam, he will be teleporting you straight there, so it won't take you weeks to arrive." Calling attention to the two new pokémon brought everyone's eyes to them.

    Alakazam stroked his moustache and nodded. "For this case of the Time Gears, it is my solemn duty to assist however I can. A teleport that far in two days will take time, however, and leave me very drained. Therefore I'll be waiting outside the dungeon for your return."

    "Thank you, Alakazam!" Sunflora said, bowing gratefully.

    "Yup-yup, I reckon this is going to make the exploration much easier!"

    "Our thanks to you in this most noble cause."

    "Claydol is going to be teleporting Team Ion, Loudred, Corphish, Croagunk and Diglett to the outskirts of the Northern Desert," Claydol said, voice shivering through the air. "Claydol shall await outside, yes, Claydol shall. Dungeons are dangerous, Claydol cannot risk entering."

    After Claydol finished speaking, Chatot flapped and moved the conversation along. "Team Gazer, we request you search Solemn Valley. As it is the closest dungeon to Treasure Town, we were hoping the lack of a teleport would not be an offence."

    "No, no." Beheeyem waved his hand. "Not at all. We can make the trip."

    "I'd like a teleport," Electrike muttered but quietened when Beheeyem bumped him.

    "Statement: It is no problem."

    "Of the two groups travelling to the desert, Croagunk, Diglett, Corphish, and Loudred make their way to the Trickling Sand Dungeon while Team Ion shall," Chatot's voice turned somewhat bitter, but he did his best not to let his disapproval show, "search the actual Northern Desert dungeon."

    Sean nodded while a few apprentices exchanged looks.

    "Is that…?" Sunflora began. "Wise? I mean, two of their members are weak to Ground-type pokémon."

    "It is the decision made," Chatot said sharply.

    Croagunk was dissatisfied with that answer. "Why is Team Ion being sent there so soon after their recovery?"

    Rai frowned and glanced to Mane who wore a combative expression, he didn't say anything yet though.

    "This is the decision made in conference with the Guildmaster and the Great Dusknoir. Do you doubt their wisdom?" Chatot demanded.

    "Do you?" Croagunk jabbed back and Chatot stuttered.

    "N-not at all!" He flapped angrily while Wigglytuff stared ahead, Dusknoir's eye was on Team Ion. "Drop the matter. The decision has been made. No matter how… it has been made so stop arguing."

    Croagunk shrugged and Chatot shook it off again. "Chimecho will remain here and will be able to coordinate Alakazam and Claydol through the Psychic Network. Dusknoir will be joining the Crystal Cave team. The guildmaster and I will travel to Ancient Lake."

    Chatot gave a sharp look to Croagunk who looked ready to ask why Dusknoir wasn't going with Team Ion. They glared at each other for a moment before Croagunk looked away.

    Ignoring the dissent, Wigglytuff bounced on his feet. "This is our quest," Wigglytuff said brightly spreading his arms as if to hug the whole guild. "Prepare, gather your items, get your maps, and get along. We are saving the world!"

    "Hear-hear," Chatot said, and most of the guild quickly gave their own in kind.

    "But I do wish to say something more," Wigglytuff said with uncharacteristic seriousness. The various looks and stretches from the guild paused to look up to their Guildmaster. "There has never been a group of apprentices I have been prouder of. The way you have all adapted to this terrible situation and stand ready to fix it shows you are all heroes."

    He smiled. "I am honoured to have given you a home here and seen your progress. Each and every one of you is a pokémon ready to save the world. You have all chosen to be here. Thank you for that."

    His words swept through the nervous and scared pokemon, bolstering their spirits.

    "R-Wigglytuff," Chatot whispered before bobbing his head and covering his face with a wing. He composed himself quickly and turned to the misty-eyed guild. "You have heard the Guildmaster," he said to everyone. "There are great expectations here. Do not disappoint."

    "You won't," Wigglytuff said brightly.

    "Are you all ready?" Chatot asked. "Wigglytuff Guild, get ready to depart."

    "HOORAY!" The cheer shook the windows of the guild, causing tiny pebbles to crumble off the cliff and into the ocean.

    From there the guild surged out in a passionate burst of activity. Sean found himself running to keep up with Rai, who was sparking with energy, and Mane who held the most interestingly amused smile on his face.

    "Quite the speech, eh?" he laughed as they both had to run to keep pace with Rai and all the supplies he was chattering. "It's even got me pumped."

    "Heh." Sean grinned back. "Wigglytuff is good at what he does."

    Mane kept a mental list of all the items Rai was repeating as they got into line. Several other apprentices had got there before them and the Kecleon Brothers looked almost overwhelmed. Pokémon were running this way and that, several early risers were staring at the guild members in surprise while others ran up or away to find out what was going on.

    Sean found himself energised and unable to stand still after a few moments. "Looks like this is going to take a bit," he said, looking to Rai and Mane. "I think I'll go for a run and I'll meet you at the crossroads?"

    "Sounds good," Rai said distractedly, Mane gave him a salute.

    With his heart pumping fast and paws tingling, Sean pointed his face left and began to run. A minute later Mane looked to Rai. "You realise he left with the Treasure Bag?" he asked, and Rai cursed.

    "He'll figure it out," Rai said, looking warily to where the meowth had sprinted off to. "I think."

    "Mmmaybe."

    Sean ran along, mind whirring and mouth very dry. He knew this was his chance, he felt energised, the whole town was distracted, and he was recognised to be running laps around the town anyway so there would be no suspicion.

    The sound of crashing waves reminded him of the guild, or his first night in this world, as Sean ran up to the cliff. Thankfully Dugtrio wasn't there to whisper sweet nothings to the sea, instead an overgrown entrance to a home left behind.

    Sean moved the thatched, mossy, covering and dipped his head into Rai's home. He slowed slightly, going down the steps, just out of a lingering wariness. Stepping into Rai's home was interesting after so long and left him feeling just a mite nostalgic.

    The waterhole remained untouched to the left while the mouth of Sharpedo Bluff opened out to witness a glorious view of the waterfall and ocean below. The straw was long eroded and scattered about the room, likely due to the wind. A small bundle of berries had rotted away into blackened mush and spread around a little.

    There was a clear lack of anyone there. A very distant part of Sean's mind was grateful that the spiders of this world could talk, and didn't infest little places, so he didn't have to keep his eyes on the ceiling. He did anyway.

    He dug into the Treasure Bag, sifting through it, until he found the crumpled note. He smoothed it out, checking for any serious damage, before trotting to Rai's waterhole.

    The waterhole was waterproof, thankfully, and wasn't pressed completely into the wall. He stuffed the letter into a crack and stepped back, checking to make sure it wasn't immediately visible nor would fly out if the wind got in.

    He adjusted it twice before deciding it had to be enough and he had to leave, or else things would look odd. While passing back through Treasure Town he handed the Treasure Bag to an amused Mane and continued running.

    He nearly tripped over a yellow canine pokémon he barely recognised, a yamper it was, and he chased him for a moment, nipping at his tail.

    After leaving Treasure Town he continued to run, anxiously burning off the energy, until the guild began to assemble again.

    A few townsfolk came to see them off, Spinda included being that they were all amassed near his café, and Sean stepped anxiously in place.

    His mind went over everything he could think of for the following event. "Quicksand. Jump in. Mesprit. Will she listen? Grovyle. Grovyle. Oh boy this is NOT going to be fun."

    He jogged in place, not stopping even when Mane asked if he was alright. "Too excited," he said, hoping he'd buy it. The litleo gave him a look that clearly meant he didn't believe him, but looked away. Which was enough for Sean.

    The nerves having their sordid way with him was almost enough for a Night Slash to begin forming. His paws tingled, tiny motes of utter blackness he could be seen building where his claws extended from. Sean continued to fidget.

    Team Gazer left first. Without a teleporter, they had to make the footslog. One of them at least, Beheeyem and Beldum both floated.

    Alakazam took Dusknoir, Sunflora, Bidoof, and Dugtrio next, after a few minutes of meditation and moustache stroking.

    Claydol took much longer, having a similar distance to teleport with more people to drag along. It continued to chatter in third person as it focused, however. "Speech is to Claydol a method of focus," it explained part way into its soliloquy.

    Soon enough, however, the world melted out from under them and eight pokémon disappeared from the crossroads, Chatot, Chimecho, and Wigglytuff looking on proudly.

    A riolu watched them disappear, chewing his lip in nerves. He had a friend who had set off to the Northern Desert some time ago and had heard nothing since.

    A sableye watched them disappear, staring through diamond incrusted eyes. It had a master who had set off to save countless pokémon by damning countless others.

    A yamper watched them disappear, panting for breath. It had tried to nip a tail, but its owner was too swift.

    A skorupi watched them disappear, watching keenly as a drop of venom dripped from its tail. It had news to share.

    Chimecho turned and floated back to the guild as Chatot and Wigglytuff did a few stretches.

    "It has been some time since I've flown with you," Chatot said warmly to Wigglytuff. Citizens were still there, watching eagerly but it was okay for Chatot to let his feathers down a little.

    "Need both talons?" Wigglytuff asked a little teasingly.

    Chatot scoffed but pressed a nod down. "For safekeeping." It wasn't like he had someone else to carry.

    Rhythm's eyes turned just a little sad but neither of them said it. Trill flapped his wings, knocking up a fierce wind as he took to the air, circling Rhythm for a moment, his shadow flicking across the crowd before he dived.

    People gasped and ooh'd as Rhythm raised his paws and Trill cleanly plucked him off the ground and flew off as if the wigglytuff was filled with air and glitter.

    They soared high into the sky, not a hint of fear in either of them. They passed over the wider area of Treasure Town, eyes glancing up to the pair flying overhead.

    Including an audino. She hummed a soothing song to herself before her eyes locked onto them as she ducked into the trees.

    They did not see her.


    "This. Place. Is. HORRIBLE!" Mane cried, dragging his paws along the hot sands. It wasn't the heat that irked him, although his companions were worse for wear because it is.

    "I know," Rai agreed, his tone filled with equal amounts of sympathy and impatience. "Now please stop complaining about it."

    "I don't know what's got you two in a tizzy," Sean laughed, running forward up some hot stones and swiping out with a paw, Night Slash striking a baltoy down and out. "This place is nice and warm. Sand gets into everything though."

    The Electric-type shinx and Fire-type litleo glared at him as the Normal-type meowth trotted back to them, smile oozing self-satisfied smugness.

    "You wouldn't be so smug if there were Fighting-types all around," Mane sniffed, glaring at small rocks and mounds of sand as if they personally offended him.

    "You're a Normal-type too," Sean pointed out as his teammates slowly plodded along behind him.

    "Anything to wipe out that smug grin on your face. I'm meant to be the smug one."

    They walked on. Sean taking the front role for the first time. Being that he stood the best chance of not taking severe damage from a surprise attack, Sean led the way. He didn't mind at all, it felt nice to be useful even if it meant he had sand thrown in his eyes significantly more than he was used to.

    Rai carried a near permanent grimace through the dungeon. Nearly every pokémon they encountered was a Ground-type, something he couldn't shock. Mane could at least still blast them, but Rai's own abilities were near useless. The most prominent second type was Grass-type, something Rai felt was offensive to him personally.

    Yet, he could at least attack those.

    He was getting irritated enough to use Bite but using such a move required the closest of quarters and putting his mouth on a Ground-type seemed unwise.

    Mane limped along. He had taken a nasty blow to the leg not far into the dungeon. The proud litleo insisted he was fine, but he limped slightly anyway with an imperiously blank expression. Sean forced their sitrus berry down his throat, knowing it was a natural painkiller and Mane clearly needed it. Regardless of what he tried to say.

    Sean prinked his paw and tried to form a Shadow Ball numerous times, but nothing came. This was a different situation without question, he did not have the time to slowly build and focus. The most he managed was hurting paws.

    "If you need blood, you can always use mine," Rai had said brightly upon Sean explaining how he used Shadow Ball. Mane and Sean gave him a mildly disturbed look for saying something like that.

    This dungeon was almost enjoyable for Sean. With his period of training helping build some stamina and his lack of a weakness to the bulk of pokémon here, Sean was left taking a much larger share of the work then he normally did.

    It eased some concerns.

    Sean ducked as Mane sent a Fire Blast at a sandshrew while Rai shocked a carnivine that had floated in too close. The sandshrew went down, but the carnivine required more convincing to leave them alone.

    Rai continued to be surly until they stumbled across a yellow gummi. The shinx gobbled it up without question and buzzed with delight.

    "You feel better?" Sean asked, half joking, half concerned at eating food off the ground.

    "It's a start," Rai said brightly, his tone was chipper, and his tail was waving again.

    Sean smiled and led on. His smile dropped when a ninjask attacked them and he clutched the Treasure Bag jealously as Rai dispatched it.

    With the Bug-type a twitching heap, they moved on further. The sun continued to beat down on their backs, Mane at least enjoying that, the Ground-types kept coming, which Sean didn't completely mind, and the dungeon stretched on further and further.

    Still, Sean kept finding himself glancing over his shoulder. Keeping an eye on Rai and Mane, making sure they were following alright. Checking to ensure that they were there and not attacked and taken away. Checking to make sure they weren't being followed.

    He couldn't convince himself of that third one, however.

    The feeling of being watched was ever-present even in this dungeon, and no matter how Sean tried to convince himself he was simply being paranoid, or he was just feeling Rai and Mane's eyes, the tenseness in his shoulders wouldn't relieve.

    He found himself growing twitchier, his nervous energy from earlier returning and nearly leaving behind his companions.

    It took a heavy smack to the face from a pupitar to help him realise he was getting a bit too ahead of himself and Mane took heady delight in smushing an oran berry into his mouth.

    Sean grimaced and wiped the blood off his face, going to wipe it onto his fur before pausing. He was already bleeding, and he hadn't tried a Shadow Ball in a while.

    "Mind if one of you takes the lead for a bit?" he asked, voice a little wobbly from the recent trauma it suffered. "I just need a few moments to sort myself out, but we can't stop."

    "I'll do it!" Mane said immediately and jutted his chest out proudly, his mohawk erupted into flames and he led them out, head up and ready to spew flames at whatever foolish enemy attempted to stop them.

    As they walked, Sean tried to put the paranoia out of his mind and began trying to focus on making a Shadow Ball. He and Dusknoir had practised moving and forming the move more than just standing still but try as he might, a small part of his mind kept recoiling at the thought of using his own blood.

    "This has to be some sort of insanity," the more hysterical part of his mind screamed. "You are using your own blood as taught by someone you KNOW is your enemy. In what universe is that a good idea? Doesn't help that someone is definitely following you and stop pretending like that isn't the case."

    Somewhat amused at his own thoughts, Sean smiled. "I wouldn't have thought I was THIS paranoid. Calm down, me." He couldn't help but worry he was being too confident thanks to his training from Marowak and Dusknoir. He still had a way to go before he was even on par with Rai and Mane.

    "No. Freak out! Run across the sands. Dance in the moonlight. TWIST THE DARKNESS THAT-"

    Sean was interrupted from talking to himself when a tyranitar appeared with a roar.

    "Oh," Mane said before swearing harshly enough to make a non-feral tyranitar blush. He stepped back as the tyranitar stepped forward, growling low enough to rumble the sands around them. One of its beady red eyes rolled in place while the other focused keenly on the three. It opened its maw and groaned at them, thick globules of spittle dripping out and splattering on the ground beneath.

    "What do we do?" Mane hissed, all three of them had gone stock still. The tyranitar continued to stare and groan, one eye still rolling as the other one's pupil expanded and shrunk. It didn't act towards them, just continued to groan.

    Sean was staring at the monster in unveiled disgust, raking his eyes over its emancipated form. Cracks ran through its whole body, a few leaking a ruddy red blood, the blue diamond shape on its torso had purple welts, several fingers were missing on one hand and its tail was missing a chunk.

    Despite that, this was still a tyranitar. It breathed heavily, almost gasping for breath, still staring hungrily at them.

    "If we can knock it down," Sean said, voice so even and steady that he himself was surprised, "then I've got a sleep seed, if I can get access to its mouth, preferably without having to climb it I can put it to sleep and we can run."

    "And how do you plan on knocking it down?" Mane demanded, voice so sharp that the tyranitar's stationary eye narrowed in on him.

    It groaned again. A long keening sound that grated on the ears and caused all three felines to take an involuntary step back. It rumbled and voice built to a crescendo before roaring a monstrous howl, rattling the dungeon around them.

    "Go for its legs!" Sean screamed, skittering back to dig a paw into the Treasure Bag desperately. He had memorised the pouches he placed their items into long ago, but panic affected that experience.

    Right as Sean dug out a blast seed, Mane's Fire Blast impacted with the tyranitar's chest. He could punch above his weight with that move but the tyranitar didn't even grunt from the explosive impact. Its tail lashed and it fell onto all fours, roaring out again as its maddened eyes glowed white.

    Energy built and coalesced around the tyranitar before it howled again, rocks emerging from nowhere to crash down at Team Ion.

    All three were forced to scatter in different direction; Sean ran back further, Rai darted to the left, and Mane staggered to the right. His injured leg slowing him down and allowing a large rock to slam into his side and knock him back.

    "MANE!" Sean yelled as the litleo fell to the ground, unmoving.

    His eyes flicked between his fallen teammate and the approaching tyranitar, stalled in what to do. His mind raced a thousand miles a minute, but all he could think of was, "DANGER!"

    He scrambled back as the tyranitar took a swipe at him, dodging the claws of the whole hand without much trouble. Its eyes flashed again, and more rocks were generated. It sent them crashing down all at Sean as he stopped thinking as he had evading Dusknoir.

    Dropping the Treasure Bag, Sean ducked, jumped, and weaved around the rocks. A few pebbles pounded his belly and his tail was jarred by a fairly large rock slamming into it, but he avoided the hail of rocks without much injury.

    Then the tyranitar's hand shot out and grabbed his arm.

    In dodging the Rock Slide, Sean had stopped thinking and had gotten closer to the tyranitar rather than further away. He shrieked and slashed out with his claws, but neither Scratch nor Night Slash had much effect on the monster.

    It rumbled a rising roar and snared him with both hands, gripping his shoulder and squeezing down with crushing strength until his bones began to give in. Sean shrieked as his bones creaked and the tyranitar opened its mouth wide. His back arched and his face froze in a silent scream before he dropped completely limp, tail dangling uselessly.

    There was a moment of brief hesitation from the feral tyranitar, confused about why its prey stopped moving. This moment was enough for Rai to regain his baring and unleash electrical hell upon the tyranitar. Nailing it right in the eye.

    It howled, the electricity arcing right through its stony shell and burning various injuries on its body, dropping Sean into the ground. The tyranitar screamed and lifted its foot to stomp the only threat it could fathom to have done this into paste.

    Rai burst through the gap in its legs, pounced on Sean, and rolled him out of the way as the heavy foot smashed down, shaking the battlefield.

    The experience of a shinx tackling him was familiarly safe enough that Sean blinked and returned to the present moment. Rai rolled off him and blasted the tyranitar again, yelling some indecipherable to Sean's ears. It stumbled briefly but then snarled, moving forward no matter how much electricity Rai put into it.

    Rai glowed like a cloud on a stormy night, pumping bolt after lightning bolt into it.

    With his ears ringing and heart beat audible through it, Sean's eyes fell a few feet before the tyranitar's spiky foot.

    There among the fallen stones and sand rested an innocent reddish seed. The blast seed Sean had dropped after the first volley of stones.

    "Rai!" he yelled, perhaps louder then he needed but his ears were still ringing. "Let it come forward."

    Rai didn't turn to him upon his first word but gave him an incredulous look after he had finished. "Are you mad?" he demanded but Sean pointed wordlessly.

    Rai's eyed did not catch the blast seed and Sean explained. "Hit the blast seed when it stands on it!"

    The unthinking feral had no comprehension of their words, only that the small fluffy electrical monster had stopped zapping it. It growled hungrily and began to charge forward.

    "NOW!"

    Rai gave a battle cry and put all his effort into the tyranitar's left foot, right as it crunched the blast seed.

    Its leg jerked upon the electricity before being sharply spasmed by the explosion below it, twisting the tyranitar's leg and causing it to collapse forwards with a bellowing cry. It fell to one knee, other leg twisted.

    Sean raced forward and snatched the Treasure Bag before the tyranitar fell on it and dug his paw right into the seed pouch, grabbing two sleep seeds just to be sure. The tyranitar was already glowing again, ready to send another rocky rain down on them, by the time Sean reached it.

    He still had to clamber it, but knocking it down was out of the question now.

    Its mouth was parted in a growing roar and he cut his paw on a tooth in his haste to force the seeds into its mouth.

    "Get back!" Rai yelled and Sean didn't waste any time, the seeds wouldn't have an immediate effect and they needed to get clear before the Rock Slide came.

    Rai grabbed the groaning Mane and Sean leaped on them both, covering the trio with the Treasure Bag as one last volley of stones fell.

    One particularly rude stone hit the Treasure Bag, but its impact was softened by all the items inside, items now crushed and mushed together.

    The stones finished crashing and the tyranitar made one last pitiful moan before it slumped and began to snore.

    Sean warily lifted the bag and stared out at the battlefield. Stones were everywhere, scorch marks littered several surfaces, the sand had been kicked up and was still falling to the ground, and a behemoth slumbered.

    "Let's go," Sean said, and Rai agreed, he helped Rai carry mane out of that terrible area as quickly as possible. Once they were clear he scooped out some of the now-mashed oran berries and smoothed some over Mane's injured side before helping him eat the remainder.

    "That was awful," Mane sighed once he could feel his paws again. "Let's never do THAT again."

    "Agreed," Rai and Sean said in chorus before smiling at each other.

    "You two are so adorable," Mane commented before stretching with a sharp intake of breath. "Oww."

    "That's your leg and your side now," Rai pointed out worriedly. "Are you sure you can go on?"

    "I'll be fine," Mane said, feeling out all four paws and his tail. He gave a puff of flame and grinned. "They haven't put me down yet."

    "Are you sure?" Sean asked seriously. He examined Mane's side. He had brushed as much of the sand off him as he could before spreading the mashed berries against his side, but the gash still left him uncomfortable. "You took a nasty hit."

    "Thanks for your concern," Mane said dryly and shrugged out of his grip. "You don't need to fuss, I'm fine. There's the small matter of world saving that needs to be done, little injuries aren't going to be stopping me here! I'd need to be dying." After a moment he added. "Eh, nah. Not even that."

    "Let's not talk about that," Rai said, stepping up by Mane's side.

    "What part?" Mane grinned as Sean stepped out in front to begin leading again. "World or me?"

    "Just… all of it."

    "You got it."

    From there Mane began to talk about all the feet they had been seeing during their interim in acting as sentries of the guild. Sean didn't mind, now that the tyranitar was dealt with he was feeling the eyes again. But no matter where he looked, across the sand dunes and in the hungry eyes of the feral pokémon, he found no sign.

    "First rule of 'it's nothing' is that it's never nothing," Sean thought, dearly hoping it was just sandshrew and not more tyranitar.

    He let Mane's chatter lull those thoughts away as they trekked through the rest of the dungeon.


    "What the hell is this shit?" Mane demanded, glaring at the quicksand with utter loathing. "Dirt AND water? No."

    Rai stared at the quicksand for a bit before taking a few steps back. "Yeah this is… weird," Rai agreed, looking to Mane. "This is the end of the dungeon, I think? The air isn't as stifled."

    Sean gazed at the falling sand in silence, he distantly felt Rai and Mane's eyes on him, but he couldn't really hear what they were saying. "This is the entrance," he thought, mind racing. "And I still have no idea how to convince them to jump in."

    It was an unsettling thought to have while staring at the deserts answer to a whirlpool. The idea of willingly jumping into that, even with the knowledge he was certain of, was unnerving. "This IS the entrance. It is. I know it is. I know. I know it is. I just… I know. So stop thinking of drowning, that can't even happen with quicksand. This whole thing isn't even quicksand."

    Sean's eyes cleared, that was an idea. Another set of eyes narrowed in closer.

    "Hey, I don't think this is all there is to see," Sean said lightly, tearing his eyes from the swirling sands to meet his companions' eyes. "There's more. I know it."

    Mane wet his lips and looked to Rai before asking. "…How?"

    Sean smiled confidently and jabbed a paw at the sand. "That's not quicksand," he said proudly. His pride was somewhat deflated by the blank, yet disbelieving, expressions his two companions wore.

    "It's moving," Rai said, not wanting to outright disagree with Sean. "Sand doesn't really do that on its own."

    "Neither does quicksand," Sean countered, causing Rai to adopt a small thoughtful frown. He waved at the sand again. "Quicksand just sits there, plus you can't even sink in quicksand, but that sand is sinking. There's something down there, something big. Like a cave. I don't think this is the end."

    Rai cast a furtive look at the sand while Mane still wore a combative expression. "And… what?" he asked, trotting forward to Sean. "What are you suggesting? We just jump into it?"

    "Yep." Sean beamed, hoping the positivity would throw Mane off.

    It did.

    "Wha? I…? What?"

    Sean swept an arm at it again and stepped forward gingerly. "You can't sink in quicksand," he repeated. "So, even if I'm wrong, this isn't dangerous. If you'd like, you both stay there for the moment." His feet met some harder stones and he grimaced.

    They did not look happy as he approached the whirlpools. "The real danger is just getting stuck so if I'm wrong, I might need some help getting out. But if I'm right." He cast a confident grin back at them, not completely feeling it. "Then remember the 'whirlpool' image that was found at Fogbound Lake?"

    Rai brightened and even Mane appeared more receptive to the idea. "You're right! Where else would you find a whirlpool on land?"

    Sean nodded excitedly. "Exactly, this is-" Whatever genius Sean thought he was going to impart would be unheard as his footing suddenly changed as the ground dissolved and Sean lost his balance completely. "WOAH!"

    He swung his arms rapidly trying to get balance, but his paws had touched the sand and all stability had abandoned him and he fell face first into the whirlpool.

    He had intended to go feet first, so this was an unwelcome expedition of the process.

    "Sean!" Rai gasped as Sean staggered and jumped forward instinctively when the meowth fell. He also fell in the sand. Mane cursed and lunged, grabbing Rai's tail with his mouth, but his injured leg combined with Rai's momentum pulled him in as well.

    Yellow eyes brightened when the three pokémon disappeared. "Ah. So, that's the trick."

    Rai and Mane yelled at in shock as the sand turned to air and they fell. "Watch OUT!" Sean called from below, brushing sand out of his eyes. He didn't consider he'd need to evade them and the two larger felines landed on top of him.

    There was plenty of thick sand to fall in, but instead they fell on him.

    "Ugh, what happened?" Mane groaned, pulling himself off Rai's back. "Oh. I'm not complaining."

    "Get off me," Rai grunted, and Mane acquiesced, letting him free. "Where's Sean?" he asked, looking around. "I could have sworn I heard him."

    The mound below him shifted and Rai squeaked, startling back and into a different mount of sand. Sean arose from the sand dune like a sandy beast, shifting it all around him before it cascaded off his fur him steams of brown and gold.

    "Bleh!" Sean coughed, spitting and cursing. "Did you HAVE to land on me?" he demanded, rubbing his sandy paws into his sandy eyes while his sandy tongue dried his sandy mouth. "And in sand too. This is the worst, it's coarse and rough and gets EVERWHERE!"

    "Shake it off, sunshine," Mane said, trotting over to thump him on the back, sand flying off him with each blow. "You literally asked for this."

    "I asked for the sand," Sean grumbled, rubbing enough sand off him to see. "Not two pokémon falling from the sky and landing on me."

    "Come on," Mane laughed. "That's like… two of my fantasies at once."

    "There's a cave here," Rai said, bringing their attention to the yawning chasm before them.

    "Three fantasies."

    "And I think we're trapped." Rai pointed up and they looked, motes of light trickled through parts of the sand, but most of it was a moving ceiling hundreds of meters up. "How are we going to get out?"

    "Trapped underground with no way out?" Mane muttered before brightening. "Four fantasies."

    Sean groaned but pushed himself forward and out of the sand dune, more sand was sprinkling him anyway. "We'd better go. There will probably be hordes of pokémon ahead."

    They gave Mane a pointed look and he hastened to catch up. "Don't need to tell me twice!" He grinned, trotting up by Sean's side. "Five fantasies."

    Sean rolled his eyes while Rai gave Mane a perplexed frown as the three journeyed forward. Sean wouldn't say it, but he knew they had entered the Quicksand Cave. Something was niggling at his mind though, some tiny fact he felt he was missing.

    It reminded him uncomfortably of forgetting the Drought Stone at Fogbound Lake, but he was almost certain there was no such object here. It was the sand whirlpools that was the secret here, that he was certain of.

    So what? What was it?

    "Is your leg okay, actually?" Sean asked.

    "I'm fiiine, kitty."

    Something heavy thumped into the sand behind them and all three cast a curious look back, seeing a rocky spire being buried in sand and were relieved they hadn't fallen on that.

    "I hope the others are going well," Rai said pleasantly as they walked further into the dungeon. Light coming from somewhere unviewable. "Solemn Valley sounds a bit… well. But Crystal Cave sounds pretty at least? And Trickling Sand Dungeon, wonder what that's about?"

    The feeling hit Sean harder, but no matter how he tried to obtain it, the more the information slipped away. Yellow eyes tracked the three as they began down a randomly chosen pathway.

    The Quicksand Cave was more or less the same as the basic Northern Desert dungeon had been. There weren't as many Grass-type pokémon, but Rai still had targets to zap. He teamed with Mane to knock a mawile out and dropped a skorupi without much effort.

    One plus was the coolness of the dungeon, compared to the ever-present heat and sunlight of the above-ground dungeon, the Quicksand Cave was cool on their paws, if a lot mustier on their noses.

    The sounds of trickling water began to reach their ears as they journeyed deeper and deeper. Distant booms sent all three of them on edge as the number of feral pokémon dropped to zero.

    There was not an enemy soul to be seen as they trekked onwards, only the remains of destroyed stone, scraps of shells, one gruesome find they stumbled onto was the horn-jaws of a mawile, and nothing else.

    Many uneasy looks were exchanged, and Sean sent more and more looks behind him. To make matters worse on his nerves, Rai and Mane also began to glance behind them.

    "We're not being followed, are we?" Rai whispered, finally saying it.

    "We'll be ready if anything is," Mane growled, pawing at the dirt.

    They went further, the gruesome objects disappeared as destruction took precedence. Walls were broken, sand was turned into glass, the dungeon itself seemed to be scarred, the wreckage being clearly old and yet still it remained.

    "This isn't supposed to happen," Rai stated, admiring a broken wall as Sean picked up a smoothed piece of glass. He stashed it in the Treasure Bag as Mane urged them onwards.

    The dungeon began to widen and the three picked up speed, happily leaving behind the chaos in the passageways. Only when they entered a wide room did it occur to them that they may have moving closer to whatever had done this, rather than away from it.

    The Underground Lake was wide and beautiful. Stalagmites and stalactites rose up and down in the massive room, some meeting to become thick columns in the room. Or, at least, used to before something blasted them apart.

    A soft cerulean light emanated from well into the lake, casting the room into view. The light permeated everything, setting everything with a bluish tint. Sand drifted in the air, clouding the soft light and causing the air itself to appear turquoise.

    A thin, pink, pokémon laid sprawled by the lakes edge, unmoving.

    It was that which caught their eyes first.

    "Oh no!" Rai gasped, running forward. "We're too late! That pokémon looks like Uxie and-"

    The day seemed to be one of surprises as Mesprit's eyes snapped open and she floated up. Her head was bowed, and her red appendages drooped lifelessly by her side.

    Mesprit's twin tails acted differently, one was bent and clearly broken, twitching, the other was painfully straight and hung out like a needle.

    "Oh-uh-um. Hello," Rai said, stopping in his tracks when Mesprit floated up. Mesprit's head cocked and he lifted it, twisting it further as she did so.

    The red gem on her forehead glimmered bright but flashed and stuttered, going from crimson to a more pinkish hue at times. One of her yellow eyes was squeezed shut, the other one was cloudy yet as it fell on Rai, her pupil contracted and her other eye opened, both gleaming a malevolent yellow.

    "What aRE you?" Mesprit asked, voice coming from everywhere besides Mesprit herself. It was pained, it was feverish, it was furious. "You are. You. You. You. YOU!"

    Mesprit wailed an unearthly sound of furious agony, causing all three members of Team Ion to clamp their ears shut. Even then it went straight through and rocked their minds. Mane burst into tears in sudden grief while Sean felt a near-uncontrollable desire to hurt things. Rai felt nothing at all and just stood there, eyes going blank under Mesprit's agonised assault.

    Her screams faded and the three blinked, emotions returning. The disorientation was extreme, however, and none of them reacted in time when Mesprit sent a visible wave of pure energy at them.

    They were blasted off their feet and landed in a heap, Mane gasping out in pain when Sean landed on his injured side.

    All the while Mesprit screamed. "KILL. MAIM. BURN. KILL. MAIM. BURN."

    The pressure of her Psychic powers crushed the sand floating in the air into glass and Mesprit howled and threw her power at the roof. A booming crash echoed out through the Underground Lake and more sand fell from the room as Mesprit cracked a bigger hole in it.

    Large rocks fell into the lake, splashing out waves of water that enveloped Mesprit for a moment.

    Rai, always the quickest to react, shot a Thunderbolt at the doused Mesprit and she wailed in agony, the sheer pain of her voice stopped Rai. His mercy was not accepted and Mesprit sent a storm of flashing stars at him.

    Multiple eruptions of the Swift knocked Rai into the wall and he bounced off with a sharp cry of pain.

    "Got any bright ideas?" Mane hissed through the throbbing pain, Sean had dragged him behind one of the only remaining rocks that wasn't rubble.

    "This is insanity," Sean babbled. "Malarkey. What is going on? Why is she so violent?"

    "Great he's gone too." Mane pulled himself up and ran out in Mesprit's view. "HEY PINK AND STUPID!?"

    Mesprit's maddened eyes fell on him and Mane unleashed a Fire Blast. The kanji was swept aside with a wave of Mesprit's arm before she grabbed him in a Psychic grip. Mane choked as every bit of air was forced out of his lungs.

    Sean poked his head out from behind the rock and tried to take stock of the situation. Mane, levitating in the air and choking. That was a priority. Rai, rubbing his head and trying to remember how to blink with both eyes, not good but Mane was now not breathing.

    Sean took a deep breath and jabbed his paw with a claw, he lifted it up and tried to aim at Mesprit. "Come on, come on," he muttered continuously under his breath, willing the Shadow Ball. He feared that the the only reason he had gotten results earlier was due to of Dusknoir's help, possibly leaving some residual power.

    He desperately hoped that wasn't the case. Both for his own sake in using the move, and also not wanting any residual Dusknoir on him.

    His blood began to smoke as Mane's thrashing became weaker. "It has to work. Come on come on COME ON." Something dark bubbled and smoked, forming into a darkly glowing blob. "NOW!"

    He threw the Shadow Ball straight at Mesprit. It was too small by far and bounced off her. "Shit."

    Mesprit's eyes fell on him and Sean repeated that with more emotion. "Shit!"

    She tossed Mane aside, the litleo sending up a splash as he fell in the lake, and flew at him with a banshee shriek. "SHIIIT!"

    He tried to run from the rock, but she blew it apart and knocked him into the air. Before he could even begin to fall, she had telekinetically snared him and was subjecting him to Mane's treatment. Mesprit squeezed the air out of his lungs before grimacing in pain and dropping him.

    She tore at her scalp and writhed in mid-air, Sean gasped for breath looking for Rai but he was only now stumbling forward.

    Whatever pain Mesprit was in was unrelated to Rai.

    Mane gasped for breath as he broke through the water, clambering up onto the shore looking like a drowned rattata. He turned blazing eyes on Mesprit and breathed in deep, he didn't bother with a Fire Blast, but an Ember was scattered and harder to avoid.

    Mesprit shrieked when the fire struck her but groaned quietly when Rai blasted her with Thunderbolt. Sean crawled to his feet, one paw pressed against his chest as he struggled to breathe and stumbled away before turning and pointing his bloodied claw.

    Another Shadow Ball formed and through the haze he determined it to be the right size and lobbed it as the writing Mesprit.

    It bounced off her. Again.

    Sean growled at himself and tried to go again, but Mesprit had decided she was done with this.

    She swiped out and threw Mane at Rai, bowling him over, before generating a storm of Swift. She was chanting and screaming words as she sent a shooting star shower at them.

    Sean tried to slash out at the Swift stars, but for the few he stopped, all the more bombarded him. Rai and Mane didn't have time to do more then brace before rippling explosions of energy crashed through the whole team.

    "You know?" Sean whimpered once the storm was over and Mesprit began doing pained flips in the air. "I'm glad we didn't actually fight Uxie."

    "I'd take another three Groudon to this," Rai groaned.

    "I'd even settle for a damn mega tyranitar," Mane coughed.

    "Okay." Sean began the arduous task of rolling to his feet. "I'm sick of this."

    "Yeah," Rai agreed, pulling himself up. "I'm in agreement."

    "Now who's talking all fancy," Mane coughed and was helped up by both his teammates. "Let's get this bitch."

    Mesprit stopped twirling to glare at them. Her head twitched back and forth. "HAAATE," she groaned. "HAAATE."

    "Agree."

    Sean was able to breathe properly again, his lungs aching and causing him to cough.

    They had no idea what had happened to Mesprit, but they weren't willing to run.

    "Sean, maybe your Night Slash can do some work again?" Rai asked. "It messed up Uxie's illusion, maybe it'll do something to her?"

    "What about your Bite?" Mane asked.

    Rai snarled a soft breath. "Yeah, I think can manage that."

    "Cool. I'll be the bait then."

    "What, n-"

    Mane didn't wait for permission, jumping out from behind the stone and taking her attention again. His legs ached and nearly buckled, but he pushed hard and hit a Quick Attack, evading a blast of force that made the air ripple and their ears pop.

    As Mane leapt through the air, he turned a flaming maw towards Mesprit and breathed an Ember storm in her face.

    She didn't seem to enjoy pain and shrieked, Mane thoroughly distracting her as intended.

    Rai leapt out and summoned lightning. Stunning Mesprit in a flash of golden light.

    Sean leapt out last but the quickest of the three, his right paw fading into darkness as his claws extended into a Night Slash sabre. Aimed straight at Mesprit's unguarded back.

    He connected and her levitation failed her, the light spirit of emotion being pinned by a similarly light scrawny meowth.

    Mane collapsed as he landed and Rai bolted in after Sean, mouth sinking into darkness himself and latching onto her neck like a wild pokemon.

    Mesprit shrieked and thrashed but they managed to hold her long enough that her eyes stopped rolling, slowly focusing on Sean and Rai. "W-what?"

    Mesprit struggled against them but was still disorientated. Not so much she couldn't dislodge them, however. She punted Rai and Sean off her.

    Mane went to breathe fire on her but Mesprit held a hand up. "Wait." And he did so, pausing with fire crackling in his mouth.

    Mesprit took a few deep breaths before cracking her eyes open, yellow now clear and without fog. "Who are you?"

    "Who are we?" Mane demanded, fire spilling out a bit. He spat the fire out and went again. "Who are YOU?"

    "I'm Mesprit," she snapped back, headache pounding. "I am the Guardian of the Deep Underground Lake and-" She paused suddenly and turned swiftly to where the Time Gear laid. Mesprit breathed a sigh of relief, the gear yet remained in place.

    "Why did you attack us?" Rai asked, voice somewhat gentle but still coloured with anger. "And why were you in such a state? You were mad!"

    "I was?" Mesprit asked before groaning and rubbing her head. "The last I remember… what was it?" She straightened up sharply. "Uxie. He was telling us of the loss of his Time Gear. But before I could end our connection he was frozen in time. My mind, being connected to… that." Mesprit shuddered. "I don't even know what that would have done to me."

    "Well I can tell you," Mane cut in snottily. "You were, let's see, completely insane, wrecked everything, scared the damn feral pokémon away, and tried to kill us while chanting kill, death, destroy!"

    "Oh." Mesprit's expression turned incredibly guilty. "I… I apologise greatly." She looked around, taking in the destroyed pillars, wrecked stalactites, broken stalagmites, and crushed glass. Some more of the room fell in and splashed into the lake while Mane held a very superior look. "There is no amount of regret I can express, but I implore your forgiveness. I have only just lost my brother and… and."

    Mesprit covered her face, but only for a moment. She dropped her hands with a fierce look. "And I must protect the Time Gear. That is my purpose. That is what Uxie would have wanted me to do. The thief will come here regardless, I can get my revenge on him then."

    She sagged. "Oof, my head. I don't know how long I've been in that state."

    "Like… a couple months," Sean said, glancing at Rai for confirmation of how long it had been since Fogbound Lake and Mesprit gasped.

    "That long? My word." She held her head for a moment longer. "I need rest, a lot of it, to recover from this."

    She looked to Team Ion and Rai's ears perked up. "Wait?" he asked as Sean's tail twitched. He felt eyes on him. "You said Uxie told you his Time Gear was lost?"

    "Yes." Mesprit nodded.

    "So, do you know who the thief is?" Rai asked excitedly. "We are members of the Wigglytuff Guild, we are trying to find and stop this thief. But if we know who it is then the job will be so much easier!"

    "You did succeed in snapping me out of my enraged state," Mesprit said appreciatively, she looked to Sean and Rai. "Thank you for that Night Slash and Bite, funny enough to thank for that. The Dark Energy must have been enough to cancel my connection to Uxie's blankness, it's a psychic connection after all." She smiled and Sean tried to give one back, he looked behind him eyes widening. "To answer your question Shinx, yes. I do know. The thief is-"

    "Me," Grovyle said, stepping into the room.

    "Gr-ah?" Mesprit paused as Rai and Mane turned curiously. Rai's expression initially brightened upon seeing Grovyle while Mane's eyes narrowed.

    "Grovyle!" Rai beamed as Grovyle stepped forward. "It feels like it's been so long! How did you…?" he trailed off, what Mesprit was saying and Grovyle's first word dawning on him. "Get here?"

    "You," Mesprit's voice shivered, dipping back into her earlier madness and a distant droning sound began to fill everyone's ears. "Y͉̞Ò̞̥͚͈͉ͫͫU̜̤͖ͣ͒̑ͬ̆!"

    Mesprit lunged forward, arms outstretched as her expression turned to a murderous rage. Grovyle's arms shone green and right as Mesprit reached him with an agonised screech, Grovyle slashed.

    Mesprit was sent flying back, green line being replaced with red on her chest. Her exhaustion from months of madness mixed with the exhaustion of the battle was finally too much and with that one Leaf Blade, Mesprit fell.

    Grovyle's head was bowed and both Sean and Rai froze up. Rai stared forward, eyes unseeing, while Sean began to tremble.

    The one who wasn't so paralysed, however?

    "Hey, FUCKER!" Mane roared out, fire streaming from his mouth in three Fire Blasts, all sent flying into Grovyle. Grovyle mouth parteed and lifted his hands, an Energy Ball formed, and he lobbed it. The first Fire Blast exploded. Two more Energy Ball's settled the next two and smoke plumed out from the explosions.

    Mane formed an Ember attack and sent it into the cloud, hitting nothing. The smoke cleared and Grovyle was gone. Mane blinked. "Did I scare him off?" he asked before Sean's eyes fell on the small hole.

    "Mane!" he cried, trying to alert the baffled Mane. "He's-"

    The interruptions continued as Grovyle burst from below Mane, driving a harsh uppercut into the litleo's chin and knocking him into the air. His hand snapped up and snatched Mane by the tail and he threw him back into the lake.

    That made up Sean's mind. Eyes falling from Grovyle and unheeding Rai, he leaped in after Mane. The litleo couldn't really swim. Not after hitting the water head first he was sure.

    Eyes cracked open he spotted the thrashing litleo quickly and paddled as fast as he could. Mane saw him coming and tried to say something, only losing a mouthful of air in the process.

    Sean's claws dug into Mane's fur and he began yanking him up as the distant sounds of crackling electricity bounced through the water in thunder-like rumbles.

    Sean's head broke water and he gasped before hoisting Mane up and out of the water, splatting the waterlogged Fire-type cat on solid ground. Mane gasped for breath and began to cough violently, and Sean dragged himself out.

    "I TRUSTED YOU!" Rai was screaming, voice cracking and electricity crackling. He fired Thunderbolt's too fast for Sean to keep track of, but Grovyle could. Not a single arc of electricity touched his scales and not a single word left his mouth.

    The agile Grass-type threw an Energy Ball at the ground and knocked up a plume of sand, obscuring him long enough to go underground again.

    "Rai, he's-"

    Grovyle burst from underground and delivered the same uppercut to Rai as he had Mane, but Rai fell back and landed near the entrance to the lake.

    Mane was still coughing. Mesprit was down. Rai's head was ringing almost as bad as his heart was squeezing but he was still trying to stand as Grovyle put his back to Rai. Sean was the only one left to stand in front of Grovyle.

    There was no time left to think. Grovyle paused briefly, meeting Sean's eyes and only his eyes. There was a sympathy there, also a regret, and lastly a steely resolution.

    Sean's claws extended. "Don't take another step." Grovyle understood why the act had to be made. He did not realise that it may not have been entirely an act.

    Sean's eyes flicked to movement behind Grovyle and Grovyle saw it, taking it as a warning. Sean didn't have time to even begin to speak, and he would have been too late regardless.

    Rai, with tears in his eyes, had leaped for Grovyle, mouth completely saturated in Dark Energy. His Bite attack was going for the neck, to knock Grovyle out without any chance for recovery.

    Grovyle had lived in the Dark Future. A world where one had to be on ones' toes at all times, as at any moment an attacker could go for your back and it was rare for an enemy to ever go for your front.

    Grovyle's senses were honed and his body trained. There was no need for thought, when instincts allowed one to survive such a realm.

    Grovyle twisted on his foot and slashed out, arm shining green. Rai fell, a bloody streak cut into his chest.

    Striker gasped slightly, face twisting into a moment of shame. He had only reacted on reflex, spurred by the flashing in the meowth's eyes. His senses had honed his skills well and he weaved back as Sean's Night Slash came to skewer him, only slicing off a few scales.

    Grovyle's widened eyes met Sean's pinpricked ones for the briefest of moments before Sean landed, left paw landing in Rai's blood.

    With his balance slightly off and mind still shocked at striking down Rai, as well as Sean's sudden attack on him, Grovyle had no way of avoiding the flurry of Shadow Ball's Sean manifested from Rai's blood.

    "If you need blood, you can always use mine." Rai had said earlier.

    The explosive impact from multiple Shadow Ball's blasted Grovyle off his feet and he landed in the lake.

    Sean's pupils had almost disappeared as his whole body shook, drops of inky blackness fell from his bared teeth and mixed with the blood staining the ground. There was no thought or reason left in Sean's mind. He lifted his paw to form more Shadow Ball's and bombard the entire lake until his enemy either fled or drowned.

    "Sean."

    Only to blink. There were few things that could snap through this state, but a pained whimper from Rai was one of them.

    Sean's paws fell down as his eyes cleared and he turned to find Rai whimpering softly, blood dripping from a long gash moving from his belly to his sternum.

    Sean felt his legs go weak and he fell to his knees by Rai. Without speaking he put trembling paws on Rai's wound, his paws being covered in his blood. Paws alone could not do anything. Not his at least.

    Rai's Defence Scarf had been cut in two and he took that off, paws falling into a routine he only distantly remembered learning from Chimecho. He tied it around Rai's wound as best he could before he took his Joy Ribbon off and tying it on a differing part.

    He looked back to his Treasure Bag, before his eyes fell on Mane. The litleo had mostly finished coughing, but more importantly he had the Silver Bow, which had a ribbon as part of it.

    Mane didn't argue when Sean stripped him of it and was by Rai side with him as he tied it on. It wasn't perfect, but at the very least most of the bleeding was staunched.

    "The Time Gear," Mesprit spoke weakly, barely able to pull herself into a floating position. The cerulean light went out and the area darkened a little more even after its removal.

    Grovyle emerged from the water. "You had all best run," he said, not looking at anymore before racing off into the dungeon.

    "N-no." Mesprit tried to reach out a hand, or Psychic, to stop him, but she didn't. "It's gone. And we will all be trapped in time if we don't move immediately!"

    They looked back to where the Time Gear had been, and Sean felt his heart skip a beat. What he was seeing wasn't something his eyes could perceive, but he knew it was happening anyway. Atoms and molecules stopping but not going cold. Simply stopping.

    The void began to stretch and Mesprit burst forward in a show of power. "Staring will get you lost to time!" she said sharply and all three gasped as the ground beneath them disappeared.

    Mesprit raced forward as quick as she could, carrying all three injured pokémon with her in her Psychic grip. Rai moaned and whimpered as his wound was pressed down, but it was better than being frozen in the ever-growing void.

    The final room exited right at the beginning as all dungeons did and the four of them found themselves looking up at the falling sand, sand that would be frozen very quickly. Mesprit began to lift them all up but her hold began to stutter, and she gasped in pain, nearly dropping them.

    "What are we going to do?" Mane yelled but there were no answers, only the approaching nothingness.

    "You are going to escape," Mesprit declared, eyes narrowing. "I may not be as smart as Uxie or as determined as Azelf, but I will not let us all be lost."

    "What are you-" Sean began, and one final time he was interrupted.

    "Stop Grovyle," she said before throwing them with every ounce of power she could muster, rocketing them up out through the sand.

    All three had looked back to Mesprit, yelling her name. All three saw Mesprit smile as the emptiness reached her, locking her in place with arms outstretched. Mesprit's determined eyes grew locked in place, yet blank.

    She was gone.

    Mane and Sean coughed for breath, having inhaled some sand on the trip out, but they were safe. They were outside. The whirlpool began to slow, and Sean grabbed Rai and hoisted him on his back before grabbing Mane by the scruff.

    "MOVE!" he yelled and dragged Mane along until the litleo's feet caught up with them. They ran as more of the desert began to freeze, staying ahead of the nothingness as it finally stopped spreading.

    They continued running until they were out of the dungeon and gasping for breath with everyone staring at them in horror.

    Even faceless Claydol wore an expression of horror.

    "Help," Sean coughed, slumping to the ground. Rai rolled off him, his injuries presented to the pokemon. There was a moment where nothing happened before everything happened. Sean wasn't really there to see it, deciding now was a good time to fall into a daze.

    There was movement. Loud sounds. The curious feeling of teleportation, more movement, and then a lot more shouting.

    The voice that all three members of Team Ion knew intimately as Chimecho forced everyone to stop being so chaotic and she had them in the medical wing, also unfortunately familiar, to rest up.

    None of the three were unconscious, however, just exhausted and injured.

    Rai's injuries were treated first, Chimecho pulling out the sterile water and oran berries again. She muttered deadly things under her breath, but none of them were directed completely at them.

    Rai gave her a bitterly apologetic smile as she tended to him. He had just grown all his fur back, and now he was sliced up. Chimecho didn't ask how or what just yet, for that they were grateful.

    Once she had some time, she splashed the sand off Sean and gave him an oran and sitrus berry. Mane needed a bit more tending to, but once Sean's head had stopped ringing, she let him go.

    He was sturdy. Such a fact Chimecho knew well, and wished she didn't.

    The guild needed some explanations.

    Not everyone was back yet. Team Gazer was certainly not back, and neither were Dusknoir's group. The desert teams, however, plus the leaders had returned and were eager to know what had befallen Team Ion again.

    Sean exited the medical wing to hear some curious sounds.

    "I KNEW it was a mistake sending them there." Chatot's voice was easily heard even through walls. Shouting at someone. "I TOLD YOU and you disagreed. They didn't need to be tested or challenged or whatever was going through that thick skull of yours!" There was a bit of silence as someone else spoke but was too quiet to hear and Sean realised Chatot was yelling at none of than Wigglytuff.

    "Feathers to a skarmory to whatever Dusknoir thinks!" Chatot shouted back. "This was the wrong place to send them when there were much better options!"

    Wigglytuff doors slammed open and Chatot strutted his way out in clear frustrated anger. He spotted a great deal of pokémon staring at him in shock and froze up. Wigglytuff poked his head out with an apologetic look. "Oh, don't mind us," he said. "Sometimes opinions have to be shared."

    Chatot visibly swallowed and, after another look at the guild, turned his head to Wigglytuff and bowed. "My most… humble apologies Guildmaster," he said softly, but still loud enough for his voice to carry. "I see now I was mistaken. I won't question your judgement again."

    Wigglytuff stared at Chatot with a perplexed look. "…No. Don't say that. I don't care if you disagree with me, if no one ever did then I'd be a tyrant."

    Chatot shook his head. "N-no. I see now that Team Ion is fine. Whatever your judgement…"

    "Chatot," Wigglytuff said seriously. "You are allowed to disagree with me in front of the guild."

    The Flying-type gave a frustrated sigh. "A united front is imperative Guildmaster," Chatot said tensely before straightening up and turning around, he wouldn't tolerate this conversation anymore.

    "Now. Meowth. What news do you have to share?" He hopped forward, the guilds eyes all on him. "Perhaps start with how you injured yourselves again."

    "We found a Time Gear," Sean said, not finding any point to beat around the bush. Chatot froze in the middle of a hop and landed on his beak as everyone gasped.

    "WHAT?" Loudred roared above everyone else. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING BEFORE?"

    "Because it's been stolen," Sean snapped, feeling the sudden weight of countless lives. He rubbed his face and sat down. The guild had gone completely silent.

    "We went below the Northern Desert through this sand whirlpool not-quicksand things and landed in this 'Quicksand Cave'. From there we found our way to find Mesprit had gone insane because she was mentally connected with the frozen-in-time Uxie and had to snap her out of it."

    Sean took another breath, just wanting to sleep. "We asked her who the thief was. A-and-" A hundred thoughts flew through his mind, lies, deceits, ways he could spin this so that Grovyle wasn't the bad guy, he could blame someone else and explain everything to Rai and Mane, tell them Dusknoir was the real threat and the Time Gears were dearly needed.

    However, he was a coward. Telling a lie would not end well and telling the truth, the whole truth, would possibly be just as bad.

    "Who was it?" Croagunk asked, closest to Sean.

    "Your pal, Grovyle," a different voice snarled, and the attention moved to behind Sean where Mane was limping forward. "The grassy scum attacked us after the battle, stole the Time Gear, and Mesprit carried us out. She sacrificed herself to the freezing time to get us out."

    Pure disbelief radiated and Mane smirked, he knew they wouldn't believe him. "Ask Sean," he said and looked straight to the meowth.

    Sean met his eyes and wasn't sure what he saw in it. "He's right," he said softly, and the ripple of shock caused the guild to shiver. "Grovyle admitted it, having followed us there. He's the one who slashed Rai and he took off with the Time Gear."

    Everyone was silent. Loudred's mouth gaped in shock. Croagunk's hands dripped venom. Corphish turned around and walked out of the room. Diglett just stared at Sean in confusion.

    The guild began to tremble.

    "Th-this cannot be," Chatot muttered. "No. No-no-no."

    A few stones fell from the cliff.

    "Grovyle was the thief?" Loudred muttered, voice lower then anyone had ever heard it. "He used us?"

    A high whine began to fill the air.

    "He knew so much," Croagunk hummed and shuddering as his eyes fell on his Swap Cauldron.

    The whole cliff shook and that was enough for Chatot to squawk in shock. He flapped into the air as everyone shook, Chimecho gave a yell from where she was working on Rai, as eyes fell on Wigglytuff and the blankest expression on the Fairy-type's face.

    "Eeeeeh."

    The high whine began to grow audible as Wigglytuff began to shake the entire guild.

    "Gahhhhh!"

    Stones began to fall faster and faster as the window shook in their frames, several pieces of glass popped out and fell to the water.

    "G-Guildmaster!" Chatot squawked again, flying to Wigglytuff and flapping panickedly in front of him. "Guildmaster! Guildmaster! Guil-Wigglytuff! Wigglytuff listen to me! Stop! STOP!"

    Wigglytuff was not listening, the crescendo was building and a YOOM-TAH capable of breaking the entire cliff was yawning close to being unleashed.

    Chatot's eyes fell on the window as Corphish fell down from the higher floor. He aimed an Air Slash and shattered it as the shaking grew more intense. With a focused swoop, Chatot slammed into Wigglytuff and drove him out of the broken window and into the sea.

    "Don't think about her," he urged through the shattering of air around them.

    He flapped up desperately, catching one last look at Wigglytuff's frighteningly blank face, before Wigglytuff was dropped in the ocean.

    There was a moment of silence. The guild stopped shaking. Chatot arced backwards and flipped and flapped desperately to be clear of the ocean.

    A thunderous boom shook the entirety of Treasure Town and sent up a burst of water so great that the cliff was drained clear of water for several seconds, the sea itself seeming to hesitate to move back in.

    The water fell in a heavy rain, Chatot reached the cliff just in time before the water knocked him out of the sky and slammed him into the ground. Seawater fell over Treasure Town in blankets, dousing the surprised residents in a sudden shower.

    The water returned and all was silent.

    Chatot shrugged off the impact and leaned over the cliff nervously. Wigglytuff was highly buoyant he had found so there should be little concern for his safety.

    Everyone else's, however. The cliff couldn't take a complete meltdown.

    There the Balloon Pokémon was, floating serenely and getting smacked repeatedly into the cliff. He was on his back, that at least relieved Chatot.

    He flew down quickly and fluttered in place above Wigglytuff who opened his eyes. "Are you well, Guildmaster?"

    "Yes," Wigglytuff answered. "Thank you for getting me out of there Chatot. I would hate to have hurt someone. She just kept flashing through my mind. I'm sorry."

    "Let me get you back in," Chatot said and grabbed Wigglytuff's squishy belly in his talons. Wigglytuff giggled softly and Chatot begun the task of flying them both back up the cliff. It took many wingbeats, but it was nothing the guild number two couldn't handle. He decided not to go back through the broken window and instead deposited Wigglytuff by the grate.

    Wigglytuff took a moment to breathe before standing up. "Chatot," he said, pausing the bird before they went in. "I want you to know you are my most trusted partner. Thank you for always standing by my side."

    Chatot had to turn away lest he show inappropriate emotions, which was any emotion at all. "It… honours me to hear that."

    Wigglytuff smiled as they entered the guild, hefting the gate open to let Chatot through first.


    Mane was allowed to continue roaming free without much disgruntlement on Chimecho's side, and Sean was allowed out of course, she ordered Rai to remain in care for at least a day though.

    The wound wasn't serious now that it had been treated, but it wasn't pleasant by any means and she wouldn't see it be infected.

    Everyone else besides Team Gazer eventually returned, Dusknoir seemed in a filthy mood which only grew worse upon the news being shared. His fingers twitched a great deal but was unnoticed amidst Sunflora's dramatics and Dugtrio's sudden depressing haiku's.

    Sean went for a walk to clear his head; his claws were tingling, and he couldn't stop thinking of the encounter with Grovyle at the lake. To be honest he had half expected the gear to already be gone, he vaguely remembered Grovyle mentioning something about Mesprit. Azelf too. It made his head spin to try and think of it.

    Part of him hoped Grovyle understood that he had to fight him to maintain cover. Part of him hated that. A bigger part of him was incredibly angry with the Grass-type. Injuring Rai so severely was close to unforgiveable. If he had….

    Sean rubbed his face, hoping to rub the anxiety off. And the feeling of being watched was still present. Even here, at the beach he was supposed to have woken up on.

    Sean stared into the waters and wondered how things had gone like this.

    While Sean was off brooding, Mane had stumbled his way to the shared room. No one offered to help, of course. He slumped down on his sheet-less bed and groaned into the straw

    He fell asleep quickly.

    The guild conferred to discuss what had been learned. The bad was extreme, but Grovyle had been identified. No one mentioned Wigglytuff's episode. The good was nice to hear, however.

    Dusknoir had solved a puzzle in Crystal Cave and they had discovered Azelf and the location of the fifth Time Gear. There was no question brought up of Dusknoir's foul mood before learning Mesprit had been defeated and that gear lost.

    While the guild spoke and deliberated, Dusknoir excused himself to visit Rai.

    "Are you okay, young Shinx?" Dusknoir asked gently, settling down next to the sheet-covered pokémon.

    "I'm in a bit of pain," Rai admitted, face screwed up. "But only a little is my cut."

    "Yes," Dusknoir said heavily. "I heard you were close to Grovyle."

    Rai frowned and looked away from Dusknoir. "It's just," he whispered. "It's just… why? Why is he doing this?"

    "It is best not to ponder minds such as theirs," Dusknoir said, giving Rai a gentle stroke of the head. "Just focus on turning your pain into determination to stop this madness."

    Rai nodded, leaning into the cool touch for a moment. "It still hurts," he muttered. "I looked up to him. Just like I look up to you. He was so friendly, so helpful. He taught Night Slash to Meowth and saved us in Mount Horn."

    Dusknoir gave a brief laugh, something he passed off as a cough. "There are many pokémon that can act so well. Convince you they are your friend, your mentor, your partner even. Never telling you the truth, or at least not the full truth. They leave out enough to pass an inspection, confide in you enough so that you feel like they trust you. When in actuality, they see you as nothing more than a means to an end."

    "You're very wise," Rai said quietly, looking up to him. "Has something like this happened to you before, Dusknoir?"

    Dusknoir was quiet for a moment, he stopped petting Rai. "Yes," he said, after that moment. He resumed petting Rai, hand cooling the headache he had. "It is a terrible thing to suffer, I would not wish it on anyone."

    Rai nodded and Dusknoir sat in a solemn peace. "Tell me about your partners," Dusknoir said. "To move our minds from such a bleak topic. What is this litleo on your team? I've heard rumours that the two of you did not always get along… so well."

    Rai cracked a smile, he had a feeling Dusknoir was thinking of their argument he broke up. "Litleo is difficult at times," he said, still smiling. "Well, all the time really. We haven't had an easy time, but I think he's really changed so I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt and go easier on him."

    Dusknoir nodded. "And what of your meowth partner? Similar whispers say he's a newcomer to this area?"

    Rai brightened considerably. "Meowth is my best friend and… uh." He looked away with an embarrassed look. "He makes me braver," Rai explained. "I wouldn't have joined the guild if it wasn't for him!"

    "Is that so?" Dusknoir hummed, petting Rai and making him sigh. "Where did you meet? No one seems to know, and I must say I do love to learn about my friends."

    "Friends?" Rai's ears flicked and he swallowed, heart thumping. He smiled involuntarily but didn't press it, just hearing Dusknoir say that removed the pain for a moment. "I met him at my other home, Sharpedo Bluff."

    "Ah yes, I know the place." Dusknoir nodded wisely. "How did you meet? Did you get along immediately or was there some time to get to know each other?"

    Rai giggled softly. "He was a bit out of it when I first met him. He was unconscious! And he also, uh." Rai cut himself off there and his ears flicked back. "Well he nearly fell off after I spooked him. I caught him though!" he added as Dusknoir looked a little alarmed.

    "And later on... ugh, I lost my treasure to some thugs out at the beach." His ears flicked further, and he sighed, leaning out of Dusknoir's petting. "I haven't seen it since. Litleo foundit, but it got stolen by someone before he tried to give it back. Probably Grovyle, he was trying to make me go away that time I know it for sure."

    Dusknoir didn't try and pat Rai again, there was a hollow pang in his empty chest on Rai's words, but the shinx did seem liable to spark at any moment.

    "So, why was Meowth unconscious?" Dusknoir asked, concern filtering into his voice. "That seems rather odd."

    Rai hesitated. "He, uh… was just having a nap. You know us felines and sun, cliffs are good for sun…."

    Dusknoir pressed further. "I believe I heard Meowth speaking ill of sand earlier this day," he pointed out and Rai cringed.

    "W-well. He. Uh… he. He didn't tell me. I don't know why he was there." Rai's eyes were darting, refused to look at him, tense shoulders. Dusknoir could see a lie very easily.

    "And you have no idea?" Dusknoir asked curiously, not risking alienating Rai and pointing out the lie. "You've known him for months now!"

    "I… don't think he remembers," Rai admitted, speaking softly.

    "No?"

    "No."

    "Hmm." Dusknoir rubbed the area below his eye. "It sounds like amnesia to me. Unconscious and doesn't remember why."

    Rai breathed out a little easier, it was okay if Dusknoir guessed it right?

    "And he doesn't remember anything?" Dusknoir asked and Rai tensed again. "Not a dream? Scrap of memory? Not his name?"

    Rai didn't respond, going tense.

    Dusknoir paused. "He remembers his name, surely?"

    "Y-yes, I guess he would."

    Dusknoir paused and let Rai take a few breaths. There was something interesting here, and he was going to get to the bottom of it. "I know it isn't my place, but would you tell me his name?"

    Rai stilled and looked up to him with a wary expression. "Why would you want to know, Dusknoir?"

    Dusknoir knew he had to play this hand very carefully, Rai had never gazed at him with anything less than adoration. "I do not wish to confuse or alarm anyone," he began with, alarming Rai. "But I believe I know Meowth."

    Rai's eyes widened. "You… do?"

    "Perhaps. He was a fierce friend, quick and proud. We knew each other quite well, but he was always too quick for me." Dusknoir gave a chuckle and looked warmly at Rai. "It seems you are more than able to keep up with him though."

    Rai smiled lightly as Dusknoir continued. "I haven't seen him in some time, however. Not since we both decided to look into the issues with time, separately unfortunately. I have been hoping to find him and request his assistance, but there hasn't been no hide or hair of him."

    Dusknoir sighed, shoulders slumping. "I can't help but worry for him, it's in my nature. He's very much the kind to get himself into a sticky situation and almost always winds up injured afterwards."

    Rai laughed at the pointed comment. "That's… yeah."

    Dusknoir waited but Rai gave nothing more, so he spoke again. "There was one thing we both knew before splitting apart, however." Dusknoir adopted a guilty look to Rai's confusion. "For a long time there has been an enemy of ours. One who will go to any length to get what he wants. I feared to believe it, but from today there is no doubt in my mind. Grovyle."

    Rai gasped and jolted up in bed. "You know him?"

    Dusknoir nodded sadly. "Once he was a noble pokémon," he mourned, staring out into space. "Now he is corrupted by madness. I never thought he'd truly go to these lengths, but to take the Time Gears…"

    He trailed off and Rai swallowed. "Grovyle knew you both?

    Dusknoir nodded sadly. "Indeed. When I had heard a Grovyle accompanied you to Fogbound Lake I was fearful, but your meowth partner seemed unharmed so I thought that perhaps the sense of familiarity I was detecting was mistaken and I was merely feeling hopeful."

    The Ghost-type gave a bitter laugh. "But if he truly has amnesia, then it is possibly Grovyle may have used that against him. Those with amnesia often cling to any hope of recovering their past, something Grovyle would eagerly use. To turn him against me, that would be a blow like none other."

    Rai swallowed and nodded, shaking slightly. "He told m-me that G-Grovyle said that he might k-know him."

    Dusknoir looked as grave as death. "Then Grovyle thought he recognised him as I have. Though Grovyle has made an error." Rai's ears perked at that. "The Underground Lake. He would have damaged the sense of trust there, but it is not likely completely broken. Grovyle is wily and manipulative and if he gets the chance, he may try to turn Meowth still. That is, unless, he believes this is not the same meowth anymore."

    Rai swallowed and Dusknoir went for the finisher. "Please, Shinx. I must know if this is truly my friend. I am almost sure, but I cannot act unless I am certain. What is his name?"

    "I…" Rai hesitated, eyes stormy. "I promised I wouldn't say anything," he thought to himself, as he stared into Dusknoir single eye. "But this might be what Sean's been waiting for. If Grovyle really does know him, he knows he's his enemy. That's why he looked at him at the lake, that's why he wanted to talk to him alone. He wanted to turn him to his side."

    Despite it all, Rai still hesitated. "C-can't you ask him yourself?" he stuttered and Dusknoir's eyes flickered. One finger twitched and he took a longer moment to reply.

    "I'm afraid we… we did not part on the best terms," Dusknoir admitted guiltily. "We had a tremendous argument the last time we were together, a difference of opinions I assure you, and he stormed off. I." Dusknoir turned away, voice growing just the slightest choked. "I said things I shouldn't have. I've seen the way your partner looks at me, I fear his perception of me is warped by our last meeting, the last emotions he had of me."

    Dusknoir covered his face with both hands. "I feared I had lost him. That he was gone forever. My S…" Dusknoir stopped and composed himself. "My grandest of apologies," he said quietly and floated up. "I have wasted enough of your time. Recover well Shinx."

    Rai spluttered and tried to stand. "Dusknoir?" he called and Dusknoir stopped, one hand clenching hard. "I… I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I… you could have… but, no." He shook his head. "I'm sorry for bringing those memories up. I didn't know, but that's no excuse."

    Dusknoir turned back. "I should have told you everything from the start," he said, and Rai wilted under the guilt.

    "No! It's your bad memories, you didn't have to share them and I'm so sorry I've upset you."

    "It is more than alright, Shinx," Dusknoir said warmly and Rai smiled slightly. Dusknoir lingered.

    Rai's expression flickered and he glanced down. "I-if you were friends, I'm sure he'd be happy to meet you but… I can't tell you his name. It's not right, I hope you understand."

    There was silence.

    Dusknoir hadn't moved, his fingers twitched just once before he nodded. "Understandable, my apologies, Shinx. I had best be off."

    "Oh, uh, bye." Dusknoir was already gone.

    Dusknoir didn't bother taking the ramps, he simply floated right through the building and onto the outside.

    "Good evening," he said to the startled meowth he had risen out of the ground in front of. "Beautiful sunset."

    "Sure is," Sean agreed, pasting a smile on his face. Dusknoir floated on by and he shivered. "That was the creepiest thing I've ever seen," he muttered, entering the guild.

    Dusknoir floated on by, to his shock it hadn't worked. Raigeki had gazed up at him like a hero, but he had maintained his integrity. He was almost a little proud at how he refused to crack even after Dusknoir had spun his story.

    It did not change anything, however. The slightest extra difficulty perhaps, but the only the slightest.

    He already knew the meowth's name.

    He almost broke something when he learned why everyone knew.

    It was helpful at least.

    "Sean," he murmured under his breath as his shadow was joined by six others. "It is time," he said grandly as the sableye all stepped out. "Go."

    And they went.


    Torches crackling with flame flickered as a door was pushed open. A gust of cold wind breathed into the warm room and caused a few pokémon to shiver as the air kissed the backs of their necks.

    Spinda smiled at the newcomer, wobbling to the bar to serve the newest customer. A shaggy furred arcanine.

    Any interest in the arcanine was soon lost as the patrons of Spinda's Café returned to their individual entertainments.

    A murkrow and shuppet discussed the huge quake Treasure Town had felt earlier that day, someone had braved the journey to the guild to ask why Wigglytuff had blown his top. They had returned with a frown on their face and no answers.

    Vigoroth and Spoink chatted amiably, already moved through the important topics and avoiding the last one.

    A passimian juggled a trio of balls for his friends while a barbaracle shared some gossip with multiple exeggcute. "Did you hear that another Time Gear went missing?" she asked, voice much louder then necessary and easily carrying to the whole room.

    A trio of poochyena paused from their mutual discussion with a houndour to look up.

    A charmander stopped laughing with a mr. mime to stare.

    Wynaut dropped their drink and Spinda didn't trip over.

    "That's right," Wobbuffet said without her usual energy and the eyes of the patrons began moving from Barbaracle to Wobbuffet.

    "Another Time Gear?" Yamper barked. "Another-another? How?"

    "I heard Team Ion stumbled across it," a voice grumbled, and a few eyes turned to the sableye speaker in question. "In the Northern Desert. But it's gone now."

    "That's the fourth one taken!" Ursaring yelled, stomping his feet. Teddiursa tried to shush him but had to catch his drink instead. "And the third one Team Ion have lost. How do they keep losing them?"

    Voices all began to speak up and individual sentences were lost in the hubbub of the crowd.

    "Boulder Quarry!"

    "Fogbound Lake too!"

    "-rthern Desert had one? And it's already gon-?"

    Spinda fell into damage control mode and began serving out free drinks. Non-alcoholic of course. But his attempts calmed few pokémon and more than a few stray paws, feet, or other body parts accidentally smacked into the unsteady pokémon, knocking him down him multiple times, prompting Wynaut to rush to the owners side.

    "Spinda? Are you okay?" Wynaut pulled him up and away from some of the rowdier pokémon.

    "I'm… fine…" Spinda answered, bracing against Wynaut to regain his balance. "Just got to keep at it."

    "No-no." Wynaut pulled him back from the bar and towards the recycling side of Spinda's Café. "You've done enough."

    "They are still arguing," Spinda replied, trying to pull himself free. Wynaut gave him a flat look and he stopped the half-hearted tugs.

    "Catch your breath," Wynaut ordered, straightening their back. "I'll handle this."

    Wynaut clapped their featureless head-arms together loudly before bellowing. "QUIET!"

    Their sheer volume staggered the arguments and the room quickly fell quiet. "Okay, thank you." Wynaut smiled serenely. "Return to your discussions, at a calm rate however. Spinda's Café is a safe place and anyone who leaves others feeling unsafe will be asked to leave. Carry on."

    They hopped back to their table with Wobbuffet and Spinda smiled gratefully at the two before wandering back to his mixing area.

    As Wynaut had permitted, the crowd was still discussing the Time Gears and Team Ion, but no one was shouting. A few voices were raised, but the offenders were shushed quickly lest Wynaut descend upon them.

    "Team Ion saved my daughter," a pokémon enclosed with purple feathers snarled lowly to Ursaring. "Don't you dare accuse them of something as heinous as stealing a Time Gear."

    Ursaring exchanged a worried look with Teddiursa before nodding. "Right. I was even… yes. I don't know what I was thinking. Crowd hysteria, but that's no excuse."

    Cherrim nodded and let Ursaring continue his drink with Teddiursa, the smaller bear-pokémon frowning up at the larger one.

    Quietly, a sableye left Spinda's Café and melted into the night.


    Without Rai's hyperactive behaviour waking him up well before sunrise, Sean had expected to have a nice sleep in until Corphish or Loudred came to assault either his nose or his ears.

    Instead, Sean woke up at the time Rai was usually shaking him with the feeling of something missing. He tossed and turned but couldn't get comfortable. Mane snoozed peacefully, but there was no soft speech of a smiling shinx to start Sean's day strongly.

    Sean did not sleep in. He couldn't sleep. He laid there with eyes closed but mind very much awake and aware that Rai was not there until the vague sounds of movement gave him excuse to get up.

    "Mane?" Sean padded over to the litleo. "Mane?" He wasn't sure if she should shake the Fire-type, or just continue repeating his name. He decided on the latter. "Mane? Mane? Mane? Mane? Mane?"

    Mane growled and rolled over. Sean tried again. "Mane?"

    The litleo made another sound of protest before sighing and rolling back. "What?" he demanded, cracking his eyes open blearily.

    "We have to get up," Sean answered, and Mane sighed, rolled back. The meowth frowned and crossed his arms, but Mane could not see that, and he dropped the stern expression. "Come on. I let you sleep in."

    "More like you're too used to getting up at that maniacs time," Mane muttered before groaning and rolling onto his feet. "Fine. Fine. You owe me for this."

    Watching him blink sleep out of his eyes, Sean gave him a raised look. "More like you owe me for not receiving a corphish-claw to the nose. Trust me, not fun." He rubbed his face as Mane scoffed.

    "Sounds like you haven't been pinched right."

    Sean scowled at him.

    "You are so easy to rile up," Mane laughed as they joined the morning assembly. "Shinx too. It's real cute."

    Sean glared at him for using his own cute antagonism against him, but Mane just stuck his tongue out. Chatot called for attention and they put the mornings dealings behind them.

    Mane zoned out what Chatot was rambling on about and Sean, although he'd never admit it, found his attention wandering as well.

    His thoughts went to Dusknoir seeping up from the ground like a creeper the last night, before he was distracted by the cold, salty, breeze wafting in from the broken window. This led to Sean dwelling on Wigglytuff's episode the previous night.

    "I know the Yoom-Tah is powerful but that shook the whole cliff and probably the town too."

    He resolved, once more, to never get on Wigglytuff's bad side. An idea that seemed worse then ever judging by Wigglytuff's reaction to Grovyle stealing Time Gears.

    Chatot eventually stopped fluffing around and reluctantly got to the point. "I am afraid that, as of this time, we do not have a plan to catch Grovyle."

    He braced for a wave of complaints, and the guild didn't deliver.

    "It SUCKS!" Loudred said. "But we ONLY learned last night."

    "He's right," Sunflora agreed, giving Chatot a thankful smile. "You both, and Dusknoir too, have been working so hard. We don't expect all the answers to happen in one night. You deserve a chance to breathe too."

    "Yup-yup, it's thanks to your leadership that we got this far in the first place."

    "Everyone." Wigglytuff beamed as Chatot had to turn around to compose himself. He smiled at the silly bird thinking he had to hide emotion and gave him a hug. Chatot squawked in protest but didn't struggle. "Thank you for still believing in us!" he said through the feathers on his face. "We will find that no-gooder Grovyle and learn why he's doing this. I decree it by the name of the Wigglytuff Guild. Yoom-TAH!"

    The guild jumped, but only a little, before giving a small cheer.

    Once Chatot had collected himself, and Wigglytuff stopped hugging him, he turned back to finish speaking. "As of right now we still have work as a guild to do, so we simply ask you to resume your daily work. There will be new strategies planned soon, but the work of the guild remains important. Help your fellow pokémon. That is all."

    Wigglytuff coaxed another cheer out of the guild and everyone went their separate ways in order to start their days.

    "Team Ion?" Chatot called as Sean and Mane began eying the path to the medical wing. "A moment. Please."

    Sean dutifully trotted up to Chatot, but Mane took some time by dragging his feet. "With the various jobs the guild has been going on, plus the matter of payment towards those assisting us, we haven't had anyone to take a look at the larder in some time. Would one of you be able to take a quick look before heading off?"

    "No problem," Sean said, and Mane gave him a look. "I've done it before," he explained, and Mane shrugged.

    "Whatever." The litleo glanced to the entrance to the upper floor. "You want me to go into town then?"

    "The two of you still have a job to do," Chatot said, sternly. "With your third member still in care, it would likely be wise to take a simple job today. But even simple jobs require some preparation."

    "I'll meet you at Spinda's Café," Sean said, and Mane nodded.

    "Sure. I'll just give a word to Shinx."

    With that, the litleo departed. He poked his head into the medical wing and roused Rai from his sleep, before going off with Rai's directions on what to buy.

    Chatot nodded to Sean and let him go off to do his thing.

    The bird had only asked for a quick look, but Sean was loathed to leave a job shoddily done and he took a few minutes longer then he had planned. Once everything had been scratched down, he trotted off to the medical wing.

    "Good morning, Rai," Sean said brightly, poking his head in first before following through with the rest of his body.

    The shinx was sitting around, looking put out and rather bored, but he lit up and beamed upon seeing Sean. "Morning Sean!"

    The door clicked behind him as Sean took another look around the room he was getting to know to a distressing degree. Chimecho had put up sheets to dry, that was nice.

    He briefly looked around, but his eyes were quickly trained on Rai. Bandaged again, the sight was something he didn't like. "I thought I'd check in and see how you were going," Sean said, taking a seat on the bed beside Rai.

    "My back's itchy," Rai said, and Sean immediately reached over. Rai smirked at him but leaned into his touch. "And the cut's not fantastic. Luckily, Chimecho doesn't think it's anything too bad. Fur might be a bit thinner there though."

    Sean's smile dropped and he leaned in closer to admire the bandages. Chimecho had already replaced the previous ones, he had heard her grumbling about running low on bandages this morning, and thankfully there was no sign of blood coming through.

    "Well good," he said, leaning back to find Rai very quiet. "What about… how it happened?"

    Rai's expression twisted into a frown and he roughly shook his head. "I'm angry. But…" he sighed. "I kinda feel… numb to it. I'm mad, but mostly just shocked that it was Grovyle all along. He seemed so nice, but I guess you can't really judge that so quickly, huh?"

    Not really wanting to reinforce that, Sean just listened until Rai expected a response. "We'll find out exactly why he's doing this," the meowth said, nodding firmly.

    Rai frowned slightly, and Sean wanted to call it cute to annoy him, but Rai spoke before he could decide. "You said Grovyle claimed he knew you, right?"

    Sean's heart gave a jump and he thought wildly for a second before simply nodding. "Y-yeah. But he probably was mistaken." He shrugged. "I don't know him anymore then I know Mane."

    Nodding slightly, Rai asked. "But what exactly did he say that night? I mean… he wanted to see you alone, I could tell he was trying to make me leave. If he thought he knew you, why couldn't he say that to both of us?"

    Sean swallowed and tossed a dismissive paw. "Well he clearly didn't want you to figure… something out." Sean withheld the urge to cringe, this was sounding very bad. Trying to pull things back on track without digging himself into another hole, Sean said. "He just said that he thought he recognised me from somewhere. Asked me a couple questions, about what I like and stuff. I dunno, of course, so I just told him that I-"

    "Have amnesia?" Rai said seriously, and Sean nodded. It wasn't really a lie after all. "So, he probably could have been trying to use you. Make you think he's your friend."

    Sean nodded. "That makes sense." He gave Rai a puzzled look. "What's with the insistence? I don't think he's in the right here. I'm on your side Rai, not his."

    Rai smiled and Sean noticed his shoulders relaxing a bit. "I'm just being silly," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Getting into my own head. Sorry."

    Relaxing himself, Sean waved him off. "Don't stress yourself. You're in bed. Relax and take a calm day for once."

    Rai giggled softly and gave him a fond look. "Relax? Me?"

    Shaking his head affectionately, Sean stood up. "I probably shouldn't keep Mane waiting," he sighed, looking back to the door.

    "This'll be your first time with just him, huh?" Rai said quietly. "L-look, uh… before you go, I have a couple of things I'd like to say."

    Sean looked back from the door to find Rai fidgeting. "What's up?" he asked when it became clear Rai wasn't going to speak until given a prompt.

    Fluttering between a mix of guilt and nerves, Rai began to speak quickly. "Last night I was talking to Dusknoir and we got to talking and he was really nice, and he cheered me up about Grovyle and had some advice for me and he said he knows you AND Grovyle and he offered to help, and he told me about who he thinks you are."

    Sean blinked as Rai took a needy breath. "Huh?"

    "And, uh…" Rai's nose began to go pink as the yellow in his ears began to go orange. "W-we've known each other f-for a long time, and we've been amazing friends since then." His blush deepened. "But I was wondering i-if you-"

    "You didn't tell Dusknoir my name did you?" Rai's earlier words clicked with him and the shinx snapped his mouth shut.

    "Of course not," Rai said, sounding reproachful. He smiled though. "I promised, so I didn't. I think you should talk to him though."

    Sean did NOT like the thought of that. He was relieved Rai had kept his promise though. "What did he-"

    "Excuse me?" Chimecho asked, popping her head into the room from the door she had just opened.

    Sean nearly bit his tongue when they were interrupted. "I am really sorry to interrupt your… uh... This." Chimecho refused to look either one of them in the face. "But we just got word and you need to hear this."

    Rai nodded while Sean still fumed over the interruption. "We are kind of still talking," Sean said as politely as he could. He had one last thing he wanted to add. Not polite enough, clearly, as Chimecho gave him a warning look.

    "Be that as it may, a town meeting has been announced. It's got the highest priority I've seen, and absolutely everyone has to come unless they physically can't." She looked to Rai. "I'm going to exercise healer rights, and have you remain here, Shinx. Meowth, you have to come."

    "Understood," Sean said quietly. "Talk when I get back?" Rai nodded, looking a little flustered.

    Chimecho's expression softened slightly as she took in Rai's disappointment. "It won't take too long. But I think it'll do the two of you good to take a few breaths. Get some fresh air, Meowth. Shinx, you have to get back into bed. You'll be able to continue this… discussion later."

    Sean huffed when Chimecho gave Rai a few quiet words that he couldn't make out. He could see Rai nodding and Chimecho finally floating out.

    "Get some rest," she ordered, closing the door behind her. "Let us go."

    It wouldn't take them long to get to town and hear whatever this was about.


    Dusknoir floated impatiently.

    He had called the town meeting with the priority of Alpha. Everyone was coming, even Torkoal had been fetched from the Hot Springs.

    Yet, the one creature he wanted remained absent.

    His fingers twitched as thoughts ran through his mind. They all carried a similar theme. "Has he figured it out and fled?"

    He had a pair of sableye go off covertly to take a look around for any hide or hair of meowth fur. The faceless masses of this town were getting nervous as they chatted and gossiped like a herd of brainless ferals.

    Dusknoir's fingers twitched as he eyed a few pokémon.

    "Great Dusknoir?" a laborious voice wheezed and Dusknoir's eye flickered in contempt. He couldn't well ignore the town elder completely, however, so Dusknoir restrained himself and turned to Torkoal.

    "Yes, wise elder?" he asked softly.

    "The people are getting concerned with the silence," Torkoal managed, taking his time with each word. "What is it that you have us here for?"

    Dusknoir stared at the feeble old pokémon and wondered about Torkoal's bones.

    He glanced to the crowd of pokémon, well over a hundred of the creatures all clambering over each other in a desperate attempt for information, comfort, or whatever craven needs these creatures wanted.

    Dusknoir paused and took a breath. "I'm getting frustrated," he repeated to himself and calmed down. Treasure Town was lovely, peaceful, and it's pokémon didn't deserve such contempt.

    He looked out to them again and made up his mind. Even without his target present, he could still turn them against him. Perhaps all the more?

    "ZZZT! Everyone is here," Officer Magnezone said, from Dusknoir's right. "So, I'd like to get this meeting started. ZZZT!"

    Dusknoir nodded his assent and began. "Citizens of Treasure Town," Dusknoir began grandly, as it showed confidence, yet gravely. "I am afraid I bring some divisive news to you all today."

    He waited for the crowd to murmur. A few pokémon shouted questions, but he ignored them for now. Once they were settled, Magnezone was happy to assist, Dusknoir continued.

    "Another Time Gear has been stolen, and the perpetrator has been identified. The wicked Grovyle is our enemy." This was information the town already knew, Dusknoir was familiar with the way gossip travelled.

    Especially here.

    "However, the final Time Gear has also been located and currently it remains protected. I will not divulge where it is, to minimise the risk. For Grovyle remains at large." Dusknoir nodded and spread his hands. "But I'm afraid I have another, extremely important, matter that I must share with you."

    Dusknoir paused again to reorganise his thoughts and looked out through the crowd. Just a cursory scan, beedrill, Ursaring, teddiursa, riolu, magmar, marowak. He almost missed it, but upon noting a certain litleo and meowth he blinked and looked back. There he was, staring up at him in a mixture of emotions Dusknoir couldn't quite pinpoint.

    He withheld the fond chuckle and flicked his fingers, sending a signal to the sableye that were still here.

    "What I am about to tell you may be difficult to believe," Dusknoir admitted, eye trained on the meowth for a moment longer then he should have. "But it also happens to be the truth. A truth I have kept to myself and one I feel true shame of having to keep for as long as I have."

    Pokémon were looking nervous now, good. Nervous pokémon were easier to lead.

    "Furthermore, if what I'm about to reveal isn't stopped, calamity is certain!" Nerves needed to be stoked into fear. "Countless lives will be erased and will never exist in the first place if our enemies succeed." He was on their side.

    Dusknoir paused again. It was going well. Pokémon were looking scared now, looking to their neighbours. But he couldn't push that too far or they may begin to panic and fail to listen. "Thankfully, we have the tools to save us all right here!"

    "ZZZT! What is it that you mean by all this? ZZZT!"

    "I apologise for keeping this from you all this time," Dusknoir said, bowing in visible shame. "But the mission was too important. But now it is time, I can finally tell you everything." Dusknoir straightened up and avoided looking to Team Ion, minus Shinx. "The pokémon known as Grovyle is a pokémon from a time past this one. A pokémon… from the future."

    "What?"

    "IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT POSSIBLE?"

    "That's madness."

    "A pokémon coming from the future?"

    Dusknoir shushed them after a moment, letting the words die out quickly and painlessly. "Yes. I speak the unquestionable truth. Grovyle… in the world of the future is a notorious criminal. He has a grand bounty on his head for his obscene crimes."

    Dusknoir withheld a smile.

    "The question of why? Even I can hardly say. The truth is… unpleasant, so I will do my best to speak of this without turning your stomachs." Dusknoir took a breath. "Grovyle is… pitiful in a way. To have suffered how he suffered, to have been through so much pain. It's tragic to see what he has become. He is scarcely even a pokémon anymore, simply a force of destruction now. There is no hope for him, and he must be stopped. For you see…"

    Dusknoir paused to build tension.

    "Grovyle came to this time, this past or present, not only to escape retribution for his crimes, but to commence a plot of the most fiendish proportions. He seeks to alter history by taking the Time Gears and causing the planets paralysis."

    "P-planets paralysis?" some brave fool asked.

    "Yes." Dusknoir nodded, looking up and gesturing to the sky. "Imagine a world where the wind doesn't blow, and the sun never rises or sets. Where spring, nor summer, ever arrives. A world of unrelenting night, unrelating day, unrelenting cold, and unrelenting heat. It would be no exaggeration to call it the complete ruin of the world."

    "Why would ANYONE want that?" That was Loudred again, very useful for getting a message across.

    Dusknoir shook his head. "Why do bad pokémon do bad things? Do not take it the wrong way when I say I pity Grovyle. There is no excuse for his heinous crimes, there is no hope for his hollow heart." Doubt could not exist in the hearts of these pokémon. "But I can say for certain, if the last of the Time Gears is taken, this world will end in ruin."

    "W-we've got to do something!"

    "This is bad!"

    The crowd began to chatter in a panic and Dusknoir required Magnezone to quell them again before speaking up. "Pokémon of Treasure Town, please listen to me! Hope is not yet lost. The last Time Gear is protected and Grovyle cannot run from me forever."

    "How do you know all this?" Someone shouted.

    "How?"

    "Why do you know this?"

    "Great Dusknoir?"

    "How do you know so much, Dusknoir sir?" Corphish asked, voice steady and overcoming the chattering of the rest. "I know you are great and wise, and I certainly respect you greatly, but how would you know the future, no matter how knowledgeable and wise you are?"

    Dusknoir nodded solemnly. "That is the source of my shame. The secret I have held to myself. What Corphish says is true. Under normal circumstances, there is no way I could know these things. So, how do I know?" This was the moment. The knife's edge. He could only hope his next words were not a mistake. "The truth of the matter is… that I too am a pokémon from the future."

    There was a moment of silence where everyone stared at Dusknoir.

    "WHAT?"

    Ears were ringing after the mass-bellow of shock. Even Dusknoir was affected by it. A hundred voices began to meld together in a cacophony of confusion, and nothing was able to simply snap everyone out of it.

    Dusknoir waited patiently for the crowd to calm. It took some time. But eventually they fell silent once more, needing the information he held.

    "My objective," Dusknoir began. "Is to capture Grovyle and take him back to the future to await trial for his crimes. I needed to know as much as possible to maximise my chances. I studied as much of the past as I could, which is why I appear as knowledgeable as I am."

    "Why didn't you say anything before?" Ursaring growled. Dusknoir bowed again.

    "I… I am truly sorry. I have felt terrible not saying anything. I am sincerely sorry I have not revealed my identity until now. I am full of contrition," he sighed. "But. Let me ask you all this one question? What if I had been open with my identity from the start? Who would have taken me seriously?"

    A few pokémon glanced away from Dusknoir's gaze, and he nodded. "I also needed to avoid alerting Grovyle to my presence for as long as I can. But… such an angle is no longer open to me. Yet, the matter remains that I have still been deceiving you all. For such an insult, I humbly beg your forgiveness."

    No one was about to cry foul against him here. Dusknoir only received support and he smiled, eye twinkling for a moment. "Everyone… I thank you all for your unwavering support. It has lessened the burden I carry slightly."

    "ZZZT! You are not to blame!" Magnezone buzzed. "Dusknoir sir, we will focus our anger on Grovyle! ZZZT!"

    "EXACTLY!" Loudred boomed. "GROVYLE'S THE STINKING DECEIVER! NOT YOU DUSKNOIR!"

    "We need to catch Grovyle before he ruins our world!" Swellow yelled.

    "I-I'll help too," Wurmple added.

    With that, everyone began adding their support and Dusknoir appeared overwhelmed for a moment, looking back and forth.

    "Everyone," Dusknoir said softly before girding himself. "Thank you so much. We, as pokémon, must all work as one to capture Grovyle and put an end to this calamitous plot!

    The whole town yelled. "YEAH!"

    Dusknoir beamed at them before looking over to where the sableye lurked and nodded. "However," he added, tone almost dark, "in the interest for full disclosure, there is more to say."

    The brawny Ghost-type looked back and forth for a long moment, eye settling on a meowth a few moments. He saw the expression the meowth wore, but the sableye were ready. "Grovyle did not come alone."

    The whole town stilled. "Grovyle, despite his heinous behaviour, is not alone in his plotting. He had companions. And two individuals have come to the past with him."

    Back in the crowd, Sean's eyes widened, and his heart bounced. "What?" he gasped, Mane frowned and glanced at him questioningly.

    Dusknoir looked to the guild sadly. "Two individuals, but not two pokémon. Grovyle came to the past with another pokémon… and also a human."

    Chatot squawked in shock, and Croagunk's breath hitched.

    Dusknoir gave the baffled Wigglytuff a mournful look and sighed. "That pokémon was a meowth."

    Immediately one thought flew into the minds of so many residents of Treasure Town. "Team Ion has lost three Time Gears…"

    Sean froze up.

    "Let me ask you, Treasure Town?" Dusknoir stared straight at Sean. "Does the name Sean mean anything to you?"

    Sean almost made to step back, but he glanced to Mane who was giving Dusknoir a most baffled look and found something to hold his ground. He stepped forward, unwittingly missing a sableye that had tried to play the action of fear using him.

    He couldn't believe this. "It means something to me," Sean said, speaking up to Dusknoir's surprise. Pokémon stepped away from him faster as Dusknoir raised his head to meet his eyes.

    For a moment, Dusknoir did nothing but stare. With emotion unknown in that eye of his. The magnemite buzzed in alarm, they didn't know what to do and Magnezone hadn't collected themselves enough to give orders.

    "Does it now?" Dusknoir asked, concealing his surprise. "Can you explain what?"

    "It's my name," he said. It wasn't like anyone didn't already know that, prostitution be damned.

    "Is it?" Dusknoir pressed. "Are you certain of that?"

    Sean frowned. Away from him, a riolu frowned as well.

    "Citizens of Treasure Town, a meowth indeed came back in time to damn your time, but he was not named Sean. No, Sean was the name of the human. This meowth is known as Scout, for that was his role in this trio of terror."

    "Are you... serious right now?" Sean, or was it Scout, asked. Utterly stunned at this, even more so as pokémon began muttering around him.

    "I do believe one thing, one mercy. I believe you don't remember who you are, but your crimes yet remain done and must be punished."

    That struck a nerve with him and Seacout snarled. "Crimes? Crimes? You are saying that I'VE committed crimes? NO. No, Dusknoir," he spat the name and was bitterly happy to see Dusknoir flinch slightly, "I am not the one who's been committing crimes."

    "Your attempt of defence is clearly built on frustration and emotion."

    "And your attempt of accusation is entirely built on your word. ALL the pokémon here have to go on is what you're saying."

    "Is my word unviable?"

    "When you're accusing me of trying to destroy the world, YES. Where's your proof here, Dusknoir? The only thing I'm hearing is you admitting you've lied and manipulated everyone to get this far, and NOW we're supposed to trust your word?"

    Dusknoir hesitated again and the town murmured again as this second opinion made itself known. This was not expected.

    "Great Dusknoir... answer him," Wigglytuff said.

    "Yes," Chatot added. "This is a very dangerous judgement call to make if you cannot back it up. Where is your proof?"

    "The Time Gears," Dusknoir replied, confidently, turning back to the crowd. "It was confirmed, by Team Ion in fact, that Grovyle had been stealing them, causing time to stop."

    "You knew Grovyle was doing this," Scout yelled back. "Why didn't you say anything like this before?"

    "I could not risk alerting him to my presence," Dusknoir argued.

    "And yet you've built your entire argument here on being so well known and respected that everyone should just believe you because you are The Great Dusknoir."

    "I am not the ONLY Dusknoir to exist," Dusknoir snapped, growing rattled. "One such Dusknoir becoming well known should not risk alerting him. Mentioning I was after him, however, would."

    "But... even so, your rise to fame was very quick," someone else, to Scout's surprise, voiced up. Chatot hopped forwards. "If you have done as you claim and hunted Grovyle for so long, he would certainly be wise to your behaviours."

    Dusknoir stared at him, eye flickering. His fingers twitched, and this did not go unnoticed.

    "Where's your proof, Dusknoir," Scout demanded. Dusknoir turned back to him.

    "Your companion explained your behaviour," Dusknoir lied. "Lying, sneaking around, meeting with Grovyle in secret, telling me your name. Shinx told me you were Sean. It is all very circumspect and you must be put into custody."

    That rattled him in return, Rai couldn't have… he had said….

    "I am NOT going anywhere with you," Scout snapped, and Mane stood with him.

    "Yeah!" the litleo yelled. "He's not going anywhere until YOU show some proof. Show some proof! Show some proof!"

    "BZZT! Dusknoir, you have some explaining to do. BZZT!" Officer Magnezone said.

    Dusknoir nodded stiffly. "Anything to get this resolved. I did not consider a greater show of trust would be needed. I will get you your proof."

    "BZZT! And how is that? BZZT!"

    "By bringing the Time Gear thief into custody. I insist meowth be taken into custody. Perhaps I cannot offer explicit proof immediately but I hope you will take my words into consideration regardless considering what is as stake here."

    "I am not going ANYWHERE but the guild," Scout snarled, but that was the wrong thing to say.

    "No, if you are as innocent as you claim you will submit to Team Magnezone," Dusknoir retorted. "

    A pair of magnemite fluttered nervously until Magnezone gave them the go-ahead. They flew through the crowd and moved the pokémon out of the way, binding Sean in a magnetic array of electricity. He struggled against it, but there was nothing he could do.

    Slowly he was carried to Dusknoir, under the gaze of Treasure Town. Sean looked up and into the baleful eye of Dusknoir. He stopped struggling.

    He was almost within grasping range when the guild finally reacted.

    "DUSKNOIR SIR!" Chatot flapped up and then the whole guild ran forward. "What are you doing? This is madness! Sean is innocent!"

    "So you know him as Sean then?" Dusknoir asked smoothly and Chatot stuttered.

    "Great Dusknoir." Wigglytuff stepped forward, frowning deeply. "You must explain this. You cannot simply accuse Meowth without explaining everything."

    Dusknoir's fingers twitched. He looked to the Wigglytuff Guild staring at him in a mixture of confusion and a whole slew of rapidly sifting emotions. The town was furious and confused at who to aim that fury towards. He dropped his hands and nodded. "Understandable."

    Dusknoir stared at Sean for a moment. "This is not a decision I made lightly. I have spent part of my time here carefully observing him. He felt familiar and I have chased Grovyle and his compatriots for a long time. I know them all very well. But even then, I was not willing to act rashly, in case I was wrong. I would not wish to damage an innocent pokémon's reputation without being absolutely certain."

    "And what makes you so certain?" Mane demanded, after forcing his way through the crowd.

    Dusknoir looked down at the angry Fire-type and reached for the bound captive. He squirmed and Mane growled, but he only moved some fur. "These scars," Dusknoir said, showing a pokémon's scars to everyone. "I know these scars." He dropped his hand and floated back as Mane looked ready to try something drastic. "His voice. His behaviour. His confirmed contact with Grovyle."

    "Pardon?" Sunflora gasped.

    "I spoke with Shinx and he confirmed that Grovyle came to speak to him privately after the guild returned from their expedition. Claiming that Grovyle revealed that he knew him. Clandestine meetings away from others, Grovyle is confirmed to be the thief of the Time Gears and at the site of three of them Team Ion were there before they were lost."

    He lowered his arms. "Scout was, in a word, the scout. Being a member of a guild gives him significant reach, Grovyle just happened to join the Expedition and Scout himself to find another gear. There are coincidences, and then there are patterns."

    "Well there's a thing!" Chatot said, flapping wildly. "He has amnesia! Even if Sean is who you think he is, he doesn't remember! How can you condemn him for a crime he himself didn't make? In a time that's yet to happen? Whatever it is, he hasn't done anything wrong yet!"

    The rest of the guild nodded to Chatot's words, Dusknoir's fingers twitched again and he took a moment to force his control. He gave a warning glance to Mane, who was creeping closer, before nodding to Chatot. "Yes. I have heard he has amnesia."

    Chatot stopped fluttering in place as even Mane stared at him. "But I ask you this? What if, sometime later, he remembers everything? What if he is simply lying? What about the name 'Sean'?"

    Dusknoir gave the guild a pointed look. "That, more than anything else offers a convincing argument that he doesn't fully remember, but also leaves me with the fear that the memories yet remain. His name is not Sean. That name belongs to his human partner."

    Scout felt everything coming apart, and he could do absolutely nothing. Not even speak.

    "His name is Scout. For that was his role. The one who scouted ahead for danger, or the one who scouted ahead for reconnaissance. To learn the weaknesses of their enemies. This pokémon is Scout."

    Mane looked up and met the meowth's eyes. Widened eyes with pupils dilated in terror.

    "Perhaps he had amnesia when you first met him. Perhaps he still does. But you cannot claim he doesn't remember anything, nor can you say for sure that he will never remember why he's come here."

    Dusknoir looked to Scout, then to Magnezone. "I respectfully request that he be put into firm detention until we have Grovyle and the human." Dusknoir turned back to the guild in an attempt to reason with them. "Nothing will happen until everyone is captured. If, by some unusual turn of events, I am wrong, then there will be time to prove it. But with a suspect in custody there is no risk of them trying to flee. You must at least accept that?"

    Chatot and Wigglytuff both held expressions bordering on refusal, but Dusknoir did have a point. Chatot looked to Wigglytuff for guidance and was disappointed to receive a miserable nod. Chatot closed his eyes and took a breath before facing Dusknoir. "Very well. We'll see him be absolved."

    He gave Sean, or really Scout, the most comforting look he could as the magnemite carried him away. Mane began to shout something but was restrained by the rest of the guild.

    The meowth tried to struggle free again. He was being taken away, and he knew Dusknoir would send someone extra after him. However, the magnemite were used to shackling powerful outlaws. One small meowth couldn't do anything.

    Scout bent his head as the reality of the situation began to hit him. He couldn't get out of this one. He WAS with Grovyle to get the Time Gears. He was here to save the world. He was… not even Sean?

    He stopped struggling and was led away in silence.


    Oooooooh.

    Close to four years ago now, December of 2018 I had an idea for a PMD story. I wrote myself a little idea of a pivotal scene in that story.

    That idea was Dusknoir revealing to Treasure Town about the human. I liked the idea, it seemed interesting and so January of 2019 I began to write.

    After chapter 2 the idea changed further because I had the idea that the protagonist was not 'the human' at all and instead a third party pokemon, but since he knows the game he wouldn't realise this and so Dusknoir would reveal that he was not even human at all.

    Warped Skies ended up over 100 chapters and a million words, but that chapter always stuck out to people as the moment the story was made.

    I hope to have done it justice once again, it's a little different this time as Scout actually stands up for himself whereas he was completely overwhelmed the first time.

    Hope you all enjoy this, because now the story really begins.
     
    Chapter 21 - Have You Ever
  • Team_Ion

    Junior Trainer
    Pronouns
    He/Him
    Scout sat alone in a cell.

    He didn't have the energy to pace around and scratch the walls in frustration anymore. He'd already tried that, it just blunted a claw.

    The cell that Team Magnezone used was nice, as far as cells went. Thick stone walls. Metal bars he could see through. The stink of anger and hopelessness pervading through the entire cell block.

    Quite nice.

    What wasn't nice, however, was ev̡erything.

    "What is…? What is going on?" Scout thought as he lay huddled up into a ball. How could things have gone so wrong so quickly?

    He squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to look at his paws. These… white, fluffy, paws with pink paw̷ pads. For this entire time, he thought they were his, but now he wasn't so sure.

    "I'm not Scout," he thought desperately. "My name is Sean. I'M the human."

    Yet, Dusknoir had said something else.

    "Hę'͘s a filthy traitorous liar!"

    Scout growled and shook his head. That didn't even sound like him. But… what did he even sound like in the first place. He desperately tried to remember his life as a human. His family. His friends. His own voice.

    His mother, whose name he couldn't remember. Whose voice he couldn't recall. Even trying to think of her felt like he was watching an old-timey video crackling away.

    "But how do I know what that IS?" he demanded to himself. But there was no answer to be recalled from the depths of his mind.

    He couldn't remember his family. He couldn't remember his friends. The only thing he thought he could remember clearly were three things.

    His namę.

    His specięs.

    And the gamę.

    "My name is not Scout," he thought, for if he was wrong about his name, how could he be sure of anything? "I'm a human," he insisted, for what else could he be? "This didn't happen in the game." Or did it?

    Did it happen, Scout?

    Scout groaned and tried to wake up. This was a nightmare. Darkrai was doing something, or he was experiencing a guilt-induced delirium nightmare. This couldn't be happening.

    It was happening.

    The terrified meowth wasn't sure how long he huddled, curled up, in the holding cell. He ignored the magnemite that stood guard, the same ones that had taken him here in the first place, or the various buzzes he could hear from beyond the door.

    He ignored them until there was no option to ignore them.

    "Scout?" Dusknoir's voice was low and concerned, and Scout jumped. He uncurled and backed away, hitting his back against the hard, stone wall.

    He stared up at the powerful Ghost-type, the pokémon that would end his life if he got a decent chance. The magnemite were gone, they were alone.

    "Get away from me," he hissed,̧ but Dusknoir was unphased.

    "I have secured some time for us to speak without interruption," Dusknoir said slowly, carefully,̧ but Scout remained attached to the wall. "We'll get five minutes to talk and I wanted to explain some things."

    "I don't want to hear how you're going to kill me," Scout spat and Dusknoir recoiled.

    "Kill? Scout, no." He shook his head firmly. "I would ne- you think I would…? No. Scout no, do not think of me this way. I would never hurt you."

    This was not the expected discourse.

    "Wha? Excuse me?" Scout was not understanding motives here, or words, or sense really. "You… you… You turned the entire town against me, telling them I was some rampaging monster trying to end the world. THAT hurts, Dusknoir."

    Dusknoir sighed sadly and floated closer. Scout backed away, suddenly aware that Dusknoir was able to move through the bars and get to him if he wanted. They were alone, and the remaining four minutes of private time would be more than enough time for Dusknoir to kill him.

    He tried to form a Night Slash,̧ but it slipped off. He pricked a paw and tried to create a Shadow Ball, but the same result. It simply melted off into nothingness.

    "The room you are in bars the use of your abilities," Dusknoir said softly and winced when Scout whimpered. "Scout, please listen to me. I'm not your enemy, it was something I had to do to fool our real enemies."

    Scout continued trying to make a Shadow Ball, not willing to listen,̧ digging claws further into his paws. Several drops of blood fell and Dusknoir snapped. "Stop hurting yourself!"

    Scout recoiled, flattened himself against the wall, and stopped trying to squeeze more blood out.

    "Our mission was different, yet the same goal," Dusknoir said lowly,̧ these words only for Scout. "You would infiltrate the Planetary Investigation Team and lead me to them. Only… only something has happened, and you've lost your memories."

    Scout could not believe what he was hearing, but he listened regardless. "Please understand Scout. I did this only to keep up appearances so that Grovyle and the human would not suspect you. For they will come to rescue you. It has happened before, and I hope it will happen again. If I can trap them here, that will work. But if they do succeed in taking you, you must play along and slow them down, leave a trail, anything that won't put you in danger."

    "I…" Scout blinked, unable to even think of words anymore. "What?"

    Dusknoir nodded sadly, but surely. "In the future that we are from, they seek to change the future. Doing so will mean the end of me, and you. And countless pokémon still living. So we came together to stop them. I know Grovyle has spoken to you, but you mustn't believe his lies over my truths. You are my partner." A large finger touched the fabric tied on one of his arms, old and worn but always kept and looking so familiar for reasons Scout could never place. "And we are trying to save the world."

    "I don't believe you," Scout said softly, and Dusknoir flinched harder than if Scout had punched him in the stomach.

    "Scout…."

    "Don't CALL me that," he said angrily, pulling himself off the wall and pointing a ble̴eding paw at Dusknoir. "I know what you are doing. I know, I know. I KNOW!" he shouted and Dusknoir recoiled. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

    Scout glared at Dusknoir as the spectre began pulling back. "Think about it Scout, if they are to succeed we will disap̵p͏ear." He glanced at the door and sighed. "I'm out of time. I've told them I simply wished to see if I could convince you to tell me where the others are. Remember what I've said, Scout. And please make the right decision."

    The door opened and Magnezone called Dusknoir back. He gave one last searching look to Scout, meeting Scout's furious glare with a softly-glowing eye, before following, leaving into a room filled with quite a lot of noise.

    Scout thought he heard someone yell his name. Or, perhaps, his former name. The door closed and he was left alone again, even more conflicted.

    He gripped his bleeding paw tightly, wincing from the pain but not stopping. The pain was something he could latch onto, even as his blood made his paws sticky and gross. He remained in the solitude of his own thoughts for a painfully long time before taking a soft breath and getting up.

    Extending a claw on his left paw, Scout reached through the bars and began trying to jam it into the lock. He wasn't sure if he could do this, but his paws seemed to know what to do.

    He ground his teeth together as he felt pressure building on the root of his claw, but he pressed on, trying to find the right chink to unlock the cell.

    Scout felt it begin to give and he nearly smiled, before the splintering feeling of a breaking claw shattered that smile.

    He could barely hold in the gasp as pain exploded from his paw and Scout recoiled, breaking his claw even more. He shoved his right paw in his mouth to stifle his scream as the other paw blossomed with agony.

    He breathed several minutes of very hard breaths, not daring to look at his paw. He could feel the trickle of blǫod mix with the dirt and tears of pain.

    Eventually, thankfully, the pain dulled to a throb and he released his paw, swallowing the blood and saliva that had accumulated in his mouth.

    He reached up with his left paw to marvel at the damage, all the claws were extended besides one, instead of a solid claw there was blood and a skin tear. Grimacing, Scout scurried to the corner of the cell and huddled up again.

    He shook slightly as he tried to keep himself together, but he was alone. No one was there to watch him fall apart.


    As Scout was dragged away, Mane fought every instinct he had to blast the magnemite and instead forced his knees to bend and move the other way.

    He bit down hard on his lip, more than enough to draw blood, and bumped into someone. His eyes flicked to the offender, Bidoof, before flicking back to where Scout was disappearing.

    Mane's muscles began to strain as he physically fought the need to run forward and eventually, Scout was gone.

    The Fire-type took in a deep breath before looking to the rest of the guild. Most of the lemmings were just staring in a mixture of confusion and sadness, the flower was silent for once in her life, even the sound monster just stared, his wide mouth gaping noiselessly.

    They weren't helpful, those that were helpful happened to be whispering to each other. Mane would have none of that.

    Ignoring the town behind him, idiotic mareep that followed whoever was biggest, Mane strutted angrily to Chatot and Wigglytuff. His oh-so-powerful and wise leaders.

    "What was that?" he hissed, the two cutting their conversation quiet. "You just let him take Sean? Scout. You let him take Scout. If that's even his name, actually. You know what? I'm going to keep calling him Sean until HE gives me word."

    Chatot ruffled his feathers at the utterly banal method of addressing them but held his own sharp retort back. "Meowth will be cleared, this we can be certain of."

    "The fucker clearly has it out for him," Mane growled and Chatot gave him another stern look for the language, "you really think Dusknoir is going to let him go? And for what? Ridiculous claims he's got no proof of."

    He spun back on the town and roared. "THERE IS NO PROOF! YOU ARE TAKING DUSKNOIR'S WORD OVER MEOWTH'S."

    A few mon's jumped at the near-loudred volume, but no one looked him in the eye. The crowd was already dispersing, and Mane's growls only hastened this.

    Tossing his head and scoffing, Mane turned to begin his way back to the guild. "See you," he spat, before breaking out into a sprint.

    Mane passed more than a few pokémon on the way back. Several were headed to Spinda's Café, others just home. He scowled at them all, even for just a fraction of a second. This was ridiculous, malarkey, stupidity, and he despised it.

    However, someone else needed to hear what had happened. And explain himself as well.

    He squeezed through the grate of the guild, scoffing again at how easy it would be to break into this place, and immediately headed straight to the medical wing.

    "So, guess what?" Mane yelled, banging into the medical wing and making the shinx jump. "Your old buddy Dusknoir told us all something interesting."

    Rai gave Mane a look of confusion before it morphed into worry. "He what?"

    "He did indeed." Mane grinned. It was not a nice grin. "Let me recount." He held a paw and licked it between each point. "He told us about a little dance, then reminisced about making a little love, THEN HE ARRESTED SEAN!"

    Rai's confused, apprehensive, frown melted into horror. "He what?"

    Mane nodded, still grinning a grin better seen on a bruxish than a litleo. "He claimed that Sean is actually one of TWO of that bastard Grovyle's partners, the other is a human apparently, oh and he also claimed that Sean's name isn't even Sean. But Scout."

    Rai's jaw began to drop as his pupils began to dilate. Mane noted that before continuing. "He also said that part of why he believed all this is because YOU told him something." Mane stepped forward, butting his head against Rai's. "He said you told him his name and confirmed that Grovyle asshole said they were partners. Is that true!?"

    "What? I didn't tell him his name!" Rai retorted, stunned and unable to process all of what Mane was saying.

    Mane butt his face against Rai's and snarled. "What. Did. You. Tell. Him?"

    Rai's yellow eyes were wide and lost, confused and trying to grasp just what Mane was saying. "V-very funny," he muttered, recoiling from Mane. "Haha, jokes. Don't know what's possessed you to talk like this but-"

    "Don't you dare," Mane replied just as softly. "Don't you dare think I'd make all of this up to stir up shit."

    "Well, wouldn't you?" Rai retorted.

    Mane saw red. "NO! FOR FUCKS SAKE, RAI! DUSKNOIR JUST HAD SEAN ARRESTED AND YOU'RE ACTING LIKE I'D MAKE THAT UP? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

    Rai cringed back, stepping close to a corner as sparks burst off Mane. Mane's furious expression vanished between breaths, seeing that Rai was looking… afraid of him.

    "I," he said, matching Rai's lost expression with his own.

    Shouts began to reach their ears from outside as the guild returned, storming in. Chatot was screeching, "HE IS RIGHT, THIS IS MALARKY! WE MUST DEMAND HIS RETURN IMMEDIATELY, WIGGLYTUFF!"

    Rai heard it all, the confusion and anger from the guild as Mane backed away to the door.

    Rai blinked, took a breath, and then blinked again. His eyes were dilating further, and he began to shake. "He… he told me Sean was HIS friend," Rai said between numb lips. There were crackles of electricity popping off him and Mane stepped back to await the explosion, closing his eyes.

    Then.

    Nothing.

    Mane cracked one eye open before the other one and then straightened up. Rai had stopped moving completely with his eyes closed. Not a snap, crackle, or pop to be heard.

    Rai took a deep breath, Mane tensed, then exhaled. Rai opened both his eyes and gave Mane a thin smile that unsettled him more than Rai literally exploding the room would have.

    He hopped down from the bed, uncaring of his wound. It was mostly healed anyway, Chimecho was simply careful. "Let's go see Dusknoir then," Rai said pleasantly, and Mane turned his head slightly, almost cocking it.

    "You sure?"

    "Yes."

    There was no question to Rai's tone. He would go see Dusknoir now, even if he had to walk straight through Mane.

    Mane smiled. It was an even less nice smile than the previous one. "He took him to Team Magnezone's base. Let's go."

    Rai followed Mane's lead, knowing the litleo was a bit more familiar with the way than he was. Mane trotted down the steps, eyes passing over the guild as they stopped and stared. Chimecho shrieked something upon seeing them, but Rai ignored her. Chatot squawked something, Mane ignored that.

    "I'm going to see him," Rai said pleasantly, and the guild let them pass. Wigglytuff watched them go, a sad frown marring his face. He gave a soft exhale and nodded to Chatot before following after them.

    They turned left at the watering hole and continued on. Mane knew this path pretty well, although Rai wouldn't bring up why. It's not that he got into trouble badly enough to come here often, but occasionally Team Magnezone wanted to speak with him and he'd oblige.

    The tense silence between the remainder of Team Ion didn't last long.

    "How much of that was true?" Mane asked. "Human? Future? Grovyle? Scout?"

    "Sean told me about being human," Rai admitted. Mane raised an eyebrow at him, but he had nothing more to say. He frowned and looked away, body tensing even as he walked as he began to realise what he hadn't been trusted with.

    They took another left and began heading down a gently falling slope, almost gentle enough to be unnoticeable.

    The building Team Magnezone run their operations from was not dissimilar to the Wigglytuff Guild. Except, rather than a creepy wigglytuff head, it was given the vague shape of a magnezone. Mane normally could appreciate the vanity. This time, however, not so much.

    They butted their way through the door and into the building. Magnemite and magneton buzzed in the air in excitement, giving quick unpleasant screeches to each other.

    All eyes fell on Rai and Mane as they entered, and a magneton floated in close to speak.

    "ZZZT! All visitors are to be turned away unless there is an emergency," the robotic pokémon buzzed. "What is your business here? ZZZT!"

    "The meowth you just arrested for no good reason," Mane snarled, coming up forward. He restrained the fire wanting to crackle out of his mouth. It would not be good to try and threaten them. No matter how much he wanted to.

    "I am also going to speak to Dusknoir," Rai said pleasantly, the eyes of the magneton swivelling to him.

    "ZZZT! I am afraid we cannot release the meowth. Furthermore, Dusknoir is assisting us with his account and is not able to speak to anyone else. ZZZT!"

    "I don't think you-" Mane began, but Rai spoke over him.

    "I am going to speak with Dusknoir," he said and stepped forward. The magneton was stunned at the complete disregard of its word.

    "ZZZT! Excuse me! ZZZT! You cannot enter these premises unescorted. ZZZT! Shinx stop or I will be forced to detain you. ZZZT!"

    Rai did not stop and a few magnemite began to buzz. Mane licked his lips, tasting heat. If this was going to come to a battle, then he'd play ball.

    "Excuse me?" a light and fluffy voice called, and everyone paused. Even Rai glanced behind to see Wigglytuff enter, an apologetic smile on his face. "So sorry for the intrusion. Forgive us, forgive us."

    "Guildmaster?" Rai asked and Wigglytuff gave him a smile.

    "I'm sorry Shinx but you're going to have to come with me. We can all talk to Dusknoir later, but for now, we really need you back at the guild." He sent a smile to Mane as well, and the litleo felt disarmed. "Litleo too. We dearly need you both right away."

    Mane hesitated, suddenly unsure, and Rai swallowed. "But," he began but Wigglytuff's smile was stable and his eyes kind. "But… alright." He bowed his head and Mane frowned. Rai's tail drooped as he dragged himself back.

    "So sorry to have intruded, have a good day. Have a good day. Treat everyone here well, alright?"

    The magneton nodded and Wigglytuff shepherded his wayward apprentices out. "Phew." He breathed a sigh of relief before taking both felines in an arm each. "Let's get back quickly," he suggested, and they could only hang on as Wigglytuff sprinted off in a stunning burst of speed.

    Wigglytuff kept the sprint up the entire trip and wasn't even winded a few minutes later as he carried them into the guild.

    The gate clanged shut behind them and Wigglytuff finally released them. "I know this time is a tough one," Wigglytuff said warmly, giving the two members of Team Ion a smile. "But it'll end okay. It'll end okay."

    "How can you be so sure?" Mane grumbled. He hated how Wigglytuff's arrival seemed to suck all the anger out of him. The damn Fairy-type did some trickery, Mane was sure.

    "Because Meowth is strong and good!" Wigglytuff declared as they headed down. "He will be okay until we can solve this for him." They reached the bottom of the guild where everyone was assembled and Chatot breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the three.

    "Welcome back, Guildmaster," Chatot said primly as the apprentices stopped mulling about in awkward stilted silence.

    "Thank you Chatot." Wigglytuff smiled at his second-in-command.

    "Dusknoir told me that Sean was his friend from before he lost his memory," Rai said, cutting out any other angle of conversation. "I know I wasn't there to hear it, but Mane said Dusknoir claims that Sean is actually Grovyle's partner."

    The apprentices were all silent, barring one.

    "So, one way or the other," Sunflora began, "Dusknoir lied. Why would he lie? And which one did he lie about?"

    Mane snorted. "Obviously the claim that Sean is some maniac trying to end the world."

    There was silence. No one wanted to say what was there, but Mane could hear it anyway. His face screwed up until he couldn't take the silence anymore. "Yeah, I get that he has memory issues, but you can't actually believe this?"

    "It…" Chatot begun, words sounding physically painful, "can't be considered off the table." He grimaced before flapping as Mane and Rai both delivered thunderous expressions to him. "Now-now! I do not believe he would do such a thing now. But it cannot be ignored that, uh… Meowth himself doesn't know. It is curious that Grovyle would wish to speak to him alone, is it not?"

    "And did that actually happen?" Mane snapped.

    "Yes," Rai said quietly, and Mane closed his mouth. All eyes fell on Rai and he cringed. "Yes, it happened. But Dusknoir said that...! Argh!" Rai tossed his head. "He told me that Grovyle would try and manipulate him as they BOTH knew him and were trying to stop him. But now, why did he tell me that if it's not true?"

    "We're not going to get any answers until Dusknoir can be asked the questions," Croagunk pointed out and Rai scowled.

    "I tried."

    "He'll be safe there," Sunflora said softly, giving Rai and Mane a comforting look. "No one can hurt him there. There aren't many safer places around than Team Magnezone's base."

    Rai screwed his face into a frown or a snarl, but he couldn't quite decide on it and he fell into a cracked expression of misery. "I…" Rai didn't finish, simply began to walk. "I'm going to bed." He did not go towards the medical wing, but Chimecho didn't try and stop him.

    Mane followed after a moment, making sure to give every member of the guild a scowl as he went.

    "So, when are we going to break him out?" Mane asked as Rai slumped into bed.

    "Sometimes I worry that you can tell what's on my mind," Rai said, muffled by the straw. Mane smirked a nasty smirk.

    "What can I say?" he asked as Rai sat up and they began to talk.

    Things were a bit uncertain between them, Mane's expression flickered between a smirk and a frown and neither was an honest expression. He had something to focus on that wasn't the lack of trust he had been given.


    Black-furred feet smacked into the ground as Sean ran along the path.

    He had watched Dusknoir and did nothing as Dusknoir had Scout carted away to the building the police used as a base of operations.

    He had done nothing as Dusknoir hit the final nail in the coffin of any hope that he and Striker may be able to convince residents of Treasure Town to help them find the Relic Fragment.

    Right now, Sean didn't know what to do. He was running to one who might. Once Dusknoir was gone, he quickly made his way out of town and withheld the urge to run. Sableye were about after all and he didn't need any suspicion or anyone following him.

    Once he felt safe enough, and still earlier than he knew Striker would be happy with, he ran.

    There were only two tiny slivers of good news he could hold firm to. The first, Striker was safe. That clever grovyle was still free, even if he had been discovered in the process of obtaining the fourth gear.

    The second, Dusknoir didn't seem to know that Sean himself was no longer so easily discoverable. A riolu didn't stick out nearly as much as a full-blooded human would.

    For the time being, they still had one small advantage.

    With that and more on his mind, Sean ran. He had but one destination in mind. With a nearby grove that Striker had pointed out as a meeting destination.

    The Grass-type had hoped to come back to Treasure Town after obtaining the gear from underground, or even after acquiring the gear from where the crystals lay.

    However, since that was definitely not an option, Sean pointed his feet towards the path to the dungeon – Brine Cave.

    Fighting-types had excellent stamina and Sean found himself stopping for only a short break before continuing. His paw pads were stinging, and his legs began to protest from the effort, the pain caused him to slow down slightly and calm down.

    He walked the rest of the way. He ignored the path to the entrance of the dungeon and instead walked up into a grove of trees.

    As Sean went, he tapped trees with the metal bumps on the backs of his paws. Once he had tapped enough, he felt something appear behind him.

    Sean spun, senses honed by the future, to meet Striker's arm with his own. The two pressed against the other for a moment, staring into the other's face, before Striker smiled. "It's good to see you," he said, and Sean couldn't help but smile back.

    It was comforting, hearing the grovyle's voice again. "Good to see you too," Sean replied and together they lowered their arms.

    "I thought you might come around once news reached Treasure Town," Striker said, stepping back to lead Sean to his camp. "I couldn't be sure though, I was going to leave tomorrow and leave something behind for you."

    "Well I'm here now," Sean replied. "So gimme." He grinned as Striker laughed. His smile didn't last long.

    "I've got something better," he said enigmatically, and Sean rolled his eyes at the dramatics. "A Time Gear."

    "I couldn't have guessed," Sean said. "But seriously, what were you going to leave?"

    Rolling his eyes back, Striker beckoned him into the grove where he had been staying. Sean looked around and nodded, very spartan and very much the kind of camp the grovyle would set up.

    "Just a note," he answered, and Sean pouted for a moment. "So," Striker began, sitting down. "What exactly drew you out here? I'd like to think you came because you have the key or have its location." Sean frowned and Striker sighed. "Or maybe you just came to check up on me?" Sean shook his head and Striker gave him a wary look. "Then something has happened?"

    "First." Sean raised a paw, walked over to the confused grovyle, and smacked him across the face. "That's for the injury you inflicted on Team Ion."

    Striker rubbed his jaw but made no movement back. "Fair," he admitted. "Also, ow. I see you're getting stronger. In my defence, I tried to just get them out of the way but the shinx came at me from behind and I just… reacted."

    Sean nodded, understanding. "Yeah, I'd have probably done the same thing. Still not nice, that's really going to scare Scout." Striker nodded, looking just a little guilty. Sean could tell the nuances on Striker's face. "I did want to ask what you learned about Scout, but I think I can guess."

    Striker's expression became grave. "What happened?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

    "Dusknoir's worked out who he is and got him arrested in front of the whole town," he explained, Striker immediately hissing. "That's the reason why I came. Dusknoir has Scout and… yeah," he finished. Striker had already gotten up and was pacing back and forth.

    Sean almost laughed at that. Scout had learned the art of pacing anxiously from Striker, but in turn, Striker began to do it with more flourish, building off each other. It would have been a cute reminder had it not been caused by such terrible news.

    "I told him to stay away from Dusknoir," Striker said after a moment. He paused his pacing long enough to repeat that to Sean before he was back at it. Already digging a hole in the ground. "Something must have rattled him during that incident when we were travelling back in time. More so because he definitely believed he was you. He said he remembers his name is Sean and that he was a human."

    Sean sighed, "You don't think when his head hit mine during the time-travelling that there was some kind of…?"

    Striker shook his head, to Sean's relief. "I'd imagine his delusions are more based on the fact that he looked up to you so much." Sean blushed behind the fur, to Striker's disappointment.

    It was much more enjoyable when he could see how flustered Sean could get. That fur got in the way. "That even through his amnesia he remembers - Sean and human and simply thought he's you. The two of you don't act much alike, although there were a couple of similarities."

    Sean accepted that, so Striker asked the next question, "What exactly happened? Recount it for me please."

    "Dusknoir called some very important town meeting, bringing in pretty much everyone. Even the town elder Torkoal was called from the Hot Springs. Once everyone was there, he revealed the future to everyone, his version at least." Striker hissed at that. "And painted you as some grief-filled apocalyptic madmon or something."

    "He would," Striker growled, but let Sean go on.

    "He then went on to say that you brought a human and a meowth with you," Sean explained. "The meowth obviously being used to implicit Scout. Human too it seems since a few members of the guild reacted in less of a shocked manner to hear it."

    Striker rubbed his jaw, incidentally the same place Sean had hit him earlier, in thought. "And what of Shinx's reaction to all this? The two seemed rather… close."

    "I didn't see him there," Sean said, frowning. "Everyone was supposed to be there… except those with medical reasons not to." His tone became slightly accusing and Striker winced.

    "I didn't mean to slash him like that."

    "You SLASHED him?" Sean demanded and Striker stepped back. "Of all the-no wonder he-ugh, fine." He shook his head and moved past it. "Whatever, it's in the past." He rubbed an aura tassel in annoyance, one of them had hit him in the nose when he shook his head.

    "So, he wasn't there?"

    "Not that I could see," Sean said, moving past his anger. "Dusknoir did claim he had received some information from Shinx though, so I can't say for certain. The litleo was there though, I'm sure that was a surprise for you? He protested strongly to Scout's guilt as did the guild once they were able to react."

    "So, the guild is on his side?" Striker asked, leaning in interest.

    Sean frowned and shrugged. "Eh… sort of? Chatot especially tried to talk them down but they were running off the idea that Scout is either innocent, or he's completely amnesiac. Something that might not work, Scout was clearly rattled from everything going on."

    Striker nodded. "Dusknoir hasn't completely turned them against Scout yet. With enough time though…"

    "I think we're ignoring something bigger here," Sean pointed out. "Dusknoir has Scout and you know he'll use him against us."

    "Dusknoir won't hurt Scout," Striker countered, and Sean rolled his eyes.

    "Yes, I KNOW that he won't hurt him under normal circumstances. But who knows how he may act if things get desperate? Maybe he won't kill him, but you can't claim he wouldn't hurt Scout if he thought it would save them both in the end?"

    Striker had nothing to counter that with.

    He took an uncomfortable breath. "If it comes down to it, we can rescue him."

    "If it comes down to it?" Sean repeated, frown deepening. "I think we should go rescue him now."

    "The risk-"

    "Dusknoir has our friend!" Sean snapped and Striker paused. "He's come back to save you before and you're just going to leave him there?"

    "Your emotions are interfering with your logic," Striker argued back. "We know Dusknoir won't hurt him, nothing irreversible. But going to save him puts everything at risk. Myself, you, the entire world. Scout will understand." Striker and Sean stared each other down before Striker looked away and began pacing again.

    Sean stared angrily at the grovyle for a moment before groaning and burying his face in his paws, muzzle poking out. "Well, what if Dusknoir is able to do… something to turn Scout to his side then?"

    Striker's pacing became more aggressive.

    "YOU can't say it's not a possibility," Sean stated, Striker didn't respond. "Especially after YOU slashed his friend. He has amnesia, he probably doesn't know what the hell is really going on right now and is scared and alone. Except for Dusknoir. You KNOW Dusknoir will try and turn him to his side."

    "After turning an entire town against him, I feel like Scout won't want to listen."

    "Yeah." Sean nodded. "For now. The longer he's alone, the more likely he's going to get desperate. Dusknoir knows how to get to Scout, you can't deny that."

    Sean was able to see this rare side of Striker. The one who didn't know what to do and was too anxious to hide it. He rubbed a clawed hand along his head as the other one hung limply by his side.

    "Well then, what do we do?" Striker asked, turning to Sean. "YOU are the leader of our whole little team. You're the one that gets us places. What do you think we should do then?"

    Sean looked up at the sky, marvelling how the sun still shone and the wind ruffled his fur.

    "We're going to have to act," he said, looking down. "Look I… I know you're right." Saying that left a bitter taste in his mouth, it wasn't right to leave Scout to Dusknoir's mercy. But Striker was still right. "We can't just charge in and get Scout. Either you'll get captured, or you'll be running with an entire town and guild AND Dusknoir on your tail and we can't have that. You're going to have to get the last Time Gear and I'M going to have to find the key to the Hidden Land."

    He looked back to where he had walked from, to where the entrance of Brine Cave lay. "But I have no idea where to start. The only, terrifying, guess I have is that Dusknoir has it."

    "Apparently Litleo had it. But his hous̛e was ransacked and that was all that was taken. I took a look myself but couldn't find anything concrete. Just a sheet." He smiled slightly. "Been years since I've had one of those…."

    "If Dusknoir has the key," Striker began but didn't finish the thought.

    "He'll either have destroyed it." Both of them winced at the thought. "Or, if he can't, he's probably got it on him somewhere."

    The two remained in silence for a bit. Striker looked to Sean. "What do we do then?"

    Sean didn't respond for a long moment, choosing instead to stare ahead. "I… you have to get the Time Gear. Dusknoir mentioned he has it guarded, but he's not there at the moment. This is probably your best chance of getting it. When the alert inevitably comes that you're trying to take the gear and Dusknoir leaves I'm going to see if I can sneak into where he's been staying and look for anything that might point us in the direction of the key."

    Striker nodded and Sean added. "I'm sorry, this is the best I can really think of. The situation is screwed up, we've got to take what chances we can get.

    Striker gave him a long, searching, glance. "You," he said heavily. "Have to be careful. Dusknoir is still unlikely to do anything until he has all three of us. He doesn't know who you are, that's our last trump card here. You have to get in and out without being seen."

    Sean smirked and gave a stretch. "Even as a human I was good at going unnoticed," he bragged. "Now I'm two feet tall, less than half the size I was before. I can do this Striker. I have to be able to do this."

    The grovyle nodded and gave his closest friend a smile. "I'll be seeing you soon then," he said, glancing back to his belongings. "We'll meet back here in seven days. Alright?"

    "Seven days." Sean nodded. They shared a fist bump and then parted ways.

    The time for sneaking around was finished.

    The real Sean would now stand up.


    Striker breathed a sigh of relief as he approached the mouth of the cave. Even from this distance, he could see the glimmering of blue crystals twinkling at him from the darkness.

    Although from this distance they looked like the teeth of a horrible mouth.

    He remained in the overgrown thicket, eyes sliding back and forth carefully. He would not believe that there were no guards here. Visible guards, however, were a different story and he knew how well the sableye could hide.

    That shadow there by the lip of the cave? Possibly a sableye. That grove in the rock? Could house a sableye waiting to send the alarm.

    Striker smiled grimly. Even if they were visible, he doubted he'd be able to strike all of them down without Dusknoir getting word somehow.

    It hurt to do, it left him feeling ill at the prospect of willingly walking into a trap without even using an item to sneak in invisible. There was no choice and calling Dusknoir to this place was Sean's only real chance to find the key that they needed to progress.

    There were a no other options.

    Once his breath was caught, Striker jumped out of the bushes and sped to the entrance. He thought he caught a shadow twitching, but there was no chance to turn back now. He cracked a grin, he wouldn't turn back even if there was a choice.

    Striker disappeared into the cave as the two sableye watching it poked their heads out and nodded. They sent Master Dusknoir the signal, a weak spiritual throb that would scarcely be noticed by any of the Ghost-types around, but one that Dusknoir was waiting for.

    One squirmed and the other ground its claws down with its sharp teeth wishing there was something to eat. There wasn't much else to do besides wait and hope that the master arrive in time.

    The denizens of Crystal Cave posed little threat to Striker and he carved his way through without hesitation. A Leaf Blade to lay low a graveler, a quick Dig to smash a seviper out of the way. He even took out a trio of riolu with Bullet Seed, not pausing even as they rang a familiar vibe with him.

    Enemies dropped before him or leapt out of his way. Nothing would slow Striker here, and nothing did.

    He breezed up to the final room where three crystals shone blue. A terrible gouge in the dungeon made of crystals. The site of the entrance to the Crystal Crossing impressed Striker and he paused for a brief moment.

    Not for long, however, as he knew there would be more sableye around. He hopped through the room and into the entrance, two more sableye watching him go.

    Striker was confident that the enemies further in would be more powerful. Simply the visage of the entrance was a testament to the power of a legendary pokémon, warping a dungeon in such a stable way.

    But even the froslass and glalie were laughable and he slashed, dug, and shot his way through any enemy that dared approach.

    One particularly swift absol managed to cut through his Treasure Bag and his arm in the process, sending orbs scattering everywhere. He bashed its head against a wall and quickly gathered his items, not letting a single orb loose.

    Despite his diligence, however, one was snatched by a glameow and he growled and tried to chase it.

    It was heading backwards, however, and Striker had to let it go. Turning back over an orb, even a beautiful Luminous Orb, was not worth it.

    Striker held a gru̴dge against glameow from then on.

    He tied the cut band together and continued.

    Crystal Lake was stunning.

    Its majesty outweighed the allure of Fogbound Lake and the hidden paradise of the Underground Lake. Gemstones littered the land, and water, spreading blue, teal, and green light through the cavernous room.

    Even then, however, Grovyle didn't slow.

    He continued hopping as fast as he could, avoiding the water for now, until he found himself along a final stretch. A long path headed to an enormous flat crystal that was then crowned by a ring of spiky blue gems.

    Only there were two things wrong.

    The first, the Time Gear's light was consumed by even more crystals that had spiked up behind it, covering a large part of the lake in an incredibly hard substance.

    The second, Azelf was floating ready for him.

    "I presume you are Grovyle?" Azelf called as Striker began to slow. He was breathing heavily, but his heart pounded harder. "The thief."

    "Yes," Striker answered as he came to a stop. There wasn't much ground between him and Azelf. "I'm assuming you too are beholden to Dusknoir's lies?"

    Azelf's eyes narrowed and Striker knew there was no manner he could ever convince the Spirit of Willpower. The loss of Uxie and Mesprit surely nailed that.

    "I know you won't take it," Azelf said as they floated up and bared their fists. "I know you don't deserve it after the fates you inflicted on my siblings. But I will offer it regardless. Give up and I will show mercy."

    Striker gave a bitter smile and fell into a combat stance. "Can you sense my resolve?" he asked and Azelf nodded, a look of almost respect in their eyes. "Then let's not bother with the dialogue."

    With that, Striker attacked.


    He listened for Azelf's breathing over his own for a moment, relieved he hadn't killed the legendary, before forcing himself up.

    The flat crystal battlefield was covered in broken crystals, gouges, and even bits of blood and leafy powder.

    With several grunts of pain and exertion, Striker forced himself to his feet. There was no time to be taking a nap, he had the worst game of treasure hunt to still go through.

    He scampered over the spiky crystal crown and onto the spiky sea of crystals. Frowning in annoyance, Striker carefully toed his way towards a dull glow. One clump of crystals appeared more special than the others and Striker had seen them enough times to know the light of a Time Gear.

    A stream of Bullet Seeds and Energy Balls blasted the spiky parts off, but scarcely even touched the flatter crystal they rested on.

    Striker walked up and onto the trimmed crystal and looked down. There it was, even through the blue crystal, he could make out the foggy shape of a Time Gear.

    He clenched both hands a few times and rolled his shoulders. Both arms ached, and his hands didn't move as quickly as he could like. There was no other way, unfortunately.

    Striker took a breath, raised both fists, and slammed them down together. A dull thwonk echoed out from the impact and Striker was sure he felt something crack.

    Thankfully it was the crystal.

    Gritting his teeth, he raised his hands again and felt for the Power. He channelled it into his favoured Dig and then slammed down again. And again. And again and again and again.

    Slowly the crystal broke, his hands bled, and Striker continued striking the crystal. Both arms jarred by this point, and shards of crystal cutting into him.

    Striker was accustomed to pain.

    The gnawing pain of the stomach when one was starving. The parched pain of the throat, when all the water was frozen and not even ice.

    The pain of the heart as the day remained dark. The pain of the body as one fought to protect what little they had, sometimes only one's life. If that was even worth having in the dark future.

    He was used to agony of many different kinds, and this was no different. Still, Striker couldn't hold every tear back or every spasm in his chest as he hit the crystal again and again and again.

    He hit it until he couldn't hit it anymore.

    Largely due to someone catching his hands as he raised them again.

    Striker immediately swung forward, jumped, and kicked back, slamming his feet into Dusknoir's belly and diverting his centre of balance, allowing him to throw the weighty Ghost-type over himself and into the hole of shattered crystal. He still hadn't reached the Time Gear, and hadn't even made that much progress, but there was no question now. It was time to go.

    Striker ran. Fighting Dusknoir when he was healthy and uninjured was an unpleasant prospect. But when he was in this state? After fighting a legendary? No.

    As he sprinted, Striker shoved a bloody hand into his Treasure Bag and siphoned through the orbs. He knew he had a Luminous Orb in here somewhere, perfect for both blinding Dusknoir and forcing sableye out of the shadows.

    He could tell them apart by feel, size, and weight and each orb he rolled was not the one he needed.

    A sableye leapt in his way and he cut it down. A shadowy tendril nipped at his ankle, and Striker cut that with his tail. Azelf got up and grabbed him in Psychic again. That problem had no easy answer, unfortunately.

    Striker roared and struggled against the grip until Azelf just couldn't hold him anymore, but Dusknoir had caught up by that point.

    Striker did the splits as he ducked below a Shadow Punch and threw his own normal, and bloody, fist into one of the eye-like markings on Dusknoir's chest. He knew those were sensitive.

    Dusknoir gasped as Striker rolled to his feet, still rifling through his bag in a panic. He couldn't understand why he couldn't find it, he didn't have THAT many orbs. The Luminous Orb was always-

    Striker realised three things.

    The first was that he really hated glameow.

    The second, he didn't have a Luminous Orb.

    The third, possibly the most pertinent, Dusknoir had extra company.

    A ponyta reared up and kicked him with flaming hooves and he fell right into the spreading vines of a bellsprout. They couldn't hold him for long, but long enough for a camerupt to blast him point blank with an unnecessary amount of fire.

    Everything went black and red and pain all over before it got worst. Something snatched him from behind, but with Striker's disorientation he could barely even swat at it.

    He yelled out as Dusknoir lifted him over his head and blasted him in the back with a plume of ghostly flame. A sableye leaped up and cut through the Treasure Bag and it fell. Dusknoir continued to lift him over his head, falling back, to slam Striker face-first into the same crystal he had slammed Azelf into.

    He felt something unpleasantly close to his neck almost snapping before everything went dark.


    Sean had spent the days in misery.

    Even though he wasn't the one locked in a cell somewhere, breaking his claws in locks. The riolu had been left anxious and jumpy.

    The whole town was in a state of anticipation. He had gone through and listened in on a few conversations. Not everyone thought Scout was the demon centipede or bacon bird in disguise, but the general acceptance was that the Great Dusknoir was in the right.

    More than once Sean had to sneak away from a conversation so he wouldn't fall to the temptation to try and correct the townsfolk.

    Everyone was active. And every exploration team in the area, besides the apprentices at the guild, were looking for him.

    Looking for a human at least, and Sean found it bitterly amusing to find a few pokémon trying to educate the explorer teams on what a human looked like.

    There seemed to be a huge disagreement over whether humans had tails or not.

    He was fine with it, any distraction from actually finding him was valued. Not that anyone was looking for a riolu, allowing him in and out of town safely.

    He had stopped coming in as often. The sableye could be anywhere. Dusknoir could be anywhere. And someone coming in and out all the time could attract unwanted attention.

    So, Sean waited in silence, biting his tongue and forcing himself away. He had to be ready for Dusknoir's departure, he had to get all the time he could manage.

    Yet, loitering around the cottage Dusknoir was residing in wasn't wise. There were more sableye watching it, he was certain.

    Was Sean paranoid? Yes. There was no question there.

    Was Sean ready? No. There was no question there.

    He hadn't been ready to be pulled through a portal at twelve years old and into a nightmare hellscape either.

    But he didn't get the choice to be ready or not, he simply had to be. And when he saw Dusknoir hesitate as he avoided a very determined shinx, Sean knew it was time.

    Not minding the shinx, Dusknoir made haste towards the town centre and called out. "Grovyle is at the location of the Time Gear!"

    Immediately, Claydol floated forward. They were ready to transport Dusknoir to stop the thief.

    A few exploration teams also came forward, but Dusknoir had no time to entertain them. Only a team boasting two Fire-type's were allowed to come, along with two sableye, before they disappeared.

    Sean worried, he couldn't help himself, but he also couldn't waste time fluffing about. He had only found two sableye to still be in town, and both just left.

    He would still be careful though, Dusknoir was tricky, but there was no better chance than this.

    With the town distracted with anticipation and hearsay, Sean ran off. He had burned the path into his mind and didn't falter until he was right to the cottage. It took him a few minutes, it was quite out of the way.

    Uninhabited, hopefully at least, but he didn't enter through the door. A small window, too small for his previous human body to squeeze through, was the choice of entry.

    The cottage was quiet, dull, and filled with an odd smell. It was a small, one-room, dwelling with a fireplace and a lump of straw, a single table, and a few of Dusknoir's personal items placed around in specific spots.

    Despite it all, a small smile graced his canine face. It was surprisingly easy to pinpoint the areas Dusknoir frequented. The fireplace was cold, but the ashy remains of wood still sat there. The small table had finger marks almost drilled into it, Dusknoir was almost compulsively a finger-tapper.

    The place was clean and quiet, organised in that special way Dusknoir did. It was almost too easy for him to begin rifling through the area, replacing everything exactly as he found it. Leaving the crooked objects crooked and the jar twisted almost tight, but not quite.

    He opened the chest Dusknoir stored his items in and found the secret compartment in a few seconds. He deduced this was the feint and continued searching through the orbs and seeds. He found a groove and had a lot of trouble getting into it.

    "Damn stubs," he muttered, glaring angrily at his paws. Fingers would be so much better here. Sean dug out a stick from his own bag and used it for a few minutes until he got into the real secret compartment.

    It'd leave behind a trace, but a stick should be too difficult to track. Dusknoir would likely suspect he was here, regardless.

    With that sobering thought in mind, Sean sped up his search. There was no telling if he'd send someone back to check his dwelling.

    The secret compartment was frustratingly bare. Simply a scrap of paper with symbols that reminded him of his own language. Unown symbols, the writing looked familiar too. With some focus, he could make out most of the words.

    "Because of you, Guardian is gone," he read, quietly. "And now you've lost Scout," he trailed off, realising why this handwriting looked familiar.

    Striker had written this. But when? And why for that matter?

    He frowned and glanced back at it before carefully putting it back in. That was private, but also useless to him.

    He continued to look as the minutes ticked away more and more, but there was nothing but dust to be found.

    Dust and a single shard of a rock that had been swept away. Highly dissatisfying.

    Knowing this was pointless, Sean got out of the cottage and ran along the overgrown edges of Treasure Town.

    He had to go check out Team Magnezone's base now. Work out how to get in and out. The jails boasted in the past were Delphox Enchanted to suppress pokemon's natural powers, so whatever he did he had to avoid going in one.

    As he returned, however, he picked up the sounds of distant cheering.

    Listening in closely, he could hear Dusknoir's deep rumble, but not the words, along with a cheer from the crowd every few moments. He carefully unwound his control over the aura senses he kept restrained and was nearly overwhelmed by a blast of furious jubilation emanating from teh town.

    "There is only ONE more threat to stop!" Dusknoir roared, voice raising enough for Sean to make it out. "One more and the world is saved!"

    "One more!" the crowd repeated, stamping, cheering, or hollering.

    "No," Sean said quietly.

    "Grovyle has been caught!" Dusknoir yelled and the crowd cheered again. "Now we search for the human."

    "The human!" the crowd repeated.

    "Save the world!"

    "Save the world!"

    Sean backed away as Dusknoir continued to whip the crowd into a frenzy. He didn't have the key to the Hidden Land.

    And he didn't have Striker either. Sean didn't know what to do.

    Dusknoir held every card.
     
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